[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

(I'm sorry for that trouble! D: I wasn't aware that it's not fair and/or borders to rulebreaking to be honest, I wasn't there when the next set of Encounter has been revealed and the intention to swap the Eevee Family upon Daybreak came to me when I was already turning in for the night. But I'll keep in mind to swap party members once I'm done with an Encounter I engaged in from now on. Sorry, again...)

[Spiritmon]

Spoiler

You walk until dawn. As the moon retires to a dim corner of the sky, the sun peers over Mt. Sentry and drives away the Murkrow, the Hoothoot, the Spinarak. Dizzy becomes clearly visible again. You can hear distant trumpets calling for camp to be packed up. Then Dizzy pricks his ears and horn up, and suddenly uses Future Sight.

The next thing you hear is the thunder of hooves. Then a dust cloud appears as if out of nowhere, and before you know it, you're surrounded on both sides by onrushing armies! Dour-handed men with the flashing, challenging eyes of the noble class, each mounted on a very fast Pokemon. With the rising sun in the east comes an army mostly mounted on Rapidash. From the west, a troop of Mudsdale riders. A few other Pokemon stand out amid the mounts, and there are also humanshape Pokemon in the rearguard of the army, running full out to keep up.

A small platoon of Conkeldurr in each army pass around Apricorns painted with lightning bolts, or prepare siege engines.

The riders bear swords and Apricorns. Some are already releasing Flying types or small Special-users such as Pachirisu and Raichu to fight for them on horseback.

A fleet of ominous Marowak stride behind even the rearguard. Nathan has heard they would show up in places where Pokemon might be about to die.

You have barely a chance to react, and then you find yourselves in the midst of a pitched battle! Dizzy's Future Sight falls, causing a small clear area around you. The soldiers are mostly focused on each other.

Encounters - Route 13 Dawn

1. Name: Hitmonlee*
Challenge: Hard?
Cap: 2?
Bid start: 2
Rewards: Big XP, possibly a stolen item or Pokemon!
Notes: This Hitmonlee is all over the place! He leaps on coiled legs from mount to mount, or to the ground. When he finds an unoccupied soldier on the Rapidash team, he lashes out at them with a powerful kick - blows which he pulls just short of hitting his opponent. Then he springs away, avoiding their Pokemon attacks or sword blows. If his kick came near a head or neck or other vital area, Hitmonlee adds a dot of warpaint to his forehead. Sometimes, he instead risks his life to knock a Conkeldurr's tools away, or steal a mount, or pop a Pokemon back into its Apricorn.
This practice is known as "counting coup," an honorable battle technique that both Terra and Nathan would know about for sure.
You can challenge Hitmonlee to any kind of contest or battle.

2 & 3. Name: 1v1 against the Eastern Suns/Western Plains
Cap: 1
Challenge: moderate, with risk
Bid start: 1
Notes: You've found an unoccupied Mudsdale/Rapidash to ride. If you have a Pokemon small enough to ride a horse with you, you could 1v1 an enemy soldier.
Lethal moves are being used.

4. Name: Farfetch'd* Escape
Cap: 2
Challenge: ???
Bid start: 1
Notes: A scared Farfetch'd has escaped the supply wagon. He was supposed to be tonight's dinner, and now he's about to be trampled underfoot!

5. Name: Trainer supplies
Cap: 1
Bid start: 1
Challenge: Moderate
Notes: You'll stumble on some war supplies, but some kind of obstacle will threaten your safety.

6. Name: Eastern Leader
Challenge: Tough
Bid start: 2
Cap: 2
Notes: The general of the eastern side is flying on a big Tropius above the battle, shouting commands.
If you engage this guy, you'll give a big advantage to the western side.

The last three Encounters require dodging out of the way of the army. You can dodge fully out of the way with 3 successes on a Dex check. 2 successes will get you to the fringe of the battle where you don't have to choose any Encounter.

7. Name: Conkeldurr
Cap: None
Bid start: 1
Notes: If you can get to them, you can interact with them however you choose.

8. Name: Western Leader
Cap: 2
Bid start: 2
Challenge: Tough
Notes: The Western Leader is hanging back, giving orders via different banners from the back of a big Hippowdon which practically swims through the earth. If you engage this guy, you'll give a big advantage to the eastern side.

9. Name: Alolan Marowak + friends
Cap: 1 (2)
Bid start: 2
Challenge: Moderate
Notes: Just one of the ghostly Marowak, leading the wedge of normal Marowak.

Unlimited: Mandibuzz, Vullaby, Murkrow

You're welcome to think of other ideas too. I'll roll 2d6 to see what kind of random events occur during your maneuver.

Heart was stunning in such battlefield. But not in a good way. "Uh, Nathan? It is safe for us go to such battlefield?" Heart then see the Hitmonlee hitting many types of enemies around him. Heart was interested in fight against such powerfull foe. Heart prepare himself to summon his two ghosts in the battlefield: Viktor and Golett. He also change a few items before the battle: He give Viktor the Leflovers once again, and the Luck Egg for Atlas.

Action: Engage on Hitmonlee encounter.

[Dragonstrike]

Heart was stunning in such battlefield. But not in a good way. "Uh, Nathan? It is safe for us go to such battlefield?" 

"No, but they're not going to give us much of a choice!"

As soon as the chaos of battle starts, Nathan is trying to do one thing above all else: retain his mobility without getting swept up in the battle.  If he can get to the edges, he can better assess what his options are...if not, though...well, then he'll have to think of something.  Fast.

Dex check for Nathan to see if those last three encounters are an option for him!  Plus spending a Will point on it!  6* Dex + 1 success dice pool!

(Just waiting on a definite answer from Mika on whether he wants to attempt the basically penalty free check and potentially spend some Will on it.  Then we can roll the Dex checks and I can finally choose an encounter!)

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

You walk until dawn. As the moon retires to a dim corner of the sky, the sun peers over Mt. Sentry and drives away the Murkrow, the Hoothoot, the Spinarak. Dizzy becomes clearly visible again. You can hear distant trumpets calling for camp to be packed up. Then Dizzy pricks his ears and horn up, and suddenly uses Future Sight.

The next thing you hear is the thunder of hooves. Then a dust cloud appears as if out of nowhere, and before you know it, you're surrounded on both sides by onrushing armies! Dour-handed men with the flashing, challenging eyes of the noble class, each mounted on a very fast Pokemon. With the rising sun in the east comes an army mostly mounted on Rapidash. From the west, a troop of Mudsdale riders. A few other Pokemon stand out amid the mounts, and there are also humanshape Pokemon in the rearguard of the army, running full out to keep up.

(...)

You have barely a chance to react, and then you find yourselves in the midst of a pitched battle! Dizzy's Future Sight falls, causing a small clear area around you. The soldiers are mostly focused on each other.

(...)

At first, the sound of brass filling the morning air didn't bother Terra in the least, thinking it nothing more than some sort of musical start to their day. Angie (currently being carried in his arms) thought differently, as it roused her from the lovely little nap, eliciting an irritated *Ssszzz!* from her that prompted her papa to soother her temper by with gentle caresses to the head.

Then, the heard a stampede of what sounded to be Rapidash, saw Dizzy prepare a Future Sight.......

......and everything went straight to hell.

In a mere instant, the once tranquil, scenic route was engulfed in war. Armies from the east and west clashing. Humans fighting with Pokemon, astride them, Pokemon fighting humans, or all of the above. Troops of Conkeldur supporting the front, what looked to be some ghastly skulled Ground types, trailing behind the conflict and eyeing both the living and dead with grim, morbid interest. A long legged, daring Fighting type disrupting the east army and sowing discord among its ranks, counting coup the whole time.

In few word, it was bloody chaos.

For a moment, Terra was blindsided by the sudden, unexpectedness of it all. His seraph to be was badly startled by it herself, very nearly terrified out of her mind and letting out *Sssszzzz? Sssssszzz!* of confusion and distress. Papa, what's happening? Why is everything so loud and scary?

Unfortunately, her question would remain unanswered, as he didn't know what in the name of Shiranui was going on, nor what the heck to do about it. All he did know that moment was thus: he didn't like this. At all.  

Spoiler

"...guys, it looks like Sarimanok's Rapidash mounted forces are about to try and claim some western territory for their liege..."

And that's all Nathan can manage to say before the chaos ensues.  He'll have to give them the rest of the details later.

Well, until Nathan managed to chime in to briefly outline the skirmish transpiring. That managed to penetrate his shock and snap him out of it, but before he could whirl around and locate his friend they were swallowed up or dragged away by the conflict, along with the rest of the group. For the first time in ages, he bore an out and out panicked expression, as he desperately tried to locate his companions, twisting this way and that to try and catch even the slightest sign of them. It was his duty to safeguard and ensure the well being and protection of everyone, to keep them safe and well cared for, ESPECIALLY in situations like this, but how on good, green terrafirma was he supposed to do that when everyone was gone?!

'.....This is bad. This is very, VERY, V E R Y bad. Need to find everyone, before something REALLY BAD happens. Quickly.'

And that's exactly what he tried to do, holding his ground and trying to scope out the scene once more to figure out where the individuals of the group where, who to help first, and then figure out what the heck to do during and afterwards. Had he the time and/or peace of mind, the simple monk would have been seriously whether or not he's in over his head from choosing to be a bodyguard for the group, but unfortunately(?) he didn't. The live of his friends were at stake here. Less thinky thinky, and more seeing then action!

(Decided to write Terra's + Angie's reaction to events while I had the time, while leaving him/me open to choose any of the Encounters available to him later expediently. Whatever the case, I just hope everyone gets out of this Dawn of warfare alright......)

[Iron]

Dex rolls!

Nathan:
(2)(5)(5)(6)(1)(3) +(6*) Nathan has left the battle!

Spira:
(6)(5)(4)(4) Spira has left the battle!

Or they can, anyway.

[Mikaruge108]

Spira sees the ensuing war and doesn't want anything to do with it! He decides to gtfo and eventually bumps into a group of Marowak led by a ghostly A-Marowak.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

You walk until dawn. As the moon retires to a dim corner of the sky, the sun peers over Mt. Sentry and drives away the Murkrow, the Hoothoot, the Spinarak. Dizzy becomes clearly visible again. You can hear distant trumpets calling for camp to be packed up. Then Dizzy pricks his ears and horn up, and suddenly uses Future Sight.

The next thing you hear is the thunder of hooves. Then a dust cloud appears as if out of nowhere, and before you know it, you're surrounded on both sides by onrushing armies! Dour-handed men with the flashing, challenging eyes of the noble class, each mounted on a very fast Pokemon. With the rising sun in the east comes an army mostly mounted on Rapidash. From the west, a troop of Mudsdale riders. A few other Pokemon stand out amid the mounts, and there are also humanshape Pokemon in the rearguard of the army, running full out to keep up.

A small platoon of Conkeldurr in each army pass around Apricorns painted with lightning bolts, or prepare siege engines.

The riders bear swords and Apricorns. Some are already releasing Flying types or small Special-users such as Pachirisu and Raichu to fight for them on horseback.

A fleet of ominous Marowak stride behind even the rearguard. Nathan has heard they would show up in places where Pokemon might be about to die.

You have barely a chance to react, and then you find yourselves in the midst of a pitched battle! Dizzy's Future Sight falls, causing a small clear area around you. The soldiers are mostly focused on each other.

That lingering and faintly ominous feeling of SOMETHING was about to happen, that SOMETHING was coming there that washed over Shiva rather quickly confirmed itself as 'true' as the sound of angry hoofbeats from an undefinable number of Horse Pokemon became louder and louder before it was muting everything else. Immense fear awoke within her upon realizing that they were practically trapped and only with Fortuna's benelovence it could be possible to escape this whole chaos - COULD be possible.

As she was intuitively seeking Dizzy's closure she wasn't able to take her shocked gaze from the scenery, her head was taking turns in darting to the fleet that came from East and the one from West. She quickly noticed the Conkeldurr as familiar creatures from yesterday's camp, frowned though in mild confusion as she spotted the same species on the enemy's side as well. Recognizing the banners on the Westerns Army as well, she took them as those fighting for King Sarimanok, which Nathan neatly confirmed a few moments later.

All of this - it was tense, it was worrying, it was scary, it was dangerous, it was a place you straight up don't want to find yourself in, or in short: It was sheer overwhelming in a bad way for a developed empath like the natural fae enthusiast. Adrenaline was flooding her body, she could feel her heart starting to race and her hands trembling as Dizzy's Future Sight saved them from being trampled. Raphael, moments ago still darting through the morning sky in joy, answered the unspoken call to come to her and let out a concerned and discomfored coo as a reaction to this chaos.




Thankfully Shiva's hands were clinging firmly to Raphael's soft and familiar coat of feathers, breath hitched and her heart almost audibly pounding - relatively clearly an adrenaline rush has been triggered within her by being caught in this scenery. A ton of emotions were figuratively raining down and piecing into her senses like sharp arrows, causing her snap her head into various directions  with a glance of 'We have all reason to panic!' She's safe though.

And distraught.

And weirdly determined. It's fight or flight....

...and even if Shiva would want to flee, her limbs would refuse.

So King Sarimanok was trying to conquer more territory with force? Not with her, not when Celebi has sent her to this time period. This adrenaline was invigorating, this soft and sensitive Unovian has barely ever felt SUCH an amount of energy within her. 

...You there?
I'm aaalways there, my dear.
I knew I can count on you. I want to go and fight... I can't...sit and watch or run away... I will go and battle, on a Rapidash, for King Sarimanok's side. I may not be able to save them all, those from the Western Plains - but a dragon shall descend and devour my fairies if I won't at least TRY to save one person. Trying to save them under a false flag, but I need to win the battle against them to have a chance... WISH ME LUCK. Please.
We're becoming bold now? Whoahw... Good luck. You will need it. ...Though I know you can do it. Believe in yourself.

A cautious smile developed on her expression before she eventually got up and tried to find an unoccupied Rapidash to mount, guiding Raphael to her. "My archangel, child of my love, will you stand by me and follow my commands against a soldier's Pokemon? Let us do it... By the Six and the Four." (Can't speak that oath out aloud)

2 & 3. Name: 1v1 against the Eastern Suns/Western Plains
Cap: 1
Challenge: moderate, with risk
Bid start: 1
Notes: You've found an unoccupied Mudsdale/Rapidash to ride. If you have a Pokemon small enough to ride a horse with you, you could 1v1 an enemy soldier.
Lethal moves are being used.

(As said, Shiva will try to in particular find a female soldier for this duell. Excitement!)

[Dragonstrike]

Spira sees the ensuing war and doesn't want anything to do with it! He decides to gtfo and eventually bumps into a group of Marowak led by a ghostly A-Marowak.

That group of Marowak is hanging out behind even the rearguard of both armies.  And it's an ominous sight, seeing a bunch of pokemon clad in bones on the outskirts of a battlefield.

The Vullaby and Mandibuzz circling overhead like hungry vultures don't help either.  But whether they're waiting for the battle to end or an opportunity to snatch a stray Cubone or Marowak is yet to be determined...(Mandibuzz actually prey on Cubone according to gen 7 pokedex entries.  The more you know, right?)

The dark, brooding Alolan Marowak leading its group stands tall at the front of the group of bone wielding pokemon.  It hardly looks like a conventional Ghost type.  And there's no obvious signs that it's a Fire type, either.  Until it readies into a combat stance, that is, as both ends of its bone club are set alight by a ghostly blue flame whenever it does so.  A flame materialized and fueled by the protective spirit of the Marowak's deceased mother.

This is a Marowak that has been through many hardships, seen many predators...and survived through them all.  A Marowak that's fiercer than its kin.  Taming it will be no easy feat.

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

When Nathan escapes from the center of the battlefield's action, he tries his best to see what the heck is going on, try to locate where everyone else is...Gallade feels a spike of panic, followed by a surge of determination from a nearby source...a huge surge of fear overcome by a desire to do something...a strange feeling of desire for honorable combat...

It's all lost in the sea of emotions and pain of battle as quickly as it's sensed, though, and pinpointing exactly where it's all coming from is near impossible.

As Nathan is looking around, though, Dittolune spots Spira!  *ruff ruff!*

...as he's heading towards that group of ominous looking Marowak.

Nathan doesn't even hesitate.  "Gallade, let's go!  We'll have to find everyone else later!  Spira needs our help!"

Gallade turns to see what's going on on the fringes...looks back at the battlefield...then nods to Nathan.  Alright, time for action!

Nathan will be joining Spira at the A-Marowak encounter.  If it results in a battle, Herolune Ditto and Starmie are probably the two pokemon Nathan will start with.

[Mikaruge108]

Spira notices the strange-looking Marowak leading the group. "Hmm... That Marowak looks a little weird. Should be an interesting Pokemon to have." He then speaks to the strange Marowak, "Hey there, little guy. There's something about you, an aura that I'm familiar with, I get the feeling that we could get along quite well. What do you say, do you want to come with me?"
Mechanics: Gives everything he has to convince the A-Marowak to join him. (Empathy Check; spend a Willpoint to add a success.)
If things resort to battle: Attempt to take out the regular Marowak first. He'll send out Nubi and Luna for the battle.

[Iron]

Empathy: (6)(4)(2)(6)(5)(2) (6*)
Will: (3)(6)(6)(6)(4)(2) (6)(2)(1)(5)

The ghostly Marowak just levels his club at the battle behind Spira. Despite Spira's exertion of ghostly powers, this Marowak is on a mission or quest of some kind. It feels it has a duty to perform at the battlefield. If you continue to stand in his way, it'll definitely come to battle.

Initiatives:
Starmie: (5) + 9 = 14
Ditto: (4) + 9 = 13
A-Marowak: (4) + 3 Dex + 3 survival = 10
Nubi: (3) + 6 = 9
Luna: (1) +6 = 7
Normal Marowak wedge of 5: (1) + 3 Dex + 2 Survival = 6