Departure

[bravenewmods]

The time has come.

At General Ironborn’s direction, the assorted troops of Caldera, Citadel, Refuge, and Union begin to roll out of the gates of the city. It would be a long trip – Sanctuary lay far to the west of Caldera, beyond any of the territory currently known to Union. Crossing the perhaps now-familiar desert would be merely the first leg of this journey. The atmosphere, as they depart from the gates, seems chipper. There are high hopes for the reclamation of territory from Gigas, and the people of the Sanctuary Resistance, especially, begin to entertain the appealing notion that their city might be free once more for the first time in decades, exchanging wide smiles and congenial laughter.

They do not travel light, of course. Caravans pulled by Ponyta and Tauros accompany them, stocked to the brim with food and supplies to last their small army for weeks. Their efforts hopefully wouldn’t last much longer than that, but they are assured by the Sanctuary natives that so long as they were able to reclaim a portion of the city, the people would happily provide them with what they needed. Other wagons are stocked with odd-looking machinery and gadgets – those sitting inside will spend the majority of the journey fiddling with equipment. Anyone who inquires will be informed that the technicians are making preparations to highjack Sanctuary’s communications network for their missions – perhaps they would care to assist? Still others are filled with armor and weaponry, useful Enhanced Items hurriedly crafted by the artisans of Union, and a few even tote heavier Pokémon who wouldn’t be up to the task of traveling the distance alone.

As it turns out, war is very troublesome to wage.

Over the course of the journey, there is plenty of time for idle conversation and brief side excursions or rest stops. The caravan eventually elongates and stretches out such that the furthest travelers are several miles in front of the rear – still, it is simple enough to go between wagons. In a pinch, the Valkyries swooping in the sky are always happy to take on a passenger for a short ride.

Eventually, word would spread that they were only a day’s travel from Sanctuary, and the mood will become somber, serious. But in the meantime, why not chat up your fellow travelers?

Comments

[niepokonany]

That actually would have been legit hilarious.

[Feliks makes a face at that question. Seriously, what?]

Wow, gross me out! Let's see... [Pretty much anyone, if he's honest, but that sounds pretty awful. Fai's uncle? No, this guy probably doesn't know him. Yuuna? Then he could end up having to explain why he's mad at her, and that's the opposite of fun.]

Can it be anybody, or does it like, have to be someone I'd have a reason to be around?

[bnw_wighty_npcs]

Well.

[He considers this seriously.]

I mean, we'd probably all answer 'Crystal' if we thought about it long enough so stay away from the obvious choices, I guess.

But if you use me, I'd turn right back around and puke on you, just saying.

[niepokonany]

It would be self-defense, though! I'm Fairy-type, dude, you can't expect me to take that kind of thing.

...I mean, not that I'd pick you or anything, but if there wasn't anybody else there.

If I could pick anybody, though, and it can't be Crystal even though that's totally unfair because I so would, I'm gonna sayyyyy... Ugh, this is hard... Um, any member of the Council! They all take themselves way too seriously.

[bnw_wighty_npcs]

Hey, I never said it would be poisonous.

[Ceilto sounds vaguely amused by Feliks's answer, though.]

Really? You'd leave your Council out to dry? Sheesh, you Union guys really are all about fighting the Man.

[niepokonany]

[Feliks snickers, leaning back with his hands in the grass.]

Well, I can't take that kind of risk, not with Muks around!

But like, they'll live, right? Someone has to shake the old folks up a bit now and then, anyway!

[bnw_wighty_npcs]

I've been here almost a year now, and I can't say I ever see them doing much besides the occasional meeting.

...And announcing that we're going to war, I guess.

What's wrong with your Council?

[niepokonany]

Aside from like, terminal boringness?

[bnw_wighty_npcs]

You'd let them get slathered in Muk-barf because they're too boring? Harsh, my good friend. You've got high standards here; I'd better not get to know you too well.

[niepokonany]

It probably doesn't suck as much when people don't keep trying to drag you into their boring world. Anyway, it's not like I'd want to, just if I had to pick someone for self defense!