Episode #1: The Beginning

Satisfied that he had picked correctly, Virgil answered the sudden change of topic. Politely of course. "Oh. We hadn't seen him yet. We've been busy looking around the stalls. Maybe we'll see him after his speech?" He directs the question at his two companions. He wasn't entirely convinced by Eevee's explanation of Simisear's exploits. It would be fun meeting such a famous explorer... that he'd never really heard of. Kyria was always the one who heard about these things. Well that could wait. "Want to look around some more? We've got a little bit of time before the he speaks." Virgil is eyeing some stalls further down the way. Not really interested in buying but maybe they had something to inspire?

"Famous?" She exclaims excitedly, wanting to know more of the flaming chimp. "What did he do? Is he really that awesome? What can he do? What did he find? Does he like building things? What's his favourite colo-" Her questions, however, still at Auntie Miltank's exclamation.

Like a Mothim to a Litwick, she swung into the crowd with her stickly silk threads and began to follow the explorer's lead, hiding herself in the shadows of the streets.






3d6

"Here ya go!" Kyria exchanges the money for the beads, not giving the houndour any attention, putting them around her wrist. She then looks to the two of them, "I'll just follow you two". She looks around quickly once more, although her jaws were more in line this time so they weren't flailing with her head.

"Oof" Virgil is knocked to the side as the trio browse the stalls. He ends up tumbling since he can't exactly change momentum mid-air. The curse of hopping everywhere! He manages to see who it is from the ground. "They could have at least watched where they were going..." He says, as he starts to get up. Virgil takes the pearl from his head to use as a mirror to survey the damage. Oh... The fall had ended up mussing his coat up in several places, have lost the sheen he'd had earlier. He spends a moment straightening himself out, taking a brush from his bag for juts such an occasion. In no time, Virgil is once again perfect, he practically sparkles. "Where do you think they were going?"

"No need to apologize." She does look a little embarrassed now; she'd only meant to use herself as an example, not make Cubone feel guilty about her injury. She lowers her head a little, not quite sure what to say next. "Probably be better off joining the Guild, if only for someone to watch your back if you do go-"

She cuts herself off as the crowd starts to move around them, raising her head to follow the flow of other Pokémon with her gaze. "Didn't think the speech was supposed to start yet. Why is he headed for the Mystery Dungeon?" Her brow furrows a little behind her mask. That seems a little strange. It's quite possible she lost track of time, of course, but that doesn't explain the movement toward the dungeon. She glances over at the other Cubone. "Want to go see what's going on?"

Vrigil is pretty good at guessing that Kyria wants to be where the action is. He was interested as well. It might be that the Great Simisear could give them some tips on adventuring. "Let's go see what he does," he says excitedly. Virgil starts to hop off after the Eevee and the rest of the pack following Simisear. The stalls would still be here when they got back right? They'd have all day to check them out.

Kyria, Lewis, Virgil & Franzeska

The crowd are generally muttering excitedly to each other; even without trying you pretty quickly are able to figure out that Simisear and his 'noble assistants,' as Simisear apparently called them, are going to explore the nearby Mystery Dungeon to find a lost item. Just what item it is no-one seems to quite be sure of; suggestions range from lost toys to fragments of a Totem.

Simisear seems slightly puzzled by the abrupt arrival of Lewis, looking down at the Eevee with a somewhat bemused expression. He seems to bite back whatever he was first about to say before giving an obviously-forced chuckle. "Hoho, excellent work there, little boy!" You're...not quite sure whether he's trying to be patronising, but he certainly manages.

Melanie

"It isn't, and if they're trying to get to the town square they're going the wrong way," the other Cubone replies. "And while I wouldn't put getting lost in the middle of a town past Simisear," he adds with a snort, "some of these guys have been here before. Sure; let's go. Beats getting made by my mom to help set up chairs."

Everyone

It's not long before Simisear and his entourage arrive at the entrance to the Mystery Dungeon, which is denoted by a wooden sign someone has helpfully set up. The sign stands in front of what, at first glance, looks like an entirely normal grass verge, surrounded on either side by thick hedges. Simisear looks down at Lewis. "I'm afraid you'll have to stay behind now. This is grown-up work." This comment gets a bit of a snort from the Cubone accompanying Melanie.

"And," adds a Chimchar that has been accompanying Simisear, in a rather nasal tone, "if you don't have an Exploration Gadget synchronised to ours, the Dungeon would separate you from us anyway."

"Not to worry, folks!" Simisear calls out, more loudly. "Such a dungeon holds no fear for the Great Simisear! I will return in time to give my speech! For now, please, enjoy the rest of your festival!"

Melanie has to admit that her dislike of Simisear's reputation... was certainly borne up in person. She isn't exactly big on public speaking herself, but she's pretty sure she could manage to address a crowd without making it sound like she thinks she's above every single one of them. And that sycophantic Chimchar there... of course, there's always one. Somebody like Simisear probably couldn't survive without a toady.

She cocks her head as she looks over the Eevee who got dismissed, wandering toward the little knot of Pokémon. Poor kid - though he doesn't look like that much of a kid, really. A little on the young side for a full-up Explorer, but nothing that out of the ordinary. If there was ever a guy who deserved a smack... She shakes her head, addressing the Eevee. "Sorry we had to see that. Nobody deserves to get put down like that in front of everyone."

Of course, with the markings painted on her mask and the rattling beads on her bone, Melanie probably presents a pretty barbaric picture wandering up, despite her low, soft voice. Sometimes she forgets that not everybody's used to her clan's little... traditions.

Virgil was a little disappointed. He'd been hoping that Simisear might actually tell them something interesting. Well it wasn't a big deal. "I guess we go enjoy the festival like he said. Maybe he'll share some tips then?" He shrugs. "We can always explore it later right?"

He was about to hop back to the stalls when the oddly dressed Cubone showed up. The designs were cool...but still, Virgil's own outfit was way better. Virgil sits in a steamy silence at being snubbed. Why hadn't the Eevee drawn him? Simisear sure but why her?