System Admin
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Administrator
Posts: 1,474
Player Name: System
OOC Username: M00K
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Post by System Admin on Jan 26, 2024 10:33:23 GMT 9
STORY QUEST: SILENT NIGHT #corruptionzone #megathread #palenyantology“Let’s go to Mistra!” says System Admin:Bunyaa, grinning fang-toothedly at you. You look around at the circle of grumpy-looking fellow players who have all showed up to this midnight story event. Shovels and pickaxes are clutched in hands better used to throwing Pokeballs. "I've hyeard there's fossils in Mistra! Big ones!" Bunya continues, adjusting her headlamp. “See, it's all here in my Nekonyamicon.”
She opens the glittery black and purple spellbook she's been carrying to proudly show you the centerfold page. A map of the forbidden AREA 2: Mistra, clearly scavenged from Professor Ash’s old documents. “This ritunyal should take us straight to where we need to go! No Zapnyas or nyanything. Pretty slick, huh?”“What about the Corruption?” calls a trainer from the back. Bunya cocks her head to the side, not comprehending. “Have you learned how to defeat it?”"Corruptnyan? Oh right, I almost forgot! ...Nyeah, can't make ears or tails of that stuff." Bunya shrugs it off. “Bring a Pokenyan just in case, though, you nyever nyow what nyasties might show up when you're on a dig! Right, Aerodactyl?”Bunya’s Aerodactyl roars in response. To those with Pokémon Speech enabled, it sounds like, <This is a bad idea.>“Leap before ya look! A-one! A-two!”A magic circle with cat ears glows on the ground beneath your feet, and you are transported to the heart of Mistra.
Story Quest: Silent NightYou arrive in a flash of misplaced light, and as the glow of the lab fades from your skin and the after-images disappear from your vision, you look up and out across an obliterated landscape.
The ground here holds no greenery, or even sparse and sickly trees. It is barren. Devoid of anything living but the trainers and the doctor.
The black soil— and it is as black as a clogged drainpipe— lays unevenly. The restless shifting of topsoil has made ripples and bumps that expose chunks of ancient ivory.
And as you look out and away in search of any variation or marker for your location, you instead notice THE CURVE.
The black soil beneath you stretches away for an impossible distance, and as you follow the lay of the land you find yourself looking up, up, until you are gazing far over your head at the high, distant ring of a crater where the black soil terminates in a ring of starless sky.
There is no horizon here, only the interminable sense that you are falling down a well made of endless ash.
Bunya pounces on a set of bones, gleeful. "Nyahaha! This is the Nyatherload! What are you waiting for– let's get digging!”
A pop-up with instructions appears, looking slightly distorted, as if swimming behind ink. The pop-up freezes, unresponsive, then suddenly disappears. You are left alone with THE SOUND that rises slowly in the distance, a silvery percussion that may or may not remind you this was supposed to be UNOVR’s Christmas Event.
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Big Bee
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Bandana Guy
Round 2
Posts: 686
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Bryan Nautilus
OOC Username: Ladybug
Arena Points: 49
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Post by Big Bee on Jan 26, 2024 11:12:51 GMT 9
Fossils in Mistra? Now that sounded like a Big Bee adventure. He already had Jeweler and Basilisk unlocked. Now much rockier could he get? Big Bee rubbed his hands together as Bunya continued her worrying introduction.
"Nekonyamicon! Ritual! Corruptnyan!"
A feeling of unease spread through the room like cold butter.
Hands gripped shovels and picks a little tighter. Trainers huddled closer together. Someone picked up their Pokemon for comfort. "It's probably fine, right?" Bee asked Jaws.
The Granbull shrugged. He'd never had to face Mistra.
"I mean. It's fine! I'm right!" As the trainer it was his job to put on a brave face and help set a jovial mood for the event. Excitement despite dangers. Digging despite horrors.
But there was a creeping dread in the back of his skull. An afterimage of a monstrous head dripping with slime, its salt-reddened eyes glaring at him hungrily.
"I've been to Mistra before once of twice," he said to Jaws. "Don't you worry! I know how to keep us safe."
He looked around for Orion but the sudden flash of teleportation blinded him.
Big Bee pushed back his bandana and looked up towards the distant skyline. They were in a crater of enormous size. Where in Mistra were they? Was this the site of an ancient asteroid strike? Was there a volcano here in the distant past? Had there been a previous digging event here that had gotten out of hand?
The sound of bells shivered across the dirt, carrying far through the empty air. Players were chatting, forming little digging groups, but those discordant bells managed to slip into the cracks in the conversation, poisoning the lighthearted chatter like auditory mercury.
"Nyahaha! This is the Nyatherload! What are you waiting for– let's get digging!”
Big Bee checked he had everything needed for physical labor. Bandana? Check. Shovel? He banged it against the dirt to make sure it was working. Check check! Now he just needed muscle. "Hey orioncayge!" Bee called, looking around for the flash of a stylish bandana.
"Jaws!"
The Granbull was milling nearby, kicking at a piece of exposed bone in the sand. "Boss?"
"Let's go find some friends. Many hands make light shovels!"
770/770 HP
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Lacrimosa
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Player Character
Posts: 136
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Sarthor Caldwell
OOC Username: spibe
Arena Points: 50
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Post by Lacrimosa on Jan 26, 2024 13:09:13 GMT 9
Opportunity [op-er-toono-tee] n. an appropriate or favorable time or occasion; a situation or condition favorable for attainment of a goal.
Lacrimosa pretended to look like he was listening to Bunya. He cared not for what she had to say- fossils were not his area of interest. Safer, quicker passage into Mistra was.
And the appearance of “magic,” as being displayed by one of the programs? That was curious, at least.
He watched the circle with interest, aware of but uncaring about the form that flickered just before him- the shape of a little cat, marked only by the dark space within the glow. It opened its mouth in a silent cry, and the magic flared.
Lacrimosa blinked, looking up as his eyes adjusted. He didn’t recognize this place- a deep cavern. This was not familiar. He hadn’t seen even breath of this- why? How?
Something like glee bubbled up silently in his chest.
Potential [puh-ten-shuhl] n. possibility; potentiality: a latent excellence or ability that may or may not be developed.
He took the primitive tool in hand. Whatever was to come- he would find it.
wisteria || 100/100
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Lucille
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The Tempest
Player Character
Posts: 88
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Lucille Whitehall
OOC Username: Riri
Arena Points: 10
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Post by Lucille on Jan 27, 2024 11:07:08 GMT 9
Lucille was expecting a lighthearted and fun digging experience, instead what she got was being whisked away by some strange Unovr magic into what she assumed was the very heart of Mistra, the crater that spread darkness that blotted out even the brightest of stars above with its vastness. The very area was very unfamiliar to her, she had heard bits and pieces of things during prior events, but not enough to piece things together entirely.
An uneasy shudder rippled through her spine as an eerie jingling tone broke through into the conversations of others, the tone ever persistent in its ringing, making the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. Swallowing thickly, pale ashen-blue eyes flittered around; a few familiar faces here and there, but none that she had interacted with after the Thunderfall Raid, which admittedly was a shame. Inwardly cursing her social awkwardness, she chewed her lip and tightened the grip around the pickaxe in her grasp so hard that she swore her knuckles would turn white. Breathe, it'll be fine. Or at least that was what she tried to tell herself. Her gut was filled with knots of unease while her chest heaved, trying to fight off a verging panic attack.
Without a moment's notice, one of the spheres began rattling in place against her belt before bursting open. A large ghostly lizard emerging to stare at her trainer with wide amber irises ❝ Hey, hey, easy. Breathe...nice and slow. I'm here, and I won't let anything happen to you, mama. I promise, okay?❞ Byleth the Dragapult was a calming factor, something Lucille was eternally grateful for. Putting things at ease whenever things got too overstimulating in this world for her. Byleth placed both her little hand-appendages against Lucille's shoulders, forcing her trainer to look at her big goofy triangular face and focus on nothing but her. Lucille let out a shuddering, slow breath, letting out a hoarse ❝... Okay.❞ before taking in another slow breath and repeating for a few moments till her shoulders eased up, and her body wasn't so tense.
Once Byleth was sure her mother figure was going to be okay, she slowly took her arms away and moved behind the tall woman, settling against her head, a habit that she had since being a small Dreepy ❝ Thank you, Byleth... let's try and do some digging, hm?❞
Byleth || 500/500 HP
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Emery V.
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Player Character
Posts: 21
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Vivi Emmeret
OOC Username: MM
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Post by Emery V. on Jan 27, 2024 19:08:21 GMT 9
#s://i~imgur~com/sMbMhHQ~jpg When the event notification had popped up this afternoon, Emery skimmed it and entered without any hesitation. The screen had brought her face-to-face with that queer, catty professor from her first day - only about a week or so ago, how time creeps along - and subsequently she'd been teleported to an area she'd never seen before. A niggling feeling warned her that this place was probably not for the likes of her inexperienced arse, but what did it matter? It wasn't like she was going to die to polluted air or choke on ash clouds in real life. And what was this about 'corruption'? A quick seek through the Glossary set her straight: Bad Stuff it was, just like the name suggested. But only for the animals!
"This place feels off, Viv," murmured Idol, who Emery kept out of his ball as much as possible and had told to call her by a faintly shorter version of her real name. It just felt a lot better that way. The seal swam around her middle, pushing his smooth head underneath her forearm. "Not horrible yet, but like it could get a whole lot worse. What are we doing here again? Where's all the green grass and blue skies? I don't even smell a sea for another, hmm, another...hmm, some immeasurable distance."
"Digging," replied Emery, surveying the area. Plenty of new faces, an overwhelming majority of new faces, many which looked far more savvy than her. What a lark; maybe she'll even look like that someday, for this silly little game. Some of them seemed hardened, strong. These piqued her interest, but for now it was probably best to see to the task at hand. "It'll be fun, Idol. Unearthing god-knows-what in this cesspit. Maybe we'll get something cool enough for our troubles, hmm?"
Idol shifted uneasily, but nodded. He swam upwards to settle atop Emery's head, flippers acting as a strap and essentially covering her ears. His tail folded down the back of her head, down her nape.
"If you see anyone who looks interesting," said Emery as she took up a pickaxe and tested its weight. It reminded her of the javelins she used to throw, you know, back in her brief javelin-throwing phase. "Go ahead and call them over."
"How will I know if they look interesting?"
"Use your judgement."
"What if they all look interesting to me?"
Emery paused in her dirt-surveying. "Then call them all over."
Idol yipped and Emery felt his cold tail tickle the top of her spine. She could feel his small abdomen expand and then Idol yelled: "HEY! IF YOU'RE INTERESTING, COME OVER HERE!"
As Emery chuckled and prepared to smash the pitiful mounds that passed for dirt, it should be noted that she was still unaware that some people may not have Pokémon Speech enabled, and Idol's 'call' had, for them, amounted to a Popplio braying with all its might into the soggy skyline.
IDOL :: 150/150 HP
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Jade Jager
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Weekend Warrior
Round 2
Posts: 140
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Jenny Li
OOC Username: M00K
Arena Points: 20
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Post by Jade Jager on Jan 28, 2024 1:29:34 GMT 9
A regular had bought a couple rounds of shots for the bar crew after closing, and Jen was now feeling social. Social enough to boot up Russell's WorldScreen, which had been steadily collecting dust next to the sofa bed ever since she'd gotten working AC.
"Hope there's a party."
There was no party, just a midnight story event, but hell, beggars couldn't be choosers. Jade listened to the intro, biting the inside of her cheek when Bunya told them to pick a Pokémon to bring along. Shit. Who do I got on hand? She patted down her pockets and hit the catch on the first capsule she managed to fumble her fingers around.
Goose the Monferno materialized, hanging off of her neck like a particularly clingy, long-armed baby. "Hiya! Long time no see! What're we doing?"
"Ngh!" Jade said, trying not to choke. She pried at the monkey's fingers. "Looking for fossils, sounds like. You any good at digging?"
The words twigged some reminder in the back of her mind. Last summer at UNOVRCon- hadn't that Bryan Nautilus guy teased some digging minigame as part of their Christmas event? She thought she'd missed out, but lucky her, Hydance was evidently as late to the holiday parade as she was.
The magic circle activated, and their surroundings changed. One would think going from one dark place to another would have made next to no difference, but Jade sensed the change the way a rabbit sensed a bird of prey’s shadow before it struck.
"Where the hell are we," Jade said, feeling dread creeping up from the soles of her feet. It tingled in her fingertips. "Aw, never mind. Goose, don't tell me. I changed my mind. I don't wanna know."
She knew where they were. It was somewhere a half-alert Jade, or at least a fully sober one, wouldn't have set foot in if you'd paid her a thousand bucks.
"It's not on Beta Island, that's for sure." Goose hung from her bicep, tail brushing the indeterminately black soil. "The air feels weird. Like I can't breathe right. Do you feel that? Oh, and there's like a weird… pressure? Like we’re waiting for something.”
"Yeah. Kinda. Y'know, let's not think about it," Jade said, squeezing her eyes shut to block out the terrifying pop-up that had just appeared in front of her. "Hang on, what's that sound?"
The pair stilled as the rhythmic chime of sleigh bells echoed through the ashen crater.
“...Don't like that,” Jade said instantly.
“Why? I think it's cheerful.”
“Sure, at a department store– not the damn Corruption Zone. I'm gonna go make an alliance,” Jade said, trying and failing to shake Goose off her arm and looking around for people who looked as vulnerable as she felt. The secret to survival was increasing your numbers– maybe that was why Bunya had brought them along.
“I’m interesting!” She waved too-desperately at Emery V.’s Popplio. “...Don’t leave, I swear I am. Look, I got…” She patted down her empty pockets, then her shoulders. “...bug wings. No, for real.”
The droning, buzzing sound as Jade’s transparent dragonfly wings powered up made the eerie atmosphere just that much more tense. It sounded like a giant hornet’s nest humming to life.
“Stop it!” Goose hissed, climbing up onto her back to swat the wings back down into place. “You’re freaking everyone out.”
MONFERNO: 250/250 HP
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Domino
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G.A.Y.
Round 2
Posts: 314
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Hilda Faust
OOC Username: Stells
Arena Points: 40
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Post by Domino on Jan 29, 2024 4:49:25 GMT 9
"What. The. Fuck."
It is but a whisper. A whisper that might undeniably be heard by those nearby, because Domino is indeed one of those grumpy-looking players, although in her case it's more along the lines of a why-am-I-even-surprised resignation that comes followed by a deep sigh.
"Of course someone decided to get Bunya into dark magic, so she can take people to the corruption zone. What could possibly go wrong?"
A lot.
A lot can go wrong, actually. Domino was being sarcastic there.
The whole damn reason she had psyched herself up to join this event was that the idea of going back to Mistra sounded damn terrible to her (turn back! avoid at all cost!), but of course, new players unaware of what awaits them would jump at the opportunity to participate in an event, and well... Domino has a conscience. She's here to help!
"Beanie boy." A Pokémon is called to her side once they arrive at their questionable destination: an almost fifteen foot long three-segment Dudunsparce with tiny little wings that flutter helplessly. She sits on the second segment, shovel in hand, and leaning back on the first, she reclines as if she were sunbathing. She suddenly even has sunglasses and everything. What happened to helping?!
"Let's find a good place where to dig. Keep an eye in case anyone needs some healing."
Ah, there it is.
Help by her own terms, obviously.
And so, the Land Snake moves forward, and on his back, Domino chills, because she honestly can't be bothered with perceiving her surroundings. If she doesn't look, then nothing bad can happen, right? Right! Sound logic!
DUDUNSPARCE || 350/350 HP
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Jian
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Player Character
Posts: 25
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Mia Chen
OOC Username: Kana
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Post by Jian on Jan 29, 2024 19:54:33 GMT 9
#s://i~imgur~com/LZYraiD~jpg "Eughg, this place stinks." Yanyan exclaimed as he squinched his face, both his paws held up over his nose.
"Yeah, no kidding. Well, I guess the sooner we find a fossil, the sooner we can get out of here, huh." Jian said, rubbing a finger under his own nose as well. Even if that's not exactly how this quest went. For once, he thought, he might be a little well over his head for this one. The man was too used to being a little too overpowered for story quest since he has the tendency to run into every other side story and quest before going back to the main plot at hand.
But he's barely played this game for a week and he's already jumping in on this one.
Well, who could really blame him, it looked interesting. And who knew there was a pokemon version of the Necronomicon? Also the fact that Dr Bunya is able to keep such a 'light' tone in what looks to be a certifiable 'wasteland' of sorts is close to convincing Jian that the Doctor's more of a mad scientist than anything.
He hits the ground a couple of times with the head of his pickaxe, "Well, no point standing around then. Let's go find a nice 'cozy' spot to start digging." The man grinned as he trudged through the ash. Yanyan, not wanting to get too much of it on his fur, leapt up onto Jian's shoulder as he started walking.
YANYAN: 300/300 HP
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Nero
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Child of the Night
Player Character
Posts: 263
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Jack Montague
OOC Username: Vay
Arena Points: 88
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Post by Nero on Jan 29, 2024 20:28:00 GMT 9
As per usual, Nero wasn't entirely sure how he'd ended up here. He'd taken to messing about on the user interface whenever he was bored, trying to casually figure out exactly how everything worked and what everything did, and this would not be the first time that he'd accidentally accepted something without realising what he was clicking on. It also wouldn't be the first time that doing so had transported him somewhere new either, though at least that meant he was getting somewhat used to how it all felt, and so he could play off his sudden appearance as intentional and not look like a lost puppy wandering into an unknown place.
While outwardly he made an effort to look like he belonged here, internally he was scrambling to figure out what he'd just committed to - and in usual Nero style, he did that by ignoring the actual instructions being spoken to him that would have explained everything if he'd only bothered to listen. He had at least noticed the strange woman who had given him his starter Pokemon, but before he could do much more than take in the familiarity of the lab around him, he found it all fading away again as he was moved to a new location once more.
Had he... been kicked out? Had he clicked something too high level for him or something he didn't have the right equipment for yet? If so, it seemed a lot of other people around him had done the same, because this area seemed full of players. But... this wasn't where he had come from either. This place was... different to anywhere that he'd been so far. It seemed dead somehow, unnaturally so, and almost alien in the blackness of its soil. A strong feeling that he really shouldn't be here started to claw at him, but he couldn't find a quick exit button on the UI to get himself out of here. And besides, he was no coward, was he? He couldn't just flee with so many people around him.
Better to just figure out what they were even here for, complete the stupid task, and then get out that way. The lab person was here too, and she'd said something about digging? Well, he had a dog Pokemon now, so that was probably his best bet for a digging task. Calling Electrike out beside him, he glanced around at the other players to try and figure out what they were all doing, while the electric type stood to attention with a wagging tail, eager to be given a task.
At that exact moment, a weird pop up appeared, and Nero jumped back in surprise, causing the dog to yap in concern up at him. Pickax... beat... fossils. Right. A quick scan of the area showed him the pickax he needed, and there was now a noticeable sound around them that did have a beat to it. Alright, sure, fine, they could do this. "Give me a hand with this digging, yeah?" he suggested to the Electrike, who barked excitedly in response and started pawing at the dirt in front of him. Swinging the pickax, Nero hit the ground beside him, already slightly off the beat but practice made perfect, didn't it? Better just keep going then.
Elektrike: 400/400 (submitted Tier 2 upgrade before posting <3)
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Alistair
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Player Character
Posts: 74
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Alistair Alearnith
OOC Username: Sunstrider
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Post by Alistair on Jan 31, 2024 5:28:49 GMT 9
And where exactly are you?
What part of "research Mistra" did you fail to understand?
Alistair groaned as he saw the messages come in, drawing a querulous look from Falas. Last time he had answered one of Sarthor's summons, the man hadn't even BEEN there. And yet, a tone like that brooked no argument. Undoubtedly, if he defied Sarthor, he'd hear about it constantly for the next several weeks- or worse, the man would vindictively bring it up on a brick wall of a guilt trip for some future, even worse task.
The trio made their way to Bunya's lab. At the doorway, Falas dug his heels in, whale eyed, tears welling. He latched onto the hem of Alistair's robe and, when the man looked down, shook his head vehemently. "You don't want to go in?" He mused. Falas sniffed.
<"He'll just slow us down anyways."> The Pidove said vehemently. He'd yet to find a suitable name for the abrasive and haughty bird.
"It's less that, and more that he doesn't like Dr. Bunya. Or Mom," Or most anyone, but at least he didn't run away from everyone like he was doing now, "Alright then. Do you want to wait here outside, or do you want to go back into the pokeball?" Sometimes he asked questions in the vain hope the shy pokemon would answer in more than a headshake, nod or blank-eyed stare. Sobble blinked at him and then reached up, toward his belt. If he were more stubborn or petty, he might feign to not understand, but... "Alright," He said, dismissing the Sobble.
And god, if it wasn't good that he had. Necronomicon? Magical feline rituals? Fossils in a corruption zone? The pidove's amber eyes gleamed eagerly, but Alistair felt a twist of unease. He really didn't like the corruption...
Upon arriving, the menu broke, giving him a lurch of fear. What if it behaved strangely as it had in the desert? He hesitated, waiting for the menu to totally vanish or ignore his gestures. Even Pidove had fallen still, her angular head tilting as she surveyed the bleak, dark landscape that rose above them like an ominous cauldron. When it only flickered, text warping, Alistair carefully read over the text. "This place is going to sap your health, are you good with that?" He asked the Pidove uneasily. She started, her head jerking to look at him from her perch on his shoulder. Realizing she'd been caught in a moment of fear, she mantled her wings.
<It's not that big of a deal. Just make all your actions count!> She snapped back, looking away huffily.
He just nodded, now stretching up a bit to look over the expanse for a more familiar trainer. Would Sarthor lure him into danger again? Thankfully, not this time, he noted with a tinge of relief, and then headed over, feeling the sand and bone crunch beneath his soft boots.
"At least you're actually here this time," He said snidely to Lacrimosa as he got into hearing range, as though he weren't disturbed by their new setting. But the longer he was hear, the more the hair on the back of his neck rose with a foreboding sense. Was he really supposed to be here so early in his playthrough? Alistair leaned thoughtfully on his pickaxe after using it to poke at something ivory gleaming from dark soil. He pulled up his friend list, sending a few short messages-
hey sae is it okay for me to be in Mistra again yet
my boss wants me to help with some fossil event from bunya
but its creeping me the fuck out
Lord Darien Blackthorne
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Lord Darien Blackthorne
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Weekend Warrior
Player Character
Posts: 118
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Sae Endicott
OOC Username: spibe
Arena Points: 72
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Post by Lord Darien Blackthorne on Jan 31, 2024 6:05:36 GMT 9
didn’t you say ytou died? i’m heading over don’t be reckless Lord Blackthorne hurried to where the trainers were meeting. He knew glimpses- just enough to know that this was a bad idea. Not that he didn’t want to see the Nekonyamicon up close- He was quite proud of it, even if he couldn’t take credit for the name (he just wasn’t that punny).
However, Mistra itself was incredibly dangerous, especially with Zapdos still patrolling around. And Bunya… something something bag of cats.
He found the group easily, a pickaxe spawning into his hand when he got close enough. Blackthorne sighed gently, making his way over to Alistair . Maybe-
No.
Bunya spoke, and there was a flash of light, and they were no longer somewhere safe. They were in the dark of Mistra, and it felt just as uncomfortable as he’d imagined it would. “Alistair- There you are. What are you doing here?” He asked, in an anxious rush. His pumpkaboo hovered on his shoulder, giggling softly at the fae-creature.
<Lo! I hope we all live through this... I do like being the only ghost.>
pumpkaboo || 350/350
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Tuesday
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Battle Legend
The Creed
Posts: 1,602
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Martín 'Mars' Marzán
OOC Username: Stells
Arena Points: 138
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Post by Tuesday on Feb 1, 2024 1:48:54 GMT 9
It's one of Tuesday's favourite times. Say it with me, folks: ✨ unhinged event time ✨ Almost as good as 'beat up big bad Pokémon for fun and drip time'!
In she comes, armoured and ready for anything, dagger at her belt and spear in hand, and yet... AND YET... Our adored and beloved Dr Bunya is quick to stay one word that strikes as if thunder to leave behind only the smithereens of Tuesday's fun. Mistra. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust...
"Nyanya~ Cool spellbook!" She smiles, and for a second there, there's a twitch at the corner of her eye — almost imperceptible unless one is paying close attention to this oh so very tall catgirl's expressions. It's the kind of gesture that might signal to the fact that it's taking everything within her not to aim and throw that sharp spear in her hands, but of course, the gesture comes and goes, and left behind is only a bright and confident smile. "How about we trade pages later, hm?"
She lovingly pats the tome strapped by a holster to her own belt, one of the PRINCE'S SPELLBOOKS. Can that be done? Trade spellbook pages like trading stocks, or more accurately, Pokémon cards? Tuesday doesn't have the slightest clue, and she honestly doubts its possible, but she still puts the offer on the table all the same, for the hell of it.
Maybe it's an attempt to distract herself.
Her demeanor doesn't change once they reach their destination by way of teleportation. Tall and proud, she stands still while that gaze of molten gold inspects her surroundings, an amused smile playing at her lips despite the fact that she doesn't move until she seems satisfied with what she sees.
A Pokéball is brought out there and then. Click, flash of light, and a jet black Greninja appears before her, his stance making it clear that he's ready to strike.
"Keep watch from nearby, I'm going digging."
The Greninja disappears.
The Immovable Spear is returned to her inventory, replaced in her hands by a pickaxe, and now that she has this new tool, she looks at the group, offering a smile to strangers and familiar faces alike. Those tufted cat ears of hers even perk up adorably.
"Let's get to work! Wonder if we'll find some cool fossil Pokémon..." She muses then, pushing her mind to stay optimistic yet also being prepared for the worst. It's Mistra, after all.
GRENINJA || 700/700 HP
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Helios
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Weekend Warrior
Player Character
Posts: 22
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Sol Falkner
OOC Username: Stells
Arena Points: 20
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Post by Helios on Feb 1, 2024 3:03:38 GMT 9
It's giving LARP sesh. Which, like... is so fucking great? Concern? None to be found here, and as much as Helios would love to pretend like he is actually very serious and very concerned indeed for the sake of roleplay and matching the atmosphere, the truth is that there's a reason why he always stuck to tabletop, and that reason has to do with the smile that inevitably lightens his expression. He's — to no exaggeration — giddy, and why wouldn't he be? Look at all of this! It's so realistic and cool and immersive. No wonder his son had told him he should play.
And then the little doctor lady announces what they'll be doing: fossils, a dig, there's mentions of corruption too but she doesn't seem to think it to be a big deal. Is it like a debilitating environmental effect or something? Oh well, it must not be that bad if she didn't even bother to warn them about it. She's right, though: unexpected things can happened at a dig.
"Ha... This takes me back." The man mutters to himself with a light laugh. See, out of the game, Solomon is a history professor, and as it often happens in the lives of those who dedicate their careers to anything relating to ancient history, he had been at a couple of digs when he was younger. There's so much the remains of the past can tell us about the long lost civilizations, be it an rusted implement, a piece of pottery, or even something that seems as insignificant as a coin. Hell, the study of coins is a discipline of its own (numismatics, one of his favourite things to read about when he's bored).
It sounds like in this case they'll be digging for the fossilised remains of prehistoric Pokémon (he hadn't even realised that was a thing? Damn, Pokémon lore really goes deep), but even then—...
<'Hel...I don't like this place...'>
His usually talkative and spirited little companion clings to Helios' leg, causing him to pause, look around, and re-evaluate if he had missed the potential danger in his excitement over adventures and digs and awesome fossils. Sure, the place looks gloomy and he doubts that the quest will go exactly as planned (because when do they ever), but like... isn't that part of the fun? Part of the game, even.
"It'll be fine, bud." Helios crouches down by the Fuecoco's side, patting his little crocodile buddy's head and offering him a reassuring smile. "How about you do some digging while I keep watch? Be careful, though. Fossils are fragile."
Fionn sniffles, looking up at him, but he smiles then, some of the unease apparently washed away:
<'Oh! ...O-okay!'>
FUECOCO || 350/350 HP
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Kazuki
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You Can't Take Me
The Creed
Posts: 883
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Himura Atsushi
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 113
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Post by Kazuki on Feb 1, 2024 3:44:00 GMT 9
“Let’s go to Mistra!” said Dr. Bunya, synonymous with “Let’s drink nyaundry detergent!”
And yet here Kazuki was, with the rest of the group volunteering to drink the fucking laundry detergent. At least he was wide awake, midnight in San Francisco meant 5PM in Sapporo, around the time he’d come back from training these days. His coach was still wary of granting extensions and kept his evenings free for rest.
No chance for that shit however, as Dr. Bunya quickly establishes her latent witch powers, total lack of breakthroughs with Corruption, and promptly teleports them into the thick of it.
They land.
Kazuki let out the breath he didn’t know he was holding.
It had been long enough since he visited Mistra, and though he’s met with older, deep-rooted forces in Ostellia, nothing quite compares. People were talking, huddling together or putting on brave faces, and all he could do was stare at his feet, shovel in a vice grip as he waited for the dead earth to swallow him whole. When it didn’t, he raised his head, intending to look no further than the horizon. He would not be drawn by whatever stirred in the sky again.
There was no horizon.
They were in a pit.
His instincts screamed against the thought of being cornered in Mistra, silenced only by the sound of the fizzing pop-up and a bastardized holiday jingle telling them to WATCH OUT. Every part of him was watching, actually—watching as if about to pop from the sockets.
He needed a distraction. Looking around, there were plenty of faces, many of them new—many of them very, very familiar.
He froze at the distant silhouettes of Lacrimosa and Domino, both unearthing memories that clawed up his spine—the former a perpetrator, the latter a victim. It was as if the world was asking a question: Do you want to be crushed by your rage, or your guilt?
The correct answer was of course, neither.
(Or perhaps both.)
“You’re looking a little too fucking happy for this,” he grunted as he approached Tuesday, deciding her to be the safest option despite being likely one of the greater evils. This one he had been able to meet in person, at least. “Never toured this part of hell before?”
Still not enough. He tossed out a ball, his Mudsdale landing heavily and crunching the soil under her hooves. In terms of digging, Steelix was superior, but he would also flatten the rest of the excavation into pancakes at the first sign of danger.
<Isn’t this the Mistra that Pansear warned us about? …You never do learn, do you?> Mudsdale drawled, spilling tar and oil from her corrupted mane as she dragged her hoof across the plane of bones and brittle.
“Neither have you, if you’re still yapping.” But she’s taking to this much better than expected, considering this was her first time. Kazuki motioned for a spot near him and Tuesday. “Horse, you’re pulling double duty. Help us dig and carry the fossils we find.”
In truth, she was pulling triple. The giant corrupted horse was the perfect blockade and distraction from people Kazuki should not be allowed to interact with, and anyone with half a brain cell would know better than to breach it.
MUDSDALE || 500/500 HP
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Rook
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Player Character
Posts: 22
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Abelone Athanasiou
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 20
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Post by Rook on Feb 1, 2024 5:15:19 GMT 9
Memento mori. Everyone will die, and with a concept so definitive and universal, how could anyone blame him for a little fascination? Today, grandpa was taking his pleasant stroll to the underworld.
And Rook was not walking into this blind. While he had promised himself an authentic experience, he had looked into UNOVR’s features, the Corruption and Mistra being hot topics in both Hydance’s press releases and the fanbase.
You could not die in UNOVR, but you could certainly suffer a fate that was just as bad—at least according to your subconscious.
So when Dr. Bunya gave her dubious instructions, performed her ritual, and plunged them into a zone unlike anything else he’s seen in his brief foray into the game thus far, Rook was pleased. Perhaps ecstatic, if he wasn’t playing it carefully. Experiencing what Mistra had to offer would have to be a concentrated effort—he still had an itinerary to wake up to, after all.
<This is… abysmal.> The little Rowlet perched on his shoulder twittered. Rook hadn’t known what to feel about the ostentatious fur-lined jacket Hilda had designed him with, but now that Tibbles was half-buried in it with his giant owl eyes poking through the nest, it had become the single best feature of this avatar.
“This must be disconcerting compared to where we were.”
<No! I am not afraid! I am repulsed,> Tibbles hooted indignantly. <This place is a pigsty! The ground looks like cat litter, the sky is plainer than milk, and this excavation team is a bunch of vagrants armed with children’s toys!> He huffed, turning up his beak. <I doubt your contractor is even forklift certified!>
“She does have a degree in Paleon—ah, Palenyantology,” Rook corrected. “And it is to our benefit she lacks a forklift.” He chuckled. “Otherwise, it might be manned by Charmeleon.”
Tibbles continued berating him for his nonsense, but Rook was already tending to his duties, swinging his pickaxe with almost disconcerting glee because it was so smooth. No joint pain! Fantastic, fabulous, phenomenal.
He stopped only when the nearest fellow to him appeared distracted comforting his Pokémon. His mannerisms and avatar sparked something of a kinship in Rook, despite not knowing for certain if his assumptions were correct beyond that avatar.
“You’re quite lucky to find such a cooperative partner,” Rook said to Helios, or it would appear he did—Tibbles was still rambling angrily on his shoulders, now kicking a fuss over being compared to the little orange croc. “There are worse fates.”
TIBBLES || 500/500
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