[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Iron]

Stealth: (4)(5)(3)(1)(1)(5) (6)(2)

*rolls*

Shiva pushes the DISHES (ALMANAC) crate aside. It slides on a mechanism, revealing a staircase underneath. A network of red lasers covers the entrance, like a spy movie.

You don't hear any noises from downstairs to give you any hints about what might be down there.

[Dragonstrike]

"...hmmmm...I have a feeling that we might need to push the Dyes crate, to be honest.  Why would they have to label the crates as belonging to Almanac, after all?  As far as anyone uninformed is concerned, this is all Almanac's stuff anyways."

Nathan looks to Calam as well.  "...we also might want to prepare a Future Sight, just in case.  I don't want to get caught off guard if anyone heard that crate move."

[Dragonstrike]

You pick it up and it goes transparent. Inside is a Porygon, the first stage! It has a big A on its forehead, and it's frowning at you.

Oh, and as far as Porygon goes, Nathan will keep ahold of it for now.  He doesn't intend to steal it, obviously.  He just doesn't want anyone to find it and slot its pokeball back into the camera.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Shiva pushes the DISHES (ALMANAC) crate aside. It slides on a mechanism, revealing a staircase underneath. A network of red lasers covers the entrance, like a spy movie.

You don't hear any noises from downstairs to give you any hints about what might be down there.

AHA, Shiva knew it, her sense was right, she has found that hidden entrance!!~ The figurative Fairy Type is being given a whole bouquet of various chocolates to nom, and Shiva appears very proud of herself. She didn't even in particular 'tried' to push the crate onto a mechanism, it just happened!

Now she knees down and gazes at that network of lasers with an obvious 'Whoahw, cooool!' expression, and wonders how the heck the Scimitars get past them - if they take that route to get to their base, at all. (Which she doesn't really believe.) A second later Cottonee releases herself from her Ball, the fluffball must have sensed her sweet Master's pride and curiosity and wanted to see what's so interesting. She places herself next to Shiva and mimics her staring at the lasers. ^^

"Oh, hello, dearest one....", she greets her Starter, "Look at all these fancy laserbeams. We need to pass them somehow to progress, you see.... Ah! Do you think you could sneak through a gap of them with your Infiltrator Ability and see whether there's a switch or button on the other side? Be brave and follow the stairs to the end if possible, you can faintly light your way with Dazzling Gleam. But PLEASE, come back to me at the smallest hint that there are humans or Pokemon nearby, alright?"

Shiva will also ask Lilith to cast another Magic Room and takes care what happens, trying to figure out where exactly that previous "k-chunk!"-sound came from and what creates it.

"...hmmmm...I have a feeling that we might need to push the Dyes crate, to be honest.  Why would they have to label the crates as belonging to Almanac, after all?  As far as anyone uninformed is concerned, this is all Almanac's stuff anyways." (...)

As Nathan tells that, she looks up from that network of lasers to face him to show that she is listening, as he mentioned the crate labeles "DYE" her eyes turn to it. "Humm, yes, if you like try to push it and I'll take care whether anything about this entrance or the lasers changes. It could be worth a try indeed."

She continues after a few seconds. "You're also right that to an onlooker's viewpoint, all of that is Almanac's belongings anyway as we're in the basement of a lab building led by 'em - I, well, believe that those that are labeled with ALMANAC are, say, 'adressed' to them and are coming from the Scimitars: You see, the dye is theirs anyway, and the dishes and umbrellas are coming from outside, speak are brought here by the Scimitars. With the elevator they can be brought upstairs to handle, store or something like that. Or so...I guess, at least." She smiles in a weird mixture of embarrassment and confidence, that's a lot of theorizing.

[Dragonstrike]

Spoiler

AHA, Shiva knew it, her sense was right, she has found that hidden entrance!!~ The figurative Fairy Type is being given a whole bouquet of various chocolates to nom, and Shiva appears very proud of herself. She didn't even in particular 'tried' to push the crate onto a mechanism, it just happened!

Now she knees down and gazes at that network of lasers with an obvious 'Whoahw, cooool!' expression, and wonders how the heck the Scimitars get past them - if they take that route to get to their base, at all. (Which she doesn't really believe.) A second later Cottonee releases herself from her Ball, the fluffball must have sensed her sweet Master's pride and curiosity and wanted to see what's so interesting. She places herself next to Shiva and mimics her staring at the lasers. ^^

"Oh, hello, dearest one....", she greets her Starter, "Look at all these fancy laserbeams. We need to pass them somehow to progress, you see.... Ah! Do you think you could sneak through a gap of them with your Infiltrator Ability and see whether there's a switch or button on the other side? Be brave and follow the stairs to the end if possible, you can faintly light your way with Dazzling Gleam. But PLEASE, come back to me at the smallest hint that there are humans or Pokemon nearby, alright?"

Shiva will also ask Lilith to cast another Magic Room and takes care what happens, trying to figure out where exactly that previous "k-chunk!"-sound came from and what creates it.

"...hmmmm...I have a feeling that we might need to push the Dyes crate, to be honest.  Why would they have to label the crates as belonging to Almanac, after all?  As far as anyone uninformed is concerned, this is all Almanac's stuff anyways." (...)

As Nathan tells that, she looks up from that network of lasers to face him to show that she is listening, as he mentioned the crate labeles "DYE" her eyes turn to it. "Humm, yes, if you like try to push it and I'll take care whether anything about this entrance or the lasers changes. It could be worth a try indeed."

She continues after a few seconds. "You're also right that to an onlooker's viewpoint, all of that is Almanac's belongings anyway as we're in the basement of a lab building led by 'em - I, well, believe that those that are labeled with ALMANAC are, say, 'adressed' to them and are coming from the Scimitars: You see, the dye is theirs anyway, and the dishes and umbrellas are coming from outside, speak are brought here by the Scimitars. With the elevator they can be brought upstairs to handle, store or something like that. Or so...I guess, at least." She smiles ina  weird mixture of embarrassment and confidence, that's a lot of theorizing.

"...for all we know, it could also be labeling whatever's underneath the 'Almanac' labeled crates as Almanac's to lessen any confusion.  The Scimitars might not want to get past a laser grid every time they want to get into their hidden base, after all.  There's probably some more stairs underneath the other crates, or at least hidden compartments that might be related to the hidden stairs somehow."

Nathan looks to Gallade and Calam. "...well, shall we try moving the crate labeled 'Dyes', Gallade? Keep a careful watch, Calam. Use Future Sight if you have to." (Gallade have a maximum of 7 Strength as a species, so they're pretty dang strong when well trained. And even with only 4 Strength, that's still a lifting capacity of 400 lbs compared to the 500 lbs that Azu can lift with 3 Strength and Huge Power. I think Gallade should be able to push an empty crate on a sliding mechanism, right?)

[Iron]

Yeah, I think Infiltrate would work great on these lasers! Cottonee is the right size and the ability is just about perfect.

She disappears down the steps, and a few seconds later the lasers turn off! She comes back up, having seen something that might be a Pokemon.

The k-chunk mechanism is just the mechanism the crate slides on. It seems to kind of lock in place until it's pushed, whereupon it slides the uppermost stair into place to meet the rest, and slides the floor aside.


Gallade also pushes the DYES crate while Calam uses Future Sight.

Stealth: (6)(1)(1)(5)(6)(3) (2)(3)(4)(2)(6)(3) (3)

*rolls*

No alarms sound for this crate either, but it reveals another downstairs and another grid of lasers.

[Dragonstrike]

"...well, guess my hypothesis wasn't entirely right...more lasers...hmmmm..."

Presuming Shiva tells everyone Cottonee thinks she saw a pokemon, Nathan has this to say:

"...a pokemon?  As in, one acting like a guard?  If so, then we can probably rule out that staircase as leading to the Scimitars's hidden area since they make it a point to not use their pokemon.  I doubt they'd place one as a guard."

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Yeah, I think Infiltrate would work great on these lasers! Cottonee is the right size and the ability is just about perfect.

She disappears down the steps, and a few seconds later the lasers turn off! She comes back up, having seen something that might be a Pokemon.

Ohhh! As Cottonee returns she is greeted by Shiva with open arms, the fluffball's very up for a well-done-cuddle from her most important person in the wide world. Awww!~♡

"You, eh, seen something that MIGHT be a Pokemon though, dearest one? That could mean a lot. What would you say, could it have been one that serves as a guard? More a wild one living down there, maybe? Please, tell me anything you were able to figure out." Shiva will also concentrate her sixth sense onto whatever lurks down the stairs now without the lasers, dares to take JUST a few steps down even (she keeps in sight of the others): She tries to sense anything from the assumed Pokemon down there, in particular whether it appears hostile. She IS interested in going down there to further investigate, yes she indeed is. 'Now, aren't you a bold one today, my dear!~', her inner voice chips in.

As Nathan speaks up, she faces him once more. "I wouldn't outright rule that out, Nathan... Ehm, you see, there's still the chance that they have placed a Pokemon to guard there for reasons. For example, to take care of - or 'protect' - Keni and your uncle. It could also just have been a random wild Pokemon, I've asked Cottonee to return at the faintest hint of a Pokemon or human."

[Iron]

"...well, guess my hypothesis wasn't entirely right...more lasers...hmmmm..."

Presuming Shiva tells everyone Cottonee thinks she saw a pokemon, Nathan has this to say:

"...a pokemon?  As in, one acting like a guard?  If so, then we can probably rule out that staircase as leading to the Scimitars's hidden area since they make it a point to not use their pokemon.  I doubt they'd place one as a guard."

No, not a wild one. No, not a guard, probably. She looks unsure as to whether she should have returned or not.

Shiva doesn't sense anything alive, nor does Gallade, down Shiva's stairs. But Gallade warns there are guards somewhere below the DYES crate.

[Dragonstrike]

As Nathan speaks up, she faces him once more. "I wouldn't outright rule that out, Nathan... Ehm, you see, there's still the chance that they have placed a Pokemon to guard there for reasons. For example, to take care of - or 'protect' - Keni and your uncle. It could also just have been a random wild Pokemon, I've asked Cottonee to return at the faintest hint of a Pokemon or human."

"Scims would prefer to place a human guard, no question.  Only low ranking ones without gauntlets would even consider using a pokemon, and I doubt they'd assign a low ranking member as a guard for freshly kidnapped and potentially important people.  And Gallade has a general sense of where my uncle is, so we'll know if we're close to him at least."