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Post by DataNinja on Sept 8, 2018 3:16:47 GMT
Every sound, every step - especially Mica's - all echoes around the two as they wander through. It seems as though the temple is almost... speaking to them. The tunnel that they choose leads down... and down... and down... until it finally exits in a large room, with many other exits. Scattered all throughout, are rocky Pokémon, all immobile. They're just laying down... many, many Pokémon, From where you are, you can't tell if they're sleeping, or dead, or... something else. From boulders, to snakes, to steel-plated monstrosities, there's no activity to be seen.
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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 Sept 8, 2018 3:31:20 GMT
"Oh.. it must be nap time." Mica comments quietly, as if it were the most perfectly normal statement in the world, nestling down against one of the much larger Pokemon as she picks her way into the room, excusing herself and apologizing every few steps. "It is kind of late... maybe we should try again in the morning?" She stretched her stubby legs and yawned with a bit more volume. "It's that or we go looking for the only person that isn't napping... the guardian usually knows more then everyone else anyway..."
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Post by Breakthelevee on Sept 8, 2018 3:42:43 GMT
Donovan went quiet....had Axiom got here before them? Was this room full of....no. He shook his head, sick to his stomach once more. "I uh....yeah. Napping" He didn't have the heart to tell her what he thought. Not with how much she seems to be enjoying herself.
He took a tentative step towards one of the Pokemon and checked near its face, hoping to feel breath. Something to show that it was still alive.
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Post by DataNinja on Sept 8, 2018 17:07:10 GMT
The nearest Pokémon is a quadrupedal spiky wolf, probably a lot easier to check for signs of life than one of the entirely-rock 'mon. It's initially concerning when Donovan doesn't feel any breath, but, eventually, there's a long exhalation, and a subsequent inhalation... as well as some nose twitching that seems to be subconscious sniffing at something unusual near it's face.
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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 Sept 8, 2018 19:54:38 GMT
Mica watched Donovan for a long moment, until an exhale from the wolf's nostrils tousled the Budew's upper leaves. "See? Sleeping. Come on, let's get some rest... we can enjoy the peace and quiet, and look for the plate in the morning." Mica whispered softly, tapping the ground next to herself with a foot as she reclined against one of the other Pokemon.
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Post by Breakthelevee on Sept 9, 2018 1:52:58 GMT
If he slept here, and they woke up, Donovan would wake up imprisoned, if he woke up at all. His best bet was to either find the Plate, or find the Guardian. "I'm not really tired. I'm gonna take a look around." He didn't want to worry her.
He looks around, with so many exits he wasn't sure where to go. Picking a random tunnel, he began to head down it before calling back to Mica "If they're all asleep then I should be just fine!"
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Post by DataNinja on Sept 9, 2018 2:40:10 GMT
Mica
The place soon quiets down after Donovan's echoing voice dies down. It's mostly still once again, though the rock-wolf that Donovan went near is still twitching a little bit. The less organic ones are still stoic, though as time passes she notices little movements in the large boulder that she's reclining against. It seems like Rock types are very deep sleepers.
A long time passes, but, eventually, there is some movement. The wolf slowly gets up, makes a large streeeeeeeeech and a yawn, before beginning to look around, bright eyes blinking.
Donovan
His voice echoing as he departs, Donovan makes his way deeper within the temple. It remains quiet. He passes rooms, mostly with a handful of Rock Pokémon in each, clustered together, all in a similar state as the ones before. There's really no movement, no life. The tunnels wind, but eventually he finds himself in a familiar looking room. One open, with a plinth, and a web of glowing energy around it. It's not empty, though. Not only is there a plate, but there's also a large... head resting on the ground. It has a large red nose, and a bushy moustache. Around it lay a few smaller blue triangles, and it, too, seems to be fast asleep.
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Post by Breakthelevee on Sept 9, 2018 6:41:46 GMT
Donovan sat down quietly in front of the Pokemon, waiting a few minutes before he began to speak "I don't know if you're asleep, or something else. But I won't take the Plate without your permission."
He fell quiet again "My name is Donovan. I am not from the tribe of either Grass or Poison, though I know that's hard to believe. I'm not from any tribe really. I'm....well I'm something special. Me and a friend I came here with. We can enter and exit these sanctuary's at will. I'm... I'm sort of a scholar and my friend.... she's like my guardian. Keeping me safe on our travels between the different tribes." He hoped this was coming through. Normally he would apologize for rambling at this point but it just felt....nice to be able to talk freely, to try and work through this stuff, even if he was only talking to himself.
"Me and my protector, we're traveling around to visit with the different tribes with the goal of freeing you all. We think we can do it, can break the seals and finally let you out of here, but I need your permission before I do what needs to be done. We've already been to a few places. The tribes of Fighting, Grass, Psychic, and Fairy are all without their Plates. I'm worried about them, but they believed in the dream of freedom that I offer, and I come to you bearing that same offer. Will you trust me? Will you accept my promise of freedom?" He had stood up and taken a step towards the stone face, his voice pleading
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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 Sept 9, 2018 11:22:49 GMT
It was like sleeping on her bed back home in Hoenn after a long day out playing with Dusty. Mom would make her grilled cheese sandwiches with the crusts cut off, give her a bath scrubbing behind her ears extra good which always felt nice. It got all the sand out, but she sort of liked it there. Then Dad would tell her a story about Pokemon while he tucked her into bed, and stroke her bangs as she fell asleep to the sound of his voice. This place was like a second home, it certainly felt more inviting then the grass temple had. She was warm, and comfortable, but Donovan wasn't here. She blinked sleepily a few times before making eye contact with the pretty blue eyes on the wolf in front of her.
"Oh, good morning! Did you rest well? Will everyone else be waking up soon?" She asked curiously as she rose to approach the quadruped.
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Post by DataNinja on Sept 9, 2018 19:23:58 GMT
Mica
The wolf takes several long, languid blinks at her, before sniffing. "You smell... different," he says, bluntly. "Who are you? You speak as though you are an outsider, but that is not possible."
Donovan
Initially, there's no response from the Pokémon, but the moment he takes a step closer at the end, eyes bolt awake, and the Probopass begins to float in the air. "I cannot," she says simply, voice echoing through the chamber. "Not now. While I am nominal leader here... it is only because nobody else wishes the responsibility anymore. But I cannot simply decide for all those many others in here their fate. It is not my place. I hear what you say. But I will not do anything without rousing the other old ones from their slumber. Those who have lived in the outside themselves. I was but a child at that time. And it has been such a long time. We took to slumbering for ages, so I know not exactly how long... but it has been too much."
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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 Sept 9, 2018 23:23:46 GMT
"It's definitely possible!" Mica replied cheerfully. "Normally I'm a lot taller, and have arms and proper legs! My name is Mica, and I'm a human like you!" Thinking about that for a moment, she wondered if most of the Pokemon here remembered the word, or what one looked like. "My friend and I came in to talk to your guardian about something super important about what is happening that effects all the clans."
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Post by Breakthelevee on Sept 9, 2018 23:33:56 GMT
Donovan nodded "I understand. I don't wish to cause any problems for those of you in here. If possible though, I would like to meet those who one lived out there. I have many questions about the time before the seals were put up and they might be the first who are able to answer them."
He shuffled nervously in place before speaking again "If I'm with you, I should be safe right? Most of the places I've been haven't been the kindest to outsiders"
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Post by DataNinja on Sept 9, 2018 23:58:57 GMT
Mica
"I am not a human," the Lycanrock says. "And I am the guardian of those slumbering here. So you had best explain yourself," it's turned into a bit of a low growl, "and do it quietly. So as to not disturb those around you. We have all been through long enough."
Donovan
"...yes," the Pokémon says, at last, after some thought. "You can come with me. Although, I should warn you, many of them will be cranky, and likely not want to be disturbed. And I do not know how many will truly remember the outside. It... has been beyond memory for so many here. Apocryphal, even." She looks down at him. "Do you still wish to come? Or would you prefer that I go wake a Guardian to look after you until I return from waking them?"
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Post by Breakthelevee on Sept 10, 2018 0:18:43 GMT
Donovan shook his head "No, I need to show them that I mean well. I'll be quiet until they have woken up a bit, but I want to be able to learn as much as possible from them. It's been...."He thought on how to explain just how long the Temples had been sealed before shaking his head "You're right on it having been a long time. I'll explain later if you would like"
After speaking, he prepared himself to follow the large Rock type, feeling a bit more confident about the trip into here. Hopefully Mica was enjoying her nap....
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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 Sept 10, 2018 0:23:56 GMT
"Oh... well that makes this pretty easy then." Mica replied more quietly. "So, Donovan and I aren't very old, under twenty years, which feels like that might be important here, but we have been learning bits and pieces of what happened before the clans separated as we travel." She had a seat in front of the wolf, so close that they were barely a half foot apart, and kept her voice respectfully quiet. "Each clan settled with their own plate, unwilling to trust the others enough to band together to avert... something. That's a part we don't know yet. Each clan was sealed away in places like these. Unchanging, uniform, quiet... we were told in the place the Fairy clan is trapped, that the people of the clans used to be able to assume human form, and can't anymore."
Her eyes never wavered from those pretty blue ones that stared back at her, despite the distrust that flickered behind them. She took a breath and continued. "Each clan was alone, in their Pokemon shapes when the event struck, but somehow humanity survived. Somehow Pokemon survived. Outside of these places they are separate, and struggle to understand each other. The humans of now... our whole lives revolve around Pokemon, but it isn't like it was." She realized she hadn't really begun working towards her point.
"Something happened recently. A bad human figured out a way to breach the protection around these places. She is named Axiom. Where I come from, the caves we're in now are represented by a temple littered with script in a language nobody can read anymore. She built a device, and destroyed the barrier into the Fighting Clan's shelter... killed many inside, and stole their plate. The act of breaking that protection... it gave those of us within some distance of that place the ability to enter it, and others like it. There are five in all, four human children and Axiom." She was nearly finished, it was a lot to bring up at once.
"Donovan and I have spoken to the heads of the Psychic, Grass, and Fairy Clans... I met Madine long enough for her to punch me in the face twice... she was understandably upset about Axiom killing her friends. We have been entrusted with three plates... Axiom has the other and we don't know how many more. The consensus in the other clans, is that they are willing to risk their lives for freedom." She sweat a little at the notion, her eyes finally falling from the wolf's, fixating on the hard floor. "It's a lot of pressure..."
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Post by DataNinja on Sept 10, 2018 2:54:12 GMT
Mica
"Pah," the wolf spits, "we are no cowards. I would not flee from something, would not hide. Nor would those who trained me, or those who trained them. We are Rock, we do not yield. And even if what you say is true, that there is some outside force coming to destroy our barrier... I say let them. They will see the truth of our strength, that which has been built up over eons." He makes a low growling 'humph'ing noise. "I have no choice to believe that you have come from outside, for I have been everywhere in this place, and never smelled one the same as you... but do not believe that I trust you. You are not one of us, yet you come in the guise of one. You use strange language. And you claim that you require that which sustains us. I think not."
Donovan
"Very well," she says, "The nearest is just a short distance away. She's probably one of the least likely to be grumpy. At least if I manage to get her awake. And I can leave her here while we go to wake up the others." The Probopass begins to float towards one of the doors... although Donovan does notice one of her smaller triangles (well... 'small', they're about as big as he is) floating a little ways behind him.
She peeks her head (body?) into one of the tunnels... before shooting one of the triangles forwards, causing a crashing noise as it slams into a gem-studded rock. As the reverberations die down, it almost seems that it had no effect, but, at last a small murmuring emanates from the rock, which floats up. "Huh... whazzzat?" There's a shaking of its entire body, causing the fuzzy mane around its neck to fly out a little bit before setting down. "Oh. Qiana. It's you. What do you want? I was having a nice dream..." The Carbink grumps.
Qiana doesn't speak, simply tilting her body a little to gesture at Donovan. It takes the new Rock a few moments to register, apparently, before a flat "Oh, that is important," emerges. The Donovan-sized rock floats around him, peering from all angles, before asking, "Okay, what's your deal? Did someone finally figure out how to get in here? Well... stupid question, since you're here, plant-boy. Because I have had far too many lifetimes in here. So I'm ready to see the sunset one last time and then walk off into it."
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Post by Breakthelevee on Sept 10, 2018 3:14:02 GMT
Donovan quietly nodded "It's very nice to meet you. My name is Donovan, and though I may look it I am not a part of the Poison or Grass Tribes. I am unaligned, though as I was explaining to the one you called Qiana, I am not alone. Me and my protector have come offering freedom, or at least the chance of it. I have already got the assistance from a few of of the other Temples and they have entrusted me with their Plates. We have come to ask for your help as well. Will you help us free you all?"
This was becoming easier for him. Everything he said was true, even if he isn't backed by any educational institution Donovan was quickly becoming the most informed individual on Temples in the whole region, so calling himself a Scholar isn't the most far fetched thing.
"I'm fine if you need to get approval from others, or have any questions." He said politely "I was also wondering if you could tell me what it was like before things were sealed. I was born long long afterwards, and none that I have met have been able to give me much information"
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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 Sept 10, 2018 12:24:50 GMT
"Axiom won't yield either. Defeating her here just forces her out of the temple, she can come back, again and again in an endless tide. Eroding away your numbers until she has what she wants." Mica got to her feet slowly, and started walking in the direction she'd seen Donovan go. "I can't force you to do anything, and I'm not going to try. The clans will be free together, or they will die together. You don't have to trust me, you have every right to be proud of your strength, but it isn't enough. Please take my warning seriously. I will fetch Donovan and leave, if that is what you want."
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Post by DataNinja on Sept 10, 2018 21:59:22 GMT
Mica
"We are stone," the wolf says proudly. "She can come for all eternity. We will be ready. We will wear her down. We- hey!" He snaps as she begins to leave, before quieting down as he glances around. "Where do you think you're going? I won't let you just wander off. Come with me. I will take you to one who will decide your fate." His face seems to be daring her to disagree.
Donovan
"...your protector?" The Carbink asks, looking around. "I... uh, don't see anyone. Are they a spirit, or...?" She squints, before turning back to him. "You say that you are... unaligned. How is that? Were you cast out? In that case... why should we trust you?"
"The world long past... was one of excitement," she says, exhaling. "One where every day was a new adventure. Staying close to home, you could do whatever came to fancy, explore the world, bond with whomever you wanted. Many indeed chose safe lives, where the only threats came from occasional attacks from Pokémon or other Tribes that got perturbed in some way. But there was never truly a threat. If you sought adventure, you could leave the safety of the Tribe, go cross the land. Where you had to fend for yourself, forage or hunt, were at risk of illness. Interact with others from other Tribes doing the same, and either work together temporarily or fend for yourself in combat - or sometimes both in duels to ubhold the honour of your family." She sounds wistful. "Those were the days. I have forgotten much over time, names, faces, loved ones, places... but the truth of outside is the kernel that I hold onto. Here is not living. Here is surviving. I wish to pass from this world in the same exhilarating way." Her voice turns mournful. "Is outside no longer like that?"
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Post by Robot on Sept 11, 2018 0:52:26 GMT
"...?" Mica tilted most of her body to one side in an expression of confusion, her face questioning. "If you're the guardian, wouldn't that be you? The guardian in every other temple was their people's leader..." She trailed along after the spiky wolf.
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