Descent

[bravenewmods]

Iron Mines:
The trip to the eastern mountains is punctuated by the continuing aftershocks. After each one, it may be tempting to glance back at Union to see if any of the towers have fallen yet. The expedition parties move with incredible speed, knowing that the fate of their City hangs on the line.

When they reach the mountains, guided by the coordinates given of the 'strange radio signal', the parties will find that many of the normal entrances and routes have been blocked by cave-ins. In contrast, however, a gaping hole has opened up where none existed before. As this seems to be the easiest way to gain access, the parties slowly lower themselves in...

They will find themselves in the long-sought iron mines.

But there are so many twisting turns and tunnels, it will be impossible to stay together and make any sort of progress. Each group will have to take their own paths from here...

Old City:
Each of the twelve entrances down into the Old City take a different meandering route through the ruins. Though several are blocked off by this time, there are still many potential paths to take. The state of the Old City is poor, being underground as it is, and occasional soft rumblings are certain to cause unease. As the report states, however, there is enough of an interval between quakes that it should be possible to investigate safely.

It would be unwise to venture down alone, but it is impossible, too, for everyone to stay together if they wish to make headway.

Union:
The wild Pokémon continue to come out of the Old City, though the frequency has been somewhat lessened. Rubble lines the streets and though no towers have collapsed as of yet, some seem to be dangerously close and certainly nobody should be staying inside of them. As stated, the towers in Sector 3 are the worse off and construction crews work frantically to attempt to restabilize the foundations of these buildings.

The injured are innumerable, the number of casualties is as of yet unknown, and the chaos and panic is difficult to fend off.

There is a great deal of work to be done.

((Please post below with your groups - in the first comment, please note the members of your group, where you are, and whether or not you intend to keep a threading order. Regardless of threading order, mods will be responding at least once every 24 hours to keep the event moving. Groups should be three to four people in size.

At this time, all characters entering the iron mines will be able to choose to bond with a free extra Pokemon listed under 'Cavern' in the Map and Wild Pokemon post. Please respond there if you intend to make use of this. Characters who have already claimed a free Old City Pokemon may not do so.))

Comments

Iron Mines

[reborn_love]

[Jade, Melaka, and Elly moved down into the iron mines, working their way through the tunnels. Elly stopped as she reached a particularly narrow pathway; there, she could see where a narrow pathway led into a wider room. She took a deep breath; behind her, Vierge perked up.]

I think we can squeeze through here, but it's going to be tight.

[She looks back at the others and frowns; she keeps her voice down, just in case there's anything waiting. It could be dangerous.]

[makeitquick]

Sneak could prob get through there even easier.

[ But she's currently looking up at some of the areas around the path. To see if it looks secure. ]

[bravenewmods]

((Gonna go ahead and get this started!))

[The narrow pathway is tight enough that there might be some clothing damage, but they should all be able to fit. The visibly wider room, unusually, has some light shining through, vaguely bluish.]

[antiseptic]

[Jade squeezes through the tunnel last, his Duskull a barely visible shadow behind him while Sandshrew trots along after him, sniffing around curiously. Once he's through, Jade glances around, taking in the blue-tinged light and trying to see if there are any signs of Pokemon or any unusual structures that can clue them in on what that mysterious radio signal is.]

Let's stay together for now, at least until we've made a circuit around the whole cavern. [A quick glance around hadn't revealed anything dangerous or out of the ordinary, but there could be hidden dangers. It's best to stay close.] Melaka, take the lead.

[Jade glances up once he finishes, trying to spot the source of the light. Could there be a hole in the ceiling leading to the outside? But that still didn't account for the blue tint.]

[makeitquick]

[ Hah. This is becoming a thing for her to lead. But she smirks, and her and her Phantump get up ahead to take the lead. She doesn't know what they're looking for, but she gives a thumbs up and starts the glance around. ... Bluish, though? Weird.

She's mostly on alert for whatever pokemon might be around ]

[bravenewmods]

[It won't be too hard to see! The moment they all squeeze through the cave, the blue light focuses on the three of them like lasers.

...Actually, they are lasers.]

C-Carbink!

[Embedded in the walls or scattered on the floor are light-blue crystals - ...some of which now proceed to float up in the air in anger and panic. The fairies mill about uncertainly for a moment before they seem to come to a consensus.]

Caaaaaaar!

[The air shimmers! And before the three adventurers, solidifies! The five wild Carbink have used Reflect to block the way!]

sorry, everybody! Crazy couple days.

[reborn_love]

[Elly nods after Jade; she slips through after them and frowns, and then sees the light blue crystals forming. Her eyes widen; she gasps as the Reflect blocks the way, then she turns her head and looks back at Jade.]

Th--that was unexpected, sir. Do you think there's another way, or should we...?

[She looks back at the barrier. Can they break through it?]

retcon time!

[myfedorarocks]

[He blinks at the pokemon, arms crossing his chest, glancing down at Edwin. He could ask his partner to try and communicate with them, but having been raised from an egg, he isn't entirely sure Edwin would be accepted as a diplomat.]

I... don't suppose anyone can talk to them?

[antiseptic]

If anybody does have that ability, now would be an excellent time to reveal it.

[But no, he's completely certain that none of them can. So he'll turn to Melaka instead; now would be an excellent time to test her judgement.]

What do you think we ought to do?

[makeitquick]

[ Honestly, it's a barrier. She wants to just punch though it - but it's a physical wall. She frowns and then taps her warp band once as she glances at Sneak. Sneak could shoot a confuse ray at them to let them through. But she's not sure if she should be more diplomatic.

Plus her only experience with the species was that one weird one that they ran into last time. So... ]

First step's to get around them if possible, but we're tight here. Sneak here can surprise or confuse them, maybe make them let the thing up. Then we could get through and past while they're dazed.

[bravenewmods]

[The Carbink make muffled, annoyed noises from the other side as Melaka discusses her plans. Stop talking about them like they can't hear you!

A barrage of rocks will bypass the Reflect, aimed at pushing the humans away rather than hurting them - Carbink uses Rock Throw!

One of the Carbink also uses Raspberry.]

[reborn_love]

[Elly shakes her head at Jade, then she grimaces -- and ducks under one rock, backing up. Another lands near Vierge, who bolts back towards the wall. Elly lets ut a sodt grunt, then she looks up at the Carbink.]

We're just trying to get through! We won't hurt you!

[It's worth a shot. She's still considering; none of her abilities can break through the barrier in a timely fashion, though, she thinks.]

[antiseptic]

[Jade takes a step backward, just enough to avoid the rocks, surprised that the Pokemon could understand their human speech - or perhaps they're simply reacting to the sounds of their conversation.]

[He taps his chin thoughtfully, turning to Melaka as Elly tries to reassure the Pokemon. Keeping his voice low, he says:]

It's a valid strategy, assuming our goal is to get past the Pokemon.

[As it is, he wonders if the Carbink would have information for them. But he'll let Melaka think that over on her own.]

[makeitquick]

[ Being as how she was up front, she ended up being pummeled by some of the rocks. She put her arms up in a defense position and opted to just take it rather than dodge. Which does result in some cuts and bruises, but with her healing, they should heal enough anyway.

So when Elly steps up, she steps back. ... Oh ]

None of us can talk with 'em. Guess we we had any psychic interpreters.

[bravenewmods]

[The Carbink seem unconvinced by Elly's heartfelt pleas and seem content to toss rocks until they leave. The one continues to use Raspberry.]

[antiseptic]

No, but perhaps we can use the Warp Bands to communicate.

[reborn_love]

[Elly frowns at that, backing up more, before one of those rocks hits her.]

Ah... that's a good idea, sir! [She nods.] We may all want to try. Maybe one of us will appeal to them more.

[makeitquick]

[ Problem: One of the rocks hit her square in the fact. Blood trickles out of her lip, and she snarls a bit, but holds herself back from attacking the rock things. ... Her Phantump does not, and launches a Confuse Ray at the whole group as best it's able. Hopefully that won't cause a problem. ]

[myfedorarocks]

[Flemming jerks at the Phantump's move as a rock hits him, causing him to take a step back. Edwin himself is getting agitated, pawing at the ground.]

w-wait a second! Elly's got a good idea.

[bravenewmods]

[Phantump, of course, has managed to smack the one blowing raspberries with the Confuse Ray because karma works out that way. It wobbles around in place for a few moments as rocks go flying haphazardly around it; the other four Carbink cluster around it in concern and make more angry muffled noises through the Reflect.

Diplomacy doesn't seem to be a strong point here.]

[antiseptic]

[He seems unfazed by Phantump's sudden move, even if he's actually mildly annoyed. Still, the situation isn't entirely unsalvageable.]

If we intend to try, now would be an excellent time to do so.

[He's already readying his Warp Band, but at the same time also preparing to send out a psychic attack. Just in case.]

[reborn_love]

Let's try, then.

[Elly nods, then she holds her band out -- and waits a couple moments, to synch with the others. A blast of light fires out for the Carbink that's making a raspberry at them.]

[antiseptic]

[He acts a second after Elly does, aiming for a different Carbink, trying to communicate their goodwill and remorse for the actions of the Phantump.]

[bravenewmods]

[Elly will receive no particularly useful response from the Carbink aside from a headache, given that it's still in the throes of Phantump's poorly timed Confuse Ray.

Jade's attempt is marginally more successful, though what he'll pick up on is an intense amount of indignation and displeasure.

They don't belong here.

Besides, it's too dangerous for anything to go up ahead.]

[makeitquick]

[ Ugh. Mel has now recovered enough to set her nose back into place, and while she's got some blood to show for it, she can bonk Sneak on the back of the head before following their lead and shooting her own warp beam out. Even if she personally just wants to beat them all up and move on.

Which may or may not project over ]