Josh Devlin
•
Lionheart
The Creed
Posts: 1,220
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Josh Devlin
OOC Username: RaikouRider
Arena Points: 38
|
Post by Josh Devlin on Jan 21, 2024 16:49:41 GMT 9
With Raiden serving as a personal lightning rod, Josh felt a lot more comfortable exploring the Surge Steppes during inclement weather. The low humidity meant any rain falling from the storm clouds would get dissolved into the atmosphere, but it did make ground lightning strikes more dangerous by way of setting brush alight. Such were the dangers of a dry thunderstorm. His entire field of vision turned to white every time a lightning bolt struck one of the metal spires designed to draw the vicious storms' wrath away from travelers.
Hearing the hoofbeats of Pokémon alongside rustling, the young man took a turn into the tall brush surrounding a spire, keeping his eyes peeled for another equine Pokémon... or perhaps even something unexpected. And this time, he came prepared.
ENTERING THE TALL GRASS!
|
|
|
Josh Devlin
•
Lionheart
The Creed
Posts: 1,220
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Josh Devlin
OOC Username: RaikouRider
Arena Points: 38
|
Post by Josh Devlin on Jan 22, 2024 0:21:17 GMT 9
Though Josh wanted to see what Ixion was capable of, the electric-type already much faster than Ares was, he could not remain close. The equine's horn, blinking yellow and white, would attract lightning. The Blitzle could withstand it without an issue, but being hit by a lightning strike would almost certainly result in Josh himself being derezzed, waking up in the Everworld, and having to fight for his digital life to escape. At least in his eyes. He didn't know what the Everworld was like, and he wasn't willing to be willingly find himself among the Game-Overed to find out.
Deeper into the brush the two cautiously continued, a thunderclap echoing across the plains after the noticeable, but not blinding, flash of cloud-to-cloud lightning illuminated the sky for a split second. As he took step after step, Josh covered his ears in anticipation of the loud alert of a wild Pokémon initiating combat with him.
With his ears shielded, he could barely hear the noise, taken more by surprise from the pixelating and clearing surroundings. He took his hands off his ears to listen for the Pokémon's battle cry, that and a familiar driving beat an indicator that it was time for a clash!
|
|
|
Josh Devlin
•
Lionheart
The Creed
Posts: 1,220
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Josh Devlin
OOC Username: RaikouRider
Arena Points: 38
|
Post by Josh Devlin on Jan 22, 2024 0:43:16 GMT 9
Combat Log> Attacked from behind!
The sound of a metallic roar was the only warning sign Josh would get of the Duraludon's presence, the spire-shaped dragon slashing at Josh before he even had a chance to act. From the very start of the battle, he knew he was outmatched. With his Pokédex not working due to the storm in the area, he couldn't even identify what the Pokémon was. Survival instincts took over, the explorer and his Blitzle RETREATING from the Pokémon that, in his mind, had no business spawning in an area that brand new characters could easily access.
Combat Log> Escaping... Combat Log> You successfully escaped!
Thank Arceus for a Pokémon with high speed. Josh had originally chosen to specialize in it because in most games, it fed accuracy and evasion. With accuracy and evasion not being concepts in the world of UNOVR, that was out the window. No more powerful foes like that, please!
|
|
|
Josh Devlin
•
Lionheart
The Creed
Posts: 1,220
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Josh Devlin
OOC Username: RaikouRider
Arena Points: 38
|
Post by Josh Devlin on Jan 22, 2024 1:26:33 GMT 9
As Josh proceeded through the brush, staying as close to Raiden as he was comfortable with, he had second thoughts about continuing as things were. Against his better judgment, he crept deeper into the prairie grass, this time keeping his ears open. He knew what to expect now for the volume and type of sound the encounter alert would be. While he couldn't expect to never be frightened by it again, depending on the environment, at least he had an idea of what would be coming next time a Pokémon decided to jump him.
|
|
|
Silvermoon
•
Mythstar
Posts: 412
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Kasey Lilacina
OOC Username: spibe
Arena Points: 43
|
Post by Silvermoon on Jan 22, 2024 1:52:21 GMT 9
Silvermoon and Kintsugi were roaming the Steppes. Thunder and lightning snapped and snared overhead, Silv looking up at the sky- trusting Kintsugi to know where to go. The spires rose up erratically, each a memory of their disastrous quest with Kazuki-
And, quietly, the thought that maybe if it happened now, they might have won.
<Silvermoon-> Kintsugi's voice drew their attention, and Silvermoon glanced over. A duraludon rose, a roar rattling through its body. And, just before it- A player, one Silvermoon didn't recognize. Quickly pulling up their profile-
A new player. Against a duraludon.
"C'mon, Kintsugi," Silvermoon urged, the chimaera racing faster. As they approached the great behemoth, Silvermoon shifted to flip off his back, Kintsugi continuing forward to slam into the Duraludon's leg.
"Josh- Are you alright?"
|
|
|
Josh Devlin
•
Lionheart
The Creed
Posts: 1,220
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Josh Devlin
OOC Username: RaikouRider
Arena Points: 38
|
Post by Josh Devlin on Jan 22, 2024 2:17:38 GMT 9
Silvermoon was a sight for sore eyes. "The cavalry has arrived," Josh sighed as Raiden reared, the electric-type's stripes glowing a bright yellow as he kicked at the spire-shaped dragon in a passing QUICK ATTACK. The attack barely left a scratch on him. "In rough shape, but could be worse." He looked up to see the player's tag. "Thanks, Silvermoon. Let me know if there's anything I can do for you afterward. You're a--"
There would be no time for an extended conversation, or even after word out of him, as the dragon-type reached toward Raiden and Josh both with a nasty BREAKING SWIPE. The left side of his chest and his left arm began tingling, slash marks appearing in both places as well as on the Blitzle's body. This was where he was glad he set a lower pain threshold; the pain from such deep cuts would have been stabbing. Paralyzing, even. Grimacing as he saw the damage inflicted, he was brought to his knees. Pulling up the UI, he had to look up that attack.
With an arsenal like that, Duraludon was truly a mini-boss wreathed as a random encounter. Why was this in an area adjacent to the tutorial area again? This felt like a midgame encounter! Silvermoon
|
|
|
Silvermoon
•
Mythstar
Posts: 412
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Kasey Lilacina
OOC Username: spibe
Arena Points: 43
|
Post by Silvermoon on Jan 22, 2024 2:57:40 GMT 9
Silvermoon gave a nod, and a soft smile. "No worries- It happens when you're just-" They cut themselves off when the duraludon lunged. Kintsugi hissed, eyes narrowing.
"C'mon, Kintsugi- you can take it down." Silvermoon urged, watching the Duraludon move. It screamed again, and out of the corner of their eye, Silv saw Josh collapse.
They moved, reaching down to put a hand on their shoulder. "Hey- it's going to be okay. Worst case, you'll wake up at the shrine- um, no, here it would be the pokemon center. There's a clump of tents, set up, with nurses. If your health gets depleted, you'll wake up there." Silvermoon reassured.
Behind them, Kintsugi dug his claws into the grass. <Don't worry. We'll protect you. There's nothing to worry about.> He said, eyes flicking to the Duraludon again, before he threw himself forwards.
|
|
|
Josh Devlin
•
Lionheart
The Creed
Posts: 1,220
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Josh Devlin
OOC Username: RaikouRider
Arena Points: 38
|
Post by Josh Devlin on Jan 22, 2024 3:32:27 GMT 9
If that was medium damage, Josh didn't want to know what heavy or even severe damage looked or felt like. He felt helpless, almost like a leech, not pulling his weight in battle. That was what experienced players were for: getting started was hard! If this was one of the zones that was friendly to new players, how much worse would other zones be?
Oh, so he would wake up at a Pokémon Center instead of a Shrine? That was wonderful, almost like death in the tall grass was but a slap on the wrist. It certainly beat out the brutality of IronMon back in the real world: death in the grasses of Route 1 was common if the wrong encounter reared its ugly head.
The chimeric Kintsugi frightened Josh: What kind of Pokémon was that? It looked ferocious and difficult to handle. A fantastic steed if he could tame one, but did it ever look unsettling. And it was kicking butt against the metallic dragon, too!
"I'll do my best to support you, Silvermoon! Raiden, use your TAIL WHIP!" Josh commanded. Without hesitation, the Blitzle about-faced and started flicking his tail back and forth, serving as a distraction for the Type: Null to give it a real wallop. The wild, incensed with the Blitzle's behavior, sliced into him with a vicious METAL CLAW, the equine keeling over despite having a natural resistance to Steel-type attacks. Grumbling, Josh withdrew his fallen Pokémon, pointing for Ares to take his place.
Silvermoon
|
|
|
Silvermoon
•
Mythstar
Posts: 412
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Kasey Lilacina
OOC Username: spibe
Arena Points: 43
|
Post by Silvermoon on Jan 22, 2024 5:06:50 GMT 9
Silvermoon nodded, attention fixing now securely on the Duraludon. It seemed a bit scuffed, but still solid- it'd need to get down to fifteen to be weak enough to catch. But... while Duraludon wasn't the... nicest looking pokemon- It was a steel type. The first unlock for Ironsmith...
"A little more, Kintsugi." Silvermoon urged. The pokemon nodded, racing towards the Duraludon before rearing up, claws gleaming as he raked them against the Duraludon's legs.
|
|
|
Josh Devlin
•
Lionheart
The Creed
Posts: 1,220
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Josh Devlin
OOC Username: RaikouRider
Arena Points: 38
|
Post by Josh Devlin on Jan 22, 2024 6:42:43 GMT 9
With Josh's help, the Type: Null and Duraludon appeared to be an even match. All he needed to do was stay out of trouble. As much as he didn't like to put Ares in harm's way, self preservation was one strong motivator.
"Ares, try to stay as far away from it as you can!" Josh commanded, "EMBER!"
Combat Log> Ares readies Ember.
"Take this, metalhead!" the eager Charmander cried, grabbing his tail and swinging it like a whip toward the wild. Wisps of flame flew toward the spire-shaped dragon, sizzling upon contact.
Combat Log> Duraludon readies Breaking Swipe.
Despite backing away what he thought was a safe distance, the Duraludon's range proved to be much larger than it appeared, slicing toward Josh, Ares, and Kintsugi in a wide arc. The angle was perfect, calculated like a cold killer would. Josh and his fiery lizard friend went blasting away from the dragon-type in the weeds. With the new player and his Pokémon disappearing in a flash of white light, Silv alone against the dangerous foe.
Combat Log> Ares has fallen. Combat Log> Josh has fallen.
Thankfully, the Pokémon Center was not too far. If Josh hurried, he might be able to make it back in time to bag the ferocious Pokémon... or at least bring it down before even Silvermoon got in big trouble
Information> Please select a new party leader.
Silvermoon
|
|
|
Silvermoon
•
Mythstar
Posts: 412
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Kasey Lilacina
OOC Username: spibe
Arena Points: 43
|
Post by Silvermoon on Jan 23, 2024 1:39:59 GMT 9
In a blink, the new player was gone.
Silvermoon didn't flinch. Tears did not rise to their eyes. They did not call for Kintsugi, desperate and afraid. They were not the same person they were a year ago.
Silvermoon took a breath. Their coak shifted and snapped in the wind, flames trailing along it. Kintsugi hunkered, flames skirting along his spine, taking the shape of a fletchling, then a fletchinder, then a talonflame. It screamd, silently, wings spread.
Silvermoon needed no protecting. Here, they would be the bulwark.
"Metal sound." They commanded. Kintsugi threw his head up to scream, clamourous sound ripping across the Steppe, the duraludon staggering back from the hit.
|
|
|
Josh Devlin
•
Lionheart
The Creed
Posts: 1,220
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Josh Devlin
OOC Username: RaikouRider
Arena Points: 38
|
Post by Josh Devlin on Jan 23, 2024 4:18:32 GMT 9
Raiden, Ares, and Josh hurried back to Silv's aid. If they were struggling to contain the Duraludon together, he expected they wouldn't last too long on their own. He would be able to travel much faster if he could strap a saddle to Raiden, but in his current form, he was just too small. The price of being fairly tall, yet wanting to be a rider, was it put severe limitations on what one could mount.
Huffing as he returned to Silv's side, Josh cried, "We've got your back!" Ares was back with a vengeance, and he wasn't holding back. He was going to use his strongest attack against the metal dragon. "FIRE FANG, Ares!"
Combat Log> Ares readies Fire Fang.
With a loud, high-pitched battle cry, the Charmander ran past Kintsugi, mouth dripping with embers as he chomped into the wild's underside. While he wouldn't make a dent in the metal armor, perhaps the flames would raise its body temperature to uncomfortable levels. Silvermoon
|
|
|
Silvermoon
•
Mythstar
Posts: 412
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Kasey Lilacina
OOC Username: spibe
Arena Points: 43
|
Post by Silvermoon on Jan 23, 2024 13:23:53 GMT 9
Silvermoon glanced back as Josh came running over. Before, maybe, they would have been nervous. Falling in front of a stranger, let alone one so inexperienced. But now? Falling here wasn’t a loss- it was the ebb and flow of battle.
Kintsugi’s gaze was locked on the Duraludon, but he was exhausted- Silvermoon could tell by the rise and fall of his sides, the soft pulse-connection between them. It wouldn’t be long-
But that was alright. They would fall, and get back up.
They swept their hand, as if waving away a spell. Kintsugi shuddered, the flames licking him rising and flaring before quieting back down. “Crush claw.”
|
|
|
Josh Devlin
•
Lionheart
The Creed
Posts: 1,220
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Josh Devlin
OOC Username: RaikouRider
Arena Points: 38
|
Post by Josh Devlin on Jan 23, 2024 13:45:04 GMT 9
Ares' and Kintsugi's attacks seemed to merely bounce off the Duraludon, inflicting no more than chip damage. If an experienced player had this much trouble with the Pokémon, then perhaps it was really over their heads? Josh pondered running away, turning to Silv. "Maybe we should beat feet..." he trailed off, unsure of himself for a few moments before shaking his head.
"No. We've come too far."
Combat Log> Duraludon readies Rock Smash. Combat Log> Ares readies Scratch.
"That's the spirit, Josh!" Ares goaded his trainer before facing the steel-type again. Having spent all his Tech Points on one big attack, the Charmander was reduced to a basic SCRATCH attack. If he could rake over the same place Kintsugi did, perhaps he could land a critical hit that would lead to the two fighters' victory. Exchanging quick but weak blows, the ROCK SMASH made the lizard feel more sick than weak; were he to fall, Josh would be reliant on his newer, less experienced Pokémon!
Silvermoon
|
|
|
Silvermoon
•
Mythstar
Posts: 412
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Kasey Lilacina
OOC Username: spibe
Arena Points: 43
|
Post by Silvermoon on Jan 24, 2024 3:05:24 GMT 9
Silvermoon didn’t so much as glance back towards Josh. “If you’re worried, leave.” They dismissed, eyes fixed on the duraludon. It’d been solidly hurt- they were in the final push, now. “But it’s coming down.”
The duraludon lashed out, knocking the little charmander back, and Kintsugi lunged in the breath after the hit- Summining the wind itself to lash at the creature.
“Still alright?”
<We've got this, Silvermoon. There's no need to fear.>
|
|
|