[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Iron]

Some new initiatives:

Swiftfire (5) +8, right? Right after Calam.
Raphael: (4) + 8 = 12, replacing Malphena neatly
Ventus: (1)

Sableye Horde Round 2

Potion for Lucifer, +4 HP!

Leer
Calam's gaze is steady on the Sableye. Unhurried. Menacing, but not urgent or worried. Dizzy, by contrast, is leaping about in a frenzy, not sure this is all going to turn out OK.
(2)(5)(3)(5)(1)(2) -1 Defense for the Sableye, giving the Crew two damage dice.

INFERNO
(4)(4)(1)(6)(3) (6*)
(4)(1)(2)(3)(4)(1)
Swiftfire blazes by, trampling one of the Sableye to the ground and setting its ghostly flesh on fire, a rapid-burning lethal flame. The Sableye is up and moving, though, despite everything!

"Show them your mettle, son! A flame that bright will burn even in the afterlife! Maybe even make it think twice about coming back, hmm?"

The cavern's ice is melting furiously, swamping the Sableye and slowing them down. All creatures under 2' tall will be slowed.
Clay and stone walls are revealed, winking through the ice for the first time in centuries, probably.

Swiftfire's Sableye claws at her flank. Drowned in water, the remainder can't get at their favored target, Lucifer, while he's Evading. They return to tormenting the soldiers.

Shadow Claw on Swiftfire
(3)(6)(5)(6)(6) Critical
(6)(1)(5)(3)(3)(6) Swiftfire takes 3 dmg
It's still on fire.

Shadow Clawx3
(1)(2)(2)(6)(5)
(2)(6)(1)(1)(2)
(5)(6)(6)(6)(6) Critical
(4)(4)(5)(1) Captain Bridge takes 3 dmg. He's on his last legs, but he never stops fighting.
(6)(2)(1)(5)(6)(4) Sarge takes 4 dmg 2/8hp

Bridge salutes and tosses Ventus a dirk. Unfortunately, it phases right through him, chilling his hands. It's ok, because Raphael's inspiring presence is now dominating the battlefield.

After You on Doublade.
(4)(1)(3)(3)(3)

Night Slash
(6)(6)(1)
(6)(1) Doublade dices up the closest Sableye. Three are left, one of which is on fire.

Dizzy is running everywhere, trying to Taunt the Sableye. Gustav's Bubbles fill the air too, and Koa is a whirlwind. But none of these moves change anything - the Sableye keep on coming, claws unsheathed.

Helping Hand of the Fairy's Kiss - I like these titles
(6)(5)(6)(6)(3)(6)
"Thanks, Lass! Help me corner this Sableye...do not let it escape, now!"

Crunch
(6)(4)(6)(4)(5)(4)(1) A critical hit, if one could really find a ghost's weak spot.
This Sableye is trapped in Mightyena's pouncing jaws! It can't dodge or roll with the slash of the Bridgemen's blade!

Strike - with Helping Hand!
(6)(4)(1)(6)(3)
(6)(3)(5)(5) Swish! Flick! Another Sableye down. Two left! One's on fire, the other is in Yena's jaws.

The brother draws two dirks and surgically destroys the Sableye Mightyena is treating like a ragdoll.
(2)(2)(6)
(3)(4)
Yena snaps at the fading wisps, growling, fulfilling his training to never let a ghost free!

(5)(2)(3)
(4)(4)
The sergeant grins as he lifts Sableye on his blade until they're face to face. He ignores the heat, though it's making his ghostly eyebrows curl. "Enjoy the gift this young trainer has given you! May its flame be everlasting, you bastard!" It fades away.

Private Bridge begins treating ghostly wounds with ghostly bandages, little more than huge hunks of gauze stuffed into gaping holes. Now the battle is won, the Bridgemen are grimacing and testing their wounded limbs.

Captain Bridge kicks aside the cut gems now littering the floor and comes to attention. "We thank you, adventurers, for easing our inevitable torment at the risk of your own lives. Perhaps the Burn on that sorry Sableye will carry into the afterlife, and deliver unto it a taste of its own medicine. We salute you for your bravery and kindness. I know these qualities will serve you well in your quest! I would offer you my guidance, but my knowledge is lacking and my geas of roaming drives me ever onward. I will have to leave soon, but you must not think me ungrateful! Far from it!"

[Dragonstrike]

Spoiler

INFERNO
(4)(4)(1)(6)(3) (6*)
(4)(1)(2)(3)(4)(1)
Swiftfire blazes by, trampling one of the Sableye to the ground and setting its ghostly flesh on fire, a rapid-burning lethal flame. The Sableye is up and moving, though, despite everything!

"Show them your mettle, son! A flame that bright will burn even in the afterlife! Maybe even make it think twice about coming back, hmm?"

The cavern's ice is melting furiously, swamping the Sableye and slowing them down. All creatures under 2' tall will be slowed.
Clay and stone walls are revealed, winking through the ice for the first time in centuries, probably.

Swiftfire's Sableye claws at her flank. Drowned in water, the remainder can't get at their favored target, Lucifer, while he's Evading. They return to tormenting the soldiers.

Shadow Claw on Swiftfire
(3)(6)(5)(6)(6) Critical
(6)(1)(5)(3)(3)(6) Swiftfire takes 3 dmg
It's still on fire.

Dizzy is running everywhere, trying to Taunt the Sableye. Gustav's Bubbles fill the air too, and Koa is a whirlwind. But none of these moves change anything - the Sableye keep on coming, claws unsheathed.

(5)(2)(3)
(4)(4)
The sergeant grins as he lifts Sableye on his blade until they're face to face. He ignores the heat, though it's making his ghostly eyebrows curl. "Enjoy the gift this young trainer has given you! May its flame be everlasting, you bastard!" It fades away.

Private Bridge begins treating ghostly wounds with ghostly bandages, little more than huge hunks of gauze stuffed into gaping holes. Now the battle is won, the Bridgemen are grimacing and testing their wounded limbs.

Captain Bridge kicks aside the cut gems now littering the floor and comes to attention. "We thank you, adventurers, for easing our inevitable torment at the risk of your own lives. Perhaps the Burn on that sorry Sableye will carry into the afterlife, and deliver unto it a taste of its own medicine. We salute you for your bravery and kindness. I know these qualities will serve you well in your quest! I would offer you my guidance, but my knowledge is lacking and my geas of roaming drives me ever onward. I will have to leave soon, but you must not think me ungrateful! Far from it!"

Seeing how readily Swiftfire engulfs that Sableye in a column of flame and proceeds to try and trample it into the dirt exposed by the attack...it was definitely...something else.  And even then...the gem eater turned living fireball keeps coming, not caring about how damaged it is, nor about how the flames could literally turn it into ash in mere moments...claws unsheathed, ripping and tearing at all in its path...

Nathan's reply is grim, with no hint of remorse, but also no satisfaction.  "...I hope...it does..."

*pant pant*

Nathan's leaning hard on Swiftfire, quite exhausted and...well...sad...

"...I'm just...glad...everyone got out of it...okay..."

He can see spots swimming in front of his eyes.  Ralts pops out of his Dull Premier Ball and gives Nathan a worried look, though he looks a little put off himself.

There was a lot of pain and suffering in the course of that battle, and Nathan looks about ready to collapse from the sheer strain of what Ralts was feeling, from the raw determination of stopping those bullies in their tracks...despite how ridiculously afraid of them he was and still is...

"...Captain...you...definitely didn't deserve to be tormented by them for...hundreds of years...maybe you did wrong once...but the important thing is...you're trying to do right now...without stooping as low as those you're opposing...not letting the past...bog you down...keep fighting...and maybe you'll be free of those mockeries of Sableye one day...thank you...for everything you've done...both in the past...and now..."

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

The heat of the Inferno, the temperature of the blazing flames - it was intense! It crashed over the scene like a wave, causing Shiva to protectively raise her arms in front of her and close her eyes, yet she was afraid despite somehow knowing that things were under control.

Having missed a second of the battle by doing so, she only lowered her guard again as the captain thanked her for support ordered from her fae rabbit. A positive feeling has been awoken, strength has been rekindled and renewed, assurance and hope were running again through her bloodstream! They'll make it. Odds were on their side. If nothing went horribly amiss, in the end it'll be THEM who will be the last one standing, bathing in the sense of......

.....victory. VICTORY! They succeeded, the Sableye were defeated and chased away, they made it! ...Dearest Reshiram. It was completely true what Shiva has suspected, while the danger and threat of this fight were very real and close in massive contrary to any boss battle on screen, the sense of RIGHTNESS and MIGHT as the foe fell was just as real. Now Shiva staggered, thrown off-guard and overwhelmed by that experience, and eventually fell forward on her knees, gasping for breath.

Immediately, both Yena and Azumarill perked up, and came close to their Master - Azu patted her on the shoulder with a worried expression, but gifted Shiva a CONFIDENT smile as soon their gaze met. Weakly, Shiva returned it. Letting out a last and loud howl at the non-visible moon, the mighty butterwolfy began to wag his tail and lick over Shiva's hand, hoping for praise.... Which he received in a scratch and stroke over his massive neck that was practically dripping with fondness. "Hehe.... Haaahhh... Good moves there, both of you. I knew you....*gasp* wouldn't serve to dissappoint me, Yena.... You've grown so much since you leaped in front of me there on Route 4."

Even Dizzy came to Shiva now, having calmed down now that the threat has been dispeled. Quick-checking on all her three Pokemon, much to her delight barely anyone of them has taken damage! No immediate healing needed. Was this the hidden benefit of not being a super-strong battler, being left alone by foes?

With all Yena's, Azu's and Dizzy's help, Shiva made it to stand up again, and when Captain bridge turned to them and spoke his words of thanks, Shiva strengthened and salutated once more.


"A....Always, captain! Glad we made it in the end under your guidance! Where...will you head now, will we ever see you and your soldiers again?"

[Iron]

"Deserve has nothing to do with it. The forces at Atheneum are capable of judgment. The Sentry Fern is not. Not without its master, the shaper of continents. And that master has been asleep since long before blood flowed in my veins. I predict it will still be asleep long after I go to my rest. My fate is more a cruel trick of chance than a weaving of destiny."

The Shedinja comes to land on his shoulder and he pats it absentmindedly.

"New memories in this form are short lived. Any friends I make along the way are fleeting, and fortunately so is the cruelty I experience. But I remember my life and death as if it occurred only yesterday. I do not regret my moral choices...only that I could not be a more effective leader and guardian of those in my trust."

[Iron]

"You may see me again, if you explore Mt. Sentry as I do. Before you leave, I have a gift for you. I have been waiting to bestow it upon a worthy individual. It is not far; fortune smiles upon our meeting. Follow me."

He leads the party through the mist and meltwater to a boulder. Lucifer is rubbing his hands and getting more and more excited. He keeps trying to Frisk Captain Bridge and passing right through. Can't land on his shoulder either!

"Move this boulder aside to find the gift I wish I had discovered centuries ago. Things would have been so different..."

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

They...have been called 'worthy' by Captain Bridge! Awwwwwwwww. What a wonderful and pride-alluring feeling, the posture and salute of Shiva intensified once more while she couldn't help that delighted smile. "Whatever your gift may be, I'll keep it in awe and memoria of you and your brigade, may your further path be marked with victory and determination wherever your roaming drive may lead you! All for the captain!"

"Azu.... Can you please help us with that boulder using your Huge Power?" (She's at -1 Pain, but she should stil be able to do it, I guess.)

[Dragonstrike]

"Deserve has nothing to do with it. The forces at Atheneum are capable of judgment. The Sentry Fern is not. Not without its master, the shaper of continents. And that master has been asleep since long before blood flowed in my veins. I predict it will still be asleep long after I go to my rest. My fate is more a cruel trick of chance than a weaving of destiny."

The Shedinja comes to land on his shoulder and he pats it absentmindedly.

"New memories in this form are short lived. Any friends I make along the way are fleeting, and fortunately so is the cruelty I experience. But I remember my life and death as if it occurred only yesterday. I do not regret my moral choices...only that I could not be a more effective leader and guardian of those in my trust."

Nathan perks up a little at the mention of the 'shaper of continents', though he still feels a little woozy.

...and he grows even sadder when he hears Bridge and his men have incredibly short term memories.

"...keep fighting those specters, Captain...keep defending those you trust...if Creshire's Regigigas does awake one day, I hope it looks upon you favorably for doing so...I hope that if there's anything you might remember from our meeting, it's that..."

"You may see me again, if you explore Mt. Sentry as I do. Before you leave, I have a gift for you. I have been waiting to bestow it upon a worthy individual. It is not far; fortune smiles upon our meeting. Follow me."

He leads the party through the mist and meltwater to a boulder. Lucifer is rubbing his hands and getting more and more excited. He keeps trying to Frisk Captain Bridge and passing right through. Can't land on his shoulder either!

"Move this boulder aside to find the gift I wish I had discovered centuries ago. Things would have been so different..."

Oh?  Well now, this is interesting.  Time to follow! With Ralts's help, Nathan puts the KOed Solosis in his bag for the time being.

...though Nathan is struggling to walk straight, so he ends up having to sit tight on Swiftfire while the group follows Bridge. She's quite pained (-2), but she'll put up with it for a little while for Nathan.

Nathan gives Captain Bridge a silent nod of thanks.

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

Some new initiatives:

Swiftfire (5) +8, right? Right after Calam.
Raphael: (4) + 8 = 12, replacing Malphena neatly
Ventus: (1)

Sableye Horde Round 2

Potion for Lucifer, +4 HP!


INFERNO

Swiftfire blazes by, trampling one of the Sableye to the ground and setting its ghostly flesh on fire, a rapid-burning lethal flame. The Sableye is up and moving, though, despite everything!

"Show them your mettle, son! A flame that bright will burn even in the afterlife! Maybe even make it think twice about coming back, hmm?"

The cavern's ice is melting furiously, swamping the Sableye and slowing them down. All creatures under 2' tall will be slowed.
Clay and stone walls are revealed, winking through the ice for the first time in centuries, probably.

Swiftfire's Sableye claws at her flank. Drowned in water, the remainder can't get at their favored target, Lucifer, while he's Evading. They return to tormenting the soldiers.


(...)


Bridge salutes and tosses Ventus a dirk. Unfortunately, it phases right through him, chilling his hands. It's ok, because Raphael's inspiring presence is now dominating the battlefield.

(...)

The sergeant grins as he lifts Sableye on his blade until they're face to face. He ignores the heat, though it's making his ghostly eyebrows curl. "Enjoy the gift this young trainer has given you! May its flame be everlasting, you bastard!" It fades away.

Private Bridge begins treating ghostly wounds with ghostly bandages, little more than huge hunks of gauze stuffed into gaping holes. Now the battle is won, the Bridgemen are grimacing and testing their wounded limbs.

Captain Bridge kicks aside the cut gems now littering the floor and comes to attention. "We thank you, adventurers, for easing our inevitable torment at the risk of your own lives. Perhaps the Burn on that sorry Sableye will carry into the afterlife, and deliver unto it a taste of its own medicine. We salute you for your bravery and kindness. I know these qualities will serve you well in your quest! I would offer you my guidance, but my knowledge is lacking and my geas of roaming drives me ever onward. I will have to leave soon, but you must not think me ungrateful! Far from it!"

(Few questions, Iron: XP for all of us, can we pick up those Gems for profit, and where did Shedinja go?)

The Unfettered empath couldn't help but calmly raise an appraising eyebrow as Nathan charged right in with Swiftfire and let loose the hell fires of INFERNO on the Sableyes , as that was one of the very last things he'd expect that boy to do....before he offered an approving nod of his head to them. 'Its appears they too were infuriated with the repugnant, needless viscousness of those fiends .....good. Those demons are completely undeserving of any mercies, and I'm glad that Nathan and I are of a like mind on this. Now, let us all banish these vile specters to the netherworld they reside in, and may they all roast in the flames of their own sinfulness. '

(...)

Despite his current state Ventus couldn't help but grimace in discomfort/disappointment as the dirk lack of coporiality became apparent to him, the sensations enough to dampened his frigid tranquil fury before he could grit his teeth and push past this! He may not be able to wade in and directly dispel those fiends himself, but through Raphael's divine aid and presence he can still support Bridge and all his valiant soldiers!

(...)

The researcher mirrored the sergeant's grin with a razor sharp, downright viscous smile as they gave it a proper sendoff, chipping in with it by saying: "Know now the wickedness and folly of your dispecable actions Sableye, and may it eternally haunt you as you suffer in the hell of your own artiface. Begone. " Raphael and Lucifer were swift to backup their father's/brother's sentiments, letting out strong cries of defiance against those tenebraous fiends! Go away, and stay away!

(...)

Once that was said and things began to wind down, Ventus closed his eyes and took a deep, deep breath and then let out in a great big and heavy *Sigh* as he released it and most the pent up vitriol athat had filled him so. Now with the Sableye eradicated and everyone safe, he could began the process of calming down and reverting to his normal state of mind, but it would be awhile yet before he could get all his hate and anger out of his system/tightly under his yoke. Still, his mood and posture had lightened considerably, his eyes no longer shaded with his fell feelings, and the urge for violent retribution against his enemies had faded to background noise.

In short, he still riled up by what happened, but he's not about to explode because of it or act.......more ruthlessly unless something triggers him.

Hearing the gratitude of Captain Bridge for their aid managed to bring a small smile to Ventus face as he bowed to them in return. "It was an honor to fight along side you and your men as well, Captain. I too hope that Sableye is thoroughly cleansed by the fires of damnation that Swiftfire inflicted upon it, though in my experience rarely is evil completely eradicated by the actions of the just. Once again, from the bottom of my heart I thank you for the advice you have given us, as it will certainly serve us all well in our journey towards Anthenum. That and the camaradence you showed us despite we being complete strangers to you is more that enough to show your sincerity. As for your geas......"

The sociologist hesitate for a brief moment, before asking them: "......Is there anything I could do to free you from such an ornous burden, and help you move on? Or at least provide you some form of comfort as you travel these tunnels, if I or the others of my group can't help."

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

"Deserve has nothing to do with it. The forces at Atheneum are capable of judgment. The Sentry Fern is not. Not without its master, the shaper of continents. And that master has been asleep since long before blood flowed in my veins. I predict it will still be asleep long after I go to my rest. My fate is more a cruel trick of chance than a weaving of destiny."

The Shedinja comes to land on his shoulder and he pats it absentmindedly.

"New memories in this form are short lived. Any friends I make along the way are fleeting, and fortunately so is the cruelty I experience. But I remember my life and death as if it occurred only yesterday. I do not regret my moral choices...only that I could not be a more effective leader and guardian of those in my trust."

Ventus too is intrigued by the vague but notable reference to what no doubt was Regigigas, but his smile turned into a frown of distaste as he heard from the Captain that not only was he indefinitely stuck wandering Mt. Sentry until further notice, but that also their memories of their Encounter would be soon lost to them.

"I.....see. That is.....most unfortunate and terrible, Captain. I wish I could do more to remedy the plight you and your company experience......but know that we'll forever keep you in our memories, and pray for all of your salvation someday."

A thought then came to the researcher, causing a look of surprise to color his face before it shift to a smile as he spoke to the Ghost Brigade once more.

"Your memory may be fleeting, but I may have a solution that could possible preserve at least some scraps of it: songs and poetry. Construct a ballad or prose of certain events and practice them enough times, and maybe you could keep those events in mind even long after the actual memories have faded away. It would also do much to boost moral, which is invaluable here in such forboading environs such as these. Whether or not this works or you have already tried such is unknown to me, but its the least I can do to help and repay your kindness, Captain Bridge...."

Spoiler

"You may see me again, if you explore Mt. Sentry as I do. Before you leave, I have a gift for you. I have been waiting to bestow it upon a worthy individual. It is not far; fortune smiles upon our meeting. Follow me."

He leads the party through the mist and meltwater to a boulder. Lucifer is rubbing his hands and getting more and more excited. He keeps trying to Frisk Captain Bridge and passing right through. Can't land on his shoulder either!

"Move this boulder aside to find the gift I wish I had discovered centuries ago. Things would have been so different..."

The researcher was startled by the hidden gift offered by Captain Bridge, but he recovered quickly and offered them another smile. "I can't thank you enough, Captain. I honestly, truly can't. May Reshirim and Zekrom guide your way in Truth and Belief, and let Kyurem freeze the souls of those that dare torment you."

Ven was also quick to call out to his little devil as he say them pestering the good Captain, shouting to them. "Lucifer, quit bother the man and come over here! I know the thought of treasure excites you, but that doesn't mean you should bother others because of it!

After saying that (Reaction from Lucifer?) and seeing Shiva + Azumarill working on removing the boulder blocking the Captain's gift, the sociologist decided to aid her by recalling Lucifer (for now) and summoning Michael in his place, before asking them to lend a hand in pushing it out of the way!

[Iron]

Shedinja is still with Bridge. It doesn't flee whenever Ventus gets close.

You pick up $15,000 worth of beautifully cut gems. They seem real enough to every test you can make. Nathan can identify them as the type commonly found in Bridge's Gem Mine (mostly garnets).

Everyone gets 14XP to divide among the Pokemon who were in this battle, and earns 10 XP for their character!