[attr="class","samjermain"]Calpurnia preferred not to get her hands dirty. Or, in this situation, her hair wet. Blowdrying it was a Herculean task—especially when it ended up covered in salt and fish piss. But the cavern she needed to investigate only had one entrance left. And, according to topographical readings, it rested under the water. Fortunately, they had several personal water devices on hand. And, after a quick lesson, Calpurnia had pushed herself into the shallows.

Above the water, her twin butterflies danced around one another. Tiny dots in the sky, they move silently, dispensing dust like fairytale pixies. And not the sweet, kind ones either. A Sleep Powder there and a spore in another area. The Vivillion’s patterned wings stand out in sharp contrast to the Butterfree’s monochromatic ones. “Free?” The male insect stops as they come upon the havoc around Thomas. His trio of water types have turned the area into a graveyard. A few Pokemon can be seen splayed across the rocks. Boats are splintered messes dissected by waves upon the shore.

Red eyes turn reluctantly to his elder companion. He turns his gaze toward the horizon as if inviting his companion to flee with him. To leave their mercurial mistress behind in favor of whatever’s out there. But the Vivillon isn’t open to this idea. Perhaps it is love that drives her to lower herself toward the water. Or, more likely, a sense of fear. As she nears Thomas and his companions, the bug releases a shimmering blue-white powder onto the water’s surface. Something designed to put whatever’s beneath the Smokescreen to sleep.

Directly behind her, the Butterfree does the same—though its crimson Rage Powder aims to turn all of these attacks against one of the targets.

Beneath the water, Calpurnia releases a hulking Tentacruel. The left side of its plate is exposed, white flesh—a victim of Shalin Nariya’s attacks. But its anger is unimpeded. Seeing human legs, the beast reaches out to grab Thomas and pull him under with a Wrap attack. Hoping to use the distractions to her advantage, Calpurnia forces the diving device deeper beneath the darkened waves.

Unfortunately for the Seadra, she wanders into the Sleep Powder trap. As she drifts off, she finds herself coated with the Rage Powder. With aggro drawn to her, the Sharpedo charges her, slamming into her with an Aqua Jet.

Before Thomas can stop the Sharpedo, a tentacle grabs his leg. Instinctively, Thomas reaches for his knife, and a Pokeball on his belt, before he is dragged off the shark, and under the water.

As the tentacle wrapped around him, Thomas quickly deployed his Iron Valiant, Artanis. Afterward, Thomas attempted to sever the tentacles holding him with his knife.

Upon seeing their master in trouble, the Iron Valiant attempted to help, unleashing a ranged Psycho Cut towards the Tentacruel.

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tags: Calpurnia Kubrick
notes: Post (10)

[attr="class","samjermain"]With their purpose fulfilled, the duet of butterflies circles back toward the shore. From their viewpoint above the waves, they watch the battle unfold between frothy white caps and churning red waters. They do not doubt their mistress will call on them again soon, but for now, they spectate. The Butterfree, eager to fly free again, hopes that his mistress does not rise from the waters. But he does not voice this—Titania, his new guiding light, is attached to the nasty harpy of a woman.

The hulking shadow of the Tentacruel shudders with glee as Thomas flops into the water. Its jagged beak opens wide as it debates which part of the flailing man to devour first. Perhaps one of those flailing, muscular legs? Crunch off its head and devour the white meat like a bit of Clamperl? As the Iron Valiant appears, the beast tries to restrain it in a similar manner. Thick, gooey tentacles trying to pin its steel joins to its body. Another Wrap attack aimed at turning this team into little action figures.

As he reels the human closer, a pinprick of pain erupts on one of its arms. The beast rears back as the tentacle jerks backward. Noxious, red blood pours from the wound as it jerks away from the knife. But it does not immediately let go. Its hold—partially severed—is greatly weakened, however. “CRUEEEEL!” The Psycho Cut’s effect is much more pronounced. The glowing blade deprives the squid of more reaching tendrils, turning the water around them into a nasty, bloody mess. In retaliation, a glowing purple tendril jabs at the Iron Valiant.

With a sigh—wishing the beast would use its head instead of its noodle arms—Calpurnia urges her little jet device forward. Her flippered feet give a few half-hearted kicks as she propels herself beneath the Iron Valiant. Do keep your attention up there, love. We’ll be out of your hair soon enough.

As the effects of the Rage Powder wore off, the Sharpedo looked on in horror at his friend. Thankfully, the Seadra could still be saved. Still, the Sharpedo was mortified that he could attack a friend like that.

That was when Finn realized that Thomas was no longer on his back. The Sharpedo quickly turned around, diving down to search for his master. Upon seeing him and Artanis dealing with a Tentacruel, the Sharpedo swooped in, charging the Tentacruel with a Night Slash.

Artanis let out a cry of 'pain' as the Poison Jab struck him. Despite this, the Iron Valiant was far from being out, swinging at the Tentacruel with yet another Psycho Cut.

Thomas was too busy attempting to free himself from the grasp of the Tentacruel to really be paying attention to the Rocket beneath him. Keeping himself from drowning came first.

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tags: Calpurnia Kubrick
notes: Post (10)
KO - Seadra (50)

[attr="class","samjermain"]Suddenly besieged from three sides, the kraken was forced to release its catch. With an irritable flick, it flicked Thomas away from it. His trajectory was frighteningly close to an underwater outcropping. The now-freed tentacles went to work defending itself. But would it be soon enough to stop it from turning to calamari?

A trio of tentacles lifted in an attempt to slap away the Iron Valiant's blade. These were subsequently sheered off. More mauve, viscous fluid leaked into the water around them. The Night Slash produced a similar result. Suddenly, the squid began to look more like a beleaguered octopus. But in its rage, its urge to dominate the sea, it didn't seem to notice.

Its response started with a defiant Screech. The waves of discordant sound hoping to drop his opponent's defenses. Right on its heels, it spun in the water, a wave of sludge cascading from its movements. It hoped to buy itself a little space.

Temporarily blinded by her own Pokemon's attack, Calpurnia shifted the device into a lower gear. With all the caution of a frightened cat, she continued in the general direction of her destination. If Thomas had turned his head, he might have seen a bright flipper kick out of view.


50 - Participation
30 - Posts
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80 MP

As Thomas was tossed by the Tentacruel, the man began to transition into swimming, eventually gaining control, and stopping himself from colliding into the underwater cropping.

The Sharpedo followed after his master, leaving the Tentacruel to the Iron Valiant. Artanis flinched as they were subjected to the screech of the kraken. Despite this, the Iron Valiant still put up a Wide Guard, in order to defend themselves, and their allies.

Thomas would take notice to the flipper, turning his gaze to the source as quickly as he could.

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tags: Calpurnia Kubrick
notes: Post (10)

[attr="class","samjermain"]The poisoned water flows around the Iron Valiant’s shield to disperse among the island’s foundation. Irritated by this denial, the crippled charges forward. Pain begins to sink in from a hundred different scratches. It is not strategizing. There is no calculating in its beady gaze—even basic addition is beyond Maelstrom now. It just wants to tear this interloper apart.

Its tentacles lift threateningly as it unleashes a storm of Poison Jabs at the Iron Valiant. The movements are erratic and far from accurate. It is a show of desperation. The final act of a beast already driven past its limits. Die! Die! Die!

Calpurnia, meanwhile, is within a few yards of her destination when she’s discovered. Violet eyes meet black beneath the mask. Plump lips twist irritably as she tightens her grip on the submersible’s handles. An irritated glance reveals that her underwater madman will be of no help here. Nor does she enjoy the sight of his knife.

With a contemptuous toss of her head, Calpurnia pushes the gas.