[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Spiritmon]

Spoiler

Darmanitan Round 2

Encore 1
(4)(6)(2)(1) (6*)
Darmanitan was locked in!

Fire Punch 1
(4)(3)(3)(4)(4)(5)
(6)(6)(5)(5) Abaddon takes 4 dmg 2/9hp

Destiny Bond 2
(6)(2)(1) (6*)
Abaddon is trying to take his foe down with him!
A tactic this particular Pokemon doesn't mind much.

Flare Blitz 2
(3)(4)(2)(6)
(4)(5)(5)(5)
Recoil just for fun: (4)(2)(3)(3)

Abaddon faints!
Darmanitan turns into a statue and starts glowing.

Ventus finds himself back in....reality, I guess you could call it. He's standing on the steps, which are healing from the effects of the battle. The statues touched by Ventus, Shiva, and Nathan are glowing! Three Apricorns spring open, and three Klefki fly over to the riddle-solvers.

The other two statues fade away - those answers weren't right! All the humans have reappeared on the steps at the same time, and time flows "normally" again.

Just one statue left, and one Apricorn!

Heart's answer to his riddle was pretty good, but it didn't account for one of the clauses of the riddle at all, so I couldn't accept it.
GJ to Nathan and Shiva!

Is Shiva still approaching the final statue?

"Ahh drats. Couldnt make it. But that riddle was very trick. Huh, guess you cant win everything."

[Dragonstrike]

Just one statue left, and one Apricorn!

Is Shiva still approaching the final statue?

Oh my...

One apricorn, only one statue left...

"...well, guess that means that whoever attempts this last one HAS to get the answer correct if we're to go any farther...no pressure or anything, guys..."

Kirlia pops out of his dull premier ball.  Ick! He did NOT like getting forced into it with no warning whatsoever! And he was forced to stay there, too. Ick! No no no no no no no! He is NOT a prisoner!

...he does glance over at Ventus a momelatafter he's calmed down a little.  The orange haired researcher looks extremely haggard.  While he and Nathan are still keeping their distance from him and Shiva...there's definitely some concern for Ventus lingering.

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

(...)

Kirlia pops out of his dull premier ball.  Ick! He did NOT like getting forced into it with no warning whatsoever!  And he was forced to stay there, too.  Ick!  No no no no no no no!  He is NOT a prisoner!

...he does glance over at Ventus a moment after he's calmed down a little.  The orange haired researcher looks extremely haggard.  While he and Nathan are still keeping their distance from him and Shiva...there's definitely some concern for Ventus lingering.

'Extremely haggard' was a term that could and indeed was be used to described Ventus' current condition, as he stoically and wearily stood along side/near the rest of the group, with Abaddon safely recalled into their ball in one hand and his own rightfully earned Kelfi floating off by his side......

.......right until his knees buckled and his body started to careen straight into the hard and unforgiving stone floor, only prevented from painfully French kissing + cuddling it as his free hand automatically shot forward to brace himself against it.

Then 'Extremely haggard'became a gross misnomer. 'Bone and Soul Achingly Exhausted to the very depths of his Being' was a far more fitting, if wordy, description of his state of health.

It was the second time in recent times since he's felt this mind numbingly terrible, with the first being his downright stressful, unpleasant, and violent confrontation with Seikamater. Other examples of him being in similar states of distress (to give context of how he feels right not) included the various arguments and/or emotionally fraught moments  he's had with Nathan, his participation in the Running twice , the early and unpleasant days of the group's stay in Corsage, and much more experiences that predated him meeting and forming the group with Shiva, Nathan, Vincent, and Larry.

At this point, it was only his remarkably high Vitality, borderline insane determination not to fully supplicate/fall/become vulnerable before Antheneum's power, and the very last dregs of his Willpower that were keeping him conscious and 'standing', as he stared listlessly into the ground while internally he marshaled his Strength and wits to fight off unconsciousness/further weakenss with critical vehemence.

"By........Reshirim's........Flames...........I.......am.........tired.......off.......being........push........to.............the............brink. Why......can't........things...........be...............sedate.............for......a........great..........span.......of.......time? Honestly........urgh............."

His voice was thick and horse with the sort of tiredness that was infectious, as he laboriously tried to push himself back on his feet despite how much he just wanted to finished his collapse and take a nice long nap on the cold stone floor. No time for rest, especially not for someone wicked or in a wicked place like him/here.

Obviously, though, he was having trouble with such a task. Help from someone in the group would be a boon, but the researcher would eventually find himself upright on his own power if nobody bothered to assist. Not that it would pleasant or easy for him to do so, but it could be done.

Ventus Zackeriah wasn't a quitter, after all.

If he was, he would have died long ago, either by the malicious force life seemd to throw at him with unbrindled glee, or by his own hand to release him from suffering the world's cruelity.

Oh, what a life he lead.....oh what the life he leads.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Ahahahahaha!

That was all that was heard from Shiva at the sight that the Zen-Darmanitan indeed took her words and labeled her answer as correct by starting to glow. She just couldn't help but to laugh in delight and welcome that Klefki from the Apricorn in her cupped hands with a smile before she let it simply float beside her. One key collected, three left before they could..... Oh this excitement!~

Her good mood was still present as she 'reappeared' on the precious staircase – huh, she somehow hasn't even realized that the Darmanitan have somehow taken them...'away'. Or manipulated time. Or something like that. A quick glance around revealed that Both Gothitelle and Cottonee were still with her, same with Dizzy, so all was well in the end.

The same couldn't be said for one particuluar person however – the simple look of Ventus struggling heavily to keep himself together was enough to SCARE Shiva to the core and initiate a shiver of immense worry through her whole body as she was almost paralyzed in the spot from simply looking over to him. Still, he had a Klefki by his side, so he succeeded.... But what was it then that caused him to be so... It wasn't hard to guess that he wasn't really enjoying/was fearful about this courtyard of the Secret Library and all the arcane and illogical things in here (much contrary to her), but this couldn't be the cause... Can it?

In the split of a second it seems she was right by his side, kneeing on the hard stone floor and a tad bit insecure of how to approach him best, as she has barely, if never, seen him THAT troubled and exhausted. From the look of it he didn't seem to be injured though, so after having touched his shoulder lightly she placed her arm around his back. He expression she met him with was dripping with concern and underlined with fear. „Ven...“, spoke up, „What's wrong, and what has happened that exhausted you so much? Given that Klefki with you you made it, but...to what prize? Please, dear, tell me. It'll be fine, just don't succumb... Can you get up? Come, give me your hand... Ah, Lilith, can you aid me as well, please? Take his arm and help me getting him back onto his feet....“



Small flashforward!~

The other two statues fade away - those answers weren't right! All the humans have reappeared on the steps at the same time, and time flows "normally" again.

Just one statue left, and one Apricorn!

Is Shiva still approaching the final statue?

Yes, that can be safely assumed:

Only one riddle was seemingly seperating them from entering the myth-enshrouded Secret Library, one answer to determine success or failure.... Nathan's comment about 'no pressure' she tactfully overheard. Classic!

The however, she clenched her fist and faced everyone of the group with a neutral expression for a second, before she looked up the Zen-Darmanitan serving as Atheneum's Guards, silently asking to proof oneself. Then, she silently said „...I'll take the remaining riddle. Please trust in my wits and leave it to me...“

The remaining one was #4 Efforts if she recalles correctly – boldly, she placed her hand on the particular and final statue.

[Iron]

The rest of you watch Shiva disappear and reappear a mere moment later. The fourth Apricorn is opening in a flash of light and releasing a Klefki! The six Zen statues reappear, dormant.

When the four Klefki enter the four locks, the psychic forcefield disappears, and the hefty marble door to the Atheneum clicks to show it has unlocked. You can sense the siren's call of the Gauntlet now, begging you to place your hand upon it to mark your achievement in coming here. Power also emanates from the slow-motion deteriorating shack, but the Library is quiet on the power front.

[Dragonstrike]

"I am Earthpower given form. I am your treatment of your neighbor and your brother. I rule the skies, the sea, and the earth, and they rule me as well. I am a champion of Nature, and I change as She changes; thus, my power is unmatched. Who am I?"

"...that's the riddle I received.  Ya know, I'm quite curious to hear if you guys know the answer, and also what riddles the other four statues posed."

Nathan's walked past the threshold of the barrier before he says this, and before going forward any more, Nathan has three pokemon that he looks for reactions from now that Atheneum and the Gauntlet are accessible: Kirlia, Calam, and Solomon.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

MORE JOYFUL, ALMOST HYSTERICAL LAUGHING FROM THE FEMALE FAE ENTHUSIAST AS THE FOURTH APRICORN SPRUNG OPEN AND REVEALED THE FINAL KLEFKI! It probably only echoes mildly and until hitting a certain soundbarrier in the area.

The slight... 'click' of the precious door being unlocked now was like the sweetest sound Shiva could imagine to hear at the moment. It was for real... It worked... They have prooven themselves worthy!? Oh joyful day... But she's also somehow confused upon feeling that power radiating from the old shack. This huge door and the shack... How are they supposed to be connected? ARE they connected at all for real, as she somehow believed and hoped? And if not... What was waiting there?

....'Well, go and find out, my dear. You derserve it!~ '

As if The Gauntlet has heard her inner voice, it began to call her. This calling... It was so different from Seikamater's call, but also not quite the same calling that she caught up of the Sentry Fern. This one of The Gauntlet felt like a mixture of both - highly allureing like the Bugqueen's pheromones while being friendly as the Fern's presence. Awww...

Making a waving gesture to Gothitelle and casting a delighted smile, Shiva ran, practically FLEW down the valuable stairs again, having her arms fittingly outspread like wings and the seam of her cloak waving like tail feathers of a Splendifowl. Cottonee had to make haste following her. She doesn't seem to be in the mood of discussing the riddles now, rarely is it that one can see usually calm and reserved Shiva so rambunctious! She has been interested in The Gauntlet before but was too insecure to place her hand onto it, but NOW - nothing really could speak against it anymore! (Except maybe Ventus, who might urge her to be cautionous or similar.)

She has already outstreched her ahand and elusively let it rest there above the Gauntlet's surface, holding one of Lilith's hand securely in her other - she waits with touching it until the others have gathered though. Once they have and everything seems ready, she casts a glance that was tinged with a ....weird expression (sadness?? Acceptance???) over to Ven (wherever he will be at this point), then an exited one sporting a smile to her precious Gothitelle. "Alright, Lilith... If you like, touch it with me, together! I'll count down to three...

Spoiler

1....
2.....
......
.........
............3!"

[Dragonstrike]

...okay, now Shiva's also freaking Nathan out.  Not only did she laugh rather hysterically (twice!), she also ignored his question and ran past him in a beeline for the Gauntlet, completely contradicting what she said earlier...

...he just stands there, stunned. Watching. Waiting to see what happens and how his own pokemon react to the Gauntlet (and now Shiva as well)...

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

(...)

The same couldn't be said for one particuluar person however – the simple look of Ventus struggling heavily to keep himself together was enough to SCARE Shiva to the core and initiate a shiver of immense worry through her whole body as she was almost paralyzed in the spot from simply looking over to him. Still, he had a Klefki by his side, so he succeeded.... But what was it then that caused him to be so... It wasn't hard to guess that he wasn't really enjoying/was fearful about this courtyard of the Secret Library and all the arcane and illogical things in here (much contrary to her), but this couldn't be the cause... Can it?

In the split of a second it seems she was right by his side, kneeing on the hard stone floor and a tad bit insecure of how to approach him best, as she has barely, if never, seen him THAT troubled and exhausted. From the look of it he didn't seem to be injured though, so after having touched his shoulder lightly she placed her arm around his back. He expression she met him with was dripping with concern and underlined with fear. „Ven...“, spoke up, „What's wrong, and what has happened that exhausted you so much? Given that Klefki with you you made it, but...to what prize? Please, dear, tell me. It'll be fine, just don't succumb... Can you get up? Come, give me your hand... Ah, Lilith, can you aid me as well, please? Take his arm and help me getting him back onto his feet....“

(...)

Ventus grunted as he noticed his girlfriend blink over to him and kneel by his side while he struggled getting to his feet, twisting his head over to offer her a wane, tired, smile as she asked of his current 'plight' "I'm.......fine..........just........a.......tad.......bit.........knackered..........from..........my.............Trail. I...........just........fought.........my.........Darmanitan........instead........of.........answering..........its....riddles...............and......it........was..........a............complete......brute.......that....required.........more.......effort.......to......subdue......than.....I........though. Please.......don't.........worry........too........much...........my......dear..."

His kindly understatement lost impact given how weary he sounded and the large amount of effort it was taking in forcing himself into working order, but Shiva's compassion and help greatly helped bolster his flagging spirits, enough that he didn't feel like he was going to pass out at any given moment. Ah, how young love strengths......

When she and Lilith offered to help him up, a small part of him wanted to refuse out of sheer principle and another because he didn't want to seem weak to her, but the vast majority of the empath's being ignored those aspects as he smile gratefully and let them stand him out and support him until he could do so under his own power. "......Thank...you...Shiva....Lilith. I...think....I.....will....be....fine....now, and...I....could....have.....recovered...to.....that....point...on...my....own, but your....aid....expedited...that.....process.....magnificently. Again....Thank....you...."

The researcher muttered this out between panting for breath as he slowly re-stabilized himself, offering the fortune teller and his fae fancy a radiant smile that was dimmed by his tiredness, but somehow no less spectacular for it. It was times like these with his girlfriend he could just forget how much of a mess his life has become, though such dour thoughts always lingered in the back of his mind to pop back in unannounced....

Spoiler

"I am Earthpower given form. I am your treatment of your neighbor and your brother. I rule the skies, the sea, and the earth, and they rule me as well. I am a champion of Nature, and I change as She changes; thus, my power is unmatched. Who am I?"

"...that's the riddle I received.  Ya know, I'm quite curious to hear if you guys know the answer, and also what riddles the other four statues posed."

Nathan's walked past the threshold of the barrier before he says this, and before going forward any more, Nathan has three pokemon that he looks for reactions from now that Atheneum and the Gauntlet are accessible: Kirlia, Calam, and Solomon.

The empath twisted around and gave the young scholar an unamused look, and quietly said to them: "I don't like riddles, especially not ones arcane or alluding to supernatural powers such as that one, so my answer to that one is I don't care. I would also prefer we minimize sharing such information, or at the very least not discuss it around me. Ignorance is bliss, and I rather not have something ruined because I learn of a hitherunkown connection betwee it and the wretched magical......"

Ven's voice no longer sounded nearly as bone tired, but it was low and slow, as if the effort of speaking was still moderately taxing on his reserves. Combined with how much distaste was apparent at just the riddle been left out in the open, it magnified just how fed up the empath was with Antheneum and all its mystical atrocities. Right now, he wished he'd just suggested that the group cave in the Entrance, instead of entering the damn place.....

Spoiler

MORE JOYFUL, ALMOST HYSTERICAL LAUGHING FROM THE FEMALE FAE ENTHUSIAST AS THE FOURTH APRICORN SPRUNG OPEN AND REVEALED THE FINAL KLEFKI! It probably only echoes mildly and until hitting a certain soundbarrier in the area.

The slight... 'click' of the precious door being unlocked now was like the sweetest sound Shiva could imagine to hear at the moment. It was for real... It worked... They have prooven themselves worthy!? Oh joyful day... But she's also somehow confused upon feeling that power radiating from the old shack. This huge door and the shack... How are they supposed to be connected? ARE they connected at all for real, as she somehow believed and hoped? And if not... What was waiting there?

....'Well, go and find out, my dear. You derserve it!~ '

As if The Gauntlet has heard her inner voice, it began to call her. This calling... It was so different from Seikamater's call, but also not quite the same calling that she caught up of the Sentry Fern. This one of The Gauntlet felt like a mixture of both - highly allureing like the Bugqueen's pheromones while being friendly as the Fern's presence. Awww...

Making a waving gesture to Gothitelle and casting a delighted smile, Shiva ran, practically FLEW down the valuable stairs again, having her arms fittingly outspread like wings and the seam of her cloak waving like tail feathers of a Splendifowl. Cottonee had to make haste following her. She doesn't seem to be in the mood of discussing the riddles now, rarely is it that one can see usually calm and reserved Shiva so rambunctious! She has been interested in The Gauntlet before but was too insecure to place her hand onto it, but NOW - nothing really could speak against it anymore! (Except maybe Ventus, who might urge her to be cautionous or similar.)

She has already outstreched her ahand and elusively let it rest there above the Gauntlet's surface, holding one of Lilith's hand securely in her other - she waits with touching it until the others have gathered though. Once they have and everything seems ready, she casts a glance that was tinged with a ....weird expression (sadness?? Acceptance???) over to Ven (wherever he will be at this point), then an exited one sporting a smile to her precious Gothitelle. "Alright, Lilith... If you like, touch it with me, together! I'll count down to three...

Spoiler

1....
2.....
......
.........
............3!"

Like Nathan, Ventus was outright terrified by Shiva's sudden DRASTIC drop into an especially fae mood as she rushed over to the The Gauntlet as it started beckoning the rest over to 'mark their achievement' . Unlike them, though, his terror was FAR more potent and amplified, given his own phobias and his intimidate connection with the woman in question. He resoundly rebuffed that siren's call despite his tiredness, and instead ran away in the entire opposite direction of it and put as much distance between IT and him as humanly possible, newfound reserves of energy being found and tapped as he emphathetically wanted nothing to do with that THING or anyone driven to madness by IT. The currently insane acting mystical lass glance on him would only give her the sight of a VERY frightened, wary, and threatened Ventus, Apsis Pokeball gripped tightly in one hand and the big piece of twisted rebar in the other. Their was no acceptance or kindness in the man's eye, but instead great trepidation and a harsh, unforgiving willing to defend himself against her no matter the cost. It was like he was staring at a complete stranger, and a most unwelcome one at that.

To say he didn't like Shiva's new attitude would be entirely accurate, and succiently put as well.

[Spiritmon]

"Uh Shiva? Are you okay my friend? Should I be worry now or later?"