bravenewworld | The Battle for Caldera

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The Battle for Caldera

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.))

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[Squid Girl groans and follows.]

Geez, what the squid is even going on...

All three remaining Wukongs shouted "Don't hog ALL the fun!" in unison and jumped from the soldiers towards the haunter. Of course, the second law of motion meant their jumping pushed the confused mass of soldiers into even more confusion. One of the Wukongs got shot out of the air and vanished in a puff of smoke, but the last two came up on either side of the haunter and, as time seemed to stand still for just a moment, they both inhaled deeply and breathed twin cones of fire at the Pokemon!

Start at the Lake Shrine for food and striking rocks, loop toward and through the Scorched Forest for burnables, and then on toward Caldera?

[ Or they can head back to Union and try to recruit others, if anyone is uncomfortable about that. ]

So... This way. [ He turns to talk to the Drifloon after a moment though, talking about a Sulion and Truffdae and takes the basket as the ghost floats off. ]

[Aster nods.]

That sounds like a good plan to me!

[However, he notes with a mental frown that Hilda is being rather unfortunately quiet and he looks over to her with a slight look of concern.]

Hilda, are you all right?

[He speaks softly, a touch of worry in his voice. She's usually talkative enough--at least from what he is used to from her. It worries him slightly that she's hardly said a thing other than when she greeted the others. Was she perhaps uncomfortable, then? Maybe that was it...hopefully it was not something worse, but he would definitely keep a closer eye on her just in case. He didn't want his friend to not feel well, after all! And if she was bothered by something, it surely would not do for her to get lost or stumble over something in their path and get hurt because she wasn't paying enough attention!]

[ On the one hand, Haruka was telling them to run, which meant leaving behind her friends.... On the other, the Arcanine was just protecting its home that they had ventured into. There was a part of Usagi that really did want to run, but... wouldn't it be better to try and talk things out first?

The fear and stress of her choice freezes her in place. Oh Savior, what was she supposed to do? But, it's Pinky stroking her head that pulls her out of her stupor. What a great companion... ]

We don't! But we didn't come here cause trouble! [ Well, if she was going to talk... then she had better say the truth at least! Michiru had said that those were ancient relics and scrolls that they were taking in.. and deep inside, Usagi trusted that they weren't swiping them to sell them on some shady black market or something so really, that only meant one thing... ] We came to this place because we wanted to learn about the past! Because we want to help the humans of this place... of all places know what kind of world humans and pokemon used to live in!

[ Was that right? It sounded right. It felt right. She'll just go with her gut feeling that she said the right thing. ]

[ A town filled with trouble miiight not be the best place to start, but. ]

You're out here, aren't you? You could have stayed in the hospital. [ That's pretty good hiding. ] You don't have the best experience, and this isn't the best place to start getting it... but you're not alone. Work with me, and we'll get through this part.

And we'll work on those levels afterwards. [ She reaches out her hand to him, offering it. ] Promise.

I don't blame 'em.

[He smiles right back at Red and nods.]

Sounds like we've got a plan, then? If we're gonna be right there, right back... yeah, alright. [And a small sigh-] Not like we can do a lot else at the moment.

[With the amount of damage already flying back and forth at the Gurdurr, Himiko focuses on healing whatever is most damaged - most likely Ogami's Doublade.]

[Rise, meanwhile, gives psychic instructions to Toyo.]

Toyo, get the refugees moving along while we hold these guys here. Call for me if you see any other Giga guys but if we hold them here, you should be able to get closer to the Warp point.

[Toyo Chanseys in the affirmative and begins ushering people along. Rise, meanwhile, keeps an eye out for any of the Gigas group ahead of them moving to intercept.]

Crap!

[Asemu flies up, then erratically, letting his instincts guide him, to avoid the attack. Then he activates his Warp Band.]

Sielg! Smokescreen!

[A Koffing appears! It dives down toward the Manectric, expelling gratuitous amounts of smoke in order to obscure their vision.]

((Just gonna go ahead and play both sides for a bit!))

[Unexpected giant fat things falling from the sky aren't quite what anyone is expecting, and the soldiers wobble and roll out of the way of being squished. As Patrick flails about with his vines, a few of the enemy will leap to the side and slice with their swords, attempting to chop the vines right off.

In the meantime, though, there's not much stopping an intangible ghost from phasing right into the giant machine.

There is an audible hum for a moment or two before the siege engine suddenly undergoes a makeover - orange paint floods over the machine and up front, someone has decided to anthropomorphize the machine by slapping on a grinning face. Without further ado, it turns around and heads for one of the other engines, a faint laugh echoing behind it.

Everyone on both sides will pause for a second to stare at this in bafflement.

In more mundane battle news, Tropius and Bellsprout will reach safety as the Pidgeot assume that there will be no further threats from that direction. Freed up, they'll dive down to join the ground battle, aiming Air Slashes at Garen and his Pokemon from the air, Garen still being the only obvious human combatant. Talonflame will set a soldier on fire with a lucky Ember, but it's still rough going to be facing so many enemies at once.

The remainder of Jinxie's Pokemon vanish as she recalls them, and the Stoutland will hone in now on the rest of the Pokemon still in the battle.

At this point, it would be wise to retreat as much as possible and let the possessed siege engine go to work.]

((Let's say Siege Engine Rotom is Steel/Electric or something.))

[With a flick of his wrist, Jade's Ghost-enhanced spear appears in his hand. He takes advantage of the mist to continue disorienting the troops, generating ghostly illusions of more Pokemon. They won't be able to do more damage, but hopefully they'll be a distraction while his team continues setting up their attacks. Sandshrew takes advantage of the cover to begin using Dig, burrowing swiftly into the ground.]

[At the same time, Duskull returns from its (unsuccessful) reconnaissance mission, swooping in from behind with an Astonish directed at the soldier furthest back. Jigglypuff continues to sing, this time using Round, a song designed to do some damage.]

[The mention of reinforcements bothers Jade, but there's little they can currently do about it except fight their way out of this current situation.]

((That's fine!))

As Chie heads off with Herdier, Morgiana will reach a group of Union Swordsmen guarding the warp back home. There are a few more refugees and stray Pokemon wandering around the area, too - a Machop and a Makuhita.

As she questions each of them in turn, it will likely become obvious that looking for a 'girl with brown hair in green dress' isn't going to come up with anything too specific. But as she talks, she'll hear a strange, distant chirping sound coming from down an alleyway.

The girl's mother will sigh slightly. "We've been at war for so long; it's starting to feel like it will never end. ...Some of us think we should just surrender."

[And then they will proceed to feel bad about themselves as a tiny panda crawls out of the alleyway and drinks from Lotad's lilypad gratefully. It obviously has a leg injury of some sort.]

[Since Abby seems to want to go with Red and Kanji has experience with the Pidgey line, Lucas will carefully look at Ribbons.]

I'm sure we'll be able to find something. I've heard all about how amazing it is... It seems like it has something to do with that time the flowers came into our city, too.

[Lucas will nod again before he moves around to try to mount the scaly Aerodactyl.]

[Feliks has to launch himself out of the way of the Golem's way with a curse--he's been on the wrong end of a rock-type attack once in recent memory, and that's more than enough for him and his fire typing, thanks!]

Give 'em a Barrage!

[The Exeggcute agree in unison, opening fire on the humans. Meanwhile, Feliks reaches for his warp band, and a Gardevoir appears, seeming for a moment to descend from the sky into the mist. She doesn't waste time with orders--she instantly knows her trainer is fighting, and a look around shows there's a strong Rock-type, and that's all she needs to unleash a glowing burst of Magical Leaf towards the Golem.]

[ There it is again. There's that weird feeling from the play - not as strong, but still...she's felt this way before. What is it?

Rather than scold Usagi or shove her out of the way, therefore, Haruka just stares. She looks a bit awed, if confused. ]

Bunhead...

[alright, so maybe the theater excuse was wearing a little thin. But...Usagi...

A quick glance over at her partner pretty much confirms it. Still. She's going to revisit this when they're not quite in so much peril.]

That was not our intention. Much has been lost, and it is our duty to learn what we can so we could hope to avoid the mistakes of the past.

[mostly honest, for once. The repercussions of attacking this creature - or even being flippant - does not bode particularly well.]

[ . . . ]

Didn't see that coming.

[The Arcanine is taken a bit aback by Usagi's actions, he doesn't actually know what to make of it for once. Blinking a bit, he exhales loudly]

I suppose that is valid. But if you must take what you found, it should be replaced with something of value. If you wish to leave with what you have taken, tribute something to my master in exchange.

Something of value? [ Hotaru doesn't have much. She has her friend, Celosia, but naturally that's out of the question. Besides that, her pack with...

.....Well. It was supposed to be a sacrifice, wasn't it?

She glances at Haruka and Michiru. Those two... this had better be worth it to them.

She kneels down, placing her pack on the ground. She opened it, gingerly taking out the limited edition one-of-a-kind artisan Caldera lamp that she had purchased ~~with Haruka's money~~. She gently, almost reverently, took it to the shrine, giving it a prominent place on display inside.

Haruka, Michiru, this had better be worth it.

Also, I'm sorry for completely killing the seriousness of this thread. ]

[ ...it had listened to Usagi? And now Hotaru was listening to it....

Haruka can't help but be a bit impressed when she sees what Hotaru offers as tribute; she knows how much the girl had prized that lamp. So she sighs, sweeps her cloak off her arm, and strides back over to the shrine to lay the Gigas soldier's sword atop the altar.

She actually even sort of laughs. A symbolic laying-down of weapons, huh? Negotiated with a guardian? These kids are really something. ] You're taking all the good parts.

[Something may have been watching your little exchange.

Something may also think your lamp is very pretty, Hotaru, and lets out a light coo in approval.

~~If you don't want it, Arcanine, can it have it? Pretty please?~~

However, should they look in the direction of the sound, they might catch a glimpse of something glowing and pink before it disappears.]

(OOC Note: This is a standalone tag and will not be responded to.)

[ Something of value? Usagi couldn't really think of anything that might have been worth whatever it was that Haruka and Michiru wanted to take. Usagi starts searching through her things to leave.

Candy? Nope.

Cookies? Nope.

Pokepuffs? .... she'll leave some anyway. The Arcanine might want a treat or two for being stuck in this place for however long.

The rest of her stuff is a pair of fresh clothes, more food and some water and for a moment? Usagi looks frustrated that she can't come up with anything that could be seen as equal. ]

Clefairy?

Eh? What is it, Pinky?

[ Usagi suddenly feels Pinky shifting to stand on her shoulder and immediately feels a tug on the necklace around her neck. The rabbit girl blinks and looks down to see the Prism Scale she had won earlier with both Haruka and Michiru at the play contest. She had begged her father to ask someone to make into a necklace and had worn it ever since...

.... well, it was the only real thing she had that could be considered worth sentimental and emotional value, so as she walks to the shrine, she undoes the necklace around her neck and places it in the same spot she had picked up the TM disk as well as leaving those pokepuffs before quickly heading back to the rest of the group. ]

[Michiru walks slowly towards the shrine, thinking. Leave something valuable behind? First aid supplies and practical items of that nature surely won't fit the bill. And. Ah.

She digs through her pack, looking for a small box. There. She flips open the lid, exposing a pair of earrings. They're simple, but eye-catching and well-worn and well cared for. Bringing them with her had merely been habit, but at least she's not fool enough to wear them to a potential fight. One more glance at the sentimental gift, and then she's decisively closing the lid and placing it next to Usagi's necklace.]

((I believe Brandon is out for a bit, so gonna move on!))

[Lotad ignores the two humans as Pancham drinks it all up. Then he'll turn around and bounce back.

More water, please. That squid thing can make water, right?]

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The Battle for Caldera

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