Chapter 1: The Tower on the Cliff

Benji looks around as the others seem to get ready to split up, quickly picking a side. "Well, I won't let Orianne go alone, I guess," he says moving behind the girl but still looking at the others.

"These tunnels don't seem to meet again," he speaks to both groups, "so what do you, guys, say we meet back here in... say... 2 hours? Oh, and let me..." he quickly takes his pokedex and, with quick fingers, sends the pictures of the map to everyone's devices. "There! Try to keep around the green zones, right?" he finally says, moving along to follow Orianne down the left tunnel.

Groups decided, the five of you split up into two smaller groups. Jean-Marie, Robin, and Vess head right, and Orianne and Benji head left.

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Jean-Marie, Robin, Vess

You head deeper into the tunnel, the main path still mostly empty of Pokémon barring the occasional Geodude. You pass the occasional side path, narrow cracks in the cave walls, all of them dead ends according to the map Benji shared. It doesn't take long for Robin and Vess to pick up on the clanging noises Jean-Marie had heard earlier, as they become louder and clearer the deeper you get. As the sounds becomes louder, the three of you realise that it seems faster than you'd expect from a pickaxe or similar tool, a double burst of sounds followed by a slight delay. A couple of minutes of walking, the sounds steadily growing stronger, you come across the side tunnel from which the sounds seem to originate. The mouth and walls of the tunnel seem originally smooth and man made, but they have been picked at at several locations.

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Orianne & Benji
With Sapphire prowling a couple of steps ahead of you, the two of you head deeper into the left tunnel, hoping to find whoever is working there. Ori, you need to call off Sapphire a couple of times from attacking several bats that are simply minding their own business, but you still make steady progress, and it doesn't take too long before you find the side path where the grunting noises seem to originate from. From here, you can hear what seem to be two different voices making the noises, paired with constant thudding sounds. The tunnel is wide and obviously man made. Sapphire's ears perk up at the noises, and she is already heading into the tunnel.

Benji tries to ignore Sapphire's attempts at the bats as they move, studying the map to make sure he is not lost. He's decided to make notes as they move so he knows where they are at all times. Yash is content around his neck, but as soon as the noise gets closer and the meowth becomes more alert, the yungoos drops down to the floor and shares the lead with the feline.

Making a quick note on the bend they are about to take, Benji turns to Orianne as they walk forward. "Do you think these people need help?" he asks, trying not to sound like an ass. "I'm not sure any of us is really suited for mining work..."

Jean-Marie contracts Robin's contagious grin, adopting a slightly crouched position.

"Oooh yes, I can go on ahead and check them out." She slinks off deeper into the tunnel.

Benji considers that for a second. "Humm, that's true. So... You think it's a pokémon, then? Should we get ready for another fight?" he asks, appreciating the fact his pokémon seemed prepared for that already.

He starts looking more carefully around as they approach the grunting sound, a pokeball in one hand and the pokedex in the other.

Jean-Marie whips out her Pokedex and scans the pair as covertly as possible, being sure to put the device on mute.

Jean-Marie puts her 'dex away, silently resolving to catch the little brown one. She returns to the other trainers to report back her findings.

"There are two adorable little burrowing Pokemon up ahead, a Sandshrew and a..." She briefly checks her 'dex history to remind herself "Drilbur. You guys want to try and catch them? I am partial to the Sandshrew, if neither of you are interested."

"Huh... did we interrupt their practice?" Orianne retrieved her 'dex and attempted to scan both of the pokemon, as they appeared non-hostile. At least at the moment.

Benji hears Orianne's pokédex's entries with interest before answering her question. "I think they are waiting for us to challenge them or something. They seem quite... honorable? Maybe they want to duel." he says, watching the fighting pokémon carefully. "Not sure if we want that though. I mean... They have an advantage, right?"

While Benji considers the possibility, waiting for Orianne to answer, Yash takes position ready for a fight, facing the machop but still holding back. Barely.