Should we expose the smuggling ring?

[Noblejanobii]

So at the end of this post (http://www.pokemoncrossroads.com/forum/showthread.php?22054-Stalkers-RPG-Main-Action-and-Team-Status-SEASON-4&p=303360&viewfull=1#post303360) (haha it's the 420th post), we had a proposal laid out for us that needs to be decided by the day cycle. As we're currently in the day 7 night cycle we have about a day in-game to decide.

For those not wanting to read the post and just wanting a recap, we were asked by Willow the Miltank to figure out who was sneaking around the school at night. Madder hid in the shed and discovered that Sansheel the Poliwhirl and Desnim the Eelektrik were using the school to smuggle a drug known as Sway. They claimed that we should let them go undetected as Sway was helping people in Yaru through depressing times. We have been offered $500SP$ and the [Angel's Dawn] utopian item if we let them go. If a decision is not reached by the day 9 cycle this is the option that will be defaultly taken.

On the flip side, we could tell Willow about the operation and bust them. It's possible as someone (I forget who) suggested, that we could ask Willow to give us any utopian items they find on Sansheel and Desnim's persons, under the assumption that these items will be seized. However, at this point there's no guarantee on that, though it is a good suggestion. Also keep in mind, once the operation completes, there will be no evidence left remaining to hold Sansheel and Desnim accountable, nor will there be enough suspicion to warrant their interrogation to trace down the Sway smuggling network. So this is our one opportunity to bust the ring.

So what are your thoughts? Should we bust the ring or take the bribe?

Also as a general rule since things got out of hand last time, please do not discuss or argue about real world morality in here. Please keep this purely focused on this game. You could potentially discuss the impact Sway will have on the city, but I would rather we focus on the gameplay itself since that has less potential to become a full out argument. I will make the decision myself and lock the thread regardless of discussion if this gets out of hand, since we're supposed to be a team and there's little advantage to threats of quitting the game or mocking other users.

[Lychee]

So, for starters, while we have two options, we also have potentially two utopian relics. While Willow doesnt say she has one, or know she has one, we arent sure what her quest rewards will be. It's possible that the glint of a utopian item shown in the clairvoyance vision is an item that she will be more likely to give us after the quest.

"Willow... Willow the Miltank...

She has something of vital importance, connected with this relic of Utopia. You see a faint glimpse of shining light coming from a pouch she carries on her side. Inside, you see a piece of metal, a sudden radiance of reassurance before the vision fades, and you are pulled back into your resting body."
Was the glimpse of metal the sports shed key? Why wouldnt it just show us the utopian relic directly, by going to sandsheel? Or is it another relic she doesnt know she has?

So, basically, I'm going to assume there are TWO relics, and I think we need both items.

I'm a big fan of beating pokemon unconcious and taking items while they're passed out, so I'm actually thinking what if we do something like yes, bust the drug ring to get willows potential reward, and beat up our drug lord poke-pals to take their item too? If we dont find the utopian relic there, we can also search their houses. I mean, we have already searched pokemons houses and taken their stuff before.
It's not like the angel relic is going to evaporate, it'll just be harder to get.

Or, let the drug runners go free, assume they'll come good on their word and deliver both money and utopian relic to us (can we get a garuntee on that? Can we trust them? They're already lying to other pokemon - but for gameplay purposes let's assume they'll fulfill their promise). Then lie to willow and be like "oh it's not going to bother you anymore dont worry, anyway can I have that sack you keep at your hip?"

I mean, siding with the drug dealers seems easier.


If it has to be a binary choice, I say go with the option that gets us the utopian relic that we can see in front of us. Sandsheels deal.

But...maybe there is a different way?

[Lychee]

Alternatively, wouldnt it be funny if we combined our quests and told everyone that there was going to be a humorous performance to cheer everyone up, on at the shila educations centre on the day 8 night cycle?
SPREAD THE WORD
and
SWAY BUSTING

Coming to an epic conclusion where Samba and Sandsheel act out an impromptu romance scene because Sandsheel just wandered onto the set and Samba rolled with it, so now he has to pretend he knows what he's doing and that he's supposed to be there...
Meanwhile Desnim and Dimfred squabble over a box of sway backstage which gets mistaken for ther red fog powder used during the next scene, and then accidentally fogged across the crowd.
IT WAS THE MOST UPLIFTING PLAY EVER

[Shruikan]

If we're going purely by numbers then the best choice IMO is that we take the deal. We get the item we know is in front of us, and if Willow has a utopian item, we beat her up and take it later.

[Neo Emolga]

Guys, guys...


YOU HAVE UNTIL DAY 9 DAY CYCLE, IT'S CURRENT DAY 7 NIGHT CYCLE, SO YOU HAVE ALL OF DAY 8 DAY AND ALL OF DAY 8 NIGHT TO MAKE YOUR CHOICE!

That's what Sansheel was referring to when he said he needed one more day to complete the operation. Not "the rest of the night."

[Noblejanobii]

Guys, guys...


YOU HAVE UNTIL DAY 9 DAY CYCLE, IT'S CURRENT DAY 7 NIGHT CYCLE, SO YOU HAVE ALL OF DAY 8 DAY AND ALL OF DAY 8 NIGHT TO MAKE YOUR CHOICE!

That's what Sansheel was referring to when he said he needed one more day to complete the operation. Not "the rest of the night."

Lol I apparently can't count or read. That's on me. I'll edit my post to reflect that.

[Neo Emolga]

Lol I apparently can't count or read. That's on me. I'll edit my post to reflect that.

Ah, no worries, I've made so many silly mistakes in these over the years. XD

[Noblejanobii]

While I understand the wanting to obtain the relic right in front of us, I'm more inclined to side with Willow, especially after that clairvoyance bit. I have a feeling she won't just hand over any sort of reward without proof. So my vote is towards turning them in and requesting we get the utopian item off these two during the search and seizure when they're arrested.

[HorusMyDude]

https://i.imgur.com/Nlqdr81.png Crime? In MAH good post-apocalyptic neighborhood? What in tarnation!

Out of character, it seems like we could potentially get the best of both worlds with turning the drug dealers in and requesting the Utopian item as a reward. If it comes to it, we might be able to sneak and steal the item later if we don't get it.

[Lychee]

Does this town even have a police force?

Like, theres guards, mercenaries and bounty hunters, but I havent seen a single shred of a police or crime investigation unit.
Telling willow might just mean she busts those two boys up herself!

[ShadowBolt25]

1857

Detective Pikachu could help with this..... now where did i put that Detective hat ?.....


( OOC DracoBolt the Pikachu could help in some way )

[Lychee]

1857

Detective Pikachu could help with this..... now where did i put that Detective hat ?.....


( OOC DracoBolt the Pikachu could help in some way )

Help us decide what to do!
Place your vote in the poll at the top of the thread :D

Should we take sandsheels bribe and be given a utopian relic and 500SP once his drug smuggling operation is complete?
OR
Should we tell Willow, who we know is connected with a relic somehow, but hasn't promised us any reward?

[Noblejanobii]

Does this town even have a police force?

Like, theres guards, mercenaries and bounty hunters, but I havent seen a single shred of a police or crime investigation unit.
Telling willow might just mean she busts those two boys up herself!

Huh actually that's a good point. Might just mean she's more likely to give us the item in return but who knows.

[HorusMyDude]

Considering the setting being post-apocalyptic, any law enforcement is probably enforced by guards and the rest of the community, as well as hiring any stray mercenaries or bounty hunters for runners.

[ShadowBolt25]

could an option be to battle Sansheel ( like how you battled Orin Lychee ) and make him give up the Angel's Dawn ?

[Noblejanobii]

could an option be to battle Sansheel ( like how you battled Orin Lychee ) and make him give up the Angel's Dawn ?

It's possible but like everything else is not a guarantee.

[Truly]

No good deed goes unpunished.


Let's just assassinate all three. We've agreed we're concerned with the sanctity of this town's citizens' souls, not necessarily their lives.

[Noblejanobii]

No good deed goes unpunished.


Let's just assassinate all three. We've agreed we're concerned with the sanctity of this town's citizens' souls, not necessarily their lives.

Given there's no benefit to this whatsoever I'm leaning towards no. Assassination wouldn't get us the items they're carrying and as stated in the rules:

If it turns out the Pokémon assassinated was completely innocent, the Pokémon died and one point gets added to the Doom Tracker.
So if anything, this would hurt us more than benefit us. Unless you can come up with a sufficient argument from a gameplay standpoint as to why this is the right move, I'm voting an absolute no.

Given at this time the poll is leaning towards telling Willow, that will be my action next cycle unless the tide changes by that night cycle. I would appreciate feedback on my planned action.

At this point in time, if the action is to tell Willow, I would go to her about the smuggling ring and expose it, then request that any items, specifically the [Angel's Dawn] utopian item, be handed over to us as part of the reward as they will be needed to fight against the Stalkers.

[ShadowBolt25]

well I tried to battle for it but was unsuccessful in getting the Angels Dawn

so we might need it for the Sin Purge Ritual & the team wallet could use the 500 $SP. However on the flip side we can inform Willow &hopefully receive not just Angels Dawn but possibly a better $SP reward as well ?

What does everyone else think ?

[Truly]

Given there's no benefit to this whatsoever I'm leaning towards no. Assassination wouldn't get us the items they're carrying and as stated in the rules:

So if anything, this would hurt us more than benefit us. Unless you can come up with a sufficient argument from a gameplay standpoint as to why this is the right move, I'm voting an absolute no.

Given at this time the poll is leaning towards telling Willow, that will be my action next cycle unless the tide changes by that night cycle. I would appreciate feedback on my planned action.

At this point in time, if the action is to tell Willow, I would go to her about the smuggling ring and expose it, then request that any items, specifically the [Angel's Dawn] utopian item, be handed over to us as part of the reward as they will be needed to fight against the Stalkers.

From a gameplay standpoint, we should assassinate all the stalkers. I know this isn't the point of the thread but like

We clearly already made a choice, right? Souls come first.

We have room on the doom tracker, especially if we're as close as we're told. We KNOW the dealers have a Utopian item, which may be hidden if we turn them in. (Fair chance they simply escape Salvage Keep with their possessions and their lives.)

We are told Willow also has a Utopian item, through clairvoyance. She will not go away or hide it destroy her item if we do not comply. In other words, there are other ways of getting her item.

All from a gameplay perspective.

In-character, who cares if some of the Pokemon are doing drugs? Idk the side effects but uh, yeah. End of the world is happening. Everybod is dying and the only people trying to stop it are taking a roundabout way -- why not sway yourself numb for another day? What else is there to do, salvage?

[ShadowBolt25]

At this point if there's a tie, my vote would be the tiebreaker ( deciding vote ) but I'm thinking about telling willow but then again we might need the Angels Dawn for the Sin Purge Ritual so i currently am undecided

[Noblejanobii]

From a gameplay standpoint, we should assassinate all the stalkers. I know this isn't the point of the thread but like

We clearly already made a choice, right? Souls come first.

We have room on the doom tracker, especially if we're as close as we're told. We KNOW the dealers have a Utopian item, which may be hidden if we turn them in. (Fair chance they simply escape Salvage Keep with their possessions and their lives.)

We are told Willow also has a Utopian item, through clairvoyance. She will not go away or hide it destroy her item if we do not comply. In other words, there are other ways of getting her item.

All from a gameplay perspective.

In-character, who cares if some of the Pokemon are doing drugs? Idk the side effects but uh, yeah. End of the world is happening. Everybod is dying and the only people trying to stop it are taking a roundabout way -- why not sway yourself numb for another day? What else is there to do, salvage?

So I asked Neo about assassinating innocents.


https://i.postimg.cc/vmzN9rSZ/Emolga-Sad.png]
Technically you would get the item, but if they're not a Stalker, that would bump up the doom counter as well. I don't want to drop spoilers, but it could also affect other things in a not-very-good way.

This answer is super foreboding. If anything it just solidified my No even more. That said, I've added the option to the poll and if it's what the people want, then the option is there now. I don't think you can change your vote, but I can edit the poll values to reflect if you wish to change your vote, so just let me know. But as of right now, we're going to tell Willow based on the poll. So feedback on what I proposed earlier would be much appreciated.


At this point if there's a tie, my vote would be the tiebreaker ( deciding vote ) but I'm thinking about telling willow but then again we might need the Angels Dawn for the Sin Purge Ritual so i currently am undecided

It's not currently a tie so if you're having a hard time deciding that's okay.

[ShadowBolt25]

So I asked Neo about assassinating innocents.



This answer is super foreboding. If anything it just solidified my No even more. That said, I've added the option to the poll and if it's what the people want, then the option is there now. I don't think you can change your vote, but I can edit the poll values to reflect if you wish to change your vote, so just let me know. But as of right now, we're going to tell Willow based on the poll. So feedback on what I proposed earlier would be much appreciated.



It's not currently a tie so if you're having a hard time deciding that's okay.

if it ends up being a tie would there be time for a tie-breaker ?

i'm asking because if i vote on one so it would be 4-4

otherwise i guess I'll vote so it could be 5-3 unless it's ok to leave it 3-4

any advice/suggestions so i can decide ?

[Noblejanobii]

if it ends up being a tie would there be time for a tie-breaker ?

i'm asking because if i vote on one so it would be 4-4

otherwise i guess I'll vote so it could be 5-3 unless it's ok to leave it 3-4

any advice/suggestions so i can decide ?

You could just not vote. It's also possible Truly will ask for his answer to be changed so it wouldn't matter if you vote. Up to you.

If this ends up tied I'll likely make an executive decision on the matter via the flip of a coin or something of that nature.

[Truly]

Ok. Assassinating aside (and I think it's probably too late for this to matter, I'm catching up)

Let the druggos go, get their reward. Miltank keeps hers, but maybe we can persuade her, steal it from her, maybe she dies another way, etc etc etc.

OR

we tattle on the druggos. Idk if they go to jail but I've been assuming not -- I assume they just take their stuff and run away. Miltank gives us her item, and the other one... Is gone, no alternate path.

That was what I was saying.

[Lychee]

It seems like there IS NO OTHER ITEM

Sandsheel gives us the final, enthraller-killing-holy-weapon, or Willow potentially gives us nothing.
We NEED that item, because otherwise we wont have the 7th holy weapon, and we wont be able to kill the 7th stalker.

Are you really willing to bet the safety of everyones souls on the law enforcement strategy of a post apocalyptic town?