ITT: We Have All Become Pokémon

Guild Office

Seth is just... completely out of it, staring into space in a state of very obvious overload. Here he was assuming his week of binge-reading would be enough to prepare him for what was to come, and suddenly there's another new round of information being dumped on him? He's only dimly aware that the conversation is about a lack of funding. He has completely left this plane of existence.

Foxfell, Guild Center Office

"Y-yea, I'm with..." [Seriously, who is she?] "Uhh...name, it's not...oh, whatever, there's not a single solitary cent these centers can send?"

The Leafeon groans, turning swiftly to Grigori and ignoring the Inteleon and Braixen for now. "I can't believe this...Scabbard Base sends out Exploration Teams to find treasure and artifacts, but without any decent spoils from their expeditions, these Centers lose their main source of financial support. Our administrators have to scramble for other ventures while the transfer of Poke between Centers and Base are frozen. We can raise money from local contributions, but it's unreliable considering how many townships would love to gut us and how many have already done so."

Her vision zeroes in on Marlon and Grigori for a spell as one low hiss of air clears her gritted dagger teeth before pulling away. "As much as it may interest you to sail up to Base, apply as a new Team, and gallivant around the world as you do with a new fancy badge on your breast, we have other plans for you lot, someone we need you to find." A crook in her lip, she addresses Koss, "You told them we needed a favor from them, yes?"

Braixen thinks that's a stupid business plan. She also decides that she doesn't like that leafeon. Especially not once the leafeon resorts to blackmail to get her dirty work done for her - is this guild evil? Or maybe it's just the receptionist. Either way; the receptionist has problems.

She briefly glances at the absol who has once again gone into one of his 'phases', before looking at the Leafeon once more. If she's going to be blackmailed by association, then like hell she isn't going to know what she's being blackmailed into doing.

Guild Office

I listen intently as the Leafeon roundabout explains that asset transfers have in essence been frozen and that...to nobody's surprise...many a town would love to and have already shorted them of assets. Oh, and there's also someone they need us to find. Lovely. Can't blame them for this reason. Shocking that they've hit this dire a strait. I get closer to the desk to find out more.

Alright, ma'am, just who is this mon? And...where are they?

Edited by Team42Larson on Feb 4th 2020 at 6:17:26 AM

Hanging in the back I listen for what the "quest" will be, prefering the others speak and reply. Though something must of gone horrible wrong.

Guild Office

(Oh. Wonderful. A searching mission in some secluded part of the world with a lot of power and influence and only us can stop them because reasons. With a side of megalomania and/or borderline sociopathy. If the last few targets we dealt with ended up close to that descriptor, why not this? Internal griping aside, I pressed further, hoping it isn't what I think it is.) If or when we find them, what do you want us to do?

Guild Office

Koss nods in affirmation to the Leafeon's question, looking to her for a moment to offer a response before turning back to the gathered mons to try to assuage some of the concern that he can easily read even without needing to dip into their thoughts.

"That ah did. Now look, while ah get that y'all are concerned, this ain't jus' about us an' your payment. The Guild's been stressed while helpin' wit' the VA— y'all should be well aware how much it'll take ta clean up Silversand, an' that's just one place that got off relatively lucky. If we ain't able to help them, well... there ain't many other mons goin' up ta bat fer that cause."

Mila and Autumn remain off to the side, discussing amongst themselves in a hush as they try to process what's being mentioned and suggested. The Raichu's gaze flicks between Koss and Eliot, while the Braixen seems more focused on her companion and the Leafeon breaking the news.

Edited by Cabe_Bedlam on Feb 4th 2020 at 7:29:31 AM

Guild Office

(Marsha looks visibly uncomfortable at this news, given that this is her hometown they're talking about. She now feels a bit homesick and also a little bit mad that the Guild seems to be the only ones actively helping Silversand after the incident with the VA right now, if she's hearing Koss correctly.) ...Okay, gotchas. So who's this guy ya want us ta find and what do we need ta find out from them?

Swords of Justice Office, Foxfell

*I glance over at Marlon and Grigori, not sure what they're going on about.*

PJ: "Looking for? They didn't say anything about a manhunt or something yet, did they? ...Manhunt? Monhunt? Personhunt?"

"So, is this individual you want us to find someone you want us to just talk to, or someone you want us to... 'Talk' to?" Royal asked.

Foxfell, Guild Center Office

The Leafeon pulls back with a chuckle at Royal's insinuation and PJ's confusion."A monhunt, don't be daft. If this were someone we would want to see dead, I would've bet our entire remaining funds you would've been on his tail before we had the faintest idea to tell you."

She thrusts a map to the other side of her desk, it spinning around to so conveniently orient itself for the group to see. It's a rather thorough map of Denalsi, dotted with inked circles, arrows, and the brief "here, is it not"s rendered within the group's new native tongue. "The mon you're looking for is a fellow by the name of Lucifuge. He's...hard to come by, but we have a few probable locations for his and his goons' whereabouts."

She looks over at a note to her right. "That, uhh, d, doesn't actually answer our question, though," [I say. She paws away my concerns.] "I was getting there," she snips. "Lucifuge is a broker of sorts, finances, information... As we've found out, an early Guild administrator set up a fund with the bastard about a hundred or so years ago...and considering interest, it may be worth a look into."

[...well...that's not so bad, I guess. Just find the guy and get some money, right? Royal's comment before made me uneasy, but yea, this just seems like a quick diversion, maybe we could stop by Silversand or Orichalcum when we're done.]

Edited by BlackMageAnolis on Feb 4th 2020 at 1:59:36 PM

Guild Office

This guy's on Denalsi? I was prepared to get on their case for first mentioning how the guild seemed to be the only ones intent on getting Silversand back up and running again, but the mention of this guy being on Denalsi gets me thinking. Just wrote a letter out to Marsha's parents, so...they'll be right there for me to talk to, anyway. On base assumptions, this sounds like a quick and simple job, plus we get to revisit the places that we began this whole wacky adventure at.

I...don't know about everyone else, but if the job truly is this simple, then I think I might oblige you. I've been curious to know just what's been going on in Denalsi since we left it, regardless.

Edited by Team42Larson on Feb 5th 2020 at 8:23:54 AM

Guild Office

(So this would be taking us back to Denalsi, then. That's cool, I reckon. It'll be nice to be back in Silversand again. I figure this should be an easy mission. Hopefully, anyway...)

(Looking at the map, I see that there are multiple places where this guy could be.) So, uh, of the places you think he might be, do you guys have an idea of which place he'd be most likely to be? Or are you guys still not sure about that yet?

Guild Office

(At least we know who he is, where he's at, and that we don't have to kill him. Trying to change for her sake. But that still hasn't put my mind completely at ease. They narrowed him down to Denalsi at least, but that's still concerning that there's several places that he's been spotted.) I guess sticking together is not a good option, is it?

Guild Office

Grigs, that wouldn't be necessary. We really still should stay together as we go through to find this guy. Now, as for the two of you...

I turn my attention towards Koss and this Leafeon, for the extra clarification on where this guy is. Figure I also need to find out her name while I'm at it.

Koss, and...what's your name, ma'am? Where was his last known location?

Edited by Team42Larson on Feb 8th 2020 at 5:52:10 AM

Foxfell, Guild Center Office

"Burgiss," the Leafeon answers tersely, her surname as the group could possibly ascertain. "As for Lucifuge himself, he was on the move not too long ago, but some scouts of ours have picked up some activity over around some old ruined inn. Apparently, it was the hotbed of an old gang, but I suppose there was some internal politicking they were dealing with if it ended up getting destroyed." [I shift a little as I'm reminded of that. Still kicking myself a little that that happened...I guess if not for that, Lucy wouldn't be with our group, but then she already had a family, so what's the matter there?]

"There's a couple other spots where he could be located, but that could also just be hotspots for his activity, that old inn could be as well for all we know. We've had some rumors floating about of an uptick in shady activities in a few of the towns on the island, but I'm willing to bet a shady guy like him would prefer somewhere remote, understand?"

Guild Office

(I realize she's almost certainly talking about the Bedsheets and can't help but wince a little, thinking back to that incident. I notice Marsha shaking her head as well.)

Could...uh...could it be worth checking the ruined inn for him first? Since that's where your guys saw the most activity, I mean. (I ask.)

(Still sitting just outside the Guild Office with Benji, Dinah hears mention of that particular location and looks in Lucy's direction. Lucy herself has since gone to climb a nearby tree out of boredom and isn't close enough to hear the mention of it. Dinah finds herself feeling relieved Lucy didn't.)

Guild Office

That ruined inn is almost certainly the bedsheets. Andy—he was a bastard for dropping the roof on his former gang but...are we the bastards for not trying to go after him when he got captured?

...

Mud under the water now, can't change the past. But if this guy has taken residence in the ruined inn, then we would have to start there....I guess? I speak up again.

Yeah, that would be the first place we'd have to check. Perhaps, if going by remote places, we'd also have to check the woods where some of us fought that Trevenant?

Guild Office

(I noticed that a few of the group flinched at the mention of the inn. I guess it's something that happened before I met them, but now's not the time to press them about it. What I will press however, is when we don't find him there.) If we can't find him here, do you know any other places?

Day 1

"Hm. That's true.. Though I feel like stuff like that doesn't happen super regularly..."

A thought crosses her mind, though she doesn't seem to take if very seriously.

"The guard doesn't have any openings right now, does it?" She laughs.

Foxfell, Guild Center Office

Burgiss taps the map once more. "If you have another place in mind where he could be, then go off to it. Hell, take the map, for all I care, we'll just get that Hulu fellow to make another one for us."

[I look over the map...other than the site of the old Bedsheets, there are a couple more obscure areas that have been labeled: a spot east of...Hillih?, south of the wood where we fight Dras'Il, funny enough...somewhere in the river near Agartha...still, the Bedsheets of all places...]

[I take the map off the table and sort of hold it out to the others.] "So, uhh...we're off then?" Behind Eliot, Burgiss, her paws tented, impatiently pulls one of them up to shoo off the group.

Guild Office

I reckon so. (I say, shrugging and facing toward the door.) You guys lead the way.

Guild Office

Alright, guess we head out, then.

I turn behind me to start to leave, and picking up my pace as I do. But, some doubts are rising now. Have I really made a good enough recovery yet? We have the guild trying to send us on a new adventure to find this guy...I continue to stew in my thoughts. But I don't really know if I can take this particular journey. It should be fairly obvious to the others that I'm thinking.

Edited by Team42Larson on Feb 12th 2020 at 10:13:31 AM

Guild Office

No time like the present. (I have a feeling we're in for more than just a search and talk. But if we back out now, we're not getting paid and I seriously don't want to go through this whole rigmarole of finding another guild. If no one has any more words for me, I might as well make my way to the docks.)

Exiting Guild Office

As I make it to the door and ultimately back out, my continued thoughts of whether I've actually properly recovered or not ultimately hit a crescendo. I don't really think I have—no, I did get a good recovery period in the hospital, but I still don't feel ready enough to launch back into another adventure. I keep stewing that particular thought for now, just trying to find the right time to make it known.

Well, time for another round of "find the bad guy in the expanse of an island..."

Edited by Team42Larson on Feb 13th 2020 at 4:49:27 AM