Test 1.

[azumods]

VALOR Your arrival at Lake Valor is met with no fanfare at all, nor are there any obstructions; it seems that Team Galactic has moved on from here, the area devoid of activity and strangely-dressed people for the time being. The area is also largely devoid of water. There's some, in the area that presumably was the lake once; however, it can hardly be called a proper lake now. There's a massive crater in the middle of the clearing that that now-unobstructed path through the woods takes you to; it's refilled some since whatever incident caused it, but the water is only about knee-high at the deepest and generally incapable of impeding you much if you should choose to wade into it. Whatever you choose to do, there's a massive, raised area in the middle of what's left of the lake, a rock formation of some sort; it's capable of being scaled with reasonably little difficulty. An opening is visible in the rock face, large and gaping, leading inwards and downwards into a cavern system of some sort. Your exploration starts now; time to see if there really is nothing worth reporting in the area.

Comments

[eudaimonikos]

Wh - put her back in her ball, we can't have anyone running off.

[He'll go over to help...uh, deal with this, maybe?]

[niceoppai]

Right!

[With the flailing Maractus covered, Chelsea fumbles for the ball and puts her back in. She sighs and slumps over, then goes to retrieve the hat.]

What was that about?

[eudaimonikos]

They're all nervous...maybe yours is just a coward.

[He sounds more distracted than actually insulting, even though wow rude?]

[niceoppai]

Come on, even if it's true, that's not very nice to say. [frowns] But if they're all nervous, something in here must be trying to scare them off. Like a really strong Psychic-type. D'you think...?

[eudaimonikos]

Some would say cowardice is a survival trait.

[but that's really not important right now]

Could be. [His hands flutter a little, running over Janet's head before straightening his already-straight tie.] No use standing around here. We should keep going or get out.

[anythingforyou]

Let's begin our ascent, before any sort of nerve we have is lost.

[Camilla nods in agreement with Michael's words, before returning Arion into his ball and walking over toward the cavern to start climbing. No time like the present, after all!]

[eudaimonikos]

[He nods.]

Stay close, and keep your eyes open.

[That seems to be directed to Cat Janet? Or maybe it's just general advice. Either way, he's going too.]

[perfectselfie]

[She nods.]

Right. Let's do this.

[Aya is being very determined, as best she can.]

[hyruglyphics]

[ Camilla might be looking out for her and Zelda is thus sort of ... well no that's a lie she's all over the place, but she gives Aya a pat on the upper arm to try to be reassuring. ]

Yes, we must press on.

[perfectselfie]

One step at a time, right?

[She manages a smile.]

[hyruglyphics]

[ Yes, precisely.

So with a nod, her flashlight in hand, let's move in closer to the cave. Come on, Miphanus. ]

[heritrix]

Something trying to scare them off... [Rin's breath hitches slightly, as a thought occurs to her.] Affecting their willpower.

It could be this Lake's Guardian. If their powers can be used to drain the will of this world's creatures, it makes sense that before it was captured, it might have used something similar to protect itself from threats. Like Team Galactic.

[hyruglyphics]

As a defensive mechanism...? Yes, that would make sense, or perhaps simply that its own distress permeates out from it.

[ Like a reverse (ish) Malice? ]

[heritrix]

[Rin nods.] That's a sad possibility, but I can't refute it. We know it's been mistreated for a long time.

[hyruglyphics]

And it has been without veneration for some time as well. The ancient spirits and gods of Hyrule, at least, can wane in power without people being attentive to them.

[ Her statement is mostly like "is it like that for anyone else???" ]

[niceoppai]

Wait, gods have needs, too?

[hyruglyphics]

Oh, naturally! [ . . . ] Well, more prime gods, perhaps not, but spirits such as the great fairies of course do.

[heritrix]

It's less point for point, but the power of Heroic Spirits is dependent on that as well. It's why many are at their strongest when summoned in the land of their origin, and the weakest are figures the world barely remembers.

[hyruglyphics]

[ She nods ]

Then it may be something similar in this case. ... Perhaps we should have brought more money too, actually...

[semistableman]

Kind of a shame we didn't find a library; it would probably have books on the customs of this country.

[eudaimonikos]

What does a god need with money?

[perfectselfie]

I wonder if they didn't remember what Team Galactic did before and are scared they'll have to repeat it...

[niceoppai]

But it's not just affecting the Pokémon we had with Team Galactic. Look. [She gestures around at the later captures everyone has out, too.]

[perfectselfie]

That's true...

[Aya has given all hers a group hug before, but she does a quick second one.]

[ventulus]

...This is so weird. I hope we figure out what's going on soon.

[ He can only hope it's not as ominous as it looks! ]