[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

*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.

Seeing as he was near clueless about the greater scope of Cheshire's distinguished history, Terra didn't hold much expectation for what his exploration of the King's Men Campsite would yield beyond he'd already observed. Even so, he couldn't help but garner a strong wonder from everything he came across. From the Conkeldurr experimentations and planning out the construction of what would be Route 12/13, to the noble yet perfervidous energy that was shared by all the robust soldiers, their was always something that grabbed his attention, keeping him in a near constant state of captivation and intense curiosity. 

The fierce battles between man, Pokemon, and any combination thereof were obviously of the most interest to him, but since he had nothing he could afford to wager on a fight for himself/his partners, all he could do was content himself to watching. Not as thrilling to do so, but it was still fun and engaging none the less.

All of this stimulus would have normally been dizzying and/or overwhelming for the simple monk, were it not for the sense of familarity , kinship , [and contentedness he experienced as he took everything in. Honestly, it was quite mystifying to him why he felt this way in a time/place so very far detached from his own, but it didn't change the fact that he did. In the end, he just shrugged it off for the most part and continued to enjoy himself, as overthinking about his own gut feelings wouldn't serve to do much more than confuse or distract. It wasn't as if it was a bad thing that he felt right at home in the campsite. Just.......different.

Concerning the wagon o' weapons he came across, the rugged wanderer decided to investigate it a bit more closely, as while he was not exactly interested in wielding one of the deadly implements (He wasn't into THAT kind of fighting), 'ancient' weaponry had its appeal. Later on when he spotted the painter and his Legendary work in progress, and grew curious enough to walk right up behind them and ask about it, giving them a tap on the shoulder to get their attention.

"Excuse me, but can you tell me about what you are painting? Why, too? Have a......friend that is a artist like you, but not seen him do something like this. *Beat* Oh, and good job so far......I think. Not an artist, but it looks nice to me."

The hidden camp, its impoverished people......all of it caused Terra to frown to himself, quietly displeased with the state they lived in. After looking around it for a bit, he mulled over what he saw for several moments, until he suddenly nodded to himself, coming to the decision to help the commoners out however he could. That would mainly involved him going over to the needier/hungrier looking people/families and offering some of his rations to them, doing various odd task suited for a man of his stature, and (if its possible), summoning both Lapis Lazuli and Tommy to generate as much wealth as he could with their respective Moves and then distributing it fairly/equally to everyone, keeping none of it for himself. He could sympathize with their plight given his own life of hardship and ostrication, so he'd spare what he little generosity he could to improve the lives of at least some of them and hope it would be enough.... 

As for the Bag of Ashes, he simply pocketed it after giving it a once over and deemed it was alright for him to do so. No clue what he could do with all this fine soot, but maybe Shiva or Nathan could get some use out of it.

Orders: Essentially, further investigation of weapons and artistry, having Terra do some humanitarian work for the commoners, and taking the Bag of Ashes for his friends to make use of! Nothing wrong with any of that, right? I don't anticipate their to be any problems, but then again anything can happen when Time Travel has occured....

[Iron]

He looks at you as if any fool should know. Then his expression softens. "Oh, sorrow! I realized not you were one of those mad priests. Perhaps I am tested. These are Xerneas, Landorus, and Cobalion - Royalty. Kingdom. Knighthood. The three Legendary Pokemon of Sarimanok's House. Healing hands, deadly hands. Healing hands, deadly hands. The word of Sarimanok they spread and his rule they enforce. They teach us how Pokemon might be contained within magic crystals such as adorn the horns of Xerneas, and the fruits of Landorus' orchards. They teach us to battle as allies with Pokemon, to train with them as has done no other era under any king before Sarimanok. The Trio represent the future of the world."


Like the artist, the lower caste don't know quite what to make of Terra. Eventually they decide you are some sort of cleric. They're all whispering to each other as they stealthily pocket the uncut gems and (valueless) Pay Day metal. Finally a little girl runs forward. "What deity serve you, sir priest?"

Terra gets 2 XP.

[Spiritmon]

Spoiler

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).

Heart was impress with such tale. "That guy was tough and determined I guess. Its not everyone who can stand up with courage against a legendary. He have guts until he gave up." Heart touch the symbols in shrine. He didnt understand very much, but he reconize some of those letters. "Hmm, these symbols resemble a bit the Cleanse Tags in my time. These must be some sort of ancient laguage the future people must have use as a base to create the Cleanse Tags. Or maybe vice-versa. Shiva would like see such marks around here." Heart then notices Kecleon Glare the statue of Groundon. "What wrong Kecleon. Something bothering you?"

[Mikaruge108]

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.

"Huh... well this is certainly strange..." Spira says taking a closer look at the seed. "Can't quite tell what this seed is in this poor light, and I don't see a way to those Pokemon, so for now I'll head back to Nathan and see what's going on with him, and if he knows more about this seed than I do." @Dragonstrike

[Spiritmon]

Heart could notices this is somehow a puzzle to resolve. Heart then try to search the area for any possible clues. The most clearly possible clue its the statue of Groundon. He decide to check the statue to see anything odd.

Mechanic: Check the Groundon Statue.

[Dragonstrike]

"Huh... well this is certainly strange..." Spira says taking a closer look at the seed. "Can't quite tell what this seed is in this poor light, and I don't see a way to those Pokemon, so for now I'll head back to Nathan and see what's going on with him, and if he knows more about this seed than I do."

When Spira rejoins Nathan, he's got his new traveling cloak on, hood drawn.  The red and purple threads are a little metallic, so the purple and red flames that trim the edges of the cloak sparkle slightly in the dim light of Charmeleon's tail flame.

Gallade notices Spira's approach first and notifies Nathan, who turns to face the Ghost type trainer.  "Ah, there you are, Spira.  Find any pokemon that interested you?  By the way, here ya go.  Have a cloak.  That should help ya blend in without any difficulty."

If Spira examines the cloak before putting it on, he'll see the four interlocking silver circles on the back.

Spira's welcome to ask Nathan about that strange seed, obviously.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Link to the post I'm responding to
--------------------------------------------


Huh, reading Bill's resonse makes Shiva realize that she indeed hasn't kept track at all of how many trades through time she has conducted already in this relatively short time, a faint additional worry awakes within her whether the experimental PTC can handle it by the longshot. Bill's further words rather quickly chased this worry away, he got this - thankfulness and trust replace it.

How Raphael's time energy aura has revitalized catches her attention, she'd guess their Pokemon's is linked with their's. If she remembers, she'll also show the battered umbrella to Bill, she herself has never ever heard of an Item being capable to host energy for TWO Types of attacks.



Of course Shiva does follow Umbreon to the dim light sources that caught their interest, pretty excited what they turn out to be herself now as she would have missed them if it wasn't for the black Eeveelution's attention. To not break the meaningfulness and silence of the night she quickly put on the boots she made from Baashaun Wool, enjoying how she now was able to walk across the field without making a sound. Only Cottonee accompanied her additionally to the family of Eevees as they all checked out the light sources one after another:


- The first one she was the one she was most excited about as it gave her a particular sensation: Yes, that tiny gleam, the way it radiates an unmistakeably dampening energy - There's no way this cannot be an Everstone!! Shiva has never found one in the wild ever, but definitely is aware that these are sought out and worthy by those who value its effect, this one even appeared to be bigger than those she knows. All more reason to take this as a lucky strike, she touches and strokes the surface of the stone as the Umbreon sniff on it.

"Alright, you all...", she adresses the family with a determined voice and look, "We will take this special stone with us. To do so, we have to free it from the earth though - Umbreon, can you and your mate dig it as free as possible with a coordinated Sand Attack please? You, Eevee, lend your parents a helping hand (he'll learn the move for 0xp is going this way) or loose the earth by using the same move like them. Cottonee dear one, you provide us some good look at things by holding a Dazzling Gleam, keep it faint though to not blind us accidently. I will dig myself with this forked branch and cute any roots in our way (it's the same forked branch she has dug out Arrowrroot already!). Dizzy, please aid us as well or keep watch that nothing disturbs us. All together now, come on!~"

This will hopefully work, once they have made it Shiva investigates this raw Everstone closely - probably needs some polishing before it can be used? She also praises all the Pokemon for their aid, especially Umbreon and Dittumbreon for having found this stone in the first place! (Since we don't use natures, is there more to the Everstone in your Game/in Chreshire or is preventing evolution its only effect, Iron?)


- The Illumise brings a smile to her face, she watches it for a few minutes before the Umbreon turn to the final source of light.


- Shiva was obviously suprised as it lead her back to the camp and that juggler of a soldier, but was drawn to the performance of the Ninetales and was there with Cottonee, an Umbreon, a female Umbreon actually being a Ditto and a young Eevee listening to the story shared by the soldier with all the other campers, hanging on his every word.

Slight issues she indeed had with understanding the ancient accent, but this didn't lessen the enjoyment of the story. Oh legendary and icy Kyurem... She believes that these elusive 'magic crystals' are the Light and Dark Stone, so the old King demanded them...? She shudders at the idea of them getting it into their hands, but the arising hero stronger than even King Sarimanok himself gives her hope.

Shiva too offered some still warm coffee in a mug from her own thermos bottle to the juggler soldier, eager to hear the final tale with her Pokemon. If he doesn't take it, she'll just drink it herself.

[Mikaruge108]

"Huh... well this is certainly strange..." Spira says taking a closer look at the seed. "Can't quite tell what this seed is in this poor light, and I don't see a way to those Pokemon, so for now I'll head back to Nathan and see what's going on with him, and if he knows more about this seed than I do."

When Spira rejoins Nathan, he's got his new traveling cloak on, hood drawn.  The red and purple threads are a little metallic, so the purple and red flames that trim the edges of the cloak sparkle slightly in the dim light of Charmeleon's tail flame.

Gallade notices Spira's approach first and notifies Nathan, who turns to face the Ghost type trainer.  "Ah, there you are, Spira.  Find any pokemon that interested you?  By the way, here ya go.  Have a cloak.  That should help ya blend in without any difficulty."

If Spira examines the cloak before putting it on, he'll see the four interlocking silver circles on the back.

Spira's welcome to ask Nathan about that strange seed, obviously.

"Found some ghost pokemon at the camp." He says pointing at the soldier camp. "Also found a strange black seed that my ghost pokemon seem to like, thought you might know more about it." He hands the seed to Nathan for him to look at. When Spira gets his cloak the first thing he notices is the pattern on the back of it. "Wow that looks similar, but not quite like the badge for Hearthome," Spira sweeps back his trench coat revealing the badge for 1925 Hearthome on his shirt pocket

looks something like this

   

the three circles of the badge are in a triangular formation at center with a single curved line coming from each of them in a clockwise fasion. Spira take his hat and trench coat off and puts them in his bag, putting the cloak on over his bag.
-EDIT- Rough MSPaint sketch is up

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

He looks at you as if any fool should know. Then his expression softens. "Oh, sorrow! I realized not you were one of those mad priests. Perhaps I am tested. These are Xerneas, Landorus, and Cobalion - Royalty. Kingdom. Knighthood. The three Legendary Pokemon of Sarimanok's House. Healing hands, deadly hands. Healing hands, deadly hands. The word of Sarimanok they spread and his rule they enforce. They teach us how Pokemon might be contained within magic crystals such as adorn the horns of Xerneas, and the fruits of Landorus' orchards. They teach us to battle as allies with Pokemon, to train with them as has done no other era under any king before Sarimanok. The Trio represent the future of the world."


Like the artist, the lower caste don't know quite what to make of Terra. Eventually they decide you are some sort of cleric. They're all whispering to each other as they stealthily pocket the uncut gems and (valueless) Pay Day metal. Finally a little girl runs forward. "What deity serve you, sir priest?"

Terra gets 2 XP.

The mountain of a man tilted his head and gave the artist a semi-confused frown for their initial statement, for he wasn't angry nor a particularly religious man, but he soon shrugged it off and continued to listened. If they believed something about him he scarcely understand but were not being deliberately offensive by it, he could simply accept it without qualm and move on. It was simpler to do so, than needlessly raise questions about it. No harm meant, no foul given!

By the end of the skilled painter's brief run down of Monarch's Trio, he had become fascinated with the Legendary patron dieties and the functions/capabilities they endorsed/created. How could he not, when they and the 'old' king helped usher in technology, systems, teachings, and philosophy that would/was forever innovating and changing the world to what it would become? Such interest, however, was tempered by the fact that he also knew what sort of man Sarimanok would become, and the inevitable dissolution of the vast, wealthy kingdom they forged. Right 'now' , all was well with their rule, but sooner or later that would sharply change for the worse....

Dense as he could be, Terra knew better than to voice such doomsayings, as he knew not only would it be a bad idea (speaking ill of the king and the ruin of their kingdom would probably considered treasonous, or at least in highly poor taste/contemptuous), but that it wouldn't amount to anything. What happened would happen, and their was nothing significant he could do about it unless he wanted to screw up the timeline (which he didn't).

So in the end, the rugged wanderer just nodded back to the artist, feeling a strange mix of enlightenment and sorrow from the lesson they gave.

"Ah. I understand. Thank you for teaching me, sir. Hm.....have another question now, though. Is their not a Legendary Pokemon that.......represents.....Commoner? Royalty.....Knights.....Kingdom itself.......all cannot be without the people making it up. Without their support.....all would fall. So is there a Legendary that looks out for Commoners?"

With the little girl, he was caught a little off guard by her innocent question, as again he didn't consider himself a religious man and therefore held no particular Legendary/Mythic Pokemon in worship. Still, he knew that not giving her an answer would be rude/weird, so just couched down to ruffle her hair and said the first thing that came to mind.

"Hm.....Latias and Latios, little one. They are elusive, wandering, free spirited......but help those in great need, and protect those under their care. Just like me. That is why I serve them. Pray.....and they will lead you to a bright future, like they did for me. Promise."

(Iron, I noticed you didn't bring up the weapons wagon, so I guess Terra was turned away from it/didn't learn anything more significant. I actually wanted to see if it was possible to trade the Treasure Maps to get a weapon, as a pristine 'relic' such as that would fetch a high price in the Modern Era [Especially since Bill/Nathan can verify its authenticity!] , but if that isn't possible....oh well!)

[Iron]

Spoiler

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).

Heart was impress with such tale. "That guy was tough and determined I guess. Its not everyone who can stand up with courage against a legendary. He have guts until he gave up." Heart touch the symbols in shrine. He didnt understand very much, but he reconize some of those letters. "Hmm, these symbols resemble a bit the Cleanse Tags in my time. These must be some sort of ancient laguage the future people must have use as a base to create the Cleanse Tags. Or maybe vice-versa. Shiva would like see such marks around here." Heart then notices Kecleon Glare the statue of Groundon. "What wrong Kecleon. Something bothering you?"

Kecleon is basically dancing on the statue to show he doesn't care about this legendary Pokemon. The statue, as you search it, appears to be quite solid despite having no mortar in between stones. It has its arms upraised, mimicking the legend where it raised and lowered the mountain, turning lake into tarn.

So I think you get the feeling there could definitely be a Honedge around here. But where, more specifically, do you search?