Episode 2: The Adventure Begins

John, you see that there appear to be "stepping stones" made of concrete just below the water's surface. You are able to cross them easily without slipping as a rigid surface was added to them to help you avoid slipping. As you look carefully at your surroundings for any signs of pokemon, you notice a few things. One was the repeating "ratta-tat-tat" that echoes through the trees and the descending tweets. Another is you catch sight of several strange branches sticking out of one of the nearby trees. Sure they were brown like the bark of the tall plant, but they were shiny, smooth, and curved downward. The bark around each one seems to have been disturbed recently with pieces missing.

---

The rest of the party crosses the creek as well (or at least those willing to keep up) and follows close. You all make it to a fork in the road that splits east and west. The withered and snow covered brush is thick around here. You notice a single set of footprints that lead to the eastern path. Meanwhile, you see John is looking at his surroundings.

John, you find that the bark has been peeled a little below the branches and you see something brown wiggling underneath.

(You don't have to roll anything this time.)

"I say we go where it's more likely Pokemon haven't been scared off already," Tori voted firmly. She was already in a group a little too large for her tastes to begin with. They didn't need to pick up any other stragglers on the road to Mercury. She glared accusingly at the surrounding woods. "What is that constant racket? Thought nature was s'posed to be all serene and quiet like."

Tori, you hear the sound is coming from the south, but you do not know how far away it is. Each time the drumming noises seem to vary in length. Some are long, others are short, and the rest are after a minute or two of silence, followed by the descending tweets again.

---

John, you reach under the bark and feel something smooth and squishy wiggling in your hands. You pull it out with a slight tug and it pops out with very little of a struggle. You find in your hands a brown insectoid pokemon with no legs, a brown shell, two big brown eyes staring back at you, a little sucking mouth, and a large curved horn on its head. After a few seconds of staring at you, it starts to wiggle around.

"Wow, pretty ruthless there Jonny," Tori chuckled darkly as she watched John bullying some kind of bug. "If that thing was hiding under the bark, I bet there are Pokemon that eat it. Maybe that's what's making that racket. Something burrowing for worms in the trees?" Despite herself, now Tori was a little curious. She wandered a little ways south off the path, but kept it and the others in sight, looking on the tree trunks for any Pokemon bigger and more obvious than the bugs. And, apparently, a lot louder.

John, the bug makes a "squish noise as Tramp hits it with a tackle. It gets back up angrily and points its horn at him in a defensive posture.

Initiative: 9

It launched itself at Tramp with its horn aimed right at him for the attack.

Horn Attack!
AC: 2
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Damage if hit: 30

---

Tori, you follow the noises on the western path as you feel the snow crunch beneath your feet. Eventually, when the path curves toward the south, you notice something moving in the trees above you. It was a pokemon just like the one on the map. It flew from tree trunk to tree trunk, stopping to cling to the sides and look at each carefully. Every once in a while, it would hammer its beak into the wood, creating small holes before looking inside. A few times, it would stop to let out a song that was made of descending tweets while it ruffled the red crown on its head.

---

Keno, you look look around to catch a glimpse of something peeking from behind one of the trees. It had green hair and two red horns along the middle of its scalp. Once it saw you looking at it, it quickly hid away from your gaze.

---

The remaining two watch as their comrades explore the forest and the wildlife. What they do next is up to them and them alone.1d20

Keno, as your feet crunch against the dry leaves, twigs, and snow, you could hear a tiny gasp coming from behind the tree you are slowly approaching. Suddenly, you feel something strange, like something is trying to probe your skull.

(Roll a focus check.)

As soon as part of the pokemon's head came into view, the pokedex says, "Ralts, a feeling pokemon. Ralts are small humanoids that have the ability to sense the emotions of humans and pokemon near them by using their telepathic horns. As a result, they lose control and portray the same emotions as the target they are reading. Its name is partially based on "waltz" which is what it likes to practice with its trainer as it prepares for evolution."

It seemed important, so Keno focused on... focusing.

Skill Monkey reroll +2
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"Hello. Are you cold, hungry?"

He let out s faint sigh. Keno was planning on stocking up on food when they got to Mercury City, as it was the professor's Ruflet ate most of what was left of his trail mix. There wasn't much he could offer save the promise of food. "I'm Keno and this is Gypsy. I'm a pokemon trainer," he thought better of showing his license, "you could come with us to Mercury City if you want. We are going to have many adventures! Could get you something to eat, keep you warm."

Moving forward slowly, Keno approached testing the waters. A particularly loud twig snapped under his foot, 'yep, of corse,' he thought.

Mystic Senses, Intuition to Charm EUHF14H34d64d6