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]

[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.]

[makeitquick]

Oh Savior's tits, come on! [ This feels so familiar, this is how Sneak and her met, but she somehow feels even weaker. She curses at that, throwing a wild kick in her annoyance which just connects with one of the trees nearby. It probably cracks it. or at least the outer bark. Still, she snarls this, and tries to orient herself.

Sneak, for her part, is alarmed at the burn, but not planning to let up while Mel is still fighting. She's going to try and strike out again with and Astonish - growing several times in size (by illusion) and swiping a claw in their direction ]

[bravenewmods]

[Fwoomph.

There's a sudden bright flash as one of the Litwick's flames burns with incredible intensity.

This is it. They're done. The rest recognize that the objective has been accomplished and the forest echoes with the faint sounds of their giggling as they fade away one by one to the attacks of their opponents. They don't even seem to mind... though they do leave behind Mementos for those who are unlucky enough to bring them to the edge of defeat.

There is an intense glow as the single Litwick's form begins to melt and shift disturbingly... Brighter and brighter, more and more indistinct...

And then it's gone. The forest flickers back into view, and a clear path has appeared. The narrow corridor had been cleverly made a part of the illusion as well, and up ahead, it broadens out into a wide clearing...

There seem to be ruined buildings up ahead.

The party has succeeded without too much damage, but it's odd... it doesn't feel very much like a victory. Could proceeding forward still be yet another trap?]

[master_tactician]

[Robin shakes his head to clear it]

Well. This looks profoundly suspicious.

[second_destiny]

Then we should be careful. The strongest of us should go to the front and the rear with our Pokémon. I can send up more scouts, too -- tons of Flying-types.

[rainsrespite]

With such a narrow path, we're just as likely to be jumped from the sides, too. Flank guards would also be advised. Since its ghosts, I'll leave Kyo and Kintsu to that.

[And the Tyranitar and Spiritomb move to comply. The woman herself looks a little pale, understandably so after the soul-drain. But she seems just as peppy as before at least.]

[aerial_ace]

I'll take the lead, then. Robin will hold the end of the line. Yuuna, stay close to me. Asemu, have your flyers scout ahead. Houndoom will assist in case we are flanked. Keep close to those who were injured.

[bravenewmods]

[They have reached the depths of the Wildwoods... Long ago, there must have been those who lived within this edifice. Crumbling stone lines what were once streets as they enter and underneath their feet, their boots trod firmly on broken cobblestones.

It was a small area of residence... or perhaps, the forest has already reclaimed most of it. There seem to be three buildings with the foundations still standing - one to the southwest that seems to have been larger than the rest. Another has a slanted roof with terribly decayed chips of red paint. The third is missing a its upper portion and stands open in the air.]

[master_tactician]

Careful. Just about anything can lurk in abandoned cities like this.

[Robin will edge forward carefully, bringing back Aura to scan the area with psychic senses]

[makeitquick]

[ When the litwicks are done, Melaka had to blink herself out of confusion and then check on Sneak. Enough minor shame from handling that so slapidash results in her contenting herself with the middle of the group, even if she pouts a bit more it. Sneak remains out, shuffling with her, looking around with her one eye, sensing Mel's minor agitation and wanting to be useful.

But she also warped back in Slugger the Donphan. The guy can at least sniff out out hear out anything coming in advance. Probably ]

[second_destiny]

[Meanwhile, Asemu's birds take to the sky. If anything can spot an incoming threat before it's too late, they can.

At the same time, he lowers his hands down to his waist and removes the two cylinders hanging from it. He holds them in his hands as he moves, ready to go at a second's notice.]

[rainsrespite]

[Yuuna trails behind Cordelia, calling Hitmonchan and Magnezone in close. The big robot hovers over the group, sweeping optical sensors all around while Hitmonchan just does his thing, silently ready for a fight.

And the Tyranitar and Spiritomb lurk at the edges of the group, ready enough for an ambush.]

[bravenewmods]

[Gosh you paranoid folks! The area seems to be completely deserted! No sign of ghost activity, no sirree. I mean, it's not like they're waiting for you in one of those aforementioned buildings or anything that would just be silly.

I mean, just 'cause Aura's picking up some major vibes from the largest southwest building doesn't actually mean anything.

In fact, the vibes are really heavily muted! It's weird, like it's being dampened somehow. It must be 100% safe to investigate.

The alternative is to just turn around and go home and call up the Ghostbusters.]

[master_tactician]

[Robin exchanges a glance with Aura and smirks]

Is that how we're playing it? Very well then.

[His warp band glows and Valaura, Excalibur, Qinglong and Fafnir emerge. Robin gestures somewhat grandiosely toward the building]

"Blow it apart!"

[His Pokemon comply, with Psychic, Moonblast, Dragon Breath, Dragon Claw and Assurance directed right at the building]

[aerial_ace]

[Somewhere in the world, a Seeker is crying.

Cordelia calls back Houndoom and summons Altaria and Charizard. If they were doing this, she should probably be ready.]

Altaria, Dragon Breath! Charizard, Dragon Rage!

[We ain't afraid of no ghosts]

[rainsrespite]

Well, if that's how we're doing things...

[She snaps her fingers.]

Kyo, Dark Pulse. Zedd, Flash Cannon.

[ZAPPPPP!]

[bravenewmods]

[Bam kerplow explosion fmx fwoom fwoosh dying cubone sounds baboom and all of that. You violent people. The house will unceremoniously collapse and crumble in the face of these attacks!

...

The muted presence still remains, though fading now. As a matter of fact... now that the house is cleared, it seems to be coming from underground...

Anyone examining the debris will find what seems to be a large hole in the ground and an ancient ladder leading down.]

[master_tactician]

[Robin whistles softly when the hole is revealed]

Definitely... wasn't expecting this. I'm not sure we're equipped to go in, what do you guys think? This is definitely a big find, it might be good to report back.

[aerial_ace]

[Cordelia also looks impressed, but that immediately falls away when she realizes that they are extremely ill-equipped for something like this.]

As much as I hate to say this, we may need to leave this be, for the time being, until we are better prepared.

[rainsrespite]

[Yuuna nods in agreement, peering into it. It's...a bit too deep, and she's no fan of the underground.]

We don't even know how far down it goes, or if the air down there isn't toxic. All I'd say we should do is see if we can lower rope down to gauge distance.

[makeitquick]

Eesh, you blow up a building and we're not even going down?

[ A part of her does sort of want to, after all. Sure it's not said with any bile - really, she knows it would be impractical. It's still said as he is hefting up something heavy to pull aside the debris ]