Group RP Pokemon: Evolution Quest (IC thread)

Atelier lifted up his head at the mention of these 'Winged Guardians'. It was one thing that this could be the firepower the group needed. It was another thing to get them onboard. It wasn't like they were reinforcements that were readily available at will, and neither were they employed by a guild, so to speak. Plus, he seemed to hear different versions of them from Josson, Mawile, and Aine.

"If they won't go rogue, then I don't see the harm in enlisting their help. That is, if we can communicate with them. Is it possible to reach them at all? If they are guardians, then at least they have the sense of protecting something," Atelier asked. He didn't know if the Crown Tundra carried mild or severe weather.

 

Atelier stared. So that meant that these guardians were capable of receiving mail? He wouldn't have thought that would be possible. Plus, he could only imagine a given Pelipper trying to brave the conditions of this supposed tundra to deliver it.

"I suppose we can try that," Atelier said.

 

Everything was starting to fall into place - that meant that after this village excursion, they would have the air strike. Archen would probably be working with or even commanding that sector of the attack, Xuehua reasoned - if he couldn't fly, he could probably still work with Mawile on instructions.

That is, if the mail arrived to the Legendaries on time. This was a first for her - Shaymin had only answered Blacky's prayers, the other Legendaries had other summoning rituals, but these guys seemed more... down-to-earth aside from most likely living in the middle of nowhere. She decided she liked that. Maybe things would be done faster if Legendaries used mail like normal Pokémon.

"Don't forget to send the fastest mailmon possible," she added. This "Crown Tundra" seemed far off, and the more time they spent out here, the more time Spikeford would have to prepare anti-raid measures.

 

So now everyone had already agreed to send the Crown Tundra guardians a plea for help via mail. Should've been good enough weren't it for the follow-up question: "And who should write the letter?"

 

"I can't say I have anything specific to say, but I would think it would be Aine or Ampharos writing it. You are a minstrel, after all - you work with words, and Ampharos is the head of the Expedition Society, which gives him authority, wouldn't it?" Xuehua reasoned.

She looked back towards the horizon. They had to be getting close to the village now, hadn't they?

 

"Well well well, we're asking for the legendaries' help, yes?" Chief Ampharos said, unintentionally (?) answered Aine's question. "I believe Miss Aine should do the writing," he suggested.

"Yeah, right," Blacky chimed in, though his tone seemed to indicate that he was agreeing with Chief Ampharos. I mean, last time he'd met a legendary (Shaymin, Calyrex, not sure if those Zacian and Zamazenta statues count too), it was a face-to-face meeting in which he could just wing it somehow. But a written request to legendaries? It might as well be more of Aine's forte than Blacky's, hence him agreeing with Chief Ampharos and Xuehua about Aine writing the letter to the Winged Guardians of the Crown Tundra.

 

@WavePearl @ChocoChicken @122 Generation

As soon as the group arrived at the Golden Lotus Town, everyone went their own ways around the town. Chief Ampharos and Josson stayed by Aine's side as she wrote the request letter (sorry not sorry Wave, had to write it out with this in mind), Mawile made a beeline to the closest library (if there's any), Bunnelby and Buizel went to the markets to restock their supplies (the Expedition Society had their own inventory, separate from our MCs'), Celine and Archen went on the hunt for a nearby guild or two (again, if there's any), and Blacky went to the smithy for a sword upgrade (last upgrade was back at Piquedilly -- perfect timing).

 

“I agree,” Atelier added.

By the time the party arrived at the town, Swirlix set about exploring for more potential snacks. As far as Atelier was concerned, waiting on Aine to send the letter was all that was needed. But as much as he wanted to accompany Aine, Swirlix was tugging at his sleeve. It seemed that she wanted him to buy coffee beans.

 

They were on the way for the Radiant Sky Sect, weren't they? Xuehua kept an eye out for the building - assuming they had one - as she went around. Second on her list of priorities was a library, but she would have to figure out what she could study in there.

 

Eventually, Atelier was dragged out of the local store with about 300 crowns' worth of coffee beans. Seemed Swirlix was bent on buying out the entire snack supply until Atelier protested that the current supply hadn't been used yet. If it was any comfort for Atelier, his companions might enjoy the taste of these.

He walked around the town to see what else might interest him. Additionally, he still had the grass materia in his possession. What could he possibly use this for? He decided to visit the local mage for help. He didn't have a grass tome on him, so the materia had to be used for something. His sword, maybe?

Balance: 24,000C
Inventory: ?x Books and Novels, 1x Journal, 1x Strategy Book, 1x Middle Rune of the Moon, 1x Watera Tome (SotS), 1x Firaga Tome, 1x Lunar Tome (CdL), 1x Ethereal Grimoire, 1x Brynhildr, 1x Steel Short Sword, 10x Geo Pebbles, 10x Gravelerocks, 1x Thundara Gauntlets, 1x Potion of Fire, 2x Aloe Vera, 1x Grass Materia, 1x Kettle and Cup Set, 3x High quality coffee beans
Equipped: Eevee Scarf

Party Inventory: 8x Dazzling Opal, 7x Amethyst, 4x Ruby, 5x Potion of Shrinking, 3x Potion of Power, 4x Potion of Magic, 1x Potion of Guarding, 4x Middle Runes of the Moon, 4x Middle Runes of the Stars, 1x Blizzaga Tome, 1x Ice Beam Scroll, 2x Reviver Seeds, 1x Eyedrop Seed

 

(For the record, Brynhildr is technically a grass-dark tome... but Atelier probably had no time to check it out yet.)

Blacky

Three chunks of silver and 1000 crowns later, all Blacky needed to do was to wait for his sword upgrade to finish. Specifically the starter sword -- the one with Cinderace aesthetics from the start of the whole journey. That thing had been serving him well, yes, hence the necessary upgrade. He also had his other weapons -- plus his master's sword -- checked while at it.

Celine and Archen

One guild scouring later, Celine and Archen found three:

• Order of the Golden Sakura, the most prominent guild in town;
• Order of the Bright Harp where minstrels around the town gathered; and
• Order of the Violet Dawn, the local mystic guild serving all your magical needs.

The two of them were discussing which guild to visit first when they spotted Xuehua wandering around. "Heeey, Xuehua!" Archen called out with a wing waved at her. "Where are you going?"

 

(Maybe the mage can help clarify that for him when he shows the book)

Atelier eventually found himself in the foyer of the mage's hall. Mages were walking about the hall from left to right. Some were demonstrating spells. Others were in deep discussion of sorts.

He went to find who could help him with this grass materia in his possession.

 

@ChocoChicken @122 Generation @WavePearl

Celine & Archen

Whelp, okay. Xuehua didn't respond. Whatevs. The mission here was to get help, right? Celine and Archen decided to go for the Order of the Golden Sakura first. Not without fetching Blacky beforehand because Aine was busy writing the letter and Atelier looked like he had something else in mind.

Atelier

(This mage's hall... is it the Order of the Violet Dawn?)

(Maybe we can roll with... Gothitelle? Or Oranguru?)