[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Lord Windos]

The fearful voice of a familiar fae enthusiast answered. "Battle? I'm.... I'm prepared, I guess! But Ven, how are we supposed to battle properly and even hit our aim if we can't even SEE it? It's....coming closer though!"

"We can't see them, but our Pokémon can sense them better than us, so they'll be able to deal with our adversaries ! If all else fails, we'll blanket the area they are in with Spread Moves, or draw back and force them to pursue us in clear terrain! Whatever happen, you must have faith and be ready! Now, come out you metallic specters, and face us so we can turn you into scrap."

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Forcing whatever is coming there out of the mist out of the mist by running away at first and THEN fight it on clear terrain sounded like a decent idea, but the fae-enthusiast doesn't want to think about what could happen if any fleeing-at-first fails and the 'enemy' would come to them without mercy!

These....metallic sounds sounded HORRIBLE and TERRIFYING to Shiva, the fact that there's no way to make out what it causing these is only adding to that! Still... i-if needed, she'll fight! With...everything she was capable to bring up!

In the hope to blaze her spirits, she reached out a little as if searching for something, but instead of the aimed hand of Ventus she meets the fur of the two canines in front of her, while Azumarill stayed at Shiva's side rather boldly.

There's time for any Pokemon to use a move or prep an Evade.

Mentioned Howl goes for Yena, a Future Sight came from Dizzy; Azu can't really make her Helping Hand go for Yena's next move ( = not that Howl), can she? She could possibly manipulate all that mist in order to create some sort of rainy weather, but that'd do no good to Swiftfire and Rose.

[Spiritmon]

Heart bring Koa to act as a power house in using stealth attacks with Phantom Force, and Patrat to cause great power. "Patrat, you have better vision in this darkness thanks to Keen Eye, so be ready to face foe. Use Work Up to prepare against any danger. Koa, prepare yourself with your Dragon Dance. We must have full power against anything who might be around."

[Iron]

Patrat peers into the darkness, and suddenly runs to hide behind Heart!

The clank of metal intensifies, the tromping boots arrive, just as Solosis slips away into the mist.

Out of the haze steps a broad figure in red uniform. Its coat is bedecked with insignia and emblems and medals. At its side, a filigreed sword. On its back, a shield. A little chain mail protrudes from beneath the coat. It wears a red hat in the early League style.
Heart recognizes the ghostly soldier from upper Mt. Sentry! Two more soldiers step out to flank the Captain, for so Nathan judges the figure to be, based on its medals.

Calam pounces on Solosis.
Pursuit
(3)(6)(4)(2)(2)(3)(6)(4)(2)(4)(1)
(6)(4)(1)(5)(2)(6)(3)(5)
Calam trots back, bearing the fainted body of Solosis. He seems unconcerned with the spectre.

The ghost stops right in front of Mr. Finder. The mist seems to thin a bit, and you are able to see each other more clearly. With a crisp turn of the heel, the ghostly soldier salutes! "Who travels here, in the dark bowels of Mt. Sentry?" moans the ghost.

Dizzy's Future Sight crashes into the ghost. It shakes its head and repeats its question.

[Dragonstrike]

Spoiler

Patrat peers into the darkness, and suddenly runs to hide behind Heart!

The clank of metal intensifies, the tromping boots arrive, just as Solosis slips away into the mist.

Out of the haze steps a broad figure in red uniform. Its coat is bedecked with insignia and emblems and medals. At its side, a filigreed sword. On its back, a shield. A little chain mail protrudes from beneath the coat. It wears a red hat in the early League style.
Heart recognizes the ghostly soldier from upper Mt. Sentry! Two more soldiers step out to flank the Captain, for so Nathan judges the figure to be, based on its medals.

Calam pounces on Solosis.
Pursuit
(3)(6)(4)(2)(2)(3)(6)(4)(2)(4)(1)
(6)(4)(1)(5)(2)(6)(3)(5)
Calam trots back, bearing the fainted body of Solosis. He seems unconcerned with the spectre.

The ghost stops right in front of Mr. Finder. The mist seems to thin a bit, and you are able to see each other more clearly. With a crisp turn of the heel, the ghostly soldier salutes! "Who travels here, in the dark bowels of Mt. Sentry?" moans the ghost.

Dizzy's Future Sight crashes into the ghost. It shakes its head and repeats its question.

...a ghost.  A true, ACTUAL ghost of a long dead soldier...

...

...that...is...terrifying.

...

...well, as long as Calam's not worried, it's probably okay...

...but that doesn't lessen just how nervous Nathan is right now.  How afraid.  He's stunned...nay, scared silent for the time being.

...well, at least Calam caught Solosis before it had a chance to run...

[Spiritmon]

Spoiler

Patrat peers into the darkness, and suddenly runs to hide behind Heart!

The clank of metal intensifies, the tromping boots arrive, just as Solosis slips away into the mist.

Out of the haze steps a broad figure in red uniform. Its coat is bedecked with insignia and emblems and medals. At its side, a filigreed sword. On its back, a shield. A little chain mail protrudes from beneath the coat. It wears a red hat in the early League style.
Heart recognizes the ghostly soldier from upper Mt. Sentry! Two more soldiers step out to flank the Captain, for so Nathan judges the figure to be, based on its medals.

Calam pounces on Solosis.
Pursuit
(3)(6)(4)(2)(2)(3)(6)(4)(2)(4)(1)
(6)(4)(1)(5)(2)(6)(3)(5)
Calam trots back, bearing the fainted body of Solosis. He seems unconcerned with the spectre.

The ghost stops right in front of Mr. Finder. The mist seems to thin a bit, and you are able to see each other more clearly. With a crisp turn of the heel, the ghostly soldier salutes! "Who travels here, in the dark bowels of Mt. Sentry?" moans the ghost.

Dizzy's Future Sight crashes into the ghost. It shakes its head and repeats its question.

Heart was quite surprise to see the guy again. "Hey, I know you! Sorta. I meet you when we in our way in Mt. Sentry. I give you some food. We dont want to disturb you oh noble ghosts. We are in a important mission."

[Iron]

"Who travels here, in the dark bowels of Mt. Sentry?"

[Lord Windos]

Internet FUCKING ATE MY POST AGAIN, EVEN THOUGH I DOUBLE CHECK IT WAS SAFE TO POST! GRAH!

Time for the Cliff Notes, 'cause fuck if I am going to type that all out again!

- Ven's TERRIFIED and instantly put on intense guardedness by the sight of three Ancient Cheshirian Soldiers Ghost, and his Pokémon pulls close to him. What Malphena's and Lucifer's personal reactions are I leave to Iron. He's also apprehensive as hell, and is actively resisting the urge to flee or just try to fight them.
- He doesn't pick a fight with them, though, as his extensive knowledge on arcane/supernatural (Know thy enemy!) tells him loud and clear those are particularly dangerous/powerful spirits, and that tangoing with them without a trained exorcist or a powerful Ghost Pokémon is a bad idea. Seeing as he's not the formor and his doesn't want to endanger his sister, he's not provoking them!
- All he says to the Ghosts is "Ventus Zackarieh, Pokémon Scholar. These are my compainions [Insert Names of Everyone, and their respective occupations]. We are traveling these mountain tunnels in search of Anthenuem, and we mean you no harm unless you mean harm for us. Please, let us pass soldiers, and we can continue our prospective business unimpeded....." in a guard but polite tone of voice, with an expression that masks his inner terror/negativity. He want to get past them, so why not try the direct but diplomatic approach?
-Afterwards he goes silent, and lets others speak to them unless the Ghosts asks a question of the group/himself specifically.

That's all! Hopefully we all won't be joining their trope by the end of this Encounter!

[Iron]

Ventus glances at Malphena and Lucifer. Lucifer is trembling, but you can also see his fingers are twitching, twitching, twitching!! Something excites him as much as it scares him.

Malphena has that overjoyed expression you saw earlier. She flies above the Captain's head and swivels dramatically to face you, just as a dimly-glowing Shedinja appears beside her!

When you speak, the captain answers. His accent is strange; it's of another time. "Ventus Zackariah. I am Captain Bridge. This ghostly insect spoke of your act of kindness. Too many of those who seek Atheneum are always willing and prepared to be brutal. Mark my words! It will make a difference in the end. The way you treat Pokemon and people - Atheneum knows. Through its power, the impossible is made possible." He gestures to himself at this. "And those who enter - mark my words! those who enter Atheneum are forever changed. All who enter...they become something a little more than human, for better or for worse. Actions make a difference - here in reality where you stand, in the Distortion World where the mages meddle, and also in the Atheneum where sprites and knowledge dwell. Mark my words, adventurers!"

"Centuries ago, my soldiers and I were lost in Mt. Sentry. Perhaps I led us in search of too many secrets. My intent - to defeat my horrid enemy! - led us too deep into these labyrinths. Atheneum is only a lodestone for those who seek it if it also seeks them! Here in these tunnels, too many good men starved to death. Water we had, food we lacked...but much knowledge we could have gained, had we but acted differently. Be warned! Atheneum has guardians. Protectors. The Sentry Fern spreads its power throughout the mountain, watching, determining which guardians need be awakened. How you treat them will determine how you are treated in return. The mages bear no sympathy for those who get in their way. Mark my words! This is the way to distinguish you most keenly... from them."

[Dragonstrike]

Spoiler

Ventus glances at Malphena and Lucifer. Lucifer is trembling, but you can also see his fingers are twitching, twitching, twitching!! Something excites him as much as it scares him.

Malphena has that overjoyed expression you saw earlier. She flies above the Captain's head and swivels dramatically to face you, just as a dimly-glowing Shedinja appears beside her!

When you speak, the captain answers. His accent is strange; it's of another time. "Ventus Zackariah. I am Captain Bridge. This ghostly insect spoke of your act of kindness. Too many of those who seek Atheneum are always willing and prepared to be brutal. Mark my words! It will make a difference in the end.  The way you treat Pokemon and people - Atheneum knows. Through its power, the impossible is made possible." He gestures to himself at this. "And those who enter - mark my words! those who enter Atheneum are forever changed. All who enter...they become something a little more than human, for better or for worse. Actions make a difference - here in reality where you stand, in the Distortion World where the mages meddle, and also in the Atheneum where sprites and knowledge dwell. Mark my words, adventurers!"

"Centuries ago, my soldiers and I were lost in Mt. Sentry. Perhaps I led us in search of too many secrets. My intent - to defeat my horrid enemy! - led us too deep into these labyrinths. Atheneum is only a lodestone for those who seek it if it also seeks them! Here in these tunnels, too many good men starved to death. Water we had, food we lacked...but much knowledge we could have gained, had we but acted differently. Be warned! Atheneum has guardians. Protectors. The Sentry Fern spreads its power throughout the mountain, watching, determining which guardians need be awakened. How you treat them will determine how you are treated in return. The mages bear no sympathy for those who get in their way. Mark my words! This is the way to distinguish you most keenly... from them."

Despite how bone-chillingly scared Nathan is, he's listening very closely to what's being said.

...he's still too scared to speak at the moment, though.  In fact, he can't help but think back to the encounter with Carbink again...