[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Dragonstrike]

After checking the statues Spira goes back to Nathan. "From what I gather most of the gems probably don't serve a purpose. But that still doesn't change the fact that the statues are still weird." "So how are things here, did you get what you needed to help us blend in?" "I'm going over there to look for some Pokemon." he points toward a darker area.
Mechanics: look for rare Ghost Pokemon.

Nathan looks up from what he's doing.  Charmeleon's fire flickers in the darkness.  "Ah, Spira.  Yeah, Bill sent me some materials.  I need to make the cloaks myself, but we shouldn't have any trouble looking like travelers from this time when I'm done.  Thank Arceus that I don't need to make anything too terribly fancy..."

When Spira mentions he's going to go look for some pokemon, Nathan looks in the direction Spira's pointing and slowly nods.  There's a hint of trepidation, but it's only momentary.  "...alright.  Just...be careful."

Once Spira leaves, Nathan gets back to work on sewing those cloaks.  He makes sure to use some of that colored thread to add little bits of flair to the otherwise dull, dark brown traveling cloaks.

For his own cloak, Nathan wants to try and use some purple and red thread to create an image of a purple and red flame.

For Heart's, Nathan wants to sew a heart shaped pattern using gold thread.

And for Spira's...hmmm...four silver, interlocking circles, in the image of the present day Hearthome City Gym Badge.  He doesn't know if that badge is shaped like that in 1925, and he doesn't even know for certain if Spira is even tied to the Ghost type gym, but putting that symbol on Spira's cloak just feels...right somehow.

Now the only question is: can Nathan can get all 3 cloaks done in 1 encounter so he can hand them out ASAP? And I suppose there's also the question of whether any of the humans or pokemon in/around the camp notice the smaller flame beyond the outskirts of the larger camps...hopefully Nathan's at least finished his cloak before anyone does.

(I thought that making 3 plain looking cloaks would be kinda boring, so I decided to add a small amount of personal flair to each one to differentiate them. Or try to, anyways, if this happens to require a roll.)

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

Yeah, this guy doesn't seem all that angry. He does seem to consider you lower class than himself. 

"Your apology is accepted, sirrah. For maintaining and expanding the King's Road, these Diggersby accompany us. Have you gold? Then might you purchase a Diggersby. Have you silver? Mayhap might you purchase a young Bunnelby."

The mountain of a man thought long and hard on the soldier's offer for one of the burly burrowing bunnies, eyes closed and arms crossed, until at last he frowned and shook his head.

"No. Have......valuable first aid Items, but can not afford to trade them for a bunny. Sorry for.....taking up your time. May you have a good night, sir..."

With that said, Terra politely bids farewell to the king's man, and resumes wandering around the campsite, quietly observing all the activities taking place. He honestly wanted one of those Bunnlby/Diggersby, but the ask for price was simply beyond his resources at this time, so he regretfully had to decline their offer. A bummer to be sure, but tis the reality of the situation.....

(Decided to put a post down stating that my character isn't taking that offer for the record. Waiting to see if my chara. stumbles upon something happening while exploring the area or not now!)

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Yes! Lilith gives that Eye a thoughtful look. It's definitely related to the One she foretold, but she doesn't react as if threatened by these mere images.


With Shiva's massive Insight stat, she can feel something of that rage in all the soldiers around the camps. They don't display it outwardly - they are calm, collected, and polite. But in their own eyes Shiva can feel it, and a part of her responds to it like a command... a command to battle and compete! The vitality of these noble men and women of a bygone era is very strong and it makes all of you want to do whatever they say. (Yep, gender is not a final factor in deciding a military career in Creshire. There's one female for every three males.

It's quite a relief for the fae enthusast that Lilith doesn't react negatively or threathened by these depicted Eyes - she finds herself joining in her thoughtful observation of that symbol with lost of caution and reservation, but doesn't make it to hold 'eye contact' with it for more than a few seconds before she turns away with a highly uneasy feeling. Shiva just doesn't seem to like that symbol of King Sarimanok, gets the impression that it's watching and observing her attentively across time, space and distance.

She deliberately turned away from it, took care that she avoided it as best as possible as she began approaching the camp and the people + Pokemon there with the hood of her cloak shadowing a lot of her face and her gothloli fortunerteller loyally by her side. Something there was catching her interest, was sparking her curiosity - what it was, Shiva didn't quite know, maybe it just itched her to explore a bit. She didn't believe to be in danger here - at least not here at the camp as long as she doesn't draw the wrong kind of attention to herself. What Shiva did, could be described as 'undercover sightseeing' - she stopped by here, took a halt there and tried to get a good impression of the surrounding, all while disguising as a wanderer or passerby.

With joy she noted that roughly a third of the campers were women, now she looked out whether there are actual families among the campers. She'd be glad to find out where they are traveling and why to see if her guess is correct, but doesn't dare to ask anyone here directly. Same with these soldiers - THESE gave Shiva goosebumps the first time she gazed them into the eyes. It was almost like a call, she could already see herself approaching anyone here to immediately ask for a battle just because. Thankfully though, perhaps due to the fine rest, good food and help of the bright stars, she made it to ward that urge off before succumbing to it, before she'd end up blatantly overestimating her skills in fighting  - she doesn't feel that even with her most capable Pokemon she'd make it to stand a real chance against any of these. Now Shiva took care to avoid the soldiers as best as possible and approach the Conkeldurr and campfires instead.

The Conkeldurr you find are working together with a cloth map. They're placing dowels made of concrete on the map of west Creshire, clearly planning a construction project like a road or something long and linear. Interestingly, the humans are paying intent attention, as if they respect the Conkeldurr's opinion immensely.

Other Conkeldurr are experimenting with mud, clay, straw, water, gravel, and powders of different colors. They're doing some kind of alchemy, perhaps their namesake concrete. (Well, concrete was named for them, not the other way around). Again, humans of every rank are trying to learn from them, with the utmost respect.

The stories being told are almost always about Pokemon battles, including arena-style matchups, actual violent conquests, and lots of personal grudge matches. They seem to also have the traditional sport style you are used to. Fighting types are definitely in vogue. Steel types like Aron's line are much desired. Fire type is one of the most dramatic. The very common types like grass, bug, poison, flying, normal, ground, rock don't receive any discussion at all. Psychic is mentioned with much reverence but no trainers seem to use it. The big mount Pokemon pulling the carts don't see much battle.

You garner that their battles are probably very intense. In game terms, they will commonly use five actions even if that means just one dice remaining. Or they might use high crit moves/abilities.

Turns out this was a fine decision, as Shiva was pretty much amazed by their actions - she came just as close to them to get a good look what they are doing, but not as close to be considered a distraction from their given tasks. She was extra-careful due to Lilith as a Pokemon controlling massive psychic energy accompanying her, but any worry about that was soon depleted as these Unovian Fighting Types didn't reacted. Maybe they were that concentrated in their planning and alchemy, maybe they just picked up Shiva and Gothitelle meant no harm at all. Or maybe they were so confident in their strength that they were completely unafraid. Whatever it was, she tried to meet these Pokemon with just as much respect as the campers while watching them.

She stopping by at the campfires as a listener seems to be accepted as well without a fuss, none really noticed how she smiled to herself over that. Neither with how she frowned and turned fearful upon catching up how Pokemon Battles here work - 'Guess it was to my own good that I was able to resist last minute...', she silently thought to herself. A dramatic battle where Delphox's blazing flames illuminate the warm night while engulfing the foe - she found herself enjoying this image appearing before her inner eye. She also got the feeling that smol Pancham would be up for such a fierce ancient battle, maybe....!

Eh, Shiva needs to get away from here. Which means she motions Lilith to come, excuses herself to the people beside her and wanders off into the fields by the east until she had enough distance from the camp that she doesn't need to worry them and until there's nothing but a starry sky and the full moon watching her.

Here, she'd just take a seat in the grass, takes a breather and figuratively bathes in faint moonlight, after a little Cottonee was summoned to provide a bit of light via her most dazzling attack. She didn't feel tired in the slightest, nor lonely - here, she felt well if ignoring her worry concerning this latest lurch. As well as safe enough to fiddle at the PTC on her right wrist without looking around at first, she ended up trading Azu, Raphael, Nightshade and Vaporeon for Delphox and the Eevee Family. The message she'd send to Bill via Raphael reads the following:

Spoiler

Well, hello again... I hope you don't mind receiving so many trade requests from me. Let me know if it's bothersome or something like that, please! ><; (Though Shiva would guess it wasn't, as the more trades the more data for him, the more resources he has for his research?)

We're landed in... Well, the time of King Sarimanok I'd guess. I have no idea why in Reshiram's flames of Truth we're here, but I feel we'll find out soon enough. Here's a camp, I didn't spot anything suspicious or shady while exploring a bit. Just some intelligent Conkeldurr aiding them, it's indeed true that humans learned how to make concrete from them - if I remember correctly what dad's pokedex states, that means we're more than 2,000 years in the past.

All's well at the moment though, I'm enjoying the clear night under the starry sky - I found an interesting battered umbrella that seems to bear electric AND water power, Vaporeon currently holds it. Maybe you'd like to take a closer look at it?

This time it took 184 seconds until the message been sent. I hope everything's fine with you.

Her magical fox is mostly for providing her a real light source without overstressing her dearest fluffball, while Umbreon, Dittumbreon and their fluffy brown fox of a son got summoned as well in flashes of white light.

As expected Ditto appeared as a female Umbreon, Shiva surpressed an "aww cute!~" as Umbreon licked his mate's forehead as an affectionate way to say hello to 'her'. She herself greeted them with a smile and a *cough* before motioning them to look up and around. "Well, hello you three... It's nice to see you. I, ehm, thought you would enjoy how clear this night is, we even have a full moon tonight. Isn't it almost magical...? You're free to roam a little if you like, but please don't wander off too far from me. I do enjoy your company though, you're very welcome to just stay with me here. Maybe even show me a few of your moves or skills?"

"Oh, the same of course is true for you, Dizzy." If Shiva's being honest though, she's curious to see how the Umbreon react to the Absol and how he likes the night, maybe young Eevee would even be up to play with the Dark Type if encouraged or assured...?


-----------------
Mechanics:
Shiva will spend a bit of time with the Eevee Family under the starry sky in the fields, either by Training or Crafting something - depends on how they react to the scenery, that determines the details (means, who will train how or what Shiva ends up creating) of the Encounter. Because searching for Berries or Items here in the dark would be not optimal. I'm not really up for a battle either at the moment.

[Iron]

...What is Spira doing...

Slight flashback!
Spira is busy interacting with Noire and Nubi to increase their loyalty. "So guys what do you think of Creshire so far?" Nubi looks listlessly around, as if slightly bored, and Noire seems more than happy to be here. "I know, it has been crazy hasn't it, first all those Electabuzz and that Chupacho, then that huge Rhydon, what next?"

Your ghost Pokemon are actually pretty excited about this era they've found themselves in. They're looking around at all the fighting types and the campfires, at the weird statues, at the fierce-eyed men who radiate tasty vitality.

this interaction was at the camping spot in 1925, Iron.

Oh, I see. In that case they are probably pretty excited at the prospect of seeing more Pokemon they've never seen before. Ghost Pokemon raised by a good trainer often see the world through the lens of relationships or cycles, like how life and death might work here, how the new Pokemon species will interact, and what kind of tasty vitality they might have.

[Iron]

After checking the statues Spira goes back to Nathan. "From what I gather most of the gems probably don't serve a purpose. But that still doesn't change the fact that the statues are still weird." "So how are things here, did you get what you needed to help us blend in?" "I'm going over there to look for some Pokemon." he points toward a darker area.
Mechanics: look for rare Ghost Pokemon.

Nathan looks up from what he's doing.  Charmeleon's fire flickers in the darkness.  "Ah, Spira.  Yeah, Bill sent me some materials.  I need to make the cloaks myself, but we shouldn't have any trouble looking like travelers from this time when I'm done.  Thank Arceus that I don't need to make anything too terribly fancy..."

When Spira mentions he's going to go look for some pokemon, Nathan looks in the direction Spira's pointing and slowly nods.  There's a hint of trepidation, but it's only momentary.  "...alright.  Just...be careful."

Once Spira leaves, Nathan gets back to work on sewing those cloaks.  He makes sure to use some of that colored thread to add little bits of flair to the otherwise dull, dark brown traveling cloaks.

For his own cloak, Nathan wants to try and use some purple and red thread to create an image of a purple and red flame.

For Heart's, Nathan wants to sew a heart shaped pattern using gold thread.

And for Spira's...hmmm...four silver, interlocking circles, in the image of the present day Hearthome City Gym Badge.  He doesn't know if that badge is shaped like that in 1925, and he doesn't even know for certain if Spira is even tied to the Ghost type gym, but putting that symbol on Spira's cloak just feels...right somehow.

Now the only question is: can Nathan can get all 3 cloaks done in 1 encounter so he can hand them out ASAP?  And I suppose there's also the question of whether any of the humans or pokemon in/around the camp notice the smaller flame beyond the outskirts of the larger camps...hopefully Nathan's at least finished his cloak before anyone does.

(I thought that making 3 plain looking cloaks would be kinda boring, so I decided to add a small amount of personal flair to each one to differentiate them.  Or try to, anyways, if this happens to require a roll.)

I'm just going to do one roll for all three cloaks, which is one Encounter. Then an Alert roll for the camp.

This could be Dex+Survival or knowledge, + Crafts. So 11 dice. You're very very quick at crafting even for things which will only give you a mediocre result.

(4)(1)(4)(6)(5)(5) (4)(3)(2)(5)(4) They turn out exactly as you wanted them to, and you're positive they will pass even a close gaze.

*roll*
*roll*

No one comes to investigate your flame. I need you to let me know if you do anything that would attract more attention.

[Iron]

Yes! Lilith gives that Eye a thoughtful look. It's definitely related to the One she foretold, but she doesn't react as if threatened by these mere images.


With Shiva's massive Insight stat, she can feel something of that rage in all the soldiers around the camps. They don't display it outwardly - they are calm, collected, and polite. But in their own eyes Shiva can feel it, and a part of her responds to it like a command... a command to battle and compete! The vitality of these noble men and women of a bygone era is very strong and it makes all of you want to do whatever they say. (Yep, gender is not a final factor in deciding a military career in Creshire. There's one female for every three males.

It's quite a relief for the fae enthusast that Lilith doesn't react negatively or threathened by these depicted Eyes - she finds herself joining in her thoughtful observation of that symbol with lost of caution and reservation, but doesn't make it to hold 'eye contact' with it for more than a few seconds before she turns away with a highly uneasy feeling. Shiva just doesn't seem to like that symbol of King Sarimanok, gets the impression that it's watching and observing her attentively across time, space and distance.

She deliberately turned away from it, took care that she avoided it as best as possible as she began approaching the camp and the people + Pokemon there with the hood of her cloak shadowing a lot of her face and her gothloli fortunerteller loyally by her side. Something there was catching her interest, was sparking her curiosity - what it was, Shiva didn't quite know, maybe it just itched her to explore a bit. She didn't believe to be in danger here - at least not here at the camp as long as she doesn't draw the wrong kind of attention to herself. What Shiva did, could be described as 'undercover sightseeing' - she stopped by here, took a halt there and tried to get a good impression of the surrounding, all while disguising as a wanderer or passerby.

With joy she noted that roughly a third of the campers were women, now she looked out whether there are actual families among the campers. She'd be glad to find out where they are traveling and why to see if her guess is correct, but doesn't dare to ask anyone here directly. Same with these soldiers - THESE gave Shiva goosebumps the first time she gazed them into the eyes. It was almost like a call, she could already see herself approaching anyone here to immediately ask for a battle just because. Thankfully though, perhaps due to the fine rest, good food and help of the bright stars, she made it to ward that urge off before succumbing to it, before she'd end up blatantly overestimating her skills in fighting  - she doesn't feel that even with her most capable Pokemon she'd make it to stand a real chance against any of these. Now Shiva took care to avoid the soldiers as best as possible and approach the Conkeldurr and campfires instead.

The Conkeldurr you find are working together with a cloth map. They're placing dowels made of concrete on the map of west Creshire, clearly planning a construction project like a road or something long and linear. Interestingly, the humans are paying intent attention, as if they respect the Conkeldurr's opinion immensely.

Other Conkeldurr are experimenting with mud, clay, straw, water, gravel, and powders of different colors. They're doing some kind of alchemy, perhaps their namesake concrete. (Well, concrete was named for them, not the other way around). Again, humans of every rank are trying to learn from them, with the utmost respect.

The stories being told are almost always about Pokemon battles, including arena-style matchups, actual violent conquests, and lots of personal grudge matches. They seem to also have the traditional sport style you are used to. Fighting types are definitely in vogue. Steel types like Aron's line are much desired. Fire type is one of the most dramatic. The very common types like grass, bug, poison, flying, normal, ground, rock don't receive any discussion at all. Psychic is mentioned with much reverence but no trainers seem to use it. The big mount Pokemon pulling the carts don't see much battle.

You garner that their battles are probably very intense. In game terms, they will commonly use five actions even if that means just one dice remaining. Or they might use high crit moves/abilities.

Turns out this was a fine decision, as Shiva was pretty much amazed by their actions - she came just as close to them to get a good look what they are doing, but not as close to be considered a distraction from their given tasks. She was extra-careful due to Lilith as a Pokemon controlling massive psychic energy accompanying her, but any worry about that was soon depleted as these Unovian Fighting Types didn't reacted. Maybe they were that concentrated in their planning and alchemy, maybe they just picked up Shiva and Gothitelle meant no harm at all. Or maybe they were so confident in their strength that they were completely unafraid. Whatever it was, she tried to meet these Pokemon with just as much respect as the campers while watching them.

She stopping by at the campfires as a listener seems to be accepted as well without a fuss, none really noticed how she smiled to herself over that. Neither with how she frowned and turned fearful upon catching up how Pokemon Battles here work - 'Guess it was to my own good that I was able to resist last minute...', she silently thought to herself. A dramatic battle where Delphox's blazing flames illuminate the warm night while engulfing the foe - she found herself enjoying this image appearing before her inner eye. She also got the feeling that smol Pancham would be up for such a fierce ancient battle, maybe....!

Eh, Shiva needs to get away from here. Which means she motions Lilith to come, excuses herself to the people beside her and wanders off into the fields by the east until she had enough distance from the camp that she doesn't need to worry them and until there's nothing but a starry sky and the full moon watching her.

Here, she'd just take a seat in the grass, takes a breather and figuratively bathes in faint moonlight, after a little Cottonee was summoned to provide a bit of light via her most dazzling attack. She didn't feel tired in the slightest, nor lonely - here, she felt well if ignoring her worry concerning this latest lurch. As well as safe enough to fiddle at the PTC on her right wrist without looking around at first, she ended up trading Azu, Raphael, Nightshade and Vaporeon for Delphox and the Eevee Family. The message she'd send to Bill via Raphael reads the following:

Spoiler

Well, hello again... I hope you don't mind receiving so many trade requests from me. Let me know if it's bothersome or something like that, please! ><; (Though Shiva would guess it wasn't, as the more trades the more data for him, the more resources he has for his research?)

We're landed in... Well, the time of King Sarimanok I'd guess. I have no idea why in Reshiram's flames of Truth we're here, but I feel we'll find out soon enough. Here's a camp, I didn't spot anything suspicious or shady while exploring a bit. Just some intelligent Conkeldurr aiding them, it's indeed true that humans learned how to make concrete from them - if I remember correctly what dad's pokedex states, that means we're more than 2,000 years in the past.

All's well at the moment though, I'm enjoying the clear night under the starry sky - I found an interesting battered umbrella that seems to bear electric AND water power, Vaporeon currently holds it. Maybe you'd like to take a closer look at it?

This time it took 184 seconds until the message been sent. I hope everything's fine with you.

Her magical fox is mostly for providing her a real light source without overstressing her dearest fluffball, while Umbreon, Dittumbreon and their fluffy brown fox of a son got summoned as well in flashes of white light.

As expected Ditto appeared as a female Umbreon, Shiva surpressed an "aww cute!~" as Umbreon licked his mate's forehead as an affectionate way to say hello to 'her'. She herself greeted them with a smile and a *cough* before motioning them to look up and around. "Well, hello you three... It's nice to see you. I, ehm, thought you would enjoy how clear this night is, we even have a full moon tonight. Isn't it almost magical...? You're free to roam a little if you like, but please don't wander off too far from me. I do enjoy your company though, you're very welcome to just stay with me here. Maybe even show me a few of your moves or skills?"

"Oh, the same of course is true for you, Dizzy." If Shiva's being honest though, she's curious to see how the Umbreon react to the Absol and how he likes the night, maybe young Eevee would even be up to play with the Dark Type if encouraged or assured...?


-----------------
Mechanics:
Shiva will spend a bit of time with the Eevee Family under the starry sky in the fields, either by Training or Crafting something - depends on how they react to the scenery, that determines the details (means, who will train how or what Shiva ends up creating) of the Encounter. Because searching for Berries or Items here in the dark would be not optimal. I'm not really up for a battle either at the moment.

"I can't view your PC Pokemon but you could show me the item when you get back. Huh, really thought you'd be in 2017 by now, but Raphael's time energy aura has revitalized. It's even stronger now. I can fulfill trade requests for another 10 hours easily. After that I might need a nap. Luckily that counter only decreases when someone is reaching across time, best I can figure. Could be like...200 trades? More? Complete guess. Wouldn't worry about that. If you get close I'll just drink some caffeine."

Umbreon gazes into the dark, and sees several small dim sources of light that interest her in the darkness. She leads you to them!

The first one is a dull rock with a tiny gleam deep within its center - a sort of dampening radiation wave Shiva recognizes from her work in the Daycare. It's a raw Everstone. It's about halfway in the earth and it's a little bigger than normal.

Second one is an Illumise, and a very distant Volbeat is answering it.

Finally, Umbreon wants to check out a ring of fire that turns out to be a juggler soldier. He has a Ninetales who will send a Confuse Ray through a WilloWisp to create rings of pale blue flame like a shiny Umbreon. "Tale the Eighth:" says the soldier. "The time of the wounded Dragon. From the sky he fell, screaming a scream of pure blue light that 'round the world was heard. Magic crystals he clutched, desired by the Old Lords. When the crystals they did wrest, the white and wounded dragon did freeze the Palace to the core. Ironic was his fate, for the ice sequestered that same Altar of Fame deep beneath the palace which could have satisfied his need for healing. Rooted to the spot it has always been since the first Men of Machines, for the Scavengers to find, and never moved has it been. Healed was every wounded King after every fierce battle, rising again to surprise his enemies who him dead believed. But healed not was Zekrom, but entombed in ice to await a hero stronger even than Sarimanok, if such things be possible."

"Tale the Eighth is now concluded. The final tale comes, after my weary throat I rest." Ninetales dims, and suddenly many hands are holding out warm teas or canteens of who knows what to the speaker.

(You see no families, by the way, although with your awesome Insight you count three discreet couples among the soldiers, again with little regard for gender norms.)

Dizzy appears bored by this time period. Nothing he was created and trained to infiltrate exists here, and there's too many fighting types.

[Iron]

Heart wanders in the dark until he spots a shrine up on a hillside. Thinking this might be a good place to find rare and mystical Pokemon, he gets closer and sees that dozens of stones have been piled into the shape of Groudon. On each stone is a mural story, like a single panel of a comic.

Heart follows the story as best he could, and learns the tale of a soldier trapped and tortured by an angry Groudon, perhaps in retaliation for some offense. It's a bit like the story of Sisyphus - whenever the soldier would drag his weary gear to Groudon, Groudon would raise its arms and reverse the slope of the mountain. When the soldier reached the bottom and raised his weapon, Groudon would suddenly lift the ground under its own feet until it was at the peak of a new mountain, and the soldier would roll to the bottom. Next time, the process was reversed. At last, the soldier threw all his gear into the lake which had formed at the bottom of the valley and gave up on trying to escape Groudon's punishment. He just sat and refused to move until he died. Groudon just laughed and raised the lake to the top of a hill - this hill! The lake has shrunk to a smaller lake/tarn at Groudon's feet. It's pretty muddy and rocky right now, and you can't tell how deep it is in the darkness. Still, it reflects beautiful starlight.

There are also some symbols on the shrine. They look like nonsense, until you recognize some that belong on a Cleanse Tag! These must be true names of Ghost Pokemon and this shrine wards them off or entraps them. Kecleon doesn't care, he just stands on the statue of Groudon, a black silhouette in the darkness.

(Let me know if that story makes sense to you, Spiritmon. I don't always write clearly this late at night).

[Iron]

Spoiler

Yeah, this guy doesn't seem all that angry. He does seem to consider you lower class than himself. 

"Your apology is accepted, sirrah. For maintaining and expanding the King's Road, these Diggersby accompany us. Have you gold? Then might you purchase a Diggersby. Have you silver? Mayhap might you purchase a young Bunnelby."

The mountain of a man thought long and hard on the soldier's offer for one of the burly burrowing bunnies, eyes closed and arms crossed, until at last he frowned and shook his head.

"No. Have......valuable first aid Items, but can not afford to trade them for a bunny. Sorry for.....taking up your time. May you have a good night, sir..."

With that said, Terra politely bids farewell to the king's man, and resumes wandering around the campsite, quietly observing all the activities taking place. He honestly wanted one of those Bunnlby/Diggersby, but the ask for price was simply beyond his resources at this time, so he regretfully had to decline their offer. A bummer to be sure, but tis the reality of the situation.....

(Decided to put a post down stating that my character isn't taking that offer for the record. Waiting to see if my chara. stumbles upon something happening while exploring the area or not now!)

*some rolls*

You find a big wagon holding tons of weapons. You find an artist painting Xerneas, Landorus, and Cobalion, with the King's Eye behind them. You find a somewhat hidden camp of commonfolk, who are shorter and skinnier, following the main camp. They scavenge for items when the soldiery move on, and sometimes they come out to beg or serve the noblemen progenitors.

You learn that the soldiers are expanding the road westward through a desert where Teazel Valley is in your time. This will allow Sarimanok to have coast-to-coast access, supposedly so anyone anywhere in Creshire can come to his palace and ask for things.

You find an abandoned bag of the ashes used for producing glass. It's in the kind of weird bag the Conkeldurr use.

[Dragonstrike]

Spoiler

I'm just going to do one roll for all three cloaks, which is one Encounter. Then an Alert roll for the camp.

This could be Dex+Survival or knowledge, + Crafts. So 11 dice. You're very very quick at crafting even for things which will only give you a mediocre result.

(4)(1)(4)(6)(5)(5) (4)(3)(2)(5)(4) They turn out exactly as you wanted them to, and you're positive they will pass even a close gaze.

*roll*
*roll*

No one comes to investigate your flame. I need you to let me know if you do anything that would attract more attention.

Phew...Nathan was a little worried for a sec there.  He was almost certain that one of the Timburr might have had a good chance of noticing, given they seem to be curiously investigating the edges of the campfire light...probably too distracted by the larger flames to notice a smaller one, thankfully.

For now, Nathan dons his own cloak after examining it a little.  He thinks to himself, '...huh...must have picked up a little of my mom's sewing ability somehow...it's nowhere near as good as hers, but...huh...never knew I could do that decent a job at it...'

Once that's done, Nathan just waits on the outskirts, trying to avoid drawing attention from the camp.  He needs to wait for Heart and Spira to come back so he can give them their cloaks...

Once his cloak is on (and his fedora is packed away), he draws the hood and nods to Charmeleon.  "Thanks buddy.  Appreciate the light.  Let's hope Heart and Spira rejoin us before anyone from the camp spots us.  Discretion is the better part of valor in certain situations, and I think this counts as one of them.  I don't want to get caught up in that rather...boisterous bunch of soldiers and end up in an unnecessary and/or risky battle if I can help it."

Game Plan: Just find a good spot to sit and wait for Spira and Heart to show up.  Charmeleon stays out in the meantime so the rest of the group will be able to locate Nathan in the dark since he's staying outside the camp.  Not really doing anything else that might be noticed, so Nathan should be relatively safe from getting noticed before everyone regroups...hopefully.

[Iron]

After checking the statues Spira goes back to Nathan. "From what I gather most of the gems probably don't serve a purpose. But that still doesn't change the fact that the statues are still weird." "So how are things here, did you get what you needed to help us blend in?" "I'm going over there to look for some Pokemon." he points toward a darker area.
Mechanics: look for rare Ghost Pokemon.

There are several Yamask. You don't see them until you've reached the darker area, and when you look back at the camp now you can see them floating eerily directly above the soldiers. You'll need some way to access them if you want to catch or battle one.

You also find a very strange object, which your own Ghost Pokemon are extremely interested in. It's a large flat seed, the size of your fist! It's very dry, and it's pitch black, but you're pretty sure it's a real seed. Your Pokemon all fight over who gets to hold it, and Dusknoir tries to eat it with his freaky belly-mouth.