<Kain> You zoom along on your magic cloud.


<Kain> You still feel a bit of connection to your vassal, and it only grows stronger as you approach the forest.


<Kain> Soon, you feel his presence very nearby.


 Cleff transforms into her full Landora form.


<Kain> Descend into the forest?


<Cleff> Y


<Kain> Okay.


<Kain> You descend onto a quiet campsite of a sort. You smell smoke and notice that there's a campfire nearby, put out after a pokemon was roasted over it. You see a hammock hanging from a tree, and a man a few meters from it, using handmade tools to carefully dissect and preserve the useful parts of the Bibarel he had killed. There's a shallow hole nearby, freshly dug with a shovel.


<Kain> The man... (description incoming)


<Kain> The man is in his early 20's, with long, blue hair, and dressed in pokemon skins and tough-looking armor. You recognize the familiar pattern of his skins, white with red jagged marks. He's wearing zangoose skins underneath. The armor he's adorned seems to be multi-tiered plating, white shell, blue and purple hide, and grey plate pauldrons on his shoulders. His right arm is covered in a steel


<Kain> brace, and on his back are almost a dozen different weapons and tools, mostly short blades of some sort.


<Kain> The weapon that stands out the most seems to be a short sword made of a wiggytuff's ear. How it has an edge is a mystery, but the blade looks extremely sharp, and it has a pink fur for a handguard.


<Kain> *tuft of pink fur


<Kain> Four pokemon surround him.


<Kain> A Blissey, a Garchomp, a Seismitoad, and Conkeldurr.


<Kain> He notices you after a moment, turning in surprise.


<Kain> "You are..."


<Kain> "Not Landorus?"


<Cleff> "I am Landora. The Goddess of Abundance."


<Kain> His nails are long and his hair unruly, but he seems to keep clean enough.


<Cleff> "Tell me your name, young man."


<Kain> "Landora... hm. I am Akira the Hunter."


<Kain> He drops to one knee, bowing a little bit.


<Kain> "Is Landorus gone then, like the others?"


<Cleff> "The others?"


<Kain> "Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres, Entei."


<Cleff> "Interesting. How have you noticed this?"


<Kain> "I have communed with the Singing Sisters in some part, and shared observations."


<Cleff> "I see..."


<Kain> "There is something... amiss about nature as of late. But I'm not one to complain. It doesn't matter to me if you are Landorus or Landora."


<Kain> "What do you need from me, my lady?"


<Cleff> "Well said. Though Landorus may be dead, he lives on as a part of me."


<Cleff> "You are a skilled hunter, yes? Tell me, what sort of life do you lead?"


<Kain> "I roam the wilderness with my companions, free of the trappings of civilization. Having been raised by wigglytuffs myself, I'm no stranger to the untamed wild. I seek to be as part of it, rather than master of. My life is lived day to day for the experiences it brings."


<Cleff> "I see."


<Cleff> "However... humans are a part of nature themselves."


<Kain> "They are. But not a part I truly count myself among anymore."


<Kain> He raises to his feet from his bowed position, backs up, then has a seat. His pokemon lounge around nearby.


<Kain> Suddenly, you hear a rustling noise behind you.


 Cleff turns around.


<Kain> Akira springs to his feet, narrowing his eyes as he draws his weapon.


<Kain> It's an Abomasnow whose white cap is melting. It seems to be angry.


<Kain> It moves in for an Ice Punch, but Akira's quicker.


<Kain> 1d20 AC 2


<Kain> (Erp)


<Kain> Within a blink of an eye he has the wigglytuff ear blade in his hand.


<Kain> And he slashes at the abomasnow, bisecting it in half completely.


<Kain> (See pokeymans for his damage)


<Kain> "..."


<Kain> He sheathes the weapon.


<Kain> "A bit close, there."


<Kain> "Even the local pokemon have been more aggressive lately."


<Kain> He promptly kneels down and begins removing meat from the corpse.


<Cleff> "Tell me, Hunter, do you not wish to better yourself?"


<Kain> "Are you hungry? Maybe a bit of a dumb question..."


<Kain> "Better myself?"


<Cleff> "Though humans may be different from pokemon, they both have the potential to 'evolve'."


<Kain> "Mm. You're a lot different than Landorus was."


<Kain> "How would you say I would evolve, then?"


<Cleff> "I have a challenge for you, if you would take it."


<Kain> He harvests two level 50 materials from the Abomasnow.


<Kain> "And what would that be?"


<Cleff> "Go to where the pokemon are strong, and travelers are often lost or injured."


<Cleff> "Live amongst those pokemon to strengthen yourself, and use that strength to aid humans in need."


<Kain> "Forgive me, but I have no idea where that is."


<Cleff> (man I know one place but it's really not that great locationwise)


<Cleff> (I mean it's between dale where everyone already worships me anyway, and Orchid where everyone is DEAD)


<Kain> (I'm thinking you meant Proudscale Pass but haha)


<Kain> (It's kind of out of the way)


<Cleff> (can I have the map again or can you suggest something)


<Kain> http://i56.tinypic.com/j5k18m.png


<Cleff> (THIS MAP SUCKS)


<Kain> (Better than nothing)


 Cleff thinks...


<Cleff> "I need a moment to consider."


 Cleff floats up into the clouds and pulls out her cell phone. Damn it does this thing get 3G?


<Kain> There are two numbers in it:


<Kain> Tornadus and Thundurus.


<Cleff> (yes but does it get 3G? Can I use it to google something?)


<Kain> Oh


<Kain> It's kind of a low tech cell phone. Kinda shitty, really. https://wiki-land.wikispaces.com/file/view/brick_phone.jpg/37757184/brick_phone.jpg


 Cleff grumbles and turns back into a human, then pulls out her pokedex.


<Kain> Ok, you google with your pokedex.


 Cleff googles to find out what areas in kansai have the highest traveler death rate.


<Kain> The biggest problem seems to be around proudscale pass, and also 'accidents' that happen on the gravity spiral at autometalsaurusopolis.


<Kain> Rosewood Forest is another too


<Kain> And then at #4 is Mt. Joyous


<Kain> (One sec)


<Kain> You don't notice it for a moment, but suddenly you realize Akira followed you up on the garchomp and is behind you. "Aha. I knew it."


<Cleff> (hey, I have +19 wis :<)


<Kain> (<:3c Come on, roll with it)


<Cleff> "This changes nothing!"


<Kain> He seems amused.


<Cleff> "I just needed to double check something." :<


<Cleff> "Anyway... it looks like the best place you could go is proudscale pass."

<Cleff> "There'll be plenty of travelers coming from Aurometalsaurusopolis down through dale."

<Kain> "I've been there before... In fact, the armor I'm wearing was made from a resident there called the Tyrant. And June's father." he pats the Garchomp on the side.

<Kain> "Do they? Peche is a port city as well."

<Cleff> "I see. Well that's good then."

<Kain> "Anyway, I'm familiar with the area."

<Cleff> "True, but Peche is further."

<Kain> "Basically, you want me to go there and train myself and my companions among the dragons, and help out travelers?"

<Cleff> "And there will most likely be an influx of people going to dale."

<Cleff> "That's right."

<Kain> He considers. "Well, that sounds fine to me, 'o goddess of abundance'. I have to say I was a little disappointed at first."

<Cleff> "Dissapointed?"

<Kain> "While I kept my prayers to Landorus formal, he was actually a pretty fun guy when he visited in person. I was being cordial out of respect. That's why I noted you were 'different'."

<Cleff> "Well... I know how to have fun." :<

<Cleff> "I just kinda tend to get serious like that when I'm landora."

<Kain> "I'm sure you do, but you were playing up the goddess thing a bit back there." he grins a bit. "You're new to this though, aren't you? ...And that's alright."

<Cleff> "Sometimes playing it up works!"

<Kain> "I tend to be the same when I meet any legendary for the first time."

<Cleff> "Worked really great back in Dale."

<Kain> He nods. "I guess so."

<Cleff> "I don't think half the stuff I did would have worked if I wasn't acting serious enough for them to think it would."

<Cleff> "It's good for morale." :B

<Cleff> "But it's cool. I actually like being able to relax a bit better."

<Kain> "Alright, fair enough. Just good to know you're not like that usually."

<Kain> "...I have a lot of questions for you, about what's been going on. If you even feel like telling me. But it's just hard figuring out what happened with everything."

<Kain> "But for now I'll just do like you asked, I suppose."

<Kain> "...Offer's still up if you're hungry."

<Cleff> "Sure. I've been flying around all day performing miracles."

<Kain> He descends back below the clouds on his garchomp.

 Cleff floats her cloud straight down

<Kain> "Abomasnow have both meat and wood in them, it's kind of a pain to get everything."

<Kain> "But they're extremely useful for materials."

<Cleff> "Mmhm, I bet."

<Kain> You two land back down in the forest.

<Kain> The Blissey, Seismitoad, and Conkeldurr look on a bit in wonder.

<Cleff> "I do think you'll find out a lot about yourself by helping people."

<Cleff> "I was serious about that part."

<Kain> "Maybe I will."

<Kain> He nods.

<Kain> "It's just been rough trusting them exactly since mom died."

<Kain> He indicates the wigglytuff ear.

<Kain> "This memento is all I have left of her."

<Kain> "I should probably introduce you..."

<Kain> "This is my tribal sister, Ayako." he indicates the Blissey. "June..." the garchomp. "Nikko..." the Seismitoad, "and Nami." the Conkeldurr.

<Cleff> "Nice to meet you all!"

<Kain> They all give their various greetings. In particular, Ayako is very polite.

<Cleff> "Anyway, I think your mom would be happy if she saw how great you were doing. I have a daughter myself, and I just want her to really be the best that she can be."

<Kain> He nods.

<Kain> "I hope so."

<Kain> "You know... you're clean, well-groomed, and human..."

<Kain> "But something tells me..."

<Kain> "You know about the wild too."

<Kain> "The look in your eyes, maybe."

 Cleff giggles, "Actually I'm not entirely human."

<Cleff> "But that's really a story for another time."

<Cleff> "Let's eat."

<Kain> He nods.

<Kain> You end up spending some time with him as he roasts up some abomasnow meat. He only eats a little because he had actually got a meal a little before you arrived, but he had to split it with himself and four pokemon, so...

<Cleff> "Mmm, this is tasty."

<Kain> "Thank you."

<Kain> "Both that way and figuratively, I suppose... I always give blessings to Landorus after killing a pokemon. I'll have to change up my prayer accordingly now."

<Cleff> "Anyway, just hang around Proudscale Pass. If you see someone that looks hungry, offer them some food. If you see someone hurt, offer them some of the natural medicines that grow around this place."

<Cleff> "I know you're definitely skilled with those."

<Cleff> "I can smell it on you, the smell of all the plants with natural healing properties."

<Kain> "I'm an expert at natural medicines, yes." he nods, showing a pouch. "In this pouch I have fifty seeds, each of a potent medicinal plant. And when the time comes, I make them bloom."

<Kain> He demonstrates, pulling out five seeds, and arranging them in his hand.

<Kain> With a little concentration, they begin to sprout into flowers and herbs that give off an intoxicating, delightful aroma.

<Kain> Aromatherapy

<Kain> "So yeah."

<Kain> "...I'll see what I can do."

<Cleff> "Make sure to remind them to give thanks to the land for providing it for them."

<Cleff> "If you save someone's life with your skills, they'll never forget it."

<Kain> He nods. "I would have, even if you hadn't told me."

<Kain> "We owe everything to the land, to nature."

<Cleff> "Mmhm!"

<Kain> "Any preference, as far as prayers go?"

<HoeponaRoep> He takes another bite of the abomasnow. It really is delicious.

 Cleff smiles, "Great!"

<HoeponaRoep> He provided everyone with fresh water to drink, as well.

<Cleff> "I like it. It's short and simple."

<HoeponaRoep> "And it can be taught to others pretty easily."

<Cleff> "Mmhm!"

<HoeponaRoep> "The ingredients of this world... almost like cooking."

<HoeponaRoep> "But we're all ingredients."

<Cleff> "Mmhm."

<HoeponaRoep> "Me, you, the ground beneath us, these trees, from the tallest Steelix to the smallest joltik. ...I like it."

<HoeponaRoep> He goes quiet as he starts to pack up the rest of the meat.

<Cleff> "Mmhm, it's all one big circle of life."

<HoeponaRoep> "Completely and utterly precious. I don't like how humans tend to squander it."

<HoeponaRoep> "But... I'll do my best to ignore that from now on."

<Cleff> "With your efforts, maybe they'll start to appreciate it a bit more."

<HoeponaRoep> He nods, and then throws dirt over the fire, pulls his hammock off the tree and rolls it up, then gathers his tools.

<HoeponaRoep> Just like that, he's ready to go.

<HoeponaRoep> "I think I'll push a little northeast and remake my campsite that way so I can get an early start tomorrow."

<Cleff> "Great meeting you, Akira. I gotta say I'm glad you're the kind of guy you are too."

<HoeponaRoep> You note it's darkening in the skies.

<HoeponaRoep> "Hah. We both misrepresented ourselves I guess."

<Cleff> "I was just a little bit worried considering some other vassals I've met have been... what's a good word..."

<Cleff> "Zubatshit insane."

<HoeponaRoep> "Deranged? Obsessed?"

<HoeponaRoep> "Yes."

<HoeponaRoep> "I've met the type."

 Cleff shrugs, "Just thought I'd play it safe."

<HoeponaRoep> "Glad I bothered to follow."

<HoeponaRoep> "Anyway, goodbye, Landora. I'll keep the thing about you being a human a secret."

<Cleff> "Thanks, but again, I'm not a human."

<HoeponaRoep> "You said not entirely, but that's not the point."

<HoeponaRoep> "It was good meeting you. But it won't be the last time you hear from me tonight, either."

<Cleff> "Hm?"

<HoeponaRoep> "I've got a friend to say goodbye to and pray for as well, just as I go to serve his replacement."

 Cleff nods.

<Cleff> "I guess even gods can become an ingredient."

<HoeponaRoep> "Mhm."

<Cleff> "There's no escaping the circle."

<HoeponaRoep> "That's actually pretty profound."

<HoeponaRoep> "I'll keep that in mind."

<HoeponaRoep> He waves to you and begins to walk off with his companions.

<Cleff> "See ya later!"

 Cleff flies off