Sombre Valley

[Caramell 🍬]

^{Kevin found the Cleanse Tag!}

---

Sombre Valley was the type of place that you didn't want to get lost in. Huge trees stretched out their barren branches to the skies above, but held no foliage. They looked dark and dead, as though they only force that were holding them upright must have been an unnatural one. The long, spindly branches shivered and shook in the breeze that whispered through the dreary place. They seemed to reach out after brown-haired man in his middle thirties as if they might wrap around him and pull him in to strap him to the dead trees that called the valley home. A strange, sick presences beckoned him closer, though another feeling - like a weighted blanket pressing down on the group - would try to also shrug them away.

Almost as if it were straight out of an old horror movie, as soon as Kevin approached the tree that had the cleanse tag affixed to its trunk and removed it, a bright and strange light would envelope the place. "Stayyyyy heeerrreeee!" The voice called from all around them. The bright light - whose presence seemed to encompass the entire forest, washing everything inside of it within its domain - dimmed and faded as two large red eyes glowed high up in the dead canopy of barren branches, before taking the form of the dark blue misreavous with pinkish-red tips like flames at the end of her wispy strange of ghost-like hair. "Staaayyy fooorreevveeeerrrr!" She called and flew after Kevin as if she were some kinda Scoobie-Doo ghost trying to claim his soul from his very body.

---

Misdreavus [Level 19] wants Kevin's soul!

Click here to face the apparition if Kevin dares!

[Marchbaby]

As the curse was weakened in the area Kevin took the Cleanse Tag and tied it to his shoulder near the weakened Chikorita. He was not sure if it would help or not but the tag did seem to keep most evil spirits at bay. With the item secured Kevin wasted no time in making his way back to the shrine. The sooner he could make it back to the shrine the sooner he could help the poor Chikorita.




Heading to the Eerie Wood.

[Venominon]

Arriving from the Putrid Swamp

After getting a very ominous message from an evil spirit back in the Putrid Swamp, Venom was more determined than ever to save the Chikorita's life. And so, he arrived in the next area of the Ilex Forest. The Sombra Valley. If Venom thought the Eerie Wood was creepy, he hadn't seen anything yet. Coming to a complete stop once he arrived, the ninja looked all around and immediately felt a chill run down his spine. He wasn't sure if it was because of a draft, or just how plain creepy this place was. Either way, Venom was eager to find the item he was looking for, get out of this place, get the item back to the sick Grass type, and save its life.

The Poison type trainer had spent so much time battling wandering spirits, that he almost forgot that he was looking for some kind of magical item that could cure any illness or lift any curse. Almost. And since he didn't sense the presence of any wandering spirits in this area, he decided to give this area a thorough once over, thinking that the item he was looking for was here somewhere. But before anything else, Venom called Whirlipede out once more, as the Curlipede Pokemon appeared before his trainer, taking a moment to check out the new scenery himself. "Wow. And I thought the Eerie Wood was creepy." Whirlipede commented out loud, but much like Venom, he managed to keep his cool.

"I know, right?" Venom added, then reached into his bag, pulled out a single Potion, then knelt down beside his friend. "Anyway, hold still, Whirlipede. You must be in pain after three battles, but this'll fix ya right up." The ninja sprayed his Pokemon with the Potion, healing his injuries from the last three wandering spirit encounters. Once the bottle was empty, Venom put it back into his bag to dispose of later, got back on his feet, and Whirlipede breathed a sigh of relief. "Ah...Much better. Thanks, master." Venom gave his Pokemon a smile and a nod, but then took on a more serious facial expression as he started to walk around and search for the item he was seeking.

"Don't mention it, pal. Now, I don't think there are any more spirits here, and we've got an item to find. I'm not sure what kind of item it is exactly, but keep your eyes peeled for anything that stands out and looks like it was made by humans." Venom explained the situation as best as he could, searching high and low for the item that would save Chikorita's life. Whirlipede wasn't really sure what to make of this, but still nodded, and began to roll around and search for anything that fit the description Venom gave him, nonetheless. "Stands out and made by humans. Got it." True, Venom could've called out the rest of his Pokemon to help with the search, but in case there were any spirits lurking about, he didn't wanna risk one of his Pokemon wandering too far away and getting ambushed.

Thankfully, they didn't have to search for very long, as the poisonous pair suddenly caught a strong scent of dried herbs and fungi. After following it, they were met with a rather surprising sight, finding a hollowed-out tree with strange markings all over it, and broken glass on the ground all around it. Making sure to avoid the broken glass, Venom and Whirlipede slowly approached the tree, but Venom was unable to make heads or tails of the markings on it. However, what really stood out to the venomous duo was the ash-filled pit in the center of the tree, which contained a stick with a strange-looking tag on the top of it. "Do you think that's it, master?" The Poison/Bug type asked Venom, thinking that the tag looked like the most important item in the whole area.

And the more Venom looked at the tag with all the strange markings on it, the more he had to agree. Even though he had no idea who or what used to live here, or what they did while they were here, he knew that this had to be the item he had come to find. "Yeah, I think so, Whirlipede. Let's grab it and get back to Chikorita." After giving his Pokemon a nod of confirmation, the ninja knelt down and slowly reached for the tag on the stick. Still, even though he didn't sense anything dangerous at that particular moment in time, Venom still kept his guard up as he reached for the tag. If it really was the answer to the problems that were plaguing the Ilex Forest, then surely the evil spirits wouldn't have left it unguarded.

OOC: I'll pass on having Whirlipede learn Venoshock, a single Potion used on Whirlipede here, and Venom will grab the Cleanse Tag. Thanks.

[Caramell 🍬]

^{Venominon found the Cleanse Tag!}

---

A quiet chill clung low in the air, like invisible tendrils that snaked around the atmosphere. It clung in thick waves, washing across the land with an eerie chill. The old trees shot straight up from the forest’s floor as their thick, entanglement of branches shot off in different directions. Many were twisted and curved in odd, nearly ghastly formations. The barren canopies of the trees above would shiver and shake with each passing breeze, creating an almost singsong rap-tapping with their branches as they banged against each other with a strange chant. Still, the hollowed out tree held a small, strange tag that had been driven in place with a rather sharp stick.

Something seemed strange about the tag, though. Even in the wake of the Sombre Valley and with the chill that clung to the air, everything would seem almost too quiet and too peaceful. Small green bugs skittered across the branches of the thick trees up high above. They turned, spinning around as they shot thick silky threads from their abdomen, and stared quietly at Venom and his team. When the ninja reached to claim the Cleanse Tag that had been affixed to the spot with the spear-sharpened stick, the bugs seemed to gasp as they jumped and rushed off across the branches, hopping from one branch to the next, to escape the area.

“Sooouuullllssss!” a voice chanted loudly in the air. Everything went pitch black and even if Venominon tried, no matter where he tried to run he would be seemingly stuck in this
‘other world’. This seemed far from a trick as the world he once knew slowly evaporated before him and was replaced by the thick blackness that enveloped everything. One could not tell where the ground ended and the skies began. “Neeeedddddd sooouuulllssss!” Flashes of blues and flaming reds appeared to float around in the thick darkness. A strange necklace formed and danced in the air as though it were levitating. The Necklace seemed suspended in the air itself and glowed with an ominous red aura. Soon, two large red eyes would float above the necklace with a Cheshire cat grin dangling just beneath it. It swooped after Venom in a hurry, trying to swallow the lad whole with its presence alone. “Giiiivvveeee mmmmeeee sssoouuullllssss!”

Misdreavus [Level 19] wants Venom's soul!

Click here to face the apparition if Venom dares!

Notes: Skorupi HP 84% [54/64] | Whirlipede HP 80% [51/64]
-1 Potion deducted from Inventory.

[Venominon]

As soon as the darkness was dispelled, and the echoing scream finally came to a stop, Venom and his two Poison/Bug type Pokemon took a moment to catch their breath. It appeared as though the Screech Pokemon had been defeated and was gone for good, but they all kept their guards up for a full five minutes as they slowly steadied their breathing. Thankfully, the silence remained and nothing else appeared from the darkness to face them. With that, the three of them all breathed a sigh of relief before turning to face each other, with big smiles all around. "Looks like we won this battle. Great work, you two. I'm very proud of both of you." Venom said to his Pokemon in a relieved and grateful tone, then called them both back to their respective Pokeballs for some well-deserved rest.

However, the ninja's smile didn't last for very long, as he turned back towards the path he took to get to the Sombra Valley. As he stared down it, Venom narrowed his eyes, knowing that his work in the Ilex Forest wasn't finished just yet. True, that Misdreavus was a very tough opponent, and a very evil one to boot, Venom could tell that she wasn't the one calling the shots here. As for who the actual boss was, the Poison type trainer couldn't say, but he had an idea of where they might be hiding. And now that he had the Cleanse Tag, he could finally cleanse the Ilex Forest of their evil once and for all. So, with all of that in mind, Venom ran right back down the same path he used before, heading back to the Putrid Swamp.

OOC: Venom heads back to the Putrid Swamp.

[❤ Aphrodite ❤]

Arriving from Putrid Swamp...


After retracing her steps, Aphrodite and her Pokemon soon found themselves wondering down a new path located deep within the forest. "You know... I thought that we've visited the scariest parts of this forest earlier, but this place has proven me wrong... I don't know what it is about this place, but there's something here that just does not sit well with me," she stated, slowly walking a little deeper inside of the area. "Anyway, let's not get too distracted by the vibe of this place. We're on a mission to locate some mysterious item that will help use heal Chikorita," Aphrodite spoke out to her Pokemon. The Kirlia, Gallade, Sylveon nodded their heads in unison. "Let's split up, so that we can cover more ground. Cordie you take the north side, Salem you take the south side, Alvaro you take the east side and Titania we will take the west side," she instructed her Pokemon. Her Pokemon would give her another nod before heading off into their assigned locations. "And keep your eyes open for any wandering spirts!" She called out to them before each of them disappeared within the icy mist.

"Alright Titania, let's have a look around our area." Aphrodite stated with a half-smile as she turned her attention towards the last spot that she had seen her Kirlia. "Uh, Titania?" She called out to her Pokemon, noticing that she was near her. Aphrodite could feel a small shiver rush down her spine as she heard some unfamiliar noises sounding off in the background. It was not too much longer before she would noticed someone attempting to communication with her through telepathy.

"I believe that I've found what we've been searching for ma'am. Look for a hallow tree and you'd find me." Titania told her trainer. Aphrodite nodded her head then inhaled and exhaled a deep breath before moving through the area in a bit more in search of the hallow tree. Luckily, she was not too far away from it and did not have too much of a hard time locating it. Inside of the hallow tree, she noticed her Kirlia standing near a fire pit with a stick pinned into the ground. "So, you think that this is what we're looking for, Titania?" Aphrodite questioned, studying a small and mysterious tag attached to the stick. "I suppose it's worth a shot," she added, carefully preparing to remove the tag from the stick.

---

Awaiting Misdreavus encounter...

[Caramell 🍬]

^{Aphrodite found the Cleanse Tag!}

---

Sombre Valley was a strange mix of dead and dying plants. Most of the trees were old and rotting, with only a few of them seeming to shed bundles of bright green leaves decorating their scraggly branches. Their branches shot out from their thick trunks and curved in odd and spooky directions, with many wrapping around each other in think tangles. Some of the trunks of these decrepit trees had long hallowed out holes carved in along their bases and etching up to their tops. Other trees folded over almost in half, snapping along their barks as though they could no longer support their own weight. Several large logs littered the ground along Aphrodite’s path, causing her to either climb over them or try to find another way around.

When she approached the hollowed out tree with a large stick driven into the ground and removed the Cleanse Tag from its secured location, the light that trickled through the overgrown network of dead and dying branches seemed to flicker. As though the sun was nothing more than a light bulb inside of a lamp, it brightened, dimmed, faded, vanished, then clicked back on in repeated motions. A strange humming noise echoed somewhere deep inside of Sombre Valley and grew louder and in the air above Aphrodite’s head, images of small children screaming in terror and fleeing in all directions played like ghostly apparitions, before vanishing as the Misdreavus appeared with a large flash of multihued lights.

“Sssttaaayyy wwwiiiittthhh mmmmeeeee!” It’s voice cracked and popped oddly as it screeched at the top of its lungs. The long flowing ‘hair’ from the ghostly ‘head’s’ body flickered and snapped wildly behind it. It acted as though the pink-colored tips were flames upon which the body burned with a fierce desire. It’s large eyes with bright yellow sclera searched around as though there was something hidden in plain sight. Something it craved and desired with all of its might. When its eyes landed on Aphrodite and the wounded Chikorita, it would fly around in wide, erratic, and excited patterns that were hard to keep up with the naked eye. “Yyyyeessssss!” It screamed. “Pppllllaaayyyy fooorrreeevvveerrrr!!!” The Misdreavus insisted.

---

Misdreavus [Level 19] wants to play with Aphrodite!

Click here to face the apparition if Aphrodite dares!

[❤ Aphrodite ❤]

After defeated the Misdreavus and healing up her Pokemon with some items from her bag, Aphrodite and her Pokemon found themselves back tracking from the Sombre valley to the Eerie Woods. "Now that we have this Spell Tag or whatever it is we should be able to take care of this evil spirit once and for all. Defeating the evil spirit should help break the curse," Aphrodite spoke out, glancing down at the Chikorita.

---

Headed to Eerie Woods.

[Caramell 🍬]

Team Notes: Kumaneko HP 30/60 | Ika HP 33/57 [38/62 before level up].
Ghost Encounters: Cypress Rest, Eerie Wood, Putrid Swamp

 
MISHU MIZUMA
Dark Type Trainer •
Education / Science

They approached a strange and desolate section of Ilex Forest where many of the trees looked barren and nearly dead. Large, blackish brown trunks shot out of the ground clamoring towards the heavens above with dried, hollowed, and broken limbs. Some trees had dead limbs who had broken away from their large masses dangling on their living branches, caught between the world they once knew and the grounds they tried to cast themselves down upon. The slightest breeze with its pitter-patter of rain gently plummeting from the skies, sent the large branch swaying in different directions, nearly careening over the edge of the lively branches to crash onto the ground below.

Bright blue wings darted through the canopies and called with loud chirps. Strange furry brown meerkats peeked over dying shrubs who dark brown woody branches bore brownish-green leaves that curled and folded in on themselves. They scattered with loud calls and powerful thwacks of their tails on the ground below as soon as the sounds of human footsteps echoed within hearing distance. Small green spiders dangled suspended in air on translucent, thin threads as they spun their webs and waited patiently for their next meal to erroneously fly within their traps. It was another world entirely, one of terror and of nightmarish movies, where unsuspecting characters were slowly stabbed and slashed out of frame one by one.

Mishu stopped when she noticed Kumaneko standing near the base of a hollowed out trunk. It stood like a beacon in the midst of a small clearing, enshrouded by these mysterious trees. “There you are Kumaneko.” Mishu smiled sweetly and walked slowly up to her Pokemon to kneel beside the small panda cub. Kumaneko struggled during this arduous task so much that even Mishu worried about the implications of relying on her other Pokemon to handle the bulk of the work that needed to be done to take care of these strange spirits. There was no helping it, though. Kumaneko was ill matched to face them – a fact that she was sure the apparitions used to their full advantage when once chasing the pandas out of their usual homes.

“Why am I not strong enough to handle them on my own?” The small bear cried as she stared at her paws in disbelief. “I’m one of the strongest fighters I know. My muscles are more than enough to chop whole trees down with barely a blink. I can pick up boulders, I’m sure, if I put my mind to it, and toss them all the way to Kanto. But I can’t so much as leave a scratch on these strange spirits. Why?” Mishu knelt down beside Kumaneko, careful to keep Chikorita properly supported in her hands, and sighed. “You’re worried that you’re not enough because of these spirits?” Mishu asked, trying to understand her small cub’s problems. “Kumaneko, listen. We all have different strengths and weaknesses. You’re one of the strongest Pokemon I know. But you can’t ask a Ponyta to swim. And you wouldn’t ask a Goldeen to walk on land.” She explained slowly. “These spirits aren’t physical beings, so your attacks won’t hit them, I’m afraid. That’s why we need Ika’s help.”

Ika floated up just behind them as Kumaneko glanced up to her trainer and her partner. That…wasn’t an easy thing to accept as an answer. But it did help her. She needed to grow stronger. Strong enough to learn the same powerful moves Ika knew that allowed her to hit these strange apparitions directly on. Then, nothing could ever stop her or stand in her way. “Then I won’t give up on getting stronger.” She huffed angrily underneath her breath as she stood up. Mishu stood up with her and turned to the strange, rotten tree stump where she noticed a small tag sticking out inside of it. She immediately pulled the Cleanse Tag free from the log, wondering what she might have found. “Wonder why someone left this here?” Mishu hummed to herself.

Set at Day

WORD COUNT: 674 words
OOC: Coming from Putrid Swamp! Waiting on Misdreavus encounter. Haven't updated the Cleanse Tag yet, as waiting official mod confirmation on it.

^{Mishu | Ziggy | Wanigara | Sakka | Yōsei | Ika | Kumaneko}

[necroix]

^{Mishu found the Cleanse Tag!}

---

The sounds of cracking limbs echoed through the trees like a moan of the forest trying to scare anyone who might enter. Whether by pokemon or natural means, trees cracked and groaned with limbs big and small falling at various times. The path was by no means easy to cross by the various logs and branches fell across the path that the group followed on. It took a little more time than normal because of this, making sure that both Mishu and her Pokemon managed to get over the obstructions blocking her path. Still, the woods howled a warning that no one should dare come here even as they continued forward on their mission.

Finally, as the trees started to clear to a single one standing tall, the hallowed tree stood as a beacon or perhaps a warning. Its hallowed hole stood a reminder of the creature that had once lived there. If creatures had fled in a hurry then perhaps it was best for them to continue on as well. Yet if they fled the Chikorita they carried would never find their safe haven and would no doubt fall to the poison that could not be cured. Still, as the pokemon and trainer conversed they found upon the stake the tag that would help them in the journey though they did not know that at this time.

The minute the tag was taken cries of various sounds and octaves seemed to echo through the woods. Apparitions of old and young screaming the same cries before blinking out of sight. "You must stay, no one leaveeessss." the voice called as something faded in and out of view the image of pink just at the edge of vision. Finally as the being began to circle the trainer it finally seemed to appear directly behind her. "No one ever leavess hereeeee. You will stay, foreeevveerrrr." it would keep this trainer and the tasty souls of both her and her pokemon.

"Soulllsss I must havvvveeee allllll of theeemmmmm"

---

Misdreavus [Level 19] wants to take all your souls!

Click here to face the apparition if Mishu dares!

[Caramell 🍬]

Team Notes: Kumaneko HP 30/60 | Ika HP 42/66 [38/62 before level up].
Ghost Encounters: Cypress Rest, Eerie Wood, Putrid Swamp, Sombre Valley

 
MISHU MIZUMA
Dark Type Trainer •
Education / Science

Did Mishu know what she needed to do next or was she just lost within the woods herself, trying to find her way out and help the Chikorita out?

Light scattered through the trees through the thick grey clouds that covered the skies above. A temporary break between the intermittent rains that poured down around her, drenching the land. It created a soft, soggy, and wet earth that squished between her shoes and splashed up the sides of her denim jeans. Should they finally manage to find their way out of the dark abyss that seemed to surround them, Mishu would need a nice, long, hot bath in a nearby hotel to help clean herself up and rid herself of the muck that clung to her clothes.

The ghosts haunted them from the darkness. Lured out by the promise of an easy spirit that they could swallow whole and add to their collection. Some of the old stories that clung to her childlike memories resurfaced, where she would be pressed together with other small children as adults warned them of these ghostly spirits who looked to yank them out of their bodies and ferry them off towards another world. A small shiver crawled down Mishu’s spine. Did the stories of her youth hold some truth that she’d never truly considered until today, or was this simply something else happening that could be explained away with true understanding of their natural biology?

“You did a great job.” Mishu turned to Ika whilst clinging to the sickly Chikorita in her arms as close as she could keep her. The poor thing was absolutely ghastly looking, with her face growing paler in complexion and her body convulsing in Mishu’s arms from the poisons that seeped through her form. “I’m sure these spirits need our help too. Somehow…” Mishu hummed thoughtfully with a twisted frown. What could they do short of battling them and sending them off towards the underworld they possibly arose from? She was at a loss. “But we owe an obligation to this sick Pokemon and to our very own Kumaneko first.” Mishu insisted.

Kumaneko narrowed her eyes angrily in the direction that Misdreavus disappeared. This beast was threatening them?! Telling them that they were too lost and would have to stay forever with them?! To be their captives, lost to the other worlds that they resided in?! “You’ll never have my soul, evil beasts!” She balled her small clawed paws up into tiny fists and waved them in the air. As the last of Misdreavus began to fade away after Ika’s attack, Kumaneko rushed after it and punched the air, slamming her fist into a nearby tree and causing it to snap in half. It toppled over onto the ground, shaking the earth around them from the force of its weight crashing down. “We’ll defeat every last one of you if we have to! No ghost will ever be safe, if that’s all your kind care about!” Kumaneko roared from the depths of her chest.

Ika landed beside her partner with a sad face and shook her head. “Not all Ghost Types are like this. I’m positive! Your birth does not dictate your alignment. Surely, these spirits are just malevolent or seriously hurt. Please, let's continue through our journey and see if we can figure out what’s going on.” Ika insisted, turning in the direction that they were previously headed and floating off. Kumaneko huffed angrily and rushed off, following her friend easily as Mishu trekked behind them both. “Whatever. These spirits must pay for all the harm they’ve caused!” Kumaneko continued, almost like a broken record, as she tore through the thick green vines and thick bushes around her.

Set at Day

WORD COUNT: 627 words
OOC: Headed to Eerie Wood! Ika won't learn Night Slash.

^{Mishu | Ziggy | Wanigara | Sakka | Yōsei | Ika | Kumaneko}

[Tiki]

-Putrid Swamp-

Blank Grimer
put Black Sludge on Alex, thanks

After the rain had cleared, Penelope was glad to be walking around in dry weather again. It was great not to have the sky pouring on you! Soon, she found herself in another part of the forest that was also sad and miserably looking. The group found themselves looking around at the forest, but there were no sign of the ghost.

"Wait," the Bellsprout cried, and tapped the Skiddo, which made Grunch bleated loud enough for everyone to stop. Looking up, he saw a strange tag and was slowly extending his vine to grab it. "I'm going to grab it."

Penelope cradled the Chikorita on her arms like a baby, and watched as Narctar peeled off a strange thing on a tree.

-le wait encounter-

[Pixel]

Penelope found the cleanse tag!

---

As the tag was lifted from the place it was pinned, an eerie feeling filled the air. Penelope felt like she had just tilted the balance of some unseen scale, the silence somehow deafening with the inherent knowledge of dominos falling one-by-one in sequence towards a trigger. Her breathing became a touch labored as a tightness closed on her throat and chest, a spite of inexplicable, primitive fear that was inscribed into her very DNA—an instinctual knowledge that she was in danger. 

From the hollowed stump emerged yet another ghost, this one with trailing hair-like extensions, a groan like the dead rising again escaping its incorporeal body. "Soooooouls...." it moaned. "I will have your sooooouls. You can neveeeeer leaaaaave." Penelope could abandon the chikorita with the knowledge it would never find peace, its very life and death trapped forever in this accursed place by these malevolent spirits. But to rescue it? That would require her to keep being strong a little longer.

"I WILL NOT LET YOU LEAVE HERE!" 

And with that, the ghost rushed forward to attack Penelope and chikorita.

---

LV 19 Misdreavus wants your soul!

Continue this encounter here.

1-5cXsHIf6H

[Tiki]

"Nah ah, you're not my mom or my dad! I can leave when I want!" Penelope childishly replied at the Misdreavus, who was trying to kidnap her without convincing her. She hugged the Chikorita closely as she gave the ghost type a death stare. Unfortunately, she wasn't a Pokemon so her glare couldn't paralyze the opponent. The Deerling effortless intercepted the ghost type's advancement toward the Chikorita, and even knocked it back into the realm it came from.

"Silly ghost. You can't say the whole forest marked me. I don't see these little grass and bug type Pokemon coming after me either." She huffed and talked to air, as the Misdreavus was already vanquished. With the last threatening ghost Pokemon gone, she continued to head back toward where the shrine was. Now, she's getting most of her party running around with her to save this Chikorita.

-Eerie Wood-

[Venominon]

Arriving from the Putrid Swamp

After leaving the foul odors of the Putrid Swamp, as well as Silas and his Pokemon, behind them, Shinya and his own Pokemon descended deeper into the Ilex Forest. Once again, they found themselves in yet another dark and creepy location. But unlike the Eerie Wood, this place was...different somehow. Shinya and his Pokemon didn't know it just yet, but they were about to discover something truly unique and more than a little useful. And now that they were out of the swamp, both Yanma and Sizzlipede were safe to finally uncover their noses. "AH! Finally! Fresh air!" Sizzlipede commented in a tone filled with relief, taking deep breaths both before and after his words. Plus, he was free and clear to make flames again, which he enjoyed, already very eager to burn something to ashes.

"So, think there are more ghosts lurkin' around here somewhere, boss?" Yanma asked her trainer, continuing to bat the falling hail away from him with her flapping wings. In response to this question, the green-haired trainer shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly, continuing to venture deeper into the Sombre Valley as he responded. "Meh. Probably, but who cares? These wanderin' spirits have been nothin' but pushovers so far. Still, I can't figure out what that other spirit at Ethereal Lake said. Somethin' about a purifyin' tag or somethin', but what the heck is that supposed to mean? Could that ghost chick have been any vaguer?" Shinya asked that last question in a sarcastic tone of voice, unaware that he was about to get his answer and then some.

Venturing deeper into the Sombre Valley, Shinya and his team stumbled upon something that they thought was an old, abandoned campsite at first. However, upon closer inspection, the site they had come upon looked more like the home of a witch or a voodoo sorcerer rather than a simple camper or Pokemon trainer. "Woah...What the heck is up with this place? It almost feels like burnin' it down would actually be doin' it a kindness. Almost." Sizzlipede said with a small chuckle, then shot some fire at the marked tree they saw. But much to their shock and continued befuddlement, the tree didn't burn, as the flames fizzled out almost immediately. With that, Shinya raised an eyebrow at this whole site, and decided to take a closer look, curiosity getting the better of him once again.

And as they got closer, Yanma's incredibly keen eyes soon picked up on something that wasn't burnt, broken, or completely covered in dirt. "Hey, boss, check that thing out. Over there." The Clear Wing Pokemon cast her Psychic upon the items she saw, making them stand out even more for her trainer to see with his own two eyes. Coming to a stop, Shinya followed the psychic light, and his eyes soon landed on two lone pieces of paper nailed to a pair of sticks that were sticking up out of the ground in what appeared to be an old firepit. "Oh? And what do we have here?" The Team Skull grunt questioned in a curious tone of voice, then bent over to grab one of the pieces of paper with his left hand. Once he had it, he stood up straight again, then Shinya, Yanma, and Sizzlipede all took a closer look at it, wondering just what it was that they had found.

OOC: Shinya finds a pair of Cleanse Tags, takes one for himself, and leaves the other for the next person to find. *Cough, cough* Silas. *Cough, cough*