Forest Shrine

[Pixel]

They returned to the Shrine.

Adrian had passed through here fairly quickly earlier while looking for Tommy. He recalled seeing two trainers by the shrine, but they were gone now. It was just them and that overwhelming, eerie sensation. Adrian fought down the knot in his belly as he dismounted Heimdal.

"Stay here," he told Tommy. "No being a hero this time. Heimdal will keep you safe if a ghost attacks." The kid nodded, still clutching the porygon's pokeball close to his chest. Once Adrian got some confirmation from the kid, he checked on the sick chikorita in his arms. Still feverish and breathing fitfully. The spirit had mentioned that there was an evilness here at the shrine, which he fully believed, but that it was here the chikorita could be healed.

He strained to recall her exactly words, but if this place was anything like the others they traversed, no doubt there was a ghost causing mayhem here. But he couldn't see anything and it was probably welcoming a curse to just have Zoro attack the shrine. There was impulsive and then wantonly destructive. He preferred not to be the latter.

"Zoro, keep close. I want you to be prepared when the spirit attacks us." Because all the spirits attacked them. Adrian climbed the broken, uneven steps leading up to the shrine and eyed the crumbling columns. It felt almost sacrilegious just standing here. Zoro snorted behind him, head low and ready. "Come out from wherever you are hiding!" There. He issued the challenge. Focus on him. "I am here to defeat you!" 

—

Word Count: 000 | OOC:

Using potion on Zoro!
50 > 70
(Self-Updating)
Byte is holding exp share.

Waiting for Forest Shrine Boss encounter!

Sarge HP: [70/72]
Zoro HP: [70/74]

Ghosts Defeated: Cypress Rest, Eerie Wood, Putrid Swamp, Sombre Valley, Twilight Glade, Majestic Grove

(Adding an NPC and mini side quest for fluff)

Coming from majestic grove

[Caramell 🍬]

The shrine sat as a testament to a time since long past. History erased by the advent of modern inventions and constant societal progression. Long pillars led up to the shrine from which small candles could be fixed inside of their makeshift domes to light the now crumbling granite stairs that led slowly upwards. Even the shrine, now left to slow decay as vines wrapped around its sides and knitted together along its roof, cried out of a time long past where things were different, and it was once a beautiful and breathtaking sight.

A pair of red eyes burned from the entrance, large and ominous through a cloud of fog densely packed to obscure the sacred temple from Adrian’s view. Only a heartbeat away in either direction would lead to clear skies only overcast by the thick network of massive branches overhead, snaking and curling around each other to block out most of the sun and its warming rays. Though shadows played across the ground in a strange dance, showing individuals who were screaming as they ran in droves in one direction, only to be stopped in their tracks and whole villages collapsing on the ground to succumb to their fate.

The fog was not climatic and only clung around the shrine, obscuring the glowing red eyes that lurked within its mist. When Adrian issued his challenge, a giant purple monster hideous and strange by design slowly climbed out of the fog, allowing the last of its crystalline droplets to dissipate in thin air. “You dare disturb me!” Large, pointed ears like daggers with a body full of sharp bristled, spiky fur laughed, bending down to look Adrian in the eye.

It’d made itself unnaturally large in the moment, gigantic by all standards, to try and spook Adrian. “You’ve made a grave mistake! I will take your soul and that helpless plants. The kid’s soul is but a snack when I’m finished with you!” Gengar laughed with a shake of its mighty head. Something clung to Gengar’s side, a small item it kept close as it had plucked it readily from the orchard buried within the Ilex just a short distance away. A thick cloud of black energy slowly began to wrap itself around Gengar; the ghostly apparition wasted no time in preparing its attack.

Evil Boss Gengar is attacking!

Level 25. Adrian needs to act fast if he wants to save everyone!
Weather is clear. Please choose how you will fight here!

[Pixel]

The gengar's tauntings were abruptly cut short by the bellow of a bull. Both Tommy and Adrian watched the eerie mist full of eyes collapse, signaling Byte's defeat. The little both sniffled a bit, whispering Byte's name as he realized that the porygon was defeated. However, its defeat was not in vain. By fainting, the spell was broken and Zoro was able to barge ahead, charging relentlessly even through an attempt to put him to sleep and remove him from the fight again. Zoro thrashed his head, catching the gengar once more and then, with a wail, long and high, it was over.

A great weight lifted from their chests, and the sense of danger no longer pressed upon them like devouring eyes from restless shadows. Adrian let out a long sigh and staggered over to Tommy, checking on him. The boy was wriggly, so he used his free arm to help him down off Heimdal.

"You should check on Byte," Adrian said softly. He fished the pokeball out of his pocket but Tommy was already scurrying over to the porygon.

"You should help the chikorita!" called Tommy over his shoulder, reminding Adrian of the sick pokemon tucked under his arm. "Byte is just fainted. It will be okay after a trip to the pokemon center, right?"

"Yeah...I have a revive," Adrian offered. 

"Byte should rest," Tommy said evasively. "You keep it, in case we run into something else big and scary."

"...Kay," he mumbled. "If you change your mind..." He watched Tommy kneel by the porygon, a conflicted, contemplative look on the boy's face. Like he was pondering a very difficult conundrum that he couldn't quite resolve. Adrian moved by him to place the chikorita by the shrine, wondering if anything would happen.

And to his surprise, it did.

A small fairy rose from the shrine, as if awakened from a deep slumber, then danced around them. Adrian was in awe, and so was Tommy, who could have served dinner on those saucer like eyes of his. The creature floated and spun, gracefully landing just long enough to touch the chikorita. Almost instantly, the grass type's color seemed to improve and its breathing eased. Whatever curse that fell upon it was now broken.

The little fairy then flew around them playfully, as if to thank them, before vanishing in a sparkle of whimsy. Gone as soon as it appeared.

"What was that?" Tommy asked, breathless.

"A forest spirit," Adrian murmured. "I think."

"Oh, maybe it was Celebi!"

"The pokemon from myth?"

"Yeah! I learned about it in school...Celebi was said to protect this forest. I wonder if that big bad thing was hurting it somehow..."

"Maybe. You sound like you're onto somethin' there," Adrian acknowledged before giving the chikorita a little shake. It wouldn't wake up. Still sleeping. "Looks like Byte isn't the only one who needs a pokemon center."

"You gonna catch it?"

"Would you like to? Chikorita is a great starter, I've heard. I have some spare pokeballs."

"...No. I don't think I'm ready to be a trainer... It's gone through a lot... I don't wanna catch it and then be afraid again..."

"If you're sure..."

Tommy picked up Byte, "I'm sure, Mister Officer."

With that agreed, Adrian used a pokeball to catch the little grass type and he offered Byte's ball back to Tommy, as he still had it from the boy throwing the ball at his head. Tommy hesitantly took it and returned Byte, that weird look of contemplation back on his face. Thoughtful. Frowning. 

"It's time to get moving again," Adrian said.

"Yeah...I guess it is."

Off towards Goldenrod at last.

—

Word Count: 000 | OOC:

Using a pokeball to catch chika (self-updating).
Zoro will not learn scary face

Sarge + Zoro: Full HP, Byte: Fainted

QUEST COMPLETE

(Adding an NPC and mini side quest for fluff)

Gengar defeated! Chika caught! Time to leave Ilex!
Going to Mushroom Bank!

[Pixel]

Freya wasn't sure how to navigate the forest, but Lola seemed to have a good idea. With her help and a lot of urging, Freya felt pretty confident they could figure this out! The first landmark was the shrine. Surrounded by the ruins of the past, it was quite a tourist destination for those brave enough to venture this deep...and assuming they weren't too superstitious. It was too hard to properly see the shrine through all this sand whipping them in the face—and Freya felt an unnerving twist in her gut as they passed the structure.

"It is a good idea to leave an offering," Lola commented. "Or it used to be...some say the shrine was abandoned by the forest guardian. Others say it sleeps and waits for humans to change their ways, that it cannot thrive with the corruption in our hearts or with the way we taint the forest. It is quite sad."

"What do you believe?"

Lola hummed, "That we should try to live in harmony with nature. That we are too focused on progressing at all cost, as if time and nature aren't precious, precious things."

With those words floating in her head, Freya kept Arcanine running faster so they could try to escape the storm.

—

Word Count; 211 | OOC:

Coming from Dense Thicket.
Going to Majestic Grove.

(Adding an NPC to my journey for flavor)

[Pixel]

Ah. The shrine. The last time he was here it was HAILING.

Stupid, hostile forest with its stupid, hostile ghosts that curse the shrine. AND STUPID FOREST SPIRITS FOR FLYING OFF BEFORE HE COULD BATTLE THEM! The one thing him and that Team Skull Grunt seemed to agree on was wanting to battle and maybe catch that spirit, but alas, it vanished soon after it appeared. 

Silas paused for a moment  to stare at the shrine. It didn't feel aggressive or suffocating anymore to him. He had done a good deed for the forest. However, he could still be sour grapes about the whole thing. All he got out of the whole affair was a useless chikorita that he hadn't decided if he would train to be less useless or sell. 

"Maybe if you were a proper forest spirit you would prevent these storms from happening and wrecking the place," he muttered before pushing onwards. He had a certain stretch of forest to find. He recalled it from his last venture here. The eerie woods. An apt name and supposedly a place where very rare pokemon could be found if one was patient. He wasn't sure if he could be patient. But here he was... "Whatever. I got places to be."

—

Word Count: 211 | OOC:

Coming from Mushroom Bank
Heading to majestic grove.

[Venominon]

Comin' in from the Dense Thicket

Having left another fallen tree in his wake, Shinya once more found himself passing by the Forest Shrine, glancing at the shrine itself as he made his way through the area. Naturally, this reminded him of his battle against the evil spirit that took the form of a Gengar. However, not all of his memories regarding this place were bad. He also got the chance to meet Celebi here, and he didn't fight against those evil spirits alone either. It was then that Shinya found himself thinking about Silas, wondering where he was and what he was up to at that point in time. After a good five minutes of thinking about it, Shinya shrugged his shoulders and continued onward, knowing where he was headed and what he'd be doing next at least.

OOC: Shinya heads for the Mushroom Bank next.

[Pixel]

Sunshine poured over the last leg of their quest, bright and blazing, as warm and searing as the fire that burned within her arcanine's belly. He ran swiftly, powerful legs covering vast stretches of the forest in effortless leaps and bounds. With the sand no longer pelting into them, it was easier to see and breathe, their destination well in sight. Up ahead was the sacred shrine of Ilex Forest. A place that Freya knew she wanted to study more in the future. It held so much history!

History that Lola had been telling her as they journeyed together.

As someone who wanted to research myths and legends, this abandoned shrine in the middle of the forest was exactly in her wheelhouse. She wasn't sure how bringing Chikorita here and praying would save it, nor was she exactly sure what to expect of the great evil that had apparently suppressed the guardian of the shrine...but Freya knew all they could do was hope and do their best.

Upon reaching the shrine, she had Arcanine stop and helped Lola off his back. Teddiursa was placed on the forest floor and she took chikorita from Lola's arms very gingerly. The pair of women nodded to each other. Silent but wary. This place—this sacred place lost to time—felt dirtied. Stained. Haunted even. Freya's skin crawled and it was hard to catch her breath. But she tried. She breathed in slowly. Exhaled. And put one foot in front of the other.

She approached those crumbling steps with caution. She was mindful not to lose her balance on an uneven stone or slippery patch of moss. Her topaz eyes drank in the scene, tracing over the haunting shapes of columns that once stood proud. And then she reached the shrine where she laid the chikorita down to...pray? To plea to the forest guardian? Her stomach churned. Something wasn't right here. The lake spirit mentioned that something was suppressing the forest guardian...the air felt heavy and stale.

Arcanine growled behind her and Freya found herself scooping chikorita and scrambling back, suddenly seized by a sense of alarm. She felt like she was in danger. She bit down a scream as she stumbled back and Arcanine surged forward, fangs flashing as he leapt to her defense. Freya held the chikorita tight to her chest as she tripped and fell backwards down onto the forest floor.

—

Word Count; 400 | OOC:
Here for the Shrine Boss Battle!
Arcanine uses crunch x2. Arcanine is holding lum berry.
If battle ends, use mod bar

(Forest's Blessing Quest)

(Adding an NPC to my journey for flavor)

[Caramell 🍬]

ZAIDEN KABILA Aspiring Champion Bike Mode: On | Time: Day Zaiden’s journey carried him through the densely packed forest through a small opening where a walkable path was once cleared out. It was an odd an peculiar sight, though most of the pathway was slowly being reclaimed by the wilderness around them. Small, green vines shot out of the ground seemingly from nowhere and reached around until they managed to find large trees to hook onto and slowly climb up the sides of. At the end of the slightly cleared path was a large shrine made of limestone with small lightable pillars that led their way up to the worshipping spot. Zaiden paused and blinked quietly. What sorts of civilizations once created this monument and who did they worship? He thought back to some of the books he’d read in the past and recalled a passage about Celebi. Was there a connection between this strange, old statue that stood as a relic of its time, and a being whose very existence transcended beyond time and space itself? He slowly approached the old shrine and gently touched the old limestone with a soft huff, before a chill crawled down the back of his spine. Something lurked here, waiting quietly in the dark. Something dark and sinister that caused Zaiden’s skin to crawl. Tako chirped loudly as though he were hissing in his own language. “I don’t like this place. We should leave!” Zaiden turned his head to the side and studied Tako for a second, then nodded. Though he wasn’t sure what his Pokemon said, Zaiden assumed that it related to Zaiden’s own feelings over the place itself. He rose back onto his feet and turned on the tips of his toes. There was something almost sinister here. It permeated through the surrounding forest, causing Zaiden to quietly wonder if there was a connection to it and to the now forgotten-about shrine where it seemed no one came to worship. He raced through the tangle of trees in a hurry to get to the next place. OOC: Coming from Dense Forest. Headed to Majestic Grove! Words: 336 | Speech. Thoughts. | Pokedex Moyashi | Mandoru | Tako | Kiji | Goshikka | Cho | Zaiden Sprite by Redwerecat!

[Marchbaby]

As the Hisuian Arcanine leaped into action the mastermind behind the curse afflicting Chikorita appeared at the top of the shrine with a large Cheshire grin across it's face. It had fully expected that Freyja's Pokemon would try a super effective move and it was in the perfect position to counter such an attempt. " FOOL, did you really think you would catch me off guard? A lazy mutt such as yourself could never pull a fast one on me, now be a good doggie and take a nap while me and your owner have an adult conversation." Seconds later the Gengar's eyes turned blood red as the gaze caught the Hisuian Arcanine off guard.

Within seconds the large canine started to tumble over when suddenly it managed to bite into the Lum Berry it was holding in the nick of time to counter the hypnotic waves. As the berry took effect Arcanine woke up and continued it's charge catching Gengar off guard as it did not think the canine would still be awake. As it bit down on the ghost's arm the Gengar screamed in pain flailing about like a madman. Unfortunately it's bravery would not be enough as this Gengar was no pushover and managed to bite into a Sitrus Berry to recover some health.

" Useless mutt, I told you to take a nap, I guess I need a second Hypnosis to make you obey." Using a large amount of it's remaining energy Gengar was able to send another series of hypnotic waves at Arcanine again putting it in a deep slumber but this time without a Lum Berry to save it from the affliction. " Good doggie, now me and your pest of an owner can have a real conversation." Gengar then faced Freya who had now temporarily lost her canine guardian. The ghost chuckled before he laid out his demands.

" You thought your would pull the wool over my eyes, didn't you? I am sorry to say it will take a better plan then that to stop me. Tell you what if you leave that Chikorita to me I will let you and your mutt leave this forest without further harm. Refuse however and I will give that mutt of yours a true taste of my power. Do we have a deal?" He then snickered likely having no real intention of keeping any promises hoping the young trainer would let her guard down.


Wild Encounter

---

Weather: Clear

[attr="class","qkt-bkgd"]

[attr="class","qkt-wild-pkmn"]
Gengar LV 25
HP 57% [41/72]

[attr="class","qkt-wild-imgbox"]

[attr="class","qkt-pkmn-img"]

[attr="class","qkt-trainer-pkmn"]
Hisuian Arcanine LV 23
HP 100% [83/83]

[attr="class","qkt-trainer-imgbox"]

[attr="class","qkt-pkmn-img"]

Wild Pkmn [Cursed Body]: Attack-1
Freya's Hisuian Arcanine [Intimidate]: Status

SP67 Pkmn 1 used Hypnosis x2 (Both hit)! Sitrus Berry was consumed after 1st Crunch! (Healed 18 HP)
SP53 Pkmn 2 used Crunch x2! (1st hit, 2nd failed). Lum Berry consumed in 1st round.




Hypnosis Hit?1-60 yes, 61-100 no: qqxeVspJp_1-100
Crunch Crit?p_1-16
Crunch Damage? 48-58: p_48-58
Hypnosis #2 Hit? 1-60 yes, 61-100 no: p_1-100
How Many Sleep turns 1-3: p_1-3
Crunch #2 fails as Hisuian Arcanine is asleep.
Crunch #1 lowers Gengar's denfse: 1-2 yes, 3-10 no: p_1-10
Is Crunch disabled by Cursed Body? 1-3 yes, 4-10 no: p_1-10




OOC: As Gengar was not defeated yet the rest of the battle will take place here.1-100·1-16·48-58·1-100·1-3·1-10·1-10

[Pixel]

"Hang in there!" Freya cried out as she watched her teddiursa become doused in acid. And much to her joy, the little bear held on and lunged for the ghost, banishing it with a strong bite. Almost instantly the air felt lighter. Easier to breathe. She inhaled deeply as she sank to her knees in relief. Thank goodness. Oh thank goodness... It was over. She rubbed her face and then held out her arms for Teddiursa. The little bear ran to her and she fretted over her, taking out a bottle of water to rinse off her fur. She shushed and comforted her. Easy. Easy. It would be okay. It would all be okay. She held the little bear tightly once clean and rocked back and forth. "We did it."

A few moments later, the shrine then suddenly took on a green glow, the forest responding to the banishment of the great evil with a sudden deep breath. Birds started chirping and bugs buzzed. Freya's head shot up and her eyes went round with awe. The rumors were true. This Shrine was more than just a long forgotten place of worship. Within the beating heart of the forest was a little green fairy—celebi.

She wanted this moment to last longer. She wanted to bask in this once in a lifetime revelation. This was what she wanted, in the deepest parts of her heart, far beyond redeeming her family name at the dragon's den. She wanted to study myths and legends and lore, and here was one before her, alive and breathing. And yet all she could do was wordlessly watch as Celebi flew over to heal the suffering chikorita in Lola's arms before flying around Freya, dancing and waving cheerfully, as if to thank her for her help. She reached out, hand trembling, but before she could touch this living legend...it vanished. The shrine looked alive and warm. 

But Celebi was gone.

Freya dared to breathe again.

Stood up.

Exchanged a look with Lola who was smiling, tears in her eyes.

Freya smiled too. 

It was time to keep moving.

So she offered the little chikorita and offer to come with her...and the pair trekked onward, glancing back now and then, wondering of what they saw had been real at all.

—

Word Count; 000 | OOC:
Using x1 pokeball to catch chikorita!

heading to mushroom bank.

(Adding an NPC to my journey for flavor)

[Pixel]

Ah, yes, the shrine.

Celebi's shrine.

The shrine where he brought that stupid radish to be healed and was jumped by ghosts. The gengar haunting the shrine were at least incompetent and clueless. Ending them had been a breeze. But seeing that shrine in passing only soured his mood further, a reminder of HOW MUCH FURTHER he had to walk. His legs already ached from the journey. Wasn't there a better way? A way that didn't involve him getting leg cramps as he tried to just escape this maze?

—

Word Count: 000 | OOC:

Coming from majestic grove, going to mushroom bank.

[Caramell 🍬]

ZAIDEN KABILA Aspiring Champion : On | Time: Day A strange feeling stretched throughout Zaiden’s body as he approached the shrine yet again. He’d been here before. If he studied the ground underneath his soles, Zaiden was sure he’d find his ole tracks pressed neatly alongside the new tracks of man and beast that scattered throughout the terrain along their own paths. The strange sense still permeated the air around him, like some claustrophobic feeling aimed at stealing the very breath from your lungs. Zaiden paused along his trek, lone eyes gazing through the fog that clung in the air to stair at the lonely shrine where it remained nearly forgotten by the sands of time. He walked over one of its many pillars whose tops could be lit to provide a viewable way to the old relic once more and dusted their sides off gently with his fingertips. The bronze fingers greyed from the dust and dirt that transferred over to him just by gently caressing the old limestone decorations. They were hard and cold. The chill slept like a silent beast, awakened by a stray touch, and caused Zaiden to quietly marvel at how they managed to keep a relatively cooler touch despite the pressing heat that visited the area stubbornly and refused to leave until just recently. The tough exterior, like small rocks rubbing against the epidermis of his skin all glued together encased in stone, was to be expected. It neither enlightened his understanding of the monoliths around him nor did it ruin his appreciation for the skillfully carved pieces. He pulled away, ambling slowly away from the shrine and the many pillars meant to be lit along the pathway up the carefully carved stairs. He shuddered, a strange chill rocking his body as he carried himself away from the old relic once more. His Pokémon danced around his feet easily, Gena remaining firmly in place on his shoulders the entire time. “The young trainer finds himself in a strange land where some ancient cultures seemingly built a worshipping station for some deity of long ago.” Gena squeaked out, large eyes searching through the fog that hung low in the air in an effort to obscure their vision. “But something else lurks in the shadows. Is it a powerful Pokémon hellbent on scaring off and defeating all who wander into its territory, that has claimed the area for itself, perhaps? Or an malevolent spirit come to seize the life of all who pass by?” Zaiden laughed, pressing his head against Gena’s body lightly in an effort to ‘hug’ his Pokémon. He couldn’t quite understand her, but he could feel the chill crawl not only through his body but also hers. Moyashi lurked in Zaiden’s shadows, her long vines dangling just inches away as she sought out viable trap to lure Gena off Zaiden’s shoulders and into her clutches. Moyashi simply couldn’t help it, being the great bug hunter she was, and only wanted to continue to find food whilst they were traveling through a region set up as though it was her own personal buffet. “Of course, there are malevolent spirits!” Goshikka chimed in loudly with an evil laugh. It was just too easy to pick on Gena especially from where she sat, hunkered against Zaiden on his shoulder. “And they love carrying off the souls of the weak! You better be glad our trainer is willing to protect you!” The raucous chuckle echoed through the towering pines. She ran swiftly after them, making sure to keep close to Zaiden so that she wouldn’t lose her way. He was rather fast, and fled away from the Shrine with a hurry, as though he thought that if he lingered too long he would be eaten alive by the spirits that inhabited Ilex. OOC: Coming from Majestic Grove and headed to Mushroom Bank! Words: 630 | Speech. Thoughts. | Pokedex Moyashi | Raion | Bībā | Kiji | Goshikka | Gena | Zaiden Sprite by Redwerecat!