[ACTION | Caverns Expedition Log]

[antiseptic]

Log Deputy: Rei antiseptic and Charles makeitquick
Participating Characters: Jade Curtiss, Imogen Moreno, Flynn, Chris Ramirez, Ezreal, Melaka Fray, William Flemming, Varun "Banzu" Elmas, Eren Jaeger, Armin Arlert, Elhaym van Houten (Elly), Ondorus Univir, Lux Crownguard...possibly more! Feel free to gatecrash the party at any time.
Plot Description: A group of intrepid explorers set out in search of an iron mine. Things probably don't go as expected.
Warnings/Notes: Possible violence?

QUICK LINKS: Pre-exploration mingling | Travel | Arrival at Caverns | Group 1 | Group 2 | Group 3

Overview:
At 6AM, the group will be meeting at the city gates, where there'll be some time for mingling and last minute emergencies before they set off.

The group will travel east through the Verdant Forest for around half a day before reaching the Caverns. It will be freezing with a few flurries of snowfall. Try not to get lost! Or disturb hibernating Pokemon, for that matter.

At the Caverns, Jade will split everyone up into three groups. Group 1 will consist of Elly, Eren, Armin, Ondorus, Chris. Group 2 will be Jade, Melaka, Banzu, Flynn. Group 3 is Imogen, Ezreal, Flemming, and Lux. These groups aren't fixed, and characters are free to protest and try move around! Ideally, each group will end up with at least 4 members just for safety's sake.

Aaand after that, the exploration begins! At first there'll be nothing but caves and tunnels, but it shouldn't take very long for that to change...


Misc notes: Feel free to go wild with thread-jacking! The mods recommend not strictly enforcing a post order since things will probably stall that way. Also, if anyone wants a random wild Pokemon bonding encounter going in the mountains during any of this, just respond to the Map post as usual!

If you need to ask any questions, the quickest way to get in touch with me will be through PMs.

Comments

[bravenewmods]

[The Onix seems on the verge of causing a cave-in now with how much it's thrashing about. Even if it doesn't manage to chow down on either Ezreal and Flemming, they are probably in sore danger of being bashed by an immensely heavy flailing Onix tail.

Ezreal is right; there isn't much....

time.

And like a switch has been flipped, the Onix suddenly stops moving entirely. The spike sits in Lux's hand - a foot long, bent in various places, and dulled from the years.]

[ladyofluminosity]

[As soon as she pulls it loose, she grabs on tight, expecting it to either buck her off or try to crush her against a wall. She sits like that, eyes closed tightly, body stiff... only to have nothing happen. Opening her eyes, she slowly sits back up, exhaling deeply.

Another potion sprayed over the wound, she tucks the spike in her bag out of sight of the Onix and starts to climb down.]

There, how does that feel? I'm sorry, I can't imagine how much that could have hurt.

[Once she reaches the ground, her legs gave out. Bracing on so tightly, along with the sudden drop of adrenaline literally knocked her on her backside.]

[for_realsies]

"You have been down here too long," Imogen keeps out of the way and lets it eat in peace. She's beginning to wonder where Ez and the others are, he's usually better at being prompt on a salvage run...

"Well, I'll make sure you're okay, you can trust me on that!" Imogen glances around as her new friend eats, "And part of why I wouldn't be able to get you home right away is I don't know the mountains well, I'd probably freeze to death and shatter up there. But, you can think it all over with me once we're out of these tunnels."

[indy_wannabe]

[Ezreal is watching a bit uneasily, just in case it decides to attack anyway.]

[antiseptic]

[yeah eren why would you want to work under this guy]

Well, that's a relief. [The whole situation with Eren's mysterious friend is strange. The blond boy looked scared, and Jade had to wonder if Eren had pressured him to go. But it's not really his place to inquire after their friendship, and he's still willing to give Eren a chance to prove himself. The Rangers were always on the lookout for competent Enlightened, and having a Shifter could be useful.]

I'll have to go see to some other people. Be ready to move out.

[And he'll turn to leave.]

[bravenewmods]

[The Onix remains motionless for a few moments after Lux gets off. Then... very slowly... it arches its body a few times. Stretches it to the left. Extends it to the right. Rolls it over.

....

Afterwards, it quickly flips back around to stare intently at Lux with a low growl. Ezreal and Flemming are once again ignored.

Human what did you do]

[makeitquick]

[ Oh, good. Well then, she will - she even smiles a little in spite of herself, eager for some action. Let's see what's on ahead. She almost hopes that it's something she can punch ]

[ladyofluminosity]

O-oh boy...

[Lux slowly starts to back away, before Camille, who until this point had been paralyzed with fear, gets between the two. She tries to keep her temper down as best as possible, but explains that her human probably just saved its life by taking that nasty thing out, and that it should be grateful!

Her human is a nice human, you see, and it doesn't matter what you look like--because you are not a looker, Onix--she will help you even if it kills her. So you best respect.

Lux watches silently, ready to flee with Camille at the drop of a hat.]

[bravenewmods]

Cubchoo finishes gulping down its frozen berries and considers Imogen's proposal with a grave expression on its face.

Then it toddles forward a few steps and wraps its chubby little arms around her foot.

This would be really cute except that it's a bit frigid to the touch.

[Imogen has successfully bonded with a Cubchoo! It is Level 15 but the remainder of its stats may be chosen at your discretion!]

[antiseptic]

His name is Eren. He's a Skarmony shifter, and he's expressed an interest in joining the Rangers.

[He glances around.] I don't see him here yet, but he should be coming with a friend. We'll be splitting up into groups once we reach the caverns and I'll assign him into your group.

[makeitquick]

Aron?

[ But they sound a little harder than that. She frowns too, reaching for a weapon at her waist - in this case a short sword ]

[for_realsies]

It sounds like a small little Pokemon is saying 'wee' over and over. And out of seemingly nowhere a little well groomed Eevee with hat, scarf, and vest on wanders into the cavern.

Brighteyes squeaks out a greeting for Lux and Ezreal, and twitches his left ear. There's a note tucked into the ear hole of his little knit cap.

Dear Ezzy and Lux,

It is rude to leave a girl waiting.

- Imogen Moreno, Delver.

P.S. I made a friend.

Brighteyes is standing right at the opening of the near invisible little cave Imogen had wandered down. His partner is off who knows where, but she was getting a bit bored waiting.

[bravenewmods]

[Camille will not be responded to for the most part although Onix still wouldn't say no to some Dratini Steak in its future. It is perfectly aware that it is missing a dull ache and a sharp pain every time it turned left that it thought would be there permanently.

But from the side, its tail slowly snakes back around towards Lux...

She looks tired.

It seems to be an invitation for her to get back on.]

[reborn_love]

Eren... I understand. [She looks down, thoughtfully, and nods her head.] Do you want me to judge what kind of fit he could be for the Rangers, sir?

[bravenewmods]

Suddenly, a Sandshrew comes flying by, riding on the back of an Aron running full tilt. They do not appear to notice you.

[ladyofluminosity]

[She looks at the tail, then back up at the Onix. Was it...

Slowly, Lux raised her arm with the warp band on it, which began to glow. She smiled.

Would you like to come with us, then?]

[antiseptic]

Indeed. [For a moment, he wonders if he ought to tell Elly what he's observed about Eren's behaviour, but dismisses the idea. She had to learn to draw her own conclusions.]

Keep an eye on his friend too. He's the only one here I haven't had a chance to speak with, and I'm afraid I have no idea if he'll be able to handle himself.

[stahlflugel]

Yessir. Thank you, sir.

[Eren glares at Jade's back when he turns. But now, in true shounen fashion, he's even more determined to prove himself]

[makeitquick]

"What."

She wasn't even ready to fight something like that. That was just absurd.

[bravenewmods]

[Onix is way too cool to play along with this smiley friendship bullcrap please. It growls again, a noise the Warp Band will help interpret as 'humph', then scoops up Lux and slowly turns to progress the tunnel.

Lux has successfully bonded with Onix! It is Level 17 but the rest of its stats may be chosen at your discretion.]

[antiseptic]

[He casts an amused glance at Melaka.]

Well, you were partially correct.

[Now comes the question of how to proceed. Having the guidance of Pokemon would be helpful, but they'll have to attract their attention first.]

[Quickly, he focuses, throwing up an illusion of a solid wall of stone in the Pokemons' path in an attempt to get them to turn back.]

[bravenewmods]

[The Pokemon come screeching to a halt. They then look at Jade reproachfully WHY DID YOU DO THE THING HUMAN!?]

[makeitquick]

You even know what the mouse looking thing is?

[ She has never seen one of those before in her life - and in spite of herself, she's actually very curious. After all, you don't see something riding an aron all the time either. She puts aside her weapon to better just look at them ]

[antiseptic]

[He shrugs helpfully, both at Melaka and the Pokemon. Now that he had the Pokemons' attention, he allows the illusion to fade away.]

My apologies for disturbing you, but we're in need of some guidance. Would you two know where we can find iron?

[He conjures up an image of iron ore just to show what he means. All the while, he's busy trying to think of what he can use to charm the Pokemon to their side.]

[bravenewmods]

[The Pokemon both stare at the image for a bit, then the Aron shuffles forward and attempts to eat it. It looks very betrayed when its teeth go through it.]