Into the Wild(woods)

[aerial_ace]

Log Deputy: Wighty
Participating Characters: Cordelia, Robin, Asemu, Melaka, Yuuna, Rei
Plot Description: A small rag-tag group of rangers is assigned the task of exploring and mapping out the Wildwoods area.
Warnings/Notes: None


The trek toward the Wildwoods was rather easy, the large amount of flying types making it much easier that it might have been. Setting up camp at the very outskirts of the forest, morning could not come soon enough. After breakfast, the group was to assemble, and start their expedition into the woods.

Comments

[bravenewmods]

[A nice place, you say? See how nice it is with the 100 angry Ursaring that suddenly crash through the woo --

Oh wait there's actually some sort of objective involved here, huh? The 100 angry Ursaring will be distracted by a river filled with delicious Goldeen, and the party will serendipitously just miss them.

The scouting Pokemon will see nothing of interest up ahead apart from trees, trees, and more trees, as well as the occasional shadow that melts into the forest the moment they sense another Pokemon in the vicinity. The woods are lovely, dark, and deep, and no doubt the Rangers will sense that they are the first humans to have traversed this path in a long, long time. What waits up ahead...?

There is no distinct path, though the occasional broken branch and footprint seem to suggest that the native Pokemon have preferred routes. They enter from the northeast; one such path leads directly southwest, while another will winnow away to the west. They are also free to break their own trail.

It's curious, though. The southwestern path... Try as he might, Houndoom won't be able to pick up the previous scent of any creature despite the fact that it's clearly been in use.]

((Will be following the post once every 24 hours rule from here unless no one has responded!))

[second_destiny]

[Asemu calls upon his Fearow and Murkrow to help his Talonflame scour the area. By now, they're well-accustomed to scouting from the air, and move in deliberate patterns.]

Hopefully some new Pokémon species. We shouldn't have anything to worry about from any danger they'll be. Other than that, it's hard to say.

...Two paths. Should we split up?

[master_tactician]

Unwise. Best stick together in unknown territory. There is safety in numbers and that will hopefully dissuade the more aggressive locals from trying to make a meal of us.

[aerial_ace]

Robin is right. We stay together.

[They were under her charge, and with one of them still very green, and the other completely unaware of the dangers he might be putting himself in, she needed to act as the responsible party. She would not lose a single one of them. Not here, not today.]

Getting the report back from Houndoom, Cordelia contemplates this a moment.]

That path there-- [She points to the southwest.] Looks like it's been used, but Houndoom can't seem to pick up a scent. We'll go that way.

[A beat.]

Keep your wits about you, and stay close. Have your warp bands ready, in case something happens. Houndoom, mark our path, just in case.

[rainsrespite]

Makes sense to me.

[Splitting up rarely went well, especially in unknown territory. She sure wasn't green enough to think otherwise. Recalling her scout, she made to start down the trail, warily looking around, keeping an eye on Hitmomchan and Magnezone as they moved along the edges of the party.]

[bravenewmods]

[The southwest path it is!

There's enough of them that they'll find it easier to walk single file through the dense brush instead of trying to squeeze their way through brambles.

It's a solid few hours of trekking with nothing terribly eventful happening. The observant, though, may notice that the trees seem to have slowly become more twisted and gnarled and every now and again, there's what seems to be a... black mark. Weird. In the background, the scent of rot hovers faintly before vanishing again in the next instant, and an almost tangible feeling of unease begins to prickle along their skin.

Houndoom will continue to smell nothing particularly interesting - Although there's a certain special move it may know that might help it understand what's happening here.]

[master_tactician]

There's definitely something odd here. Aura. See if you can sense anything.

[Robin's warp band flashes and his Espeon emerges. Its ears twitch slightly as it begins probing with its psychic power.]

[second_destiny]

[Asemu has no psychic powers to speak of, so he just has his birds continue to scout the area. He has his own theories as to what's going on, though.]

...Ghost-types? This is...kind of what it feels like.

[aerial_ace]

[Having the same inkling that Asemu did, Cordelia looks at Houndoom. Her voice is low, level but with a sense of urgency.]

Houndoom, Odor Sleuth.

[The Houndoom does as he is told.]

[rainsrespite]

[Taking the cue from the other trainers, Yuuna nods to Hitmonchan. No sense in not going for it, with all those creepy vibes all over this forest.]

Foresight, Gouken. Asemu is probably right.

[And he does so.]

[bravenewmods]

((24 hours!))

[And suddenly, a whole host of foreign and uncomfortable scents will flood into Houndoom's nose... The scent of death and of loss, of lamentations, of things that have been lost and things that will never be. Yes... this trail smelled like nothing living ever passed through it - because nothing has. The living Pokemon of this forest know where this road leads, and they want nothing to do with it.

Espeon and Hitmonchan, too, will catch a mental glimpse of the extremely negative energy flooding through the air...

Those who are hidden know they've been spotted. And in the blink of an eye, the forest disappears around the group - one by one, flames flicker into view to ring them on all sides... It seems they've been walking straight into the middle of a trap!]

Fsssssssssssss....

[A horde of wild Litwick have appeared! Without further ado, the Ghosts rear up to send Shadow Balls spinning indiscriminately through the air!]

[kickboards]

[Ah-- this was unexpected, but not so far out of the realm of possibility that Rei hadn't prepared for an incident like this. Taking a deep breath to steel himself, Rei called forth both his Azumarill and his Feraligatr, already seeing a few possible tactics for this mess.]

Harima-- use your Rain Dance! [He called,] Feraligatr-- follow that with a Water Gun!

[master_tactician]

Aura, Psychic! Valaura!

[Robin's Warp Band flashes again and his Umbreon appears, sparkles flying off its body as it emerges]

Assurance!

[second_destiny]

Feint Attack! Mirror Move!

[The Murkrow immediately dives into the Litwick midst and Fearow rears up with its own Shadow Ball. Asemu then pulls out a Persim Berry and throws it up into the air.]

Natural Gift!

[And his Talonflame attacks, consuming the Persim Berry to blast the enemy with a Ground-type move.]

[bravenewmods]

Hehehee...

[The small candle-like creatures giggle slightly at the resistance, their wax faces etched in childish smiles. It's not very clear how many there are since they keep spinning around, though there must be at least 6 - one for each adventurer here.

As the rain begins to fall, the flames of the Litwick obstinately shine even brighter through the dampness. Water Gun, unfortunately, is a weak enough attack that a single blast of heat from one of the ghosts causes it to evaporate into steam while another one blows a gentle kiss towards Feraligatr in response. The ring of flames will leave a severe Burn.

Shadow Ball will strike Espeon hard while the Ghosts tank the Psychic attack. They don't fare quite so well against Assurance and with a cry, one of the Litwicks flickers and vanishes, its flame snuffing out. A mutinous response comes as Umbreon is targeted by a blast from a Confuse Ray.

Feint Attack strikes a Litwick without fail, but even as it does so, the creature's eyes flash and Murkrow feels half the damage returning in the form of a Pain Split. The Shadow Ball that Fearow shoots out is met by a Memento as another ghost's flame snuffs out, leaving Fearow severely weakened. As Talonflame swoops down to pluck the berry, another ghost flickers into view behind it to shoot it in the back with Incinerate. Natural Gift will leave Talonflame awkwardly flapping in midair with ashes in its mouth. Better not call your attacks before you use them!

........The remaining Litwick flicker rapidly for a few moments before taking on an indistinct appearance. Looks like they all used Minimize...]

Hm~

[The flames burn on. And some of the Rangers will find that their strength seems to be slowly ebbing...]

((As a request, please keep it to around two-ish attacks a response; writing responses gets a little complicated otherwise! Thanks!))

[rainsrespite]

[With a cry of alarm, Yuuna's up next. She does two things without a word: tosses a small stone from her belt on the ground, and taps her warp band to call up a reservist. Hitmonchan and Magnezone aren't really the best bets here, but they'll move into position to attack if the opportunity presents itself.

But Tyranitar and Spiritomb? Well, they should join the party!]

Kintsu, Kyo, you know what to do! They're ghosts, so stop them quickly! Don't play around, just take them down!

[With a screech of rage, Kyojira the Tyranitar appears. Bellowing, his mouth opens wide and he sprays a Dark Pulse at the Litwicks that seem to be looking at his trainer the hardest. With his impressive bulk, he also interposes himself between her and as many of them as he can.

And the small stone? It begins to shake and glow faintly, pulsing with a sickly greenish light. A fell wind picks up, whispering through the leaves around the Litwicks as Spiritomb makes it's appearance and attacks with an Ominous Wind!]

Wow how now am I so late jesus.

[makeitquick]

[ And what's Melaka been up to? ... Scouting and following, mostly, for the whole of this trek. She's been trying to keep her eyes (and senses, via her Donphan) peeled to get a good grasp on the surroundings. In this particular fight, though, the pokémon she has out is her Trevenant, Sneak.

Who is... living up to her name. Before the brawl really started out, the relatively large tree Vanished into the ether. But now, behind the litwick group, she's appeared to make use of Phantom Force.

(not one to be left out herself, though her fighting puts her at a disadvantage, she did learn her Mastery of Battle does allow her to punch ghosts. So she's going to be attempting to do that herself, see if she can't get ahold of one ... She does feel a bit weirdly dizzy though) ]

[master_tactician]

Aura! Go back to the habitat, we can take it from here. Exalibur!

[The Espeon vanishes in a flash of light, and is replaced with a Sylveon]

Guard us with Light Screen! Valaura, keep up the pressure with Assurance!

[aerial_ace]

[Swearing under her breath for how stupid she had been, Cordelia activated her Warp Band, sending out Swanna.]

Houndoom, Foul Play! Swanna, Water Pulse!

[second_destiny]

[Dick move. Asemu is not happy now after that. Fortunately, he has another trick up his sleeve.]

Alex, Haze! Swordia, Aerial Ace!

[Asemu's Murkrow begins to emit a black mist, while his Fearow attacks. Bullet, Asemu's Talonflame, simply flies near Alex to protect her if the enemy Litwick try any more funny business.]

[bravenewmods]

[Miss miss dodge miss goes the general refrain from here. Ominous Wind smacks a few stray Litwick as it targets the entire group, but Haze comes a bit too late and a good number of these attacks simply flicker straight through the indistinct ghosts.

Punching ghosts is usually quite a lot of fun; alas that these ones seem to be on fire! Phantom Force will strike one of the Litwicks unaware, but the rotting tree might find that it's suffered a nasty Burn. Water Pulse also, enhanced by the rain, sends one blasting away while Aerial Ace inflicts an unavoidable moderate amount of damage.

The remaining Litwick stop circling as their flames burn even brighter and the strange sensation of weakness intensifies. They all exchange a glance before Tyranitar, Melaka, Robin, Houndoom, Murkrow, and Swordia are struck by Confuse Rays.

Have fun with that! The Litwicks seem to be sticking around in the hopes of draining just a little bit more life force before they leave. In sheer numbers and strength, they're outmatched, but everyone's gotta eat.]

((Rolled an RNG; random encounter will be wrapping up in the next tag!))

[master_tactician]

[Robin staggers a bit before smacking into a tree. Seeing their partner incapacitated, at least for the moment, Excalibur and Valaura take matters into their own hands, attacking with Assurance and Moonblast.]

[aerial_ace]

[Houndoom, in his confusion, tries to help matters with Smog, but does little else than blow a bit of poisonous breath in his general vicinity.

Swanna will take the opportunity to launch another Water Pulse at the Litwick.]

[rainsrespite]

[Tyranitar shakes his head, trying to clear it, while Spiritomb flies in for a quick Feint Attack...]

[second_destiny]

Swordia, switch out! Go, Kou!

[With a flash of light, Swordia disappears. In its place is a Gyarados, perched on the ground.]

Kou, Aqua Tail! Alex, use another Feint Attack!

[So far, the effects on him have been minimal. This is how it usually ends up. So he's just committed to ending this fast.]