azume | Test 1.

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Translating an answer for the latter isn't exactly easy, but for the former, yes. Team Galactic did indeed harm the guardian here.]

[...Oh boy, well, at least she can see that he's responding to one of the two questions. The slight grumble at the second answer is...kind of concerning, but okay.]

So they did harm the guardian...that much seems obvious.

[...Hm.]

Ask if they believe that we're one of them, perhaps? Or perhaps if they simply have no trust reserved for humans.

[Alright, simple enough. Do you think these people are the freaks? Or do you just not like humans?]

[The Spiritomb don't have quite as solid an answer on that one. Again, it's hard to get the complexities of what they're saying across, but the basic idea is yes, you guys are probably a threat.]

[Well, Camilla will at least take that as an answer to the second question, considering Arion's weird grumbling at the first bit. Okay.]

Is there something we can do to prove that we're not a threat? I'm certain that we need to seek this creature out, if we wish to get Team Galactic's hold on it to loosen...

[...Arion isn't sure when or why he's decided to try and be a diplomat, but he kind of gives a bit of a grunt to Camilla; he can't exactly ask something so vague.]

Ask them if there is something we can do, to prove we aren't a threat. There's no need for specifics, unless they wish to attempt such a thing, but...

[Well, alright. So is there anything they can do to try to gain their trust? Like, he's not sure how much he can stress that they want to help and not harm, here.

...He's also kind of stressing that his human is kind of dumb, but that's just for the Spiritombs to know, and he assumes they Get It.]

[Well, they don't have trainers but they kind of get it, at least...??

Anyway, they communicate among themselves for a bit, but there isn't really a clear yes or no answer to that. It's pretty obvious that they're confused and not sure how to answer that question.]

[They at least get the sentiment that the humans are dumb, at least, and Arion can kind of be pleased with them. For a certain value of mildly emotionless pleased.

Either way, he...doesn't have a lot to communicate with her, so he kind of doesn't know what to say. Camilla's going to take that with a bit of an annoyed tone.]

Is it...is it at least here?

[She's trying not to sound frustrated and failing. Arion's at least gonna ask if the guardian is here.]

[The Spiritomb look over at Camilla and the others warily before answering. Yes, it's here.]

[Alright, well. That's something, at least.]

So, it is here...

[How to approach this delicately...?]

...If they were to consult with the creature...under their protection, could we be granted an audience?

[Like. It's something?

Arion's words aren't as fancy, but. Basically: can y'all go send one of you weird stone things and consult with the deity that's in there, maybe? Like, the humans are weak and frail and clearly can't do a thing to you, so, and we're pretty weak too. Maybe if you guys just kind of surround everybody, your deity won't be harmed?

...Like, the admittedly blunt intricacies are gonna be lost here, but basically, is it possible for like, one of you to consult with a god.]

[Hmm. That one's not nearly as easy to answer. The Spiritomb aren't entirely sure how to answer that, and they just sort of flash their lights in confusion for a bit.

The answer's basically a big ???, sorry Camilla.]

[...why are you creatures like this. Like, at this point, even Arion's kind of just snorting in annoyance while Camilla rubs her temple a bit.]

...Does the deity not trust humans?

[It's. A question, if nothing else. Arion doesn't play the translator game because well, it seems like an obvious thing to him, though he will if needed.]

[You're just picking all the difficult questions today, guys. With that said, the answer is yes.]

[We're good at that.

...Still, all things considered, everyone's been asking different questions and Kiryu's actually gives her some kind of idea.]

Can you pass anything on for us? Perhaps one of these berries, to start.

[can we try to get on the god's good side with treats, maybe]

[Hmm. That's an interesting question and they discuss it among themselves for a moment before finally deciding on an answer: yes.]

[Okay, this is pleasing! Camilla's look shifts to Arion for a moment.]

Darling, roll some of those blue berries toward one of these protectors, won't you? Those make you feel better when you eat them, yes?

[Arion nods his head and trots over, rolling a few Oran berries toward the Spiritomb. It may not be enough, but it should be for a start.]

[One of the Spiritomb in the back comes forward, and like the others who have been given berries, it takes them into its body like its consuming them... but then it turns and hops(?) off back down deeper into the cave. Even with this one missing there's still plenty of Spiritomb guarding the entrance.]

[For her part, Camilla will stay where she is and try not to incite any sort of reaction out of them. That should prove they're trustworthy enough, perhaps, though Camilla does take one step forward and crouch down a bit to get a better look at the creatures.]

Thank you, for allowing us to assist. Even if it's only a little.

[She's not sure if the creatures are still wary, which is why she's keeping something of a distance, but...she is gonna try to slowly hold out a hand?

...Can you even pet the spirits of the damned, who even knows, but she kinda wants to try. She'll just. See if one comes up to her, first?]

[They'll flinch back a bit when she steps forward, but they settle easily enough once it becomes apparent that she isn't going to get any closer. They aren't moving from their spots, and they'll study her hand warily, but they don't seem inclined to attack or anything.]

Shy, are you? That's okay.

[Well, that will explain it a bit. Still, she does just kind of...keep her hand out there. You know, just in case.

Arion, on the other hand, is probably just gonna chat while they wait for a verdict. These Spiritomb are weird, but not bad company, and it's better than any of Camilla's other Pokemon if nothing else.]

[They aren't going to approach, but they'll relax a little after a bit. They're not big on humans, but you don't seem all that terrible.

As for Arion, they're totally fine with him. They'll absolutely chat with him while they're waiting.

Eventually that Spiritomb will return and take its place among the others. There's some lights flashing and the basic gist of what they're communicating to Arion is that they're thankful for the help.]

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