[Game Thread] Lord Windos’ PokeRole Adventure 2: The Wild Lands

[Mikaruge108]

Spoiler

In the interests of saving a bit of time, I'll auto resolve the rest of the Encounter - Scizor handily cleans the Barbaracle's clock with its lighting fast blows before it could even react, acting with particular vengefulness for it Lethaly wounding their fellow comrade. That'll show you, scoundrel!

As a Future Note: Generally, it's better to do Multiple Actions if the Opponent is over 1/2 Max HP in my campaign, even if it makes the Dice Pool of stuff like Vacuum Wave (Which Uses Special, btw) a bit wiffy, since more Actions = More Damage and not letting your Opponent wail on you without recompense. Single Actions should be save when either your Mon or the opponent is on the ropes, or you're using some crazy Inaccurate Move like Zap Cannon or something.

Anywho - the belly bruiser was now Fainted and left completely to your mercies. Do you want to Catch it, Kill it (if you're feeling vindictive and harvest its parts for stuff), or just leave it and Move onwards to new stuff?

Darren'll let the Barbaracle be, and move on. He also uses a Super Potion on Swadloon to heal her lethal damage.

Then for some shopping.

Spoiler

10x Net Ball ($10K)
5x Hyper Potion ($6K)
5x Revives ($7.5K)
Total: $23.5K

Darren also looks around the store for an outlet that would pique his interest

[Dragonstrike]

Spoiler

"*Giggles* Fair enough! Hmm...call me Muse, then. Been awhile since I gone by that name, but now's a good as time as any to dust it off! If you ever need some inspiration, just send a prayer with me and that name in mind - I don't do much 'Divine' work anymore (They do paw quotes as the said that), and don't really got the Power for anything big, but for a potential friend of 'Erni I'm willing to jazz it up!"

Ianai looks pensive, giving a wary and apprehensive look in the direction that the birdmouse zoomed off into, before letting out a heavy sigh.

"...On the surface they seem Good Natured, and deep down I feel that is Mirrored too. But The Mifowe Conceals much too - Things even I can not so easily See or Read. Energetic, Friendly, but Crafty, Elusive. Dangerous. Carefree. Vengeful. Joyful. All that, and more. *Shakes head* I do not trust Her. She still needs to Prove Herself for that - or Reveal all that she Hides for me to Judge."

....Not the most glowing review, this tribal woman has of them. Seems like she's ever the skeptic, and not afraid to voice such thoughts either if prompted.

----

The Ashmuut simply shrugs at your reply and maintains her silence, eyes slowly scanning everywhere.

Your text almost immediately gets a response:

Good, and very well. I'm currently waiting in an office in the back, alone. Was recently speaking to a representative about our Mission and making inquiries on our Projects. What I learnt is...frustrating, but not objectively terrible in the long term. Further details best explained in person. Speak to the receptionist, mention my name, and she will lead you to my current location.

Well, you heard the Professor, and so did as she asked - the receptionist almost jumped out of her seat with how you creeped up on her (in her perspective) and let out a small squeal of fright, but you managed to settle her down and get the timid as a Mousehold woman to lead you on. Ianai joins you two shortly thereafter - for a moment the receptionist looks like she was about to object, but upon getting a closer look at the Native woman and the Look she was receiving from them she went white as a Ghost and meekly allowed them to tag along. 

The desk jocky lead you two through a few branching hallway out and down, until you found yourself in front of a solid black and wooden door. The lady gave you a nervous bow before hastily departing, leaving just the two of your mere moments away from reuniting/meeting with the Professor. With a nock and whatever warnings you want to give, you enter the room -



....and find a most stately meeting place, looking very akin to the board rooms and offices that festooned the Paldean League and its important subsidiary locations. In front of a picture of the entire Sutalör Region was the Professor, back turned away from the door and you two as they carefully inspected its every detail. They didn't react when you entered the room, nor when the door closed with a *Click*  - it seems they're absorbed in whatever they're thinking of at the moment, or waiting for you to be the first one to speak. Or both. You never quite know when it comes to the Professor.

How you going to break the ice then?

(Do you want me to Reveal the Professor right now, or do you want to do the revealing yourself? Or keep it Hidden, since Ianai is a DMPC and therefore I can afford a bit of leeway when it comes to keeping things secret in the Game Thread.)

(I'll do the reveal!  That means I get to drop her theme as well)

Even only seeing her from the back, it's already easy to tell this Professor has a bit of a wild style.  She's wearing a typical white lab coat, but it has a large fur collar.  Her hair seems to mostly have been left to its own devices, with orange and brown accessories sticking out of the somewhat messy affair.  Fur covered ankles and bare feet wearing sandals peek out from underneath the lab coat

Seddi clears his throat to get the Professor's attention.  *Ahem*  "There you are, Professor.  'Bout time I caught up.  Hope you don't mind that I brought a little company along."

She turns, and the attire underneath her lab coat is even more distinctive.  Necklaces and accessories made of shaped bones and rocks strung together.  More strikingly though, she's showing a surprising amount of skin for a scientific type.  Her eyes bring with them a piercing, calculating, logical gaze.

Overall, she looks a bit like a cavewoman in a labcoat.

"Met a few individuals on the way here that I think can help us with our various goals here in Sutalör.  This woman with me is Ianai, a novice Ashmuut.  Ianai, this is Professor Sada, Paldea's foremost authority on Paradox pokemon."

Professor Sada: Professor Sada and Turo - Pokemon SV



Seddi makes sure to emphasize Ianai is here for multiple reasons.  The multifaceted nature of this research mission is not something that is likely going to be common knowledge in the near future.

[Redstone]

After finishing his shopping he would take a stroll to a safe beach, looking for trainer battles and to test the thing that's been bugging him since he arrived.

[Iron]

It's kind of cute to picture Munchlax hopping easily back into the boots because they're so large on him xD

"Did you, er, find this gemstone about my person, Munchlax? Where, exactly?" He gets a treat for answering honestly.

If yes, Vernon sends a group text to everyone suggesting they check themselves for new items.
Then a follow up text with pics of all the useful stuff at the survival center, plus the note.

If the rest of the place isn't roped off, Vernon will wander around, including upstairs. If it is roped off, he'll scan with his long range telephoto lens for interesting things, and then wait for a receptionist.

[Lord Windos]

It's kind of cute to picture Munchlax hopping easily back into the boots because they're so large on him xD

"Did you, er, find this gemstone about my person, Munchlax? Where, exactly?" He gets a treat for answering honestly.

If yes, Vernon sends a group text to everyone suggesting they check themselves for new items.
Then a follow up text with pics of all the useful stuff at the survival center, plus the note.

If the rest of the place isn't roped off, Vernon will wander around, including upstairs. If it is roped off, he'll scan with his long range telephoto lens for interesting things, and then wait for a receptionist.

It is indeed most adorable.

Munchlax gives you a nod, then pauses and does a 'so-so' gesture. They point to the ground beneath you, made a motion of 'dropping' , then makes a 'scooping' gesture, then looks back to you. Okay....it appears they found the gem - which just apparently dropped by you without anyone noticing - at the ground around you and decided to grab it, as per its grabby wants.

If you decide to err on the side of caution and send out the texts, nobody else would find such a thing on their person. Looks like this Pink Stone is isolated just to you, for what dubious worth that is... Everyone also gets the pics too!

Nope, the place is free for you to explore! In fact, you find that it's possible to actually Fish in the big pond (if you had a way of doing so), as well as barrels of feed to give to the fishies for the joy of it, and that their are stairs leading down as well.

Going up first, you end up finding a bunch of offices (some as dedicated rooms, other in the open floor space), sitting areas, more unmanned desk, and some dedicated displays and exhibits about Sutalor , its known history, various phemona and its Creatures (Malefic Monstrum notably absent), and stuff about the Center itself and what it's offering. Seems like this is more of the bureaucratic and educational section of the place by the looks of it!

Going down, one would find a lobby of sorts, floors black as night and with some couches and chairs....

....and a giant thick cross-steel gate that appears to be electrified (judging by the faint smell of oozone), with a singular (and unmaned) desk, only with this one being in booth style, with bulletproof glass covering the front and a door to the side that is so heavily locked that not even an Inflitrator could get past it. 

Why all the security?










A lot of high end, top of the line, state of the art all terrain vehicles that lay beyond the fence, the collective net worth being enough to bankrupt many a poor Region. This was some serious hardware on display - as a Gym Acolyte and seasoned traveler you know that a lot of these vehicles are used by either prospective explorers of the Wilds of each Region or by the Leagues themselves as fast-response units. Judging from what you can see, you can reasonably assume the Center also deals in the business of Transportation in one manner or another too - exactly how is beyond you currently.

If you end up sharing pictures of this place, Seddi would recognize several hovercars that look akin to Dodger's , but much less 'tricked out' and stylized by comparison.

With all that seen, where is Vern's curious mind going to lead him next...?

[Lord Windos]

After finishing his shopping he would take a stroll to a safe beach, looking for trainer battles and to test the thing that's been bugging him since he arrived.

Very well! You end up finding a Swimmer that is eager to 'tussle with some Tribal looking Rissy' after a long day enjoying the surf, a woman in a one piece leotard, swimming cap, and set of sparkling green ears, pearly whites, and a lil' mole by her lips.

" 'Right, hows you want to do this? Single Battle, 1v1, 2v2, or 3v3? Doubles? Triples? Heck, I'm game even for a Grand Melee! I'm good for them all, ya blue hair peddla!"

Triples are handled like they are in Black and White; if their are questions as to what Moves 'Range' is in a setting I'll deal with it accordingly, but one general rule is that AoE and Field Moves affects ALL Pokemon, and that Spread typically only gets 2/3 of the opposing side.

Grand Melees are Fights that involve the Trainers themselves as Combatants, and are unique (and legal) to Sutalör itself as a sort of 'free for all'  where the Trainer doesn't directly command their Pokemon but rather issues general 'Tactics' and leaves them to their own devices. Very high risk, but very rewarding - not only do Trainer and Pokemon alike typcially get more XP out of them, they also pick up all sorts of tricks and have greater growths on Bonding and Learning certain Moves on the fly. The government itself also monitors this, keeping track of total Wins/Loses/Surrenders/Draws and awarding prizes and opportunities to 'rising talents' , the most daring, or the shred and cunning - all in an effort to cultivate their own Aces and Elites to becoming the sort of Trainer their Region needs - one that can deal with anything, even if the worst is gunning right at them.

With all that said, what sort of battle do you want?

[Lord Windos]

Darren'll let the Barbaracle be, and move on. He also uses a Super Potion on Swadloon to heal her lethal damage.

Then for some shopping.

Spoiler

10x Net Ball ($10K)
5x Hyper Potion ($6K)
5x Revives ($7.5K)
Total: $23.5K

Darren also looks around the store for an outlet that would pique his interest

Cha-ching! All Items Bought! Be sure to record this on your Inventory Tab!

Looking for Stores that 'Pique his Interests' , eh? Let's do a Fortune Roll and a Insight Roll to see what you dig up...

Fortune: *Rolls* Very nice.
Insight + Alert: *Rolls* Good!

You end up finding a store and a booth that Attract you attention.

Volcarona's Empire - A Store that caters to every and all kinds of Bug lovers and aficionados! However right now it's closed for the evening, and won't be open until the day after tomorrow. Bummer! Asking around about it tells you it's a very well regarded store worth the erratic business hours and eccentric owners. Aaron takes note of this and writes it down - he's been unusually silent ever since The Meeting, and looks to be as grim as ever.

A Berry Themed Food Stall name 'The Berry Best!' that's selling some Ranc Berry Pastries (+ Happiness Levels) as an end of Day special for only $750 Poke per Pastry, as well as offering a Sitrus Berry Trifle for $2000 that acts both a Full Heal and gives the Pokemon a delayed Effect, One Time, Indefinate - Upon Losing 1/2 HP, eliminate 3 Lethal Damage and restore 3 HP (Buy One a Day Per Customer) ! You can also order other Berry Related Confections and Meals too, and even offer your own Berries and/or Requests to Chef Bon Blu (Name for being weirdly blue skinned in color due to eating too many Orans as a boy) too! A Full Menu isn't avaliable at the moment due to him being about to close shop, so only the Food mentioned + whatever you can bring will be on Sale.


Two New Shop Locations Added!

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

(I'll do the reveal!  That means I get to drop her theme as well)

Even only seeing her from the back, it's already easy to tell this Professor has a bit of a wild style.  She's wearing a typical white lab coat, but it has a large fur collar.  Her hair seems to mostly have been left to its own devices, with orange and brown accessories sticking out of the somewhat messy affair.  Fur covered ankles and bare feet wearing sandals peek out from underneath the lab coat

Seddi clears his throat to get the Professor's attention.  *Ahem*  "There you are, Professor.  'Bout time I caught up.  Hope you don't mind that I brought a little company along."

She turns, and the attire underneath her lab coat is even more distinctive.  Necklaces and accessories made of shaped bones and rocks strung together.  More strikingly though, she's showing a surprising amount of skin for a scientific type.  Her eyes bring with them a piercing, calculating, logical gaze.

Overall, she looks a bit like a cavewoman in a labcoat.

"Met a few individuals on the way here that I think can help us with our various goals here in Sutalör.  This woman with me is Ianai, a novice Ashmuut.  Ianai, this is Professor Sada, Paldea's foremost authority on Paradox pokemon."



Professor Sada: Professor Sada and Turo - Pokemon SV



Seddi makes sure to emphasize Ianai is here for multiple reasons.  The multifaceted nature of this research mission is not something that is likely going to be common knowledge in the near future.

Professor Sada, a not so well known now-in-days but still highly respected researcher from Paldea, looks over to Ianai - who current is sporting a poleaxed expression as they stared at her - before looking back to you and nodding, crossing her arms as she did so.

"I see. How much are they aware of our Mission and Projects? I don't overly care for secrecy, here and in general, but I would like to know what you've already shared so I don't end up repeating myself and know where to go with each of these individual. Speaking of them, what are their Names, their general Personalities, and their stance in regards to you? What is your judgement on them, professionally and speaking only for yourself? What have you learnt and experienced that has caused you great delays, greater inconvenience, and caught your own interest?"

The cave-scientist then pauses, as if remembering something, before stepping forward towards you, scanning over your belt until she spots what she was looking for - the Net Ball of your latest Capture, The Sutalorian Paradox Sand Crawler.

"....*Pans back up to Stare at you Intently* I would also like to know everything about this Paradox you recently caught. If possible I'd like to see it myself, if its tame and tractable enough for a cursary examination and diagnosis."

Yeap, the Professor fixation on Paradoxes are still as prominent as ever, though not enough to distract her entirely from business or banish most reason from her these days as she shakes her head and gestures to you.

"As for how I've done and what work I've completed on my end: Arrival went satisfactory from the Sea-Airport outside of the Storm Wall, and I made my way to the Embassy without a moment's delay. I meant with the officials to discuss our mission, project, and what our juridiction, and have only shortly concluded business since you arrived. Here."

Sada reaches into her Inventory to hand you a bunch of documents and a ID/Badge with your Name and Picture on it, featuring both the Symbol of Paldea's League and The Sutalorian Government on the outside of the Badge casing.

"These are your Diplomatic Papers and Identification. Read over them later, but to summarize: you and I have full authorization to explore, catalogue, research, Catch, and deal with all Pokemon in this Region, up to and including the Malefic Monstrum, Mifowe, and Rouge Legends and Myths. We also have some degrees of protection from the local law in order to conduct our mission and if we run into any disputes in the course of it, as well as Legal Authority equivalent to a Ranger Chief, Ace Trainer, Rank 1 Government Bounty Hunter, Free Bounty Hunter, and Rank 3 Independent M.E.T.A Officer. We're also will be given a stipend of $5000 Poke every 15 Days, as well as our choice between 1 Max Revive, 1 Single Use TM for Recycle (Which can also Repair Stuff), A Firearm of your choice with 30 Units of Ammunition or your choice, or your choice of a Medical Kit, Berry Kit, or Capture Kit. Lastly, we'll be kept up to date on government and domestic dealings as needed and by our own request.

"In exchange, we are expected to help and assist in emergency crisises, solving disputes and offer 'reasonable' aid in Legal and Extra Legal matters if requested by Region's Government and local governing bodies, and dealing with 'major threats' or 'threats to society and Nature' to the best and fullest extent of our ability. While in the Wilds or otherwise given Full Authority by a local or the super ruling government, and if not given a Directive against something or acting otherwise, you have the Right to Investigate, Capture and Detain Humans, Pokemon, and Other Creatures, Settle Civil or Environmental Disputes per your best judgement, Sentencing of Criminals, and, in the most extreme or dire circumstances, Execution or Conscription of people and Pokemon to resolve major crimes or situations. We are to make Daily, Weekly, and Monthly Reports of our Findings, and to Alert the government or the nearest acting local Authority about any major discoveries involving Au'Rarii Artifacts, Special Locations, Disasters, Criseses, etc.. We get First Claim on our discoveries, as is the Law in these lands, but anything we do not take into our custody or is deemed 'too great' for an individual person to horde will be shared with the state.

"Do you understand all this, Seddi? Do you have any questions?

As for what was frustrating her earlier, she crosses her arms again and simply stares at you with expectation - it seems she wants to hear your mini-Adventure first before she brings up any news on that, good, bad, or inconvenient.

Ianani, notably, continues to stare off into space where the Professor once stood, a dazed and glazed over expression overtaking her normally unflappable demeanor.

[Redstone]

Spoiler

Very well! You end up finding a Swimmer that is eager to 'tussle with some Tribal looking Rissy' after a long day enjoying the surf, a woman in a one piece leotard, swimming cap, and set of sparkling green ears, pearly whites, and a lil' mole by her lips.

" 'Right, hows you want to do this? Single Battle, 1v1, 2v2, or 3v3? Doubles? Triples? Heck, I'm game even for a Grand Melee! I'm good for them all, ya blue hair peddla!"

Triples are handled like they are in Black and White; if their are questions as to what Moves 'Range' is in a setting I'll deal with it accordingly, but one general rule is that AoE and Field Moves affects ALL Pokemon, and that Spread typically only gets 2/3 of the opposing side.

Grand Melees are Fights that involve the Trainers themselves as Combatants, and are unique (and legal) to Sutalör itself as a sort of 'free for all'  where the Trainer doesn't directly command their Pokemon but rather issues general 'Tactics' and leaves them to their own devices. Very high risk, but very rewarding - not only do Trainer and Pokemon alike typcially get more XP out of them, they also pick up all sorts of tricks and have greater growths on Bonding and Learning certain Moves on the fly. The government itself also monitors this, keeping track of total Wins/Loses/Surrenders/Draws and awarding prizes and opportunities to 'rising talents' , the most daring, or the shred and cunning - all in an effort to cultivate their own Aces and Elites to becoming the sort of Trainer their Region needs - one that can deal with anything, even if the worst is gunning right at them.

With all that said, what sort of battle do you want?

''Grand Melee you say. Never done that before but it sure sounds interesting. I plan on staying in Sutalör for a while so it's probably for the best to get a feel for them early. Do tell me, how many Pokemon will be used in these?''

[Mikaruge108]

A Berry Themed Food Stall name 'The Berry Best!' that's selling some Ranc Berry Pastries (+ Happiness Levels) as an end of Day special for only $750 Poke per Pastry, as well as offering a Sitrus Berry Trifle for $2000 that acts both a Full Heal and gives the Pokemon a delayed Effect, One Time, Indefinate - Upon Losing 1/2 HP, eliminate 3 Lethal Damage and restore 3 HP (Buy One a Day Per Customer) ! You can also order other Berry Related Confections and Meals too, and even offer your own Berries and/or Requests to Chef Bon Blu (Name for being weirdly blue skinned in color due to eating too many Orans as a boy) too! A Full Menu isn't avaliable at the moment due to him being about to close shop, so only the Food mentioned + whatever you can bring will be on Sale.


Two New Shop Locations Added!

Darren gets 4 Ranc Berry Pastries for Swadloon (if there are that many left). If that is more than enough to max out happiness for Swadloon, the remainder will be shared with Glomena.

That'll be all for Darren's shopping for now.

ETA: as for what's next, let's see what fortune has in store for Darren, assuming he still has an encounter slot open.