[Audio]

[alwaysfaithful]

Greetings everyone. Can I have your attention if you don't mind? My name is Chris Ramirez, former Ranger-in-training now Delver and I have a few questions to pose to you. First off, if you are a Ranger or even a Guard you may or may not have heard my surname in relation to any doctors or physicians. Not to mention the fact that I am from a long line of Rangers so... needless to say that I am breaking the tradition is kind of stating the obvious to put it mildly.

On to business now, while I'm concerned about running out of supplies there is a limited amount of Delvers in Union so that in itself poses a problem. While we aren't at that point we still should be cautious.

[Text message ends.]

[Action: Against Chris' own better judgement the young man had made the trip to somewhere on the outskirts of the Scorched Forest. He also planned to venture to the Lake Shrine later on as well to see if he could find any sign of something that could help the city of Union. So with his Eevee Carmen trailing along Chris had arrived without backup.]

Comments

[action, Scorched Forest]

[bravenewmods]

[A perpetual scent of smoke hangs in the Scorched Forest... Rangers generally avoided this area, given that there wasn't much in the way of useful natural resources, but there were certain types of Pokemon attracted to such a bare, deadened region.

Whether or not there was an iron mine here, there is the sense that this place holds more mysteries than the rest of the Verdant Forest. As Chris enters, there is a rustling noise from up above him. Off in the distance, smoke steadily rises, and an open path to his right meanders its way past a copse of skeletal trees.]

Re: [action, Scorched Forest]

[alwaysfaithful]

Chris had a feeling that maybe coming here alone wasn't the brightest idea, but he started to walk directly below where the rustling sound was. His Eevee Carmen directly right behind him.

[bravenewmods]

[Chris may regret this hasty choice as things suddenly start to fall from the sky. ...Many things.

A wild Pineco has appeared!

Many wild Pinecos! Four of them barrage him from the sky, dropping immediately upon sensing an intruder -- and immediately begin to Self-Destruct.]

fssssssssssssss--BOOM!

[alwaysfaithful]

Despite mentally kicking himself in his head for almost rushing in to the nest of Pineco, Chris backed away. Hoping to quell the fighting in the hope by offering food, Chris quickly reached for four berries and praying that would stop the Pineco. "Wait! I'm sorry for intruding Pineco! I've got some berries here. If you promise not to use Self-Destruct I'll share the rest of food with you."

His Eevee didn't seem like that was a good idea, and remained on her guard.

[bravenewmods]

[It is a bit too late for two of them - one has already exploded by the time Chris digs out the berries, and the other is too far gone to stop. They leave small craters in the earth as they bounce far away, unconscious, and vanish.

The remaining two have a healthy glow, but stop short of exploding altogether.

They don't seem interested in the berries, really, as they glower at Chris and his Eevee.]

I'm going to assume that Chris wasn't hurt bad by the exploding Pineco.

[alwaysfaithful]

Chris had clutched the right side of his chest, which one of the Pineco had exploded near. Ignoring the pain, he climbed to his feet and then turned to the two remaining bagworm Pokemon. Carmen looked at Chris's side with concern and was about to attack the remaining two when Chris started to talk. "Look, I'm not going to hurt you. I promise. I just need to know if you've seen anything like this?"

He pulls out a picture of what an Iron Ore mine looks like. Chris gave a single glance towards his Warp Band. And then turned to the pair. "Please, I really need your help, I don't want to fight. Just help."

[bravenewmods]

((Sure! That was up to you!))

[The Pineco blink a few times at this unexpected plead. Certainly not what either of them had been expecting. They turn to glance at each other before one of them unceremoniously decides this wasn't worth its time and skitters away, surprisingly quickly for something without feet.

The last Pineco looks alarmed at being left alone with the human, but -- ]

...Sssss.

[The bug Pokemon lets loose a whistling noise. Given Chris's abilities, this can be interpreted as a flat 'I have no idea what you're talking about'.]

[alwaysfaithful]

While Chris was in shock for a brief moment, Carmen just rolled her eyes in annoyance. Afterwards Chris regained his bearings and tried to think before speaking again. He didn't want to confuse the Pineco more that he could stand. "All right. Have you seen anything made of metal around then? Like when you would eventually evolve into Forretress. Can you help me?"

[bravenewmods]

[Eventually what... The Pineco looks jumpy - is jumpy - and it glances around as if uncertain what Chris wants. It seems unfamiliar with the terminology the man is using and slightly uncomfortable with what he's saying.

It will respond with a noncommittal noise, though. It had not seen anything made of metal, no, apart from on the humans walking through sometimes. Wood and rocks were all it knew.]

[alwaysfaithful]

He pulled out the Warp Band quickly, hoping that he could befriend and bond with the Pokemon instead. He prayed this works.

[bravenewmods]

[Pineco is alarmed! It tries to scurry off but the light strikes and the connection is made.

Pineco's emotions are predominantly fear and distrust. More thoughtful and less prone to exploding than its fellows, it nonetheless has not been particularly impressed by Chris's confusing questions.

It wants to know what he's doing here and why this metal is so important, anyway.]

[alwaysfaithful]

Today was definitely not a good day for Chris. Not only is he a little hurt from the other Pineco exploding, but he found no evidnece of an iron ore mine. So Chris did the most logical thing in dealing with Pineco. He explains himself. Hopefully this will not be a repeat of the other Pineco...

"I guess I'm just confusing ypou aren't I?" Without waiting for the Pineco to confirm this, he continued to tell it why he was here. "I needed to find a iron ore mine because we need it to survive. We use it for various things like weapons, armor, and anything to understand Pokemon and survive out here. That is what it boils down to. Our survival."

[bravenewmods]

[Pineco listens. There isn't too much sympathy, but it can at least understand the need for resources for survival.

It can tell him where there is a particularly delicious berry bush if he is dying of starvation or anything as long as he promises only to take a little. It was hard to find much food in the Scorched Forest.]

[alwaysfaithful]

At least Pineco was a little clamer now. Chris didn't want to startle the bug Pokemon again so he looked over Pinco once more. "There's much more food in the city I come from. There's all sorts of Pokemon there too, like Carmen here. But.. I appreciate you being straightfoward." The mentioned Eevee gave a slightly annoyed look at Pineco. Almost as if to say 'don't you think of anything but food'.

[bravenewmods]

[Pineco levels a dour stare at Eevee. What else do you need to survive? Food and a place to keep out of the rain. That's it.

You people were so complicated.]

[alwaysfaithful]

Carmen probably would have Tackled the Pineco at that moment if Chris hadn't seen the look the Eevee gave him and carefully hoisted the evolution Pokemon on his shoulder. Not wanting to fight Chris' intervention the Eevee just relaxed but the glare was still there.

"Easy now, Carmen. that's not an enemy. You can't fault one lone Pokemon for thinking survival over all else. In that respect not too much different from us."

[bravenewmods]

[Pineco would stick its tongue out at Eevee if it had a visible mouth.

Does he want to see the berries, then?]