ITT: We Have All Become Pokémon

Mila picks up her documents quietly, and watches the others as they take theirs. She wonders offhandedly how much they'll want to explore the town. She hopes they don't get split up.

"Well, I do have one question. Where would we go to meet with the pokemon you mentioned? We haven't exactly been here before, and I'd hate to get lost along the way."

*Voxno-V pings back to Marlon* (Indeed, however he is not a true "King", merely a...president-for-life, as some have described it. Hoard politics are somewhat convoluted.)

"You'll be wanting to head to the Merchants' Council-House. It should be... on the other side of the Bazaar, which you'll walk straight into after leaving," the Ampharos says in response to Mila's question.

"Well, now that's out the way, you're all clear," the Ampharos says rather dryly again, pulling yet another lever off to his side. This lever triggered a mechanism that unbolted both the doors out, including the one leading to Hoard itself, with a noticeable *clunk* noise.

"Enjoy your stay. May you profit!"

With that standard spiel out the way, he rang a bell on his desk. "Next!"

Beyond the door into Hoard, the party would find themselves standing outside the entry chamber atop a set of large stairs, overlooking Hoard's vast bazaar district, which was a largely clear, vast space completely full up with temporary stalls; and beyond that, a series of very tall and narrow buildings which had been rented out for more intensive temporary businesses.

As the entire city had been built inside a vast cavernous chamber under the mountain, many of these buildings had been built to connect the floor with the ceiling, and there was a slight art deco or steampunk influence in the architecture, with much brick melded with metal framings, and plenty of metallic girders. Yet it didn't seem particularly dirty... at least not here, anyway. It was definitely warmer down here than it was at the entrance.

However, the very first thing they'd be likely to notice upon making their way 'outside' would be the rather large, shiny, copper-plated statue of two vigilant Kommo-Os with their arms folded, one facing away from the party, the other towards. Beneath the statue was a plaque, reading:

No Gods or Kings. Only Mons.

edited 2nd Aug '17 5:32:10 PM by PresidentStalkeyes

(I ping back as we head into the proper city.)

Nonetheless, we should find him before we enter the tourney.

*bowing respectfully, Voxno-V thanks the clerk and proceeds out, seemingly most interested in heading toward the bazaar at the moment*

*while heading in that direction, Voxno pings to Marlon* (Indeed, however my visits to Hoard were short, unofficial, and did not involve politics. I would not personally know where to find him.)

edited 2nd Aug '17 5:32:39 PM by sarysa

No kings? We've made our way to Ancient Rome...

Or Bio Shock, if you've ever played that game.

(To really nobody in particular.)

"So, I guess we have an order of goals. Find Jani, meet this guy, maybe do the tournament? What order should we do this in?"

*as the party heads toward the bazaar, they come across an Axew pestering his Haxorus mother while holding a certain flyer* But mooooooooom, I want one! It looks sooooo cool! *while the mother retorts* I said it ten times before, and I'll say as many times as it takes, the answer is still NO. *and then piles on the reasons* It's simply too expensive, and frankly it looks dangerous. You could tumble out of one of those and break your neck!

*the Axew persists, obviously bending the truth quite a bit* But all my friends'll make fun of me if I don't get one! *which prompts the Haxorus mother to snatch the flyer out of her son's hand, looking it over*

"Coming Soon — Pre-Order Today". Who knows when that will be anyway. *she begins to rationalize with her son, all the while lying (bluffing) herself to scare him* That lady probably hasn't even set up a distributor yet. I think it's high time I have audience with the Merchant Council about this. Marketing to impressionable children, I swear to Rayquaza...

*the Axew gets in front of his mother, and pleads* No, mom, don't! I'll get the shit beat out of me if they find out! *while she verbally strikes back* LANGUAGE!! *but then decides to compromise*

If you stop pestering me about it, I won't take it up with the council. Deal? *to which the Axew retorts* Aww fine.

*as the Haxorus is about to pass the party, she mutters loudly enough for most to hear* Sure seemed rough for a pitch lady, though... *and she drops the flyer on the street*

(I turn to Fin afterwards.)

We should do the first two things together, for I feel that one will lead us to the other.

(I notice the flyer dropped on the street soon after that.)

Hey, gang, take a look.

edited 2nd Aug '17 5:37:54 PM by Team42Larson

Mila gazes over the city, surprised by the scale of the buildings inside the mountain, but Finley's remark brings her back to the matters at hand.

"I don't know, honestly. If we want to find Jani, I suppose meeting with the leader couldn't hurt, right? If they knew about us, they might know about her. But we should keep our eyes out... who knows what might happen if she snuck her way in."

(I take a look at the poster. It doesn't give us much info, but that and the words uttered by the Haxorus make me come to a conclusion.)

(I hold up the poster to everyone by this point.)

She's somewhere in this city for sure.

Guy came in last due to his obvious bulk. He smelled the scent of rough scaly skin everywhere. He had to look very hard to find his group.

[More things to look at from Marlon, I see...wait a second...]

"Hey, that...that was that cart Jani was in..." [I must've missed the part about it being a commercial product, but hell, we got us a lead! And we lost Jani two days ago, when PJ ran off...she shouldn't be too far ahead, if her trip took the same amount of time ours did.]

[Though there is the matter of that cart... If the first I saw of it was her driving the thing, she would've obviously taken it to Hoard as well. And then we have these posters...]

[I look around for a bit, then approach Marlon, getting a better look at the flyer.] "Hey, y'think maybe we can find Jani and that scientist guy with that flyer? They probably set up shop somewhere...we could find Jani before we even need to stop to rest."

edited 2nd Aug '17 6:36:56 PM by BlackMageAnolis

(I look down at Eliot as he also looks to the Hoard Flier.)

We also have to visit the Executive, and I feel like doing either thing first will lead us to the other.

"The Bidoof Jani was with earlier stayed back at their home, remember? We talked with them before we left Silversand. But there should be somewhere she's set up shop. We could ask the leader about it, they should know."

edited 2nd Aug '17 6:44:32 PM by Cabe_Bedlam

Dana looks over at the big statue.

"I think we should see this leader guy first in case he's impatient, then do the other two concurrently..."

Never seen those people here before...must be visitors. (a gruff voice says, peeking out of a large building not far ahead of the party.) Hey, get your green scaly butt over here, Maran!

Yezzzzz sir? (a second voice peeps nervously.)

We've got some obvious visitors approaching here. (the gruff voice says.) We ain't had much business here lately. Get out there and get those guys to stay here.

But you know how much trouble I have talking to people, and I don't want to forzzzze them to stay here. They-

Do I look like I give a Rattata's bum, Maran? Now git out there, smile, and try to get these people to stay here, or so help me I'll turn all of your hot water off! Every last drop! Do you want that?

ZZZZZZ No! Please don't! I'll do it! (the source of the second voice dashes out through the entrance.)

(A Flygon suddenly walks out of the building and in front of the party.)

Greetingzzzz, visitors! (He buzzes.) My name is Maran! I'm a Flygon! Are you looking for a place to stay? I work at this bed-and-breakfast right here! We've got lots of vacanciezzzz here, and our chef here makes the best food in town! Just 1000 Poké a night!

"Hmm....I'll stay here in some time." Cyk says to the Flygon.

*Voxno-V pings to Cyk its concern* (I would advise caution. 1000 Poke is well under the going rate for lodgings, not to mention the tournament may have caused a spike in tourism.)

edited 2nd Aug '17 8:00:27 PM by sarysa

"1000? That's really cheap.." Dana raises an eyebrow equivalent.

That seems like a really good price, but at the same time.. I have to wonder how good this hotel is if they're charging that low..

*Voxno then pings to Dana* (I, for one, will be securing any valuables.)

edited 2nd Aug '17 8:35:19 PM by sarysa

(Maran seems worried.)

Bzzzz, is there a problem?

"Uh, not really.. Though I'm curious, why is it that cheap?"

I mean, I'm a bit suspicious too but maybe they have a good reason?

Well, usually it's a bit pricier, but we haven't had a lot of bzzzzzness lately, so my boss decided to knock the prices down a bit. But we really have nice rooms in here! They were refurbished about 8 months ago, but they still look nice...

(Maran nervously glances back at his boss for a split-second.)

So, in spite of our low rates, you'll still have a nice place to stay. Believe me, I stay in one of these rooms myself!