bravenewworld | The Day Will Come

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The Day Will Come

Who: Lenna Tycoon, Rei Hino, Feliks Łukasiewicz, Haruka Tenoh
What: Eastern Steppe exploration
When: November 13
Where: The Eastern Steppe area
Summary: In her continuing quest to look for signs of her father, Lenna has gathered a group to explore the Eastern Steppe. This is a dual purpose log to move along her personal plot as well as unlock the area for bonding.

[Now that the Warp Band's range has been expanded, Lenna has once again begun to pursue clues concerning the untimely departure of her father, Councilman Alexander Highwind Tycoon, over a year ago. He left astride the family's Dragonite, Hiryu, to address an urgent and unnamed problem to the east. The last time Lenna mounted an expedition like this, she and a small group found the Coastal Ruins. She'd been looking around the Blizzard Tundra herself more recently, but found nothing but snow and a Furfrou for her trouble.

Remembering how her first trip out had gone, however, she decided to ask some of her friends and associates to accompany her. Unlike the trip to the Coastal Ruins, she'd been entirely upfront this time, apologizing for her selfishness but imploring their aid. Of course the others had agreed, but it's always been in Lenna's nature to consider the needs of others first, even for something as important to her as family. So with a grateful heart, she and the others set off for the Eastern Steppe.]

Thank you all again for coming with me. I realize this was an indulgence on my part, but we may find something that will be of use to Union as a whole while we're looking.

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No big, no big. Like, you know I always like exploring!

[That, and even though they didn't always see quite eye to eye about how to balance their lives, she was much more supportive of him than most when he was in a similar situation. He knows what it's like to have someone important to you just vanish, so he was quick to agree Lenna asked for help.]

Fresh air's nice once in a while.

[ Haruka is bringing up the rear of the party, her preferred position when traveling with people she doesn't work with much - her height helps her stand as lookout. This is also her preferred position when traveling with Gold the Jolteon, who has already managed to get a pine needle stuck in his paw (whether or not there were trees in sight at the time).

He's trotting gamely alongside his Trainer, though, and barks in reassurance to Lenna. This is fun! ] Jolt!

Lenna-san, it's fine. A chance to stretch Casius' legs is nice.

[On the back of the Arcanine, Rei took a flanking position, her enormous bow resting casually across the Pokemon's saddle. She hoped she wouldn't have occasion to use it, and given the way this place looked, she didn't think it'd be strictly necessary, but one never could be too cautious.]

I just hope we find a sign.

[Running a hand up Casius' neck, she scritched his ears and got a wuff of delight in answer.]

But if nothing else, we'll have done the Rangers a favor.

[The Eastern Steppe is vast, as the group travels across the dry landscape. Shrubs grow in patches, and if one bothers to looks close enough, they can see them move every so often. Otherwise, not much seems to fill the view- a herd of some sort of pokémon lies off in the distance, too far away to tell what they really are quite yet. A singular tree stands a short distance away, most of its branches dried and cracked off with the wear of the climate.

The ground is trodden in this area, the hooves of pokémon stamping it flat. Monstrous boulders that stick up straight into the sky lies four hundred yards to the group's left.]

[Lenna shields her eyes with her hand, peering around the plains.]

It looks like there are some Pokemon in the distance... maybe if we can get on top of those boulders, we can get a better look.

[Pressing a button on her Warp Band, she calls out her Dragonite, Alexander.]

What do you think, everyone? It might give us an idea of where to go first.

[Looking around, Rei nods in time with Lenna.]

I think Casius can make it up there without trouble. Let's.

[The big tiger-dog woofs happily, padding that way.]

Eee... [ Gold looks slightly daunted by the climb, but when he feels Trainer shifting at his side as if to look down, he shakes himself all over and runs ahead, towards the boulders - racing Casius, almost. He can do it, too! ] Jolteon!

[ Haruka sighs and picks up the pace too. If anything's lying in wait over there - and it is the wilderness, so nothing's impossible - she's going to want to be close. ]

[As the group heads in the direction of the boulders, something stirs from where the herd of pokémon lie, now off to their left. The sound isn't loud at first, but anything with enhanced hearing will hear something resembling squawking, a small dot on the horizon becoming larger and larger as it spreads into something more than just a dot. The herd that the group sees doesn't move until whatever headed their way gets closer, and the pokémon rear back with a flash of red and orange mixed in with what will start to look like browns with beaks attached.

Many beaks.

The pounding of hooves and feet begins to roar louder and louder as they approach, heading in the direction of the travelers.

A stampede heads their way, and will arrive in two minutes.]

[The draconic 'ears' provided by Lenna's final evolution aren't just for show; they also provide her with heightened hearing for situations just like this. The protrusions twitch a bit as the herd begins to move, and she calls out to the others.]

Get to the high ground! Hurry!

[Jumping on Alexander's back, Lenna spurs her Dragonite into the air, looking for a safe place to stand atop one of the great rocks overlooking the plains.]

Rushing Wind!

[ Keeping calm, Haruka summons her Pidgeot with her Warp Band. Hopping aboard, she scoops up Gold on the fly, making sure to hold the Jolteon close to herself so any shocks will be absorbed by her, not the Flying-type. She then wheels the Pidgeot above the group, checking to see if anyone lags in escaping. ]

Think they're like, mad about something?

[The question is pretty rhetorical, with all that squawking and stampeding going on. Feliks calls out his Altaria, nestling himself back between his fluffy wings.]

Fryderyk, follow Lenna up there!

[The Altaria sings out a little sound of confirmation and lifts off, while Feliks keeps an eye out behind him to make sure Rei isn't too far behind.]

I have no idea, Feliks-san! But go!

[Don't worry about her, she's on an Arcanine. Casius takes off at top speed, the massive Pokemon bounding towards the rocks with Extreme Speed. She trusts her first bondmate to get her there unscathed, and she's right to do so. It's fast enough to easily outpace the stampede, hopping up the rocks with surprising grace...leaving Rei completely unruffled, hair still perfect.

Because she's cool like that.]

I wonder what startled them.

[As the stampeding herd gets closer, the group will be able to see that it's a mad frenzy of Dodrio clearly running away from something. Rapidash run ahead of the birds, playing and having fun to race one another and the Dodrio themselves. Whatever it is that they were running away from, the horse pokémon seem pretty confident that they can get away from whatever it is that's startled the birds. As they reach the rocks, they can see that they form a circle with what appears to be a fire pit in the middle, burned out ages ago.

The pokémon trample right through and around the rock formation, turning towards it as the thing that's giving chase to them becomes visible. Those in the air will see it first- the fluttering of wings, from an unlikely foe. Sharp pincers jut out from the top of their heads, hands with sharp claws attached to a brown bug-like body with terrifying teeth cut into a ovaline mouth that snaps aggressively. They tail the very end of the stampede, larger than what could possibly be normal for this kind of pokémon, eyes yellow and menacing. Three of them come, trying to catch up to any Dodrio that can't keep up. Fortunately for the birds, most of them are getting away, but one is taken down. The sickly don't always make it.

One of them spots Rei on the top of the rock, looking hungry, and it looks as if its diverted its course towards her.]

Rei, look out!

[Lenna is quick to react to the danger to her friend, using Agility on her in an attempt to help her dodge the blow. Stepping to the side herself, she sweeps a hand out toward the encroaching Pokemon, turning to her Dragonite.]

Alexander, see if you can slow it down! Thunder Wave!

[Beating its wings rapidly to build an electrical charge in the air around it, the Dragonite releases it in a blast aimed squarely at their assailant.]

[The incoming attack, with Lenna's aide is easy enough to avoid. Vaulting off of Casius's back, Rei lands several yards behind the Arcanine with bow in hand. No time to line up a shot, so she goes for a more obvious scare tactic: raw force. Raising a finger she calls up fire...a surging torrent of heat aimed squarely at the monstrous body of the assailant. A Flamethrower. And not to leave his trainer to fight alone, Casius snaps massive, flame coated jaws down on the bugs? leg, using Fire Fang]

Thanks Lenna! This thing...wow!

[ That's Rei looked after, but her opponent is hardly the only one of these things around. Holding tightly onto Gold, Haruka sends Rushing Wind the Pidgeot swooping down towards the second bug, trying to blow it away with a Whirlwind. Even if she only attracts its attention, that might be enough to let the others pass through...

These things are large. ] This can't be natural.

[Something was definitely up with the Pokemon. They looked like bug-types, but they were definitely way too big, and what was up with that over the top aggression?]

[He wheels his Altaria around, and makes sure to hold on tight.]

Hit one of them with a Sky Attack!

[Not about to keep out of the fight himself, he throws a Flamethrower attack at the third of the Pokemon while the Altaria gathers light around himself, preparing for a powerful attack.]

[The bug heading for Rei is hit with the Thunder Wave, slowing it down considerably but not keeping it from moving. As it misses its target when Rei leaps away, it changes its tactics to administer a Revenge on the Arcanine, as Casius bites down with a Fire Fang that causes the bug to wail out in a wretched roar of pain. The Flamethrower that hits the bug prior to its attack singes it badly, leaving a burn on Rei's target.

Whirlwind only causes the second bug to beat its wings with more force, slowing it a little but Rushing Wind now seems to have its attention as it turns on the Pidgeot, flying towards it to put it in a Vice Grip. It's hungry and it wanted bird meat today. It's never had Pidgeot before.

Feliks's Flamethrower hits the bug that was just trying to dine on its newly acquired Dodrio. It was happy, but the flames interrupt its dinner, sending it into a frenzy of anger, if not pain. It starts to charge at the nearest non-Dodrio target it sees, which happens to be Casius.]

((OoC: Targets are being RNG'd!))

[ ...They had to do this the hard way, didn't they. They couldn't just clear a path. Pointing Rushing Wind towards the sky, Haruka recalls Gold to the Warp Band and rolls off the Pidgeot, intending to hit the attacking bug with all the force of a Sky Drop.

Sorry, but her Pokémon aren't on the menu today. And it's kind of hard to catch up to the wind.

Rushing Wind, for her part, will wheel around to try and help Casius if it looks like she's in no danger of being trapped. The Arcanine appears to have gotten a lot of negative attention. ]

[Casius roars in anger as the bug hits him with Revenge, skittering backwards with a snarl before rushing forward towards his attacker. He's angry, now. Really, really angry, and as he surges towards the bug, he's beginning to flare up. Fire pours off him, a Heat Wave enveloping the insectile attacker.]

Casius! Look out!

[The other bug is farther away. And that gives Rei a chance to do something more about it. She pulls back her bowstring, a flaming arrow appearing as if conjured. It creaks as she lines up a shot, and then and releases it, along with her own willpower. The shaft streaks across the field, changing shape into the ancient symbol for Heaven, a Fire Blast that would hopefully send the creature looking for easier prey.]

[Unharmed for the time being, Lenna decides to keep doing what she's most comfortable with - playing support. Seeing that Haruka and her Pidgeot have matters well under control in the sky, she turns her attention to Rei's Arcanine, using an Aqua Ring to help it heal from the earlier attack.]

Alexander, help Casius!

[With a quick nod to its trainer, the Dragonite springs into action, flying over to try to intercept the latest attack on Casius. It does so with a high speed Dragon Rush on the bug that's about to attack it, hurling its mighty bulk headlong into the enemy.]

[Feliks had aimed at the third one impulsively, not quite realizing that it wasn't about to follow its companions into the fight at first. He feels pretty bad about it, actually -- but there's not really too much time to waste trying to calm it down, not with his companions and their Pokemon under attack. Maybe he could try and have Fryderyk sing that one to sleep?]

[But Fryderyk's already following his previous order -- glowing brightly, he unleashes his Sky Attack on the Pokemon that Haruka is fighting. Feliks concentrates his own firepower on the same one with a second Flamethrower, hoping to limit the number of targets they all have to focus on.]

[The bug facing off with Casius begins to lunge forward, but finds that its falling flat on its face soon afterwards when it suffers the effects of the Thunder Wave used earlier on it. It freezes up completely, and can't move a single muscle. The Heat Wave hits it head on, gargled wails of misery resounding from the bug itself. Its body seems to shimmer, and the wings fold back into its backside and disappear, leaving it face down in the dirt with only claws that twitch every so often. The pincers on its head seem to be following suit.

A wo(man)? crashes into the second bug as Haruka drops from Rushing Wind into it, sending it flying towards the ground. But not before its path is intercepted by Fryderyk, bashing it with a powerful attack to skid into the ground, kicking up dirt and the occasional shrub victim. The shrub community will never be the same, and will have to formulate an emergency plan in case this happens again in the future. And to add insult to injury, a Flamethrower torches it, leaving a burn on this opponent as well. It struggles to stand, but isn't out for the count yet as it preps itself with a Focus Energy.

The third suffers a similar fate, finding itself being slammed into by something much larger than itself, flying through the air as it connects with a Fire Blast that threatens to cook it alive. From a past life, or maybe a life it might of lived in an alternate universe, it has an image form in its mind of a giant shoe coming from the heavens and stepping on it before the fire attack lands. This is very stressful for it, a life or death situation, but now it can defend itself from its evil overlords. The big scary dragon hurt it less than the girl with the bow, so it turns towards the Dragonite and begins to Thrash.]

[With the attacks off of Casius, Rei darts to her companion's side and barks out an order. She knows he's about to rush off and start fighting again and she feels compelled to keep him held in check.]

Casius, stay here. Heal yourself with the move Mako-chan taught you last spring.

[The Arcanine whimpers a bit, but then uses Morning Sun to refresh itself. He already looks better as the healing power takes hold, too.]

Now.

[Rei takes aim with the bow again, lining up a shot at the one that's focusing it's energy. Unfortunately Haruka is in the way, and she's forced to abandon that course of action or risk spearing her senpai. So instead, she raises a hand to call up a Barrier around the Dragonite. Hopefully that takes some pressure off, bud.]

Alexander, be careful!

[The Dragonite is hit hard with Thrash, but thankfully Rei's Barrier helps to mitigate some of the damage. Concerned for her friend, Lenna prays for a moment and calls an Aqua Ring spell down on her friend to help him slowly regenerate some of that damage.

But if this is going to be a knock down, drag out fight, Alexander is ready for it. Taking the big bug on head on, he wheels around in midair to whip a Wing Attack its way, once again colliding head-on with the overgrown beetle.]

Keep fighting, everyone! They're almost exhausted!

Like I was gonna stop there?

Fryderyk, use sing on that one!

[The Altaria trills at him in mild confusion as he turns him towards the thrashing Pokemon -- that hadn't been interested in them at first -- but complies, filling the air with a clear, peaceful song. Feliks, seeing that Fryderyk has managed to knock the other remaining Pokemon out of the air, hops down to the ground when Fryderyk swoops low enough and rushes in to try and hit it with a Fire Punch attack.]

[This is the moment it's lived its entire buggy life for. A drawn out, all out brawl between itself and an opponent rushing with fists flying. It did not expect its opponent to have a fairy sparkle to it. But in the heat of the moment, that doesn't matter right now.

It's going for the kill.

It meets Feliks head on, pincers open wide to finish him off with a Guillotine. But the aim is off just enough, that crucial centimeter. This may of been due to the fact that as it ran at Feliks, it tripped on a rock, barreled over head over feet across the barren steppe before it found that its face connected solidly with the Fire Punch. Its eyes cross and then close as its hit backward, seemingly in reverse slow motion until finally it lands solidly on its back. It needs a minute to get up.

The other, seems to notice that something is making an infernal racket, as if something has wandered through this way before and put it to sleep with multiple marks on its face from a permanent marker. It moves away swiftly from the Sing, which unfortunately reaches Alexander's ears instead. But it still suffers a blow from the Wing Attack used- it doesn't get too far away, holding one of its arms as it bends over in exhaustion. Instead it chooses to prep with a Swords Dance, before it switches opponents to rush at Fryderyk to ensure that the song can never be sung again. It got so much crap from the last time it happened during its last hunting party, and it was humiliating.]

[Lenna calls Alexander back as she notices his eyes beginning to droop, bringing out her Jumpluff, Bartz, instead.]

Bartz! Finish it off before it can hurt Fryderyk!

[The happy little Jumpluff is all too eager to contribute, wafting gently in the breeze for a moment before taking off at truly maddening speed toward the last bug. Unburdened by the use of any sort of items, its Acrobatics attack is particularly devastating.]

Well this is just absurd.

[From up on her rock, Rei takes aim on the final bug and shoots off an attack. Casius joins in, a pair of Flamethrowers contemptuously cast at their assailant. Let's just...stop this idiocy.]

[ Haruka couldn't agree more.

Recovering from colliding full-force with a gigantic insect, she climbs to her feet and pounds the ground with Earthquake, boulders erupting everywhere. If it can't even focus on staying upright, it can't very well dodge all that fire, can it?

Rushing Wind just hovers overhead. The humans seem to have this well in hand! ]

[So much for letting that one off easy. Feliks tried, he guesses, but as bad as he feels about sort of provoking it into the fray, he's not about to let it hurt one of his friends.]

[As Fryderyk panics and tries to fly further away from whatever attack the Pokemon is preparing, Feliks rounds on it with one more Flamethrower.]

Edited 2015-11-22 03:54 (UTC)

[The Earthquake rumbles and causes the ground to crack open and send the one bug down into the depths of the earth, still injured and having difficulties recovering from its own mess up combined with a powerful fire attack that makes it wish it had attended the Fire Types and You: A Survival Guide class that was being held months and months ago. It falls into a crevice that opens and just...doesn't come back.

The last bug comes in with a Superpower as it catches up towards Fryderyk, though is simultaneously torched by several Flamethrower attacks that end up being far too much for it to handle. They save the pokémon from being slammed mercilessly into the ground, falling from the air as the wings seem to melt right into its back, reforming into a solid brown backside that now looks like it needs a heavy dose of aloe vera.

No more opponents remain- the Dodrio have successfully escaped their assailants, and the Rapidash got bored and went to try to find something to eat. But for now, they're staying far away from the party.

The group will notice that the boulder formation they had fought around is shaped somewhat in a circle, freshly imprinted Dodrio footprints and Rapidash hooves now cover what seems to have been an old campsite.]

[Lenna sighs as the battle ends, looking back at her companions.]

Is everyone all right?

[Because it's Aqua Ring healing time for anyone who isn't. She's fine, and Bartz is unharmed, but Lenna always makes sure to take care of her traveling companions. It's only a brief bit of healing, though, as the impetuous little Jumpluff takes off toward the campsite.]

Bartz, wait! Don't go alone!

[Lenna hops down after him, running in the same direction. It's only after a few moments that she notices what he's seen as well, and she picks up her pace as her heart leaps into her throat.]

...It's a campsite! Everyone, come on!

[ Haruka remains staring at that crevice for a moment longer, but sending anything down after the vanished bug seems like overkill. So, with one last glance over her shoulder, she turns to rejoin the party, Rushing Wind swooping down to alight on the nearest boulder.

When she reaches the campsite Haruka will kneel down by any detritus left from fires, holes that might have been made by pitched tents, etc, to try and get a sense of how long ago someone stayed here. It could be nothing, really. But there's only one way to find that out. ]

[With that dealt with, Rei makes sure Casius is in better shape, spraying a potion on his injury. Lenna's excitement, though, draws her away.]

A camp? Show me. Maybe I can get a psychometric impression.

[Using her Psychic side, she starts to sweep around, trying to sense any lingering impressions. Was this a one night stop? An extended camp? Had there been any strong emotions?]

[As the four of them approach the empty campsite, they'll find not much is left over. Whoever had been there last had been very spartan about their stay, and it couldn't of been long. One night at the most, before they'd moved on to wherever they were headed. The wood that lies in the makeshift fire pit hadn't even burned all the way, leaving half-scorched sticks. Not even logs, with as scarce as wood was out here, but just sticks.

Rei's sweep over the area will reveal a strong feeling of remembrance and separation, duty and love. Her psychic senses might even lead her to a small alcove, naturally carved out of one of the boulders where a lot of these impressions are coming from.

Inside, there seems to be something that shines from the shadows.]

[Lenna arrives at the camp in fairly short order, nervous with anticipation that she might finally find some sign of her father's presence in this place. She spends a bit of time looking at the fire as Rei is scanning the area.]

This can't be more than a day old...

[It isn't long, of course, before she notices what Rei is looking at. Walking over slowly, she comes up next to her friend, peering in toward the mysterious shiny object.]

Rei...? Did you find something?

[Rei starts following, slowly tracing steps as she does. Cautiously, she peers into the alcove.]

I think so. There's...a lot of impressions here, but here, look!

[Pointing to whatever's in the alcove, she gestures to Lenna.]

There's something here.

[ Haruka stands up and backs off to give the other women room to investigate. She positions herself on the perimeter of the campsite, looking out around them at the plains - just in case anything chooses to show up again. Best if she can take care of that stuff without disturbing the Detectives. ]

[Inside of the alcove, there's a helmet that rests. The metalwork will be familiar to Lenna, struck of the same mold of a set of armor she would recognize. The decorations match that of her family's crest, and inside is a letter. It's folded, the handwriting etched into it from a fine feather pen. It reads:

Dearest Lenna,

It pains me to have left you, and to have told you so little. Know only that I did so to protect you. My business in the east is not yet finished, and I cannot return home until I have laid my fears to rest. I regret that I cannot share the details of my quest, but I know my daughter, and I know you will come looking for me. To that end, I have left this message for you to find.

If this is the path you have chosen, I cannot stand in your way, but be aware that it will be dangerous. I look forward to the day we are able to reunite, and pray that the world is more peaceful when we do. If you wish to find me before I make my return - become strong, and follow me to the east. You hold the future of the Tycoon family in your hands, and I know you will not disappoint me.

Take care, and remember that I will always love you. I am so proud of everything you have accomplished, and everything you have become.

Sincerely,
Alexander Highwind Tycoon

The helmet is positioned to look farther east, off in the distance. There isn't an end to the steppe where they stood, and the man who'd left the clue for his daughter may still be traversing the land. Who's to say, because there's no clear trail, other than the helmet.]

[Lenna is dumbstruck at the sight of the helmet, her hands shooting up to cover her mouth as she gasps loudly and begins to tear up. Slowly, she makes her way toward it, lifting it gently and reverently from its perch and cradling it closely as the note flutters to the ground.]

F-father... did you leave this for me?

[Crouching down, she sets the helmet aside as she takes the note in hand and begins to read. As her eyes scan the page, the tears that had moments before been shimmering along the edges of her sight begin to flow freely, dripping down her face and onto the paper. She has to pause several times to compose herself and wipe them away, and finally she folds the note, holding it close to her heart and bowing her head with a wistful smile.]

He was here... he's still alive.

[Drawing in a deep breath, Lenna picks up the helmet once again and sets her sights to the east. Far across the steppe, and far beyond the range of the Warp Band even now.]

I won't stop looking, Father. I promise. I'll become strong, just like you said, and someday I'll find you.

[Rei stands aside, leaving Lenna to her investigation. It's a tearful sight, and she leans against Casius just to keep the psychic tremors of emotion from overwhelming her. Closing her eyes, she focuses, fixating on that sensation and trying to locate a trail, finding that it only leads her to one place. Further east.

Outside the range of their expedition.

That meant it would take another trek. Another journey on another day.]

Yes. We'll...help you. When the time comes, Lenna-san, we'll be there.

[He's alive.]

[He can feel an echo of his own relief in her words, the wound that has only just begun to heal in him, still tender and raw.]

[He comes near to stand by Lenna, reaching a hand down towards her shoulder.]

You're like, pretty strong already, you know that?

The world won't know what hit it. [ There was a message from her father? Haruka has never met the guy, but she does think he'd be proud of Lenna. The woman's basically Union incarnate.

Haruka keeps her distance - the others know Lenna better and thus are better-equipped to be there for her - but Rushing Wind lands and flutters her feathers with a happy trill. How wonderful for you! She and Trainer will support your search! ]

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The Day Will Come

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ah, sorry that this came kind of late tonight

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i just want you to know i rolled a 1 on the guillotine

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