Event - The White Dragon Travel Log

[bravenewmods]

[It's a lengthy journey even by air, that our intrepid heroes find themselves on. The veteran fliers set a quick, but not grueling pace at the suggestion of the Valkyries. Arriving to a battleground when a god had taken the field tired was not wise, they'd said, and who could really blame them? The prospect alone of facing down one of the beasts of legend would be enough to send most men fleeing in the opposite direction, but one who was working with a human? That was all the more reason to make sure that proper care was taken on the trek. And so for a day the party traveled, a caravan of birds, dragons, reptiles and the odd flying robot making steady time across the Rolling Plains before setting down at the north-eastern edge.

The curious would find that not far from where the tents were pitched, the green hills turned jagged, the land going from verdant to a sea of dark glass. Obsidian shards spiked upwards, spires gleaming in the moonlight like razor sharp teeth, setting an ominous tone for the evening's respite. Tents were pitched, fires were lit, and the more warlike companions even began a drum circle and dance. Valkyries and shirtless Calderan volunteers, a small number of visiting mages, and other more mysterious folks all curious to see the god and to help with the relief efforts. The camp, despite the circumstances, was at least a lively one.

And then came the final day.

Over the Obsidian Flats they went, the massive shapes of Boldore and Tyranitar visible even from up in the sky. And...further perhaps even more stunningly, a gigantic lake almost large enough to call an inland sea, sprawled out below. Rivers snaked out of it all around, and the water itself was a pure crystal blue. But perhaps the most awe inspiring sight of the whole journey came once they cleared the Flats and the area around Glacier came into view. An expanse of white, thick snow covering the ground this early in the year. Arctic forests cropped up here and there, snowcapped trees and a frigid looking river marring the perfect canvas beneath. And more Pokemon , of course. Gigantic Avalugg shook the ground below, and a new species plodded along, chewing amiably on the trees, largely unconcerned by the humans overhead, and the occurrences in the distance.

Along the coast a city was in flames, people streaming out of its ruined gates, desperately fleeing along the rivers before whatever it was came back. Smoke curled up along the skyline, burned hamlets and outlying settlements that'd already been destroyed.

It seems like they weren't too late, and it in the moment of respite there was a chance for our heroes to at least get their bearings and prepare for the Dragon God's return...]

[OOC: We will be opening some of these areas for bonding within the next few days for everyone who is taking part in the expedition.]

Comments

[actsmagnificent]

[ Haruka props herself up on one knee. Nobody she brought with her is small enough for her to have them in tow - Sky the Beartic is off rolling in the snow where she thinks nobody can see her and, far as she can tell, Uranus the Salamence has gone back up for another flight. ] People tend to go down much faster than Pokémon.

[ That's both an assent to follow Yuuna's plan and a tipoff to her own, if one reads between the lines. ] Especially if their attention's divided.

[rainsrespite]

People do. [Yuuna nods, conceding that fact.] But what kind of person must have bonded with a god?

[There's something slightly terrifying about that thought. That a being of that kind of power saw promise in a human, and they were turning on a human settlement. That...begged the question: was it the god and the human or was it Glacier?]

[actsmagnificent]

We'll have to ask. [ Preferably with her sword at their throat. But she's going to play that by ear depending on what they find. Haruka is capable of learning from her mistakes, and their last mission to a new city - even if it'd ultimately upheld warnings she'd been offering for months - definitely counts. ]

We can't afford to take anything for granted again.

[rainsrespite]

No. No we can't.

[She shared that thought. A worry that Glacier might be at fault. It could easily be as bad as Sanctuary, or worse. A ruse by a Gigan wannabe wasn't out of the question
.]

We've been burned before. Best not to take the chance. But we do need info.

[actsmagnificent]

[ She nods. ] You're traveling with Merrill?

[ Roll call time. ]

[rainsrespite]

Do I ever not? [A laugh ]

And you're with Michiru.

[actsmagnificent]

[ Haruka's mouth twitches: indeed. What a difficult life Haruka leads. However will she survive. ] Look out for each other.

[rainsrespite]

Always. We've got Bela with us too. And Waver.

[Yes. Waver.]

[actsmagnificent]

[ It takes her a moment since they've only met once. The Sanctuary kid? ] ....Diverse group.

[ Shouldn't he be in a library or something? ]

[rainsrespite]

Yeah, well. I want him close. And I want an Analyst around. If we're fighting a god? Then we'll need it.

[And it's a sobering statement.]

[actsmagnificent]

[ It is, but Haruka can't fault any of it. She has Rise along partially for the same ris-on reason.

So she's done joking. ] Make sure he scans the humans, too.

[rainsrespite]

I planned to, yes. It's a good skill, and he's got a good head on his shoulders.

[When he's not...hiding it in the sand.]

[actsmagnificent]

Here's to no more surprises.

[ This sort of thing works better with a drink for toasting. But Haruka manages to make do just by sticking her hands in her pockets.

It's cold out here. ]

[rainsrespite]

No more surprises indeed.

[Yuuna doesn't agree that it's cold at all. But she reaches up and squeezes Haruka's shoulder.]

Who've you got with you?

[actsmagnificent]

[ Good point - if they're skating around a plan of attack, they should know who's at each other's disposal. Haruka shrugs. ] Rise. The kid.

[ A nod to whereever Right's doing....whatever Right's doing. ] Pamela. And...

[ She doesn't know whether Lenna's still out there watching the city burn, but she looks in the direction where she'd last spotted the other woman. It's not a bad assortment, really. A few fighters, an Analyst, two diplomats. That kind of range should be useful.

But that's all assuming things go according to the plan she'd told herself she wasn't going to make. ]

[rainsrespite]

[Yuuna blinks in mild surprise. The kid? Wait...]

You mean Right? You brought Right?

[He's a little young and inexperienced for this, and her expression gives that away. She likes him, yeah, but...really?]

[actsmagnificent]

[ Yeah, she knows. But Haruka has to play the hand she's been dealt, and the hand she's been dealt is Michiru, Rise, and a theater full of romantics. ] It was his decision.

[ He also spars well. Which doesn't mean she won't be keeping an eye on him, but...she feels better about it than she had before facing him, no holds barred. ]

[rainsrespite]

He's been an alright student so far. Don't...let him rush in too far.

[Yuuna had been around for Heatran.]

Remember that these things may be able to hurt you even if you're immune. Like what happened with Blue's Rapidash and the Fire God. Warn him about that.

[actsmagnificent]

[ ...Haruka hadn't even been thinking about that as a possible reason why Right has seemed so fired up about this particular mission, but it clicks nicely into place. She nods solemnly. ] We've got a lot to keep in mind.

[ But they'll manage. Yuuna's team will be fine because Yuuna is there. Haruka's team...

...Frankly, Haruka's team will be fine because Michiru is there, but that's not the sort of thing Haruka Tenoh admits, even to one of the few people in Union she speaks to as an equal. ]

[rainsrespite]

We always do.

[Look, at least you don't have to worry about Eluvian trying to make your group wipe. And it's not much better, with Fai being newly returned and still not in the best shape. But at least this way she can keep an eye on him. And have Bela's help keeping him out of trouble.

And she...knows about Michiru. You're tough, Haruka, but that girl is something else.]

[actsmagnificent]

[ Isn't she just?

Maybe that's what Haruka thinks about as she stares into the fire. And then shifts like she's about to get up. ] I'll let you sleep.

[ Whenever you sleep. If you sleep. Haruka needs to see if the DDF have figured out a watch schedule yet themselves. ]