BLACK ROUTE CONCLUSION [DE]

i used to dream in the dark of palisades park

close tab

played by

D-Bug

Father Bill
he/him
47
November 24
Sootopolis
Bisexual
Daddy
Councilman
She's with Arceus now
78 height
78 height
I took the Sin out of Sinnoh. Want to help me put it back in Hoenn?
awards
287 posts
part of
TAG WITH @bill
Bill Anderson
BLACK ROUTE CONCLUSION [DE]
POSTED ON Mar 9, 2022 3:12:23 GMT
Bill Anderson Avatar

Black Route

In the pyramid's peak, time stands still.
Hold your breath.
INVASION

Endless shakes the room from the outside. Dark windows shudder, and thin tendrils of the cloud press in through tiny gaps.

One eats away at the sealant around the door, wriggling through the hole and reaching for the ankles of anyone too close. It drips acidic black ichor

A second tentacle finds the ventilation shaft in the ceiling. It pushes past dusty fan blades and enters the lab through the roof, coiling towards . Eyes open along its length, like suckers on the arm of an octopus.

A portrait is set on the wall nearby the inset ring. It's not an 'employee of the month' style image, but more a shrine to someone seminal to this work. The person in the portrait looks familiar, only older and more grizzled. Greyed, experienced, and wearing a lab coat. 

Phantasmal smoke pours from the portrait's eyes, forming the third and final arm of Endless, which stretches towards

At the invasion of the Endless tentacles, lights blink on around the lab. The dormant Pokemon in the growth tanks move, restless, as they come out of their deep slumber.

Players who purchased Gacha Pokemon as part of their Boons can now release those Pokemon from the tanks. They are groggy, and may be malformed in some way, but are able to fight without issue.



Endless will enter the room unless all tentacles are stopped this round!

Clearly state which arm you are attacking in your post (door, shaft, or portrait).

Roll with your post, and a roll of 100+ will defeat a single tentacle.

You gain a +15 bonus for taking an IC action to weaken or block the tentacle, +15 for attacking the tentacle with a super-effective move (each tentacle has a different type), and +15 for solving the puzzle and including the answer in your post.

If you roll under 50 total, the Pokemon you attacked with is taken by Endless. 

If you roll 50-100 total, your Pokemon is hurt, but safe, and the tentacle is weakened. The next attack against them will have +10 (this bonus stacks for each failure)

If you roll over 100, the tentacle is defeated.

You can also choose to sacrifice a Pokemon, letting it go out in a blaze of glory for a guaranteed 101 roll. The Pokemon is not taken by Endless, and the tentacle is defeated.

This guaranteed success is limited to once per player

Players can post more than once this round.


Personal tasks (for this round and next)

Set up the Black Altar
Investigate the book and find more information on the ritual


Become frozen in fear
Become trapped in one of the tanks
Have your Trevenant touch Endless and devolve
Create a mental or physical connection with Endless


Sacrifice blood at the Black Altar


Sacrifice your rat tail at the Black Altar


Become frozen in fear
Have your Weavile touch Endless and devolve
Lose a Pokemon to Endless (x2)

Everyone
Defeat the tentacles of Endless

BOONS AND CONSEQUENCES

Below are the chosen consequences and boons from the signup, collapsed for brevity.

Feel free to narrate the Consequences. What you write will be incorporated into the mod post. 


Consequences


Boons


Please continue to roll with each post. Bonuses and prompts from the main YMCA thread are no longer available. For this first round, there is only one hidden bonus to add to your roll. It will award +15 to each roll against the tentacles. 

Deadline is Monday 14th of March 8pm PT, but a mod post may come sooner if all tentacles are defeated before then. 


close tab

played by

Jun

Ace
He/Him
16
July 17
Olivine City
Bisexual
Trainer
Civilian
5'4" height
5'4" height
Life isn't a game of luck. If you want to win, work hard.
awards
455 posts
Aaron Toral DOLLARS
part of
TAG WITH @pokejun1
Aaron Toral
BLACK ROUTE CONCLUSION [DE]
POSTED ON Mar 10, 2022 2:58:50 GMT
Aaron Toral Avatar
Aaron nearly tripped over himself barging in. He also released everyone he had with him, his Shuppet, Magnemite, and his large Trevenant. Luckily, the room and obstacles in the room was large enough to let the tree to move comfortably, even if a fight broke out. Aaron's eyes were still whited out from the earlier poison, and he had gotten paler since, with inky black lines following his veins. The worst of it was in his left arm and hand, and by his eyes. He still wore his work shirt and jeans. What he didn't expect was to trip over some cable that had led to a tank. Of which there were many of. The blonde's blindness was really getting annoying to him. Getting up, he had his Shuppet guide him, with Trevenant in front. He didn't know any of what was going to happen.



The tentacle from the door seemed to have tracked the boy, not that he managed to go very far. It immediately wrapped around his neck and pulled him back. Aaron wasn't very heavy, a skinny lad, so he didn't really resist much. What the boy did manage to do was turn and bite the tentacle, weakening it slightly. His Trevenant created a long handled literal Wood Hammer and smashed it on the tentacle as well, allowing his trainer to literally bite part of the tentacle off and accidentally swallow it as the rest of it retreated from him. With a loud roar, the tree devolved into Phantump. Which it was very unhappy about. Scrambling back until his back hit something, anything, Aaron spat. "What the hell is that?! What's going on?!" For only the second time in his life, he had felt a sense of fear raising in him.



+ 15 to roll for biting the door tentacle.


QQcx2RLy
close tab

played by

aero

dog boy
he/him
28
october 24
verdanturf
asexual
private investigator
champion
Join my dream it's just the right time, woah
awards
6,685 posts
kyle lopez DOLLARS
part of
TAG WITH @kyle
kyle lopez
BLACK ROUTE CONCLUSION [DE]
POSTED ON Mar 12, 2022 16:38:05 GMT
kyle lopez Avatar
entering the room, kyle only feels exhilaration. he breathes heavy with the egg cradled within his arms as he feels the rush, but panic nor fear were not one of the feelings he's currently undertaking.

he stares at the portrait, and then to . assumptions form given the expertise he's shown on maneuvering the hellish expedition, but no words were spoken. instead, he focuses more on the offense.

one of the tanks break easily with a kick from kyle, with his twin mightyena's copying and breaking adjacent tanks as well. "fuck it! we might as well make use of these pokemon!" noticing they wake up groggy, kyle whistles at one of his mightyena.

a personal bond triggers for the mightyena exude energy for them to perform a song of a z-move. dropping the knife on its mouth, it howls, the ominous chorus echoing throughout the closed room.

MURDER MINSTREL

mightyena unleashes a howl so chilling that enemies FLINCH. the user and party members gain a significant boost in all parameters.


"this is our boss music," he announces everyone in the room.

while the pokemon kyle has freed from the tank take time regain a semblance of their full strength, the other mightyena jumps right away to action. it goes for the tentacle by the ceiling, tackling it with a pot lid as its shield as it attempts to play rough with it.

noticing retreat all the way without looking behind, kyle decides to place a hand on his shoulder to stop him from going further back. the egg remains held with a single arm now, shaking and cracking its shell without kyle noticing it in the heat of the moment.

"it's phase one of the boss fight," kyle tells him excitedly. "bet we have to defeat this wave before getting to a real fight, and then we'll have to kill the actual boss twice in a row without resting in between phases."

tl;dr
  • kyle and dogs break tanks to free pokemon
  • mightyena uses z-move: murder minstrel
  • mightyena 2 uses play rough on ceiling tentacle
  • interacts with aaron
  • egg is close to hatching
  • block tentacle with pot lid (+15)
  • solving the puzzle (+15)


vWGkW8V| (+30)





@tags
close tab

played by

Azul

Mars | Tuesday
He/Him
28
August 4th
Canalave City, Sinnoh
Bi / Demiro
POG Bank CEO
Underboss
Veni. Videre. Vincam.
awards
4,525 posts
part of
TAG WITH @mars
Martín del Mar
BLACK ROUTE CONCLUSION [DE]
POSTED ON Mar 14, 2022 15:04:03 GMT
Martín del Mar Avatar
[nospaces]
[attr="class","coarwt"]
[attr="class","coarwtw"]

had made a terrible mistake.
[break][break]
That mistake had been founded on the simple and undeniable fact that he’s not from Hoenn. Until moving to the region, he never had to deal with all this supernatural bullshit. So, for the grand majority of his life, Mars had been of the unquestionably belief that people are the most dangerous thing in this world. Pokémon? Sure, those are bad, but they usually do their worst when commanded by people.
[break][break]
This thing attacking them is of its own will. There’s no one commanding it. Or, is there?
[break][break]
A portrait and a shrine around it seem to speak of a much darker truth, but Mars is no chthonic deity, and being worshipped beneath the earth does not suit him at all – dark pyramid or not. ”This has to be some sick joke.” He’s also no scientist, after all. That much he had told when they had first met. And yet, here he is holding a book full of strange formulas no one but him seems to understand, with equally strange sigils and instructions marking his arm…
[break][break]
The book.
[break][break]
Eyes as if made of amber and gold widen as he looks through pages and easily reads certain passages that previously would have been no more than gibberish, things that to others would have definitely looked questionable and as if they held no meaning…
[break][break]
ĕ̴̼ả̶̰g̷͚͑ ̷̭̾ẽ̴̮l̷̩͊a̸͍̎j̶̖͘h̵̦̕ ̴̰̽n̶̢͋j̷̩̾l̸̮͛m̸̢̊f̴̣̀ ̵̻̈́k̸͓̑l̷̺̊r̸̭̈́ ̸̞͋e̸̲͊z̵̰͛v̴̖̒ẇ̷͈ ̷͕͗l̶̙͛ḷ̷̇r̸͓̅ ̶̲̾j̴̨̀c̸̲̾m̵̰̏k̷̳̑d̵̥͊c̷͔̿ ̵̯̄z̶̩͐l̶͚͐y̶̬̔ḫ̵͌w̶̼͒v̶̫̉ ̷̺͋p̸̝̚r̶̬̅ŭ̸̞y̵̭̔e̵̼͑a̶͔̓s̷̆͜r̷̙͐ ̴̢̓ű̶̜b̷͍̐ó̶̘v̶͚̚s̸̛̯ ̴͚̅ȏ̶̺l̸̤̎b̷̤͝p̷̱̾ ̶̡̌é̴͎l̷̟͝w̶̫̒ ̴̞͂y̷̟͝s̴̨͝q̴͔̀g̶̱̚p̸̼̓ẃ̷̰k̴͖͌ ̴̖͂ǒ̵̢l̶̫͆v̵̖͝w̴̞̾p̸̫͂ ̶̩̊è̵̡j̷̺̕e̸͗ͅi̴̯͆q̷̝̾ ̶͎̇k̴͍͘p̵̧̎v̸͚͑s̴̨̏ ̸̺͝f̶̢͆s̵̙̉h̷͇͛u̷̠͝t̵̙̀w̵͙̓z̸̓͜w̴̛̘h̸͓͠ ̸̧̇ȍ̵̤ẖ̸̐ṋ̵̃ȅ̷̘m̶͈͊k̵̛͎i̶̒ͅ ̴̼͛b̶̭̐í̵̹ ̴̬̊s̵̥͆i̸̭̊j̸̬͠ ̷͎͠ï̶̫ẙ̵̥r̶͎̐q̴̪͊ǹ̶̻l̸̩̽d̴̞́ẅ̴͍́w̵͉͛f̶̘͆ ̶̙̍j̶̼̍c̷̨̏y̴̖̓v̸͙̓ý̷̝i̵̗̇ ̷͖̈n̸̼͗j̴͙̿l̷̥̑m̵͚̈́f̶̖͛k̸̲̊x̷̼̍ ̵̜̒g̶̟͛k̴̘̂p̶̖̌ ̸̠̏w̵͈̒l̶̈́͜j̸̺̕s̷̡͝ȁ̴̼ĵ̴̹ ̶̧͝s̴̨̔i̶̮̔j̷̗̈́s̸̙̈́o̷͇͆ÿ̶̢́h̷͓͋d̷͈̎ ̷̞̆c̷̘̋w̸̥̕l̵͉̇ ̶͉̊l̴̥̋ŗ̴͠ ̷̡̈k̸̠̃p̶̙͌v̴͓͐s̶̤͆c̷̛̫p̷̻͋r̵̼̿v̷̥͋ ̵̩͋ṁ̶̺c̶̢̍ ̴̦̃v̶͉̎w̷̳͠ẇ̵̟v̶̺͗j̵͓͂ŷ̶ͅ ̵̙̾s̶̰͑ẍ̸̣́ ̶̲͒s̸͚̽x̷̨͑ù̷͍ẖ̵̈́y̴͙͗i̸̦͝ ̵̈́ͅl̷̟̉z̶̭̊ì̴̠ ̵͕͝f̶͖̀s̶̩͂z̴͈̓m̸̧̀ď̸̩w̷̫̚v̴̄͜ ̵͕̔n̵͈̈́q̸͂͜ỏ̶ͅ ̸͖͆a̶̜͗a̶̛ͅl̵̲̃l̸̯̒ ̶̮̉ů̷͇h̸͔̍w̶̼̚t̷̘̋ ̸͓̈́x̶̡͗g̸̡̾v̵͉͑z̸̼̀ ̷̨͋z̶̭͗l̸̠͋v̷̠̆d̴̮̍a̶̗̓ö̵̢́r̵̫̈ ̶̂͜l̶̘̒z̴̹͠p̶̩̋s̸̼͗ḡ̸̙w̶̡͗ ̸͉͋x̷̙̕l̴͙̾w̴̻̆p̷̖͒w̸͘ͅv̶̘͋ ̷̳͝x̷̗́ú̵̳l̶͈̈́ḍ̷͊ ̵̙̚f̴̺̿w̴̳͘s̸͚͂w̶͈̏g̵̟̅ ̷̫̃z̶̟̚ț̵̐x̷̡̊z̸̲̈́ ̵̪̈́l̵̢̄l̴͓̒r̸̲̒ ̴̻̌s̶̭̊t̷͜͠x̸̬̾a̷̮̋d̸͚̈́ȋ̸͜f̶̮̀v̸̩̕ ̷̙̾m̶͖̋v̷̈́͜ǵ̴̥f̶̙͂d̷̠̀r̸̤̔ ̵̗̍v̶̝̂h̴͈̀ş̷̚j̸̡̄v̸̺̈́
[break][break]
One of the beast’s tendrils reaches for Mars, distracting him from the words he’s almost as if entranced by, and it’s with the back of the book itself that he smacks it away. ”Fuck’s sake. Styx!” The Cursola, already swole and empowered after having taken the Tentacruel’s strength and eaten what must have been a whole box of rare candies, seems to indeed be cursed with greed, for it’s STRENGTH SAP that attempts to take the Endless’ power.
[break][break]
The Endless. That’s what it’s called, apparently. Fuck… I’ll set up this damn altar for us. Make sure they don’t interrupt it or we might lose our way out of–… whatever this is.” With no time for explanations, he addresses the whole group – , , , and . And, as he does, he approaches the tanks, choosing among them two pokémon: a Dhelmise of seaweed as black as soot, as if it been grown deep down in the ocean’s depths where no light reaches at all, and a Hatterene even thinner than most and of hair that hasn’t seem to have completely grown over her petite figure. The first breaks out of its tank with no issue at all. The second, however, gets her huge hat stuck and has to reach with her vermicelli-like arms to pull herself out. Off to a good start. Can he even rely on this pair?
[break][break]
”You. Do your thing.” Mars points to the Dhelmise, and what’s a Dhelmise’s thing? Apparently, in this case, mercilessly shooting a SHADOW BALL towards the tendrils. ”Try not to ruin the portrait. I want to know who the hell is behind all this.” It’d also make a nice souvenir.
[break][break]
With this all said and done, Mars can finally fix his attention on the altar, his Musharna always following close behind him as he methodically sets it up step by step. Pieces are put together as the instructions in both the book and his arm tell him, new sigils being drawn.
[break][break]
Eight tentacles and a thousand mouths.

[break]





[break]
[attr="class","coarwtnotes"]

notes


[break]- Very interested in the portrait, that's one good looking scientist js
[break]- Smacks portrait tentacle with book because it interrupts his reading
[break]- Cursola uses STRENGTH SAP to weaken the portrait's tentacle, then Dhelmise uses SHADOW BALL
[break]- Saw cool things in his book wow
[break]- Setting up the altar!
[break]- Drawing weird things heck yeah
[break][break]
X_Dgcl3k
[break]+ 45?
[break]Weaken/Block tentacle (+15)
[break]Puzzle mentioned (+15)
[break]Super-effective? (+15)



[attr="class","coarwtpokes"][break]







[newclass=.coarwt] width: 400px; margin: 0 auto; font-family: roboto; color: #aaa; font-size: 11px; text-align:justify; padding-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 20px; line-height: 15px;[/newclass]
[newclass=.coarwt b] color: #0F0F0F; font-size: 11.5px; font-family: trebuchet ms; [/newclass]
[newclass=.coarwt a] text-decoration: none; font-size: 11px; font-weight: lighter; [/newclass]
[newclass=.coarwt h1, h2, h3] display: inline-block; [/newclass]
[newclass=.coarwt h1] font-size: 13px; font-weight: lighter; color: #0F0F0F; letter-spacing: .5px; line-height: 0px; font-family: monospace; text-transform: uppercase; [/newclass]
[newclass=.coarwt u] text-decoration: none;border-bottom: solid 1px #0F0F0F; [/newclass]
[newclass=.coarwttag] text-align: right; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-top: 20px; font: 10px monospace; [/newclass]
[newclass=.coarwttag a] font: 11px Montserrat; font-weight: 800!important; font-style: italic; letter-spacing: 0px; color: #0F0F0F!important; [/newclass]
[newclass=.coarwtnotes] text-align: justify; padding: 20px 10px 10px 10px; font: 10px monospace; letter-spacing: .3px; border-top: solid 1.5px #323232; [/newclass]
[newclass=.coarwtnotes h1] font: 14px Montserrat; font-weight: 800!important; font-style: italic; letter-spacing: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; color: #0F0F0F; text-shadow: 2px 2px 0px #1e1e1e; padding-bottom: 5px; text-align:center;[/newclass]
[newclass=.coarwtnotes a] font: 11px Montserrat; font-weight: 800!important; font-style: italic; letter-spacing: 0px; text-transform: lowercase; color: #0F0F0F; [/newclass]
[newclass=.coarwtw] padding: 40px; background: #272727; [/newclass]
[newclass=.coarwt span] display: inline-block; [/newclass]
[newclass=.coarwtpokes] text-align: center; margin: 0 auto; background: #0F0F0F; padding: 5px; width: 390px; margin-left: -40px; margin-bottom: -40px; margin-top: 10px; [/newclass]
[newclass=.coarwtpokes img] margin-top: -10px; padding: 0px 10px 5px; [/newclass]

[newclass=".coarknot"]width:350px; height:239px; margin: 0px auto; background-image:url(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/579208329667018766/910787901342748693/Nigredo.png); background-size:cover; transition:3.5s all;[/newclass]

[newclass=".coarknot:hover"]background-image:url(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/579208329667018766/910787898138300456/Crytpic.png); transition:3.5s all;[/newclass]
close tab

played by

Jun

Ace
He/Him
16
July 17
Olivine City
Bisexual
Trainer
Civilian
5'4" height
5'4" height
Life isn't a game of luck. If you want to win, work hard.
awards
455 posts
Aaron Toral DOLLARS
part of
TAG WITH @pokejun1
Aaron Toral
BLACK ROUTE CONCLUSION [DE]
POSTED ON Mar 14, 2022 16:49:18 GMT
Aaron Toral Avatar
Aaron felt a hand on his shoulder even as a chilling howl echoed around the room. spoke up, saying this was a boss battle. A voice spoke in his head, in a very intimidating whisper..."I am unending!" Aaron realized quickly no one spoke it. revealed what it was called, even as laughter sounded from inside his head echoed. Standing, it...started to feel like he could see. But the first instance showed black. The next instance split his vision...and the new split he could see...but from an odd angle. Fear swelled as he took his right hand and faced the palm at him. The scene followed the motion, and looking back at his hand was him, looking...paler than normal, inky black lines all over and increasing, and his hair turning white. Widening eyes made him freeze in fear. Lifting up his shirt, he could see an eye just above his belly button, and the two new eyes staring at each other. Taking off the rest of his shirt, he used his hand to scan the rest of his body. More lines...more vision splits, but they were not "active" yet. Breathing rapidly, he closed both eyes shut. Fear had truly taken hold of him.



So much so that he puked. Only, it was a black gloop. "Don't think you'll escape. You are mine! You're a tough one, little one, but you will be my puppet! Perhaps even my host body if you're strong enough!" Spitting out the goop, intense pain from his head started up, bringing him to his knees. This wasn't good. "Is there an open tank to shove me in?! I think when I swallowed part of that tentacle it started to try to possess me!" In the most show of emotion that he had shown in years, he sounded desperate. And he was madder than ever before...it soon started to override the crippling fear...but not enough to let him move. Either that, or the Endless was struggling to take his body. "Phantump, you're in charge. All of you, help the rest put this fucker down! I don't imagine it will continue to try to take me after it's main body is dead!"



The combined efforts of Phantump, Shuppet, and his Magnemite tackled the boy into a tank. Hopefully someone would notice and slam a button to seal it, trapping the boy even as he screamed in pain and punched the door. With a new, ignited fury among the Pokemon, Shuppet and Magnemite used Night Shade and Thundershock on the ceiling tentacle, attacks boosted by the howling minstrel from one of Kyle's dogs.



tldr:
Trevenant devolved into Phantump.
Aaron can see again. But is becoming a puppet of the Endless!
Aaron became frozen with fear.
Door Tentacle destroyed?
Ceiling Tentacle attacked by Shuppet and Magnemite.
Aaron orders his Pokemon to shove him in a free tank. Hopefully someone seals it shut before he became a free ranging puppet?!




DnkwTLDx
close tab

played by

Hollow

Ozzy
He/Him
31
March 18
Heahea City
Gay af
MAD SCIENTIST
EXECUTIVE
Rosemary, heaven restores you in life.
awards
1,988 posts
part of
TAG WITH @oscar
oscar clayton
BLACK ROUTE CONCLUSION [DE]
POSTED ON Mar 14, 2022 19:52:10 GMT
oscar clayton Avatar
As Oscar's password was accepted by the door, his face would light up with jubilation. At last, something went right. Everyone shuffled into the now open doorway, and Oscar whistled for Alice to follow along. Alice disengaged with the Endless, running to her master's side. 

Oscar half-expected the coded door to lead into a dead end, trapping them and forcing a confrontation with the smoking eldritch entity. When that exact scenario happened, Oscar groaned loudly. "The next time I see Bill I am breaking every bone in his face!" Even with the door shut behind them, the Endless would find a way to slither parts of it into the room. Still reeling from the effects of breathing in the Endless from point-blank range, Oscar would begin to panic. He did not come here to die, "I just wanted to repair a fuckin' church..."

The normally steely Rocket Beast was Frozen in fear. His mind had finally stalled, cracking at the seams as certain doom surrounded him. Alice was afraid as well, but being a pokemon she knew she only had two choices: do nothing and die or fight back--and probably still die. At the very least, she would go down fighting.

Alice leapt forward, aiding the pokemon of with a fierce flurry of strikes (Beat Up).

tl;dr
--Oscar is having a moment of weakness.
--Alice attacks the Portrait Tentacle with Beat Up.

8bAoVpnV
+15 for attacking a tentacle.
 
close tab

played by

dani

the malevolent / kat
she/her
twenty three
october 7
sootopolis city
heterosexual
full-time bitch
council member
good girls go to heaven, bad girls rule the world
awards
2,258 posts
part of
TAG WITH @katherine
Katherine Fairburne
BLACK ROUTE CONCLUSION [DE]
POSTED ON Mar 15, 2022 0:15:12 GMT
Katherine Fairburne Avatar
[nospaces]
[attr="class","katherine"]
[attr="class","top"]

her job dictates that she must stay until the end. or at the very least, until is dead and she’s done everything in her power to help him. despite knowing this, kat’s instincts are telling her to leave now.
[break][break]
while she still can.
[break][break]
all it takes is one snap of her fingers and she’s gone. and for a moment, she even holds her thumb against her ring finger, preparing to snap them. Unfortunately, the mightyena’s song shatters such a cowardly thought, leaving it in fragments. like it or not, she can’t leave them here.
[break][break]
”i hate this.”
[break][break]
not as much as her ultra beast did, it seems. the pheromosa doesn’t wait for an order before delivering a flurry of kicks, aiming for the portrait tentacle. foul play or not, the pokemon knows better than to act when it’s too late. katherine’s powers come into play around then too, intensifying gravity around the tentacle so it writhes about less, making it an easier target.
[break][break]
”this is worse than fucking aliens. what the fuck even is that thing?”
[break][break]
she shoots a quick glance back at mars as he begins to set up the altar. she doesn’t seem to notice the striking resemblance between him and the portrait yet.
[break][break]
”just remember we’re on a tight schedule. i don’t think this creature is going to wait around for much longer!” creature, ghost, gigantic supernatural octopus… whatever. it was something.
[break][break]
and then a second glance is spared, this time at . they have to deal with whatever he had going on too? like this wasn’t difficult already? the universe must’ve been out to get them, because nothing else could explain this stroke of bad luck.
[break][break]
”you better not puke something in my direction or i swear that thing will be the least of your worries.”
[break][break]
yes. she was indeed threatening a child.
[break][break]
mPCB_9pe+40 / +60?[break]
solve puzzle +15[break]
used avatar powers to weaken the tentacle +15[break]
attacked portrait tentacle after it was already attacked by +10[break]
potentially super-effective move +15(?)
[break]
she's grumpy but she's still fighting / not leaving, mostly because of kyle[break]
pheromosa attacks the portrait tentacle with foul play[break]
kat uses her avatar power to make gravity around said tentacle more intense so it can move/writhe less[break]
also threatens aaron


[attr="class","ooc"] @/ymca [break]





[attr="class","pkmnparty"]




[newclass=".katherine"]--accent:#963030; position:relative; [/newclass]
[newclass=".katherine blockquote"]width:400px; margin:0px auto; text-transform:lowercase; font-size:13px; line-height:15px; border-radius:0px 0px 10px 10px; border-top:none; padding:30px 50px; [/newclass]
[newclass=".katherine blockquote b, .katherine blockquote i"]color:var(--accent) } .katherine blockquote b { font:13px 'Poppins'; font-weight:600;[/newclass]
[newclass=".katherine blockquote img"]filter:grayscale(1%); transition:0.6s all; } .katherine blockquote img:hover { transition:0.6s all; filter:none [/newclass]
[newclass=".katherine .top"]background-color:var(--accent); padding:10px; height:15px; background-image:url(https://image.ibb.co/dMFuMc/flower.png); background-repeat:no-repeat;background-position:bottom right; width:480px; margin:0px auto; border:1px solid #232323; [/newclass]
[newclass=".katherine .ooc"]border-top:1px solid #222; padding-top:15px; text-align:center; margin-top:15px; [/newclass]
[newclass=".katherine .ooc a"]font:bold 15px 'Poppins'; border-top:1px solid; color:var(--accent)!important; [/newclass]
[newclass=".katherine .pkmnparty"]margin-top:-20px; text-align:center; } .katherine .pkmnparty img { filter:grayscale(100%); transition:0.6s all; } .katherine .pkmnparty img:hover { filter:none; transition:0.6s all; [/newclass]

[googlefont=Poppins:500,600,700]
close tab

played by

D-Bug

Father Bill
he/him
47
November 24
Sootopolis
Bisexual
Daddy
Councilman
She's with Arceus now
78 height
78 height
I took the Sin out of Sinnoh. Want to help me put it back in Hoenn?
awards
287 posts
part of
TAG WITH @bill
Bill Anderson
BLACK ROUTE CONCLUSION [DE]
POSTED ON Apr 4, 2022 1:30:10 GMT
Bill Anderson Avatar

Black Route

In the pyramid's peak, time stands still.
Hold your breath.
DOOR

's chomps down on the tentacle, joining his Trevanant in destroying the invader. The wretched limb disintegrates into a mouthful of dark slime, and the change to Aaron is immediate.

Eyes open across his body like stars blinking to life, and he throws himself into the nearest tank, desperate to seal himself away. Something is dreadfully wrong. He can feel it. 


The Door Tentacle has been Defeated. 

CEILING

forgoes his own teeth in favor of his Mightena's, and his dogs howl, filling the echoey lab with their haunting battle music.

The Play Rough tears at the tentacle, but it is hardier and more regenerative than most chew toys, and the attack fails to destroy the psychic intruder.

Kyle's egg shudders in his arms. A chunk of shell snaps and drops away, revealing brilliant green eyes.

calls for help from inside the tank. His Phantump throws another ball of shadows at the limb, obliterating it into mental mist.


The Ceiling Tentacle has been Defeated.

PORTRAIT

extracts new Pokemon, old Pokemon, from the tank. His Strength Sap draws on the Endless, and the dark altar hums off-key. Thick flakes form on the body of the Cursola, and resin beads on the surface of the altar.

The dark scales and sweet-smelling chunks clatter to the floor. Mars and anyone nearby will recognize them as Devolution Stones and Rare Candies.

Dhelmise and Weavile attack the portrait tentacle. Claw, steel and shadow clash, but the limb of Endless lashes out, tangling around Weavile's neck. 

The tentacles heaves at Alice's spine. Her body snaps and twists, and she devolves

warps gravity around the tentacles and Pheromosa tears into the phantom limb, but it's too late. 

The strangled body of 's Sneasel drops to the floor.
Alice is dead.

The Portrait Tentacle has been Defeated.


ANDERSONS

As the third tentacle falls, Endless shudders, and words spear through Aaron and 's minds.

̷R̸r̶ ̷a̶r̶ ̶ ̶ ̵a̸ ̵a̵ ̸ ̶r̶ ̵ ̷ ̶a̴ ̷a̴ ̸a̶ ̸ ̴ ̴ ̶ ̶a̴ ̷ ̵c̷c̸ ̶ ̸c̶a̸ ̸ ̸a̵ ̴ ̴s̶ ̴ ̴s̸ ̶ ̷ ̴s̴ ̵s̶ ̸ ̵o̵s̷ ̷o̷o̴o̵!̵

slaps the button to close the door on the tank. He joins , proudly watching the first few moments of the newborn egg.

Shards of shell fall away, revealing more of the gleaming green eyes. The pudgy pink skin. The shock of unmistakable blonde hair that could only belong to an Anderson. 

"He looks just like his brother, #68", Bill says, snapping a photo of the newly hatched human(?) baby. "I'll send that through when we get reception. No time now, we have a few more pressing issues."

He looks at Mars. "The angel is around here, but we need to draw it out. Need to prepare a vessel." Beside them, the altar hums, waiting. "Are you ready?"

has chosen himself as the vessel for the Angel.
To draw it out, everyone must make one or more sacrifices at the Black Altar. Sacrifices must be one or more of the following:

  • Personal
  • Meaningful
  • Virtuous

Explanations and justifications of worth are crucial. 

is welcome to have his Pokemon sacrifice something on his behalf. 
Endless feasts on , eating him from the inside. He can feel everything, as if the world outside is just another limb. A sense that had been numbed.

His vast size. His thousand eyes. 

T̵ ̴e̴ ̷ ̸l̷ ̸ ̶ ̴ ̵ ̴ ̴e̴ ̵ ̵m̷ ̵ ̵ ̶ ̴t̸ ̴u̸ ̴ ̴ ̴ ̸o̷ ̸!̷ ̶ ̷E̴ ̷e̴ ̴r̵f̸ ̸ ̵ ̵ ̴ ̸e̸ ̷ ̴ ̴m̴ ̷!̶ ̵ ̷R̸ ̶ ̶a̴ ̴e̴ ̴ ̸ ̸t̶ ̶ ̴t̷ ̶u̶ ̸ ̷ ̷o̷.̸ ̵ ̵N̸ ̶ ̴ ̵e̴p̴ ̸o̶.̸ ̸ ̷ ̵ ̸N̷ ̴ ̵ ̸E̵ ̴p̷O̴!̴ ̴ ̵ ̸

His body distorts.

The hum of the Altar deepens

But why? 

WHY?

Why does the altar hum? Why did the Endless form? Why is Bill here?

'Why' is such a useful word. 

A good question. An infinite, recursive word that digs into the core of any subject.

Why? Because something has to.

Why? Because a question demands an answer.

Why? Because nothing can sit, unquestioned, for any length of time. The universe is infinite, and so is the curiosity of those inside its bounds. 

Why? Why? Why? Y?

As if it wasn't short enough, we boiled it down. Streamlined the question to make room for more answer.  

Y? Because time, space, and ink are precious. 

Y? Because even in an infinite, expanding sphere of inky nothingness we still respect succinct speech.

In the midst of chaos, an Unown Y (and aren't all Y's born from the unknown?) is formed. 

is filled with the Spirit of Inquiry. The ink of the expanse fills his mind, stains his skin, and slicks his tongue. 

He may ask Three Questions in his post, and they will be answered.



Personal tasks (for this round and next)


Set up the Black Altar
Investigate the book and find more information on the ritual
Prepare yourself for the Angel
Ask Three Questions


Become frozen in fear
Become trapped in one of the tanks
Have your Trevenant touch Endless and devolve
Create a mental or physical connection with Endless



Sacrifice blood at the Black Altar


Sacrifice your rat tail at the Black Altar


Become frozen in fear
Have your Weavile touch Endless and devolve

Lose a Pokemon to Endless 
Lose a Pokemon to Endless

Everyone
Save by any means necessary
Make sacrifices at the altar to draw out the Angel

BOONS AND CONSEQUENCES

Below are the chosen consequences and boons from the signup, collapsed for brevity.

Feel free to narrate the Consequences. What you write will be incorporated into the mod post. 


Consequences


Boons


Please continue to roll with each post. Bonuses and prompts from the main YMCA thread are no longer available. For this second round, there is ENO hidden bonus to add to your roll. It is worth 05+ points.

Deadline is Monday 11th of April 8pm PT, but a mod post may come sooner if all tentacles are defeated before then. 


close tab

played by

Jun

Ace
He/Him
16
July 17
Olivine City
Bisexual
Trainer
Civilian
5'4" height
5'4" height
Life isn't a game of luck. If you want to win, work hard.
awards
455 posts
Aaron Toral DOLLARS
part of
TAG WITH @pokejun1
Aaron Toral
BLACK ROUTE CONCLUSION [DE]
POSTED ON Apr 10, 2022 21:47:58 GMT
Aaron Toral Avatar
Aaron was no slouch, but even the kid could only fight off the mental corruption of the Endless. And its body horror abilities. Pain surged across his body...he definitely knew it was eating at him...physically as much as mentally. But he was a fighter. And he just needed to stall for time...



Time that no one had. With the hum of the Alter and the odd, newly hatched human? baby, the Phantump looked back between the tank and the Alter. Floating towards the tank, he placed a hand on the window, even as Aaron's body thrashed inside it. But still, the boy put his hand against the glass...a sign that he was giving it all he could give. With a small tear escaping the ghost sapling's eyes, it turned and stared down the humming Altar. While everyone else would just see the phantom stump making a ruckus, he was making a personal sacrifice. "I've been by Aaron's side since we were children. If he knew, if he could have been there, he would...it's my turn to be there for him! I sacrifice my memory, part of my very soul to save him! Destroy the Endless and purify Aaron's body of its influence!" The Phantump demanded of the Altar, and was sacrificing that which it held most dear. His own memories of when he was still human. Confident of the cost, he also told the Shuppet and Magnemite to be ready to support whatever it was that was coming to destroy the Endless...



TLDR



Phantump sacrifices his memories of when he was human, and all his adventures with Aaron up to that point.

Aaron continues to fight with everything he has, but is slowly succumbing to the Endless.





Q5ymjTFT
close tab

played by

aero

dog boy
he/him
28
october 24
verdanturf
asexual
private investigator
champion
Join my dream it's just the right time, woah
awards
6,685 posts
kyle lopez DOLLARS
part of
TAG WITH @kyle
kyle lopez
BLACK ROUTE CONCLUSION [DE]
POSTED ON Apr 11, 2022 19:55:54 GMT
kyle lopez Avatar
the baby hatches on his arms. he's trying to force paternal instincts to kick in, but unfortunately, they just weren't inherently present. still, it doesn't occur to him to give it to the .

"is he sixty-nine? congrats. next milestone is more than three hundred away."

kyle's tone was flat despite the humor being conveyed. he's too tired for his body to pretend to care despite the conscious decision to do so. this was the compromise.

he goes with the flow, his subconscious trying to tell him that everything wasn't directly related to reality. his actions adhere to his instincts as kyle foregoes logic for the sake of not pushing his brain to do more thinking.

he goes near the altar and motions for the knife dog to get near. he frees one hand to hold his rat tail before motioning for his pokemon to make a clean cut. with the knife tainted with the black markings from his skin, his hair cuts into two. kyle takes the strands of dark brown hair, one hand still holding baby anderson, and drops it at the altar has made.

"you need some sort of offering when you make altars, right?" he tells the ceo of pog bank as he drops his hair on it. "i learned that in movies."

kyle adjusts his hold on the newborn, his pokemon being confused about the situation more than their trainer.

tl;dr
  • egg hatches
  • mightyena cuts kyle's hair bc he is knife dog
  • kyle drops his hair on the altar


kCcOEWpx





@tags

close tab

played by

dani

the malevolent / kat
she/her
twenty three
october 7
sootopolis city
heterosexual
full-time bitch
council member
good girls go to heaven, bad girls rule the world
awards
2,258 posts
part of
TAG WITH @katherine
Katherine Fairburne
BLACK ROUTE CONCLUSION [DE]
POSTED ON Apr 12, 2022 3:35:32 GMT
Katherine Fairburne Avatar
[nospaces]
[attr="class","katherine"]
[attr="class","top"]

A sacrifice?
[break][break]
Katherine... doesn't really have a specific thing she'd be willing to part with here. Her pokemon weren't an option, nor were her belongings. Her phone was far too important to be carelessly tossed away.
[break][break]
Well, if push comes to shove, she could still leave. The tempting thought lingers in her mind as she trails after Kyle, rushing towards the altar.
[break][break]
"May I?" she questions once he's finished cutting his hair, referring to the knife. Although that option remained, she opted against cutting her hair as well.
[break][break]
Thankfully, if there was one valuable thing Katherine could spare... It was her blood. Her sacrifice experience may have been limited, but she had a repertoire of witchy movies she'd watched before to teach her all she needed to know. Blood sacrifices were the most powerful ones a witch could make.
[break][break]
That ought to help their chances, right?
[break][break]
Regardless of whether this idea was wise, the knife glides across her palm, causing her to wince and suck air through her teeth before blood drips down on Kyle's rat tail.
[break][break]
"This should work. ...Right?"
[break][break]
LcsahBiP[break]
kat follows kyle & bill[break]
takes the knife from kyle after he's done and uses it to cut her palm, sacrificing blood to the altar[break]


[attr="class","ooc"] @/ymca [break]





[attr="class","pkmnparty"]




[newclass=".katherine"]--accent:#963030; position:relative; [/newclass]
[newclass=".katherine blockquote"]width:400px; margin:0px auto; text-transform:lowercase; font-size:13px; line-height:15px; border-radius:0px 0px 10px 10px; border-top:none; padding:30px 50px; [/newclass]
[newclass=".katherine blockquote b, .katherine blockquote i"]color:var(--accent) } .katherine blockquote b { font:13px 'Poppins'; font-weight:600;[/newclass]
[newclass=".katherine blockquote img"]filter:grayscale(1%); transition:0.6s all; } .katherine blockquote img:hover { transition:0.6s all; filter:none [/newclass]
[newclass=".katherine .top"]background-color:var(--accent); padding:10px; height:15px; background-image:url(https://image.ibb.co/dMFuMc/flower.png); background-repeat:no-repeat;background-position:bottom right; width:480px; margin:0px auto; border:1px solid #232323; [/newclass]
[newclass=".katherine .ooc"]border-top:1px solid #222; padding-top:15px; text-align:center; margin-top:15px; [/newclass]
[newclass=".katherine .ooc a"]font:bold 15px 'Poppins'; border-top:1px solid; color:var(--accent)!important; [/newclass]
[newclass=".katherine .pkmnparty"]margin-top:-20px; text-align:center; } .katherine .pkmnparty img { filter:grayscale(100%); transition:0.6s all; } .katherine .pkmnparty img:hover { filter:none; transition:0.6s all; [/newclass]

[googlefont=Poppins:500,600,700]
close tab

played by

Hollow

Ozzy
He/Him
31
March 18
Heahea City
Gay af
MAD SCIENTIST
EXECUTIVE
Rosemary, heaven restores you in life.
awards
1,988 posts
part of
TAG WITH @oscar
oscar clayton
BLACK ROUTE CONCLUSION [DE]
POSTED ON Apr 12, 2022 22:44:48 GMT
oscar clayton Avatar
Oscar's trance of fear was broken by the sight of Alice being gripped by the Endless. The two locked eyes for a mere moment before Alice was swiftly killed and discarded. Oscar's eyes widened, his gaze fixed on the lifeless form of Alice. She was the last one, all of the pokemon he brought to this church were dead.

Oscar's eyes twitched. He remembered how little he thought of his companions just this morning. He thought Slayer to be a poor replacement, Alice to be a subpar fighter, and Seismo to be stupid--and now they were dead. His guilt gripped his chest like a vice as his rage boiled over from within. He did not deserve their efforts nor their sacrifice, but he would see to it that they were not made in vain. 

Words burst through his mind, but Oscar could hardly care to listen. He turned toward the tanks and copied the earlier actions of Kyle. He opened two at random, and out came a Shedninja and a Venomoth. The two were confused, twitching as they took in their first breaths of life. Oscar snapped his fingers and got their attention, "You're with me, and if you don't like it you can go back in your tanks." The two did not respond, but as Oscar walked toward the black alter they would follow.

Oh hey Bill was there! Oscar happily locked his arms in an 'Up Yours' gesture before storming toward the alter. Oscar slammed a hand upon the cool dark surface and exclaimed, "My pokemon each lived for approximately three years each and I wasted them. Take nine years of my life and let my debt be repaid!"

us2ZO|k|

tl;dr
--Oscar has been snapped out of his fear trance and has retrieved two new soldiers for the upcoming battle.
--Oscar offers nine years of his life as a sacrifice to the black alter.
close tab

played by

Azul

Mars | Tuesday
He/Him
28
August 4th
Canalave City, Sinnoh
Bi / Demiro
POG Bank CEO
Underboss
Veni. Videre. Vincam.
awards
4,525 posts
part of
TAG WITH @mars
Martín del Mar
BLACK ROUTE CONCLUSION [DE]
POSTED ON Apr 13, 2022 3:10:23 GMT
Martín del Mar Avatar
[nospaces]
[attr="class","coarwt"]
[attr="class","coarwtw"]

'Why' is such a useful word.
[break][break]
Why are they in this place? Why is the Endless attacking them? Why was it created? Why is there a portrait of a man that reminds Mars so much of both his father and himself? Why do they have to make sacrifices? Why is all this happening? Why here? Why now? Why them?
[break][break]
In all the chaos, as if to mock him for the endless inquiries that fill his mind, an Unown appears, staring at him with a single unblinking eye.
[break][break]
Why? Why?! Why! Why… Y.
[break][break]
Mars holds onto the portrait once the tentacle has been destroyed, the Unown floating by his side, and one by one, he watches as the others make their sacrifices. Memories, an iconic feature, binding blood, and time. What does he have to offer that’s as valuable as all that? Nothing he’s willing to part with. Nothing that won’t be irreplaceable to him.
[break][break]
Perhaps could tell to make a sacrifice in his stead, make him pay in blood for being the obvious cause of all of this, but while the thought does cross his mind the moment the priest appears and immediately starts giving instructions, Mars does no more than turn to the altar where both devolution stones and rare candy have appeared. He tosses one of the latter towards his Cursola, since she seems to be so very fond of those things.
[break][break]
”Pasithea.” Musharna. The third among the ones he owns. Sister to fallen Apathe and Pythia. A pokémon that has always served him well, especially at this place, but that because of it may just be the reason why she’s the right choice to make. A pokémon that, when merely looking at her, brings him memories of how much he had suffered because of his own need for answers and how her sisters had gruesomely died when doing as he asked of them.
[break][break]
”You have done well, I couldn’t have gotten this far without you.” There’s admittance in his words, even a hint of something tender and caring in his tone. A hand reaches for the pokémon, resting on her head as one last passing affection from her trainer. ”Go to the altar.”
[break][break]
Mars commands, and his pokémon does as he says.
[break][break]
The Endless had taken ’s Seismo. Perhaps the answer to freeing the Claydol and destroying the creature is a sacrifice of equal value. It makes sense in Mars’ head, and where there should perhaps be remorse, there’s something else…
[break][break]
”Why?” The Unown seems to ask as it floats by his side.
[break][break]
Why. One of the most primordial questions of life.
[break][break]
When it comes to gathering information – to problem solving – there are five primordial questions to always ask. All of them should have factual answers, and those answers should always go beyond a simple “yes” or “no”. Those questions are often referred to as The Five Ws, and they go as follows:
[break][break]
Who?
[break][break]
What?
[break][break]
When?
[break][break]
Where?
[break][break]
Why?
[break][break]
Of course, some also add a sixth question to this list: ”How?”. And, in turn, that’s the one with which Mars begins when standing before the altar where all the sacrifices have been made:
[break][break]
”How do we free Oscar’s Claydol from the Endless?” He says as if asking the air itself for an answer, as if it were logical to do such a thing, as if once again compelled by something beyond his understanding. There’s barely a pause before the second question is raised. ”What does the Endless want?”
[break][break]
And because all things come in threes, Mars knows there’s a third question to add to this – one that stares at him with the unblinking gaze of the Unown-Y floating before him. One personal. One selfish. One that is whispered as he holds on tightly to the portrait of a man that looks so much like him:
[break][break]
Why me?

[break]
After all, is that not the question he had hoped to find an answer to when coming to the church ruins to begin with?



[break][break]
[attr="class","coarwtnotes"]

notes


[break]- Azul is very tired so she'll add a summary later....
[break][break]
9ZuV66O6
[break]+ 5?



[attr="class","coarwtpokes"][break]







[newclass=.coarwt] width: 400px; margin: 0 auto; font-family: roboto; color: #aaa; font-size: 11px; text-align:justify; padding-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 20px; line-height: 15px;[/newclass]
[newclass=.coarwt b] color: #0F0F0F; font-size: 11.5px; font-family: trebuchet ms; [/newclass]
[newclass=.coarwt a] text-decoration: none; font-size: 11px; font-weight: lighter; [/newclass]
[newclass=.coarwt h1, h2, h3] display: inline-block; [/newclass]
[newclass=.coarwt h1] font-size: 13px; font-weight: lighter; color: #0F0F0F; letter-spacing: .5px; line-height: 0px; font-family: monospace; text-transform: uppercase; [/newclass]
[newclass=.coarwt u] text-decoration: none;border-bottom: solid 1px #0F0F0F; [/newclass]
[newclass=.coarwttag] text-align: right; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-top: 20px; font: 10px monospace; [/newclass]
[newclass=.coarwttag a] font: 11px Montserrat; font-weight: 800!important; font-style: italic; letter-spacing: 0px; color: #0F0F0F!important; [/newclass]
[newclass=.coarwtnotes] text-align: justify; padding: 20px 10px 10px 10px; font: 10px monospace; letter-spacing: .3px; border-top: solid 1.5px #323232; [/newclass]
[newclass=.coarwtnotes h1] font: 14px Montserrat; font-weight: 800!important; font-style: italic; letter-spacing: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; color: #0F0F0F; text-shadow: 2px 2px 0px #1e1e1e; padding-bottom: 5px; text-align:center;[/newclass]
[newclass=.coarwtnotes a] font: 11px Montserrat; font-weight: 800!important; font-style: italic; letter-spacing: 0px; text-transform: lowercase; color: #0F0F0F; [/newclass]
[newclass=.coarwtw] padding: 40px; background: #272727; [/newclass]
[newclass=.coarwt span] display: inline-block; [/newclass]
[newclass=.coarwtpokes] text-align: center; margin: 0 auto; background: #0F0F0F; padding: 5px; width: 390px; margin-left: -40px; margin-bottom: -40px; margin-top: 10px; [/newclass]
[newclass=.coarwtpokes img] margin-top: -10px; padding: 0px 10px 5px; [/newclass]

[newclass=".coarknot"]width:350px; height:239px; margin: 0px auto; background-image:url(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/579208329667018766/910787901342748693/Nigredo.png); background-size:cover; transition:3.5s all;[/newclass]

[newclass=".coarknot:hover"]background-image:url(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/579208329667018766/910787898138300456/Crytpic.png); transition:3.5s all;[/newclass]
img
The Shula Region
Hogwarts AU
RPG Unlimited
MR
The Enroi Region
N:FB
Vyrehaven
Celestial Guardians, AU Sailor Moon RP
EO GENESIS
Code and Crown: An advanced literate warriors cats RP, set in medieval times
Swords Clashing