[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Spiritmon]

The Delibird accept the flowers and add them to the ice sculpture!

MORE PRESENTS!

Nathan (4)(5) A glass mason jar!
Swiftfire (5)(5) A green gem worth $300!
Calam (4)(2) (2)(4) An Oran Berry!

Heart search his bag to offer to the little Delibird. He find the Friendship Bracelet and a Wooden whistle. "Here Delibird. Its not much but you can have it." Then Heart offer the gifts.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

If it's eggnog/like eggnog, it possibly contains alcohol! How weird and intriguing, as how are these Delibird suppossed to get their hands wings on such a thing in this environment?

.....Ehm.... Doesn't matter to much, it tastes wonderful and warming. The cup Shiva keeps - it wanders into her Inventory, can be used later to pick up water from rivers, sand, gravel and similar things.

The Delibird are all waving back in a very friendly manner! Looks like their bags are still holding something.

Nod, nod, nod.

Hah! Now that was cool. And incredibly cute, how comes that such friendly Pokemon live down here? Well, Shiva knew that it was within this species' nature to give gifts to people and Pokemon, but if they have lived down here ever.... Or, are they USED to humans? Semi-wild? HOW???!!!

What interested her more however were the facts that both they knew what they were depicting on these tablets (same with them actually knowing such a craft) and were still holding something. Something Shiva would appreciate to know about... Curiosity awoke, hopefully it won't kill the cat. But these Delibird were just so friendly, if this was all just a dirty trick, it sadly worked to perfection.

Humm. After a few seconds of wondering and facing up to these Delibird, Shiva opened one of her arm in the manner of allowing a medium-sized bird land on it, continuing to smile friendly. "Well, thanks for answering! Up at the surface, where we come from, there are Delibird as well, but I've never heard of exemplars of such a friendlyness like you all, and even less of ones knowing the craft of carving pictographs into stony tablets. The fact that you are even doing so with full awareness fascinates me greatly! You all...can be proud of you, haha."

She hesitates a little before she continues, but keeps her arm open. "Listen... We all are traveling through this mountain, looking for a lost place known as the Secret Library. Have you heard of it? ...Even if you didn't, would one of you mind coming down from up there to me lead our way further down this icy tunnel? I'd appreciate your company, and if you've lived down here ever you know this place much better than we could. I'm also...ehm, quite interested in seeing WHERE and HOW you are creating the tablets." She rummages a bit in her pockets, the reveals a handful of nuts and cookie crumbles. "Here, you're even getting food, dear ones!~"


------------------
Mechanics:
No catching, but Shiva would appreciate one of these Delibird to accompany her at least a little. Further I'm holding off from posting to give Windos time to react to everything, as well because I'll be heading to bed now. Night~

[Iron]

The Delibird accept the flowers and add them to the ice sculpture!

MORE PRESENTS!

Nathan (4)(5) A glass mason jar!
Swiftfire (5)(5) A green gem worth $300!
Calam (4)(2) (2)(4) An Oran Berry!

Heart search his bag to offer to the little Delibird. He find the Friendship Bracelet and a Wooden whistle. "Here Delibird. Its not much but you can have it." Then Heart offer the gifts.

They add it to the pile and chirp gratefully! This is fun!

Heart (5)(2), (6)(6) A Lum Berry!

[Iron]

She hesitates a little before she continues, but keeps her arm open. "Listen... We all are traveling through this mountain, looking for a lost place known as the Secret Library. Have you heard of it? ...Even if you didn't, would one of you mind coming down from up there to me lead our way further down this icy tunnel? I'd appreciate your company, and if you've lived down here ever you know this place much better than we could. I'm also...ehm, quite interested in seeing WHERE and HOW you are creating the tablets." She rummages a bit in her pockets, the reveals a handful of nuts and cookie crumbles. "Here, you're even getting food, dear ones!~"

Shake, shake. They do eat the food though. 

Shiva (5)(1), (6)(1) A Chesto Berry
Dizzy (2)(2) Dizzy is paralyzed. He frowns at the stupid birds and goes as far away as he can get.

Cottonee you tucked away earlier.

[Lord Windos]

Ventus still doesn't drink the now revealed Eggnog, as he neither likes the beverage nor wants to chance getting drunk again. He kept quiet and let the rest of the group do most of the talking/interaction with the flock of Delibird, as after last night he's natural curiosity had taken a severe damping due to the tongue lashing Shiva gave him. However, when Nathan discovered that mutual gift giving resulted in the festive birds giving them even MORE Presents (both good and ill), the sociologist rummaged around in his satchel and pulled out the Lucky Charm (Crystalized Psyduck Feather) that was gifted to him during the Running so long ago, and gently place it on the pile along with the rest of the group's gifts.

"Here. This charm hasn't brought me much good fortune, but perhaps avian like yourselves can coax out its protective properties far better than I."

[Iron]

Yena: (1)(1) Yena is badly poisoned! He runs to go sympathize with Dizzy, and spreads his Intimidating wings wide! He's looking a little green after that Present was dropped on him.

Ventus: (6)(5) Ventus got an Egg! It's red and white. If you have any Pokemon out, I'll roll for them too - up to 2 of 'em.

The Delibird have never seen a Psyduck before, and they gwak to each other about the beautiful unmelting ice crystals on it. Gwakgwakgwak!

[Lord Windos]

Yena: (1)(1) Yena is badly poisoned! He runs to go sympathize with Dizzy, and spreads his Intimidating wings wide! He's looking a little green after that Present was dropped on him.

Ventus: (6)(5) Ventus got an Egg! It's red and white. If you have any Pokemon out, I'll roll for them too - up to 2 of 'em.

The Delibird have never seen a Psyduck before, and they gwak to each other about the beautiful unmelting ice crystals on it. Gwakgwakgwak!

(Can Ventus put the Red and White Egg [Most likely a Delibird, but I could be wrong] in his Fast Incubator, then give it to Shiva to hold, since she has the License/Ability to hold them?)

(Since I rather not chance anything horrible happening to them, I'll say that Ven has decided not to release any of his Pokémon since leaving camp, preferring to be alone for the time being. That way they don't get a roll now or a retroactive roll for when the gift giving first happened!)

Ven gives the Delibirds a smile as they admired his gift, and deeply bowed to them in thanks when they deemed him fit to receive an Egg himself like his mercenary.

"My deepest gratitude for entrusting me with this Egg, Delibirds. It will be well provided and cared for, I can assure you all my friends."

What he does with the Egg depends on whether or not he can give it to Shiva in the Fast Incubator to carry. If so, she gets it to care for if she accepts; if not or if she can but refuses, he'll just hold onto it himself in the Fast Incubator without capturing the Egg, as he doesn't want to waste Pokeballs unnecessarily. Waste not want not!

After that is dealth with, he's ready to move on whenever everyone else is!

[Iron]

There's no reason from my side Ventus can't give the Egg and Fast Incubator to Shiva.

[Dragonstrike]

After that is dealth with, he's ready to move on whenever everyone else is!

Completely unrelated note: As curious as I am to see how the Delibird would react to receiving a Present, I'd rather not risk that.  So...yeah.  Would definitely be interesting in some way, though, I'm sure.

Nathan quite enjoys the eggnog.  It's warm, and it brings back some really happy memories...

...melancholy ones, but happy memories nonetheless.

"Thank you again for the gifts, Delibird.  Unfortunately, we really must continue on our way, so we can't stay for much longer.  We might be passing by again on the return journey, though, so maybe we'll run into you again at a later date?"

Ready to move on to Encounter 2!

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

(...)

One gentle squeeze of her hand later she let go, rather slowly to not accidently startle him. While doing so, she also very carefully stroked over Lucifer covered in the scarf, leaving the draconic bat safely and securely in his arms for now - or, right where it belonged. After some initial hesitation, Shiva spoke up to him in a low and silky tone: "You stay here. Danger has been dealt with... If you need something, let us know. Calm down a little for now....", before she got a hold of the tent he was usually carrying.

(...)

*Flashback to the Past.......Samurai Ventus!*

Though he couldn't hear a word she said over the ringing in his eyes (though it was slowly starting to fad away by this point), reading her lips, body language, emotion etc. allowed him to easily decipher her message, after which he promptly handed over the tent and focused all his loving/worried attention on his brother. After what nearly happened to them all, he wasn't going to let ANY of his Pokémon or the group out of his sight for a long time.....

It was during the time camp was being set up that Malphena finally arrived on scene, floating over to her master's side long a bit banged up and surely from being caught up in the explosion. The fact that it ALSO sent her carrening through the walls far away from the blast site and forced her to backtrack all the way here didn't do anything to improve her either.

The moment she saw how wretchedly her master and Lucifer were faring after said big boom, however, her expression morphed into one of pure concern for the both of them, before she too join in the consuling session Ralts/Raphael has invariably started. She almost completely ignored the abnormal empath in favor of trill out comforting noises for her shooken master and gently caressing him with her 'hair' tendrials, letting him know that she too was their for him...

Raphael continued to just hug their father and radiate their calming aura. Simple is best, sometimes, and that is what the archangel was going for with their support.

Turiel opted not to join the group hug/therapy session with the other Pokémon, but instead choose to stand by a close distance to her master side, using her presence to both shield him from incoming danger and simply being there for him as he coped. Like Hanael (Whom see had not meet yet, but no doubt the lava camal would freak out a bit given their history with the species), she was not overly emotive or prone to strong shows of affection like most other Pokémon, but that didn't means she wasn't unsympathetic to what he was going through. She just had her own simple/pragmatic way of expressing her care/concern, which Ven readily understood and was extremely grateful for.



In fact, he was grateful to ALL his Pokémon and Ralts for their support, as it helped greatly accelerate regaining his calm and piece back together his shattered confidance. By the time camp was finished, he would on the surface appear fully recovered from THAT ordel, thought inspections by Ralts would find he was still a bit unbalanced and was just able to now hide his discomfort + frayed nerves. The researcher would have also put away Lucifer into his Pokeball by this point for him to rest peacefully, as he figured out fretting over them all night would do their neither good that some rest on both their parts would.

Spoiler

(...)
...though notably, Ralts stays right next to Ventus the entire time and refuses to leave his side while the man is still recovering from the explosion.  Nathan doesn't complain about it, either.

Means Ralts is hanging out with Ventus for probably most of the remainder of the 'night'.

(...)

Of course, when the 'young' empathetic Pokémon insisted on staying with him despite his repeated insistences that he was 'alright' now, the sociologist eventually let out a somewhat theatrical and put upon *Sigh* and said to them: "Oh all right, I suppose you spend the rest of this night with me if you insist. I would much rather prefer you get some rest with Nathan, but I won't deny your presence with me if that is your desire...."

Truth be told, Ventus was actually touched that they cared so much to choose them over their own life partner (as by this point Ven knew the bond between them and Nathan was far to strong/close to simply be call the usual Pokémon/Master Bond) in his time of need. He didn't want appear vulnerable so soon after 'recovering' from his brush with death, though, so he choose to feign exasperated acceptance of their help to cover up such weakness.

Given their empathy, they should be able to sush out the truth rather easily if they want, as Ven is not trying to hard to hide it!

Spoiler

I'll simply post the part now where Shiva does confront Ventus about his actions, assuming this takes place at some point after having set up the tent and everyone was turning in for the night. Enjoy, @Lord Windos. ^^
-----------------------------


(...)




*****




When Ven made attempts to get into the tent however, she at first fixated him with a serious gaze. Then, in a swift movement that looked way too dramatic, she flew over to his side, Cottonee respectfully gave her Master's arms free and simply floated beside her in her old size again, all to enable Shiva getting a firm and iron hold of one of Ven's sleeves. If it would be more than just green fabric, she'd probably have crushed it in her hand twice by now. The wearer of this green tweed, if he dared to glance over to her, received a look that was better classified as a glare dripping with icy-cold wrath, it looked so wrong on Shiva's usually soft features... She didn't manage to hold up that GLARE long however, for it evolved into a sorrowful expression of the same intesity rather smoothly. Oh well... Oh boy.

She motioned him to take a seat beside her, a little away from the tent. The tone of her voice she used as she spoke up to him was harsh, but the sadness in it could not be overheard - same with a good amount of delight near the end. "Ven.... Ventus.... Dearest.... YOU MESSED UP. Do excuse me, but.... I understand that you wanted to be left alone, but scouting ahead so much and not stopping when you came to the fork with three tunnels... I well, am not going to say a thing about Shedninja. *ashamed looking to the ground* Because, ehm, I'd probably...do a similar stunt if it's...for a Pokemon I'd like to...obtain... *facing him again* But, my love, the difference between you and me here would be that I would KNOW where to stop. Ven, this time you're not done with an honest 'I'm sorry' to me! *energic headshaking* Once we're back at the surface whenever that'll be, or whenever you see fit, I hope you'll have the time to somehow make up to me!! How, I don't quite know, but... Ven, I don't want to say how you made me feel either. You can guess. I've been trusting in you. Trusting and hoping for you, and it's...wonderful that you're fine..."

A pained expression washed over her face and emotional pool. Because...indeed, what happened with Lucifer remindes her on what happened with Plusle way back due to that Weezing... Shiva does prefer to not say anything/ask about the draconic bat, but it's obvious and Ventus can unmistakable detect that he has her compassion about this.

She's not quite finished yet. "But, you can't just go SO FAR ahead, chasing a Ghost Type that's not even leaving tangible hints of it's presence behind! Not in this terrain, not in this labyrinth of a mountain! You're tough and not unused to such hard terrain, that I know, yes! However, from how you acted here, I'd... have expected....... more from you. What if something more drastic happened to you? What if we'd loose track of you or similar horrible stuff? How were you thinking you'd find us back once you got Shedninja? *toneless sob* What would then be with me, with Raphael here? *sweeping gesture to him* Sure, I... well, I would take care of him then as if he'd be my child, but... just pushing forward so much and endangering yourself to such a degree when we're on an important mission... that's ....not what a good boyfriend does, is it?" 

At the last few sentences, Shiva barely managed not to shed a few tears, every single one was bitter but every single one was also wipped away by her quickly with the back of her half-gloved hand as soon as it has left her eyes. Yena by Shiva's side was tilting his head, watching attentively - he has seen this person with the orange hair already, he knows his smell. And Master seems angry that he has been gone and happy that he returned - well, if she cares for him, then it's this Mightyena's duty to be friendly to him: He carefully licks Ventus' hand, welcoming him back in the pack.

Depending what Ventus does in response to all this, Shiva either lets go of him (finally) and turns away, or leans into his shoulder a little more, or something different. (Your discretion, Windos!~)  But one way or the other, she's becoming somehow sheepish, guilty and a little more sad, she doesn't make it to face him when she speaks a few more words. "My... I'm sorry. I, well, shouldn't snarl at you like this." She sweeps over her eyes once more.

After camp had been speedily set up thanks to the coordinated efforts of Shiva and her Pokémon (something he was in no good condition to do, and therefore was extremely grateful for) and a bland but filling ration bar as dinner, Ventus headed off to bed to be fully prepared for his second night watch shift, as he was not going to shirk his work 'just because' he nearly got blown to smitherins! His most precious person in the world's suddenly pinning him in place with a intense stare before yanking them both away from camp soundly foiled his attempt at getting some rest, leaving him quite surprised/startled in the process! And after seeing the mix of thunderously angry, miserably distraught, relieved thankfulness mix and mar his fae fancy's beautiful countenance and emotional state as she continued to stare at him in privacy.......

.......Well, it was certainly a deeply worrying, unnerving, forboading, and terrifying thing for Ventus to bear witness/being subject to. It had become apparent at mind boggling speeds that Shiva was just as an upset mess as he was when he nearly got exploded, and when she all but screamed at him that her current state was his fault, the often paranoid researcher was left extremely mystified and horrified. 'What in the name of the Tao Trio and Djin have I done to cause my dear Shiva to cause her to experience a near breakdown like myself?!' he thought, trying (and barely succeeding) not to let her feelings cause him to started panicking AGAIN and only compound the dire situation.....

.....And then she clarified just what caused/was causing her to react like she did/is, and he felt his heart drop into he pit of his stomach. Him pursuing Shedinja alone was the source of his dearly beloved girlfriend's woes, and that just made him feel like he was the scum of the earth. Before he could even begin to try and speak justifications for his actions and going from their to solve this problem, she had neatly denied him that by pre-emptively absolving him of his insatiable interest in Shedinja lead him to try (and failing right now) hunting it down, which completely threw him for a loop judging by the flabbergasted look he gave her. Her subsequently then re-affirming her point and rather forcibly entreating, nay, demanding reparations and alluding to the grievous emotional harm he had invariably inflicted on her had him stammering out a response, looking harried and flustered as he raised both hands in surrender/palication.

"Y-yes my dearest, I-I promise t-that I will f-fully and th-thoroughly repay you for th-the....m-my aggregious s-s-search for Shedinja! I-I h-had abso-solutely NO in-intention in-in dis-stressing y-you or th-the others, n-nor I-inspiring feelings of a-abandon-donment, pain, and s-sorrow in y-you as a re-result, and I'm de-deeply s-sorry fr-from th-the b-bottom of my h-heart! It-It won't ha-happen again, I s-swear, so p-please for-forgive me for th-this some-someday........!

His vows and promise did not stop her from continuing laying into/lambasting him for his then logical decision, causing him to lower his arms back down and weakly protest (after he managed to get himself stopping from stammering!) by saying: "But.....my sister Malphena can track the movement of Shedinja, and I frequently left markers for myself so I could find my way back to the group once I found it or ceased my search. Turiel and Lucifer could have also help find my way back with their respective keen navigation abilities......" However, he went into uneasy silence as she brought up how even worse fates could have befallen him, and her comment about leaving herself and his child alone almost made him physically ill at the thought alone. A future that he couldn't share with his cherished cherub and angelic girlfriend, and leaving both beavering at his death/vanishing? Perish Song the thought!!!

As she whispered those last few damning words, a line that was damning as bloody knife, Ventus couldn't help but hang his head in defeat, now feeling like an absolute failure of a man on top being a unthinking scumbag. "Shiva.......I'm........so sorry. I....didn't think of all the......implications and consequence......going on ahead on my search would.......entail. I just wanted......to find that Shedinja and see if I couldn't persuade it to be part of my research and perhaps even join my family......like the Ninjask that it was cast off and created from. I also......wanted to depart from that......Fern's presence, so I.....suppose.......in my.......haste to escape and locate Shedinja........I acted far more freckless and thoughtlessly than I originally thought...... After......After nearly being blown up with my brother and sisters in our search for it.........I think the fears and anguish you're experience are more that......justified.'

The researcher then chuckles at this point, but its a pitful, lifeless thing, and their was a now a ghost of a smile on his face to accompany it.

"The worst part is that I still wish to go after Shedinja, despite my family suffering for it, nearly getting harmed myself, and all the trouble I've caused for you my dear. The species is extraordinarily rare, and the circumstance about its creation from some but not all Nincada shells is shrouded in mystery, so very little is documented on it as a result. That, I feel a.....personal connection to it, as it was ushered into this world as a direct result of helping my Ninjask evolve, so I want to at least attempt to make an offer for it to join me should I find it. .......Strange, how our desires can lead us astray, or down paths we would not have traveled otherwise, isn't it? I can't promise you I'll stop in my quest to find Shedinja.....but I can promise you that I won't make the same mistake I made going after it alone in the first place. *Sighs* I'm so sorry for all this, my love. I'm sorry...."

Yena's support did little to comfort him at this point, but he is sure to give them a wane yet genuine smile and rub their head in thanks (if they let him), signaling they got their sentiments loud and clear.

At the end of her tirade, Ven preferred to be let go, frowning and letting out a tired, unhappy *Sigh* when she suddenly became apologetic over the reaming she gave him, and slowly shook his head in disagreement.

".....You are not the one who should be apologizing for this, dear. As I have said, your.....negative and passonate reaction to my depature is more than justified, so please don't feel culpable for your own feelings. What I did to you....to everyone was wrong, and I should be held to task for it. Otherwise, how am I to learn what is and is not acceptable, and become a wiser person for it......? .......I hate to do this to you, but I need some time to myself so I can.....reflect over my transgression and.......pull myself together after all that's......happened today. .............Good night, Shiva."

With that solemnly said, Ventus briskly departed from his girlfriend and headed towards the tent, both to get rest and do as he said. He was already a mess that was barely coming back together after nearly being made combustible in the explosion, but with Shiva's verbal assault and the realizations they bring.......he could feel himself threatening to fall apart at the seems. That, and he was generally speaking feeling quite miserable himself - and rightly so in his opinion - , so he didn't want to bring his most blessed girlfriend mood down any further than he already has. Hopefully by morning he'll be able to function with at least the semblance of normality......

Spoiler

It is now Day 59.
In the morning, Ditto has returned to its Pokeball.

Mr. Finder: "We're in luck. The tunnel ahead is pretty straight after about an hour of winding. No forking. No big caverns. Lots of Pokemon I don't recognize, though."

Spoiler

Alright, Day 59 then!  Let's get the morning rigmarole outta the way!

Ralts is a bit more tired than Nathan is since he spent the night with Ventus, meaning he was technically on watch too (though he was ultimately more concerned with watching Ventus than anything else).  He ends up getting a bit more sleep in his Dull Premier Ball.  Now, whether Malphena got up to any shenanigans with Ralts or not is another matter...(we can address this in FLASHBACK! PMs if ya want, @Lord Windos)

(...)

Malphena again had almost zero interest in teasing/playing around with Ralts as she stood watch with her master, them, and Turiel, as the main bulk of her attention was divided between making sure Ven was really ok as he said he was and keeping watch of their surrounding. She does have her own priorities, and fortunately for Ralts he was on the bottom of the list at the moment, so he's spared of the screaming banshee's usual molestations! That didn't stop him from starting anything himself, however..... (AKA: If you want them to get some fun revenge on Malphena, now's the time!)

*Flashback Ends?*