Quote Originally Posted by Lychee View Post
Nico had spent the afternoon contemplating his own existence and apparently only snorted awake after a few pokemon had already left the base!
He picked up the weapon left for him and tucked it gently into a tuft of fur, feeling grateful.

"Alright! Guess I'm off to have a chat with aurorawatch guards and hopefully be allowed to inspect the premises."
Nico headed off to talk his way into and then search (14a) Eastern Side Palace.
You decide to head down to the Exacta Military Compound, setting your sights on the Eastern Side Palace where Queen Nytalia and Princess Samona likely spend most of their time safely protected by Aurorawatch. The area is under tight security, but you figure you have a clever way to talk your way in.

As you leave the steel mill tonight, you head south and appreciate the calmer winds and atmosphere tonight. It’s nice and quiet, though sometimes it feels as thought a little too quiet. Still, as you look around the refuge area you pass by, nightlife in Exacta doesn’t seem to be very active.

You arrive at the palace side of the compound, which looks regal enough, though you recall this actually used to be a luxury hotel and was converted into an improvised military compound. Well, you figure it’s at least in a safe location, though what became of the original palace seems to be a real question.

You see two guards on guard duty tonight. A young rookie Ursaring and a plucky Raticate seem to be watching the entrance. You decide to try talking to them and see if you can chat your way into checking the palace grounds out for any clues.

“Halt, what’s your business?” the Raticate asks you, looking at you suspiciously.

“Hail, squire,” you reply in a professional tone, having memorized what Aurorawatch’s rank emblems look like. “Reporting on behalf of Senor Staff Scientist Veria, here to conduct a medical toxicology and biocompatibility analysis on pathological OMEN exposure levels on the site grounds and surrounding interior atmosphere.”

“Medical… huh?” the Raticate asks, looking at you in confusion. “Wait, what was that last part?”

You then pull out the OMEN Sample Collection Jar, pretending Veria instructed you to use it here. Meanwhile, to the two guards, it’s a very complex scientific device gadget that they have no idea what it does or how it even works.

“Precisely KA-43 proximity exposure to OMEN gi-01AX mutagen and LV-G1I levels that may transmute carboxyl groups and ribonucleic acids,” you explain to both the Raticate and Ursaring, only to confuse them further. “I’m going to need a full topographical assessment of pH levels to assess for any endotoxins that may trigger a macromolecule transmutation in addition to-“

“Uh, okay, look, just don’t wander around too much, okay?” the Ratacate shrugs bashfully, looking like his brain is hurting. “We good?”

“Acknowledged,” you nod in confirmation, keeping a straight face.

He steps aside, looking a bit humiliated, and you walk in through the large metal doorway.

Inside, the palace is fairly nice, though it still feels more like a hotel than a traditional royal palace. The rooms and décor are kept nice and clean, though you can still feel it’s more geared toward functionality than trying to look ornate and fanciful. Considering the state the city is in, regal appearance isn’t the top priority here.

You carefully and quietly search around the lobby and the other rooms that still make the building feel more like a hotel. What used to be a fancy posh restaurant is now a royal dining hall while a former conference lounge is now the throne room. Quite a few other rooms underwent conversions, but you still feel more like you’re checking in for a vacation than here to speak with nobility.

In one of the gathering halls, you find what looks to be a very-thoroughly used Aurorawatch officer’s sword leaning on a white side wall. It seems like the room’s been empty for quite a while and no one has come back to claim this weapon, so you figure why not just take it along? It may be used but it definitely looks like it still has some fight left in it.

[|AW| Worn Officer’s Blade] (Adds 1d6 damage to successful attack rolls) was added to Nico’s Pack.

You then continue looking around to see if there’s anything else that might be worth looking into. Eventually you come across one of the supply areas used for storing equipment, armor, MREs, and other military supplies. One of the more unusual items you find looks to be some kind of glass-like vessel, and when you get closer to take a better look, it seems to be a kind of crystal with an active fire in it.

It definitely doesn’t appear to be from this world, and the comforting glow of the white flame resonates feelings of Utopia with you. You decide to take it with you, imagining Aurorawatch has no idea what this is or what to do with it while Syrax the Espeon likely knows way more about it and will actually be able to use it for what it was intended for…

[[Divinefire Crystal] was added to the Team Inventory.

After searching the remaining rooms, you decide to head out, although this time, rather than deal with the guards again, you use a one-way door that heads out the back of the building. You manage to sneak through the dark shadows just enough to where you’re able to head back out into the night streets and no one suspects a thing.

Nico the Cinccino (S: Normal)
Health: 16/16 | Sanity: 15/20 | Purity: 24/24
Battle Stance: Ferocious
Perk: Diplomacy | Abilities:
EQUIPMENT:
Attack Weapon: [|AW| Rogue’s Dagger] (Adds 3 damage to successful attack rolls)
Defense Armor: <Empty>
Jewelry: <Empty>
Utopian Aspect: <Empty>
MERCENARIES:
#1: <Empty>
#2: <Empty>
PACK:
  • [OMEN Sample Collection Jar]
  • [|AW| Worn Officer’s Blade] (Adds 1d6 damage to successful attack rolls)