Stalkers RPG Main Action and Team Status [SEASON 4]

[Suicune's Fire]

After that last experience. I need a little break. So let's go visit and search the (49) Salvage Theatre!

You have heard of the theatre in town, but have not yet visited it. As a result, you figure that it might be good to go and visit, so that's what you set out to do for the night. As you arrive, you decide to first search the exterior, so you head around the side of the theatre building to begin your search.

As you're looking around, you manage to find some splinters here and there, and pocket them.

Added $23 SP$ to Sparkstrike's Inventory.

You continue on, noting the caravans nearby, and stop when you smell a faintly repugnant stench. It strengthens as you follow it, and eventually end up at the bottom of the theatre's wall. Something is stuck to it, so you begin to peel it off, only to realise that it's skin of some kind. You're disgusted, but you can feel that it gives off something vaguely sinister, so you figure that you should probably bring it back to base just in case.

[Slimy Skin Patch] was added to the Team Inventory.

Once you finish scoping the exterior, you head inside the theatre. You can see that there is not a play on tonight, but instead, you enter to find a small session of improvisation happening. Upon the stage you see a yellow oricorio opposite a pignite. The electric/flying type is explaining something to the pignite while a small, scattered audience watches, gathered around in the seats closest to the stage, until the two then back up, shake their limbs in preparation, then begin a scene.

You use this as an opportunity to scout the interior, heading between the rows of seats in search of anything noteworthy. During your search, you notice the small figure of a one-eyed pikipek watching you from atop a taller chair near the back of the theatre, where you entered. They look bored, and start making faces at you. You wait a moment, make a few faces back, and then vanish into a side room to continue searching. While you're rummaging through some of the props, old furniture, and paperwork, you come across a tipped page. Curious, you angle it so it catches the dim light coming in from the main hall.



=Dee'mang's Diary Entry= was noted in the Team Records.

You recognise both the names of Samba and Dee'mang, but before you can think of who they are, the little pikipek shows up in the doorway and you quickly turn so the page is behind your back. He asks in a very young voice what you're doing, and you stammer a little before making up something about wanting to see the theatre. He cocks his head, but doesn't think more of it as he offers you a tour. You accept, figuring it would be a good way to search the rest of the theatre, and he leads you out into the hall. You see from the corner of your eye that the oricorio on stage notices you with the pikipek, but continues on with the scene she's performing.

Although the small pokémon leads you through the remainder of the rooms, you do not find any further things that pique your interest. You thank the pikipek for showing you around and take your leave, noting that he seems fairly discouraged to see you go.


Sparkstrike the Pikachu (S: Electric)

Health: 8/8 | Sanity: 8/8 | Purity: 6/12
Battle Stance: Fight
Perk: Medicine
Trait: Lucky

[Suicune's Fire]

I will investigate Fabulous Furnishings and see if my vision pointed me in the right direction.

The vision you received from using Clarivoyance led you to Fabulous Furnishings, the store which you currently stand outside of. The interior is completely dark, as are most of the shops in the Salvage Bazaar. You inhale deeply, preparing yourself for anything you might find, and begin to search the exterior.

Despite extensive searching, there is nothing particularly interesting to find around here, which makes you start the doubt the vision. Perhaps Yasha didn't teach you properly, somehow? But you're so sure that it worked at the time, and it showed you this exact building. The exterior yields nothing, so you decide that you need to find a way inside instead. Once you do, you begin to scour the store, using small sparks of electricity here and there to illuminate your surroundings.

After looking through almost the entire store, you finally catch a scent of something foul. You follow your nose until you come across a loose feather, which you think is peculiar. You pick it up and continue looking for the source, eventually coming across another small bunch of feathers attached to what looks to be a cutout of skin. You frown, reaching down to get a better look, when you realise that this is, in fact, a piece of skin that has been cut out of a pokemon. The sight disturbs you more than you think it should, and you have to stop to clutch at your head as your disgust swells and you feel sick in the stomach.

Lita the Pikachu suffers 2 points of damage to Sanity.

You try to shake yourself free of it, but the image has stuck, and you cannot help but feel repulsed by this thing. However, knowing it's related to the Stalkers somehow, you bring it with you.

[@Feathery Skin Patch@ 2S DMG] was added to the Team Inventory

The rest of the store does not contain anything else relevant to you, so you return back to base. You suffered a bit during this search, but at least you know that your vision was accurate.


Lita the Pikachu (S: Electric)

Health: 8/8 | Sanity: 3/8 | Purity: 12/12
Battle Stance: Fight
Perk: Security | Abilities: Clairvoyance
Trait: Nimble

[Suicune's Fire]

(I squeaked IRL a little when I saw you actually went back and updated the post. I was not expecting that so YAY!)

"That's the second person I've heard concerned about this corruption around Trinket Tower... I suppose I should go over there and check it out."

Search Trinket Towers and commune with the sweet dark energies that reside there! Simple as that.

Returning to Trinket Tower, where you can no longer see Vex perched, you can see the swirling darkness looping around the bottom of the tower. It extends out into the reaches of the property, but not upwards. You figure that even this strange shadowy energy has limitations. You also hear the words of both Vex and Timpani ringing in your ears about this menacing energy. For them and for everyone else who lives in this building, would be a blessing to be rid of it. Holding this at the forefront of your mind, you roll your shoulders and jog on the spot for a moment before charging in.

As soon as you touch the first shadow, your mind is beset with fear. Goosebumps cover your skin and your hair stands on end as you swallow hard and feel your bones start to shake. You feel yourself surrounded by evil and malice, chilling you to your core. It's as if your very soul quakes as you step through the bitter shadows, eyes flickering from side to side to try to keep you safe and alert you of any immediate danger. That proves useless as something claws at your ankle, but when you look down to meet it, there is nothing there. Not even your skin looks damaged, but you can still feel a burning sensation. Then your hand is bitten, sending shooting pain up your arm. Once again you turn to see nothing where something should definitely be.

Your breathing quickens and your steps become unpredictable as the fog could of darkness around you sparks with red, blue and purple, and the invisible clawing, gnawing and scraping continues. It feels like something is crawling through your veins and up into your head, where it stews and begins to spread to every other part of you. The feeling is terrifying and må̧͔̥̻̺̪̙͑͋̃ͅͅddeni̴̯͓̝̼͊͗͐ͫͭ͋ͮ̆ͪ͝ng҉̼ͅ, and you try with everything you have to shake it off or will it away, and yet n͚̩o҉̟͇͎͕ͅt̨̞̺h̘̰͕̜ͅį͔̙̣n̛̼̦͔͕̬̯g ͇̜̦̝̗changeś̶̲͈̝̙̤̥̝̗͇ͭ̓ͭ̈́͢.

I̠͔͚͚͚ͯ̌ͣ̊̆̑ ̵̶̭͓̖̮ͫ̊ͪ͡wi̴̯͓̝̼͊͗͐ͫͭ͋ͮ̆ͪ͝l̸̞l̪͎̟̝̕ ̥͢h̹̱̥̭̰̘͟a͓̞̭͉̮̖v̴̵͖̤͙ͤ̈̋̈́̆̋͘e̵̗͈͓̗͉̓̏ͩ͛̊͛ͪͪ ̡͇̬̱̖̝̲̑ͣ̇y̶̬̝̞̠͔̻͗̍̀̃ͥ̅o̦͎̲̖̙̬̖ͯ̇ͫ̔̂͗̈́u̳̟̫̬̟͉͈̤ͬ͌ ,͉͔̭̾ͤ ̹̹̟̰̳͈̦̂̂͞Ë̺̩̯̞͙̯̖͎̏̃̽̂͗͒͡ͅm̨̱̖̣̭̼ͣͨi̠ͬ͑̈̿̓ͥ̚sså ̧͔̥̻̺̪̙͑͋̃ͅͅr̈ͥ̌̓ͤ̍҉̴̞y̒҉̢̝̦̜̘͎͓̲͎.̵̖̝̩͊ͯ͋

Nicklefool the Mr. Mime suffers 4 points of Purity damage.

Your mind churns as you try to return to some semblance of normalcy, but you simply cannot shake free any of the awful feelings running rampant in your insides. Your fear swells, but you try to redirect it, finally managing to have some sliver of success as you come upon the side of the building, relieved to see something tangible after what feels like an eternity. You reach up, feeling the bricks, and follow them across until you come to a set of broken pipes seeping steam and some kind of disgusting liquid. The shadows seem to be concentrated here, and you wonder if this somehow has any relation to their presence here.

{Failing Pipes: <Repair>} was noted in the Team Records.

You can feel your limits being reached quickly, so you will yourself to make your way towards the border of the property, all the while feeling the darkness trying to hold you back. You somehow manage to break free, bursting from the bulk of the energy and wading through the remainder of it to spill out onto the dusty earth far enough away from its grasp. Your breath is frantic for a few more minutes before you manage to calm yourself down, your regular mindset slipping back into place. You feel like you lost a part of yourself while you were under the influence of the shadows, but now that you are free, your body seems to be relaxing a little more.

A long sigh escapes your mouth as you consider that you do not have the means to fix those strange pipes, but you hope that someone at the clubhouse does.


Nicholas "Nicklefool" Foligan the Mr. Mime (M: Psychic/Fairy)

Health: 10/10| Sanity: 8/8 | Purity: 6/10
Battle Stance: Fight
Perk: Diplomacy
Trait: Charming

[Suicune's Fire]

I want to visit (46) The Glaring Spider

The Glaring Spider is open until partway through the night, as Salvage Keep's only proper restaurant. It closes before either of the taverns, but until then, the folks in town are able to enjoy a superbly cooked meal in a mostly formal setting. Or so you've heard.

You first search the exterior, but quickly realise there isn't much of interest around. You head inside, and are immediately greeted by a nidorino in a black bowtie. He asks if you have a reservation, to which you reply that you do not. The poison type turns around, noting the rather empty seats, and shrugs, directing you to the nearest table. He gets you some water and then heads into the kitchen, which is when you take the time to slip away from the table and begin to search around. The restaurant seems to be pretty standard, and it does not take you long to look through the various smaller rooms shooting off the main dining area. However, tucked away in the small supply closet, you find a strange, blood-splashed note which stands out to you. You open it, shocked at what you see.



=Granola Recipe= was noted in the Team Records.

Finding it both disturbing and interesting, you tuck it away with the intention of showing your companions. It must be related to the Stalkers. Either that, or whoever the head chef here is one sick individual.

The nidorino approaches you once you return to the dining area, but you excuse yourself and inform him that you have somewhere else to be. He seems rather indifferent, and you leave in a bit of a hurry.


Arrow the Jolteon (M: Electric)

Health: 10/10 | Sanity: 8/8 | Purity: 10/10
Battle Stance: Flee
Perk: Security
Trait: Nimble

[Suicune's Fire]

Lillian is gonna eat up that Sitrus berry, and thank her wonderful friend for the healing. This is a tough and unforgiving world, so it's wonderful to have such good support. In fact, if she can, she will take a sitrus berry from the team inventory, just in case another fight breaks out and she isnt so lucky.
Somehow, she feels slightly more lucky though?

That's it. I've had it with people in this town muttering to themselves. I hear Juparl hasnt been quite right recently, so it's time to diplomatically find them and get to the bottom of their snide problem babbling.
"I don't know what you're into, Juparl, but you need to talk to me about it. The whole of Salvage Keep could be at stake! You seem like a big, strong, uh, supereffective, kind of pokemon, so I feel like having your help to fight against the stalkers would be wonderful!"
"Also, if you have any shiny and horrible things, you need to give them up, right now. "
Its not the most suave of ways to get to a pokemon, but it gets the point across.

You consume the sitrus berry before leaving the clubhouse, taking another one from the Team Inventory before you head out.

Lillian the Lopunny restores 4 points to Health.

[Sitrus Berry] was added to Lillian's Inventory.

You have your mind set on questioning Juparl after Mittlee mentioned all their muttering. It's worth looking into, and although you know that Juparl is a fighting-type, you are set on finding out what exactly is going on.

Juparl is, similarly to Silcress, found wandering around the more open, desert-like parts of town, which cues you in to what you might be subjected to upon approaching. You find the passimian pacing back and forth, loud muttering escaping her mouth as she stares at the dust and occasionally beats her head with the sides of her fists. Your concern grows as you regonise the strange, antisocial and aggressive behaviour as similar to Silcress. However, you're intent on your investigation, so you march up to her.

"I don't know what you're into, Juparl, but you need to talk to me about it. The whole of Salvage Keep could be at stake!" The fighting-type seems to pay you no mind and simply keeps pacing back and forth, though her muttering gets louder. You continue, "You seem like a big, strong, uh, supereffective, kind of pokemon, so I feel like having your help to fight against the stalkers would be wonderful!" Again the pokémon responds in no way to you, although you hear snarling accompanying the muttering. You then notice that, around her neck, something is glinting in the moonlight. You can't quite tell what it is as she slouches, constantly turning and pacing. "Also, if you have any shiny and horrible things, you need to give them up, right now."

That's when she finally turns, baring her teeth at you and releasing a chilling screech. Her eyes are lost in shadow as dark essence billows from her sockets, alarming you at once. The passimian launches herself at you, and you realise that your diplomacy won't help you now.

HOSTILE ATTACK!

Lillian, Medium, Normal type. 10 HP, 30% dodge rate, 1d4 attack die. 105 Speed. Lucky
Juparl, Large, Fighting type. 12 HP, 20% dodge rate, 1d6 attack die. 80 Speed.

Fight!

Lillian rolls 62%, hit! 3 points of damage.
Juparl: 9HP remaining.

Juparl rolls 51%, hit! 4 points of damage, doubled = 8 points of damage.
Lillian: 2HP remaining.

Right off the bat, the passimian unleashes a violent attack, bashing into your body and nearly ruining you in a single hit. The wind is knocked from your chest as you crash into the ground. Panic begins to set in as you realise that you underestimated this severely. Juparl rips out a fierce screech, and you scramble back to your feet. You're still feeling lucky, but now you're also terrified.

Lillian rolls 60%, hit! 4 points of damage.
Juparl: 5HP remaining.

Juparl rolls 16%, miss!

Lillian rolls 47%, hit! 3 points of damage.
Juparl: 2HP remaining.

Juparl rolls 12%, miss!

Lillian rolls 83%, hit! 2 points of damage.
Juparl: 0HP remaining.

LILLIAN WINS!

The fighting type collapses before you, the medallion around her neck clattering to the ground beside her as the shadow energy fades. You feel beaten and broken, thanking your lucky stars that your opponent only managed to land a hit just once. You snare the medallion from the ground, barely able to keep your breath steady, and think about how much trouble you would be in if Juparl had landed just one more hit, or if you hadn't eaten that sitrus berry before heading out. Your mind is racing with the ifs and buts as you silently curse the medallion for once again nearly pushing you to the brink of destruction.

[Medallion of the Grotesque] was added to the Team Inventory.

You hear Juparl moan as she gets up, and you instinctively assume an offensive pose as she warily asks you what in the world is going on. You're silent as she shakily gets to her feet, holding her head with a hand.

"B...by the gods," she whispers, piecing everything together. "Don't touch that thing!" she yelps, watching it dangle from your hand by the string. She notes that it does not have an effect on you, and frowns, unable to comprehend much more in her state. She mutters a thank-you and reaches into a small pouch that she carries, handing it to you. "Take it. It unlocks the display cabinet at the Scholars Guild. Take the treasure there as...my thanks." She winces and holds her side, then begins to stagger off.

[Fine Key] was added to the Team Inventory.

You pocket the key and begin making your way back to the clubhouse for some much-needed recovery.


Lillian the Lopunny (M: Normal)

Health: 2/10 | Sanity: 8/8 | Purity: 10/10
Battle Stance: Fight
Perk: Diplomacy
Trait: Lucky

[Suicune's Fire]

While I long to punish those dispicable stalkers, many of you appear injured, thus my heavenly light seems better put to use healing those pure of heart.

[use Medicine skill]
I shall heal Adrian for 3HP, Old Lace for 1HP & 1 Purity, and Lita for 3 Sanity

The medical knowledge is highly valuable, which you know and understand, and wish to utilise to keep your companions safe, even if there are things you would rather be doing. But, this is your calling and your duty, so before any of your companions set out for the night, you begin to work on healing Adrian.

You restored 3 points of Health to Adrian.

Adrian Aylian the Lucario (M: Fighting/Steel)

Health: 9/10 | Sanity: 8/8 | Purity: 10/10
Battle Stance: Fight
Perk: Diplomacy
Trait: Resourceful

Next you call over Old Lace, focusing on restoring two different areas. It takes you a while, but by the end, you are satisfied with the appreciated boost you have granted to your fellow Emissary.

You restored 1 point of Health and 1 point of Purity to Old Lace.

Old Lace the Buzzwole (L: Bug/Fighting)

Health: 9/12 | Sanity: 8/8 | Purity: 7/8
Battle Stance: Fight
Perk: Diplomacy | Abilities: Escort/Protect
Trait: Stealthy

By the time Lita returns, it is her time to be healed, and you take some time to restore the obviously damaged mental acuity.

You restored 3 points of Sanity to Lita.

Lita the Pikachu (S: Electric)

Health: 8/8 | Sanity: 6/8 | Purity: 12/12
Battle Stance: Fight
Perk: Security | Abilities: Clairvoyance
Trait: Nimble

In the end, you know that you have made an invaluable difference to your companions. You set down to rest for the night, happy with what you have achieved.


Yris the Ultra-Necromza (L: Psychic/Dragon)

Health: 12/12| Sanity: 8/8 | Purity: 8/8
Battle Stance: Fight
Perk: Medicine
Trait: Resourceful

[Morzone]

My gratitude for the healing, Yris. You're an excellent asset to this mission as well as a good friend. Keep up the good work!

Now that I'm healed up, I'd like to take 150sp and buy the aqua gear from "The Invincible Drifter." Once I have acquired that necessary piece of equipment, I will go ahead and assist in searching the underwater regions of this Keep. I shall take a look into (32a) Stalls 1-20 of the drowned marketplace.

[arnisd]

After all this looking about, I feel like I need a treat, so let's head to snatch some food! (1b) Floors 1–2 (Garden, dining hall, kitchen)

[Suicune's Fire]

And time is up! Thanks for submitting!

[Suicune's Fire]

I was going to check this out anyway, but what Mittlee said to Madder has me even more curious...

I'm going to search on #54a Clutch of Decaying Houses: Small House.

As you come upon the group of partially collapsing and rotting buildings which you suppose was a small community at some point in the past, you can immediately see what Mittlee was talking abut. The whole area feels suspect and gives you a general sense of unease. There are a few different cottages here, and even from a distance, you can tell that something is not right. It is an abandoned set of buildings, after all, which you know from experience is the ideal target for Stalkers and their antics.

You decide to head for the first house, which appears to be the smallest of the lot. As you come to it, you can tell that it has been lived in, and a small light is on inside. Curiously, it's blue, but you figure that this is something Mittlee has set up for her comfort during the night. Before you head in and potentially give her a fright, you search the outside, ensuring you check under the rocks, decayed bits of building material, and surrounding plants. Most of what grows here is sparse and leafless, but that makes it fairly easy for you to rule out any relevant items or objects outside.

Spying the somewhat unstable roof and figuring it would be a good place to slip in from, you take wing and glide up, managing to weasel your way in through badly laid tiles. When you enter, it only takes you a bit of time to search the rooms and realise that the mimikyu is not home. You find this to be a relief, and finally target the source of the light, where you assumed she would be. However, upon entering the room, you see something that you don't imagine Mittlee set up at all--a shimmering, swirling, transparent forcefield. It emanates a rather bold blue light, illuminating this room and more with its strength. You approach it, in awe of what you see, and reach out to touch the barrier. To your relief, it does not hurt you in any way, but it is cold. In fact, when you pull your paw away, a small ripple of something akin to frost shimmers across the surface, and small droplets of water fall from your fingertips. You try to peer inside the dome, but you cannot see clearly into it at all. You can't be sure, but this seems like a barrier erected by someone who wanted to protect whatever is behind it. Judging by the icy touch it responds with, you wonder if it's triggered by ice-types at all.

{Magical Forcefield: +Ice-type+} was noted in the Team Records.

You remember that Mittlee explained to Madder that the feeling of being in this house was positive and warm, and that she felt safe. It's then that you can feel your mind at ease and your worries quelled, even just for the moment. The house is indeed safe, and although you want Mittlee to remain so, you can't help but feel like something important rests behind that forcefield.

After scouring the rest of the house, you can determine that nothing else lies here, and you make your way back to the clubhouse.


Neo the Emolga (S: Electric/Flying)

Health: 8/8 | Sanity: 8/8 | Purity: 10/12
Battle Stance: Fight
Perk: Repair
Trait: Lucky