[Game Thread] Pokerole Mystery Dungeon: Primal Shadows

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

(...) Just to be clear, Conkeldurr indicated that the path that leads to the Hidden Mine is around the bend that leads to the upper left corner of the current tile.

Good to know. But before heading there, Kee wishes to make a quick way eastwards towards some Items that appear to be waiting to be picked up. He tells Conkedurr about that, emphasising that after they've collected the loot there, they'll be on the way to the Hidden Mine in an instant.
   

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

Karen and Marcus both stand between Pyra and and the two wild pokemon now, though for differing reasons.  Pyra would have to go through both of them (and presumably Kee) to even have a chance of stopping the Forretress from consuming the Oran Berry.

Karen can't believe what she's hearing and feeling right now.

"...but...but Conkeldurr was just doing what he thought was right, Pyra!  We don't have to fight him any more!"

Marcus just looks...deeply serious after the recent revelations.

*This part doesn't need to be changed too much, so I think it's fine to reuse it*



"Pyra, I think we have bigger problems than Conkeldurr right now.  If Machamp is actually deceiving everyone, then everyone that's done business with him recently has probably been duped.  And what Conkeldurr said about his behavior...I'm worried that means something's happened to him.  I'll tell you more later, though.  Right now, please stand down.  If you attack him and his crew, I don't think it will end well for any of us."

Karen's silent for a long while as she nervously waits for Pyra's response...

Meanwhile, Conkeldurr is unimpressed by Kogeki's attempt to snap him out of...whatever Kogeki is trying to snap him out of, and he just glares back at the Riolu.  "...just because you...have beaten me, that...does not...mean you have earned...my respect, small arms.  Back.  Off."

Conkeldurr is much kinder with Kee and starts trying to ignore Kogeki.  Forretress begins trying to shoo Kogeki off and create a little space between him and Conkeldurr.  Forretress is not trying to attack Kogeki right now, however, just nudge him out of Conkeldurr's way (how gently/forcefully depends on how willing Kogeki is to comply with that command from Conk).

"...the Hidden Mine...is a little deeper in...there's a stairway up ahead...around the bend.  That will take you there...I do not wish to ask you to put yourselves in danger...but if you can save them...please..."



Marcus turns his attention back to Conkeldurr.  "And that's where Machamp is, right?"

"Yes.  Machamp and all the...goons he brought with him."

"Good.  This isn't how I imagined my little request would go, but meeting Machamp and figuring out what's going on was my main goal anyways.  Seems wise to prepare for a possible confrontation as well now, though."

(Alright, I finally got some sleeps in me and ready to write, so let's get this show on the road already!)

Then Pyra is even more unimpressed and displeased then about the Oran Berry 'fiasco' , actually throwing her both arms up in the air and shaking her head at them in pure exsaperation. "Why are you so persistent, so firmly set on healing Forresstress like so? Makes no sense, no, none at all! *Lowers one arm and Sighs* ....If that be thy will, that nothing can change your desires at all, you could instead use Life Dew on them Karen, yes, instead of wasting are precious Orans. Don't like healing Forrestress, vanishing the wounds it so rightly earned, but if it has to be then I rather have it be that way than this, ugh.....

More and more, she is growing discontent with how and why her friends + Marcus was treating their enemies, as she could hardly begin to understand their deeper reasonsings for such, and what she thought she did was not anything she could agree with...

The smol fae's distressed comeback was calmly - if a bit mullishly - rebutted. "True, if what you say is, then so are we too. So I am, so is everyone, yes, depending on time, circumstance, perspective.....many many many things. Why should Mightless Conkeldurr be given reprieve for being 'right' in his unprovoked assault on us thee, but not I for being within my own 'rightness' to treat him and his own as they most deservedly be? For mercy? He was not merciful to us, so why should we be in turn? Why should I not fulfill his foolish, deserved wish, to send him into the gloomy depths of unconsciousness, to Faint him so harshly, after he so wantingly tried to do to us the same? Why?" (And there is the clarification. Hopefully everyone understand what she was trying to do now IC!)

She had more to say about this, but Marcus' interjection put an end to that train of thought, causing her to swivel around to listen and look at him with unnerving intensity. The brimstone imp was silent for nearly half a minute afterwards, deep in thought yet still staring at the bonescraftsmon.....until she closed her eyes with a third frustrated, third discontent, and third understanding *huff* and lowers her arm poised to Strike Conkurlderr.

"Fine, very well Marcus. Let us deal with Machamp instead, then, if he is the source-answer to this fight and might have Dealt with us dishonestly. Do not know why you all are loathe to let me grant Mightless Conkurlderr's wish, no, but......

*Looks at everyone, especially Karen now*

"......I'll refrain and stop from doing so, if it please you all."

Pyra would then open her eyes and turn to share a pointed look with the burly builder, her expression holding just a ghost of a smile which only turned ugly as they rebuffed Kogeki.

"Most fortunate and blessed my beloved friends so earnest wish for your and your own unearned wellness, care about your own plight so greatly despite your unwarranted and unjustified aggressions, yes. Mayhaps you could be more grateful to them instead, now-then-when, treat them with deference and respect instead of with dismiss and contempt. *Her smile turns ghastly* Especially when you are so very much at our mercy. Lessons to be learnt, then, so dearly for you and your kin: Pride goeth before the fall, and deaf ears, closed hearts, lead to dead ends."

The she demon would then stalk away slowly from the Conk Squad, going to stand next to Kogeki and wait on everyone to get a Move On to this 'mine' Conk so pitifully blabbed about. If her friends were so insistent on solving this [i]outsider enemy's problem, get to the bottom of this complicated matter, or if Machamp had actually ripped her team off, then so be it, they would put an end to this frustrating mess....

(....And that should do it! Pyra's still very much miffed at being denied her 'wish granting' , but at least she's now calming down and only disgruntled [well, more so] about being thwarted instead! Let's take these small victories as they come, people, woot woot!)[/i]

[no one]

Daxter throws a dirty look at Pyra, but chooses to not reply. He looks at Conkeldurr and replies. "Look, mate. We didn't come here to pick a fight, but you attacked us anyway. And then you continue to just be a complete arse even after losing. We're not here to push you around, or beat you up. My... Acquaintance doesn't seem to understand the concept of compassion. I do. We'll help you. And I don't expect to be thanked for it. What I do expect is that you don't just attack anyone you see. If you just asked for our help we wouldn't be stuck in this mess. You could have come with us to deal with Machamp, and it would have been so much easier. Look at you now. Barely staying conscious. You could have handled this in a much better way, and you know it. We'll see you soon after we have a word with Machamp to figure out whatever the fuck is going on. He was supposed to be building our base for us. If he's really gone over to the wrong side, I'd like to get my money back. After you, Kee. I'll follow your lead."

[Spiritmon]

Spoiler

Daxter throws a dirty look at Pyra, but chooses to not reply. He looks at Conkeldurr and replies. "Look, mate. We didn't come here to pick a fight, but you attacked us anyway. And then you continue to just be a complete arse even after losing. We're not here to push you around, or beat you up. My... Acquaintance doesn't seem to understand the concept of compassion. I do. We'll help you. And I don't expect to be thanked for it. What I do expect is that you don't just attack anyone you see. If you just asked for our help we wouldn't be stuck in this mess. You could have come with us to deal with Machamp, and it would have been so much easier. Look at you now. Barely staying conscious. You could have handled this in a much better way, and you know it. We'll see you soon after we have a word with Machamp to figure out whatever the fuck is going on. He was supposed to be building our base for us. If he's really gone over to the wrong side, I'd like to get my money back. After you, Kee. I'll follow your lead."

"Speak for yourself. Let's go. We must finish this Quest already. Hopefully we never see them again."

Action: Just let's follow the path to finish this. I not in the mood anymore in deal with Conk and his clown troupe.

[Dragonstrike]

Conkeldurr has nothing else to say to anyone besides, "Hmph."  Kee leads the way down the path to the right of the tile.

And what everyone finds there is somewhat ironic, as the path is a dead end!

   

Pressed up against the side of the stone ravine is a small pile of Poké, Apples, Oran Berries, and various Seeds that everyone sees after they walk down the corridor a little.  To see the exact contents of the pile of items, though, you'd have to get closer to it.

"Conkeldurr was guarding this path earlier, right?"


  Neutral Cubone.JPG (Size: 8.77 KB / Downloads: 77)

"He was.  If I had to hazard a guess, he was stockpiling those items to try and prepare for the Hidden Mine.  I've not heard of that place, but I'm fairly confident it's going to be a Mystery Dungeon."

[Spiritmon]

"Guarding or not, those items belong to us now. I think that's a nice compensation for the trouble they caused to us."

Kogeki then approach the pile of Items but decided to check if there is some kind of trap for anyone trying to grab the items.

Action: See if there any trap or nasty surprised, and inspect those items and carry with us.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Ah, a dead end... Kee scratches and sniffs at the end of the corridor with eager as he's looking for a hidden mechanism to open a path or similar. He sighs in mild despair as there appears to be none. "Hummm.... nothin'. ( ._.)"

That small pile of ITEMS(!!) immediately ups the crittercoon' mood however, especially those Seeds are of interest for him. He also nods towards Karen and gives a thoughtful glance to Macrus. "Kinda makes me wonder where they've got these s'pplies from if since they 'scaped from that very Hidden Mine. Oh well though..." *takes a deep breath and rummages in his guitar bag* "If we'll be those rescuin' these trapped fellas, there's nat much wrong with takin' some extra Items with us. Nat so fast there, K'geki." Instead of walking closer to the pile of Items, Kee will first poke and nudge it a bit with the large branch of a tree he's carrying along to see if this triggers something or whether it's safe to pick the Items up. If it is, let's see what sort of loot it exactly is!~

[Lord Windos]

With the Conk Squad, Pyra ignores Dax's look and unflattering comments about her with a partly resigned expression, having fully expected they at least wouldn't be kindly disposed towards her words and actions. By this point she realizes that the aquatic salamander wouldn't be satisfied with anything less than her being on her absolute best behavior, and not even that if she (inadvertly or not) did/say something he disapproved of. It was frustrating and disheartening, but it was who he was, and it was up to her to adapt and learn how to care and please him the maximum amount he deserved. Or accept she'll never make him truly happy with her for any real length of time and carry on, but that was a option she deeply dreaded and wish to never become a reality....

In the Dead End Loot Room, Pyra actually raises some concerns about just taking these Items if they belonged to the Conk Squad, for various reasons.

"Uh....is it right and good to take these Items, Furret them away for ourselves if they are Mightless Conkeldurr? Would that not be 'stealing ' ,a offense that would get us in trouble with the law and Guild, yes? Ah, and the Items may be trapped, have some foul secret to trip would be thieves and bandits, and cause us more harm and misery if we try to get. "

Most situations the concept of 'Thievery' would barely phase the she demon and she would gleefully indulge in the lawless act if it would benefit herself and her friends and she could get away with it (ESPECIALLY if her marks were ones that made themselves enemies to the group or harmed them in some fashion). However, after the most recent events she was understandably wary of anything that would set her friends further against her, so pragmatic concern won out over the desire for some wealth free distribution.

That, and as a fair dealing demon with little self avarice , stealing was not something she was inclined to do for herself for the most part. Why steal when you can make deals, or simply take as what is due to you?

[Spiritmon]

Kogeki nod his head and wait to Kee do his thing.

[Dragonstrike]

*rolls*

Kogeki doesn't see anything particularly out of the ordinary when he glances around the dead end.

As for Kee's attempt to poke at the items to see if there's any traps, the stick isn't quite long enough to reach them.  The pile of items is still a notable distance away from the group (about maybe 10 feet or so), so Kee would have to get closer to poke them with the stick.

As for Pyra's question, both Karen and Marcus have thoughts to voice on it.

Marcus is more confused by the question than anything else, given Pyra's behavior in the prior room.


  Questioning Cubone.JPG (Size: 8.75 KB / Downloads: 54)

"Wasn't expecting you to be all that concerned about this, but...Conkeldurr doesn't exactly fall under the same legal authority as those who live in Sahra Town, being one of the wild pokemon around here and all.  Items found in Mystery Dungeons are usually fair game as far as Flygon is concerned, though he's not responsible for any trouble taking them gets you in with the residents.  Which it might, given that wild pokemon need berries and food to survive as well, and most have no qualms with taking items from you if they manage to defeat you in a fight.  Conkeldurr's definitely smarter than the average wild pokemon, though.  I wouldn't be surprised if this is trapped somehow to protect it from other pokemon..."

The Cubone begins examining the dead end as well while Karen voices her thoughts.

"Plus, taking his items after we beat him up would be...kinda mean, I think...he could use these supplies to recover from his injuries.  Or help his friends recover if they're being mistreated."

"Well, whatever you want to do with these items, I'll go with whatever you guys decide, but if my vote counts for anything..."

*rolls*

Before Kee can walk any closer to attempt to check for traps, Marcus suddenly calls out to the Zigzagoon.


  Shocked Cubone.JPG (Size: 8.9 KB / Downloads: 141)

"Kee, wait!  Don't get any closer!  There's rocks perched above us, on the edge of the ravine!"

And when everyone looks up, there is indeed lots of rocks that look like they're about to fall on some unlucky pokemon's head.

"...yup, I'd vote that we don't mess with this if I can have a say.  I'd probably be fine if I got hit by a Rock Slide, but I'm not sure the rest of you would be.  Real clever, that Conkeldurr.  Burying potential thieves with stone would be a good way to deter any old pokemon from taking his supplies."