[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Iron]

Shiva's reaction to see THEM again is pretty much 'Oh heavens, not THESE guys again'. She's not intimidated by these Druddigon in the slightest, given she's used to dragonslaying with her fairies and already had the pleasure to encounter a wild one: Dangerous creatures able to cause nasty wounds with their teeth and claws, but none that are unbeatable.

But, she actually is suprised by THEM not goining into attack mode right away. She crosses her arms, takes a bold stance and stares at Cosh with narrow eyes full of hate and disgust. "You wanna talk? YOU? Hmpf. ...Even if, who would teach me to use one of these devices you're calling 'gauntlets', you ? Then no, no bargaining from my side. Sorry, I'm not sorry! I'm set on my aims and preferences." She turns away.

"We could find a worthy tutor, if that's your price. Someone who knows more of magic than even the Scimitar organization. But also someone who isn't afraid of technology."

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

At the words 'worthy tutor' Shiva ends up glancing over her shoulder in Cosh's direction as she can't help but to find herself curious about who that ominous person might be, but nothing about her stance/crossed arms/narrow eyes changes. "Humm... I better not have that sort of 'technology' you're likely having in mind come near my Pokemon. It's either without that, or without me." She's smart enough to not openly say what she's thinking: 'Even being in your FAINTEST presence would make me sick.'

It's all just a bluff, but Cosh seems to fall for it. In silence, Shiva's already preparing Raphael's and Primal Glaceon's Balls, but she's also subtly looking around: How high are the chances that they ( = all of us) can run into the Ruins to escape the Scims without having to battle them? Probably not so high, are they...? :C

OR: If it indeed comes to a battle, I'd really really want to visit a Center to heal up before diving into the Ruins.

[Dragonstrike]

Spoiler

It is time at last to journey toward that fateful place, steeped in legend and haunted by more than just Ghosts! You Teleport or ride as close as you can get, to the edge of the plains, about a mile from the outermost grave to a rest stop. Beyond that, Teleporting doesn't work - in or out. Only the local Natu are capable of teleporting short distances within the Barrow Downs.

Before you can even reach the Ruins, you are spotted! There is a sound like metal-on-metal, and three robed figures (armed with metal gauntlets, naturally) come hurtling earthward like the comet itself. They pick up speed and energy as they go, but they are still barely visible, so high up are they.

Meanwhile, huge boulders are rent from their roots in the bedrock with a horrible cracking sound. They're lifted high over the heads of a dozen more figures and ready to be hurled at the trainers!

For once, there are some Pokemon with the Scimitars - two Druddigon on thick chains, held at attention by two pre-gauntlet Scimitar apprentices.


Cosh steps forward, surrounded by shimmering runes streaming from one gauntleted hand. In the other hand he holds a boulder with ease.

"Hello again. This time we meet where there are no chokepoints, no locked doors, no puzzles. Just our magic - which you can see has been greatly enhanced even since the last time we met - and you, and your pitiful Pokemon. Now we must talk."

"Can we bargain? What would it take to get you to turn back? Do you need money? Rare Pokemon? They are of little use to us individually, and you seem keen on rescuing them. Technology? Induction? Ah, but we have promised not to recruit like those fools and their Teams. Still, let us negotiate. Clearly the odds are in our favor, and our plans must not be disturbed."

The Druddigon strain at the leashes and every Scimitar pauses, spells at the ready. Even the airborne Scimitars stop midflight, cloaking themselves in power.

Nathan stares at the Scims with narrowed eyes, completely unphazed by their attempt at intimidation.

Nathan was going to say something..

...but then Terra steps forward and tries to strike a different deal.  Gallade (who is in a fight ready stance with his blades extended) eyes Terra in his peripheral vision veeerrrry carefully, not taking his eyes off of Cosh at all...

...Gallade doesn't trust these Scims.  Cosh least of all.  Even if the Scims were to accept, he'd bet that they'd end up backstabbed when it's all said and done.  After everything they've seen these Scims do, he doesn't trust them even as far as a wild Shuckle could throw them.

Nathan is tense as well.  He has one hand in his pocket (where the Red Gemstones are hidden) and the other on one of his pokeballs, ready to throw it at a moment's notice.

He doesn't say anything...for now...

[Mikaruge108]

Just a minor retcon: before leaving for the ruins, Spira shows Ditto all his loyal Pokemon (Noire, Toya, Luna, Hida, Nubi, Copus, and Neura) but he doesn't let the "Breeder's Friend" get too close to any of the Pokemon, no need for any unnecessary 'incidents'.

[Dragonstrike]

Just a minor retcon: before leaving for the ruins, Spira shows Ditto all his loyal Pokemon (Noire, Toya, Luna, Hida, Nubi, Copus, and Neura) but he doesn't let the "Breeder's Friend" get too close to any of the Pokemon, no need for any unnecessary 'incidents'.

Ditto (who is currently an Own Tempo Grumpig, as previously stated), doesn't even seem to be interested in causing any 'incidents'.  Spira's pretty quick to pick up that this Ditto tends to be a bit of a grump most of the time.  It listens to orders still, but doesn't seem very excited about much.

There is one more thing Nathan would have mentioned to Spira about Ditto.  "They seemed pretty excited to battle back at the Caldera, right before we got the eggs.  Not sure why, though, and it seemed disappointed about something and went back to being its usual self soon after the battle started.  It was a Flygon at the time, but I haven't the slightest clue whether that had anything to do with it. If you find out why it seemed to be so excited, I'd love to know. The only other time I've seen it look really excited about something was when I let them play with Dedenne. Ditto's still rather young, so keep that in mind, too. I think that's part of why it and Dedenne seem to get along so well."

[Spiritmon]

To help with Terra intimidating choice, Heart summon Quetzal and Gustav. Quetzal look to those foolish Scimitars, and his show his big metalic wings, more than ready to smite those fools to Oblivion! "Calm for a bit Quetzal. Be ready to summon Tailwind just in case. Let's see what gonna happen."

[Spiritmon]

Spoiler

*Flashback!*

To Heart"

1: Terra is a still slightly leery eye at Heart, but that doesn't stop him from agreeing to their request. The collector had done enough by now to prove he was not a blood thirsty villain and redeemed themselves in his eyes, and helping a Pokemon achieve Evolution was always a high honor, so he had no reason to refuse them. He didn't know how he could help, but he'll give his honest effort and try!

4: The sagely monk looks up at the pun lover as they entered, and gave them a small smile + a nods, before he re-focused his attention on Nathan. Though he doesn't say it, he's quite glad to see them join him in comforting their smart young friend in their time of crisis. Major bro points gained!

5: As per usual, hugs left Terra slightly startled and a wee bit uncomfortable, but after a few seconds he akwardly return Heart's with a half smile and a nod. Their subsequent plea for his forgiveness then made for all the more drastic change in mode, causing the mountain of a man  to regard him with another look of surprise, this time with eyebrows raised and a.....speculative gleam in his eyes. Several seconds passed like this in silence, to the point it was starting to look like Terra was not going to even deign a response, before his expression settled as he reached over to lay a hand on their shoulder, and nodded.

"Apology accepted. You have worked hard to......amend mistakes and learn from them, and proved you are still a good person, so I forgive you. Don't make same mistakes again. Please."

He then sticks his hand into a pocket, and pulls out what was unmistakably a Mega Stone of some kind, and presented it to Heart, in a stoic yet casual way.

" This is a Swampertnite. Know you had Netune, so got it in a trade.....for you. Saved it, until I thought you earned it. Now, you have. Take it, my friend."

6: To be brief, Terra readily accepts the deal, as he always wanted a chance to have a tussle with that Giga Rhydon! Before the Trade happens, though, he offers his Delta Corsola in exchange (As he well knows Heart's love of Deltas/Usual Pokemon), and pull out the Protectorizer he got from that colourful hawk Pokemon (who's name eludes him) and asks they put it on the rocky dino to Evolve it into a Rhyperior (He did his research on it!). From what he could tell, it was unlikely that Giga Rhydon could become even more Disobedient than it already was as its Evo, so why not and see if it earns him any brownie points with the upcoming stone colossus? 

(He does not let them out, btw. Terra is dense, but not stupid enough to let out such a big bad brute in the middle of a Pokemon Center)

7:Terra fixes Heart with a stare so serious it would make most men's knee quiver, until he broke it off with a solemn nod and gave them Posei. "Very well. Will hold you to your promise, Heart, so take good care of them." Oh boy...

8 & 9: No response, sadly. With the mad scientist himself, though......well, Ven is certainly surprised, touched, and bemused by his friend's message, which manage to blunt his anxiety over the fact his friends were about to put themselves through their greatest ordeal yet. Not by much, no, but enough that he could start getting back to work without nawing his finger nails off. He also files away the picture of D-Steelix, and makes a note to inquire more about its personal details after everything is said and done......hopefully. Hopefully.....

*Flashback End!*

5 - Heart fear for a minute he would be have re-ignite Terra ire once more, but when Terra grab his shoulder, Heart never felt so relief in his life. "Thanks Terra. I promise. I shall be a better person for now on." When Terra gave him something Heart almost fall in tears. "A...A Mega Stone? Swampernite...." Heart was almost hypnotized with such beauty and power. With the touch, Heart could feel a enormous flow of Earthpower, and energy who survive thousands and thousands of years. He has a great power in his hands now...and yet...

"Terra...I dont know what to say...this is a incredible gift! One of the greatest I ever had! But..." Heart then hold the stone in his hands. "...This stone...hold a great flux of power. In the right hands, it can bring salvation, but in the wrong hands, it can bring destruction and suffering." Heart look to his hand, and form a little flame. "...Its like a flame. It can warm people and give them hope...but can also a destrutive force, devouring everything everything in its path..." He close his hand, ending the flame. "...Until nothing left, as ashes. And based in my previous experiences, I still not ready." Then Heart gentle return the Mega Stone in Terra hands. "I see power is capable of corrupt everything it touches. My family its a living example of that. You may consider me wortly Terra...but I am not. I still have a long path to go, and so much to learn. Netune still not evolve yet. I still need to learn control my emotions, along with my anger. Please, promise me you will keep the Stone with you for now. You are a great friend of mine Terra, and kinda consider my friends as my family...as someone who doesnt have any parent left in my side, you guys and my Pokemon is all I have left as my family. So please...if I ever begin to fall in the dark path again, you have to stop me. Whatever method you feel is necessary. Even punch me. Or destroying the Swampernite. I trust you, Terra."

6 - Heart accept Terra deal in exchange Rhyhorn for Delta Corsola! (Data please of D-Corsola my friend).

7 - "You can put your faith on me Terra!"

[Iron]

At the words 'worthy tutor' Shiva ends up glancing over her shoulder in Cosh's direction as she can't help but to find herself curious about who that ominous person might be, but nothing about her stance/crossed arms/narrow eyes changes. "Humm... I better not have that sort of 'technology' you're likely having in mind come near my Pokemon. It's either without that, or without me." She's smart enough to not openly say what she's thinking: 'Even being in your FAINTEST presence would make me sick.'

It's all just a bluff, but Cosh seems to fall for it. In silence, Shiva's already preparing Raphael's and Primal Glaceon's Balls, but she's also subtly looking around: How high are the chances that they ( = all of us) can run into the Ruins to escape the Scims without having to battle them? Probably not so high, are they...? :C

OR: If it indeed comes to a battle, I'd really really want to visit a Center to heal up before diving into the Ruins.

You'd need a pretty good plan to outspeed those flying Scimitars at least. The Scimitars also block your path toward the part of the Ruins you want to get to - but if you wanted, you could enter at a different point and try to make your way underground back to here.

[Iron]

When Terra proposes his deal, Cosh signals the waiting Scims, who lower their hefted boulders slightly. Shiva and Heart can see occasional sparks coming from the Gauntlets, quite dramatic in the perpetual gloom surrounding the Ruins.

"We might be able to work something out. Our purposes align, as I hear you've been told before. For a start, we need to head further East into the Barrow-Downs. This area where we stand holds only tunnels leading to the Kadabra Chambers, which are of no value and of infinite danger. I'm also told I am not to negotiate on this point - we cannot allow you access to the Kadabra Chambers."

[Dragonstrike]

When Terra proposes his deal, Cosh signals the waiting Scims, who lower their hefted boulders slightly. Shiva and Heart can see occasional sparks coming from the Gauntlets, quite dramatic in the perpetual gloom surrounding the Ruins.

"We might be able to work something out. Our purposes align, as I hear you've been told before. For a start, we need to head further East into the Barrow-Downs. This area where we stand holds only tunnels leading to the Kadabra Chambers, which are of no value and of infinite danger. I'm also told I am not to negotiate on this point - we cannot allow you access to the Kadabra Chambers."

Nathan and Gallade do not relax, unlike the scims.

Instead, Nathan finally speaks up, posing a question that points out a flaw in the scims' spoken logic.

"...if there's nothing of value in that place and we're headed to certain doom by going there, then why are you guarding it? Simply to spite us? That sounds like a huge waste of your resources and time to me."

Nathan's fairly certain he already knows why they're guarding it, of course...there might be nothing of value for the Scims there, but for Nathan and company...

Nathan wants to know if Cosh knows why they're going to the Kadabra Chambers, though. Gallade is analyzing the Scim veeeerrrry carefully, trying to determine if Cosh is about to lie, tell the truth, is going to avoid answering the question entirely to hide information, or just genuinely doesn't know what's in the K.C. and is only following orders.