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Post by oddeyes on Nov 13, 2016 2:59:16 GMT
The glowing lights, despite being spooky, were pretty mesmerizing. It was almost like they could draw you in. Tiki then blinked, and found herself leaning forward. She leaned back, and shook her head. "Huh? Wha? That was weird....Um..Clay, maybe you shouldn't be so close to those!"
Focus Check to resist being drawn in: |VPhNpkX1-61-61-61-6·1-6·1-6
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Post by carnackiArdent on Nov 13, 2016 3:06:26 GMT
Clay shakes his head as he starts feeling sleepy. He manages to shake the feeling off, but that <Em>is</em> proof that something odd is going on. He backs away just a little, frowning. "Did anybody else feel sleepy for a minute there?"He looks around at the lights suspiciously. Did they do that...? Focus check to stay awake: 15! |
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May 31, 2023 21:25:23 GMT
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Post by Raven on Nov 13, 2016 3:11:19 GMT
As you start to back away, you notice that the flames appear to be floating candles. With faces. Maybe they're a Pokemon?
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Post by UmbralHero on Nov 13, 2016 8:08:33 GMT
The lights are endlessly transfixing, but Sano manages to shake off approaching them.
"Wow, what are those? They look at least part fire type, but that spectral fire is off-putting..."
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Post by oddeyes on Nov 13, 2016 17:31:34 GMT
Tiki stares at the tiny candles. "Hmmm...Are they flying type, or maybe..." Tiki perks up, and puts her fist into her palm. "Oh! Since it's fire, why don't we bring one back to the guild? We knock out one of our goals, and I'm sure the guild would like to see these mysterious things."
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Post by Raven on Nov 13, 2016 17:53:41 GMT
The floating candles remain where they are, getting no closer to the party, but also no further away.
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Post by carnackiArdent on Nov 14, 2016 5:19:28 GMT
"Yeah! They want me to bring back a Fire-type, let's see them get a load of this!"He hops closer to the candles, smiling brightly and holding out a hand. Sandy is close on his heels, though, just in case they don't return his friendliness. He makes a few monkey-like chittering noises that pass for Pokémon-speak, trying to connect with them and get a sense for what they're after. Hi there! You're interesting-looking!Trying to Channel a candle! If they're hostile enough that a roll is needed, I rolled a 16.
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Post by Raven on Nov 14, 2016 6:03:51 GMT
It takes a moment, but you are able to "connect" with one of the candles, getting the sense that they are not actually hostile at all, just curious about the strange creatures that wandered into their territory (the swamp). They all sort of chatter at you at once when the news spreads that you can (sort-of) speak their language. After managing to convince them that you can't understand them when they all talk at once, the biggest one of them decides to be the "spokes-candle".
"Hello, strange creature! What are you and why are you here?"
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Post by oddeyes on Nov 14, 2016 18:23:53 GMT
Tiki hides behind Sano, peeks over his shoulder, and watches Clay and the candles. Tiki speaks too loudly near Sano's ear, "What are they saying!?"
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Post by carnackiArdent on Nov 14, 2016 21:48:22 GMT
I'm Clay! I'm a human. So are they! He gestures behind him to indicate Sano, Tiki, and the apparently out-of-it Divini. We're adventurers! We came to explore, and figure out... uh...
He pauses uncertainly and looks back at the others. "They want to know why we're here! They're just curious, I think. Um... what was it we were supposed to be investigating?"
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Post by UmbralHero on Nov 15, 2016 19:24:57 GMT
Sano shakes off being stunned, remembering that Clay was raised by Pokemon, so speaking to them was "normal".
"Uh, investigating the strange lights." He stammers, fixated on the very strange lights in front of him. "Clay, what do they want?"
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Post by oddeyes on Nov 15, 2016 21:55:18 GMT
Tiki scratches her head, "Umm...I think we came to investigate the lights, and a 'psychic disturbance' or whatever. Ask them if they know anything about that. Oh! Also if we can take one home!"
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Post by carnackiArdent on Nov 15, 2016 22:10:28 GMT
"I said already, they're just curious. I don't think they've seen humans before." He's being a little naive here - more likely they just don't usually see humans for very long... Clay turns back to the Litwick. We're here to check out the lights, and a... He has absolutely no idea how to convey "psychic disturbance". Some Pokémon language probably has a word for it but it's not one he's ever needed. And a place that's really weird. Do you know any place like that around here? Oh, and we're looking for Pokémon to join up with us! I bet you guys are strong - any of you want to get out of the swamp, come see the world?He's aiming to talk one of them into joining the team, but it's vague and quite possibly missing the mark. Charm roll: 3.
... Yeah, I didn't think 'til after I rolled that Clay could use Intuition for this, whoops.
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Post by Raven on Nov 16, 2016 4:08:39 GMT
The floating, ghostly candles do, in fact, know of a 'weird place'. To them, it's a good weird though. It may or may not be what you're looking for. They say it's "nearby", but when you're a floating candle, distance is relative. Add to that, the fact that Wild Pokemon (especially ghosts) usually don't have a sense of time beyond "day" and "night", and you have a perfect recipe for wandering off and getting lost in the swamp. That being said, they don't know what "out of the swamp" is. They've been here as long as any of them can remember, and never thought about what may lie beyond. Never saw a need to.
Everyone needs to roll Focus to continue resisting the urge to draw closer to the "ghost lights" (for that is likely what they are).
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Post by oddeyes on Nov 16, 2016 4:25:38 GMT
Tiki continues to stare at the pretty candles, but once again snaps out of a daze of feeling like she's getting pulled in. She then shakes her head, rubs her eyes, and with a groan, "Uggghh...Guys, I feel weird looking at those things...We should move on soon. So, what do they know?"
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Post by UmbralHero on Nov 17, 2016 20:30:12 GMT
Sano shakes his head, dismissing the allure of the candles.
"I'm all for investigating this disturbance, but let's make sure we keep a comfortable distance from our new friends. Something about them rubs me the wrong way." He mumbles to Tiki, trying to stay out of earshot. He isn't sure if the Candles are listening in, and isn't about to find out.
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Post by carnackiArdent on Nov 19, 2016 4:05:23 GMT
Clay is a little discouraged that his initial attempts at finding a candle curious enough to see the world have fallen flat, but at least they've got an idea. "I think they might have a lead on the disturbance. But humans are a lot more specific about directions than Pokémon. They say it's close..."
He leans in. Which way to that place? He gestures around, trying to get a fix on where the candle creatures might be thinking of. "Nearby", sure, but poor non-floating humans might wind up needing to take a roundabout route to get there. He's also still trying to think of a way to bag one... might have to haul off and challenge them, which could mean fighting the whole pack. Did candles come in packs?
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Post by Raven on Nov 19, 2016 23:29:28 GMT
The candles say it is on the other side of the swamp from here. Not difficult for them ('cause, y'know, floating), but much more difficult for poor, non-floating humans. (It'd be Point 16 on the map.)
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Post by carnackiArdent on Nov 21, 2016 4:58:01 GMT
"Okay, I think they're saying it's way off on the other side over there." Clay points vaguely westward. It looks like quite a hike for humans, especially since he suspects some of those areas in a direct line are probably not safe to walk on.
"Should we check it out? Looks like Divini's still out of it but we could try anyway, somebody might like the info."
Meanwhile, Clay is still scoping out the candles for possible companionship. He tries a different tack, since appealing to curiosity doesn't seem to have gotten a lot of results. I bet you guys are pretty strong. Which one of you is the strongest, though?
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Post by Raven on Nov 21, 2016 5:44:55 GMT
The candles don't quite understand the question. They're as strong as they need to be. Despite this statement, they are of varying sizes. It follows that the biggest one is likely the "oldest", and therefore the "strongest".
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