Reverie - Ingo Palace

[derailer]

Pokemon Spreadsheet

Pokemon Battle Rules

Comments

[derailer]

Everyone is inside due to the snowstorm. Would you like to go up or down the slope to investigate the town?

[stirtheblood]

[Ehhhhh down. Higher on the mountain seems more cold.]

[derailer]

You pass another tent or two, but more notably, at the base of the slope, you encounter some railroad tracks and a train platform. There is no train at the platform, but there is a glitchy ticket machine with a screen you can interact with.

[stirtheblood]

[Vicious has a brief flash of a vision of something called a "cell phone," and goes over to poke at the ticket screen.


He cannot read any of it, however.]

[derailer]

When you poke the screen a window pops up. Litten reaches out to place a paw on the screen, and then you hear in your head the message that appeared:

"Insufficient plates for purchase."

[stirtheblood]

...Tch. Plates? The hell is that about?

[He kicks the ticket machine.]

[derailer]

Litten meows, worried about your frustration.

Ingo's Shadow is coming down the slope now, pausing on the train platform to look at you. "You're going along with this farce now? I thought you weren't a fan of things people wanted you to do."

[stirtheblood]

I ain't "goin' along" with anythin'! I got no idea what's goin' on or what any of this is!

[derailer]

"And so, because of that, you have no choice but to go along with someone's plan for you. You have no plans of your own."

He hops down off the platform, walking across the empty train tracks to cross them.

"I am going to search for the missing people. Go along with my plan for you, and you will follow me. Go along with his plan for you, and you will wait for the train. Or go along with your own whim, and it will be none of my business. Stand still and perish in the storm. It is all the same."

[stirtheblood]

That's stupid. Plannin' for myself don't mean I gotta do somethin' totally different than what anyone else wants to do. Just means if I do it, it's 'cause I decided to, not 'cause it's the "correct thing to do."

So you want me to come look for the people with ya...? How come?

[derailer]

"I think it's better for you and for other people than dying or being the puppet of another man's selfishness, but what do I know?"

He doesn't slow down to wait for you to catch up.

[stirtheblood]

[After a moment of consideration, Vicious hops down from the platform to follow him.]

So you'd prefer I was your puppet, huh?

[derailer]

"You're fate's puppet. I'm showing you sympathy as a fellow puppet."

[stirtheblood]

Did I forget somethin' important about puppets? 'Cause I'm pretty sure they can't give or receive sympathy.

[Vicious puts his hands behind his head as he walks behind Ingo, casual but taking long enough strides to close the distance between them.]

[derailer]

Litten shifts onto Vicious's shoulder again, digging his claws in just a little to make sure he stays put.

Ingo crosses a bridge over a river, heading towards a great column of ice that is visible even through the storm.

"You did," he says, tersely, before moving on. "The party likely crossed through the territory of alpha Pokemon. We will soon be in physical danger."

[stirtheblood]

[I definitely did not forget he was holding a cat. Vicious steadies Litten with a hand on his back.]

Heeeh... Maybe you're just lurin' me to my death.

[This is said casually. The idea of physical danger doesn't seem to alarm him much.]

[derailer]

"As if you would die so easily."

The Shadow comes to a stop, though, looking to the side. As you have strayed further from the settlement, Pokemon have been here and there in the snow, neither aggressive nor frightened of you. Right now there is a Snorunt looking up at the both of you and shivering.

"...Litten. Would you like to show him your ability?"

Litten meows, turning to Vicious for confirmation.

[stirtheblood]

Eh? Ability...? Sure.

[Vicious does not know what to expect, but he lifts his hand off Litten so he can move freely.]

[derailer]

Litten hops down onto the snow, landing on his feet, prepared to battle Snorunt!

Welcome to the Pokemon battle tutorial. Even though the Shadow is railroading this encounter to happen for you, you can still be the one to roll 2d6+2 to see how Litten fares against the Snorunt using a Fire-type move.

[stirtheblood]

[I rolled a 12. Sorry Snorunt.

Vicious just watches this encounter curiously.]

[derailer]

"In this world," the Shadow deigns to explain, "there are many creatures like these, known as Pokemon, with fantastic powers beyond human ability. By confronting them in battle and proving the superiority of your own team, you can win them over to your side to be another of your companions. If you are to live successfully in this world, it will be in concert with Pokemon."

Litten shoots out a Flamethrower at the Snorunt, weakening it dramatically. It teeters back and forth, low on health but not fainting yet.

"Would you invite the Snorunt to join you? Or leave it be?"

[stirtheblood]

Ha! Badass!

[That's in response to Litten's Flamethrower. Vicious has to consider the rest of it for a little longer, cocking his head at the wavering Snorunt.]

...If it wants to join, then sure. Everything's gotta be more interestin' with more companions, right?

[derailer]

"The tradition of the Galaxy Team is to use these balls to formalize the connection." He holds out some old-fashioned Hisuian Pokeballs. "But it is no requirement, in this culture."

[stirtheblood]

Eh...

[Vicious does not reach out to take the Pokeballs, considering.]

...Don't feel like I'm much of a guy for tradition and formality.

[derailer]

"They're just two different traditions. The tradition of not using one is far more longstanding." He gestures towards Snorunt, though. "Convince him on your own if you would not use a tool."