[@Pikmin Eye] The potions mostly restored the health of Durant and Slowpoke. They’re now mostly fine. [color=63806a]‘Trubb-!?’[/color] Trubbish made a brief statement as the light came closer, but then stood still and made a stand, seeing how Martin had decided to do so. As the light came closer it became apparent that this was not one person. This was several people and a wagon on wheels. The person in front was holding a flashlight, shining it forward and eventually finding Martin. With the light shining right at him, it was impossible to make out any details. [color=a18982]‘Oh? A trainer?’[/color] The voice was female and smooth, and played on a line where it was hard to distinguish between kindness and condescension. [color=a18982]‘How rare.’[/color] She made a few hand-gestures, and the wagon behind her stopped. She turned off the flashlight and several weaker lights were lit on the cart in every direction, brightening the area to the brightness of a normal room, revealing Martin and the people he was looking at. The cart was square, layered by multiple grey boxes built specifically to be stacked and also hide what they contained within from outside eyes. The wheels under were pretty large, intended to manage some tricky terrain, but it could only be moved by manpower. Manpower clearly provided by the five casually-clothed grunts standing around it and pushing it, who had been given a pause by Martin’s meddling. On top of the cart were five backpacks, that clearly had been placed there in preference of wearing them. While all six individuals were casually clothed, it wasn’t hard to see through whatever disguise they were intending. For one, the five backpacks were of three different models, and two of the bags were the same model that Martin had earlier found on the earlier ruined campsite. For the second, Martin might recognize the person in front. The woman was lightly brown-skinned, with long freely-hanging similarly brown hair. There was grace and power in her posture, the eyes of an experienced woman used to being in-charge. Right now, she was in casual wear, a black jumper on her upper body and plain blue jeans on her legs, boots on her feet. But, Martin might remember her in a completely different attire. [hider=How she usually looks][center][url=https://i.imgur.com/ybvdAte.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/vUHCalu.png[/img][/url][/center][/hider] … Back in Goldshore Town, she wasn’t one who actually went forth and talked to the workers. She had probably never personally spoken to a citizen of the town. However, it was fairly easy to know when she was coming, it was when all the Team Virtue members suddenly became clean-freaks trying to desperately make everything look as good as possible and get the next shipment ready in record time before she arrived. She only ever inspected the place from a distance, but it was clear all other Team Virtue members borderline feared her. Whoever she is, she’s a big deal in the team. And here she is, escorting a cart in the Vast Underground, in casual attire. The woman inspected Martin and his Pokémon. [color=a18982]‘A Trubbish to keep the monsters at bay, and a Nincada to guide the way. Smart,’[/color] she remarked, sounding decently pleased by his set-up. If she was at all bothered by Trubbish’s scent, she didn’t show it. [color=a18982]‘Still, walking through the Vast Underground without a light has to be scary for one so young. Are you lost?’[/color] … As mentioned, it was difficult to discern if her tone was kind or condescending. Trubbish looked frightened, but stood its ground without hiding. The grunts by the cart (besides looking thankful to get a break) were looking over the woman and Martin, also showing signs of doubts and fear. Okay. Now what would Martin do/say? [hider=Vast Underground Progress][img]https://i.imgur.com/d6zPMpY.png[/img][/hider] __________________________ [@Pirouette] [color=d4574e]‘Deli~!’[/color] Delibird was happy to be petted before walking off. [color=668570]‘Hm, alright, then,’[/color] Joshua said, nodding. [color=668570]‘I’ll go on ahead and see if I can find an ice-type to catch. Don’t leave without me! It’d break my heart~’[/color] he said, making a dramatic gesture of one hand on his forehead and another on his heart before he stepped backwards and then slunk deeper into the cave. So, Erika was taking an interest in the mining. Walking into the encampment, Erika will note the miners all look pretty happy. Like something good has happened. [color=green]‘Oh, fresh young blood! It’s good to see that here. Yeah, we find all kinds of things here! Sometimes it’s fossils, sometimes it’s special rocks of different kinds, and sometimes whole Pokémon are frozen solid in the ice! Strangely, they come to life when we melt or hack them out. They must be, like, perfectly preserved. I wonder how long they’ve been there?’[/color] [color=cyan]‘You’re here at a good time! We got one massive haul today! It’s more than we usually get in weeks! Check the store, it’s unusually loaded!’[/color] [color=slateblue]‘Beyond the mines is the Frozen Cave proper. Careful if you go there. Those tunnels are slippery, if you’re not prepared you might slide down somewhere you can’t come back from! Still, if you’re ever in trouble and have no Escape Ropes, just follow a Delibird. They’ll keep you fed and escort you out.’[/color] [color=pink]‘Dawn Stones? Well, er, we [i]occasionally[/i] find such here. I don’t know if we found one today, I’m afraid. But hey, check the Stone Store in Raremine Town, otherwise. As long as you have the cash, they should have some. If the collectors haven’t bought them out, anyways.’[/color] [color=red]‘The fossils found here or in the Desert Mines can be taken to the Research Lab in Raremine Town to have the Pokémon revived. Isn’t it odd? We can bring Pokémon who died and became fossils thousands of years ago back, yet we’re powerless trying to do the same with the recently dead…’[/color] Having talked to a few individuals, she then made her way to the Miner’s Base. That particular place was one of those actually constructed houses high above the other buildings, with a lift going directly to it. There, she could see miners discussing placements, where people would mine, and such. So, she asked about mining. [color=84a35b]‘Eh, you wanna mine?’[/color] A large miner that looked in-charge asked her, smirking. [color=84a35b]‘Alright. So, we have some heavy equipment here, pickaxes and drills and saws to get through the ice. We also employ fighting- or fire-type Pokémon to help us unearth the walls of ice. Ice is rather easy to mine, and lots of things are frozen into the walls. We have maps with markers telling where people are already working, so you can tell me and I’ll send you somewhere we think might be productive with whatever equipment you want. Anything you find is yours to keep, or you can sell it to us and we’ll sell it in the Miner’s Shop in turn. What isn’t sold there is usually sent to Raremine Town. Oh, and if you find a Pokémon you don’t want, tell us and we’ll mark it, then someone who wants it can come and heat it out. That’s about it. So how about it?’[/color] She doesn’t have to decide right now. Instead, she could go over and check the Miner’s Shop nearby. One miner’s trash could be wanted by another miner or just a traveller. She peeked into the store, looking over the items for sale. However, another surprise was awaiting her in here. For the person across the counter was a familiar face. Not a supremely familiar face, but a familiar face regardless. [color=debd92]‘Erika? That you?’[/color] [hider=Just a Hiker][center][url=https://i.imgur.com/3C8OJAt.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/3C8OJAt.png[/img][/url][/center][/hider] It was just a hiker. Except this particular hiker is Isaac the Hiker, an old friend of Erika’s mother. He tends to take extended trips away from his home in Cooldome City but occasionally comes over for tea and recounting old stories. Erika might recall he sometimes recounting working in mines, but perhaps them being THESE mines may have escaped her. [color=debd92]‘Oh, my. It IS you! Out on your journey already? My, time goes fast!’[/color] Isaac reflected with a great smile. [color=debd92]‘I feel like this is worth a celebration.’[/color] So he said, and looked down at the items for sale. [hider=Miner’s Shop][list] [*] Hard Stone - 250P [*] Heart Scale - 5,000P [*] Normal Gem - 2,500P [*] Star Piece - 2,500P [*] Icy Rock - 1,000P [*] Damp Rock - 1,000P [*] Dusk Stone - 2,500P [*] Shiny Stone - 1,250P [*] Sun Stone - 3,300P [*] Helix Fossil - 4,000P [*] Skull Fossil - 6,000P [*] Armor Fossil - 3,000P [*] Cover Fossil - 4,000P [*] Plume Fossil - 2,500P [*] Jaw Fossil - 4,000P [*] Sail Fossil - 3,000P[/list][/hider] [color=debd92]‘Hey, you know what? Pick one item here that you’d like. I’ll buy it for you with my own money. Consider it a late birthday present. Ho-ho.’[/color] Not that he ever actually got Erika presents, he wasn’t THAT close, but nonetheless that worked as an excuse for him. [hider=Still the same suggestions to actions]1. Find Pokémon. [i]Note, there are more Pokémon in the tunnels than here. Unless you’re specifically searching the ice?[/i] 2. Talk. [i]This is basically a small settlement. They probably know a bit about mining in ice![/i] 3. Move along. [i]Either out of the cave, or deeper into it.[/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]Not many, but there’s a small base here![/i] 6.1. Miner’s Base. [i]For maps, getting info or tools and learning how to mine![/i] 6.2. Miner’s Shop. [i]Skip all the hard work of actually mining and buy what the miners are selling! Varies every day![/i] 6.3. Comfy Igloo. [i]If you just want to rest, have a chat, relax, restore health.[/i] 7. Area Specific: Mining. [i]People here mine the ice for items and Pokémon caught in the ice. You could too![/i][/hider] [i]Connected areas: [/i] Route 5. [i]Exit the mines and you’ll be right there.[/i] Frozen Cave. [i]The Frozen Cave proper awaits beyond the mine.[/i] [hider=Frozen Cave Mines, known Pokémon]Common: #225 Delibird Uncommon: Rare: #321 Wailord (Frozen)[/hider] __________________________ [@Eklispe][@Joshua Tamashii] In case they head out for Route 5 again, on the way towards Route 6, which they would if they’re heading for Raremine Town eventually. Unless they’re taking a different route, of course. Just so you don't have to take post's worth of a break in Route 5 if you have nothing to do there. [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] [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: Ewan. [i]He’s training his new Treecko.[/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 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 #163 Hoothoot (During night, rumored) #585 Deerling #664 Scatterbug Uncommon: #25 Pikachu #586 Sawsbuck #587 Emolga Rare: #172 Pichu [/hider]