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

[reborn_love]

[Elly looks down at the machine. She frowns; she can hear them fighting the Tyrantrum behind her. It's unnerving; she doesn't want to think too hard about what happens if they take too long. She looks at Flemming, then back at it.]

This dial says power, I think. I'm going to try turning it off.

[If the good doctor doesn't protest, she does just that; she turns the dial to zero. And crosses her fingers. And hopes.]

[antiseptic]

[As the ground vibrates under his feet from the force of the Tyrantrum's Stomp, Jade only just manages to keep his balance. He stays further away from the fighting, letting Melaka handle the physical side of things while he begins to use his psychic powers to damage and confuse the Pokemon.]

[Sandshrew also helps in the attack, using Rollout to send boulders towards the Tyrantrum.]

[myfedorarocks]

[Fortunately, there's no protest from Flemming, who is still anxiously hoping that the others will be able to handle things.]

Let's hope this works...

[bravenewmods]

[It's less of a trip and more of an 'awkwardly hops back', but it seems to have done some minor damage, anyway. Unfortunately, the Tyrantrum is even further angered by this and lets loose a mighty Roar, attempting to blow Melaka back!

It is unclear how much the psychic powers and Rollout would have helped as, at the moment Elly turns down the dial, a blank look suddenly washes across Tyrantrum's face and it simply takes the attacks without response.

Any Pokemon out at the moment would be able to report that the sound had stopped.]

[reborn_love]

I think... I think that did it!

[Elly stops, then looks at the Tyrantrum. Then she looks at the rest of the team, before she looks back at the machine. She sighs, then she laughs with sheer relief. That was close.]

[Too close.]

[The relief doesn't last long. She looks at the machine and stares, frowning down at it.]

But... who put this here?

[myfedorarocks]

[This is worrying.]

This couldn't have been accidentally turned on. Someone must have put it here, but why?

No one in Union could make something like this.

[antiseptic]

[Although Jade is aware of their conversation, he's only half-focusing on it as most of his attention is focused on the Tyrantrum. Taking advantage of its momentary weakness, he quickly activates his Warp Band, trying to enforce his will on it.]

[reborn_love]

Someone... outside of Union, Doctor?

[myfedorarocks]

I.... I believe so.

There have always been rumors, haven't there? I've worked with the Engineers for two decades. If there was anything like this in Union, I would have at least heard about it.

[bravenewmods]

((Gonna go ahead and continue!

At this point, one of you may attempt to bond with the Tyrantrum. Please decide amongst yourselves who that will be, and I'll rapid-thread with you for a while. [If it's going to be Jade, just let me know.]))

[The Warp Band connects! The Tyrantrum is still seemingly in a daze for a moment or two, but as a few seconds tick by, Jade will begin to pick up on some actual emotion underneath there. It's confused, a bit scared, and not at all certain what's going on.

It finally seems to come to; its first action after staring at the group is to rush towards the tunnel and attempt to escape. ...Unfortunately, it's still too large.]

[reborn_love]

We'll need to get more of the engineers in here, then, doctor. This is troubling. I suppose...

[She sees the Tyrantrum rush at the wall. She winces, raising a hand up and grimacing when it does.]

...uh oh. That could be a problem...

[OOC: I am entirely fine with letting someone else do it to it with the Tyrantrum, so the three of y'all can decide!]

[myfedorarocks]

[He's about to continue talking, but is stopped by the Tyrantrum rushing the wall.]

It's going to take this whole place down!

((I'm okay passing it up, too.))

[antiseptic]

[Although the Tyrantum appears scared more than anything, Jade is still wary. He knows how quickly cornered Pokemon can turn aggressive. Not to mention Flemming's entirely too-accurate observation that it could bring this whole place crashing around their ears. He attempts to calm it down by transmitting soothing waves of emotion through the Warp Band.]

[ooc; I'd like Jade to have it (and I can toss it in the Daycare if anyone's interested so there can be Tyrunt babies for everyone) but I'm fine either way! I can just have the connection fail or something.]

[makeitquick]

[ The roar had sent her back - tumbling back into a pile of rocks and still feeling an unnatural fear effect to justify how I wasn't really here for a while oops. And she comes out of it to see- Jade's got the bond going. She frowns, and wipes off some blood before she sighs and stands at the ready in case this messes up]

[ And I'm okay with Jade getting it too ]

[reborn_love]

[Elly gasps, but she stands her ground. She raises a hand over her head; flame crackles off her hand, and then a few threads of frost gather, too, as she prepares to strike if need be. Those elemental forces are held in check, though.]

[She'll leave it to Jade, unless it's needed.]

[bravenewmods]

((Gotcha! You guys can still feel free to comment, but I'll be responding when I see that Jade has responded from now on.))

[The soothing waves of emotion may not be quite as effective as Jade has hoped, but it's enough of a distraction that the Tyrantrum seems to glance about in confusion for a moment or two before rumbling off to the other side of the cave.

...There is no tunnel there. ...It smacks it with its tail briefly anyway before bouncing back towards a third wall.]

[antiseptic]

[The Tyrantrum's heavy footfalls makes the ground shudder, and Jade knows he has to stop it quickly.]

[Stop, he tells it, firm and soothing all at once. Let us help you out of here.]

[bravenewmods]

[Eventually, it will stop bouncing around haphazardly and realize that the small things on the ground are attempting to communicate in some manner.

It is confused. Why can't it get out? What had happened? Where had they come from?]

[antiseptic]

[...Strange. Those aren't the types of questions he had expected. But at least it's stopped smacking at the walls.]

[The tunnels are too small for you to escape from, he explains rapidly. We can help you leave, but you have to stay calm. If you don't, you may bring the whole cave down on us.]

[bravenewmods]

[Tyrantrum whimpers for a bit and aimlessly smashes into a wall again before finally keeping still. Everything was all strange and all of them were so... small. It seems this Pokemon is not aggressive by nature.]

[antiseptic]

[If Jade isn't Jade, he'd probably feel some sympathy for the Tyrantrum. As it is, he just feels puzzled by the situation.]

[When the Tyrantrum finally keeps still, he steps forward slowly. Can you bond with me? If so, I'll be able to transport you out of this cave.]

[bravenewmods]

[Tyrantrum frowns and growls softly.

What in the world was that supposed to mean?]

[antiseptic]

[Oh, you know. Become friends. Equals. If we're bonded, I can bring you to the Pokemon habitats in my home with this. He taps his Warp Band, at the same time projecting an illusion of the Pokemon habitats to illustrate what he means. If they're large enough for a Steelix, surely they'll be large enough for...whatever this Pokemon is. Probably.]

[bravenewmods]

[Tyrantrum startles at the projected illusions and stumbles back a step or two. ...It seems wary. It just wanted to get out of this place, but it supposes if that's the only alternative...

Is he some kind of psychic-type who can teleport?]

[antiseptic]

[Tyrantrum probably won't understand the explanation behind the technology of the Warp Bands, so Jade will keep it simple. I'm a psychic type, but the teleportation is a human invention. I can teach you about them once we're safe.]

[Which may be a big fat lie. Jade doesn't enjoy teaching anyone anything.]