[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Iron]

As you work hard at this, a few tiny Pokemon show up and begin assisting you. You can see the lingering aura of Earthpower around them - they're probing out with their senses to figure out what moves would help here. You've never seen Pokemon do that before. The mons that have come to help are a Sandshrew, two tiny Cyndaquil, and a very very slow moving Treecko. The latter moves like a chameleon, carefully placing each foot before beginning to move the next.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

ヽ(°〇°)ﾉ H-how cute and adooooorable! Shiva's feeling incredibly lucky that these few tiny wild Pokemon came to assist her without she intentionally 'calling' for them... THIS must be what Howl mentioned earlier, about this 'some kind of great spiritual experience' the Pokemon have gone through. That and that lingering aura of Earthpower - It MUST be Heart's doing, haha! She can't help but to admire him for how he helped nature like this <3

She opts to not disturb the Sandshrew, the two Cyndaquill and the chameleon-like Treecko and instead let them help her own Pokemon's doing in ways they feel would benefit best, BUT she provides them some fresh food and water as a genuine thanks after everything has been done. Any interaction between her and these.... let's call them 'spiritual Pokemon' is held with awe and lots of respect, Shiva even abstains from petting them like she'd usually desire to. "T-thank you dear Pokemon, I thank thee so much for your aid! <3 I, uhm, I can trust in you to further take care of this semi-sacred place after I've left again, can I? All of you, being these 'avatars of nature', after all....", she carefully asks them. "Oh, and may I also, well... I mean, do you possibly know of any 'Sacred Grove' around here? Can you lead me to it if you do please?"

Shaymin are known to migrate and there's Lake Chicory pending to explore with this cute prickly legend in mind, that she knows - but she can still see if there isn't anything around here, just out of curiosity and excitement. Annie Wake DID write about a 'Sacred Grove' that she planted her Gracidea at, a place she thought to be sacred to these grassy hedgehog!

[Iron]

Yes, Annie Wake's Sacred Grove is supposed to be here in Elanor.


The Pokemon look at each other, then back at you, and nod. They lead you out of the graveyard and beyond the town limits, whereupon they begin circling the town. Strangely, they never go in a straight line. They always circle or bend, usually counterclockwise but sometimes almost doubling back on their previous path. However, they never overlap. (Treecko rides your shoulder).

You begin to notice that at every bend is a subtle cairn of rocks, overgrown with DENSE moss, so cushy you could probably sleep on them if you want to. But it's hard to make out the rocks embedded in the moss, which explains why it takes Shiva so long to notice that they are laid out in a pattern of Sacred Geometry. Each cairn of rocks can mathematically express the curving route the Pokemon are about to take while leading you in the great Pattern.

Eventually the wild Pokemon slow down. Treecko begins making worried pip noises in your ear. Up ahead is a grove of huge dead trees, where nothing grows, not even grass or elanor flowers. Looks like it's been that way for a long time. Unfortunately, the sacred spiral pattern you're following leads right through it.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Awwww Treecko riding my shoulder is adoooooorable (´ ω `♡)

With lots of awe and anticipitation Shiva, Whimsi and Primal Espeon follow the pack of semi-sacred wild Pokemon... She's UTTERLY fascinated when she eventually makes out the pattern these Pokemon are following as well as notice the rocks concealed by that super-dense moss (she can't help but to stroke over one to feel the density and softness). She does believe a sacred grove around here but has never ever thought that it may be that complex; that's... so cool! ヽ(°〇°)ﾉ Words can barely describe how intrigued she is, she can feel her heart pounding like mad and her lungs almost afraid to take breaths....

When they reach that grove full of dead trees and no vegetation, Shiva mirrors that worry of the Pokemon. If it looks like this place has been like that for a long time, it must have been like that BEFORE Deoxys Prime invaded. "What's wrong, all of you? (._. ) Concerned about this, uhm, lifeless place or is that tiny cairn of rocks covered in neat moss unlocatable? Would it possibly help if we'd try to bring some plant life back with some special help (from Heart)?"

[Iron]

No, they point to a cairn of rocks not far away. That's not the problem...

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

That's not the problem? Alright. Well, Shiva's glad that the cairn of rocks covered in moss is there, as that means the path doesn't end here.

She pats Treecko at her shoulder a bit to calm them down, bringing forth a bold suggestion: "Weeeeell then, please listen... How does it sound if you and me go forth into that area dead of any vegetation while I protect us via the Ancient Shield? Don't worry please dear one, barely to nothing can happen to us if I do so in case something jumps at us, and I've got my own lovely Pokemon with me to defend us all shall it be necessary! ( ÒωÓ)و☆ I make sure that nothing befalls us, while you tell the way, Treecko... But you have to stick really close to me please!" Towards the two Sandshrew and tiny Cyndaquil: "And once the path's clear, we'll give you a sign so you can follow, alright?"

One more thing: In an instant Lilith and Primal Espeon are summoned, informed about the plan and asked to 'check' that plan via daring to catch a glimpse into the near future via their Future Sight Move. "What's your general feeling about this course of action you two, would you give it a green light or would you rather abstain...? Do you, uhm, see massive problems ahead? Issues and trouble we can handle, but anything very serious I rather don't wish to run into..."

[Iron]

Both your psychic types shiver as if Forewarned, but they aren't so scared that they think you can't handle it.

Treecko is willing to trust you as well - it seems able to sense the power of the Shield.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

...That's enough reassurance for Shiva to trust in her as well! ( ÒωÓ)و☆ She once more carefully pats smol Treecko on the head and gives them a protective smile. "How dear of you, thank you for believing in me and the Shield! ♡(>v< ) Then let's go together - after some PRECAUTIONS first, naturally. J-just in case!"

Said precautions consist of:
- Summoning benelovent Raphael, asking him to soar the sky up ahead and keep a look at Shiva the whole time. Shall he notice/feel that she is in huge trouble or at worst goes down and can't get help, he's asked to FLY to Ventus in an instant to get him for help.

- Letting Primal Espeon use his Psych Up Move in an attempt to 'copy' the Ancient Shield's protection - an improvises Ion Defense is just as fine, it brings him to natural Vitality! With his 5*Dext via Suprise he can also skip two steps ahead of Shiva and warn her in time shall his precognitive senses trigger due to some traps or so.


Prepared like this, Shiva enables the Ancient Shield's protection against additional effects (since damage she can always heal via Potions and stuff) on herself and Treecko who's held very close to her, and together they make their way into that area ahead full of dead vegetation...

[Dragonstrike]

(Not to interrupt the flow of the possibly Shaymin related stuff, but since Ventus, Terra, and Dagny don't have any objections to consulting with Professor Laurelin about the Genesect Fossil, could we get that moving again by trying to call her to see if she can join this discreet conversation? Again, it'd be preferable if she could join us in person at Dagny's office.)

[Iron]

(Not to interrupt the flow of the possibly Shaymin related stuff, but since Ventus, Terra, and Dagny don't have any objections to consulting with Professor Laurelin about the Genesect Fossil, could we get that moving again by trying to call her to see if she can join this discreet conversation?  Again, it'd be preferable if she could join us in person at Dagny's office.)

Sure, let's assume you have all gathered in the office. Laurelin gives you a quick salute, Nathan, since she's worked with you before.