[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Dragonstrike]

A loud bark escaped Yena who has returned to his position at Shiva's side after having helped the others with the Reuniclus' transmitters, mostly aimed to Nathan to get a move on. He looked confident and even wagged his tail a little, seemingly delighted that the immediate threat of the chained Reuniclus has been dealt with.

Shiva keeps silent, but it'd only need a hand gesture from her and Yena would leap to also end things for the lethally hurted exemplar. Indeed, rather slowly she raises her arm...... but only to wave Dizzy to please come to her again.

...that's not very comforting.  It just serves to make Nathan all the more nervous...

Once those Heal Pulses are accounted for, Nathan will be ready to get a move on, (though that's currently mostly due to Valder's actions)

[Iron]

The Heal Pulses are already in an earlier post.

Dizzy trots over, but he seems in a hurry.

Noivern is excited to fly upon the surface once more, and he'll be happy to carry Ventus.

[Dragonstrike]

The Heal Pulses are already in an earlier post.

Oh, so they are.  Must have missed that somehow.  Blegh, only 2 HP healed for Gustav...well, I suppose that's fine for now, since 4/8 is a lot better than 2/8.  Onwards, as there's no more time to waste!

Nathan's got Calam out now along with Kirlia as everyone progresses.  

...though his bag feels all the heavier now with Solosis in it once again.

(By the way, how much exp was that encounter worth?)

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

(Good on you for thinking about how Nathan's reacting to all of this, Windos!)



Nathan puts Solosis back in his bag.  "...Ditto...use...*pant*...Synthesis to heal back up...*pant*..."  Three uses, 3 HP, getting Ditto back to full health.  Simple enough.  Ditto's second Transformation today will be Gustav the Clawitzer again to get a few Heal Pulses going.  (Gustav is definitely getting a Mega Launcher boosted one from Ditto.  Kirlia can use one apiece on Malphena, Haunter, and Tropius since they're not as badly hurt)

Nathan is...well, physically fine, but...something's bothering him...

...for one, Kirlia is out of his pokeball, grimacing slightly.  He happily breaks one of the transmitters himself, but he also feels...just a little pained.  He's not actually hurt, but there's still that ever so slight feeling of immense pain...and it's making him and Nathan uncomfortable.  Those Reuniclus might not have reacted much to taking those Lethal blows...but that doesn't mean they didn't feel the pain it brought.

For two, seeing a Lethal Crunch so readily used...and by Shiva no less...after she said...

They're dead, no more than a husk.

Spoiler

...Nathan isn't sure what to feel about that right now.  About her.  Kirlia's giving Shiva a strange, worried, slightly scared look.  He can feel that sadness, but...he can also feel the pain her winged Mightyena inflicted so readily at her command.

Nathan thinks about something else that Valder said to him at an earlier point too...

I kill to survive, and I don't like taking happy chances.

Spoiler

Nathan keeps glancing in Valder's direction, trying to see what the mercenary is doing in the aftermath of this battle...

(@Nylon, you're input on how Valder wants to deal with these Reuniclus would be appreciated here, but it's not entirely necessary.  It would be very helpful for Nathan, though.)

...and he did notice that Dizzy didn't kill these Reuniclus as well...just broke the transmitters and left them be.  But he also didn't seem to care much for the Lethally harmed ones either way...

...

...

...Nathan is, quite frankly, a bit of a conflicted mess right now.  So while one might have expected him to try and fix up the lethally harmed Reuniclus that's still alive...he hasn't yet.

He's just sitting on the floor with Kirlia, trying to cope with the mess that is his current emotional state and figure out just what in the Distortion World he wants to do about this situation...




(Slightly different topic: Consistency check for @Iron: Soooo...is Transform going to copy Base HP or not?  Didn't we establish that it wouldn't in the meta thread?  Doesn't matter much in this case since Synthesis can heal off all the damage Ditto took, but it could definitely still matter going forward)

Spoiler

Valder looks at the Reuniclus for a moment and looks away. He'll inspect them for anything of interest, but he'd rather not touch anything gooey and dead, even Valder has standards.
 Valder doesn't like this location, he believes the group should hurry up.
"We need to go, bos- Ventus, I mean" He says while he looks at Ventus.

Valder thanks Nate for healing his Haunter. He appreciates that!

Spoiler

Well, those 4 Heal Pulses still have to be rolled out.  I think that can be done pretty quickly, though.  We probably want to be healed up before moving on, I assume.

...and Valder's insistence that the group moves on and not worry about these Reuniclus any more (on top of thanking him and Kirlia for the healing) does help ground Nathan a little.

...there's just not much he can do for these Reuniclus in this situation, deep underground as they are...no extra time to dilly dally since they're being pursued, the wild pokemon down here, (if any) might still get them...can't haul them around, obviously...no guarantees the Scimitars will care enough about them to even attempt bringing them back...

...it's still not a thought Nathan enjoys entertaining, though...

(It's hard not to, after all the fights we've had over this issue. Ven's content with the losses that have been inflicted on the Scimitars too, so that's also a reason he's not pressing the issue.)

Sometime after comforting Shiva, Ven went over to address how.....off put Nathan was from this expedient and brutal Encounter with the soulless Reuniculi, placing a hand on their shoulder as they looked deeply within their eyes.

"I would not overly burden yourself with the deaths of some of the Reuniculus, Nathan, nor concern yourself with Shiva's own.....Lethal actions against them. They already were suffering a living, hellish existence devoid of all feeling, emotion, or soul , so slaying them and forever freeing them from such a horrible state and their abominable master is what a consider a righteous, merciful act. One that I would prefer to enact on the rest of the still living ones, too."

A large *Sigh* exited the researcher as he closed his eyes and shook his head.

"However, I well know you have a distinctly different perspective and idealogy in regards to Pokémon death, and I know how conflicted you feel about this, so I will not pressure you to do as I would, or act against your own desires and instigate a fight between us. I only ask for your permission. Give it to me, and I will put the rest out of their misery, and if you do not, I will leave them be and let them fall into the hands of the Scimitars once more. The choice is entirely yours."

He took his hand off of the young scholar's shoulders and motions to the rest of the group, as they were preparing to head onwards to their final/one of their final destinations. He was sure to give Valder a warm smile for his focus on their goal, along with a nod of his head.

"Regardless, we need to get a move on, Nathan. We are close to are goal, but so are our enemies, so we must get their ASAP and fortify it against their incursion. You can mull this all over on the journey if you must, but do not let it hinder you as well. Come on."

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Original Post

Once the shock and brief celebration of one his newly evolved and now fully demonic looking brother Lucifer had passed, Ven finally picked up a deep, almost heartbroken sadness and mourning radiating from one of the member of the group, causing him to snap his head towards their direction with a VERY concerned look on his face.....

.....and almost felt his own heart break at the sight of his beloved Shiva cradling Yena, and it didn't take his enormous amounts of Insight to put her being nearly incapacitated by her grief and the green goo caked around the dark worlf's jaws to put two and two together.

At first a rush of shock ran through as that fact was made abundantly clear to the researcher, as the mere thought of Shiva slaying anything other than in the content of hunting for her Pokémon/herself was almost an entirely alien concept to him. Then, a heavy frown appeared as that initial feeling passed and was replaced with a immense amount of sympathy and sorrow for his love, as he well knew how even back in Unova taking the life of a Pokémon was a.......unhappy experience for most people outside a few ethnic group and/or the especially hardened like himself.

'Shiva........oh, my dearest.......'

He felt his heart go out ot her as she coped, but it was only until after she stood up and had a little more time to get her bearings and firm up a bit that the often eccentric researcher went over and threw her arms around them in a hug.

"My dearest......it okay. These......Pokémon were already dead inside by the we killed some of their number, so releasing them from that state is a great mercy for them all. You still fill conflicted over their plight and what you had to do, and I want to say that its okay. Killing.....it should never be an easy or thoughtless task, but only done with utmost confidence, certainty, and the belief that its the right or correct thing to do. For someone with a tender, loving, and compassionate heart like yourself doing such a grisly deed for the first time, even by proxy.......I don't doubt it makes you feel all worse. "

"But its okay to feel like this. Its okay to be sad. They may have been a part our enemy's force, but they were slaves of them that didn't deserve such a fate, so its okay to take no pleasure or joy in....dispatching them. You should never take joy in killing itself anyway, but only what it serves to accomplish, if that. So mourn them, Shiva....but don't let it cripple or twist you. Let this strengthen you, and prepare you for greater trails yet, but don't let this all pervert the wonder woman you are. Be strong......and let us move on together......."

Ventus went silent after saying these comforting words, not letting go until his most blessed of girlfriend asks him to. He is ready to move on with everyone when they are too.

Shiva has forced herself to stay strong, but guess it was too late and a massive booh for her to even believe in the slightest that she could hide and overplay her pain and misery towards her insightful love.

Still, she managed to keep herself together and cope for the immediate moment, the chance to cry into the black fur decorating her Mightyena's shoulders as well as Cottonee's comfort helped a lot. Ven's own contribution and words of comfort threatened to bring some toneless sobs back and cripple her more due to the actually realization what has just happened, but in the end the sorrow got better and Shiva 'only' returned his hug rather tightly while wettening some of sweater with a few last bitter tears. That, and she managed to speak some of her worries out, if only muttered into his shoulder.

"Ven, I....... I know they were already dead... And never never never will I find even the hint of joy in taking such actions..... It... It was for good, was it? It's justified what I did, was it? A great mercy, you say..... You're right. We...have ended their misery, at least for some of 'em.... It's just... It's just so horribly unfair! They didn't deserve such faith in the slightest.... No will within 'em anymore, no emotions, not even a soul that I can pray to.... NOTHING. Why.... I don't get why, and even less how... How THEY have done that. These Pokemon didn't deserve such.....treatment... Such abuse... Poor ones. If they weren't, these Pokemon would not have to....." Then, in somewhat different and determined tone of voice but also way lower she added once more thing: "THEY....will pay."


She greatly appreciated to remain in his hug for a few moments longer until she was sure that she'll be okay. She'll take his words to her heart, she will 'let this strengthen her', and not allow it to 'cripple or even twist' her. No. That's not...worth it. Strength and confidence is what she desires, and there's no room to be down.



If he allows, Dizzy receives a 'welcome back'-stroke over the white fur on his head, before Shiva turns once more to follow the remaining path to their destination with Dizzy and Yena by her side while Cottonee gets back to her resting place on her Master's head; the whole way Shiva stays rather silent and stoic as she had to gather herself together again to conclude with her actions and look forward again.

[Dragonstrike]

Spoiler

(It's hard not to, after all the fights we've had over this issue. Ven's content with the losses that have been inflicted on the Scimitars too, so that's also a reason he's not pressing the issue.)

Sometime after comforting Shiva, Ven went over to address how.....off put Nathan was from this expedient and brutal Encounter with the soulless Reuniculi, placing a hand on their shoulder as they looked deeply within their eyes.

"I would not overly burden yourself with the deaths of some of the Reuniculus, Nathan, nor concern yourself with Shiva's own.....Lethal actions against them. They already were suffering a living, hellish existence devoid of all feeling, emotion, or soul , so slaying them and forever freeing them from such a horrible state and their abominable master is what a consider a righteous, merciful act. One that I would prefer to enact on the rest of the still living ones, too."

A large *Sigh* exited the researcher as he closed his eyes and shook his head.

"However, I well know you have a distinctly different perspective and idealogy in regards to Pokémon death, and I know how conflicted you feel about this, so I will not pressure you to do as I would, or act against your own desires and instigate a fight between us. I only ask for your permission. Give it to me, and I will put the rest out of their misery, and if you do not, I will leave them be and let them fall into the hands of the Scimitars once more. The choice is entirely yours."

He took his hand off of the young scholar's shoulders and motions to the rest of the group, as they were preparing to head onwards to their final/one of their final destinations. He was sure to give Valder a warm smile for his focus on their goal, along with a nod of his head.

"Regardless, we need to get a move on, Nathan. We are close to are goal, but so are our enemies, so we must get their ASAP and fortify it against their incursion. You can mull this all over on the journey if you must, but do not let it hinder you as well. Come on."

"...that's only the easy way out...there has to be a way to fix this...I know there is...we just...need the right help..."

He hangs his head in slight defeat and sobs a little.

"...just leave them...there's no time to...we can maybe still...if they...*sob*..."

...silence.

...this is far from solving all the issues, but it's at least accounted partially for the immediate one.  Kirlia motions to Ventus to let him take care of Nathan from here  (Side note: Malphena's (and currently Ventus's to an extent) presence is making Kirlia just a liiiitle more uncomfortable, too...probably not the time for Malphena to be fawning over Kirlia's evolution (I do imagine she was likely quite surprised about it) though, even though this is the first time she'd be seeing him in his 'new' form).  It'll be all right given enough time.  Kirlia is still grimacing a little despite trying to hide it, though.  That one Reuniclus is still experiencing a lot of Pain...

...anyways, time to move on.

[Iron]

It only takes you about twenty minutes to reach the source of Mr. Finder's pursued scent. In a little tunnel, as unremarkable as any other, the rough floor suddenly becomes worked gray stone. Similar to a patio you might find in any backyard...except for the mansized ebony pillar rising from its center, almost to the ceiling. The pillar is unornamented, aside from a slight spiral ledge around it. The area feels no different, though the gravity is still very high. No sense of power emanates from the stone.

@Nylon Valder knows the runes to place on this stone. Ready?

[Dragonstrike]

Valder knows the runes to place on this stone. Ready?

Ready when everyone else is!  Nathan's just watching carefully.  Shivering a little in the cold underground air.  Keeping a little distance between him, Shiva, and Ventus.  He can't help but wonder where Valder learned how to draw all those runes and determined that they were the solution to this puzzle...

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

It only takes you about twenty minutes to reach the source of Mr. Finder's pursued scent. In a little tunnel, as unremarkable as any other, the rough floor suddenly becomes worked gray stone. Similar to a patio you might find in any backyard...except for the mansized ebony pillar rising from its center, almost to the ceiling. The pillar is unornamented, aside from a slight spiral ledge around it. The area feels no different, though the gravity is still very high. No sense of power emanates from the stone.

Valder knows the runes to place on this stone. Ready?

At.....at.......at THAT SIGHT, Shiva's former grief and pain ends up being put aside almost immediately (that, and she had twenty minutes of time to do nothing but think and conclude with her actions), only to be replaced with a glowing feeling of joy, wonder and pure amazement. Despite the stone isn't even radiating any power yet, but THIS can only be the Relic Stone Dr. Hypericac has mentioned so long ago! She had to unmistakable gasp and pluck Cottonee from her head to hold her close to herself while trying to see the end of the pillar.

(Yes, ready!~ I've redrawn the runes on paper from your description and already showed you once. Shall I post it in the thread as well?)

[Spiritmon]

Spoiler

Spoiler

Only when it was 100% clear that all of the Psychic Blobs have been dealt with, Shiva pats her Tropius' back and gestures him to please land. He obeyed, and swiftly Shiva (followed by Mr. Finder) leaped off his back, only to almost immediately fell on her knees and flung her arms around her Mightyena's strong neck, nuzzling his black shaggy fur and burrying her face in it as now the didn't manage anymore to hold these bitter tears back. She strictly avoided to even take a brief look at the now....also physically dead Reuniclus, ignored that some of their green jellylike overcoat was still dripping from her butterwolfly's jaws.

Now, as the wrath faded and they have defeated the foes, she allowed herself to weep as much as needed, to accept this sorrow she was feeling. Her toneless sobs barely echoed in the cavern. Now, she also believed to understand where it came from.

Spoiler

It's not going to be revealed just now, but she'll definitely be thankful for comfort either right now or later, preferably from Ventus as he has killed a dozen of Pokemon already and knows best.

Yena was slightly confused over what may be wrong and why his leader was so upset and aghast now, as he has loyally followed her orders. But, a-anyway, he let her cuddle his neck as much as she wanted, as much as needed, even leaned a bit into her as he let out a high-pitched howl of victory over the whole scenery.

(....)

With these last words, she eventually found the strength to getup on her feet again - CAREFULLY. Her stance was still a little weak, but she'll catch herself again soon concerning this. One last pet over Yena's forehead and Shiva allowed her gaze to find the others - she still looked horrible, but she had to overplay it. She HAD TO keep herself strong now.

Quickly, her gaze met Dizzy, and with interest she watched what he was doing. However, by NO MEANS IN RESHIRAM'S NAME will Shiva even get CLOSE to corpses of Pokemon species she actually likes, so "Yena... You saw what Dizzy did there with the transmitters? Yes? Great. Please, go around and do the same one every Reuniclus you manage to find......"

Rather expressionless and stoic, she took Mr. Finder's pleasant news of only one mile seperating then now from the stone, same with Ventus' words of being on guard. Only a slight nod was given to both before she recalled Tropius into his Ball (not after cuddling his head as reward for a job well done) and turned to hike down the rest of the tunnel, closer to the destination.

Once the shock and brief celebration of one his newly evolved and now fully demonic looking brother Lucifer had passed, Ven finally picked up a deep, almost heartbroken sadness and mourning radiating from one of the member of the group, causing him to snap his head towards their direction with a VERY concerned look on his face.....

.....and almost felt his own heart break at the sight of his beloved Shiva cradling Yena, and it didn't take his enormous amounts of Insight to put her being nearly incapacitated by her grief and the green goo caked around the dark worlf's jaws to put two and two together.

At first a rush of shock ran through as that fact was made abundantly clear to the researcher, as the mere thought of Shiva slaying anything other than in the content of hunting for her Pokémon/herself was almost an entirely alien concept to him. Then, a heavy frown appeared as that initial feeling passed and was replaced with a immense amount of sympathy and sorrow for his love, as he well knew how even back in Unova taking the life of a Pokémon was a.......unhappy experience for most people outside a few ethnic group and/or the especially hardened like himself.

'Shiva........oh, my dearest.......'

He felt his heart go out ot her as she coped, but it was only until after she stood up and had a little more time to get her bearings and firm up a bit that the often eccentric researcher went over and threw her arms around them in a hug.

"My dearest......it okay. These......Pokémon were already dead inside by the we killed some of their number, so releasing them from that state is a great mercy for them all. You still fill conflicted over their plight and what you had to do, and I want to say that its okay. Killing.....it should never be an easy or thoughtless task, but only done with utmost confidence, certainty, and the belief that its the right or correct thing to do. For someone with a tender, loving, and compassionate heart like yourself doing such a grisly deed for the first time, even by proxy.......I don't doubt it makes you feel all worse. "

"But its okay to feel like this. Its okay to be sad. They may have been a part our enemy's force, but they were slaves of them that didn't deserve such a fate, so its okay to take no pleasure or joy in....dispatching them. You should never take joy in killing itself anyway, but only what it serves to accomplish, if that. So mourn them, Shiva....but don't let it cripple or twist you. Let this strengthen you, and prepare you for greater trails yet, but don't let this all pervert the wonder woman you are. Be strong......and let us move on together......."

Ventus went silent after saying these comforting words, not letting go until his most blessed of girlfriend asks him to. He is ready to move on with everyone when they are too.

Spoiler

Malphena has never killed before, but she has no qualms with killing these Pokemon who don't smell alive.

Lucifer has been with Ventus long enough to be perfectly OK with killing something that attacked first or otherwise deserves it. In fact...Lucifer is glowing!

His wings broaden, his body lengthens, his head changes shape! When the light fades, a much larger and more draconic bat is there!

Congratulations! Your Noibat evolved into Noivern!

*Flashback!*

To say that Ventus was shocked at his little devil's sudden Evolution would be an understantment, as he and his 'horrifying' sister had to swiftly disengage and back up to give Lucifer space as he shifted and grew in blinding light, until he finally was revealed as a fully grown Noivern!

For a moment, the researcher stood aghast as he stared at his much larger and far more fiercesome looking brother.....

.....until her rushed forward to give them a great big hug, his joyful laughter smothered by their new white mane. The fallen angel, naturally close and extremely loving of their surrogate brother, happily reciprocated the gesture, wrapping his wings around them and butting his head against their own. A rather novel experience for the fully demonic looking draco bat given his former poultry size, but it was one he could quickly get used to! He's the big brother now, and he'll do everything to protect his 'little' one, *Scree!*

"My Lucifer, you've evolved into a Noivern at long last, after all this time! The place and situation that brought upon this change is certainly less than ideal, but that hardly matters! You've reached the pinnicle of your species, and now you can stand proud as a full fledged Dragon amongst your peers, and no longer have to be cowed by their size and power! Congradulations......!"

He said this all with to them while in their embrace, which acted as a convenient muffler to keep such a moment mostly private. After he was down cuddling them, Ven looked up and gave them a beaming smile and told them: "If you are fine with the idea, we should try flying together at some time, my brother. Your certainly big and strong enough to carry me around now, and it would certainly be an enjoyable time for the both of us. What do you say?"

*Flashback ended for now!*

Spoiler

(It's hard not to, after all the fights we've had over this issue. Ven's content with the losses that have been inflicted on the Scimitars too, so that's also a reason he's not pressing the issue.)

Sometime after comforting Shiva, Ven went over to address how.....off put Nathan was from this expedient and brutal Encounter with the soulless Reuniculi, placing a hand on their shoulder as they looked deeply within their eyes.

"I would not overly burden yourself with the deaths of some of the Reuniculus, Nathan, nor concern yourself with Shiva's own.....Lethal actions against them. They already were suffering a living, hellish existence devoid of all feeling, emotion, or soul , so slaying them and forever freeing them from such a horrible state and their abominable master is what a consider a righteous, merciful act. One that I would prefer to enact on the rest of the still living ones, too."

A large *Sigh* exited the researcher as he closed his eyes and shook his head.

"However, I well know you have a distinctly different perspective and idealogy in regards to Pokémon death, and I know how conflicted you feel about this, so I will not pressure you to do as I would, or act against your own desires and instigate a fight between us. I only ask for your permission. Give it to me, and I will put the rest out of their misery, and if you do not, I will leave them be and let them fall into the hands of the Scimitars once more. The choice is entirely yours."

He took his hand off of the young scholar's shoulders and motions to the rest of the group, as they were preparing to head onwards to their final/one of their final destinations. He was sure to give Valder a warm smile for his focus on their goal, along with a nod of his head.

"Regardless, we need to get a move on, Nathan. We are close to are goal, but so are our enemies, so we must get their ASAP and fortify it against their incursion. You can mull this all over on the journey if you must, but do not let it hinder you as well. Come on."

"...that's only the easy way out...there has to be a way to fix this...I know there is...we just...need the right help..."

He hangs his head in slight defeat and sobs a little.

"...just leave them...there's no time to...we can maybe still...if they...*sob*..."

...silence.

...this is far from solving all the issues, but it's at least accounted partially for the immediate one.  Kirlia motions to Ventus to let him take care of Nathan from here  (Side note: Malphena's (and currently Ventus's to an extent) presence is making Kirlia just a liiiitle more uncomfortable, too...probably not the time for Malphena to be fawning over Kirlia's evolution (I do imagine she was likely quite surprised about it) though, even though this is the first time she'd be seeing him in his 'new' form).  It'll be all right given enough time.  Kirlia is still grimacing a little despite trying to hide it, though.  That one Reuniclus is still experiencing a lot of Pain...

...anyways, time to move on.

Heart takes Nathan shoulder, trying to make him better. "Hey, don't be so hard in yourself Nathan. We are unable to do anything for them in the moment. We will find a way to undo this, I promise."

"Congratulations in evolving Lucifer my dear friend Ventus. Fighting against you in the future shall be even more exciting. Koa will like to fight against your draconic bat."