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

[semistableman]

Hey... I'm not going to hurt you.

[He doesn't get any closer.]

Are you protecting something? Someone?

[azumods]

[The lights continue blinking, but otherwise there isn't a response.]

[semistableman]

[Hmmm.]

Can I ask you some questions? One blink of lights for no, two blinks of light for yes?

[azumods]

[Two blinks! Yes.]

[semistableman]

Are you protecting the lake guardian here?

[azumods]

[Yes.]

[semistableman]

[Bucky nods, trying to word it carefully.]

We were brought here from... somewhere else.

[Probably easier than talking about aliens with the Pokemon.]

We were told the lake guardian could help us restore this world, is it... okay?

[azumods]

[That doesn't get a solid yes or no. The lights blink rapidly, but it never gives a clear answer.]

[semistableman]

Does that mean you're not sure?

[azumods]

[No...? It doesn't seem to know how to respond, though.]

[semistableman]

[Bucky nods.

Apparently it's complicated, he can deal with that.]

Does the guardian need help?

[azumods]

[That's another complicated one. It eventually settles on no.]

[semistableman]

But there probably is something wrong....

[He sighs.]

I get that you aren't going to be comfortable with us trying to barge in and look for your friend. Maybe you should all come with us. Would that be okay?

[azumods]

[That doesn't get a clear answer either. There's a lot of lights blinking, both from the one you're talking to and the others nearby that have overheard the question. It seems like they're communicating, but ultimately the answer seems to be a lot of confused lights going off. Uh. Okay.]

[semistableman]

[He'd ask Flora to help him out, but he doesn't feel right about asking her to do that exactly.]

I understand why you guys are wary; I'm not the sort of person who trusts easily.

[azumods]

[Eventually the lights settle and flash yes.]

[semistableman]

[Bucky smiles.]

Is that a yes to escorting us?

[azumods]

[No. Though there are a lot of lights flickering afterwards like they're still confused.]

[semistableman]

[Man, he officially has no idea what they were saying "yes" to, then. Agreeing with paranoia?]

Well. You guys can take your time, it's your choice.

[azumods]

[More flashing lights, though once again not a yes or a no. They're working on it, probably.]

[semistableman]

[Thumbs up, spooky buddies. He's here to be vaguely helpful.]

[azumods]

[It's appreciated!]