[@Pikmin Eye]

Into the darkness of the Vast Underground it was, Nincada leading on with Martin following after. The darkness became complete, but the warmth down here thankfully ensured the place was dry and therefore the rocks were dry. The path was wide, possibly describable as epic in scale, with large pillars of stalagmites and stalactites meeting mid-way as they made their way in. The dark rocky path was on an uneven decline, leading deeper than they already were. The path branched multiple times, but no matter what path they choose they’d always be heading in the same general direction, and they could always get back if things turned out unwell. The choice of path wasn’t as important here.

In fact, the paths seemed pretty chaotic. Small tunnels branched off to dead-ends, other small corridors branched out a little only to rejoin the main path, sometimes the main path broke up only to rejoin further down the line, and so far it was empty. One could question how such a vast expanse could exist down here underground, if the answer didn’t come to become evident fairly soon.

Nincada saw them first. They were there, on the walls, on the ceiling of the underground, turning their heads to look in the direction of the intruder. They made small sounds, cackling among themselves, the sounds of their insectoid movements along the cavern walls unnerving to someone who couldn’t see them. Now, Nincada had no way of telling Martin exactly what he was seeing… but fortunately, he didn’t have to. Because further down, a sudden loud blast of fire lit up the cave and the giant ants on the walls started fleeing en-masse.

[center][url=https://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/1/1a/632Durant.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/tn9M191.png[/img][/url][/center]

[center][color=6ecff6][i]Pokédex Entry #632 – Durant, the Iron Ant Pokémon. They build large, complicated maze-like tunnels in mountains or underground to make their home. They are extremely territorial and attack in groups if endangered, protected by their steel armor. All their strategies are to ensure their continued survival in the face of their natural predator, Heatmor.[/i][/color][/center]

And, as said, the blast of fire was taking down scores of giant ants further back. Numerous ants where seemingly throwing themselves on the predator, sacrificing themselves to allow the greater number of their companions to flee the scene, leaving the fire-Pokémon satisfied with the ants available to it while scores of the ants scurried past Martin and Nincada fleeing the beast.

[center][url=https://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/b/b0/631Heatmor.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/mBrpjW3.png[/img][/url][/center]

[center][color=6ecff6][i]Pokédex Entry #631 – Heatmor, the Anteater Pokémon. It breathes in fresh oxygen through its tail that it then uses to fuel the fire coming out its mouth. It uses this fire as a tongue to burn through the armor of Durant, its prefered prey. It is known to chase Durants endlessly through their complicated mazes to get their meals.[/i][/color][/center]

Indeed. Watching the scene, it was clear the corridors around where there in order for the Durants to always have a second or more options to flee the Heatmor should it come advancing down the main path. Incidentally, that meant Martin too had additional routes if he didn’t want to get too close to the large fire-breathing anteater. The Vast Underground stretches far further than this little encounter, after all.

So, what would he do now?

[hider=Vast Underground Progress][img]https://i.imgur.com/CULuDLT.png[/img][/hider]

__________________________

[@Eklispe]

Apparently, Sawsbuck didn’t feel like engaging in the futile attempt to capture him, because he looked up at the Pokéball that had been lobbed for him and launched the Energy Ball straight up into it, the ball of pure energy positively vaporizing the Pokéball mid-air, the energy ball continuing upwards into the air. Straight after, though, came Wooper’s water-gun showering over the great stag.

Without even having flinched, Sawsbuck turned his dripping snout to make his angry glare fall onto Wooper.

It’s not very effective…

After but the briefest of pauses, Sawsbuck launched into a mighty fast gallop directly at Wooper while lowering his head and directing his horns forward, the horns starting to glow a dangerous green as Horn Leech was being charged for maximum damage. Wooper was not NEAR fast enough to get out of the way in time.

On the plus side, Sawsbuck had been distracted enough that Dawkin had managed to run up and gripped Pichu’s Pokéball while Sawsbuck dashed the other direction towards Wooper.

So, next action?

__________________________

[@Pirouette]

The Trail Master, while somewhat upset that his trial had been overcome quite quickly, did smile and look a bit proud as Erika complimented him before he swooshed away.

Joshua and Ewan, being left with Mudkip and Treecko to pick from, exchanged a glance.

[color=decdad]‘I already have a Ground Pokémon and a Water Pokémon,’[/color] Ewan blankly stated. In response, Joshua smiled widely, stepping forward and opening a Pokéball, lifting the Mudkip that came up high over his head.

[color=668570]‘Mudkiiiiipz~! Welcome to the team, my blue little buddy! We’ll be best friends~!’[/color] Joshua called to the confused little mud fish before hugging him.

Meanwhile, Ewan walked forth and opened the remaining Pokéball, the bipedal green reptile coming out of it lifting his gaze to meet Ewan’s eyes, both looking at one another with a considerable lack of excitement.

[color=decdad]‘Hello, Treecko.  I’m seeking to become a Pokémon master. Will you join me?’[/color] Ewan asked. Treecko took a moment, before nodding and making a little sound of acknowledgement. Ewan showed the slightest sign of a smile. [color=decdad]‘Great. I will call you Tr… tr… Trevor.’[/color] Treecko frowned. Ewan looked the tiniest a bit confused before realizing.

[color=decdad]‘Oh, you’re female. Then… Tr… tre… ther… Theresa. Yeah. That’s your name, should you accept it.’[/color] Once again, a moment of silence passed between the two, before Theresa nodded and made another accepting sound. [color=decdad]‘Great.’[/color] Ewan simply said, before lifting the Pokéball and letting Theresa return to it.

Joshua had by that point called out Pikachu and Zubat to say hi to the new member of their team, and that was that.

Sooooooooooo, outside again.

[hider=Route 5][center][h2]Route 5[/h2]

[url=https://i.imgur.com/ooiWtLz.jpg][img]https://i.imgur.com/ydwR9zd.jpg[/img][/url][/center]

Just as Stillwood Village is the least visited settlement in Isson, Route 5 is among the least travelled routes on Isson main landmass. The route is a steady incline from Lakewatch Town to Stillwood Village, with some elements of the base of Mt. Chill nearby, the waters of Dragon Lake next to it too, sporadic forest from that surrounding Stillwood Village and some of the plain elements from route 6 as well, along with a very traveller-friendly road makes Route 5 perhaps one of the most naturally stunning routes of Isson. There are no roads for asphalt here, only travellers are explorers seeking or exiting Lakewatch Town for some reason, as well as Pokémon trainers on their journeys.

A peaceful route without any real dangers, it still offers a lot of variation. Walk on the west side by the waters of Dragon Lake to potentially encounter some Pokémon of the lake. Walk by the mountains on the east and perhaps feel some of the radiating cold of the range of Mt. Chill to perhaps see some more mountainous Pokémon or maybe an ice Pokémon that stumbled out of their caves. The route is a bit cold, attributed perhaps best to the proximity to the Frozen Cavern, and it gets colder the closer the mountain you go. Multiple rivers run down from the mountains, part of Mt. Chill that melts, but efficient wooden bridges help passage over. And of course, patches of forest here and there.

The south of Route 5 opens up towards what people call the Vast Plains, or simply Route 6. There parts of the Endless Forest spread out to make things a bit more covered in trees, but as soon as you leave this forest, all you’ll see is plains as far as you can see, and that’d be Route 6. On the other side of the route is the forest that covers Stillwood Village, you need to enter the forest to get to the village. At the middle by the lake is Lakewatch Town, resting a bit above Dragon Lake. And, of course, the passage up to the Frozen Cavern lies up that hill, for those who want to brave the range that leads towards the enclosed and frozen Route 9 on the other side.[/hider]

[center][url=https://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/6/68/585Deerling-Spring.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/aWwOddi.png[/img][/url] [url=https://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/d/d4/585Deerling-Winter.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/iqjHr5s.png[/img][/url][/center]

[center][color=6ecff6][i]Pokédex Entry #585 – Deerling, the Season Pokémon. A Pokémon known to live in mountain grass, it changes it’s appearance based on current temperature and humidity, effectively giving it a new form for each season. People used them to foretell the current season. They live in herds and are very timid with other living beings, hiding quickly.[/i][/color][/center]

[center][url=https://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/4/43/043Oddish.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/7f0Qaw5.png[/img][/url][/center]

[center][color=6ecff6][i]Pokédex Entry #43 – Oddish, the Weed Pokémon. During the day, Oddish finds nutrient-rich soil to sleep in and absorbs, specially preferring cold soil. When touched by the moonlight, it then pulls itself up and starts wandering, spreading its pollen and looking for a new place to sleep. If it is pulled up by an aggressor during the day, it shrieks out loudly.[/i][/color][/center]

[center][url=http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/d/d3/664Scatterbug.png][img]http://i.imgur.com/NOTmPPg.png[/img][/url][/center]

[center][color=6ecff6][i]Pokédex Entry #664 – Scatterbug, the Scatterdust Pokémon. Using a dust which covers its body and regulates its body-temperature, it can live in any region or climate. If attacked, it can release a poisonous black powder which paralyzes upon contact.[/i][/color][/center]

[center][url=https://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/5/5d/010Caterpie.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/68CZR5W.png[/img][/url][/center]

[center][color=6ecff6][i]Pokédex Entry #10 – Caterpie, the Worm Pokémon. It has a great appetite and eats green leaves larger than itself. Its feet has suction cups allowing it to climb on any surface. If attacked, it can release a stench from its antenna to ward off attackers. It is known to grow fast, and will create a cocoon out of silk for itself to evolve.[/i][/color][/center]

And in the forest are way more Deerlings, but also the occasional

[center][url=https://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/b/b4/587Emolga.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/6r5cKqn.png[/img][/url][/center]

[center][color=6ecff6][i]Pokédex Entry #587 – Emolga, the Sky Squirrel Pokémon. It lives in treetops and holes in trees made by other Pokémon. It stores electrical charge in its cheeks, and uses this energy to assist flight. It has a thin cape-like membrane between arms and body which helps it fly, and this membrane is capable of discharging the electricity it has stored.[/i][/color][/center]

[center][url=http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/0/0d/025Pikachu.png][img]http://i.imgur.com/UyvUQLv.png[/img][/url][/center]

[center][color=6ecff6][i]Pokédex Entry #25 – Pikachu, the Mouse Pokémon. It stores electricity in sacks inside its cheeks, which it unleashes if threatened. They live in forests, and use their electricity to roast berries. It monitors its surroundings by raising it tail and sensing electricity. If multiple Pikachu gather up, their power increases.[/i][/color][/center]

and the occasional

[center][url=https://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/8/8d/586Sawsbuck-Spring.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/1eZMeEX.png[/img][/url][/center]

[center][color=6ecff6][i]Pokédex Entry #586 – Sawsbuck, the Season Pokémon. They migrate according to the seasons. They’re therefore sometimes known as the “harbingers of spring”. Their horns carry different plants depending on the season, and the horns themselves grow to a size equivalent to its status in the herd. The leaders tend to have magnificently large horns.[/i][/color][/center]

… Hopefully, she did not attempt engaging any Sawsbucks.

Now, then. Torchic found this an excellent place to get started. With Deerlings, Oddishes and bugs, all things flammable, Torchic’s growth started with a boost.

[center][color=6ecff6][i]Chic grew to Level 9![/i][/color][/center]

Sno had similar ease, ice-moves turning quite effective against the local grass Pokémon. 

[center][color=6ecff6][i]Sno grew to level 10! Sno learned Icy Shard![/i][/color][/center]

The rest could help Poli get up to a level where she (please write gender into the mini-sheets, just so I don’t have to go double-check XD) at least learned a damaging move, but beyond that this place was mostly grass and electric, not very good environment for a water-type.

[center][color=6ecff6][i]Poli grew to level 5! Poli learned Water Gun![/i][/color][/center]

Gibs did decently against the local Pokémon, taking less damage from both grass and electric moves. Went pretty well!

[center][color=6ecff6][i]Gibs grew to Level 9! Gibs learned Dragon Rage![/i][/color][/center]

Now, then. She had trained a bit. Ewan and Joshua took the que and trained a bit too, but now they’ve done that. What now?

[hider=Suggestions to actions]1. Find Pokémon. [i]Can be specified what kind of Pokémon is being searched for, and how you search.[/i]
2. Train Pokémon. [i]With this command, we can jump ahead in time and skip posting about grinding.[/i]
3. Seek trainers. [i]While not many, there are still trainers and explorers in the area, mostly trying to get to the next.[/i]
4. Talk. [i]You could seek someone out to talk to them, if you want to.[/i]
5. Move along. [i]Move along normally, letting any events that may come happen naturally.[/i]
6. Hurry along. [i]Intentionally avoid confrontations and try to get safely to the next destination.[/i]
7. Specify. [i]If you specify what you want to do, the GM will take it into account and tell the result.[/i]
8. Trigger random event. [i]Force the GM to use his imagination to make a scenario for you.[/i]
9. Area Specific: Random House. [i]Uh. There’s an excessively out-of-place red house in the middle of the route, the door standing wide-open. … Want to visit?[/i]
10. Familiar Faces: Dawkin. [i]If you feel like it, you can walk right into Dawkin in his epic struggle with a local Sawsbuck way above his level. No idea if he’d appreciate it.[/i][/hider]

[i]Connected areas: [/i]
Lakewatch Town. [i]On the south-west of the route, Lakewatch Town lies adjacent to the lake on the road to the Wet Caverns.[/i]
Stillwood Village. [i]In the north lies the forest which hides the village, Mt. Strength lying just behind it.[/i]
Route 6. [i]Vast plains start in the south-east, this route leads towards Raremine Town.[/i]
Frozen Cavern. [i]After an incline up to the ridge of Mt. Chill, a cavern of ice could guide the way to Route 9 and Cooldome City.[/i]
Endless Forest. [i]To the south, a dark forest looms. There are no indications as to why you’d ever want to go there.[/i]

[hider=Route 5, known Pokémon]Common:
#10 Caterpie
#43 Oddish
#585 Deerling
#664 Scatterbug

Uncommon:
#25 Pikachu
#586 Sawsbuck
#587 Emolga

Rare:
#172 Pichu[/hider]

__________________________

[@Joshua Tamashii]

While not fishing, Amelia could stay in place until the ferry arrived. It was a standard little boat, the kind that mostly looked like an on-water buss with an inside with enough room for around eighty or so seated people with the roof and all plus an outdoors area where people could stand around and look out over the water. The staff took her payment no questions asked, just another day at work for them, and as soon as they had waited long enough the ferry took off. The trip turned uneventful, other than saying hi to another ferry heading the other way and a large canoe with a number of Lakewatchers on, spying out over the waters and rowing around ever vigilant. They had a number of tourists in the back and a tour guide explaining things, probably heading in to potentially look at dragons. In any case.

Soon enough, buildings were visible to the left of the southern mountain and the river heading out to the ocean beside it. Buildings that stood on water, and the craft headed in.

[hider=Arriving in…][center][h2]Lakewatch Town[/h2]

[url=http://i.imgur.com/DChhkfk.jpg][img]http://i.imgur.com/QQcVLfQ.jpg[/img][/url][/center]

As one looks upon Lakewatch, it is clear it was once built by the side of the water. Yet, over time, Dragon Lake has actually increased in volume, the water-level rising and swallowing the town. Then the natural conclusion would be to move the town back, follow the water-level, and rebuild at the new shore, right? That, does not appear to have been the thought that went through the minds of the designers of this Town, which is essentially placed out in the water on top of older buildings, the streets of the town flooded in water and to get around one has to make use of their many canoes or get on the back of a Pokémon.

The town of Lakewatch rises fairly high for its size, and vegetation grows pretty freely around the buildings. Most buildings and streets have white floating cobblestone to walk on either side of the streets, with a river of water flowing in the middle. People here are highly accustomed to this, and the streets are constantly bustling with people heading back and forth, as well as people actually gliding down from the higher buildings from the roofs above using strange little paragliders. It appears people live in the higher floors, while business takes place on ground/water-level. There are canoes basically everywhere that anyone’s free to borrow, townspeople commonly jumping down on a canoe, using the force of the jump to drift it to the other side and then simply jump off.

Now, anyone could hear from the name that Lakewatch Town is the town that basically rules the Dragon Lake. The Lakewatchers are a group of people that regularly patrol the waters, and become friends with the dragons that live there. Tours by the Lakewatchers are the primary tourist attraction of the place, along with the fish that is procured from the same lake, and guides are trained to show the way in any surrounding areas. Their boats are also those who trade with the western side through Highhill, keeping the place alive and busy. Plus, there’s always the rumors of treasure or otherwise hiding deep in Flooded Lakewatch, and Descent Tower looms in the middle of town for those hoping to explore… but who really knows? It’s a nice and different place, definitely.[/hider]


Arriving at the dock, it was evident that the most popular nearby building was the Lakewatcher booth for taking orders of tours to look at nearby dragons on Dragon Lake, which was the chief attraction of coming here. The docks the ferry stopped at were completely on water, floating, linked to buildings that themselves stood in water. To get around here, you had to be on water. There are plenty of canoes or people crossing on Pokémon, a favorite for that appearíng to be Quagsires, for some reason. There are plenty of them, and their pre-evolution Wooper was also hanging around a bit of everywhere.

[center][url=http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/7/78/194Wooper.png][img]http://i.imgur.com/lQ3oOD4.png[/img][/url][/center]

[color=6ecff6][i][center]Pokédex Entry #194 – Wooper, the Water Fish Pokémon. It lives in cold water, sleeping on the bottom and seeking food by the shore when it's cold. When walking above water, wild Woopers cover their bodies with a slimy, poisonous film that keeps them from dehydrating. It's slightly dull-witted.[/center][/i][/color]

[center][url=https://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/a/a4/195Quagsire.png][img]http://i.imgur.com/TueBLON.png[/img][/url]

[color=6ecff6][i]Pokédex Entry #195 – Quagsire, the Water Fish Pokémon. A very easy-going Pokémon, they swim about and don’t even mind if they bump their heads into things. When hunting, it simply opens its mouth and moves no muscles, waiting for prey to blunder in. When not moving, it expands very little energy and does not need food for a long time.[/i][/color][/center]

Anyways. What would Amelia do, now?

Note, one basically has to cross water to get through this town. It’s not going to be used to slow anyone down, but to be considered when writing a post about crossing it.

[hider=Suggestions to actions]1. Find Pokémon. [i]There’s plenty of water here. Could be any number of Water Pokémon in the different rivers through town.[/i]
2. Talk. [i]In cities, there are considerably more people one can talk to. Talking can give you info on local rumors and such.[/i]
3. Exit. [i]Exit the town to any of the connected areas.[/i]
4. Specify. [i]If you specify what you want to do, the GM will take it into account and tell the result.[/i]
5. Trigger random event. [i]Force the GM to use his imagination to make a scenario for you.[/i]
6. Notable Buildings. [i]Visit any of the facilities of the city![/i]
	6.1. Pokémon Center. [i]Heal all your Pokémon.[/i]
	6.2. PokéMart. [i]Go to a store and buy things.[/i]
	6.3. Pokémon Gym. [i]???[/i]
	6.4. Lakewatcher Base. [i]From where Lakewatchers embark to patrol Dragon Lake.[/i]
	6.5. Lakewatch Docks. [i]For getting tours of Dragon Lake, just taking a ferry or fishing![/i]
	6.6. Explorer’s Guide Service. [i]With all these strange places around, Lakewatch offers guides to the surrounding areas![/i]
	6.7. Descent Tower. [i]A tower in the middle of town, with stairs down to Flooded Lakewatch. Come prepared for the underwater.[/i]
	6.8. Back Alleys. [i]… What? Lakewatch has a darker section? What are you talking about?[/i][/hider]

[i]Connected areas: [/i]
Wet Caverns. [i]Water-filled caverns that are located to the west. There’s a small hill to climb to get to the entrance.[/i]
Route 5. [i]The main exit of Lakewatch, leading to a grassy incline connecting mountains, forests and plains.[/i]
Route 14. [i]The waters of Dragon Lake are also known as Route 14. It connects Lakewatch Town, Highhill Town and Stillwood Village.[/i]

[hider=Known Pokémon][i]In Town[/i]
Common: 
#194 Wooper
#195 Quagsire

[i]Waters outside[/i]
Common:
#60 Poliwag

Uncommon:
#318 Carvanha
#535 Tympole

Rare:[/hider]

__________________________

[@Rune_Alchemist]

Yvonne looked a little surprised at the varying reactions of the Ralia doubles, or something in that direction. Perhaps at that that they were each having their own slightly distinct reaction. At Claire’s quip, she flashed the slightest of a part confident smirk, though immediately turned back to the battle. Yvonne nodded.

[color=d6d2a9]‘Okay. Quick Attack! Don’t let yourself be cornered!’[/color] 

[color=5d6d8f]‘Absol.’[/color] Stefan confirmed, and with quick steps where he seemed to flash out of reach of the clones, the Absol used his quick-attack move to quick-get out of the way, flashing back and forth not allowing their tiny punches to connect, even should they be fake.

However, when teleporting, you really only need the enemy to be still for a matter of a second to get your accuracy down, and this teleport was totally offensive enough to work under Taunt.

As Stefan came to a stop, turning around to face the group of Ralias again, Ralia suddenly showed up gripping his horn. The Absol blinked, his expression looking appalled at Ralia’s gesture.

[color=5d6d8f]‘Abs-!’[/color] -And then he was Quick Attacking again, without awaiting command, stepping side-to-side with considerable speed to attempt shaking her off. With that kind of speed, if it was the real Ralia, she’d probably have some trouble holding on and need to do whatever she was doing. If it was a clone then Stefan would notice the lack of weight fairly quickly at higher speeds, in which case he’d just stop and stare at the rest in annoyance.

Exchange 2 of 4 complete.