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

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. ]

[thefloorislava]

[It wasn't easy, that was for sure. They were doing a pretty good job of avoiding Gigas troops, using Robin the zoroark's illusions to disguise them. His skills were limited, still, and disguising two humans, himself, and three other Pokémon (Lea had also brought along Sharky, now a gabite) was a challenge. What he'd managed is to make them not... completely invisible, but unnoticeable. They slipped past people without anyone really acknowledging their presence... unless they were looking closely. But Caldera was an unfamiliar place, and it was easy to get lost.

Which, they were.]

... Haven't we passed this building already?

[meguriau]

[ Roxas still wasn't sure about this. Verdant Forest sure; he's gone there several times and eventually even bonded with a special colorful (in more than one way) Sentret. Canyons? It's a stretch but he was with Sora and eventually Lea and Riku so that place is okay too.

A city with enemies forces and Pokemon who don't seem to be very happy? Not so much. But thanks to Robin they haven't had any problems there.

The problem is more than certainly the fact that they had no idea where they were going. Roxas looks at the building Lea mentioned and nods his head. ]

Think so. [ He looks over at another building. ] That one too.

[ They were definitely somehow going in a circle. Or a square. Or Whatever shape they're going that isn't straight. ]

[bravenewmods]

[Not too far away, Lea and Roxas hear the sound of voices approaching their position. They're indistinct right now, and definitely unrecognizable, but they seem to be coming closer]

[thefloorislava]

Great... we're lost.

[Lea suddenly stops, hearing the voices and the steps. He holds a hand out to stop Roxas]

Quiet. I heard something.... Hey, Robin.

[The Zoroark nods and herds the whole group over by a wall, so he can disguise them as part of it. It's not perfect; the wall looks a little lumpy. But it'll do]

[meguriau]

[ Roxas stops right before he was to bump into Lea's arm. It isn't hard for him to keep quiet because well... he's quiet most of the time to begin with.

Also easy to herd.

Sora on the other hand was more difficult. He flicks his feelers a little nervously but tries his hardest to keep still. Keeper does the same though it's hard to stop keys from jingling when you're floating in midair. ]

[bravenewmods]

[A troop of about 8 soldiers come into view. They're all holding rifles and are scanning the area intently, obviously searching]

[thefloorislava]

[Crap. Lea holds his breath, pressing himself into the wall as much as possible. The soldiers looked strong, and he did not want to be caught.

Robin does his best to hide them all, both from sight and from being heard, but his inexperience is hurting him here.

And of course, when one is trying not to make noise, well... that's exactly when they make the most. Sharky's snout twitches, and Lea can't catch him in time to stifle the sneeze. Which is both loud, and sudden]

[meguriau]

[ Roxas does the same as Lea and looking at Keeper to try and keep quiet.

But that didn't matter much once Sharky sneezed. Sora flicks his feelers anxiously while Roxas turns to see if the soldiers had noticed.

Which really, it would have been a miracle if they hadn't but luck is probably not on their side today. ]

[bravenewmods]

What was that!?

[The soldiers turn with disciplined coordination, bringing their guns up and leveling it in the direction of Lea and Roxas. One of them, wearing a badge and likely the captain, moves forward warily to investigate further]

[thefloorislava]

[Lea now has his hand clamped firmly over Sharky's snout to prevent any further disasters. Sharky mumbles something like an apology through Lea's hand. Lea himself holds his breath and wishes for a shadow to melt into, though the midday sun keeps that from being a possibility.

Robin begins to panic a bit, not used to this sort of pressure and scrutiny. Large illusions covering multiple targets were usually pulled off by an entire pack and not just one fox. As such, the illusion wavers a bit, like a mirage]

[meguriau]

[ Roxas was this close to wanting to teleport away to someplace that was hopefully safer. But even though he can get away from doing that after putting his Pokemon back in the Warp Band he wasn't going to do with to Lea.

So instead he follows what Lea does and also holds his breath hoping that Robin can hold up for just a bit longer. ]

[bravenewmods]

[The Captain regards the illusory field with suspicion, before taking the butt of his rifle and swinging it down, as luck would have it right at Lea's face.]

[thefloorislava]

[Yikes! Lea is quick on the draw, and dodges the butt of the rifle; just barely. Instead of catching his head, it catches his shoulder, and he lets out a yelp of pain.

Then, it's all over. Robin panics, the illusion fails, and he makes a beeline for the roof of the building, scrambling up it using sharp claws. Coward.]

Ahaha... Well. Uh. Hi.

[this wasn't happening this wasn't happening this was not happening. Instinctively, Lea moves in front of Roxas and whispers harshly] Get out of here, Roxas. Run!

[globetrotting]

[ It's her houndoom and nidorino that accompany them with the trip to get the refugees to safety, houndoom listening out for anything suspicious and nidorino ready to help with any trouble. Houndoom keeps closer to the back while nidorino to the front.

Blue looks to Roxas she they lead the group, putting a hand on his shoulder to get his attention. She speaks softly. ]

Okay?

[meguriau]

[ It's Sora the Sylveon and Keeper the Klefki that is accompanying them from Roxas' end. His two highest leveled Pokemon and they aren't even that high. Neither is he. Being dragged out here aside he really wasn't ready for this sort of thing. ]

.... Yeah. Just thinking.

[globetrotting]

[ It was surprising that he did end up in this, which was Blue wasn't all that keen with not going along with him. She wanted to help out either way, but this just put a choice on where and who she would be with. ]

Care to share?

[meguriau]

I don't really know how to put it...

[ He's quiet for a moment because wow what are words. But eventually, maybe even surprisingly, he speaks again. ]

Maybe I need to stop hiding.

[globetrotting]

[ Those are some very odd words. She looks at him, thinking she knows what he means when it settles in, then focuses back on in front of them. ]

You're doing a very good job of that right now.

[meguriau]

Am I?

[ He isn't sure about that, and he's actually sounding concerned about it. ]

None of my Pokemon are over level 20.

[globetrotting]

[ 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.

[meguriau]

Y-Yeah.. but that's only because Xion dragged me out here. [ Like almost literally. And hey the hospital is the best starting place okay. ] But .... thanks. [ he sounds generally thankful too are we sure this is Roxas. ]

... Promise. [ He takes her hand because yes promises. Promises are good. ]

[globetrotting]

[ That sounds good. It'll be a promise she won't break -- exploring or desires to go further will have to wait. ]

Hmm... then I'll drag you too. Out of your comfort zone. [ She gives his hand a light squeeze. ] It'll be scary, but you'll just have to remember you're not alone.

[ To the volcano we go, boy. ]

[meguriau]

Well... dragging seems to be helping.

[ As pathetic as it sounds, all this dragging around and not as much dragging around has really helped him. The Doctors have even started to consider that there is hope for the boy again. ] Right. I'll have you, and Sora, and all my other Pokemon.

[ Sora flicks his feelers happily while Keeper jingles her keys. Yep they'll totally be there!

But really the Volcano what a big ... third step?? Not sure what step this is. ]

[globetrotting]

[ Blue gives him a confident nod, but for now will keep their chatting down. Now isn't the time - they've already been talking enough, and there's people counting on them.

And the volcano is the only answer. ]