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Post by sandsofazorin on Mar 28, 2016 23:44:00 GMT
Dumani merely gave the Captain a look when he suggested leaving Elias behind. "Makes sense, back home anybody who got lost in the forest was considered dead." He shrugged as he called back his Stantler. But then again this forest seemed much, much smaller than the one back home. He merely sighed as he began to poke around the edge, looking for some good quality wood to make arrow shafts.
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Post by twilightkiwi on Mar 29, 2016 3:00:55 GMT
Erias' curiosity about the dead man's travels - and his relationship with his Pokemon - was certainly piqued, but he had lingered longer than he should have already. Perhaps he would have the opportunity to pursue his questions on that front later. For now, he agreed with his impromptu guide; it was time to move on. He then stashed away the man's knife as well after a moment's thought, brushed his hands over lifeless eyes to close them out of respect, and took to his feet to begin following the Leafeon once more.
"If you wish it," he murmured hesitantly to the reptile as they walked, "you're welcome to travel with me. I can't say it will be any less dangerous than whatever mission your former master was on. And he and I were technically enemies - I don't know if that matters to you now. It may be different than where you came from, but this forest seems like an ideal environment for you... if you prefer it I'll simply release you here, and you can make a new home for yourself unbeholden to any human. Perhaps the Leafeon would be willing to take you in, even." He knew he was rambling a bit, and most Pokemon couldn't completely comprehend a long-winded human speech, but from experience he knew the link would usually be enough for it to get the underlying meaning of what he was saying.
"... but if you wish to stay with me, I'll take care of you to the best of my ability. I'll need worthy Pokemon for my future as a Ranger. It won't be easy, but together we can become strong." Falling silent for a while, he gave the Treecko some time to think, is own thoughts wandering back to the Eevee. He quickened his pace a bit to come alongside the Leafeon. "I extend the same offer to your family as well. If your child wishes to broaden its experience of the world, to become stronger, to know itself better - I would welcome another partner. I already know it gets on well with Anima, after all!"
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Post by Ursus on Mar 29, 2016 18:12:04 GMT
Erias
His grassy companions listen intently to Erias' offer, then spend some time communicating in the broken way that different species can convey their intents. Its a little hard to understand everything - even the strong link of a powerful channeler isn't perfect - but ultimately they focus their attention back to the human.
The treecko nods its acceptance of Erias' invitation - a distinctly human action that it must have picked up from its dead master. Erias can tell why. There's too much violence in this young pokemon's heart already, and the eevee family is much more peaceful. The treecko would be restless, living a life of evasion and peace. And the leafeon's own pups are still too young - they may see the world some day, but that day is far off.
Erias finally breaks the treeline and catches sight of the rest of the party. He can tell there is some tension between Connor and Captain Mutt, but everyone sees him arrive. The leafeon has vanished. Mutt's mouth hangs agape - clearly he wasn't expecting Connor to return so casually.
"Well, slap me in a jumpsuit and call me Clefairy! What the hell have you been doing?"
Connor and Dumani
Captain Mutt's expression is difficult to read. He smiles, but it seems to be both wry and mocking at the same time.
"I'd like the kid to show up, but if he dies, he dies. Such is the life of a Ranger. If I die out in the woods, you'd do well not to waste time coming for me."
He looks up, then. The 'kid' in question has apparently not perished out in the darkened forest. In fact, he looks perfectly healthy, quite chipper, with a treecko waddling along next to him. Mutt's mouth hangs agape - considering the shape the other two 'superior' Rangers returned in, how did Erias survive longer with less injury?
"Well, slap me in a jumpsuit and call me Clefairy! What the hell have you been doing?"
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Post by Lockdown on Mar 29, 2016 21:32:02 GMT
Connor's sour look at Mutt's casual disregard for the well-being of both himself and potentially the three trainees under him lightens when he sees Erias emerge, hale and unmarked. "By the looks of things captain, I'd say that he managed to come out better than Dumani and myself combined, if he caught a mon without a scratch."
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Post by twilightkiwi on Mar 31, 2016 3:10:33 GMT
"I don't know if you had a name before, but I've got to call you something," Erias chatted with the Treecko as the got closer - he was fairly sure, at least - to where he'd split off from the others. The reptile was moving with agile ease through the underbrush, and Erias noted with appreciation its quick movements. "How about... you be my Vanguard?" The Treecko cocked its head to the side, seemingly in consideration, then gave a curt nod in acceptance. It didn't seem particularly excited about the name, but it seemed it would do. Perhaps its previous owner hadn't bothered to give it one before?
It wasn't much longer before he finally emerged from the forest, offering a final grateful farewell to the Leafeon before it left the range of the link. "I wouldn't say I caught a Pokemon," the young noble murmured a bit sheepishly as he rejoined the others, rubbing the back of his head. He was a bit confused about their reaction to his appearance until he noticed how bedraggled the other two trainees looked. Apparently, while they'd been successful, they'd obtained new partners through more traditional means.
He quickly summarized what he had discovered with the Leafeon family's help, retrieving the sealed scroll case from his pack and offering it to the Captain. "I figured it was better to wait to open it until I handed it over. What do you think the chances are it's relevant to our mission, sir?" Vanguard watched their exchange with mild curiosity; Erias encouraged Anima to introduce their new friend to Beacon while the Rangers conversed.
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Post by sandsofazorin on Mar 31, 2016 3:17:16 GMT
"Heh, never doubt a Mystic..." Dumani thought to himself with a smile as he watched Erais come out of the woods with a green lizard thing. When he finished making his shafts, he put them away in his quiver for later. But the most interesting thing Erias had was a scroll, evidently belong to the people they were after. "Strange, I wouldn't expect them to be that far in the forest..." He said, pondering to himself as he began to adjust Yuna's Saddle.
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Post by Lockdown on Mar 31, 2016 4:08:27 GMT
"It's really impressive still. Especially since you did it without getting hurt at all. I mean I managed to avoid getting hurt personally, but only because Woolzy here took the blow instead." Connor gives the bandaged Mareep a scratch at the base of his horns, ignoring the crackle of static electricity with the ease of long practice. When the scroll case is produced, he looks at it intently, putting aside his trepidation about "Mutt's" attitude towards them. "Perhaps a scout? Or someone relaying a message to a spy?"
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Post by Ursus on Mar 31, 2016 17:43:41 GMT
Mutnegra accepts the case, but lingers before opening it, clearly considering the information.
"Well, you did well," he finally admits. "All of you."
With a twist, he opens the case and slides its contents into his palm - a sheet of parchment unfurls, unsurprisingly, and he scans its message before debriefing his charges.
"Well, kiddos. Seems this guy came from the Frozen Wastes. Doesn't say what they're doing up there, but its a request for reinforcements from a training camp in the Woods nearby. The camp sounds like a pretty soft target. I'm thinking we might find an officer there, and some enemy soldiers that could be neutralized before they have a chance to kill our wives and children."
He pauses at that.
"That's a bit dramatic, I guess. Still, it seems like a logical target for us to hit. Or we could just wait for another clue about their intentions to fall into our lap. We'll have to recover a bit, first, but if we stick together I doubt they'll stand a chance. Thoughts?"
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Post by Lockdown on Mar 31, 2016 22:55:17 GMT
Connor nods. "Any idea how long it'd take us to find the camp captain? With my mon as banged up as they are, might not be as useful in a fight as they would be otherwise. Though Woolzy and I can help to lock down our final target with paralysis when we get there."
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Post by Ursus on Mar 31, 2016 23:35:50 GMT
Mutt strokes his chin, then peers into the pitch forest.
"We've had intelligence of activity a few kilometers southwest of here - its why I picked this spot to go in. I'd wager that's where it is. We can rest the night and probably get there before noon tomorrow morning. If we do go after this target, I've got a little more medical gear I can allocate so we're at top shape. If we pass, we should hang onto the bandages and such and take it easy. The body's a wonderful thing."
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Post by twilightkiwi on Apr 2, 2016 15:33:31 GMT
Erias beamed at the praise, blushing a bit under the attention. Though it was a irrational, he almost felt guilty that he and his Pokemon were unscathed by the day's explorations, but he supposed it was something to take pride in. "I should be able to help find the camp if you can give us a general area to search. I'm still a journeyman tracker, but I think it'll be enough if they're not making a major effort to hide its location." The state of his fellow trainees' Pokemon was another reminder that this was the real world, not a training exercise - they could and would get injured, and their lives would constantly be at risk. Erias had no love for bloodshed, and that attitude was reflected in the defensive nature of his powers; but a Ward couldn't afford to be a pacifist when the world was already at war. He didn't look forward to the violence he would have to commit in the defense of crown and country. But he wouldn't shy from it either. The best he could hope for was to keep his allies alive, and make the deaths of Galla's enemies swift and merciful.
Besides, he had to admit he was more than a little excited for a true test of his prowess in battle, a sentiment Anima grudgingly shared.
"Rest seems like the best idea, but we should wait no longer than necessary. If we linger too long, they'll eventually notice their courier is missing - or find the body - and be on guard for treachery. Perhaps retire early tonight, and come in under the cover of midnight before the sun rises?" Erias stretched out his arms and flexed his fingers. "Even if you're not fully recovered by then, I will do my best to prevent any truly grievous injury. My magic's not the same as healing, but it will save us some medical supplies in the long run."
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Post by sandsofazorin on Apr 2, 2016 17:10:53 GMT
Unlike his companions, Dumani had almost no strong feelings of loyalty to Galla. So when Mutt began talking about how they'll invade the land, he rolled his eyes. Still, he was willing to go after this camp, if they so wanted. He bit his tongue slightly when Erais mentioned he was a tracker. But he did make a good suggestion when it came to the camp. "Erais brings up a good point. Hitting the camp at night ensure we get in close, and get an element of surprise." He added, before finishing up his saddle fixing on Yuna.
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Post by Lockdown on Apr 2, 2016 17:40:57 GMT
Connor nods at the others. "I'm okay with waiting for nightfall, it'll give the bandages a chance to take effect. Though, um, could I please have one other roll captain? My newest mon is slightly less injured than Woolzy, so if I bandage him now, he should be good to go by the time we're ready to strike." Connor looks horrifically embarrassed at having to ask this.
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Post by Ursus on Apr 3, 2016 11:56:18 GMT
Mutt nods.
"Sounds reasonable. We'll rest for a few hours, take rotating shifts as guards. Six hours from now will take us past midnight but well before dawn."
He rifles through his saddlebags a little more before handing Connor another roll of bandages and a full heal. Then he produces a potion for Erias and for Dumani.
Day Two: Early Morning
The Riders rest fairly well, keeping safe in numbers. The ground is soft and the night is a bit on the warm side with a slight breeze. Once everyone is awake, Mutt makes a quick check of the supplies, then recalls his ponyta into the ball.
"Once we enter the forest, we should keep chatter to a minimum. We don't want to risk provoking wild pokemon before we get there. Keep your 'mon balled, unless they're whisper quiet or we engage." He taps the quartet of pokeballs he keeps at his hip, though it seems like a nervous habit more than a gesture. "Dumani and Erias will lead the way, Connor and I will bring up the rear. Might be hard to find footprints in the dark, but there will be other signs when we are close, and they'll have lights on that will shine in the darkness."
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Post by twilightkiwi on Apr 3, 2016 15:49:18 GMT
Following on Dumani's heels, Erias let the experienced hunter take the lead. He moved in a low, almost crouched stance, eyes trained on the moonlit forest floor for signs of human passage, his lessons vivid in his mind as he darted from cover to cover. Though the Captain's warning about their Pokemon was a sound one, Erias felt the benefits of having Vanguard active outweighed the risks. The gecko Pokemon was small, blended with the foliage, and moved unhindered through the forest. Through the link, Erias was currently seeing through its eyes as well as his own - it had taken a lot of practice to do so without getting disoriented, and even now he could only manage it with one Pokemon at a time. At the moment it was hopping through the canopy from tree to tree, keeping watch for nocturnal Pokemon. 1 AP - Binding Shared Senses with Vanguard.
Survival with Navigation Skill Stunt: DCGE_YEL3d6+8 3d6+8
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Post by Lockdown on Apr 6, 2016 3:55:52 GMT
Connor takes the time they rest to work with Fuerte and Pyre, getting to know the quirks of his newly acquired mon, and putting both of them through their paces. He brings Woolzy out for some full-group training as it gets dark, but only manages to really get in a few short, albeit somewhat ruthless, bits before Mutt has him put the Mareep away, the softly glowing ball on his tail too much of a risk as dusk fell. Once the time came, Connor fell into step beside Mutt, doing his best to stay quiet as they trailed the woodsman and the mystic. Applied Experiance training to Pyre and Fuerte, Pyre is now level 7. Applied Brutal Training to all of Connor's mon.
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Post by sandsofazorin on Apr 6, 2016 4:34:14 GMT
Dumani was among the last rotation for the shift, but he didn't mind much. It gave him time to let himself be fully awake. He couldn't afford a slip-up because he was groggy on the job. Once the group was ready to go, he balled Yuna and pushed on ahead. Calling out Stantler seemed like a good idea, due to the pokemon being like him, stealthy and quiet. However he didn't feel like using him until the time was right. He took a look behind him and saw that Erias had allowed him to take the lead. It made sense, he could easily pick out something lurking in the forest. He didn't seemed to slow down when he hit some rough foliage, nor did he seem to make any sounds. He was in his element, a hunt that brought memories of the night hunts in Ohtar. Hopefully Mutt and Conner would be following close-by, too risky to leave marks for them. Perception: ydpE6xXe4d6+2
Stealth: 3d6+6
Survival: 4d6+2
4d6+2·3d6+6·4d6+2
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Post by Ursus on Apr 7, 2016 13:18:16 GMT
Erias and Dumani make a fair team, navigating the forest and keeping a lookout for any danger. They catch signs of some elusive pokemon scampering away at their approach. While Dumani knows he's not likely to be noticed, there are still three men stomping along behind him. He moves further ahead of the group and catches the flicker of a campfire through a thinning treeline ahead. Taking a moment, he can see the outlines of several wooden buildings and tents. This is definitely the place.
Connor has some more time to observe Mutt. In contrast to his abrasive, rambling attitude on the road, he's quiet now, alert, and even harder to read. The merchant scion knows enough about people to know there's more to this man than would be first apparent. . . either that or Mutt's mentally unstable.
At one point, Captain Mutnegra taps Erias on the shoulder, whispering as he points to the treecko.
"You're gonna put him away before we have to fight these guys, right?"
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Post by twilightkiwi on Apr 7, 2016 16:26:41 GMT
So focused on his surroundings, Erias had almost tuned out his companions, and had to suppress a yelp of surprise when the Captain got his attention. After a moment's consideration, he nodded. "I was mostly using him for the extra pair of eyes," Erias responded in a whisper, pointing to his own; Mutt had presumably been informed of Erias' ability to share his senses with his Pokemon. "But regardless of any untested loyalties, I'd rather rely on Anima in battle for now until I know more about what Vanguard is capable of."
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Post by sandsofazorin on Apr 7, 2016 17:52:21 GMT
Dumani was quick to establish a lookout position as he waited for Mutt and Conner to catch up. Judging from the number of buildings and tents, he would have to guess that it was about twenty, maybe thirty people. He hoped he was wrong. Once he saw that Mutt and Conner had caught up, he quickly approached the captain. "Mutt, I'm gonna skirt around and find some higher ground. If you engage I'll provide cover fire." He whisper, plainly stating his intentions.
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