[@Gardevoiran]

It turns out that the commotion at the lab was most of the inhabitants of the lab leaving said lab. Dunstan and Leila among them. The scientist that was in charge of resurrecting fossils walked by Skylar as he came to ask his question, and… 

[color=9A897A]'What? You’re concerned about that stuff, at a time like this!?’[/color] Resurrection dude said, albeit maybe with the change of circumstances Skylar wouldn’t actually ask about that. [color=9A897A]'Come on! There’s a historic occasion to witness! Let’s be on our way!’[/color] 

With that, the whole group of scientists were heading off through Raremine Town. With the assumption that Skylar would head along (this plot kinda won’t progress if he doesn’t) he’d find that they were heading out of Raremine Town, off north. If you look at a map of Isson, do you see that there’s actually a river going inland right above Raremine Town? Logically, it was emerging from some underground channel or something.

Well, there was a gigantic pirate ship on that river. Flying the crossbones, piraty crew, captain standing grinning at the helm. There was absolutely zero doubt. Now, unsure if Skylar had some particular way of noticing that there was a pirate ship there, but some scientist could probably fill him in.

Standing at the helm was, alongside his giant ice-bear…!

[hider=the pirate][center][url=https://i.imgur.com/rE1LBnc.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/rE1LBncl.png[/img][/url]

[url=https://archives.bulbagarden.net/media/upload/a/a6/0614Beartic.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/fCZoC8X.png[/img][/url]

[color=6ecff6][i]Pokédex Entry #614 – Beartic, the Freezing Pokémon. They love the cold seas of the north. It creates pathways across the ocean waters by freezing their own breath, and swims around northern seas to catch prey. It creates fangs and claws of ice using its breath to fight with, and are very capable swimmers.[/i][/color][/center][/hider]

Oh, and Zachery’s two female helpers were probably around here somewhere, too.
[hider=them][url=https://i.imgur.com/ymLpx3G.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/ymLpx3Gl.png[/img][/url][/hider]

Approaching the ship were Dunstan and Leila, the chief scientist on legendary Pokémon, and the representative of the scientists at Raremine Town, albeit she herself wasn’t a scientist. Just a really powerful Pokémon trainer.

[hider=Dunstan and Leila][url=https://i.imgur.com/asM7CSE.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/asM7CSE.png[/img][/url] [url=https://i.imgur.com/wRUffiD.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/cz2mh5S.png[/img][/url][/hider]

[color=465c99]‘Ahoy, there, Dunstan!’[/color] Zachery called with an energetic tone. [color=465c99]‘I got the thing you wanted! Special delivery, straight to you! Am I doing a good job, or what!?’[/color] he called, chuckling as he did.

[color=8a685f]‘You’re doing excellently. Thank you, Zachery.’[/color] Dunstan. Leila meanwhile took out a Pokéball, and a Pidgeot emerged.

[center][url=https://archives.bulbagarden.net/media/upload/7/73/0018Pidgeot.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/ihg4pfp.png[/img][/url]

[color=6ecff6][i]Pokédex Entry #18 – Pidgeot, the Bird Pokémon. This Pokémon is known to fly at 1000 meters height to spot Magikarp over water before soaring down to catch. It is capable of flying at Mach 2. If threatened, it spreads its wings to appear intimidating, and if that doesn’t work it can unleash gusts capable of bending trees.[/i][/color][/center]

[color=fce2a4]‘Help with the preparations, Perseus,’[/color] Leila commanded, and the Pidgeot took off.

“Preparations” turned out to be lifting out a giant wooden ramp that Perseus the Pidgeot and the Beartic cooperated to place from the ship to the ground beneath. Then, they went over and started carrying something else. A giant cargo-crate, slowly carried down from the ship while crew and scientists were all eagerly watching.

[color=8a685f]‘Finally, an ace which I can call my own,’[/color] Dunstan muttered. Probably not actually heard by anyone, as he watched the container reach the land before him. [color=8a685f]‘I’ll have to thank the Aether Foundation for this. Perhaps, with this, I’ll be able to…’[/color]

However, his talk was cut short by the ground suddenly starting to shake.

Suddenly breaking through the ground were suddenly a bunch of Ground-type Pokémon, emerging around the startled scientists. Leila immediately got a very annoyed expression as she turned towards the place where her very own rival came out of the ground, while Dunstan ran for the crate as if to protect it and Zachery just stood looking surprised. The Pidgeot and the Beartic released the crate and it fell onto the ground with a somewhat loud impact.

[color=f75423]‘Heeeeey, there, Leila!’[/color] Kristy said, smirking from atop her Claydol, right above the hole she just created, and Leila was confronting her. [color=f75423]‘You know, for someone claiming to not be smuggling Pokémon, this sure doesn’t look good!’[/color] 

[hider=Kristy][center][url=https://i.imgur.com/yUn2CI6.jpg][img]https://i.imgur.com/yEonHDY.png[/img][/url]

[url=https://archives.bulbagarden.net/media/upload/3/39/0344Claydol.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/n2hFRIA.png[/img][/url]

[color=6ecff6][i]Pokédex Entry #344 – Claydol, the Clay Doll Pokémon. It’s said to have awoken from a clay figurine of an ancient civilization when a mystic light shone upon it. It is a floating enigma, flying with psychic powers and firing beams its hands. It sleeps while floating in the air, and even if it comes apart it can reassemble itself with psychic powers.[/i][/color][/center][/hider]

Now, I don’t expect anyone to remember, but [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/4633918]these two have a history[/url].

[color=fce2a4]‘Kristy! You know fully well who Zachery is! This is a perfectly normal transaction! Believe me, you do NOT want to mess with us right now!’[/color] Leila shouted at Kristy.

[color=f75423]‘Ma’am, you can call this a lot of things, but there’s absolutely nothing normal about it!’[/color] Kristy chuckled. [color=f75423]‘Unfortunately, a lot of sneaky deals have been going on around Raremine lately, and I’d like to know what’s going on. You wouldn’t mind showing me, would you? As a token of trust?’[/color]

[color=fce2a4]‘Not a chance! You’ve attacked our transport trucks too many times in the past! We have no reason to trust you!’[/color] Leila answered.

[color=f75423]‘Only because we were pretty sure those were illegitimate transports. I have no idea what this is. Please show me?’[/color]

While the two of them were arguing, a loud crack was heard from the crate that had been carried down. Kristy and Leila continued their squabbling, but Dunstan, far too concerned about the crate, turned and started pressing a couple buttons on the futuristic Aether Foundation crate, it started opening up. And… on the inside was…

[color=8a685f]‘NO!’[/color] Dunstan shouted out. For those who had a good view… the bottom of the crate was breached. Something had dug in, snatched the contents of the crate, and then sealed the hole behind them.

Leila spun, noticed the state, and then spun to stare in an absolute rage at Kristy… who looked confused.

[color=f75423]‘Eh? What? What happened?’[/color] Kristy asked, and- [color=f75423]‘WOA-’[/color] As if responding to Leila’s feelings, Perseus the Pidgeot shot a sharp gust of wind, forcing Kristy to jump off the Claydol. Claydol took the wind-hit, and shot a Psychic attack back at Pidgeot… and while that happened Kristy ran so she could get a view inside the crate. She stopped as soon as she got close enough, running by Leila in the process.

[color=f75423]‘Oh!’[/color] Kristy made a noise of realization of the discovery, eyes widening a bit. She started reaching for her other Pokéballs. [color=f75423]‘Alright, let me release my Ground-type Pokémon, and-’[/color] 

SNAP. [color=f75423]‘Wha-’[/color] 

The tail of a dark snake suddenly lashed out, snatching Kristy’s arms from behind, tying them up and causing the Gym Leader to fall forward, falling restrained onto the ground.

One of the scientists… took off her hat and coat and suddenly didn’t at all look like a scientist anymore.

[color=d694c1]‘I was told to keep watch in case anything suspicious happened… I didn’t expect this, however,’[/color] a girl with very purple hair said. Numerous what appeared to be police-officers also showed up right about now to restrain the other Ground-type Pokémon that had appeared with their Growlithes.

[hider=the girl and her snake][center][url=https://i.imgur.com/PVbTDtf.jpg][img]https://i.imgur.com/PVbTDtfl.jpg[/img][/url][/center]

[center][url=https://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/d/d6/336Seviper.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/uo7sfQ5.png[/img][/url]

[color=6ecff6][i]Pokédex Entry #336 – Seviper, the Fang Snake Pokémon. It hides in grass and strikes unwary prey with venomous fangs. It whets its bladed tail on rocks to prepare for battle, said blade oozing of horrible poison. It shares a generations-long feud with Zangoose, the two rivaling species battling endlessly throughout history.[/i][/color][/center][/hider]

[color=f75423]‘Geesh, Sylvia! I know you like your secret police stuff, but I need to use my Ground-type Pokémon to see where the REAL criminals went…!’[/color] Kristy complained to the girl, apparently named Sylvia, who had her Seviper restraining her.

[color=d694c1]‘I’m sorry, Kristy,’[/color] Sylvia shook her head. [color=d694c1]‘But I’m not about to let a primary suspect search for the criminal,’[/color] she said. Kristy groaned in light annoyance and tried to shake herself free, but turned out the Seviper was really good at restraining.

[color=fce2a4]‘You brought this on yourself,’[/color] Leila scoffed at her. [color=fce2a4]‘But how are we going to find them now!?’[/color] she called. Meanwhile, Dunstan was just collapsed by the crate, and Zachery was scratching his head under his hat with his hook-hand. Had the enemy gone undersea, he could have helped, but underground…

[color=d694c1]‘That is…’[/color] Sylvia frowned, for she didn’t have a good answer to the question…

That’s when Skylar felt some shaking from right underneath him. Specifically, the shaking was traveling from away from the crate, under him, and then on the way back towards Raremine Town.

In fact, Seabreeze with his [i]Keen Eye[/i] might actually spot the minor movements of small pebbles or other things on the way to actively follow where the digging was taking it.

What would Skylar like to do?

[i]It might be hard to continue the Gym Challenge while Kristy’s like this.[/i]

[i]Also, if you want your price, probably don’t bring everyone. No time, or something.[/i]

__________________________

[@hatakekuro]

It was honestly a short and easy enough trip to get out of the rain and get back to Highhill Town. It looks the same as it did, but now the Freecape Ferrymen Office was open. And, as promised, there were three options of trading to get Pokémon from outside Isson… read the bottom of the suggestions to actions for details.

[color=e04f4f]‘Okay. What’s your plan, now?’[/color] Anise asks, as she needs to head back to Redcoast City to prepare for her own Pokémon adventure that she intends to depart on. She did tell Basil this earlier. She was just okay with going back to Highhill first because it was a lot easier than going straight through Silent Forest.

What will Basil do now?

[hider=Highhill Town][center][h2]Highhill Town[/h2]

[url=https://i.imgur.com/dsqK7cw.jpg][img]https://i.imgur.com/EiXydD2.jpg[/img][/url]  [url=https://i.imgur.com/AT5U8U9.jpg][img]https://i.imgur.com/5bvHMMV.jpg[/img][/url][/center]

Highhill Town is a small, lively place that has seemingly stood atop this hill from time immemorial and never really changed. The atmosphere in Highhill Town is much fresher than surrounding places, the buildings are older and the work as honest as ever. The old town is populated by elders and younglings aplenty, and the town has a culture of their own. Plenty of Pokémon assist with the work, either as work-force or the animals that work is being done on.

One usually only crosses Highhill Town on a trip to or from Pureplain City. Regardless, it is a place of beauty. The fields around it are cultivated by hard-working people and Pokémon while the lake to the east gleams in the sunshine as fishermen attend it. There are small roads of asphalt spiraling up the hill to lead to all the old buildings, and children playing around in stairs or nature is very common. 

It is said that a trainer praying at the nearby Silent Shrine will be blessed on their journey, so many travel to Highhill Town just for that. There’s also a set of very ancient rocks spread about town, pointing out towards the lake on top of the hill with some engravings. What they mean? Nobody knows. Also, Highhill Town is the residence of a certain Move Changer, whose abilities are sought by some new trainers. What he can do? Visit him to find out.[/hider]

[hider=Suggestions to actions]1. Find Pokémon. [i]Can still search for Pokémon in towns~[/i]
2. Talk. [i]In cities and towns, 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]Lorette’s Minor League Bug-Type Gym.[/i]
	6.4. Freecape Ferrymen Office. [i]Fly you to any settlement you’ve already been for 500P![/i]
	6.5. Docks. [i]For fishermen or perhaps a ticket across Route 14.[/i]
	6.6. Ancient Rocks. [i]Of completely unknown origin, ancient writing on them.[/i] 
	6.7. Ranch. [i]There are ranches around Highhill, if you stand to gain from them.[/i]
	6.8. Move Changer. [i]We can guess from the name, but what can this man do?[/i]
	6.9. Mayor’s House. [i]If you see reason to visit, it’s right by the rocks.[/i]
7: Highhill Town Trades: Bug-type
	7.1. [color=C0C088]‘Hey, can I interest you in a Wimpod? I got so many, hehe. I want a Scyther in return, though.’[/color]
	7.2. [color=C0C088]‘Or, if you want a Blipbug, could I tempt you with one in exchange for a Durant?’[/color]
	7.3. [color=C0C088]‘No? Then how about you get a Nymble and I get an Anorith?’[/color]

…

[img]https://i.imgur.com/qRM1YaD.png[/img]
[color=C0C088]‘Oh, hey! It’s you! Thanks! Now I got so many bug-types, I can afford to trade some for some bugs I don’t have yet, hehehehe…’[/color]

All the trades are with the same Bug Maniac that Basil previously tipped off.[/hider]

[i]Connected areas: [/i]
Route 1. [i]To the south, is the common route of first journeys. Green and straight.[/i]
Route 3. [i]To the north, the route to Rainrock or the Silent Shrine. A wet woodland.[/i]
Route 14. [i]To the east, the lake known as the Dragon Lake, potentially for crossing.[/i]

[hider=Highhill Town]Common: 
#10 Caterpie
#16 Pidgey
#66 Machop
#532 Timburr

Uncommon:
#588 Karrablast
#616 Shelmet

Rare:
#198 Murkrow (night)[/hider]

__________________________

[@Rune_Alchemist]

[hider=Cathia][center][url=http://i.imgur.com/RlrQBN9.jpg][img]http://i.imgur.com/oTPkRqB.jpg[/img][/url][/center][/hider]

Cathia visibly flinched when Claire slid in beside her, and gathered up the papers in a hurry before looking towards Claire with a startled expression. She recovered quickly enough, returning to her regular supposedly graceful expression… 

[color=b2dced]‘Oh, you’re… yes, I do seem to remember,’[/color] Cathia said, taking Claire’s hand as offered. [color=b2dced]‘I’m Cathia. And… I’m not sure I can battle right now…’[/color] Cathia said, looking down at the papers. She then looked up at Claire. Now, Claire could totally say something about this or interrupt Cathia’s speech, but…

[color=b2dced]‘You’ll do. I’m going to unload a little,’[/color] Cathia said, before picking up the papers again and reading them. [color=b2dced]‘So, as we speak, there’s a Team Amethyst base right below Raremine Town. Sure, we can invade it, but the problem is, it’s done. They’ve already achieved their goal here.’[/color]

[color=b2dced]‘They stole many… MANY ancient Pokémon, resurrected from fossils or mined out of the ice of Frozen Caverns. They did so in a manner that made the two factions of Raremine Town, the scientists and the workers, led by Leila and Kristy respectively, think the other side was to blame. Their intentions were to find the cells of ancient Legendary Pokémon, hidden within the fossils or bodies of these should-have-been long-dead Pokémon… and they succeeded,’[/color] Cathia said, holding out a paper that described a vial filled with…

[color=b2dced]‘The cells of the lifegiving Pokémon… they’ve found them. Of course… it doesn’t say what they’re going to use them for. Something about using them to find the real thing, but that’s not all. I can but theorize what they’ll do with them…’[/color] She sighed. [color=b2dced]‘I should tell someone, but Amethyst is notoriously brilliant at escaping when Pokémon League people try to hunt them down. Almost like if…’[/color] Cathia shook her head.

[color=b2dced]‘I’m sorry. That was not your problem to hear. I am alright with having a battle. Maybe I could use it to calm my nerves. I prefer fighting with open display rules. We both show each other our whole teams before we start.’[/color] If there’s a better term for the kind of fighting where you know the species of the opponent’s team beforehand, please, the GM wants to know. [color=b2dced]‘Does that work with you?’[/color] Cathia asked, sorting the documents into her bag before standing up to make ready. Assumingly, she too had gone to the Pokémon Center.

Did Claire interrupt anywhere in that or let her say all that? Does she want to do something herself? [sub][i]also, a note. Cathia’s team is pretty strong, as per what you saw underground[/i][/sub]

[hider=Raremine Town][center][h2]Raremine Town[/h2]

[url=https://i.imgur.com/saVwpPm.jpg][img]https://i.imgur.com/rhaACBx.png[/img][/url][/center]
[right][sub][sub][sub]no cat-eared girls here, sorry[/sub][/sub][/sub][/right]

Raremine Town is a moderately large, bright town on the edge of the only desert in Isson. By some twist, the largest mineral deposits in the land is located right under the desert, making it an attractive place to build mines. From that, Raremine Town naturally sprung into being as a merchant town on the edge of habitability from where the mineral could then be delivered to the rest of Isson. The temperature is hot, sun blazing down on this land where plains slowly become desert, the atmosphere dry and unfriendly… yet, life and trees blossoms among the buildings of Raremine Town.

The ground is still the grass from the Vast Plains, with buildings on top of them. The modern houses stand tall with plenty of architectural skill put into them, tools for building and living sold inside the houses. Everywhere, one can see workers walking about, but they’re happy workers, with their families living close at hand in the town and with the finest equipment available. Oh, and of course, plenty of Pokémon that assist with the finding of ores and such! The trees, which appear to have been planted and grown all over town by the residents themselves, gives plenty of homes for local Pokémon to live.

Overall, it’s busy, with people walking and talking all over, an active town indeed.[/hider]

[hider=Suggestions to actions, Raremine Town]1. Find Pokémon. [i]Can still search for Pokémon in cities~[/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. Pokémon Gym. [i]Minor League Gym.[/i]
	6.4. Freecape Ferrymen Office. [i]Fly you to any settlement you’ve already been for 500P![/i]
	6.5. Desert Miner’s Hangout. [i]The workers of the Desert Mine live around here. They can give tips about the desert![/i]
	6.6. Research Lab. [i]For archaeologists, those who want to talk to Dunstan and those who want to resurrect fossils.[/i]
	6.7. Stone Store. [i]Where all the stones of the Desert Mines or Frozen Cave eventually end up! Lots of evolutionary and other kinds of stones![/i]
	6.8. Bug Garden. [i]A garden within which bugs thrive. Vivillons can be hired here for tracking down the Mythic Oasis![/i]
	6.9. Warehouses. [i]Because the things they mine here needs somewhere to be stored. This includes Ancient Pokémon, apparently, as some of the warehouses are pens.[/i]
	6.10. Team Amethyst Base. [i]Claire had been there once, she could find it again.[/i]
7. Familiar Faces: Vivia, Skylar. [i]Vivia, one of Jacques’ trainers, is walking around window-shopping rare rocks and such. Skylar is… well, read the first section of this post. It takes place in the same town, after all.[/i]
8: Raremine Town Trades: Ground-type
	8.1. [color=35C5CD]‘Hey, do you have a Burmy? Would you like to trade it for my Mudbray?’[/color]
	8.2. [color=yellow]‘Hi, I really like snakes, so I got two of these Silicobras. I could trade you one for an Ekans!’[/color]
	8.3. [color=B045A4]‘This is a Toedscool. I thought it looked funny, so I bought it, but… I’d much rather have an Abra.’[/color][/hider]

[i]Connected areas: [/i]
Route 6. [i]The Vast Plains open up to the north of Raremine. The shorter paths lead to Route 8 and 16, while west far enough leads to Lakewatch Town.[/i]
Route 7. [i]The single rocky desert of Isson, it connects to the Desert Mines, the Old Tombs and to the Mythic Oasis.[/i]

[hider=Raremine Town, known Pokémon]Common:
#290 Nincada
#529 Drilbur
#664 Scatterbug 

Uncommon:
 
Rare:
[/hider]