Darkness Rising (PTU)

[CosmicOccurence]

Some Years Ago

This place was deep in the bowels of the earth. A place where the barrier between this world and the otherworld had worn thin. A place older than time itself. A place where humans had not dare trod for as long as the memory of their race lasted.

At least, until now.

Seven figures walked into the cave. Some moved carefully, others with a certainty that belied arrogance and strength, and all wore the same hooded robes made of simple brown cloth. The Spirit of Pride lead the group, surefooted and certain. The Spirit of Lust followed, their body constantly shifting, unsure of its true form. The Spirit of Wrath's breath came heavy and eager as he anticipated the night's bounty. The Spirit of Greed was by far the largest, his massive form barely fitting through the stony enclosures. The Spirit of Envy, so tall and thin cast his gazes to the others intently. The Spirit of Gluttony was the shortest, bones hanging from her waist rattling as she waddled along. The Spirit of Sloth was the last to enter, moving slowly and with the gait of one used to walking with a limp. He cast a long look behind him before he entered the cavern, ensuring that none followed.

The Spirit of Pride stopped at a spot in the tunnel. There seemed to be nothing special about this particular spot, but as the Spirit of Pride ran her hands along the walls, she nodded in approval. It is here, she said simply, Begin the ritual.

Without hesitation, the Spirit of Wrath stepped forward and unstopped a gourd at his waste. He poured a dark liquid over his hands and drew a large circle the size of a small boulder at head height. His voice was powerful, and it rang through the cavern with a strength that threatened to overwhelm even the Spirit of Pride's quiet presence of power. Blood of Florges, forcibly drawn, reveal the door.

As he stepped back, Gluttony shuffled forwards. She drew four large incisors from her collection of bones and drove them into the line of blood with surprising force for one so small and grotesque. The were equally spaced, and anyone versed in shaman-lore knew they stood for the four winds. Fangs of Mawile, prematurely shed, anchor the door, she said in her rasping voice, before stepping back.

In contrast to her smallness, the Spirit of Greed stepped forwards to take her place. From his tangled beard he drew a string of feathers, which he tied to the fang on the left side of the circle. Low voice like thunder, he continued the ritual Feathers of Togekiss, violently plucked, ignite the door. As he stepped back, the power in the room began to pulse slightly, as if something deep in slumber had stirred from a millennia of sleep.

As Envy stepped forwards, he gently smeared a grainy substance onto the right fang. When he spoke, he cooed as if talking to a baby. Morellul spores harvested on the blood moon, enhance the door. The power awoken with the Spirit of Greed thrummed, growing as each new element of the ritual layered on each other in an act of powerful black magic.

The Spirit of Lust stepped to the circle, and they hung a pink ribbon, stained with blood splotches, on the highest fang. They quickly tied the ribbon into a knot to secure it and said in a voice nearly unidentifiable, Ribbon of Sylveon, eagerly torn, link the door. As soon as they finished speaking, the ribbon began to whip wildly back and forth despite the utter lack of wind in this maw of the earth.

The Spirit of Sloth limped toward the circle, other cloaked figures shifting to let him pass. He removed small whiskers and twined them on the uppermost fang, completing the symmetry of the blood circle. Whiskers of Dedenne, cruelly torn, guide the door. As he shuffled back into the line, all eyes turned to the Spirit of Pride, the only shaman left to contribute. They stared at her hungrily, seeking the final piece of this ancient puzzle.

From the depths of her cloak, the Spirit of Pride drew out a gemstone, a raw and uncut fire opal. Soft beams of light arced from the stone's depths, like the kiss of moonlight upon a lake in midsummer. At the appearance of the gemstone, the other figures inhaled audibly. The cavern wavered. Power radiated through the stone walls, and all the figures felt a force larger than they could ever imagine rise in anticipation.

The Spirit of Pride raised her arm and spoke in a voice as powerful as it was dark. Light of the moon, stolen from Clefable's soul, open the door. Suddenly the light from the gemstone burst into a wild kaleidoscope. Red, orange, and yellow streams of light warped and twisted as they were sucked into the strange circle. For a moment everything was still. Even the Spirit of Gluttony's bones stopped rattling.

Then smoke exploded from the wall as an otherworldly voice shrieked in glee. Dozens upon dozens of eyes formed and dissipated in the smoke, and for a moment it seemed as if the sheer evil of the creature would consume the souls of the humans who had freed it. The Spirit of Wrath even touched his forehead, leaving a small dot of ochre to guard his world-soul from attack.

However, the Proud One held fast and began to intone once more. One hundred and eight souls released from the nether into our world. One hundred and eight maladies to befall the clans who have abandoned the way. One hundred and eight weapons to wield against those who would oppose me. One hundred and eight servants obedient to my whims. One hundred and eight prisoners to the power of the fire opal taken from the valley of the world spirit.

At these words, a vortex formed as the smoke streaked into the gemstone held aloft by the figure, and the power in the room faded. The gemstone was still radiant, but veins of dark energy coursed through it, constantly shifting. The woman returned the gemstone to her belt-pouch, and the cavern was consumed by darkness once more.

It is ended, The Spirit of Pride said. And now … it is begun

[CosmicOccurence]

Highsun, Three Nights Before the Vernal Equinox
The Bend of the Great River, A Half Day From the Sea

The Clansmeet always took the breath out of a person, whether it was their first or fifteenth time. It was a jumbled thing, a hodge-podge of teepees, wigwams, and even a few rudimentary earthen homes erected with the help of swift working Timburr from the Mountain Clans in residence. It was rare that representatives from so many clans gathered together. As you gazed down at the gathering you could spot the thin Deerling furs of the open forest, the Sphealskin parkas of the far north, and the finely woven body wraps from the Sandsea.

As you and your companions began heading towards the Clansmeet to make camp, you saw many things. Hunters sparring with each other using weapons foreign and familiar, Shamans demonstrating rituals for their peers, and boastful displays from young men and women hoping to attract potential mates.

The scents of roasting Gogoat wafts towards you from the massive bonfire in the center of the clansmeet, drawing a constant stream of master-hunters with game in tow to contribute to the night’s festivities. Old friends from various clans gathered, trading stories and battle scars, and offerings were made to Clansfolk who passed into Yvetal’s realm of lasting peace.

And across the great river, rising out of the forest like the horn of a Rhydon, was the Stone Circle, the henge where the Ceremony of Wishes would be held in three nights, on the Vernal Equinox. A ceremony that you hoped to earn the honor of taking part in, if those of the Soul Clan judged you worthy. The trials began tomorrow morning however, leaving you plenty of time to enjoy the Clansmeet.

For a moment you thought you saw a soft purple glow pulse from the hill, but when you blinked, you realized it must have been your imagination. After all, Jirachi hadn’t stirred for centuries.

You didn't realize it yet, but the next three days would change your life forever.

Moghu

Your journey had been a peaceful one. Inneq had bartered medicinal mushrooms with Wishiwashi Clan to commission one of their boats. Safer to be on the water, he explained. Those of the Open Forest do not understand the danger of Fire. Neither did most in the Deep Forest either, but after the great fire years ago, you’d heard whispers that they now treated Fire with the firm hand it needed.

When you arrived, Inneq cast a glance to you. Help me set up camp, he said, pointing to the outskirts of the Clansmeet. And then if you wish to explore … you may. Just know that the other clans may feel different to you. Without the great mother’s blessing, they do not understand our ways, he held out his unburned arm, the one part of his body not puckered red from his burns. His tattoo had almost reached his palm once more, though it was still painfully small compared to its former glory before the great inferno. You knew that Inneq had his own mission here, to barter some of the more potent mushrooms for new water, rock, and ground type eggs to bring back to the Flame Hunters. Many had been lost during the Fire, and Inneq was desperately trying to rebuild.

Eira

It had been years since Reith had made this journey, you knew. However, on the journey, he shared that he too once had participated in the trials. I was not chosen, nor has one of our Clan since I was born.. You knew that Weavile Clan rarely sent members to the Clansmeet, for the world in the south felt completely alien. Reith stuck stubbornly to his Seelskin jerkin, though you could tell that he was painfully warm. Still, it was tradition for sponsors to make the journey with their charges.

Your journey was a long one: Reith didn’t travel as quickly as he used to. Yet his skills had not dampened, and the two of you remained unseen for the journey, avoiding all human contact as you journeyed south. A single kill, from a strange Pokemon known as Gogoat, which was covered in leaves that would never grow in your home, was enough food to sustain you both. When you arrived, Reith said. Three days here will be difficult, but with your fostering with the Glalies, I doubt it should prove too much trouble for you. It was unsaid that your camp would be in the forest, hidden from view. I have some business to attend to. There is a clan in the Open Forest, the Zangoose, whose practices are similar to our own. I hope to study whether their markings can shed any light on what is yet hidden on the Scrawl. Meet me at the bend of the river by sundown, and we shall make our den. He didn't give advice or warnings. After all, if you could survive in the north, this was going to be a cakewalk.

Velitus

The journey had been a short one for you. It had been perhaps a week’s travel to reach the Clansmeet, and while the area was not one you were intimately familiar with, it also didn’t feel that different from your own home. Forests, open grass, and flowing water digging out gullies and valleys.

Your travelling companions were less comforting however. Tradition among the Twin Petals was that a person’s hunting party was to accompany them to the Clansmeet. Skiran had stayed back with the Clan, muttering about a rogue Scrafty that needed to be hunted down before it attacked a youngster.

Instead you were accompanied by the three remaining members of the original hunting party that had been savaged by the Emboar. Ineya bore the Yellow tattoos of a wayfinder, responsible for exploring the forest quickly and quietly with her Aridos and Persian. Orren bore the orange tattoos of a strategist, and had become the leader of the group despite his failure in calling the retreat in the fatal attack.

The worst though, was Resh, whose White Petals indicated his skills with magic. He was a powerful Fire Shaman, though his powers had proved utterly useless. You have a whole day before the trials he said as you arrived. There are usually big crowds near the great bonfire where you can share the story of how we stopped the Heracross from stampeding the honey groves this Spring. We’ll all be busy and won’t have time to babysit you, so do it right. You knew that he would be showing off with the Shamans, and Ineya had been talking about archery contests for weeks now. You weren’t sure what Orren’s plans were, but you knew they didn’t involve you.

Jayce

Thankfully, there were plenty of caves to be found on your journey west, even if they weren’t connected by tunnels like a proper cave should be. You stuck to gorges, river valleys, and bluffs, where you could camp during the day so that Darius did not have to go out in the sun. The journey had been tough on him, and even at night he wore several layers of cloth over his eyes to avoid light exposure. It had been decades since he had seen anything, and nobody could remember the last time he left the cave. You’d already been here a day, giving Darius a chance to rest in a damp warren on the riverbank so he could prepare for the noise and light of the Clansmeet.

Still, he was insistent that he come on this journey with you. You got the sense that he too was worried for your brother, and felt strongly enough that he decided to come personally and gather information. The Gurus of the Zubat tribe were widely respected among Shamans for the powers that their extreme measures brought, and he would have access to places that other members of your tribe would not.

He placed a hand on your shoulder, his constant soft clicks allowing him to sense where you were. Do not fret Jayce. You worry about representing our clan, but I have no doubt that you will make us proud. The tunnels of fate will place you where you need to be, so long as you are willing to follow where it guides.

Spoiler

Show

While you all are putting together your character sheets and getting set up, we're going to do a quick scene! If you feel like I mischaracterized things about your mentor/clan, speak up! I want to make sure I'm staying faithful to your vision for them. In any case, pick one thing to 'zoom in' on from the afternoon & evening that you'd like to do a quick rp scene about (though you could certainly share about the rest of your day).

It might be something mentioned in this post, or something of your own imagination! Basically let me know where your character is headed and their intentions for the scene, and I'll pick it up from there! This'll give us a nice chance to settle into our characters before things really get rolling!

[Zelphas]

Two things struck Eira, as she traveled with her mentor out of the Far North for the first time in her life:

Everything was warm.

Everything was green.

The sun was a burning, fiery disk in the sky, pounding like a bonfire upon the land. It melted the perma-frost that had covered her cloak. It melted the ice-claws that she formed on her fingers and used to hunt, forcing her to re-make them every time she wished to strike. If she stood still for too long, a thin trail of mist rose up from her own body, as though the sun's relentless heat was trying to melt her as well. She couldn't believe that Reith was still in his jerkin; she had shed her Wooloo-woven cloak and bundled it into her pack weeks ago. She still kept most of her furs on, however, despite the almost-nightmarish heat; looking across at the other tribes and their array of clothing, she couldn't shake the childish feeling that most of them looked almost naked.

"Of course, elder," Eira responds automatically, petting Omen at her side. The Houndour sniffs a curling plant nearby and sneezes, a small gout of flame leakign out between his fangs; Eira watches with interest as the plant shrivels and turns brown from the passing heat. The green all around her almost seems to stab at her eyes, it is so blatant, so alive, so everywhere. She thinks back to the kill they made, back in the land of deeper darkness and larger plants that rustled and whispered in the hot wind. Even the food is green here!

Eira pats Omen once more, considering things, and then taps him on the skull-like crest with his Apricorn Ball, reutrning him. She looks up, not surprised to note that Reith has vanished. Surveying the large camp ahead of her, Eira feels the two separate urges that have played out in her for the last five years start up again. One side of her, the side that has kept her alive and kept her and her family fed, the side that often speaks with her father's voice in her, points out all of the defensive failures of the camp ahead; its size, lack of walls, lack of concealment... A Mamoswine would tear through that festival there without stopping to breathe, it says disapprovingly, the winter winds of home echoing silently behind it. Stick to the outskirts, and don't get caught up in groups, especially groups of outsiders. You need a way to run once things turn sour.

The other part of her, the part that longs for the warmth of a fire that never goes out and a home that never changes, looks toward the central fire hungrily, enticed by the cooking meet and the moving bodies. All here are allies; there is no clan bloodshed at a Clansmeet, this voice whispers. Go, mingle, interact; find newfriends, experience new things! Perhaps home is hidden among the fires here.

Torn between these two conflicting desires, Eira does what she can: she compromises. Retreating into the forest for a moment to replenish the leaves and twigs she has stuck to her clothing for camouflage (the plants withered and died much faster on her than they did on Reith, as though something about her was sickening to the greenery all around her), Eira begins circling the campsite, staying silent and out of sight. She counts the campsites, trying to estimate the number and type of the Clans here by their clothing and tattoos. Eira looks for the thick Seelskin tents of Clan Walrein or the black-and-white dyed cloth of Clan Glalie, marking their location to visit and see if any friends are nearby.

After a full circuit, Eira stops, taking in a deep breath. "This is a test," she tells the disapproving voice inside of her, speaking very softly. "I must test the competency of the tribes at this Clansmeet, and to do that I need to see their actions up close. I will do so without being seen, to test their observation and my own skills as well." Another deep breath, and Eira starts forward silently into the camp, aiming for the central fire and a juicy piece of that same Gogoat-meat that she had tasted on the way down. At the center of the camp, she can listen in on the other tribes, finding out about what they boast of and what their skills entail.

At the center of the camp, she can pretend she belongs there, even if just for a moment.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

No matter what Eira's sheet turns out to look like, she is going to have Adept Stealth at this point, so hopefully I'm not too far afield in rolling Stealth here to show her attempts to sneak into the center of the camp unseen: (4d6)[17]

If the Stealth Clothes I bought for her are acceptable, add +4 to the above roll.

[Arcran]

Of course, Moghu said, stopping himself from once again scratching at his tattoos as he began to assist Inneq in setting up camp. He'd never traveled more than a day from the dark groves the Paras Clan called home and, while he had heard the stories of what happened to those that traveled too far, he'd never experienced it before. He'd first attributed the nausea he felt on the Wishiwashi boat to sea sickness, but it had persisted even after they were on dry land again. If the stories were correct, a fever would likely be next, and the itching along his tattoo would only become worse. Inneq seemed to be having an easier time with the symptoms than Moghu but, of course, the elder Flame-Hunter had far more experience traveling great distances from the Great Mother than most of the Paras Clan.

It means the Great Mother is still with me, Moghu thought to himself as another wave of nausea struck, setting up a tent with a practiced hand. He idly gestured Rella towards an empty bucket, and the Poliwag started to spray a steady stream of water into it while Podax began digging out a small pit where the Flame-Hunters could build their own cooking fire. Every itch, every bout of nausea, means that She still watches me. The Clansmeet felt wrong to Moghu. The massive bonfire at the center aside, most of the other clans seemed far too loose with fire. Unattended campfires were rampant among the other clans, and Moghu could count on one hand the number that had taken the proper precautions. There were even Pokemon with great open flames casually walking around, coming far too close to tents and other flammables for Moghu's liking. It was too bright, too loud, and too many potential threats. While the scent of Gogoat threatened to draw him towards the great bonfire, Moghu couldn't willingly bring himself so close to such an inferno.

And yet, despite all of this, Moghu felt a strange rush of excitement every time he saw another clan. Were he more of an artist, perhaps he would have been drawing their tattoos but, for now, Moghu contented himself with long stares, taking note of their oddly flat tattoos. Each had new foods, new customs, new knowledge. As a Flame-Hunter, much of the sacred knowledge of the Paras was forbidden to him and he would never know the art of mushrooms like a Shroom-Brewer or know the Great Mother's mind like a Spore-Speaker. If he could learn things from the other tribes, he would have something besides his bravery and strength to set him apart and, perhaps, the Great Mother would restore his tattoos to their former glory. Perhaps even create his own tribe, and never be forced to brave the flames for the good of the Paras again.

A particularly strong wave of nausea accompanied that thought, and Moghu silenced his mind as he continued to set up camp. With each day away from home, these intrusive thoughts became louder, urging Moghu to seek personal achievements, rather than what was best for the Paras. You are here to bring glory to the Paras, and secure a wish for our clan, Moghu thought to himself, remembering the circumstances of his nomination. When the Clansmeet was called, each tribe nominate somebody to the Paras' internal trials, to determine who would represent the clan at the Meet. The other tribes had not known Inneq would nominate nearly a man, and had nominated young members of their own tribe, as was tradition. While the Spore-Speakers could find no fault with competition, Moghu did not feel like he deserved to be here. He'd beaten Paras half his size to secure his spot, and would not let this opportunity go to waste. He would bring glory to the Flame-Hunters, and show they had worth among the Paras.

Another wave of nausea. I will bring glory to the Great Mother, Moghu mentally corrected himself, before working in silence, occasionally directing Rella towards another bucket. The Poliwag seemed to be taking the travel from the Great Mother particularly hard, but that was to be expected. Rella's tattoos covered her entire body, like a great bundle of roots. Podax seemed much more comfortable, but Moghu had always felt that the Sandshrew's tattoos looked odd upon his armored hide.

As the camp began to come together, Moghu's mind began to wander. While he had Inneq's permission to leave, Moghu didn't feel comfortable leaving without an excuse. Things were not done without purpose among the Paras, and Moghu was a model member of the clan. Fortunately, and opportunity soon presented itself: Rella was out of water, and there were yet buckets unfilled.

Rella needs a soak, and we do not have enough water, Moghu said curtly, seizing his chance as he grabbed an empty bucket with either hand. Is there anything we need to collect? Moghu asked, scanning the horizon for a path that would take him to the water while avoiding the bonfire's malicious presence. Any other Clan I should meet? Moghu dared to asked, wincing slightly as his tattoos itched far more fervently. He'd been scanning for the clans that followed Poliwag or Sandshrew, but had yet to spot them among the clans in attendance.

[Llyarden]

Velitus might have been used to the Open Forest - more used than some of the others who were at the Clansmeet, at least - but he wasn't used to the sheer number of people. Even among his own Clan, he'd always preferred to stay on the periphery, learning from Skiran and him alone. Of course, his appointment to his new hunting party had put paid to that. There were Comfey who would've given almost anything to change places with him, never knowing that he would've given almost anything to do the same.

"Of course," he answered Resh, quietly. He had never been good at hiding his emotions - one of the many flaws the older tribe members had been swift to observe in him - and so he knew Resh would realise how glad he was to have some time to be himself (albeit still chained to their demands.) But he also knew Resh wouldn't care.

He'd been practicing his stories while they'd been travelling, knowing that this would be asked of him. Of course, telling the stories in truth was nothing like thinking them to himself in the safety of his own mind, where the words flowed freely and he didn't stumble in their telling, and his voice didn't crack at inconvenient moments. He'd tried to grow a beard to make himself look a little older, but his body had other plans and had left him with nothing more than an embarrassing layer of stubble over his upper lip that was just long enough to make it obvious that he'd been wanting a fuller beard. Just another disappointment to his Clan Flabebe companions.

He hadn't told Resh and the others that he had another reason for wishing to interact with the other clans, though. That reason related to the small wooden box at his belt, where he periodically had to change the bark as it absorbed the sugary scent of the little Faerie contained within. He hated having to imprison Hana like this, but from experience he knew that to allow her out around so many other Pokemon would be to risk a hungry Pokemon - trained or otherwise - taking her life in one swift bite. But if he had an Apricorn Ball, then according to the rumours he'd heard, he could contain her in much greater comfort, and possibly even allow her to experience the world through its magic without luring predators.

Of course, he had no idea where he could find an Apricorn Ball. But it was something he could ask after he'd related the tale of the Heracross.

[CateranEnforcer]

Jayce caught himself squinting as he looked out among the trees. He shook his head to stop himself looking like a fool in front of everyone. Even though his own eyes preferred a softer light, that was no reason to scrunch his face up like a child, especially in front of the other clans. At least, that's what the voice in his head told him.

Guru Darius must have noticed him lost in thought once more as he put his hand on Jayce's shoulder. Outsiders would think him a psychic, but that's just the way he was and had been for as long as Jayce could remember. He always seemed to know what he was thinking. It was also common for him to give Jayce advice that went over his head. It's not like he didn't try to understand, but he just couldn't see things the way Darius did no matter how hard he tried. It just made him feel worse, like he was just too young to stupid to understand things the way everyone else seemed to.

"You know I'll do my best, but there's got a be ten or so better candidates than me. Besides, if I were home, I could be there if...when Garet comes back." Jayce sighs, knowing he's going over retreaded ground for the hundredth time, and his tone changes as he recites the words he thinks he's supposed to say. "But it is a great honor to represent the clan, and you know I'll do my best. You've taught me well, even if I'm not the most talented." He changes tone again to something more genuine. "I'm more worried about you right now anyhow. I've got Dao looking for some shade for you."

As if summoned by his words, the Machop comes out of the woods with a big, leafy branch to hold over the Guru and shield him from the sun as much as possible. Jayce was very concerned that he had come all this way with him, but today was the first time they were out in full daylight. If he was going to do something right, it was to make sure Darius got to somewhere safe. He may have been over worried about this, but he was feeling extra protective lately. That was his job after all back home. Protecting the lands and escorting well meaning travelers across the dangerous mountains. But usually, he was accompanied by more experienced Zubats, like his brother. If he was going to do this thing right, this was going to be the first step. Only then would he mingle with the other clans. He wasn't even sure that they would want to see him. Their ways were surely too strange for these who lived under the open sky all the time.

[CosmicOccurence]

Moghu

Inneq considered you for a long moment. Well, if you’re planning to go to the river, he said, walking to his pack. He pulled out a small pouch, made from the treated bark of a tree. These are for the Slowpoke Clan. We don’t trade with them much: they stick to the beaches and oceans mostly, but Uwale, their Clan Leader, has a special affinity for these mushrooms, and makes it worth our while. Show your tattoo and they should let you into their camp. Be polite and try to keep your mind clear. Meeting Uwale is not something you will soon forget.

He drew you a quick map in the soil of where they’d be located on the river, telling you to keep an eye out for people who wore ornate braids of shell woven into their hair. As you took the mushrooms, you felt your tattoos pulse excitedly, as if they recognized the bundle in your hand.

Oh, and one last thing Moghu, he said as you prepared to leave. Don’t taste these mushrooms. They aren’t for humans.

________

The camp wasn’t difficult to find following Inneq’s instructions. The Slowpoke Clan was odder even than most. To begin with, they didn't have tattoos, but instead a red gemstone embedded somewhere on their body. They seemed even more relaxed than most, and you passed a clump of clanmembers around your age playing some sort of game with a ball fashioned from a greenish fish Pokemon's carcass. You spotted many lures and nets in the water, with their minders braiding hair while they waited in leisure for the bounty to come to them. It was a far cry of the stringent measures taken for even your rudimentary camp.

When you showed your tattoo and explained your presence, you were pointed to what seemed to be the only shelter in their camp, a large circular tent suspended between three trees. As you ducked inside, you saw several older members of the tribe, mostly wearing the garb of Shamans. They all looked toward the only Pokemon in the room though, who stood a handwidth shorter than a human without what appeared to be a massive spiraling shell helmet on his head. Its skin was pink and leathery. When it turned to you, you felt a presence in your mind. The discomfort from The Great Mother’s blessing surged for a second at this intrusion, but after a moment the pain receded almost entirely as the Pokemon pushed it aside. Somewhere in the back of your brain, you could feel The Great Mother fighting this presence, but she was just so far away.

Hello young one. I see you come bearing gifts for me. My name is Uwale.

Eira

At first, slipping through the Clansmeet seemed easy. Everybody had a place to be, a campfire to visit. Most of those in this part of the camp seemed to be from the Open Forest, which had by far the largest contingent of representatives. You didn’t see any from Glalie Clan, but there looked to be a few Wailren Clan tents set up on the river, a small campfire set up to share fish.

However, as you slipped further into the clansmeet, it grew, if it was at all possible, even hotter. There were so many people in some of the more well-travelled paths that you had to make several detours to avoid catching the notice of people.

You passed a woman who was almost entirely naked and covered in tattoos of various flowers, recounting the story of a great hunt to a crowd. Her voice was captivating, entrancing. Not five tents away was a wrestling match between a brutish man whose entire lower jaw was inked a dark navy and a man whose tattoos swirled in such a way that you felt yourself, for a moment, unable to tear your eyes away.

Once you approached the great fire however, some people began to take notice of you. Mostly they seemed to be hunters, based on the bows on their backs and spears in their hands. Their eyes settled on you for only a second, before moving on to continue their constant scouring of the area. These were people whose clans depended on their ability to sense the smallest movement. For most though, you were nothing but a shadow as you sliced a thin strip of meat for yourself with nobody the wiser.

As you chewed the sizzling, crackling meat, flavor flooded your mouth. It felt like someone had lit a fire on your tongue, and you remembered stories that there were plants in the south that could make the most hardened warrior cry. It turns out they weren’t just stories at all. In fact, for the briefest of moments, you could have sworn that you breathed out fire just like Omen.

As you processed this new sensation, you heard a guffawing behind you. This must be your first time, if you took some from that spit without expecting. Don’t recognize the tattoos, so you must not be from a clan that comes most years. Never had a Spelon Berry before? Nasty things, but fire types love them.

The man, who seemed like a literal mountain, casually ripped off a piece and tossed it to a passing Growlithe, who leaped gleefully in the air to snatch it.

Here he said, holding out a few small berries, almost perfectly spherical, colored dark purple. This will help. The name’s Nathma. Shuckle Clan, from out on the islands. His tattoos were rounded bands around his neck that, when he popped one of the berries into his mouth, began slowly turning into the same hue as the berries.

Velitus

You set up near a pot of bubbling stew that people had gathered around to eat out of. Most of those here were from the Open Forest and knew enough your tattoos to silence the others as you becan laying out the tale. This hunting party was well-enough known that some of the listeners were already rapt when you started your tale.

It wasn’t your best performance, and it wasn’t your worst. You recounted the tale with drama, attributing credit to Resh, who had summoned a great wall of fire to herd the Heracross from the clearing. There were sighs and there were cheers, but you also knew that, in the hands of a more skilled storyteller, this tale would be spreading like wildfire through the camps. The group around you were obviously pleased with your skill though, and many clapped you on the back while a Mightyena Clan member insisted that you get a bowl of stew, which was served in a roughly carved wooden bowl.

After the crowd of your tale had dispersed and you had finished your soup, you set in pursuit of your second task. It actually wasn’t difficult to find the Apricorn Ball crafters, as they had gathered together to share secrets and barter their services with others. Some were deep in incantations, while others were carefully and lovingly carving the swirling details into the apricorns that would bring out their inherent magic.

Three however, looked like they might be available for bartering right now. There was a toothless woman who looked older than any human had the right to look. Her tools were made of Sawsbuck antlers, and the green branching tattoos on her temples marked her as one of the Summer Tribe of the Deerling Clan. She was whistling at a Hoppip that buzzed happily above her head.

There was a man who wore no shirt but whose impressive chest tattoo seemed reminiscent of a face of some sort. His wares sat in front of him as he slowly scratched the spine of a magnificent serpent of identical markings that lazed in the warm sun. He had the look of Deep Forest folk.

Finally there was a figure in ornate robes decorated with a various feathers, scales, and teeth of Pokemon with deep spiritual power. Their face was totally obscured by a massive skull that had been fashioned into an intricate helmet, massive horns protruding from it into the air. You’d heard of the Marowak Clan’s shamans, of course. Everybody had. Seeing one was a totally different story, however.

Spoiler

Show

Ignore everything I said before. You can nab pokeballs for your starting two mons without dipping into your funds. We can just assume that you have shards or a an artificer item you can craft to trade away as the 'fluff' behind this.

Again, sorry that this was not something on my mind. I shouldn't have posted at 4 in the morning after a fire alarm went off and I was half delirious

Jayce

The journey into the clansmeet was a difficult one. Darius had covered his eye-wrap in a thick paste of mud to further block out light, and Dao created as much shade as he could. However, you could tell that even knowing he was in daylight caused Darius stress. He was also less coordinated than normal, tripping when he would normally step confidently, and almost running into a small child chasing a small tan and red rodent with sparks flying from its body.

Your destination was a moderately sized mud-thatch building on the river that was being watered by several Mudkip to keep the temperature from rising too high. I will stay here today Darius said. There are some who know to look for me here, and many of the Sandsea Shamans are adept at scrying magic in ways that we are not. In fact you could see just the hint of a figure wrapped almost entirely head to toe in a single cloth wrap of fabric in the darkness of the entryway.

However, this space is not one you can enter. Spend today exploring and learning new things. Just as we guide and teach others the ways of the mountain, so too can other clans teach us the lessons from their homes. Remember that if you listen hard enough, there is always something worth hearing.

If you could return after sundown? I do not know that I have another walk in that sun in me, and without you i’m not sure I would be able to find my way. There’s just so much noise here. I feel like I’m among the Whismur clan during one of their warpaths.

[Zelphas]

Eira can't help the jump and slight yelp she lets out as her food begins to attack her with fire from within her mouth. What are these otherlanders doing with their food? This is what you get for eating untested food from a strange fire, the disapproving voice in her head notes. Blinking rapidly to keep tears from streaming down her cheeks, Eira summons one of her icicle claws, popping the tiny bit of frozen water in her mouth to quench the flames.

Weavile, that made it worse! How did putting water on fire make the fire worse?!?

The huge man laughs, offering berries that he claims will help. Eira tries to look at him suspiciously, but the fire in her mouth threatens to overwhelm her. She snatches the berries, throwing them into her mouth in one fluid movement. The fire doesn't recede entirely, but the relief from its lessening is immediate. Eira sighs, then abruptly realizes that she has made herself very obvious.

"Um..." Eira blinks, looking up at the tall man. "Eira Red Claws, Clan Weavile. North of here. Very north." She searches through her pack for a moment, before pulling out a chunk of crumbly whitish material. "I don't have much for trade; this works to attract Stantler and Deerling, as well as some other Pokemon, if you needed to do some hunting..." She trails off, glancing at the fire. "No; maybe something else--" she resumes digging through her pack.

[Llyarden]

Velitus approached the shamans with more than a little hesitance. He'd seen Skiran interact with the shamans of other clans, of course, when they'd met in passing, but this was...somewhat different. Especially when one of the shamans in question was a Marowak shaman. They were near legendary.

Since bothering the Marowak shaman obviously wasn't an option, that left him with just the two choices - the Sawsbuck shaman and the shaman from the Deep Forest. Velitus naturally gravitated towards the more familiar of the two, approaching the elderly woman. "Um, pardon me? Would it be possible for me to have an Apricorn Ball? I have talismans I could give you in return obviously!" he added, hastily, when he realised what he'd said. "Although I don't know if they'd be of any use to you..." He kinda trailed off, part of him already wishing he'd stuck to retelling the Heracross tale.

[Arcran]

Moghu gave a curt nod to Inneq before setting out, his Pokemon walking in near-lock-step behind him. As he walked, he found himself watching the other clans, taking a slightly longer route than the one Inneq had drawn to avoid a few Fire-Type clans. He also found himself trying to inspect these new mushrooms but, upon not recognizing them, gave up. Perhaps, if he was lucky, this Uwale would tell him what the mushrooms were for, and he could gleam a small bit of the Shroom-Brewers' knowledge. More than once Moghu found himself considering just what would happen if he ate one of the mushrooms, but tried to not allow such thoughts to linger.

The Great Mother watches over me, and I am her stalwart shield. Through her all blessings flow, and through her I shall not want, Moghu thought to himself, repeating the mantra until the intrusive thoughts went away.

---

Despite their lack of discipline, Moghu found the Slowpoke clan slightly more comforting than the others he had seen, for no reason other than the fact that their 'tattoos', much like his, were not simply ink upon the body. Like the Paras, the Slowpoke had something within their skin. As he made his way through the camp, Moghu tried to find any pattern in the gems based on either location or size. Even more, the clan was a wealth of Water-Types, which meant safety.

As they arrived, Moghu sent Rella to the stream to soak, keeping Podax close at hand. When Moghu felt the foreign presence in his mind it took every ounce of willpower he had to not cry out, and he desperately hoped that the nearby clan members didn't hear the grinding of his teeth. Why had Inneq sent him here? This was wrong. His mind was his alone, save for when the Great Mother needed to make her will known.

Remembering what Inneq had told him, Moghu took a deep breath, trying to calm his roiling mind, focusing on thoughts of the Great Mother to calm himself. I am called Moghu, the Flame-Hunter said curtly, taking the pouch of mushrooms from his belt. I bring a gift of mushrooms from the Paras Clan. I hope they are to your liking, Moghu adds, avoiding eye contact as he approached to give Uwale the mushrooms.

Spoiler: Focus!

Show

Inneq told me to keep my mind clear, so FOCUS: (3d6)[6]

[CosmicOccurence]

Eira

Nonsense! cried Nathma, waving away your offer of payment. All are welcome at the fire for food and good company. The Clansmeet is a time for us to experience how the others live, and to learn from the wisdom of other tribes. The food here is a gift, provided freely by hunters from the Open Forest. Did nobody tell you when you came in? He began to walk with you around the clearing, pointing out which spits were meant for humans, and which, such as the one you had sampled, were for pokemon with particular tastes or adventurous humans. There seemed to be a constant stream of people in and out of the area, most carrying weapons, and none at all appeared worried, concerned, or even actively monitoring for danger.

Nathma paused his tour, catching his breath and absentmindedly popping another berry into his mouth. It's been a while since I gave a full tour. To think that walk winded me. Too much time lazing around these days I suppose. Anyways, I know little of the Weavile Clan, other than that they live far in the north. What brought you so far south for this Clansmeet? A trade for Fire Pokemon perhaps? Surely not the weather, he grinned, knowing you were probably uncomfortable in the heat.
Though to be honest, this is a bit on the cool side for me. Some of the southern islands get quite hot.

Velitus

The woman’s eyes lit up as you approached, and she leaned forward, her grin full of holes. Talismans you say? her voice cracking and wavering, as if it were the wind itself. From a youngster like you? I thought they trained the folks from your Clan to be storytellers and leaders, not tinkerers like me. When I was your age, I was still wet behind the ears and nowhere near creating any of my own work. And my clan was one of the ones that discovered this junk. She kicked her pack, indicating her wares, though she didn't seem to really mean it.

The Hoppip floated through the air, spinning lazily like one of the seeds of the great trees to the east. It floated onto Hana’s wooden box, sniffing curiously. The woman cackled at her Pokemon’s behavior. Kerrus has no manners. I’d apologize, but neither do I! Despite her words she lured her companion back, and it nestled in her thinning hair.

I take it your friend must be inside there. She fished in her pack and retrieved a few apricorn balls, ranging in color from a deep saturated burgundy to an almost garish yellow. Let’s see what we can do for you. If you tell me a bit about your friend, I can find the most comfortable home for it.

Moghu

A cursory observation showed that there were a few common places the gem was embedded. Most bore the making on the back of their hand, which you could have sworn you saw glow occasionally. A few displayed it prominently in the center of their chest, and a few displayed it on their forehead. Those in the room with you now were all the forehead kind.

As one of the humans took the mushrooms to the Pokemon, the presence in your mind intensified. We thank you Moghu Flame Hunter. I ran out of these several moons ago, and was sad I could not restock earlier. He pulled one of the mushrooms out, colored a light blue and shaped like the lapping of waves, and delicately bit off a piece.

His eyes closed, and the gem on his head began to suck light into it, warping the air around his head. Immediately, all presence of The Great Mother vanished. In fact, all your worries, your concerns, vanished. You felt peaceful, and the urge to simply lie next to the waves all day as they lapped at your feet was strong, though you had never seen the ocean before. You heard sighs as the humans in the room seemed to shudder in bliss. You sensed that you too could experience that bliss.

Now Moghu, I believe there was a matter of payment. Eggs for you to take back to your clan, to help fight the fires would threaten the great mother? Through your link, you felt that this Pokemon held respect, but not reverence for the being known as the great mother. He viewed her as an equal, not a guardian.

[Arcran]

That is agreeable, Moghu chocked out with a nod, forcing down the need to scream. The warrior was desperately trying to force his body to prepare for an attack, rather than relax like Uwale was forcing him to. While the Great Mother had been faint at this distance, Moghu couldn't remember a time when the Great Mother had been completely absent from his mind.

Not since the Dread Inferno, Moghu thought to himself with dread, looking at Uwale with a newfound sense of terror. This thing could sever his connection from the Great Mother, but seemed to need these mushrooms. Why, then, did Inneq trade mushrooms with him? While Fire-types were a threat, the thought of living without the Great Mother's presence shook Moghu to his core. Still, without the Great Mother's presence, Moghu felt the intrusive thoughts once again creeping in. This time, however, the thoughts were not accompanied with a wave of nausea; the thoughts flowed freely, lingering in Moghu's mind far longer than they should have. Before he could stop himself, a question was on his lips, and in the air a moment later.

Uwale, if I may be so bold, what do those mushrooms do? I have never seen their like before.

Almost instantly, a sense of guilt flooded Moghu's consciousness, and the familiar mantra began to echo in Moghu's mind, reminding him of his station.

The Great Mother watches over me, and I am her stalwart shield. Through her all blessings flow, and through her I shall not want.

The Great Mother watches over me, and I am her stalwart shield. Through her all blessings flow, and through her I shall not want.

The Great Mother watches over me, and I am her stalwart shield. Through her all blessings flow, and through her I shall not want.

[CateranEnforcer]

Jayce nodded, a little worried, but actually pretty glad that he wasn't going to be a part of his meetings. That kind of stuff tended to go over his head. "Of course I'll come back for you tonight. I'll do as you say, there is a lot here to learn. Take care Guru!" Even though he was nervous around so many people, the young guide headed off to observe the gatherings.

As he had been taught, he first took a passive interest the goings on, taking a moment to watch and listen. He watched out for the wild youth who had run by earlier and for more like him to stay out of their way. When the coast was clear he closed his eyes and listened. Darius was right though, there was a lot of background noise going on. Still without the wild sights distracting him, he could still pick out some interesting sounds. He felt bad that Darius couldn't see some of this, but he'd traded his sight for some other sort of talents.

He picked up a blade of grass and contemplated it moment. There was a trick he had heard about, but never had the chance try before. He held it between his two thumbs and blew through it like an instrument. After a few tries, he found the sweet spot and he managed to make a high pitched whistle. "Hey guys, give this a try!" Both of the pokemon trailing him took a bit a grass in their own hands to give it a go. The Psyduck and Machop fortunately both had hands of their own to preform this trick, and the three of them struck up a short little tune for a moment before laughing and setting that aside. Finally, Jayce found the courage to being exploring the clansmeet.

Jayce was attracted to the sound of the roasting meat. He thought he was a competent enough of a hunter and he was curious what sort of game they hunted in this faraway land. He was quite skilled in the rocky mountains, but he had never gotten more than a distant glimpse of a place like the deep forest. This was a chance to learn more about the outside world, and Jayce found himself feeling optimistic for the first time in a while. The atmosphere of the clansmeet was infectious.

Spoiler

Show

Perception to have a look and a listen around!

(4d6+2)[22]

[Zelphas]

Eira shrugs and shakes her head at the Shuckle Clansman's question, settling her pack once more on her shoulders. I'm already seen, and he's not hostile; I may as well sit and listen, she thinks to herself, smothering the disapproving voice in the back of her head. She has to fight the urge not to snatch and gorge as the proper foods are shown to her; such a bounty of food is rare in the North, and her instincts all but scream at her to indulge while she can to prepare for leaner times ahead.

Despite herself, Eira feels her eyes widen in surprise at Nathma's complaint about losing his breath and his casual eating of berries. What safe place does he live, that he can sit still for so long and those things grow in such abundance? Then he comments about the heat, and she can't stop herself from speaking. "It gets hotter than this?" she blurts out in surprise, a puff of mist escaping from her mouth. Her cheeks grow ever so slightly pink in embarrassment a moment later, and she looks for a change in subject.

"The elder's business is his own," she says carefully, a lifetime of stern warnings and inherited reverence keeping her from even thinking about mentioning the Great Scrawl in front of an outsider. "I am here to compete, representing my Clan." She looks around, spotting the Stone Circle a short way away. "Over there, I think. was it purple before...?"

Distracted by a thought, Eira looks back at Nathma suddenly, her eyes gleaming. "You said you were from... islands?" she asks, pronouncing the unfamiliar word a bit awkwardly. "I've heard that there's water there that never freezes, water that you can't drink. Is that true?"

[Llyarden]

"Um, we're not leaders," Velitus corrected the older shaman mildly. "We all have our own roles alongside our duty as mediators. Mine is to be a shaman. Or...at least, I'm learning to be." From a pouch in his robes, he produced what looked like a half-finished bracelet of woven grass that had been steeped in some sort of liquid, with a shard of a Nidoran's quill and the tip of an Oddish leaf woven through it. Judging from the fact that both of the Pokemon fragments were tied into the bracelet at one end of it and the rest was still untouched, it evidently wasn't finished. "It's...not very good, but I've been trying to learn to create talismans that can channel the energy of Pokemon attacks away from the one who holds it. I was making this one for my Pokemon."

Even knowing that Hoppip were not carnivores, he still instinctively turned to shield the box from the inquisitive Kerrus. "Yes, she is. I know she's a Fairy, but to be honest, I don't know much about her. I think her species must be rare - at least, she's the only one I've ever seen. I suppose the best way to describe her would be...like honey and milk. I have to keep her in here to avoid other Pokemon trying to eat her - her scent works wonders for luring Pokemon for a hunt, but it has its downsides."

[CosmicOccurence]

Moghu

These mushrooms simply enhance my own abilities. Uwale's voice in your head smelled of quiet days in the sun. A life with no duties and no worries. A life of simple contentment.

And then with the abruptness of a Fearow's attack, his presence snapped back. Suddenly you could feel the mother again, and the nausea was nearly overwhelming as the forced calm washed away with your temporary knowledge of oceans and coral reefs. After a few moments, you returned to normal, at least as normal as life this far from the Mother could ever be.

Sadly the effects are temporary. Uwale's voice was still in your head, though it felt faint compared to before. The humans in the room seemed to be settling down from their Euphoria, looking stunned and tired.

But alas, a deal is a deal hatchling. There are eggs and a few youngsters in Apricorn balls waiting for you next to your Poliwag.

Unless, of course, you'd rather stay with us and live a life of eternal bliss?

Jayce

You impromptu performance drew the attention of a few mothlike Pokemon, who danced in the air around you while you played, before fluttering away into the distance. Doa looked particularly proud of himself, and grinned up at you gleefully. You got the sense that there wasn't much music in the Machoke colonies that dotted the mountains.

Your walk towards the great fire, and the food which could be found there, was an eventful one. You saw men and women dressed entirely in a band of cloth from head to toe, only their eyes showing. Bizarrely, their tattoos were on their hands, and seemed to be not tattoos, but instead paint of some sort.

The great cookfire had some familiar prey. Raticate were fearsome fighters, but were tasty and could feed many people. Apparantley they not only made homes in the mountains, but in the Open Forest as well. A massive hooved carcass smelled of juniper berries and seemed to have vegetables woven into its skin. You even caught sight of a massive pot that must have been carved out of a whole stump. Large purplish plants with eyes bobbed in the stew, and a Charmeleon occasionally dumped a superheated stone into the stew to keep it bubbling.

When you took a moment here to close your eyes and listen, sound began to crash into you like a rock slide. It took a few moments before you began to put aside the background noise and began to pluck out snippets from the world around you:

... skin a Gogat, be sure to leave the berries and vegetation alone. Yes like that! You'll ...
... Soul Clan will test your three souls. To succeed in the trials you must ...
... sure that he can't have gone far. He' barely more than a babe after all ...
... like to see it? With Piya here it's a short flight to the sea. Sometimes ...
... think you could beat me? Let's test that theory ...

You're fairly sure that you could pinpoint any of those snippets of noise, and locate them in the space around you, despite the flow of traffic in and out of the cookfire area.

Eira

Nathma ensured that you ate at least a little bit, claiming that I can't have you thinking all my cooking is like that spice bomb!, and indeed, most of the dishes, while still bursting with flavor compared to your normal fare, was much more palatable.

The man guffawed at the comment about the heat. Yes indeed! And if you lived on Ula'Pele Island, it would really be steaming. Don't understand how some people live on top of a volcano, but they seem happy. He paused. A volcano is like ... like this soup, he pointed to the stew with purplish pokemon that a Charmeleon tended. But far hotter, so hot that the center of its mountain has turned into liquid stone.

At your question about the sea, the man nodded. Never drink water from the ocean. The Mother of Waves is too great for our bodies to consume. Fresh water is as valuable on the islands as fire is in your lands.

He pondered you for a second before fishing in a pouch at his waist. He pulled out an apricorn ball, colored dark green, and pressed one of the runes. In a flash, a Pokemon far larger than even the man appeared. It had brown leathery skin, a neck as long as a Mamoswine's tusk, and berries hanging from its chin. Most astounding though, was that it had massive wings made out of leaves that were thicker and shinier than any you'd seen in the Open Forest.

Speaking of the ocean, would you like to see it? With Piya here, it's a short flight to the sea. Sometimes the trials take folks out to the ocean, so it might be useful to see it before tomorrow begins.

Velitus

The woman nodded at your explanation. Yes, of course. A friend of mine had a Flabebe as growing up, and faced similar issues. No wonder Kerrus is so interested in it.

She snatched the bracelet from your hand and began to examine the workmanship.I'm impressed youngblood. This is quality work. I'd gladly trade for this.. She looked up at you. You clan must be quite proud of one with skills like yourself at such an age. Now, about your ball.

She stashed the bracelet in a pocket and began ruffling around in her bag. After a moment she retrieved a Blue Apricorn ball and twisted it in her hand. She snatched her knife and began to etch a few more runes into it, mostly swirl shapes near where the trigger rune lay. There. That should make sure no scent leaks out, no matter how long she stays in for.

She eyed you for a second, glanced at the pocket where she had stowed the bracelet, and said. Have you considered fostering with another clan before? If you stay with the Sawsbuck for a few moons, I could teach you the basics of my craft. Most of the dolts being raised these days in my clan don't have the patience or talent for crafting. Hunting's all that's on their minds these days, seeing who can hunt down the Great White Horn. And as you can see, I'm no spring Torchic, able to wait for one with talents like yours to arrive in my own clan.

Spoiler: Gen Edu DC 7

Show

The Great White Horn is a fabled Sawsbuck that the clan believes lives in the Open Forest. The clan legend says that it appears once in a generation, and the hunter who successfully hunts it will bring great favor to their family.

[Arcran]

Moghu managed to choke back the wave of nausea as it hit him. Still, despite the fact that he was seeing spot at the moment, the return of the Great Mother's touch was a relief. Even as faint as it was, Moghu did not feel right without knowing She was with him.

Thank you for the offer, Moghu said slowly. The Flame-Hunter could swear he could feel his tattoos squirming just beneath his skin. But I have a duty to my clan, and to the Great Mother. Thank you for the eggs; Water-souls make it much easier to fight fire, Moghu says with a nod, before leaving Uwale's tent, collecting Rella and the payment, and beginning the long trek back towards his camp.

Why would Inneq send me alone to meet that? Moghu thought to himself, trying to ponder what Uwale even was. Even more, Uwale seemed to be fairly familiar with the Great Mother, which felt even odder to Moghu. Whatever Uwale had done to erase his connection to the Great Mother, even temporarily, felt like a threat as great as fire, if not moreso. For much of his life, Moghu had assumed that the clans without Fire-totems were safe, but that was very clearly not the case.

It wasn't until he was nearly back that Moghu realized he'd forgotten to fill the buckets. He hastily called on Rella to fill the buckets before he returned, hoping to hide how rattled he was from Inneq.

Spoiler

Show

Let's just do a pre-emptive Guile to hide how shaken Moghu is (assuming he makes it back to camp): (1d6)[4]

[Zelphas]

Once she is encouraged to eat, Eira eagerly obliges, though she stops herself before her stomach gets too full; being too sluggish to move quickly while you're digesting food is just asking for something to attack you, even if it fights against the idea that food is scarce and so must be consumed as it presents itself.

The concept of a volcano sounds simply impossible to Eira; she can't help the skepticism from showing on her face, though she doesn't contradict the older Clansman. She nods at the mention of precious water, understanding that well enough. Being surrounded by unusable water is something that she is all-too-familiar with in the Far North.

Eira looks up at the enormous leafy Pokemon (More green...), wavering. "...I must be back before sundown," she says finally, taking a hesitant step towards the beast. "Is it possible to make it to the sea and back by then?" Longing and eagerness tinge her voice, but she is firm on her need to be back by sundown. Elder Reith is clearly uncomfortable here; it would be cruel to leave him alone, plus I suppose he would be the eldest member of the 'family' here... she thinks firmly, trying to hold back the urge to just jump on Nathma's Pokemon and go.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Athletics check to mount the Tropius strange Pokemon, assuming that the trip to the ocean will be over before nightfall (DC 10): (3d6)[12]

[Llyarden]

Velitus had to resist the urge to stand up a little straighter at the compliments - they were few and far between, after all, and no matter how much he told himself that he had so much to learn to be worthy of compliments from Reth and the others, there was certainly a part of him that was eager to know that his learning hadn't all been for naught. "Thank you," he said quietly, both for the praise and the Apricorn Ball, which he accepted the Apricorn Ball in both hands, holding it carefully with a certain degree of reverence, examining the runes. Would it be improper to try to figure out how they're made? Deducing what Skiran had done was how he taught me, but -

He almost physically jumped when the elderly shaman offered him a place in the Sawsbuck Clan. "I..." I'd love to, more than anything. If only to get away from them. "I'd be honoured to learn from you, but I would have to consult with my clanmates first." He tried to keep a neutral tone. "Our groups are quite tight-knit, so I would have to be careful to not disrupt anything."

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Pathetic Guile goooo! (1d6)[6] (To hide how much he'd want to accept the offer.)

[CateranEnforcer]

Jayce's ears perked up when he heard the voices speaking about the trials. The rest of his concerns could wait, he needed to know what lay ahead of him. That's what he was really here for after all. He had to put up a good showing for everyone who was counting on him. Still, everything sounded so interesting but he forced himself to focus on only one voice and stood up to go find it.

"Come on guys, we're going by our instinct today. We need to be ready for the trial and make the Clan proud." Jayce was pleasantly surprised how well he could meditate and it gave him a needed boost in confidence. He picked up his spear and dusted himself off. He was a little worried about how his clan would be received since he was aware how irritating his tribe's namesake could be to those unprepared for it.

[CosmicOccurence]

Moghu

Uwale said nothing as you exited, instead carefully storing the mushrooms in a box made of white birch bark. The figures watched you as you left, frowning as though they couldn’t understand why you would refuse such a generous offer.

A large reed-woven basket was waiting for you, clearly designed to be balanced on your head as you had seen some from the Purelake do. It had a bag of apricorn balls and several medium-sized eggs with the same leathery texture as Uwale’s skin.

The journey home was a slow one, making sure you didn’t drop the buckets of water or the basket. Your feet were wet from some slopping water, but you still had more than enough. His Poliwrath had been hard at work, creating a ring of soaked earth around your camp to keep your fire contained in case of an accident. Strangely, you found the nausea fading, as if the Great Mother approved of your dedication to her, even in the face of a force like Uwale.

When you arrived, Inneq watched you work for a few long minutes before he spoke. He seemed somber, perhaps even a bit remorseful. When he spoke however, his voice indicated that he was assuming the role of the leader of the Flame Hunters, teaching one of his charges the ways of their people. He handed you a flint and indicated that, preparations ready, you should light the fire to stew the night’s meal. What lesson did you learn from that trip Moghu? he asked as you worked.

Eira

Nathma assured you that you would indeed be back before dark, and that Piya was The fastest thing these landgrubbers have ever seen!. You were able to leap onto her back easily enough, though the pokemon visibly flinched when your skin touched hers. However, as you settled into a the saddle that was strapped to her back, she settled, and you realized that your ice was particularly disturbing to the creature.

Nathma calmed her and fed her a blue dappled fruit on it that he had produced from one of the many pouches, whispering to her that it would help with the cold. A powerful gift you have there. I’m sure it comes in quite handy living in a place so cold.

With a lurch, Pya took to the skies, drawing quite a bit of attention. As she wheeled higher and higher into the sky, the Clansmeet shrank to become the size of nothing more than a pebble. Nathma seemed totally calm, but the pokemon was constantly shifting about in the air. It was nothing like riding Pebble. The closest analogue you had was when you crossed the great ice river on precarious floes on your journey south.

However, you didn’t fall off, and the journey took only the amount of time for the sun to move a single handspan across the sky. The Spine stretched out far in the distance, a small blot on the landscape, separated from you by the blue of the Purelake, though you heard the northern bits of the purelake froze in the wintertime.

It seemed like no time at all before the ocean came into view. It was vast and never-ending, stretching into infinity in all directions past the coastline. As Piya sunk down to the ground, you noticed that the ground wasn’t hard packed earth, but instead was composed of millions of tiny pieces of dirt that were tannish in color. Nathma dismounted nad sighed, his bare feet sinking into the stuff. Sand. Oh how I miss sand whenever I go island.

Well? What do you think? he said, gesturing out towards the ocean.

Velitus

Tauros Dung! she exclaimed at your explanation. I never understand why some Clans are like that, forcing their members to do this or that. Follow your heart, that’s what we do. We may not be the most powerful clan, or the best with magic, but those born into the Sawsbuck Clan go wherever they feel the grass is greenest.

She eyed your talisman once more. When she spoke again, her voice was quieter. Perhaps though, that’s what’s led to our decline. Not as many of us around as there used to be, and folks have been going missing these past few moons. I worry that by the time you’re my age, there won’t be a Swasbuck Clan anymore. She looked wistful for a second, before shaking her head.

But never mind that. No need for a youngster full of life and vitality to listen to the ramblings of a crone like me. Now, go and get your companion into its new home, and do it far from the cookfires where hungry Growlith hang about. She began whistling, and her Hoppip once more danced through the air playing some sort of game that you didn’t quite understand.

Jayce

As you followed the sound of the voice, some gasps went up from those around you as a massive green and brown pokemon with leaves for wings took to the skies, two people on its back. Their distraction let you slip more quickly through the crowd as you followed the sound of the voice.

First of the tree will test your World Soul. Usually send you out into nature. The year I did it we took a four day hike into the purelake to help clear an infestation of Swalot that were polluting the fishing grounds of a few clans there. Above all else, you've got to make sure that you show reverence for nature. Remember that violence isn't always the answer

As you turned a corner, you saw that an older man and a girl who looked no older than thirteen were sitting around a campfire. Both had inverted triangles under their eyes and wore shaggy black and white pelts. There was a large canine Pokemon of the same coloring and fur curled up next to the fire, napping contentedly while the lesson occurred.

Spoiler

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If you want to stay unnoticed, I'm going to need a Stealth or Guile check depending on if you want to hide from view or in plain sight to 'blend in' with others.

If you want to ID these as Mightyena Clan, it would be a General Edu DC 5, with a roll of 10 or higher giving most of the information from my intro from recruitment.

[Zelphas]

Eira notices the beast's flinch with interest. Large often meant dangerous, but if the Pokemon of the south couldn't stand the cold, she might be able to deal with the larger ones if need be.

The world and stability fell away, and Eira has to fight not to sink icicle claws into the side of the beast for purchase. She finds a tenuous balance after a few long moments, and is finally able to look over the broad leafy wings. Green, and blue, and brown, and grey, she marvels, silently gazing over the world. So little white. How can they stand so much color and shape all around them, all the time?

At first, Eira assumes that the line of blue across the horizon is a large, long river. Then the blue expands. And expands. It doesn't end. Slowly, her eyes grow rounder and rounder. She forgets to balance against the Pokemon's constant shifting for a moment in her awe and nearly catapults over its head as it angles downwards to land.

Upon the ground once more, Eira doesn't respond to Nathma's question, simply staring across the sea to the endless horizon. After a moment, she steps to the waves, walking easily upon the "sand" (it was only slightly different in feel from densely-packed snow). She scoops up a cupped double handful of seawater and stares down at it. After a moment, she frowns, a look of concentration coming across her face.

A few seconds later, a thin film of frost traces over the top of the water in her hands, vanishing in the warmth of the day mere moments after appearing. Eira sighs, letting the water fall back into the rest of the ocean. "It really is water, after all," she murmurs, almost to herself. She looks back to Nathma again, her eyes shining. "I didn't expect it to make so much noise!" she comments finally, waving a hand towards the slow waves crashing against the shore.

[Llyarden]

Velitus kept trying to maintain his neutral expression as the elderly woman spoke - if for no other reason than the fact that he wasn't actually entirely sure how to react. The proper, loyal part of him was angry at her outright insulting his Clan's traditions to his face, but at the same time...he couldn't deny that the way of life she talked about sounded incredibly enticing.

Then the conversation took a slightly more ominous turn. "Missing?" Velitus repeated. That sounded rather different than 'going where the grass was greenest.' But it seemed that that was all the information he was going to get, so instead he said his thankyous and departed, veering around the clearing towards where the majority of the foodstuffs were and looking for something that might be pungent enough that a piece or two would temporarily mask Hana's odour when he transferred her to her new home.

[Arcran]

Moghu sat silently for a long moment, striking the flint with a metallic rock over and over again, carefully watching the sparks to make sure none went astray. When the first sparks caught in the kindling, Moghu skittered backwards, putting a good distance between himself and the flames as the fire slowly began to crackle.

I.. don't know, Moghu said slowly, having no small amount of difficulty finding the words to describe what he had experienced. He was hardly a poet, and describing something so bizarre, so alien, was difficult for him. Part of me wonders if, perhaps, fire isn't the greatest threat to the Clan. Why do we give the Slowpoke a weapon that can sever us from Her? Moghu asks, finding the words as he goes. It feels like a risk, like leaving a trail of dry brush right to a Paras brood cave. What if Uwale decides he could get more of those mushrooms by attacking our lands, rather than trading? he adds, voice rising a bit louder than it should have.

I'm sorry, I should no question your intentions, nor the Great Mother's. The Great Mother knows all, Moghu says, finishing the statement quietly.

[CosmicOccurence]

Eira

This is the Stormwrack, he said, looking longingly at the waves. The noise you hear is the sound of her breath, constantly coming in and out.

He waded into the water with you, and a school of small fish Pokemon, blue with a pink stripe down the side, flitted around your feet, nibbling at. It wasn’t a totally unpleasant feeling to be honest. She’s calm right now, but you must be careful not to disrespect or anger her. When it storms, these waves can rise to the height of four or five men stacked on top of each other.

He bent down and released a few berries into the water, which the fish pokemon eagerly gobbled up. He quietly intoned An offering to you, oh lady of the waves.

As the fish gobbled up the berries, he stared across the water, then suddenly squinted, pointing over the waves. Ah, today she truly does bless us! Watch this.

About two hundred feet out, a Pokemon had burst from the waves, soaring high into the air. It was almost flat, with red circles on its back and large wing-like fins that allowed it to glide through the air in a high arc before diving back into the water. It was followed be another, and another, until the strip of ocean was filled with the forms of these gliding, swimming Pokemon. As the light caught the water on their backs, it arced towards you, creating small prismatic bursts.

Mantyke are a lucky omen, he explained. You hope to see them before any long journey on the water.

Velitus

You arrived at the great cookfire and did some searching. It took a while before you found just the right thing. A small group of islander children, with their necks and chins tattooed a light red color. They had several massive fruits, larger than a small child, colored light yellow and covered in spikes.

They were chopping them open and cutting up the fleshy fruit inside into small pieces. And it smelled terrible. They called it Durian fruit and were happy to share some with you when asked. After all, the food in the clearing was free for all to take. It would not only cover of Hana’s odors, but also prevent any predator from even wanting to come near.

Moghu

Inneq sighed. Moghu, the Flame Hunters are unique among our clan. It is our sacred duty to protect the Great Mother and the mushroom groves of our homeland.

He came up to the fire and moved some moist dirt around to create a more even barrier. Fire is the greatest threat to The Great Mother, and to the Paras who help grow the mushrooms we consume. The fire several years ago should be proof enough of that.

However, it is not the only threat to our clan. Today you realized that, just because a Clan’s totem, and indeed their leader, can quench fire does not make them our allies. Uwale is a useful trading partner. The Great Mother’s relationship with him is in some ways like her relationship with us. She provides the mushrooms, and he provides protective pokemon. However, Uwale, as with the rest of his species, is weak to both Grass and Bug elements, making the Paras in our territory his greatest enemy. He knows this, and will not invade. Especially since he keeps his tribe in such a relaxed state to maintain his leadership. And Uwale was only able to sever the connection temporarily, correct? Even then, if we were closer to the Great Mother, he would not even be able to do that.

He settled onto the ground and pulled out a hollowed-out gourd, which was filled with the sticky mushroom-paste which soothed burn scars. As he began to apply it to himself in his nightly ritual, he continued.

I believe, though the Spore-Speakers, Rot-Hunters, and Shroom-Brewers disagree with me, that it is essential for our clan to know more about the world around us. The Flame Hunters cannot protect the Great Mother unless we know what the world holds. He paused, and you sensed that his tattoo was causing some discomfort at the idea, though the fact that he wasn’t vomiting right now indicated that he was speaking out of a true desire to protect the clan.

The reason I picked you for this honor, Moghu, was because you, more than any other your age, wish to know about life outside the clan. I want to encourage that, for it will make you a better protector.

However, today was a lesson that no matter how wondrous these others seem, that all can be a threat to the clan, no matter their attitude towards fire. Never forget that. As Flame Hunters, we do whatever it takes to protect the clan. And today that meant me sending you to Uwale. I am sorry for the pain it caused you.

[Arcran]

Moghu nodded, mentally kicking himself for forgetting that a Paras could easily rend any Pokemon of the Water-Type. That was why he had a Poliwag and a Sandshrew, after all: capable of fighting flames, but incapable of fighting Paras.

I... understand. Thank you for this honor Inneq, I will do my best to live up to it, Moghu says, noting Inneq's discomfort and hoping to avoid upsetting his own tattoo. Are there any other clans like the Slowpoke I should be wary of? Clans of Flying and Fire are obviously dangerous, but I would never expected a threat from a Water Clan, Moghu asks, scanning the nearby camps to see what Clans were closest. Uwale was relatively safe, as Inneq had just mentioned, but what other clans would be a surprise danger? Do we know how other Grass Clans in the Deepwood defend themselves from fire?

[Llyarden]

"Ack...this has got to do the trick..." Velitus had tried various methods to mask Hana's scent in the past, but nothing had really worked in any way that was practical. It was ironic, perhaps, that he had only come across this 'Durianfruit' now he barely needed it. I wish we could collaborate and share like this all the time.

He drifted back to the outskirts of the clearing, safely away from the fire spits where the carnivorous Pokemon were watching and willing someone to drop a piece of meat, before scattering the horrible fruit around in a small circle and kneeling down, setting Hana's box on the ground so he could open it in one hand and have the Apricorn Ball ready to perform its magic in the other.

The sweet, berry-milk-honey scent of the little fairy overpowered even the Durianfruit at this close proximity - and he could only hope that that was only because of how close he was - as Hana floated out of her box when he opened it, drifting as a single, thin mass like a leaf on the wind in stark disobedience of the light air currents in the area. It wasn't often he could let her out, and he didn't want to begrudge the diminutive Pokemon at least a little time in the fresh air.

Of course, the other reason he was giving her a little freedom was that he wasn't entirely sure how to use the Apricorn Ball. Resh, Ineya and Orren all had at least one Apricorn Ball each, but of course they'd neither shown him how they worked nor concerned themselves with whether he wanted one.

He pointed the Apricorn Ball in the direction of Hana, who swivelled in midair to look at it curiously, and was a little disappointed when it didn't do anything. "Uh...go? Return?" Do you entreat the spirit of the Apricorn it once was?

[CateranEnforcer]

Jayce doesn't look up to stare at the pokemon as he goes towards the voice. His ear tell him all he needs to know about the powerful flaps of it wings as the large pokemon takes to the sky. No he was focused on his target. Anything to help him preform to the fullest when the time came. heed needed all the help he could get.

He finds the pair talking, and at first he is unsure if he should interrupt. At this point, Jayce was out of his element and he fought his instinct to hide. These weren't his lands so he should be respectful. If that advice was true, he felt he'd have no problem respecting nature, that was a core tenant for his clan as well.

Not wanting to be rude, but wanting to hear more, Jayce hovers around a bit longer though he makes sure to call attention to himself. "I'm sorry, I don't want to interrupt. I overheard a bit of your conversation and found it interesting. I don't know what to expect in the coming days either." He keeps a respectful distance from the slumbering pokemon, being in no mood to anger it.

[Zelphas]

Eira jumps at the fish nibbling her feet, splashing slightly before she notices Nathma isn't reacting. She forces herself to endure the nibbles, realizing quickly that they aren't painful or even uncomfortable.

Eira gasps at the odd, flat, undulating Pokemon sailing by, watching with rapt attention. "Strange; I don't plan to travel over unfrozen water any time soon," she says softly, simply enjoying the terrain. Her practical mindset takes over, and she begins speaking without thinking through her words. "Perhaps I should plan a detour to the Purelake on the way back to the North, so as not to waste the blessing," she muses, stooping down to idly stir at the water. She is not consciously putting out enough power to freeze the moving, salty sea around her, but the fish begin to shy away from her hand anyway, disturbed by the sudden drop in temperature.

[CosmicOccurence]

Moghu

Every clan, Moghu. You should be wary of every. Single. One. Of. Them. No matter how benign they seem, no matter how nonviolent they appear, every single one is a potential threat to The Great Mother. So learn about them, befriend them, use this opportunity to sate your curiosity. But in the back of your mind, always remember that you may one day need to crush them for the Clan.

He sighed, quietly mixing mushrooms into a simple broth and beginning to cook. As for the Grass Clans, most take some precautions, as do all in the forest. They aren't enough, but they don't understand that. The thing you must understand, is that most of these clans are different from us. Some live alongside their totems. Some almost never interact with theirs, instead using their totem as inspiration. None, to my knowledge, are as devoted or dependent on their totem as we are to The Great Mother.
They do not have the same connection, nor the same devotion to avoiding their destruction. We are special, and we are special because The Great Mother chose us. A fire for them would spell an inconvenience, maybe some lives lost. To us, fire means the very destruction of our being..

He sat silently for a moment, waiting to hear any questions. When those were answered and the soup was ready, he prepared a bowl for you. And how, Moghu, are you feeling about the trials tomorrow?

Velitus

The Durianfruit did, indeed seem to be masking the scent, for not even the birds which would normally flock down seemed to notice Hana. Some of the humans passing by did however, and you got mixed reactions to the poor attempts to activate the apricorn. A girl from the Fearow Clan, marked by a band across her nose and characteristic feathers in her hair, snorted in amusement and continued walking.

However, one girl did stop at the edge of your circle. She was dressed in no way that you'd ever seen. Her jerkin was covered with tiny pieces of fallen stars that glittered and caught the light, clinging softly when she moved. It was horridly impractical for hunting or remaining hidden in the forest, but it made for quite a sight when in a camp like this. The bottom of her chin was inked a solid ochre-yellow.

That's not how they work you know. There's a runic trigger, which activates with Name Soul of the tree the apricorn came from and the tree it will become. Those two souls, existing in harmony, create a doorway. May I come in?, she glanced at your circle of fruit. I don't know much about the rituals of the Open Forest, and I don't want to interrupt if I'm not wanted.

Spoiler: Gen Ed DC4

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She's from the Chingling Clan in the Deep Forest

Spoiler: if you got an 8

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They are mostly gatherers, not hunters, and channel power using the pieces of fallen stars. They carefully construct their jerkins to have a unique ring that identifies them compared to other clan members.

Jayce

The two looked up at you as you walked up to them. The Pokemon seemed totally unconcerned, though it did open a single eye to glance at you before returning to wha seemed to be a peaceful sleep.

You must be one of the chosen from Zubat Clan, he said. I spent a summer with the Axew Clan, and some of your people guided me through tunnels on the way there and back. he explained. We are of the Mightyena Clan. I am Weil, and this is Beshelt.

Hello, Beshelt said. It is good to meet you. Did your pack-mates accompany you here? It feels odd that I cannot participate with them. We're never alone.

The man waved you over.Your people guided me when I was a youth, so I suppose I should return the favor.
Come and sit with us. Should I start from the beginning, or did you already hear about the Trial of the World Soul?

Eira

The Purelake, Nathma said, and for the first time you heard a hint of superiority in his voice, is nothing more than a puddle, and is about as dangerous as a Pikipek. I would advise you not let the waves hear that comparison again. In fact, he began to wade out of the water, waving for you to come with him. You noticed that all the fish had vanished, even from around his feet where they had been happily swarming not a minute before.

Best not to tempt fate. She's been known to yank hard all of a sudden when peeved, and I'm assuming you don't know how to swim. It would be a death sentence where you're from I expect. He glanced at the sky, looking at the sun. In fact, it might be time to begin heading back. Still have a bit of time, but she might send a Kingler. Apparently, the ocean had quite the temper.

Spoiler: Intuition DC 6

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While there was definite superiority in his attitude towards the Purelake, he was also genuinely worried for your safety if you stayed near the waves right now. It seemed the islanders took comparisons to the purelake with deadly seriousness, along with their fear and respect of the ocean.