2024-05-07: Battle! Sable vs. Ethius
- Log: Battle! Sable vs. Ethius
- Cast: Ethius Hesiod, Sable Aomori
- Where: Centropolis Plaza, Celadon City, Energy Nede
- Date: May 07, 2024 (506 PC Filgaian)
- Summary: Ethius and Sable discuss the matter of the Four Fields thanks to Nede's astonishingly bad opsec. They decide to have a battle, to prepare for the challenges ahead.
<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.
The assignment has been given, and the clearance besides. Ethius Hesiod, one of the Visitors more active in the day-to-day dealings between the general Drifter community and Energy Nede, is having himself a break at one of the rest stops about Celadon.
With the way things are going, one would believe Nede is still having a completely ordinary day in ordinary times, powered by tens of thousands of years of inertia. People still go about their day, getting their work done or enjoying leisure, though a small group of individuals have now been burdened with the task of engaging truly ancient locales designed to test and strengthen those who would seek greater heights of mastery. (It is 'truly ancient' in that they're at least 37,000 years old, an immediate time scale well beyond the scope of other known civilization-made structures.)
It's not even all that long after the fateful meeting - no more than a day, if even that, as Ethius sits at a bench with his Ghark and Miliza friends hanging about and lounging around. The ape-like Ghark is presently peeling a Tamato Berry - his favorite! - while the upright grassy lizard-like Miliza is finishing the touches on hand-carving a new wooden poleaxe.
Ethius, for his part, is leaning forward and staring intensely into the open air in contemplation.
<Pose Tracker> Sable Aomori has posed.
It is indeed an ordinary day; only yesterday Sable Aomori was just... shopping. But since then she's learned some about what happened at a meeting she wasn't at. She's learned some of the opening of the Four Fields... and some of the people who are going to go there.
Truly ancient locales.
Sable happens to approach the rest stop by coincidence--but once she sees Ethius...
She changes course. The girl in black steps closer, her boots against the pavement, and she looks to the xenoantrhopologist.
"Hello, Mr. Ethius," she says.
"...You have hard work ahead of you."
<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.
Miliza's tail rises in curiosity as Sable approaches, which is the usual behavior for a Miliza herd when signaling for caution or awareness. Ghark does not heed it, too busy taking care to pick the spiky bits off of his Tamato Berry. Moments later, Miliza gets visibly more agitated, turning towards Ghark with a sharp 'Za!' which startles him, sending the Tamato Berry flying--
Ethius casually raises a hand to prevent it from going anywhere silly. (He has had practice anticipating this.)
"Yes," he answers, belatedly, standing up to rest a hand on top of Miliza's head in a calming gesture as he hands the caught Tamato Berry back to his Ghark.
"I presume you've heard from your friends." Ethius has only had hours to parse that Energy Nede has not really had to engage in the concept of 'opsec' in tens of thousands of years, which is something he is just going to have to get used to.
<Pose Tracker> Sable Aomori has posed.
Awww the Berry. Sable looks down at the Pokemon for a moment, and then back up to Ethius. He seems good with his Pokemon...
"I have," Sable says. "And..."
"I've decided that I want to go, too."
"They didn't invite me exactly... but I want to fight for Energy Nede, with my Pokemon. That's why I've set aside my Gym Challenge for now. There's a lot I don't know, but..."
"That's something I want to do."
A pause. "...You're going." It's not a question.
<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.
"Yes. I am going." Ethius confirms, simply, to the resolute teenager as Miliza starts to come down from her more alert state, though Ethius keeps his hand on top of her head for the time being.
His other hand goes to his forehead.
"In my field, engaging in historic sites like the Four Fields is... in professional terms, very delicate." To hear of the storied legend of Akari seemingly coming out of nowhere bears some very uncomfortable likenesses to what he does, and assuming Energy Nede's recordkeeping has been kept well for this long... well. Maybe there's a good reason Professor Oak and Mayor Nall believe, in a roundabout way, some sort of reprise of Akari in spirit.
"I would very much like to engage in the Four Fields with the same spirit as Nede's own would have," albeit with Professor Oak's disclaimer that they lost some of the details on how exactly they work. "Which I understand is a big ask, considering how recent us Visitors came to Energy Nede."
Ghark just chomps down the whole Tamato Berry, as if a chaser to a lump in his throat, like he just knows something's about to go way, way over his head.
"And a big ask to the Pokemon I have befriended, at that," he looks to Miliza, who makes a softer, more contemplative 'Miiiii.'
<Pose Tracker> Sable Aomori has posed.
Miliza...
"Yes. You're a xenoantrhopologist." She remembers that. She doesn't know all the legends, of course; she knows many, but her parents' fields are not ancient mythology.
"I see..."
To engage as they would have. Sable is thoughtful; it is not always easy to tell, but Ethius might note it in her eyes growinng a little distant, even in the face of Ghark being very cute. But her eyes focus again, soon after.
"It is," she says. "They'll fight for you. They care about your goals. Mom says..."
"Mom says Pokemon respond to a Trainer's 'will'." Sable lets that hang on the air for a moment. "That the stronger your will, the more your Pokemon respond. If you kind of want to win... then your Pokemon kind of want to support you. But if you set your heart and mind on something... They'll respond to that, too."
"...If you want to do things the Nedian way, then..."
"I'll test you," Sable says. "We'll both prepare, as Trainers do. My Pokemon against yours."
"I challenge you, Mr. Ethius."
<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.
The challenge is given, and subconsciously, eyes meet. The universal language for when it is time to challenge one another, and there is a nod.
"Very well. As per local tradition, then... I accept."
"Ghark," he calls, holding up a Pokeball. "Return."
The ape-like Pokemon disappears in a glint of light without further mishap or comedy, which is for the moment a welcome development.
"Mii?" Miliza looks up, as Ethius removes his hand from her scalp and puts his hands behind his back as if standing at attention like Sable might have seen some members of the Kanto Police Department do. (Which would be a little weird? He's not one of them.)
"Miliza, you will be taking point."
"...Liza!" Miliza hoists her hand-carved wooden shield and poleaxe, before reaching up with the tip of the shield to push her wooden headgear a little higher on her brow as her tail stands on end anew. Both Trainer and Pokemon stand at the ready.
<Pose Tracker> Sable Aomori has posed.
Local tradition. It's curious, how Ethius concerns himself with that... but not a bad thing. It makes sense to Sable; he's explained it, and the explanation suits.
But Sable is not currently thinking of explanations. The comedy was nice enough, but this is a serious matter too. Ethius stands at attention like a police officer... She tilts her head.
But hee sems ready, at least. Sable looks to Miliza--and nods, firmly. "Do your best. My Pokemon will, too."
Then, she considers her Pokemon, and calls out--
"Xirua," Sable says, and extends her hand with the Pokeball. A white Vulpix appears, and roars, "Pix!" It's adorable. She has many tails, and luxurious fur... and is Sable's first choice for this battle. "One moment."
She moves away, stepping some distance back, and Xirua follows her before adopting a ready stance at the clearing.
"...You're newer," Sable says. "And I have a Type advantage. So you should go first. The rules are... one Pokemon at a time, but you can switch as often as you want."
She's ready.
<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.
The Alolan Vulpix takes her stage, as Sable speaks of the rules and the present battle conditions. She's not wrong, and Miliza there knows Sable's not wrong as her eyes start to go a bit wide at the Ice-type.
"Very well," Ethius nods at mention of the rules, and the grace of going first. "The Type advantage is true," he thinks about it. How many times has it been that Miliza has found herself placed in situations at the Type disadvantage? (The answer: she would make a great understudy for Ghark!)
"I can't anticipate always being able to face favorable conditions, with a lack of foresight to what's ahead beyond the names of the Fields," Ethius remarks. "Miliza."
Miliza's nervous gestures come to a halt as she stands at relative attention.
"Perform a Swords Dance," he says. Not to withdraw, but to set up against someone both super-effective and resistant to a Grass-type?
"Mi... Miliza!" Miliza complies with the order, doing an intricate little dance while waving her wooden poleaxe around. If Sable looks closely, though, amongst the berries that naturally grow upon Miliza... there seems to be something distinctly not berry-shaped on it, like a small satchel. Curious...
GS: Ethius Hesiod has attacked Ethius Hesiod with Swords Dance! GS: Ethius Hesiod has completed his action. GS: CRITICAL! Ethius Hesiod accepts Ethius Hesiod's Swords Dance for 0 hit points! GS: Burst and Hyper applied to Ethius Hesiod!
<Pose Tracker> Sable Aomori has posed.
Sable is willing to take advantage where she can, but this is a 'friendly' match, and it seems fair to her to afford Ethius and Miliza this chance. It also challenges her, which is part of what she wants out of this battle.
"That's right," Sable agrees. "Nobody's been to them for a very long time..."
Miliza operates with grace; Sable nods to her resolve to face down her disadvantage. Ethius appears to have a strategy in mind...
Sable does look closely, but she doesn't recognize the satchel as anything other than 'not a berry'. Still--
"Digging in to prepeare is smart. Xirua is fast and has a Type advantage, but her defenses aren't as good as most Miliza."
"...But I'll press my upper hand while I can. Xirua! Use Icy Wind!"
Xirua leans down on her front paws, and exhales forcefully. With her breath comes a great, frigid gale, dotted with snowflakes!
GS: Sable Aomori has attacked Ethius Hesiod with Icy Wind! GS: Sable Aomori has gained 3 Combo! GS: Sable Aomori's stances have changed from Counter to Counter and Stoic! GS: Sable Aomori gains 21 THP from her Cautious! GS: Sable Aomori has completed her action. GS: COUNTER! Ethius Hesiod counterattacks Sable Aomori with Held Item - Powder Grenade! GS: Gamble: Low! Ethius Hesiod critically fails to charge Sable Aomori's Icy Wind for 164 hit points! GS: CRITICAL! Sable Aomori critically fails to guard Ethius Hesiod's Held Item - Powder Grenade for 156 hit points!
<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.
The Icy Wind stirs, and Miliza chills as icicles form around her body. It's tough for her to move into it, blowing as it does. Snowflakes stick to her vine-y mantle. "Mi-mi-mi-mi-mi..." Her teeth chatter, for it is super-effective!
But she is upright.
Ethius snaps his fingers, as Miliza struggles to wrest free the satchel with her mouth and fling what she has - it's a Held Item! It's... debatably League-legal*? (* it is, grudgingly, they're scrambling to find equivalent Types for fairness)
The satchel explodes in a slightly blunted cloud of dust - it's Ground-type damage, which Xirua would be resistant to, but it's a potent one-off damage item.
"Very good," Ethius praises Miliza, who is happy for praise but would also be happier not feeling like she's about to turn into an over-wintering tree. "Keep pushing on the offense with a Cut!"
"Mi-mi-li-za-za-za," Miliza clenches her teeth as the freezing icy winds slow her down, but it's not enough to blunt the lowering and swiping of her pole-axe's bladed end in iaijutsu style, following up her Swords Dance to give it that much extra oomph.
GS: Ethius Hesiod has activated Force Action: Lock On! GS: Ethius Hesiod has attacked Sable Aomori with Cut! GS: Ethius Hesiod has completed his action. GS: Your next attack with the Counter flag will display with the name Weather Ball. GS: COUNTER! Sable Aomori counterattacks Ethius Hesiod with Weather Ball! GS: Sable Aomori fails to charge Ethius Hesiod's Cut for 99 hit points! GS: Reaction switch bonus! Sable Aomori gains 1 additional Combo! GS: Charge!! You gain 40 FP! (That's 25 more than usual!) GS: Ethius Hesiod mostly guards Sable Aomori's Weather Ball for 74 hit points! GS: Reaction switch bonus! Ethius Hesiod gains 1 additional Combo! GS: FP up! Reaction bonus!
<Pose Tracker> Sable Aomori has posed.
She's upright. Sable finds that her attempt at immediate offense is stymied somewhat, by Miliza's counteerattak. It's Ground-type, sure, but it still disorients her for a moment. "Vuuuul," she says, her gaze wobbling as she tries to recover. But Ethius presses the offense, and Xirua takes a strong hit. "Vul..."
She flops over, despite the type advantage, and Sable recalls her.
"Miliza's well-trained," Sable comments. "She stood through an attack at her weakness and was able to strike back..."
A pause. "You hand-make your battle items like me, don't you?"
"Artan," she says, and is holding a Pokeball, blink and you'll miss it. She extends her hand, and the serpentine Dratini appears in a flash of light. Strong against Grass... but not super effective towards it. His winglike 'ears' catch the light.
"Artan," she instructs. "Use Dragon Tail."
Dratini surges forward and whips around, slapping hard with his tail!
GS: Sable Aomori has attacked Ethius Hesiod with Dragon Tail! GS: Sable Aomori has gained 1 Combo! GS: Sable Aomori's stances have changed from Stoic to Stoic! GS: Sable Aomori gains 28 THP from her Cautious! GS: Sable Aomori has completed her action. GS: Ethius Hesiod marginally guards Sable Aomori's Dragon Tail for 92 hit points! GS: Drowsy and Mute applied to Ethius Hesiod! GS: Delay blocked! GS: Healthy! For entering Condition Green, Ethius Hesiod receives 100 temporary hit points. GS: Ethius Hesiod enters CONDITION GREEN!!
<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.
"Mi-mi-mi," Miliza's teeth chatter anew, free of the commitment to grit her teeth to focus on Cut as she looks upon the handiwork of her training - and her trust in her Trainer (with the occasional exasperation about the situations she ends up in).
"I appreciate that sentiment," Ethius should learn to just say 'thank you.' "Your Xirua didn't make it easy." And how! That was a risk with the Ground-type surprise being resisted.
"Yes, the Held Item," he knows how to speak the terminology with the correct inflection, "the Powder Grenade, is of my make." He had to name it for the League officials who did, at one point, ask what he was making them carry. (This is the most severe the officials of Nede have been to him, even with some of his earlier, shall we say... shady activities.)
It's funny, isn't it? Making Held Items despite being new to the concept of Pokemon Training. What context could he have made them for prior?
Sable summons forth her Dratini.
Miliza's not looking like she can - or should - take too much, but she starts to hold up her shield pre-emptively...!
"Brace yourself," Ethius says, and there is bracing. The tail was braced against.
"Miiii!!"
Was. Miliza goes flying across the park in a corkscrew.
"...A moment."
A MOMENT LATER
Miliza is fine. She's spiral-eyed and lying on her back, and recalled without further incident.
"I should better anticipate... incidental combat-related distances," Ethius has a hand on his forehead as he struggles to put into words what went down within the span of 'a moment.' "I would do well to take note of a Dragon-type's tail going forward, in relation."
Yes, yes he should. Moving on.
"Ghark," he takes out the second ball. In the period of time while Miliza took point, Ghark had decided now was a great time to snooze off a Tomato Berry-related food coma. He blinks awake, sits up, and looks to Dratini as he scratches at the side of his head before leaning forward on his knuckles.
"Use your Drain Punch." So Ethius calls, as Ghark yawns loudly, ambles forward, and decides the best way to pep himself up to battle - and shake off any sort of lingering, nagging irritations and grogginess - is to take simple joy in the act of rearing back a fist and throwing a punch that just feels so very good and reinvigorating to throw.
GS: Ethius Hesiod has attacked Sable Aomori with Drain Punch! GS: Recover! Drowsy removed from Ethius Hesiod! GS: Ethius Hesiod gains 5 FP from Sufferer! GS: Ethius Hesiod has completed his action. GS: CRITICAL! Sable Aomori critically fails to guard Ethius Hesiod's Drain Punch for 144 hit points! GS: Reaction switch bonus! Sable Aomori gains 1 additional Combo! GS: Sable Aomori enters CONDITION GREEN!!
<Pose Tracker> Sable Aomori has posed.
Sable nods to Ethius. His stilted manner doesn't bother her; she isn't exactly a social butterfly herself. "Yes... She's one of my stronger Pokemon. Alolan Vulpix are very rare outside the Safari zone; they live near volcanic peaks."
And that's where Sable caught her!
The Held Item. "I see," she answers. "I'm interested in it." She doesn't know why he'd be familiar with it. In fact, "Is being a xenoanthropologist something that requires things like that...?"
Wheeeeeeeee. Miliza goes flying.
"Dragon-types are rare, but very strong. Like Xirua is my tie to Cinnabar, Artan is my tie to Fuchsia, where my family comes from."
Ghark happens. He wakes up, and leans forwrd. That PUNCH hits solidly, knocking the Dratini down from where he floats into the ground, where he disrupts the grass with the force of his impact. "Artan..."
Artan rises again, coiling for a moment in defiance. "Dra!" he calls, and Sable nods. "Then you're ready to keep going. We won't give up here."
"Fighting types are often weak to elemental attacks," Sable explains her logic, as she points forward. "Artan... use Bubble Beam."
Artan uncoils--and opens his mouth, expelling a burst of bubbling water forward at Ghark! The beam is forceful!
GS: Sable Aomori has activated Force Action: Full Clip! GS: You have activated the Force Action Full Clip! GS: Sable Aomori spends 4 Combo on Interrupt and Gatling, loading 3 into Gatling! GS: Sable Aomori has attacked Ethius Hesiod with Bubble Beam! GS: Sable Aomori gains 21 THP from her Cautious! GS: Sable Aomori has completed her action. GS: Ethius Hesiod has activated Force Action: Guard! GS: Ethius Hesiod mostly guards Sable Aomori's Bubble Beam for 101 hit points! GS: Interrupt applied to Ethius Hesiod! GS: FP up! Reaction bonus! GS: Ethius Hesiod enters CONDITION GREEN!! GS: Ethius Hesiod has lost 2 Combo from Interrupt!
<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.
"On occasion, yes, in case the work leads into unforeseen dangers. It's useful for securing escape from an ambush, or instances such as an active defensive measure accidentally discovered." Ethius puts a hand to his forehead.
At mention of Sable talking about how Xirua and Artan feel like ties to her family's heritage, the man nods. "...Several of my own do bear some likeness to parts of my childhood. I would be dishonest if I said I didn't find nostalgia in their presence, though we are newly met."
Sable goes back on the offense, as she calls for Artan to keep going. She gives the run-down about how Fighting-types are often not that sturdy to elemental attacks. Ethius nods, and there's a whole lot of bubbles beaming at Ghark.
"Ghark, hold steady," Ethius calls, as Ghark holds out his hands and then tries to clap all the bubbles in between them. It tingles, it numbs, it tickles - and he sneezes, because some of the bubbles got in his nose, and now he's looking a little off-balance for taking the brunt of it like that.
"Ghark, here... though we met in accidental circumstances," he was going for the Quidonya then, "the likeness of a very old friend of mine is uncanny. He has taken me by surprise a few times already."
Ghark sneezes again.
"Allow me to share one of his, then." Ethius gestures forward. "Ghark, it is time to Play Rough."
Play Rough is known as a Fairy-type offensive maneuver. Ghark is not a Fairy-type, so it's not as strong in his hands... but it is a Fairy-type attack, and Artan is a Dragon-type.
Ghark puts on a very big grin, a laugh... and then leaps at Artan with such ferocity a great dust cloud kicks up, with flailing limbs and everything.
GS: Ethius Hesiod has activated Force Action: Lock On! GS: Ethius Hesiod has attacked Sable Aomori with Play Rough!! GS: Interrupt expired! GS: Ethius Hesiod gains 5 FP from Sufferer! GS: Mute expired! GS: Ethius Hesiod has completed his action. GS: Sable Aomori has activated Force Action: Guard! GS: You have activated the Force Action Guard! GS: Interrupt! Attack weakened! GS: Sable Aomori critically fails to guard Ethius Hesiod's Play Rough! for 101 hit points! GS: Weaken applied to Sable Aomori!
<Pose Tracker> Sable Aomori has posed.
"Hmm... I know some things like that," Sable says. She doesn't talk about it much, but Ethius is a kindred spirit, maybe. "It sounds very useful."
"That's nice," Sable says of the man's childhood having ties, reminders. "Mom says nostalgia can be good for adults when they want to remember good things."
Artan dos keep going--but as it happens, Ghark does hold steady. He's off-balance, but he's strong. Ethius may be a Visitor, but his Pokemon support him already. And he Plays Rough. "A Fairy-type move..."
There is a terrible dustcloud! Stars and puncutation fly out of it! In the end, Artan is ejected from the dustcloud bodily, swirls in his eyes. "...Artan, return," she says.
"I think Ghark is having fun..."
She then pulls another Pokeball. "But it's time. Ulpi! You're up!"
The Prinplup appears! Ulpi preens, his tuxedo-like markings and terribly sharp wings cutting an imposing figure.
"Now..."
Sable adopts a ready stance. "Ulpi! Use the Subtitution technique!"
In a flash of smoke, Ulpi swings his wing forward--and suddenly, there are three Ulpis, each weaving around to surround Ghark. "Prin...!" they caw.
GS: That attack doesn't exist. [] GS: Sable Aomori has attacked Sable Aomori with Substitute! GS: Sable Aomori has gained 1 Combo! GS: Sable Aomori gains 27 THP from her Cautious! GS: Sable Aomori has completed her action. GS: Sable Aomori heals Sable Aomori! She gains 239 temporary hit points! GS: Restore! Weaken removed! GS: Strain! Sable Aomori takes 50 damage!
<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.
"Your mother... she speaks true, on that." Still, there's a pause there - as if perhaps there's an asterisk that needs to be appended to Ethius' good childhood memories.
"Good work," he says to Ghark, whom has himself a 'gha ha ha ha hark!' "As far as I'm aware, this is very serious business for him." There is nothing serious about that nature of smile. Ghark is very much Naughty.
Then, Prinplup appears, and the Substitution technique is deployed. Ghark looks every which way at the three of them, and that 'Prin...!' sees Ghark flinch... and then put his fingers in his mouth and chatter in fear. Fear, of all things! It's very silly.
"Even I can't tell them apart," Ethius remarks. He has an excellent eye for any number of technological projection techniques and technologies. Absolutely none of them hold a candle to the Nedian Symbological technique of Substitute. A moment passes, at which point he holds up the ball. "Your work here's done, Ghark. Return."
Ghark does so, willingly, diving into the ball as he folds into the light as such Ethius braces like he might get barreled over by a gorilla.
"This next one's the newest friend I've made," he says, as he takes out that Pokeball, and gives it a toss in. "Peryton, it's your turn."
She's a younger one, and she bears a lot of the signs of being newly Trained. Small, subtle traits that a Nedian who has lived the culture their entire lives could point out, that Ethius couldn't. The way his Pertyon's eyes focus, the level of interest in her surroundings... and the way she also flaps her wings and backs away, as expected of a typical younger Normal / Flying type.
The signs of a newer bond. It feels like a bit of trial and error, but Ethius doesn't waver or second-guess against his decision to field in his newest Pokemon even if she's clearly not at Ulpi's level.
"This is a situation where none of us can simply wait to be ready," he says to all involved, "nonetheless..."
"Peryton, as many rocks as you can find, use them in a Rock Blast."
Peryton complies. She is a tiny bird, but there are several rocks of decent size to pick up and toss. One, to an Ulpi. Two, to another Ulpi. Three, to a third Ulpi!
There should be a fourth, but the rock Peryton finds is very shiny, so she doesn't want to let it go.
GS: Blitz added to Ethius Hesiod! GS: Ethius Hesiod has activated Force Action: Boost! GS: Ethius Hesiod spends 2 Combo on Gatling, loading 2 into Gatling! GS: Blitz! Ethius Hesiod has attacked Sable Aomori with Rock Blast! GS: Ethius Hesiod has gained 2 Combo! GS: Burst and Hyper expired! GS: Ethius Hesiod has completed his action. GS: Sable Aomori mostly evades Ethius Hesiod's Rock Blast for 89 hit points! GS: Reaction switch bonus! Sable Aomori gains 1 additional Combo! GS: FP up! Reaction bonus!
<Pose Tracker> Sable Aomori has posed.
"She says a lot of true things," Sable opines on her mother. "She's a professor..."
But Ghark has a nice hark. Serious business... Hmm. "It must be."
Ghark keeps looking around--and even flinches. That fear is silly, but Sable doesn't laugh at Ethius's Pokemon. Instead, she watches him--and then Ethius, instead. He can't tell them apart..
"It's a technique I don't usually have to use. Your Pokemon are strong... Brute force isn't good enough against them on its own."
The newest friend he's made, though. Peryton. Sable can see those signs; she can tell that what Ethius says is true. "...Right. We can't just wait. We have to do our best, ready or not."
"It's important to stand by your decisions..."
The rock blast comes. Peryton launches them at Ulpi, and Ulpi moves to dodge. Two of the Ulpis are able to entirley evade the rocks--but the third is hit straight-on, revealing a cute plush Prinplup in its place, which falls to the ground.
"...Hm. Ulpi--Use Metal Claw."
Ulpi starts forward--and both swing, chrome briefly appearing to plate his wings as he slashes at the other Pokemon!!
GS: Sable Aomori has activated Force Action: Full Clip! GS: You have activated the Force Action Full Clip! GS: Sable Aomori spends 3 Combo on Gatling, loading 3 into Gatling! GS: Sable Aomori has attacked Ethius Hesiod with Metal Claw! GS: Sable Aomori has gained 1 Combo! GS: Sable Aomori gains 29 THP from her Cautious! GS: Sable Aomori has completed her action. GS: CRITICAL! Ethius Hesiod critically fails to evade Sable Aomori's Metal Claw for 364 hit points! GS: Reaction switch bonus! Ethius Hesiod gains 1 additional Combo! GS: Mighty applied to Sable Aomori!
<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.
Ethius is watching Peryton expectantly as if to see if she's going to throw that fourth rock or not, and it takes him a bit to come to terms that nope, today's Rock Blast is three hits, and only three hits. One of them turns into a cute plush, which narrows it all down into a coinflip as to which one's real.
"The technique is formidable," that's putting it lightly, as Ulpi is given a simple command.
"Peryton, pull up," Ethius calls, and to Peryton's credit, she seems to 'get' the idea she shouldn't stand there when a larger Prinplup is about to bear down!
Prinplup and Prinplup overlap their clawing motions in a way that Ethius can't even pick out which one's the 'correct' one as a 'SHING' cuts across Peryton's upward flying figure, sending her spiraling up into the air with a rattling 'Perryyyyyyyyy~'
Ethius pulls up the Pokeball with haste, and a moment's pause. He gently pats that ball with the other hand. "You did as asked," he says of her, as he puts her ball back away.
"I appreciate the sentiment of their strength," he says with a nod, "though... the four Fields are named after more things than just Power." Courage, Wisdom... Love.
"I couldn't track your... Ulpi, yes? Your Ulpi's movements that closely." It's a reality check of sorts - Sable's far more experienced in this than he is. It takes him another moment to come to a decision...
"Arcmene, you'll be closing today." The last one! Ethius throws out the ball, but then something deeply curious happens. There's the light that heralds a Pokemon's release, but where is Arcmene?
Ethius isn't questioning the seeming absence, or disappearance, of his Pokemon.
"Your First Impression."
Arcmene, the creepy spider-like Pokemon suddenly drops down before the two known Ulpis.
!
"MENEMENEMENEMENEMENEMENE," Arcmene chatters noisily as he becomes a flailing set of limbs in a head-on collision as if to test their very courage and see who flinches...
Because to Ethius, that might be the tell he's looking for.
GS: Ethius Hesiod spends 1 Combo on Interrupt! GS: Blitz! Ethius Hesiod has attacked Sable Aomori with First Impression!! GS: Ethius Hesiod has gained 1 Combo! GS: Ethius Hesiod's stances have changed to Stoic! GS: Ethius Hesiod gains 23 THP from his Cautious! GS: Ethius Hesiod has completed his action. GS: Sable Aomori mostly guards Ethius Hesiod's First Impression! for 101 hit points! GS: Reaction switch bonus! Sable Aomori gains 1 additional Combo! GS: Interrupt blocked! GS: FP up! Reaction bonus! GS: Sable Aomori has lost 2 Combo from Interrupt!
<Pose Tracker> Sable Aomori has posed.
"It's a technique my mother taught me to use," Sable says of Substitute. And that's true. Peryton may fall, but Sable still took her seriously. Even a relatively less-trained Pokemon can be formidable.
The Four Fields do have other names. "Courage," she says. "...I'm trying to be brave. But I don't know if I'm wise..."
"Ulpi," Sable confirms. "He's very proud of his abilities."
"Prin!" he caws--and then suddenly--Arcmene. Sable knows what kind of Pokemon that is, but she doesn't see him. Not until Arcmene suddenly appears. Slightly, Sable's eyes widen in surprise, and Ulpi squawks in indignity at th flailing head-on collosion. He puffs himself up, and--
It wasn't a flinch, but it was a tell; Arcmene is able to hit the real one, and the second Substitute poofs into another plush. (They might be marketable!)
"...that's a strong first impression..."
"But Ulpi isn't quite out yet. Use Peck!"
A Flying-type move for a Pokemon partially typed Bug. But that only matters if it hits... and if Ulpi doesn't flinch getting closer to the scary Pokemon.
He might, this time.
Sable watches intently.
GS: Sable Aomori has activated Force Action: Full Clip! GS: You have activated the Force Action Full Clip! GS: 2 Combo gained from Boost! GS: Burst added to Sable Aomori! GS: Sable Aomori has activated Force Action: Boost! GS: Sable Aomori has attacked Ethius Hesiod with Peck! GS: Sable Aomori has gained 2 Combo! GS: Sable Aomori gains 28 THP from her Cautious! GS: Sable Aomori gains 5 FP from Gleam! GS: Sable Aomori has completed her action. GS: Ethius Hesiod has activated Force Action: Guard! GS: Gamble: High! Ethius Hesiod perfectly guards Sable Aomori's Peck for 35 hit points! GS: Reaction switch bonus! Ethius Hesiod gains 1 additional Combo! GS: Mighty applied to Sable Aomori!
<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.
"Some decisions have to be made when the lack of one can prove more frightening," Ethius remarks of Sable's read of herself about Courage, and the wondering about whether if she's wise enough.
"...He has every reason to be, I would say," so he does, as he watches the chaos unfold. There, that's the other Substitute - but Ulpi is probably strong enough to take any one of his in a straight one-on-one fight, as Sable turns the tables on what off-type contingencies they have at their disposal. Where Ghark showed Artan the metaphorical mat with a Fairy-type surprise...
'Use Peck!'
"Pinch," Ethius calls.
Beak meets mandible-arms in a clamp, and the ground shakes a little with the redirected force of what would've been a decisive pecking. Arcmene flinches as their legs bend under Ulpi's greater strength, their unblinking staring eyes looking into Ulpi's before the clutch defense is broken, Arcmene leaping a bit to the side with the rest of the momentum of the strike they caught.
"I find more often than not that someone completely assured of their wisdom to the point of infallibility, well..."
"Arcmene. Leech Life, and take back the pace."
"Ene." Arcmene grunts quietly, those arm-mandibles rearing back as Arcmene swings their entire upper head-body in a slicing motion, looking to take and siphon hold of something indeterminately energy-like to pull into themselves from Ulpi, with clear ferocious determination and predatory instinct appropriate for a species that often serves as something of a boogeyman in the night in folklore.
GS: Ethius Hesiod has activated Force Action: Fury Shot! GS: Ethius Hesiod has activated Force Action: Lock On! GS: Blitz! Ethius Hesiod has attacked Sable Aomori with Leech Life! GS: Ethius Hesiod gains 22 THP from his Cautious! GS: Blitz expired! GS: Ethius Hesiod has completed his action. GS: Sable Aomori fails to evade Ethius Hesiod's Leech Life for 204 hit points! GS: Reaction switch bonus! Sable Aomori gains 1 additional Combo! GS: Misery adds Break! GS: Break and Disease applied to Sable Aomori! GS: FP up! Reaction bonus! GS: Ethius Hesiod drains Sable Aomori! Ethius Hesiod gains 100 temporary hit points! GS: Free attacks take the format +free <Name>=Type/PL/Flag. Valid flags include Advance (1), Amplify (3), Artillery (0), Augmented (1), Bold (1), Break (4), Burst (3), Cancel (1), Counter (3), Cover (3), Disease (2), Enchanted (1), Follow (0), Formation (2), Gamble (1), Gatling (2), Headshot (3), Heal (3), Hyper (4), Infect (2), Inspire (2), Interrupt (3), Link (0), Martial (1), Mighty (3), Pass (4), Pierce (3), Prudent (1), Quick (4), Reload (3), Reserve (0), Riposte (3), Rush (0), Shield (4), Slow (4), Smite (3), Strike (0), Surge (3), Weaken (4), and Withdraw (1). You have 6 AP to work with and each point of PL costs 1 AP. Your max PL is 5.
<Pose Tracker> Sable Aomori has posed.
"...Yes," Sable says. "If I don't do anything... I like that less. I'd rather risk something."
Ulpi is proud. He's certainly Sable's strongest Pokemon. But Arcmene is lever and fast, blinking eyes staring into Ulpi's. He stares back into their eyes, and jumps back when their clash is finally problem.
"Shouldn't someone who's wise know that they're wise?" Sable wonders. "Otherwise that's something they don't know..."
Leech Life is more effective than it would seem--Ulpi, for all that he can use Flying Type moves, is not a Flying Type himself. That energy crashes towards Ulpi, and Ulpi flinches this time, failing to dodge and taking a solid hit. "Prin..."
"Ulpi," Sable says seriously. "That's enough."
"Prin!" Ulpi protests, but Sable is firm. "You did well, but it's time to return." He does as she extends the Pokeball after that, though he's reluctant. "...You beat my brute force," she says. "You showed cleverness. You took the offense with a scary Pokemon..."
"Like from when I was little, at Mom's lab." She pulls another Pokeball as she talks. "But..."
"I have one more Pokemon, and he's very good against scary things. It's not the right type matchup, but..."
She throws another--and suddenly appears her other most powerful Pokemon, a small orange lizard with a skull for a helmet. "Cubone, bone!" he declares, swinging his bone club once and then pointing it outward at Arcmene.
"...Use Fire Punch."
"Bone!" Eno the Cubone rushes forward, facing his own fears in the moment. He grips his bone by the center, and punches with it, flames whirling all around his weapon.
"It's all or nothing!"
GS: Sable Aomori has activated Force Action: Full Clip! GS: You have activated the Force Action Full Clip! GS: Sable Aomori has attacked Ethius Hesiod with Fire Punch! GS: Sable Aomori has gained 1 Combo! GS: Sable Aomori gains 7 THP from her Cautious! GS: Sable Aomori gains 5 FP from Gleam! GS: Sable Aomori has completed her action. GS: Ethius Hesiod fails to guard Sable Aomori's Fire Punch for 133 hit points! GS: Ethius Hesiod has Fallen! He is no longer able to fight!
<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.
Ethius brings a hand to his forehead at mention about someone who's wise knowing that they're wise. "That's... that's a paradox and riddle I've encountered several times," Ethius mentions of the whole wisdom thing, but soon enough it's back to focusing on the Pokemon and their latest volleys and counterplays.
"Did you have a fear of spi-- of Pokemon shaped like Arcmene?" Ethius asks. Still... he did manage to, by appearances, take on and defeat Sable's first and strongest friend. The training and attempts to integrate the Nedian discipline has paid off, for the short amount of time he's practiced it.
There's one more. Arcmene's mandible-limbs click together a few times and look up, as if putting forth their unsettling front against who it is that appears next - Cubone.
The Fire Punch is called for.
"That's a Fire-type," Ethius says to himself. "Pinch it before it--"
Arcmene does not pinch the club before it can gain momentum. That club goes in-between the mandible-arms, and... well, there is something of a face there, and that face kisses the club as flames wreathe around Arcmene while they hiss a 'meeeeeene' while flopping onto their back. Flame dances along their legs.
Even if Arcmene withstood that, that's a burn - it would've brought him low before long.
Ethius doesn't even say 'return,' or punctuate it with any command - it's a quick pull-back born of concern and urgency on reflex, taking him a moment to come down from it when he's aware that Arcmene will be okay. A moment, where that stoicism nearly slips.
Visitor Ethius was defeated!
"I believe this is where I concede, Miss Sable," Ethius says, as he sets the Pokeball back on his person. "I appreciate the battle."
Gerel would've appreciated a chance to come out and play, but he's not going to rule out the possibility a preschooler locks eyes with him on the way to the Center. (it's happened before)
"...Oh, yes, right." Ethius startles, as he goes through his pockets. The part of Nede's social graces that he just cannot decode for the life of him. The exacting numerical rules for FOL prizes for losing a Pokemon battle. Everything he's told seems to be in contradiction to something else, and there seems no rhyme or reason he can even discern in terms of the math. He comes closer to Sable as he pulls out a number of FOL chip cards of specific denominations. In truth... he's about 150 FOL short of the correct amount to give.
It's not the worst faux pas he's ever had on Nede, at least. (At least so far!!)
"I don't know what to expect at the Four Fields, but I'm appreciative for your assistance in helping keep me on top of what the discipline asks." Incidentally... Ethius did say at the meeting that he fought Raphael's Paradox Pokemon, which might be something that passed through the grapevine.
<Pose Tracker> Sable Aomori has posed.
So even Ethius isn't sure what makes someone 'wise'. Sable isn't sure what she'll see at the Field, then.
"Yes," Sable answers. "When I was little, Mom did a study on Arcmene. I saw them at her lab, and they were really spooky... but she explained to me about them, and now it's okay." Pause. "Mostly."
Ethius is clearly a stronn Trainer. Arcmene is burned, though, and that will make the difference. Ethius quickly calls back with urgency--
Because his stoicism only nearly slips, Sable can't quite make out why it was so urgent to pull back. But he concedes all the same.
"Thank you," she says back. Gerel would be very charming to meet, but not today. Instead, she gets money! And it's... not quite the right amount...
Sable looks at it, tilts her head--and then decides that's good enough, and puts it away in her Bag. There's just that little moment of '???'.
It's not that hard!
Still, the Four Fields are invoked again, and Sabl finishes approaching as Cubone does a somber dance, spinning his bone around.
"You're a skilled Trainer," Sable says. "I've been practicing for the Gym challenge, and you still almost beat me. ...You might even be able to beat Brock."
Pause. "I hope you get the chance to try." She considers, for a moment. "I don't know what to expect either... but I feel like I can prepare better now. I see some weaknesses in my team..."
A pause. "...Paradox Pokemon," she says. "Did you really fight one?"
<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.
Ethius nods along at the mention about Arcmene startling a younger Sable. That would have an effect, all right. Maybe the only reason he takes to Arcmene so well is because he also has that same habit of staring and being mildly off-putting as his baseline.
"Brock's... the one in Pewter, right," he realizes he already reasoned why it might be best to visit the Field of Power first, how did that slip his mind? "We'll have to see how things unfold."
On one hand, he's already taught all his Pokemon a Hidden Move. What he does not have is legal certification to use them out of battle. Does this stop him? (Professionally speaking, no.)
Just as things look to be at a point to disengage... a question.
'Paradox Pokemon. Did you really fight one?'
Ethius returns to the bench he was at, and has himself a seat. A moment's pause, as he considers. "I'm not certain on what, exactly, is privileged information as disclosed by Professor Oak or Mayor Nall." He's heard of NDAs at an event at Silph Co., but no such thing was asked to be signed in that meeting.
He gestures to allow Sable a place to sit, if she pleases, sensing her discomfort and fear in asking the question.
"I wasn't alone, which is why I'm here and can say... yes." He nods the once. "Several. It might be more accurate to say we survived fighting them, in retrospect."
<Pose Tracker> Sable Aomori has posed.
It could be...
"Yes," Sable says of Brock. "...The Gym Challenge is less important than the Ten Wise Men," she says. "But it would be nice if you got to try. The Gym Leaders are all very strong--and they've been helping defend their towns."
She lets that go. And Ethius takes a seat, so Sable does that after a moment, too. Eno finishes his whirling dance.
"I see... Maybe I should go see Professor Oak, then."
But first, "...I see. So it was that difficult..."
"OK. Then that's what I'll have to get ready for."
It seems decided; Sable makes to stand up again. "I'm interested in learning more, but if you're not sure what you can tell me, that's OK."
"I'm good at learning things."
"...Thank you for the battle, Mr. Ethius. Your Pokemon were very good. ...I'm happy that a Visitor can take to our ways so well."
<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.
"In the instance they attack, one might not have time to run and ask someone who's witnessed them." Ethius speaks. If it's a problem, it's on Professor Oak and Mayor Nall to definitively state what is or isn't privileged information - Energy Nede will have to get used to the idea of opsec, and as it is the information he does have might save the lives of Sable, her friends, and their Pokemon.
...After all, none of this is Pangalactic Federation state secrets, now is it.
"I will say... I'm confident in my memory of the Type matchup charts, if not Pokemon names, and who is of what Type," he begins, mentally moving past responding to the compliments and gratitude of Sable. "If this information helps protect you, I see no issue in sharing what I do know."
"One of the Ten Wise Men took Paradox Pokemon back to the other side of the rift. Most of them had the appearance of being covered in metal, so... I would presume they would be 'futuristic.'" In retrospect it feels retro-futuristic, it's quaint to say some of them come off as any more cutting edge than what he's seen, but...
"One of them resembled... it's not Cufant," he has Dirk on the brain, "but close." Donphan? "Covered in treads."
"Another.. they were airborne. Covered in red. Wings, claws." That's an Ardaemont. He brings a hand up to his forehead as he thinks about the others.
"Another resembled a... penguin, carrying a sparkling blue hollow sphere." That's Delibird. "That one was the only one that did not seem to act as if outright malicious, nor completely under the control of their Trainer."
That makes that particular Delibird even more frightening, doesn't it? An uncontrollable Paradox Pokemon. (shudder)
"The fourth... white body, wearing a gown, green on the inside, similarly wearing a green helmet with a spike, carrying a pink solid light blade." Um, is that Gardevoir or Gallade? It sounds like he's describing both at once.
"The fifth one was... a flying, semi-solid blocky mass," that sounds like Niquia, "capable of forming weapons out of itself with what I presumed to be some form of nanotech."
"All five of them appeared reliant upon some manner of electrified floor. That may be a shared lynchpin strategy among all of them. I was able to remove them with help from Gerel and Ghark, though I'm not certain I'd be able to get away with that under their watch a second time."
"The last," Ethius holds up a finger, "was encountered at the Cavern of Crimson Crystals. They were round, colored pink, though it may have been the cave's red lights. They had large eyes." That's Jigglypuff. "They did not have the same futuristic air as the ones I met prior, but they were instead loud. I would protect your ears at all costs if you saw them."
With that, Ethius winds down the recollection.
"That's the most I could share with confident detail, Miss Sable."
<Pose Tracker> Sable Aomori has posed.
That's... true. Sable pauses, before she leaves. She may be one of the few Nedians who knows something about opsec--but she won't complain about getting to learn things, especially things that might be secret.
So she listens. "All right." This information might protect her, so she considers it. "Metallic... does that make them Steel-type?" she wonders. Either way, she pulls out her phone, and extracts a stylus from it, taking notes quickly on what Ethius says. She doesn't recognize all the Pokemon in it, but she recognizes a numbr of them. And what he says...
"Nanotech... That's dangerous," Sable considers. "But I guess not more dangerous than Pokemon in general."
A pause. "An electrified floor... and your Poison- and Fighting-types helped. So not all Steel-types, then."
Jigglypuff. "I'll do that," she says of her eears.
"Thank you," Sable says. "I'll make good use of your knowledge."
"...They seem strange. But I'll probably see for myself, if I keep going. And I will keep going."