Dungeon Crawling

[antiseptic]

Log Deputy: Void
Participating Characters: Jade Curtiss, Chester Barklight, Cress Albane
Plot Description: Going deep down into the depths of the Old City to search for powerful Pokemon
Warnings/Notes: Possible violence?

[There have always been rumours floating around that tell of highly dangerous Pokemon lurking in the Old City, just waiting to ambush unsuspecting Delvers. Someone somewhere decided it was high time to investigate, which is why Jade finds himself down in his least favourite place in the world, along with a possibly-suicidal Ranger and his best friend, who didn't even happen to be a Ranger.

It's a rather annoying situation, to put it mildly.

It takes a lot of walking (and a few circuitous paths; Jade doesn't want them venturing anywhere near his old laboratories) before they finally venture deep enough into the Old City that they're in an area all but unexplored by people from the Union. Jade raises his lamp high, trying to take stock of their surroundings.]

I'm sure there's no need to tell the two of you to be cautious.

Comments

[aniiue]

Yes sir.

[It's a little odd for him to be so complacent about pecking order, but the ominous feeling was putting him on edge. He keeps an eye on whatever might be behind them. He swallows and grips his bow.]

Everything's fine so far, Cress try to listen for anything... I can't hear anything at all, aren't there any Pokemon in here?

[90sbangs]

[If only they where on a water based mission he could brought Vorpal..] Right..

[He tries to listen for any sounds, anything at all.. worried about his teammates and Pokemon. Flamberge wasn't as strong as Gungnir.. and she was taking the lead -- Cress wouldn't forgive himself if something happened to her, so he's ready to bolt in her direction.

The Charmeleon keeps alert, walking closer and closer to Jade in fear. She tried to stay brave but the darkness and danger of their situation keeps her straying form the very front.]

[bravenewmods]

[As the group moves, the sound of heavy footfalls suddenly echoes through the mansion. It's a slow, methodical pace and it's coming closer]

[antiseptic]

[Despite their attempts to be quiet, the group is still making noise as they move through the mansion, and it takes Jade a few seconds to realize that there are sounds of footsteps that are not their own. Even then, he can't be completely sure. He down even further, but doesn't come to a complete stop, not wanting to alert whoever (or whatever) it is that their presence had been detected.]

[Hushed:] Do you hear that?

[aniiue]

[Toryuu is probably the first to notice, feeling the vibrations of the heavy footsteps under his feet. He looks at Jade's Sandshrew in worry but presses on when no one else stops. Chester nods to Shuu'u and the Pidgeotto flies up to rest on one of the ledges in waiting, to attack from above in surprise if necessary.]

It sounds big...

[90sbangs]

[Cress pulls out his sword he's armed with, Honedge by his side, watching his back.] -But where? [Eye's shifting back and forth, Charmeleon backing up towards the group.. timid and even a little frightened.]

[bravenewmods]

[The narrow hallway opens up into a staircase. There are two doors on the left. The heavy footfalls have ceased, for now at least.]

[antiseptic]

[It's probably for the best that Charmeleon doesn't stray too far ahead. He gives her a nod and a reassuring smile as she returns. Even if he isn't particularly empathetic, he still knows the value of keeping morale up.]

[But his smile fades quickly. The sudden quiet doesn't bode well - a surprise attack could be coming. Although he's curious about the rooms - how had they managed to avoid crumbling into ruin? - if an attack is coming, then it's best not to be caught in a confined space.]

[Which leaves going up the staircase, or continuing to search through the ground floor.]

I'd prefer to avoid going into the rooms for now. [As usual, he doesn't explain his reasoning. With a cheery smile entirely inappropriate for the situation, he continues.] I'll let the two of you to decide what our next course of action should be.

@void pidgeotto can totally get hurt or whatever if something's up there!

[aniiue]

Going upstairs is probably a bad idea. We don't know if the floors are stable or not.

[Chester looks back up at his Pidgeotto, voiced hushed.]

Go upstairs and have a look, but come right back.

[Brave bird that he is, Shuu'u gives them all a salute and heads upstairs....]

[90sbangs]

Gah, Chester.. Do you really thinking that's a good idea to let Shuu go alone? [Trying to walk over to the staircase quietly, looking up with Honedge by his side. The floating sword Pokemon fixated on the darkness above.]

Gungnir.. don't go far, but keep an eye on Shuu.

[The Ghost-type is very used to dark soundings. That one big eye peering around looking for the bird.]

[bravenewmods]

[Shuu, upon reaching the top of the stairs, notes a glint in the rubble - it appears to be an old, lost disc. A Technical Machine.]

[antiseptic]

[Duskull doesn't go after Shuu'u, but he hovers just above their heads, flying in restless circles and trying to catch a glimpse of the floor above.]

[Jade waits patiently, alert as always, straining to hear any of the footsteps again. There's no point asking when Shuu'u will be back - they'll simply have to wait.

[aniiue]

[The Flying Type sees the glint and flutters down to get it. Picking it up carefully in his beak, he looks around the dark hallway before flying back downstairs to give the disc to Chester. He takes it and looks at it curiously.]

This...? Wasn't there anything else?

[90sbangs]

[Honedge also returns, going to Cress's side.] Apparently so.. [He's never used a Technical Machine before, wonder what move it could be?] These things are like Pokemon moves you can teach them, right?

[Personally, he's forgotten all about those footsteps form before.]

[bravenewmods]

[From the door on the right just adjacent to the team, they hear the sound of rattling bars]

[antiseptic]

[Jade was about to ask to examine the TM when the noise of rattling bars makes him stop short, his head tilting slightly as he tries to make out the sound more clearly and perhaps figure out what had caused it.]

My my, this place certainly seems haunted.

[He sounds disturbingly cheerful.]

[aniiue]

It's probably just a Ghost Pokemon. Right?

[For the meantime, Chester puts the TM in his Ranger kit and turns toward the sound. He's trying hard not to seem spooked by the noise and the odd surroundings...]

Toryuu, be ready with Sand Tomb if something comes flying out.

[90sbangs]

[Cress knows Ghost Pokemon rather well, trust him on this one. Looking over to his Honedge knowingly.]

Flamberge, no matter what comes flying use Ember. [Reassuring the shivering Charmeleon her orders, simple.. He'll try and keep an eye on everyone. Bracing in a stance, his Pokemon as ready as they could be.]

[bravenewmods]

[The rattling continues more forcefully for a few moments and then stops. The group hears heavy footfalls moving away from the position.]

[antiseptic]

[Placidly:] Perhaps so. But we won't know until we open the door, will we?

[The footsteps are troubling, especially since they seem quite solid for a Ghost type. Jade fervently hopes they aren't about to run into a Dark type instead; he's quite weak to their moves.]

[His Pokemon don't need any instructions. Sandshrew moves to stand next to Toryuu, while Jigglypuff and Duskull both hang back, ready to act as backup. After one last glance to make sure everyone is in position, Jade swiftly opens the door.]

[bravenewmods]

[The footfalls stop and the team finds themselves face to face with a bizarre Pokemon. It looks a bit like a blue Pokemon but it's clearly, visibly warped. Different. Most notable is its bulbous, distorted head and razor-sharp fangs. It is on the other side of some prison bars, and when it sees you it hurls itself at the bars, grasping and pushing on them with great strength. The bars, somehow, hold it back, but it clearly wants at the team. It emanates a palpable aura of fear around it, and despite the bars somehow holding something about it screams of a ferocious power and a hunger for human flesh.

[aniiue]

[Chester stares, his grip faltering on his bow before he fires without thinking. The arrow goes right through the bars, aiming for the ... Pokemon's head. Huffing out a breath, he stepped back.]

We should go!

[90sbangs]

[Even Chester is ready to flee.. and Cress hasn't ever been one to stay stubborn over taking well needed advice. Keeping a close eye on Flamberge. If any Pokemon was needed, it was this one, without her things would grow extremely hard to see and with something this terrifying (whether a ghost Pokemon or otherwise--) they had no room for error.

Charmeleon... she wasn't the fastest Pokemon.] Agreed. [Keeping an eye on her.. ready to call her back if needed.. they needed her but not if she couldn't keep up. Safety is what Cress wants for his team..]

[antiseptic]

[The appearance of the Pokemon had caught him by surprise, but it takes him less than a second to recover.]

No. [Jade's voice is strong and firm, especially considering their current circumstances. His Ghost-enhanced spear materializes in his hand.]

Our objective is to search for powerful Pokemon. There's no sense in leaving as soon as we find one. Besides, it looks quite secure behind the bars.

[He's more concerned about who has put the bars there, to be honest. Someone able to subdue this Pokemon and trap it must be powerful indeed...]

I don't suppose either of you can communicate with it?

[aniiue]

[Chester grits his teeth, squaring his shoulders before he nods.]

... Yes sir. And no sir, I don't have that ability. You should've asked Jaeger to come along.