[attr="class","omgentop"]ROOT OF THE MATTER[break]
ROCKET VS. LEAGUE

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DEATH-ENABLED

FACTION EVENT

SIGN-UPS CLOSED

PERISH SONG

Due to Kazimir Wynter’s Mismagius’ PERISH SONG and Goro Shimizu’s Mime Jr.’s subsequent COPYCAT, the haunting wailing impacts every single Pokemon on the field. However, dominic sinclair’s Klefki is recalled to clear the moves’ damning effect. PERISH SONG will cause all Pokemon who have heard it (and do not have the ability, SOUNDPROOF), to faint in 4 ROUNDS.[break][break][break]

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CLEARING THE HAZARDS

Those in B2 enter a hellish underworld. The poisonous gases, smoke and flames immediately force your bodies into a harsh sweat. Spores burn in the fires, but still threaten to seize your lungs. Around her, illeana reyes’s Arctozolt manages to PROTECT those nearest to her from being inflicted with the dangerous hazards, but the barrier will not hold for long...[break][break][break]

Thankfully, a pink mist spreads across the floor. They come from Councilman FERNANDO SILPH: the avatar powers bestowed upon him. The mist saves Kaida Adachi, beckett carlson, Ruby Walker, and Emma Wolfe from succumbing to POISON and SLEEP.[break][break][break]

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Ruby Walker’s Gardevoir’s LIFE DEW diminishes some of the flames and allows illeana reyes’s injured thigh to heal some. The flames are finally extinguished by Alexei Ivanov’s Pelipper’s DRIZZLE ability as a Florges’ AROMATHERAPY perfumes the bitter smelling room.[break][break][break]

GAVIN, EMMA, KAIDA’S SLUDGE WAVE

As Cillian Quinn falls, his Aerodactyl swoops downward with a SKY DROP. It allows Emma Wolfe enough time to grab him as the prehistoric pterodactyl flaps its leathery wings. Below them, illeana reyes’s Golett, which was stationed to catch him, retracts its small arms when the man is deemed safe.[break][break][break]

beckett carlson’s Mawile and Rookidee prepare themselves while Kaida Adachi’s Salazzle moves to the hatch. A thick torrential flood of SLUDGE (WAVE) pours like a waterfall into B3, drowning the fizzing puddle of priam conrad’s spilled soda. marcel maeda’s Metagross MAGNET RISES, while his Sylveon’s LIGHT SCREEN protects Eva Dumont, priam conrad, @zacharias, dominic sinclair, and Kazimir Wynter’s locations.[break][break][break]

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Eva Dumont manages to retrieve a soil sample and as the SLUDGE WAVE splashes onto the ground, she escapes the poison with her Orbeetle’s PSYCHIC. However, priam conrad, Eva Dumont and marcel maeda are struck by the sludge.[break][break][break]

Thankfully, a lingering SAFEGUARD from before and a newly established LIGHT SCREEN prevents them from being poisoned and from being injured too harshly. However, Kazimir Wynter and Goro Shimizu are still POISONED; they finds their strength diminishing as the poison courses within them. However, Kazimir Wynter can feel his Zygarde cell panicking within his body and wailing, as if calling out to something...[break][break][break]

The SLUDGE WAVE causes the terrain in the crawlspace to become slippery and stinging. B3 is now treacherous to traverse due to the difficult terrain.[break][break][break]

EXPOSED ROOTS

priam conrad’s Shiinotic and its STRENGTH SAP weakens one of the six roots around the tree. The bark around the root cracks— and the CORROSIVE SLUDGE WAVE expose its vulnerable cambium layer. Likewise, Katherine Fairburne’s Gallade finds similar success. After MEGA EVOLVING, the sheer power of a SUBZERO SLAMMER and her Morpeko’s dependable AURA WHEEL allows her to tear away the bark and reveal its cambium layer too. In total, two of the roots are exposed— and they begin to ooze a glowing blue sap.[break][break][break]

Unfortunately, Goro Shimizu’s Haunter will realize CURSE has no effect on the tree— or at least, whatever effects it may have are not visible yet...[break][break][break]

However, the soil is poisoned and the tree seems to be continually retrieving nutrients from the earth.[break][break][break]

FAIRY LOCK, ATLAN, ILLEANA, SMOG

dominic sinclair’s Klefki uses FAIRY LOCK through the hatch. illeana reyes is able to sense things going “south” and her prepared TELEPORT allows her and her team to move into B3 should she desire to![break][break][break]

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beckett carlson manages to reach B3 safely thanks to his Aron’s PROTECT. His other two Pokemon are allowed to enter B3 too, if they have followed him. As he enters, he would see the trainers there before a Gengar (@zacharias) emerges from the shadows. Immediately, it casts SMOG.[break][break][break]

Vision in B3 is obscured; however, beckett carlson may find themselves being poisoned should they linger in the SMOG. illeana reyes and beckett carlson will need to make a HAZARD ROLL if they remain in the SMOG.[break][break][break]

A DINOSAUR AND A WITCH

B2’s eastern side trembles with every stomp of Goro Shimizu’s Tyrantrum. The dinosaur lunges with its terrible CRUNCH. However, Ruby Walker’s Gallade moves in to knock it off course. Instead, the Gallade takes the CRUNCH as Goro Shimizu’s Tyrantrum is bombarded with FERNANDO SILPH’s Greninja’s WATER SHURIKEN. Swiftly, the Mega Evolved Hatterene strikes with its G-MAX SMITE. Stars, like nuclear strikes slam into the Tyrantrum, causing it to roar in agony.[break][break][break]

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Goro Shimizu’s Tyrantrum is now SEVERELY HURT- but not confused thanks to the MISTY TERRAIN. Likewise, Ruby Walker’s Gallade has sustained much damage. Both Pokemon are in danger of being killed should they be attacked again.[break][break][break]

The G-MAX SMITE’s stars slam into the floor. The hole already threatens the infrastructure of B2’s floor. The floor Goro Shimizu’s Tyrantrum, marie jules, FERNANDO SILPH, and Ruby Walker are on is about to collapse (Katherine Fairburne would be able to sense this too).[break][break][break]

KATHERINE, MARIE, SILPH

A MYSTICAL FIRE from Katherine Fairburne’s Hatterene erupts from the hole she made in the previous round. The pillar of flame causes marie jules and FERNANDO SILPH to recoil, buying her more time. Thankfully, marie jules’s performance continues to slow the councilman from reaching the bottom floor.[break][break][break]

In response to the flames, FERNANDO SILPH reacts, his Tapu Fini casting SURF down the hole in B3; Katherine Fairburne and her Hatterene is struck by the coursing water as B3 floods some.[break][break][break]

B3’s TOXIC, MUDDY FLOOR is diluted with water. The tree’s roots seem to pulse as it sucks up nutrients from the polluted soil. [break][break][break]

THE TREE GROWS

The tree grows once more. Thanks to Goro Shimizu's Haunter's CURSE, FERNANDO SILPH's SURF and Kaida Adachi's SLUDGE WAVE, the tree experiences its biggest growth yet. It's almost as if it is defending itself, but in a frantic manner. As the branches swing out from the tree, everyone on all floors must avoid being impaled or struck (your rolls and actions will affect what happens!). Pokemon are in danger too.[break][break][break]

Two of the trees roots are exposed. One is on the eastern side (Katherine Fairburne) and the one is on western side (priam conrad, Eva Dumont, dominic sinclair, marcel maeda, Goro Shimizu, @zacharias, Kazimir Wynter, beckett carlson). Both ooze an odd blue sap.[break][break][break]

OBJECTIVES

IN ORDER TO CLAIM COMPLETE REWARDS FOR YOUR FACTION, and to facilitate plot moments within the event thread, your respective groups will have objectives to fulfill collectively. for example, if your rocket character becomes captured, that objective is fulfilled for the entire group.[break][break]

throughout the event, more objectives may be added/these objectives are subject to change.[break][break]

league

• ic objective: extract a biosample of sap from the tree's roots; protect the tree. ☐
• sub: have three league-affiliated pokemon die by rocket hands. ☐
• sub: be captured, seriously injured, or killed by a rocket character. ☐
• sub: heal/defend a teammate against a rocket's attack (pkmn or human). ☐
• sub: every character must reference every teammate at least once throughout the thread. ☐

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rocket

• ic objective: poison or destroy the tree from its roots, at all costs. ☐
• sub: have three rocket-affiliated pokemon faint/die by league hands. ☐
• sub: be captured, seriously injured, or killed by a league character. ☐
• sub: heal/defend a teammate against a league's attack (pkmn or human). ☐
• sub: every character must reference every teammate at least once throughout the thread. ☐

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THINGS TO NOTE:

• fairy lock & perish song are in effect.
• Goro Shimizu's tyrantrum and Ruby Walker's gallade are very hurt.
• two of the roots are exposed and are oozing blue sap.
• Kazimir Wynter & Goro Shimizu are poisoned beckett carlson and illeana reyes are in danger of being poisoned by SMOG.
• b3 is rapidly filling with SMOG which obscures vision.
• b3 is hard to move around in due to the mud, sludge and water.
• the eastern side of b2 is about to collapse.
• the tree is growing dramatically and branches may strike at your characters and their pokemon next round. this is dangerous and you rolls + actions will determine what happens!
• @matteo has been ejected from the event and his existence in the event has been retconned.
• try to refer to the Pokemon species (not their nicknames) in the tl;dr! it makes it easier for me, hehe.

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RULES & GUIDELINES

• the 3 pokemon you have signed up with are now locked in for the event.
• each of your pokemon can only perform 1 move per round.
• please do not meta-game; this event is not a competition.
• if you do not post by the round's deadline, you will be skipped.
• like others have been doing, please note when you have tagged everyone once for the objective!
• please ROLL once.

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DEADLINE & TAGS

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Selena Desmarais illeana reyes Ruby Walker Kaida Adachi Kazimir Wynter beckett carlson Alexei Ivanov FERNANDO SILPH[break][break]
priam conrad Cillian Quinn Katherine Fairburne Emma Wolfe marcel maeda Eva Dumont marie jules @zacharias dominic sinclair Goro Shimizu

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[attr="class","kthread"][attr="class","rocket"]

Gavin braces for impact, for pain — but just as he's about to hit the ground, the shriek of his Aerodactyl fills his ears and he is snatched from the jaws of danger. His racing heart jumps to his throat as the Aerodactyl flares its wings and makes a cautious landing among the rubble, and the Rocket scientist turns his amber gaze to his rescuer.[break][break]

He'd heard her call out to him; that she'd remembered his alias in the chaos was impressive, but the concern in her voice had rung genuine.[break][break]

His mouth is dry with panic, and he offers a curt nod of thanks for fear that his voice might crack. He finds himself clutching onto Emma for the support that was no longer needed now that they were on the ground — her presence grounds him, and the dizzying haze of adrenaline starts to fade.[break][break]

Though the air is filled with a song of perish, he does not risk returning his greatest defensive asset. His hand finds the prehistoric beast's neck, a secondary anchor.[break][break]

"We need to get below," he insists. "If the others—"[break][break]

Whatever he'd been about to say, he cuts himself off as he notices the tree begin to surge with new growth.[break][break]

"Aerodactyl, guard us!"[break][break]

With a rallying cry, the ancient avian leaps forth and spreads its wings with a WIDE GUARD.[break][break]

In the chaos, Gavin attempts to send out his Lucario for support, gripping the dual-type's capsule like a lifeline.[break][break]

sSFPN2||

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[attr="class","kthread"][attr="class","rocket"]

Her hand closes around Gavin's hand and wrist and she holds fast, pulling him close the moment they land. Without even really registering, the woman has slid off of the back of the Aerodactyl and been wrapped up in the arms of her partner - and she doesn't make an effort to escape. In fact, it seems it's taking all of the strength she has not to falter. He had almost slipped out of her fingers. It was like reliving a nightmare.[break][break]

As comforting as this moment is, however, the moment ends as Gavin peels away to speak to her. He still sounds breathless, but that wasn't surprising given the circumstances. And, miraculously, the poison that had touched her skin fades away thanks to a misty terrain.[break][break]

His thought is promptly cut off, however, as the trunk of the tree grows once again - but this time, they're in actual danger of the branches.[break][break]

Thankfully, both Gavin and Zoroark are quick to act. The man orders the prehistoric beast into action and his rallying cry is mimicked with Zoroark's howl. As the bird's wings stretch to perform a WIDE GUARD, Zoroark puts up a PROTECT to help bolster defences. Emma stays behind the formation in order to defend herself, but remains close to Gavin.[break][break]

From her belt, however, the woman is reaching for her Crobat's Pokeball, releasing the four-winged bat. [break][break]

"If the branches come too close, sever them. I'm not about to die for some stupid tree."[break][break]

Her tone drips venom as her clear irritation takes hold. This operation was falling apart - she'd much rather have handled this herself, discreetly. There was absolutely nothing discreet about this whatsoever. [break][break]

Crobat performs a few CROSS POISONS, sending arching slices of poisonous air-strikes against whatever branches might threaten to break through their protective formation.[break][break]



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[attr="class","mthread"][attr="class","league"]

Kaida narrowed her eyes, peering down the hatch. Had the sludge hit enough enemies to make a difference? Had it hurt a human? She knew well enough that not many were like her, plenty had Pokemon that relied on their trainer's orders. If they were still fine, then she needed to finish the job, hunt them and make the pin. "Mmm? Hema?" Her attention caught on the Seviper as it moved to stick her head down the hatch, and hissed and drew back in a flash of pink. The serpent's eyes flashed, a damned fairy trick! At least psychics were handsomely intelligent, fairies were just a nuisance! [break][break]

Sticking her hand down, Kaida understood quickly, her Pokemon were trapped here for some time. A...song, if it could be called that, was also swirling in her ears, but faded quickly enough...it sounded bad, and her Pokemon's eyes turning glassy for a few seconds didn't help her confidence. Without thinking, she released another of her pack, Hel, the Grovyle, who looked about curiously and chirped good-naturedly. Where was the hunt? [break][break]

Maybe in the drizzle, in the calm, she forgot much could still happen. [break][break]

Kaida only had a brief moment to hear bark creaking before branches shot about, crashing and stabbing at their surroundings. She opened her mouth, not even sure how she could ensure their safety, and her Pokemon acted first. Whatever words were on her tongue cut off in a scream as Hema rammed into Kaida, flinging her into the hatch. Flailing frantically, Kaida caught herself on the hatch, clinging frantically as she felt her arm throb horribly. It was bleeding again, hit on the wall before she caught herself. [break][break]

Three faces looked down the hatch briefly, the scaly faces of Hema, Hel, and Freya seeming genuinely gleeful before they disappeared, pursued by branches. And the absolutely useless human could only cling in safety, so small and unable to help in any way. A frantic scream shook free from her, her own small frame seemingly impossibly loud as she yelled at the one thing she was here to try and protect, a being that was now going to kill the only connections she ever had. "Your enemies are down here! Down! Not them!" She shrieked and howled hopelessly, banging her feet into the walls as if it would do anything. Anything, if it meant their lives would be scared. Something cracked in her chest, and her voice died, unused to being raised in any manner. Still, desperately waiting for the branches to stop attacking, waiting for her Pokemon to show themselves miraculously, her thoughts kept racing, directed as if her thoughts meant anything to this thing. Down there, the ones killing you are down. What the hell was she doing? Talking to a tree, maybe she was just simple. [break][break]

Up above, her Pokemon were now pressed for survival. Freya breathed out a great Flamethrower, a wide, sweeping wall of fire she hoped would dissuade the branches until they retreated to safety. What safety? Why, those two with those protecting Pokemon! (Cillian Quinn and Emma Wolfe ) All three Pokemon retreated away from the tree and towards the protection as the Flamethrower raged. At the back, Hema unleashed Night Slash at any branch that came near, hoping to keep the trio from being stabbed in the back. Hel simply ran and, once reaching the two humans, a membranous barrier extended from her being. Quick Guard. Perhaps not as useful as Protect, but anything to bolster defenses was probably good, she thought. [break][break]

Hema and Freya tried to fling themselves near the humans too, trying to take advantage of the defenses, chirping and rumbling in what seemed like...greeting? For stranger's, they seemed awfully friendly. It was just like Kaida, whoever they were working with were currently partners, was all.

XgAd0Qvo [break][break]

(Salac berry roll!)


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[attr="class","illieicon"]

[attr="class","illie b"]sometimes, bad things happen in succession. in this case, it's a shitstorm of awful that keeps pummeling them. can she even weather this kind of storm? is it possible to survive such a thing? hopefully. panic is slowly settling into her system, mingling with the odd rush that lingers from the very beginning. it swirls and mixes and churns together and once it settles into the pit of her stomach, she's coming to the slow realization that she recognizes the sensation. dread. absolute dread.

perhaps it's luck that lends itself to her in this moment. as the protective barrier around them begins to shatter and crumble, she's moving further into the unknown.

she manages to dip right on out of there as things begin to take a turn for the worst. keeping virgo on standby must have been one of the only good things she actually did today... although, it doesn't seem to help those around her. with an apologetic glance thrown over her shoulder toward Kaida Adachi's retreating form, the scientist and her pokemon TELEPORT down into the hatch. down the rabbit hole, down into the chaos.

they land with a plop, murky water and sludge licking at the exposed skin of her legs. it's funny, she had expected the impact to hurt more... ah, wait. is that the effect of life dew taking hold? her hands are tentative as they drift to the wound. some of the blood has slowed, a healing process slowly begun and slowly stopped. it'll work, she decides with another light brush over the injury. for now, it has to work.

illeana doesn't have a moment to gather her barrings. not a minute, not a second, nothing.

smog begins to fill the area, mingling in the once damp air until it's all but suffocating. she's scrambling for cover, for a sense of direction in the murky darkness. how can she see? how can she get to the roots? how. can. she. do. her. job? the answer: she can't.

"nefas," she gasps, hands beginning to roam for the telltale form of her arctozolt. it has to be close, has to still be nearby. it takes a moment, perhaps longer than she even has, before fingers brush against a shivering body and she's inching closer. her kirlia stays close with injured hands wrapping around her legs while the fourth member of their little team shifts back into the shadows. a golett on standby, lurking and lying in wait in the darkness. is it within its element? perhaps. is it a comfort she desperately needs right now? absolutely. "protect."

it might fail. actually, it probably absolutely will but she needs to try. chattering teeth fill her ears and she shivers, pressing closer as the arctozolt attempts another PROTECT to shield them from the smog that threatens to overcome them. if it works, she doesn't notice. no, she's too busy getting smacked from behind by a flailing branch. it's effective in knocking all of the wind from her lungs, sending the woman scrambling and gasping. "what the hell?" with the cover of poisonous gas, the tree has started moving. (the tree said i'm boutta start swingin'). oh god, she can barely see a foot in front of her. how is she supposed to defend against something she can't see? she isn't.

"custos, try to block whatever's coming!" if she can't see it, perhaps her automaton can. illeana begins to slowly push forward through the sludge, away from the hatch's ladder and into the fray. as the branches come for them, her golett emerges to meet the tree's defenses. it struggles against the branches, forced to constantly disappear and reappear with the threat of poison looming around them. multiple hits break through the shoddy defenses she has put into place, winding branches coming from all directions. she has to believe that the golett can defend them, just enough to give her time to stumble around with searching hands until she hits the jackpot... hopefully.

otherwise, they just might die down here. does dying for science come with the job?

[attr="class","kheader"]

[attr="class","mthread"]while his metagross is unaffected by the attack, marcel's sylveon lets out a cry of pain as the sludge wave hits her. wave after wave of water envelopes the floor, and he can feel the ground changing under his feet. cursing, he picks up amour and climbs atop his metagross.
[break][break]
as he turns his gaze to league mismagius--the cause of yet another one of their problems--he utters a command to amour. "skill swap." he needed the extra mobility so long as the floor was in this state.[break][break]
the situation has quickly worsened--there's little he can do until they've regained at least some control of it.[break][break]

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