Dawn Stone Hills - Year 1 Summer - Session 4

[24-Sep-18 08:22 PM] GM (Dox)
Gin and Xander find themselves going WEST, a hereto largely unexplored direction. You find yourselves following THE BEACH for a while, walking on the mild sandy expanse. Krabbies scuttle about, and a few Slowpoke are lounging on some rocks.
In the distance further west, you can see mountains, and more immediately, there's several rock spires reminiscent of the fog-spires to the east but much smaller.


[24-Sep-18 08:24 PM] Gin
Gin lets Tama out to follow him and slide around in the sand if she wants. Woop woop.
"This is nice. We should have a beach day sometime."


[24-Sep-18 08:27 PM] Xander
Xander has his hood up.  "I'm beset by the rays of the scalding heavens, this area is cursed."


[24-Sep-18 08:28 PM] GM (Dox)
A wingull lands by Xander, squawks at him, and flies off.


[24-Sep-18 08:28 PM] Xander
He glares at it as it flaps off.
"Flock off, featherface."


[24-Sep-18 08:29 PM] GM (Dox)
The truth is, it's rather peaceful here... even the wild Pokemon here seem to be fairly relaxed.


[24-Sep-18 08:29 PM] Gin
"If you're so dramatic now, you don't leave yourself much room to change your reactions when we face a truly perilous situation."


[24-Sep-18 08:29 PM] Xander
"All the world's a show, and I shall be graded on my performance later when the demons have finally come to wrest my soul from me."
"Best not to skimp."


[24-Sep-18 08:31 PM] Gin
"Mmmm." Gin decides better of trying to convince him otherwise. He squats down next to a group of Krabby. "Looks like they're pretty relaxed here too. I doubt we have much to worry about."


[24-Sep-18 08:32 PM] Xander
"Perhaps it is due to a foul contract?  But this area seems peaceful, yes."


[24-Sep-18 08:32 PM] GM (Dox)
A Krabby half-heartedly reaches up pinches Gin's nose. It doesn't hurt much. "Cook...."
It scuttles away slowly


[24-Sep-18 08:33 PM] Gin
"That was so half-hearted." Gin rubs his nose. "I wonder if it may actually be tired or malnourished."


[24-Sep-18 08:34 PM] Xander
"Perhaps we are mistaking peace for decay."


[24-Sep-18 08:35 PM] Gin
Do the Pokemon here look healthy? Are they just lazy?


[24-Sep-18 08:35 PM] GM (Dox)
They don't look particularly unhealthy - if anything, they look pretty large for their species, so they must at least have a decent food supply.


[24-Sep-18 08:36 PM] Gin
"Just laid back, I think, on second thought."


[24-Sep-18 08:37 PM] Xander
"Hmmm, perhaps overly prosperous.  Their hubris will be the end of them, then." He nods sagely.


[24-Sep-18 08:37 PM] GM (Dox)
AS you continue on, the number of the rocky spires increases, and several also jut out from the ocean. You spot a rickety wooden bridge connecting several on their way out to a particularly large spire that, on closer inspection, seems to be covered in what looks like a big sand castle.
Several Seel lounge around that area, resting in the shade of the spires
http://coolvibe.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/race-for-the-globe-location.jpg


[24-Sep-18 08:39 PM] Gin
"Who do you suppose made those?" Gin points up at the bridges and traces them in the air with a finger, stopping at the sand castle.


[24-Sep-18 08:40 PM] Xander
"Hmmmm, a prior people.  The Lotus People, perhaps?  Or their rivals."


[24-Sep-18 08:40 PM] Gin
"Let's find a place to climb up and investigate." Gin starts to do just that, walking between the spires and looking for an easier path up.
"Wooden bridges would have rotted away in the humid air by now without maintenance. Either people live out here, or Pokemon did it, I think."


[24-Sep-18 08:41 PM] Xander
Xander pauses, thinking, but nods.  "That makes some sense."  He starts climbing, favoring more shadowed areas.


[24-Sep-18 08:42 PM] GM (Dox)
You have to go around inland a bit and climb one of the spires there; it's not too hard to go up, as stairs seem to have been hewn into the stone, though they are smooth and slippery with age.


[24-Sep-18 08:43 PM] Gin
Gin does just that then! He's in no hurry, as he strolls over and admires the stone steps before climbing up.


[24-Sep-18 08:45 PM] Xander
He hops on up the stairs, keeping an arm steady on the side of the spire to make sure he doesn't fall over


[24-Sep-18 08:45 PM] GM (Dox)
At the top of the spire you find several Wingull and Taillow nests. They don't seem to mind you, shuffling aside to create a path towards the bridge. There's also a single Oricorio up here which looks at you with interest, hopping up and down as you approach.


[24-Sep-18 08:46 PM] Xander
He hops back at it.  "Yes, oh great dancer of spirits?"


[24-Sep-18 08:47 PM] Gin
Gin waves at the dancebirb. "Hello! Is this your hangout?"


[24-Sep-18 08:47 PM] GM (Dox)
The Biird nods. It spins around in an intricate little dance, flicking its lavender feathers this way and that like fans.


[24-Sep-18 08:50 PM] Gin
Gin claps lightly. "Very good. Is it okay if we go over there?" He points at the sand castle


[24-Sep-18 08:50 PM] GM (Dox)
It looks a bit worried. It does a dance that conveys... danger! woe!


[24-Sep-18 08:51 PM] Xander
"Something bad troubling you over there?"


[24-Sep-18 08:52 PM] GM (Dox)
It only continues its dance, becoming more sorrowful and dramatic
Then it... collapses!
A few of the other birds honk. It's kind of like clapping.


[24-Sep-18 08:53 PM] Xander
"A true thespian..." He claps as well.


[24-Sep-18 08:53 PM] Gin
"Is that the fate that would befall us should be visit? Or are you relaying some past misfortune?"


[24-Sep-18 08:54 PM] GM (Dox)
It hops up, and shrugs as if to say "that's what they say".
It flies several meters across the bridge suddenly, and begins hopping forward.


[24-Sep-18 08:56 PM] Xander
"If there is trouble, then it is my duty as a  demon hunter to slay it.  Onward, Silver Strategist Gin!  Let's fulfill our destinies!"


[24-Sep-18 08:57 PM] Gin
"I suppose we are here to explore, after all."


[24-Sep-18 08:58 PM] GM (Dox)
You follow the bridges then from spire to spire, the Oricorio hopping ahead of you the entire time. The wooden bridges don't seem to be... in the best condition; several times you're forced to jump over clearly rotten boards, causing the entire bridge to shake uncomfortably. But the thick ropes look reliable at least.


[24-Sep-18 08:58 PM] Xander
"Dancer of fate, do you know why these bridges still hold?"


[24-Sep-18 09:00 PM] GM (Dox)
The Oricorio pays no heed, hopping further and further ahead until you finally reach the spire with the large castle-like structure. The outer walls are decorated with designs of marine Pokemon - horsea, corsola, tentacool, and the like - and there's several large sandstone statues of the same at the top.
There's no gate, merely a large archway into a courtyard that has a large briny pools
You're... not quite sure how there's water up here, but nevertheless, it's like a miniature beach. There's several Stayu resting here, a Poplio, an Oshawott, and a large Shellder.
Beyond the beach area there's one final bridge, from the beach up to an entrance that seems to go deeper into the sand castle.


[24-Sep-18 09:04 PM] Gin
"It's like a resort here. That's what they were called, right?"
Gin continues on past the relaxing Pokemon to the final bridge.


[24-Sep-18 09:05 PM] Xander
"A  resort, a place of luxury..." He pauses, thinking.  "I knew there was hubris involved."
He pauses by the Shellder, looking over it.


[24-Sep-18 09:06 PM] GM (Dox)
The Shellder flaps its tongue noisily at Xander. "Bluh!"
It then rolls over, looking at him upside down


[24-Sep-18 09:08 PM] Xander
He looks at it upside down.  "Something with varied perspective.  I respect that."


[24-Sep-18 09:09 PM] GM (Dox)
"Why?" it asks a high-pitched voice


[24-Sep-18 09:09 PM] Gin
Gin takes a seat next to the Staryu while Xander chats with the Shellder. Tama goes to play with the Oshawott and Poplio, splashing happily in a pool.


[24-Sep-18 09:10 PM] Xander
"Why not?  To see the sun and the stars and the darkness and to appreciate them from different angles and ways..."
"Nothing more beautiful in life."


[24-Sep-18 09:10 PM] GM (Dox)
"Bluh!"


[24-Sep-18 09:11 PM] Gin
"...Why is everything that's normal so _dramatic_ for you all the time, but when a Shellder speaks to you, you don't even bat an eye?" Gin walks over. "Sorry, I don't mean to be rude, but it is the first time I've seen a talking Shellder."


[24-Sep-18 09:11 PM] Xander
"Bluh."


[24-Sep-18 09:12 PM] GM (Dox)
"How!" The Shellder says


[24-Sep-18 09:12 PM] Xander
"You just have to take the high drama of life as it comes, Gin."


[24-Sep-18 09:12 PM] Gin
"I'm Gin. What's your name?"


[24-Sep-18 09:13 PM] Xander
"You're the main character of your own story.  I'm Demon Slayer Xander, by the way, it's good to cross fates."


[24-Sep-18 09:13 PM] GM (Dox)
"What who Bluh!"


[24-Sep-18 09:15 PM] Xander
"You're the bluh one, little star among the sea.  But don't you think you can be better than that?"


[24-Sep-18 09:16 PM] GM (Dox)
"How what?" it asks, wiggling in place
"Who, What, Where, When, Why, Which, How, Bluh, Bluh, Bluh!"


[24-Sep-18 09:18 PM] Gin
Can Gin tell if it's just mimicking human sounds or if it's actually able to speak and trying to say something?


[24-Sep-18 09:18 PM] Xander
"I think this little star of the sea needs a good teacher, yeah?"


[24-Sep-18 09:19 PM] GM (Dox)
You think it's more than mere mimicry; it knows the words it's using and can use them correctly (or at least, by its own standards of correctly). But perhaps it can only pronounce those specific words.
"Who?" it asks, looking at Xander wide-eyed


[24-Sep-18 09:20 PM] Xander
He thiiiiinks.


[24-Sep-18 09:21 PM] Gin
"If you do plan to teach it, I hope you prioritize more useful words than 'demon', 'cursed', 'bloodline', and so forth." Gin muses. "It's a clever one."


[24-Sep-18 09:22 PM] Xander
"Maybe I'm not meant to be its master, but we can find someone who can teach it the way."


[24-Sep-18 09:23 PM] Gin
"We have a great system of pipes and canals back home, but the pond is a little small. I hope that'll be enough if you want to bring it back."


[24-Sep-18 09:24 PM] Xander
"You want to come with us?"  He leans down to see it eye to eye.


[24-Sep-18 09:25 PM] GM (Dox)
"When who which what, what-where how!" it declares, seemingly annoyed now. You think this means something like 'when someone is interested in me, they can come here themselves'.
It shimmies side to side rapidly and burrows into the sand, only its tongue sticking out for a moment before it recalls that too.


[24-Sep-18 09:26 PM] Xander
"Hmph, it went back to Hell.  Well, I'm sure our paths will cross again."


[24-Sep-18 09:26 PM] Gin
"We can come visit too."
"Is that okay?"


[24-Sep-18 09:26 PM] GM (Dox)
The tongue pops out for a moment to wag back and forth
That is, in a yes motion


[24-Sep-18 09:27 PM] Gin
"We'll see you again then! Take care." Gin waves at the tongue, then looks toward the way deeper into the castle.
Is the dancebirb still around?


[24-Sep-18 09:27 PM] GM (Dox)
It is, sitting on the last post of the bridge
It doesn't look like it has *any* intention of entering the dark corridor of the castle proper


[24-Sep-18 09:29 PM] Xander
He walks up to dancebirb.  "If we don't come back out, tell our tale to all who travel by."


[24-Sep-18 09:29 PM] Gin
"That bad?" Gin pulls his lantern out of his bag, lights it, and clips it to his belt.


[24-Sep-18 09:29 PM] GM (Dox)
The initial tunnel into the castle is narrow and dark, but you see a faint blue light beyond, about 60 feet in maybe.


[24-Sep-18 09:30 PM] Xander
He pulls up his sleeve on one arm, it glowing with soft blue flame, and heads on in.


[24-Sep-18 09:30 PM] Gin
"You want to ask Dark Flame Master to scout ahead?" Gin asks.


[24-Sep-18 09:32 PM] Xander
"...Sure."  He lets out a Litwick.  "Scout for trouble."


[24-Sep-18 09:33 PM] GM (Dox)
You walk past the initial passage and enter into a room shaped like a half dome, perhaps 20 meters tall to the ceiling at the center, except that technically at the very center there's no ceiling - it's a shaft that heads up into the open sky, letting in light.

But you hardly notice any of that on account of the much more interesting fact that there's about a 3 meter layer of water coating the walls in all defiance of the the laws of physics. At first you think there's gotta be glass between you and the water, but a Seel flops out of the water to look at you and bark with curiosity. White-green algae grow in the wan light, and some tentacool, frillish, finneon, and wishiwashi are swimming around in it. At the very center of the room there's also a circular pool that seems to go down in a deep shaft; there's two shallow grooves from the outside walls that connect the water this deeper pool/shaft.


[24-Sep-18 09:34 PM] Gin
"Fascinating. Remnants of pre-fall science?"


[24-Sep-18 09:34 PM] Xander
"Hmmmm, a strange domain, we should keep an eye out for its master."


[24-Sep-18 09:34 PM] Gin
"Or the work of a powerful pokemon?"


[24-Sep-18 09:35 PM] Xander
He nods.  "My thought."


[24-Sep-18 09:36 PM] GM (Dox)
As the Wishiwashi spot you, they flee in a panic - some rush down the center shaft, others up the ceiling shaft, and others down the hallway ahead.
The other Pokemon don't seem bothered by your presence though


[24-Sep-18 09:37 PM] Xander
"Hmmmm..."


[24-Sep-18 09:37 PM] Gin
"We mean you no harm." Gin calls after them.
"Just visiting."
"Tama can you dive down and see if there's anything interesting down there?" Gin points down the center shaft.
"Come right up if there's any trouble though."


[24-Sep-18 09:41 PM] GM (Dox)
Tama NODS and hops in!
You watch Tama swim downward and then go into what must be another passage in the side of the shaft. It comes back out shortly after, and investigates another passage a bit further down... after that it swims back up.
"Woo!"


[24-Sep-18 09:42 PM] Xander
He kneels down to the Litwick and points to one of the other pokemon in the area, and it poofs into a Seel.  "Something demonic down there?"


[24-Sep-18 09:43 PM] Gin
"Something we could reach if we swam down there and held our breaths?"


[24-Sep-18 09:43 PM] GM (Dox)
It nods!


[24-Sep-18 09:44 PM] Gin
"Shall we? We could also simply proceed down the hall, of course."


[24-Sep-18 09:44 PM] Xander
He takes off his heavier coat and does a few stretches.  "I'm up for a descent to the watery depths."


[24-Sep-18 09:46 PM] Gin
Gin drops his bag to the side and takes off his shirt and shoes. He releases his Tangela from an apricorn ball. "Hana, watch our possessions while we go for a swim, will you?"


[24-Sep-18 09:46 PM] GM (Dox)
Hana gathers your stuff in a pile and then sits on it.


[24-Sep-18 09:47 PM] Gin
He then bends down to test the water and hops in assuming it doesn't melt his fingers off or something.


[24-Sep-18 09:47 PM] Xander
He sheds his heavier clothing and jumps in as well.


[24-Sep-18 09:49 PM] GM (Dox)
You swim down the flooded shaft, and see that there's several dozen circular passages leading out of this central shaft! Most are far far too small for you - most are too small for even Tama - but Finneon and other smol fish swim in and out of them at their leisure. It seems like this central shaft is a hub of sorts
You follow Tama though and he leads you to a passage that's just barely wide enough for you to crawl through
You go through the passage and exit the water into a small spherical room that's half flooded.
There's a window of sorts, letting in a bit of light and fresh air though.
There's also a little side alcove on which lies a skeleton.


[24-Sep-18 09:52 PM] Gin
"Oh that's ominous."
"Go ahead with your theatrics. I think it's appropriate now."


[24-Sep-18 09:53 PM] Xander
He surfaces, gasping for air.  "Ominous?  That's it?  It's Hellish!  Dastardly!  Phantasmagorical!!!"
His hands gesticulate wildly!
"We must find the hellion that performed this awful act and avenge our poor friend here!" He looks over the skeleton.  "But first we must learn how he perished!"


[24-Sep-18 09:55 PM] Gin
Does it seem like we could climb out through the window here? Or at least stick a head out?


[24-Sep-18 09:55 PM] Xander
**DETECTIVE MODE ENGAGE**


[24-Sep-18 09:56 PM] GM (Dox)
If you widened the window somehow, sure, but you'd just be climbing out onto slippery sea cliffs. You're pretty sure you'd hit rocks on the way down if you took a leap.
Xander, you wade over to where the skeleton is and DETECTIVE
rollllll insight!


[24-Sep-18 09:57 PM] Xander
1d20+2+1d6


[24-Sep-18 09:57 PM] GM's Toolkit#6456
Xander:
1d20+2+1d6:`(11)+2+(4)=17`


[24-Sep-18 09:59 PM] GM (Dox)
The skeleton is in a pretty bad state of decay, it's really quite hard to tell how it may have died. But you do spot a leather satchel behind it.


[24-Sep-18 10:00 PM] GM (Dox)
Unlike its clothes, the oiled leather seems to have stood up to the humid and salty environment.


[24-Sep-18 10:00 PM] Xander
"What have we here, some precious belongings?  Have you left a message for us, old friend?" He peers inside the satchel


[24-Sep-18 10:01 PM] Gin
After inspecting the window, Gin sits cross-legged on the ground and lets Xander do his thing. "Can you tell how long the poor fellow's been resting here?"


[24-Sep-18 10:02 PM] Xander
"Very, very long.  The skeleton is in an advanced state of decay!"


[24-Sep-18 10:03 PM] Gin
"We should give them a proper burial when we get out of here. This place is a spot of mystery and beauty. It would be a disservice both to the castle and to the deceased to leave the remains here."


[24-Sep-18 10:04 PM] Xander
"Agreed.  He deserves the best for his eternal rest."


[24-Sep-18 10:04 PM] GM (Dox)
You peer inside the bag and see.. vaguely moldy nothings. But as you hold the bag itself, you both suddenly see a vision.
Four people sit on the little alcove, passing a wineskin between them. Two are men - a younger boy, in his late teens, and a man perhaps in his early thirties. The two women are about the same age; one in her early twenties, the other perhaps in her early thirties. All look tired and bruised, though the older of the women seems to be wincing in pain as the older man inspects her.
You can't hear the words that are exchanged, but they seem to come to the conclusion she's too hurt to continue. She nods, giving them a sly grin, and the others dive into the water to continue. She rests against the wall and closes her eyes.
The vision fades, the woman being replaced by the skeleton.


[24-Sep-18 10:10 PM] Xander
"Too wounded to continue...I see."


[24-Sep-18 10:10 PM] Gin
"...They left her behind. I wonder what became of the rest, such that they did not even come to retrieve her remains."


[24-Sep-18 10:10 PM] Xander
"A tragic fate."


[24-Sep-18 10:12 PM] Gin
"Let's bring her back up to the main room, then decide what to do from there."
"I have a feeling that Oricorio wasn't overreacting when it warned us against this place now."


[24-Sep-18 10:13 PM] Xander
He carefully grabs the bones, best as he can, and dives back down.  Pascal might need to grab some too, of course.


[24-Sep-18 10:13 PM] Gin
"Hopefully the Wishiwashi that fled earlier don't decide that we're a threat. Tama, can you lead the way back up again?" Gin helps Xander with the skeleton, of course.


[24-Sep-18 10:14 PM] GM (Dox)
Tama nods, and you swim back up again! Going up is easier than going down, but even so, you barely make it up before your lungs begin to burn. And that room was only a fourth of the way down the central shaft or so... too bad you can't **breathe underwater**, you think there'd be a lot more to explore here if you could.


[24-Sep-18 10:15 PM] Gin
Gin gasps for breath and he surfaces and then checks to make sure Xander made it up all the way too.


[24-Sep-18 10:15 PM] Xander
"If only...we were...blessed by..." gasp, gasp, gasp
he quits the theatrics and gets his breath caught up


[24-Sep-18 10:16 PM] Gin
He flashes a thumbs up to Hana though to reassure her he's okay as he stops to recover.


[24-Sep-18 10:16 PM] GM (Dox)
Hana gives you a vines up as you return.
She uses another vine to patpat the belly of the Seel from before, who is rolled over next to her.


[24-Sep-18 10:18 PM] Xander
Xander's Seel-but-not-a-Seel approaches the real Seel with curiosity, while Xander makes sure all the skelebones are in place and that they didn't drop anything


[24-Sep-18 10:20 PM] Gin
"We can bury her just outside town. You know, thinking about it, starting a graveyard is actually a pretty important milestone for a town. It means the place has survived long enough for people to die, and probably more to be born. An auspicious sign for its future. I suppose that means we're cheating a bit by starting one this way."


[24-Sep-18 10:22 PM] GM (Dox)
You get the skelebones up without any issue. Actually, you think you can probably fit the ones that remain in the oiled satchel so you can't have to carry around fragile old bones...


[24-Sep-18 10:22 PM] Xander
"Honoring the dead isn't cheating."


[24-Sep-18 10:23 PM] GM (Dox)
From this room, there's just the two paths you saw before - they way out, and another hallway that presumably goes deeper in.


[24-Sep-18 10:24 PM] Gin
"I wish we'd caught her name." Gin looks down the hallway that leads deeper in. "Well, we know now not to take this place lightly. Should we proceed regardless?"


[24-Sep-18 10:25 PM] Xander
"Of course!  I wouldn't be much of a Demon Slayer if I didn't comb the whole place!  Or...well, at least as much of the place as I can."


[24-Sep-18 10:26 PM] Gin
"Have you actually slain any demons lately? I know I've been missing most of the expeditions out."


[24-Sep-18 10:27 PM] Xander
He makes a dramatic pose, hand covering part of his face.  "No... but one must be ever vigilant!"


[24-Sep-18 10:28 PM] GM (Dox)
You proceed down the next hallway, which curs to the right and empties out into an exterior area; a cliff-side patio of sorts, overlooking the ocean. From here there's a stairway up towards another door, as well a doorway on this level that seems to back into the castle on this same level.


[24-Sep-18 10:28 PM] Gin
"Maybe you should call yourself 'aspiring demon slayer' instead for now." Gin laughs. He dresses again after drying off, then starts off cautiously down the hall.


[24-Sep-18 10:29 PM] Xander
He wreathes himself in blue flame, instantly drying himself off, then gets dressed and heads on down.  "I say we climb up!  Towards the heavens!"


[24-Sep-18 10:30 PM] Gin
"Lead on."


[24-Sep-18 10:30 PM] Xander
He does!  Right on up!  Blue flames blazing around him dramatically!!!=


[24-Sep-18 10:34 PM] GM (Dox)
You head up the stairs, admiring the view from here. You can see the beach, all the spires around here, and way out into the ocean. At the top, you see another hallway; this one has walls of water on either side, but only solid wall to the left - to the right are open arches with a view out into the sky and sea.


[24-Sep-18 10:35 PM] Xander
"Ah, this palace has a splendid view, fit for a king...or perhaps a Prince of Hell."


[24-Sep-18 10:35 PM] GM (Dox)
There's a lot more fish up here than in the room within, probably because there's more sunlight - more algae grow here, and coral too. The fish swim happily - finneon, staryu, horsea, krabby, frillish, and even a big corsola.
About halfway down this terrace there's a door that leads into another narrow sandy hall, like the entrance hall. It's also very dark, but again you see a faint blue light beyond.


[24-Sep-18 10:37 PM] Gin
Gin runs his hand through the wall-water as he walks along, careful not to get in the way of any swimming fish though.


[24-Sep-18 10:37 PM] Xander
He walks along, towards the light, admiring the view and the feesh


[24-Sep-18 10:39 PM] Gin
"It's getting dark again. Be careful." He calls out to Xander as he follows slowly behind.


[24-Sep-18 10:41 PM] Xander
"I thrive in the dark." He grins.  It's a sparkly grin.  But also kind of menacing.  Or maybe just dorky.  Hrm.


[24-Sep-18 10:41 PM] GM (Dox)
The hallway isn't long, and you soon reach another half-dome room identical to the one from earlier! Just like the one from before, this one has a single other hallway as an exit, has an open skylight, and a flooded shaft in the center that heads straight down into dark waters.
But though the structure is the same, the ambience is markedly different. There are no plants here, and no fish either. A large hammer lies abandoned in the middle of the floor near the entrance.


[24-Sep-18 10:44 PM] Gin
"What a chilling mood. Even the fish avoid it here." Gin stops right in the entrance.
"We're certainly not diving down there today. Hm? What's that hammer doing over there?" He points at it.


[24-Sep-18 10:46 PM] Xander
He kneels down next to it, sizing it up.  "Mjölnir???"


[24-Sep-18 10:46 PM] Gin
"Say what?"


[24-Sep-18 10:47 PM] Xander
"The hammer of the heavens!"
"To touch it or not...it could be sealing away some great evil within this castle..."


[24-Sep-18 10:49 PM] Gin
"Maybe the great evil is down that hall."


[24-Sep-18 10:49 PM] GM (Dox)
As you crouch down next to it, the scene blurs and shadows play... you see the group of four from before! Or rather, five - another young man is with them here, wielding the hammer you see on the floor. But your attention isn't on him - it's on the writhing watery demon whose howl alone is the only sound able to transcend time. It uses the water that clings to the domed roof to move all around and strike from all sides in a blur; the group of warriors fight valiantly, but it is clear they and their Pokemon are outmatched. The young warrior with the hammer seems to urge the others to exit through the door you just came from
He smirks, pointing his hammer at the beast and he says... something. The vision fades.


[24-Sep-18 10:50 PM] Xander
"Hmmmm."
He takes a deep breath, sizing it up
He rubs his hands, takes another deep breath, and tries to pick it up with 2 hands.


[24-Sep-18 10:51 PM] GM (Dox)
STRONG?


[24-Sep-18 10:52 PM] Gin
"I think this is the part where we leave and come back with others." Gin says quietly, replaying the memory in his head and trying to get a sense of what that 'demon' was.


[24-Sep-18 10:52 PM] Xander
No Strong, maybe Intense?  Chuunibyou???


[24-Sep-18 10:52 PM] GM (Dox)
no this isn't an intense hammer, it's a STRONG hammer...


[24-Sep-18 10:52 PM] Xander
(Yes he has Chuuni as a trait)
WELL
1d20 if nothing applies, he tries anyway


[24-Sep-18 10:52 PM] GM's Toolkit#6456
Xander:
1d20:`(18)=18`


[24-Sep-18 10:53 PM] GM (Dox)
HYAH!
XANDER PICKS UP THE HAMMER!


[24-Sep-18 10:53 PM] Xander
He tries lifting it up with one hand to pose!  ...and then quickly goes back to holding with 2 hands because fuck it's HEAVY


[24-Sep-18 10:54 PM] GM (Dox)
Gin... you're pretty sure it was a Wishiwashi. Or rather, a school of them. But something about them seemed off - twisted, evil.


[24-Sep-18 10:55 PM] Gin
"Those Wishiwashi that fled from us earlier, could that monster in the vision have been them? If so, something had corrupted them. Either way, I don't think we should stay to find out."
Gin starts to back away from the entrance to this room.


[24-Sep-18 10:56 PM] Xander
"Hmmmm, as much as I would like to stay and fight, considering the fate of our predecessors, best to come back with reinforcements."  He nods, and follows after Gin.


[24-Sep-18 10:56 PM] GM (Dox)
You walk back out to the terrace, away from the spooky room.


[24-Sep-18 10:57 PM] Gin
"I think you found your demon to slay, at least."
"Unless someone else does it first. Then we get to call them demon slayer instead."


[24-Sep-18 10:58 PM] Xander
"Hmph!  Don't underestimate me, I'm the best there is!"


[24-Sep-18 11:00 PM] Gin
"The fish don't seem to mind being _close_ to this room. Maybe we can try to ask one about it." Gin walks along the hall until he finds the giant corsola from before.
"Hello. Can you tell us about that room back there?" Gin points in the spooky direction


[24-Sep-18 11:02 PM] GM (Dox)
The Corsola yawns and shakes awake, dislodging some fish that had been resting on it. It walks out of the water wall to look up at Gin and Xander. "So so?" it asks


[24-Sep-18 11:03 PM] Xander
He waves the hammer, with a big doofy grin on his face.


[24-Sep-18 11:03 PM] Gin
"Something dangerous used to dwell there. Is it still there? I notice you all avoid it."


[24-Sep-18 11:04 PM] GM (Dox)
It nods its head quickly, urgently.


[24-Sep-18 11:05 PM] Gin
"Mmm, and it's safe here? So close to it?"


[24-Sep-18 11:06 PM] GM (Dox)
The Corsola nods... and then tries to mime something out
Insight?


[24-Sep-18 11:06 PM] Xander
1d20+2


[24-Sep-18 11:06 PM] GM's Toolkit#6456
Xander:
1d20+2:`(7)+2=9`


[24-Sep-18 11:06 PM] GM (Dox)
Xander is too busy looking at his new hammer


[24-Sep-18 11:06 PM] Gin
Does pokemon empathy apply?


[24-Sep-18 11:06 PM] Xander
I'd ask if Interrogation would apply but I'm not asking the questions


[24-Sep-18 11:06 PM] Gin
1d20+5


[24-Sep-18 11:06 PM] GM's Toolkit#6456
Gin:
1d20+5:`(8)+5=13`


[24-Sep-18 11:06 PM] Gin
1d6 if the trait applies


[24-Sep-18 11:06 PM] GM's Toolkit#6456
Gin:
1d6:`(3)=3`


[24-Sep-18 11:08 PM] GM (Dox)
The Corsola tries to make some clumsy scratches in the dust, two rings, and a dot in the middle... it points frantically at that one. You think it's trying to say the dangerous thing lives not in the room itself, but the flooded shaft there
You also realize there's no WATER connecting this water wall here to the ones in the room


[24-Sep-18 11:09 PM] Gin
"It's cut off, I see. How does this all work?" Gin kinda waves his hands at the water being attached to the walls here


[24-Sep-18 11:09 PM] GM (Dox)
It shakes his head - it doesn't know


[24-Sep-18 11:11 PM] Gin
"Fair enough! Well, I suppose should we want to return and fight that thing, we should see about cutting its access to all the rest of the water in that room to reduce its mobility. But if it's confined for now, I suppose that's good enough. No real hurry, right?" Gin turns to Xander at the last question.


[24-Sep-18 11:12 PM] Xander
"Every day it exists is a blight upon this peaceful place...but we should come back prepared."


[24-Sep-18 11:14 PM] Gin
"And then we'll have even more of this open for us to explore, assuming that shaft it lives in acts as a similar hub to the one we found near the entrance."


[24-Sep-18 11:14 PM] Xander
He nods.  "Ever expanding horizons within this palace of the sea."


[24-Sep-18 11:16 PM] GM (Dox)
Well, since you can't proceed upwards for now, that just leaves one passage you haven't explored, at least that you've seen - the other passage at the lower potion of the terrace.
Do you wish to explore that one, or are you heading out now?


[24-Sep-18 11:17 PM] Gin
Let's go check that out!


[24-Sep-18 11:17 PM] Xander
Sure!


[24-Sep-18 11:19 PM] GM (Dox)
You head back down to the entrance level patio. The yet-unexplored passage is through a hall that more or less heads out from under the stairs in another curve. The entire architecture of this place is rather odd, since it seems to be designed around these circular rooms
You follow the passage down to yet another circular room that's a miniature version of the bigger circular rooms you've seen before
It's about half the size, with smaller walls of water, but a similar sized flooded shaft, and a straight hallway
In the floor of this one, you spot a clay tablet that seems to have broken in half.


[24-Sep-18 11:22 PM] Gin
Gin bends down to get a better look. He doesn't touch it at first, afraid of breaking it further.


[24-Sep-18 11:22 PM] Xander
He runs up to it to get a look, excited!


[24-Sep-18 11:23 PM] GM (Dox)
The two halves seem to have a strange symmetrical pattern on it, full of circles and loops...


[24-Sep-18 11:25 PM] Gin
"Let's take this back too, but carefully."


[24-Sep-18 11:26 PM] Xander
Nodnod.  He works on excavating the sacred tablet.


[24-Sep-18 11:26 PM] GM (Dox)
Roll roll insighto


[24-Sep-18 11:26 PM] Xander
1d20+2


[24-Sep-18 11:26 PM] GM's Toolkit#6456
Xander:
1d20+2:`(13)+2=15`


[24-Sep-18 11:27 PM] Xander
+1d6 if Investigator applies


[24-Sep-18 11:27 PM] GM's Toolkit#6456
Xander:
1d6:`(6)=6`


[24-Sep-18 11:28 PM] GM (Dox)
Xander, as you look over the tablet... you think it might be a map!

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/474812078780055552/494002188352225282/unknown.png


[24-Sep-18 11:28 PM] Xander
"Hm, a map...perhaps of the palace itself?"
"Maybe we should leave it here, so other people can use it."


[24-Sep-18 11:29 PM] Gin
"Oh, good eye. Even more reason to take it back, in my opinion. Or at least make a copy. We can make a more clear copy to leave here if you think others will come by."


[24-Sep-18 11:29 PM] Xander
"Ah, I had not considered that!  Such wonderful insight you have from on high!"


[24-Sep-18 11:29 PM] Gin
"Labels and names for the rooms will go a long way towards helping someone identify it as a map."


[24-Sep-18 11:29 PM] GM (Dox)
The central-left circle seems to be the initial room you entered, while the bottom-left rectangle is the courtyard... and the circle to the right of that is where you are now. If true, this means there's another small circular room onward from here - and a whole another half of the palace you haven't been able to reach yet
This only shows this level, not the upper level with the bigger circular room and the long gallery


[24-Sep-18 11:32 PM] Gin
"Let's see what lies beyond then." Gin goes over to take a peek in the small circular room he expects to find down the hall.


[24-Sep-18 11:33 PM] GM (Dox)
You heard towards the last accessible room!
As you're about halfway down the hall, you hear a sudden scraping sound, and a pillar of hard sand suddenly pounds the wall right behind Xander! The entire cylindrical hallway begins to spin in fact, and more pillars begin to lash out from the wall
Agilities pls


[24-Sep-18 11:35 PM] Xander
You mean Quick?


[24-Sep-18 11:35 PM] GM (Dox)
er yes


[24-Sep-18 11:35 PM] Xander
1d20


[24-Sep-18 11:35 PM] GM's Toolkit#6456
Xander:
1d20:`(9)=9`


[24-Sep-18 11:35 PM] Xander
¯\_(ツ)_/¯


[24-Sep-18 11:35 PM] GM (Dox)
Xander goes to pound town, lose two ticks!


[24-Sep-18 11:36 PM] Gin
1d20


[24-Sep-18 11:36 PM] GM's Toolkit#6456
Gin:
1d20:`(17)=17`


[24-Sep-18 11:36 PM] Xander
owie ow ow


[24-Sep-18 11:36 PM] GM (Dox)
Gin fares better, avoiding the traps


[24-Sep-18 11:36 PM] Xander
"What fiend dares strike me!!!"
"Have at you!"


[24-Sep-18 11:37 PM] Gin
"Are you okay?"


[24-Sep-18 11:37 PM] Xander
He waves his hammer around wildly and then drops it,  landing between his feet, and then he grumbles and picks it up.  "I am *fine*."


[24-Sep-18 11:38 PM] Gin
Is the hallway still spinning and the pillars still pounding? Or did we get past it?


[24-Sep-18 11:41 PM] GM (Dox)
Once you get past it, it stops.
You're now in the last circular room. This is a rather nice room, and like the pattio upstairs is full of critters. There's a horsea that looks at you inquisitively, blowing bubbles at you.
There's also a Tirtouga, a Chinchou, and a Binacle. More of the usual Finneon, and a grumpy Qwilfish


[24-Sep-18 11:43 PM] Gin
"I bet you don't get visitors often, on account of the death traps." Gin looks back briefly. "Just who built this place?"


[24-Sep-18 11:43 PM] Xander
He waves.  "Nice place you have here."
"Know if any...*demons* are lurking about it?"


[24-Sep-18 11:45 PM] GM (Dox)
Everyone in the room nods!


[24-Sep-18 11:46 PM] Xander
"Thought so." He smirks. "We'll be coming back soon to get rid of them, don't you worry!  For we are..." Pose!  "The Demon Slayer Squad!"


[24-Sep-18 11:47 PM] Gin
Gin ignores Xander's posing. "Are there other places in the castle with traps like that?" He points back at where the pillars were.


[24-Sep-18 11:49 PM] Xander
Xander sulks a bit behind Gin, but listens carefully for a response from the Pokemon.


[24-Sep-18 11:50 PM] GM (Dox)
The Horsea nods, pointing vaguely to the northwest
Of course, pretty much all of the palace is northwest of here, so that's not much help...


[24-Sep-18 11:52 PM] Gin
"I don't suppose you'd be willing to act as a guide for us the next time we're here?"


[24-Sep-18 11:52 PM] GM (Dox)
The horsea shakes its head in fear and floats off!


[24-Sep-18 11:52 PM] Gin
"I'd offer to show you where we're from, but I'm afraid it'd be rather constraining for you compared to the watery halls here."
"What if we defeated the scary demon thing?" Gin calls after it.


[24-Sep-18 11:53 PM] GM (Dox)
It looks back at you from behind a bit of coral and then nods tentatively
As you look at it, you also spot something hanging from the coral... another oiled leather satchel!


[24-Sep-18 11:54 PM] Xander
"!  Is that another one I spy!?"


[24-Sep-18 11:55 PM] Gin
"Oh, so it is. You wanna grab it?" Gin looks over, but then returns his attention to the Horsea. "Hmm, this place is pretty big though. How can we find you the next time we're here?"


[24-Sep-18 11:55 PM] Xander
He reaches over and nabs it


[24-Sep-18 11:56 PM] GM (Dox)
The horsea blows bubbles at you and floats upside down a bit.
Xander meanwhile grabs the satchel!
The sensation of going through the wall of water that refuses to fall is odd, but not a barrier. This last satchel seems to be in worse shape than the other one and a bit ripped up. Still, the interior seems to be fairy dry and contains... several small objects. An electronic device of some sort that looks rather hopelessly rusted, a wineskin, and a bound journal.


[24-Sep-18 11:59 PM] Xander
"Ah, writings from the past!"


[25-Sep-18 12:00 AM] Gin
While Xander goes through the bag, Gin ponders how to find this same Horsea again later. "Well, if you tend to stay around here, I could come look here first, as unreliable as it is."
He peeks over at Xander's findings though.


[25-Sep-18 12:01 AM] GM (Dox)
Most of the journal is ruined from the damp, but some of the pages near the center seem okay. There's lots and lots of pencil drawings of Pokemon - mostly those from around here, but others too - perhaps their personal Pokemon
As you peek through the drawings, you suddenly see another vision. The youngest boy and girl from before, just the two of them left. They both look rather wounded and frazzled. They raise mask-like devices to cover the lower half of their faves, and plunge into the pool in the center of this room.


[25-Sep-18 12:05 AM] Xander
"A mask?  Hm..."


[25-Sep-18 12:05 AM] Gin
"They fell one by one while exploring this place. What could be so valuable for them to push on even as they had to leave their companions behind?"


[25-Sep-18 12:07 AM] GM (Dox)
The journal contains no further answers. Apparently this was only a sketching pad.


[25-Sep-18 12:07 AM] Xander
"A question we might learn the answer to within the hellish depths of this place." He nods, sagely.


[25-Sep-18 12:07 AM] GM (Dox)
From here, there's nowhere left to explore without the ability to breathe underwater for longer periods of time...


[25-Sep-18 12:09 AM] Gin
"Let's return home for now. Or maybe just stop at the 'resort' for a bit first."


[25-Sep-18 12:10 AM] GM (Dox)
You're forced to go past the trapped hallway again which responds just as viciously as before, but now that you're expecting it it was easier to maintain your footing and avoid the blows of the sand pillars.
Past that, exiting is relatively easy!
You head out into the courtyard...
~