ITT: We Have All Become Pokémon

"I don't know how it spreads, maybe it kills Vectors if they don't infect enough people? You know, like those Spam Emails!"

*incidentally, if anyone were to turn around the flyer with the notes on the book Marlon has, it would be only slightly less illegible, and read*

Page 12: Illustration of a Pokémon with a dark aura, dated approximately 12 years ago.

Page 134: Translation of an ancient stone tablet from nearly 500 years ago chronicles widespread riots in times of plenty, found during an archeological dig on island a few hundred kilometers away. The dig occurred 23 years ago, though the translation was made only 7 years ago.

Page 187: A string of murders in the seaside village of Gleamscape left 42 dead in a two week span. All victims were quadrupedal and found to be missing their front right paw, except for one missing both right paws. Believed to be the work of a serial killer. Dated three months prior to the current date...one month before the book's publication. *scrawled under it is* southeast corner of this island *indicating that Jani corroborated it with the map*

*off to the side, an unrelated note mentions* Page 5: A large, flaming bird emerged from a presumably dead volcano, forcing three villages to evacuate nearly 250 years ago, as they were enveloped by the lava flows. *clearly a bit of side research on Jani's part*

Did you just say a curse is more believable than a virus?

Guys, Jani left her notes here.

(I hold up her notes, which entail everything above.)

edited 6th Aug '17 3:19:16 PM by Team42Larson

"I mean... there are Pokémon that can set curses, like, Y'know, several Ghost types?"

(Nobody heard me so I speak again.)

I found Jani's notes.

"...what the—" [I snatch the notes from Marlon, looking it over.]

"...good lord..." [This has happened before? Wait, do the guys at the guild know about this?]

"I think we need to find Vox. This seems pretty important."

Let me open up a channel to Vox.

(I ping Vox.)

Vox, can you hear me? We're in the library, and we found some notes from Jani about VA.

*Vox is a bit far off at the moment. At the tone, please leave a message at the beep. Actually, Vox is too far to even do that*

Voxno's in the middle of a private conversation in a seldom-traveled establishment.

edited 6th Aug '17 3:36:15 PM by sarysa

(I come off the channel.)

Vox must be busy right now. Should we try to find them?

"I could do that, yes, but this location, as I'm sure you can imagine, is far closer to the precipice of business. But enough about my petty little troubles..." Serris said, flicking his head up, "This is about improving the overall climate, both economic and social. Hoard being fully opened to all species would undoubtedly be a boon, would you not agree?"

Sudeaux simply folded his arms and nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, certainly, would you not agree, say yes, reply positively, affirmatively?"

Serris slurped loudly at his drink before thumping it down on the table, turning to face his assistant. "Sudeaux, your gusto is admirable and you have 'guts', but why must you repeat everything I say?"

"Ah, I'm s-sorry, sir... I'm an imitation Pokemon, i-it's instinct to mimic and repeat, rephrase..." Sudeaux spluttered out in response, apparently trying to restrain this instinct.

"Indeed..." Ripley said, now her turn to address Vox. "In ideal circumstances, yes... but, I don't believe it will be that simple. The Chairgon hasn't left Hoard in years, and as optimistic as I may be that a true viral aggression victim can be lured outside by simply throwing a worthy opponent like a rabid Arcanine and a bone, I doubt any affliction he may have will have improved his paranoia. The most we and the Pawniarmy can do is limit the damage, but... I won't be so naive as to say I have faith in them, but I believe it is the least worst option. You can afford me that, no?"

edited 6th Aug '17 4:05:41 PM by PresidentStalkeyes

(I decide to channel Fin again.)

Fin? She had to go off again but before she did she gave us a wealth of information on VA...and something else, too.

*Voxno-V can only quip in response to Serris* As one of few outsiders who has been granted access to my town of residence, surely you would not be surprised by my confession that while such a model may not be lively, it can be quite tranquil. While Hoard does suffer from social inequity, Orichalcum simply sidestepped that concern — if one were to truly analyze the situation.

*turning to Ripley, Voxno-V hears what it feared the answer could be, and decides to lay down the cards* I suppose that I have little choice. The reputation that the Pawniarmy has earned for itself will make it difficult to garner much support through the proper channels. However, in my twenty years with the guild, I have managed to make a number of allies within and without.

For the sake of your citizens, however, I must make a stern request: Do not put the plan into motion until most of the fighters have left town. Otherwise, it is akin to lighting a match deep within the mines.

"Hmph... I remember Orichalcum... quaint little hamlet. It can't last... it's doomed to a violent, fiery destruction if it doesn't adapt. I tried to convince Frau Morbitesse and her horribly fake accent of such things, but no, head always stuck in graves..." Serris slightly bitterly muttered to himself as he downed the rest of his drink. "I wouldn't be surprised if they went the way of Milklett very soon... they don't know how to adapt, to civilise, to look beyond their little powers."

Sudeaux seemed ready to say something, but both Serris and Ripley raised their respective appendages to stop his imitation habits from kicking in. "I understand your concerns perfectly..." Ripley said to Vox, sounding rather apologetic. "This is only a last resort, you understand. I will try as best I can to reason with the Chairgon, to place a dampener on his temper... if I die doing anything, I want it to be a plug on the volcano before we have to resort to instigating anything. ...Now there's something for the quotebook, hehe..." Ripley joked, chuckling.

"I believe that's all I have to say. I don't suppose you have any questions for myself or Serris?"

"I stand rrrready to be Mr. Exposition..."

Meanwhile, somewhere in the Bazaar...

"Will you please let it go?! All I did was... I overcharged you, alright? I'm glad you've gotten over your little ego problem enough to actually fuckin' buy from me, do you really need to flush that all down the toilet as well?!" the Druddigon that Jani spoke to back in Silversand argued, at his usual metalworking stand, having set up mere hours ago.

He was arguing to a fuming Kingdra, who yelled "Liar! Liar, liar, liar... you fucking ruined me all those years ago! I have the ego problem?! Me?! You were the one who thought you were sooo much better at this shit you decided to fucking start your own fancy metalworks... and then you fucking extorted me!"

"I... what?! When?!"

"This is your way of me paying back debts all those years ago, isn't it?! I had to ask your family for money because I was desperate, you fuck! Have some mercy, will you?! HAVE MERCY!"

"'Kay, you've gone completely fucking insane, and if you don't leave I'll have to call the Pawniarmy on you..."

(I decide to head out of the library anyway, to find Fin and Mila.)

Finley hears the message, stunned a bit and TOTALLY not AFK.

Outside the library are the two, as Finley looks at Marlon.

"What happened?"

She gave no reason and just popped back underground. But before she did, she gave this note.

(I show Fin Jani's note with the information from earlier.)

edited 6th Aug '17 5:48:26 PM by Team42Larson

"Oh, oh no. So she's still running away, then? Did you get a chance to talk to her about her... delusions at least?"

Mila flicks her tail back and forth, worried. She wants to go and find Jani, but right now would probably just make things worse.

Finley looks at the note. She cringes a bit, but shows disappointment overall.

"I see... I guess we should just head back then..."

(I look to both girls as we begin walking.)

She thinks....she thinks she killed Lars.

edited 6th Aug '17 5:50:45 PM by Team42Larson

"Does she? We'll have to explain to her— but how? She's not exactly going to take to the idea that her memories are lies? I guess you're right, Fin. We should probably just regroup and figure out what to do next."

Mila looks down at the ground. She can't believe they failed like this. But they have to keep trying, they can't just give up.

She said nothing of her "not feeling human" delusions, but she kept saying that she needed to set things right...

*Voxno-V rebukes Serris' statement with a simple* Doomed to stagnation? Yes. However, Orichalcum has endured for hundreds of years and will continue for hundreds more, so long as we can sufficiently repel would-be invaders.

*while unconvinced by Ripley's "last resort" pledge, given the enthusiasm in the room regarding the Chairgon's removal, Voxno isn't interested enough in Hoard politics to take issue with it* Very well, perhaps I should ask...

Aside from relying on the Pawniarmy, do you have any other containment procedures in place?

Have you been in contact with other guild members about this?

I also suppose that I should at least attempt to behave like a guild officer during these proceedings, and ask: under the new regime, may I be assured that the Swords of Justice will be permitted a small, official presence within the city?

*meanwhile, Jani is a few feet underground, digging in the general direction of the inn and sorting stuff out* (Should I really have fled?    They were drawing too much attention to you.    But then again, it would've been nice to research this together...Marlon, Eliot, not to mention Wrench has some sort of computer powers.    I will NOT be taken away on some UFO.    It would've been nice to speak to them longer...)

*as she's lamenting her decision to flee, she emerges in...some random salon next door to the inn* Bounjour, Madame! Are you here for some...how you say...self-pahhmpering... *the owner is a bit troubled by the cuts on Jani, not to mention the sorry state her beret's in*

Uh...damnit. *she pops back down again, and tries to get back on track* (There's another place I can never go again...)

edited 6th Aug '17 6:13:58 PM by sarysa

I look at the note. "Pokémon... with dark Auras? We should talk to a Lucario about this, they know stuff about Aura."

Sushi jumps out of Eliot's arms, then picks up her book again, which she'd dropped in her earlier panic.

She strides out of the library withthe book strapped to her back, singing an ethereal lullaby under her breath as she passes by the group outside.