The Arcane Realm: Land of Freedom and Magicks

[Sneasel12]

ChrisClark13 - Annahime, as per usual, takes some convincing to do the one thing necessary to provide the lot of you with a decent night's sleep. But the idea of a shining stone adorning her soft fur seems to be enough incentive to get things rolling as she begins digging up chunks of earth with Psychic energy, tossing it into the air after a bit of coaching to reveal some shining glints here and there. Meanwhile, the Eevee begins frantically running about, collecting the small shining scraps and pawing off any remaining dirt before putting the stones in a pile.

It's a bit of hard work that consumes some time, but soon enough there's a sizable pile of the stones, able to illuminate some ten feet or so around it. Taking out a small pouch of water, the older man washes off his hands before making camp around the stone, motioning for you to do the same.

"It's later than I would have liked, but we should be able to get going fairly early after a good night's sleep." He comments, laying down, the small brown fox cuddling up next to him for the night.

Annahime, meanwhile, begins dragging your sleeping bag over with Psychic, trying to position it by the stones, ready for rest herself after all that exertion. Taking a nice resting position near the stone, she stares into the pile, the soft glow reflecting off of her lustrous fur while revealing some eyes in the distance that it reflects off of momentarily before whatever predators are out there move along for the night.

Missingno. Master - Withdrawing Anion and Meowth, it's become increasingly obvious that these fights are bringing your team to the edge. Meowth pops back from his Pokeball near immediately, now cleared of his confusion but decidedly at a major disadvantage against these two foes on his own. With little option left, you make the decision that it's time for Chuck to join the fight, the Gengar appearing by your side once more, prompting a short "Oh?" from the mage walking in these trials alongside you.

One shining glint of light from your Mega Hat later and the Gengar's form begins to twist in light that reflects throughout the Mega Stones lining this section of the cave, sinking slightly into the ground as his form becomes more streamlined and ready for combat.

Meowth starts off, back fresh in the fray with a Breaking Swipe, catching both foes in the wide arcing attack, the residual Dragon energy lowering the attacks of both Mega Pokemon. Meanwhile, Chuck's Dazzling Gleam temporarily blinds both opposing Pokemon as it deals fair blows to them each. The Sableye responds by proceeding to Fling its large gem at Chuck, dealing a hefty blow, the magical gem pinning the Gengar to the ground. This leaves the Ghost wide open as the Kangaskhan and its joey rush in with a Shadow Claw to strike, as well as a followup attack by the Sableye, a Shadow Ball ripping through the air to explode atop Chuck. At least the explosion loosens the gen enough for Chuck to get free, smacking Kangaskhan with a Drain Punch to get a bit of health back after the devastating barrage.

Meowth responds to the attacks now that Chuck is clear of the fray, a Shadow Wave washing over the two enemies for a fair chunk of damage. After a brief moment of recovery, the Kangaskhan and its joey continue the assault on Chuck, each striking with a blow of Assurance, powered up due to the recent damage of the blow by Sableye, leaving Chuck in a more than sorry state thanks to the never ending slew of super effective attacks. Looking at the enemies, it's obvious as to why they are going this hard, as neither looks too great themselves, perhaps weaker than the Golurk you had just recently fought. A Hex from Chuck onto the Sableye confirms this, as the blow lands just to cause a similar shattering of the Pokemon constructed by the Mega Stones into nothing but shards. Angered by the falling of their ally, the Kangaskhan and joey dig into the far wall, ripping up a large chunk of it with a Rock Slide that flies through the air and into Chuck, leaving causing the Mega energy arround the Gengar to fade as he is knocked unconcious by the repeated blows.

Luckily, Meowth still has another attack up his sleeve for now, a final Breaking Swipe smacking into the two roos and causing them to burst like pinatas into yet more Mega Stone shards.

"How convenient that our foes continue to open the way forward for us..." the Mage muses, signaling to the now open room in front of you.

ConnorFB - This strange arm of seemingly carved stone couldn't have gotten here on its own, not in this excellent shape, aside from being clearly broken off of something. The regular sandstorms hadn't even eroded a bit of it, so clearly it was fresh. With Julia and Atlantis willing to help out, you decide that Lancelot would be the optimal choice to help relay orders while clearing the area.

It's not long before Julia finds something, taking a Bite into the sand only to come up with another large chunk of stone, Atlantis proceeding to blow some of the remaining sand away with an Icy Wind to reveal the main statue that the arm had come from, the immaculate form of a young female trainer seemingly issuing orders to an unseen Pokemon, the legs buried down into the dune. Pulling the remaining stone statue out of the stone with a bit of Strength, Lancelot reveals the remaining form, not much more than boots and a bag tossed to the ground, all sitting atop a large chunk of uncut stone, what the statue was likely carved from.

Unlodging the statue, however, does reveal exactly what had severed the arm off in the first place, a couple of Durant staring up at your team, only to realize they've been found and promptly scuttle out of the dune with surprising speed. The duo of bugs quickly blitz past you and make their way further into the desert, kicking up a fair bit of dust in their wake. At least they've left an easy trail to track.

 

[Zelphon5]

Zelphon: "Name? I..."

Mimikyu trailed off, the fabric of her disguise shifting uneasily, the Fairy type pausing for a few moments to focus on her thoughts.

"I... have no... name. None that I... remember."

Where the stuttering speech pattern had once seemed ominous, now it felt tragic and pitiful, the trembling resort of a being struggling to maintain their grasp on their self of sense. The foreboding surroundings only emphasised this pained moment, and Naula briefly bristled - until it became obvious that no danger would be posed. As Naula settles, you offer a Haban Berry - and Mimikyu accepts with an uncertain gratitude. After eating, the Ghost type waits patiently for you to regulate your breathing - a far from simple task considering the circumstances - and you finally begin to move towards the Grove.

It does not take long for you to realise that something was wrong. No matter how much distance you covered, no matter how much your legs began to succumb to a persistent tiring, it appeared like you were stuck in a repeating loop. You notice that Mimikyu becomes visibly more deflated with every cursed repetition, and eventually the Pokemon stops in her tracks entirely.

"I knew.. this would happen. I am.. unable to leave... this place. Neither can you... if you stay near me..."

This dejected sight seems to resonate with Naula. Puffing her cheeks out, the Eevee rushes you, determinedly barking, her intent clear as day. Mimikyu was suffering a horrible fate, and regardless of their inadvertently involving you both, now that you were involved Naula was overcome by an obligation to help. Unfortunately, you were ill prepared to handle an oddity of this inclination. Above all else, information was vital when dealing with the supernatural, and currently there was little to work from.

Saddened by his new traveling companion's lack of memory, Rylie gives a weak smile as the Mimikiyu eats the offered berry. Meanwhile, he once again regains his composure from the chilling surroundings. Satisfied enough with the rest, Rylie gets up with a slight grunt before putting on his backpack and securing his scarf. He then motions for his two companions to follow along before once again hitting the trail.

"Alright, now that we've gotten the chance to relax and eat let's get going to the Grove eh?"

But just as Rylie was starting to get into the rhythm he noticed something strange. The trees were always in the same spot, accompanied by the same mixtures of stone, twigs, and other sparse fauna. Distressed, he turns around and looks back at Naula and their ghostly companion only to notice that they were once again acting disheveled. His partner had apparently tried to bring this to his attention sooner, the uppity Eevee giving him a look of determination before turning around to cuddle up to their companion.

Egged on by Naula's newfound support for them, Rylie leans down to console Mimikyu, givng them a smile before saying;

"Well then it looks like we're stuck in this together, can you tell me what is that's keeping us here? Regardless of that, you look like you aren't holding up too well so if you need a lift just let me know, and either I or one of my Pokemon would be glad to help you."

 

[Missingno. Master]

Missingno. Master - Withdrawing Anion and Meowth, it's become increasingly obvious that these fights are bringing your team to the edge. Meowth pops back from his Pokeball near immediately, now cleared of his confusion but decidedly at a major disadvantage against these two foes on his own. With little option left, you make the decision that it's time for Chuck to join the fight, the Gengar appearing by your side once more, prompting a short "Oh?" from the mage walking in these trials alongside you.

One shining glint of light from your Mega Hat later and the Gengar's form begins to twist in light that reflects throughout the Mega Stones lining this section of the cave, sinking slightly into the ground as his form becomes more streamlined and ready for combat.

Meowth starts off, back fresh in the fray with a Breaking Swipe, catching both foes in the wide arcing attack, the residual Dragon energy lowering the attacks of both Mega Pokemon. Meanwhile, Chuck's Dazzling Gleam temporarily blinds both opposing Pokemon as it deals fair blows to them each. The Sableye responds by proceeding to Fling its large gem at Chuck, dealing a hefty blow, the magical gem pinning the Gengar to the ground. This leaves the Ghost wide open as the Kangaskhan and its joey rush in with a Shadow Claw to strike, as well as a followup attack by the Sableye, a Shadow Ball ripping through the air to explode atop Chuck. At least the explosion loosens the gen enough for Chuck to get free, smacking Kangaskhan with a Drain Punch to get a bit of health back after the devastating barrage.

Meowth responds to the attacks now that Chuck is clear of the fray, a Shadow Wave washing over the two enemies for a fair chunk of damage. After a brief moment of recovery, the Kangaskhan and its joey continue the assault on Chuck, each striking with a blow of Assurance, powered up due to the recent damage of the blow by Sableye, leaving Chuck in a more than sorry state thanks to the never ending slew of super effective attacks. Looking at the enemies, it's obvious as to why they are going this hard, as neither looks too great themselves, perhaps weaker than the Golurk you had just recently fought. A Hex from Chuck onto the Sableye confirms this, as the blow lands just to cause a similar shattering of the Pokemon constructed by the Mega Stones into nothing but shards. Angered by the falling of their ally, the Kangaskhan and joey dig into the far wall, ripping up a large chunk of it with a Rock Slide that flies through the air and into Chuck, leaving causing the Mega energy arround the Gengar to fade as he is knocked unconcious by the repeated blows.

Luckily, Meowth still has another attack up his sleeve for now, a final Breaking Swipe smacking into the two roos and causing them to burst like pinatas into yet more Mega Stone shards.

"How convenient that our foes continue to open the way forward for us..." the Mage muses, signaling to the now open room in front of you.

With Meowth's confusion cleared up and Chuck Mega Evolved, the battle resumed, The mage seemed rather intrigued by Keith's usage of his Mega Gengar, but Keith couldn't focus on that- much more important was the battle at hand.

Which... was not going well. Keith could only look on, mouth agape in disbelief, as Chuck was pinned underneath the Mega Sableye's gigantic gem. Was it somehow stopping him from sinking into the shadows or passing through the floor? Either way, he only got out from under it when practically blasted out by a Shadow Ball. Attack after attack pelted Chuck, and even in spite of him healing off some of this damage with Drain Punch, the Mega Kangaskhan knocked Chuck clean out with a Rock Slide before being finally bested by Meowth's Breaking Swipe.

"Gah," panted Meowth. "Dat was rough."

Keith, meanwhile, was listening to the mage's remark. "Yeah, it's convenient, alright," he nodded gravely, reaching into his backpack. "Almost too convenient."

"Yeah, dis has gotta be some kinda trap," Meowth stated.

"My thoughts exactly," Keith stated. "But regardless of whether it's a trap, it's also the only shot we got of stopping Dusknoir and saving Yohan." As he spoke, he produced a number of items from his bag- a Revival Herb, a Revive, and five Sitrus Berries. "So we gotta be as ready as we can," he finished, striding over to his unconscious Gengar. He took the Revival Herb and held it in front of the Ghost/Poison-type's mouth, at which Chuck began to sniff at it. Once his mouth fell open a bit, Keith dropped the Revival Herb right on in. A few moments of chewing, and then Chuck's eyes flew open almost comically.

"Ugh!" gagged Chuck as he choked down the Revival Herb. "Oh, it tastes like Muk piss!"

Keith chuckled, raising an eyebrow. "Speaking from personal experience there?" he quipped. "Yeah, I know they ain't the tastiest solution, but this is an emergency," he said.

"Gah... Yeah, you're right," conceded Chuck. "Arceus, Mew, and Helix, that's disgusting," he groaned, pulling a face.

Keith, meanwhile, handed three of the five Sitrus Berries to Meowth, who had started to greedily devour them, after which he produced a Poké Ball, sending out his unconscious Venusaur. The Revive did its work, restoring Dennis's health at least by half, and the remaining two Sitrus Berries were fed to the Venusaur in the hopes of getting the rest of the job done.

"All right," Keith stated once his Pokémon had eaten their fill. "Things are gonna get dangerous moving forward, just letting you know," he said. "There's a little boy's life at stake, and I for one won't give up. I know I can count on you, though. Are we all good to go?" he asked.

"But of course," grinned Chuck. "It'll take more than that to stop me."

Dennis grinned. "Venusaaaaur!" he declared.

"Youse can count on me-owth as well!" purred Meowth.

Keith grinned. "Thank you, guys," he said. "I know I can always count on you. All right- Chuck, Dennis, return for now," he added, withdrawing the Gengar and Venusaur. "Just to play it safe," he murmured as he reattached the balls to his belt. "Meowth?" he added.

Meowth responded by nimbly climbing back up onto his Trainer's shoulder. "Let's do dis," he grinned.

Keith grinned back, adjusting the brim on his Mega Hat, before they both turned to look at the opening ahead of them. Taking a deep breath, Keith stepped forward. Whatever lay ahead, he couldn't say for sure, but right now, he was as ready for it as he would ever be.

 

[ConnorFB]

Mask: With the climax imminent, Victor and Gigas muster the dregs of their strength, desperately forcing their reserves to their limit. Fortunately for you, despite lacking the initiative, Gigas is swifter than his foe. His eyes bulge as an immense pressure builds deep in his chest, and with a triumphant yell the Snorlax thrusts a pulsing ring through the air. Victor is caught mid attack, turquoise flames lapping at the edges of his maw. Eyes wide, the Charmeleon staggers as he loses focus, his technique petering into nothingness as he finally crumples into a defeated heap. The atmosphere is electric, a momentary bubble of elation welling up. This is abruptly burst by the hearty laughter of Umberto. Recalling Victor, the guard mutters something to the now closed Poke Ball - no doubt offering some words of consolatory encouragement - before walking towards both yourself and Gigas. With a respectful nod to the Snorlax, Umberto clasps your hand in a firm shake, the warmth behind his gestures punctuated by his now shining eyes.

"That was an excellent battle. I had a good feeling about you, but I must admit, you surpassed my expectations. Not many among the duty soldiers could push Victor so far - perhaps only the personal elite of His Majesty. You do yourself proud."

With his praise comes a junior guard from the nearby barracks, the youth holding a familiar item of clothing - one of the emblazoned blue scarves which adorn the necks of those employed by the King. Umberto proudly offers it to you, though a sense of disappointment is palpable.

"Would that i could welcome you to permanent employ, but for now your duties will primarily be limited to patrolling the castle grounds. I am sure you can find a way to make yourself useful. Strange rumours have circulated recently... allegedly a mysterious beast has been seen stalking the cellars and dungeons, but how they gained access with our security is beyond me. Most like to be nothing more than an imagined story."

===

Zelphon: "I am... cursed. I don't know how... or when, but I have been unable to leave... this place as far back as I can recall. Curses are fickle... and can be powerful, but they... also follow strict rules. There is a... precise order to inflicting such chaos... and suffering. However... this structure can... prove them vulnerable. A slight fraying... can cause an unravelling of... the entire tapestry... and lead everything to collapse."

Where once an entrenched dejection held the tone of Mimikyu, now a faint glimmer of hope seems to crawl forth. Naula seizes upon this, using the slightly upbeat mood to begin playfully tackling Mimikyu, managing to solicit a brief giggle from the Fairy type as she rolls with the roughhousing. This solitary moment of brevity breaks some of the barriers Mimikyu had clearly erected, the at first sinister impression giving way to one of unguarded pity. With a start, the Ghost type wrenches herself straight, an eagerness to her movements.

"I am not sure why... but I have just realised. I have a recollection... of warmth. Of happier times. An inn... I stayed there, with someone. A long, long time ago. It is not... far. Maybe it is... connected. To how I became... this."

The implication is left hanging, uncertain and seemingly unbroachable - was Mimkyu referring to their predicament, or something more fundamental? You have little time to ruminate on this, as Mimikyu again musters her strength in an attempt to convey one final message.

"I am already... at the limit of my territory. I am... weaker here, but I must... warn you. Curses are fragile, yes... but they are dangerous... when not approached correctly. Their rigidity... causes a flipside of instability... and they can easily backfire onto meddlers."

The ominous warning was as shivering as it was clear: involving yourself without appropriate foreknowledge would have dire consequences.

 

[Maskerade]

Mask: With the climax imminent, Victor and Gigas muster the dregs of their strength, desperately forcing their reserves to their limit. Fortunately for you, despite lacking the initiative, Gigas is swifter than his foe. His eyes bulge as an immense pressure builds deep in his chest, and with a triumphant yell the Snorlax thrusts a pulsing ring through the air. Victor is caught mid attack, turquoise flames lapping at the edges of his maw. Eyes wide, the Charmeleon staggers as he loses focus, his technique petering into nothingness as he finally crumples into a defeated heap. The atmosphere is electric, a momentary bubble of elation welling up. This is abruptly burst by the hearty laughter of Umberto. Recalling Victor, the guard mutters something to the now closed Poke Ball - no doubt offering some words of consolatory encouragement - before walking towards both yourself and Gigas. With a respectful nod to the Snorlax, Umberto clasps your hand in a firm shake, the warmth behind his gestures punctuated by his now shining eyes.

"That was an excellent battle. I had a good feeling about you, but I must admit, you surpassed my expectations. Not many among the duty soldiers could push Victor so far - perhaps only the personal elite of His Majesty. You do yourself proud."

With his praise comes a junior guard from the nearby barracks, the youth holding a familiar item of clothing - one of the emblazoned blue scarves which adorn the necks of those employed by the King. Umberto proudly offers it to you, though a sense of disappointment is palpable.

"Would that i could welcome you to permanent employ, but for now your duties will primarily be limited to patrolling the castle grounds. I am sure you can find a way to make yourself useful. Strange rumours have circulated recently... allegedly a mysterious beast has been seen stalking the cellars and dungeons, but how they gained access with our security is beyond me. Most like to be nothing more than an imagined story."

Gigas roared in triumph. Kou, raised to be more collected in his displays of enthusiasm, clenched his fist and sighed in a mixture of pride and relief - it had been the most exciting battle he'd had in a very, very long time. Perhaps now he was closer to being a match for Althea, the "Lady in White"...

"Exceptional job Gigas. Not just for the victory, either... That High Horsepower was flawless! You've earned your rest, dear friend."

Gigas grinned proudly and gave his Trainer a thumbs-up, before returning to his Ball. Kou approached Umberto and bowed respectfully, as he'd been taught.

"Thank you for the battle. Your strength is inspiring - I will not fool myself into thinking myself stronger than you, as Victor has yet to completely evolve. I look forward to fighting again once he does, if you'd have me."

His attention shifted to the lovely blue scarf that was offered to him. Despite his hometown's garbs traditionally featuring red, there was no denying the piece of cloth was a thing of beauty; hesitating for a moment, Kou told himself this could be regarded as the equivalent of a Badge, and it would be disrespectful to turn down a royal gift. Smiling, he accepted it.

"You honour me, Sir Umberto. Regrettably, my own journey prevents me from accepting a permanent place among your ranks, but... I would be glad to help clarify the mystery of this beast. Stories like that rarely grow from nothingness - no matter how small, most come from a grain of truth."

Kou placed the scarf around his neck and straightened his back.

"Please show me where I am needed. I am at your service."

 

[lilbluecorsola]

Liltwick – Thoughts plagued by questions and concerns, your mind sluggishly follows your feet by wandering in circles, trapped in an endless cycle of self-doubt. Everything seems too unreal to be true. Was this perhaps all just a dream? Some cosmic scheme to keep you confined within a fantasy, forever fated to fight gods and wars rather than fulfilling one simple wish…

Lost in your reverie, you fail to notice the absence of your astern party member until it’s too late. Hearing snickering from above, you start to suspect some mischievous spirit is at work, but apathy has drained your will to the point of barely registering alarm, let alone rage. The eerie, quiet calm with which you command your remaining companions causes more unease than if you had yelled with full force, and they sense something else must be done quickly to snap their trainer out of such critical stupor.

Hovering over to your bag, Custard roots around and retrieves a black and gold leaf ball trimmed with a floral pattern, gently impressing it into your palm. Confused and bewildered by the insistent request but too lethargic to protest, you agree to release your Comfey onto the scene in hopes she’ll somehow be able to help find your missing friend as well. Upon seeing such worry upon the Togetic’s and Snorlax’s expressions, and then the languid state of their trainer, the little lei swiftly floats over and wraps herself comfortably around your shoulders, letting a soothing aroma wash over you in an attempt to breathe some life back into your soul.

Custard then proceeds to raise a paw and waggle his finger invitingly at the treetops, calling out in temptation to whoever was hiding within. There’s a pause – before a small, dark brown object suddenly drops down from the branches. Though primed to face a much more menacing foe, all five of you blink in bemusement as you confront what appears to be… an acorn?

All of a sudden, the tiny bean suddenly sits up and sprouts a pair of short stubs, striving to flee whilst its foes are distracted. Pie promptly moves to block its path however, and the petite Seedot squeaks in terror as a giant foot stomps down in front of it, plopping back onto its bum in surprise. The kernel cowers with fear as it switches tactics to trying to burrow itself deep into the ground instead in a desperate effort to hide, and your perplexed Pokémon look to you for assistance, wondering what to do now about this miniature prisoner they’ve managed to capture.

How do you react?

 

[Liltwick]

@SpinyShell -

You head down the path towards the Chalice of Sun. You immediately notice that the area starts to warm up as you continue down the path. Despite the volcano being dormant for who knows how long, it still has left a last effect on the area.

Another thing besides the heat that you notice is that the area slowly becoming more and more sparse of vegetation. Compared to the grassy plains and sprawling hills you traversed on the path, this was arider. The Chalice filled your vision, and everything paled compared to the ever-looming mountain. It was all-knowing, all-consuming, and all enlightening.

After what felt like hours you finally see something on the horizon. At this point, it was dusk fall. The sky was vibrant pumpkin orange, with hazy violets and mute pinks melting into the horizon. You could start to see the beginnings of the brightest stars peek through the veil of the ozone, looking down on the Arcane Realm with all their glory. And this celestial waterwork painted your gaze to a small shack at the base of the mountain. A plume of smoke rose from the building, and you could smell burnt earth.

An Indeedee held a broom, sweeping away at the outside of the shop. You could tell by the shape of its horns it was a Male, and it looked that he was quite fussed with the work he had to do. He'd make large sweeps with the broom, look around quickly, and then use his psychic powers to disperse the piddling dust pile he just made. Why'd he started over the work he was so obviously annoyed with? Perfectionism would make sense, but from the behavior, you could see it was definitely being haphazardly done at best.

His head perked up as he heard you approach, and he quickly dropped the broom and ran inside. Was it worried you'd report its behavior if you caught it? You didn't know, but you could see the Pokemon poking its head out every so often to check if you were still there. You could always check it out, or move forwards.

What do you do?

 

[Ironthunder]

THE ARCANE REALM​

"The moment man devoured the fruit of knowledge, he sealed his fate... Entrusting his future to the cards, man clings to a dim hope. Yes, the Arcana is the means by which all is revealed..." Nyx Avatar (Persona 3)

Once a simple place where new trainers were sent to learn the basics of adventuring, with the vast changes to Fizzytopia the Arcane Realm seemed to have faded from existence. Though gone, it was never forgotten by the bitter trainers who were forced into spending what felt like years in that simplistic place. A place where no growth was truly given, and only stagnation existed. Yet, when the realm disappeared, all were freed from their restraints and truly allowed to begin anew.

Now, it seems that the Arcane Realm has resurfaced in Fizzytopia. Showing up where the old Arcane Realm use to be, this new one is vastly different then the one that the denizens of Fizzytopia are used to. Now truly a place of magic and mystery, it says the very land itself is influenced by the “cards”/ What these cards are, and what they refer to nobody particularly knows. The only thing that is certain, though, is that this Arcane Realm is teeming with life, and has infinite possibilities for adventure.

The Forest of Wands​

Once monikered the Forest of Adventure, the Forest of Wands has been changed and twisted by the surplus of magical energy flowing through the Arcane Realm. THe once simplistic woods are now a labyrinth where magic flows through the roots of the trees and a sense of dread and whimsy encompass all who enter. Though, it was possible that this was here the entire time, like everything else, and the deep magic that flows through these woods caused trainers to dream of the much more simplistic Arcane Realm. (Please reply in SeaGreen)

XI. Grounds of Justice - A barren field, charred and stained in blood. Here war criminals were executed, heretics burned, and those affected by plague said to waste away. A statue of an angelic figure watches over these sacred grounds, guiding the dead towards enlightenment. Whether their deaths were just or not, they have tainted this land within the forest. The only thing that awaits here is grim fate, with scales in her left, and sword in her right, ready to guide the lost.

Well this was... Unexpected. The last thing Liawe remembered was falling asleep at her camp in the valley, and now she awoke in what seemed to be a barren plain. Without her tent. Her bag was on the floor next to her, with an assortment of Pokeballs that she hoped were hers, but... With how weird this all was, it could've been anyone's. That issue was quickly resolved however, as three of her Pokémon emerged from her bag, proving it to be without a doubt her own as Hope floated through the fabric with a strange noise that might've been a laugh or a snarl. Following Hope from the bag on the floor came the rather sleepy forms of Carl and the Crimson Fandango, the little bird twittering happily as the bug crawled over and nestled its head into Liawe's leg. Smiling at her company, she picked up the bag and got things in order before sitting down, before grunting with surprise as the Larvesta hopped into her lap. "So, we're here, wherever 'here' is." Taking in the surroundings of the scorched plain, Liawe twisted to look at her shadowy compatriot questioningly. "Was this your doing, Hope?" The only response from the little ghost was a look of almost-calculated bemusement. "Well," she said, lowering the Crimson Fandango to the floor as she stood, "We're not getting anywhere just sat here, so what say we go figure out where we are?". This was met with a cheer from the Crimson Fandango, who crawled into her arms, and a twittering chirp from the Starly as he perched on her shoulder. Hope grimaced behind them, but set off in pursuit of her trainer as they set off through this strange land they found themselves in.

 

[lilbluecorsola]

Yuki-
With the three choices made for who goes to which tunnel, the family breaks apart to take their challenges. Kanna looks down her corridor and noticed multiple levels of what seemed like a maze. Walking in, she notices a ladder in front of her. Going up it, she sees a new floor and notices a hole in the ground. Going down that, she feels herself slide down into the next floor.

She makes her way through the maze, going up another ladder. She notices the path leads into a left-hand corridor. Walking down that path, she ends up at another shute, she slides down. The next room has another shute, and she goes into the lowest floor of the maze. At this rate, she notices three options within the room. There was a ladder towards the left, a corridor straight ahead, and a right-hand corridor. The entire maze seemed disorienting. Up and down, down and up. It made her feel sick to her stomach. At least this gave her a chance to rest. Though, she needed to choose what path she'll take next.

--

Keif, knowing his family will be fine, runs down into his corridor. He noticed high walls, which seems to contain a maze of some kind. He runs straight into it and heads down a straight path. As he's running, he begins to ramp up more and more speed. The path seems endless until he reaches the other side. That didn't seem like a maze at all. In front of him was a door with three slots within it. It was obvious he needed the key, but where could he find one? The so-called maze seemed to be a straight path.

He then looks behind him and notices that the entire maze looked different. There were multiple corners that he hadn't even noticed. Turns going off the straight path, and multiple corridors that he couldn't see. The key seemed to be within this place somewhere. But where? The obvious options were a left path and a right path immediately at this side of the maze. He could go straight into the middle path again and hope he could slow down enough to find another path. What does he do?

--

Yuffie, excited that she gets to be by herself, runs off into her own maze. She notices corners after corners, but her unique running style seems perfect for it. Until the path slopes down, and she starts to bounce off of the corners before she crashed into a wall. She yelps in pain, realizing that being too fast could potentially be dangerous in this maze.

Taking her approach more slowly, she manages to get to a crossroads. Each path in front of her had a different kind of curvature to it. The path directly in front of her continued to be the zig-zag corner pattern. To her left the walls were wavy, and she could hear the sound of ocean waves coming from it. Was this maze partially sunken? To her right the maze was straight, and she could see a bright light coming from it. Was that a way out? She didn't know. Which way to go was her choice though.

What do they all do?

With directions settled and determined countenances, the three set off on their respective routes. Kanna gulped as she peered cautiously through the right corridor, finding herself greeted with what appeared to be a multi-layered maze. A ladder positioned prominently before her beckoned, and with no other obvious option she obliged to climb. Reaching the top, there was nothing but a small hole awaiting, just the right size for her wiry frame to slip through. She swallowed in hesitation, bracing herself as she gently lowered into the burrow, sliding on her belly towards the unknown and landing with a soft plop at the bottom. Though the ride was a bit smoother than her previous adrenaline-fueled descent downstairs, she still wasn't keen on any further such steep falls. ...Unfortunately, as she progressed through the paths, it seemed like the whole catacomb was comprised of chutes and ladders, like some kind of disorienting roller coaster. Stomach squirming, she took a moment to curl up and rest, letting her senses settle as she considered her next move. Having landed on what she presumed was now the lowest floor, two hallways headed forward and to the right, with yet another ladder leaning to the left. She immediately dismissed the latter, having had quite enough of rising motion sickness for the time being. That left the two remaining passages... Though still somewhat woozy and weary, she gradually unraveled with a heavy sigh after recovering some stamina and picked the rightmost pathway, praying her family was having an easier time than her...

-

Kief, confident in his and his family's navigation abilities, quickly raced down his course at full speed, which turned out to be a completely straight shot. After what felt like an excessively long period of running though, it seemed as if there was no end in sight... Until at last, he encountered a barricade with a single door, bearing no markings aside from three slots in the center. It appeared a key of some kind was required, but where to find one? With no other clues, he revolved back around and blinked at how the entire labyrinth seemed to have shifted, with several branching trails he hadn't noticed before. Confused, he decided to comb through the entire length of the middle lane once more, this time utilizing his ODOR SLEUTH in an attempt to sniff out which of the connecting conduits might contain treasure a hidden key, or perhaps at least some yummy food to satisfy his tummy...

-

Enthused at the prospect of venturing out on her own, Yufi bounded blissfully forth and sailed through her section with ease, which seemed perfectly suited to her unique movement style. ...That is, until the track began to slope downwards, causing her to trip and stumble, bouncing off the sharp corners before crashing directly into a barrier. Wincing in pain, she picked herself up and decided to follow her mother's advice after all to proceed more carefully, glad her parents weren't there at least to see such concerns embarrassingly proven right.

Slowly, she approached a crossroads up ahead, forking to the front and on both sides. The avenue forward seemed to maintain a zigzag pattern, while to the left the walls were shaped like ocean waves, the sound of which she could hear coming from that vicinity. Could part of the structure be submerged underwater? Considering her recent seafaring experience with battling Mother Nature for survival, she wasn't really eager to test out the theory. Instead, she turned to the final choice: A bright light emanating from the right, easily visible through a seemingly straight, simple channel. Twinkling in invite, she excitedly advanced towards the brightness, optimistic that it was a signal showing the way to freedom...

 

[ConnorFB]

Mask: Umberto smiles warmly at your deference, a clear resonance between your respectful bearing and that of the by-the-books guard. As you ask for direction, Umberto frowns, briefly somewhat uncertain. After a moment, he decides for now your efforts are best spent on introducing yourself to the castle's not insignificant myriad of workers - an investigation into the strange rumours would be sorely hindered if those circulating those very whisperings were tight lipped. This makes sense, and you begin your patrol, resolving to try tugging out any potential leads while you were at it.

After quite some time, having completed roughly a lap of the castle grounds, you had made a little headway - but nothing particularly enlightening. Much of what you heard were obvious red herrings standard urban myth fare. Shadowy unidentifiable figures, otherworldly noises, ghostly apparitions. Most of them could be drawn up to fancies of the mind, minor misunderstandings that grew into something more threatening and gossip worthy. Two things stand out from the rest courtesy of their comparatively mundane nature. It seems that food has been regularly going missing from the kitchen and storage rooms, and while certainly less concrete, a notable number of the guards at the barracks had noticed there was a higher turnover of spare uniforms lately, with many seeming to vanish into thin air.

Your busywork had taken longer than you expected, the midday sun now beginning to soften as afternoon crawled in. There was still plenty daylight to be had though, and your options were clearer. You could give the barracks another try, pulling harder on that strand, or head towards the kitchens. Both seemed likely to have logs for vanished items, so confirming that part of the rumours would be a simple task, if nothing else.

 

[ConnorFB]

ConnorFB - This strange arm of seemingly carved stone couldn't have gotten here on its own, not in this excellent shape, aside from being clearly broken off of something. The regular sandstorms hadn't even eroded a bit of it, so clearly it was fresh. With Julia and Atlantis willing to help out, you decide that Lancelot would be the optimal choice to help relay orders while clearing the area.

It's not long before Julia finds something, taking a Bite into the sand only to come up with another large chunk of stone, Atlantis proceeding to blow some of the remaining sand away with an Icy Wind to reveal the main statue that the arm had come from, the immaculate form of a young female trainer seemingly issuing orders to an unseen Pokemon, the legs buried down into the dune. Pulling the remaining stone statue out of the stone with a bit of Strength, Lancelot reveals the remaining form, not much more than boots and a bag tossed to the ground, all sitting atop a large chunk of uncut stone, what the statue was likely carved from.

Unlodging the statue, however, does reveal exactly what had severed the arm off in the first place, a couple of Durant staring up at your team, only to realize they've been found and promptly scuttle out of the dune with surprising speed. The duo of bugs quickly blitz past you and make their way further into the desert, kicking up a fair bit of dust in their wake. At least they've left an easy trail to track.

Watching from a distance while investigating himself, Sweeney stops as Lancelot manages to wrestle the statue free from the surrounding dunes. First impressions confirmed it as extremely strange. Not only was it a weird subject - a female trainer, stood in a familiar pose to any trainer not wet behind the ears - the apparently rushed plinth underfoot drew further curiosity. How did it get here? Who placed it in the desert? Who was the sculptor? Having looked to answer questions, the Bartender only found himself with more than ever. The severed arm lay beside it, pointing towards the statue as if in a twisted mockery of Sweeney's inquisitiveness.

His thoughts were not allowed to ruminate. Without warning, a group of Durant come hurtling out from beneath the statue, no doubt the culprits of the mysterious disarmament. Much like his Pokemon, Sweeney is quick to move out of their way. He had endured his fair tussle with angry Pokemon, and Durant were not the type you wanted to fuck around and find out with. Especially not when startled. Sweeney had no intention of meeting the same fate as the unfortunate stone lady.

As they scuttle into the distance, a decision has to be made. Either chase the Durant, or investigate the area they discovered the statue. potentially uncovering concrete information regarding it's origins. Weighing the options up, Sweeney considers the tracks left behind by the escaping insects, and makes his choice. Recalling Lancelot, he motions for Atlantis to nestle comfortably on his helmet again, before releasing Joss and pointing to the tracks. With a mocking caw, the Chatot sails into the air, his task clear. Keep a close eye on the Durant, and indicate if they were heading in an awkward direction. With that done, Sweeney gives chase.

 

[Liltwick]

Yuki-

Kanna makes her way through the rightmost pathway and continues to work through a few winding corridors. She continues for what feels like forever as the path continues to move forward. It was strange, not seeing anything in terms of heading back up. After who knows how long, she hits a dead-end in the maze. All of that walking, for nothing. Looking around, it seems that her only option now was to head back and take one of the alternative routes.

---

Kief makes his way down the central hallway once again, using his Odor Sleuth to try and pick something up. He smells nothing but the dusty old walls as he makes his way down, before feeling a powerful scent enter his nostrils. Stopping, his nose takes him to the right and he enters a small corridor. At the end of it, he could see what looked like the key. Though, it didn't look easy. He saw three crates stacked up gently at the entrance of the corridor. Examining it forward, there were a few holes in the floor that'd prevent him from moving forward. Looked like he'd need to figure out a way to move the crates into the holes without breaking them.

---

Yufi heads towards the bright light, and enters a chamber filled with treasures! Looking at it, it seems this place was meant to house the treasures of the monks in the temple. Though, on a closer look, the treasures were boring old things like clothing and bowls. Nothing here was actually interesting, well, besides what seemed to be a lit lantern in the middle of the room. Was this making the glow? Well, if that was it, it would certainly help navigate the labyrinth.

What do they do?