[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Lord Windos]

I don't remember what plant you gave what researcher. What was it called?

As Shiva found out, Almanac has been driven out of business - too many of their core markets relied on illegal shenanigans. There is lots of good lab equipment up for grabs. Some of it, the more nefarious pieces, might alert authorities that you're working on projects rather similar to what Almanac was. But buying it is not illegal in and of itself.

The data actually leaked to the Internet, so that is easily obtained.

Took a bit of searching, but I found the name: It's called Aipom's Orange. Was traded away for $4500 + an unknown portion of post game income coming from the research grant of it.

Hmm....is their any Almanac tech related to Pokemon modification and/or 'strengthening' (Gene therapy methods, Earthpower methods, technical methods, etc.) a Pokemon that's on sale/avaliable for buyout? As well as tech that's good at restraining really rowdy Pokemon? Oh, and any tech that's similar/the same to the ones used for Revivification of Fossil Pokemon? Because if their are, Terra would be eager to acquire them for his lab, as one of its principle goals is going to be the research, modification, and improvement of Arete, and extending that data to other Pokemon (Starting with Bugs and Fossilmons) to see if he can't improve them and/or reawaken/reacquire the ancestral power they lost over the generations (Might as well!). Much easier to re-purpose or just plain use tech that already exists, than try to designing and creating his own proprietary devices wholesale after who knows how and what loops he has to go through to do so! 

In that case, all data/research is going to be reviewed by his swarm of assistants once the lab's fully set up and everyone's settled in, with the researchered told to take especial note of any information regarding their Pokemon experimentation and modification practices. Probably going to be some pretty barbaric and/or shady stuff, but hey, it can still be put to good and moral use under Terra's + Jerry's directive!

[Dragonstrike]

Mesprit doesn't seem interested in partnering up in general. You do feel your Red Chain gem pulse with heat briefly, though.

(I had to take a little while to think about how to respond to this, tbh.)

Oh.  That's...hmmm...how to put it...

Nathan takes a deep breath, then sighs and looks straight at Mesprit.  "...I know I have a Red Chain and can ask you for help if I really need it, but...it wouldn't be the same.  I can only use that the one time, and...I wouldn't want the request to be a selfish one.  I've been thinking about this, and...well, I'm not sure Azelf would be able to respond to a summons from the Red Chain, but what about Uxie?  Do you think they'd respond?  I'd really like to help reunite your trio if possible, and if I could use the Red Chain to help with that...I'd be more than happy to.  And...well, I guess I was hoping we could do it together...I mean, I can respect your wishes and all, but...I'm not gonna lie.  It's...kind of a bummer...*sigh*..."

Is it a little selfish to say something like that?  Maybe.  But there's still plenty of genuine concern and care.  He REALLY wants to help fix some of this region's problems, starting with the ones related to the pokemon he owes quite a bit too.

And having their assistance with it would not only be a boon, but also a joy.  The more the merrier, as the saying goes.

I don't know if being that emotionally honest might change Mesprit's response in any way, but it's worth a shot. (Besides, it's not like it'd be possible to try and trick Mesprit, given that they're the Being of Emotion and also just spent 10 seconds in Nathan's shoes).

Regardless, Nathan does want to hear Mesprit's opinion about using the Red Chain to try and summon Uxie. Probably a weird idea, using a Red Chain to try and help the Lake Trio themselves in some way...but maybe it could work?

[Spiritmon]

"Prepare yourself however you wish. The rule is that you may only bring your Pokemon and a knife."
"The desert is an empty place, even this small desert. Distractions are few, but Earthpower is close by."

In that case, I think I will take Delta Steelix as my choice instead of Lairon. His Digging abilities might be useful in the desert. Not to mentioned his size might scary potential enemies.

Heart also carry a knife and follow Chorizo to the desert. What exatcly my char see in the place?

[Iron]

Ah yeah, Aipom's Orange. Let's do it this way: All your genetic experiments can be fed for free on shipments of well-researched, extra-nutritious plants coming from that researcher. The result is that they will mature much faster (unless you also choose to feed them suppressants).

The tech for restraining rowdy Pokemon is available for just a few thousand, but it plays havoc on their Happiness.
Gene therapy machinery is definitely available. Earthpower books are available, but access to Earthpower can never truly be sold.
Fossil revivification is still monopolized by just a few researchers around the world, but there are a few things available that might help Laurelin in her work.

[Iron]

Mesprit tries to send a cheerful wave of emotion your way. He wants you to feel good about your true intentions to help the world and Pokemon especially. But partnering up with a Legendary is no small thing. Usually, it's restricted to brief moments in the heat of battle. There are places Mesprit can go that you cannot.

Mesprit perks up a little at the thought of using the Red Chain to reunite the trio, but then feels selfish about asking you to do such a thing when the Red Chain was meant as a reward, a token of trust in your party. You realize that this implies the Red Chain would actually be helpful.

Mesprit looks to see if you have any thoughts about that, guiltily knowing you can perceive his emotions pretty well.

[Iron]

"Prepare yourself however you wish. The rule is that you may only bring your Pokemon and a knife."
"The desert is an empty place, even this small desert. Distractions are few, but Earthpower is close by."

In that case, I think I will take Delta Steelix as my choice instead of Lairon. His Digging abilities might be useful in the desert. Not to mentioned his size might scary potential enemies.

Heart also carry a knife and follow Chorizo to the desert. What exatcly my char see in the place?

Chorizo disappears, leaving you alone.

Delta Steelix dominates the sparse surroundings. But as you stay for a while and perhaps do a bit of meditating using the Earthpower knowledge you already possess, you begin to notice that the desert around Charring Cross is anything but bleak.

The shifting, sparkling sands are a work of art. The chalky white mountains have been shaped by wind and sand, and in your zen state you can look at them, like clouds, and see visions in their abstract forms. 

With a 5 in Survival, and your trusty knife, and your giant flying metal snake, you quickly work up a shelter of your choice. (Feel free to describe it). You also dig up a well for water, and you laboriously and carefully haul up some gigantic underground roots that you know to be very nutritious. 

As night falls, the desert changes. The temperature drops. A thousand stars come out, the only distraction in this entire desert. But before you can begin another round of meditations, you are interrupted by a fleet of lizard Pokemon. Charmander lead the pack, their tails held high like torches. Behind them are several Helioptile, ears spread wide to absorb as much heat as possible, a little electricity going between them. They're creeping slowly toward your stash of gigantic edible roots.

[Iron]

A Pokemon tutoring other Pokemon, as Machamp does, holds a lot of advantages and disadvantages. Much like having a Pokemon in your party who already knows the move, it takes way less time when Machamp teaches Reflect and any other psychic moves. You note that he can even tutor a move he doesn't know, just by having an understanding of how the move should be summoned. But for abstract moves, mental moves, Machamp requires your Pokemon to do a lot of looking inward. He has no way to demonstrate those moves directly.

And Kyuu especially has trouble focusing with all those fearful Pokemon around.

[Dragonstrike]

Mesprit tries to send a cheerful wave of emotion your way. He wants you to feel good about your true intentions to help the world and Pokemon especially. But partnering up with a Legendary is no small thing. Usually, it's restricted to brief moments in the heat of battle. There are places Mesprit can go that you cannot.

Mesprit perks up a little at the thought of using the Red Chain to reunite the trio, but then feels selfish about asking you to do such a thing when the Red Chain was meant as a reward, a token of trust in your party. You realize that this implies the Red Chain would actually be helpful.

Mesprit looks to see if you have any thoughts about that, guiltily knowing you can perceive his emotions pretty well.

That wave of cheerfulness does help a little, though a little disappointment does remain.  That didn't go entirely as expected, but...well, maybe Nathan will get a little of what he was hoping for out of this in the long run after all.  So Nathan has no regrets as he elaborates on his thoughts concerning using the Red Chain for his suggestion.

"If it makes you feel any better about it, Mesprit, I'm offering my assistance knowing full well that it means I won't get to use the Red Chain on something else, and I've been considering this for awhile.  I was going to offer whether you asked or not, and I knew full well you probably weren't going to do so of your own accord.  Besides, something about Azelf vanishing where a Water Scimitar base is these days and Uxie flying overseas...it just doesn't sit right with me.  And I know how hard it is to lose someone you're close to...so if reuniting the Lake Trio helps bring a smile to your face, then even just that would be enough reason for me to help.  It's honestly the least I could do for a friend."

Nathan pulls the 5 Red Gemstones (well, 3, technically) out of his pocket and holds them in the open palm of his hand, looking them over one more time.  "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity.  I wouldn't want to waste it."  He then turns his gaze back to Mesprit.  "I don't think this would be waste, though.  Far from it.  Especially if we can do it together, and I can help everyone smile again, even if for only a moment."

Even if they aren't officially partners, Mesprit still means a lot to Nathan.  He wants to help them, and he wouldn't mind working with them more in the future.

Most of all, though, he wants to see Mesprit smile, be happy and joyful.  What kind of friend would he be if he didn't want the best for his companions, right?

[Spiritmon]

Spoiler

Chorizo disappears, leaving you alone.

Delta Steelix dominates the sparse surroundings. But as you stay for a while and perhaps do a bit of meditating using the Earthpower knowledge you already possess, you begin to notice that the desert around Charring Cross is anything but bleak.

The shifting, sparkling sands are a work of art. The chalky white mountains have been shaped by wind and sand, and in your zen state you can look at them, like clouds, and see visions in their abstract forms. 

With a 5 in Survival, and your trusty knife, and your giant flying metal snake, you quickly work up a shelter of your choice. (Feel free to describe it). You also dig up a well for water, and you laboriously and carefully haul up some gigantic underground roots that you know to be very nutritious. 

As night falls, the desert changes. The temperature drops. A thousand stars come out, the only distraction in this entire desert. But before you can begin another round of meditations, you are interrupted by a fleet of lizard Pokemon. Charmander lead the pack, their tails held high like torches. Behind them are several Helioptile, ears spread wide to absorb as much heat as possible, a little electricity going between them. They're creeping slowly toward your stash of gigantic edible roots.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

A Pokemon tutoring other Pokemon, as Machamp does, holds a lot of advantages and disadvantages. Much like having a Pokemon in your party who already knows the move, it takes way less time when Machamp teaches Reflect and any other psychic moves. You note that he can even tutor a move he doesn't know, just by having an understanding of how the move should be summoned. But for abstract moves, mental moves, Machamp requires your Pokemon to do a lot of looking inward. He has no way to demonstrate those moves directly.

And Kyuu especially has trouble focusing with all those fearful Pokemon around.

Does Extrasensory count as a 'mental move'? I think so?? Either way, when Machamp encourages Shiva's white Vulpix to do that lot of looking inward, she carefully asks him whether she can help her Pokemon with that, since the fox is still somewhat young, Shiva finds it interesting and educational, and of course it's a nice bonding session for Master and Pokemon. So together Shiva and Vulpix try to meditate a little under Machamp's watchful eyes and calming presence AND in between that horde of bugs, concentrating on the Earthpower that's dormant within both of them. Shiva is trying to properly block her empathy from the twisted Dark and Ghost Types around while Vulpix is asked to search for the hidden psychic power that every Vulpix has encoded in their genes... And at the climax of this, the smol icy fox unvoluntarily releases a wave of energy that's not visible but very tangible for Shiva. It's making her skin tickle and her head throbbing for a bit, and the sudden sensation startled her out of her concentration.

Alola Vulpix successfully mastered Extrasensory!~ This earns her a fond hug and a yummy Rawst Berry from Shiva as well as a big portion of hugs and cuddles. <3 "You did it dear one, you really did it!~ Hehehe, that'll be a secret weapon of us, now you'll be able to fend off Poison and Fighting Types that'll bother you... Aww, thank you for your aid and assistance, noble Delta Machamp, thank you!" Master and Pokemon both bow to their mentor.

For Kyuu, Shiva will grant him protection from the Ancient Shield when Machamp tutors him to summon a reflecting shield, this will hopefully make him feel more comfortable. She's obviously showing the psychic cat in a non-verbal way that as long as she is around, nothing will happen to him. 'Trust me on that and fully concentrate on learning the new move dear one, it's solely you and your mentor!', her gaze tells.


+++++++++


Looks like the tutoring from the psychic master was a full success!~ Shiva can't be more glad by that and has issues to stop smiling. "We thank thee once more for you time and aid, precious Machamp, we truely do! With awe we will use our new skills thaught by thee to outsmart those who stand our way. ... I have enjoyed my dwelling here on the island, but the time to leave again is approaching. A... allow me to ask you something before taking off again, extraordinaire master of psychic moves." Only once Delta Machamp has given his agreement/allowance Shiva will continue. "It's just something that's been on my mind, something that strikes my interest and curiosity - How do you do make it to keep that stable, stoic and calm when ALL of a psychic's enemies and fears are only inches away, when thee perhaps know that they may strike at any moment? That their numbers are much greater than thee, when it'd be a hundred assaults from them while thee get to defend yourself only once? Is it sheer willpower? Is it the knowledge that they will not strike? Is it some sort of symbiosis between thee and them? I'm asking all of this because..." Shiva obviously hesitats and struggles to get the words out, seems to be somehwat timid about something.

"...because I took the leap of fate to face my fears, but what thee are doing is beyond what I'd ever be capable of. In fact, beyond anything I've ever seen."