[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

[for_realsies]

You were a lot more talkative before I spoke back. Something on your mind?

*Imogen is many things, but she's rather hard to intimidate. In fact, she now interested.*

How often have you been on the other side of the wall?

[tinytactician]

I've heard it's amazing. P-Provided one is cautious, because it's also extremely dangerous.

[Armin says this hastily, to make it sound very much like he isn't full of longing to see the Old City himself. Which he totally is. Of course.

And then he sighs, fidgets, hugs his Ralts a little closer. Clearly trust is sort of an issue for him.] I know that....

[tinytactician]

[Watch them be gone for days and end up fretting and annoying everyone. Armin sort of...fidgets now.]

He...no, he had a meeting. He thinks I'm at home. Studying. I...may have told him that I was.

[for_realsies]

It's great at night. But I can safely travel in the dark. I could probably show you some of the safer areas. Talk it out with the locals.

*Imogen smiles, still polite and a little playful.*

I'm Imogen, my way wouldn't help you too much. But finding your own way should work.

[stahlflugel]

[Eren, in skarmory form, nods] Right. [he sets Blitz down on the ground, and the Eevee protests loudly. Eren rolls his eyes and speaks to him in Pokémon language;] It'll be good for you to get some training. And, you know. WALK. On your own. For once.

[the little eevee puffs up, then huff indignantly and trots off after Elly. Eren turns to look at Armin] Stay with me, ok?

[stardunes]

[Ondorus edges a little closer to the core of the group. He's at a huge disadvantage here, and he can practically feel it; if Star's deathgrip on his head is anything to go by, she can too. The two of them form a conduit, the Ralts sensing emotion in the area and Ondorus reading Star's thoughts to detect hostility from nearby wild Pokemon.

It requires a decent amount of focus. Luckily, producing light doesn't; a soft gleam spills from the man's cupped hands before him, not quite bright enough to see into every crevice by but dim enough to avoid startling any roosting Zubat. It's the least a noncombatant can do for the Rangers of the group.]

[stahlflugel]

[sometimes it's even more comforting to have something potentially dangerous nearby. Something dangerous, but not dangerous to you]

Yeah. We're looking for stuff the engineers can smelt to make iron and steel! Apparently the Delvers've picked the Old City clean. [Eren doesn't really believe that, but... hey...]

[ladyofluminosity]

Did you at least leave a note?

[tinytactician]

[Oh look, a fellow Ralts. Meredith, who is being princess-carried like the fancy beastie it is, will wave cordially at it's brethren. Armin, on the other hand, is radiating stress while simultaneously trying to not eavesdrop on anyone else's emotions. It takes basically all his attention, so he's going to be even quieter than usual.]

[tinytactician]

....I probably ought to have done that, huh.

[stahlflugel]

[He turns when he hears the familiar voice] Ah! Sir!

[he looks away, lowering his head and neck sheepishly] S-sorry. I had to go pick up Armin.

[outtahere]

Not since I was a kid.

[While his childhood isn't something he's in the mood to discuss right now, he's not about to overstate his abilities.]

Splinter encounter - for Ondorus and Armin. The rest of the group may assist as desired

[bravenewmods]

As the first group moved through the tunnels, suddenly, an ear-splitting roar pierced the quiet, echoing through the caverns. A second, answering roar came moments later. They were on either side of the group, and the combined effect was nigh deafening.

[outtahere]

[Banzu stays second-last in their marching order and moves cautiously, but not cautiously enough that he'll slow the group down; just because he's effectively a noncombatant doesn't mean he's going to allow himself to be The Load. Spur-Mesh, his Klink, doesn't have any problems as it floats along behind him, gears softly grinding away.]

[ladyofluminosity]

[Armin...]

It's probably too late now. I'm sure it will be all right.

[tinytactician]

How angry do you think he'll be?

[tinytactician]

Ohhhhh Savior help us, they're all gonna die, they're gonna get eaten and they're gonna die and be dead and die and Armin's never going to learn to play the violin or write a novel or learn how to speak Oddish they're just gonna get eaten and die.

But first he's going to cling onto the nearest person who -- yep, it's Ondorus, awesome, hello complete stranger and fellow snack.

[ladyofluminosity]

I don't know? I've been told that things might get dangerous, but if we're careful we should be okay. I think as long as you come back in one piece, he can't be too mad.

[She doesn't sound very confident.]

[antiseptic]

Oh, I don't know, it could be quite helpful if you were to fall asleep...

[antiseptic]

[Jade continues to smile, perfectly bland and polite.] That's the friend you mentioned, I assume? The "huge nerd", as you put it?

[antiseptic]

[Jade pops up suddenly like the Ghost-type he is and cuts in:]

Banzu's main task here will be to identify iron. The rest of us are here to ensure nothing disturbs him in his work.

[In other words: protect Banzu.]

[antiseptic]

Jade heads over immediately as soon as he spots the wagon, ready to organize the distribution of the items, but stops once he notices Zarvora. He smiles courteously, nodding a greeting. "Hello, Zarvora. How nice of you to come see us off."

Although he personally doubts her motives are so simple - it's likely she's checking to see if the group he had called together is adequate.

[stardunes]

...Well, it's not like Ondorus is any less startled and terrified; if Armin were any taller, he'd probably be clinging too. As it is, he just...goes rigid and puts his hands on Armin's head in a gesture that might have been soothing if he clearly wasn't freaking out all the same. Star's clinging to Ondorus' head also intensifies. Panicked group hug all around, here.

With Ondorus' Ralts trying to sense nearby emotion (...over the kernel of terror going on here) and him getting images of what she's sensing via his contact telepathy, they may be able to sense presences if they aren't too far away. Anything to see yet?

[reborn_love]

I feel like that could make keeping my eyes open for everyone a little hard, sir.

[reborn_love]

[Elly leads the way -- or more accurately, Vierge does ahead of her, snaking ahead. The Dratini looks around, alert, before it keeps moving. Elly glances at her, then over her shoulder. A Shifter, and two people who may not be able to fight -- and an Eevee.]

[Which is adorable. And she wants one. Things she can think about later.]

[She looks at Eren and Armin, first.]

You're both with the Guard, correct? [A glance at Ondorus, too. She isn't sure who he's with.]