[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Spiritmon]

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Theo is more interested in the interior of the Library. He seems excited about something inside.



When Nathan and Heart touch the Gauntlet, they likewise gain 1 Will point and have all their exhaustion removed.

Nathan is sent back to a memory he didn't know he had, being pushed along in a stroller through what appears to be Celebi Park in Cress City. Everything, from the gravel crunching underfoot to the swaying of towering trees, combines to become a forest as quintessential as the oldest of primeval old-growth (Which would be Earthstar Forest, in Creshire).
He smells popcorn and other treats one might find in a city, and realizes that a forest as beloved and well-stewarded as this one is still a forest, still held sacred by the Pokemon of Creshire.

When Nathan embarks upon his out-of-body experience, he sees that the one pushing him in the stroller is a much younger Marco Warren, Nathan's mom at his side. And there's Uncle Oscar, with a thick mustache you don't think he has anymore, and brown hair down to his shoulders.

"Accept these gifts, Nathan. Pay them forward, even as you look backward."


Heart's journey is quite unique. He wanders through a mosaic of all the greatest forests he's explored all over the world, from the buggy rainforests of Tandor to the guarded Pinwheel Forest. To one side, the mossy trunks of Eterna Forest. Looming overhead, the massive trees of Petalburg Woods. There's a fresh clearing just like the one where you encountered your Phantump. And the patch of thick Tall Grass surrounded by dense trees, perhaps taken from your memories of Ilex Forest, that patch glows with the most power of all. Somewhere nearby, a shrine is hidden...

"Accept these gifts..." and here the voice calls you by the name you were born with. "You have been to so many places where I have traveled. As Heart, I hope you will spread your gifts far and wide.


This all takes place over a mere moment. You find yourself able to manipulate your visions, exploring whatever is nearby, and you feel it is real knowledge you gain. But the knowledge, it is of the past, not the present. For Shiva, only a month ago. For Nathan, a short lifetime ago. For Heart, many years at once, the strongest memories he's collected as he traveled the world collecting Pokemon.

Heart could feel the conection of all the places he have travel. The people and pokemon he have meet. The adventure he have. Everything all conect to this very moment. When he heard that voice, somehow he could felt it. He never heard that voice, but that feeling...only one person could have such magesty. Heart kneel, whatever the place that voice came from.

"Its you...my ancestor, Ark?" Ask the youngest ArcHeart alive. "...I failed to you, ancestor. We have failed to you. The ArcHearts long ago stop in follow the right path great ancestor...my family exist no more." Heart could feel the sadness and shame crawling on his back. "...When I lost my family, I have follow a dark path ancestor...so many people suffer because of me. I dont deserve to have your name my ancestor." Heart say to woman/man voice who is calling him. "That wander was more a self penitence for my sins, wandering around the world, trying to redeemed myself for what I done...I not wortly of such gifts." Them Heart talk again. "...Tell me, ancestor. You was the most devote of our family. The pure of the ArcHearts and the one of the greatest knight of the old. And the most devoted champion of Lord Arceus and Creation Trio together with all other Seven knights. How our family came to ruin so much...how can I, the most ruined ArcHeart, have hope in rebuild our family, to follow your path. Please...I need your guidance ancestor. For the friends I call now a family...and for the family I couldnt save. Enlight me."

Heart still with his head bow, expecting such kind of help from the woman who was the ancestor of all ArcHearts (since in the Heart story, Ark was a woman).

In this metaphysical place, Heart can indeed establish a tenuous connection to his ancestor. 

"Have faith," she whispers.
"Excel in doing what's right." You feel her hand on your shoulder.
"Use the spirit of competition to your advantage." You hear the creak of her armor.
"Support nature; do not fight her." Her voice is like the wind.
"Most of all...find the Sword! Become a knight in your own time when arms and armor are no longer in fashion. End the experiment...save this ancient region."

Then she's gone.

Heart try to stop her in gone. "Wait! Lady Ark! What you mean about use the spirit of competition? And what is this Sword and end the experiments? Wai-" Then she have gone. Without any trace of her presence. Heart then try to recover himself. He see the shrine who is hidden between the leafs. Slowy, Heart aproach the shrine and try to see what these "gifts" is all about. Perhaps they are in that shrine somehow.

It's the Celebi Shrine, of the Ilex Forest! Which, you realize, is One in some unknowable fashion with the Shrine of Celebi Park in Cress City. Which, in turn, is one with the Gauntlet, where your physical body stands.

But all that's in the shrine is a half-eaten dumpling and a few twigs and leaves.

Heart look to the shrine with a mix of wonder and fear. He aproach feet by feet close to the Shrine. Heart kneel once again and make quick clean in the shrine. He dont know if this is a true place or just a ilusion, but either way Heart decided to pray his respects. The ArcHearts is supose to be servants of Arceus and the Creation Trio, but Ark once teach his Clan to have respect with all other Legendary pokemon. Because as much Arceus is the Creator, all his creations deserve the same respect. Heart them make a pray. "Oh powerfull Time travel pokemon, fairy and guardian of the forests, bless my path and my friends path. Give me the strengh and courage in my quest." Then Heart stand up again. And begin to return to his physical body. To where is his friends. Something will happen after that action Heart did?

[Dragonstrike]

Then Heart stand up again. And begin to return to his physical body. To where is his friends. Something will happen after that action Heart did?

Well, Nathan's currently talking with Celebi (who's sitting on top of the Gauntlet atm), if that's something Heart would think is notable.  Not sure if Heart would think he's just seeing things at first, though...

[Iron]

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Heart could feel the conection of all the places he have travel. The people and pokemon he have meet. The adventure he have. Everything all conect to this very moment. When he heard that voice, somehow he could felt it. He never heard that voice, but that feeling...only one person could have such magesty. Heart kneel, whatever the place that voice came from.

"Its you...my ancestor, Ark?" Ask the youngest ArcHeart alive. "...I failed to you, ancestor. We have failed to you. The ArcHearts long ago stop in follow the right path great ancestor...my family exist no more." Heart could feel the sadness and shame crawling on his back. "...When I lost my family, I have follow a dark path ancestor...so many people suffer because of me. I dont deserve to have your name my ancestor." Heart say to woman/man voice who is calling him. "That wander was more a self penitence for my sins, wandering around the world, trying to redeemed myself for what I done...I not wortly of such gifts." Them Heart talk again. "...Tell me, ancestor. You was the most devote of our family. The pure of the ArcHearts and the one of the greatest knight of the old. And the most devoted champion of Lord Arceus and Creation Trio together with all other Seven knights. How our family came to ruin so much...how can I, the most ruined ArcHeart, have hope in rebuild our family, to follow your path. Please...I need your guidance ancestor. For the friends I call now a family...and for the family I couldnt save. Enlight me."

Heart still with his head bow, expecting such kind of help from the woman who was the ancestor of all ArcHearts (since in the Heart story, Ark was a woman).

In this metaphysical place, Heart can indeed establish a tenuous connection to his ancestor. 

"Have faith," she whispers.
"Excel in doing what's right." You feel her hand on your shoulder.
"Use the spirit of competition to your advantage." You hear the creak of her armor.
"Support nature; do not fight her." Her voice is like the wind.
"Most of all...find the Sword! Become a knight in your own time when arms and armor are no longer in fashion. End the experiment...save this ancient region."

Then she's gone.

Heart try to stop her in gone. "Wait! Lady Ark! What you mean about use the spirit of competition? And what is this Sword and end the experiments? Wai-" Then she have gone. Without any trace of her presence. Heart then try to recover himself. He see the shrine who is hidden between the leafs. Slowy, Heart aproach the shrine and try to see what these "gifts" is all about. Perhaps they are in that shrine somehow.

It's the Celebi Shrine, of the Ilex Forest! Which, you realize, is One in some unknowable fashion with the Shrine of Celebi Park in Cress City. Which, in turn, is one with the Gauntlet, where your physical body stands.

But all that's in the shrine is a half-eaten dumpling and a few twigs and leaves.

Heart look to the shrine with a mix of wonder and fear. He aproach feet by feet close to the Shrine. Heart kneel once again and make quick clean in the shrine. He dont know if this is a true place or just a ilusion, but either way Heart decided to pray his respects. The ArcHearts is supose to be servants of Arceus and the Creation Trio, but Ark once teach his Clan to have respect with all other Legendary pokemon. Because as much Arceus is the Creator, all his creations deserve the same respect. Heart them make a pray. "Oh powerfull Time travel pokemon, fairy and guardian of the forests, bless my path and my friends path. Give me the strengh and courage in my quest." Then Heart stand up again. And begin to return to his physical body. To where is his friends. Something will happen after that action Heart did?

Nothing happens, but when you return to your physical body, Celebi is smiling (while talking to Nathan).

[Spiritmon]

Heart fall in where he stands since he pass so much time using the Gautlet. When he see Celebi, he eyes bug out of his face. He takes several minutes cleaning his eyes trying to process what he is seeing. "I think I still inside in that Gautlet thing Nathan because I seeing Celebi itself." Heart slap his face himself trying to awake imagining he still in that strange world. "Ouch!"

[Dragonstrike]

Heart fall in where he stands since he pass so much time using the Gautlet. When he see Celebi, he eyes bug out of his face. He takes several minutes cleaning his eyes trying to process what he is seeing. "I think I still inside in that Gautlet thing Nathan because I seeing Celebi itself." Heart slap his face himself trying to awake imagining he still in that strange world. "Ouch!"

Kilria and Nathan laugh.

"No, you're not seeing things, Heart.  This is indeed Celebi itself, and they're the one who granted us whatever gifts we received.  Actually, that reminds me about another thing I wanted to ask you, Celebi...is there a particular pronoun you'd like us to use when referring to you? I know that tends to differ from Legendary to Legendary, so..."

[Spiritmon]

Spoiler

Heart fall in where he stands since he pass so much time using the Gautlet. When he see Celebi, he eyes bug out of his face. He takes several minutes cleaning his eyes trying to process what he is seeing. "I think I still inside in that Gautlet thing Nathan because I seeing Celebi itself." Heart slap his face himself trying to awake imagining he still in that strange world. "Ouch!"

Kilria and Nathan laugh.

"No, you're not seeing things, Heart.  This is indeed Celebi itself, and they're the one who granted us whatever gifts we received.  Actually, that reminds me about another thing I wanted to ask you, Celebi...is there a particular pronoun you'd like us to use when referring to you?  I know that tends to differ from Legendary to Legendary, so..."

Heart process what Nathan have say. Then he look again to Celebi then tremble. "Wha-taah!" He slip in his foot and hit the floor with strengh. "Forgive me for my disrespect might Time Travel!" Heart recover and kneel again. "I still in amaze after such journey so I couldnt reconize very well what I have see until now." Then Heart still kneel. Even be a PUNisher, Heart did not dare to make fun with a Legendary pokemon. Since his family respect all the Legendary.

[Iron]

"Gender just isn't that important to me, but thanks for asking. Use whatever is convenient to you."

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Shiva feels uplifted. She smells freshly broken earth, and pine needles, and decomposing leaves. She hears birdsong. Her mind instantly travels back in time to the huge cottonwood tree in the swamp where she once napped - she can picture every second of that day, as if she were there. She finds she can even pan the scene around in her mind, exploring hollow stumps and discovering hidden animals she never got to see on that actual day.

This all takes place over a mere moment. You find yourself able to manipulate your visions, exploring whatever is nearby, and you feel it is real knowledge you gain. But the knowledge, it is of the past, not the present. For Shiva, only a month ago. For Nathan, a short lifetime ago. For Heart, many years at once, the strongest memories he's collected as he traveled the world collecting Pokemon.

Wait a moment... This scene feels so real, everything that her senses can pick up seems to be just THERE... SHE seems to be just there. So real, and so peaceful... Was this an astral travel? And out-of-body-experience? Shiva knew of these, but she has never actually done one successfully. She has tried once or twice, but never managed to gain an experience like the current one from these attempts.

She wanted to explore. See more of the scene. Yes, she already knew that Cottonwood Tree itself - but back then when she was training her Pokemon and her performance of the Ritual beneath its guarding branches and leaned against its thick plates of bark, she had no idea that there were hollow stumps and and hidden animals... Now, with the knowledge that there too were more than the physical eye could she, her curiosity awoke and she rather boldly stared up to the might Cottonwood Tree.

She'll be safe, she intuitively trusted in the Gauntlet that it indeed was. Picking up her Pokemon that were with her on that day - Kyuu, Chicorita and Nightshade (if they are present as well, that is) - she stepped closer. Then a little more close. Will the Cottonwood Tree protest if Shiva attempts to climb it up a little? Not much, maybe just a few meters... Maybe up there, aside from the view, she could find hollow trunks and rare Pokemon she hadn't recognized formerly - she'd be stunned massively if a Cottonwood Tree is no good home for some selected Pokemon. (No catching or battling of course, just exploring!)

"Yes! That's me!" And, after a sudden shimmering, a little green Pokemon is sitting on the uppermost clenched finger of the Gauntlet. Power emanates from it, dwarfing the power of the Gauntlet.

"Maybe that answers your question about the distorted time field. I am Celebi, the Pokemon of Forests and of Time. Welcome to my Relic Plaza. Welcome to the Secret Library!"

"Be welcome here, but if you bring harm to my domain, beware!"

Because out of convenience, I'll just leave all direct interactions with celebi to the others. But know that Shiva adores and admires Celebi for her skills and cuteness, but not as much as she likes Shaymin! 

She'll simply gasp heavily and almost stumble a step back upon the sight of the faelike Grass Type manifesting herself/itself/whatever right before them, and is unable to take her eyes from it. At the same time however, she's amazed and hit with wonder and thankfulness - a real mythical Pokemon! Or...*cough* a real legendary Pokemon, as one would say in Chreshire!

She's also having a question for the precious Pokemon of Forests and Time, and is partly shy to speak up to her and partly feels like meeting a familiar and close person/Pokemon."Precious and noble Celebi, it's....a blessing to meet you. Never really would I have believed to meet you down here in the courtyard of Atheneum, but now that I know that it's all you behind the curtain it all makes so much sense to me... Once I've been in Illex Forest and was just hopeful to see you even briefly, and never this sentiment came true to me. Now, I am even able to speak to you, see you right in front of me..... Allow me to thank you personally again for the Gift you've granted me." She bows deeply. "Please also allow me to ask you two questions, as you may know humans are a curious race... I make no exception, may my sources of interest lay elsewhere than the rest of the group.
Please, if you've watched and observed, you may know that I origin from a family of Pokemon Breeders and strive to be a professional one day, and the lore of you leaving an egg behind that you've brought with you from the future whenever you vanish... What is correct about this tale? Never an egg has been found and I will not search for one either, but excuse me for desirering to know whether this is more than just a tale or not...
Second, the ancient grove of trees within Cress City, neatly called Celebi Park - I've been there. Actually I've spend a cozy and pleasant night full of comforting rest on a bed of pine needles there, and I would do so again. But...what makes me wonder, why have you never visited this place yourself when there's a shrine for you among the trees? Or...have you, and we people have simply not noticed?"


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Mechanics:
I'm fine with rp'ing the out-of-body-experience of Shiva a little more while smiltaneously wrapping up things with Celebi (just want to ask her these two things above, nothing more) before finally making a beeline to the described shack with Lilith and Cottonee!~ Where's actually Dizzy in the current scenario, if I may ask? Given there's no threat, I think Shiva would let him do what he likes.

[Dragonstrike]

Heart process what Nathan have say. Then he look again to Celebi then tremble. "Wha-taah!" He slip in his foot and hit the floor with strengh. "Forgive me for my disrespect might Time Travel!" Heart recover and kneel again. "I still in amaze after such journey so I couldnt reconize very well what I have see until now." Then Heart still kneel. Even be a PUNisher, Heart did not dare to make fun with a Legendary pokemon. Since his family respect all the Legendary.

Another chuckle from Kirlia.

"...you can stand now, Heart.  Celebi's already addressed that we don't need to be so formal with her.  Not while we're here, in her domain, anyways.  Just don't cause any trouble, obviously."

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As stated previously, Nathan doesn't really have much more to say to/ask Celebi for now, so he'll head towards the shack with Kirlia and Solomon when Shiva heads there.  Very curious to see what Kirlia and Solomon find so interesting about it beyond the sense that there's power there...and definitely still interested in seeing if there are Apricorns for the taking on those bushes!

[Iron]

Dizzy is in the Library with Valder and Ventus.

As you climb the Cottonwood, you find your body light enough or ethereal enough to ascend effortlessly even among the thick twigs or sparse branches. So many of the hidden places in this swamp contain Pokemon, and a normal human might never notice. A Caterpie in a hollow, a Scatterbug in the midst of cocooning itself, a Bronzor buried deep within the heartwood.

Even Kirlia must not notice all these tiny, barely-emotional beings hidden everywhere.

In a single moment, you explore the dazzling undersides of gray boulders, the shed skins of Bug Pokemon and reptile Pokemon, and the cottonwood roots sinking into peat where amphibians and rodents burrow or hibernate. The forest is complete, from its toes to its head, and that means it's stocked to the brim with life and mineral.


"I visit all my shrines on occasion. But I rarely reveal myself to humans unless I have reason to. Too often it leads to conflict of one kind or another."

"Aw, my Egg! There is actually an Egg of mine somewhere within the Secret Library, borne when we founded this place. If you happen upon, ply it with kisses and clear any debris. Dust it off, and make sure to turn it so it can rest in a different position for a few hundred years. I don't know where the Librarian has placed it, but I'm sure it's kept safe."