Alright! Drednaw is all nice and polished, and the sandstorm is in full effect. It's time.

Or at least, it would be, if the Claydol didn't get on its bullshit. In addition to all its spinning, it begins to rev up its psychic energy, too. You can only imagine how fucked things will get if it's allowed to get into gear. So, you suppose going all out will have to wait. First, you need to slap a brick on this thing's brakes.

"Damn it... Rock Tomb!"

Opening its mouth wide, the Drednaw spat out a barrage of boulders, catapulting through the air and crashing down onto the Claydol in an attempt to burden it, to weight it down, and to drag it back to earth.

---

howard slayte walter delmar Grigori Sokolov
DREDNAW MOVES: Stone Edge/Rock Tomb/Head Smash/Sandstorm/Rock Polish/Protect, TERA ROCK
HINDER - Moves that cause or have a chance to lower a target's stats reduce the boss's total roll by 10 for the next round. Multiple players can use these moves in the same round, but the reduction only applies to the following round.
XXQDaw9J + 10 from Shift + 20 from Rock Polish

The sandstorm continued to rage on.

"Omanyte, Stone Edge full throttle!"


Omanyte burst forth from the sand and gathered its geomantic energy. Jagged blades of stone rose from the ground as Omanyte released a small but somewhat menacing gurgle.

Sand swirled more aggressively in the crew's faces yet for a moment, Walter was able to see one of the blades stab the mighty Claydol. He could barely make out the jagged rock piercing through the hardened clay like a Wattrel diving into the sea. Before he could examine the rest of the damage, sand blew right into the captain's eyes.


Walter scrambled for a moment to clean the debris. This wasn't his element. He was a Magikarp out of water, a sea captain in a sandstorm. All he could do was hope the other blades landed with Omanyte's full power.

The storm raged on.

---

howard slayte Shred Zeppelin Grigori Sokolov
OMANYTE MOVES: Shell Smash/Sandstorm/Protect/Stone Edge/Rock Tomb/Stealth Rock
Crush- Moves that deal damage and have 100 base power or higher and one-hit knockout moves receive a +20 modifier.
6AMrrjEY +10 from the Sandstorm +20 from Shell Smash +20 for Crush

To be drowned in a sea of sand, or to be whipped away in a terribly strong sand twister? Neither were appealing, and both would lead to their swift demises. That was, unless, they managed to put a mighty dent in the Claydol. Hard for him to do, while being held from behind by a particular Archeologist.

“I won’t be much protection in the face of such adversity, Mr. Fox!” Grigori tried his best to keep steady, but there was no way he could hold out for much longer. They had to strike swiftly and specifically.

But, perhaps, there was another way. The creature summoned winds of its own machinations. They moved in their own current. So, say, if he were to try and push against the current, and either slow it down or stop it altogether…

“Mr. Howard, summon a Sandstorm!”

Rocks crumbled together, and then sunk below the sands themselves. Runerigus kicked up a mighty amount of sand, all in the opposite direction of the Claydols own. Perhaps this would buy them a little time. Or maybe they’d all be safe.

Or it was pointless, and their fates were sealed like the ghostly stone’s own all that time ago. Only time would tell.

---

howard slayte walter delmar Shred Zeppelin Roy Aker

kfWKeiTO

Shift: Moves that change the weather or terrain provide a +10 modifier to moves of the same type for the next three rounds. This bonus applies to all team members, regardless of who initiated the change. If a new weather or terrain move is used, it will replace the current effect in the next round. Only one weather or terrain effect can be active at any time. This effect will not apply to moves used within the same round as the move that changed the weather or terrain.

Moves Left: Earthquake/Stone Edge/Will-O-Wisp/Crafty Shield/Destiny Bond/Sandstorm

+10 Health Damage from Afflict, +10 roll modifier from previous Sandstorm

This Claydol was proving resilient. Such was the power of Dynamaxed Pokémon. For something wandering the desert with the intention of protecting the land, the ancient Pokémon had no qualms about causing the desert around it to collapse. Ruins shattered and groaned as they were buried under metric tons of sand.

Still, they were making good progress. Shred and Grigori were strong trainers, skilled at waging war on the battlefield. Walter was showing his prowess as well, though Howard didn't know much of the captain's prior experience in battles.

Pirates were ferocious, but not every pirate was a brave warrior. Then again, Walter wasn't much of a pirate.

"Mud Slap!" The Orthworm threw large swaths of sand into the many eyes of the Claydol. It had several, but between this and the ensuing Sandstorm, it would struggle to pinpoint their location. It had the raw power to break the desert apart, but they'd cross that bridge if the Claydol decided to go nuclear.

---

Shred Zeppelin Grigori Sokolov walter delmar
Iron Defense/Earthquake/Dig/Sandstorm/Harden/Mud Slap
STRIKE +10
nxZGlHtj

It just won't quit, will it? No matter what you do to this Claydol, it just keeps on going. It'd be admirable, if you weren't on opposite sides. Still, as laser beams rip through the desert, it's clear that this'll only get worse for you as time goes on. So, time to put it down while you still can.

Reaching into your pocket, you pull out your Tera Orb and throw it towards your Drednaw.

"HEAD SMASH, NOW!"

As an otherworldly glow overtakes its body, the monstrous turtle lets out a roar. Then, bolstered by the raging sandstorm and the Terastal Phenomenon, it launches itself forward, smashing its skull straight into the head of the false idol.

---

howard slayte walter delmar Grigori Sokolov
DREDNAW MOVES: Stone Edge/Rock Tomb/Head Smash/Sandstorm/Rock Polish/Protect, TERA ROCK
CRUSH - Moves that deal damage and have 100 base power or higher and one-hit knockout moves receive a +20 modifier.
AmJjOcvo + 20 from Crush + 10 from Tera + 10 from Sandstorm

The sandstorm continued to rage, buffeting Walter's beard.

This type of storm wasn't familiar to the ship captain. He was far more familiar to the tropical storms that now felt like a distant memory, in this vast display of sand. It was just sand, sand, and more sand. It was almost impossible to see the Claydol in the distance, rising up like a crashing wave.

"All right, Omanyte! Let's blind them with Rock Tomb!"

Boulders fell from the sky, crashing into the Claydol. This Omanyte was beginning to pay dividends! It would be a great ally on the open sea, and it'd be an excellent way to keep those pesky Wingulls at bay!

Assuming they survived, that is.

---

howard slayte Shred Zeppelin Grigori Sokolov
Shell Smash/Sandstorm/Protect/Stone Edge/Rock Tomb/Stealth Rock
CRUSH: Moves that deal damage receive a +10 modifier.
jH7SbbKJ

As the battle waged on, once more the ruins of history proved themselves to be the most defenseless target. From all the sand and movement of the land, various bits of rubble were caught in the crossfire. Strong winds carried those unable to glue themselves to the ground and became weapons.

It did not help when the Claydoy decided to join in. Energy beams shot out in seemingly random directions, each one with enough power to crystalize the sand. It was only thanks to Runerigus’ help with the push of its body or the pull of its tendrils that Grigori dodged them all.

But surely, there would be an opening. Chaos of this type was always controlled. He just had to spot the opening…

There! “Mr. Howard, Quake the Earth!”

Just as the Claydol attempted to vaporize the pair, a stone block did not stop it, but redirected it. Directly into the ground below, and the ghostly ruin slammed all its body parts into the glass sea. Shards shot up into the clay doll, even as it floated.

---

howard slayte Shred Zeppelin walter delmar  Roy Aker

B2R5UnVP

CRUSH: Moves that deal damage and have 100 base power or higher and one-hit knockout moves receive a +20 modifier.
MOVES LEFT: Earthquake/Stone Edge/Will-O-Wisp/Crafty Shield/Destiny Bond/Standstorm

+10 from dodging the attacks and hitting a weak spot, +20 from Crush

The Claydol was on its last legs, but even artificial life fought for the right to exist when it was on the cusp of defeat. Whether nature or humanity had instilled that feature into the construct, it didn't particularly matter.

Life fought to live. That was as far as it went.

Which was why Howard wasn't particularly shocked by the Claydol's attempt at a massive attack. It was a Hail Mary, meant to annihilate at the cost of damaging itself rather than risk falling to four ants and their Pokémon. Even if Walter, Shred, and Grigori were doing much of the work, Howard was perfectly content to take credit for their successes.

As the blast prepared to fire, Howard took the opportunity.

"NOW, ORTHWORM!" Howard barked as the steel worm emerged from a dune, aimed straight for the doll Pokémon's glowing red eyes. It flew close, before striking the construct in the eye, causing the charging blast to misfire. The worm had Dug into the sand, and was waiting on the prime chance to strike.

"Now's our chance, go!"

---

Shred Zeppelin Grigori Sokolov walter delmar
Iron Defense/Earthquake/Dig/Sandstorm/Harden/Mud Slap
STRIKE +10
CHALLENGE +5
xxihA8cs

Now WOULD be your chance, if Drednaw hadn't blown through all of its stamina already.

Indeed, your turtle is much like a semi-truck barrelling at 90 miles per hour that had just run out of gas. Your only options are to pump the brakes or to keep coasting. But that's hardly a choice, is it? You're not the type to come trickling to a halt. No, you're going to smash into this thing with whatever speed you've got, and fuck this big bastard up as much as possible before the ride stops.

To that end, you're fortunate that you've got Terastalisation on your side, because that means you've got one more trick up your sleeve. One last pump of petrol to keep up the speed until the crash.

"NOW, DREDNAW! TERA BLAST!"

"GET DREDNAWED!"

With that great and mighty and slightly pathetic battle cry, the big-jawed beast opened its mouth wide and spat out a blast of rock-type energy right into the body of the Claydol.

---

howard slayte Grigori Sokolov walter delmar
DREDNAW MOVES: Stone Edge/Rock Tomb/Head Smash/Sandstorm/Rock Polish/Protect/Tera Blast, TERA ROCK
tPR0gpKG + 10 from Strike + 10 from Shift

Omanyte squelched onto the ground with an exhausted gurgle. He gave that Claydol his all and even so it still stood mighty. They needed to hide again, as much as it pained Walter's eyes and beard.

"Excellent work, Omanyte! Now let's lose 'em in a Sandstorm!"

The fossil Pokemon spun and flailed its tentacles like a mini whirlpool. Sand kicked up into the air and soon created a screen of dust that obscured the party.

Walter's eyes teared up from the sand. His beard was coated in dust and pebbles. This, again, was not his element.

"Nice work, matey! Now let's leave it to the others.

---

howard slayte Grigori Sokolov Shred Zeppelin
Shell Smash/Sandstorm/Protect/Stone Edge/Rock Tomb/Stealth Rock
SHIFT: +10 modifier to moves of the same type for the next three rounds. 
pqjE1N|M +10 due to sand 

As Shred utilized the Terastilization orb, so too did Grigori. They were at the end of a long journey, and they just needed to make one final push. One more good assault, and their foe would be vanquished. Runerigus adopted the strange helm, a half-globe, as it clapped its hands together. Tendrils that stretched throughout its rocky limbs went further.

Straight for the Claydol. Their fates would soon be intertwined, as its attack charged up. If it went through, then the sentient stone would surely perish. But so too would the massive behemoth of a Pokemon.

"Their Destinies are Bound," Grigori called out. "Failure is no longer an option!"

---

howard slayte Shred Zeppelin walter delmar Roy Aker

OYHhk2oZ

Move Used: None.

Moves Left: Just Crafty Shield

+10 to roll from Tera