The Raids

[bravenewmods]

[As the people of Union begin to move out into the plains, they'll find that the Councilor's warnings were apt. Though not everyone is targeted, it isn't long before a few unlucky travelers find themselves on the receiving end of the same type of attack. The bandits, whoever they might be, are experts at swooping out of the blue, striking so swiftly that the victims almost never even catch a glimpse of them.

How exactly will they put this to a stop? There's so many, it seems impossible to take them out one group at a time... Perhaps they have a base somewhere.]

((This post is for both groups who wish for mods to run and players to thread freely amongst themselves. You may feel free to handwave having been attacked and thread the aftermath of that event. Please respond to the appropriate section depending on where your character is. Thanks!))

Comments

[bravenewmods]

The woman sneers.

"You guys are tough customers. Under normal circumstances we'd happily tangle with you all day, but we've got places to be. Drop your weapons and supplies, then step away. We'll take those in exchange for the girl."

[celebrity_commentator]

Right. Okay.

Rise would take a deep breath, but that's not a good idea when there's a knife to your throat. She digs her fingernails into her palms instead to steady herself.

Himiko, I'm going to distract her, then you come over and teleport me next to Haruka, okay?

Himiko replies mentally, and then Rise starts crying.

Loudly.

Bawling, snivelling, I-am-either-dying-or-eight-years-old-and-want-a-Ponyta crying, complete with unintelligible wailing. At the same time, Himiko quietly floats up and, if the hostage-taker is sufficiently distracted, tries to Teleport Rise out of her grip.

[actsmagnificent]

Haruka only has time to unconsciously note that the raiders' goal was supplies - that's new information - before Rise bursts into tears and she suddenly appreciates that everyone in the Divine Defense Force gets roped onto the stage. So this is the power of a super idol, huh? She'll take it.

The moment she sees Himiko make her move, Haruka does too: World Shaking shoots off a Rock Blast, and Haruka tries to hit the nearest raider with an Aerial Ace. "Move!" she yells to Hotaru and the other Pokémon on the field; they do still have one Pidgeot captive, but if it breaks free during the retreat she's fine with calling this a draw. She learned these people are after supplies, not kidnappings for kidnappings' sake, and the way they fight rules them out as Gigas agents. It doesn't make sense, but Hotaru and Rise's safety comes first. She'll cover for them until they can get away.

[bravenewmods]

"GUH!"

The maneuver takes the woman completely by surprised and she's knocked back as it hits.

"Damn it!"

Retreating back, they hop back onto their birds, leaving the one captured by the group alone with two of the raiders doubling up.

"Not bad ladies. We'd love to stick around but this isn't a winning fight for us. Ta!"

And with that they take flight, moving quite rapidly.

[celebrity_commentator]

Blinking away disorientation as she and Himiko materialize next to Haruka, Rise brushes herself off and watches the raiders retreat.

"I am so ashamed that that worked."

[actsmagnificent]

Haruka smirks. Don't be like that, Rise. She'll compliment your acting as soon as she's satisfied this mission is concluded.

Seriously, though, those raiders aren't much for loyalty. They aren't sticking around for their Pidgeot. Haruka sighs and turns to Hotaru. "It's not talking?" she asks.

They'll only make things worse if they take this captive back with them - that'd be letting the enemy inside Union, even if under lock and key. If they can't get any useful information out of this Pidgeot, best to just let it take wing.