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Post by DataNinja on May 7, 2018 5:54:57 GMT
"My name isn't 'Mademoiselle'," Leil says, a little irritably. "Can't you listen?" She purses her lips before continuing. "It's a sight we have, attuned to nature as we are. When something's wrong, we can see it, like a blackness flowing through your body. Or the land, for that matter. Even being this close to the river makes me feel dirty, but I wanted to investigate the noise. So, let's go."
She leads the group through the woods, thankfully uneventfully. Directing them to push through some thick thorny bushes (which leave some thankfully shallow scratches), the trio and their guide finally make it to a bubbling water in the ground. It somehow looks... really fresh, and pure, as though not even dust or debris dare to sully it.
"Here," Leil says, "You can rest here for the night, soak in the spring. For creatures your size... it'll probably take that long. I don't know if it can purge your corruption, though. That might require time. Now, I need to go and report on what I've seen today, but do you have anything you need to ask before I leave? I'd rather you badger me now than have you bumbling off because you had an insatiable curiosity."
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on May 8, 2018 0:49:48 GMT
"Report to whom?" Iga asked as he discarded his bag and robes, full of nettles as they now were. He had sensed no deception in the fairy, and yet wore his smallclothes as he dipped into the spring. His muscles ached from the shock he had received, and he sought mental clarity for the challenges ahead. "And do you know when or whence this corruption came?"
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Post by Breakthelevee on May 8, 2018 2:23:57 GMT
"She is most likely reporting to the rest of her troupe." Superbia says as he pulls off his clothes, the process taking a while as it becomes apparent just how many layers of clothing the Demon Lord was wearing. Though all of it had seen better days, the clothes being slightly discolored from the mud, blood, and attacks, and various tears from the strikes are becoming more and more noticeable as well.
Once all of his clothes are off and in a folded pile next to him, he slides into the pool, his tail swishing the water around once he was in it completely. He watches the small Fae as Iga asks her questions, hoping to find out any answers it may provide.
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Post by Pandora on May 9, 2018 4:19:32 GMT
"I-erm-okay..." Lucas stammers when Leil rejects his use of honorifics for her. After they arrive at the spring, unlike the other two he doesn't go into the pool immediately and sits down against a tree, figuring he'd let Iga and Superbia rest first and instead stay on lookout just in case. It's not like he doesn't trust Leil's word that it's a safe place, but with all that's happened so far today, it wouldn't be surprising for something to barge into the haven while their guard is down. However, he doesn't let that stop Seraphine from leaving his shoulder and enjoying a nice bath in his place, the wounded owl splashing around in the most shallow part of the water.
Although Iga has asked an important question, Lucas quietly brings up something that's been on his mind and pulls out his book from his backpack. "Do you know anything about this? Or if you don't, is there anyone that might know that we can ask? Please, it's important."
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Post by DataNinja on May 9, 2018 5:43:42 GMT
"Superbia Dein Nomos is correct," Leil says, "I will report to the elders of my people, who sent me to this part of the... 'forest'" she seems to barely consider it such, from her tone, "to keep watch for anything unusual, or any trouble."
"And the corruption..." she sighs, "It comes from the earth itself. Deep within the planet lies a darkness, where it festers and grows, occasionally bubbling to the surface. It cannot be stopped, only pushed back. Normally, a hero arises from the people around, who has an innate connection to the creatures that lie in these lands, in order to push back the shadow. But now, the people and beasts that live around here, virtually all have fallen prey to the predations of the new incursion. That is probably why you were sent. I do not know who would or could have done such a thing, though."
"And, that?" she asks, peering at Lucas' book, "Uh, appears to be a book. Couldn't tell you anything about it, though, and I doubt any of my people could, either. Humans deal in books, we use memory glyphs. Far more practical."
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Post by Breakthelevee on May 11, 2018 6:24:13 GMT
Superbia sinks deeper into the water while the Fae spoke before surfacing "Maybe no one from this place can stop it, but perhaps we've been pulled here in order to defeat it for good. It will be a bit more difficult without my army, but I'm sure we could do something about it. Whatever pulled us here must have faith after all"
He shrugged "But I am not certain. For now, I will continue to enjoy this water and regain my strength"
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Post by Pandora on May 12, 2018 0:47:37 GMT
"Ah... Okay. Merci beaucoup," Lucas thanks Leil, despite being no closer to an answer than before, then silently lowers the book into his lap and waits for her to leave. Once she's gone, the boy speaks up again, asking the men in the pool somberly, "What do you think happened to..." He trails off, not wanting to say the name out loud, but picks up afterwards. "It didn't look good, did it? Her book burned up, too..." Lucas says as he puts a palm on the front cover of his own, as if to make sure it was still there. Even if he doesn't know why they have the books, they're undeniably important. After all, they've had them since the beginning, even in that strange dark purple place.
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Post by Robot on May 12, 2018 1:00:55 GMT
"I've the feeling her losing control and rounding on you may have been the cause." Iga replied, having assumed a meditative pose, eyes closed. "I should think nothing would anger our nameless benefactor more then us turning on one another. Though we may be of different walks and temperaments, I can think of no larger slight then that." He allowed himself to relax further and stretched his hands.
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Post by Breakthelevee on May 12, 2018 1:30:25 GMT
Superbia nods along as Iga spoke "I agree with Iga. Her Mana was out of control and she turned on us the moment a battle started. Someone like that is nothing but a danger to themselves, and their companions. I guess whatever brought us here didn't realize she had such little control"
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Post by DataNinja on May 12, 2018 2:07:28 GMT
The group is able to relax and sleep, their rest undisturbed. When morning comes, they and their Pokémon are refreshed and revitalized, though some of the deepest wounds haven't quite healed. The trio's books are also open and unsealed. Examination shows that the further pages have been filled in with images of the new catches, bookmarks already resting on those pages. It seems, though, that should you have more creatures, you would be able to switch which ones were out at this time.
Some time after the group gets up, Leil returns. "Ah, good. You're awake. I'm afraid I don't have any food that I can give you," she says, "But there are berries in the bushes here that should probably be fine for you to eat. I'm pretty sure. Let me know when you're ready to go, and I'll help direct you to the source, okay?"
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Post by Breakthelevee on May 12, 2018 6:09:38 GMT
Superbia was up with the sun, his battered body feeling better but his spirit being slightly broken for having fallen in battle already. This just meant he needed to train that much harder, both him AND his Minion. But, he also had the Hellhound to take into consideration.....Releasing the two monsters, he quickly got them to fall in line, pushing them to the absolute limit, their bodies straining past where they should have stopped. But at the end of it, they both looked stronger, more ready for battle, and Superbia nodded before returning them to their steel apples. This is good. They will not fall so easily again.
When the Faery returned, he was leaning against a tree, watching the clouds through the tree tops and waiting. He stood up as she finished speaking "I am ready whenever"
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Post by Robot on May 13, 2018 23:54:16 GMT
Iga attended the berries first and foremost. Woodsmanship was not something his people were well known for, but vigilance could only be observed for so long. This 'Fairy' had so far only offered aid, despite arriving under somewhat suspicious circumstances. He broke his fast with the berries she suggested, and with some consideration re-arranged the bookmarks now present in his tome. The fire-hound he had been gifted first was no longer in fighting condition, perhaps markering others would be best.
"I am prepared." (Iga will be using Rockruff, Spinarak, and Aqua Grimer)
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Post by Pandora on May 14, 2018 5:57:19 GMT
With guilt creeping up on him about his involvement in instigating Ritsuko's banishment, Lucas has trouble falling asleep, then only proceeds to toss and turn on the uncomfortable ground throughout the night. In the morning, he awakens from the noise of Superbia's training routine, and though still quite tired, he forces himself up to stare at his book, now open and rearranged. The self-awareness of it never fails to unnerve him.
After confirming the new picture entries in it, as well as the bookmarks that rested on their pages, Lucas shuts the book, tucks it into his backpack, and looks at the balls containing his new pokemon. Though he has little desire to use or keep them, it seems like the only choice if the battles continue. With that in mind, he releases both of them hesitantly, keeping an eye on Seraphine up in the treetops to make sure she doesn't try to divebomb the Taillow in particular, which thankfully she doesn't. And neither the Taillow nor Petilil seem to have carried a grudge either, actually being friendlier than expected. Whatever the corruption had done to make them more aggressive, it's vanished. Maybe the pokeballs removed their corruption? Is that even possible? As far as he can tell, they're normal pokeballs, and regular ones don't have healing capabilities.
Conveniently, Leil arrives soon after Lucas's observation, so he decides to make the best of the moment before she takes them to get some sorely needed food. "Um... Mad- I mean, Leil? Do you see any corruption on either of these pokemon? They seem all right..." He glances at the Taillow and Petilil, which are now sipping the clean spring water.
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Post by DataNinja on May 14, 2018 21:49:14 GMT
Leil looks over the pair of indicated Pokémon, before saying, quizzically, "Hmmm... no, I do not. That is odd. You still do, as does your companion, but those creatures do not. That is... most peculiar. I can give you no answer." She looks at Iga and Superbia. "However, we should not dwell on that. Tarrying only lets the darkness grow stronger. We should make haste, as you say you're ready."
She leads the group through the woods, going up the same way as the river. Thankfully, either no hostiles seem to be about, or Leil is good at choosing a path that is unlikely to be occupied. There's a few detours that need to be taken in order to find a spot to actually cross one branch of the river, allowing transit to the other side to follow it further north.
After what feels like an hour, Leil finally stops for a break. "Up there," she points, indicating a ridge further up, from where the rushing river has carved a path down. "If you go around to the right, there should be a fairly easy path to get up to where the spring originates. And where you will probably find the source of the darkness. I know that you have just travelled far, which is why I stopped here. Take what time you need to prepare. I will, well, wait around here, for I am not a fighter."
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Post by Breakthelevee on May 15, 2018 5:34:24 GMT
The trip through the woods was....annoying, but nothing Superbia wasn't used to. He had commanded small groups on missions similar to this in far more hostile environments before. Thankfully the small fae made a decent trailblazer and they didn't run into any more foes.
Upon stopping, Superbia looks in the direction that Leil indicates and cracks his knuckles "Don't worry. We're fighters enough to make up for that." He turns and sees Lucas and halts for a second "For the most part at least. We will clear up this darkness and free the townfolk from its oppression" He nods in self assurance. Even if he had fallen in the last battle, that wouldn't happen again. He would be more vigilant, and vicious, both him and his new minions.
"Iga, Lucas, would either of you like to scout ahead? I know you're both capable"
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Post by Robot on May 16, 2018 0:08:07 GMT
Iga paused to stretch out his calves. It hadn't been a forced march, but moving briskly through unfamiliar terrain was taxing and could weaken the body for the coming trials. Leil hadn't led them into danger yet, and were she going to turn on them, last night would have been her moment. They hadn't so much as established a watch. "I will stay ten paces ahead and alert you should I encounter resistance." He volunteered before Lucas could offer. Having seen the younger human in combat, Iga was confident he was better suited to this task.
fqIRzH_O4d6 Stealth 4d6
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Post by Pandora on May 16, 2018 5:55:36 GMT
Surprisingly enough, Lucas is barely out of breath after the long hike, leaving him free to look around a bit. Although he easily notices Superbia looking in his direction before clarifying his statement about being fighters, the boy doesn't make any remarks. After all, nothing would be gained by disputing it. But before he can answer the demon lord's question, Iga takes the initiative. Knowing that he himself is out of his element and that Iga has reliably stayed hidden, Lucas decides to trust the ninja to take care of it instead, silently nodding in understanding. That being said, it doesn't make him any less nervous about their approach and possible conflict, so he takes out his mask once again and slides it on with closed eyes.
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Post by DataNinja on May 17, 2018 2:04:45 GMT
Leil gives a curt nod, with a little bit of a nervous expression on her face as the group proceeds towards the ridge. The path up is relatively easy, Iga leading the way. As the path peaks, the ninja also peeks, looking over the ridge, in the convenient cover of some rocks. Looking down into a bit of a depression, there appears to be a pool, bubbling in the center, with a few creatures around it.
One is a short, stout yellow humanoid, looking around irritably. The second is a green grassy quadruped, 'kneeling' at the pond and taking deep draughts. The final one, at least in the immediate area, is a small... what looks like a floating tree stump, only it has horns, floating over the spring. The sun shining on the water shows Iga that a great deal of the place is covered with a rainbow sheen.
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Post by Robot on May 18, 2018 11:43:10 GMT
Iga retreats quietly to report, letting out a long, slow breath. "Three visible Yokai, and the entire spring is covered with that odd sheen that was in the river, which spawned the water spirits. One appears alert and ready for combat, one distracted, and the last agitated and alert. I do not believe I was spotted." Kneading two fingers into his temple he considered how best to proceed. "The small prickly dogs we encountered before, the one I captured crippled my water spirit with an attack, I will perhaps engage the spring directly. Do you have any ideas, Lucas? Superbia?"
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Post by Pandora on May 19, 2018 3:57:41 GMT
Able to focus better now that he's settled into a calmer state with his mask on, Lucas quickly devises an idea of his own. "If that's the plan, then we should lure them away so that you can get to the pool without any trouble. Seraphine can attack from a distance and looks like a good match-up against two of them, so I can act as the main bait. In fact, I should be able to distract them long enough on my own before they realize what's going on," the boy confidently suggests his role, apparently not too concerned about the fact that he'd be outnumbered. "Superbia can help me fight them if he wants, but you're probably still hurt, right?" Lucas puts it bluntly as he meets the demon lord's eyes, "A night's sleep can't have healed all your wounds, even with that spring helping you, so it'd probably be better if you went with Iga instead."
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