[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

[myfedorarocks]

[He doesn't need to be told twice. He starts to back away slowly, Edwin also giving the Onix a wide berth.

When he speaks, it's very, very quiet.]

Anyone here good with Rock types?

[bravenewmods]

[The Onix eyes the group of humans. There is the vague sense that it is wondering if three of these creatures stacked up inside its gut would fit - about 15 feet of food total maybe it would be alright.

...No too much extra protein in its diet think of the indigestion

......Maybe just one human.

Onix smoothly emerges from the wall and a deep rumbling noise emerges from its mouth as it advances. It doesn't seem to be upset about being disturbed more than it is interested in the novelty.

The humongous head swings down and snorts a cloud of dust into Lux's face.]

[ladyofluminosity]

[Camille just about faints, her little Dratini life flashing in front of her eyes.

Lux... somehow holds her ground, sliding back a little, closing her eyes tightly, trying not to tremble. She takes a breath, slowly opening them again, swallowing hard, mustering up as much confidence as she can.]

We are only passing through. Looking for iron... We do not mean you any harm...

[She defaults back to her flowery speech patterns, because oh goodness she's gonna get eaten by a giant rock thing. Maybe if the others could get away in time...]

[indy_wannabe]

[While this is happening, Ez signals to Flemming to go around as he starts to edge to the side. If it attacks, they will flank it while it's focused on Lux and take it down before it has a chance to do any harm.]

[myfedorarocks]

[He follows orders, praying that Edwin is going to hold his ground. As strong as the little guy is, he's a pebble compared to the Onix. There's no way either of them could take on such a large creature.

Fortunately, his partner is silent as Flemming moves, hoping this would end without Lux or anyone else getting killed.]

[bravenewmods]

[Onix's eyes flicker to the other humans as they begin to move before its attention returns to Lux and the Dratini. It seems supremely unconcerned about what the humans are doing, having lived its entire life as the primary predator of the mountains.

It seems to be considering something. Its tail casually flicks to one side as it thinks, smashing into the wall and creating more rumbling that reverberates up and down the tunnel wall.

If Ezreal and Flemming aren't knocked off their feet, though, and as they move around to its side, they may notice something interesting about this particular Onix. Halfway up, there is a large, steel spike driven between the rocks that comprise its body.]

[tinytactician]

Armin is sort of blind on what precisely is going on, but he has the vague impression -- from the mixture of poutiness, rage and petulance he's getting from the Steelixes -- that there really isn't any need to be too frightened. It's not that serious.

Also a craving for berries. Weird. "...what provisions did everyone bring?"

Splinter Thread - For Imogen

[bravenewmods]

((Sorry about the wait! Apparently notifs don't show up when a thread is screened.))

Almost as soon as Imogen enters the cave, her superb night vision will note an offshoot of the tunnel leading off to one side - it's impossible to see under normal lighting conditions as it's hardly more than a crack in the wall.

Her companions are about to find themselves in imminent danger, but what is of greater concern, of course, is the fact that if she listens carefully, there comes the faint sound of something... sniffling?

[ladyofluminosity]

[Lux winces deeply, suddenly very much aware that they were underground with a creature that could very easily bring the roof down on them.

Seeing Ezreal and Flemming start to flank the Onix, she hold up her hand to stop them. She wasn't entirely sure it even wanted to attack.]

...Have you seen humans before? Things like us?

[She uses her free arm to point to herself.]

You probably haven't, have you?

[antiseptic]

[The slope grows even steeper. Jade comes to a careful stop, motioning for Melaka to come closer.]

Melaka, take point.

[It'll be a good chance for her to begin proving herself. Their journey had been uneventful so far, but he won't be surprised if that changes soon.]

No worries on the wait.

[for_realsies]

Imogen knows Ez can keep the others out of trouble without her, and the whole reason to bring someone like her is to see what the others couldn't. So she can explore on her own a little while without too much trouble, she trusts the others to not die while she's exploring. As that sort of thing is very rude.

"Hello there," Imogen's voice is light as she moves, enough to alert this... sniffly thing to her presence but not to shock or scare it, "If you're not too busy, would you come out and say hello. Maybe you can help me out here?" She didn't advance quickly, and she made sure she had room to move. If the local was a bit rough around the edges, and not quite so keen on visitors. Not everyone in these caves were nice.

[outtahere]

[That's actually never come up since they've met. Spur-Mesh is level 5 though, which implies some experience. Banzu looks over his shoulder at the Klink, whose rotation speed and direction rapidly change a few times before returning to normal. He looks back at Jade.]

Looks like a "yes". Never seen 'em have to though.

[antiseptic]

Ah, but we've seen some quite remarkable Pokemon already, haven't we? It doesn't seem too impossible to me.

[antiseptic]

Then let's hope it'll continue to not be necessary for him to demonstrate.

[But it's good to know that Banzu will have some measure of protection.]

[indy_wannabe]

Hey Lux, we may need you for this. This Onix has a steel spike in it, you've got medical training, if you can calm it down and remove it we might be able to get it to back down.

[antiseptic]

And you'll be looking after him, I presume?

[bravenewmods]

The sniffling stops. There is the sound of rocks scattering as if something is attempting to scramble away.

The crack opens up almost immediately into a narrow tunnel sloping upwards. It's a bit cooler than the one the group had initially set off on - if Imogen glances up, she may find that it narrows so much that it's almost impossible for someone of her size to proceed.

The tunnel is quiet.

Until another sniffle comes from the corner.

[myfedorarocks]

I wonder how it came to have such a thing stuck in it.

It couldn't have been deliberate, could it?

[outtahere]

Yeah, but we'll prolly run into something that wants to eat us.

[What, isn't Jade going to be defending him? :> ]

[for_realsies]

"I'm sorry! I don't mean any harm. I promise." Imogen inspected the tunnel, then took two big steps back. She didn't want to crowd the tunnel in case this thing was still freaked out. She dropped to a crouch to make herself less intimidating, and held her hands up in a classic 'I'm not dangerous' gesture.

"But I would really like to talk to you, this is your home after all, and I just want to visit and find things. Things you probably don't even want. Is that okay?"

[bravenewmods]

[Nope. Totally hasn't. It's unfortunate that their Kindred Soul is otherwise occupied at the moment as it will be difficult to communicate fully in the absence.

But the Onix certainly seems to understand what they're saying - it stiffens up the moment Ezreal speaks and rapidly whirls about, thrusting its head towards the man in a belligerent motion. There is to be no touching of steel spikes. None.

Conveniently this means its hindquarters are now closer to Lux.]

[antiseptic]

His own expression is just as carefully neutral, but his tone is amiable as he agrees. "Indeed it could be. But, we should have a diverse range of talents to combat anything that surprises us."

Truth to be told, he's wary of taking so many non-combatants and people without field experience, but the Rangers had already provided all the people they could spare for this mission.

[ladyofluminosity]

[It was hurt? The sudden shift in behavior only further solidified it and, quickly riffling through the medical pack and plunking a few things out, she took a deep breath and began to climb.

Any thoughts of fear were far from her mind at this point; she was far too focused on helping this Onix. Scaling up its back, sitting herself on one of the stony mid-sections and wrapping her legs around it for extra support, she chose to use one of the potions first to help ease the pain.]

Hold still, I promise I won't hurt you! This will be all over in a minute!

[Bracing on, she grabs the spike, pulling with all her might.]

I am so sorry for the lateness of this reply. See my own plurk for details at to why it's late.

[alwaysfaithful]

Chris was as he usually was, quiet and listening both to the others talk as well as listening for any unusual sounds. He also kept a close eye to his Eevee partner Carmen. "It does seem that we may encounter a Pokemon that lives in the Caverns so we probably should keep an eye in front of us just in case we can't talk our way out of trouble."

Splinter encounter - for Jade and Melaka. The rest of the group may assist as desired

[bravenewmods]

As the team is moving through the caves they hear something... odd.

It sounds like the cry of some Pokemon, as well as the thudding of small feet on the cave grounds.