[Game Thread] Pokerole: Mount Coronet Mystery

[Dragonstrike]

Sally's completely silent the entire time Randolph's talking.  Not a peep from her that whole conversation as she listens and mulls over what's been said.

Lucas has one thing to say to Randolph before he turns in for the night.  "Well, maybe this'll help enlighten you a little, Randolph.  At the end of the day, pokemon aren't so different from humans if you think about it.  Not the same, but not entirely dissimilar, either.  At least, that's what I think.  Think that over, see if you agree, and maybe come up with your own answer.  There's lots of different ways to train pokemon, and not everyone has the same answers to the same questions.  I'm just a guy who happens to have had plenty of time to mull them over myself, really.  Try and get as much rest as you can, alright?  Tomorrow, we end this trouble once and for all."

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

Karen's Team:

Spoiler

Magnezone
Roserade
Nidoqueen
Mightyena
Gastrodon
Lopunny

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

Everyone's prep completed, Scizor leads everyone through the mist behind the Kangaskhan statue.  It swirls around the party, obscuring their vision of their surroundings...soon, the safe room disappears from sight, and everyone becomes lost in the fog, unable to tell how long they've been walking for.  Scizor, however, keeps marching forwards confidently, beckoning everyone to follow.

Eventually, the mist clears, and the group finds themselves in a completely different room with no explainable reason how they got there, much like when they first entered the mountain itself.

Mount Coronet 3F

   

The walls are hard stone, but Randolph can tell there's more than trace amounts of coal in them this time.  Dark lines winding around the cavern are a telltale sign that there's full coal veins in this cave.  Dim lighting from fixtures above that aren't too dissimilar to ones commonly found in mining facilities make it possible to see in the dark cave without the aid of the group's portable light sources, though said light sources still make it easier to see as the shadows almost hungrily skirt around the edges of the lights.  Barrels and crates with lanterns set atop a few of them line the walls, making the area look like some kind of storeroom.  A few pickaxes and shovels can be seen lying up against some of them, too. An echo of the sound of dripping water can be heard from somewhere else in the cave as well.

The location looks all too familiar to Randolph in particular, having worked in mines for a significant portion his life.  How the mountain has suddenly come to house one this high up, though, is a mystery beyond his or anyone else's understanding.

The Dark Mine: Oreburgh Mine Remix by AlmightyArceus - Pokemon D/P/PT

Rui and Espeon look around, confused at first.  This is quite unlike the linearity of the previous floors of the dungeon, and the setting is quite different from before.  Eventually, though, she brushes it off since some of the others aren't seeming to make a big deal of it.  Espeon hisses at the shadows on the edge of the lit area.

"Well, it looks like there's only one path out of this room, so...I guess we have to go that way."

"Looks like it.  Everyone ready? Looks like we're sticking together for now."

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

(Aaaaand the map-drawing continues~)


Ohhh, a coal mine appearantly? Kee's equally suprised, confused and fascinated by that, it's very obvious that has never ever even been NEAR such a place before EVER. But he's finding it quite interesting - and, to a degree, eerie. But mostly interesting.

And so he can't help but to approach one of the dark lines that, uhhh... line the cavern to observe it from close, Octavia curiously follows. She sniffs at them (then sneezes) while he scratches them. "...Cool. Maybe we can...find some time to mine coal here? Oh wait, maybe not, why should I do that... Still an int'resting place though." He smiles. ☆(^_^  )

Then his gaze falls on all the stuff laying around within this assumed storeroom, and his gaze lights up figuratively brighter than the dim lamps hanging above!~ These lanterns atop of the barrels and crates - do they function, do they work??~ Kee will try that, and if so, he takes one along. "Could turn out useful!~ Or maybe not, but I'll still take one just 'n case, 'kay?~ To keep away those....shadows from me." Same with the shovels and pickaxes - in what state are they, do they look used, new, very rusty, or anythingelse; and most importantly: Do they look like they can still be used to mine stuff? If so, Kee will take one along too! Because why not. Equipped like THAT - bar a smol mining helmet for Octavia - he feels ready to explore a seemingly old mine full of coal and shadows (souls) of dead people! Totally not scary.

Oh, if there's one one path, then of course it'd be best to just stick together. Southwards they go!~

[Dragonstrike]

(Aaaaand the map-drawing continues~)


Ohhh, a coal mine appearantly? Kee's equally suprised, confused and fascinated by that, it's very obvious that has never ever even been NEAR such a place before EVER. But he's finding it quite interesting - and, to a degree, eerie. But mostly interesting.

And so he can't help but to approach one of the dark lines that, uhhh... line the cavern to observe it from close, Octavia curiously follows. She sniffs at them (then sneezes) while he scratches them. "...Cool. Maybe we can...find some time to mine coal here? Oh wait, maybe not, why should I do that... Still an int'resting place though." He smiles. ☆(^_^  )

Then his gaze falls on all the stuff laying around within this assumed storeroom, and his gaze lights up figuratively brighter than the dim lamps hanging above!~ These lanterns atop of the barrels and crates - do they function, do they work??~ Kee will try that, and if so, he takes one along. "Could turn out useful!~ Or maybe not, but I'll still take one just 'n case, 'kay?~ To keep away those....shadows from me." Same with the shovels and pickaxes - in what state are they, do they look used, new, very rusty, or anythingelse; and most importantly: Do they look like they can still be used to mine stuff? If so, Kee will take one along too! Because why not. Equipped like THAT - bar a smol mining helmet for Octavia - he feels ready to explore a seemingly old mine full of coal and shadows (souls) of dead people! Totally not scary.

Oh, if there's one one path, then of course it'd be best to just stick together. Southwards they go!~

The lanterns do indeed work!

The tools definitely look like they've been used.  They also look like they're decently well maintained, and could still be used for mining.

Kee can also find a mining helmet with a headlamp laying around. There's one or two that have been left near the tools.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Kee can also find a mining helmet with a headlamp laying around.  There's one or two that have been left near the tools.

Ohhh niiiice!!! Onto Octavia's head it goes, with the lamp turned on of course. "Suits ya well!~♡" NOW they're really ready to explore.

But there's one thing about this that bothers Kee, and he shares this thought with the others. "Hummmmm.... Don't ya people find it VERY suspicious 'n strange too that this stuff' just layin' around like nothin'? It's as if the miners had to flee in a hurry or have disappear'd like in a bad horror-movie."

[Spiritmon]

(Since it is looks like this gonna be the final battle, I changed my party right now)

Daikatuna(Daikatunite), Gama(Kings Rock), Izanami(Light Clay), Izanagi(Leftlovers), Cocancer(Sitrus Berry), Hime(Shell Bell).

When Kogeki see the path ahead, he could feel the danger ahead. "So...this is it huh? I guess we are close to our destination..." Upon feeling the danger ahead, Susano'o, Gama, Nami, Nagi, Hime and Aspido all release themselves from the Pokeballs. "My friends...we are close to the most dangerous battle we ever face. Its now or never. Lets do our best and finish this. And we will survive...we still have a important mission to acomplished."

All his oldest friends cheer in harmony. 

Susano'o give Kogeki a nod of his head, and sharp his fins. He would defends his companions and oldest friend. He is the samurai fish Pokemon, the one who carry the name of a sea deity. He would not fail.

Gama gave his friend thumb of his finger, and cross his arms. No matter who the foe would be, he would be prepare to summon his most powerfull ninja techniques. As a fellow Frog ninja of Tsukinami. The Battle Bond they share never can be broken.

Izanami and Izanagi nod their heads, and they look at each other. They always fight against each other, even before meeting Kogeki. He and his companions was able to fight against them both. They hate in the begining, but now they are going to face a god of time. If they want their master to survive and everyone, they must put aside the rivality...for now.

Hime was nervous but also gave his master a nod of her head. She see his master efforts and determination to acomplish his mission of life. She once failed with Shimo...but he will not failed with Kogeki. If she must use Final Gambit she will use.

As for Aspido, he is ready to give his best efforts. Mera gave Kogeki Cocancer Egg as a symbol of friendship, and until now Kogeki never disapoint Aspido. He is the master of weather, and when necessary he will change the weather to help his master win.

"We ready Lucas. Lets dethrone a god today."

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

Sally's completely silent the entire time Randolph's talking.  Not a peep from her that whole conversation as she listens and mulls over what's been said.

Lucas has one thing to say to Randolph before he turns in for the night.  "Well, maybe this'll help enlighten you a little, Randolph.  At the end of the day, pokemon aren't so different from humans if you think about it.  Not the same, but not entirely dissimilar, either.  At least, that's what I think.  Think that over, see if you agree, and maybe come up with your own answer.  There's lots of different ways to train pokemon, and not everyone has the same answers to the same questions.  I'm just a guy who happens to have had plenty of time to mull them over myself, really.  Try and get as much rest as you can, alright?  Tomorrow, we end this trouble once and for all."

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

Karen's Team:

Spoiler

Magnezone
Roserade
Nidoqueen
Mightyena
Gastrodon
Lopunny

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

Everyone's prep completed, Scizor leads everyone through the mist behind the Kangaskhan statue.  It swirls around the party, obscuring their vision of their surroundings...soon, the safe room disappears from sight, and everyone becomes lost in the fog, unable to tell how long they've been walking for.  Scizor, however, keeps marching forwards confidently, beckoning everyone to follow.

Eventually, the mist clears, and the group finds themselves in a completely different room with no explainable reason how they got there, much like when they first entered the mountain itself.

Mount Coronet 3F



The walls are hard stone, but Randolph can tell there's more than trace amounts of coal in them this time.  Dark lines winding around the cavern are a telltale sign that there's full coal veins in this cave.  Dim lighting from fixtures above that aren't too dissimilar to ones commonly found in mining facilities make it possible to see in the dark cave without the aid of the group's portable light sources, though said light sources still make it easier to see as the shadows almost hungrily skirt around the edges of the lights.  Barrels and crates with lanterns set atop a few of them line the walls, making the area look like some kind of storeroom.  A few pickaxes and shovels can be seen lying up against some of them, too.  An echo of the sound of dripping water can be heard from somewhere else in the cave as well.

The location looks all too familiar to Randolph in particular, having worked in mines for a significant portion his life.  How the mountain has suddenly come to house one this high up, though, is a mystery beyond his or anyone else's understanding.

The Dark Mine: Oreburgh Mine Remix by AlmightyArceus - Pokemon D/P/PT

Rui and Espeon look around, confused at first.  This is quite unlike the linearity of the previous floors of the dungeon, and the setting is quite different from before.  Eventually, though, she brushes it off since some of the others aren't seeming to make a big deal of it.  Espeon hisses at the shadows on the edge of the lit area.

"Well, it looks like there's only one path out of this room, so...I guess we have to go that way."

"Looks like it.  Everyone ready?  Looks like we're sticking together for now."

*Brief Flashback!*

Ran doesn't have anything to say about the kernal of wisdom the champ gave him, in part because he's confused and mystified about it (His general initial opinion on it: How are Pokemon and Humans similar, when they clearly are not? Argh.....!) , but mostly because he was too damn tired after this long stressful day and emotionally tumultuous 'evening' with everyone else. He just stops in his tracks as he hears them, before turning his head back to give Lucas a single, weary nod, before marching over to his camping spot. May tomorrow be a better day than before, and may he closer to the answers he seeks.... 

*Brief Flashback End!*

(...)


The moment it's apparent that the next Floor the group(s) were going to explore was a coal mine of some capacity as the transitional mists fade away to reveal it all, Randolph goes white as a Frosslass and his tenatively stern/brave mood goes plummeting down a metaphorical shaft. Yeap, this all too familiar to the midget miner. Uncomfortably so, one might say. 

Right now he had Diam and Paula out with him, and both would immediately cotton on that their partner/master was having a bit of uneasy fit at their surroundings. The little gemlin, who'd normally be perfectly comfortable and happy to be in a dank, dark coal mine (Its practically her scene, plus it has the potential to have tasty diamonds hidden throughout it!), was all frowns as she quickly closed ranks with her partner, resting a claw on his back as she cautiously leered into the darkness surrounding the group. The smol siren huddles closes and briefly hugs her Trainer's leg, before stepping in front of him and looking timidly but defiantly at the dancing shadows. Darkness nor rock scares an aquatic fae like her, so if the denizens of this domain would bring trouble to her master, she'd show them all why many beware her kind.

Their support and Kee rifling through the mining gear left out manages to snap Ran out of his shock, causing him to angrily shake his head at how stupidly Torchic bellied he was acting and give his two partner a thankful nod before he reached into his Inventory and brought out two Items with a lot of history to him: his old mining hat (complete with functional headlamp) and trusty pickaxe, which had been put away before the group had left Snowpoint. He stared at both in his hand for a moment as memories of his past flash by him, good and bad, before with a determined frown he replaced his knit cap with the former and armed himself with the later and stomped in front on the group and greeted them all with a firm, stern, and unyielding expression.

"Alright, we're all stuck in some kind of coal mine, as y'all could plainly tell by now. I used to work at a one a long time ago, though, so I'm.....right at home here. For now, follow my lead, and I'll lead y'all through here the very best I can. If you want to mine anything here, let me know first so I can direct ya how to do so without causing anyone an accident. And if we separate or get separated here, I want everyone to remember this: if the walls or floor starts shaking and you can't tell what's causing it, stay calm and get out of the area ASAP. Got that? Good, then let's go."

With that said, Ran would lead the big group out of the room with Diam and Paula, and into the next section of the Floor, keeping vigilant eye on his surrounding and one hand wrapped tightly around his pickaxe.

[Lord Windos]

Kee can also find a mining helmet with a headlamp laying around.  There's one or two that have been left near the tools.

Ohhh niiiice!!! Onto Octavia's head it goes, with the lamp turned on of course. "Suits ya well!~♡" NOW they're really ready to explore.

But there's one thing about this that bothers Kee, and he shares this thought with the others. "Hummmmm.... Don't ya people find it VERY suspicious 'n strange too that this stuff' just layin' around like nothin'? It's as if the miners had to flee in a hurry or have disappear'd like in a bad horror-movie."

To that comment, Ran could only shrug, looking displeased at the idea (but not at Kee for voicing it).

"I don't know, nor do I think we'll be getting any answers to why this part of this Mystery Dungeon is a coal mine. Best we can do is be prepared for anything, and press on through whatever Tauros shit this cosmic disaster throws at us next...."

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

(...) "Alright, we're all stuck in some kind of coal mine, as y'all could plainly tell by now. I used to work at a one a long time ago, though, so I'm.....right at home here. For now, follow my lead, and I'll lead y'all through here the very best I can. If you want to mine anything here, let me know first so I can direct ya how to do so without causing anyone an accident. And if we separate or get separated here, I want everyone to remember this: if the walls or floor starts shaking and you can't tell what's causing it, stay calm and get out of the area ASAP. Got that? Good, then let's go."

Towards that, Kee performs a salutation towards Ran, the pickaxe safely packed away and the functioning lamp in his other hand. (￣^￣)ゞ Octavia does too with one of her ribbons, looks like fun!~ "Yes Mr.Foreman Sir, please make sure that we're not goin' t'suffer a cav- MINE-in 's long as we're all stickin' together; will remember yar advice and also NOT use any moves that might shake up tha walls or the ground either!" He totally seems to enjoy this.

[Lord Windos]

Towards that, Kee performs a salutation towards Ran, the pickaxe safely packed away and the functioning lamp in his other hand. (￣^￣)ゞ Octavia does too with one of her ribbons, looks like fun!~ "Yes Mr.Foreman Sir, please make sure that we're not goin' t'suffer a cav- MINE-in 's long as we're all stickin' together; will remember yar advice and also NOT use any moves that might shake up tha walls or the ground either!" He totally seems to enjoy this.

Their cheeky banter causes Ran to look stricken as they gut punched with their unintentional reminder of that day, and I imagine Karen's wincing sympathetically along with him given she knows what he does. In the end, he manages to regain his unflappable resolve and woodenly nods back to the dandy acolyate, his expression craggy and severe as the cave's walls as he turns around and leads everyone the best he can. This time, he won't fail the people under him.

[Dragonstrike]

Randolph leads the way, with everyone else close behind.  The tunnels are dark, the light from the overhead lanterns dim.  The sound of the dripping water is the only thing that pierces the silence for a long time.

   

The tunnels continue like that for awhile, eerily quiet except for the sound of the water...

...until the whole cave begins to tremble.

*ruuuuuuummmmmbbbbbllllleeeee*

*rolls*

Everyone does their best to maintain their balance, but then one of the walls in front of the group suddenly explodes!  Karen falls over and takes 1 damage from the debris, while everyone else manages to keep their footing and protect themselves from the stray rocks and dust.  A huge, almost clear, blueish Steelix that glitters in the light like a gemstone emerges from the broken wall, then burrows into the opposite one just as quickly and leaves before anyone can react, leaving two gaping holes and opening two more paths that were previously blocked.  Both the paths to the left and right are now accessible.

"...what the...what the heck was that?!"

"...it certainly looked like a Steelix, though I can't say I've ever seen one that looked quite like that before..."

"...owie...why'd it have to go and cause that tremor?  I scraped my knee..."

"Here, let me help you stand up."  Rui assists Karen while everyone else gets themselves together after nearly getting sent flying by the sudden appearance of that massive serpent.

By the time Karen stands, however, many, many Wild Pokemon that have been disturbed by Steelix's passing have started to appear, preventing the group from progressing further.  Cave dwellers begin to emerge from the surrounding darkness and the holes that Steelix just left behind, gathering around the edges of the light.

*rolls*

Rui squints in the darkness, trying to find Shadow Pokemon, but she can't quite see if any of them are in the dim lighting, as the shadows mask any that might be lurking in the darkness.

The pokemon don't remain in the darkness for long, however, agitated as they are.  Only three of these encounters must be cleared, as the remaining wild pokemon will scatter once they are fewer in number.

1. Tofurang and Tonemy swarm
Difficulty: Hard
Cap: 2

2. Lycanroc* swarm
Difficulty: Hard
Cap: 2
Note: Karen's terrified of these pokemon.

3. Woobat Swarm
Difficulty: Moderate
Cap: 2

4. Modrille swarm
Difficulty: Moderate
Cap: 2

5. Kabutops and Kabuto swarm
Difficulty: Hard
Cap: 2

Players can ask Karen, Rui, and Lucas for assistance with encounters if they wish. Each one counts towards the encounter's Cap, as usual.