Descent

[bravenewmods]

Iron Mines:
The trip to the eastern mountains is punctuated by the continuing aftershocks. After each one, it may be tempting to glance back at Union to see if any of the towers have fallen yet. The expedition parties move with incredible speed, knowing that the fate of their City hangs on the line.

When they reach the mountains, guided by the coordinates given of the 'strange radio signal', the parties will find that many of the normal entrances and routes have been blocked by cave-ins. In contrast, however, a gaping hole has opened up where none existed before. As this seems to be the easiest way to gain access, the parties slowly lower themselves in...

They will find themselves in the long-sought iron mines.

But there are so many twisting turns and tunnels, it will be impossible to stay together and make any sort of progress. Each group will have to take their own paths from here...

Old City:
Each of the twelve entrances down into the Old City take a different meandering route through the ruins. Though several are blocked off by this time, there are still many potential paths to take. The state of the Old City is poor, being underground as it is, and occasional soft rumblings are certain to cause unease. As the report states, however, there is enough of an interval between quakes that it should be possible to investigate safely.

It would be unwise to venture down alone, but it is impossible, too, for everyone to stay together if they wish to make headway.

Union:
The wild Pokémon continue to come out of the Old City, though the frequency has been somewhat lessened. Rubble lines the streets and though no towers have collapsed as of yet, some seem to be dangerously close and certainly nobody should be staying inside of them. As stated, the towers in Sector 3 are the worse off and construction crews work frantically to attempt to restabilize the foundations of these buildings.

The injured are innumerable, the number of casualties is as of yet unknown, and the chaos and panic is difficult to fend off.

There is a great deal of work to be done.

((Please post below with your groups - in the first comment, please note the members of your group, where you are, and whether or not you intend to keep a threading order. Regardless of threading order, mods will be responding at least once every 24 hours to keep the event moving. Groups should be three to four people in size.

At this time, all characters entering the iron mines will be able to choose to bond with a free extra Pokemon listed under 'Cavern' in the Map and Wild Pokemon post. Please respond there if you intend to make use of this. Characters who have already claimed a free Old City Pokemon may not do so.))

Comments

[ladyofluminosity]

It was very rare for Camille to communicate with Lux in more than simply feelings, but as soon as they entered the cavern, the Dratini fell silent, lowering herself close to the ground. Marta too stopped in her tracks, reeling back a bit.

"...Make it stop."

Already walking toward the console, the blond stopped, looking at both from behind her shoulder.

"Luxanna make it stop, that sound, make it stop. Make it stop. Make it stop make it stop makeitstoprightnowmakeit. Stop! Right! NOW!" Curling in on herself, Camille tried to cover her ear fins with the rest of her body, coiling and writhing about.

Her Onix, too, seemed to be having issues, the boulders that made up her body twitching, and, fearing that they might have a whole other litany of problems if she didn't do something, Lux ran to both, first putting a hand and then her head on Martha. Whether she said something was hard to say, but, with a brief flash of light, she sent her friend back to the habitat, for her own safety and everyone else's. She went to recall Camille, but quickly jumped back as the Dratini hissed.

"Ezreal, something has them on edge! Do you think it's that machine there? What do we do?" Quickly trying to hush her wound up--literally--friend, she rushed back to the machine. "What do you need me to do? We need to make whatever this is stop. Now."

[bravenewmods]

As Ezreal and Lux work at the machine, they might be able to work out some recognizable words. The script is unusual, unlike the script known to belong to the old civilization, but seemingly a relative of the common dialect in Union with a differing evolution. Words that resemble 'Power' and 'Dispersion' can be made out on certain dials. All of the dials are turned all the way to the right at the moment.

As Asemu flies into the tunnel and Imogen flies back the other way, the Tyrantrum will ram into the wall of the cavern in its confusion. Whoops. ...Momentarily dazed, the Taunt lands; it immediately lowers its head to begin to charge in her direction.

[indy_wannabe]

"Well, here goes nothing."

Ezreal turns the switches down to the lowest setting.

[bravenewmods]

There is a low hum.

...Ezreal and Lux might not notice anything interesting, but Camille, at least, will probably be rejoicing.

Back in the other cavern, the Tyrantrum suddenly pauses in its tracks with a slack expression.

[second_destiny]

"What is that?"

By this time, Asemu got his wind back, and Sielg and his Zubat are nowhere to be seen -- presumably recalled. At the moment, he was walking over to get a closer look at the machine.

"...That's a machine, isn't it?"

[ladyofluminosity]

"Are you sure you should--" But before she could stop him, Ezreal was already going to town. Wincing deeply, ready for absolutely anything to happen, she holds her staff tightly, back pressed against the other teen.

"Makeitstopmakeitstop please make it...

"..."

Camille stopped writhing there, simply laying on the ground, unresponsive. About ready to break away from her position, Lux stopped as her partner let out a sigh of relief, slowly unwinding herself and, as best as she could, shaking that disgusting feeling off. Dusting off her scales with the end of her tail, she slinked over, rubbing against the blond like a cat, then stopping to look long and hard at Ezreal.

He would get a small tail flick in passing. Not malicious by any stretch, but more of a thank you as she went back to guard the entrance. Lux almost laughed.

[for_realsies]

"Alright... now that things are a bit... different, care to talk. Or are you still a bit addled from that Supersonic and the taunt?" Imogen was really hoping she wouldn't be left alone with the large impressive Pokemon. But... at least maybe they could talk now that the bat wasn't here?

She was hoping for a bit more back-up, but whatever was messing with the big guy probably would mess with her friends. So she'll just have to manage on her own. "Is there anything we can do to help?"

[bravenewmods]

((I've received note that the players of this thread would like for Imogen to be the one to bond, so you may feel free to boomerang from this point. If the others would like to hop in at any point, feel free, too, but I won't be waiting for them!))

Tyrantrum certainly seems to be addled for a moment or two as it stares at the tiny human with a slow blink. It had been incapable of making any coherent speech before, but now...

It growls lightly.

What in the world is happening? ...And why is it so high up?

[for_realsies]

"So high?" Imogen certainly doesn't have an answer right away... then it dawns, "Oh! You were smaller before but... you didn't notice you changed?"

That's... wrong, Pokemon don't do that. They evolve because... they should, they're ready, it's the right time. "What do you remember before that? Before you were up so high?"

[bravenewmods]

...It doesn't really remember much of anything.

There was the noise. The noise that had suddenly like a million bells ringing in cacophony and that had made it feel as if it were being torn apart.

...The noise was gone - hadn't they heard it?

((Sorry for vanishing right after I said I would boomerang, aha, I feel like a jerk. We had some important announcements to put up, my apologies!))

[for_realsies]

"Our hearing isn't as good as most Pokemon, that's why I've kept my friends away from here. Doing this on my own." Imogen carefully moved closer, eyes kind as she watched for it's reactions.

"There was a thing, an old thing, in the cavern you came from. It's probably what caused this." Imogen hoped, really hoped, that nobody does anything stupid to turn it back on while she's talking, "We'll take it away and make sure it never does this again. Do you have anywhere to go? While you work out what you don't remember?"

[bravenewmods]

It pauses to try to think about her statements for a few moments, its mind still beclouded. ...It seems to know what she is talking about. ...Yes. It was strongest when it was close to that device...

It had tried to destroy it to no avail. That's what it remembers.

............It doesn't think it can go much of anywhere at this height, although it supposes it can learn to crawl.

[for_realsies]

"Yes, this cave isn't really meant for someone of your stature..." Imogen brightens and smiles! She normally isn't so... direct about this. Pokemon aren't entirely trusting of humans, even now, and even with one like her. Especially bringing up things like weird human trickery.

"We have one option. This thing on my wrist, it lets Pokemon move regardless of their size from place to place. We can find you a new home, where you can really move about! No ceilings or small tunnels!" Imogen points to her warp band, it's really the best idea. He might be a sturdy sort but he doesn't seem like a cave dweller. Not unless the cave has access to other things. Maybe that way he can find a home he likes. "Out with the clear skies there are far less things like the one you heard."

[bravenewmods]

...Clear skies do sound promising.

This Tyrantrum, having been released from the hold of the machine, seems relatively mature and level in its responses. It will grunt and swing its head away now as if to test out its unfamiliar body.

What about food?

It was suddenly ravenous.

[for_realsies]

"The place it sends you has food, I have some berries and things on me if you want those for right now." She didn't carry enough food to really... sate, something of this size. Her snacks were more portioned for the smaller wild ones, she usually had to work a bit harder with anything bigger than a Rhyhorn.

"And when we find a new home, a home you like, it'll certainly have food. I don't intend to leave you in a place you won't be happy with." Imogen was never satisfied if she couldn't manage the very best for all involved whenever possible. Even if the best for her usually took priority. "I'm very good to my friends."

[bravenewmods]

Tyrantrum may or may not momentarily consider whether or not Imogen would be satisfactory as food, but after a few moments, it will nod with another low growl.

Imogen has successfully bonded with Tyrantrum! It is Level 25 and will come knowing Earthquake. Its other stats are up to your discretion!

[for_realsies]

Good call, she's a fairy so she won't taste very good. Imogen walks over and sends her new friend off to the habitat tower so they can figure out how much it costs to house and feed a T-Rex.

"We'll talk soon."

Imogen wanders back to the cavern with the others. And by wander, I mean skip and hum to herself as she makes her way back. "You guys are lucky I'm so fatastimazing to talk down a rampaging wildling all on my own abandoned by everyone and left only with my wits and cunning and adorable outfit!" She got a pet T-Rex and you didn't so HA on all of you!

[indy_wannabe]

"Yeah, right, good job, if you have time to brag grab me a screwdriver would ya Im?"

Ezreal is standing over the control panel, looking thoughtful.

[ladyofluminosity]

For once, Camille seems interested in what Ezreal is doing. Lux, however, has something of a helpless look on her face. She told him to leave alone, but would he listen? Imogen help.

[bravenewmods]

((Feel free to continue RPing, but no more mod tags will be coming at this time. Congratulations to everyone for achieving the goals and snagging a few Pokemon =) ))

[for_realsies]

"I should have offered you as food when he got hungry," Imogen added casually as she brought over some of the tools. At least her new friend wasn't here so the machine won't leave them with a rampaging giant on their hands. Just Camille, and maybe a Zubat.

She keeps the screwdriver out of reach, "Ez, let's think really hard about how much the brainy types yell at us for playing with the toys we find." Imogen knows how to be careful with her discoveries... and she can't help herself. This time... this thing made a huge mess, and is very dangerous to play with no matter how curious she is.

[indy_wannabe]

"Lux, grab the screwdriver for me."

Ezreal is clearly not paying attention to Imogen as he is tinkering with the control panel.

[ladyofluminosity]

Are you seriously...

"I am not getting in the middle of this," She sighs, putting a hand on her hip. "I told you not to tinker with it, and that it would be a bad idea, because what if we were to set off that strange noise while you're disassembling it!"

[for_realsies]

Imogen casually slips the screwdriver into her backpack, no way is she helping Ez do this.

"So, did you know that Feliks Łukasiewicz and Fai Flourite would be attempting a similar stunt as you?" Imogen is going to ignore the crazy person doing the thing they are quite explicitly told not to do and make polite small talk with Lady Luxanna Crownguard.

[ladyofluminosity]

This again. Her expression fell a bit, and Lux sighed. "I thought I knew that voice," She knew Feliks from the times the two had been introduced, and it would be impolite to forget him, despite the fact that he wasn't as high up on the social totem pole, as it were. "No, I had no idea. I knew that Fai and Yuui were traveling, but I had no idea that they would come all the way out here..."