[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Dragonstrike]

"The Gauntlet rises like a fist from the Veil.
Clenching the thunderbolt of Time, it waits.
Within it, Elder powers nest
And Earthpower a nauseating wave."

Hmmm...

"...so is the Gauntlet the Stone, or are they two different things?"

...

"...if I may ask something else, what can you say about Atheneum, if anything?"

[Iron]

He nods at your wise questions. Solomon is jealous > : [

"The Gauntlet, that Stone beyond the Stone,
Is a reflection of that eternal artifact, the Stone.
Offset, refracted, like spear in water.
In Atheneum's courtyard it rises."
He nods at Valder.

"Atheneum is the power of kingdoms.
Knowledge, secreted away over Time.
Elder tomes of water, wood, and fire.
Describing the secrets of life."

[Dragonstrike]

He nods at your wise questions. Solomon is jealous > : [

"The Gauntlet, that Stone beyond the Stone,
Is a reflection of that eternal artifact, the Stone.
Offset, refracted, like spear in water.
In Atheneum's courtyard it rises."
He nods at Valder.

"Atheneum is the power of kingdoms.
Knowledge, secreted away over Time.
Elder tomes of water, wood, and fire.
Describing the secrets of life."

Nathan looks at Solomon and shrugs apologetically.  He's not quite sure if Solomon is jealous because this Slowking knows more than him about these topics or because Nathan isn't asking Solomon any of these questions...

Nathan turns to address the group next, since has a question for everyone.

"...well, what do you guys think?  Do we continue on, become 'more than human' in the quest for Atheneum and the knowledge it holds?"

He especially looks at Valder when he asks that.  Valder might be the only one present with a real reason to go there...whatever that reason might truly be...


...and he also seems to be their key to getting there in the first place...

[Lord Windos]

"......So long as I can avoid whatever 'forces' that the Gauntlet uses to......transform others, I will continue to journey towards Antheneum with you all. Otherwise, I will stay within this area, and with Turial and Michael's aid help seal off and fortify this passageway from the Scimitars, and perhaps rally the local Pokémon to help defend the area more vigorously. Slowking, is that possible? To avoid the Gauntlet's influence and whatever else within Anthenuem that can make a man.......not quite a man?"

Ventus response in a quiet yet serious tone, turning towards the tail-less scholar with an air of calmness that seemed....stiff and uncomfortable to those with a strong sense of empathy (basically Kirlia) and stared at them. Splitting up the group was never a good idea in such hostile environments, especially since the last time he went off on his own he was nearly blown up along his ironclad insect and Lucifer, but he was absolutely ADAMANT in his desire NOT to be....to be twisted into something so abhorrently supernatural and into an antithesis to his beliefs, so if it came down to it....so be it. He could understand the sacrifice everyone would have to make to reach Antheneum and let them go unmolested by him, though, and do his best to accept when they return (hopefully), no matter how......different they become....

Oh, how he loathes the arcane and magical, and all the terrible and wicked things it brings.

[Iron]

The Slowking points to the Unown that say "MORE than a man."
And he looks very confused, maybe a little disappointed, as to why you'd want that. Still, he nods - the answer to your question, whether the change can be avoided, is yes.

[Lord Windos]

The Slowking points to the Unown that say "MORE than a man."
And he looks very confused, maybe a little disappointed, as to why you'd want that. Still, he nods - the answer to your question, whether the change can be avoided, is yes.

"I know what the message means, Slowking. My choice of words were intentional. Thank you for answering my question."

The researcher responds in slow, calm and stilled tone of voice, heavily implying that the idea of anything than 'purely human' was degradation at its finest to him.

When they displayed how perplexed it was with his desires to remain as he was, Ventus stared deeply in their eyes with a withdrawn, haunted look, and just quietly said this: "I've seen first hand what happens when someone becomes 'more than human' , and I do not want to share their fate. The only changes I go through is according to my belief and desires, and nothing more. Think of me a fool for my choice, scholar of Antheneum, but I rather be that than anything that I am not."

He turns away from the tail-less Slowking and nodded to the rest of the group, saying to them: "Then it is settled. We journey towards Antheneum together, now as we have before." He then wentsilent for the rest of the discussion unless prompted, as the further reinforcement of the group's goal being a place drenched in otherworldly and elderitch power..... it disquieted him greatly enough he rather keep his peace then speak and invite more discussion about it. The idea of finding and entering that place of hidden knowledge was now a deeply forboding proposition for the paranoid sociologist more than ever, but he knew it must be done to in order to secure it against the even worse incursion of those foolish and abominable archmages.

'Sometimes, one must be willing to put aside their fears and reservations for the greater good....' he thought to himself, mulling over his thoughts and managing his discomfort the best he could as he watched on.

'.....Unless doing so cost them everything they worked so hard to achieve or maintain, that is. Oh Reshirim, I pray that will not be the case for all of us by the time our quest is finished and beyond.....'

[Dragonstrike]

The Slowking points to the Unown that say "MORE than a man."
And he looks very confused, maybe a little disappointed, as to why you'd want that. Still, he nods - the answer to your question, whether the change can be avoided, is yes.

Nathan frowns too.  Mostly because if what the tailless Slowking says is true, the Elder Unown text and what Captain Bridge said are very misleading.

Kirlia looks sad.  You didn't have to be psychic to have known this reaction from Ventus was coming...

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

In a respectful distance but close enough to show that she's paying attention (one or two steps away), Shiva all calmly listened as the wise and wild Slowking shared its lyrics with them all. But not only that, she was also recordings its sayings (except the first one as it came unexpected, but she can easily remember the four lines) with her cell so that the group can rehear them if necessary. If Slowking reacts or objects, she'll friendlily tell it that she's doing that exactly for this purpose and that there is nothing to fear. There never is to it from her side.

She frowns at the messages, puts the curiosity that this Pokemon SPEAKS aside as that's not prominent now. But...there is a definite hint of interest and enlightment in her gaze as she musters the wise Water-Psychic Type. When it has finished, she raises her voice towards it once more, speaking to it all calmly and softly, an elusive ting cloaking her words. "I thank thee for your insight and information, wise and old Slowking. Yes... I think I can understand now to a degree what this.......VEIL will likely be. We'll meet the Stone that you describe as the Gauntlet first, then pass this Veil and are forever changed before we'll be.......there. Secrets of life, you say....." She bows to the Slowking.

When she rises again, she faces it with a small, but definitely warm smile (despite the cold) and holds non-intimidatingly eye contact for a little longer than normal before she speaks up once more: " Forever changed... More than human... Know that my mind is open and that I'll welcome this change with figurative open arms. If Atheneum calls for us, then I cannot and WILL not deny its call, but follow it till the end." Her gaze intuitively wandered to her chosen partner, an older Sociologist/@Lord Windos, and it remained fixated on him as she just looked him rather deep into the eyes. No fear was within hers. She has decided...and can't take this decision back anymore. Change, enlightment, being more that she is is what this fae enthusiast desires. She does utterly understand that Ventus himself may be opposed to it - but the question is that if his most dear and closest person is so determined and does not react to his stiffness of voice that she unmistakably picks up, is he willing to give this 'change' a chance? No change and no other happening can rip these two, enthusiast of fairies and nature and seeker for a better bond between human and Pokemon, apart anymore, that he should know. She'll ALWAYS stay by his side, and subtly expects the same from him. He won't be........alone. 

"I'm having....some remaining questions to you, wise king of all Slowpoke and Slowbro.....if you allow." Before she'll ask them however, she's beckoning Valder/@Nylon to please come closer. "First... Am I right in the assumption that we'll have to prove our rightfulness, our determination, ourselves worthy of reaching our destiny in one last and final act against any forces the Secret Library may show to us? Guardians.... I cannot believe that it has no direct ones. Second, how will we...KNOW that we have passed the Veil or are close to it, WILL we notice it in some way? Change is a fluctuating thing, but I wish to experience it with all that is possible. Last..." She shares a quick glance at Valder. "He here has once spoke and shown us some symbols, runes even, that I am not only taking as some sort of keys to our destination, but have also practiced drawing myself. But how....will we know where to inscribe them into?"

(Oh, right... @Dragonstrike, don't you want to, well, give Slowking his tail back? It likely can't just magically reaffix it, but I'd guess it'd be a nice act or worth trying anyway. Just asking!)

[Iron]

Slowking's eyes twitch as if he's searching through his memory for a suitable answer.

"The Stone before my eyes, carved with symbols, seeming to writhe and move.
As I passed through, I stood ere the Gauntlet, and it did not try me nor test me, yet I resolved to place my hand upon it and became heartened.
Atheneum within sight. Guardians, six fell statues, and four Apricorn fruits above.
They did try me and test me, plying me for word and deed, and at last I passed through those secret gates."

[Dragonstrike]

(Oh, right... @Dragonstrike, don't you want to, well, give Slowking his tail back? It likely can't just magically reaffix it, but I'd guess it'd be a nice act or worth trying anyway. Just asking!)

Slowpoke Tails grow back given enough time, so they don't really mind if they lose just their tails.  Might not be a good idea to mention Nathan might have the tail that Slowking lost...

Slowking's eyes twitch as if he's searching through his memory for a suitable answer.

"The Stone before my eyes, carved with symbols, seeming to writhe and move.
As I passed through, I stood ere the Gauntlet, and it did not try me nor test me, yet I resolved to place my hand upon it and became heartened.
Atheneum within sight. Guardians, six fell statues, and four Apricorn fruits above.
They did try me and test me, plying me for word and deed, and at last I passed through those secret gates."

Well, after hearing this, Nathan has an interesting thought...

"...another question, then, if you don't mind me asking: are you able to talk because of that trip, or is that something you've always been able to do since evolving?"