[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Spiritmon]

  Typhon new evolution and new moves, Heart follow everyone. He released both Koa and Lancelot. The royal sword and shield get himself attached to Heart back, ready to be wield at any moment. When they reach the destination, he bring Lancelot to his hands.

"Koa. Lancelot. Let's go. Time to show our training and connection." With everything ready, Heart also prepare another thing: The Helmet, just in case they get ambushed by enemies. He not going to wield yet. He wants to use his power combined with his Pokemon friends.

My order of action is help with Nathan plan with Lancelot, Koa and Heart use all Rock Smash in any obstacle to reduce it's defenses to help everyone walk.

Edit: Instead of Koa and Lancelot, it's gonna be Swampert and Elektross.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

The bubbles can slow you or make you inaccurate if you take a direct hit, but the mud is merely gross by default.

You (two?) can describe the battle! Kingler will use bigger and bigger bubbles as his attacks, and that small claw is very sharp and fast. The buried claw is instant death if you should be crushed inside it! Fortunately, that can only happen if you get very close.

He'll also become more enraged the closer you get to his mud castle.

Battle start!! On Shiva's side it's naturally dear Azu, she expresses eager and joy to teach that mean Kingler a lesson!!! They may not be a dragon, but the 'Must slay this dragon crab'-feelings are still strooooong within the innocent- and cute-looking fae rabbit.

Shiva gestures to both Azu as well as to Ventus to please keep a distance to the mud castle itself, she's here to collect something important to her and not to destroy a Pokemon's home. That'd be not only very mean but also quite the waste given how much work this Kingler must have put into building it, and she wishes to avoid unnecesserily taunting them - yes she DOES have the Shield that will likely even protect from the fatal injuries caused by being caught within their buried and massive pincer, but better not risking anything!

That, and any bubbles blown by Kingler shall be dodged, clashed, destroyed or something, basically everything's allowed that'll prevent being hit by them directly.


Insight check!
(5)(6)(6)(3)(4)(3)(5) 5 successes

Azu opens things up by engulfing herself into a ring consiting of tiny tiny bubbles under Shiva's determined instruction, even though she can't voice orders right now, Azu seems to understand what she wishes her to do without a single word being spoken out. Must be the unique bond they share. Either way, Aqua Ring came into effect!


Things quickly continue. As Kingler roars (or expresses his displeasure over the visitors in some other way) and aims to swipe the annoying blue rabbit-thingy straight out of the air water with their smaller and much more agile claw, Azu tanks that hit much to the suprise of Kingler, now their perplexed gaze meets Azu's.... flirty one? Yes, that'd describe it best, and the very next moment Kingler receives a big SMOOOOOCH~ right onto their forehead ( ˘ ³˘)♥, Azu playfully winks as she backs off again (･ω<)☆.

Unfortunately for Kingler that was a draining kiss, now hand over your vitality to recover from the blow I had to take from ya beforehand!~ Azu joyfully cackles in a very fairy-like manner as Kingler appears visibly impaired by just one hit - Shiva herself would join in her fae-rabbit's laughter if she wouldn't be underwater right now. She not only has pulled off a convincing show and really expressed the 'I am just a cute fairy~'-attitude as she approached Kingler for her counter-attack, no, the brute FORCE of the smooch itself was quite something! Ohohohoho, how fun~ it must be to toy with a real dragon like that!~

Mechanically, Azu's Draining Kiss (a suprise move by itself) uses Insight instead of Dexterity in its Accuracy Roll, as Suprise I once bought for 15XP. With Shiva being at max.Allure now Azu's cutest attack is 100% more cute! As Azu gives her very everything in this battle and understands what's at stake here, she gains +1 Strength as another Suprise, thanks to her natural HugePower-Ability it costs her only 20 instead of 40XP!


At one point during the fight Azu does her best to cheer and encourage the 'Mon Ven sent out to aid in bringing this Kingler down, their attack shall be MAGNIFICIENT and DEVASTING at the same time! (* ﾟ∀ﾟ)ﾉｼ That's the power of her Helping Hand, they'll make it together, they'll succeed together, they're going to win TOGETHER!


The fight continues. Blows and strikes are dealt out, direct hits are quickly revenge'd by each side, after every successfully landed attack a just as successfull counter-attack follows, both Azu, Ventus's battler and Kingler are putting their heart into their attacks - At one point Azu performs an extra-brave and extra-dangerous act as in getting quite close to the buried huge claw of Kingler - before they can do anything to abuse this to their own advantage though Azu SLAAAAAMS the ball on her tail unflinchingly and directly at it as if she's aiming to shatter it into a thousand pieces! That's the sheer force of her Rock Smash attack - or rather her ROCK SMASH attack, the power of the HM-version is quite clear in that strike of hers.

Kingler growls angrily at Azu for that move, glares at her, Shiva, Ventus' fighter and Ventus, thought they do not throw in a counter-attack. Instead they slowly back off to retreat into the safety of their (unharmed) mud castle until they're not visible anymore. ...Must have had enough of this fight, must have accepted Azu as being the stronger one, must have understood that further revolt will only serve to hurt them more, this marks the natural fae-enthusiast and her boyfriend of a Pokemon Sociologist as the winners of this scenic fight! ( ÒωÓ)و☆ Azu rejoices and quickly swims over to Shiva to receive some well-deserved cuddles and strokes for an amazing performance.♡


(cue Windos describing Ven's + his 'Mon's actions in this battle, after that Shiva and Azu can eventually get to check out that glittery Item adorning the top of the mud chastle.)

[Lord Windos]

@PhantomUnderYourDesk

Ven hides a small frown when he realized that Shiva was electing not to assist Nathan ASAP in the group’s primary reason for coming to the military hotspot that was Garliburg (IE: Finding the Genesect Fossil, and DIVE too if he remembers/would know about it being in the area), and instead prioritizing going off on her own adventures. Partially because it was an ill advised move in such a decidedly unwelcoming environment with equally unpleasant people ready to discipline anyone for going against their demands or regulation ( or worse), and partially because he just didn’t like seeing his girlfriend go off into the unknown without somebody going off to accompany her as added insurance against the very worst this harsh local had to offer.. Of course, she did have The Shield and her extraordinary charm to protect her and she was a fairly outstanding Trainer, but that didn’t stop him from worrying, as per his fretful, paranoid nature.

Knowing from experience that his beautiful angel wouldn’t be dissuaded from her course of action, though, he just shook his head to himself and non-chalantly offered to accompany her when everyone joined up with the young adolescent. Not exactly the situation he’d prefer either them to be in, but when she gave him that dazzling smile of her as he made his intentions known, he could help but smile sweetly back, content enough with it for now.

As for the situation with Alamanc and the hot mess they made in the underground labs, Ventus was decidedly not pleased to hear that piece of news, but he refrains from commenting on it or showing his reaction, letting the others voice their opinions instead as he listened with feigned concerned and frowned at it all with an appropriate amount of worry. Personally and internally, though, Once he heard about that he no longer desired either himself or his friend having anything to do with it, and preferred to let the government suffer the full consequences of their laxness and lack of scrutiny. If they couldn’t do a adequate enough job weeding out spies and/or not running a tight enough ship to prevent such gross misconduct on practically their own doorstep, they deserved to fully suffer for their folly. 

That, and he just plain disliked and held in contempt and distrusted virtually all authority like the military or police, so them getting shafted by these past events was just fine to him so long as it didn’t start affecting non-military civilians!

Unfortunately for him, though, both Shiva and Nathan expressed interest in entering the labs and helping deal with the military’s problem, albeit for differing reasons. The empathetic research is….disappointed by this, but it was hardly obvious at all just by looking at him. Though it had been awhile since he last adventured with them, he knew his friends and lover well enough by now not to be surprised or taken aback by their own brand of heroics, and so quietly accepted it with a strained internal sigh as he mentally prepared himself for joining them too after they wrap up their respective diving excursions (as it’d be a blisteringly hot day in Kyurem’s domain before he let them go prance into UNCERTAIN DOOM AND DANGER without tagging along with them right now!) . Again, not exactly a situation he enjoyed, but it was one he could accept regardless. Sometimes, you just had to do decidedly unpleasant things for the ones you love…..

Regarding the scuba portion of his trip with his fabulous fae fancy, he rode it out astride his mighty Kingdra right alongside her and Azu as they followed the trail of mud bubbles, the dracofish looking just as menacingly formidable as he first appeared to everyone who’d ever laid eyes on their harsh and unapproachable visage. Now, however, it seemed like their was a certain measure of self control and mindful discipline of his instinctive savage nature, as well as simply being happy and well satisfied with his life now and Ventus. Still, they’d gave the surrounding wild Pokemon a careful narrowed eyed glare that promised swift and brutal retaliation to those among them that dared harm his trusted vassel and his mate.

It appears that while Kingdra has mastered himself and is no longer a loose cannon, he was every bit of a viscous tempered and demonstrative Dragon in spite of the Disobedient Pokemon Researcher’s careful attention towards them. Or perhaps because of it – it was no secret of Ven’s preferences of facilitating and catering to their instinctive and natural behaviors of his Pokemon as much as possible while raising and bonding with them like family.

Emerging in the Garliburg Hidden Sea Chimney, he was less wowed than his girlfriend about the sights and locals of it, but never the less he was quite curious and interested about all of it, especially the Kingler and its mudcastle. Seeing the giant Shelldar feasting on the kelp brought a reminiscent smile to his face too, as they reminded him of the giant Shellder he caught and traded away to that Swim Suit girl so long ago at almost the very start of his journey through Cheshire. It was all to long ago, but it still brought feelings of nostalgia and wry/somewhat bitter amusement at how much more wild things would get from there….

The colossal crustacean being decidedly a big rude grump and making an arguably unwarranted attack on Shiva and her aquatic muse brought him right out of his reminiscing, a small frown now marring his once serene face.

‘Oh dear. You’re going to be a difficult one, won’t you Kingler. Well, I suppose it all your fault then for what will become of such uncouth aggression.’

Sensing the sudden dire change in their partner’s mood, the Sealord gives the giga-clawed crab an absolutely murderous Leer that unnerved it right down to their fleshy innards while Azu set-up, so much so that it even trips it up enough for it to easily fall prey to their devious affections. Meanwhile, they performed a short but graceful Dragon Dance that combined with their Swift Swimming making them almost a Nathan-like blur in the water, further amping their fearsome might and temper to bracing levels.

Then the magician’s former rabbit gave it a Helping Hand, which bolstered their already immense draconic power to a brief nearly unfathomable height. Oh yes, that will do quite nicely. So much he’ll even forgive the Fairy from casting its magic upon his majestic and pristine self.

Immediately after receiving their aid, it unleashed its unfettered wrath upon Kingler,blasting out a extremely concentrated and focused Dragon Pulse out of its snout with the force and speed of a mortar shot, aiming and hitting its huge claw and causing it and the crustacean it was attached to to lurch back at the sheer force of it. So powerful was it that it even cracked it, a feat normally impossible for Kingdra, but made so no small thanks Azu’s help and the conditions being perfectly for it. That was an injury not quick to heal for it, and neither for it to forget.

The battle ended soon after the mousy performer landed their Rock Smash that further compounded the fracturing its big claw and its shell, forcing it to withdraw and hunker down into his fortress. Shiva and Azu seemed content enough with this outcome, already celebrating their retreat as their victory. Ventus, however, was not. Obscured though by his scuba equipment his face was, their was no hiding on his part to disguise the disquieting stillness of his posture, looking deceptively relaxed but at the same time somehow ready to do the worst thing if incited. The sea drake was much the same way, but far less subtle about it, looking primed and ready to blast Giga Kingler’s mudcastle and it to goopy bits. And judging about the distinct lack of care or reaction towards this behavior, that was an outcome the irritated researcher was all too content to accept.

Ruhr oh.

(….And that does it! If Shiva wants to stop Ven/Kingdra from finishing Giga Kingler off, you better do it soon or it will go KABOOM!)

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Shiva's got her own reasons for wanting to visit Garlicburg that are not the Genesect Fossil nor HM Dive. ^_^ She just...never openly voiced them because that's be too much out-of-chara, so Ven has all reasons to be somewhat frowning/disappointed! She picks up hints of those feelings within Ven but chooses to not ask about or elaborate on those, maybe/hopefully once it becomes clear towards the empathic sociologist what Shiva's intentions for going off on her own are he'll understand and can sympathize with her.


Both she and Azu are completely unafraid of Ven's very own Kingdra, yes she remembers that particular seahorse quite well!~ (They were nicknamed Ao Guang, were they?) It pleases and delights the former that Ven managed to raise them into a happy and satisfied one; it's not visible right now but she has a wide and admiring smile on her face. (⌒▽⌒)☆ Still however, both the natural fae-enthusiast and the magician of an Azumarill keep a respective distance towards Ao, unafraid or not they rather not wish to unnecessarily taunt or enrage the noble and proud dragon of the sea that they are.

It proofs to be a wise choice of actions, seeing how semi-BRUTALY and -AGGRESSIVELY they blast their mighty Dragon Pulse at Giga-Kingler. Yet however neither Shiva nor Azu flinched away, they bravely continue fighting and working together to get past this XXL-version of a crustacean!!1!!11! Azu even smiles merrily upon seeing her granted boost on Ao did a wonderful job.


Things...changed however from a joyous and victorious side to a more morbid and serious one as Ven's royal Kingdra didn't cease fighting as Kingler retreated and accepted their loss, as well as Ventus himself not appearing like he's interested in preventing Ao from going lethal. THAT was when Shiva was startled, scared and horrified, instinctively she cuddled Azu closer. Yet she did NOT judge Ven nor Ao, she was well aware that something like that could happen...

...Well, but that does NOT mean that she's okay with it, nope!

She is quick to catch the empathic sociologist's attention by nudging him suprisingly firmly (or anything that'll work), shakes her head at him with emphasis while pointing towards the mud castle and Kingler, every fibre of her very body seems to scream "PLEASE DON'T DO THAT!!" at her love's empathic sense with full volume. She even goes so far to PROTECT the retreated Kingler and their home with her Ancient Shield shall Ao launch a fatal attack at them at this very moment = while she's still trying to prevent that.

Furthermore she pulls out a single Ultra Ball from her stuff, places it in Ventus' hand and closes it over the Ball; she presses his hand lightly as she does so. Her way to say ''Catch that big Kingler, then you can do with them what you like, I'm even providing the Ball for you doing so"

If all of that doesn't do the trick however - then Shiva's simply going to ACCEPT what will happen with huge Kingler and their precious mud castle. She gives both a sad look, throws a neutral one accompanied with a small smile at Ventus as well as Ao; and then she and dear Azu swim upwards to collect that glittery Item decorating the top of Kingler's home. She tried - that's what counts for her, and she wouldn't enjoy forcing Ven to stop/trying to change that trait of his. Acceptance belongs to love and a healthy relationship, even if she disagrees with his action/intention here, she's opting to, well, accept them.

[Lord Windos]

(...)

Things...changed however from a joyous and victorious side to a more morbid and serious one as Ven's royal Kingdra didn't cease fighting as Kingler retreated and accepted their loss, as well as Ventus himself not appearing like he's interested in preventing Ao from going lethal. THAT was when Shiva was startled, scared and horrified, instinctively she cuddled Azu closer. Yet she did NOT judge Ven nor Ao, she was well aware that something like that could happen...

...Well, but that does NOT mean that she's okay with it, nope!

She is quick to catch the empathic sociologist's attention by nudging him suprisingly firmly (or anything that'll work), shakes her head at him with emphasis while pointing towards the mud castle and Kingler, every fibre of her very body seems to scream "PLEASE DON'T DO THAT!!" at her love's empathic sense with full volume. She even goes so far to PROTECT the retreated Kingler and their home with her Ancient Shield shall Ao launch a fatal attack at them at this very moment = while she's still trying to prevent that.

Furthermore she pulls out a single Ultra Ball from her stuff, places it in Ventus' hand and closes it over the Ball; she presses his hand lightly as she does so. Her way to say ''Catch that big Kingler, then you can do with them what you like, I'm even providing the Ball for you doing so"

If all of that doesn't do the trick however - then Shiva's simply going to ACCEPT what will happen with huge Kingler and their precious mud castle. She gives both a sad look, throws a neutral one accompanied with a small smile at Ventus as well as Ao; and then she and dear Azu swim upwards to collect that glittery Item decorating the top of Kingler's home. She tried - that's what counts for her, and she wouldn't enjoy forcing Ven to stop/trying to change that trait of his. Acceptance belongs to love and a healthy relationship, even if she disagrees with his action/intention here, she's opting to, well, accept them.

(Indeed it is! Ao Guang, Dragon Lord of the Sea! Well, the first one, at any rate!)

His fairy tale dream come true girlfriend's alarm jars him out of his 'calm' state, earning her a somewhat bewildered and concerned look at her sudden protectiveness of the Giga Kingler. From those signs and what little she could make out of the mire that was his mind, it's clear that he didn't quite understand why she was acting like that. Never the less, he let out a bubbly (literally) *Si-blub* and quickly patted Ao Guang's barrel, shaking his head at them when they turned to give him their undivided attention. That prompted a aggreved *snort* out of him, but he obeyed, winding down from him near explosive rage and settling down after giving a dissmissive jerk of his head at the mudcastle. It and its denizen were not worthy of his or his vassel's rage, so it would get to live - for now.

As for the offered Ultra Ball, he gave it and then Shiva a long stare, before he took it quietly and proceed to go capture the large and so not in charge crab. If his love preferred he not dispose of them in her presences, he'd honor her request for her shake if nothing else. He could always sell it away later for more funding for his private research project and other plans, or just have himself a nice crab boil with his more carnivorous family members later if he still felt like it deserved such a fate. For now, though, it lives by the mercy of his girlfriend. Lucky lucky.

(And so Giga Kingler's life is saved, at least in the short term! Congrats, Phantom!)

[Iron]

  Typhon new evolution and new moves, Heart follow everyone. He released both Koa and Lancelot. The royal sword and shield get himself attached to Heart back, ready to be wield at any moment. When they reach the destination, he bring Lancelot to his hands.

"Koa. Lancelot. Let's go. Time to show our training and connection." With everything ready, Heart also prepare another thing: The Helmet, just in case they get ambushed by enemies. He not going to wield yet. He wants to use his power combined with his Pokemon friends.

My order of action is help with Nathan plan with Lancelot, Koa and Heart use all Rock Smash in any obstacle to reduce it's defenses to help everyone walk.

Edit: Instead of Koa and Lancelot, it's gonna be Swampert and Elektross.

The stone easily rotates in any direction and can even be lifted out of its bank, but all to no effect. No change in reactions from the swimmers above. The whirlpool has the same effect.



You start walking the spiral, with Heart reducing everything in the way (coral, rough stone walls, and probably the occasionally stubborn oversized Pokemon) to rubble. When you reach the halfway point of the design, you find yourself back at the beginning. The spiral rock is back in place, unmoved. The rubble is back to being coral. 

There's one difference, though. The Pokemon above you have moved closer, close enough to make out their details. They appear to be Lumineon at first glance, but they are more heavily frilled, each frill a deep lobe with a barb on the end, like a lionfish. The patterns on its body are purplish blue spirals, starting at the perimeter and working inward, much like the spiral stone. Though they are closer now, they still keep to the kelp forest like a Pyroar stalking its prey. Kingdra is super nervous now.

[Iron]

The massive Kingler is so big that, even in defeat, even with an Ultra Ball, it takes several tries to catch. It has a lovely 15 base HP. It has Hyper Cutter and its moves should be fairly obvious: Bubble, Bubblebeam, Crabhammer, Guillotine, Vicegrip.


The identity of the glittering stone should be fairly obvious too! As you retrieve it, you hear a chittering from the kelp chimney above. A troop of Panpour led by a Simipour have descended the waving strands of kelp to watch you curiously. You have to snatch the stone up very quickly to avoid it falling into their curious hands. With Kingler caught, the monkey mons raid the mud castle for all its shinies and ascend back into the safety of the kelp.

[Dragonstrike]

The stone easily rotates in any direction and can even be lifted out of its bank, but all to no effect. No change in reactions from the swimmers above. The whirlpool has the same effect.



You start walking the spiral, with Heart reducing everything in the way (coral, rough stone walls, and probably the occasionally stubborn oversized Pokemon) to rubble. When you reach the halfway point of the design, you find yourself back at the beginning. The spiral rock is back in place, unmoved. The rubble is back to being coral. 

There's one difference, though. The Pokemon above you have moved closer, close enough to make out their details. They appear to be Lumineon at first glance, but they are more heavily frilled, each frill a deep lobe with a barb on the end, like a lionfish. The patterns on its body are purplish blue spirals, starting at the perimeter and working inward, much like the spiral stone. Though they are closer now, they still keep to the kelp forest like a Pyroar stalking its prey. Kingdra is super nervous now.

Well then, that's certainly...something.  Nathan draws the Sword and signals to Heart and Terra to be on guard.  Now he's got a better idea of what's going on.

"So, we're trapped, huh?  Alright, I'm done playing around.  Kingdra wouldn't be this nervous without good reason."

Nathan then uses the Sword to empower Kingdra, who's now practically glowing with energy!  Maybe that'll help boost his confidence since he knows how powerful this Sword is!

"That's a clever little trick you've got there, fishies, but I'm done playing your games.  We didn't come here to be prey.  There are those I need to protect, and you can bet your buttons that I'm gonna protect them.  Kingdra, it's time to defend ourselves."

Time for a battle, I guess?

[Iron]

Sounds good! Get some feedback from Heart and you two can work together on your battle description.

The dozen Lumineon use a lot of team tactics to Confuse the foe. Their Confusion is more potent than normal, making it much more probable that their target hits themselves or a party member. Quite dangerous to use the Sword too much.

They are also fans of Double Team and taking cover.

They start by inflicting Toxic with their barbs. Beware, a physical sting has an interesting effect - at least one character gets stung during this battle. You choose!

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Well then, that's certainly...something.  Nathan draws the Sword and signals to Heart and Ventus to be on guard.  Now he's got a better idea of what's going on.

*hinthint* Terra, not Ventus. ^^