The Battle for Caldera

[bravenewmods]

The time for action is at hand, and the players have been set in place. Those who choose to make an attempt at diplomacy head off at the appointed time to meet with Valeria, the clerk and representative of the general who leads the Gigas army. Those who wish to take more direct action against Gigas leave with General Ironbrand to put their plans into motion. In the meantime, the refugees continue to stream into Union, while supplies are gathered and flow the other way.

The outcome of this war may very well depend on the combined results of these four efforts…

((This log will be a catch-all for all four efforts of the attempt to save Caldera. There will be four different parts of this post: Diplomacy, Aggression, Refugees, and Supplies. The first two should be well established, but the Refugees portion will encompass bringing those in Caldera who require help to Union and giving them medical aid and care, while the Supplies portion will encompass people in Union setting up shelters and gathering resources to send back to Caldera, as well as other miscellaneous tasks that may be of help. Gathering resources may entail leaving Union to explore out in other areas. You all signed up for groups, so please try to maintain these groups when posting, particularly to the Diplomacy and Aggression sections. The other two may be more free-form.

Mods will be responding at least once every 24 hours to keep the logs moving.

EDIT 5/31: Please try to group up if possible! We'll generally try to wait for threads to have 2-3 people before we jump in. Threads with 3+ may attract the attention of something a little more... interesting.))

Comments

Diplomacy

[bravenewmods]

[naturaldissension]

A temporary ceasefire has been called for the moment. A meeting has been arranged, halfway between the gates of Caldera and the main Gigas camp; just out of sight of the camp, Rory calls a halt and surveys those assembled before him gravely.

"I and my fellows will speak for Team Evolution today. While Valeria will be quite aware that I have coached you, let us carry on the charade nonetheless. You must speak on behalf of Union - consider your words carefully." He pauses for a moment, and when he speaks again, his words are harsher than any he has wielded before. "Those of you with strong tempers, leave now and join General Ironbrand. Your words and actions today may save or destroy Caldera. I will not have my home lost by a careless, uncontrolled tongue. It is a rare opportunity for Valeria to even agree to speak with us, but your appearance has brought with it new advantages. I have proposed some ideas, but you are welcome to speak of your own accord, naturally." He glances back towards the enemy encampment. "Well. ...If everyone is ready, let’s proceed."

A nod, and he turns, flanked by several others who are assumedly members of Team Evolution. The Gigas representative, Valeria, stands just beyond...

[ingoodhans]

I've done a lot of talking lately, so consider this my last speech for a while...

[ At least for the Swords, Hans would have informed them of Rory's plan, empathizing caution and control above all else. Still he addresses the group-- the Union side. ]

Remember, this is as much Caldera's fight as ours. Gigas is more powerful, better armed and they could outman us several time if need be. But what we have sets us apart, and they'll want to see that. One way or another, we'll be changing lives today... And as long as we work together, we can do this.

Aggression

[bravenewmods]

Re: Aggression

[incousinswithyou]

[well now. Michiru supposes it's time she earned her wage. Or, well, followed orders for the sake of expediency.

Still, it's about time the enemy showed up. While the vantage point they've selected is lovely enough, she's got better things to do than wait around all day.

Alright, let's see what kind if shape the enemy is in...]

[actsmagnificent]

[ Haruka is up here too, peering down in search of their target. "Cut off the supply route", huh? She supposes that isn't too much of a pain.

The wind shifts, and Haruka crouches down on one knee. Not much longer. ]

After the above thread... (cavern exploration)

[actsmagnificent]

[ Well, these sure look like caverns under the mountain. Haruka may have disrupted the supply manager to get this information, but it was certainly reliable. If there are any clues to be found about the mysterious "red giant" that plagued the city before Caldera, chances are they might be here. ]

Sewa?

Stay close. I'll send a scout ahead.

[ Off goes Murkrow to get the lay of the land. Now, remind her why, in addition to a certain stowaway riding in the hood of her cloak, she's got Hotaru and Usagi Tsukino (of all people) in tow? Yes, the city's at war. She supposes it can't be helped.

Yet she takes her first tentative steps into the cavern wishing they cast one or two fewer shadows. ]

[somnambulatory]

[Jinxie is standing by with Sparky the Rotom, Foxfire the Ninetales, as well as six other Pokemon of the Ghost and Psychic types, waiting for the signal to commence with Operation Hijack a Siege Engine, or whatever actual name this plan is being given. Based on the earlier conversation in the war council tent, she'll be hanging out near Lux, Apollo, and Garen while she nervously paces.]

[ladyofluminosity]

[Lux is going over the plans again for maybe the tenth time. Her own Pokemon by her side--Camille the Dragonair, Esmé the Carbink, Ruby the Vulpix, Patrick the Venusaur and Doyle the Zoroark--she does her best to not seen nervous as she waits for Garen's signal to get into position. This had to work.]

[willbethebest]

Wukong waited in a treetop near the road. In theory, a train of carts carrying food and weapons would be coming by in a few minutes. In theory, Wukong should be pretty stealthy.

In reality, he's getting bored, which is why he's lounging back against the trunk, juggling pine cones.

[airguitarist]

Okay, Nero had to admit, this whole "sabotaging the enemy supplies" business was pretty damn boring, and he didn't have much to keep him busy. It wasn't like he could do anything with no thumbs, since he was sitting around as a Gible. He could dig around though, but there wasn't much to be had in the dirt, so all he did was dig a small, dark hole for him to lie in on his yellow stomach with Blue Rose until the Gigas carts finally came around.

And speaking of stomachs... he was getting hungrier and hungrier. Hungry enough in fact to complain about it to Blue Rose, who threatened to kick him to make him shut up.

[paradiseshrinemaiden]

[Things were boring back in Union and her curiousity about Gigas had finally gotten the better of her, so Reimu had found herself warping over to Caldera despite her earlier dismissal of the place. She wasn't going to pass up an opportunity for a fight, so she was ready to do what she was best at, gauging the enemy as she figured out where she might do the most good.]

[second_destiny]

[As he mentioned to Ironborn, Asemu was going to exploit the fact that they have Enlightened and Gigas does not. In his case, that means taking to the skies. He knows he has a time limit, but he's going to make the most of it by disrupting Gigas's supply lines from the air.]

[rejected_trash]

...

[The teen was silent for a moment longer. He'd been asked to join Jade, his uncle in a guerilla group. Of course, Ciro--or rather Sync as he liked to call himself, hoped the older man wouldn't notice, but if anyone would; it would be him. Though, he hopes the mask, outfit, and pearlescent white wings will throw Jade off.

Currently, he's off to the side, fussing with his newly evolved Crobat, Cadenzo. Scherzo, his Talonflame, is perched on his shoulder, waiting for the opportunity to cause trouble for the Gigas forces.]

Refugees

[bravenewmods]

[footprints_on_your_face]

[Chie, along with whatever contingent of the Swords of the Savior have been sent to accompany her, is escorting a group of refugees through the city and back to the Warp Point so they can make it safely back to Union. She's keeping her eyes peeled for safe routes to take, and is definitely ready to throw down and fight if necessary to protect her charges.]

[celebrity_commentator]

[In another part of the city, Rise's helping the of-course-entirely-civilian volunteers from Union Divine Theater keep the refugee groups moving in an orderly fashion.]

Okay, everyone, just stay together and don't push and we'll be out of here in just a few more minutes.

[She's also got her usual buddies Toyo and Himiko at her side, ready to detect and intercept anyone who decides attacking civilians would be fun. She's not using her own Enlightened powers at the moment for fear that the press of people would overwhelm her extra senses.]

[maright]

[Mari is, for now, still in Caldera, helping the injured and preparing them to be transported to Union through the Warp Band. Nidoking and Kirlia are accompanying her, the latter to assist with healing and the former to act as a guard.]

Roxas' group shenanigans let's go

[meguriau]

(OOC: Split into two "groups"/Scenarios due to preferences OOC. ]

Group 1 - Roxas and Lea

[ The two of them were currently together as they went back for a refugee that had fallen behind. Now they're trying to catch up to the group again. Or something. It's Sora and Keeper currently at Roxas' side though he has a few of his other Pokemon in his warp band as they try and work their way back.

Try seemingly being a keyword here. ]

Group 2 - Blue and Roxas

[ Blue and Roxas were currently paired as Lea stayed behind with Xion due to "unfortunate circumstances". They were with yet another group of refugees trying to work their way to where they can warp back to Union. If it was even more possible Roxas seems to be quieter than usual during this trip. ]

[kaidont]

[You know what's by definition slow and not very easy to manoeuvre? A refugee group.

So instead of letting the enemy reach said refugee groups, Kaido, Satsuki and Sanageyama are giving them something else to chew. Something faster and tougher.

They started from the evacuation lines and moved out a little, emitting a weird, blinding light a couple of times to draw the enemy's attention to them and away from the larger, slower groups.

While Sanageyama and Satsuki look like proud fighters, weapons at the ready, Kaido's hanging in the shadows nearby, ready to drop silently on any enemies. He sent Floette and Vibrava to scout around a little, though. With so many people around and the scent of lava, his nose's been totally thrown off, enough that he doesn't trust himself to do it instead]

Union General/Supplies

[bravenewmods]

[moemoetentacles]

[Squid Girl spends most of the next several days ferrying her Pokemon team over to Caldera, where she has been assured they will be well provided for despite the almost complete lack of water in their city.

And because of that problem, the first order of business is to take her Castform, Stormy, over there to set up a Rain Dance to fill up Caldera's reservoirs and replenish its water supply. She then begins bringing over the rest of her team, five at a time as that's all her Warp Band can handle. She starts with the ones that can survive on land so they can help out with making enough water to support the ones that can't, and eventually she's got a Castform and twelve Water type Pokemon all doing their best to make as much water as possible to support the Calderan army.

There's also a rather out of place looking Trubbish wandering around among all of this and stinking up the place. Hey, they said they wanted everything she had.]

[bleeding_heart]

[On the Union side, Merrill is temporarily working alongside the medical professionals in the hospital. She's only familiar with herbal medicine, and a lot of it she has had to learn as she goes along, but she's doing her best to help. When she's not at the hospital, she's busy running blankets and other supplies out to new groups of refugees coming into Union's walls.]

Supplies: open post for anyone without a group?

[realmenknitplushies]

[Over in Union, Kanji is charging about like a maniac, running supplies back and forth to the Warp and helping set whatever up needs setting up. Expect to see him swinging hammers and drills like the wind and generally putting his Engineer's touch to good use. These people have been through enough - they don't need to be miserable now they're here!
... He may also be handing out the odd cute plushie to the younger refugees. Breaks his heart to split with some of them, but needs must.]

Supplies (with nerds)

[radiantwingedone]

[ Get out more. He had promised someone – or maybe it was two someones, and just one someone constantly reminding him from a little below his ear – and well, what point in going out if it wasn't going to be helpful in other ways as well?

At least a few people agreed with that thought, which is why Duke is waiting by the research tower, backpack at his feet as he explains how he would like Myorzo to hold the basket. Because working on supplies also means getting some. They're going to come with him, so he might as well see how much they help out (because they seemed particularly happy about doing so). ]

Stop swinging it, please, you might hit something. [ The drifloon seems to be so excited about the basket. ]