[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 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.]

[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?

[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.

[myfedorarocks]

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

It couldn't have been deliberate, could it?

[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.]

[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.]

[indy_wannabe]

[Ezreal meanwhile is going to prepare to teleport and pray that the Onix doesn't decide to turn him into paste right on the spot]

[bravenewmods]

[Teleportation is probably an excellent idea as its jaws snap around the area where Ezreal formerly was. It feels something on its back - gross impertinence! Onix bucks and writhes to try and throw Lux off, but lacking limbs, there isn't too much it can do. Maybe they practiced bullriding in all of that noble training since it sure would come in handy about now.

Onix's anger aside, Lux will find that pulling straight up works -- for a few inches. Then... a snag! There's a kink in the spike and the injury is old. She'll have to angle it out the right way... and quickly.

Onix makes a mental note to eat any humans it sees in the future instead of being curious about that.]

[ladyofluminosity]

[Completely ignorant to what is going on below her, she lurches forward, holding on tight as it bucks.]

J-just a little more!

[Letting go with one hand, she gathers light around it and throws it at a hanging stalactite, the orb illuminating it. Using her new makeshift lamp to see, she investigates the wound further. It was in deep, and at an odd angle. Holding onto it with two hands, she very carefully adjusts it and pulls carefully on it.

Hopefully Ezreal and Flemming can avoid being Onix food while she gets this thing out.]

[indy_wannabe]

We don't have much more!

[Ezreal is going to launch a psychic blast at the Onix, not super strong but enough to hopefully get its attention.]

[bravenewmods]

[The Onix seems on the verge of causing a cave-in now with how much it's thrashing about. Even if it doesn't manage to chow down on either Ezreal and Flemming, they are probably in sore danger of being bashed by an immensely heavy flailing Onix tail.

Ezreal is right; there isn't much....

time.

And like a switch has been flipped, the Onix suddenly stops moving entirely. The spike sits in Lux's hand - a foot long, bent in various places, and dulled from the years.]

[ladyofluminosity]

[As soon as she pulls it loose, she grabs on tight, expecting it to either buck her off or try to crush her against a wall. She sits like that, eyes closed tightly, body stiff... only to have nothing happen. Opening her eyes, she slowly sits back up, exhaling deeply.

Another potion sprayed over the wound, she tucks the spike in her bag out of sight of the Onix and starts to climb down.]

There, how does that feel? I'm sorry, I can't imagine how much that could have hurt.

[Once she reaches the ground, her legs gave out. Bracing on so tightly, along with the sudden drop of adrenaline literally knocked her on her backside.]

[indy_wannabe]

[Ezreal is watching a bit uneasily, just in case it decides to attack anyway.]

[bravenewmods]

[The Onix remains motionless for a few moments after Lux gets off. Then... very slowly... it arches its body a few times. Stretches it to the left. Extends it to the right. Rolls it over.

....

Afterwards, it quickly flips back around to stare intently at Lux with a low growl. Ezreal and Flemming are once again ignored.

Human what did you do]

[ladyofluminosity]

O-oh boy...

[Lux slowly starts to back away, before Camille, who until this point had been paralyzed with fear, gets between the two. She tries to keep her temper down as best as possible, but explains that her human probably just saved its life by taking that nasty thing out, and that it should be grateful!

Her human is a nice human, you see, and it doesn't matter what you look like--because you are not a looker, Onix--she will help you even if it kills her. So you best respect.

Lux watches silently, ready to flee with Camille at the drop of a hat.]

[bravenewmods]

[Camille will not be responded to for the most part although Onix still wouldn't say no to some Dratini Steak in its future. It is perfectly aware that it is missing a dull ache and a sharp pain every time it turned left that it thought would be there permanently.

But from the side, its tail slowly snakes back around towards Lux...

She looks tired.

It seems to be an invitation for her to get back on.]

[ladyofluminosity]

[She looks at the tail, then back up at the Onix. Was it...

Slowly, Lux raised her arm with the warp band on it, which began to glow. She smiled.

Would you like to come with us, then?]

[bravenewmods]

[Onix is way too cool to play along with this smiley friendship bullcrap please. It growls again, a noise the Warp Band will help interpret as 'humph', then scoops up Lux and slowly turns to progress the tunnel.

Lux has successfully bonded with Onix! It is Level 17 but the rest of its stats may be chosen at your discretion.]