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

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DEATH-ENABLED

FACTION EVENT

SIGN-UPS CLOSED

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RUBY, SILPH, MARIE

Ruby Walker attempts to protect the guards and marie jules. Below, Goro Shimizu's Tyrantrum DRAGON TAIL swings through openings in the severed branches to strike at the B1 floor. Ruby Walker, marie jules, FERNANDO SILPH, and the three guards experience some airtime- but her Hatterene is able to MEGA EVOLVE in the nick of time, using its heightened powers to help them land safely into the flaming, smoggy floor below them.[break][break][break]

ILLEANA, KAIDA, ALEXEI, SELENA

The combined efforts of illeana reyes, Kaida Adachi, and Alexei Ivanov allow them access into the staircase. on Alexei Ivanov's Pelipper, the flying-theme gym leader and Selena Desmarais hover into B2. The Pelipper is attempting to hold two adults; however, Alexei Ivanov will sense that the bird will not be able to sustain their weight for too long...[break][break][break]

Although several of you have suffered injuries, the adrenaline emanated from the tree keeps the pain from becoming too unmanageable (for now).[break][break][break]

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MARCEL, EVA, DOM, PRIAM, ZACH, GORO, ATLAN - B1 COLLAPSE

as dominic sinclair's Houndoom's SMOG fills B2, marcel maeda, dominic sinclair, priam conrad, @zacharias, and Goro Shimizu are able to make it down the hatch to B3. Eva Dumont joins them too, and has her Orbeetle cast SAFEGUARD as a safety measure. On the other side, Katherine Fairburne and her pokemon too, manages to smash herself down to the third and final floor in dramatic scattering of ice.[break][break][break]

B1 collapses. beckett carlson prepares and finds cover under a sturdy table. Chunks of B1's flooring crash onto B2, which is now set aflame. Where the rubble has not covered, racks of clothes act as bonfires. Within the darkness of B2, it is difficult to find your way without intervention. Furthermore, priam conrad's Shiinotic's SPORE is drawn back into the room as the vents are exposed.[break][break][break]

GAVIN & EMMA

As Cillian Quinn sends his Aerodactyl out for Emma Wolfe to ride, the sudden chaos of the floor's collapse knocks him off the prehistoric Pokemon. Thankfully, Emma Wolfe's Zoroark's PROTECT manages to catch him in the nick of time— but it's only temporary. Cillian Quinn will fall into the floor unless Emma Wolfe or anyone else helps him in some fashion![break][break][break]

KAZIMIR

When the rubble falls toward Kazimir Wynter, a dramatic flash of green engulfs the room. From his body, the ZYGARDE CELL protects him. A verdant orb expands from his body as a barrier, and the chunks of ceiling break upon its shape.[break][break][break]

The rubble, smoke and flame obscure the hatch door which has been reinforced temporarily with Rocket's PROTECTs. However, the hatch door is blown back by Kazimir Wynter's ZYGARDE CELL activating. Kazimir Wynter may choose to move through the passage—if not intercepted—or loop back in the SMOG to find the opening created by Katherine Fairburne.[break][break][break]

ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS

Those still in B2 (illeana reyes, Kaida Adachi, beckett carlson, Selena Desmarais, Emma Wolfe, Cillian Quinn, Ruby Walker, and FERNANDO SILPH) and their Pokemon may succumb to SLEEP or become POISONED if they traverse through the SMOG or SPORES to get to B3. They must somehow avoid them, or do away with them.[break][break][break]

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THOSE IN B3

In the final floor, the roots of the tree are revealed. They pulse with an energy that seems to be drawn from the earth itself. There are 6 main roots. They are incredibly thick and dig deep into the earth.[break][break][break]

Despite the crawlspace's name, the space here is wide and vast. It is a place used for extra storage, which is evident by the cardboard boxes and metal carts used to shuttle goods from the ladder to other parts of the crawlspace.[break][break][break]

Katherine Fairburne can easily join the other Rockets, for there is ample space around the trunk to traverse around.[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:

• 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 at least once; for those who come in contact with the smog or spores, in your post, roll a second time and label the roll as HAZARDS.

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DEADLINE & TAGS

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Selena Desmarais illeana reyes Ruby Walker Kaida Adachi Kazimir Wynter beckett carlson @matteo 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[break][break][break]

@matteo will be ejected from the event next round/the moderator will deem what will happen to him if his player does not post.

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A sudden gut-wrench sensation, like cresting the big drop of a roller-coaster, and he's falling.[break][break]

Instinct kicks in before he can truly register the danger he's in. He contorts himself mid-air in the hopes of lessening the impact — better a twisted arm than a broken spine — and though his shout of alarm upon slipping from his mount is drowned in the chaos of collapse, his Aerodactyl certainly registers the sudden absence of his weight.[break][break]

She pulls into a steep dive, folding her wings and utilizing SKY DROP to plummet after her master with Emma Wolfe still astride her back.[break][break]

Should she reach him in time, the prehistoric beast would attempt to snag him with her talons to stop or break his fall.[break][break]

04ck9i8j REGULAR ROLL[break]
HAZARD[break][break]

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Selena Desmarais mostly

JgvPe6y3 <- roll
<- hazards?

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[attr="class","kthread"][attr="class","pokkenger"][break]
he really kind of wished he had been in the presence of different company honestly.
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as soon as he was out the clown prince of bell air suddenly pushed on through and his little prince decided to set the entire floor ablaze with fire and his dinosaur brought the house down. next was the floor beneath him suddenly turning into ice and making it much more slippery to walk on causing him to once again fall over. "aaaargh! c'mon man!" he cursed under his breath as the last he saw of his former prisoners was them suddenly slipping into the ground and out of sight. must be nice to have a partner like them or Selena Desmarais and Alexei Ivanov.
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as he got to his feet the growing sound of rumbling was growing ever present, boy did he wish he had a hero like Ruby Walker to help him out right now because the hairs on the back of his neck were starting to stand up in fear. he had to get out of here. if he didn't he would probably end up in much more pain than whatever pain illeana reyes and Kaida Adachi went through and he couldn't very well hide out like beckett carlson was doing or whatever @matteo was up to. he didn't have a lot of time to process that thought as he saw figures suddenly come racing from the stairs and disappearing into the ground once again right where the people he was stuck with fell into.
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there was very little time to think about what all those people were doing when the ceiling from coming down on him. all kazimir could do was shut his eyes.
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the sound of crumbling rumble erupted everywhere around him as well as a familiar hum and a feeling in his body that he had only felt once before, opening his eyes kazimir was treated to the sight of a familiar green barrier surrounding him. he was so flushed with glee that he couldn't stop himself from laughing and cheering at his sudden saving. "oh man...thank you mysterious little worm." as the dust around him started to settle and the barrier was breaking down he noticed a trap door that had its entrance flung right open and not a second too soon did the light bulb in his head go off. that's where those people went down too!
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as he moved towards it he took out a capsule and released goodwitch from her ball who was suddenly stunned at the ruined storage room around her before turning to screech at her trainer for bringing her out here. "oh c'mon we're done with the celeb bit. we do gotta get down there tho, and i got an idea cause we got some...weird folks down there with some deadly partners." the image of the little mime jr setting the place on fire came to mind, whoever owned that needed to be taught on how to control that thing. the ghost type let out a groan which caused kazimir to roll his eyes. "no i'm not winging it, perish the thought."
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the mismagius gave her trainer a look at what he was implying, although it was more in how he phrased as a pun that annoyed her more as the two shared a look between them.
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It didn't take long for the mismagius to resign to her trainer's order as it followed him as he climb down the trapdoor not even bothering to wait and probably run into FERNANDO SILPH who was coming down. once he was through and in the bottom floor he dropped down from where he was climbing and landed into a pile of cardboard boards with a grunt as goodwitch sung her heart out with a perish song to announce their arrival as she floated down after him.
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from within the pile of boxes two lights shown out as his other two partners machoman and dinozord erupted from out of the boxes holding a dazed kazimir. "falling with style...need to work on that...ok folks, someone just tried to set that upper floor on fire and me and my fist are gonna have a chat with them cause some of ya'll are kinda going nuts just wrecking the place."
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bdVEZBTP

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The floor lurches beneath her feet but she manages to climb onto the Aerodactyl before she falls. Gavin, however, is not so lucky. Either she or the rumble of the floor collapsing causes the Pokemon to lose balance. As a result, Gavin falls off the back of the beast and Emma looks over her shoulder to empty space.[break][break]

She feels the pit in her stomach grow as she watches Gavin falling through the floor toward dangerous obstacles. [break][break]

"Charles!"[break][break]

Raw panic makes itself apparent - she had never expected him to fall. [break][break]

"I'm coming!"[break][break]

Just as she says this, or even a moment earlier, the Aerodactyl lurches forward in a dead plummet as it SKY DROPS to get closer to Gavin. On the off chance the prehistoric bird doesn't manage to grab hold of him, Emma manages to relay a command to her Zoroark.[break][break]

The Pokemon morphs out of the Crobat illusion to resume his original form. His hand grabs hold of Emma's and she holds tighter to the Aerodactyl. As they swoop down, Zoroark attempts to SNATCH Gavin's hand and link them in a chain or help pull him up with his impressive Pokemon strength. [break][break]

Hopefully, in the meantime, the floor collapsing actually aids them in a short-cut to their destination. It was time to fly, boys, and rejoin the crowd down below. Of course, she notices too late that there is an overabundance of spores and poisonous fumes below the rubble. As they approach, she realizes their doom. Emma lifts the hem of her dress, likely flashing a little leg in the hopes the fabric might protect her.[break][break]



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[attr="class","illie b"]rubble breaks apart, stairs coming into clear view. relief washes over her like a surging tide. ah, but the thing about relief is always that it's so short lived. the floor groans and breaks, crumbling into ruins. pieces crash and clatter into the second floor of the basement, dust and debris rising beneath the catastrophe. fire licks across clothing racks, tendrils of thick dark smoke rising into the air. it's difficult to breathe, she notes with a sharp inhale. difficult but manageable.

for now.

she's tentative to step forward, to push away from the safety of the staircase. pressure is placed onto her injured leg and she expects to meet the floor, to tumble and crumble in a heap against the rubble. it doesn't happen, however, and she's staggering beneath the notion. the pain should be overwhelming, agonizing even. and yet, it's a dull ache and throb that lingers in the edges of her mind. present yet a phantom. odd. the sensation of blood dripping down bare skin keeps the injury from being nothing more than an illusion and she's careful to push forward, careful to not take advantage of the fuzzy surge of something in her veins. if she does, it could undo her.

"stay close," she murmurs to those within the staircase. a trembling hand drifts to a belt, scrambling for the last occupied pokeball. "i'll give us cover. we need to find a way down." there's an odd sense of composure in her tone, as if she's finally understanding that giving in to the panic, the dread, will only make matters worse. it's funny, really, that it takes this to actually get her shit together.

a flash resonates against the darkness of the staircase, giving way until the telltale sound of teeth chattering against each other fills her ears. it makes her skin crawl but she's swallowing the sensation back, a hand reaching to brush against the small yellow head of her arctozolt. the scientific abomination shivers uncontrollably, a usual tick, but leans into the touch anyway. the warmth is something it seeks, even going so far as to press closer to her body like a penguin huddling for warmth. "nefas," she coos. "give us some cover, please. we need to get out of here."

PROTECT begins to rise around them, struggling at first to maintain a proper shield against the rubble and what lies beyond. it isn't until she begins to move, begins to step out from the stairs, that she understands just how crucial it is that the protect stays. swirls of thick purple mist meet the protective barrier head on, curling around the bubble. just what the hell is that? a gasp escapes the scientist and she's glancing back to Kaida Adachi, terror morphing her features. "there's something in the air!" panic takes hold on her voice and it's all she can do to not break what little composure she has left.

this isn't good, not in the slightest.

above them, a man begins to rush toward the floor, slipping away from his prehistoric pokemon. her eyes dart up toward the commotion, toward the forms of the coordinator couple from earlier as they struggle to stay above, to stay alive. another gasp, another wave of panic. no, no, no. no one can die here. oh god. her eyes dart to the shadows of the stairs, to the golett lingering within them. "custos!" her voice breaks apart with a plead and she doesn't need to say anything further. the automaton slinks away into the darkness, rushing through their shadows to meet the place where Cillian Quinn might fall. if Emma Wolfe misses him by even a hair, the golett will assist in the endeavor of saving the man. no one is meeting their end, not if she can help it.

another glance back is spared toward Kaida Adachi and whoever else stands at the foot of the stairs. "let's go," she murmurs. her feet slowly begin to move, nefas keeping pace with the barrier of protect still looming over their heads. her kirlia stays close to her side, ready to use another teleport should things go any further south than they already have. "there has to be a way down."

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Safe. They were safe. They were actually safe. Safe. [break][break]

Kaida covered her ears as the floor collapsed, face twisted against the awful sound that pounded at her skull. Amazingly quickly, it was over, and it was as if she only then remembered illeana reyes's presence, looking upon her with much curiosity and confusion. "Saving a Rhyhorn, now here to save a tree...you really should bring a bodyguard for dangerous things. Better clothes too. It's easier then." Her mind was wandering too much, focusing on the wrong things as she grimaced at the smell of blood pressing from nearly everyone in the stairway. The air smelled awful too, with the terribly pounding heartbeat, the bloody scent, and this smell, she really thought she was going to pu- [break][break]

The smell? [break][break]

Illeana's protection was well received, her eyes widening at her cry of something in the air. Kaida and her Pokemon pressed close, taking as much of the protection as they could as the duo inched forward. [break][break]

Unlike Illeana, she didn't focus on the plights of others, immediately focus on the floor, and how to immediately get off it. With her mind already focused on the task, she spotted the man who was causing a commotion earlier (Kazimir Wynter)...descending? "There!" She cried out, pointing as soon as Illeana wasn't preoccupied and trying to guide their protected team towards where she saw the man descend. [break][break]

Still, even when they got near the hatch, Kaida made no attempt to guide her team down it. There could be whatever number of enemies down there, and no allies. It only stood to reason, that they took initiative. "Freya. Poison down there." She could apologize to any allies later. [break][break]

The Salnazzle was a fearful Pokemon, and obeyed such an order quickly, aiming herself at the hatch and letting poison build under her skin. Sludge Wave exploded forward, and down the hatch, a veritable tidal wave of poison Kaida hoped would result in anything that was a danger to her team not being so much of a danger anymore. [break][break]

hNufW1ri [break][break]

(Hazard)

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"Let there be light."

Katherine was far from religious, but drawing inspiration from one of the legends about Arceus itself seemed... Proper. Fitting for this situation at least. "The entrance above us, Hatterene. Fire in that direction, please." Only a 'hmph' came from the Psychic-type before a MYSTICAL FIRE was cast, and a jet of flames spewed from her lips. It spiraled upon itself as it shot towards the same hole in the ceiling that Kat herself made.

If anyone intended to join her, they'd need to earn it.

And whereas on the other side of the room people intended to debate and discuss among themselves who's here to protect the tree and who's suspicious? The masked woman takes advantage of her time alone.

Katherine Fairburne's intuition had always been the same. She acts first and thinks second. In times like these, when the objective is clear and people dare waste precious time? She will be the match to ignite the first flame. There were plenty of distractions, multiple people choosing to focus on anything but the objective itself.

"Let's do this, Gallade. You too, Morpeko."

A nod from each of her partners is given, both of their gazes directed upon the glowy roots of the tree. The Rocketess had no intention to pretend to understand the purpose it served or how it had even come to grow to such a length. Destroying it was the top priority. In another life, perhaps one where Kat had pursued a career as a scientist, she would've cared to find out more. But not today.

It is as if a ray of sunlight managed to penetrate through the building, but instead, it originated from Gallade himself. The light shined from the form of the dual-type, brightening the room for the briefest of moments. Mega-evolution had occurred, an essential tool at empowering the pokemon further.
After all, nothing guaranteed them more than one chance.

"The roots, Gallade."

"Subzero Slammer!"

There is not a moment of hesitation. Perhaps there should be, but, Gallade refuses to doubt Katherine at such a time. His trust in her was absolute, as hers was in him. And so, as planned, the Ice z-move is executed flawlessly. More lights shine from their part of the room, a pale blue that flows from Katherine herself to her partner. Both of the pokemon's arms are directed forward, and the temperature drops nigh-instantly.

For a moment - nothing occurs.
As if Gallade or Katherine had a change of heart.

.. And then a destructive beam of ice is shot directly at the roots in front of them, with the intent of freezing them entirely with as much of the tree as possible. Morpeko joins the fray, electricity collecting around him as he runs across the room. And just when the roots begin to freeze - he shoots the AURA WHEEL in order to shatter them.



OOC:
tl;dr (it's a big one)
★ katherine is alone and has to decide what's the best way to act. she chooses what's obvious. she chooses chaos.
★ hatterene is told to fire a MYSTICAL FIRE towards the opening in the ceiling where they came from, to ensure further people won't join them + there'll be more fire upstairs.
★ next, gallade MEGA-EVOLVES and katherine tells him to focus on the roots of the tree.
★ he uses the ICE z-move, SUBZERO SLAMMER on the roots.
★ morpeko is the last to join and fires yet another AURA WHEEL with the intention of shattering the ice.

[attr="class","wizzcred"]❤ wizz

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[attr="class","mthread"]upon gaining his footing on the final floor, marcel takes out a pokeball and releases his metagross. "the tree." the steel-type pokemon tucks in its legs and begins to float towards the centre of the floor, though not before a cautionary MAGNET RISE is used. it's eyes glow red as it analyses the life form before it.
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marcel glances around at his teammates, but has little time to make any further observations before a new addition to the party suddenly intrudes. the perish song reverberates in his ears--he makes a note of their dwindling time--and priam conrad attempts to take hold of the situation. a quick hand signal is made to his sylveon. the pokemon takes the cue and casts a LIGHT SCREEN around the group. better to be safe than sorry--besides, Katherine Fairburne's attacks on the tree could only be so clean-cut.
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not caring to hear the newcomer's response, he observes the tree to see if the attack has any effect, carefully planning his own as he does so.
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