[@Pikmin Eye] The woman flashed a kind(?) smile upon hearing Martin’s explanation, her eyes focusing hard on him. Then, the slightest of a chuckle left her mouth as he implied she was as lost at him. [color=a18982]‘You don’t need to worry about us. But, no, getting to the surface is a bit more complicated than just treading along the right path,’[/color] she said, walking a few steps closer to Martin, to a more personal conversational distance. Of course, with the light behind her like this, all her features were cast in shadow to him. [color=a18982]‘I congratulate you on finding the Vast Underground, but I must insist you don’t come back. Far bigger and far more dangerous things than Durants lurk in these depths, and they might just take offense to this smell rather than flee it. I can’t in good conscience let you walk on.’[/color] So she said, taking out a Pokéball and opening it. With a flash, a one-and-a-half meter tall[sub][sub][sub](woah!?)[/sub][/sub][/sub] green, sage-like bird-Pokémon took shape, staring at Martin expressionlessly from beside his trainer. [center][url=https://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/f/f4/178Xatu.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/8B2ER5D.png[/img][/url] [color=6ecff6][i]Pokédex Entry #178 – Xatu, the Mystic Pokémon. It carries the mystic ability to see both the past and future, yet it stays rooted in place all day long. From the moment the sun rises, it stays still eyeing the sun’s movements until sunset, meditating. Legends say it sees a terrible future it cannot change, and so it doesn’t move.[/i][/color][/center] There was a certain shift in pressure around the Xatu, like the Psychic power was emanating from the Pokémon. Estimated level… high. [color=a18982]‘Don’t worry. Gather your Pokémon. My partner will teleport you out,’[/color] she declared, still with her kind(?) smile. She wasn’t asking. [color=a18982]‘Or, if you want to insist you can handle yourself, how about a Pokémon battle to ease my worries?’[/color] she then suggested in a kind(?) but foreboding tone, smile not changing, hand on her hip. The grunts at the cart all became noticeably alarmed with this statement, starting to pull the cart backwards away from her. … Team Virtue Admin Ivory would like to battle? [hider=Vast Underground Progress][img]https://i.imgur.com/d6zPMpY.png[/img][/hider] __________________________ [@Rune_Alchemist] [color=d6d2a9]‘Alright, so I’m on my own,’[/color] Yvonne confirmed. [color=d6d2a9]‘Suppose I’ll settle for flooring all the competition in Normal Contests first, then,’[/color] she smirked intently, after having understood that Claire was going to take off. [color=d6d2a9]‘100% of that was all bark, Claire. I look forward to seeing your bite!’[/color] Yvonne replied with a raised chin and confident smirk, as Claire ran off. And, yeah, because Claire ran off so immediately Anise had to hurry too, which meant she didn’t have an umbrella either, and she didn’t look too happy to be rained on. [color=e04f4f]‘Uuuugh, guess I’ll train a bit.’[/color] She choose to do so among the trees, that exist on route 11 while Claire was battling, because there was cover there. Meanwhile, Claire was challenging trainers! Lass Jessica first. Ralia VS Pidgey. So, turns out Pidgey was awful at hitting Ralia after that Double Team. It shot sand and gusts at multiple clones, but was unable to actually land a hit on Ralia before being defeated by Confusion. Jessica was now intimidated. [color=de9759]‘Y-you’re not, like, one of those super-strong trainers, right?’[/color] she had to ask before taking up her next Pokéball. Lure VS Shroomish. Turns out Gust is amazing at getting rid of Stun Spores and Leech Seeds midair, all logic in consideration. Shroomish was helpless to get support-moves in and then could but do a few, very not very effective Absorbs that hardly hurt Lure before being defeated. [center][color=6ecff6][i]Lure grew to Level 12![/i][/color][/center] Del VS Cottonee. Del did get paralyzed by Stun Spore, but in turn got off a very super effective Poison Sting that poisoned his opponent. In panic Jessica went ahead with the plan to Fairy Winding directly after that. Del took significant damage, but slowing Cottonee down with String Shot and then Poison Stinging again led to his victory. [center][color=6ecff6][i]Claire was victorious! Claire gained 420P for winning![/i][/color][/center] [color=de9759]‘Aaaah… Now I’m soaked and defeated…’[/color] Jessica lamented, before returning to dashing back to Redcoast City. Then Cyclist Eric. Ralia VS Pidove. “Gust” was apparently not a hard order for Pidove to grasp. Ralia’s Double Team was largely unsuccessful, wind was hard to dodge, though Teleport to relocate saved some damage. While both Pidove and Ralia hit, Ralia did way more damage on average and Pidove was swiftly defeated. Ralia is a little over half health. Ritz VS Shinx. Leer and Supersonic both hit but unfortunately Shinx shook off the confusion with relative ease and was able to counter Ritz. Ritz was higher level and had better moves, but Shinx had naturally high attack with Leer cancelling out the Rivalry loss. Ultimately, Ritz had to be switched out to prevent fainting, but Del then faced a Shinx on her last legs. Del easily won, tactics not really necessary. [center][color=6ecff6][i]Del grew to Level 12![/i][/color][/center] Ralia VS Venipede. Sooo, Rollout isn’t exactly logically a high-accuracy move. Ralia was Screeched, defense mortally depleted, but that meant nothing if Venipede couldn’t hit. Venipede rolled at the clones, but couldn’t hit the real one, and Ralia’s Super Effective Confusion took down Venipede’s health really quickly. Ralia won with fair ease, though being already hurt from Pidove combined with Screech would have meant a single hit would have been it. Now that didn’t happen, though. [center][color=6ecff6][i]Ralia grew to Level 14! Ralia learned Lucky Chant![/i][/color][/center] [center][color=6ecff6][i]Claire was victorious! Claire gained 347P for winning![/i][/color][/center] [color=8880bf]‘Oooh! Hardcore you are, confirmed! Now I gotta swing by Redcoast City before heading on to Route 12! Good continued luck!’[/color] Eric wished her, before cycling on. And with that, she was free to join up with Anise (who was looking really pleased with herself) and head on towards a new city, awaiting at the top of a steep climb up the base of Mt. Strength. A new city which it happened to be raining on. [hider=Arriving To][center][h2]Rainrock City[/h2][/center] [center][url=https://i.imgur.com/Tr740Wd.jpg][img]https://i.imgur.com/yzIlVec.jpg[/img][/url][/center] Passing over the rock bridge to enter, you’ll find Rainrock City to be a lot of exactly what’s in the name. Rain and rock. At the base of Mt. Strength, the city is on the top of a steep cliff, and has grown right where two rivers flow down from Mt. Strength to meet. A lake has grown in the center of the city, and the city has grown around it. The architecture of the buildings takes influence from an older time, as on these rocky cliffs larger buildings are difficult to construct, the streets made of cobblestone rather than asphalt. Given the near constant rain, it’s a largely silent mountain city where a lot of older people live, listening to the falling rain and taking it easy. You’re unlikely to find the town square bustling with attention. Behind the town lies ancient caves, thought to have been inhabited in ancient times. By Pokémon, by men, who knows, the writing on the walls remain untranslatable to this day. It is perhaps due to these caverns, as well as a general concentration of old and wise people, that caused Rainrock City to house both the Rainrock Library as well as the Rainrock Academy. If Pureplain City house the schools for young children to learn, Rainrock City is where they finish their studies at the Academy, studying old texts under the calming noise of the rain. Rainrock Academy also happens to house the Pokémon Gym, due to Gym Leader being an esteemed professor. Also notable, around Rainrock and on the streets there are Geodudes in town despite the rain, just lying about. Oh, and small crab-like bugs that make home in the rocks around here. [center][url=http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/9/98/074Geodude.png][img]http://i.imgur.com/uWRWPD6.png[/img][/url][/center] [center][color=6ecff6][i]Pokédex Entry #74 – Geodude, the Rock Pokémon. Found in fields as well as mountains. They commonly rest, half-buried in the ground and indistinguishable from normal rocks. There are always way more Geodude around than a traveler will notice. Stepping on one by accident may trigger their rage.[/i][/color][/center] [center][url=https://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/6/6b/557Dwebble.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/9EmxdGC.png[/img][/url][/center] [center][color=6ecff6][i]Pokédex Entry #557 – Dwebble, the Rock Inn Pokémon. It finds a rock of suitable size. It melts a hole in said rock using a liquid secreted from its mouth, then crawls in and lives in it. A rock-less Dwebble is known to be aggressive until a replacement is found, so be careful should the rock break.[/i][/color][/center] [color=e04f4f]‘The entrance to Mt. Strength is on Route 4,’[/color] Anise told. [color=e04f4f]‘We head south from Rainrock City onto Route 3, and almost immediately turn east for Route 4. Then we go along that a while but not all the way to Stillwood Village, unless you want to challenge the Gym there or something, and turn north about mid-way into Route 4 to head up the mountain.’[/color] Anise nodded as she informed of the way. Now, then. Anything to do in Rainrock City, or just move on? [hider=Suggestions to actions]1. Find Pokémon. [i]Can still search for Pokémon in towns~[/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 Places. [i]Visit any of the places in 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. Rainrock Academy/Gym. [i]A higher-level Pokémon academy for higher-level studies. Also doubles as the Pokémon Gym for ???[/i] 6.4. Rainrock Library. [i]Information stored throughout the ages. Are you interested in any particular subject?[/i] 6.5. Rainrock Lake/Rivers. [i]Powerful currents flow beneath, a calm lake lies midst the town. Surely, some water-Pokémon got to inhabit these.[/i] 6.6. Rainrock Caves. [i]Ancient, shallow caves in which contain numerous Rock-types. Something lived in here in ancient times.[/i] 6.7. Old Street. [i]Many old people live here. Careful, they don’t actually have much else to do but battle.[/i] 7. Familiar Faces, Oaken and Rodger. [i]Two of Jacques’ hopefuls that Claire might remember. Oaken’s taking great interest in the Library, Academy/Gym and the Caves, walking back and forth staring down into a guide-book with utmost focus. Rodger stands beside him with an umbrella and doesn’t look nearly as interested. Claire could pick which place she’d want to run into them in front of.[/i][/hider] [i]Connected areas: [/i] Route 3. [i]To the south, the route around the mountain, leading to Route 4 or Highhill Town. A wet woodland.[/i] Route 11. [i]A semi-populated road west under heavy rainfall, starting with a descent down towards Redcoast City. Abandoned buildings on the south side facing Silent Forest.[/i] [hider=Rainrock City, known Pokémon]Common: #74 Geodude #557 Dwebble Uncommon: Rare: [/hider][/hider] __________________________ [@Eklispe] So, before going to bed Dawkin went off to train in the Wet Caver- [center][url=http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/d/da/041Zubat.png][img]http://i.imgur.com/s7ni2th.png[/img][/url][/center] To train against water Pokémon in the river of Wet Cav- [center][url=http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/d/da/041Zubat.png][img]http://i.imgur.com/s7ni2th.png[/img][/url][url=http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/d/da/041Zubat.png][img]http://i.imgur.com/s7ni2th.png[/img][/url][/center] To train in Wet C- [center][url=http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/d/da/041Zubat.png][img]http://i.imgur.com/s7ni2th.png[/img][/url][url=http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/d/da/041Zubat.png][img]http://i.imgur.com/s7ni2th.png[/img][/url][url=http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/d/da/041Zubat.png][img]http://i.imgur.com/s7ni2th.png[/img][/url][url=http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/d/da/041Zubat.png][img]http://i.imgur.com/s7ni2th.png[/img][/url][/center] In W- [center][url=http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/d/da/041Zubat.png][img]http://i.imgur.com/s7ni2th.png[/img][/url][url=http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/d/da/041Zubat.png][img]http://i.imgur.com/s7ni2th.png[/img][/url][url=http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/d/da/041Zubat.png][img]http://i.imgur.com/s7ni2th.png[/img][/url][url=http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/d/da/041Zubat.png][img]http://i.imgur.com/s7ni2th.png[/img][/url][url=http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/d/da/041Zubat.png][img]http://i.imgur.com/s7ni2th.png[/img][/url][url=http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/d/da/041Zubat.png][img]http://i.imgur.com/s7ni2th.png[/img][/url][url=http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/d/da/041Zubat.png][img]http://i.imgur.com/s7ni2th.png[/img][/url][url=http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/d/da/041Zubat.png][img]http://i.imgur.com/s7ni2th.png[/img][/url][/center] … These work as fodder for an electric Pokémon too, right? [center][color=yellow][i]ZAP.[/i][/color] [url=http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/d/da/041Zubat.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/tFtvvZY.png[/img][/url][url=http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/d/da/041Zubat.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/tFtvvZY.png[/img][/url][url=http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/d/da/041Zubat.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/tFtvvZY.png[/img][/url][url=http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/d/da/041Zubat.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/tFtvvZY.png[/img][/url][url=http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/d/da/041Zubat.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/tFtvvZY.png[/img][/url][url=http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/d/da/041Zubat.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/tFtvvZY.png[/img][/url][url=http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/d/da/041Zubat.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/tFtvvZY.png[/img][/url][url=http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/d/da/041Zubat.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/tFtvvZY.png[/img][/url][/center] [center][color=6ecff6][i]Pichu grew to Level 7![/i][/color][/center] … Okay. So. There are Goldeens in the water, quite apt for a Pichu to train against. Should go pretty well. [center][color=6ecff6][i]Pichu grew to Level 9![/i][/color][/center] Goldeens take offense to being zapped, and several attacked back, so Pichu’s considerably damaged now. Overall, perhaps a chance to gain some friendship points? Maybe. Otherwise, Dawkin headed back, went to bed, woke up, got spooked, the rest of it. __________________________ [@Pirouette] [color=debd92]‘Alright! One Jaw Fossil, coming right up!’[/color] Isaac smiled happily as he deposited 4000P of his own and then handed over the fossil to Erika. [center][color=6ecff6][i]Erika obtained a Jaw Fossil![/i][/color][/center] [color=debd92]‘Dawn Stone, eh,’[/color] Isaac said as he considered. [color=debd92]‘They’re evasive little things. They do show up sometimes, but I don’t know I can give advice for how to find one.’[/color] He scratched his beard as he thought about it. [color=debd92]‘But I can point you to where we’ve more frequently found stones. It’s deeper in, after a left-turn, and-’[/color] Isaac started describing the way to an underground(ice?) mining area where they tend to find stones of kinds. [color=debd92]‘It’s not the only thing they find there, but yeah. It’s close to the Frozen Cave proper, don’t wander in by mistake!’[/color] He chuckled at that. Back at the Miner’s Lodge (much better name), they were wary about giving someone as young as Erika actual machines, but she could have a pickaxe and a helmet. She was also asked if she had a fire-Pokémon that could help her with excavating, and, yeah, she does. Chic’s Ember will do. She also got a bag with wheels for if she found a lot. She was assured that the pickaxe would do, the ice isn’t hard to mine. Following Isaac’s instructions, she headed further into the cavern ice-valley, and could see miners with varying fighting- and fire-types helping excavate. There were Machops and Machokes, Timburrs and Conkedurrs, some Geodudes with pickaxes, a couple Ponytas and a few Vulpixes, one had a Flareon. All helping their trainers get into the ice. Erika’s directions turned her left in a split further along time mine. It led to a smaller cave, frozen in ice, that was a bit rough and she had to be careful not to slip. There were still a couple miners down here, but this smaller mine was where she had been directed, so it was simply to start. There was a tiny purple Pokémon just standing by one wall, seemingly wild, just inspecting its reflection in the ice. [center][url=https://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/0/0e/238Smoochum.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/KIuB0Ef.png[/img][/url] [color=6ecff6][i]Pokédex Entry #238 – Smoochum, the Kiss Pokémon. Its lips are the most sensitive part of its body, and it uses them to identify new things. It is energetic and constantly runs about, though trips often. It tends to be conscious about its appearance, stopping by any reflective surface to ensure it hasn’t gotten dirty.[/i][/color][/center] To her right, there was a path in. Deeper in. It was darker, but still not dark due to all the ice. It was more foreboding, for there lay Frozen Cave, tunnels. The path that was called “a challenge for those who wish to travel to Cooldome”, and coming through was in itself proof you were worthy to visit Cooldome City. … If you didn’t just buy a ticket on the train through the regular tunnel on the other side of the mountain, of course. Anyways! That’s not what Erika was here for, mining! So, with a pickaxe, possibly with Chic or other Pokémon helping her, Erika started mining. True to their word, the ice fell off easily to these sharp axes. There were plenty of promising-looking shapes in the ice, but most turned out to be regular rocks. But, as she hacked in, she saw a shape in there that was beside the ordinary. It was… a very odd Pokémon. [hider=What she had found][center][url=https://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/7/70/686Inkay.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/ZE4ykQe.png[/img][/url] [color=6ecff6][i]Pokédex Entry #686 – Inkay, the Revolving Pokémon. It’s capable of flashing lights from the dots on its head that drain an opponent’s will to fight, after which a wild Inkay tend to flee. It dazes pray with these same lights, then catch them. Evolving them involves first getting them to a high enough level, then forcibly turning them upside down.[/i][/color][/center][/hider] It’s frozen solid in the ice. Will Erika do anything? She could carefully free the Pokémon, continue mining, or do something else. [hider=something else]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 Lodge. [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: #238 Smoochum Rare: In Ice: #321 Wailord #686 Inkay[/hider]