[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Despite the comment is spoken out more quiet, Shiva does pick every word of it since she concentrates on doing so, but she doesn't like what he's saying too much, and that sideways look is returned in a still worried expression - Shiva holds the eye contact a little longer than normally, and mentally sighed before she optes to answer in a just as quiet tone, looking back to their 'foes' again for once.

"Nathan, you want to...BATTLE these creatures? That must be a bad joke, I'm sorry for not laughing at it. I know that we have to travel in this direction, but if a longer path, self-dug at worst, will keep us safe, then I'm all down to follow this safer path regardless of how long it'll take.... This is not the time nor the place to play hero, Nathan. You're seeing these Geodude... What if......you know?" These last few words ting with a clear scare between the lines, she didn't WANT TO imagine THIS scenario, and she's already pre-damaged by having dealt with a lethaly wounded Plusle early at the journey and with a Pineco falling down a tree. A cold shiver ran through her whole graceful body before she continued speaking her mind... "You're sure that's a good idea? What if....it backfires and we.......... A Carbink isn't worth it. Nathan, what would your mother think and feel if something 'bad' happens down here, how would Ralts feel? For once, please also imagine the consequences for other people than you - My dad's not the type who would be against taking a risk if the reward is nice and feels worth it. But...if the risk's too much to take and it all comes back to you, how would you feel? How would....Ventus and the others react if we return more dead than alive, we have most of the journey to the Library still ahead of us.... Really, I don't want to die down here. Most of my life yet awaits to be enjoyed."



(......)

Another, heavier sigh escaped her, for she knows how hard and frustrating it can be to convince Nathan otherwise once he set his mind on a plan. "Fine.....FINE. Dear Reshiram above, if you want to engage in trying to defeat these stony Pokemon, do so. I....... I can't let you do so alone though, even despite our differences and issues it'd be simply mean to leave you alone... But, it'll be at your risk and you'll owe me something. I.......Damnit, I'll let Tropius face these Geodude and attempt to take on their leader with one more Pokemon of mine. A-Alright? Please tell me that you know what you're doing here, Nathan."

[Spiritmon]

Spoiler

2. Name: Larvesta*
Bid start: 2
Cap: 1 (2)
Challenge: ???
Notes: Larvesta is burrowed away into the stone just above the coal. It is asleep, dormant. Little burning, sticky threads surround it.

Heart with the help of Rose, was able to climb the place with no great problems. He look around that beautiful cave. When he was walking, he could see a big sticky threads slowing burning. It was above the coal. "Interesting. Lets see what we can find here..."

Mechanic: Roll Insight+Knowledge+Alert to see any other possible danger in be close of Larversta sticky threads. Like make him nervous, etc.

That's 8 dice.
*rolls*

You know that Larvesta tries to cocoon itself away in the months before it evolves. This seems to be an incomplete cocoon. Since Larvesta's ability to respond to threats is lower in this state, it can be more nervous than usual. 
This one's asleep, though, giving it a big penalty to Alertness, and you've never heard of the threads being used as a tactic to sense intruders. 

Heart decided to not disturb the Larversta but instead make a friendly approach. It's evolving somehow so Heart takes a different introduction. Heart search his bag until he have his instruments. Heart bring Rose out of the pokeball and give her a Brass Drum. Heart the Shamisen in his hands. "Let's bring a good show to Larversta Rose. A different kind of friendly approach with some music."

Mechanic: Begin a song using the Brass Drum and the Shamisen have in his bag and let Larversta heaea good music. Insight+Knowledge+Performance.

[Iron]

(6)(4)(4)(6)(2)(1) Not too bad. You and Rose play a song you think Larvesta would like. Larvesta tries to stay asleep longer, so you play a little louder, until it wakes up. It rotates around and looks at you, clearly annoyed at being woken.

[Dragonstrike]

"No, catching a Carbink's not worth it.  That's not why I'm insisting on doing this.  If you have any really strong pokeballs, now is probably the time to use them if they look like they're insisting on going boom. Get ready to hit them hard, fast, and precisely with Grass and Water moves if they insist on not letting us pass. If you have the chance to faint one of them before they can act, take it, but don't start attacking anything until it's clear they've made up their minds about this. I will do my absolute best to try and make sure nothing happens, and minimize the damage if something does. You can count on that."

Nathan turns to look at the rock types.

"So, here's a question for you rock pokemon: are you really willing to risk seriously harming each other just to get at us?  Self-destructing will put yourselves in just as much danger as us, even if you are resistant to the damage.  Hard to defend yourself if you're fainted and your allies are all badly hurt, and there's always the chance that you could mortally wound each other in the process of attacking everything indiscriminately."

"We need to pass through here.  Are you going to get in our way?  And are you going to potentially hurt yourselves in the process if you do? I'd suggest you think about that very carefully before committing to going kamikaze."

Let's see if we can't talk them out of going boom and/or using other AOEs like Magnitude, shall we?

[Iron]

Carbink comes forward a little and gleams threateningly with light.

*rolls*
*rolls*

Nathan, you get the feeling these rock Pokemon aren't concerned with their own safety. They must have some other motivation for not letting you pass, one they are willing to risk themselves for. The Geodude also seem very loyal to the Carbink, of course.

[Spiritmon]

Spoiler

(6)(4)(4)(6)(2)(1) Not too bad. You and Rose play a song you think Larvesta would like. Larvesta tries to stay asleep longer, so you play a little louder, until it wakes up. It rotates around and looks at you, clearly annoyed at being woken.

(I was not interest in capture Larversta before, but I see his abilities and have Flame Body. Might help Heart with his Beldum Egg problem)

Heart and Rose bow in respect in apologizing the sleeping of Volcarona. "Sorry about disturbing you sleeping Larversta. We were trying to awake you or at least make a good song for ya. We are travelers in this mountain and we just passing by here. Sorry again for disturb your sleeping." Heart then search his bag and sit in the ground. Rose sit too beside him. He takes out the Blood Oranges Rose like so much and give to her. For Heart himself, he takes the mustard, bread and cheese and prepare himself a sandwitch. Also, Heart takes out the sweet fruit jam and offered some food with Larversta. "You might be hungry after sleep for quite a while. You can eat some food we have brought. Feel free my friend." And to show the jam its not poison or anything, Heart prove a bit and eat a bit. "See? No danger of poison." Then Heart begin to eat his sandwitch. Larversta is free to join too.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Shiva was watching the whole scene in growing discomfort from a place a little behind Nathan, directly before Mr. Finder and his Slurpuff + Raticate. What started as shock over the trap, then grew into relief over seeing that the trap missed her before it was all replaced with pure and joyful intrigution over the sight of this Carbink has now taken a dark shade and was overshadowed with...well, discomfort and anxiety. She still likes the species of Carbink, but this exemplar here was way more agressive than any exemplar she knows.... Combined with the Geodude ready to explode, it was a brilliant recipe to put Shiva on edge and awake her desire to flee.

Carefully, she brought her oversized Furret beside her closer to herself, nuzzled his soft fur in the means to comfort herself while not averting her gaze from their 'foes'. With a free hand of hers, Shiva very slowly reached into an inner pocket of her Ranger's Cloak, pulled a golden pocket watch from there and placed it back into backpack, she could literally feel how her lifeforce was 'unlocked' by this action. While placing Eternally Gold back, she also drew Azumarill's and Tropius' Balls to place them into her pocket in return, it all happened so carefully that Carbink and its ilk (hopefully) didn't notice.
Furret returned the affection by softly curling his body around her in the means to protect her, he didn't seem to fully get what was so dangerous about these stony Pokemon before them when his Master and friend made it to defeat that predator before....

Accuracy Roll Defense Curl around Shiva: 3 Dext + 2 Fight + 1 Brawl = 6d6
Effect: +1 Vitality.
Additional notes: I wonder whether Furret's and Shiva's Vitality raises by 1 since he curls around her?

The fae enthusiast greatly enjoyed the closure of her Longbody Pokemon, felt his warmth transfering to her. It reminded her on this morning.... For several reasons, Shiva would rather NOT take a risk here and make haste to find a different way, regardless how long it'll take - if it's more safe, she'd be down for it! If she'd go down... She'd go down without having seen her dearest Cottonee evolving, without having found more Gracidea petals and without ever having rightfully made out with Ven once. Eh.... bad thoughts, BAD thoughts, better stay positive!

Hesitantly, she attempts to catch Nathan's attention once again by speaking up. It's obvious that she's fighting with her self, struggles to have trust in him. "Nathan, really, I feel we have invaded the territory of this Carbink, and we should respect it. Please, if you want to engage in you-know-what, consider very well... I'll... DAMNIT, I won't leave you alone here. Mr. Finder.... Please stand back. In no way, you should be put at risk."

[Iron]

Spoiler

(6)(4)(4)(6)(2)(1) Not too bad. You and Rose play a song you think Larvesta would like. Larvesta tries to stay asleep longer, so you play a little louder, until it wakes up. It rotates around and looks at you, clearly annoyed at being woken.

(I was not interest in capture Larversta before, but I see his abilities and have Flame Body. Might help Heart with his Beldum Egg problem)

Heart and Rose bow in respect in apologizing the sleeping of Volcarona. "Sorry about disturbing you sleeping Larversta. We were trying to awake you or at least make a good song for ya. We are travelers in this mountain and we just passing by here. Sorry again for disturb your sleeping." Heart then search his bag and sit in the ground. Rose sit too beside him. He takes out the Blood Oranges Rose like so much and give to her. For Heart himself, he takes the mustard, bread and cheese and prepare himself a sandwitch. Also, Heart takes out the sweet fruit jam and offered some food with Larversta. "You might be hungry after sleep for quite a while. You can eat some food we have brought. Feel free my friend." And to show the jam its not poison or anything, Heart prove a bit and eat a bit. "See? No danger of poison." Then Heart begin to eat his sandwitch. Larversta is free to join too.

Insight + empathy: (4)(2)(1)(1) Larvesta eats the food, and likes it, but when it finishes, it starts worming its way back up the mini tunnel where it was sleeping. Seems attracted to the warmth at the back of the wall.

[Dragonstrike]

Spoiler

Hesitantly, she attempts to catch Nathan's attention once again by speaking up. It's obvious that she's fighting with her self, struggles to have trust in him. "Nathan, really, I feel we have invaded the territory of this Carbink, and we should respect it. Please, if you want to engage in you-know-what, consider very well... I'll... DAMNIT, I won't leave you alone here. Mr. Finder.... Please stand back. In no way, you should be put at risk."

Nathan stares at Carbink.

Carbink (presumably) stares back.

"No, Shiva, this isn't purely a territorial dispute.  You're protecting a specific location, aren't you, Carbink?  You have the kind of look that says that."

More staring.

"Are you really willing to risk dying to protect something like that?  If you go out in a blaze of glory, then you can't protect anything in the aftermath, and you'll have perished in vain.  And even if you do turn us back and survive...we're not the only ones down here, nor the only ones looking for something hidden in these caves.  If you can't win against us without resorting to harming yourselves, then you've already lost not just the battle, but also the war, for others will come after you're weakened or dead, and you won't be able to stop them."

"We have no intentions to seriously harm you, and I don't want to see you harm yourselves.  If you must fight us, do it without resorting to self destruction.  Your lives are worth something in the long run, so don't waste them on a short term victory."

More staring.

[Iron]

Most of your words fall on deaf ears, and battle is growing very close. Even talking about long-term thinking makes no impact on them. But when you display care for them, they have a moment of hesitation.

(4)(2)(4)(4) vs (5)(1)(5)(6)(4)(2)(3)(3)

Carbink still seems very frustrated that you are not turning back despite its warnings. Yet that moment of hesitation was meaningful.