[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Dragonstrike]

I didn't even know the word "Barrow" had been used in a Pokemon game.

Nathan's map barely correlates to the Barrow Downs at all, naturally. But you can actually see a few things that are correlated - old rooms that became the boundaries of a section of graveyard.

The Kadabra Chambers, if Cosh is right, would be three old rooms combined: the astronomy tower, the Pokemon training/capturing room, and the conservatory. 


*roll*
The puzzle doesn't look to be trapped. In fact, it's just been drilled into some old pillars, so there's not much chance of a mechanical trigger.
Kelda: "Oh, no, I'm not great at puzzles. But I think this one was brought up here more recently. Our research says many ghosts came up to raid the surface, and brought things from below up with them as pranks or like, decorations almost."

Nathan has probably heard briefly of this event, called the "Spirit Exchange." Little is known about it since no one wants to go near the ruins.

The PMD series is full of all sorts of surprises.

Hmmmm...a combination of three presumably rather large locations, huh?  The presence of the astronomy tower might help explain the presence of some of the Psychic types, at least...and possibly the rumors about Fairy types as well...

"...it could easily be more than a simple prank or decoration, though...and I can't help but wonder who made these and why they're in this area in the first place..."

Well then, just in case, Nathan's going to bring Calam out to see if he can sense any danger that might relate to the puzzle.

...though of course, Calam's probably going to react to Kelda's presence in some fashion first.

[Mikaruge108]

Spoiler

2. Name: Stone Circle
There's a circle of upthrust stonework from long ago, and you spot flickering movement there. The circle is guarding one of the possible paths to the Great Barrow guarding the Chambers.

As Spira enters the dank, dark ruins, with Elya in tow, he eventually sees a stone circle, the first thing that he notices is the flickering movement near them; "Huh." Spira walks up to the upthrust stonework and places a hand on it, then raps at the rock with his fist *tap* *tap-tap* *tap* *tap* *tap-tap*, then addresses Elya; "Do you think your phasing can get us though this circle?" (assuming ooc that the circle is a solid 'line' and not broken)

I was unclear. The circle is like Stonehenge, so it's as much empty space as it is solid. Spira can sense ghostly energy in the gaps, though!

When you tap on it, it echoes as if hollow. Definitely doesn't look hollow...

"Huh. Wasn't expecting it to sound hollow." He tries tapping out a different pattern; *tap-tap-tap* *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap-tap-tap*
Spira then stands in one of the gaps, looking in the middle of the Stonehenge-style ruins, looking to see if there are any small stone(s) that might look out of place, specifically any that might look like this:

Spoiler

If he does find such a stone, it's going to be treated with the utmost care, and if possible, extract the spirits from the stone w/o unsealing it.
If no such stone(s) are found, he tries kicking at one of the pillars next, not too hard, like one would punt a football. (American Football, that is.) and seeing as Luna's still out that's possibly another 4D6 (Base) roll, or is the roll done at the end of the encounter?

[Iron]

Yena does smell Pokemon. Multiple corporeal Pokemon, and ghosts.

Shiva can only feel the oppressive corruption of the Barrow Downs. It's everywhere.

Do ghosts have a particular scent?? Or are these Ghost-Type'd Pokemon? ?????????

Shiva's pretty much disliking this oppressive feeling, this gloom and this creepy weariness dwelling everywhere. It surpresses her sixth sense and makes cold shivers run down her spine despite she isn't even cold. Here's a nicely paranormal theme to reflect that and for this Encounter.

Humm. She picks up a random rock from the ground, fixates her gaze at this darkness - and then turns her head to face and adress Arachnautilus. "How about it, bold enough to face some creepy Pokemon that made their home within these pillars alongside me? Come on, if you're really that competent, show me some of that strength of yours!~" She smirks to display that SHE is. No time for fear of weakness down this place!! >o<

If Arachna's answer is positive, Shiva will throw that rock into the darkness, believing that this will trigger a fight. STILL she keeps herself away from the heavy blackness - the simple fact that Pokemon lurk there doesn't explain this phenomena, but maybe as soon as it's revealed which Pokemon she has stumbled over she'll know more.

There is just a snarling noise. Nothing comes out. 

Seems you will have to brave the darkness.

[Iron]

As Terra follows Cosh, you notice the mid-aged wizard walks with all the grace and swishing of robes you'd expect from a wizard. However, he leaves very very deep footprints in the clay.

The steely brawler was, despite his own reservatiosn for his arcane partner, was naturally curious about him literally leaving his mark in his place just like him (As you pointed back so far ago, Terra's *6 VIT and Steel Nature makes him heavier too), and so inquires about it in a questioning, interested tone.

"Your tracks are deep, Cosh. Why? Wearing heavy.....equipment, or......something else?"

"Something else. I am more than human, Terra, and I'm not called an Earth Scimitar for nothing."

[Iron]

I didn't even know the word "Barrow" had been used in a Pokemon game.

Nathan's map barely correlates to the Barrow Downs at all, naturally. But you can actually see a few things that are correlated - old rooms that became the boundaries of a section of graveyard.

The Kadabra Chambers, if Cosh is right, would be three old rooms combined: the astronomy tower, the Pokemon training/capturing room, and the conservatory. 


*roll*
The puzzle doesn't look to be trapped. In fact, it's just been drilled into some old pillars, so there's not much chance of a mechanical trigger.
Kelda: "Oh, no, I'm not great at puzzles. But I think this one was brought up here more recently. Our research says many ghosts came up to raid the surface, and brought things from below up with them as pranks or like, decorations almost."

Nathan has probably heard briefly of this event, called the "Spirit Exchange." Little is known about it since no one wants to go near the ruins.

The PMD series is full of all sorts of surprises.

Hmmmm...a combination of three presumably rather large locations, huh?  The presence of the astronomy tower might help explain the presence of some of the Psychic types, at least...and possibly the rumors about Fairy types as well...

"...it could easily be more than a simple prank or decoration, though...and I can't help but wonder who made these and why they're in this area in the first place..."

Well then, just in case, Nathan's going to bring Calam out to see if he can sense any danger that might relate to the puzzle.

...though of course, Calam's probably going to react to Kelda's presence in some fashion first.

Calam sniffs Kelda and then turns to the puzzle. He gives the puzzle a glare, but if it represents any danger, it's something Calam feels Nathan can handle.

Kelda: "Oh, how cute! My brother actually knew a Scimitar apprentice who had an Absol as a partner. He said it followed that guy around like a puppy Poochyena." She pats Calam, who accepts the pats.

[Iron]

The roll can be any time in the Encounter.

(6)(5)(6)(6) Dang, 4 more spirits! That makes 7/16 already.

When Spira kicks the stone, he hears manic cackling emanate from the circle. The air flashes dark alternating with blood red light.

Words appear in flames in the center of the circle. NOW.

The stones creak ominously, shifting on ancient roots.

YOU'VE.

The ground shakes, and great splits appear in the earth. Spirits stream forth, some absorbed by Luna, others vanishing into the stone. The stones darken until they become the color of blood.

DONE.

The flames creep closer, shifting one final time.

IT.

From each of the 8 stones comes a Ghost Pokemon, riding on a broomstick and wearing a big pointy hat. It's a coven of Mismagius, and they seem gleefully happy to be disturbed!

Elya looks ready to phase right into the stones and disappear, rather than face them.

[Iron]

Spoiler

Cosh: "We've been keeping an eye on the Kadabra Chamber since the very beginning. Follow me!"

"OK, here's the situation. The best entrance is right over there, beneath the biggest Barrow around. Won't be too many ghosts around in daylight, and the five of us can banish any that do crop up. You'll need Rock Smash or Cut or something to get inside - there are many doors in the Barrow, all locked and warded. If we pick our way through the Barrow Downs, knock down at least one door, jet inside through the maze of tunnels... we'll be ready for the Kadabra Chambers. Sonar reveals a big chamber right beneath that Barrow, full of some crystalline substance and itself networked with tunnels. The Kadabra Chambers are sort of transitional between the Barrow Down layer and the Upper Palace ruins layer."


You're all going to pick your way through the old graves, mass burial sites, uprooted artifacts, and earthen tombs. You aren't sure which paths lead onward safely.

Everyone is required to pick exactly one Encounter to solve with your Scimitar partner. No overlap or sharing - they all have a Cap of 1. Scimitars may want to make a capture, in which case we'll have to work that out somehow (not traditional XP bidding as the Scims don't have full char sheets).

This will count as Encounter 2 for the day.

You can tell me how you begin to address the problem as soon as you choose the Encounter, then you can react as I reveal more info.

Skull Ruins Barrow Downs Encounter List

(...)

3. Name: Shallow Ground
This area is littered with old armor and weapons. There are a few old marble coffins sticking up, and some suspicious looking dirt with bloodstains everywhere.

(...)

Presumably Cosh shook his hand and sealed the deal, so Terra is fine with following the head wizard's lead, keeping a close but silent eye on him the whole time. Though they were now allies and promised to set aside their differences for the shake of saving Cheshire, it didn't hurt to be on guard and watchful whenever it was feasible to do so. After all, their partnership hardly entailed mutual trust between them, and he had strong doubts much positivity will be engendered between them. 

He's not entirely ruling it out, though. More impossible things had happened before to him/the group, so true friendship with some of their defacto enemies is not totally out of question....

The Scimitar Admin's intel and advice is taken in with quick nods from the sagely monk, and in turn he offered a few short comments of his own.

"Okay. Getting through doors won't be problem for us, and together we will get through the Ruin quickly and safely, so do not worry.......too much."

When it came time to choose a path for him and his partner, he elected they investigate the Shallow Ground, recalling Edmundi (Pixie still being out, minding her own business.....seemingly) and summoning Oinari to his side, and pointed to the messy, rusting, and decaying remains. 

"Oinario, change form into a Duskull, and scout out area for danger, stuff, or path forward. Come back if you find any. Find threats, yip to me. Find Items, hop, and shuffle paws for path. If you are caught or ambushed, run back and call out to us. Understand?"

Order: Have the trickster kitsune go undercover and investigate the Shallow Ground for danger/loot/paths, before Terra/Cosh go forward to actually search the place themselves. Can't be too careful in the Skull Ruins, so its time for some tactical espionage action with Grey Black Fox!

"Duskull" creeps forward, though her stats are those of a small fox!

She hasn't gone but a few steps when a 5' square of earth becomes sharp obsidian knives, stabbing upward out of the ground!

Knives
(2)(1)(5)(6)(6)(6) (2)(2)(1)(6)(6)(4) = 6 successes
Evasion: 5* Dex + 5 Survival  = 10
(4)(4)(4)(1)(2)(1) (5)(1)(1)(5) = 3 successes

Oinari cries in pain as her feet are perforated.

12 dmg -6 vitality = 6d6
(1)(4)(2)(1)(3)(5) She takes just 1 dmg, and her movement speed and initiative are slowed. She quickly leaps back to Terra, whimpering at the small wound.

[Iron]

Heart and Atlas approach the statue kindly, Atlas looking impressed at what it could someday become...maybe. If anyone had any idea how.

But as you pass between the legs, the statue's face stirs! A shadow pulls itself forth from gaps in the giant armor. The eyes flash and dim, but a light streams from descending parts of its body. One hand reaches down right in front of you and freezes like that, separating you and Gendry.

A shadowy ball comes rolling down like a hedgehog, uncurling into a spiky body with a huge leering grin! It's a gigantic Gengar, which begins stepping in and out of the shadows. The statue freezes and its eyes no longer flash.

[Mikaruge108]

Spoiler

The roll can be any time in the Encounter.

(6)(5)(6)(6) Dang, 4 more spirits! That makes 7/16 already.

When Spira kicks the stone, he hears manic cackling emanate from the circle. The air flashes dark alternating with blood red light.

Words appear in flames in the center of the circle. NOW.

The stones creak ominously, shifting on ancient roots.

YOU'VE.

The ground shakes, and great splits appear in the earth. Spirits stream forth, some absorbed by Luna, others vanishing into the stone. The stones darken until they become the color of blood.

DONE.

The flames creep closer, shifting one final time.

IT.

From each of the 8 stones comes a Ghost Pokemon, riding on a broomstick and wearing a big pointy hat. It's a coven of Mismagius, and they seem gleefully happy to be disturbed!

Fight time!
"Go Toya!" Spira then addresses Elya, "Don't just stand there; you help as well!"

[Dragonstrike]

Calam sniffs Kelda and then turns to the puzzle. He gives the puzzle a glare, but if it represents any danger, it's something Calam feels Nathan can handle.

Kelda: "Oh, how cute! My brother actually knew a Scimitar apprentice who had an Absol as a partner. He said it followed that guy around like a puppy Poochyena." She pats Calam, who accepts the pats.

Interesting.  Nathan can't help but chuckle.  Yup, Kelda's proving him wrong on some conceptions he had about Scimitars already, it seems.

"Haha.  Not many would call Calam cute, what with that scar across his eye and all.  Nice to see he doesn't mind being around you, however. Eases my mind a little.  Concerning that guy your brother knew, though...well, I can't help but notice you used the past tense of 'know'. Any idea what happened to that guy with the Absol partner? Seems quite notable to me.  Few in this region actually bother to take the time to bond with an Absol, after all.  Too much superstition surrounding them."

Another point in Kelda's favor!  Though...Nathan has a pretty good idea who Kelda's talking about when she mentions the Scimitar apprentice with an Absol partner.  And Calam probably does, too.

Well, time to get started on trying to solve the puzzle, then!  Not going to be able to figure out what the picture is until we start unscrambling it, after all, so let's see if we can at least get a start on this.  Nathan signals to his pokemon that are out (and Kelda) to be ready, just in case. Nathan also signals to Gallade to attempt to set up a Lucky Chant before they begin, also just in case. Better to try and avoid Curses and bad luck whenever possible in the Skull Ruins, after all...

Roll is Insight + Knowledge iirc, right? That'd be a 10 D6 pool for Nathan. Any bonuses from Nathan's Lore or another specialty?