2024-01-20: To Do as the Nedians Do
- Log: To Do as the Nedians Do
- Cast: Loren Voss, Eleanor Klein, Arisugawa Joy, Nina Chiyome, Timu Guado
- Where: Mt. Moon
- Date: January 20, 2024
- Summary: With Lan missing, likely in the clutches of Team Rocket, Loren decides -- based on his recent experiences -- that the best approach for dealing with Team Rocket is to do as Nedians do and get some Pokemon of his own to battle them with. But is making friends /really/ that easy?
DG: A party led by Loren Voss is now entering Mt. Moon. DG: Party formation is now over. An Entry Challenge will now be drawn and displayed to the party.
=================================<* Mt. Moon *>=================================
==============<* CHALLENGE - The Bridge People No Longer Cross *>===============
| Type: Entry | Dungeon Ability: Agility | Challenge Rating: 2 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information >----------------------------
You come onto the primary path on Mt. Moon. The Kanto Police Department are
here, cordoning off what looks like a pretty horrific battle that's skewed
the landscape and torn bridges and paths down in its wake. Hikers around you
whisper to each other, concerns about the Ten Wise Men fresh on their mind.
The nearest constable suggests that you come back once the path has been
repaired, but...
Is this really a broken bridge situation? Was there really an unfinished
quest in Pewter City? Are you still the type to turn around and hope an
unrelated situation occupies your time until the bridge is fixed?
============================= Dungeon Conditions: =============================
| Tire:_Exhaustion_Up! |
= Digger 2.0 ===================================================================
<Pose Tracker> Loren Voss has posed.
One moment was really all it had taken. He'd summoned a spire of rock in an attempt to deal with Team Rocket, but then Lan had run up it to threaten them to their faces... and when they had been thus sent flying off into the horizon, Lan had still been with them.
He'd done some asking around about 'Team Rocket' afterwards. They're some sort of criminal organization that's known for stealing Pokemon. And now they have Lan in their clutches. Of course, simply walking up to their headquarters or whatever isn't going to work, at least because it means he's going to get a lungfull of smoke and other general nastiness. On the other hand, from what he's seen about how fighting typically is meant to work on Nede...
He can always try to do this like the Nedians do.
"...Are you kidding me?" He's just been told that the bridge is out, meaning that there is no way to get to Mt. Moon.
He might have settled on Mt. Moon after staring at Lan's Lunatone for a while, of which he's come into possession of after her unfortunately abduction (don't worry, Eleanor's secured her things!). But does that mean that now he's going to have to turn around and pick some other place to find some friends?
"..."
Loren thinks about the problem before him. He stares at the wreckage beyond the cordons and yellow tape. He thinks about the problem some more!
Then he lifts up the tape and ducks under it, continuing on ahead. "I'm not from Nede," he tells the startled officer, moving on ahead towards the quite literally broken bridge ahead in the hopes of getting out of range of anything the official might be able to do to stop him.
It occurs to Loren that he has no real plans for how he's supposed to get to the other side. ...Maybe he can climb down one side and climb up the other...
Maybe Dunsparce can fly him across (Dunsparce cannot fly him across and he'd better not try it).
DG: Loren Voss has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward his party's challenge, The Bridge People No Longer Cross.
<Pose Tracker> Eleanor Klein has posed.
Eleanor Klein is here to help Loren and, extension, Lan. She is dressed in climbing gear because it's a mountain--long pants, hiking boots, and a nice blouse. It's Nedian attire! She looks almost like she blends in. But...
The bridge is out. Eleanor considers this for a moment before she looks to Loren and says, "...Wait. How are you getting across?"
She pauses, "I have an idea, at least. I can bring you along if I can get over there first..."
The Pokeballs at her belt are not experts at crossing chasms. However...
"Remember," Eleanor says, as she glows golden of a sudden and begins to change, "If you can lower a rope then you can get your party members to the other side with you!"
Eleanor, now an owl, flies across the gap!!
"But make sure to tie the rope to something, or your friends might fall!"
DG: Eleanor Klein has used her Tool Rauru's Flight toward her party's challenge, The Bridge People No Longer Cross. Stalwart! Party shielded from some Exhaustion this round!
<Pose Tracker> Arisugawa Joy has posed.
Joy just so happens to already be present on the other side. For a few hours now, not even realising that the mountain has been cordoned off. It's training hours for her, partly from Anne's instructions, and partly routine for her Pokemon...
As it is, Loren can see a pink-haired girl with several Pokemon out on the other side -- a Hydreigon, chief among them, as well as two Shedinja out to either side of it. "You can rest in a bit," she urges. "But push through now-- hmm?"
She's distracted by the Drifters' approach, and Hydreigon, too, follows suit with her gaze--
--which causes the rope tied around her belly, with the tyre tied to the other end, to swing wildly across and land on the other side, fortuitiously making a bridge.
"... you're... Visitors, right?" A pause, as she recalls Rille's words. "Drifters."
Her eye is on the woman-- no, owl (?!) --who looks to give them advice. ".... what she said."
DG: Arisugawa Joy has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, The Bridge People No Longer Cross.
<Pose Tracker> Nina Chiyome has posed.
Nina Chiyome had intentions of visiting Mt Moon for.. the evergrowing quest to get something other than Zubats. She's in for more zubats, but maybe she'll find that Paras or something else!
That is, before she realizes the bridge was out.
Luckily, her traveling outfit is actually pretty hardy! Albeit traditional ninja-y. Hers is steel blue!
There are aliens here though. "Hi weird people!" she offers as she pulls a rope and grappling hook out of her handy pack and begins to spin it. She's going to help them by proxy! Eventually she might realize they're on the same route and will-
"Drifters?" She pauses, still spinning the rope in her hand before calmly letting the hook fly. The first shot wasn't quite right, but it's a matter of reeling it back, readjusting and throwing it out!
There's a tutorial owl, but Nina's the sort that mashes A repeatedly and gets stuck in a loop. Clearly. It's about then that she realizes she did it the hard way and raises a hand, "Wait? You guys needed to go across too?" before trying to uh, tight rope walk across. She should probably just shimmy, but showing off and practicing in one go..
DG: Nina Chiyome has used her Tool Ninja Tools Box toward her party's challenge, The Bridge People No Longer Cross. Quicken! Party Agility boosted!
<Pose Tracker> Timu Guado has posed.
Timu's not far behind from Eleanor. There's the real possibility Lan might be hurt, and she's someone looking for a place to be useful while a little overwhelmed about all the possibilities that have been open to her since she left Spira. There's that weird standoffish guy everyone seems to have problems with, but... he also isn't making much of a defense for his case, is he.
"R-Right," Timu nods her head. She knows she has a rope on hand. (To Nina's call about people looking weird, Timu looks weird - she looks like she's a Grass-type Nedian that someone tried to stretch apart! Which is a strange thing to call a Guado, but using 'bridging descriptive likeness to Nedian' as a template, it's accurate.)
"Joy! Eleanor! I'm not far behind," Timu calls as she balls up some rope while holding a loose end, tosses it up, and slams it with her palm to try and get the other end towards where anyone might be waiting to catch it and help secure it along the lines of other ropes and analogues provided.
DG: Timu Guado has used her Tool Unconventional Blitzball toward her party's challenge, The Bridge People No Longer Cross. Stalwart! Party shielded from some Exhaustion this round!
=================================<* Mt. Moon *>=================================
==============<* CHALLENGE - The Bridge People No Longer Cross *>===============
| Type: Entry | Dungeon Ability: Agility | Challenge Rating: 2 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information >----------------------------
You come onto the primary path on Mt. Moon. The Kanto Police Department are
here, cordoning off what looks like a pretty horrific battle that's skewed
the landscape and torn bridges and paths down in its wake. Hikers around you
whisper to each other, concerns about the Ten Wise Men fresh on their mind.
The nearest constable suggests that you come back once the path has been
repaired, but...
Is this really a broken bridge situation? Was there really an unfinished
quest in Pewter City? Are you still the type to turn around and hope an
unrelated situation occupies your time until the bridge is fixed?
============================= Dungeon Conditions: =============================
| Quicken:_Agility_Up! and Tire:_Exhaustion_Up! |
= Digger 2.0 ===================================================================
=====================<* Mt. Moon - Round 1 *>======================
========<* CHALLENGE - The Bridge People No Longer Cross *>========
Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail Timu Guado 0 --(0)--> 0 Best Unconventional Blitzball Min Agility Effects: Stalwart
Loren Voss 0 --(15)--> 15 Normal Rush Bsc Agility Effects: BASIC
Eleanor Klein 0 --(0)--> 0 Best Rauru's Flight Min Agility Effects: Stalwart
Arisugawa Joy 0 --(3)--> 3 Good Rush Bsc Agility Effects: BASIC
Nina Chiyome 0 --(3)--> 3 Best Ninja Tools Box Min Agility Effects: Quicken
Leader: Loren Voss 0 --(20)--> 20 Pass Conditions: Tire(2) Effects: Quicken(1)
Digger 2.0 ==================================================================
DG: The party led by Loren Voss has passed this challenge! The party gained 20 exploration! If anyone needs to use party management commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw.
<Pose Tracker> Loren Voss has posed.
He hadn't come alone. Eleanor had just about insisted, and once she'd caught wind, that Guado girl Timu had wanted to come along as well. He'd argued about it, but not for very long and not very hard: if Lan was in trouble (and she probably is, he's convinced himself already) then there's no sense quibbling over the fine points: they need to get her back safely, and to do that...
To do that, he's got to be able to carry his own weight in a Pokemon battle. Which is also a thing. He has to learn how to do.
"I'll think of something," he tells Eleanor, furrowing his brow as he looks for a way down. "What, do you have any better ideas--"
Eleanor turns into an owl. He watches her head off for a moment, the frown on his face deepening. "That's cheating," he announces to the universe at large. But... he should lower a rope, huh? Kneeling on one side of the edge, he carefully ties a rope and begins to shimmy his way downward. This sort of thing is always easier than it looks, he's thought.
From above, they're joined by two more! Are they Drifters? "Sure," Loren says, working his way downward. He's seen the one girl before, he thinks, and she--
Slings a rope across the gap and just starts walking across. It makes Loren feel faintly dizzy just looking at it as he continues on his descent. ...Particularly when Timu joins that rope with one of her own, making for a loose rope bridge for the girls to cross above while he--
His knots are impeccable (he does know how to tie off a vein) but it doesn't matter how good his rope-tying skills are when he kicks a booted foot out for the wall and finds that rather, the wall curves inwards here, meaning he's now braced against nothing. In a panic, Loren's grip on the rope slips and he drops the remaining fifteen feet down to the earth below. It's enough to rattle him, but fortunately not enough to cause serious injury.
And then he still has to get up the other side again... ...Why is he doing this again?
Right. Of course. So he'll be muttering curses when he rises on the other side of the ledge by his fingertips, but he does get there (Earth Ether manipulation helps. Dunsparce helped too!).
DG: Timu Guado has drawn a new Challenge.
=================================<* Mt. Moon *>=================================
===================<* CHALLENGE - Gravelers and Travelers *>====================
| Type: Exploration | Dungeon Ability: Brute | Challenge Rating: 2 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information >----------------------------
An enormous pile of boulders block the passage forward here... until one of
them shifts and reveals itself to be a Graveler, a Rock-type Pokemon and the
evolved form of Geodude. Graveler are notorious for their tendency to
self-destruct. It's a *little* mean, but to be fair, it's in their nature to
self-destruct. They love doing it. They Endure it on a regular basis. And
the alternative is going to take a lot more effort. If you give it a firm
jolt, it should start the process and set off a chain reaction.
https://archives.bulbagarden.net/media/upload/d/d4/0075Graveler.png
============================= Dungeon Conditions: =============================
| Injure:_Exhaustion_Up_On_Failure!, Quicken:_Agility_Up!, and |
| Tire:_Exhaustion_Up! |
= Digger 2.0 ===================================================================
<Pose Tracker> Timu Guado has posed.
Things happen for a bit, with Loren's little drop and scare. They happen for an appreciable amount of time that segues into the descent into the darker caverns of Mt. Moon.
At least... it should! It doesn't, because there's a big pile of boulders sitting around on the ground.
"Did the cave collapse?" Timu asks, hand over her eyes. "They all look the same, though... large, and round." They're Graveler, all of them, but only one reveals themselves with a turn of their body to show a squinting set of eyes, an open mouth, and two sets of arms. One set is hugging themselves, the other set out.
"Gravel." They grumble, facing to the group while they sit there, revealing at least two more nearby with their own mumbled permutations of their name before settling.
Timu looks to the others.
"I don't know if we should disturb them, but..." Do they have another way in? To Timu's credit, she starts to pace around looking for a rock that might not be a Graveler, fitting a mechanized gauntlet that was once her father's before hurling it out on a chain to grab at a promising candidate and - with serious effort on her part due to the Guado's physiological lower physical strength relative to many others - starts to pull.
She can't see the blinking eyes on the other side of the 'boulder' she's trying to pull.
DG: Timu Guado has used her Tool Pull Claw toward her party's challenge, Gravelers and Travelers. Strengthen! Party Brute boosted!
<Pose Tracker> Arisugawa Joy has posed.
That ninja girl... she's been seeing so many lately, when she really didn't interface with them in the past. It's become something of a coincidence.
But Timu draws her attention. "Timu! Is this someone you know?" Joy looks surprised, but she really shouldn't be. She nods to Eleanor. "I'm Arisugawa Joy. It's nice to meet you." Ropes are thrown, and people cross one way or another...
Well, Loren nearly slips, but he catches himself as Joy watches with some relief, helping him up the rest of the way.
"Mt. Moon experiences a lot of geological activity," Joy explains to Timu, putting on a white jacket (without an R) as they head further in. "In part because... yes, large parts of it are, in fact, rock Pokemon. This is a Graveler."
She gestures towards the team. "They can be prone to self-exploding, which is an activity they partake in in certain phases of the month. It doesn't seem like there's any other way, though..."
Hydreigon, meanwhile, looks so overjoyed to see Timu again, and nuzzles up to her side with notes flying out of her head, and starts bonking her sock puppet heads at some of the boulders to help out.
DG: Arisugawa Joy has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Gravelers and Travelers.
<Pose Tracker> Eleanor Klein has posed.
Eleanor can't let Loren tackle this problem on his own; Lan is her friend, too. And she thinks what he needs is some support. Maybe it won't solve everything, but...
Joy is on the other side! Eleanor will greet her when she's done being an owl and giving a tutorial, same for Nina. Weird people...
But Eleanor is there on the other side and becomes an elf again. "Great work, Timu," she says warmly, and then looks to Loren, "At least you made it! Between us we can take care of little aches and pains, right?"
Then, "Hello, Miss Joy, Miss...?" She looks at Nina. "I'm Eleanor Klein. I'm indeed a Visitor! I come from a city named Klein, on Filgaia."
Gravelers... Eleanor taps her cheek. "I don't want to disturb the local wildlife, but..."
"E-ehhh!?" Eleanor says, turning to Joy immediately. "Self-exploding??"
She is very dubious about this, but once assured that it is an effective and useful strategy...
"Well, all right." Eleanor picks up what she is reasonably sure is a boulder, the Power Bracelet sparkling in the cavern's dim light, and throws it at a Graveler!
"They're kind of cute, aren't they...?"
DG: Eleanor Klein has used her Tool Power Bracelet toward her party's challenge, Gravelers and Travelers.
<Pose Tracker> Nina Chiyome has posed.
Nina Chiyome glares at the big rock walls. Sure there's ways around it, but who enjoys block puzzles these days? Her fingers trail over her pokeballs, trying to think of who would best help.
Eleanor's greeting is met with a distracted wave. Then she pauses, "Wait where's the Noctowl?" as she glances around. The talking part didn't even phase her. (She was probably rocking out to something.)
"Nina Chiyome, I don't have a town named after me though. Yet." She clearly thinks highly of herself. Or thinks it might be a joke. Hard to tell.
The Golem then makes itself known. Finally she throws her Mawile. It's not the best matchup. At all, but Brick Break's a thing and maybe she can endure? Especially with the Ninja doing a few quick hand gestures before casting "Power up!" on the pokemon. Giving it an edge. Hopefully. Besides, self destruct is normal at least..
It's only then that she looks to Timu (Who is very strange) and at least doesn't stare. "Did you guys need help or a guide or something?" Nodding to Joy's attempt to do the same. Sort of at least with the warning! Nina's looking to Loren when she asks if anyone in particular needs help.
DG: Nina Chiyome has used her Tool Power Up toward her party's challenge, Gravelers and Travelers.
<Pose Tracker> Loren Voss has posed.
"It was nothing," Loren insists, shaking his head. He's at most just a little bit sore from his exertions; it's nothing to clear that feeling from his arms and fingers (and legs and feet, but who's asking). He's had way worse: at least it's a fairly mild temperature around here and isn't an actual heat index of death like it was in some parts of Ignas. He might not be able to run very fast but endurance is another story...
"Nina," Loren answers, beetling his brow. "Right? And it's... Loren," he settles for, glancing the once Eleanor's way. He could use the usual pseudonym, but what's the point here? Someone's probably going to mix it up, anyway!
But he's not going to say where he's from, all the same.
So the Pokemon can also... blow up as a part of their natural life cycles. "Right," he says, because after some of the stuff he's seen, sure, why not. "...Hmm. But if they blow up, then you can't catch one, can you..." Loren muses, arms folded across his chest as he contemplates that particular puzzle.
"I'm going to see if I can rouse them," he decides, and he palms from his pants pocket a particular smooth stone in his left hand as he begins to focus. Can he... see if he can get some of them to move and not blow up? Or is the vibration just going to make them explode anyway?
He readies in his right hand a Pokeball and in this moment catches Nina looking at him. "I read how to do this," he says pointedly, as if that makes the difference for actually doing it.
DG: Loren Voss has used his Tool Worry Stone toward his party's challenge, Gravelers and Travelers. Stalwart! Party shielded from some Exhaustion this round!
=================================<* Mt. Moon *>=================================
===================<* CHALLENGE - Gravelers and Travelers *>====================
| Type: Exploration | Dungeon Ability: Brute | Challenge Rating: 2 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information >----------------------------
An enormous pile of boulders block the passage forward here... until one of
them shifts and reveals itself to be a Graveler, a Rock-type Pokemon and the
evolved form of Geodude. Graveler are notorious for their tendency to
self-destruct. It's a *little* mean, but to be fair, it's in their nature to
self-destruct. They love doing it. They Endure it on a regular basis. And
the alternative is going to take a lot more effort. If you give it a firm
jolt, it should start the process and set off a chain reaction.
https://archives.bulbagarden.net/media/upload/d/d4/0075Graveler.png
============================= Dungeon Conditions: =============================
| Injure:_Exhaustion_Up_On_Failure!, Strengthen:_Brute_Up!, and |
| Tire:_Exhaustion_Up! |
= Digger 2.0 ===================================================================
=====================<* Mt. Moon - Round 2 *>======================
=============<* CHALLENGE - Gravelers and Travelers *>=============
Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail Timu Guado 0 --(3)--> 3 Best Pull Claw Min Brute Effects: Strengthen
Loren Voss 15 --(0)--> 15 Best Worry Stone Min Brute Effects: Stalwart
Eleanor Klein 0 --(3)--> 3 Best Power Bracelet Maj Brute Effects: Efficient
Arisugawa Joy 3 --(3)--> 6 Best Force Bsc Brute Effects: BASIC
Nina Chiyome 3 --(3)--> 6 Best Power Up Maj Brute Effects: Efficient
Leader: Loren Voss 20 --(20)--> 40 Pass Conditions: Injure(2) and Tire(1) Effects: Strengthen(1)
Digger 2.0 ==================================================================
DG: The party led by Loren Voss has passed this challenge! The party gained 20 exploration! If anyone needs to use party management commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw.
<Pose Tracker> Timu Guado has posed.
Timu nods to Joy. "I ran into them," she gestures to Eleanor and Loren, "in Diglett's Cave." When Hydreigon nuzzles up to Timu, she allows the nuzzling and raises a hand in turn to give her a pat if Joy approves of it, but then... less pleasantries, more Things That Will Explode.
"Oh! I'm sorry, I didn't introduce myself," she says to Nina mid-pulling. "I'm Timu Guado, I'm also a Visitor--" That's when the Graveler makes themselves known.
"Grav." >:)
"Wh-when you say self-exploding--" Timu's about to ask Joy, but too late.
Eleanor hurls a boulder (actually another Graveler who is suddenly too afraid to move given their circumstances) into a Graveler on one side, and Hydreigon bonking from the other side, and in the center...
Nina gives them a little X Attack-esque push.
There are gravelly laughs, and then...
* SELF-DESTRUCT NOISES *
Timu shrieks, more than startled, and the teenaged Guado finds that shot of adrenaline that somehow yanks the one she's grappled onto far enough out of the chain blast range that they tumble over from the displaced force and find themselves on their side, looking up to Loren with, perhaps for the first time, a level of understanding of mutual circumstances.
They don't fight if Loren throws the Pokeball.
As the smoke clears - this part of the cave isn't well-ventilated - there's fainted, charred husks of Graveler (aside from two giving one another a high-five) as Timu draws the Pull Claw back.
Timu needs a moment to catch her breath from the element of surprise but is otherwise unharmed. The way forward is clear! Unless you stub your toe on fainted Gravelers, anyway, but still clear.
DG: Arisugawa Joy has drawn a new Challenge.
=================================<* Mt. Moon *>=================================
==================<* CHALLENGE - Zubatten Down the Hatches *>===================
| Type: Exploration | Dungeon Ability: Wits | Challenge Rating: 3 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information >----------------------------
SCREEEE
You're stuck in the middle of nowhere and you're certain you've seen these
cavernous branches of Mt. Moon before. Normally, it wouldn't be an issue to
take a bit of time and consult a map (Mt. Moon is not an uncharted mountain,
after all), but...
SCREEEE
The Zubats aren't leaving you alone. Can you find your inner peace and find
your way before the screeching of the Zubats get to you?
============================= Dungeon Conditions: =============================
| Injure:_Exhaustion_Up_On_Failure!, Madness:_Wits_Down!, and |
| Strengthen:_Brute_Up! |
= Digger 2.0 ===================================================================
<Pose Tracker> Arisugawa Joy has posed.
"Eleanor Klein. Nina Chiyome... and ... Loren," Joy remarks, seeming like she has trouble without a pair of a given name and a surname, but she does her little ritual to remember people's names regardless. Then, a nod towards Timu. "So you went to Diglett's Cave... did you discover anything there?"
The Gravelers explode, and Joy has taken shelter behind another boulder with her arms above her head and her ears closed; she coughs a little at the smoke, her breath wheezing a little, but then rises. "Is everyone okay?"
There's a nod to Eleanor and Timu both. "It's a kind of molting process, is how I heard it described by the professors." She glances to Nina for a moment. "That Mawile..."
She closes her eyes,. "... it looks like you two get along fairly well. The song in Mawile's heart is clear."
Loren's approach of capturing them also draws her interest. "Are you in search of companions for your journey? ... Graveler can be a steadfast companion for the long road."
They proceed further, and then Joy suddenly stops. "... past this point is Zubat nest territory," she remarks. "If you have anything like earplugs, you might want to take them out."
Case in point, Joy takes out what looks like earmuffs and slips them on, and then walks towards a nearby wall covered in what looks like roots, and takes out a... a... well, a fire axe.
She chops through after a few hews, and then gestures. "This way is a shortcut, but... we'll still have to cross through the heart of their nest sooner or later."
DG: Arisugawa Joy has used her Tool My Favourite Axe toward her party's challenge, Zubatten Down the Hatches. Cleanse! All negative effects will be cleared at the end of the round! Shortsighted! The party will suffer a penalty next round... but not this round!
<Pose Tracker> Eleanor Klein has posed.
"Noctowl?" Eleanor wonders of Nina. "Was there a Pokemon I missed?" She looks around. But, "Haha. Well, I suppose it is a distinction, isn't it? I hope you can get there!"
Help, or a guide... "I would accept help gratefully," Eleanor says, "As would my companion." That is, Loren. Even if he won't say he's grateful. She insists!
She looks at him as he introduces himself, and shakes her head. She's not going to declare where he's from right now. But she does meet his eyes.
Eleanor walks over to Timu, to look her over. "Are you all right?" she asks. Eleanor for her part didn't shriek... but she did throw up a golden barrier to protect herself.
Joy has explanations. "A molting process... I see. It's quite alarming!"
She then looks to Joy, and tilts her head. "Can you read the hearts of Pokemon?" she wonders. Loren can ask for himself for this part; but she looks around, considering the nest, and...
"Ah. I see." Earplugs. Eleanor considers, as Joy takes out the fire axe, and takes out a fire fox by pointing her Pokeball to the ground. Pyri appears in a flash, looking around curiously. "Vul?" she wonders.
"Perhaps you can help us ward off the the nest," she asks of Pyri. "A little fire might encourage them to flee..."
Then, also, "In Diglett's Cave I made another little friend, but I haven't brought her out much yet. Pyri, for her part, begins to summon up ghostly flames, staring into the distance. "Pix..."
To stare into her eyes is to stare into beyond.
DG: Eleanor Klein has used her Tool Spooky Pyri toward her party's challenge, Zubatten Down the Hatches. Rally!
<Pose Tracker> Eleanor Klein has posed.
"Noctowl?" Eleanor wonders of Nina. "Was there a Pokemon I missed?" She looks around. But, "Haha. Well, I suppose it is a distinction, isn't it? I hope you can get there!"
Help, or a guide... "I would accept help gratefully," Eleanor says, "As would my companion." That is, Loren. Even if he won't say he's grateful. She insists!
She looks at him as he introduces himself, and shakes her head. She's not going to declare where he's from right now. But she does meet his eyes.
Eleanor walks over to Timu, to look her over. "Are you all right?" she asks. Eleanor for her part didn't shriek... but she did throw up a golden barrier to protect herself.
Joy has explanations. "A molting process... I see. It's quite alarming!"
She then looks to Joy, and tilts her head. "Can you read the hearts of Pokemon?" she wonders. Loren can ask for himself for this part; but she looks around, considering the nest, and...
"Ah. I see." Earplugs. Eleanor considers, as Joy takes out the fire axe, and takes out a fire fox by pointing her Pokeball to the ground. Pyri appears in a flash, looking around curiously. "Vul?" she wonders.
"Perhaps you can help us ward off the the nest," she asks of Pyri. "A little fire might encourage them to flee..."
Then, also, "In Diglett's Cave I made another little friend, but I haven't brought her out much yet. A Diglett, in fact!"
Pyri, for her part, begins to summon up ghostly flames, staring into the distance. "Pix..."
To stare into her eyes is to stare into beyond.
<Pose Tracker> Nina Chiyome has posed.
Nina Chiyome realizes that while the Mawile might be able to protect the others and you know, not really be too affected by the explosion as she tries to KO the thing, she herself is not made of steel and questionable design decisions. Loren is given a brief nod though, "Yeah Nina. And make sure you hit! Whiffed shots are a waste of money!" That's good advice for a kid that doesn't have bottomless pockets!
She makes a sound similar to 'Oops' and ducks behind a rock wall at the explosion, looking at least a little dazed.
"Revolting process?" she calls out a little louder than intended. "I think it's so they can get bigger, nothing weird" She might.. have been closer to the blast than she should have.
"They blew the rocks out of the way" That's still loud. Also a bit obvious.
Nina, in hindsight should also have tried to capture one, but threat of rocks and all. She does crouch down and check on her Mawile (Mari!) leaning left and right and fussing before pulling her back into her pokeball.
"I don't think I need more zubats." She says, slightly quieter. It's getting easier.
She doesn't have any ear muffs like Joy does. She does however have headphones. The fancy noise canceling kind. Probably not the best piece of kit to take along for what she usually.. takes them along for.
"There's a lot of them, but they're friendly and they evolve into cute big things." She mimics their big teeth with both hands.
She works a finger in her ear before pulling the headphones over, "There was. Big talk-y owl. Figured it was mimicking someone." She clearly wasn't listening.
The question of the hearts of pokemon gets a review of what she's heard, then she glances over, "Can you? That's neat. I just kinda feed mine and make sure they're happy."
She doesn't stare at anything resembling the beyond at least.
Timu's offered a wave, "You -" she starts, "Nice to meet you! Hope you guys are having fun, explosions aside!" (She thinks they're fun at a distance. This close it's a bigger problem.)
DG: Nina Chiyome has used her Tool Tagging Kit toward her party's challenge, Zubatten Down the Hatches. Rally!
<Pose Tracker> Timu Guado has posed.
Timu nods her head as Eleanor asks if she's okay after that set of chain explosions. She's from Spira, a place with Bombs that like to explode, but it's the first time she's been around so many living explosives at once. She sucks in a breath as she uses the staff she carries as a means to keep herself upright. A few coughs later, she's up and able to keep going.
She casts a look to the Mawile as Joy speaks of the 'song in Mawile's heart,' and again as Joy speaks of searching for companions for one's journey.
She doesn't say much about any of it, because she's still digesting that excitement.
Nina does help open her up a bit. "I'm... I'm all right!" She's not desensitized to some of the wilder aspects of Energy Nede yet.
"I found we almost got flooded by..." She tries to remember the name, she had someone else tell her after they all got to the other side, "Wugtrio." A meeting with a Pokemon that can be very dangerous, in the right circumstances - a far cry from the first and second impressions of Hydreigon. Joy will notice Timu has no Pokeballs on her person.
As they move to the Zubad territory, she's just taking Joy's advice to heart and covering her ears, crouching down, and make as s mall a profile as possible for someone who stands over 180cm tall (it's very tall!).
DG: Timu Guado has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Zubatten Down the Hatches.
<Pose Tracker> Loren Voss has posed.
Does he... have to give his surname? Maybe he ought to play it safe, he figures, frowning faintly.
Did he discover anything in Diglett's Cave? Well, that Azoth wasn't there, among other things. ...And the other things weren't much fun to find out at all.
Still, as it so happens, he gets his chance with the Graveler pile as Timu manages to fling one away from the rest! He doesn't hesitate but throws the ball overhand shortly after it lands: one thing that Loren has going for him is that he has superb aim (thanks to years of misspent time alone with small throwable objects). A few tense moments pass but-- CLICK!
GRAVELER was caught!
Scooping up the Pokeball he follows after the others.
"Yeah," he answers Joy, fishing around in his bag. "I need Pokemon to help someone I know. ...And... uh. If you can read the hearts of these guys..." He produces Lan's Pokeball, releasing her Lunatone. "How's this one doing? I'm looking after it for someone."
SCREE
"...What's that sound?"
They're... Zubats. Obviously.
SCREE
He fishes around in his bag again, pulling out and unwrapping a nondescript bar of... something. He wads up a piece of it into a pellet and walks in the direction of the noise.
SCREE
Is it possible to lure one of them down with a snack? Is it a good idea to lure one of them down with a snack? Is he only going to get one coming down with the promise of a snack?
Loren is already regretting this course of action.
SCREE
DG: Loren Voss has used his Tool Soylent Nutribar toward his party's challenge, Zubatten Down the Hatches. Resilient! Party shielded from some exhaustion next round!
=================================<* Mt. Moon *>=================================
==================<* CHALLENGE - Zubatten Down the Hatches *>===================
| Type: Exploration | Dungeon Ability: Wits | Challenge Rating: 3 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information >----------------------------
SCREEEE
You're stuck in the middle of nowhere and you're certain you've seen these
cavernous branches of Mt. Moon before. Normally, it wouldn't be an issue to
take a bit of time and consult a map (Mt. Moon is not an uncharted mountain,
after all), but...
SCREEEE
The Zubats aren't leaving you alone. Can you find your inner peace and find
your way before the screeching of the Zubats get to you?
============================= Dungeon Conditions: =============================
| Cleanse:_All_Effects_Removed!, Injure:_Exhaustion_Up_On_Failure!, |
| Madness:_Wits_Down!, Resilient:_Exhaustion_Down!, and |
| Shortsighted:_All_Stats_Down! |
= Digger 2.0 ===================================================================
=====================<* Mt. Moon - Round 3 *>======================
============<* CHALLENGE - Zubatten Down the Hatches *>============
Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail Timu Guado 3 --(29)--> 32 Worst Investigate Bsc Wits Effects: BASIC
Loren Voss 15 --(17)--> 32 Good Soylent Nutribar Min Wits Effects: Resilient
Eleanor Klein 3 --(17)--> 20 Good Spooky Pyri Maj Wits Effects: Rally
Arisugawa Joy 6 --(29)--> 35 Bad My Favourite Axe Min Wits Effects: Shortsighted and
Cleanse
Nina Chiyome 6 --(17)--> 23 Good Tagging Kit Maj Wits Effects: Rally
Leader: Loren Voss 40 --(15)--> 55 Fail Conditions: Injure(1) and Madness Effects: Cleanse, Resilient(1), and Shortsighted(1)
Digger 2.0 ==================================================================
DG: The party led by Loren Voss has failed this challenge! The party gained 15 exploration! If anyone needs to use party management commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw.
<Pose Tracker> Arisugawa Joy has posed.
Joy looks between Nina and Eleanor as she speaks of a Noctowl, and then back at Eleanor. "That power you demonstrated..." she pauses, then shakes her head. It's not the right time, when they're trying to get through this precarious part of Mt. Moon...
Pyri is summoned, and creates ghostly flames. The light seems to attract some of the Zubat... with no eyes, can they stare into the beyond? The answer seems to be yes.
"Yes," Joy answers Nina's question of listening to Pokemon's hearts. "I am a psychic, but... don't be alarmed. I don't listen to people's hearts, only Pokemon." Still, Pyri's heart may be full of the great beyond, so Joy doesn't comment on it immediately.
"Are you okay, Timu?" she checks on the Guado teen, after they proceed a bit longer -- she's moving slower than she'd like to, in part because the smoke's done a number on her breathing and tired her out. She does notice the lack of Pokeballs.
"... I'd been thinking, but you seem to have a gift with Pokemon. Would you like to start caring for one?" Joy asks genuinely, of Timu. "Once we are done here, I can help you with that."
Loren doesn't have to give his surname, but Joy might forget. Which, really, is the ideal opsec outcome, isn't it? Well done, Loren!
She blinks once as Loren mentions how he needs Pokemon to help someone he knows. And... releases Lan's Lunatone. "... mm. Lunatone is a bit wary, but... he's giving you a chance. Stand by him, and he'll warm up to you."
BUT THEN
Loren tosses a Soylent Nutribar out to lure one down. And initially, it seems to be a great success! One arrives down to, as a certain simple country doctor would put it, end a person's life, and consume their flesh. Is that... permissible?
oh heckin yes it is, decides the rest of the swarm, who has sensed FOOD and is coming down like a tidal wave upon you--
Run!!!
DG: Eleanor Klein has drawn a new Challenge.
=================================<* Mt. Moon *>=================================
====================<* CHALLENGE - I Find It Kinda Funny *>=====================
| Type: Exploration | Dungeon Ability: Combat | Challenge Rating: 2 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information >----------------------------
You swiftly become aware of a presence just around the corner, and spot
three humanoid figures dressed in white and black. These must be the goons
of Team Rocket, who've been lurking around this area to try to steal fossils
and other such forms of mischief--
Wait, that long, conical hat... the scimitars they're wielding...
That's no Team Rocket grunt! They're Filgaian Funnythieves (one word), a
truly bizarre species of Scumbag that vaguely resemble human bandits and are
naturally drawn to mischief, attempting to masquerade themselves as local
criminal elements!! Those Scumbags!! Get 'em!!
OOC: Pokemon Trainers, you can catch a Funnythief if you want to. It's fine.
Mr. Mime exists. The question is.... Do you /really/ want one?
============================= Dungeon Conditions: =============================
| Fright:_Combat_Down!_Agility_Up!, Resilient:_Exhaustion_Down!, |
| Shortsighted:_All_Stats_Down!, and Wound:_Combat_Down! |
= Digger 2.0 ===================================================================
<Pose Tracker> Eleanor Klein has posed.
Joy's prompting tells Eleanor what Nina was getting at, and Eleanor says, "Oh! Yes, I can transform into an owl," she explains. "It's a spell an important teacher taught to me." She smiles.
Whiffed shots are a waste of money... wise. Eleanor misses Nina's comment in all the chaos, but she does notice.. the zubats. Time mentions the flood, and Eleanor grimaces. "I was trying to forget the sandy, muddy parts of the trip," she admits.
SCREE.
Eleanor does not capture a Zubat just yet. Instead, she runs. "Loren!" she says, "Put down the snack and run!"
Pyri's heart is, indeed, full of the great beyond. Perhaps another of Eleanor's pokemon would give a better idea of how she treats them. ...Or the fact that when they start running, Eleanor scoops up Pyri and hugs her close to get them both out of here.
"A psychic!" Eleanor replies. "I'm not alarmed. I have some similar abilities myself, though I can only communicate in words."
Timu and pokemon... That does seem nice.
"I'm glad Lunatone is doing all right," Eleanor says. And... Now...
They are swiftly aware of a presence, as they move. The goons--
"Funnythieves!" Eleanor identifies them, as they rush towards her and try to STEAL HER STUFF. "Pyri!" she calls, and sets down her Pokemon, "Give them what for! Foul Play!"
The Vulpix rushes towards them, and there is a terrible dustcloud...
But there's others!!
DG: Eleanor Klein has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward her party's challenge, I Find It Kinda Funny.
<Pose Tracker> Loren Voss has posed.
"Mm..." Loren muses, frowning as he regards Lunatone. "He's not mine, but..."
But Lunatone is just extremely cool. Cool enough that Loren really, really wants to make friends...
"...What do they like to eat?" After all, he knows that he likes a good meal. So it's probably the same case for a Pokemon... right? It might be a good first start, especially since he's not sure how far he's going to have to go to rescue Lan. He's going to have to take care of this guy in the meantime.
There we go. It worked like a charm, Loren thinks to himself, throwing a ball at the one he's lured out.
SCREE
There's only one very briefly. Soon, there are more. Far more!
"Lunatone, return!" Loren barks out, about-facing and bolting away from the swarm of Zubats that are upon them! As an appeasment -- or more likely, as a distraction -- he hurls the rest of that bar towards the opposite wall! "I'm running!" he shouts as Eleanor as they make tracks!
But they're out of the frying pan and into the fire -- or away from the Zubats and into the pack of Funnythieves. "What are these?" Loren starts, glancing among the very funny (and not in the ha-ha sort of way) thieves indeed. He fishes about in his bag, shuffling through a mix of various objects and items. This is when a bear-ly there head pops up, a small vial in its mouth. "...Runeberry?" Loren utters, surprised by the assistance.
>RUNEBERRY is helping!
Downing the contents of the vial (relax, it's just Rosesol) Loren throws out a short wave of water that falls like a hard rain. It might help keep those Funnythieves back!
DG: Loren Voss has used his Tool Solarian Medical Kit toward his party's challenge, I Find It Kinda Funny. Cleanse! All negative effects will be cleared at the end of the round! Liability! Failure will result in extra Exhaustion!
<Pose Tracker> Arisugawa Joy has posed.
By the time they've outrun the Zubat, Joy's looking much worse for the wear; her breathing's more audible at this point, and she looks frustrated at herself for it.
"Joy, your condition's getting worse. Inhaler, bzzt," Rotom Phone chirps, hovering in front of her.
"Just a moment..." she has to kneel and rummage through her pack, to fetch her inhaler and medicate. It takes a while, but they mercifully have a moment to spare.
She slacks and wipes her forehead, then looks to Loren and his question. "Various Pokemon have different diets, but most do enjoy Poffins and Poke Puffs, as well as the various Berries you can harvest around Nede."
Eleanor's admission that she can transform into an owl impresses Joy. "Is that a kind of... magic?"
Ahead, there's a number of Rocket goons, and Joy freezes. Shoot, if they recognise me... but--
Funnythieves!
"Eh? What are Funnythieves?" Joy sounds really perplexed for once. This is entirely out of her wheelhouse. One peels away from the cartoon dustcloudfight and charges at her with its scimitar. "Ah-"
Hydreigon steps forward.
Hydreigon is incredibly cuddly (b-but don't tell her that! she's a dramatic Dragon of Darqueness!) and kind of easily startled and often very anxious but she tries her hardest.
But also.
Hydreigon is a Hall of Famer.
*draco meteor*
DG: Arisugawa Joy has used her Tool Hall of Fame Boxes toward her party's challenge, I Find It Kinda Funny.
<Pose Tracker> Timu Guado has posed.
Timu only has a vague understanding of Zubat that will not survive as 'vague' for her time in Mt. Moon. She will know of their shrieks and numbers.
'Are you okay, Timu?' Joy comes to the Guado teenager's side as she's trying to re-center herself after some of the excitement and now some of the dread that's settling in under the threat of Zubat.
Joy mentions she might have a gift, remembering how quickly Joy's Hydreigon took to her - and a very important question to be made.
'Would you like to start caring for one?'
Timu looks at it, thinking about it - looking to Pyri (not at her eyes), to how even someone might trust Loren despite how untrustworthy and... unapproachable, he seems.
It seems strange she hasn't already made any friends like the others have, doesn't it? She's run from home, and while she's doing a lot better than most in her position might on her own talents...
'Once we are done here, I can help you with that.'
"...Okay." She nods. It's not a committal answer in the moment, but that's going to be on her mind... can she, should she?
ZUBAT HAPPENS. Panic and chaos!!!
Timu hauls along with great leg strides as is her birthright as a Guado, coming shy of running into serious danger! She skids and touches a hand down to catch herself from silding into the Funnythieves, staggering back as battle happens! Timu stands upright, nods her head, and gets out the staff that Yvain made for her.
"It's all right," she says to Hydreigon who has that moment of anxiousness as she holds that staff tight. She channels what the people of Spira refer to (or once referred to, as Yevon faith definitions shall eventually be unraveled) as prayer magic, a warm wave of healing - the White aspect of Althenian Fire Sorcery - resonates through the group.
DG: Timu Guado has used her Tool Hearth Staff toward her party's challenge, I Find It Kinda Funny. Cleanse! All negative effects will be cleared at the end of the round!
<Pose Tracker> Nina Chiyome has posed.
Nina Chiyome glances to Joy and then back to Eleanor, "Wait what do you mean?" Still clearly confused, "How do you turn into a pokemon?" Yes she's aware there are non-pokemon. Not that she's one hundred percent sure.
She shakes her head, starting to get further when someone aggros all of the bats. "Nope!" Is her single response, going for the sprint. She's not even going to try and deal with that many at once!
In this case though, there's a pair of funnythieves. A thing she doesn't recognize and she about plows through in her attempts to get away from the bats.
She drops her Quilava's ball and manages to recover, coming to a stop with her hands out to each side of her. Turning on her heels, she calls out, "Go Poppy!" as the Typhlosion materializes. She.. doesn't know what this thing is actually.
She does hold a thumbs up out to Timu and smiles, "Glad to hear it, late as it is!"
She orders her quilava to attack, (Flame wheel for what it's worth!) "Be careful!"
She's focused now and is giving out orders. Kinda.. forgetting the others briefly.
DG: Nina Chiyome has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward her party's challenge, I Find It Kinda Funny.
=================================<* Mt. Moon *>=================================
====================<* CHALLENGE - I Find It Kinda Funny *>=====================
| Type: Exploration | Dungeon Ability: Combat | Challenge Rating: 2 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information >----------------------------
You swiftly become aware of a presence just around the corner, and spot
three humanoid figures dressed in white and black. These must be the goons
of Team Rocket, who've been lurking around this area to try to steal fossils
and other such forms of mischief--
Wait, that long, conical hat... the scimitars they're wielding...
That's no Team Rocket grunt! They're Filgaian Funnythieves (one word), a
truly bizarre species of Scumbag that vaguely resemble human bandits and are
naturally drawn to mischief, attempting to masquerade themselves as local
criminal elements!! Those Scumbags!! Get 'em!!
OOC: Pokemon Trainers, you can catch a Funnythief if you want to. It's fine.
Mr. Mime exists. The question is.... Do you /really/ want one?
============================= Dungeon Conditions: =============================
| Cleanse:_All_Effects_Removed!, Fright:_Combat_Down!_Agility_Up!, and |
| Wound:_Combat_Down! |
= Digger 2.0 ===================================================================
=====================<* Mt. Moon - Round 4 *>======================
==============<* CHALLENGE - I Find It Kinda Funny *>==============
Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail Timu Guado 32 --(0)--> 32 Best Hearth Staff Min Combat Effects: Cleanse and
Inefficient
Loren Voss 32 --(17)--> 49 Bad Solarian Medical Kit Min Combat Effects: Cleanse and
Liability
Eleanor Klein 20 --(0)--> 20 Best Fight Bsc Combat Effects: BASIC
Arisugawa Joy 35 --(17)--> 52 Bad Hall of Fame Boxes Maj Combat Effects: Efficient
Nina Chiyome 23 --(17)--> 40 Worst Fight Bsc Combat Effects: BASIC
Leader: Loren Voss 55 --(20)--> 75 Pass Conditions: Fright(2) and Wound(2) Effects: Cleanse
Digger 2.0 ==================================================================
DG: The party led by Loren Voss has passed this challenge! The party gained 20 exploration! If anyone needs to use party management commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw.
<Pose Tracker> Eleanor Klein has posed.
Joy's condition. Eleanor doesn't call her out, but she does start to keep a closer eye on her, given the Rotom phone's announcement and Joy's state. Joy and Nina both inquire after her power, though, and, "Yes," Eleanor explains. "It's magic. I have a special sort of magic that only people of Filgaia can have. ...We might have counterparts on Nede, but I haven't met them if so."
Eleanor smiles at Loren when he muses abou Lunatone. It's nice. He cares!
And he's running!!
"Funnythieves," Eleanor repeats. "They're a type of Filgaian monster. They pose as human bandits and try to do mischief. They're really quite troublesome..."
Hydreigon is very impressive. And Timu may be able to make a friend... But for now, Timu heals all of them, and the difficulty of dealing with Zubats and the caverns all melt away into warmth.
That's good, because Loren has a very bad time. The Funnythieves attempt to steal from him. Joy finds that her Hydreigon has to attack a little harder because the Funnythieves scatter to avoid the all-powerful attack of a Hall of Famer like they're avoiding artillery, and Nina can only focus on her battle for the moment.
But once it's over, "Troublesome," Eleanor repeats. "It's a good thing they weren't really Team Rocket..."
DG: Loren Voss has drawn a new Challenge.
=================================<* Mt. Moon *>=================================
===========================<* CHALLENGE - Dynamite *>===========================
| Type: Final | Dungeon Ability: Brute | Challenge Rating: 3 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information >----------------------------
The eponymous Moon is high in the night sky when you reach the summit of the
mountain. There is a chance to relax and take stock of your situation here.
As you ascend, you notice the soft glow of moonlight from within one of the
valleys and witness a rare sight -- the native Fairy-type Pokemon, Clefairy
and Clefable, dancing and singing. All around them are chunks of glowing
Moon Stones.
The peace is soon disrupted. A tall, demonic creature rises through the air,
silhouetted by the full Moon. "So, this is where you've been hiding. Hand me
those moonstones, or suffer the consequences of defying the Ten Wise Men!"
It doesn't take long before the demonic creature, Cynne, launches a mystic
fusillade, blasting the valley with magic. The Fairy Pokemon cry in terror
and run, and a large chunk of the mountainside collapses, trapping them
underneath stone and rubble! You're in no position to engage the creature --
but you are in position to aid the trapped Pokemon!
BGM - Dynamite - Star Ocean: The Second Story OST
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFfEYuF1JLc
============================= Dungeon Conditions: =============================
| Fright:_Combat_Down!_Agility_Up!, Injure:_Exhaustion_Up_On_Failure!, and |
| Tire:_Exhaustion_Up! |
= Digger 2.0 ===================================================================
<Pose Tracker> Loren Voss has posed.
Why is... Eleanor smiling at him? He looks at her like she's just sprouted another head, apparently not connecting the dots between her and the way he's obviously looking at Lan's Lunatone.
"Really?" says Loren, who has been in various parts of Filgaia yet never encountered a Funnythief. "Weird." Sometimes it's just the luck of the draw-- and the matter of who he's usually been fighting, at that.
His attempt to keep them at bay doesn't go over perhaps as well as he'd prefer. Some of them get in close and worse, get their grubby mitts in his bag! Loren loses some loose bandages and an antiseptic gel. Or at least, he loses them until they're able to disable the Funnythieves and take back what was stolen. It's a tense fight: replacing those would have been a pain and left him short-handed if they ran into trouble.
"Actually," Loren says, readjusting his glasses after the dust settles, "It would have been better if they had. I would have made them tell me where they have Lan." But he shrugs and shakes his head: in the end, what can be done about it?
Other than rolling up to... wherever they've got her with a Pokemon team and busting her out, that is. He's already got a good feeling about the ones he's caught today. Yeah-- he can make this work.
It's just going to be a matter of what else awaits. He's not finished on Mt. Moon just yet, after all: he's going to see what else he can partner up with.
When they emerge out onto the summit of the mountain, the moon is high in the sky. This is a fact that has not gone unnoticed by the resident Pokemon, which have begun to have a celebration under the moon's light. "Huh. There's a lot of these guys," Loren observes, wrinkling his brow as he watches the Fairy Pokemon dance. But while such celebration may have been their intention, it does not proceed as such for long.
Destruction rains down from the heavens.
"What the hell-- I don't have any moonstones!" Loren yells, having already thrown out a hand and shielded the lot of their merry little band under a half-dome of shimmering white light. Nearby, there is screaming, and it takes Loren a moment to realize what's happened: some of those Fairy Pokemon must have run into a nearby cave which collapsed, because there's a pile of rubble that wasn't there before!
"..." He holds that shield steady as Symbological destruction proceeds apace about them. "I'll clear a path," Loren says finally, palming the cold smooth stone from his pocket as if his life depended on it. It's always easier to ground himself and thus chart the course of Ether in a destructive mode like this--
And he's going to have to be careful, especially with his focus split in two directions. The ground trembles underfoot as his Ether snakes on ahead towards the collapsed cave opening while he maintains that shield -- the better to be a distraction.
Probably.
"Now go!"
DG: Loren Voss has used his Tool Worry Stone toward his party's challenge, Dynamite. Stalwart! Party shielded from some Exhaustion this round!
<Pose Tracker> Arisugawa Joy has posed.
There's a gentle nod to Timu in turn, as she gives the okay. At the very least, she can introduce her to Pokemon that would be interested in a journey -- and would find Timu's temperament appealing. But Hydreigon...
Hydreigon's attack makes them scatter! The Funnythieves are fast! She squeals in disappointment, but Timu encourages her. Her morale rises back up! "Hyy," Hydreigon answers Timu in turn.
Joy isn't certain either, as Nina expresses her confusion of Eleanor's power. "I see... a magic native to Filgaia." Joy seems... at least functional right now -- whatever medicine she took has alleviated the symptoms, but fatigue's definitely catching up to her.
Eleanor mentions that it's a good thing they aren't really Team Rocket. "Y-yeah..." So... Loren's friend was captured by Team Rocket? That doesn't sound like their usual procedure. Stealing Pokemon she's used to now, but... kidnapping?
But they arrive at the top. The Fairy Pokemon are dancing and celebrating. One of Joy's Pokeballs suddenly shakes, and out emerges a Pokemon on its own!
It's... a Clefable, wearing a construction helmet! "Clefable," Joy's expression softens. "I'm sorry it took so long to take you back home."
"Clef faaaable," Clefable doesn't seem to mind. She bobbles on down excitedly to greet her friends, before--
Oh no! Suddenly, a demonic creature rises in the air, and starts blasting the valley! "You... you work for the Ten Wise Men?" Joy inquires, her eyes narrowing as she reaches for her Pokeball--
But it doesn't last long, because Cynne launches a volley of magic blasts that send a part of the Mt. Moon mountainside tumbling down. And a cave nearby has caved in from the blast! "No!"
"Clef!!" Clefable squeaks in terror at the same time. She looks to Loren with a nod, and then... she, nods at Joy, and--
Digs into the ground, at surprising speed. This Clefable can Dig!! This Clefable loves Digging!!
Burrowed into the ground, she appears as a little pile of ground that bobbles left and right, before rising up to try to free her brethren!!
"... I believe in you. Clefable!" Joy whispers fervently.
Hydreigon, meanwhile, fires off some spheres of pure Darqueness at Cynne's general direction, to provide cover for the team. She's helping! She's helping!
DG: Arisugawa Joy has contributed a risky Brute Action toward her party's challenge, Dynamite.
<Pose Tracker> Timu Guado has posed.
It takes more of Timu's reserves to cast her sorceries to alleviate aches and ills, and there's a close scare when a Funnythief draws close, but all in all... they get to reach the summit, where Timu looks upon the night skies. Even with the strange patterns of what keeps Energy Nede's remnants alive and exiled from the universe, it's a breathtaking sight, and then...
Clefairy and Clefable, and Timu gasps as she watches precious rare Pokemon go about their lives around Moon Stones.
"They're adorable," she squeals, but then that peace is soon broken!
"The Ten Wise Men... is he one?!" Timu exclaims. She draws the Alchemical Mirror that was gifted to her by Mikaia, preparing to channel her sorcery through it to try and deflect the immense Symbological power. (She manages far less effect than Loren does.) She flinches as rubble showers her all around, but then--
There's chattering from fear as the Pokemon here are caught in the rubble!
She notices that there's an intensity in Joy's voice that generally isn't there from her time knowing her, as Joy's Clefable friend gets to work on helping save her own.
Heedless of Cynne's power, Timu takes off running, stowing away the mirror in favor of the chain gauntlet, staggering over shaking ground as she gives a forceful shout to fling that claw forward. The fingers don't catch.
"Come on!" Timu shouts as she throws it again, and there's a clutching. She starts to pull, straining with what strength she can muster to try and pull some of that away and allow Joy's Clefable to get to work.
DG: Timu Guado has risked with her Tool Pull Claw toward her party's challenge, Dynamite. Strengthen! Party Brute boosted!
<Pose Tracker> Nina Chiyome has posed.
Nina Chiyome glances to Joy briefly, then finally just nods at the suggestion that it's a Filgaia thing which is definitely a point of curiousity and a point of.. follow up. Of kinds. "Wait were they supposed to be out here?" She hasn't actually met a Rocket (Hah.)
She.. also didn't do as well in the battle as she'd have liked. Mostly carried by the others which actually gets her looking embarrassed. "Sorry" she admits sheepishly.
Eleanor's given a hand up after she sucks up her pride though and, "I want to ask about the noctowl thing later!" She'll learn it's a different kind of beast.
She does turn and kinda stop though, spotting all of those fairy pokemon. (She knows the name, but it's fine)
She nods, "Yeah." To Loren's comment, "Don't think I've ever seen this many in one place." She pauses, "I don't think I've seen one in person." They're adorable! Like big fluffy pillows.
She didn't come prepared for this kind of fight. That look of joy slipping away. "Oh come on!" she yells, clearly angry, "Just let us enjoy the night!" before throwing her pokeball. Once more, her Mawile's thrown out as well as the Quilava. The same hand motions are repeated and she puffs the spell quietly into life for both her pokemon and herself. Moving as soon as the destruction stops to try and help pull the rocks away. Starting high and working her way down!
DG: Nina Chiyome has used her Tool Power Up toward her party's challenge, Dynamite.
<Pose Tracker> Eleanor Klein has posed.
Eleanor does worse when Loren looks at her funny; she laughs. It's not even mean-spirited, just a pleasant little chuckle. She moves on, of course. "They would probably have avoided you in the past," she supplies.
"That's right," Eleanor says of her magic. "I can still use it here, obviously," since they saw her do it, "But I like to think I carry a little bit of Filgaia's Light with me wherever I go."
Team Rocket... Loren would've made them, would he? "Don't take them too lightly," she cautions him. "You're strong, but they may have tricks you don't expect."
She notices Joy's reaction, but it could as easily be nervousness as anything else. Instead, she looks to Nina and says, "I'd be happy to answer your questions later." By now, she's recalled Pyri to her ball, and she's walking on her own.
But the Pokemon... The fairies. "Oh," Eleanor says, and smiles. "What a magical sight," she sighs. "How lucky we are..."
Loren shields them, while Eleanor is gazing--and then Eleanor's eyes dart sharply to Cynne. Her anger is supplanted by concern when she sees Clefable's dismay. "We won't let him hurt them any more!" Eleanor assures the Pokemon, and looks to Loren. She lifts her hand, and channels Light into him, to support and enhance his own power with the steady warmth of Filgaia's sun. "We're counting on you," she tells him, just like she did before.
But Eleanor rushes after that towards the cave-in, her Power Bracelet glittering in the moonlight. As Hydreigon gives them cover, Eleanor picks up the largest pieces of rubble and hurls them away with all the might she can muster.
DG: Eleanor Klein has used her Tool Power Bracelet toward her party's challenge, Dynamite.
=================================<* Mt. Moon *>=================================
===========================<* CHALLENGE - Dynamite *>===========================
| Type: Final | Dungeon Ability: Brute | Challenge Rating: 3 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information >----------------------------
The eponymous Moon is high in the night sky when you reach the summit of the
mountain. There is a chance to relax and take stock of your situation here.
As you ascend, you notice the soft glow of moonlight from within one of the
valleys and witness a rare sight -- the native Fairy-type Pokemon, Clefairy
and Clefable, dancing and singing. All around them are chunks of glowing
Moon Stones.
The peace is soon disrupted. A tall, demonic creature rises through the air,
silhouetted by the full Moon. "So, this is where you've been hiding. Hand me
those moonstones, or suffer the consequences of defying the Ten Wise Men!"
It doesn't take long before the demonic creature, Cynne, launches a mystic
fusillade, blasting the valley with magic. The Fairy Pokemon cry in terror
and run, and a large chunk of the mountainside collapses, trapping them
underneath stone and rubble! You're in no position to engage the creature --
but you are in position to aid the trapped Pokemon!
BGM - Dynamite - Star Ocean: The Second Story OST
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFfEYuF1JLc
============================= Dungeon Conditions: =============================
| Fright:_Combat_Down!_Agility_Up!, Injure:_Exhaustion_Up_On_Failure!, |
| Strengthen:_Brute_Up!, and Tire:_Exhaustion_Up! |
= Digger 2.0 ===================================================================
=====================<* Mt. Moon - Round 5 *>======================
====================<* CHALLENGE - Dynamite *>=====================
Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail Timu Guado 32 --(3)--> 35 Good Pull Claw Maj Brute Effects: Strengthen and
Risky
Loren Voss 49 --(0)--> 49 Best Worry Stone Min Brute Effects: Stalwart
Eleanor Klein 20 --(3)--> 23 Good Power Bracelet Maj Brute Effects: Efficient
Arisugawa Joy 52 --(3)--> 55 Best Force Bsc Brute Effects: Risky
Nina Chiyome 40 --(3)--> 43 Best Power Up Maj Brute Effects: Efficient
Leader: Loren Voss 75 --(35)--> 110 Pass Conditions: Fright(1), Injure(2), and Tire(2) Effects: Strengthen(1)
Digger 2.0 ==================================================================
DG: You have overcome the dungeon's trials! This run is a success! DG: The party led by Loren Voss has successfully explored Mt. Moon!
=================================<* Mt. Moon *>=================================
==========================<* CHALLENGE - Clef Airy *>===========================
| Type: Discovery | Dungeon Ability: Conclusion | Challenge Rating: 2 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information >----------------------------
You seize the upper hand and turn the situation around!
Cynne growls, his pride clearly wounded. With a flourish of his wings, he
exclaims, "This little victory means nothing. Our masters' plan proceeds
apace!" and disappears into the night. His minions beat a hasty retreat with
their master no longer present. You've won the night in Mt. Moon!
As you pack up and get ready to leave, one of the Fairy-type Pokemon, a pale
pink creature known as Clefairy, hops up and down excitedly. It looks like
it wants to come with you!
============================= Dungeon Conditions: =============================
| Fright:_Combat_Down!_Agility_Up!, Injure:_Exhaustion_Up_On_Failure!, |
| Strengthen:_Brute_Up!, Tire:_Exhaustion_Up!, and Wonder:_Exhaustion_Down! |
= Digger 2.0 ===================================================================
<Pose Tracker> Loren Voss has posed.
Eleanor makes a remark but that just leaves Loren looking a mix of faintly cranky and confused. Perhaps knowing his limit, he doesn't press. (It's just as well, he wouldn't have been very happy about it if she had explained in depth -- he has an image to maintain.)
She does, however, caution him. "I know," he replies, just about rolling his eyes at her. He did get that lungful of smoke... and the poison. Oh, the poison! "But I bet we would have been able to get some information out of them." He pauses. "If they'd been here, anyway."
Important, qualifying statement there, 'if'.
As they press out onto the summit of the mountain, a magical sight soon turns into a nightmare under Cynne's barrage. The one silver lining is that at least none of the Fairy Pokemon are hurt, though they are trapped inside a cave thanks to a magical blast collapsing the opening. "Ha! I did not come to treat with you, boy!" calls Cynne at Loren's indignant question.
"--Come down here and say that, you coward!" Loren shouts back. Cynne does not in fact 'come down there' but instead treats Loren to a flurry of explosive spells that detonate across his barrier. The mirror's effect may be slight, but even a little bit helps against the onslaught.
This leaves the others -- with the path before them to the cave cleared -- to rescue the Fairy Pokemon. For Clefable, this is personal: she turns her shovel towards the rubble pile as Hydreigon sees to the still-lingering threat that is Cynne.
Eleanor and Timu pull away the rocks and succeed at clearing a good number of them from the collapsed opening, and are soon joined by Nina's Pokemon. With all of them working as one, the way is cleared and a cheer goes up from within.
This leads to an attempt at answering a question that perhaps others may have asked among Nede's citizenry: if a Champion-ranked Pokemon went up against one of the Ten Wise Men's minions, who would win?
Cynne, after trading a few blows with the Hydreigon, appears to not want to submit a final answer regarding: with one final exchange of Symbology, he and his allies take off into the night, their destructive aims apparently thwarted.
The danger thus past, Loren's barrier vanishes and he settles down heavily on a shattered stone. He rummages in his pack for something and turns up, regretfully, another soylent bar. "Guess it'll do," he says, before unwrapping it...
Whereupon his gaze shifts downward at the Clefairy that's approached him. It does a little spin of a dance! ...And doesn't depart.
"Uh... hi?" Loren asks of the extremely pink Pokemon. It's definitely not leaving...
Others, too, may find that certain Pokemon express their gratitude for their rescue quite directly: they'd like to pass the favor on and help other Pokemon (or people)!