[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Original Post

10 dice, +2 Helping Hand, -2 since it's a specific question, 5 successes needed for full information. An even shot.

(6)(3)(3)(5)(3)(2) (5)(4)(4)(4)

Introduction to The Art of War
"Whimsicott, the Ram Pokemon, represents April and Springtime. But it also represents war and warlords. None on Creshire was so great as Sarimanok. After his defeat, League propaganda sometimes symbolized the King and the Skull Ruins (his former palace) with a crumbling Whimsicott or a dead Charizard. Thus, his own Throne of Skulls became the symbol of his own defeat."

The four bright stars, as best you can figure, are points of interest related to the other visions. Ventus believes they represent some kind of goal or event within the Skull Ruins.

The Library contains many, many works on the Six and the Four: the Pokemon and Trainers who, alone, stormed Sarimanok's inner sanctum and led to his defeat. From these brave souls, the worldwide tradition began of carrying no more than six Pokemon and using no more than four moves in a single battles. A sort of homage. The symbology crops up in a lot of other places too, including the oath "By the Six and the Four!" Comes up in post-Sarimanok architecture, too.

Sarimanok, of course, never followed any such rule, and would gladly send wave after wave of Pokemon at his foes. Pokemon battles for sport were normally just 1-on-1 gladiator style battles.

With a grim face Shiva remembers what a Nurse Joy once has told her concerning how battling worked way back then under the ruling of Sarimanok. The thought alone of sending Pokemon into galdiator style battles until death filled her with unease, and it's easy to spot that she's relieved over not having experienced that times.

She's also uncomfortable about how closely connected to war that King was upon reading through these findings, something Shiva doesn't even hide when being among Ven here. Eventually, she just frowns, sighs rather tiredly and puts her head in her hands to support it, bangs of hair falling forward to partly obscure the fear in her soft features. "...I knew it....", she mumbles. "It's indeed all connected to these Ruins, Ven. Something's definitely going on there, something unfortunate, dear. And from the look of it we are practically the only ones in the position to try stopping things. It's so clear: One day, we'll have to descend down there. Oh Ven...... That's...not exactly what I've expected when I came here to the region to gather experience with own Pokemon to care for, to journey in order to become a braver and less unstable person. But...it's necessary in order to follow a peaceful life later on together, now is it...? Haahhh... *deep breath* So be it then. At least it's not instant and we can prepare, so... Let us make the best of it, shall we?" Slowly, she withdraws her hands from supporting her head again, and gifts Ventus a soft, yet somehow sad smile. "Let me just quick-note things in my stuff, then we can make our way to...your hammock to just spend a bit of time together. It's been a while since we...did, so much has happened, so I'd love to..." (she can still easily guess that he's not totally alright, but doesn't say something about that) ...I'll also try to find out more about these six brave Trainers and Pokemon who defeated Sarimanok, but maybe not here in Atheneum. It's enough now."

It may border to history, but it's actually something that interests her and seems important. Maybe from these four brave Trainers she can learn how to be brave herself, and gather valuable hints on how to behave and survive in the Skull Ruins. Simultaneously she'll look out for more information on these four events/goals within the Ruins represented by the four dim stars.

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

-----------------------------------------

@Lord Windos

Ventus can later find Nathan doodling in his journal in the Library.  He's drawing a lot of rare, sometimes strange looking pokemon.  There's what looks to be a blue horse with a yellow mohawk and a fish tail, a rat with a paintbrush for a tail, a cute little bugbear, a little red bird, a spooky looking skeleton with a hook for a hand, a black sheep...he's referring to a book for descriptions an pictures while he draws his own.  That blue horse-like pokemon definitely looks like some extra care has gone into drawing it.  Kirlia and 'Kirlia' are chatting nearby.

Out of curiosity, does that book on imported pokemon say why Electruxo and Pahar were imported, @Iron?

Later on (after his moment with Shiva), when Ventus stumbled upon the sight of the young scholar casually drawing all sorts of Pokémon he didn't recognize in their journal, he could not resist his curiosity drawing silently near him and quietly hovering over their shoulder to watch, despite his....reservations and selective apathy concerning their affairs (Can he be oblivious to my chara's presence? That be a nice ice breaker, Ven sneaking up on Nathan again!). That, and seeing them so.....calm yet glowing with happiness and pure contentment after their recent state of melancholic shock over the accidental discovery of a lost text of Marco's......well, how could he NOT investigate this marked change more closely, and perhaps to also just bathe in those good vibes for a bit. Reshirim knows he needs all the positively he can muster, after this long, hectic, and dangerous quest. 

Besides.....a little attentiveness to the boy isn't going TOO far outside his comfort zone, now was it?

"...….Seeing as your spirits are fully elevated now, I trust all went smashingly with the Bonding Rituals, Nathan?"

The researcher said this suddenly and out of the blue in a faint question, tentative tone, and practically right in Nathan's ear as his own head was just hovering a little bit behind his shoulder. On the surface, it was a seemingly innocuous question, and in part it was just that. It had a subtle, underlying purpose, though: to see how the boy was fairing from that....discovery, and gently coax him to talk about it without being overly intrusive or noisy about it. Hopefully he was discrete enough that they wouldn't pick that immediately, or ideally at all....

After saying that, Ven drew himself back and out of Nathan's personal space, clasping both his hands together as he stared at them with a calm demeanor and frown on his face. He was looking off to the side for a moment with a pensive gleam in his eyes, before briefly closing them and *Sighing* and turned to fully face the young scholar and broach the topic that brought him searching/stumbling upon them in the first place.

"Nathan, I know you....refused to teach ALL my Rock Smash, despite my assurances that I can handle my more Disobedient's usage of the move, and I would like to ask you to reconsider you decision, now that we are in private and you've had time to mull things over more. At the very least, I desire for my Delta Forrestress to learn the HM Move. I...plan to give them to Dagney as a gift, out of gratitude for all she's done for us, as a gesture of friendship, and a way to further good relationships between us all. Perhaps even garner a favor from her, and get her to pull a few strings for the group or wade in herself to get things done for us that we otherwise could not, though that isn't my main intention with the gift. I plan on being....discrete on how it knows the Move, so that she doesn't start asking those obvious questions, so if that is a worry of you, don't fret."

Pausing for a moment for all that to sink in and catch his breath, Ven tilted his head at the boy and simply said: "Well?" before going silent, and awaiting his response. Time to see if letting them in on ONE of his plans for those Pokémon will reverse his previous decision. Otherwise....well, he would not be too happy about that, to put it mildly.

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

She's also uncomfortable about how closely connected to war that King was upon reading through these findings, something Shiva doesn't even hide when being among Ven here. Eventually, she just frowns, sighs rather tiredly and puts her head in her hands to support it, bangs of hair falling forward to partly obscure the fear in her soft features. "...I knew it....", she mumbles. "It's indeed all connected to these Ruins, Ven. Something's definitely going on there, something unfortunate, dear. And from the look of it we are practically the only ones in the position to try stopping things. It's so clear: One day, we'll have to descend down there. Oh Ven...... That's...not exactly what I've expected when I came here to the region to gather experience with own Pokemon to care for, to journey in order to become a braver and less unstable person. But...it's necessary in order to follow a peaceful life later on together, now is it...? Haahhh... *deep breath* So be it then. At least it's not instant and we can prepare, so... Let us make the best of it, shall we?" Slowly, she withdraws her hands from supporting her head again, and gifts Ventus a soft, yet somehow sad smile. "Let me just quick-note things in my stuff, then we can make our way to...your hammock to just spend a bit of time together. It's been a while since we...did, so much has happened, so I'd love to..." (she can still easily guess that he's not totally alright, but doesn't say something about that) ...I'll also try to find out more about these six brave Trainers and Pokemon who defeated Sarimanok, but maybe not here in Atheneum. It's enough now."

It may border to history, but it's actually something that interests her and seems important. Maybe from these four brave Trainers she can learn how to be brave herself, and gather valuable hints on how to behave and survive in the Skull Ruins. Simultaneously she'll look out for more information on these four events/goals within the Ruins represented by the four dim stars.

Ventus didn't have anything to comment about the all that grim and forboading information they managed to scrabble together, but his narrowed eyes and looked of marked displeasure - likethe reaction of biting into a lemon, thinking it was a sweet orange - he wasn't all to pleased with the news. His brief trip to the top most layer of that damned place had him run into two extremely and nastly/gruesomely powerful Haunters that almost cleaned the clock of his beloved Apsis, so the thought of EVER approaching the place again, let alone deeply explore the dead, cursed abyss of the main Ruins brought about a sharp and automatic negative reaction. 

'First the Scimitars and their insidious plans, then Almanac disturbing sleeping dragon and unleashing those Vines upon the region and walking that stone titan deep down bellow, and then embarking an a brutal quest to secure Antheneum against the Scimitars and face a variety of horrors. Now we have to contend gaining access to HM Dive and Fly in a manner that doesn't have us gutted or brought up on charges by the League, and eventually have to go into Skull Ruins. Why can't we all just peacefully explore the region, instead of having to bloody damn safeguard it? I just want to do THAT , research Pokémon, and participate in Gym Challenge as a....well, challenge, not have that odious responsibility thrusted upon myself and my companions. I already tried to 'save' a region once before, and looked how that turned out in the long run. Bah.....'

Yeah......not feeling very chipper about it.

Still, he managed to hide the worst of his discontent (though not all of it; he doesn't want to close out Shiva totally on his mood, no matter how much he wants to shield her from the worst of it) and responds to her request with a small smile and a nod of his head, along with the words: "That is more than reasonable, dear. Take your time, and don't feel the need to rush on my behalf. We have plenty of time to....while away together...."

Again, with that hesitant tone and look in his eyes, but it was less noticeable now than it was before. Conscious effort to suppress those tell tell signs of reservation/anxiety/???, perhaps?[/i]

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

(...) Still, he managed to hide the worst of his discontent (though not all of it; he doesn't want to close out Shiva totally on his mood, no matter how much he wants to shield her from the worst of it) and responds to her request with a small smile and a nod of his head, along with the words: "That is more than reasonable, dear. Take your time, and don't feel the need to rush on my behalf. We have plenty of time to....while away together...."

Again, with that hesitant tone and look in his eyes, but it was less noticeable now than it was before. Conscious effort to suppress those tell tell signs of reservation/anxiety/???, perhaps?

Even if Ven's actively hiding the worst of his discontent, she can guess that he wasn't to delighted over these news/this relaization either, mostly because she simply is aware that this wasn't to be expected from coming over to Chresire for him likewise, it couldn't have been anticipitated either. None of them could as they simply met up there in Professor Mallorn's lab, thinking nothing bad. Now, this day felt like a step into the wrong and equally right direction for Shiva, things have become so dire and more than once unpleasant, annoying and outright dangerous for them all, but on the other hand she would never want to trade the positive experiences she made with Pokemon and people of the region. If she wouldn't have come here, she'd likely never met this oddball of a researcher beside her either.

Via a tired sigh and a slight smile, she opts to let go of these thoughts now, it won't serve to overthink them. Drawing and starting to page through her infamous star-patterned hardcover journal, she let's Ventus know that "It won't take long, dear... But, thanks for the patience and help." before she adds the revealed info to the page where she also kept track of the visions Lilith has shown her plus things concerning her personality, notes the meaning to a stylized constallation of a Whimsicott and a Charizard, and closes journal again. It's nothing she really keeps secret, she doesn't mind Ventus reading what she has written.

Having things packed away then and Cottonee being back on her head, she does face Ventus again - rather carefully however, a hint of nervousness visible in her. All caused by the anxious way he behaves towards her; she won't exactly ask what's wrong as she can assume what it might be, he said 'It's nothing' assuming he isn't prone to talk about it either, and will leave the pace of whiling away fully to him. "Done. I'm done with my things here in Atheneum, I...mean...." Her eyes look away for a moment. "Guide me then, please... Hehe, it came...suprising that you're the one asking for my company, but who'd I be to deny it...?"

[Dragonstrike]

Spoiler

Later on (after his moment with Shiva), when Ventus stumbled upon the sight of the young scholar casually drawing all sorts of Pokémon he didn't recognize in their journal, he could not resist his curiosity drawing silently near him and quietly hovering over their shoulder to watch, despite his....reservations and selective apathy concerning their affairs (Can he be oblivious to my chara's presence? That be a nice ice breaker, Ven sneaking up on Nathan again!). That, and seeing them so.....calm yet glowing with happiness and pure contentment after their recent state of melancholic shock over the accidental discovery of a lost text of Marco's......well, how could he NOT investigate this marked change more closely, and perhaps to also just bathe in those good vibes for a bit. Reshirim knows he needs all the positively he can muster, after this long, hectic, and dangerous quest. 

Besides.....a little attentiveness to the boy isn't going TOO far outside his comfort zone, now was it?

"...….Seeing as your spirits are fully elevated now, I trust all went smashingly with the Bonding Rituals, Nathan?"

The researcher said this suddenly and out of the blue in a faint question, tentative tone, and practically right in Nathan's ear as his own head was just hovering a little bit behind his shoulder. On the surface, it was a seemingly innocuous question, and in part it was just that. It had a subtle, underlying purpose, though: to see how the boy was fairing from that....discovery, and gently coax him to talk about it without being overly intrusive or noisy about it. Hopefully he was discrete enough that they wouldn't pick that immediately, or ideally at all....

After saying that, Ven drew himself back and out of Nathan's personal space, clasping both his hands together as he stared at them with a calm demeanor and frown on his face. He was looking off to the side for a moment with a pensive gleam in his eyes, before briefly closing them and *Sighing* and turned to fully face the young scholar and broach the topic that brought him searching/stumbling upon them in the first place.

"Nathan, I know you....refused to teach ALL my Rock Smash, despite my assurances that I can handle my more Disobedient's usage of the move, and I would like to ask you to reconsider you decision, now that we are in private and you've had time to mull things over more. At the very least, I desire for my Delta Forrestress to learn the HM Move. I...plan to give them to Dagney as a gift, out of gratitude for all she's done for us, as a gesture of friendship, and a way to further good relationships between us all. Perhaps even garner a favor from her, and get her to pull a few strings for the group or wade in herself to get things done for us that we otherwise could not, though that isn't my main intention with the gift. I plan on being....discrete on how it knows the Move, so that she doesn't start asking those obvious questions, so if that is a worry of you, don't fret."

Pausing for a moment for all that to sink in and catch his breath, Ven tilted his head at the boy and simply said: "Well?" before going silent, and awaiting his response. Time to see if letting them in on ONE of his plans for those Pokémon will reverse his previous decision. Otherwise....well, he would not be too happy about that, to put it mildly.

Now that Ventus is closer, there's one drawing in the journal that Ventus couldn't quite see from a distance because Nathan is currently working on it and it's almost half hidden among all the other strange looking pokemon: a little black and white bird pokemon.  (Why was Masking imported to Creshire, @Iron?  Almost forgot to ask that.  And was Swabone purposeful or were they stowaways?)  The pictures are also all labeled with the pokemon names and Rare Imported Pokemon is also written in the journal as well.

Nathan calmly turns around when Ventus asks the first question, one arm slung across the back of the chair.  It's really hard to tell if he's surprised or not.  "Yeah.  Went well, and ended about how I expected them to.  Wasn't able to do them yesterday like I originally wanted, but..."  He shrugs.

From what Ventus can pick up from the two Kirlia, it wasn't with either of them.  Kirlia is the same as ever (and probably doesn't need it anyways), while 'Kirlia'...is doing her best to avoid having to go over to that table for now, feeling incredivbly shy around everyne that's not Kirlia.  She's quite content with spending time with her friend while she has the chance, thank you very much!

Nathan frowns a little at Ventus's next question.

"...you're...trading it...to Dagny..."

He has to think about that for a moment.

He sighs.

"...alright, fine...two conditions, though: once it knows the move, don't give it any chances to potentially use it, and I want to be there when you trade it. And I'm keeping a few Fire types out while we teach it the move. Outside."

[Iron]

No one knows why Masking was imported. It may have been an accident or an experiment.

Swabone serve on the ships of open-minded (or less scrupulous) sailors, but they were never intended to actually inhabit the continents they sailed to.



Sarimanok's gladiator style Pokemon battles were not to the death. Nurse Joy said a Pokemon battle without a Healing Machine would be to the death, but Healing Machines were prevalent during Sarimanok's time.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Sarimanok's gladiator style Pokemon battles were not to the death. Nurse Joy said a Pokemon battle without a Healing Machine would be to the death, but Healing Machines were prevalent during Sarimanok's time.

(Luckily they weren't - and luckily they were. *corrects notes* Will keep it in mind the next time!)

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

Now that Ventus is closer, there's one drawing in the journal that Ventus couldn't quite see from a distance because Nathan is currently working on it and it's almost half hidden among all the other strange looking pokemon: a little black and white bird pokemon.  (Why was Masking imported to Creshire, @Iron?  Almost forgot to ask that.  And was Swabone purposeful or were they stowaways?)  The pictures are also all labeled with the pokemon names and Rare Imported Pokemon is also written in the journal as well.


Nathan calmly turns around when Ventus asks the first question, one arm slung across the back of the chair.  It's really hard to tell if he's surprised or not.  "Yeah.  Went well, and ended about how I expected them to.  Wasn't able to do them yesterday like I originally wanted, but..."  He shrugs.


From what Ventus can pick up from the two Kirlia, it wasn't with either of them.  Kirlia is the same as ever (and probably doesn't need it anyways), while 'Kirlia'...is doing her best to avoid having to go over to that table for now, feeling incredivbly shy around everyne that's not Kirlia.  She's quite content with spending time with her friend while she has the chance, thank you very much!

Nathan frowns a little at Ventus's next question.

"...you're...trading it...to Dagny..."

He has to think about that for a moment.

He sighs.

"...alright, fine...two conditions, though: once it knows the move, don't give it any chances to potentially use it, and I want to be there when you trade it.  And I'm keeping a few Fire types out while we teach it the move.  Outside."

Seeing yet another mysterious Pokémon and the title of the sections they were held under, Ventus couldn't help but ask them with a curious frown and scrunched up eyebrows: "Nathan, what Pokémon ARE you sketching into your journal? I've never seen their kind before, which is an oddity given my education, so if you don't mind to inform me what they are and a little bit about them....?"

Their non-chalant response almost earned them a raised eyebrow from the empath, the words 'Are you sure?' hanging off the very tip of his tongue, but restrained both impulses and simply nodded their head. If they were fine and relaxed now, there was no need for him to pry any further, or start a discussion that could end up being a buzz kill for the boy. Sure, he was naturelly intrigued as to WHICH Pokémon they conducted the ritual, but that would soon become apparent to him once he examines the feelings/emotion/behavior of them over time. He wasn't a Pokémon Sociologist AND an Empath, after all!

However, he couldn't help but give Nathan scrunched up look of confusion, surprise, and mild discontent as they only agreed to the bare minimum of his request, and tacked on condition that positively reeked of distrust of his ability to handle at that. They very well knew he was damn good at caring/handling Disobedient Pokémon, and they equally knew of his....talent to conduct 'special' trades with no hassle, so why was he so...…difficult about it. He honestly didn't know whether to feel somewhat insulted, more annoyed, or impressed with how cautious the boy was being about the HM distribution, but eventually settled into exasperated acceptance as he let out a very put upon *Sigh* and nodded his head.

".....Your faith my expertise and ability to handle this all non-withstanding, I agree to your....terms. I have counter conditions of my own you, however. First, you must hide the HM somewhere that can't easily be discovered for roughly a couple days worth of time Since the League is draconian about those Moves, and the Steel Wonder is closely associated with them ('And has her own diverse and private interests. Not that I mind, but the boy might...'), so I don't want us to lose possession of it so easily, or start being closely monitored by them. Second,  let me handle talking with Dagney for the most part If she address you personally, feel free to respond, but try to keep things succient and concise....."

Ven rubbed his temples while saying this, as what was going to be a private and fairly quick affair now has been greatly complicated, which intensified his minor headache he received from Antheneum going through that time whammy event (not that he knows it was THAT specifically). Oy vie.....

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

(…)

Having things packed away then and Cottonee being back on her head, she does face Ventus again - rather carefully however, a hint of nervousness visible in her. All caused by the anxious way he behaves towards her; she won't exactly ask what's wrong as she can assume what it might be, he said 'It's nothing' assuming he isn't prone to talk about it either, and will leave the pace of whiling away fully to him. "Done. I'm done with my things here in Atheneum, I...mean...." Her eyes look away for a moment. "Guide me then, please... Hehe, it came...suprising that you're the one asking for my company, but who'd I be to deny it...?"

'Oh dear.....it appears I've put her on edge to with my own....stress with...…. *Mental Sighing* I need to better veil my emotion and not spread my own.....miseries to her,' Ventus though as he smiled and held out a hand to guide her over to his favored hammock, as he quite easily was able to pick up the nervousness in her, and it doesn't take a PhD to guess what's the cause of it. Oh, how he wishes that he could only bring happiness and joy into the angelic's woman's life, instead of negatively or the like...

"Then let me lead the way then, sweetheart." (He said the last part quietly, in case the others were around)

A short/medium/long trip later, and the couple were sitting comfortably in relative seclusion, with the researcher silent but sitting/laying right next to Shiva. For several moments it seemed like he was about to say something, or reach over and pull her close, but he always stopped short of either action and simply sighed, and kept his own peace.


 Looks as its up to the misses to start things up, or all this personal time will amount to is a pseudo cuddling session....

[Dragonstrike]

Spoiler

Seeing yet another mysterious Pokémon and the title of the sections they were held under, Ventus couldn't help but ask them with a curious frown and scrunched up eyebrows: "Nathan, what Pokémon are you sketching into your journal? I've never seen their kind before, which is an oddity given my education, so if you don't mind to inform me what they are and a little bit about them....?"

Their non-chalant response almost earned them a raised eyebrow from the empath, the words 'Are you sure?' hanging off the very tip of his tongue, but restrained both impulses and simply nodded their head. If they were fine and relaxed now, there was no need for him to pry any further, or start a discussion that could end up being a buzz kill for the boy. Sure, he was naturelly intrigued as to which Pokémon they conducted the ritual, but that would soon become apparent to him once he examines the feelings/emotion/behavior of them over time. He wasn't a Pokémon Sociologist AND an Empath, after all!

However, he couldn't help but give Nathan scrunched up look of confusion, surprise, and mild discontent as they only agreed to the bare minimum of his request, and tacked on condition that positively reeked of distrust of his ability to handle at that. They very well knew he was [i]damn [/i]good at caring/handling Disobedient Pokémon, and they equally knew of his....talent to conduct 'special' trades with no hassle, so why was he so...…[i]difficult [/i]about it. He honestly didn't know whether to feel somewhat insulted, more annoyed, or [i]impressed [/i]with how cautious the boy was being about the HM distribution, but eventually settled into exasperated acceptance as he let out a very put upon *Sigh* and nodded his head.

".....Your faith my expertise and ability to handle this all non-withstanding, I agree to your....terms. I have counter conditions of my own you, however. First,[b] you must hide the HM somewhere that can't easily be discovered for roughly a couple days worth of time, as I do not want to chance Dagney conducting a random search of our persons and confiscating that HM, or even knowing we have had contact with it if possible.[/b] Since the League is draconian about those Moves, and the Steel Wonder is closely associated with them ('And has her own diverse and private interests. Not that I mind, but the boy might...'), so I don't want us to lose possession of it so easily, or start being closely monitored by them. Second,[b] let me handle talking with Dagney for the most part, as I want to minimize the chance she grows suspicious of my gift.[/b] If she address you personally, feel free to respond, but try to keep things succient and concise....."

Ven rubbed his temples while saying this, as what was going to be a private and fairly quick affair now has been greatly complicated, which intensified his minor headache he received from Antheneum going through that time whammy event (not that he knows it was THAT specifically). Oy vie.....

"...honestly, I don't know how Dagny might react.  I'd like to believe there's enough mutual trust, and that seems to have been the case so far..."

He closes his eyes, thinking.

"...I think I have a decent spot to put it for a short time.  Technically, the safest place for it is on our persons now that we've removed it from its original hiding spot, but putting it away for a day or two might not be totally unwarranted...I'm hoping it's unnecessary, though..."

...

"...these are powerful moves, Ventus.  My dad left the Fly HM in the Nature Preserve with good reason.  I have no problems with keeping this as quiet as possible.  The less unnecessary noise we make, the better."

Nathan turns back to his journal and starts talking about what he's drawing.

"I'm drawing some of the Tandorian pokemon that have been imported to the region for various reasons.  This little bug pokemon is a Cubbug.  Stowed away on a fruit shipment.  This rat pokemon is a Ratsy.  Venesi considers them pests since they not only do many of the same things as Rattata and other rat pokemon, but also leave graffiti everywhere with those tails of theirs.  Ironically, they're somewhat similar to Smeargle because of those tails, though, and are valuable to trainers who properly tame them, so Venesi can never be totally rid of them.  The black sheep is a Baashaun.  They're easily the most common Tandorian pokemon in Creshire because they're valued for their wool.  It's a little bit rougher than a Mareep's, but it's used in a lot of different things, from clothing to Destiny Knots.  The red parrot pokemon is a Pahar.  Very popular with bucaneers as a companion, and the feathers make great hats, apparently.  The Secular Cathedral in Cress actually has a few that go around lighting all the candles.  The spooky skeleton pokemon is a Swabone.  Very popular with pirates in Tandor, and popular shipworkers in general.  Means they travel a lot, and sometimes end up settling down in some of the regions they travel to, though that wasn't ever the main purpose of bringing them aboard the ships in the first place.  This one..."

Nathan points at the picture labeled 'Electruxo'.

"...is easily my favorite water type.  Electruxo.  One of Tandor's starter pokemon, and I've heard it has an affinity for Mega Evolution.  Was brought over on ships much like Swabone, though the sailors mainly used it for its ability to use electromagnetic waves as a radar system of sorts.  Heh...that'd certainly be helpful, thinking about it...and then there's this little gal here."

He points at the picture labeled 'Masking'.

"...don't really know a whole lot about this one.  No solid ideas how it made it's way over to the region, don't really know much about it beyond the basic moveset, ability, and type information...I'm still learning about it."

Nathan has a small smile on his face as he's talking about Masking. He doesn't seem to be frustrated at the lack of concrete information on the rare species.