[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

[makeitquick]

[ ... Snort. That was almost cute, and she can't help but think that in spite of herself. Melaka crouches to get more level with the both of them ]

So, you're hungry.

[reborn_love]

He's bringing a friend along. [It's not quite disapprovingly, but it's definitely uncertain.] I'll keep an eye on him. What does his friend bring to the table, sir?

[If she's certain of one thing, it's that someone isn't here unless Jade knows they should be.]

[antiseptic]

Or simply gluttonous.

[Jade takes a step closer, half-crouching besides Melaka and making the illusion vanish with a quick thought.]

But, if the two of you are hungry, we have some berries to spare.

[...All Pokemon like berries, don't they? Even the iron-eating ones. He refrains from using more illusions this time, instead reaching down into a pouch and carefully taking out a small handful of berries.]

[antiseptic]

Knowledge of iron, apparently. I'd prefer not to take him along, but I'm curious to see how Eren behaves around his friends.

[And also curious to see how well Elly can handle taking care of civilians.]

[bravenewmods]

[Both Pokemon chow down. While doing so, the Aron notices Melaka and trundles over to her, sniffing at her leg]

[makeitquick]

[ Oh. She has just been watching it but-- Oh. She glances down at the Aron. She's never been particularly empathic. So she has to wonder what the thing wants. She's in thicker boots and thicker pants (which limit her flexibility) but whatever. No idea what's interesting there... ]

What, no metal there.

[antiseptic]

[Jade almost casts another illusion of iron at Melaka's direction, but thinks better of it; this is a serious matter after all. He approaches the other Pokemon instead. A new species? Even if they won't help in the search for the mine, he'd still like to take it back to the Union to study.]

[Carefully, he activates his warp band, using a quick illusion to mask the beam of light it fires towards the Sandshrew.]

[bravenewmods]

[The Aron continues to sniff at Melaka, before nuzzling up to her leg and giving her a look that clearly says "food?"

As Jade activates his Warp Band, he gets a strong wave of emotion from the Sandshrew. In unison, he feels his own belly rumble in empathy with the Sandshrew's belly, which is also rumbling]

[makeitquick]

[ ... Food? Is that what it's asking? She doesn't have food. There's no metal on her boots or her person for that matter barring a few buttons and her axand - ... Well, there were berries. She too has rations too. And so with a sigh, she slips a hand into her jacket and pulls out three persim berries. she holds them out, a bit hesitantly, to the small lizard thing.

Fixated on this, she doesn't seen see what Jade's up to

[antiseptic]

[He can't hold back a wince as the hunger suddenly hits him, and pulls out another berry to give to the Sandshrew. He'd rather not use so much in case they encounter more Pokemon, but...]

[He also quickly directs a feeling of inquiry towards the Pokemon: why are you so hungry?]

[bravenewmods]

[The Aron starts snarfing and nuzzles up to Melaka's leg.

Meanwhile, as the Sandshrew eats, it sends back an answer.

"You try finding berries in a giant cave"]

[makeitquick]

... Sheesh. If an Aron's this hungry, there might not be metal here.

[ She says this somewhat bitterly (because it would be bad if this exploration was for nothing) but when he turns back to Jade to get his insights, she sees that his warp band is activated and oh. ... She glances back at the Aron at her leg and then looks at the warp band on her wrist. She's never bonded with any pokemon before. But this one is practically all over her. It's clearly stupid too - it let that rat thing ride on it. She is conflicted a while here, if she should even try to click the warp band active ]

[antiseptic]

[The connection won't hold for long, so he doesn't answer Melaka yet.

I see. He's glad it isn't something more sinister. Perhaps you'd like to move to another place, then? There are lots of berries where I come from.

And he conjures up an illusion of berries. Lots and lots of berries.]

[antiseptic]

[What's ahead is a long, long tunnel, with a few side paths. But at the end of the main tunnel is a faint glow and complete silence.]

[The group might feel strangely drawn towards the glow.]

[stardunes]

Okay, this could go either really well or really badly, but-

Star fumbles through Ondorus' backpack and pulls out a bag of...dried berries. Ondorus takes it, hesitates a moment, then opens it.

[reborn_love]

I'll keep him out of harm's way, then, sir. We could use the knowledge of iron, for certain.

[reborn_love]

Elly looked at Eren and shook her head, then looked at Ondorus. "It's... worth a try," she said. "If they start to go wild, I want us to take off the way we came, though, the moment there is an opening out from under them."

[outtahere]

[He smirks slightly.]

Naw, but if anything does eat me, I'm hoping it'll get the runs for a few days.

[outtahere]

[Banzu frowns and breaks his silence.]

We can't be near the surface, can we?

[outtahere]

[He'd rather not be treated like a piece of fine china, but he'd also rather not die. He attempts to shift topics a bit to not focus on himself.]

Assuming there's any iron here.

[antiseptic]

I doubt it. The tunnel has been leading quite steadily downwards.

[The sensation of being drawn towards the glow, more powerful than the curiosity he usually feels, has Jade instantly on alert.]

[He glances at the others.]

What do you think? Should we investigate?

[He has his own thoughts, but he'll keep them to himself for now.]

[antiseptic]

[He hefts up his pack.]

It's about time we started looking; it's the only way we'll know for sure.

[makeitquick]

Yeah, might as well. That's what we're here for - to see what's to see.

[ With her arms crossed, that is ]

[choseneutrality]

[Flynn silently nods his head in agreement with Melaka. Though to be on the safe side, he hardens his left arm so he can bring it up to defend him and everyone else in their group should something come at them in the shadows.]

[indy_wannabe]

"Oh boy."

Ezreal gave a long-suffering sigh.

"We better go find her before she gets into trouble."