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[attr="class","kthreadx"][attr="class","orion"]

[break]

Smoke obscures vision, and Orion finds himself outnumbered as even the valiant Pokkenger admits defeat. Unable to see his Alakazam as the black fog spreads, he can't receive the answers he desperately craves regarding the other's fate.[break][break]

He is bold, often reckless, but he is no fool. Should he attempt pursuit on his own, it would only leave them with two dead weights instead of one. The councilman utters a wordless snarl of frustration before backing away from the location he'd last spotted the cubes, hoping that he was drawing closer to his companions. The sense of camaraderie earlier felt is weakened, but they are each other's only hopes of survival.[break][break]

"I can't see in all this smoke!" He knows his Scizor could take care of the problem, but can't figure out which ball belongs to it in the chaos. "If they've left us alone, can you get rid of it?"[break][break]

He flinches instinctively as something appears next to him, but it is only his Alakazam — using it's MIRACLE EYE, the pyschic-type had TELEPORTED back to his side. His other Pokemon are not so fortunate in their abilities, and Orion can only hope that they've stayed put.

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[attr="class","isusa2"]

Darkness is no stranger to a woman bred and born of it, seeped in it from the day of her beginnings and doomed to its presence until the last breath leaves her body. Smoke obscures the nothingness of their surroundings, enemy and ally alike and she cam only grin beneath the cover of it and the illusion.

[Break][break]

A single whistle reels in her ghosts, the pokemon stepping back into the midplane they make their home as the click of heels rings out calmly against the clatter of battle. "Leave it." her tone is a sharp retort to the request to clear the smoke, breaking their cover asks for more.

[Break][break]

A flick of her wrist releases a pokemon, the noivern settles on the ground beside her, wings clattering in silence. He spots her hand and follows the gesture, crawling low to the ground, his belly scuffing the nothingness uncomfortably.
[Break][break]

The creature's presence in her mind is a welcome one, familiar as the halls of her home. It scurries through her mind for something and once it finds the direction it seeks that presence turns to find the others. Pokemon or human alike matters little, so long as they listen and follow the scurrying creature and his master, much like the zoroark that had yet to leave her side.


[break][break][break]
Balder Schwartz Kazimir Wynter Orion Lykos [break]
>>Zoroark and its illusion are on the move beside Isra![break]
>>Banette and Golurk return to the midplane, on standby![break]
>>Releases noivern!
>>Noivern follows Isra on foot using telepathy to seek the others/their pokemon and give them direction

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[attr="class","isusafin"]

[attr="class","ihead"]

[attr="class","ipad"]


[break][break]

THE POKKENGER'S lucario returns to its partner. as boulders collide with the aegislash's shield. likewise, councilman Orion Lykos's alakazam returns to him— aided by a keen use of MIRACLE EYE.[break][break]

[break][break]

in the shadows, Isra Nightingale continues to lead her smokey march at the vanguard with her zoroark. her noivern is summoned, using TELEPATHY to guide them. Balder Schwartz follows Isra Nightingale's lead. his coalossal is recalled thanks to Kazimir Wynter's intervention, while solgaleo keeps up with them with its heavy gait.[break][break]

in the distance, they see the floating cyclops-cubes heading toward the watchlight tower. ahead, the road features large, obsidian-colored roadblocks. despite the city's architecture, the abandonment is startling. there is no breath of a life here, aside from what has attacked them, and even then, are those things alive?[break][break]

the dead body of their partner is hauled away, further and further, until it is a small speck. ahead, the noivern would be able to see that the cubes are bringing him inside the tower through a window— or some entry on its walls.[break][break]

for now, the team has time for a brief rest. the path ahead is strewn with roadblocks that must be cleared... and the cubes seem to have all fast-tracked to the tower instead.[break][break]

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[break][break]

FOR NECESSARY MODERATOR POSTS, tag shiv in the post / thread.[break][break]
repost in the research thread after all of you have posted, but you may post more than once depending on the circumstances of the round. as a note, this does not count as a "research thread".[break][break]

if you are performing an action, please ROLL in this thread! furthermore, Balder Schwartz will be NPC'd by shiv from this point onward.[break][break]

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[break][break]
as the cubes' onslaught began to weaken so too was the aegislash's shield before the attacks had stopped and the strange little cubes decided to retreat from this battle. the masked hero watched as their fallen friend was carried off into the distance, the speck of them heading over to the lone tower that acted like a beacon of where the real terror of this strange new world lurked. as his pokemon gathered around he returned the busters and madame for some rest, skywalker and oathkeeper at his side and ready to act as the party's best defense and offense against whatever was lurking around the corner. they were given a small time to catch their breath and the pokkenger used it to decide on what they should do.
[break][break]
"well...i think we're gonna have to break into that." he raised a finger and pointed at the tower that loomed over them like a watchful eye. "they took our guy up there...heck they might have taken everyone who...used to be here up there." he looked between the various empty buildings that were on either side of everyone, their emptiness now becoming eerily scary to the hero. "so...we might just find something in there. anyone wanna join me? then follow along." the pokkenger started walking as his lucario kept his aura sensing up and running to make sure nothing got the drop on them as they pushed forward.[break][break][break]


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[attr="class","kthreadx"][attr="class","orion"]

[break]

Brief though their calm after the storm might be, Orion takes advantage of whatever reprieve he can — all of his Pokemon are returned to their capsules, save for a Noivern that Orion calls out in case they need to get somewhere in a hurry. The bat-dragon's natural AGILITY provides a boost to its flight speed, though the councilman signals it to remain grounded for now.[break][break]

He grimaces as the Pokkenger indicates the tower, nods.[break][break]

"If they took Pierce there, chances are Mateo is somewhere similar, right?"[break][break]

He doesn't hesitate to follow the other man when he sets off.[break][break]

"Anyone need healing? I brought a few supports along."

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[attr="class","isusa2"]

"Or perhaps it's crawling with more trouble, and we're playing right into their hand by going there." Isra muses aloud, sounding more amused than not at the idea of them breaking into the tower. Her noivern, sensing this, rattles his wings with a familiar chortling sound, as if he is laughing at something. He certainly is. They all but ignore the idea of healing, finding they are not yet bothered by the idea of it. Simple rest would be better received but it is not yet time for it.
[break][break]
The Zoroark seems to tense as they move forward, more cautious, attention paid to the illusion she keeps hold of around them to make them nothing at all. She will not let it drop until Isra allows it, but there is no denying that there is only so much time to spare for it.
[break][break]
Though the woman follows her eyes are not on the tower but rather the buildings. She cannot help but wonder more of them than the tower itself, what might lie behind the odd material. And then an idea comes to her, the noivern finds the notion she gives him concerning but does as asked nonetheless. The pokemon reaches out, seeking things sentient and not alike, looking for another mind to settle in should there be any. Whatever it might find meant to be relayed to Isra in an instant, as both have long since become comfortable with the passing of information between them.

[break][break][break]
Balder Schwartz Kazimir Wynter Orion Lykos [break]
>>Zoroark continues to use illusion for cover[break]
>>Banette and Golurk on standby in midplane[break]
>>Noivern reaches out into the surrounding area with telepathy, seeking other living creatures!

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AS THE PARTY PUSHES ONWARD, the peculiarities of the city grow more evident. their steps on the road are muted— although one would expect the crisp crunch of concrete or pavement. the only wind they hear is the brief billowing of breath; the air almost seems stagnant. the landscape is still with abandonment.[break][break]

however, moments before they reach the tower, Kazimir Wynter's lucario senses a presence. Isra Nightingale's noivern's TELEPATHY manages to pick up on the thoughts of some living thing.[break][break]

a man steps out from a nearby alleyway, grasping his arms as if shivering. he wears an odd space suit-like outfit— but it is his remarkably pale skin that strikes the attention of the human party.[break][break]

"I... COME TO YOU IN PEACE," he stumbles forward, his voice shaking, "IS IT SAFE TO COME OUT NOW? dark circles grace his sullen eyes.[break][break]

he seems remarkably thin. perhaps, he is starving.[break][break][break]

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[attr="class","kthreadx"][attr="class","orion"]

[break]

A figure emerges from the shadows like a ghost, pale and shivering. Orion takes an involuntary step back, hand clutching his Absol's pokeball as if seeking reassurance that it was still there. His Noivern circles overhead, lower and lower, in anticipation of threat.[break][break]

Orion's laugh is sudden, sharp, perhaps inappropriate: They speak the same language. Thank fuck.[break][break]

"Define safe." His tone, still light from hysteria, is quick to turn grim. He doesn't take his hand from the pokeball. "Who are you, where did you come from?"[break][break]

He looks — abnormal. Was it the clothes? The dark circles under the eyes? The shaking?[break][break]

No, Orion realises, it's because he looks fucking dead.[break][break]

He was too pale. In this sunless place, Orion supposes that shouldn't be a surprise, but it is.

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[break][break]
the party was almost at the tower's doorstep when the pokkenger's lucario suddenly stopped and held out an arm that nearly found its way into the hero's gut as he stopped just a step behind him. "skywalker what-" at first he was worried that more of those strange cubes were lurking around the corner because if they were then it might be trouble. they were already down one man.
[break][break]
what came out was something a little less threatening if not bleak looking as a frail man suddenly wandered out of an alleyway looking terrified of the group and asking if it was safe to even take a step in the city. the pokkenger's heart felt for the sight of this man and was quick to react when Orion Lykos started to question him. "whoa whoa whoa. we're friendly here remember?" he said as he stepped between the two of them and turned to face the pale man.
[break][break]
"if you mean those cubes then they're gone. back into that tower so...i think they won't be bothering us for a while. do you...do you know what those are? we're....tourists! and they sort of took our friend." it was the first person they met since coming here, it might be a bit abrupt but they did know next to nothing about this place other than it might have one of the most deadliest security systems ever known to man.[break][break][break]


[break][break]

[attr="class","isusa2"]

Thin, shivering, pale, circles beneath his eyes like the grace of sleep hasn't been upon him in far too long. Though Isra does not speak initially she is not so naive and foolhardy as to not be on edge. A quick whistle allows the illusion to waver momentarily as her party members seek to engage.
[break][break]
She and the nnoivern tilt their heads in opposite directions, the telepathic link does not seek to sever but to grow deeper. Crossing the three minds into one in the hopes of finding truth in the words the man speaks but they do so tentively. If he is of this place then surely he could steal a mind as well as a body? The noivern is ready to withdraw their connection at the first sign of trouble, hostility, anything that might be perceived as a threat.
[break][break]
Isra's hand reaches over her shoulder, held up where the pokemon in the midplane may see it from their place of waiting should she need them. "What are you?" she asks amid Kazimir's chatter, curiosity taking over.
[break][break]
For this is a place of nothingness, a home of beasts, a home of things that seem wel beyond and less than living and human. So who is to say he is human an perhaps not something else entirely?

[break][break][break]
Balder Schwartz Kazimir Wynter Orion Lykos [break]
>>Zoroark's illusion wavers as everyone engages the man, ready to be put back asap[break]
>>Banette and Golurk on standby in midplane[break]
>>Noivern seeks to use telepathy to connect to the dude's mind/connect him to Isra but will withdraw if it sese danger!

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[attr="class","ihead"]

[attr="class","ipad"]


[break][break]

the pale man looks around, his sunken eyes flickering around like a moth smacking into a lit lightbulb. "what am I? what are you? you four?" his gaze bounces from kazimir, orion, isra, and balder before shifting to the tower.[break][break][break]

a sigh escapes him.[break][break][break]


"i am called by velmos." from behind him, a peculiar, purple sprite-like creature peeks. its eyes are pupilless, the same pale blue as the other's skin. "this is my friend. are they your friends too? he gestures to the party's pokemon.[break][break][break]

[break][break]

he stops, his breath finally steadies.[break][break][break]

"i saw someone being carried into the tower by those... things. are they one of yours? i can help you bring them back."[break][break][break]

for now, Isra Nightingale's noivern's TELEPATHY continues to try and work. there is a learning curve however. the nature of this being and their otherworldly condition causes the draconid to exert more effort.[break][break][break]

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[attr="class","kheaderx"]

[attr="class","kthreadx"][attr="class","orion"]

[break]

Pokkenger takes the route of optimism, admonishing Orion for his tense approach, and the ranger's mouth forms a hard line of doubt.[break]
[break]


"Not trying to be rude," he defends, "but those cube things tried to kill us."[break]
[break]


The pale stranger — Velmos, as he introduces himself — claims to offer help. Orion's afraid it's too good to be true, but holds his tongue after the earlier reprimand. Remembering the question Velmos had posed Isra in return, he instead offers: "We're not from here. We're from Hoenn. And yes, our Pokemon are our friends — mine are, at least."[break]
[break]


Noivern lets out a rumble of agreement, circling lower.[break]
[break]


"Is your... uh, friend, is it a Pokemon, too?"[break]
[break]


It looked more natural than the metal cubes, or the terrifying clown thing that had attacked Slateport.[break]
[break]

He defers to the others when Velmos asks after Pierce; Balder had brought them here, after all, and it was dangerous to get separated in unfamiliar territory such as this. Pokkenger, he thinks, will accept the help. He's less sure of the others.

[break][break]

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[break][break]
kazimir mustered all of his strength to not try and freak out over the strange creature that appeared behind their new "friend". it was such a weird looking thing but it did seem like some kind of pokemon, or in this case whatever those strange creatures coming out of the wormholes. Orion was quick to explain that their pokemon were indeed friendly, well as friendly as they could be in the small respite they were given right now and if this velmo guy didn't seem like the bad sort.
[break][break]
"yeah they did take someone we came with up there, and well...might have someone else who ended up here by accident. so you could say we're looking for two people really, but if you can help us get into that tower that would be great! I do hate asking to ask to put yourself in danger for our sake though..." the way this guy looked he might not last too long in that tower really, but if it came to then pokkenger would do his best to protect him just as well. he kind of had to what with the guy's offer being more than generous.[break][break][break]


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