[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Iron]

"Almanac needs testers! And of course we have followers of our philosophy in there. We work together. Um, we don't have any one goal. We have a philosophy. The gauntlets are much more versatile than Pokemon, when you adapt a move for your own purposes. Not all of us use Psychic types, but that's what we're trained for. Um, it takes about three months to cast your first spell, but we're not supposed to recruit...."

"Thrawn? The investigator? I don't know where he'll end up. There's a warehouse in Cress City that's the closest thing we have to a base, but we're building a new one in the cliff. Those...those might be the most likely places!" He gives you the address of the warehouse.

"The weapons are in the Skull Ruins, that's all anyone knows."

"We're just trying to make a change. The League doesn't listen to us about mystical stuff. Never have. There's no way to prove it, you see! It doesn't help that we don't know the exact nature of the threat, only that it has a chance to appear every thousand years. The weapons are the only way to counter its strengths. The League is the one you should be badgering, not a poor little mage like me."

"Ha! Look at any story about heroes. You'll see raiders of temples, tricksters, liars, and dirty fighters. ANY story. Goodness is defined by the victors. You're doing the same thing right now, telling yourself you're good because you're hurting me, someone you've decided is a bad guy. If you want to use what I've told you today to stop the threat, go ahead. Bring the weapons to someone who knows how to use them, whatever. Pokemon get hurt because people like you use them as bodyguards, so don't act like you have the moral high ground. You probably don't even believe me about the threat, just like the League. Whatever."

[Iron]

"Hm, this may be a chance to get somewhere. Patrols are en route to Route 13 right now to apprehend these perpetrators. We'll question them and provide medical care to those who need it. I've also got Officer Jenny coming to meet you at the Pokemon Center. You can teach her how to use the tracking item and we'll apprehend their boss, too. Nurse Joy will make sure you haven't been harmed."

[Dragonstrike]

"Hm, this may be a chance to get somewhere. Patrols are en route to Route 13 right now to apprehend these perpetrators. We'll question them and provide medical care to those who need it. I've also got Officer Jenny coming to meet you at the Pokemon Center. You can teach her how to use the tracking item and we'll apprehend their boss, too. Nurse Joy will make sure you haven't been harmed."

"We'll be waiting.  I've got a Gallade, so I should be easy for Officer Jenny to spot. Thanks for the quick response, sir."

[Iron]

Shuppet slips into the doll, and morphs it into its baneful form with a burst of purple light! A zipper sews itself, piece by piece, into the mouth of the doll. Purple eyes light up where buttons used to be. As the doll shakes itself, it becomes pointier and ghostlier.

Congratulations! Your Shuppet has evolved into Banette!

Make sure to note that Noire gains 1 base HP and 2 base disobedience.

This horrifying apparition only makes Geordie flinch away from you two even more. "Different Types of spells can allow you different techniques and strengths. You can take on the Type's defensive properties if it suits you, using the gauntlet," he volunteers. "You could keep Banette out of harm's way, yet take on its ethereal power."

[Iron]

"Hm, this may be a chance to get somewhere. Patrols are en route to Route 13 right now to apprehend these perpetrators. We'll question them and provide medical care to those who need it. I've also got Officer Jenny coming to meet you at the Pokemon Center. You can teach her how to use the tracking item and we'll apprehend their boss, too. Nurse Joy will make sure you haven't been harmed."

"We'll be waiting.  Thanks for the quick response, sir."

Officer Jenny shows up in about five minutes. "Furrow sent me." She flashes her ID, which is pretty unnecessary because she looks like every other Officer Jenny. "So, what sort of tracker do you have? I'll be leading the charge! and meeting our reinforcements once we've located the perp."

[Dragonstrike]

Officer Jenny shows up in about five minutes. "Furrow sent me." She flashes her ID, which is pretty unnecessary because she looks like every other Officer Jenny. "So, what sort of tracker do you have? I'll be leading the charge! and meeting our reinforcements once we've located the perp."

Nathan shows her the Rainbow Relic.  "This item here, ma'am.  It's an item from Sarimanok's time.  See the dark purple color on the top?  It's lit up because it's near me.  It flashes more slowly the farther away it gets from me."  *gives it to Heart to demonstrate, then takes it back*  "When it was near our assailants' boss, this lighter purple lilac side started flashing too.  And when I pointed it toward the west side of the City shortly after Teleporting here, it started flashing slowly again.  The closer we get to her, the more quickly the lilac side will flash.  It's not perfect, but it's better than a nothing."

He's not handing the crystal to Officer Jenny at the moment, however.

[Spiritmon]

Spoiler

"Hm, this may be a chance to get somewhere. Patrols are en route to Route 13 right now to apprehend these perpetrators. We'll question them and provide medical care to those who need it. I've also got Officer Jenny coming to meet you at the Pokemon Center. You can teach her how to use the tracking item and we'll apprehend their boss, too. Nurse Joy will make sure you haven't been harmed."

"We'll be waiting.  Thanks for the quick response, sir."

Officer Jenny shows up in about five minutes. "Furrow sent me." She flashes her ID, which is pretty unnecessary because she looks like every other Officer Jenny. "So, what sort of tracker do you have? I'll be leading the charge! and meeting our reinforcements once we've located the perp."

Heart release Typhon and nod his head to officer Jenny. "Officer, we dont know how much of those guys is there along with their leader. If any of your pokemon have buff moves, now its the time to prepare yourself in case we find a fight." Heart then look to both Typhon and Gustav. "You two, prepare yourselfs for a hell of a fight in case we meet those evil people. Typhon, use Coil and Gustav, Swords Dance. We might need of the needed power in case meet those Scimitars."

Coil Accuracy: Dex (5) + Fight (4) + Intimidade (0) = 9D6
Effect: Increase user STR, Accuracy and Defense.

Swords Dance: Dex (5) + Fight (4) + Perform (2) = 11D6
Effect: Increase STR in 2 Stages.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

++ At the same time at the campsite, Shiva's PointOfView. ++


After so many action, a hard outnumbered battle and such stressfull and fast-paced happenings - for Shiva, it felt like several things were happening at once - she definitely needs a small breather to regain her normal emotional state again, the ice and snow that has  fallen onto her attitude hasn't fully thawed yet. The heartfelt moment and farewell of Dizzy as well as having to faint soft-allies have taken a toll on her; how they've ended up being victorious nevertheless has helped, Arcanine helped, things will be okay quickly again if Shiva gets the chance to reenergize a bit before moving on will be it.

With Nathan and Heart gone now, she lets Terra and Spira know that she'll wander a little at the lone campsite in order to see what she'll find, for damage-control and to calm down from the ambush, she wishes to be alone and only with her Pokemon for a bit to achieve the latter. There's an audible tiredness and sadness within her voice despite she tried to hide that. She'll come back once she's finished and doing better for traveling on.

A last stoic look at all the Scimitars and a pained at the fainted Pokemon, Shiva waves to Arcanine and Primal Glaceon to follow her, together they're leaving the scene to wander the silent campsite. If the feeling of tragedy and aftermath of fighting wouldn't loom in the air, it'd be peace-and beautiful, but now it's more melancholic. Shiva figuratively bathes in this, her inner voice stays silent. Raphael gets summoned from his Ball, the archangel belonging to her love coos happily and darts into the sky for a flight. Delphox comes out to provide some pleasant warmth alongside Arcanine. Lilith is summoned to simply accompany Shiva, so is Cottonee. Nightshade pops out of her Ball and brightens the sky by her Sunny Day before taking her favorite spot on Shiva's shoulder. The sunbeams tickle Primal Glaceon's fur. Vaporeon completes the small group, she lets out a yawn.

She enjoys the company, smiles at every single one of her own Pokemon. Unspoken words are exchanged. All together, they'll take the opportunity of alone time to search for a particular spot here at or near the campsite - a hollow in tree's trunk, an abandoned den of a Pokemon, an empty birdhouse, a lone nest in a bush; any free space big enough for a Pokemon Egg that feels safe enough and provids shelter from rain will be fine. Doing so will grant Shiva her 5th point in Nature Speciality for 24xp, maxing it out. From now on, she'll find small bonuses alongside Berries whenever it fits. (link to the post where this is mentioned as a mechanic) She has who has grown up and always lived in the busy city now feels closer to nature than ever, that's another reason why going to Chreshire has turned out as a great decision indeed.

Having found a matching place for the Eevee Egg, Shiva prepares this place to make it a comfy home: She'll cushion it with some fluff off Cottonee, weave in some hair of Delphox and Arcanine, add some shed fur from Vaporeon and Primal Glaceon, complete it with some soft feathers from Raphael and even add a worn Tshirt of her to have the young Pokemon in the Egg enjoy a familiar scent. A handful of dried berries is added too. Only then she'll softly bed the Egg here, cuddling and kissing it lovingly before doing so. Vaporeon gets to curl up around her Egg dearly once more as well, she's watching attentively what Master is doing here. Cliff's cleffatastic Repel now has its showact, the whole vile is carefully dripped onto the Egg. As a final act, Shiva covers this place to further hide the precious Egg for additional safety. A motherly and loving last smile and Shiva + her Pokemon leave this spot; she can't wait toget back here in 2017!!~

The small group wanders on as Shiva's rummaging in her belongings, she must have put them somewhere....! Ah, found!~ ^o^ She presents the three Apricorn Seedlings she has traded for in Cress City's Violet Tent. The nursery man mentioned an open place without trees and bushes would be best for them to grow well, so Shiva will look for such a place nearby, her Grass Types as well as Raphael help with that. It's said that the fruit will be ready to harvest after one year since planting.

These two things are the only things she'd like to do in 2014, once completed successfully she'll long for returning to their time more than ever; melancholy returns and washes over her again. All her Pokemon are quick to raise their sweet Master's mood again and chase that figurative rain cloud above her head away - Nightshade's empowered sunbeams literally pierce right through it.

The affection is thankfully returned to each of the Pokemon currently out, they continue their walk around the area as Shiva let her mind and thoughts wander aimlessly and freely. They stop there, end up here and rest then, all while the energies/the Earthpower within her Pokemon and her own slowly start to align. Their breathing seems to synchronize. She can't feel it consciously but unconsciously: It's like her concentration gathers at a point within her, as if the bond to her Pokemon reaches a new level as their both powers harmonize perfectly. She feels secure that this will have a positive effect if she battles with her Pokemon. For another 24xp, Shiva's Channel Speciality reaches 5 points as well. Her Accuracy Rolls of main attacks are complete, I may level up Brawl once more at some point, but Fight will stay as it is.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

One more thing, @Iron: You must have accidently missed to roll out the additional Heal Pulse for Arcanine I asked for here, can you please do that real quick? I couldn't find it anywhere.

For the records, I'll add all clipped off spheres from one Scimitar's belt connected to the gauntlet, as well as one complete set of the mechanism the Scimitars use to cast spells to Shiva's Inventory, she'll gently ask Spira to help her with removing it. She does not try it on like him though. The rest is made useless by cutting the connections. All of this occurs before Shiva goes off to hide the Eevee Egg and plant Apricorn Seedlings.

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

"Almanac needs testers! And of course we have followers of our philosophy in there. We work together. Um, we don't have any one goal. We have a philosophy. The gauntlets are much more versatile than Pokemon, when you adapt a move for your own purposes. Not all of us use Psychic types, but that's what we're trained for. Um, it takes about three months to cast your first spell, but we're not supposed to recruit...."


"Thrawn? The investigator? I don't know where he'll end up. There's a warehouse in Cress City that's the closest thing we have to a base, but we're building a new one in the cliff. Those...those might be the most likely places!" He gives you the address of the warehouse.

"The weapons are in the Skull Ruins, that's all anyone knows."

"We're just trying to make a change. The League doesn't listen to us about mystical stuff. Never have. There's no way to prove it, you see! It doesn't help that we don't know the exact nature of the threat, only that it has a chance to appear every thousand years. The weapons are the only way to counter its strengths. The League is the one you should be badgering, not a poor little mage like me."
"Ha! Look at any story about heroes. You'll see raiders of temples, tricksters, liars, and dirty fighters. ANY story. Goodness is defined by the victors. You're doing the same thing right now, telling yourself you're good because you're hurting me, someone you've decided is a bad guy. If you want to use what I've told you today to stop the threat, go ahead. Bring the weapons to someone who knows how to use them, whatever. Pokemon get hurt because people like you use them as bodyguards, so don't act like you have the moral high ground. You probably don't even believe me about the threat, just like the League. Whatever."

".....Why does Almanac need testers? What are they trying to.....achieve? .......What is this philosophy, and why have you not.....recruited more?"

He doesn't say anything regarding the Water Scimitar's base of operations, nor the Ancient Weapons, but makes a mental note to send a text message (if possible) to Nathan about these facts. Best to keep everyone in the loop about that, you know!

...

"......Change is not always.......justifiable, or right. Not when it harms so many innocents. The League is not wrong for......not knowing or believing in threat. And you Scimitars are not entitled just because you......assume responsibility to deal with threat. Bad is still bad, even if you do it for 'good' reasons."

Contrary to the wretched wizard's, Terra did not get further incensed or lash out at him again - though Angie certainly looked like she was about to for them bad mouthing her papa and friends! All he did was simply shake his head, and calmly refuted them.

"Know those stories. Understand point you are trying to use against me. But you are wrong. Those people of legend, myth are heroes not because they did bad things. No, they are heroes in spite of them. They did wrong, fought dirty, cause great harm to others, and more. But they only did those things because they had to. To do good, they had no choice but to do bad too. You Scimitars.....you did not have to do bad to.......follow your philosophy. To prepare yourselves to fight Threat. Could have chosen to help others, or find others ways to.....fulfill your plans. Instead, you choose to do bad first. To scare and bully others, to cause great harm to people and Pokemon, to work in shadows, keeping secrets and everyone in the dark because you do not trust them. You Scimitars had chance to do good, be only good....but you did not take it."

"Goodness.....is not just defined by others. Good is good. Everyone knows what good is, and can do it.  ....But so many people choose to do bad instead. Or do good in ways that are bad, when they do not have to. Like you, and the Scimitars. Can't understand why you do things you do. You probably do understand why people want to stop you, or do not want to. But we both know what goodness is. Did not make myself good, and you Scimitars bad, because we hurt you all. No, you are bad because you choose to do harm to everyone. Because you kidnapped people, and....take free Will away from their Pokemon to make them do bad. Because  you drove a man deep into the Skull Ruins. All for no good reason. My group.....we only defended ourselves, and choose to do the right and good thing to stop you, so that you couldn't do those things to others anymore. Or worse."

...

".....Pokemon get hurt for many reasons. Not just because us Trainers. Our partners defend us because they to want to. Because they care for us, and because we care for them too. Right, Angie?"

The draconic seraph smiled and let out an affirmative *Hmmm!* , before she resume glaring at the misaligned mage. She'd do ANYTHING for her papa because she wanted too, not because she had too, Scimitar.

".....I do believe you. About the threat. That you are only doing what you have done because you believe it's the right thing to do. I just don't agree with how you Scimitars are dealing with it, or believe you are justified in what you do. That is all."

That last part probably brings the poor spell caster up short, as the last thing he was expecting was not only that the mountain of a man believed his claims, but for him to more or less completely undermine whatever ground he and his kin had left to stand on. Terra may not be the smartest guy, but he is perhaps one of the wisest, and no one (Save Gallade, perhaps) has a firmer grasp on what's good and bad. 

As for that Text to Nathan (If he can send one to them): Nathan, learned that Scimitars have a Warehouse base in Cress , and they are building on into the cliffs outside of city. Thrawn and others might be there, along with Scimitars. Got more information on Scimitars too, but will wait to share when you come back. Unless you need it now?