Main Campaign layer thread!

Jamie checks the back of her Pokedex with no small amount of satisfaction, before pocketing the device and closing her eyes to savor the moment. She'd been working towards this for a long time now, and finally she'd be able to go out on her own... well, almost. Opening her eyes, she turns to her two companions. "Hey, you guys ready to get going? I already got all my stuff together and Speedy travels light, so I'm ready to hit the road when you are." The Venipede on her shoulder buzzes in what's more than likely an agreement.

Holding the letter from his mom, he reread it once more as he was about to set of.

'We all wish we could be there to see you off, good luck Orin! Love Mom'

Along side the note was a family photo, a bit older now, but with his brother off on his own journey, it was one of the most recent times they were all together. Orin folded the note and tucked it away into a secure pocket on his vest, zipping it in place. His attencion snapped back to the group and the world around him as he recieved his pokedex. "Thank you very much."

He fiddled with the device for a moment, flipping through the menus and getting a sence of the thing. This was yet another gift he recieved all his own, not even a second hand, or last gen model. Orin was still getting used to having new things, and such exquisite possessions at that. The pokedex still pales on comparison to the catalog he'd been handed some time ago, where essentially he was given the ability to choose his new best friend. That same best friend was standing beside him now, a little Pawniard named Rook.

Illuminating the screen of the dex, Orin decided to give it a practical test run. Pointing it at the purple monkey on the rooftop with one hand, and waving back with the other, he initiated a scan. His attention was pulled back down by Rook who was tugging at the hem of his shirt. Rook was staring at the Tritwig gobbling down food hungrily. "Alright Rook," he reached into his bag pulling out a similar jar of baby food, and passing it to Rook, "but eat it slow, remember you manners."

Pleased to receive the treat, the Pawniard sliced of the top in one swift motion and went to dip his blade for his first bite. The two looked at each other for a moment, a look of disapproval painted Orin's face. Slightly embarrassed, Rook skewered the discarded lid on the ground and disposed of it properly. "Good boy," Orin cheered, as Rook when back to eating quite proud of himself.

It seemed Jamie and Skylar were ready and eager to set off. "Don't let me hold us back. Let's go!"

Turning back to everyone gathered, "thanks for the support everyone," adding to Nuse Joy, "I'm sure we'll see each other soon enough. Keep a light on for us."

"What do you think Rook, should we get a taste for battling in the wild?"

"Pawn!" he exclaimed, ready to dart into the tall grass.

"hold up," to the whole group, "maybe we should all train for ourselves first."

(OOC: I'm suggesting we do our daily training before a wild encounter, to bulk up and get our Training Order in place for the day)

Skylar nodded, as he sat down in the short grass. He pulled out his grooming kit and began to brush the Turtwig. The pokemon woke up and let out a small, yet tired noise of content as his trainer groomed him. As his 'training' continued, Skylar began to sing a small song.

"There once was a Turtwig, small and slow.
She waddled behind Mama, eyes full of light.
One day that Turtwig will grow
And be as strong as her."

Skylar finished, humming the second verse as he began to play with the limbs of the Turtwig. While he might not seem to be taking the training session seriously, he was placing the foundations for success on his Mon.

(Inspired Training + Empowered Development)

Guile Roll to hide his training plan: bVvbbfaV3d6 3d6

Noticing what Skylar is doing, but also recognizing that fact that he is actively hiding it; Orin decided to keep it to himself. 'That's no way to build a friendship' he thought.

Unoffended by Jamie's desire to hunt alone, Orin tugged on his pack straps. "We should make sure all of our pokedexes are connected, and stay within shouting distance should we need each other."

Thinking for a moment, "should we set a time to meet back up at the pokemon center or something?"

It struck Orin as odd, he never had younger siblings, and now he had no one to look to, they were all on their own; together. Already, his journey has yielded growth; standing on his own two feet, and considering the wellbeing of others. He felt a sense of responsibility for his new friends and companions, for the first time, he felt like a big brother.

Faceing the woods fills you with a sense of dread, the tall, imposing trees darkening the thickly cut underbrush. The few meters from the grasslands is merely difficult to traverse, sparce trees and hip-high foliage, but deeper, further away from the road that leads through the Winding Trail, is dense woodlands. A mere meter of progress in it is the same as three on the open road, unless you have the practice with it. Still, the scouting you provide returns you almost immediate results. These woods are thick with Ekans, each having carved out it's own little territory it fiercely defends. The poison types have been surging as of late, and have all but choked out most of the other kinds of pokemon in the areas they have infested. It is not long before you are beset by hissing sounds from the darkened woods, mere meters ahead.