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Post by Breakthelevee on May 2, 2018 2:06:05 GMT
"I promise that's the same light as the Fighting Temple. Besides, I think I would feel it if it was the Fire Plate. I felt calm in the Grass Temple but Mica felt anxious, I think it has to do with the fact that I turn into a Grass Type and she turns into a Rock Type. I'll explain that part when we're free" Donovan adds the last bit quickly before turning to Melody
Taking her hand in his, he smiles "It's great that I got to see you again, and I'm actually really glad that you're worried about me like that. But keeping the Professor safe is more important. I think with the help of me and Mica and these Plates she might be able to a find a way into the rest of the Temples and make it so we don't have to do this alone. She's the key to all of this and we can't let Axiom take her again. Besides, I can't go around claiming to be fighting for the freedom of all the Pokemon trapped in the Temples and not do everything in my power to keep the Professor free as well." He leaned in and quickly kissed her, his lips lingering on hers for just a moment before he pulled back and smiled "Besides, I'll be fine. Contrary to my earlier behavior, I'm not the same scared kid that I was when we met. Courage isn't being devoid of fear. Courage is acting in the face of it. And it's time for me to be courageous."
He took a few steps back, placing a hand on Dandelion "I'll have Dandelion keep tabs on all of you as well and hang back a bit further to make it a bit easier to mess up the trail. Don't turn back no matter what. I need you all to promise me that. I'll be fine. But I can't lose any of you. Not again. I don't think I could take being responsible for that" He gestured forward "Now it'll help if you all go before my legs start shaking" A laugh escapes his lips as he finishes speaking.
On the outside he was confident, brave, holding himself with the stature of a trainer much more powerful than he was. To an onlooker he would look like he could take on the world, like a knight in a legend, or a trainer about to take on the Champion.
On the inside he was screaming. His heart pounded and it took all his focus to breath evenly. He couldn't take on Axiom and he knew it. But he could buy them time, and that was enough for him. Once more his gaze flicked over the three. He still didn't know if the Professor was real, but he would get her free no matter what. And Melody..well...he could think on that more if they got free. He lingered on Mica for a moment, hoping she would go along with his plan. If anyone could lead them to freedom, it was her. Nothing could keep that girl trapped, he was sure of it. And she had a Plate as well, something the Professor could study to break open the Temples.
He gave the group a nod and then began destroying traces of where they had been.
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 10, 2024 12:51:43 GMT
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Post by Robot on May 2, 2018 10:20:05 GMT
"Your pupils have tightened, most the muscles in your face, neck, and chest too." Mica commented as she watched him attempt to hide their trail. She didn't move. He was such a butt. Where was her heartfelt goodbye? Where was her stolen kiss? Boys were confusing, maybe a little dumb too, but they had enough problems without her starting up a fight with a friend. Even if he didn't like her as much as she liked him.
"There isn't anywhere to run -to- Donovan. Every step we take leaves a new trail AND you are doing it wrong." Mica scolded him gently. "If you are making a heroic last stand you are either supposed to do it with your friends, or give up whatever important thing you are protecting first. Besides, Axiom is human here. If she even IS here. The plate is, and we need it anyway. Let's go get that plate. Melody, get your strongest Pokemon out, Donovan is probably still that same scared boy, but he does his best."
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Post by Breakthelevee on May 3, 2018 4:21:32 GMT
Biting his lip to keep from shouting Donovan shook his head "Just cause I haven't spent ALL of my time outside doesn't mean I don't know how to cover a trail. This isn't my first time doing it"
He reached into his bag and pulled out the Grass Plate and held it out to her "But I guess you're right. I should send this forward with you. Having two should help the Professor a bit more than just one."
Moving closer he held it forward "Mica I don't think we can take her in a fight. Ignoring whatever Pokemon she has, she has some sort of...psychic power or something and a flying suit. I know that trying to run is a long shot, but I really feel like it's our best bet. Besides, I'm gonna be right here, right behind you"
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Post by DataNinja on May 3, 2018 4:34:11 GMT
"If she can fly," Melody asks, "Wouldn't it be better to just try and find some better cover? Because this forest is really thin. Covering tracks will just slow us down, and tracks are a lot harder to spot then people. We don't know exactly where that pillar came from, just a general direction, which means she shouldn't either. So if we head in a different direction, that should work... right?"
"If he thinks it's the best way," Maple says, "Then we could always do that, and he follow. He knows his own abilities better than anyone, and if he thinks it worth the risk, then maybe we should just go. We're wasting time arguing here about it." She looks at Mica. "What do you think?"
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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 3, 2018 23:17:53 GMT
"..." Mica took the plate from Donovan with a skeptical expression and secured it in her bag alongside the other. There was also hints of a forlorn sort of disappointment on her face as she turned to Melody and Professor Maple. "We'll make for denser forest away from the orange light." It was the only response she felt up to giving.
CepNwV4D4d6+4 Survival, Finding denser foliage.4d6+4
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Post by Breakthelevee on May 4, 2018 1:04:50 GMT
Donovan sighed as he watched Mica go forward. She didn't get it. He just wanted her to be safe, them to be safe. Except he still wasn't sure the other two were real. He had hoped that kissing Melody would help him realize, but he still wasn't sure. But if Mica was leading them, then they would be able to get through to safety, he was sure of it. When this was over, he needed to talk to her, but then again....What if this Mica wasn't real either? She wasn't acting like herself, she was too quiet, too reserved. Maybe she was part of the illusion too....
He waited till they were a little ways away before continuing to try and cover the tracks as he followed, keeping from getting too far behind.
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Post by DataNinja on May 4, 2018 1:33:57 GMT
It takes some looking around, but Mica thinks that she sees the trees getting denser in a direction that does not lead towards where the orange pillar was shining from. Tersely, the group makes their way in that direction, going as quickly as possible while still trying to avoid notice.
It's not too long, though, before a large, red-orange, mechanical bird can be seen over the trees, circling briefly around the area before beginning to fly nearer and farther over the forest, sometimes worryingly close. But, it seems that Donovan's ploy has worked, as the party makes their way towards still denser forest... until there's a sudden dismount from the bird above, and an armoured figure lightly thuds to the ground only a few meters from Donovan, jetpack wings quietly flaring.
"Hello, Donovan," Axiom says. "I see that we meet again." She holds out her gauntleted hand. "You have things that I want. Give them to me." Grasped in her other hand is that of an orange plate - that which had been taken from the Fighting Temple.
About twenty-five meters away, Mica catches a flash of quick movement behind them. An armoured figure that wasn't there just a little bit earlier is there, next to Donovan. Judging by the description that Donovan gave, and the pale colour that Maple goes when she follows Mica's gaze, this must be Axiom. There's another set of movement in the trees, off to the side of the confrontation, though.
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Post by Breakthelevee on May 4, 2018 5:34:05 GMT
She was here. He was right. Internally he was screaming but Donovan put on a sarcastic grin and held out his bag in front of himself "Sorry, I don't have anything, don't know what you're talking about. No Plates here" His grin dropped and he glared at Axiom. His breathing got faster as he thought back to the Fighting Temple and the bodies she left in her wake
"Why. Why did you kill them? Did you even think about trying to talk? Or just knocking them unconscious? I was able to get two with..." He went quiet, thinking back to Oronis breaking in the Grass Temple "Minimal bloodshed. And even then it was only due to the power of the Plates themselves"
He shook his head, taking a few steps towards Axiom to draw her attention while the rest hopefully followed the plan and continued to move, he spoke again "Why are you after the Plates anyways? Are you trying to free those trapped within the Temples as well?"
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6,670 posts
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92 likes
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 10, 2024 12:51:43 GMT
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Post by Robot on May 4, 2018 10:26:32 GMT
"Something is moving in on them, but I can't tell what it is from here. I don't think it belongs to Axiom though, she looks like she's confident and in control by her posture... And Donovan is taunting her like an idiot."
Mica shook her head frustratedly. He promised he'd be right behind her! That wasn't even in the same neighborhood! Her eyes gravitated up towards the giant metal bird. Maybe there was something she could do without risking everything else. Maybe she could still help Donovan.
"Professor, you've seen the drive controls for Axiom's bird right?". Mica asked quietly. "I need you to describe them in as much detail as you can...". Then she released the tiniest Ledyba, with it's big, innocent buggy eyes, and got her sketchpad out.
"Spot this is super important, so I need you to pay really close attention. The bird up there." Mica pointed. "Is bad. Inside though, there should be buttons." She drew a few different styles quickly. "Levers." Again an example. "And pedals." The last. "I need you to use your little wrigglers to push and move as many of them as possible, then get out again before you get hurt. Pedals go down, buttons go in.". Mica made various pushing motions with her hand. " And you need to go quick, please." She gave the insect a kiss for luck.
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Post by DataNinja on May 4, 2018 19:47:49 GMT
Axiom just looks at Donovan, bluntly stating, "They refused to get out of my way. And I didn't know my own strength." Her voice gets a little condescending. "Why would I care about the Pokémon in there? I just want the power that the plates contain. The Temples are far superior to anything we've been able to build with modern technology... she who could harness power like that could be queen of all." She sighs. "If you don't have anything that I want, though, I suppose that we're done here."
She holds out a hand and gestures to the side, Donovan feeling himself sliding in that direction before slamming into a tree and falling to the ground on his side. Thankfully, while it hurts, it feels like nothing's broken. He can see from his position that Axiom has pulled out an orange plate, and taken off one of her gauntlets to put her bare hand on it. There seems to be some concentration, before she turns in the direction of the other group.
"It's not like that, Mica..." the professor says hastily, and sadly. "It doesn't have controls on it. More like a robot than a car or something. She either controls it by voice, or something on or in her suit. I don't know. Now, if you could get me or someone else there with some tools, we could probably do something... but I don't imagine that that's happening any time soon."
"I, uh," Melody offers, "I have a Tropius. She's not subtle, but she could probably get you up there. Got nothing in the way of tools, though. And dunno how well you'd stay on if it tried to get you off. But, if you've got a plan, she's all yours..."
Whatever Mica wants to do, though, she realizes that she should probably do it quickly, since Axiom seems to have looked in their direction. She can feel a little tingling sensation coming from the Plates in her backpack.
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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 4, 2018 23:23:36 GMT
"Running didn't work, and now we're separated." Mica recalled Spot and Morganite. "She knows we're here too, there's no hope on that front. Professor, get out of sight, her attention will be on me... head back towards Donovan if you can. Melody, if your Tropius seats two, we'll need her if any of this even remotely works. After that... I don't know. Having a Three Step Plan that ends at Step Two means improvise." She bent down and scooped up a handful of grass, before giving Axiom a wave.
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Post by Breakthelevee on May 5, 2018 1:27:05 GMT
The force from hitting the tree knocked the wind out of Donovan but he stood back up. His breathing was heavy but he took a few steps forward. His eyes were wet from holding back tears from the pain but he bit his lip and kept walking forward before a burst of pink mist escaped from Dandelion who had floated near Axiom. Once she turned her attention to him, the little Combee did his best to look as innocent and harmless as possible, as Donovan charged from behind and leapt up onto her back for a moment before dropping down and biting the hand that held the Plate, doing his best to get her to drop it. Inside his head a whirlwind of thoughts fight there way to the top, nothing like the calm it had been just a few moments before as he told Dandelion the plan through his thoughts, the Combee following the orders perfectly. But the one thought that won out once the plan started is what would Mica do. She wouldn't run, she wouldn't hide, she would charge forth like a wild Pokemon and take that Plate from Axiom. Of course as he attempted to bite down he looked up and saw her motioning towards Axiom. His eyes grew wide, but it was too late for him to stop his plan. Oh boy, breakdown time.
So, Donovan is thinking about his plan to Dandelion, who is reading his thoughts in order to follow without words needing to be spoken.
Dandelion is starting with a Sweet Scent in a burst 2, AC 2 vs 10 that ignores non stat accuracy.
Then Activating Trickster to use the Flirt maneuver with an 18 against either charm or focus.
THEN Donovan is using a Disarm maneuver against Axiom with a 16 vs AC 6 and an 11 on his Combat. Opposed by either Stealth or Combat
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Post by DataNinja on May 5, 2018 1:57:44 GMT
There's a whirlwind of movement as Donovan and his Combee leap into action, resulting in the plate getting knocked from Axiom's hand, as she cries in shock, before jamming her gauntlet back on. "You're acting like an idiot right now, you know that, right?" Her suits arm crackles with electricity, before it gets unleashed directly into Donovan, pain flowing through him. "Now give me that back, or else it will turn out... poorly... for you." She turns, though, after uttering her threat, spotting where Mica is... and, judging by her next words, the others as well. "My, my, look at who we have here. Imagine that, she flew the coop, but now she's here again. Now I know why you don't have your plates any longer. She won't get a chance to flee again. Use your next moments wisely, Donovan, for they will determine your own fate. Leave the Plate, and you'll get to live." With that proclamation, she turns and begins advancing towards the others. Back with Mica, Maple looks worried, "Mica... are you sure? I... don't want to see any of you getting hurt. And you facing her... I don't know if you're strong enough to take her." "Don't worry," Melody says, reassuringly, "She'll have me there, too. Right, Mica?" The tone brooks no argument. "So, you, get out of here. If it's you she wants, then we can't let her have you, can we?"
Hesitating, the professor eventually nods, before heading deeper into the forest. "So, Mica," Melody says, looking at the approaching Axiom, "You said you've got a plan? Or, at least two steps of one?"Axiom fails both maneuvers. Donovan takes 52 damage and 2 injuries. Donovan can AoO if he really, really wants.
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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 5, 2018 11:02:56 GMT
"It looked like she can use the plates to track the others, so getting the fighting plate away from her was important. Donovan already did that part." Mica explained quietly, keeping a relaxed posture while Axiom approached. "I have a lot of ways to put people and Pokemon to sleep. It should buy us at least a little time to scatter with her plate and hide again. Hopefully your Tropius is fast. The only other option is actually trying to use the plates, and I don't think we have the time to figure them out."
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Post by Breakthelevee on May 7, 2018 4:44:55 GMT
Donovan couldn't stay on the ground, not now. Slowly he pushed himself off the ground, one arm wrapped around the Fighting Plate. He couldn't do this himself. But he couldn't get to the rest of them without Axiom taking him out. He eyes drifted to the Plate and he thought back to just a few moments ago, when Axiom removed her gauntlet. She had to directly touch the Plate to activate it, which makes sense because the same thing is what caused the lights to erupt just a little bit ago.
Placing his hand on the Plate, he focused as best he could, hoping to bring forth some sort of power. Angling the Plate forward, towards Axiom, he hoped that at least he could cause some sort of distraction for Mica and the rest. Besides, his body was still wracked with pain and he couldn't really do much else.
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Post by DataNinja on May 7, 2018 6:13:54 GMT
Donovan concentrates, touching the plate... but he feels nothing. Nada. He isn't sure whether he's just focusing wrong, or he just can't do it in general - maybe Axiom's psychic abilities have something to do with it?
"She's no Shuckle," Melody says, "But I don't know how she'd fare against that thing up there." She glances up at the robotic red bird circling low above the battlefield. "If things go wrong, I'd rather take my chances on the ground than falling towards it."
If she planned on saying anything more, it's interrupted by a figure emerging from the brush where they'd apparently been watching. Revealing herself to be a woman with long blond hair and a pale blue dress, she hurries out from closer to Donovan to nearer the middle of the two groups. "Stop! What are you doing?" she cries, appearing to startle even Axiom, who stops to turn towards the newcomer, seemingly trying to register this turn of events. "There's no need to fight over anything here!"
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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 0:46:09 GMT
Mica cocks her head to one side and considers the new girl. Just how many girlfriends did Donovan have? Professor Maple, Melody, this new girl. Why did she even want to bother. "If we run now, she'll just kill Donovan and use the plate to track us. He was pretty clear what kind of person she is." Mica whispered to Melody. "At least Professor Maple is making more distance."
"There isn't?" Mica called to the girl.
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Post by Breakthelevee on May 8, 2018 1:59:51 GMT
"You're sort of shouting to the Void here" Donovan shouts as he leaves his hand placed on the Plate, continuing to try and activate it. It can't just be Axiom who did it, Mica did it too! Maybe he had to be a girl? That made no sense, but neither did anything else that was happening since they entered the 'Temple"
"And uh, where exactly are we" He hoped that Axiom was similarly thirsty for knowledge and wouldn't kill this woman
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Post by DataNinja on May 8, 2018 2:39:19 GMT
"Of course not, there's enough for everyone," the woman says. "And here? Here's, uh, here... I don't know what you mean." She seems confused, before Axiom's bird dives down and barrels into her, knocking her down and pinning her on her back. "Hey! Get off me, you brute!" she cries, pounding ineffectively at the metal foot with her hand.
"I don't know who you are, or what you think you're going to accomplish getting in the middle of this," Axiom says, "but it doesn't matter." She looks towards Mica and Melody, and then back to Donovan. "While I'm sure that you all are more than willing to sacrifice yourselves, and act as thorns in my side in the process, is it the same when an innocent is at risk? Give me the Plates, and she'll walk away safely. Get me the professor, and so will you. I am not unreasonable. But if you move against me, I will kill her."
The pinned woman glares up at Axiom, before looking towards the people not blocked from her sight by a giant bird - Mica and Melody. "Don't listen!" she cries, "If someone's willing to kill over something, or someone, don't give in to them! I'm not worth thaack-" She's cut off, breath forced from her, as the bird seems to shift to increase pressure on her. "Shut up. I don't care what you have to say."
Melody looks worried, and turns to Mica, speaking softly, "What... what do we do? If she's as bad as you and Donovan say... can we trust her? To, well, not kill us even if we give her what she wants? I can try and take her out, but... what if it costs a life? Would that be worth saving many others? I... I don't know."
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Post by Breakthelevee on May 8, 2018 5:46:43 GMT
Donovans eyes burned with anger and he clutched the Plate to his side. Axiom was replaced in his mind with Esthia and this mysterious woman with Oronis. It was happening again, someone was dying because of these Plates and he was powerless to do anything about it. His grip tightened on the Plate. No. He wasn't helpless now. Axiom hadn't killed them before, that is true, but she proceeded to go and kill soon afterwards. And he and Mica were now known threats, the only people capable of getting in her way when it comes to the rest of the Plates. His body ached but he had to act. He reared back and tossed the Plate at Axiom like a disc while at the same time reaching down and recalling Dandelion in an instant and then he released Aster at near the same moment, his reflexes faster than he realized. Once Aster was out he yelled " Leech Seed, now!" Aster released a volley of seeds directly at Axiom, the grass energy flying directly at her as Donovan yelled out "Better catch that Plate before I take it back!" He began to dash in her direction before quickly moving to the side, attempting to make it over to the rest of the group Donovan is using Quick Switch to get out Aster and then having Aster use Leech Seed.
AC 4 vs 17 ignoring non stat evasion. Target is Seeded. and then a 14 on the Bon Mot against either Guile or Focus.
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