Chapter 1: The Tower on the Cliff

Benji is more chirpy than usual as the trio travels through the path, as it's his first time crossing the mountains and the excitement is clear on his face. He makes small talk, using his pokédex to take photos and record parts of the trek, although his mood does get somber at times when he checks to see if he has any messages to Vess and learns there are none. Still, the walk is pleasant with his two companions, and Yash looks eager to explore as well, abandoning his usual spot on Benji's neck to run alongside the mountain walls sniffing at bushes and holes.

When the group arrives at the apparent blockage, he initially thinks nothing about it until Robin mentions a possible trap. "What?" he asks with a confused expression. "Who would want to ambush whom? Isn't this normal in mountains, like landslides and all that. I read about it somewhere..." he says, quickly going through the pamphlets in his bag before giving up with a sigh. "Well, nevermind. Oh, I think I know who can help us!" he says with a grin, grabbing a pokéball and releasing his machop.

"Hey, buddy! How are you feeling, rested enough?" he says, patting the pokémon's head. "So, we have a situation here that could use someone who's really strong. That clearly isn't me, right?" he smiles and points at the debris. "We need to clear that out. Wanna help with the heavier ones?"

Robin chuckles at the altruism of his companions before lowering Rowan to the ground and releasing Aubrey.

"You two be okay to keep an eye out for anything weird while we work?" he asks, eliciting a firm nod - of his second, vestigial head, since his main one had his legs attached - from Rowan and an affirmative hum from Aubrey, the little bug relishing the sunlight she had so recently discovered.

That done, Robin rolls up his sleeves and sets to work helping - while he's always been a bit ashamed of how little his rough lifestyle has helped his physical prowess, he has enough strength to help a little. Besides, as the only one of his team with hands, he figures he'd better do something to help.

Cocking her head to the side, the young trainer points out the hidden Pokemon to her companions.

"It seems a few of these rocks may have some opinions about being moved." She approaches the Geodude slowly but harmlessly. "Hello little stone, would you mind moving you and your friend out of the way? This road is traveled often by humans and you are liable to being disturbed again."

Jean-Marie steps out of the way in the nick of time as the boulder careens past her. "Someone is upset, I see. Souris, help me out here!" The Sandshrew stops digging and faces the angry rock, her claws lengthening into deadly blades.

The Dwebble flinches back slightly, but its hard rock shell easily absorbs most of the blow. In retaliation, it swipes at Maha with its claws.

1d20·2d6+19

After Robin's feint, Jean-Marie curls her ball into a fist, pulling wisps of shadow from the rubble pile. A shadowy boulder coalesces around her fist and she smashes it into the jaw of the 'dude. As she does that, Souris takes a swipe of her own as the rock tries to deflect Jean-Marie's strike.

Actions:


1d20·2d6+20·1d20

The Dwebble cries out as Rowan rams into it, chips of its shell breaking off.

The Geodude, looking caught off guard by Robin's behaviour, continues to express its aggression towards Jean-Marie, as it tucks its arms in and rolls at her, using its momentum to land behind her... or at least, it tries to, as instead it goes wide and slams into the wall, chunks of rock flying loose.

1d20·1d8+19·1d2·1d20

Maha keeps beating on the dwebble with quick jabs, especially since Rowan comes to compete for the enemy.

Action
1d20·2d6+23

Robin raises an eyebrow at the Geodude's focus on Jean-Marie and Souris, figuring it might be a good idea to try and draw some heat away from her.

"Hey, no need to be like that, Geo M'dude!" He says as he scampers around the fray. "You seem like a sporting type - and real tough, to boot." He whirls around and kicks a loose pebble at it, trying to get its attention. "So, maybe you should pick on someone your own size, huh?"

Unfortunately, a moment later, he realizes he missed the mark, both literally and figuratively - the pebble flies far over the Geodude's head and, in both literal size and power, Jean-Marie is far closer to the Geodude that he is. Still, she suppresses a wince at the failure, keeping her confident demeanor up.1d20·1d20·3d6