Episode 1: The Trial

Keno tried to play it off like he knew the store was normilanium, thought he still didn't know what the other Z crystal was good for. Something still wasn't right, the professor seemed all too unconcerned with The Spirit cracking jokes about loogies. "Professor, you didn't set up any holograms in the other room? Nobody gave us the stones, they were just on the floor, after we picked them up, the image of a man appeared, along with a thriving menagerie of wild pokemon."

Keno paused, thinking if the professor didn't know about, or set up those events, things just got a lot weirder, and maybe this trial wasn't actually as safe as he expected. He found his words and continued. "There were all kinds of pokemon, Deerling, Ursaring, Baskalin and more all in full color 3D. There were just living out a vibrant life, wholly unaware of us. This sounds out there, even thinking it, but they were incorporeal; there and simultaniously not there. A fish swam right through me at one point."

He used his arm depicting a swimming fish moving under his arm. Taking another moment to ground himself by petting Gypsy; a solid fully here pokemon, he tried his best to describe what he saw. "The Spirit was the only one that acknowledged us and interacted with is, not physically mind you, Verbally. He spoke of connecting with the land and the pokemon, wanting us to protect some 'Great Mystery,'" holding up the unidentified Z Stone, "he called these 'Spirit Stones' -and said something about living in rocks?" Keno was less sure about that last part.

Pause for Dramatic effect... and to see if the Professor though he was totally Noibat-crazy. Hopefully he was open minded, or at least he had enough corroborating witnesses.

Isabella stifles a giggle as the Professor confirms the nature of the Totem's "gift" but she looks serious again as the Professor continues on the topic of the "Spirit" room.

"Could an..." she nips her lip as she tries to pull the names out of her memory, "'electonic' Pokémon be infecting the system? Like a Rotom or... one of those Ducklett-shaped ones?"

Izzy's eyes go wide as she takes the badge case, "Thank you, Professor!"

She slips the PokéBalls (in their smaller "storage modes") into the pouch of her backpack she feels would be more easily accessed, but then looks to the Professor with a slightly confused look in her eyes. "I'd thought we needed to agreed to something you would explain after the Trial before we would become Trainers, Sir?"

She pauses, shifts from one foot to the other, and then adds, "As to building our Teams, some of us expressed interest in Pokémon native to this area, but you'd said it was Protected, so we weren't sure if we would be able to attempt to recruit any Pokémon from here or not."

She eyes the holes where the Taillows who attacked her retreated to, "For instance, some of the Taillows here are making very poor decisions and might do well with some guidance." She shakes her head slightly, letting out a short breath of air out of her nose as she unconsciously reaches for the location of the earlier Peck, "And there were also Poliwags and Squirtles that we saw while making our way here."

Isabella nods, taking the Journal and checking it to see if it's one of those with pre-written dates (and thus one with "spare" pages she might be able to use near the front), or if it's one where you write in the dates yourself.

"I'm more than agreeable with that, Professor," she offers with a small smile.

To his second point she nods, "I suppose Water Types are common enough that I'll find one eventually. A Flying-Ground Type would be nice, though. If any of them are willing to come with me..."

She takes a breath and pulls out a single 'Ball from her pouch tapping the button to expand it into its active form.

She looks down at Peyote and murmurs,"Keep on your toes, okay. We don't want any trouble, but I also don't want you to get hurt!"

She then takes a half-dozen steps towards the holes of the Taillows who attacked her (if they were in different directions, then she'll move towards the one that got sand in its eyes, since she feels more sympathy for that one), and lifts her voice slightly, "If you'd like to join us, you're more than welcome. You'll be able to see more of the world than this cavern, and you'd get more experience on how to work as part of a group. I'd also like to get to know you better, if you don't mind."

She crouches down, holding the PokéBall loosely in her right hand as her left (lightly injured) arm rests over her knees/thighs.

***
OOC: Inspired Training for Peyote to help him should something attack.
Charm: Rolled 14
(I don't expect it to just be caught that easily, unless the GM rules it that way. I'm just hoping a series of good rolls might allow it to be. Like some of the Anime 'mons were.)

Keno was excited to learn they could capture pokemon here, a sort of one time shopping spree.

"Thank you professor. How are things done in here, I know we have special permissions, but it safe to do battle in these caves? I do want to see what Gypsy here has got, and I'm wondering if the pokemon around here enjoy sporting challanges or we should aim for peacful persuasions."

To the professor, "I saw the Dunsparce earlier, I'd really like to reconnect with it. There was also one of those rare Corphish in the other room."

Leaning down to Gypsy, "we may be in for a battle if you're up for it."

Back to the rest of the team, "What's your plan? There were a lot of birds here if they get riled up against just Peyote... there are a number of pokemon in the water room... I'm eventually going to head towards the entrance and try to find that Dunsparce..."

"I'm not really interested int he Tallow, but if ya need the help i can catch it for ya. Just knock it down some and let me know if you need the help."

Reading Smink's pokedex entry, Jason resits the urge to deadpan his forehead into his hand. The little guy was hungry, and seemed to stay that way. Forget getting a lizard sweater, Jason would need to stalk up on food. And a lot of it.

Jason nods at Keno's explanation of the spirit room, backing him up at the professor's skepticism. He wasn't sure what these Z-crystals were, but Jason was sure he'd find out one way or another.

Looping back to find that pale eyed water fish seemed tempting to Jason, if he was to travel the land and take on the League Challenge (Was this really happening!? Jason felt like he was dreaming when he flipped open the badge case to see his license, he had done it!) having a pokemon with some extra beef didn't seem like a bad idea. But, Jason knew his priorities.

"I reckon I'll just follow the Professor out, if that's alright with you Sir?" Jason looks to the Professor. "Smink hear could really use some grub."

Jason turns to the three other newly license trainers. "I can wait for you at the visitor's center? If any of you are thinking of heading to a gym town I wouldn't mind traveling together?" he offers a kind smile, a blush claiming his cheeks. "Seems a lot less lonely of a journey with some friends."

As he backed away from the fight, the professor heard the name of the Bulbasaur and looked really uncomfortable at the mention. "Peyote? You named your Bulbasaur.... Peyote?" He pulled out a flashlight and grabbed Jason's eyelids to shine it into them. "Hmm... You don't seem to have any of the symptoms... Sorry, Jason, I needed to know if you were under the influence. You're clean." He looked at the small lizard. "Well, you can follow me out, if you wish, but we have to feed the Smink first!" He pulled out seven objects that looked like suckers in his hand and stuck one in the mouth of the Pokemon. It took one deep breath and let out a stream of smoke in satisfaction.

Meanwhile, as Izzy and John argued, Peyote let out a loud croak that shook the Taillow. Its attack fell. The bird flew at the Bulbasaur and landed in front of him before spraying sand at him from its mouth.

Taillow used Sand Attack!

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AC: 21d20