[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

[indy_wannabe]

"I know I know!" Ez says. "This is bad, Im, can you talk some sense into them? Or at least identify their leaders so we can knock them out and take charge?"

[for_realsies]

"That is a terrible idea to say so loud everyone hears it," Imogen frowned as she tried to put her mind into an idea that might work. She wasn't really any use in a fight against either. But...

"Both sides, pick a champion! If you all fight nobody gets this cavern as you'll destroy it along with each other!" Imogen spun around so she could say this to both sides at once, or as best she could manage. She hoped this would work out even if technically both sides had a way to attack the other effectively. "But if you have a champion fight for each side, with me to heal both fighters when done, we can decide this in a way with more control. No cave-ins."

"If the ice types win they can find a place in the caves and you two will stop fighting. The locals win, then we will escort the ice types to the surface," and Imogen hopes the ice types win because she literally has no plan after this. She's running out of moves to use. "Is that fair to both sides?"

NPC

[antiseptic]

Flemming will notice a few tunnels branching out of the cavern if he's looking around for an exit. Most of them are lined with stalactites that would prove dangerous if a cave-in were to occur, but a few - including the one they had emerged from - should be safe.

Luckily for Ezreal, the Pokemon can't really understand non-Kindred Souls, and besides most of them are focused on Imogen. A feeling of confusion floods the room when she's done. Champions? What are they?

But once they understand, the rock types are happy to comply. They only want the intruders out of their cave, so both outcomes are favourable for them, even if they'd prefer their foes to be as far away from them as possible.

The ice types, however, are much more reluctant, even panicked. A few protest loudly, We can't go back up there!

[for_realsies]

"We won't send you back to the mountaintops, we'll take you with us out the way we arrived. The climate won't be as... cold, but we can try to find you a place, at least temporarily, until something can be done in your home to make it safe again."

Imogen had no idea where this would be, and the high mountains, as bad as Coldwave seemed to think, were not a place for anything less than an experienced ranger. Something Imogen wasn't, in any way, capable of handling herself or with a team. But there has to be some place they can work out a deal to keep the ice types safe for the time being.

[antiseptic]

The ice types chatter among themselves for a moment. While they do so, the cave Pokemon elect a large, sturdy Aron to act as their champion.

Reluctantly, the ice types finally agree, sending a Swinub out to face the Aron. The two stare at each other, then without any warning, launch themselves forward and begin to fight. The Swinub is sent reeling back by a Metal Claw, but quickly recovers, using its ground abilities to make the floor shake and sent the Aron stumbling.

The stalactites overhead begin to wobble dangerously again, disturbed by the force of the Swinub's attack.

[makeitquick]

Anyone else figure what's up with these things?


[ The Nosepasses. And even if it's dumb, she now lightly kicks one of the ones near them. They haven't reacted to anything else ... ]

[ladyofluminosity]

Lux quickly looks back up toward the ceiling of the cave. She saw that, and immediately looked back toward Imogen. This was her plan, but it certainly wasn't looking like a very good one, in retrospect. She was the only one who could really communicate with them properly, she should probably say something to prevent the cave from coming down on all of them.

[myfedorarocks]

He'd noticed that the way they had come seemed safe enough. It might be enough to even bring the Ice types with them if they had to, but how could Union take in so many pokemon? It was better to find out what had happened to them in the first place, but now he was watching the state of the cave, hoping that it wouldn't cave in on both them and the pokemon.

"You have to tell them to stop!" he hisses, pointing to the precarious stalactites.

[antiseptic]

[He frowns, still unwilling to reveal his findings when he isn't completely sure, but they're getting nowhere like this, and it may be impossible to locate the cave again if they do wind up getting lost in the labyrinth tunnels of the Caverns.]

It's strange. Look at them - all of them are pointing in the same direction.

[outtahere]

You're right. What do you think it means?

[antiseptic]

I'm afraid I can't be sure. It could be nothing. Or it could be a sign of some sort.

[antiseptic]

While the group is busy discussing it, the Swinub causes the ground to shake again, finally throwing the Aron completely off-balance and sending it toppling to the ground with a loud clang.

[for_realsies]

"Hold!" Imogen hopes that they listen to her, even if she can't properly heal an Aron like she would hope. Moving forward, but keeping track of where all the danger spots of rockfalls are. She'll step away if the Aron confirms it's desire to continue, "Aron, are you done?"

She really hopes the display of fair play on both sides will help... dull the fact they were both ready to kill each other. She also hopes they'll call things off now, so that the ceiling doesn't crash down.

"Now would be a great time for any of you to come up with a better plan..." Imogen mumbled to the rest of the group, as she'd gotten it down to two Pokemon fighting which is probably why there was still a ceiling.

[indy_wannabe]

I say whoever wins we beat the crap out of and then order them both around.

[antiseptic]

The Aron rolls around on the ground, waving its tiny feet helplessly as it tries to regain its footing. Finally, it gives up and surrenders, to the noise of much booing from its fellows.

[for_realsies]

Imogen shoots the crowd a glare, then moves over to try to heal the injured champion. Imogen held her hand out, letting the pink fairy light wash over the steely Aron. "Hold still, this will take more work because you're made of steel. I'm sorry."

"Coldwave, could you tell the others from the mountaintops where you were, I am sure they can find the way and it'll be far enough everyone will be peaceful," Imogen didn't turn from her charge as she listened for the sound of a scurrying polar bear and her chattering to the Swuinub champion. She turned back to the Aron "You were very brave. I'm sorry you had to fight, but it was better than the cave coming down on all of your friends."

And my friends, but Imogen didn't add that out loud.

[antiseptic]

The Swinub champion is very grateful, and promises that they'll return back to the mountaintops as soon as the blizzard blows over, and that if the humans should ever go that way, they'll have their assistance.

While Imogen heals the Aron, it remains quiet. But once she's done, it asks, You'll take the intruders far away from this cave?

[for_realsies]

"There's a section of tunnel behind us, about... right, our paces aren't the same. Anyway, it's colder down there and more like their mountaintop." Imogen didn't offer to help the Aron up unless it asked it of her. She did heal him but it had its pride to consider, and the eyes of its kin were on them. "It has a direct path to the surface, they won't have to come back through here again."

Imogen didn't know how long the storm would last, she hadn't even seen it and she lacked the senses for telling how that would work, "The storm should pass, all storms do. Just... try to keep your distance till then? These are your caves, but that's my advice on the matter. If you want it?"

[antiseptic]

It closes its eyes tiredly. That's good enough. Thank you for your help...is there anything we can do for you in return?

[for_realsies]

"We are down here with a purpose. We need iron ore, stone richer in metal than most?" Imogen sighed and did her best to explain the situation the city was facing, in a way that the pokemon would understand. "Since we're not quite as durable as you and yours, our homes must be strengthened. And tools made. I don't suppose you know where there is any, any you do not need?"

[antiseptic]

It has to think about that for a moment. Yes, we know a place with lots of food. Iron.

After a bit of effort, it gets itself upright, still not looking at its fellows. I can take you there.

[ladyofluminosity]

Well that was more than a little bit nerve wracking. Not realizing that she had been holding her breath, Lux exhaled deeply once the fighting and, by association, the shaking, subsided. She looked toward Imogen. "What did it say? Does it know where to find any?"

[choseneutrality]

Should we follow it?

[for_realsies]

"Thank you." Imogen dusts herself off and stands, also keeping her eyes away from the other cave dwellers. She turned her attention to Lux when she could, without being rude.

"Yes, it's what Aron's eat," this complicated matters slightly, as now they couldn't take every scrap of ore home. But they could make something work. She hoped, and if anyone on the expedition had the idea to try she would teach them a lesson on rudeness. "We'll figure something out."

IRON MINE DISCOVERY...? (backdated to the 24th)

[antiseptic]

[The Aron leads Imogen's group swiftly through the labyrinth tunnels of the Caverns, heading deeper and deeper down. It seems unsettled, skittish, but it's still a good guide and it isn't long before they reach a craggy opening that the Aron says will open into the mine.]

[At the same time, Jade's group finds themselves following the tunnel that the Nosepass point at. Although long and winding, there are no other tunnels branching off from it, and it isn't long before they arrive at the same opening as Imogen's group does.]

[Before anyone can speak, however, the whole mountain seems to shake. Sharp snapping sounds and dull roars echo through the whole area as the ground splits open and the shaking disturbs the rock, causing entire tunnels and caverns to cave in. Behind them, the entrance to the mine crumbles and disappears.]

[But there's no time to worry about the loss of their objective, not when staying inside the Caverns may mean that they'll be caught in the destruction of the earthquake.. They have to leave - now.]