@Scytherwolf; @Soups;


Episode 3: Berries and Bothers


Later, the group arrived on a large overlook that looked out over the garden, the water, and the west end of the town. "Here is La Vista de Las Flores.--the Flower's View." Allegra explained. "One of the best places to get a great view around here."

"I can see why!" Ash smiled as he looked out over the sun sparkling over the water.

"Can you see the whole city from here?" Dawn asked as she took a picture of the domed rooftops and glittering spires on many of the buildings.

"Not the whole city, but most of the west end of town." Kai replied.

Brock noticed Ash's dreamy look. "You okay in there, Ash?"

"Yeah..." Ash replied before unzipping his bag and unearthing a box depicting a band of fantasy heroes confronting a Charizard in a dungeon room. "We should play Chambers and Charizards out here!"

Dawn winced at this. "That geeky game all the math and science nerds seem to play?"

"Well, there is a little math involved, but it's not as math-y as one would think." Brock assured Dawn as he led the others to a stone path with tables. "Consider it somewhere between a childhood game of let's pretend and a video game."

"That actually makes sense!" Dawn smiled as Brock led the group to a large circular table that looked out over the flowers and the water.

"Unlike a game of let's pretend, Chambers and Charizards--or just 'Chambers' or 'C&C' to its fans--gives structure to the stories, a way of determining the consequences of what your heroes do." Brock went on.

He unearthed a well loved red 20 sided dice in Ash's box. "I'm sure you know what this is, right?"

Dawn nodded. "That's the dice I remember seeing anyone playing that using."

"Well, players roll dice to resolve whether their attacks hit or miss; or whether their adventurers can scale a cliff, roll away from a Thunderbolt, or pull off some other feat of derring-do." Brock went on. "Anything is possible, but the dice make some outcomes more probable than others."

"Okay..." Dawn mused as she took a seat facing Brock. "This is actually starting to sound kinda fun..."

"It will be, with the right dungeon master." Maury smiled.

"Each person makes a character." Ash explained. "They then get together to go on a grand adventure with the other players' characters."

"More on making characters momentarily." Brock interjected as Ash finished setting out the components. "One player, however, takes on the role of the Dungeon Master, who acts as both a storyteller and a referee."

He nudged Ash. "Okay if I serve as the Dungeon Master?"

"Sure--you do really well at it." Ash smiled as he set out a collection of adventure books for Brock to use. "I made sure to only pack the ones that don't have any specific setting."

"There are a number of pre-made worlds a game can take place in, but you can make up your own world too." Brock explained. "For the moment, we're going to use a world I made named Megia."

"You do have a knack for names..." Dawn mused as Ash found some blank character sheets.

"Is there anyone that hasn't played before besides Dawn?" Brock asked.

Only Maury raised his hand. "A couple of newcomers." Brock smiled. "I won't bore you with all the nitty gritty, but just explain what things are and how things work as we go along."

"Works for me." Dawn smiled as Ash passed her a character sheet.

---------

Laughter echoed across the flowery hill as Tintri led the other Pokemon up to a small Berry grove near where the group was engrossed in their adventures. [Okay, who's hungry?] he asked.

Kori suddenly noticed a tree that had some small peach-like Berries on it. [Hey, look! Pecha Berries!]

[If you get one, I get one too!] Stormy giggled as she dashed for the tree.

Satomi balked as the other Pokemon all hurried for the tree. Everyone, please! The tree has enough for everyone to have at least one.

With that, she focused her psychic power onto the berries, sending a single Berry before each Pokemon.

Stormy noticed that Kori had a Berry from before, as well as the one that Satomi had given her. [Sato-miiiiiiiiiii! Kori got two!]

[I had this one fair and square!] Kori protested.

[But how come you're the only one that gets two?] the Luxio protested. [That's not fair to the rest of us!]

[Yeah--like Dawn says, share and share alike!] Stormy agreed.

Satomi quickly warped in between Stormy and Kori. Now then...can we please try to find a solution that pleases everyone?

[Yeah...] Kori replied.

[Sure...] Stormy agreed, still miffed Kori had two Berries.

---------

"You are greeted by Guerin, a priest of the Angail Solas." Brock reads the introduction to the group's first adventure. "He sweats in the summer heat as he stands outside the small house you have rented. When you invite him in, he collapses with exhaustion on a couch."

In a wearied mimic of Prof. Rowan for Guerin, he explains "Thank you, travelers. My superiors have sent me to reclaim the abandoned temple that lies several miles southeast of here. Our priesthood would like to see it rebuilt. However, they did not expect me to face an organized team of bandits! The townspeople tell me that you are looking for adventure, and I certainly could use your help."

The crackle of a Thunderbolt snapped Dawn out of character. "Speaking of needing help, the Pokemon seem to need us!"

Brock looked down the hill to find Kori and Stormy angrily eying each other. "I'll head down there and break it up." he assured the others as he got up from his chair.

A familiar wispy flute-like sound, this time playing in the key of D major, snapped Ash to attention. "Alice!" he called as he got up from his chair and hurried up the path. Alice was nearby, playing the song on a familiar grasswhistle.

Satomi smiled as a tin whistle joined in with the grasswhistle. You see? When we share our possessions and our talents, great things can happen.

[Yeah, you're right...] Stormy sighed.

Satomi warped down another pile of Berries. There we are...now everyone can have two.

To Be Continued...