[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]

"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.

[for_realsies]

"Something happened up on the peaks? I'm sorry to hear that." Imogen's mind moved through the various options of how to help this guy get home. He would need to come with her, and she would need more than herself to get to the peaks. He was lost and far from home, it was no wonder she couldn't get it to come out. "I do want to help."

"I can offer you water, and some food. I'm not sure if it's what you like. If you want, I can help you get home? But you'd need to come with me, and it would take me a few days to do it." Imogen scooted back a bit before she opened her pack and pulled a small dish and a water bottle. No matter how easy it would be, he's too young and too scared for her to lie. He's no threat, and there's no need to subvert him that way. "If you want to try it on your own, I understand, but at least let me give you some food and water?"

[bravenewmods]

It really doesn't have any idea how to get back up. It kind of feels like it fell into a portal into an alternate dimension; it had no idea these caves were so far below its home all this time.

It doesn't really want to go back, either, though. Not if whatever happened up there is still happening.

At the mention of food and water, its eyes will light up and the perpetual snot dangling from its nose quivers hopefully. Cubchoo will inch out from behind the rock as she shows him her supplies.

[for_realsies]

"But, isn't it your home?" Imogen carefully sets out the small dish, pours some water in it, and leaves a collection of berries on a piece of paper next to it. "Things are bad, but we can try to help when we get there? Won't you be missed?"

She moves back away from the food and water, giving Brighteyes a berry as she moves. She wants the little bear to have it's own of its space until it's comfortable.

"You can't really stay here, this isn't the right place for you, you need snow and sky. You could come with me, there's a place for you in the city. It isn't ideal but other people are okay most of the time. Then you can think through what you want, and I'll be your friend." Imogen smiled again, gentle and earnest with all her offers. She only took Pokemon to her side that desired her company, she didn't want Pokemon for their... usefulness. If the little guy wanted to get home, she would help. And if Cubchoo wanted to stay in the city, she would take him. All she knew is this place wouldn't be right for him to grow. And the rocks were a threat to the chilly type of Ice. She didn't need to be an analyst to figure out that chill in the air.

[bravenewmods]

Cubchoo dashes forward the moment it sees food. It will pause to breathe a freezing gust of wind onto the berries before beginning to chow down. ...Italian ice.

Cubchoo has no idea what the 'city' is but if there are nice things there like her it would definitely be better than staying in this place. It's OK if she can't bring it home. It thinks she would probably freeze and die, and even if they just met, it doesn't want her to freeze and die. And if she does freeze and die the Beartic would probably eat her and that would make it sad.

[for_realsies]

"You have been down here too long," Imogen keeps out of the way and lets it eat in peace. She's beginning to wonder where Ez and the others are, he's usually better at being prompt on a salvage run...

"Well, I'll make sure you're okay, you can trust me on that!" Imogen glances around as her new friend eats, "And part of why I wouldn't be able to get you home right away is I don't know the mountains well, I'd probably freeze to death and shatter up there. But, you can think it all over with me once we're out of these tunnels."

[bravenewmods]

Cubchoo finishes gulping down its frozen berries and considers Imogen's proposal with a grave expression on its face.

Then it toddles forward a few steps and wraps its chubby little arms around her foot.

This would be really cute except that it's a bit frigid to the touch.

[Imogen has successfully bonded with a Cubchoo! It is Level 15 but the remainder of its stats may be chosen at your discretion!]