[Game Thread] Pokerole: Mount Coronet Mystery

[Dragonstrike]

Spoiler

Ran looks over the bi-chromatic eyed girl's handy work on his injures for a few seconds, before looking over to her and gracing the girl with a rare warm smile.

"Nicely done. Thank ya, lass."

He calms up like a Cloyster when she lightly prods him about what caused him to self-mutilate himself, his expression going very still and pensive. A minute passed in silence before he heaved a long, low *Sigh and glanced away, once more looking at the cave walls.

"....It's not a pleasing tale for the ears, Karen."

Light rebuke from the stern midget, but not an outright refusal to answer her.

(...)

The dwarven craftsman nearly deadpans as he realized Ditto copied more than just Sally's form and capabilities as they 'spoke' to him (In hindsight, maybe he should have expected such shenanigans from a Transforming Pokemon....) , but instead gives them a nod and sends them off to relieve the Fighting canine. When the real deal 'thanked' him, he took it with the good grace and calmness he's exhibited towards her since this morning.

"I did promise ya that I'd help you out with translating for Scizors, and I'm a man of my word. *Scratches beard*....Did it in a round about manner, but you get a break to do what you want all the same."

He paused when she asked why he aided her (in her own obtuse, indirect way), before shaking his head.

"No, I don't need ya to do anything for me. But if you want, I'd like to chat with ya later. Been thinking we need get to know each other better, you know? Got some stories about your dad too I believe you'd like, if you want to hear them."

If Randolph's polite behavior before didn't already confuse her, this unexpected offer for some friendly chit-chat will probably thoroughly baffle her.

Karen goes quiet as she thinks carefully about what to say next.

"...well, you don't have to share if you don't want to, but...maybe sharing a little will help?  I'd like to help if I can."

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

Sally's definitely surprised.  She blinks a few times, then looks at her Trainer.  Wha...Lucas, you're hearing this too, right?  Are we sure this is Randolph?

Lucas casually banters with the pokemon.  "You tell me, Sally.  You're the Lucario here.  If his aura's the same, then he's not a fake."

Sally narrows her eyes as she examines Randolph's aura.  Then she sighs, partially in disbelief.  Yup, he's the real deal all right...what the hell prompted this?

Lucas walks over.  "I'm not going to point any fingers, but I have my suspicions.  Now then, let's get back to earlier.  You wanted to speak with me about something, Randolph?"

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

Karen goes quiet as she thinks carefully about what to say next.

"...well, you don't have to share if you don't want to, but...maybe sharing a little will help?  I'd like to help if I can."

Ran is silent as the prodigal girl does not desist in her inquisitiveness, before again he *sighs*, his head tilting down to the floor.

"....You're too kind for ya own good, lass. 'Specially to a mean old bastard like myself. Fine. I'll share my tale with ya. But don't say I didn't warn ya."

He looks back to the walls again, a heavy brooding air all about him. Then, he began to speak, his tone taking on a quality not too dissimilar to an old storyteller's .

".....Long time ago, I used to work and live in Orebourgh. Was a foreman - manager of sorts - for the coal mines there. Made sure everyone did their jobs right, that all the codes and regulations were follow to the letter, and, most importantly of all, that everyone was safe, sound, and whole by the time the left for home. Pretty good at my job, not to toot my own horn, and my workers.....well, we got along well together, so long as I didn't catch them slacking or lollygagging with some too nosy for their own good Trainer."

The bristly blacksmith snorts in slight derision at that, before he continued unerringly on.

"For a long time, everything was going fine. I did my job right, my workers did their jobs right, and we all harvested the bounty of the earth. *Shakes head* It was not an easy life. It had it's fair share of nasty scraps or accidents, and some days the job took more out of ya than what you dug up."

Ran looks up to the cave's celing, a faint smile touching the corners of his lips.

"But it was a good life, none the less. It was a good life."

Slowly, he lowered his gaze back to the floor, whatever happiness in his expression now banish to the gloomy past brought forth to the present.

"....Until it wasn't."

His hands started to tighten as his thought of that day again, but he stopped as he looked down at his bandaged hands, and looked away with a *Sigh* .

".....One day, just like any other, during the busiest part of it, deep within the shafts of the mine and in the section I presided over...."

Ran clenched both hands in fists and he started to tremble. Tremble in anger.

"....A disaster happened."

He hissed out the next few sentences, like a cold, hot, seething furnace threatening to boil over

"Right through, a Onix violently tore itself out of. But not just any regular Onix. No, this one was huge, jet black as the coal we excavated, and had horn that looked something out of a nightmare. And it was the most viscous, aggressive, and hateful Pokemon I have ever come across. "

"It....it rampaged through the mines. Attack anyone it could see, and didn't stop attacking them until......"

"......My miner that were Trainers tried to Fight it off, of course. Subdue it, Catch it, drive it off, whatever they could do to get it to stop. Nothing they did worked, though. Nothing at all."

His tone softened into almost silent and dead sounding whisper.

"When it became apparent that abomination of nature was too much for us, I was seconds away from ordering a full evacuation. Seconds. But....but....that was already too late. Right about then, I swear on my life that thing stopped to look me dead in the eyes all the way across from where it was destroying the tunnels. Like it knew what I was about to do. And...it let out this horrible roar that shook the very earth.....and started setting off a chain of Earthquakes and Rock Slide. It was trying to collapse the entire damn section of the mines I was in. "

"....Everyone panicked, of course. Like Torchics with their heads cut off. Almost did myself too, but I somehow found it within me to be brave and defiant towards that abomination. I tried to get my men as I could to listen, round them up and get the hell out of there. Screaming and hollering at the top of my lungs over the din, waving and jumping all over the place like some tiny litter Loudred, everything I could possibly do."

Ran hunched over, and what little of his expression that Karen could see was tight with raw pain and hate.

"....It wasn't enough. Was too late, like I said. Only managed to get my best friend, and a three others near me to notice and group up with me before the tunnels we were in started to collapse. We.....we had no choice then but to escape, and hope to whatever god out there that the rest of our fellows followed."

".....They didn't. Only we just barely managed to get out and away from that abomination and my section of the mine, before it all crumbled in on itself, like a poorly made sand castle. Everyone else in them....."

He goes deathly silent, cutting himself off by slamming his fists into the stone bellow him.

....

"......Once all the drama passed from that.....Incident, and I.....told all the miner family the news, I.....quit my job at the mines. After I failed all my workers......buried down there.....I didn't deserve to be there anymore. Gathered all the savings and possessions I had and moved far as I could from Orebourgh, all the way to Canaclave. Took up my hobby of blacksmithing as my new full profession and.....got along, best I can. Probably still be over there making tools and nails, if I hadn't decided to become a Trainer one day in my advanced age."

Ran slowly raised one fist in front of him, and clench it tight enough to draw a bit more blood from his fresh injuries.

"I made a promise to myself, though. Myself and it. That one day, somehow, someway, I would find that motherfucking Black Onix and get VENGEANCE on it, for all the lives it took that dark day. Even if I became older, infirm, and senile, I would not stop seeking it until I found it and crushed them. Haven't gotten much news on it, and haven't any luck tracking it down myself after becoming a Trainer. But one day.....one day.....I will.'

He loosened his fist and let it fall limply by his side, as he stared once more at the walls of this cavern.

"Seeing these wall lined with coal, after all I've been through recently on this gottverdammt job of Rowan's .....it brought it all back to me in vivid detail. I got a memory like a Donphan, for better and worse, so when I remember something, I remember it well."

"....And that's all I have to tell ya. If you could possibly help with any of that ..... *Darkly chuckles* ....I sure as hell like to know how."

With that said, Randolph falls silent, leaving the wee lass to mull over the grim revelation she brought upon herself.

(....And I believe I'll stop writing here for now. Let everyone react and you get a response written up to it, before we move on to the comparatively lighter conversation I have planned with Lucas. Don't want it to detract from this revelation, and vice verse, no?)

[Dragonstrike]

Spoiler

Ran is silent as the prodigal girl does not desist in her inquisitiveness, before again he *sighs*, his head tilting down to the floor.

"....You're too kind for ya own good, lass. 'Specially to a mean old bastard like myself. Fine. I'll share my tale with ya. But don't say I didn't warn ya."

He looks back to the walls again, a heavy brooding air all about him. Then, he began to speak, his tone taking on a quality not too dissimilar to an old storyteller's .

".....Long time ago, I used to work and live in Orebourgh. Was a foreman - manager of sorts - for the coal mines there. Made sure everyone did their jobs right, that all the codes and regulations were follow to the letter, and, most importantly of all, that everyone was safe, sound, and whole by the time the left for home. Pretty good at my job, not to toot my own horn, and my workers.....well, we got along well together, so long as I didn't catch them slacking or lollygagging with some too nosy for their own good Trainer."

The bristly blacksmith snorts in slight derision at that, before he continued unerringly on.

"For a long time, everything was going fine. I did my job right, my workers did their jobs right, and we all harvested the bounty of the earth. *Shakes head* It was not an easy life. It had it's fair share of nasty scraps or accidents, and some days the job took more out of ya than what you dug up."

Ran looks up to the cave's celing, a faint smile touching the corners of his lips.

"But it was a good life, none the less. It was a good life."

Slowly, he lowered his gaze back to the floor, whatever happiness in his expression now banish to the gloomy past brought forth to the present.

"....Until it wasn't."

His hands started to tighten as his thought of that day again, but he stopped as he looked down at his bandaged hands, and looked away with a *Sigh* .

".....One day, just like any other, during the busiest part of it, deep within the shafts of the mine and in the section I presided over...."

Ran clenched both hands in fists and he started to tremble. Tremble in anger.

"....A disaster happened."

He hissed out the next few sentences, like a cold, hot, seething furnace threatening to boil over

"Right through, a Onix violently tore itself out of. But not just any regular Onix. No, this one was huge, jet black as the coal we excavated, and had horn that looked something out of a nightmare. And it was the most viscous, aggressive, and hateful Pokemon I have ever come across. "

"It....it rampaged through the mines. Attack anyone it could see, and didn't stop attacking them until......"

"......My miner that were Trainers tried to Fight it off, of course. Subdue it, Catch it, drive it off, whatever they could do to get it to stop. Nothing they did worked, though. Nothing at all."

His tone softened into almost silent and dead sounding whisper.

"When it became apparent that abomination of nature was too much for us, I was seconds away from ordering a full evacuation. Seconds. But....but....that was already too late. Right about then, I swear on my life that thing stopped to look me dead in the eyes all the way across from where it was destroying the tunnels. Like it knew what I was about to do. And...it let out this horrible roar that shook the very earth.....and started setting off a chain of Earthquakes and Rock Slide. It was trying to collapse the entire damn section of the mines I was in. "

"....Everyone panicked, of course. Like Torchics with their heads cut off. Almost did myself too, but I somehow found it within me to be brave and defiant towards that abomination. I tried to get my men as I could to listen, round them up and get the hell out of there. Screaming and hollering at the top of my lungs over the din, waving and jumping all over the place like some tiny litter Loudred, everything I could possibly do."

Ran hunched over, and what little of his expression that Karen could see was tight with raw pain and hate.

"....It wasn't enough. Was too late, like I said. Only managed to get my best friend, and a three others near me to notice and group up with me before the tunnels we were in started to collapse. We.....we had no choice then but to escape, and hope to whatever god out there that the rest of our fellows followed."

".....They didn't. Only we just barely managed to get out and away from that abomination and my section of the mine, before it all crumbled in on itself, like a poorly made sand castle. Everyone else in them....."

He goes deathly silent, cutting himself off by slamming his fists into the stone bellow him.

....

"......Once all the drama passed from that.....Incident, and I.....told all the miner family the news, I.....quit my job at the mines. After I failed all my workers......buried down there.....I didn't deserve to be there anymore. Gathered all the savings and possessions I had and moved far as I could from Orebourgh, all the way to Canaclave. Took up my hobby of blacksmithing as my new full profession and.....got along, best I can. Probably still be over there making tools and nails, if I hadn't decided to become a Trainer one day in my advanced age."

Ran slowly raised one fist in front of him, and clench it tight enough to draw a bit more blood from his fresh injuries.

"I made a promise to myself, though. Myself and it. That one day, somehow, someway, I would find that motherfucking Black Onix and get VENGEANCE on it, for all the lives it took that dark day. Even if I became older, infirm, and senile, I would not stop seeking it until I found it and crushed them. Haven't gotten much news on it, and haven't any luck tracking it down myself after becoming a Trainer. But one day.....one day.....I will.'

He loosened his fist and let it fall limply by his side, as he stared once more at the walls of this cavern.

"Seeing these wall lined with coal, after all I've been through recently on this gottverdammt job of Rowan's .....it brought it all back to me in vivid detail. I got a memory like a Donphan, for better and worse, so when I remember something, I remember it well."

"....And that's all I have to tell ya. If you could possibly help with any of that ..... *Darkly chuckles* ....I sure as hell like to know how."

With that said, Randolph falls silent, leaving the wee lass to mull over the grim revelation she brought upon herself.

(....And I believe I'll stop writing here for now. Let everyone react and you get a response written up to it, before we move on to the comparatively lighter conversation I have planned with Lucas. Don't want it to detract from this revelation, and vice verse, no?)

Karen silently and patiently listens to Randolph as he reveals his backstory.  When it starts to get grim, her eyes get wider and she covers her mouth with her hands as she silently gasps.

"...that...that's horrible...I'm so sorry..."

Something about Randolph's story is bothering her beyond the obvious details, though...

"...is it just me, though...or did what you just describe sound similar to how Espeon described Shadow Pokemon earlier?  I mean, that was obviously a long time ago, so it probably wasn't, but...something about that doesn't sound right to me..."

[Dragonstrike]

Spoiler

Kogeki gladly answer each of that questions. "Pretty strong. Gave me some trouble when I fight him. He is some type of frog or toad with Water/Poison type. It sometimes have a calm nature but when provoked it show a big strengh. Can also vanquish waves of foes with strong moves who hit more than one target with its STAB moves such as Muddy Water and Sludge Wave. He also knows good moves against some of his weakness, such as Ice Windy, Ice Beam and Frost Breath."

"About disobedience dont worry. After I pufiry him, he becomes tamed with no disobedience at all. It also have Damp and Clear Body ability, so no worry with Explosions. And it is female, so you just need a Pokemon compatible with her for you to get a baby."

"And that Alpico? Anything odd about it? How it is special? And how much disobedience it is?"

"Weeeellll...they definitely don't seem to be the kind who want to take orders from just anyone...they're not extra dangerous or anything, but it might be hard to get them to listen.  They also managed to score a lot of critical hits when I fought them, and they seemed to hit extra hard whenever they did, too.  I'm not sure if I'd have a very easy time controlling them, to be honest..."

Karen is willing to do the trade.  She shows Kogeki Alpico's summary before it's finalized, though, in case Kogeki wishes to change his mind.

Spoiler

   
   
Note: I made a slight typo when taking the screenshot.  Alpico's initiative bonus is 9, not 11.

Is Kogeki still interested in the trade?

[Dragonstrike]

Randolph had a Leppa planted, and Kee had a Petaya.  Let's see how many grew.  Oddly, it seems that even berries with longer growth cycles are growing in only a mere 24 hours.  Probably due to the time distortions if anyone had to guess.

(4) Kee harvests 3 Petaya berries!
(3) Randolph harvests 2 Leppa berries.

I assume that Randolph plants what he's dubbed the Super Oran Berry next.

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

It is now Day 6.  Time to decide teams; mini groups; and abilities and gain Will Points!  You can flashback to lingering conversations if necessary.

Also, the next time Kee summons Stella, he notices she has 4 tails now. She seems to be growing faster than expected.

[Spiritmon]

"Weeeellll...they definitely don't seem to be the kind who want to take orders from just anyone...they're not extra dangerous or anything, but it might be hard to get them to listen.  They also managed to score a lot of critical hits when I fought them, and they seemed to hit extra hard whenever they did, too.  I'm not sure if I'd have a very easy time controlling them, to be honest..."

Karen is willing to do the trade.  She shows Kogeki Alpico's summary before it's finalized, though, in case Kogeki wishes to change his mind.

Spoiler

Note: I made a slight typo when taking the screenshot.  Alpico's initiative bonus is 9, not 11.

Is Kogeki still interested in the trade?

"Interesting. It looks pretty strong. I might need to deal with his disobedience nature, but I pretty sure the ninjas of Tsukinami can help me with that. Alright, I accept the trade. He will be greatly useful as a Baton Pass user and killer of dragons. Fairy/Ice is a pretty agressive typing."

Any data of the base stats of Alpico Dragonstrike?

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Also, the next time Kee summons Stella, he notices she has 4 tails now. She seems to be growing faster than expected.

'The next time' would be when Kee gives out breakfast to all his Pokemon, the usual healthy vegetarian one with lots of dried fruit and plenty of water. Aww and when he notices that his smol kitsune isn't that much of a 'smol' kitsune anymore, he just can't help but to pick Stella up and give her a fond, close and enarmoured cuddle-hug! (ﾉ´ з `)ノ♡ He looks very delighted. "Oh yoouuu, if ya continue growin'at THIS rate, ya'll be a full-fledged 'n mature Vulpix feat. six beautifully curled tails in no time!~~ How lovely, lovely LOVELY indeed!~~ *sappy sob* Ah, they grow up so fast...~~~" He spends some extra-time brushing and grooming Stella this morning, making sure that every hair of her is in perfect shape before even considering to get going. Also, how about a nice Ranc Berry as treat?~~

What Kee also does, is checking up on his Ex-Shadow Absol that he kept with him, by now she should have recovered at least a little. He summons her, offers breakfast, gently asks how she's doing and whether there's anything he can do for her to feel better. And, whether she feels fine enough to participate in a battle, if necessary. Did she also nom the Ranc Berry or does she still have it? That's important in the way that I'd like to know whether I can freely give her a new Held Item or instead switch it.



And, eventually, Kee does approach Kogeki/@Spiritmon in a careful manner, but when he gives the semi-cyborg ninja a pat on the shoulder as a greeting, it seems like he has no qualms with him anymore/nothing hints that the small conversation they had yesterday about revenge and god-like Pokemon has left any bad taste - on the outside, that is, it's very hard to tell whether everything's really fine or whether Kee's just playing around. "*sing-sang* Good MOOOOOORNIN'!~ ....I hate mornings. For heaven's sake, I'm f#ckin' tired STILL. Ugghhhhh....." He shakes his head, messing up his hair even more as it's still untied. "Anywaaaaayyy, need to ask ya somethin'. 'kay? 'kay. So, t' avoid any issues n' stuff, letsa make things clear, d'ya want me to fully take on navigating or d'ya want to have a chance to d'cide on the direction t'go too? Based on what ya told me lately, 't seems ya're fine with lettin' me lead tha way, 'nd I'm fine with continuing doin' so. Soooooooo..... Speak up now, or f'rever hold yar peace."

[Spiritmon]

Spoiler

'The next time' would be when Kee gives out breakfast to all his Pokemon, the usual healthy vegetarian one with lots of dried fruit and plenty of water. Aww and when he notices that his smol kitsune isn't that much of a 'smol' kitsune anymore, he just can't help but to pick Stella up and give her a fond, close and enarmoured cuddle-hug! (ﾉ´ з `)ノ♡ He looks very delighted. "Oh yoouuu, if ya continue growin'at THIS rate, ya'll be a full-fledged 'n mature Vulpix feat. six beautifully curled tails in no time!~~ How lovely, lovely LOVELY indeed!~~ *sappy sob* Ah, they grow up so fast...~~~" He spends some extra-time brushing and grooming Stella this morning, making sure that every hair of her is in perfect shape before even considering to get going. Also, how about a nice Ranc Berry as treat?~~

What Kee also does, is checking up on his Ex-Shadow Absol that he kept with him, by now she should have recovered at least a little. He summons her, offers breakfast, gently asks how she's doing and whether there's anything he can do for her to feel better. And, whether she feels fine enough to participate in a battle, if necessary. Did she also nom the Ranc Berry or does she still have it? That's important in the way that I'd like to know whether I can freely give her a new Held Item or instead switch it.



And, eventually, Kee does approach Kogeki/@Spiritmon in a careful manner, but when he gives the semi-cyborg ninja a pat on the shoulder as a greeting, it seems like he has no qualms with him anymore/nothing hints that the small conversation they had yesterday about revenge and god-like Pokemon has left any bad taste - on the outside, that is, it's very hard to tell whether everything's really fine or whether Kee's just playing around. "*sing-sang* Good MOOOOOORNIN'!~ ....I hate mornings. For heaven's sake, I'm f#ckin' tired STILL. Ugghhhhh....." He shakes his head, messing up his hair even more as it's still untied. "Anywaaaaayyy, need to ask ya somethin'. 'kay? 'kay. So, t' avoid any issues n' stuff, letsa make things clear, d'ya want me to fully take on navigating or d'ya want to have a chance to d'cide on the direction t'go too? Based on what ya told me lately, 't seems ya're fine with lettin' me lead tha way, 'nd I'm fine with continuing doin' so. Soooooooo..... Speak up now, or f'rever hold yar peace."

[Spiritmon]

I almost forgot. Here today abilities:

Party:
Greninja: Protean (Shell Bell)
Daikatuna: Sheer Force (Daikatunite)
Nami: Illusion (Quick Claw)
Nagi: Prankster (Leftlovers)
Snopatch: Solid Rock (Exp. Share)
Heracross: Guts (Kings Rock)

With the others:
Cocancer: Harvest
Cleffa: Magic Guard
Pochyena: Quick Feet
Ursaring: Guts
Mightyena: Intimidate
Kirlia: Trace
Staravia: Intimidate
Alpico: Technian

When Kogeki had the chance he release Snopatch. "Good morning Frost, how are you girl?" He pat the head of the rock type. "Today we will traveling to reach our next destination. If we get into battle, just do your best okay?"

[Dragonstrike]

"Interesting. It looks pretty strong. I might need to deal with his disobedience nature, but I pretty sure the ninjas of Tsukinami can help me with that. Alright, I accept the trade. He will be greatly useful as a Baton Pass user and killer of dragons. Fairy/Ice is a pretty agressive typing."

Any data of the base stats of Alpico Dragonstrike?

Stat Caps:
Health: 5
Strength: 4
Special: 6
Dexterity: 7
Defense: 5
Insight: 5

The rest of Alpico's data is in the screenshots I provided.