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

[enjoymyatelier]

[after observing the others for a bit, he thinks he has an idea...]

I’m much more interested in communicating with you all than fighting, so let’s work something out.

[He specifically focuses on the terrifying mass of souls closest to him, but maintains his current distance.]

Can you understand me? I assume so, but for confirmation... let’s work out a system where you blink primarily on the left side for “yes” and on the right for “no.” Is that agreeable?

[azumods]

[The lights continue blinking as usual for a moment before they all abruptly stop blinking. After a moment, the lights on the left side blink.

Yes.]

[enjoymyatelier]

Ah, good! I’m glad we’ve reached an understanding.

[...honestly, there’s something really weirdly satisfying about being able to find a simple communication method with a weird hellish spirit without being able to use magic. He’d like to be able to power through something like this, but...]

Am I correct that you’re protecting something, then?

[azumods]

[Yes.]

[enjoymyatelier]

...

Is there a way we can prove we mean no harm?

[because lbr he wouldn’t trust this group without proof either]

[azumods]

[That gets more disorganized flashing, not a solid yes or no.]

[enjoymyatelier]

I see... well, I don’t blame you. All I can tell you is that we’re interested in returning the world to the way it was before... or at the very least, stopping those who harmed the Lake Guardians in the first place.

[hmmm...]

[azumods]

[There isn't really a solid response here either, just some more flashing. Eventually you'll get a hesitant yes, like it's not sure how to respond.]

[enjoymyatelier]

...

Well, I did want to make an offering to the Lake Guardian as a show of good faith.

[he goes to his particular berry pile and selects the ripest, juiciest looking ones.]

Is there a way you can convey these to them? I could also send one of my Pokémon, if you don’t want to let us out of your sight.

[azumods]

[It looks like you and Camilla had the same idea. The Spiritomb aren't as sure in their answer here, though. It's kind of difficult to say what part of it they're hung up on, but you're getting a lot of lights blinking, but no solid answer.]