Stalkers RPG Main Action and Team Status [SEASON 5]

[Neo Emolga]

So, time to start gathering info. According to the map the emmisaries had, the police station was abandoned, and some of the others had gone to check out the shopping district. So next was look around for someone who looks like they might be important. Glancing quickly at the suspect list, Lycellus settled on Axken. They seemed important, ("I mean, they're at the top of the list!") but also they were a poison type. Though he might not be as diplomatic as some of the others, Lycellus felt he could handle talking to another poison type well enough.

Lycellus slowly approached the skunktank, trying not to scare anybody along the way, then lowered his head down to the ground, trying to get closer to eye level, and giving what he though was a warm friendly smile, though to others it might have just appeared as though he was planning on eating them.

"Hey there! Sooo, hows it going? Besides the apocalypse scenario of course. What's the gossip around town? Anything notable going on in the city? Anyone acting more suspicous than usual maybe? Or any suspicious locations worth checking out? For that matter, are there any citizens who might be willing to help a brave mon venturing out into the danger zone? Arms and armour dealers perhaps, or maybe hired muscle?"

[Interview 1. Axken the Skuntank]

Interview Rapport: POSITIVE
+1 Shared Type (Poison)

After leaving the Emissary Base, which seems to be a relief as the steel mill wasn’t quite built for a Pokémon of your immense size, you fly your way down to speak with the very commander of Aurorawatch himself. The dusty, somewhat sandy air, even while high in the sky, does feel a bit irritating, especially to your eyes and lungs, but you eventually get used to it.

Once you arrive at the military compound, as with some of the other Emissaries, you find it’s a difficult feat to get to speak with the members of Aurorawatch due to the tight security and seemingly overbearing scrutiny, but persistence allows you to meet with Commander Axken once he steps outside to meet with the perimeter patrol and forward guard to get a full report.

As you lower your head to the ground to speak with the Skuntank, other members of Aurorawatch are cautious, especially upon looking at an immense Pokémon such as yourself that isn’t an everyday sight. However, Axken assures them to stand down and to be at ease with a lowering gesture with his front paw. They obey his command and he looks up at you, understanding that size doesn’t necessarily mean or insinuate a threat.

As you see him, Axken is one of the few Pokémon covered head to paw with greatly reinforced power armor. The silvery metallic plates surrounding his body glisten in the sunlight as he looks up at you. You introduce yourself as Lycellus.

“Greetings, Lycellus,” Axken tells you, reassuring you with a calm, noble voice. “What brings you to the Aurorawatch Compound?”

“Hey there!” you tell him. “Sooo, how’s it going? Besides the apocalypse scenario of course. What's the gossip around town?”

“For now, things could be better, but we’re remaining vigilant and optimistic,” Axken responds, giving you a direct response. “A few of my Paladins have grown doubtful as of late considering the situation with OMEN and these ‘Stalkers,’ but I remind them to look back upon all the things we have overcome and triumphed over before. This is why we train and strengthen ourselves. To prepare for days like these. As for me, I tend to not take stake in gossip. Pursuing leads is one thing, but I make sure the appropriate steps are made to validate any intel and information before acting upon news and rumors.”

“Anything notable going on in the city?” you ask Axken. “Anyone acting more suspicious than usual maybe?”

“We’ve been trying to stay informed as much as possible,” Axken replies. “But, as commander of Aurorawatch and as Nytalia’s orders, my main priority has been the safety and security of the refuge’s civilians. While some efforts have been made to secure the Northern Reach, the challenge there is making sure we don’t spread our forces too thin. But with limited manpower and such a large region of the city, we’ve had to prioritize only the most strategic locations with some varying degrees of success. The rest will need to wait.”

“The Stalkers, however, have been an ongoing new problem for us,” Axken reports to you as you requested more information. “We’ve had refuge members, both normal civilians and Aurorawatch officers and soldiers, brutally killed at the hands of these Stalkers. It has forced us to reevaluate and reassess our security measures, but even then, they have found ways to bypass our vigilance and strike in the darkness of the night hours. We’ve been making ongoing efforts to map out exactly how and why they’re able to do this, but it in part seems to be related to how they’ve become embedded within the local population, and there are no signs of who among us may be one of them. I’ve done what I can to make sure suspicions are suppressed until concrete evidence and a firm rationale for suspecting someone of being a Stalker can be established. The difficulty is we are unable to do a through investigation into this without forgoing our defense detail.”

You imagine it must be hard for Axken to keep so much under control, but it definitely looks like based on his composure and reassuring voice of reason, he’s able to get others to avoid slipping into panic and focus clearly on the objective without distractions. As you can see from his compatriots, they greatly trust him and value his direction and leadership.

“Or any suspicious locations worth checking out?” you ask.

“I’m glad you brought that up,” Axken replies, gesturing toward the Southern Reach. “We have reason to believe something keeps the Stalkers from being unaffected by OMEN contamination or even experience conflicts with the ghoul and chimera populations. But we haven’t been able to figure out why and how they’re able to do this, unless there’s something we haven’t found yet. The problem is, anyone that has this kind of trait leaves us unable to pursue them into the city ruins. We suspect these Stalkers may be using the city ruins, possibly creating outposts or taking harbor in places that we can’t reach without taking casualties and other heavy risks. And right now, we can’t afford to do that, so it has left us to pursue another strategy.”

“For that matter, are there any citizens who might be willing to help a brave mon venturing out into the danger zone?” You ask the commander. “Arms and armour dealers perhaps, or maybe hired muscle?”

“Krax the Tyranitar, owner of Tactical Outfitters, supplies a large portion of our military gear and armor,” Axken informs you. “Shortly after OMEN hit and we needed to restructure our society and economy, Krax and I came to an agreement that we needed to become entirely independent and self-sustaining, as we still have been unable to contact anyone outside of the city for assistance. But besides being an Aurorawatch supplier, Krax sells defensive and armor equipment to the general public as well. Meanwhile, Canett the Krookodile runs The Armament Bunker, manufacturing weapons for both Aurorawatch and for civilians who need self-defense measures. And there are others as well…”

One of the Paladins standing besides Krax whispers something to Axken, but Axken simply shakes his head and continues his course of discussion.

“The Knaves also have their own market,” Axken informs you. “We don’t have mercenaries here, as we need all able-bodied hands either working to defend the refuge or working to keep food growing, utilities running, and services up and running. The Knaves, however, have more of the ‘hired muscle’ you’re looking for. They’re the ones that are more out to scavenge the Reach despite its dangers. But for a price. Some of them will ask for money up front, while others want a cut of whatever you find.”

There was a moment of silence, but then Axken speaks up again.

“You might be wondering why Aurorawatch and the Knaves are in the situation we’re currently in,” Axken tells you, giving something to reflect on. “The Knaves disagree with Nytalia’s orders not to go into the Reach. Knaves feel everyone has the right to enter the Reach even if there are risks involved. They also haven’t forgiven nor forgotten Nytalia’s decision to execute the prisoners at the maximum security prison in the days following the OMEN calamity. I see both sides of the coin, and I’ve tried to advocate reuniting despite our differences. But there’s still work that needs to be done on that front before that can come to pass, also.”

“It’s been a pleasure speaking with you, Lycellus,” Axken says, wrapping up the conversation. “Whoever you decide to support, I hope it’s for the better for us all. Maybe, with some luck and perseverance, you’ll find something we haven’t yet. But however possible, let’s work together where we can. Young or old. Combat experienced or not. Brains or brawn. Everyone is capable of doing something that makes all the difference, and that includes all of us. No one Pokémon can ever hope to do this all alone.”

With that, he soon departs, heading back into the compound to perform his duties. Once his Aurorawatch entourage follows him, you decide to head back, having a lot more insight regarding what might be the next best choices to take.

Lycellus the Eternatus (L: Dragon/Poison)

Health: 24/24 | Sanity: 20/20 | Purity: 16/16
Battle Stance: Tactical
Perk: Security | Abilities:
EQUIPMENT:
Attack Weapon: <Empty>
Defense Armor: <Empty>
Jewelry: <Empty>
Utopian Aspect: <Empty>
MERCENARIES:
#1: <Empty>
#2: <Empty>
PACK:
<Empty>