[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]

Flemming nods, turning towards Lux. "Sounds like a good idea to me."

[indy_wannabe]

"All right, just be ready. That's definitely Pokemon fighting over there, I don't want to bring them down on our heads."

Ezreal will move stealthily forward with Spark at his side, preparing to fend off attackers if necessary.

[ladyofluminosity]

Lux nods, unlatching and pulling her staff from her pack. Channeling, she sends a ball of prismatic light down the pathway, hitting one of the stalactites hanging overhead. She quickly moves into the shadows, staff held at the ready.

[makeitquick]

With the light in place, a fair sized battle will be revealed. It's a battle between several rock type pokemon and several ice type pokemon. Specifically, the rock side is largely composed of Roggenrola and Arons (though there may or may not be a single Onix there too) and the ice side is made of Swinub and Snorunt. While there are a far few injured or knocked out on both sides, it is clear that the rock side is losing - they are being backed into a corner because of the abuse of wide-hitting ice moves which put them at a type disadvantage.

A few of the pokemon notice the newfound light source, but most of the are invested in the battle.

It is worth noting that the ferocity of the battle has knocked down a few stalactites.

[myfedorarocks]

Ice types. Flemming hesitates. He has an affinity with ice types, but he also isn't foolish enough to break up a fight. Edwin at his side paws at the dirt, clearly perturbed by the fighting Arons. Edwin himself was still young enough to have not seen much in the way of combat.

"This is getting dangerous," he murmurs.

[indy_wannabe]

"We don't have a lot of time. We need to break this up and fast, they're gonna bring the cave down at this rate. Lux, I think your new friend might be needed to draw a line. If we go in together we might be able to put a stop to this. It's dangerous, but being caught in a cave in is arguably moreso."

He's already calling Prickly, Scout, and his own Roggenrola, Smasher, which Lux at least can be sure he didn't have when he came in.

[for_realsies]

Brighteyes twitches his ears a few times and runs off down the tunnel, the way they came. Only to return in a few moments on the shoulder of Imogen, making little Eevee noises as his partner walks, rather comfortably, with her eyes closed. Her eyes will adjust back to normal soon enough, but for now she'll let her partners see for her.

"My guess is that they're from the peaks, like Coldwave is. Something's up there and it's got the locals nervous. Some of them found their way down here and haven't been able to go back." Imogen figured some explanation of the problem would help. Coldwave, currently, is hiding behind some rocks about three paces back, but still within sight of the group if they look past Imogen. This was definitely something in the bad column, and the bear wanted nothing to do with it. Imogen continued, "We need to separate them and try to figure out what's going on. I'll never get anyone to talk while they fight."

[ladyofluminosity]

While it was not her first choice to go in, Ezreal was probably right--nothing would happen unless someone acted. "Okay, Martha, bring us in." Climbing back up, the Onix offered its tail out for the others to climb up.

They needed someone to charge in? Why not the biggest freaking thing in this joint?

NPCing which I hope is an apt time yooo

[makeitquick]

When the Onix gets closer to the group, the rock types all look up at the Onix as someone else who is native here, a potential ally. And the ice types all seem immediately wary. The fighting does stop... but only for a moment. Several of the Swinubs on the side of the ice-types decide to strike first, launching some powder slows at new group.

For the people who can hear the thoughts of pokemon, while most of them are absorbed in the battle at the moment, the rock types appear to be defending their home and the ice types appear to have fled out of their home, and gotten in this fight as a result. That's all that can be clearly discerned up in the midst of the fighting, though.

[indy_wannabe]

Ezreal and Spark nod at each other and dodge out of the way of the ice, launching a wave of electricity in both directions, not targeting the Pokemon but trying to make it unwise to move into the area. Meanwhile, Prickly and Scout, lay out some Confusion and Hypnosis, again not necessarily targeting everyone but trying to make a "no move zone".

"STOP!"

[ladyofluminosity]

Lux and Camille would follow suit, each locking a small group down with snares and a well-placed Thunder Wave attack. Raising her tail, the rocks around Onix began to float, quickly launching themselves at either group and stopping just short, acting as a barrier between the two.

[for_realsies]

Imogen, finally able to see again, sticks close to the Onix for the moment. "Hey, I know we've just met and all, but can you ask the other ones from the caves to hold back, I'll try talking to the icey ones over there. Something pushed them from their home. Something bad. Oh, and tell them to definitely not attack the bear that needs to come out and help me."

She really hopes Lux's new friend will do this part of Imogen's negotiations. Imogen walks towards the icey ones, just shy of the barriers Lux and Ez have set up, waving Coldwave out of hiding at the edges of the battlefield, "Help me talk to these guys, okay?" The Cubchoo wanders over to Imogen rather quickly. She doesn't know any of the ice types personally but has seen them all around the high peaks. "Guys, I know it's bad at home, but you don't need to attack the locals. What is it you really need right now, and maybe we can work something out?"

NPC

[antiseptic]

The sudden emergence of so many strange abilities throw the Pokemon into chaos. The attacks grind to a halt, with many Pokemon freezing in place and looking around in confusion, some of them glaring and growling at the group. Those capable of reading Pokemon thoughts will know that they are wondering if the humans are a greater threat, and a few are prepared to attack.

Thankfully, Imogen's words are enough to placate some of the ice Pokemon, at least for the moment. One Snorunt explains, clearly afraid, Big storm! Ice and snow everywhere. Too cold. Can't see anything.

The cavern Pokemon, however, are getting restless, their anger and resentment an almost palpable presence in the air.

[indy_wannabe]

Hey, c'mon guys, I know it's bad but we can work this out. There's plenty of cave to go around, no need to be fighting over it!

[ladyofluminosity]

Onix will do as she's directed, relaying the message to the other rock types fighting there. They did not need to fight, the ice types here were scared, terrified because they had been driven away from their home. There was more than enough room for both groups to be able to coexist for the time being.

NPC

[antiseptic]

The rock types are more wary, unsure of what to make of the Onix who is keeping them in place with that floating barrier of rock. One Roggenrola hops a step forward. If Roggenrola could show emotion, this one would be clearly furious.

Intruders! They attacked us first!

[for_realsies]

"And they are really sorry about that, right?" Imogen is keeping her attention on the ice types as she talks. Hoping they can explain their actions in a way that won't lead to fighting and a cave in. As right now, from a point of view of personal safety, being in between two warring wild groups was never a smart plan.

Trying to keep objective so neither side sees them as a potential threat is a fun tightrope to be on...

NPC

[antiseptic]

We were scared, one of the Swinub confirms, quiet and apologetic.

But not all the mountain Pokemon share its sentiments. A few growl in protest. We need shelter! We have to stay in the caverns.

That is enough to aggravate the rock types again. Those able to hear Pokemon might find themselves overwhelmed by a cacophony of voices, but one thing is clear - the rock types think of this particular cave as theirs and theirs alone, and will not tolerate the ice types living here, especially when they're the one to launch the first attacks.

Unless the group acts soon, things may take a turn for the ugly as both sides grow increasingly aggressive.

[myfedorarocks]

He might not be able to hear what the pokemon are thinking without the use of a warp band, but he can tell that this situation is getting bad. The engineer might have a lot of affection for ice types, but it didn't seem wise to appear to pick sides at the moment. Instead, he watched warily, looking to Ezreal. "We need to be prepared to exit in a hurry."

[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.

[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.