[attr="class","pokemotomechc"]

While STRENGTH is not one of a ROGUE's strong points, yours is sufficient to get the metal object rolling. You exert a significant amount of energy moving the sphere about a track. When it reaches the opposite endpoint, you hear a loud click come from the chamber's northwest corner. The ethereal cube surrounding the previously-locked chest disappears. Shalin slides down to the room's lower level and opens it. Within in is yet another SMALL KEY.[break][break]

You obtained a SMALL KEY! This key will open any one lock. You can use it only in this dungeon.[break][break]

Your THOROUGH EXPLORATION has led you to believe that this key will unlock the floodgate on the lowest level. Lacking another way to proceed. Concerned about your heavy breathing from overuse of your PHANTOM CAPE, she says, "Hold on while I open the gate up." Shalin leads the way to the chamber above the floodgate, sends out her Milotic, and rides down to the waterlogged chamber without you.[break][break]

(The edges of your screen are flashing red, indicating Shalin's health is low.)[break][break]

What do you do? (INVENTORY: MAP; COMPASS; PHANTOM CAPE; SMALL KEY x1)

[attr="class","pokemotomechc"]
❤️ Wait patiently for Shalin's return

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❤️ Follow Shalin to the flooded gate

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❤️ Send one of your water Pokémon after Shalin

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❤️ (CUSTOM FIELD) Take another course of action

[attr="class","pokemotomechc"]

You send your water Pokémon after Shalin to make sure she stays safe. Around a minute later, you hear the sound of rushing water. Pangs of worry overcoming you, you head downstairs to check on her. She is holding onto your Pokémon, her arms shaking. To your relief, she is at least safe.[break][break]

The water has filled the void beyond the floodgate, making it trivial to cross with a Pokémon's ICE BEAM creating a bridge. Her Alolan Ninetales is tiring as well, the explorer paying for her reliance on the fox's DAZZLING GLEAM to provide light.[break][break]

After a long, spiraling tunnel, you encounter another hidden memorial with two graves and four lit box torches, similar to the ones you saw upstairs. Near the headstones are two familiar spirits: the first, a Hisuian Zoroark; the second, an Alolan Marowak. As they make their presence known, much thicker walls of souls cover the west and east entrances to the memorial. It is obvious that your PHANTOM CAPES will not let you pass through them. The phantoms point their natural weapons at you and boast in your direction.[break][break]

"We MeeT aGaiN! WiLL You BReaK ouR CuRSe, oR WiLL We BReaK You?!? TiMe WiLL TeLL!"[break][break]

With that, both disappear, then reappear simultaneously seconds later. The Marowak does so in front of Shalin, thrusting its blazing bone toward her midsection. The Zoroark materializes next to one of the torches, threatening to blow it out. You shudder to think what would happen if all four lights were to become extinguished...[break][break]

(The edges of your screen are flashing red, indicating Shalin's health is low.)[break][break]

What do you do? (INVENTORY: MAP; COMPASS; PHANTOM CAPE)

[attr="class","pokemotomechc"]
❤️ Ambush the Marowak from behind

[attr="class","pokemotomechc"]
❤️ Defend the box torch from the Zoroark

[attr="class","pokemotomechc"]
❤️ Shield Shalin from the Marowak's attack

[attr="class","pokemotomechc"]
❤️ (CUSTOM FIELD) Take another course of action

[attr="class","pokemotomechc"]

You keep one of the box torches safe, your Pokémon repelling attempt after attempt from the phantoms looking to extinguish the lights. While you keep one occupied, a weary Shalin does battle with the other. Their synchronization is well-practiced. A barrage of blows from the Alolan Ninetales' fells the Marowak.[break][break]

With one of the ghosts down, the second ghost's attacks intensify, a hemisphere of BITTER MALICE encircling the area surrounding the four torches. While your Pokémon is able to finish the ghosts off, Shalin is much worse for wear, pressing her hand against her chest as blood seeps from her chest. Furthermore, the BITTER MALICE has rendered her Ninetales unconscious. With your healer Pokémon still spent from before, and a valuable ally fallen, time is of the essence![break][break]

The ghosts let out a shriek, their incorporeal forms disintegrating as they cry out one last message: [break][break]

"No! NeVeR... i'LL CoMe BaCK To HauNT You!!!"[break][break]

The slabs covering the west and east passages recede into the ground. The essence of otherworldly life seep into you, Shalin, and both your Pokémon. While it is no full recovery, the infusion brings Shalin back from the brink of collapse, though she is still tired.[break][break]

Beyond the east slab is a two-story-tall maze of translucent walls and ramps similar to the ones your capes would let you pass through. Though there is a natural way through the maze without phasing through walls, you find yourself under pressure to figure it out while several Mismagius patrolling it could also do so, ready to hurl barrages of SHADOW BALL, POWER GEM, MAGICAL LEAF, or MYSTICAL FIRE your way. Getting cornered could spell disaster![break][break]

The enhanced PERCEPTION from your ROGUISH EXPERIENCE lets you sight a treasure vault on the maze's far south end. The way forward appears to be through the maze's far north end. On the upper level's near end is a large gate, sealed by a golden lock.[break][break]

(The edges of your screen are flashing red, indicating Shalin's health is low.)[break][break]

What do you do? (INVENTORY: MAP; COMPASS; PHANTOM CAPE)

[attr="class","pokemotomechc"]
❤️ (ROLL TWICE) Use your PHANTOM CAPE to reach the north end

[attr="class","pokemotomechc"]
❤️ (ROLL TWICE) Use your PHANTOM CAPE to reach the south end

[attr="class","pokemotomechc"]
❤️ (ROLL TWICE) Navigate the labyrinth normally to reach the north end

[attr="class","pokemotomechc"]
❤️ (ROLL TWICE) Navigate the labyrinth normally to reach the south end

[attr="class","pokemotomechc"]
❤️ (LOCKED) Open the locked gate (REQUIRES BOSS KEY)

[attr="class","pokemotomechc"]
❤️ (CUSTOM FIELD) Take another course of action

[attr="class","pokemotomechc"]

Though your extended use of the PHANTOM CAPES keeps the two of you safe from the ghosts' attacks as you make a break toward the south alcove. You wait as long as you can until the floating Pokémon pass before disengaging them. Seconds after her spirit returns to her body, Shalin starts a coughing fit that sounds painful. It seemed that the use of her cape took quite the toll on her body.[break][break]

Perusing the treasure vault, most of it appears to be curios that you could turn into a tidy sum if you find the right buyer. One item is different, though: a bottle of RED POTION.[break][break]

You obtain a RED POTION! Drink it to partially restore your LIFE energy. Gone after one use.[break][break]

(The edges of your screen are flashing red, indicating Shalin's health is low.)[break][break]

What do you do? (INVENTORY: MAP; COMPASS; PHANTOM CAPE; RED POTION)

[attr="class","pokemotomechc"]
❤️ Offer Shalin the RED POTION

[attr="class","pokemotomechc"]
❤️ (ROLL TWICE) Use your PHANTOM CAPE to reach the north end

[attr="class","pokemotomechc"]
❤️ (ROLL TWICE) Navigate the labyrinth normally to reach the north end

[attr="class","pokemotomechc"]
❤️ (LOCKED) Open the locked gate (REQUIRES BOSS KEY)

[attr="class","pokemotomechc"]
❤️ (CUSTOM FIELD) Take another course of action

[attr="class","pokemotomechc"]

You hand Shalin your RED POTION, who gulps it down. Though its taste is repugnant, its healing energy flows through her. It is not long before she stops bleeding. While her wounds are still present, she no longer appears to be in danger of bleeding out.[break][break]

Navigating the rest of the eastern side of the three-dimensional maze, the cavern expands into a large, underground expanse filled with topped stalagmites dotting a large void. Ethereal walls and floors cover the expanse, requiring tricky maneuvers with your PHANTOM CAPES to progress. Your previous experiences let you overcome these obstacles handily.[break][break]

As you proceed forward, the only thing keeping you from falling being a transparent floor fueled by the energy of the Forbidden Crypt's lingering souls, you see another locked gate on the east side, and in the northeast corner, a lone solid ledge with a SMALL KEY trapped with an ethereal cage its only notable feature. With just enough real-world ground to utilize your PHANTOM CAPE, the cage is not an obstacle to you.[break][break]

Four more Mismagius, not unlike the ones you fled while wandering the maze, materialize in front of you and Shalin. With the entire floor wavering beneath you, even the slightest use of your PHANTOM CAPES above them is not an option, for you would almost certainly fall through the floor and into the abyss. Your footsteps on the supernatural floor make them all aware of your presence. If you do not act quickly, their hallucinatory powers may overwhelm you.[break][break]

What do you do? (INVENTORY: MAP; COMPASS; PHANTOM CAPE)

[attr="class","pokemotomechc"]
❤️ (ROLL TWICE) Engage them with your strongest melee attacks

[attr="class","pokemotomechc"]
❤️ (ROLL TWICE) Engage them with your strongest ranged attacks

[attr="class","pokemotomechc"]
❤️ (ROLL TWICE) Disable them with a crippling ailment

[attr="class","pokemotomechc"]
❤️ (ROLL TWICE) Ignore them and grab the SMALL KEY

[attr="class","pokemotomechc"]
❤️ (ROLL TWICE) (CUSTOM FIELD) Take another course of action

[attr="class","pokemotomechc"]

Though a little slow on the draw, tagging the ghosts with THUNDER WAVE makes them think twice about keeping up the pressure. Though the two of you are singed with one wave MYSTICAL FIRE, your foes remain too stunned to shoot further waves of flames your way. They disappear, as does the ethereal cage trapping the SMALL KEY. You take it and open the way forward.[break][break]

Beyond is a very tall, cavernous chamber with a large tombstone in the center. It is almost completely dark, you and your explorer partner reliant on your Pokémon's illuminating techniques to see within. As you cast light on the tombstone, you see four giant, unlit torches on its front face: two at ground level, and two several feet up. In their center is a riddle-like inscription:[break][break]

"Beneath me, darkness. To my right, darkness. Only I shall shine bright."[break][break]

As you and Shalin ponder the meaning, you notice a stone slab covering a tunnel leading north. Based on your previous investigation and your discovery of the COMPASS, you suspect that beyond this slab rests the BOSS KEY.[break][break]

What do you do? (INVENTORY: MAP; COMPASS; PHANTOM CAPE)

[attr="class","pokemotomechc"]
❤️ Ask Shalin for her thoughts

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❤️ Light the bottom-left torch

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❤️ Light the bottom-right torch

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❤️ Light the top-left torch

[attr="class","pokemotomechc"]
❤️ Light the top-right torch

[attr="class","pokemotomechc"]
❤️ (CUSTOM FIELD) Take another course of action