[SEASON 2] The Stalkers RPG - Main Action and Team Status [ENDED... FOR NOW]

[Spiderc]

Sounds like there's more things of note at the Balek Manufacturing Plant. I never did finish searching that place so I should go back and sweep another set of floors.

{Search: (48c) Balek Manufacturing Plant (Abandoned): Floors 21-30}

[azura evley]

good night, me sleeping. no one likes having 2 sanity

[Neo Emolga]

The Platinum Tower Skyscraper (43h) Floors 71-80 (specifically floor 77)

You decide to pay Silvercoal City's largest skyscraper a visit.

Not much has changed recently, though at night, the skyscraper definitely looks a bit more nefarious than it does during the day. You find your way to the elevator, which arrives very quickly and welcomes you in once the metal doors slide open.

When you get to the 71st floor, all kinds of smaller office suites for varying smaller businesses are here from recruiting firms, insurance agents, travel agents, financial advisors, law offices, and the like. Most of the offices here are still in good condition, but not a whole lot of them are still active and they're definitely not very active at night. Seeing a Pokémon still working here at this late hour is extremely rare, but you do come across one Charmeleon and one Machoke still working late hours to get work done before a deadline despite all that is going on with the Stalkers.

When you get to the 77th, you keep a special lookout for anything out of the ordinary. At first, it doesn't seem like all that much is unusual, but you catch a very faint trace. And then, next to a fancy oak you find a nicely designed cello that definitely doesn't look like it's been here as long as everything else. Oddly enough, it seems like it was simply placed behind the desk, as it looks like whoever placed it here really didn't think anyone would visit this place any time soon, especially since the company, Golden Target Financial Group, looks like it closed its doors until further notice. Despite the cello's nice design, it still gives you vibes about the Stalkers. That same, icky, creepy spidery feeling that other Stalker relics do.

Item [Cheerful Cello] has been added to the Team Inventory.

You decide to check out the remaining floors of the building, but you don't find anything unusual that stands out. It seems these remaining floors were used by a broadcasting company called Takeapic, but things seem to have fallen quiet here for now as well.

Once you have what you need, you take the elevator back down, wondering just what exactly the cello is for...

Guzma the Wigglytuff (M: Normal/Fairy)

Health: 5/5
Sanity: 4/4
Perk: Science | Learned Abilities: Restrain
Failed Assassinations: 0/2

[Neo Emolga]

Search (56) Vale Housing Project

The Vale Housing Project is a complex of many levels, and you can tell that it is inhabited mostly by citizens of a lower class status. The exterior appears uncared for, as is evident by the graffiti, damaged walls, a few broken windows and the surrounding land. There are few plants to be seen at all, and an abundance of rubbish littered around the area. It disturbs you to know that those who live here seem to have little regard for their homes, despite not having much else to choose from.

You try to cast it from your mind as you pass a grimy wall and head to the back of the property, where it seems many hidden things tend to rest. After searching for a good few minutes, you find nothing of interest, but then you hear a strange sound. You pause, wondering where it came from. You are at first afraid that you have been spotted sneaking around, but you are calmed by the reminder that you are invisible to those around you. You use the knowledge to your advantage and begin to listen harder for the sound, eventually following it to a swinging cage hanging from a tree a fair distance above you. You can faintly make out the form of a Bunnelby, which immediately makes you think that you've found one of the missing siblings who one of your teammates had recently found out about.

The Bunnelby seems to have given up and stopped making sounds, but you begin to climb the tree and head up towards him anyway. At first he asks who is there and appears visibly afraid, but when he sees you after you make yourself visible, he looks relieved albeit puzzled.

"A-are you here to rescue me?" he asks, and you nod, trying to calm him down as you explain that your teammate met his brother. "O-oh, thank Arceus! S-someone thought it would be funny to set up a trap and I got caught in it... Then three kids showed up to laugh at me! One of them - the Skrelp - he threatened to pour bleach onto me, just for fun!"

You make a note of the information and continue up the tree until you reach the Bunnelby. After you reach the cage and manage to free him, he latches onto your horn and you descend the tree trunk. Once you're both on the ground again, he hops off, splaying himself out on the soil.

"Land! Glorious land!" he shouts, almost weeping. He then gets to his feet and thanks you for your help, introducing himself as Sigra and asking where his brother is. You direct him to the Newhill Sewage Plant, where his brother Udim is waiting for him. "Thank you...thank you so much," he says, pulling an Oran Berry from what seems to be nowhere. "Please take this," he insists, shoving it into your chest until you take it. He thanks you again and bounds off, heading for his brother.


MISSION UPDATE: 1/5 Bunnelby siblings found!

Item [Oran Berry] was added to the Team Inventory.

You search the rest of the property but find nothing around the exterior, deciding to head back to base. You're glad that you were able to rescue Sigra, even if there are still four siblings left to be found. Eventually, you think, you'll find them all.


Carly the Heracross (M: Bug/Fighting)

Health: 5/5
Sanity: 3/4
Perk: Science | Learned Abilities: Rescue/Escape
Failed Assassinations: 0/2

[VeloJello]

Hi, there; good to meet you! I'm doing my best to make sure that no one gets hurt by the Stalkers this evening. Would you mind if I watched over you for the evening? No Stalkers will get through me, I guarantee it.

Protect 71. Caagu the Numel.

[Neo Emolga]

resting time, gotta make sure I'm in good shape for stalker hunting.

As the night falls, you decide to play it safe and use the time to get some rest and relaxation. Not to mention there are still a few stings of pain that you want to get rid of as well. As you settle down into one of the hideout's many beds, you get tucked in, relax, close your eyes, and drift off to sleep.

Amia has recovered 1 Point of Health and 1 Point of Sanity.

When you wake up tomorrow, you definitely know you'll be much more refreshed and ready to get back into the fray.

Amia the Roserade (M: Grass/Poison)

Health: 4/5
Sanity: 3/4
Perk: Lockpick | Learned Abilities: Rescue/Escape
Failed Assassinations: 0/2

[sammy0295]

Search (78b) Valcon Glassworks Floors 11-20.

[Neo Emolga]

Can I use Diplomacy on Pormalu and tell him I'm very sorry for what my associate did?

You decide to head to the Pormalu Residence, hoping to get on good terms with the Arcanine again. As it's night, you find yourself having to wake him up, and after he opens his eyes, you can tell he's not exactly happy to see you and waking him up in the middle of the night was the icing on the cake.

"Must you?" he asks with a dour look on his face.

But before he continues, you interject with the reasoning behind what happened and that you still need his help. Pormalu sighs, looks away, and tries to inform you about the truth.

"I don't know what Ovben told you, but he's a felon and a murderer." Pormalu tells you sternly. "Definitely not someone to be trusted. I've been trying to get him imprisoned for months, but he is exceptionally good at escaping. And it sure doesn't help that his body is made up of slippery goo. The only thing we had on him was that criminal record, and now even that's gone!"

You explain to Pormalu that it was an honest mistake, and the intentions of the Emissaries were to help anyone in their time of need, especially if they had evidence against the Stalkers. You inform him that he played it as if he was in desperation and needed help. You also explain about the many other requests for help that other citizens around Silvercoal have given to the Emissaries, and that at a time like this, it's not always easy to discern the honest and good intentions from the malicious ones.

"Well, you're not the first one Ovben has tricked," Pormalu sighs. "I highly doubt he has anything on the Stalkers for you like he said he did. Once he probably overheard your mission, he used that to his advantage like he does with everything. Do yourself a favor and stop talking to him. In fact, if you find out where he is, let me know and I'll deal with him personally."

You apologize to Pormalu and explain it was a total misunderstanding and that at first, it seemed like Ovben's reasoning were genuine.

"Well, you should have still come to me first, but what's done is done," Pormalu mutters. "Look, you're right about one thing. We and the rest of this city can't afford to be on bad terms like this. I don't like what happened, but I see what the problem is. It wasn't you or I, but Ovben being an opportunist and a creative lair. Let's forget about him for now and focus on what's important. Since I can see it that you're definitely not going to make a mistake like that again, let's forget what happened and do what we can to save this city while we still have the chance."

#10 Pormalu the Arcanine has become COMPLIANT

"We'll work together on this in the morning," Pormalu tells you, looking tired again, but with a hardened and optimistic side grin. "Trust me, with the days I've been having lately, I need this sleep. Don't forget you need time to clear your head as well, or else these Stalkers will get in there as well. Trust me, don't think I don't know what they're capable of. Well, goodnight now."

You decide to head back, happy that Pormalu is willing to work with the Emissaries on good terms again.

Laura the Umbreon (M: Dark)

Health: 5/5
Sanity: 4/4
Perk: Diplomacy | Learned Abilities: Escort/Protect, Exorcism
Failed Assassinations: 0/2

[Suicune's Fire]

I'm taking the numbers 47 and 33 to the {Secured Computer Terminal: Four-Digit Password} at (77i) Floors 81-90, (Abandoned rooftop penthouse).

Ready for action!

I remember...she was one of the nastiest people in school...

You begin you ascent to the Skywatcher Skyscraper, fully aware that you were about to uncover the identity of the Stalker known as Philter. You had uncovered many things about this evil creature; it had possessed a Pokémon of Silvercoal City and attacked its victims under the guise of a Maractus. It would plant seeds into its victims' brains which would kill the victim within minutes. This had been seen on multiple occasions, and only one personal recount had placed a Maractus at the scene. However, Nairek, the town's only Maractus resident, had denied all involvement and appeared to have no connection to a Stalker. Despite the Emissaries' thorough investigation, that particular lead proved fruitless.

She would bully me day in and day out, so when Philter said I could be someone else...it chose to impersonate her to torment me and frame her...

You take the shaky lift to the top of the building, already beginning to fell your stomach churn as you recall the journey you and your teammates had taken to reach this point. Once you are at the top, you watch the doors slide slowly open and then stop. You have to push your fluffy body through the small gap, then you stumble out in the open, making the short walk across the roof to the penthouse door. The spores from Zeal's visit have mostly blown away, but some still remain. You make an effort to avoid inhaling them as you enter the building.

It all sounded so appealing. I hated my life, I hated my job, and I hated myself. I thought this world might be better off without me in it... Now I know for certain it needs to be rid of me.

You move through the room, remembering the four numbers 4733, and try to avert your gaze from the scribbles donning the walls, floor and numerous papers. You don't know if it was like this when Zeal entered the room, but much of the interior looks tossed, thrown aside, and even broken. You get the feeling that someone was in here recently, and that's when you notice it: the laptop is gone.

PLEASE rescue me from this hell, from this torture and this prison. I'm a killer now, a disgusting, horrific beast capable of endless death. If I'm not stopped soon...Philter will make me kill until there is no-one left.

A frown knots your face as you search the room, suddenly scared that you won't be able to find it, when you realise that there's a small light coming from underneath a carpet behind a desk. You remove it to find a recent hole with the laptop inside, still retaining a small sliver of power. You pull it out and set it on the desk, relief flooding you as you open the laptop. The image of the mutilated body parts of various Pokémon jumps out as you as you enter the four-digit passcode which you have burned so deeply into your mind that you could never again forget it.

4 4 3 7

Logging you in...

You flick your head back and forth, feeling the sickening feeling of Stalker essence begin to seep through your skin. It drills at your mind and pulls on your feathers as you try to ignore it, focusing on the laptop. Once it logs in, the entire screen turns black before the taskbar loads. There is nothing on the desktop, but you begin searching through folders. At first there is nothing to be found, so you plug in a device that you brought with you which had been used on Uru's computer to retain deleted files. It proves to be useful when documents recently discarded reveal themselves to you. There is one written document and one image which remain, but everything else is corrupt and inaccessible.

First you open the document, finding that most of the text is distorted and illegible. You scroll down, noting that it is tens of pages long, but you can only pick out certain sentences as you go along. It is a very fragmented recount of the host's process, how Philter approached them, and their feelings about it. It is more than clear that whomever was picked by the Enthraller known as Philter was tricked into believing that it could help, and took advantage of their vulnerable state. You gather that the Enthraller purposely chose an individual susceptible to manipulation. What the civilian thought was an innocent supernatural deal was, in fact, a deadly and disastrous pact of destruction and certain doom.

I'm sorry, Satia! I'm sorry, Rusco and Pillin and Garret, and everyone else it made me kill! I never wanted this... Someone must stop me before it's too late. PLEASE!

You finish reading the document, still unsure of the Stalker's identity. Suddenly an errors pops up on the screen, and you try to close it, but nothing happens. More errors spring up, and, unsure what to do, you force quit out of the application and quickly open up the image. Suddenly a projector overhead buzzes to life and spits out an image on the desk in front of you. You realise that you're looking at a hologram which the host must have created in an effort to reveal themselves as Philter. You stare at the image and take in the information you see, realising that the image was likely developed while the host was resisting the Enthraller's control. You imagine that the deleted documents were the result of Philter taking back control, but before it did so, the host was able to create the flashing holographic image...

Spoiler:

Before the laptop is completely overrun with errors that prevent you from taking any further action, you quickly copy over the image and the document to the USB you brought. The image copies over, but the document encounters errors and you are forced to remove the USB in the process. The laptop sparks, coughs, and dies. It no longer responds to anything you try to do to it, so you leave it where it is and return to base with your potentially infected USB...

...and your newly acquired information.


Ciel the Mega Altaria (M: Dragon/Fairy)

Health: 5/5
Sanity: 4/4
Perk: Security | Learned Abilities: Escort/Protect
Failed Assassinations: 0/2

[Suicune's Fire]

I'll open the


Object {Locked Storage Room: Key Slot, +Rock Type+} at (89b) Macanan Textile Manufacturing Floors 11-20

You approach the Macanan Textile Manufacturing plant, wasting no time with its exterior or irrelevant floors and head directly for floor 17, where Sam reported that the door in question rested. As you walk through the room leading to the specific location you're heading for, you begin to feel what you imagine Sam felt while in this same location. The swirling mess in your gut feels somehow pleasant but powerful. It's as if there's a presence here that's unnatural but extremely enlightening. You've heard recounts of the other Emissaries' experiences around Stalker related places or items, and while you believe it contains a similar level of power, you know that this is different. Almost the complete opposite.

You warily approach the locked door, noting the key stuck in the lock, and then your eyes fall upon the type conductor to the right of the door. It is a strange looking contraption but somehow you know exactly what it needs, and begin to summon an ancient power from deep within. Somehow you are able to conjure tangible rocks which you carefully manoeuvre to the device. It magically melts through the outer casing and connects with the strange looking light within, which brightens into a brown-gold colour. You can hear faint sizzling as the lock clicks, and, not knowing what you are about to uncover, you reach for the door handle.

The door creaks open, revealing a very ordinary room. However, an immediate glow grabs your attention and the sensations trembling through your body draw you into the room. You take a few steps in, discovering a swirling mass of dark energy behind assorted old equipment and furniture. The feeling of calm begins to morph into sickening disgust, whispering to you in voices loud and soft, gentle and rough. You feel as if you are in no physical danger, however, so you wade through the discarded objects in the room and round a large cabinet to come face to face with the swirling dark energy encasing what looks to be an unconscious Pokémon lying helplessly on the floor.

At first you think this Pokémon may be some sort of horrific embodiment of an Enthraller, but three things stand out to you: this Pokémon, with her long celadon head appendages, rose legs and white face, is a Tsareena, and the suspect list provided by Mew - which you know is indisputable - does not mention a Tsareena. Secondly, this creature seems to be at the mercy of the swirling shadow encasing her motionless body, and while you can see that she still lives, she appears to be barely hanging on. If this was an Enthraller, it would be revelling in this sickening energy, not suffering at its mercy. Lastly, the heavenly aura you felt so strongly before detecting the shadowy essence surrounding this stranger seems to be emanating directly from the Tsareena herself. There is no mistaking that this Pokémon is unusual and perhaps even supernatural, and the feeling you receive from her matches perfectly with the compelling feeling that Quei's armband gave you when you spoke with him days ago. It also aligns with what some of the other Emissaries have reported feeling after finding certain objects in Silvercoal City.

You snap out of your thoughts and elect to try to break this Tsareena free from whatever seems to be holding her. You know that, with Mew's protection, you're safe from whatever Enthraller-based trap or attack this is, but after a few minutes of trying to wake the Pokémon or dispel the shadowy field, you realise that nothing is working. It appears as if the shadow energy is becoming weaker the longer you spend around it, but you know that you cannot spare the time to sit around with this Pokémon not knowing if your efforts will amount to anything in the end. Instead, you decide that the Grass type needs medical attention. Perhaps one of your fellow Emissaries needs to use their healing abilities to restore her health first before any other course of action is taken.

Object {Mysterious Tsareena: <First Aid>} was added to the Team Records.

You spend another half hour with her in case there's anything else you think of, but when you are convinced that the shadow energy has shrunk as much as possible by your influence, you elect to depart and leave the rest up to someone with the ability to restore vitality to this mysterious, fallen Pokémon.


Sarah the Archen (S: Rock/Flying)

Health: 4/4
Sanity: 3/4
Perk: Repair | Learned Abilities: Investigate
Failed Assassinations: 0/2