Open log!

[lightningbearer]

Who: Sion/Shrike/Geddoe and YOU
Where: Hisui!
When: Throughout the event
Summary: Catch-all for assorted event threads
Rating: PG (probably)
Log:
Sion
I. New Arrivals

To say that Sion in any way expected to find himself somehow transported to the past (of another region, to boot!) would be a lie. However, he's been in Johto long enough now that very little succeeds in surprising him, and he'd always been fairly adaptable to begin with. Which is why in short order he's already acquired a new outfit and is approaching anyone who looks a little lost... Or a little upset. "Is anything the matter?"

II. Around Camp

Are you sitting around camp with nothing to do and looking bored? Are you staring at the quest board wondering what you should do next? Fear not! Sion will gladly step in to help you out. "If you're looking for something to do, I'd recommend..." Well, whatever seems most prudent or in need of doing at the moment, really. Something something you can take the gym leader out of his gym...

III. Gathering Missions/Exploring

Of course, Sion's not spending all his time hanging around the base camp. There's those supplies to be gathered, after all, and who wouldn't want to go out exploring a bit? So, you may happen to run into him and his Hisuian Sneasel either setting out from camp, or out and about beyond it. If so, he'll certainly stop to chat and trade information as to what he's found so far. Or, perhaps, suggest teaming up, if it looks like there's particularly high-level wild Pokémon in the area.

Shrike
I. Not the hood!

Broadly speaking, Shrike isn't very particular about his clothes. He'll just take what he can get without complaint. On the other hand, he still treasures being able to have nice clothes (or, what he considers nice)... and more importantly, still steadfastly refuses to go out in public without a hood that obscures much of his face. Which might explain why he's currently clutching a very definitely worse for the wear hooded cloak around his head while looking at the outfits offer by the Ginkgo Guild. "Isn't there something with a hood...?" He frankly sounds more concerned or upset about that than anything else at the moment, really.

II. Hanging Around

For better or worse, Shrike is still very shy around people, and being thrust into yet another strange land isn't helping matters. So, while he's definitely doing what he can to pitch in and help, he's also... Well, keeping to himself as much as possible. Except when someone approaches him (or he runs into them) anyway, in which case there's an awkward "um, hi?"

Geddoe

I. New Friends

While not, perhaps, as deeply attached to his Pokémon partners as many, Geddoe still found it more than a little annoying to suddenly be without them in a place that still required them. All that time and effort, only to be handed the ball of some brand new, unfamiliar 'mon. Not that he had any intention of turning the offer down, of course, he's still pragmatic about these things, and once he's stepped aside to let everyone else in need of a new partner have some room, he promptly checks to see what he's got to work with. Cue a tiny bundle of yellow and black, crackling with barely-contained electricity, appearing with an inquisitive pichu? on the grass before him. "..." Geddoe has no words for this, but the look on his face pretty clearly and eloquently says you have GOT to be kidding me...

II. Out and About

Regardless of what Geddoe may think about this world's apparent sense of humor when it relates to him, he is perfectly willing to help out. In fact, being a mercenary, picking up tasks for a payout is exactly up his alley, so you can regularly find him checking out the board for any new and interesting (or lucrative) postings. That said, he's not big on the socializing thing, either, so you're just as likely to spot him off away from camp, taking advantage of missions that require him to go further afield if he can. His new partner, probably to te surprise of no one who's come to know him in Johto, can often be spotted riding on his shoulder, or sometimes even his head, a fact which Geddoe seems to just stoically endure. Care to approach the grouchy old man?

III. Matters of Importance

Still, there's one thing the camp is lacking, as far as Geddoe's aware. And given that the locals apparently don't want the newcomers traipsing about the nearby village, that severely limits one's options. So, he'll just have to ask around, instead, meaning early on you might find yourself approached by the stoic mercenary (with an electric mouse on his shoulder) and asked a simple question: "Know anywhere to get a drink around here?"

OOC note: This is a catch-all for all three of mine! I may add prompts or top levels as needed as the event progresses. Feel free to tag using an existing prompt (make sure to specify which character you're tagging!) or wildcard me. I can also be reached for plotting via PM or Discord (AC#7235).

Comments

Hunting for Paras mushrooms (closed to Ryner and Romelle)

[dreamsofahero]

Of course, it had only been natural upon seeing the posting for Paras mushrooms on the board for Sion to suggest that Ryner would be the perfect candidate. He'd had Aran for what, a good decade now? If anyone were familiar with Paras it would be him.

Naturally, Sion would accompany him as well, and upon looking around for more to join their group, his new acquaintance Romelle expressed interest. Upon receiving the guild's commission, the trio set off for the Mirelands in search of fungus-infested bugs.

It's not long until the group spots their first Paras, at which point Sion gets the ball rolling by sending out his Sneasel to attack. Between the resistances to both bug and grass attacks, and the slightly higher level due to Sion's training as, well, a trainer, he reasons he can afford to start off attacking cautiously. Enough to get the Paras's attention, but trying to avoid anything that could damage the precious mushrooms...

[tearsofademon]

Rarely - very rarely, but they do occasionally crop up - there are benefits to having been trained as an assassin from a young age. Sure, Ryner was always a failure of an assassin by choice, but he was still forced to learn certain things.

For example, stealth.

He'd rather not hurt the Paras, after all. It's just going about its business, living its life. It didn't ask for this. And, more practically in this particular instance, hurting the Paras might damage the mushrooms on its back, but. Earlier point still stands. But also he's been around long enough to understand that Pokemon are Pokemon, and full-on pacifism doesn't really fly... But anyway.

Wrapping the remnants of his old shirt around his nose and mouth like a kerchief (it might be repairable later, but honestly right now there are so many more important things to worry about), he stays off to the side, hidden in the grass as he watches for Sion to get the Paras' attention. The Growlithe he has been partnered with stands at the ready by his side, tail wagging and eager for some action, but Ryner quietly holds a hand up. Not yet.

As soon as Sion's Sneasel has the Paras engaged, though, Ryner starts sneaking - silently, but reasonably swiftly - toward its back, aiming to pluck one of its mushrooms before it's any the wiser. His Growlithe stays back, but with Ember at the ready for if/when Ryner is noticed.

[questioneverything]

Meanwhile, Romelle had stationed herself away from the group... out of the range of any spore attacks from the Paras, and where she could see more of the area. Her Petilil was weak to bug and poison type moves, and Paras was resistant to any of Petilil's grass moves, so heading in as part of the first line in this situation would be unsafe. However, with a move like Stun Spore, they made excellent look-outs and guards to watch the rest of the team's back.

Romelle occasionally looked back at them to make sure things were okay, but was keeping most of her attention on the surrounding area to watch for anything that might approach so Petilil could Stun Spore them before they got too close and interfered.

[dreamsofahero]

Knowing there's someone watching his back means Sion can put all his attention into the battle at hand. He directs his Sneasel to attack, to feint, to dodge, drawing the Paras out and keeping it occupied while Ryner sneaks into range. Most of the attacks are relatively weak and would be inefficient if this were a normal battle, but that's fine. His goal isn't to just knock out the Paras, after all, but to allow Ryner a chance to harvest the mushrooms intact.

Which is to say, sure, they could just have Ryner's Growlithe take it out with super-effective fire attacks, but the request wasn't exactly asking for pre-toasted mushrooms. So, it's the slightly harder but hopefully significantly more rewarding method... And with over a decade of experience as a trainer himself and total faith in his companions to do their parts, Sion's pretty confident they can pull it off.

[tearsofademon]

During Ryner's first year in Johto, he had met - and been joined by - a Paras named Aran, a friendly little bug who never had as much interest in battle as many of the others on the team. Still, Rose has her ways of dragging most everyone into sparring at least on occasion, and so Ryner has seen many times how Aran fights, and how his mushrooms tend to do most of the work for him. Sometimes, it's like the mushrooms have a mind of their own, and the ability to sense danger before Aran does. So, supposing that Aran is reasonably typical of the species, but given that Aran and his mushrooms are significantly more experienced than your average wild Paras...

This is why Ryner pauses his sneaking a few feet away from the battle for a moment, a quick breath while he observes the proceedings and keeps an eye on the Paras' attacks, especially those of its mushrooms. They won't have infinite spores, and after a spore-using attack is launched, it will take a moment for them to recharge, so to speak. So, it's just a matter of watching the flow of the battle, making sure to account for Sion's Sneasel's claws, and wait for an opportunity just after a spore attack.

Steady...

Steady...

There!

With swiftness you don't usually see out of Ryner in his everyday life, he leaps toward the Paras, reaching out to grab a mushroom and then, hopefully, get out of the way as soon as he can.

And if he's wrong and this goes badly, well, in his experience spore attacks suck less on the skin than when they're breathed in, so there's that much he's already accounted for.

[questioneverything]

Romelle had turned and was watching from her lookout point just in time to see Ryner make his move on the Paras. She gasped a little, hoping the timing was good between Paras hopefully not noticing, and Ryner not getting accidentally hit by one of the moves from Sion's pokémon. It was a risky position, but she was pretty sure they had it timed just right.

Petilil gave a small cry of warning, then.

"Pichu!"

Romelle jumped up suddenly as a Pichu came charging in from the outside.

"Quick!" she said to her Petilil. "Stun Spore!" The Petilil responded, spewing off a bunch of spores towards the approaching Pichu.

[dreamsofahero]

And Ryner makes his move.

"Swift!"

Sion immediately has his Sneasel attack, ensuring the Paras continues to be occupied with him and not the mushroom-thief. He hears Romelle engage another wild Pokémon behind him, but it sounds like she has the situation handled, so he continues focusing on his own battle. He attacks a few more times, watching out of the corner of his eye for Ryner to get clear, and...

"Fall back!" Once he judges the timing is right, he abruptly calls his Sneasel back and retreats. Hopefully Romelle has kept an eye out for a clear path they can take to make their escape.

[tearsofademon]

Daring only to spare the briefest glimpse at his clenched hand to confirm that he does, in fact, have the mushroom secured, Ryner immediately leaps away from the Paras, caring more about distance than grace even as he drops into a roll.

(From his off-hand, he inconspicuously drops an Oran Berry behind him as he leaps. A moment of butter fingers, a purposeful distraction, a peace offering, or a thank you gift? Mmm, probably not that first one at least.)

And then, once he's back on his feet, he starts running, having to trust that the path is clear. His Growlithe catches on to the situation quickly and starts bounding after him, still ready to set things on fire at a moment's notice but otherwise just having a good time, all told.

[questioneverything]

With the Pichu suitably stunned by her Petilil's Stun Spore, Romelle waved for the others to go past quickly while they had some time before it could wake up and shock them all. She certainly didn't need to be told twice to run, either, as she made sure they were on their way and then started running with them.

Running away was something she could definitely handle!!

[dreamsofahero]

Between the confusion of having multiple opponents grabbing its mushrooms or attacking it, and the distraction of that nice, juicy berry left behind, the wild Paras is at the very least slowed down in its pursuit. Sion and his Sneasel gladly take advantage of the opportunity to make a break for it, and he doesn't stop until they're a fair distance and out of sight of any potential pursuit.

Which, given that they're outrunning a disoriented Paras and a stunned Pichu, probably isn't that far, but still. While not on Ryner's level of ability Sion's still tried to keep himself up to par over the years, but hopefully Romelle won't be too winded when he does call for a stop and pauses to look and see whether anything's still following them...