Test 4.
KNOWLEDGE Compared to the frigid chamber you've just left, the cavern you enter now is warm. It isn't difficult to see why; while there's still a fair amount of space in here, it's far smaller, and there's a source of heat and light in here - a small fire going near a corner of the room, tucked away behind the wall and difficult to see as you enter, but fairly obvious once you're inside, the light from the flames bouncing off the corner of the chamber and making it decidely easier to see. There thankfully aren't any more of Froslass' "sculptures" in here; there is, however, a person. Candice is in the corner near the fire, pressed back against the wall and watching you as you enter; it's likely obvious from the start that there's something wrong with her, though it's difficult to say what just from looking at her. Her eyes aren't fixed in the same sort of dull, blank stare that the people affected by Team Galactic tend to display, but at the same time, they look viscerally wrong - it's alert but it's empty and almost completely unfocused, as though she's taking in information and she's processing it, but she's not actually seeing any of it. It's unsettling, but she's still watching you, and she's holding something close to her chest as she does so; she's got the thick, blue sweater untied from around her waist, and she's holding it bundled in her arms like she's trying to protect it. Her eyes don't come into focus, even as she addresses you. "I told you that you aren't welcome here. You need to leave. Now." Her gaze darts as she speaks, like she's trying to take in as much as she can, even if she doesn't seem to be registering any of it properly; her expression is hard. Cold. What happens now is up to you. |

no subject
[Sena's stuttering has nothing to do with the cold. Might have something to do with how lightheaded he feels, though. A little. He vaguely wonders if Candice is concussed too, why else would she look so...not there?]
We...we've just come to help, though!
no subject
no subject
We are not here to harm you, or the Guardian. Is there anything we can do to prove that to you?
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
no subject
[That last part seems to be related more to the sensation starting to return to his hands than the conversation happening.]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
no subject
no subject
[...though, Candice herself does. Not look okay, good god. She'll take a leaf from Morag's book and also show her hands, while Arion goes behind his trainer. Ready to protect, but not out to threaten.]
no subject
Why would Azelf let you help?
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
(no subject)
...
...
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
(no subject)
no subject
Are you touching the Guardian? I thought that was rule number one of dealing with these things. Cynthia told us we really should not touch them. Was I overestimating how important that was...?
no subject
They aren't things.
no subject
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
RESOLUTION.
Not entirely, obviously, as two things happen more or less simultaneously - Candice's body goes alarmingly slack, slumping back against the wall and sliding down a little further into position like a marionette whose strings have just been cut, and a vague yellow glow emerges from the bundle of fabric in her lap. Some of the fabric slides away a bit as the creature inside begins to levitate gently, revealing something similar to Azelf in species, though obviously still a different creature entirely. Once body and soul are reunited, there's something of a shock that spreads through everyone present in the room; it doesn't leave much in its wake, though there is perhaps a sense of reassurance that lingers. The notion that things are okay now, or at least more okay than they were; the feeling that things are going to be manageable for the time being. Calming.
The creature noticeably keeps its eyes closed, regardless of what happens from here on out.
Despite the size of it, that aura of age and wisdom is undeniable; like Azelf and Regigigas, this is a very old spirit, and it's evident. However, also like Azelf, the wounds and scars are obvious on the creature's small body - once again, while there are signs of general abuse the area around the gems on its head and tails seem to have taken the worst of it, though the injuries seem deep and as though they haven't been healing well, if they have at all. The dried blood seems recent, and there are traces of red on Candice's sweater where she had it wrapped up.
But it's here, and it's...no longer in Candice, which is probably improvement even if Candice seems pretty heavily asleep right now.]
no subject
no subject
(no subject)
no subject
Camilla's going to go over with one of her potions and start spraying toward the gems on it's little head, though she'll be giving that her general attention for the time being. They can all take little portions of the creature, with the amount of them there, but she's gonna make sure that it's actually doing something, first.]
no subject
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
no subject
Is it alright if I approach you?
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
no subject
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
no subject
As soon as she seems satisfied with her checkup, she'll turn back to Uxie. Some of the others are checking on Candice as well, and she doesn't want to crowd the poor girl. Setting the berries down beside the Guardian's head, she retrieves the medicine.]
There's some berries here, on your right. Is it fine if I use a potion?
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
no subject
Excuse me, Uxie, but do you have a favorite flavor of berry? Just as something a little extra.
(no subject)
(no subject)
no subject
We're all gonna do everything we can for you, okay?
(no subject)
(no subject)
no subject
They're going to carry her out and back to Snowpoint once everything's done here. Better be ready for that, he figures -- being unconscious in a cold cavern can't be good for your health]
I'm going to need some warmth over here.
[Some fire should be enough, but he doesn't have fire Pokemon. Just enough to keep Candice warm should be fine]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
no subject
Anything I can do...?
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
no subject
Thank you, friend. We’ll take care of her.
no subject
I've got some potions on me, and some berries. I've noticed the three Pokemon with me all like different ones, so I've got a bunch of different ones.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
CONCLUSION.
Getting across the lake is likely going to be a challenge, but if the group manages well enough, they'll find the Center in Snowpoint City warm and waiting for them; as with when they first arrived, they seem willing to help a large group of people coming in out of the cold. The result is likely going to be warm blankets for everyone and more kompot than God (as well as...very, very mild bemusement that this same group of people keeps coming into this Center in a generalized state of "cold and suffering"), but they're doing their best, albeit in the usual weird, vaguely mechanical sort of way.
Later that evening, there's what can best be described as a pulse as the same rush of calm and reassurance that swept through you in Uxie's true presence comes flooding briefly back; it only happens once, similar to the incidents at the Galactic base and Lake Valor, and again, it's difficult to tell exactly what it was. But it's there just the same, and maybe it's enough to get you through the night.
It's likely for the best to stay here tonight, to rest and warm up; tomorrow, however, you should likely continue on your way toward Mesprit and Lake Verity.]