[Game Thread] Pokerole: Mount Coronet Mystery

[Dragonstrike]

Kogeki feel satisfied with the results of the battle, despite the fact the bird was fainted. "Excelent job Gama. With this Shiny, we can enter in contact with Rowan when our job finish here for a new Pokemon. Or anything else nice for a change."

Staravia was perfect send to Kogeki PC. He look the state of Gama wounds. "Hmm. Lets patch those wounds before we return to the others." With a quick change in PC he get Ralts and Cleffa. He ask Ralts for a Heal towards Gama.

Action: Heal Pulse on Gama. If not fully heal, the another Heal Pulse from Cleffa to finish the job.

Heal Pulse (Ralts)
(6)(5)(2)(1)(1)(1)(3)(2) Spend a Will Point for that heal!
(5)(6)(4)(2) Gama recovers 3 HP. 8/8

As Ralts heals Gama, she begins to glow!  She starts growing taller, daintier, and more graceful.  Once the light begins to fade, a Kirlia stands where Ralts once did.  She quietly stares up at the sky, and reality begins to shift around her as she has her first vision.

Kirlia and Kogeki see a cave entrance in the mountainside, hidden among the snow and darkness covering these cliffs.  Bright, ice blue eyes can be seen peering out of the cave.  They narrow as they gaze upwards towards the darkened sky as well.  Many bird pokemon can be seen as they fly over the mountaintop, spreading out...almost as if they're searching for something...

The ice blue eyes then lower their gaze, and they almost appear to stare right at Kogeki and Kirlia, even though they both know this is only a vision...

...and then the eyes vanish into the darkness of the cave, and the vision ends.

Congratulations?  Ralts has evolved into Kirlia!
Her Base HP is now 4.

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

Mandibuzz Round 2

Scizor rolls his eyes.  He was gonna do that anyways!

Bullet Punch 1
(5)(3)(3)(3)(2)(6)(2)
(4)(3)(1) Mandibuzz takes 1 damage 2/8 HP -2 Pain

Mandibuzz doesn't hesitate to use that shadow move again, seeing how effective it was last time.


Shadow Rave 1
(6)(4)(4)(2)(5)(5)  Well, it would be a crit, but Lucky Chant protects the team!
(5)(5)(5), (1)
Paula takes 4 damage and faints!
Scizor takes 4 damage! 3/9 HP -2 Pain

Paula stumbles backwards and collapses into Randolph's arms before she has a chance to move.  Even with this minor setback, though, Ran's encouragment gives her at least a little courage to continue and try again.

Randolph uses a Revive on Paula!  3/6 HP -2 Pain

Scizor's doing the best that he can, helping to chip away at this enemy's health pool with rapid attacks.  Every little bit of damage helps.

Quick Attack 2
(6)(3)(6)(1)
(5)(2) Mandibuzz takes 1 damage 1/8 HP -3 Pain

Manduzz finds that bug annoying.  She aims a sharp blade of air at it to get it out of her sight.

Air Slash 2
11* - 3 - 4 = 4
(1)(1)(3)(1)

Scizor nimbly dodges to the side as the Air Slash flies past him and barely misses Rui and Randolph.  Rui leans tries to take what little cover she can behind Randolph as the rushing air ruffles clothes and hair.  Paula, meanwhile, has jumped back into the fray without Mandibuzz noticing.

Draining Kiss 2
(5)(3)(3)(1)
Mandibuzz takes at least 1 damage and faints!
Paula recovers 1 HP! 4/6 HP -1 Pain

The black aura flares into existence, rushing away from Mandibuzz and towards the sky above as the vulture finally succumbs to the assault.  Scizor wipes his brow, digs through his bag, and hands an Oran Berry to Paula.  Then he pulls a Sitrus Berry out of the bag for himself.

When Paula eats the Oran Berry, she heals more than 1 HP!  6/6 HP
The Sitrus Berry that Scizor eats also seems to be more effective than usual.  9/9 HP

Paula, Scizor, Randolph, and Rui all get 6 exp.

Rui timidly peeks out from behind Randolph to view the scene.  "...is it over?"

Bravery-eyed as Ran was, he was easily able to spot the ironclad insects dismissive gestures, but Paula Fainting from that wrong Shadow Move quite forcibly diverted his attention away from them, rushing to Revive and encourage his smol siren to continue the good fight.

"Don't give up, Paula! I got ya back, literally, and I won't see you fall prey to this fiend, I promise! Now go!"

He then looked up to glare at the bleak scavanger with a fury the spoke only the justice he'd soon extract from it feathery hind end. Oh, they were going to get it now.

And soon enough the Shadow Mandibuzz did, the bird bitch wings getting clipped by one final smooch from his aquatic fae, prompting him to heave a heavy *Sigh* of relief, apparently unphased by nearly getting Air Slashed. When he heard Rui's nervous inquiry, he turned his head back to her with a soft smile and gave firm nod and a pat on her knee.

"All's clear, lass. Mandibuzz is down, so ya don't have to worry about it lining its nest with your bones - or anyone else, for that matter."

He then cracked a grin and let out a chuckle, eyeing her with a moderate amount of amusement.

"Funny that you choose a runt like me as Cover, but I won't question it. I do have a larger than life presence, or so I've heard, Hah hah hah!"

Despite the peril of facing down a Shadow Pokemon, Ran seemed hale and hearty as ever, as if he were completely unaffected by it. Of course, that was not true in the slightest, but it didn't have to appear that way to Rui, now did it? Put on a smile and laugh it off, and hope those of weaker spirits will be bolstered by it. It was something he rarely practiced, but around women like her and Paula, the dwarven craftsman showed a more considerate side of himself.

Speaking of who, Ran wastes hardly anytime in marching over to check over his sea sprite's wounds after they've been treated, and seeing she's completely healthly smiles in relief and pats her on the head, petting down her head fin in what he hoped was a soothing manner.

"Good job, Paula. Or like I said earlier, a phenominal job. Damn fiend may have KOed ya once, but you were able to get right back in a take their breath away. That ain't no mean feat, so take this victory with pride, my girl. Now, I imagine ya want a little rest, after facing down two Shadow Pokemon, so I'll let ya get some. Unless you still want march around with me for awhile?"

*Reaches into his bag, and Pulls out Two Leppa Berries*

"Before I forget, here ya go. Two Leppa Berries for ya, just as I promise. I'm a man of my word, and I hope you enjoy the fruits of your victory."


After he's done giving pep talks and just be nice to his female fishy friend, he turned and walked over to Scizor, and gave them a grateful nod. 

"Thank ya for the help there, Scizor, during and after the battle. Never seen an Oran Berry patch up a Pokemon that good, so I guess they're a bit more potent where you come from, eh? Hmm....if it wouldn't bother you, can I have one? I have a Berry Pot on me - something that can grow Berries on the run - and I want to see if I can cultivate a crop of Orans just like the ones you've been munching on. I'll trade ya a Leppa Berry for it, just to be fair. Well?"

Once that's settle, Ran would them fix Scizors with a fairly deadpan look, now not looking to impressed with them.

"I've notice you struggled to deal any decent Damage to the critters 'round here, and I don't think it's just cause their tough sons of bitches. No, if I had to hazard a guess, its 'cause you've been focusing more on your agility and speed over raw muscle power, and shoring any deficiency up with ya Technician Ability and Items, right? *Sighs* Regardless, I think you should be focusing on increasing your Strength or bulk for now on. As ya know, a Scizors' traits lean towards Defense and sustain in battle than the pure ferocity display by their unaltered Scyther form, so you should be trying to play into your nature instead of going against it. Otherwise, you'll be doing a half-assed job toward your profession and yourself."

*Sighs*

"...That's just me opinion, though. You may have a style of fighting that suits your unorthodox focus on Dexterity, or fights over in your neck of the woods value speed over pure Strength. Just thought I'd offer my two Poke about this - and this."

With nary a second's pauses, Ran reaches into his Inventory, pulls out his Metal Coat, and presents it to Scizors.

"Since building natural Strength takes lots of time and effort, how about I loan ya a small shortcut for awhile? You have plenty of Steel type Moves on ya from what I've seen - more that my Scarmory that typically uses this - so I think it do you a load of good while your picking apart your foes. How about it, Scizors?"

As for the Mandibuzz....well, he'd ask (well, insist) Rui if she could make herself scarce for awhile, implying that he was going to take care of it and didn't want her to be bothered by what he may need to do. Then he'd switch Zorn into his party, release him, gesture at the fallen vulture to him, before give him a questioning frown.

"Is this the sorta prey you'd eat, Zorn? If not, I'll just leave it here for the other predators to snack on. Don't want her for myself and I want to save up my remaining Pokeballs for more Rare or Valuable critters, so I you don't want them I'll let nature dine out instead."

After that's settle, Ran would reunite with his mini-group to learn whatever Karen and Amethyst found out from their meeting with that Blue-Eyed Absol before planning their route through the Dungeon. Simple as that!

[Dragonstrike]

Paula definitely still wants to stick with Randolph for a bit longer.  She feels safer with him.

Rui seems to be sppoked by Randolph's comment about Mandibuzz nests.  "...wait, they do that?"  *shudder*

------------------------

Scizor will definitely take the Metal Coat and a Leppa Berry in exchange for Ran growing more of those Oran Berries. The traded blue berry looks much stronger and healthier than the Oran Berries Randolph is used to seeing. (They restore 4 HP instead of 1)

However, he tugs on his scarf and points up at the dark sky.  It seems that scarf is protecting him from the weather, and he doesn't particularly wish to take it off.  He's politely listened to Randolph's advice up until that point, but whether he'll take it is a different matter.

As for Zorn...nope, he doesn't seem very interested in bird meat.

---------------------------------

Karen and Amethyst are deep in thought when Randolph finds them.  "Oh, there you are!  So...it turns out that wasn't an Absol at all, actually.  It was a Zorua!  But...I honestly got a feeling that they were still trying to warn us about something..."

Amethyst seems to have calmed down a little.  She's still scanning the horizon, looking for whatever she sensed earlier, but it doesn't seem like she's going to run off now.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Lucas gives Kee an affirmative nod in response to the thoughts on Shadow Pokemon.  "Yeah, it seems that they're difficult to identify unless you're able to see the auras before the pokemon starts attacking with Shadow Moves.  Maybe I should ask Sally to act as a lookout once we're able to walk instead of Fly..."

This sounds like an idea Kee can totally get behind. "If Sally could do that, that'd come in quite handy, yes.... Especially since Rui 'n that dear Espeon aren't with us at the moment, 'n I'd rather NOT run into an agressive 'Mon that ends up being a SHADOWmon on top of that." He sighs a little, pets and caresses Octavia as a way to cool down (who lovingly accepts the affection and beginns to purr softly) "'specially since ya said that...they're much MUCH moar dangerous and agressive than a wild 'Mon of an ALREADY agressive species is. Still....fightin' these is kinda exciting!~" Kee's bold and daring, but once again, he's not dumb.

"If you don't want to catch it, I will.  I don't think this is a place where I'd be comfortable leaving a fainted pokemon to try and recover on its own.  Espeon also assured us that purified Shadow Pokemon have a tendency to be more reliable than you'd expect, so I don't think they'll be causing us any further trouble.  Probably.  Braviary usually aren't very tempermental from what I've heard..."

Huh? THAT'S something Kee wasn't aware of before, and he's comprehensibly a little sceptical about that; looks at Lucas as if he's having trouble to understand that. "Wait, FOR REAL??! This sounds....so wrong, but on second thought that could make some sense.... Like, the captured 'Mon ends up rememberin' 'n at best appreciatin' the one who performed the act of d'featin' and therefor purifing 'em?? How strange. Yet....interesting." That definitely has done the trick of making Shadow Pokemon more appealing to him, he'll keep an additional eye open for a potential Shadowmon of a species he might enjoy. They're 'just' at the 2nd floor of this 'mystery dungeon' after all... Well, he'll see!~

That's true, Braviary aren't that prone to disobey and at worst attack their owner and caretaker - But in Kee's view, nothing beats raising an exemplar of these eagles since they were a smol and cute Rufflet. That, and he's got his own two birds already! But he abstains from speaking this out for now, there are more important issues on hand.


For example, where to head next!~ Looking ahead, is there/can Kee spot a path that leads further eastwards?
   
If looking at the map's details, there actually should be one.

[Dragonstrike]

For example, where to head next!~ Looking ahead, is there/can Kee spot a path that leads further eastwards?

If looking at the map's details, there actually should be one.

Yes, that is a direction you can go in!  There actually aren't that many restrictions on which direction you can go, so long as there's a path leading to the corresponding tile edge and I haven't placed another tile down in said direction that doesn't link with the one you're currently on.

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

Paula definitely still wants to stick with Randolph for a bit longer.  She feels safer with him.

Rui seems to be sppoked by Randolph's comment about Mandibuzz nests.  "...wait, they do that?"  *shudder*

------------------------

Scizor will definitely take the Metal Coat and a Leppa Berry in exchange for Ran growing more of those Oran Berries.  The traded blue berry looks much stronger and healthier than the Oran Berries Randolph is used to seeing.  (They restore 4 HP instead of 1)

However, he tugs on his scarf and points up at the dark sky.  It seems that scarf is protecting him from the weather, and he doesn't particularly wish to take it off.  He's politely listened to Randolph's advice up until that point, but whether he'll take it is a different matter.

As for Zorn...nope, he doesn't seem very interested in bird meat.

---------------------------------

Karen and Amethyst are deep in thought when Randolph finds them.  "Oh, there you are!  So...it turns out that wasn't an Absol at all, actually.  It was a Zorua!  But...I honestly got a feeling that they were still trying to warn us about something..."

Amethyst seems to have calmed down a little.  She's still scanning the horizon, looking for whatever she sensed earlier, but it doesn't seem like she's going to run off now.

Then she'll continue to be out by his side, though thick and thin! If she want, he'll even carry her around, if it brings her a greater sense of comfort and safety.

(...)

" *Nods* Yes, they do. Mandibuzz are some of the most thorough scavengers that exist, and they love to use the bones they collect fortify their nest, protect their young, or just for fashion's shake, grim as their's is. Most of them don't actively hunt prey to build their collection, but as you could tell a Shadow Mandibuzz is not usual in the least. *Smiles* Don't worry about them now, though. They're taken care of, and won't be a problem for us anytime soon...."

---

It's a deal! Super Oran Berry planted in the Berry Pot, and those Items exchanged! Ran's fine with then choosing their Anti-Weather Scarf over holding a Metal Coat, as they bring up a good point about the current Weather being something to avoid. As for his advice, he's not going to let it bother him if they follow it or not. They're not his Pokemon, so he has no real power over or right to dictate their existence, and he isn't interested in trying to Catch them to enforce his Will on them.

At his brutish drake's continued denial of choice Pokemon to munch on, Ran throws up his hands into the air and lets out a big huff.

"Okay, that's it. Trying to hunt for ya is getting us nowhere, if you're going to keep rejecting what I put in front of ya. Can you try to tell me what Pokemon you'd be interested in eating? Mammals, Amphibians, other Lizards? Give me something I can work with, or otherwise you likely going to be stuck on Pokechow forever and I unable to fulfill my word, something neither of us really wants."

---

"Zoura? Huh...didn't expect one of their kind to be up here, but with everything happen to the mountain I'm surprised a seven headed Hydregion hasn't swooped in to give bright start to thoroughly ruining our day. *Sighs* Well, warning or not, we still got to find the Stairs on this Floor, so let's keep pushing on ahead. *Points Ahead* Let's head left. Don't want to accidentally run into Lucas' group and waste either of our time re-covering our tracks if we don't have to yet."

[Dragonstrike]

At his brutish drake's continued denial of choice Pokemon to munch on, Ran throws up his hands into the air and lets out a big huff.

"Okay, that's it. Trying to hunt for ya is getting us nowhere, if you're going to keep rejecting what I put in front of ya. Can you try to tell me what Pokemon you'd be interested in eating? Mammals, Amphibians, other Lizards? Give me something I can work with, or otherwise you likely going to be stuck on Pokechow forever and I unable to fulfill my word, something neither of us really wants."

---

"Zoura? Huh...didn't expect one of their kind to be up here, but with everything happen to the mountain I'm surprised a seven headed Hydregion hasn't swooped in to give bright start to thoroughly ruining our day. *Sighs* Well, warning or not, we still got to find the Stairs on this Floor, so let's keep pushing on ahead. *Points Ahead* Let's head left. Don't want to accidentally run into Lucas' group and waste either of our time re-covering our tracks if we don't have to yet."

Mammals sounds about right to Zorn.  Bonus points if they're cave dwelling ones that aren't covered in thick steel armor.

------------

*pulls card out of hat*

Heading left, Randolph, Karen and Rui find what looks like what would have once been several converging paths, but a large hole has been dug in the middle of the area, almost completely eliminating the intersection.

   
(Yes, repeat tiles are possible)

*rolls*

Randolph finds more diamond dust around the edges of the hole, too.  It's difficult to spot in the snow and the dim lighting, but it has a distinct, bluish sparkle to it that makes it stand out when light passes over it.

Randolph also sees many wild pokemon are either hiding in or have emerged from that tunnel!

1. Modrille
Difficulty: Hard
Cap: 2
Note: Seems to be sniffing at the diamond dust on the opposite side of the hole.

2. Diggersby
Difficulty: Hard
Cap: 2
Note: Digging another tunnel deeper in the hole.

3. Shadow Rhyperior
Difficulty: Tough
Cap: 2
Note: Patrolling the path to the north.  Mandatory if you wish to go in that direction.

[Dragonstrike]

Kee, Lucas, and Kogeki head in the opposite direction, eastward.  There, they find they're at the top of one of the lesser peaks of Mt. Coronet.  Small bodies of water can be seen amid the snow and trees, and Water types seem to be common. However, none of them appear to be species that would commonly be found on a mountaintop...

   

1. Shadow Blubelrog
Difficulty: Tough
Cap: 2
Note: Sally is able to point out that the super lazy looking frog pokemon lounging in the middle pool is actually a Shadow Pokemon.  None of the other wild pokemon seem to want to get near it, and it seems content with staying right where it is.

2. Lumineon
Difficulty: Moderate
Cap: 2
Note: The bright markings on its body are lighting up one of the bodies of water, which is actually making it easier to see the surrounding area.

3. Lapras
Difficulty: Tough
Cap: 2

[Dragonstrike]

Rui, Lucas, and Karen are all willing to assist with harder encounters if requested as well, as per usual.

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

Mammals sounds about right to Zorn.  Bonus points if they're cave dwelling ones that aren't covered in thick steel armor.

------------

*pulls card out of hat*

Heading left, Randolph, Karen and Rui find what looks like what would have once been several converging paths, but a large hole has been dug in the middle of the area, almost completely eliminating the intersection.


(Yes, repeat tiles are possible)

*rolls*

Randolph finds more diamond dust around the edges of the hole, too.  It's difficult to spot in the snow and the dim lighting, but it has a distinct, bluish sparkle to it that makes it stand out when light passes over it.

Randolph also sees many wild pokemon are either hiding in or have emerged from that tunnel!

(...)

3. Shadow Rhyperior
Difficulty: Tough
Cap: 2
Note: Patrolling the path to the north.  Mandatory if you wish to go in that direction.

"*Sighs* Welp, guess I know what to look for then. I'll see if I can't bring one down for ya later on this Floor then, if this mountain and Taruos shit supernatural force be willing, *Grumbles*"

---

Ran has a brief moment of deja-vu as he first gazed upon the familiar looking intersection, and for a moment he believe he and his mini-group had somehow gotten turned around and where right back at the start of the Floor. The literal diamond dispel such a notion, thankfully, but it also served to grow his previous alarm and concern about it.

"Alright, this definitely ain't natural. Something is leaving a trail of ground up diamonds in their wake, and it seems to be heading up the mountain if that hole there is anything to judge by. *Swears* ....Whatever it is, I'm not too keen to meet a creature capable of making and leaving huge quantities of diamond dust so thoughtlessly, so pray to whatever Legend you like the most we don't, everyone..."

I figure that Ran can't figure any trail the mysterious being left, as it hasn't left enough dust for that or most of it has already been blown away/collected by Wild Pokemon?

In any case, the scruffy smith doesn't dwell on the perplexing phenomena for long, for he spotted that Rhyperior guarding the north passage, and with Rui's declaration of it being a Shadow Pokemon his expression settled into a far too familiar grim determination as he stared daggers at it.

"....They just keep popping up, don't they Rui? Perhaps the closer we get to the Stairs, the source of this madness plaguing multiple realities, the tougher and nastier Shadow Pokemon or other monstrosity we'll meet. *Shakes Head* No, I'm almost certain of it by now. And if that Shadow Rhyperior isn't guarding the way to the Stair or something equally special or important, it's still a major threat to all our safety and the locals too. *Frowns deepens* Looks like I'm going to boldly go a Fight what no man should ever face, if they have a vested interested in keeping on breathing. *Looks at the Girls* If either of ya want to help me, bring the toughest or wiliest Pokemon you got. This beast right there will destroy anything less. Otherwise, stay the hell away, for your own good."

With that ominously declared, Ran goes off to do battle with the Shadow Rhyperior, once again forgoing all chance of Stealth or subtly. He's not a ninja like Kogeki, or particularly unnoticable, so he favors the bluntest, most direct option in dealing with a problem: full frontal assault.

(If neither Karen or Rui join Ran, he's using Paula and Boreas (His Ability is Snow Warning, and he's holding the Assault Vest) against them. Otherwise, it'll be just Paula and whatever other Pokemon either girl chooses to send out [or both, if both choose to join him] )