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

[bravenewmods]

[The supply lines are far from Caldera; this group has traveled a significant distance to reach their vantage point. The intel provided by General Ironbrand is more or less accurate. This far away from Caldera, the Gigas troops are more relaxed. They look down upon a small shed, where supplies are stored temporarily. The shed is guarded by two men who seem less interested in guarding and more interested in playing some dice game.

Off in the distance, they may also spot a caravan slowly proceeding.

They have not been spotted as of yet.]

((Others may still tag in here if they wish!))

[bravenewmods]

[As Chie and Ky look down over the child, they are approached by a nervous looking young woman. She emerges from the alleyways and rushes towards them, her expression one of concern.]

E-Excuse me...

Are you... Are you the ones from the other city?

[faithful_kitsune]

"Excuse me, if I may interrupt."

A figure approaches the party, head kept low in deference. Her figure is distinctive; she possesses the tails of a Vulpix, and quite possibly the ears as well. "My apologies for our late arrival. We were uncertain if we wished to get involved fully in this affair, relative newcomers to Union as we are. But we have decided that, having our own experiences with hardship incurred as a result of our home's destruction, and in consideration of Union's warm welcoming of our survivors, that we would like to lend our aid in this diplomatic affair."

She straightens a little. "I am Ran Yakumo, former Elder of the Village of Mist. I would like to assist you in ensuring things go as smoothly as possible." There's a strange light in her eye, as if she's watching for something.

[lifeissuffering]

Think of it as a good thing, Hotaru.

[Ogami was bringing up the rear, probably acting a bit too military for a mere civilian]

Not long ago, we thought there were no other people at all beyond our walls. Even if this is a most tragic circumstance, it is also elating to know we can touch so many more lives.

[incousinswithyou]

[Michiru glances quickly at the caravan in the distance, and then she's focusing her attention back on the two men below them. Sloppy.

Studying the area around the shed and looking for signs of anybody else, Michiru speaks quietly.] It would be a shame if we didn't get a chance to welcome our arriving guests.

[let's see how quietly they can take out these guys first.]

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. ]

[toxicrevenger]

Pamela's here as both a researcher and one of Union's nobles. She'd been sure to stand close enough to Rory to clearly hear him as he spoke, and his ideas seem like a good idea for dealing with the conflict. There's some cunning in the plan, and she can respect a fellow researcher even if she thinks Team Evolution's methodology leaves much to be desired.

She smiles slightly at Hans' words. "Fortunately, you're quite good at making speeches and offering insight."

She glances at the new arrival curiously. Well, perhaps Ran can point out that Union has an accepting and helpful nature. An outsider's impressions of Union will give insight that would be bias coming from a Union native.

"The more the merrier. I suggest that we each try to bring something different to the discussion. I can speak as a researcher of Union, and while I'm not an Engineer myself, I do understand enough about our technology to discuss it intelligently."

[bejustorbedead]

[He straightens up at the voice, from calm to alert]

We are - is something the matter, Miss?

[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.

[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.]

[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.

[actsmagnificent]

[ Haruka nods: her attention is focused on the men "guarding" the shed and their immediate enviroment, attempting to determine if there's anything there that can be used to sound an alarm. If so, she's going to target the soldier nearest it. ] You throw a better party.

[ Let's do this thing. Surety is their best bet right now, so she jumps down from their perch in an attempt to Aerial Ace her chosen target: once she's close, if that doesn't knock him out, a well-placed foot or fist to the head ought to. They can grandstand once the supplies are theirs to guard.

Michiru, the other's all yours. ]

[footprints_on_your_face]

Is everything okay?

[Chie looks down at the kid holding onto her hand, patting him on the shoulder and quietly sending him back to his mother.]

[flying_chains]

At this point there's a small thud as Morgiana hops down from the rooftops to report to the other two. "It seems all quiet for now. I'll walk down here for now."

[incousinswithyou]

[hah. Focusing her mind, she gathers Psychic energy to herself and jumps down after Haruka, eyes slightly aglow. As soon as her feet touch the ground, she unleashes the mental barrage on the other guard.

She doesn't wait to see if it works, but immediately closes in, gathering energy to herself again just in case.]

[bravenewmods]

[Nothing immediately visible will stand out to Haruka. The door to the shed is barred, and the guards are gathered in front of a fire emitting smoke lazily drifting upwards.

The two will dive in for the attack!

Aerial Ace, of course, strikes its target with perfect precision, and the following blow to the head is enough to knock him down without a sound. The other has more time to react.]

Calderans!

[It's not entirely clear who he's talking to, but even as the psychic attack strikes, he's struggling to grab something from his pocket.]

[bravenewmods]

Team Innocent Wild Pokemon will be relieved to eventually hear the distant sound of rumbling coming from down the road.

Team Innocent Wild Pokemon will be somewhat less relieved to feel the sensation of being observed setting in at about the same time.

[bravenewmods]

Y-Yes, it's just --

[She wrings her hands, her breath coming in shallower gasps.]

I can't find my daughter. She's very curious and she wanted to talk to you and I looked away for a moment a-and -- it's been two hours already.

[The woman looks like she's about to faint.]

Could she have been taken back to your city by accident?

[vesselofagod]

[Kisara is also working on preparing herbal remedies. Most of what she knows is what she's learned on her own and from vague memories, but it's all she can contribute.

She recognizes Merrill as one of the people who helped her when she first arrived, but she hesitates to talk to her during such a busy time. Certainly, the woman is busy as well. Everyone is. But maybe she can do something to repay her while they work?]

...Pardon me... but can I help you with anything?

[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.]

[threemoms]

[ Hotaru's ears perk up a little at that, glancing over to their fearless leader. ] Hm? Really?

[ You'll have to forgive her. She pretty much lived outside the walls, and by the time she arrived in Union, the city already knew about outside settlements. So honestly, it was news to her.

Obviously, her education is sorely lacking. ]

[bnw_void_npcs]

As the team approaches, an extremely severe woman can be seen standing, or rather, sitting at the pre-arranged area. An large, Serpent-like Pokemon is coiled around her, in the form of a makeshift chair. At her side are four guardsmen, their broad shoulders barely concealed beneath the large cloaks that encircle their body, showing nothing of the weaponry or Pokemon they carry.

"Well?" she says sharply. "Let's get on with this. I've little time left for Team Evolution's whiny peace-mongering."

[flowerofsendai]

That's right.

[Stationed toward the center of their group, Sakura casts a smile over her shoulder at the Absol girl. Yes, they were supposed to "keep an eye" on Hotaru on top of their usual duties, but all told, she at least liked the younger girl's company.]

[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.]

[incousinswithyou]

[and she's there. Michiru slams the heel of her hand into the other guard's nose, the force of it amplified by the Psychic power she had been gathering. And if that didn't effectively scramble his brains, Michiru is not above kicking a man while he's down.

...she's nothing if not thorough, alright?]