[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]

While generally lighthearted and joking during the trek, Ezreal was now all business.

"Is everyone checked and ready to go? Make sure you have lights and flares to spare, even you Im. Doesn't do us much good if you run into trouble but can't guide us to you."

[ladyofluminosity]

This was a side to him that Lux was not used to seeing, and it surprised her quite a bit.

"I'm ready!" She called, readjusting both the pack on her back and the small bag on her side. Given her lack of combat expertise, she was trusted with the medical pack, heavy though it was. The weight didn't seem to matter so much right now, though, excitement blocking it from her mind.

[for_realsies]

"Flares yes, lights no. You really go all out with this in charge thing, don't you?" Imogen is rearranging her gear so the right things are in her pockets and not in her pack. Even if she can ask Brighteyes to get those. She put her pack back where it belonged and ran a few steps further into the dark.

"And keep those lights away from me while I'm down here, I'm not going to be any use if you blind me." Her eyes were already turning yellow in the dark as she adjusted to the gloom of the cave to see what lay ahead.

[myfedorarocks]

"Ready," said Flemming, glancing around at the party. He patted once at the pack at his side that contained a handful of flares. He watched Imogen for a moment, curious. Being able to see in the dark seemed a useful skill to have in this situation.

With any luck, they'd be able to get by just with her.

[antiseptic]

When they do finally set out, they'll realize that the path they had chosen to take is quite straight, and begins to slope upwards after a few minutes. Aside from the offshoot discovered by Imogen, there are no other passages or caves in sight.

[indy_wannabe]

"Huh. This is taking us up. I wonder if it goes to the surface."

Ezreal rubs his chin thoughtfully.

"Well, nothing else to do, shall we?"

[ladyofluminosity]

Lux noticed this as well, but was inclined not to say anything due to lack of physical application; there could be something to this that she wasn't getting. When Ezreal did finally speak up, she was thankful.

"But wouldn't that mean we're just going back the way that we came?"

[for_realsies]

It sounds like a small little Pokemon is saying 'wee' over and over. And out of seemingly nowhere a little well groomed Eevee with hat, scarf, and vest on wanders into the cavern.

Brighteyes squeaks out a greeting for Lux and Ezreal, and twitches his left ear. There's a note tucked into the ear hole of his little knit cap.

Dear Ezzy and Lux,

It is rude to leave a girl waiting.

- Imogen Moreno, Delver.

P.S. I made a friend.

Brighteyes is standing right at the opening of the near invisible little cave Imogen had wandered down. His partner is off who knows where, but she was getting a bit bored waiting.

[indy_wannabe]

"Oh boy."

Ezreal gave a long-suffering sigh.

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

[ladyofluminosity]

Lux, sitting atop her own new friend, makes a face. She would be a hypocrite for saying anything about it, but she definitely was thinking it.

"Hop on," She gestured toward the Onix's back, "It'll be faster that way."

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?

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.

[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.

[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]

But this isn't its home........

The words come through loud and clear alongside another sniff. Through the darkness now, Imogen can make out a form peeking out at her from behind a rock, eyes glistening and nose... dripping.

A wild Cubchoo has appeared! ...This Pokemon is not native to this particular area. How unusual.

[for_realsies]

"Hello there! But... this isn't right," Imogen held out a hand, slow and deliberate to try and draw the creature out. "You're not of the undergrounds. Why are you out here? Do you need help? Are you lost?"

Imogen sat down, softly on the cold ground and waited. She didn't need to move fast for this one. He was clearly young and just a bit scared of her. He wasn't dangerous, as far as she could tell. And he could use a friend. That, that seemed clear. "I'm Imogen, you can come out. We're no threat."

Brighteyes trilled an agreement from her shoulder, eyeing the newcomer in case he was faking.

[bravenewmods]

The Cubchoo doesn't seem inclined to go to Imogen yet as it continues to peek out from behind the rock. But it will respond.

It seems confused. It wasn't sure what had happened. There was danger far up the mountain but it wasn't sure what it had fled and scattered like a lot of the other Pokemon up there and it had fallen down a hole and it had wandered around and it thinks it's been here three days now.

It's a little too warm down here but it seems like the cold it exudes keeps the native Pokemon away, at least.

Splinter Thread - For Lux

[bravenewmods]

((The remainder of the group can assist if desired.))

Being ready was probably more of a subjective thing. About ten minutes after Group Three begins to make their way through a passageway leading into the mountain, the sound of distant rumbling and grinding rock can be heard. The sound and vibrations are steady - no Pokemon calls are audible yet, though, so whatever was happening didn't seem to be an attack of any sort.

It won't stop for a while, so they may be forced to go on nonetheless.

[ladyofluminosity]

[Lux stops, looking around. Why was the ground suddenly moving, and what was that scraping sound? She moves her portable light around, trying to see if she can find the source.

No, nowhere around here. It must have been further up, on the path they were taking.

Camille was not one to wait, however, already starting to slink toward the sound.]

What is tha--Camille, wait!

[Without thinking, she charges after the Dratini.]

[indy_wannabe]

Damn it! Stop you two! Don't split off from the group!

[bravenewmods]

[Camille will find that the rumbling intensifies the further she goes. At a certain point, it is obvious that the rumbling sound is coming from beyond the left side of the tunnel wall.

...It grows louder as she listens.

Clearly the intelligent thing to do is to wait for whatever it is to emerge from the wall.]

[ladyofluminosity]

[Lux hears his warnings, and pauses for a few seconds, then keeps running. She knows her Pokémon better than anyone, and that Camille can't leave well enough alone.

Camille will, in fact, stop at the wall, putting one ear-fin up to it to listen before backing up and calling to her partner. She found something!]

[indy_wannabe]

Careful now. Something's up.

[Ezreal is speaking in a low voice, trying not to draw attention]

[myfedorarocks]

[He twists around, staring at Ezreal for a moment. When he speaks, his voice is just as low.]

Come on, we can't let them go off on their own.

[bravenewmods]

[The warning is probably not totally necessary as an enormous chunk of the tunnel wall collapses at that point and a large head emerges.

....A wild Onix has appeared!

It seems as surprised as the humans probably are! Something in its tunnel routes that isn't a Pokemon? There is a brief awkward moment of silence as it stares.

...

Then comes a great shrug as it casually leans forward and opens its mouth to try and swallow Camille in one gulp. It wasn't going to say no to a nice garnish to its lunch.]