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Post by DataNinja on Jan 19, 2019 22:58:49 GMT
The road was long, and the weather cold and looking like it might be trying to snow, but the group makes it to the mountain city of Nahani. Thankfully, the only snow that they encounter along the way is that which had already fallen atop the mountain. It's said that many powerful Pokémon live in this area, but thankfully they seem to mostly stay away from the beaten path. Or are, perhaps, getting ready to hibernate for the winter.
Upon after a little bit in the town, (though, compared to Hirmilik it's certainly seems like a city), there's a message from Lana saying that, while her associate is busy doing some excavating today, going tomorrow morning would work for seeing the site.
The town itself has the usual attractions, coffee shops, a theater, and so forth, but there's also a Pokémon Gym here at the very summit of the mountain. There's also the more unusual attraction of having admission to greenhouses where food is grown, simply for the temperature and being surrounded by plants. Greenery is something in short supply here.
In addition, on the other side of the town from where the excavation site is, somewhat further away, is a Temple. Though, it is at least a half-day away by foot, and runs the risk of wild Pokémon, so it's probably not best to try and visit unless the two wants to reschedule visiting the excavation site.
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Post by Breakthelevee on Jan 20, 2019 0:23:21 GMT
Donovan took in the fresh mountain air with a deep breath "Alright so if we can't go to the ruins until tomorrow morning, what do you want to do today?" He asks Mica before tapping his finger to his chin
"We could go face the Gym. Maybe this time we can get to one WITHOUT Polaris attacking it" He tries to play it off like a joke but deep down it was a real worry of his. So far every time they get near a gym it's attacked. Someone is gonna think it's them doing it at some point.
"Or we could go to the movies or something and then do the Gym after the ruins. And then hit the Temple on the way out of town." He shrugs "I'm fine with anything"
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6,670 posts
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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 Jan 20, 2019 2:49:05 GMT
"I've never been in a theatre before." Mica offered hesitantly. "I've also never climbed a mountain." Come to think of it, she wasn't sure if she'd ever -seen- a mountain up close before. So this was what he'd meant. It was this big thing that made people look up at it, and had stood there forever unmoving. She'd been acting like a pebble all this time, now she wanted to see how the world looked from way up there.
"Let's climb the mountain! I want to see Vesperia from up there!"
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 20, 2019 3:39:18 GMT
The path to the summit is mercifully clear of snow, and the day, while cold, is bright and sunny. The two trainers trek tenaciously towards the top. It's a fair distance, taking the better part of an hour, but there are stairs and such set into the mountain to aid with getting up. The trail is empty, at least past the first lookout about five minutes up, people clearly not wanting to climb in this season.
Finally, after a little too many flights of near-vertical stairs in far-too-thin air, the pair reaches the top. Off over to the left, where the peak of the mountain lies, is a stone building, with the symbol of a Pokémon gym on it. So this is where it is. There's a sign outside announcing it, like with the others, but it's rather too far away to read properly.
All around, though, is a grand vista. The town is below, like a tiny diorama. The mountains stretch to the east, and a little to the west. Far below are forests trees indistinguishable, and off in the distance a scattering of lakes. Over beyond the gym, on the other side from the town, a few mountains over off near the horizon, is the unmistakable form of a Temple, though it seems so small from this distance.
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6,670 posts
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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 Jan 20, 2019 17:27:38 GMT
Mica admired every little nuance of the space, from how all the steps had taken her to the top, to how her legs and lungs burned from the effort. She was fit, so it hasn't been terrible. This was the mountain, the culmination of all rock. It made her feel the way she did under a Starry sky, only in reverse. Instead of being small, and insignificant, she was big. She was doing things that nobody else could but Donovan.
In higher spirits, she stole a kiss from the boy after letting him catch his breath. "Thanks for coming with me! Let's go see what this gym is about?" Mica was practically charged with energy, moving so fast she discharged Hero from her hair, who chirped in protest and floated along after.
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Post by Breakthelevee on Jan 20, 2019 22:20:22 GMT
Unlike Mica, Donovan was having a rough time heading up the mountain. The air was too thin and it was cold, and he'd been finding that the cold was affecting him more than it used to. Huffing and struggling to breathe, he finally made it to the top a few moments after Mica though she had to slow down to not lose him during the climb.
When she kissed him he went red for a moment before playing it off like it was still just him cooling off from the climb. The views were great, but man, he would much rather have like..rode a lift or something to make it to the top.
"Yeah...Right...Gym" He nods as he's still struggling to breath regularly and follows the girl towards the gym.
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 20, 2019 23:12:26 GMT
The gym is not tall, nor is it ornate, but it stands proud, weathered with time and the elements. It looks as though there's someone who takes care to clear the walkway, though, as the snow near the entrance has all been cleared, and is off away from the sign, which reads
"Nahani Gym Be prepared for every circumstance."
From inside the small windows, there's a warm-looking glow, and the doors swing open easily despite their apparent weight. There's a second set of doors inside, to help keep the cold out, and chimes ring out as they push through. Immediately within is a cozily-lit reception area, with soft seats, and bookshelves of books. They don't really have time to get settled, though, before an older-looking bespectacled woman, with streaks of grey amongst her blonde hair, comes out to greet them. She's wearing what looks to be a warm winter sweater, though emblazoned with the Gym symbol on it.
"Hello there," she says, looking at the two with curiosity. "Are you here to challenge the Gym? Or just to take shelter from the cold?"
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6,670 posts
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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 Jan 21, 2019 0:45:13 GMT
"I don't think anybody would climb that many stairs to not challenge the gym." Mica blinked a few times before looking over her shoulder at the (likely still winded) Donovan. "Do you get a lot of visitors way up here? The view is really nice."
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Post by Breakthelevee on Jan 21, 2019 1:49:07 GMT
Donovan was indeed still winded "Maybe locals just like the view"
But he nodded to the older woman "Yes, we're here to challenge the gym. It will be our third gym challenge"
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 21, 2019 2:02:44 GMT
"Alright," the woman nods. "I am glad to hear that. It has been a while since someone's climbed for the challenge. Attendance always drops off after the summer." She gives a slight smile. "I am Sage, the Gym Leader here. My challenge is somewhat unorthodox. So, I have to ask. Do you have, together, a team that you believe can handle anything thrown at you? Because if you do not, then you will not be able to overcome this Gym. This is both a warning, so that you do not waste your time if you are unprepared, and a promise. Relying solely on one plan of attack will be futile. Do you still wish to take on this challenge?"
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Post by Breakthelevee on Jan 21, 2019 2:28:02 GMT
"How many between the two of us?" Donovan asks plainly "But I'll be honest. We've been told 'doing just one thing won't work' since our very first challenge. There's two things you need to know about us" He holds one finger up "If we go down, we keep getting back up. Over and over if we have to, but neither one of us will give up. This is too important" He flicks a second finger up "And we don't just trust our teams to battle for us. We trust them with our lives. They're more than just our team or our partners. They're our family"
He clenches his hand into a fist at his side and forces a smile "So yeah. I still want to take on this challenge" He wasn't sure what got into himself. But he didn't like the sound of someone doubting them. They had both been through so much. He had to be strong now, for those trapped in the Temples and for Mica. Strong like she was for him.
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6,670 posts
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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 Jan 21, 2019 3:13:20 GMT
"... Everything is a lot of things." Mica mused for a moment. She was pretty sure she wasn't prepared for anything, like if flaming wolves rained from the skies. She'd probably just panic like most normal people if that was the case. She did have a pokemon that swam, another that could levitate... Apex was a good climber. None of them dug or flew.
"We'll manage!" She added after Donovan's statement.
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 21, 2019 3:37:54 GMT
"Six between the two of you," she says, matter-of-factly, before her mouth turns up in a small smile. "But, you have a lot of confidence. I like that." She nods curtly. "Very well. I will show you what you're up against."
Sage leads the two through another set of doors, to a medium-large room, an arena set down into the floor. There's not really room for many spectators, unless they wanted to crowd the thin walkway around the top of the place. The Leader hits a button on the wall, and suddenly the empty floor is filled with a released pattern of Pokémon. Lines of three, stretching from each corner and the left and right sides towards the center. Each of them are blank-eyed bugs, just floating there, watching. Each has a different coloured shell, and a symbol upon them, representing an element. It's a house of Shedinja.
"The challenge is simple. I will release my Pokémon. Until you defeat all the others, you will not be able to hurt it. Once you defeat it, you win." She nods. "Just, keep in mind. These Shedinja are elementally infused. Each one has an elemental marker on it. It you do not attack its weakness, you cannot defeat it. Do you still wish to proceed?"
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6,670 posts
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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 Jan 21, 2019 15:55:07 GMT
"Oh, that kind of everything." Mica blinked a few times at the display of creepy sightless floating bug things. Slowly, she touched each ball on her belt, mouth moving without actually vocalizing what was going through her head. When she reached the sixth ball she frowned and shook her head. "If they are all single typed, I don't think we can do this Donovan. Not unless status works too, and even then I'm not really sure. It was a nice climb and a great view at least."
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Post by Breakthelevee on Jan 22, 2019 1:57:27 GMT
Donovan holds up three fingers "Rose, Aster, and Dandelion. I can handle at least 14 of them with just those three" He says confidently "I'll need your help with Dusty and Morganite for the other four"
He looks at Sage with a glint in his eyes "Like I said, I trust my family with my life. I know we can do this"
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 22, 2019 4:47:35 GMT
"Very well, I will take my place on the other side, release my Pokémon, and then we will begin." She walks across the battlefield, down stairs and up the other side, dropping a Pokéball in the center as she passes. Out emerges... another Shedinja. Taking her place on the other side, Sage reaches into a bag by her side, pulling out a book with a gem set in the cover, and holds it up, the stone sparkling. The Shedinja in the middle glows... and then flops to the ground, before a black shadow emerges from the back of the carapace, forming a dark simulacrum of the bug. It shimmers with a rainbow sheen, almost like an oil slick "Alright," Sage calls across, the gym deathly silent. "I hope that you're prepared for this."MapPlace your Pokémon anywhere on the field to begin.
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6,670 posts
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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 Jan 23, 2019 1:09:35 GMT
"Alright Donovan... I'll trust you. Dusty, come on out, we have a room to clear and a new gym to challenge!" Mica releases her Trapinch to the field and considers for a moment.
Dusty acts on 9 after Orders.
"Alright, Dusty, we're going to start strong with a rockslide!"
eGOSbjvu1d20+1 AP Spent, Vs. Fire, Bug, and doesn't matter Shedinja 1d20+1
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Post by Breakthelevee on Jan 23, 2019 2:30:16 GMT
Donovan releases Rose on the other side of the group from Dusty and calls out " Alright Rose, no games this time. Keep the Fairy up at night, will you?" The Roselia tosses a cluster of large seeds at the Fairy Shedinja and hopes they take root. Rose is out with 15 initiative and uses worry seed with a 5 against AC 2 to turn Wonder Guard into Insomnia
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 23, 2019 3:48:59 GMT
Thankfully, Rose's seeds seem to take root, causing some of the colour to leech from the bright pink Shedinja. The one in the center doesn't seem to like that very much, as it glides towards Rose, slashing with a chitinous claw at him, and scoring a hit. "Well, that's not technically against the rules," Sage says, with a tone somewhere fluctuating between approval and disapproval, "And I admire your creativity... it does somewhat undercut the point of the challenge. I would be wary of relying on such tricks forever."Dusty, unfortunately, doesn't have as much success, the rocks crashing down heavily, but not quite aimed properly to crush the bugs. The Trapinch is enthusiastic, but just needs to spend a little more time aiming first. Sage uses Focused Training. Rose hits with Worry Seed. Rose takes 37 damage from Fury Cutter. Dusty misses with Rock Slide.
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6,670 posts
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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 Jan 24, 2019 2:53:16 GMT
"Duuusty...." Mica chided in good humor. "We talked about this! Follow up on Donovan's itchy seed with a Bulldoze and we'll try again when you are ready.
(Dusty moves North, one square South of Ground Shedinja, and hits Poison and Fairy in a Burst 1, ACC 7 vs. A 2+Evasions.)
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