THE TEMPLE OPENING. wrapped completely in protective garb, the commissioner enters the temple as well. her blue eyes are obscured by thick goggles. a scarf hides much of her face. it is not that she is trying to hide her identity— although there is no penalty in doing so.

she is treading into unfamiliar territory in ways more than one. ahead of her, dahlia's mr. rime leads by one step. its cane taps against the cold floor as a beam from her flashlight captures ancient stone.

dahlia hears katherine's warning. her gut does too. but she does not answer. still, she realizes she is surrounded by powerful trainers. for the sake of discovery and experience, things should be fine.

[attr="class","pkspr"][attr="class","pokesprite pokemon mr-rime"][attr="class","pokesprite pokemon dragonite"][attr="class","pokesprite pokemon vespiquen"]

CgAhN7jY[break]
@regirockraid / route 1[break]
Katherine Fairburne, mateo martinez, kyle lopez[break][break]
sabotaging... mateo martinez (<3)

Scuffed up trainers hit the sand after Auriga descends, Angelo raising a hand up to shield his eyes from the particles caught in the wind, squinting through the sea of gold at the temple entrance ahead. Tempting and full of promise in the sun. There’s nobody else in sight, land about as barren as a desert would promise but he isn’t deterred by the lonely shadows he and his Dragonite cast – less people just meant there was a greater chance at him reaching the whispered treasure first. Not like he’d scoff at a challenge if it presented itself.

Lured by the call of adventure and filling his pockets, about as starving for both, Angelo nods towards the temple entrance. His footprints swept away by the breeze; like he was never there.

Inside, Angelo pulls down the thick bandana he’d used to cover his nose and mouth during the flight into the desert, letting it hang loosely around his neck now that the grains of sand weren’t threatening to choke him. They’re met with hallways of darkness as they begin to leave the temple opening behind, natural light soon fading as the shadows begin to swallow everything and everybody. His fingers curl around his flashlight, the one he often used as a makeshift torch on his bicycle but he doesn’t turn it on just yet, instead turning to Auriga.

“Mind using your Fire punch, Auri? Just for now.”

He could use his manmade torch but wanting to save the batteries – for convenience, not just because he can’t afford a new pack of AA’s – Angelo relies on the flames just until they get their bearings. Thankfully Auriga is floating close as they walk, her claw raised so that the FIRE PUNCH coating her paw can stretch its glow further in front of them than his modest torch could, bathing the dusty floor to cavern roof in a warm glow.

It’s then, as the space around him is illuminated that a woman’s voice echoes through the previously lonely space. Unfamiliar in tone but familiar in the challenge it presented. Angelo lets out a soft chuckle, turning his gaze to his Dragonite, lips curled. “Someone’s confident.” He trusts his gut and continues on.


notes;

THE TEMPLE OPENING. adrian is not alone traveling here, although many in his company are still strangers to him. among them a gym leader and league representative; the whole kit and kaboodle. having all of one badge to his name, he's quick to feel out of his depth.

mauville city's gym leader doesn't waste the opportunity to encourage anyone doubting themselves to leave. they might've meant him, for all he knew; everyone else was distinguished enough that they probably had at least heard of one another. they knew all of jack about him.

all they could see of him was the layered garb enshrouding his features, safeguarding him from the desert sands and scorching dunescape.

to her credit katherine is able to improvise lighting with will-o'-wisp, mounting her dragapult. something he'd not considered. hopefully that wasn't enough to be the end of him, or he'd die proving her right.

"Delta, use Spotlight, will ya?" bolstered by its illuminate, starmie was able to project a light that massively improved visibility in the corridors ahead. at the very least, they shouldn't be caught unawares of anything skulking in the shade of the ruins, or so he wants to believe...

---

[attr="class","pkspr"][attr="class","pokesprite pokemon kubfu shiny"][attr="class","pokesprite pokemon starmie"][attr="class","pokesprite pokemon beheeyem"]

TpMz9I1z[break]
@regirockraid / route 1[break]
STARMIE uses SPOTLIGHT![break]
^{TEMPLE ENTRANCE participants now have improved visibility of the main corridor.}[break]
sabotaging @ fonz