[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Iron]

Shiva hears five very loud Chingling responding to the ringing of the Soothe Bell.

[Dragonstrike]

3. Name: Chingling* horde
Cap: 5 (5)
Bid start: 2
Challenge: Potentially hard

Spoiler

Before having visited this tunnel, Shiva would have never thought that plant roots could be scary. Now though, she was sure that they CAN be exactly that, whenever she caught one moving she shivered and wrapped her arms a bit closer around the jar with glowing fern.

That jingling of bells however.... Something about that sound was familiar to her, and with a curious frown she stops midway. Yena by her side halts as well, perks up and stares into the direction where the tolling came from. She's sure she knows this particular ring, but yet she's unable to determine certainly what's causing it - it sounds different than a Soothe Bell does, yet not much. Soothe Bell.... In a swift movement, her Gothitelle is summoned her side. "Lilith", she adresses her beloved Pokemon right away, "Do you too hear these chime sounds? You're still having this Soothe Bell I once gave you? Please ring it a little - I'd like to know whether whatever is making these sounds, is responding to it."

Nathan hears those bells ringing too.  Obviously, he finds it rather...odd to be hearing bells this deep underground.  It's only a few minutes later that he happens upon Shiva and her Gothitelle...ringing a bell...

"...uh...Shiva, what are you doing?"

He's still a rather odd duck himself, obviously, seeing as he's hugging a fire horse's side right now and has that Snivy from earlier accompanying him...oh, and that Solosis, Calam, and Ralts too.  Maybe also Yule if Snivy is riding him.  He has a lot of pokemon nearby right now.

[Spiritmon]

Spoiler

Pokeball: (1)(6) vs (1) Ferroseed was caught!

0/0/0 for Disobedience
Iron Barbs
Rollout, Metal Claw, Pin Missile, Gyro Ball


Empathy: Normally a wounded Pokemon gets a bonus to its Will when resisting Empathy, but since these Ferroseed wanted to spar and you're healing them, I'll waive that rule.

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

The unfainted Ferroseed bites into the Sweetroot and recovers its strength. It clamps onto the ceiling again and starts swiveling this way and that, looking for more threats.

As you continue, the tunnel becomes hairier and hairier. Roots now cover every surface, often weaving over each other and creating quite the tripping hazard. Now and then, you see one move.

You come to a fork. Slurpuff and Snivy both gesture to the left fork. To the right fork you can see the glint of a gem in the half-darkness, nestled between hairy vines.

Down the left tunnel, a chime sounds every now and then, and the tolling of bells.

Mt. Sentry Root Biome Encounters Part 2

1. Name: Valuable item
Cap: 1
Bid start: 1

2. Name: Chimecho
Cap: 1 (2)
Bid start: 1
Challenge: Very easy
Notes: No XP

3. Name: Chingling* horde
Cap: 5 (5)
Bid start: 2
Challenge: Potentially hard

4. Name: Frosty Nincada
Cap: 1 (2)
Bid start: 1
Challenge: Very easy, no XP
Notes: This Nincada is covered in a thin layer of frost. Its movement and metabolism are slowed. It's acting like it's about to evolve?

After the successful battle Heart was in the path to meet the others when he see a strange sparkle. He decided to take to see what is.

Mechanic: Take encounter 1 Valuable item.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Nathan hears those bells ringing too.  Obviously, he finds it rather...odd to be hearing bells this deep underground.  It's only a few minutes later that he happens upon Shiva and her Gothitelle...ringing a bell...

"...uh...Shiva, what are you doing?"

Due to the concentration she was holding up in order to not miss any response from the source of the ringing sounds, Shiva barely visibly flinches as Nathan came closer and asked her what he was doing - Lilith probably already saw him coming right before her mental eye and didn't react, but Mighyena turned to the 'intruder' and began to growl deeply at him while - just in case - flattening his body while spreading his intimidating wings.

Shiva noticed this and turned towards this 'intruder', before she quitens her hyena with a hand gesture. "Me? Oh, well..... 'Please don't give me such a weird look! >_<', she added only in her thoughts, "You probably hear these chime sounds, d'you? These....faintly sound like Chimecho! Only much louder. Usually, they're only giving off a ringing sound when hoping, as well as frequencies that humans can hear but that might still deafen 'em."

A shared look with at first Dizzy, then Lilith, then Yena was providing her enough courage to go and investigate WHY they were louder than any hatched Chimecho she knows - were the cave walls possibly echoing their sounds? Have they developed extraordinary skill of soundmaking in this kind of environment? Whatever it was....now Shiva's curiosity awoke. And once she got curious about something, she rarely lets go. ".....Yena, please return into your Ball for now. Your intimidating might scare them and lead 'em to swarm us out of fear - I'll let you out as soon as I need your help again." Mightyena is withdrawn. In return, with the tossing of a different Ball, Furret appeared on the scene! The jar with the fern is securely packed away into backpack as well, as it breaking due to the high frequency sounds is something that Shiva doesn't want to risk. Gothitelle stays out, and gets the plea "Please continue ringing your Soothe Bell. Try to create a melody which they might respond to as well, keep their attention."

Next, Shiva made a half-turn into the direction the chiming comes, and looks back to throw a glance over to Nathan. "I'm going to take a look at these myself. Want to come too?"

[Dragonstrike]

Spoiler

Due to the concentration she was holding up in order to not miss any response from the source of the ringing sounds, Shiva barely visibly flinches as Nathan came closer and asked her what he was doing - Lilith probably already saw him coming right before her mental eye and didn't react, but Mighyena turned to the 'intruder' and began to growl deeply at him while - just in case - flattening his body while spreading his intimidating wings.

Shiva noticed this and turned towards this 'intruder', before she quitens her hyena with a hand gesture. "Me? Oh, well..... 'Please don't give me such a weird look! >_<', she added only in her thoughts, "You probably hear these chime sounds, d'you? These....faintly sound like Chimecho! Only much louder. Usually, they're only giving off a ringing sound when hoping, as well as frequencies that humans can hear but that might still deafen 'em."

A shared look with at first Dizzy, then Lilith, then Yena was providing her enough courage to go and investigate WHY they were louder than any hatched Chimecho she knows - were the cave walls possibly echoing their sounds? Have they developed extraordinary skill of soundmaking in this kind of environment? Whatever it was....now Shiva's curiosity awoke. And once she got curious about something, she rarely lets go. ".....Yena, please return into your Ball for now. Your intimidating might scare them and lead 'em to swarm us out of fear - I'll let you out as soon as I need your help again." Mightyena is withdrawn. In return, with the tossing of a different Ball, Furret appeared on the scene! The jar with the fern is securely packed away into backpack as well, as it breaking due to the high frequency sounds is something that Shiva doesn't want to risk. Gothitelle stays out, and gets the plea "Please continue ringing your Soothe Bell. Try to create a melody which they might respond to as well, keep their attention."

Next, Shiva made a half-turn into the direction the chiming comes, and looks back to throw a glance over to Nathan. "I'm going to take a look at these myself. Want to come too?"

First off, seeing Yena has evolved is...quite something, to say the least.  Nathan doesn't comment, but he IS rather surprised by that...once the shock wears off, he steadfastly stares at the Mightyena, not intimidated at all for varying reasons.  He's not scared of a friend's Mightyena, particularly when he has several ways he could take on a Dark type if he absolutely had to.  But once all that's done and things have settled down...

"...Chimecho?  Ummm...do you mean Chingling?  Chimecho don't exactly hop..."

He listens as well ...yeah, he can hear more bell sounds somewhere nearby...

"...I mean, I guess seeing some wild Chingling might be kinda cool...they're kinda rare if you aren't in Sinnoh, after all..."

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

As you continue, the tunnel becomes hairier and hairier. Roots now cover every surface, often weaving over each other and creating quite the tripping hazard. Now and then, you see one move.

You come to a fork. Slurpuff and Snivy both gesture to the left fork. To the right fork you can see the glint of a gem in the half-darkness, nestled between hairy vines.

Down the left tunnel, a chime sounds every now and then, and the tolling of bells.

Mt. Sentry Root Biome Encounters Part 2

4. Name: Frosty Nincada
Cap: 1 (2)
Bid start: 1
Challenge: Very easy, no XP
Notes: This Nincada is covered in a thin layer of frost. Its movement and metabolism are slowed. It's acting like it's about to evolve?

Thanks to Nathan tying up that guardian Snivy, Ventus and Michael were able to harvest/safely stow away a not too modest amount of Tochu Root without molestation of any sort and with great efficiently, before the researcher and his brother discretely departed the scene to avoid being caught post act. While it was hardly intentional on their part, the boy DID end up indirectly aiding him in accomplishing his self appointed task, so he made a mental not to give one of the Potions he'll end up making from this batch of medicinal plants to them as compensation. Infuriated and sour tempered as he was right now, the researcher would almost never fail to repay others for their generousity/support or lend a helping when able, with or without their knowledge of what prompted such recompense in the first place!

Eventually they party regrouped and continued their journey through the increasing verdant and vine chocked tunnel, during which Ventus took careful pains to avoid getting his foot snagged and subsequently face planting into the ground and steering well clear of any vine that so much as twitched. Such sights/motions brought back vivid memories of the Vines that very nearly breached past Stair's defenses and consumed it whole, causing the empath to grimace and grit his teeth as he threatened to start shivering were it not for him doing his damnest to prevents such a reaction. '......I am beginning to regret not bringing Hanael with me now, but 'hindsight is 20/20' , as the old saying goes. By Reshirim, if our path doesn't clear up at some point, I'm liable to start having Lucifer and Apsis prune the area of these insidious vines.......'

Once the group stopped to investigate the area for any dangers/objects of interest, his sharp eyes could help but catch a most peculiar sight a little ways off the main trail: a frosted over Nincada, sluggishly trudging along the vines with an air of expectation suffusing it along with the characteristic signs of its species that it was close to Evolving! Curious and somewhat befuddled by the gelid insect, Ventus decided to carefully make his way over to it, with Malphena trailing above him (still in a somewhat grumpy mood) and Michael bring up the rear, resolving for now not to engage it in a fight unless it was clearly asking for it . 'What in the world could have caused this atypical sight? Only one way to find out to find out: tried and true direct observation...'

Order: Go over with Malphena and Michael to check out that Frosted Nincada! Let's find out what's up with that cool Bug!

[Iron]

Nathan and Shiva move to the bells. Ventus moves to the disturbance being dug by Nincada - it's digging straight upward and the tiniest split is beginning in its skin, both of which normally only happen in summer.


Heart walks along the side tunnel until he can reach out and grab that half-hidden gem. As he reaches it, he notices it's mere glass. He gets the feeling something is wrong...and a moment later, twin stone grates slam into place ahead of him and behind him, trapping Heart.

Four Nuzleaf with pink petals in their hair step out behind the far grate and start laughing at Heart and chattering to each other.

You're trapped!

[Iron]

Hanging from a large fern leaf extending from the hairy roots, you spy five Chingling - spherical baby Pokemon. These are big ones, with tiny eyes and stunted ribbons, but extra-large mouths and clappers. They immediately start wailing when the mild breeze of your entrance stirs the fern.

[Dragonstrike]

Hanging from a large fern leaf extending from the hairy roots, you spy five Chingling - spherical baby Pokemon. These are big ones, with tiny eyes and stunted ribbons, but extra-large mouths and clappers. They immediately start wailing when the mild breeze of your entrance stirs the fern.

Whoa, those are...weird looking Chingling.  They look...rather loud, too...

Nathan doesn't want to make the first move.  In fact, he's trying to stay very, very still for now...

...and he's keeping a careful eye on Solosis, too.  If the little green sphere makes any attempts to cause mischief, Calam is gonna be giving it what for!

[Iron]

Nincada is not hostile. After observing it for a time, Ventus posits the cold underground tunnels have caused Nincada to go dormant since last summer, delaying its evolution. If warmed up with a few battles and some mild heat, Nincada would probably evolve!