File: EscavalierBruh.png (6 KB, 56x56)

6 KB PNG

>>5557513
HAPPY ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY TO US, BITCHES

The guild has recently entered the strange forest contained within the Magnagate, seeking the cultists they suspect are up to no good. However, it seems they've come across a peculiar obstacle that has separated the entire group, somehow. This isn't a normal Mystery Dungeon. Tread carefully and beware who takes the lead.

>>5549264
>>5549268
>>5549266
>>5549271
Cast speeds off, having reunited with Charles, darting away deeper into the forest. It doesn't appear that he has any particular direction. Charles, not as agile as a floating sphere, attempts to keep up. Being a large dragon slug does not help him! As they crash through the forest, a voice echoes around them. It's not the voice that taunted them previously, rather, it sounds almost like Kaku and Stern.

Kaku, despite his best efforts, can't quite seem to make anyone out. Further and further, the only thing that surrounds him is the infinite landscape of the Dreaming Forest.

>>5549261
>>5549279
After waiting for some time for his response, nothing comes of it. Was it done mocking him? Citrine is spooked by another voice suddenly calling out to him! He can hear the distorted call of Poli reverberating somewhere around him. He's not alone? Where could the Politoed be...?

>>5549272
>>5549273
Vee does not get his answer. It seems that it is either ignoring him or has stopped trying to talk to him entirely. With an incomplete picture, there's not much to really be able to tell why this is the case. Even if it has left, the voice's impression on Vee still remains.

On the other side of the murky pond, Brock is trying his best to keep his composure, certain that his card counting will keep him sane. While he's not taking the proactive approach, his friends wouldn't simply abandon him like that, right? He hears the voice cackle.

"That's the twentieth time you've shuffled that card. How long are you going to keep doing that? Is it really too hard to accept your friends don't care?" It pauses, maliciously giggling. "They don't! Why should they care about someone who won't even save themselves? You're nothing more than an oddity to them."

It's attempting to confuse Brock. Is it really like that? Twenty shuffles? His options:
>[Roll to ward away the bad thoughts]
>[Player write-in]

Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>5557516
>Charles calls out to Kaku and Stern!
"Kaku! Stern! Over here!"

>Despite rushing towards them, Charles tries to check if there are any hidden surprises on the way to his friends!

Rolled 5 (1d20)

>>5557513
(For another great year!)
>>5557516
Astor is there! He vibes

Rolled 14 (1d20)

>>5557516
So uh, yeah. That's why we're gonna be okay. Dumbass demons can't bother showing their ugly faces, Stern. They're too cowardly. Hey, you hear something?
>Sable calls into the darkness
HEY, ANYONE THERE?

Rolled 16 + 2 (1d20 + 2)

>>5557516
Brock looks up and stops shuffling his cards, either out of desperation or concern he poses the question.
"You good bro? Don't you have anything better to do that bully anyone that comes by? Like, you need a bro of your own? I think we got off on the wrong foot here."
He tries... to make friends? Has he given up and is coping, or is this just his normal behavior? It's hard to tell, as he himself is unsure.
This place is getting to him.
>Bro? (+2 Chill)

File: Anger.png (113 KB, 347x348)

113 KB PNG

Rolled 3 (1d20)

>>5557516
"At least finish talking to me if you're gonna be so mean!"
Vee is a little more than peeved about the situation, stomping the grass underfoot rapidly in a mild tantrum as he shouts. "Ugh!"

Annoyed and angry, and hoping to grab the attention of the voice, Vee begins dashing around the environment aimlessly with blinding speed, wondering what else lies inside the forest besides him, the voice, and the spot on the ground which may very well be >>5557551 Brock.

Vee used Quick Attack!
Vee used Quick Attack!

He's one irate Eevee.

>>5557526
>>5557551
Stern is rushing on over!
"Let's go go! I think that's Charles!"

Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>5557516
Theodore whips his head around in the darkness and growls. He can't remember how he got here, just that one moment he was upset and treading down a tunnel and the next he's in the middle of a forest.

The muscles in his face tense, but only his brows contort into a glare. It's happening again, he can't think straight. Dammit! He should be able to remember what happened a few seconds ago, he's an gosh darn engineer!

Taking a moment to catch his breath and scrub the upset building in his head. He takes a careful look around to gather his bearings.

Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>5557516
Citrine looks around. "Uh. Poli? Is that you?"

The Gigalith is unsure exactly how helpful reuniting with Poli of all people will be, but it's better than nothing.

>find source
>wait did he see it and forget?

>>5557526
>>5557538
>>5557543
>>5557564
Stern seems to be hallucinating! He can't see Charles. In fact, the only thing he can see are the towering pines encircling them.

However, on the other side, Charles and Cast are still moving through, with the Goodra electing to remain on his best guard. However, it doesn't look like there's anything out to get them. He can hear Sableye calling through to him past the dead trees. The gemlin's voice bounces around them as they dart around, directionless. Where is he?

Astor vibes. They're pretty okay vibes.

>>5557551
>>5557553
Brock does his best to keep his composure in a trying time, instead trying to turn the conversation on the mysterious voice harassing him. It only scoffs.

"That will get you nowhere. Your friends aren't coming for you, no matter how long you wait. If they cared at all, they'd be here already, but they aren't. Your hope is misplaced, and your deflections only delay the inevitable truth. You're nothing to them."

Vee has been [Angered] and cannot think straight! The diss from the mysterious voice has struck him deeper than he thought! Using multiple quick attacks on the environments, he tackles some dead bushes and trees, cracking the bark and snapping some branches. Yeah!

That'll show those pesky dead plants who's really in charge! But as he moves around, there's really nothing else. It's like the forest repeats forever. Except for that pond and the "reflection" of Brock...

>>5557565
It seems he's in deep this time, all by himself in the middle of an expansive dead forest. The trees are lifeless, and the grass is gray. There's really no sense of any direction here, given the lack of visible landmarks. In the distance, though, he can see a depression sloping into the earth, breaking up the monotony.

"Nothing but a simple creature. Are you hungry? Want a treat?" a voice suddenly speaks to him, mocking the Stufful.

>>5557566
Poli flops through the water, now unconscious. [Player has left the voice channel]. He appears face down on Citrine's side, bobbing up and down.

Bind is...wandering through the dead forest...alone! Oh dear. His Bangle glows faintly, but it's not helping his way around at all...

>>5557598
"I don't think we can reach them Stern... Just keep going guys, it ends pretty quick!" Kaku isn't sure if anyone hears him but he'll try anyways.

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>5557598
>While continuing to Kaku and Stern, Charles calls out to Sable!
>Does his voice reach?
"Sable! Is that you?! We're over here!"

Rolled 14 (1d20)

>>5557598
Yo, Stern. Wake up, buddy! We gotta find the others before the demons eat them or something!
>Sable looks around for anyone

>>5557598
Theodore creeps towards the depression, eyeing the darkness with careful curiosity. "Stufful?" He mewls, a strange glint in eyes tampers with the heart of anyone present- and he carefully watches a glitter in response.

>Theodore uses Baby-Doll Eyes to try and locate the source of the voice.

"I'd like some answers- as a treat. Who are you? Where are we?"

File: FVeeI.gif (939 KB, 1200x1200)

939 KB GIF

>>5557598
Vee's breathing is a little heavier after burning himself out a bit, slowing down his small rampage as he cools off slightly. "Stupid... voice..." He looks up at the forest's canopy of trees. "I'll find you."

With another Quick Attack, Vee beams towards where he recalls Brock seemingly was. He stops himself right before slamming into it, and sorta just... lightly headbutts where he thinks Brock might be.

>>5557598
"Bro that makes me sad. Like, it's alright if you don't wanna be bros, but why you gotta be so mean?"
Brock sighs, his attempts at making bros thoroughly dismissed. He picks up some dirt off the ground and throws it into the pond in front of him for a lack of anything better to do while waiting to prove the voice wrong.
"Just gotta wait a little longer, that's all. I'm sure they'll be here soon."

>>5557598
"...is this, uh, real?"

Citrine pokes at the Probably Real unconscious body of Poli to make sure he isn't some sort of shadow illusion.

Rolled 8 (1d20)

>>5557598
"If you can hear me, follow my voice! If not, follow any voice!"
Astor tries to help (?)

>>5557599
>>5557606
Bind has been separated from the group, left without anyone to assist him in this strange place. In the distance, he can see a squat pink thing. Somewhere further away, he thinks he can hear the voices of his friends somewhere.

As Theodore wanders, he tries to find the voice through the use of the move! It fails as it cannot ascertain a target. "Oh, look at you. How sweet. Speak again! Bark!"

>>5557600
>>5557605
>>5557601
>>5557615
Sableye can't see anyone. There is only forest.

As Charles continues with Cast, they can hear the increasing calls from their friends, particularly Astor and Kaku. Attempting to try and get a response from them, he calls out! However, all he manages to do is strain his voice. Ouch! He'll need some honey for that...

Soon enough, they find the group!

>>5557607
>>5557611
Vee attacks the ground where he believes Brock to be! It does nothing at all. He just bumped against solid ground and grass.

Brock continues trying to reason with the voice. "But how long do you expect to wait? You'll be here forever. Some friends... and a fool you are!"

>>5557614
Citrine is able to determine that this is Poli. Just floating face down in the ash water. He should probably help him.

>>5557617
"Heeey, you made it! So, who's left, like half of us?"

>>5557617
"There you all are!"
>Charles exclaims as he finally makes his way to them
"Are you all all right??"
"I-I heard this extremely rude voice speaking to me! Did any of you hear that too?"

>>5557617
"Ow..."
Astor takes some of the oranhoney concentrate he has left

>>5557617
"Pink? Pink That means...a benign aura...?" Bind makes a beeline for the only landmark in this dreary place.
"I'm trustworthy!!! Who are yoooou?" He approaches, waving his arms like a madmon.

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>5557617
>>5557621
Oh, yeah this place is completely demonically possessed. How about we get the rest of our group back and get the deep fried fuck out of here already?
>Sable tries to find more friends from the top of Charles!

>>5557617
Theodore frowns and mewls again. "Stufful."
He grabs some twigs and dry grass before sliding down into the depression.

"You sound like my ex."

Rolled 3 (1d20)

>>5557626
(Vibe check)

>>5557617
"I'd rather wait a million years and not doubt my bros."
Despite his defiant words, there's weakness in his voice. Brock goes back to shuffling his cards to stave off a possible million years of waiting.
"You'll see when they get here... They're my bros, and bros stick together through everything."
He looks around and shouts "BROS! I'm here!"

Rolled 9 (1d20)

>>5557629
"I second that line of action."
>Charles extends his antennae to listen for any clue to his friends whereabouts!

File: eeveeloaf.png (41 KB, 242x194)

41 KB PNG

>>5557617
"...Is he really not there?" Vee is unsure of himself after not feeling anything there. "I don't have the voice to tell me depressing stuff, and I don't have Brock to carry me around places!" He's really just trying to draw someone's attention at this point, so he might find a way out.

He looks into the pond and its reflections. What's the secret of this place, he wonders, pawing at the water. He baps it, trying to get some sort of reaction out of this weird place.

Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>5557617
Stern is existing, and currently trying to smell his way out of this place 'cuz he missed a post.

Rolled 9 (1d20)

>>5557617
Citrine hastily hoists Poli up out of the water and places him face-up on drier ground for the moment. "Right, uh... looks like I'm gonna have to keep looking around?" He says to... still nobody, since the frog is unconscious.

Citrine ignites the Light Core again, trying to look for somewhere to go... the answer can't be the puddle, right?

>>5557619
>>5557621
>>5557626
>>5557629
>>5557632
>>5557636
>>5557640
Currently waiting in the empty clearing, are Kaku, Tinto, Astor, Sable, Stern, Charles, and Cast. The group members they went in with that are still missing are: Citrine, Poli, Theo, Brock, and Vee. I don't think anyone recalls Bind entering!

Despite their best efforts, Charles cannot hear anything. It's only forest from here on out. There is no sign that they had been in a dead forest. Sableye, in his hasty attempt to climb to the top of Charles, slips on the gooey dragon. Because of the height difference, Sablefalls. He lands on his back in the waving purple grass.

>>5557635
>>5557638
The voice doesn't reply this time as the pond water next to Brock ripples. If he was paying attention, perhaps he would've seen a familiar brown paw reach out.

>>5557627
>>5557631
Theodore can hear a voice calling out to him, and turning around can see a Lopunny waving their arms around like some sort of crazy wacky inflatable waving arm man. It also appears to be getting closer!

Further away, there are voices of the rest of their team trying to reach them.

>>5557641
The light offers no help, however, he can hear Kaku, Sable, and Astor just... up ahead? Directions are a little difficult here...

>>5557645
>Sable's back makes a crunch noise
OOUUGH!!!

>>5557645
"Bro?" Brock notices the disturbance and curiously grabs the protruding paw, pulling it out of the water.

>>5557645
Theo stands up and runs over to the Lopunny. "Stufful!" He mewls, running up and into his ear!

>>5557645
>>5557647
"AH! Sable!"
>Charles kneels down next to him
"I thought you didn't have bones??!"

File: Hangedforhiscrimes.jpg (70 KB, 730x1200)

70 KB JPG

>>5557648
Vee feels his leg get grabbed and he jerks back. However, the size and weight discrepancy between the puller and the pulled is quite great, and he gets pulled away as he flails around a little but is otherwise not too worried. He's been tossed around a lot in the past.

>>5557655
Brock grins as he looks at his bro "See? I told you! They did come looking for me! Heh heh heh! Good to see you brovee." He gently sets Vee atop his massive shoulder and gets up.
"You good? Any idea where the others are?"

>>5557650
>Sablecries
I landed on my crystals...

File: ChocoVee.png (400 KB, 760x845)

400 KB PNG

>>5557659
Vee is okay with this.

"No, but I don't care about that right now, I wanna hear what he had to say! It's rude to leave a conversation unfinished!" he shouts into the air, calling for the voice's attention. Still stuck on that.

>>5557649
Bind topples over from the countercharge. "Oh it's you. Alright, if we're not alone, then we can regroup! There's hope!" He lifts his bangle skyward, lighting up a little bit. His symbol of hope...looks like a toy.
"Okay, let's get going." He holds Theo out in front of him to sniff, like a dowsing rod for his friends.

>>5557663
"Whoa! You heard that voice too? He was a real prick. Maybe we should show him what real bros do to pricks."
Brock starts walking down the road in search of the others.

Rolled 15 + 5 (1d20 + 5)

>>5557661
>Charles waves his water baton a little to heal Sable up
>A jaunty little tune plays in the air
> +5 Melody Pin
"Heh, not to worry! You'll be fixed up in a moment."

File: BURGER.png (3.32 MB, 1867x2057)

3.32 MB PNG

>>5557668
Vee hangs out as Brock carries him along.

Rolled 4 (1d20)

>>5557645
Citrine immediately starts shouting, unsure where exactly to move and electing to stay still, keeping the Light Core on as a sort of beacon. "YO! GUYS! ME AND POLI ARE OVER HERE!"

>volume roll

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>5557645
"We are here!"
Astor keeps chirping

>>5557670
T-thanks, Charles...

Rolled 9 (1d20)

>>5557665
Theo nods and his little ears wiggle and point in the direction of the rest of their friends! Occasionally he makes a 'beep' noise like a radar.

>>5557649
>>5557665
As Theodore and Bind regroup, they hear a pretty noise dance around the dead trees. It sounds like a jaunty little tune.

>>5557663
>>5557668
Brock and Vee, now together, have warded off the voice! In Brock's case, anyway. As they explore the forest, a haunting tune floats through to them. It almost sounds like it could be Charles' work!

>>5557674
Astor, like Charles, takes critical damage to his vocals.

>>5557673
Citrine can't hear any responses come back to him, but he does hear a strange tune, out of place for such a terrible place.

Soon enough, everyone clambers out of the dreadful dead forest, with Citrine and an unconscious Poli appearing to be the last out of the woods. Together again at last! But... looking ahead, the same path remains ominously open. From their experiences hearing that voice mock them, could it be that whoever goes first influences the forest?

Beware who takes the lead...

Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>5557645
"Where are they...?" Smell, he's a pig, damn it!

>>5557681
"Christ, guys, is everyone alright? This place's fuckin' up to something. I just hope sticking together is still possible..."

>>5557681
"Hey bros! Feels like it's been like a week since I saw you all." Brock grins happily, having thoroughly defeated the dumb voice and having his faith in his bros validated.
"Where to next?"

>>5557678
>>5557681
"You smell that? It smells like music!" Bind hobbles off with his Theo in tow, occasionally spinning to make him chirp in tune with the music.

>>5557681
Bind! Vee! Everyone! You made it past the demons! Great work, now we'll be able to get through this place since we know their tricks!

Hm. So... does anyone have any rope? If you like, you can tie it around me and I'll go first and trigger whatever traps they set, then you guys can yank me back before they kill me.

>>5557687
Theo mewls excitedly, using Coach on his friend to brighten the sour atmosphere! "Stufful!"

"Delicious! I hope they have a side of dancing too!"

Theo's coaching urges Lope to take the lead! Everything is going to be fine!

>>5557688
"If not that, I could lead with Wide Guard active?" Citrine suggests.

>>5557693
How about we go together?

Bind spins around again, this time with gusto and poise.

>>5557688
"Heya guys! Good plan! Let's see... I've got... a stick and this...months-old magnetic dust...Think we can jerry-rig something?"

>>5557681
"Spooky..." Vee enjoys spooky music.

>>5557688
>>5557685
Vee remains on >>5557686 Brock's shoulder. "Hi."

"I wanted to go up ahead myself before. I'm still up to doing that, or we could just go with whatever." Vee shrugs.

>>5557697
... I guess I could eat the dust? Does anyone know a steel move or something?

You can all vote who should go first! Reply here who should get the (mis)fortune to activate it!

Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>5557681
Astor is now mute! (For a while)
He tries to schizo retconn his vocal chords into healthy

>>5557709
>Vote for sableye, it'll be funny

>>5557697
"I think I still got my Escape Rope!" He does at this point in time at least. "You can have it, it never sees any use..."
>>5557709
>Sable

>>5557709
>Vote for birb, he will birb

>>5557709
>Citrine, for i stole his thunder last time

>>5557709
wide guar (citrine)

>>5557709
Vee has to think for a little, but knows Citrine would tank anything.
>Citrine

>>5557709
>Theodore votes for the big guy Citrine!

>>5557709
Bind got distracted thinking about convoluted ways to Weekend at Bernie's his friends around the place and forgot to vote.
"Have you ever eaten any of this before, Sab? How does it taste?"

>>5557728
Nope! It'll be a new world of flavor... I don't know what kind of flavor, so... yeah it'll certainly be something.

Rolled 20 (1d20)

>>5557730
Bind sprinkles a pinch over Sable's ghost tongue...?

>>5557741
>Sable cooperates in this

>>5557741
Bind fills Sable's mind with delights!
>Sableye levitated with electromagnetism!

>>5557718
Citrine takes the lead with his Wide Guard up, believing that it would help him at all. As if the traps were as simple as simply physically damaging them! As they advance through the only path available to them, the forest gradually loses its colorful starry-purple hue and becomes a very familiar sight. Off the beaten road leading to Treasure Town and scaling an overgrown mountain path... up ahead should be the guild. But how could that be? That's...

...regardless, they continue making their way up. Strangely, the path seems to get cleaner and cleaner, almost like it's been meticulously cleaned and taken care of. Approaching the entrance to their home, they realize something is off. A large sign welcomes them to "Lost Hope Town..."

The once foreboding and fortified bridge leading into the cave has been turned into a friendly bridge. The cave is no longer rugged and wild, rather, it's been shaped nicely and polished smooth. There are no guards waiting just around the corner, either. What happened?

>>5557744
"They made the guild lame!" Vee is offended and doesn't know what to do about it.
"We have to destroy it or something!"

>>5557744
"Bruh. Did we get someone to remodel the guild while we were gone?"
Brock appears bemused as he looks around for anything and anybro
>Perception

>>5557744
"Ah, home... It's a bit different from how I remember, we haven't been away that long do we?"

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>5557744
YOOOOOOO CHECK IT OUT DUDE, I'M FLYING!
...How do I control this?
>Sablefly tries to float around a bit, completely forgetting that something else much more important just happened

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>5557744
Rolling to spawn(Lost Hope Town)

Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>5557746
>Roll?

>>5557747
"If that's what happened, then I wanna beat up whoever lives in it."

>>5557748
"No time for flying, Sable! Look what they did to the guild!"

Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>5557744
Theo tilts his head in confusion and and hops out of Bind's arms to check the guild.

>>5557753
Huh? What happened to our cool caves? Our caldera? This is clearly some demon bootleg boufshit, Vee. We should sue.

File: War.jpg (30 KB, 540x304)

30 KB JPG

>>5557746
>>5557755
"Let's blow it up!" Vee stands atop Brock's shoulder, getting antsy and ready for battle- no, war.

>>5557748
"Air is like a...fluid or sonething! Do swimming motions! Wait, How'd it taste?"

>>5557745
"Do you think anyone else is in there? This is creepy..."

>>5557744
Citrine halts and glances around the new area, most surprised at the lack of guards. "... Lax. It's nice here, though," he comments quietly.

>>5557757
"That's what we're gonna find out. You're the guildmaster, so you have to lead the charge. Do we storm the front entrance, or sneak in through the caldera? It'd be a bit of a climb..."
Vee is set on the war path.

>>5557758
"That's why it SUCKS!"

>>5557756
I didn't bring any dynamite, sorry.
>>5557757
Tastes like... hm... it's kind of like a spice, but sweet? It's kinda hard to say.

>>5557748
Sableye has some limited control over his electromagnetism! Kind of! He manages to stay upright, at least. This kind of thing is not his expertise. Someone still needs to push him along, otherwise he's just spinning in place. But, oh boy, can Sableye spin!

>>5557754
>>5557758
>>5557759
Brock is the first to notice someone leaving the cave. Everyone turns their attention as a Lucario comes jogging out.

"...what's with all the noise over... o-oh! Hello, everyone!" she greets, smiling. "Back already? I didn't think having to go collect food from the farms would've been that short."

This is a familiar voice.

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>5557763
"Is that little bro? You evolved, radical!" Brock approaches and extends The Fist(tm) to the familiar pokemon.
>Bro? (+2 chill)

>>5557763
I am highly experienced in spinning. Multiple ways to do so, it would seem!
Oh, hey Cobalt, how's it going being a demonic vision meant to deceive us and/or kill us and do funny things to our corpses?

File: CuteEevee.png (1.24 MB, 943x592)

1.24 MB PNG

>>5557763
Vee is forced to contain his enthusiastic warmongering as 'Cobalt' exits the guild. This is all too sudden considering what happened earlier to believe anything to be real.
"...Yep. Back alreadyy! How's it going?" His smile is too good to be true.

Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>5557763
"Are you real or another voice?"
Astor tries to identify the voice if it's real or not

>>5557763
Theo has never seen this 'mon in his entire life but smiles and waves at her. "Stufful!"

>>5557763
Bind is pushing the goblin along through the air with an ear like a kite.

"Heya! Something weird happened to us, maybe. Any shot you remember when we left? Do we look any different?"

>>5557763
Citrine looks at the Lucario, unsurprised. "Hey, where're the guards?"

>>5557766
"E-Evolved? Are you alright, Brock? I've been like this for a while now... it was only months ago, too..." Cobalt tilts her head, slowly approaching and returning a weak bro-fist. "Are you okay?"

>>5557768
"W-What? Oh... I don't really remember that story very well. Am I supposed to say I'll burst out of your chest?" she asks, confused.

>>5557770
>>5557773
>>5557776
>>5557777
>>5557778
>nice quads
"It was only an hour ago. You all wanted to go and get the harvest on the slopes of the mountain. It's time to collect the crops!" Cobalt replies, nodding her head. "And no, I don't see anything different. Are you sure you're all okay?"

She inspects the group, but stops at Citrine's question. "G-Guards? What would we need guards for? It's safe here...?"

Suddenly, you can hear some loud stomping emerging around the cave's bend. "Now, what's the racket out here, Cobalt?"

"Hey, Armstrong. I think they're being--"

The Chesnaught stretches his arms. "Oh. Y'all are back here already? Where's the harvest? Somethin' gone wrong?"

>>5557790
"Oh, it's this guy... Hey, this is just an illusion right? Can I hit him?"

>>5557790
"Heh heh, must've hit my head or something. You know how it gets." Brock smiles at Cobalt before turning to give Vee a look and small nod.

>>5557790
>Oh fuck the loops are starting again
No, that was the one with the aliens. Anyway, do you know how to invoke the name of the Lord? It's important.

File: braindamage.png (565 KB, 800x933)

565 KB PNG

>>5557790
Vee is immediately fearful of what this situation may entail.

Vee nods in response to >>5557795 Brock, turning back to Cobalt and Armstrong.
"I was just off doing my usual thing when I found the others coming back early. Y'know, scavenging, stealing, the usual." Vee puts extra emphasis on the stealing part of that sentence.

He fears that whatever twisted world this is has the guild become an upstanding pillar of the community, with himself included. How will he be the world's greatest outlaw if he doesn't steal?

He visibly shudders at the thought and waits for a response to gauge how things might work here...

Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>5557800
"This is...hmm. We mighta gotten hit by some spores or something and got lost. Sorry, don't mind us. Umm, would you mind jogging our memories...?"

>>5557790
>>5557806
"Yeah, uh, what he said..." Citrine rumbles, unsure how to press the guard subject.

Rolled 8 (1d20)

>>5557790
"Only one hour? We're on time for dinner, can you guide us to the mess hall?"
Astor think something is sus

>>5557794
"I can hear that," Armstrong responds. "Shoot, an 'illusion?' Don't tell me y'all went and got heat-stroke or somethin' like that."

>>5557795
Cobalt nods understandingly. "We can take you to the infirmary! Pika and Blissey can take a look at that."

>>5557798
"I think so. Olly likes to try and talk about it."

>>5557800
"The hell you stealing for?" Armstrong says, shocked. "Tryna' get on the wrong side of the law?"

Cobalt gasps. "W-What would you need to be stealing? We have everything we need here..."

>>5557806
>>5557809
"Oh, that's alright. Maybe you should all get checked out? Just to be safe?" Cobalt suggests. "W-Well, anyway, what do you need clarifying?"

>>5557815
"Didn't we just have dinner service before y'all left?" He scratches his head, thinking about the past events and pointing to the noon sun. "Yeah, sounds 'bout right. Ah, sorry. Other folks normally call it lunch."

>>5557827
Well, it's not his version of the Lord. It's the one native to here. You know what I mean, right?
Right?

>>5557827
Brock gives Cobalt a thumbs up "Good idea, little bro. I'll get right on that."
He looks to everyone else "No use standing out here bros, let's get some rest. I could really go for a 20 hour nap."

>>5557827
"The infirmary?" Citrine perks up. "I, uh, wouldn't mind a trip."

"In terms of clarifying, uh... What're we growing, again?"

Rolled 4 (1d20)

>>5557827
"That was merely a snack, i can't beat small critters unpunished without actual dinner"
Astor has a theory, will "Cobalt" take the bait?

>>5557827
"Y'know what, sure, let's go see the doctor, the
other shoe has to drop at some point..."

File: Handgun.png (1.41 MB, 2048x2048)

1.41 MB PNG

>>5557827
Vee's smile widens. It is most certainly one of any positive emotion, however. "Ehehe!" he shrugs it off as a joke as best he can. "I'm just messing with you! Hehehe!"

No stealing, no law-breaking... this is just like that one book...
"I'm glad to be back, though, I fell out of a tree trying to get this really juicy berry, I just wanna nap it off." Inside, he can think of nothing but how to break out of the matrix. He WILL bring anarchy to the world once more. So long as the name Vee is known to this world, no law is safe! There will be no order!

Vee hops off of >>5557829 Brock's shoulder. He smiles at him with a look of very positive anguish. "I'm thinking the same thing. Let's go!"
Vee goes to run inside to look around and get a clearer view of the situation before his planning starts.

"This doesn't make any sense. I thought magna gates..." He mumbles to himself.

>>5557827
"Umm, what is it we...do here?" Bind tries to probe why the guild feels so different, and in his haste throws out any sense of plausibility in his cover story.

>>5557828
Cobalt nods. "The one you all met in that weird area, right? I'm sorry, Sableye, I don't really pay attention to that a lot..."

>>5557832
Armstrong hums. "Tryna' pick fights with the locals or wildlife again? That's why you always end up in that infirmary."

>>5557829
>>5557830
>>5557833
>>5557834
She smiles, pointing toward the opening that connects directly to the infirmary. "They should be there. Y-You remember that, right?"

Peering into the hall shows the door separating the infirmary from the rest of the world. You can see a cut-out that peeks inside, revealing a neat waiting room for patients. You can see Blissey waiting at the front desk, writing something on a paper. She hasn't noticed you, yet. This entire place looked too nice to be your home.

>>5557837
"O-Oh, that might be a lot to explain." Cobalt holds her chin as she tries to recall everything. "Well, I remember it being explained to me, so give me a moment. We called it a colony at first, so we just tried to keep things steady. Lots of farming so we could keep everyone fed! Armstrong's knowledge really came in handy. Eventually, things got good enough where we didn't need to constantly watch the food or worry about any of the wildlife trying to eat it. Everyone had their houses built inside the caldera, after that... I think that's pretty much it. There's not much we really do, now that I think about it. It's just working on the town!"

>>5557889
Say it. Say the name of the Lord, Cobalt.

>>5557889
Brock raises his hand in greeting "Hey eggbro! We need a checkup, is pikabro in?"

>>5557889
>Charles interjects!
"So, Cobalt, remind me when you evolved? I may have hit my head on this last outing and my memory is a bit fuzzy."

>>5557889
>>5565037
Citrine stands off to the side, hesitant as he peers into the infirmary. "Wow, this's certainly... how much did this cost...?" he wonders to himself.

>>5557889
Vee looks around as he heads inside the guild. His top priority is investigating the whole place, but he thinks it might be good to start with places like his room.

He comments to >>5565037 Brock and >>5565039 Citrine along the way.
"Too much. I liked it better before."

>Tintoretto stares deeply at absolutely nothing.
>In his mind, this is playing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhmXKGUOJyI

Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>5557889
Stern is sniffing out the guildmembers(?) that stick out at base usually.
"Huh."

>He thinks to himself what on earth is everyone else doing...
>And by everyone else, it's probably just his own organs.

>>5557889
"Damn, this could almost pass as like an actual pokemon center."

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>5557889
"That's why YOU ended up in the infirmary last time"
Astor tries to gaslight Armstrong into not punching him

>>5557889
>Castform
>having had enough (OOC) problems for the rest of the year, arrives!

>>5565035
The Lucario bites her tongue before answering. "Are-kay-us?" she replies, uncertain.

>>5565038
"Oh! That one is pretty easy. I r-remember it was during the arrival party!" She smiles. "Everyone was really happy and thankful about the whole thing... next thing you know, I-I'm me!"

>>5565037
>>5565039
>>5565053
"Nope! But if you want to wait for her, you can," Blissey says, still sitting down. Suddenly, she reaches under the desk and holds out a plate of eggs. "Care for one? It's great for you! You should take as many as you want."

"Of course! Health is important. So are eggs." She shakes the plate at them, expertly bouncing the eggs without dropping them. "You should take some."

Do you accept the offering?
>Yes, of course.
>No, I already had something to eat.

>>5565047
Vee knows the way to his room, kind of. The path is familiar, but the usual sights are all slightly different. Eventually, he arrives and peers in. It's... probably not his room? It's too clean! And normal. There are no indications of his rampant stealing.

>>5565048
>>5565051
Head empty, no thoughts.

>>5565049
Stern notices that they all smell just like the guildmembers normally would. If they're playing disguise, it's a great one. In that regard, there's nothing off about them...

>>5565056
Armstrong stands there silently in confusion. "Now hang on a sec', that don't make any sense." Astor's sentence coupled with his [Critical Fail] vibes causes a mental reset!

>>5565058
orb

Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>5565068
"You don't make any sense, you're a plant, you should be weak!"
Uhh what?

Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>5565068
Well, that's one way some say it, at least.
Uh... so is there anything... strange going on that you've seen?
>Sable looks around and tries to find something to get him out of this hallucination realm

Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>5565068
>Charles looks skeptical
"My my, I must have really hit my head!"
>He feigns
"What on the planet is an arrival party?"

>Charles tries to gage if this really is Cobalt by watching her mannerisms

>>5565068
"Well, they smell fine to me! If that means anything!"

>>5565068
Poli has completely failed to notice anything bizarre going on and has started mopping the floors like nothing was wrong.
Wait, when did he even start doing that? Is he intentionally being oblivious?

>>5565068
>Cast looks around, checking out the area.
something doesn't feel right.
>he floats around looking at what's going on... and floats up to Armstrong
hey, how's guarding been?

Rolled 14 (1d20)

>>5565068
"Sweet! Thanks eggbro!" Brock takes an egg and turns around to face away from Blissey to pocket the egg discreetly "You bros wanna wait for the doc to get here? I don't think I've got other stuff to do."
>Yes, of course.
>Hide the egg (stealthy roll)

"It feels like we''re in another world or something. Do you guys think there's another... us, walking around? Even if there were, I don't think finding them would help us do anything we need to here..."

>>5565068
>>Yes, of course.
"I haven't had these in a while..." Kaku bites on the thing, hopefully this isn't poisoned or anything.

>Tintoretto turns around to someone
>His mind is currently...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngHBhUlvuM8

>>5565068
Citrine stares at the plate of eggs. "...really?" he asks blankly. He cannot eat. "Have you got any quicklime?"

>No

File: Eeveee.jpg (209 KB, 1600x1280)

209 KB JPG

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>5565068
Vee feels wronged. Either he's been moved out of his room, or things are set up completely wrong in this place. He can't help but look scornfully at the sight of it. Boring! There's no way he'd keep his room like that.

"Why?" Vee just can't wrap his head around it. With a breath and a moment to collect himself, he's back to his normal demeanor, but inside, he has a lot of questions, and a lot of ideas. He has to find Sneasel. If anyone'd find something off about a situation like this, he hopes it would be her.

He keeps a list of priorities in his mind.
1. Find Sneasel
2. Investigate the rest of the guild.
3. Find Pika
4. Find a couple others of note
5. Find out if his treehouse still exists (but that's a long way from the guild as of now.)

He steps away from his room and gets to working on priority 1 and 2. Together, with an ear out and a wandering gaze, Vee scours the guild for anything out of the ordinary. There has to be something to clue him in...

>>5565072
"Y'all hit your noggin' too hard on the way back up here?" Armstrong asks, scratching his own head.

>>5565074
>>5565076
Cobalt shakes her head. "N-No? Nothing too weird from the weird around here, at least." She turns her attention to Charles. "It's the big party we have at the start of a new seasonal cycle! To celebrate our arrival and s-stuff. You remember, that, yes...? It's pretty important."

>>5565080
>>5565077
He scratches his chin and pats himself down. "I don't smell, do I?" Armstrong looks to Castform. "Guardin'? You mean gardenin'? That's been going peachy."

>>5565078
Poli cleans. The floor is already clean, however, as if someone took care of it.

>>5565081
>>5565085
>>5565091
Brock successfully pretends to eat the egg and stows it for later use.

Kaku, however, eats it normally. Nothing strange happens to the Grimmsnarl. It tastes just like a perfectly hard-boiled egg. It could use some salt.

She looks annoyed at Citrine's decision to not take an egg, and looks further perplexed. "Limes? What would you need that for? Eggs will fix your problems. Health is important. So are eggs." She shakes the plate at him, expertly bouncing the eggs without dropping them. "You should take some."

Do you accept the offering?
>Yes, of course.
>No, I already had something to eat.
>[Perception Roll] Hey... wait. Didn't we just take some? How did they come back?

>>5565083
Cobalt nods. "That's what everyone always calls this place! Another world."

>>5565090
Tintoretto is microwaving his thoughts.

>>5565093
Vee feels wronged on a cosmic level, he takes mental damage from the sheer audacity of the state of his "room." His next two rolls will have a -2 penalty. Currently, it just looks like their base, but if everyone bothered to spend more time on it rather than constantly adventuring. It would be actually kind of nice if it wasn't so uncomfortably off-putting.

Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>5565101
>[Perception Roll] Hey... wait. Didn't we just take some? How did they come back?
"...it's just eggs."

>>5565101
>Tintoretto stares at the eggs
"Can I trade them in with a lime? They're quite the fishon in my stool...

>>5565101
"Ah... perfect cleanliness. No sense of adventure. Peace. No boy-crazy Fire-types..." Poli comments, putting his mop aside. "Truly, this is an improvement. I could stay here forever!" he muses to himself, sitting in a corner to stare at a wall like he normally does in his free time. Seems like Poli has taken the wrong lesson from everything being, well, wrong!

>>5565101
>Castform now KNOWS something is up.
huh, so you've been handling the garden while we've been out. may I see it?

>>5565101
>Charles scratches his chin
"No. No Cobalt, I can't say that I do. Mind re-filling some gaps? I'd like to...'remember'."

Bind casually takes some eggs. "So, stumbling into here and asking all kinds of weird questions is a common occurrence, it sounds like...? I should be more attentive..."

>>5565104
"You'd rather eat limes than eggs?!" He eggsclaims.

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>5565101
Yeah... I'll uh... I'll be right back.
>Sable walks off to find CLUES

File: EeveeHate.png (342 KB, 578x386)

342 KB PNG

Rolled 1 + 2 (1d20 + 2)

>>5565101
"...Place sucks..." Vee doesn't like it one bit. He likes cosmic damage more than this place, because at least cosmic stuff has stars. Stars are cool. He walks over to Poli >>5565105 and asks him a completely serious question.

"Hey Poli. How often do you think about world domination and-or destruction?"

Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>5565101
"Any idea how long pikabro is out, eggbro? The eggs are nice, but a snack won't fix what's wrong with me."
Brock takes a seat in the waiting room, waiting for the doctor to arrive while keeping an eye out for anything suspicious. The eggs are suspicious at this moment, so he focuses on those.
>[Perception Roll] Hey... wait. Didn't we just take some? How did they come back?

>>5565114
"Daily." Poli answers. "But this peace is what all true world conquerors strive for!"
...yeah, Poli's normal.
Probably.

Rolled 17 (1d20)

>>5565101
"No, but i can hit you up there"
Astor is sus

Rolled 19 (1d20)

Teammate solidarity roll for nothing!!!

>>5565111
>Tintoretto chows down on an egg.
"Non."

File: hmph.gif (2.21 MB, 720x600)

2.21 MB GIF

>>5565117
"Do you wanna do it for real right now? This is world is evil, rotten to the core. And not the good evil, either. It's the bad kind," he shakes his head. "I don't even think this place is real, and it doesn't deserve to be, anyway."

Vee stomps his paw down dramatically, but he weighs like fifteen pounds so it isn't very impactful. "We destroy this place, and get back home."

>>5565123
"But Vee," Poli protests. "Look at the floor! It's all clean, and it didn't take me three hours! There's nobody whinging about makeup! Everyone's doing something nice and calm... This is the world I strive to rule as Divine Unholy Wizard Overlord!" he declares.

>>5565101
>No

"Not a lime. Quicklime. The medicine Pika makes for Rock-type wounds. Usually in a jar? Gray?"

Citrine doesn't even bother answering the egg demand.

>>5565124
"In that case, I say this place doesn't need us."

>>5565123
"Where do you think we should go to fix all this, then?"

>>5565122
Bind releases a breath he didn't know he was holding. From his relief, one might assume his concern was as dire as it would be for a sharpedo attack. Because to him, it was.

>>5565101
"Nope, I wasn't checking for if you smell bad, just... if you guys were off!"

File: jab.jpg (350 KB, 1158x1350)

350 KB JPG

>>5565124
"Poli, if the floor is already clean, that means they've replaced you." Vee does his best to put up a convincing argument as he is very unhappy with the state of things.
No stealing.
No pillow forts.
No messy rooms.
Destruction.
"And it might not even be a normal replacement, it could even be a clone of you. If that's true then someone else is using your janitor's closet right now."

>>5565126
Vee looks to Bind, who he didn't notice in the plaza before. "We need to figure out the source of this, and destroy it. If anyone tries to stop us, we need to destroy them, too. They aren't real, that's how they get you!"

File: politoed orb.gif (906 KB, 640x322)

906 KB GIF

>>5565126
>>5565129
"Oh." Poli pauses to think about not being needed or being replaced. He decides that it's probably not very different, or at least worth the apparent 'perfection' of this place. "...Can't I just replace the replacement then? Or go on wizard vacation?"

>>5565130
"Yes! If we have one of us replace one of them, then we can dismantle it from the inside!"
Vee is imagining the situation as if it were some sort of simulation, which it probably isn't.
Still set on destroying it, though.
"And that's the worst part. They don't allow crime here, so that means they don't allow evil, either!"

>>5565132
"Evil is always allowed. It lurks in every corner-you just need to know where to look!" Poli scoots over in his corner to invite him to... engage in evil? It's like a Seviper offering an apple, or something.

>>5565103
>>5565104
>>5565111
>>5565122
>>5565121
>>5565115
>>5565125
Kaku is correct, it is just eggs. Same as before. He fails to notice they have magically refilled, as if none were taken.

She turns to face Tintoretto, who has moved to the infirmary. "Limes? What would you need that for? Eggs will fix your problems. Health is important. So are eggs." She shakes the plate at him, expertly bouncing the eggs without dropping them. "You should take some."

Do you accept the offering?
>Yes, of course.
>No, I already had something to eat.
>Is... she okay?

Bind leaves the entrance, now moving to the infirmary to take a handful of eggs. If he doesn't notice, the eggs on the plate are refilled each time. He also gives a morale boost... to no one! His teammates have exceeded the effective range of the buff. It is not applied.

Tintoretto eats an egg. It tastes just like a perfectly hard-boiled egg. It could use some salt.

Blissey now turns to face Brock, trying to ask her a question. "Eggs will fix your problems. Health is important. So are eggs." She shakes the plate at him, expertly bouncing the eggs without dropping them. "You should take some."

Do you accept the offering?
>Yes, of course.
>No, I already had something to eat.
>Huh?

Now facing Citrine, she repeats the exact same sentence as before and the exact same motions. Perfectly. Without skipping a beat.

Do you accept the offering?
>Yes, of course.
>No, I already had something to eat.
>What is going on???

>>5565106
>>5565118
>>5565127
"...right. You have fun with that." He gives an odd look at Stern. "Uh-huh, yup. S'bit odd, is all."

"Is this new to y'all or somethin'?" Armstrong shrugs and waves Castform to follow. "S'where it's always is." He leads him outside to the Caldera. You can see the garden from here. It looks like it could be attached to a fancy mansion! If they chose to be practical and farmed food, that is, rather than eye-candy.

>>5565108
Cobalt nods slowly. "You'd need to be specific about it... what would you like to know?"

>>5565113
Sable is unable to determine that anything is different! As far as he's concerned, this is the normal base!

>>5565114
>>5565123
>>5565117
As Vee is conversing with Poli, the "vileness" of the world takes hold of him, and he takes super critical damage to the brain! Vee has been so bothered with this place, it's actually getting to him! Who needs fighting... moves... when everything is so peaceful...
>A random move in Vee's moveset was Disabled! (Roll 1d4)

>>5565138
>Tintoretto looks at the even more eggs then thinks he has to eat ALL THE EGGS.
"THE NOBLE FRUIT OF THE NOBLE HEN WILL BE MINE!!"
>om nom nom

Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>5565138
"Y'now, i hit some guys pretty hard down there and new memories were created, and others are gone, so no, i don't remember"
"Also remember that loan i gave you? The thousand Poke? Yeah i need it"
Will this work?

Rolled 4 (1d4)

>>5565138
>>5565136
Vee looks visibly distraught for a moment before he can respond to Poli.

1. Copycat
2. Work Up
3. Quick Attack
4. Last Resort

>>5565101
Theodore is here! He blinks and whips his head around in confusion before the memories return slowly to him. They traveled down some weird tunnel, ended up in a deserted wasteland and now they're. . . back home?

It doesn't make sense. Is he forgetting something else? Why is everyone so on edge?

"Stufful. . ." He mewls. "Are we back home, bro? My heads not there. . ."

He moves towards the closest friend.

Rolled 17 (1d20)

>>5565138
"Well, did everyone before me show up at the beginning of a season?"
>Charles grills this supposed Cobalt
"I know I came in late so I may not have all the facts here. And how big is this celebration? When did we start having it?"

Rolled 3 (1d20)

>>5565138
Did I switch timelines into a one where we didn't go into a hell-portal? I hope so... but it all feels so... off. Shit, man... am I real???
>Sable has an existential crisis. What will his mind or faith bring him to?

>>5565138
"Alright, this script is getting on my nerves, I'm out of here." Kaku walks away with no destination in mind.

Rolled 20 (1d20)

>>5565138
'eh, always just thought you'd be on guard too often to get into the garden.
>Cast inspects the garden. as in, checks EVERYTHING in it
>from the fields he and charles laid down to the emblem that should be in it's centre, looking for anything that could be evidence of somebody tampering with him

Rolled 15 (1d20)

>>5565138
"Yo you good, eggbro? I get you like eggs, but you're being weird." Brock decides it's time for action and gets up from his seat and walks around the infirmary.
"Where's pikabro anyways?"
He looks for any doors to open and peek inside.
>Investigate! Special Agent Brody on the scene!

>>5565138
>>5565142
"...I need to get out of here."
Vee immediately rushes away, speeding through the 'guild's' halls and exiting his conversation with >>5565136 Poli early. It's clear enough where he's headed, though.

Vee used Quick Attack!
He sprints to the caldera to get some fresh air, clearly having a hard time.

Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>5565138
>>5565142
>>5565150
"Awww..." Poli waves bye and looks for something else to do. What oddities will he find..?

Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>5565138
Stern shrugs.
>>5565147
Stern is sniffing around for anything wack with Castform, not like he's got anything better to do.
"What do you think's going on? This is kind of funky!"

>>5565143
Brock whispers to Theo "Not really. Something's off, we're investigating discreetly. Put on your private eye fedora, plushbro."

>>5565154
Something is here, something that doesn't want to be alone.
definitely not lonely, otherwise would have just revealed itself by now. but needs people to stay for some reason. my theory? it's using us as some form of energy source, likely a member of the drowsee line looking to stop us waking up to keep feeding on dreams.
>that sounds like a conspiricy theory cast.

>>5565156
Theo looks up at his big friend and smiles. "Stufful stuff." "Thanks, Bro. Its great to know I can count on you."

He tilts his head and mewls. "What do you mean somethings up? Are we still in the weird portal? Maybe that guy from before is still taunting us."

>>5565138
>What is going on???

"... I'm leaving." Citrine turns, heading to the-- wait, would the holding cells exist here? Citrine decides to find out, moving to where the entrance of the basement should be.

>>5565160
"Really? That's crazy..."
Stern's eating the theory up.

>>5565140
>>5565148
>>5565146
Tintoretto keeps eating the eggs. They do not stop reappearing.

Blissey smiles. "Eating eggs is great! Have another! Have another! Have another! Have a-" For every egg consumed, she repeats the line ad nauseam.

Brock ignores the broken record and goes around the infirmary to investigate. The first door he tries to open is locked. The next door he tries to open is locked. Another door, another lock. After trying every single door, none of them open!

Kaku, upset at the strangeness, elects to leave. Exiting the infirmary takes him to the plaza. It's pretty nice. There is Leavanny's tent, which seems to be unchanged.

>>5565141
>>5565147
>>5565150
>>5565154
"I don't know 'bout a loan from you." Armstrong shakes his head. "I really don't get this whole 'guarding' thing I'm s'pposed to be doin'. Who would we need to be scared of?"

Castform inspects the garden. Everything is nicely kept, of course, but it's not kept in the way they would go about it. With his knowledge of their specific garden, he quickly realizes the perfect flaws. This is too perfect. It's so perfect, it feels fake!

Stern smells a perfectly fine garden. It's the best garden to garden, ever.

Vee is now in the caldera, and sees the strange sight. It's picturesque. The pretty garden, the neatly kept forest path... not to hate on their home, but it's all too nice!

>>5565143
Theodore is back in the guild base, or so he believes. It's home, but not. Will he notice?

>>5565145
Sableye is concerned! Is he really real? What shall he do?

His options:
>Freak out, obviously. Now is not the time to have rational thoughts!
>Let's go snooping around... maybe the prisoners might know something?

>>5565153
Poli goes to the Mess Hall. As the self-appointed head janitor, he notices it has never once been burnt or scorched. He should know!

>>5565172
Citrine moves a floor down and immediately walks into a wall, bumping into it without warning. That's strange, there should be a turn right here for the cells...

Rolled 3 (1d20)

>>5565178
"The... candy from the walls, that also looks like a candle and can hide in the shadows"
Now Astor is not making any sense

Rolled 9 (1d20)

>>5565163
"Yeah, something like that. Keep an eye out."
>>5565178
"Well, that's not cool."
Brock slams against a random door with his shoulder.
>Giga-Impact

>>5565178
"How odd. No food? Or Sandslash?" Poli comments. He decides this 'perfection' must be corrected-it's time to cook. Jesse not included. He checks for supplies to actually make a dish for himself.

>>5565178
"Hey, anyone here?" Kaku checks the tent, maybe they sell cosmethics here too.

Rolled 8 (1d20)

>>5565178
>Let's go snooping around... maybe the prisoners might know something?
>Sable creeps into the prison and starts listening in.

>>5565144
"...w-well, I'm not really sure. But everyone all appeared here without warning. We all used to be humans before, so we banded together and formed a town on the mountain! We celebrate that time with a big feast and being thankful everything is nice. It's kind of sad you don't remember this, but that's o-okay." Cobalt finishes regaling her story. "Well, I've got to go do something else now, so I hope we can talk later."

Cobalt waves goodbye and walks away to the plaza. She stops and stands still by the fountain. What?

Rolled 10, 13 = 23 (2d20)

>>5565181
Stufful cheers him on and even helps him with his own strength!
> Theodore uses Couching on Brock and uses Strength.

"Do you think it's a psychic type like one of those creepy hypno or a ghost like gengar? I've heard spooky tales about them haunting places and tricking people. . ."

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>5565182
dropped the funny dice

Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>5565187
>>5565178
>Charles squints his eyes at Cobalt
"Hmmmm."
>His suspicion grows
>He searches for anything...out of place in the guild

>>5565178
>>5565176
and now, I see proof!
>cast uses a weather ball to point to the... berry bushes?
look closely, dozens upon dozens of plants, same height, same amount of branches, hell even same yield and size of their berries. no normal garden would have plantlife so... identical. it has to be artifical, like a template copied and pasted to build this place!

Rolled 7 + 3 (1d20 + 3)

>>5565178
Vee only lets out an annoyed, tense sigh. Even the air sucks.

He looks out at the garden, and then into his scarf. With a Fire Gem, he might be able to burn it all to the ground. Something to keep in mind. He glances around to make sure nobody is looking.

"What can I do..?" Vee ponders to himself deeply. If the world rejects crime, he'll be a criminal. If the world rejects violence, he'll also be a criminal. If the world rejects Vee, he'll be a criminal, too!

He walks over to the garden and hides away for a moment.

(+3 Crimeness)
Vee is feeling criminal.

Rolled 5 (1d20)

Bind wracks his brain, empowered by hearty doses of cholesterol and protein. "Maybe if we went back to the gate? Or confronted...something? It doesn't seem like there's anywhere here...ooh, these are whipped to perfection! Mmm!"
He wanders outside in his musing, perhaps he'll run into someone who's seen more than Cobalt.

>>5565193
"Woooow!"
Stern just assumes Cast is right.

>>5565180
Armstrong stares blankly at him.

>>5565181
>>5565188
With Theodore's assistance, they smash open the door! There's a loud crack as it folds in half under their combined might. As the dust settles, behind the door is revealed to be... nothing! There's just a door shaped hole carved out in the cave's wall. After a few seconds of processing the information, this door doesn't actually lead to anywhere, as if someone wasn't expecting it to be opened.

>>5565182
Poli finds the supplies neatly stacked and labeled. It reminds him if someone built a kitchen based around a cooking simulator. He begins making a really nice dish...? What will he make?

>>5565184
Kaku enters the tent and feels a different kind of atmosphere. Lots of accessories to accessorize with. The first thing he spots is Leavanny behind a counter, sewing something together. He doesn't even acknowledge someone entering the tent.

>>5565185
Sable, also expecting there to be a prison, turns the corner after going a floor down and walks into a wall. Hey! Who put a wall where there's supposed to be a walkway?

>>5565192
Charles seems too bothered by Cobalt's canned response to considered genuinely searching for something wrong. What is she even doing? Nothing at all!

>>5565200
Vee sneaks by and hides in a bush. There's no finding him unless someone looks!
>Vee has been [Concealed].

>>5565211
Bind runs into Vespi, who is just buzzing around in place, not doing anything. "Greetingzzz... it'zzz a lovely day outzzzide."

Rolled 15 (1d20)

>>5565217
Poli begins making vegan lasagna. Mostly because meat and cheese are kind of hard to come by, and he wouldn't have experience with not-vegan lasagna.
...Maybe this place WASN'T so odd after all, he thinks.

>>5565217
"Uh, hi, Sable,* Citrine says as the Dark-type ends up at the same dead end. "I knew there'd be nothing, but... Blissey is messed up. It was weird."

Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>5565217
"Oh, don't mind me..." Kaku tries out accessorizing.
>Rolling for stylishness

Rolled 11 + 2 (1d20 + 2)

>>5565217
"Y'now what, forget it, he's not easy to see, or hear, but maybe if you hear..."
Astor tries to scare Armstrong by making a noise, hoping he doesn't notice it's him

>>5565217
"Stufful?" Theodore squeaks, poking his head into the hole and looks back at Brock with a worried glint in eye. "Stufful stuff. . "

"What the hell?" "This reminds me too much of that commercial set I was on. . . Just a prop to make something look real. . ."

>>5565217
"Yeah, nice and sunny! Though, we're having some trouble with the harvest. Umm, wanna walk with me there and lend a hand?...or drone?"

Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>5565224
"Yeah, I don't think we're getting anywhere by playing along anymore. Time to go wild, plushbro."
>>5565217
Brock stares at the hole in the wall blankly before turning to Blissey.
"Hey eggbro. Catch."
He spikes the egg at Blissey

Rolled 18 (1d20)

>>5565217
Well, this is a conundrum. I don't remember ordering a cask of amontillado for the jail cells.
>>5565221
Hey rocko. Some place, eh? Deception, all of it. Don't believe a work they say, got it?
>Sable looks for more clues. There's gotta be something around here that'll help him escape the demons!

>>5565217
"Shoot! What was I.."

>Charles decides to find Sable
>>5565230
>>5565221
"Sable. Citrine."
>He nods to them both
"You two find anything? I got some..weird feelings from Cobalt at the end of our conversation."

>>5565231
Yeah, there's uh... nothing. As in, a wall where there should be the jail. This is like we're in some nightmare terrarium or something, c'mere and help me look for a way outta here. Anything out of the ordinary'll do at this point.

Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>5565233
>>5565217
"How odd. Let me help!"
>Charles searches for clues as well

>>5565231
"I came here to think, really, since it doesn't make sense for the jail to exist. I was waiting for Pika in the infirmary, but... Blissey was repeating herself. Exactly. Nonstop. I... didn't want to stick around for the inevitable after that." Citrine shudders.

File: firestone.jpg (195 KB, 1500x1100)

195 KB JPG

Rolled 17 + 3 (1d20 + 3)

>>5565217
Vee takes a moment to relax in the bush, thinking about his next course of action.

The world is not right, that's for certain. But what's causing it? Is it another trick of the forest? Sounds likely. Why does it even exist? Are they in danger? Is it trying to change their minds? So how do they stop it?

He thinks of what could possibly serve to destabilize whatever false reality they're living in right now. He's got his usual bag full of tricks. Maybe he could take it slow, one thing at a time. Maybe he could jump right into it, and take the war path.

No, that's not the right way. It says right on the first page of The Art of Vee; 'do funny stuff and cause a lot of chaos when nobody knows it's you.'

And Vee thinks he knows all the right ways to do that.

Vee used a Fire Gem!
Or at least he tries. He's never tried using one in this way, but if it's truly as fiery as the name would lead him to believe, rubbing it against a twig or two might be enough to catch a few bushes aflame with a meager spark.

(+3 Crimeness)
It's showtime.

>>5565237
"Sure, it doesn't need to stay, but there should be some remnant of its existence surely? And what about all that room? We could use it for storage."

>>5565217
>Cast has a feeling of impending dread, but doesn't know why

>>5565228
". . . Hug me." He says, rather ominously.

>>5565242
"Whatever made this place obviously doesn't think anything further than the bare minimum of... whatever the point of this is... matters. A jail doesn't fit the vision, you know? I'm thinking about breaking something to see what happens, at this point."

>>5565246
"That might not be a bad idea. Let me know if you need help with that."

>>5565244
Brock hugs the plush(bro)

>>5565249
"Think the fountain is obvious enough?"

Rolled 6 (1d20)

(Vibe roll before voiding)

Rolled 9 (1d20)

>>5565250
Theodore's Stufful instincts activate. His whole body vibrates violently as his limbs flail madly with destructive force! Brock should throw him before he's hit!
The stufful is now a ball of destruction!

>>5565253
"Probably the best spot, yeah. A good...focal point, if this place is made...psychically?

Rolled 18 (1d20)

>>5565258
Brock spikes Theodore at Blissey as well, double tap.
>Toss the plush

>>5565243
"What's going on, Castform?"

>>5565220
Poli makes an actually decent vegan lasagna. Impressive.

>>5565222
Kaku attempts to pull the stylish clothes off of their displays racks. He learns very shortly that they're fixed to their position and rigid as statues. Upon closer inspection, he learns that they aren't even real. It's as if someone bothered going through the effort of making accessories as realistic as possible rather than actually making the real deal. This scarf is solid all the way through! It's rigid!?
>Kaku obtains solid, completely rigid scarf.

>>5565226
Vespi stares at Bind. "Greetingzzz... it'zzz a lovely day outzzzide," she repeats, as if all the words he spoke were completely meaningless.

>>5565223
Armstrong doesn't even acknowledge a sound has been made. He just continues to stand there.

>>5565221
>>5565230
>>5565235
As they look around, they investigate the normal portion of the floor, which is the storage. Charles doesn't notice anything weird at first, but Sable is able to tell that all the items contained here are fake. The Wonder Orbs don't exude the same mysterious power, the seeds are flat if you look at them wrong, and the Held Items are stuck to where they are.

>>5565224
>>5565228
>>5565258
>>5565260
The egg and weaponized plush toy collides with Blissey. The egg and Stufful bounce off the frozen Blissey, who doesn't react to the damage in a normal way. Instead, she just responds by asking if you want more eggs, again. What an interesting reaction.

"Why did you have to do that? Don't you like it here?" Cobalt asks, somehow having appeared right next to the duo! There was no indication of her being there. "Why do you need to be so violent? It's happy here without violence. It's perfect. No one has to change."

>>5565239
Vee is a fire starter! A pyromaniac of the highest caliber! He sets fire to the poor bush! It immediately ignites, bursting into flames. It's hot and flaming, but not... burning? The fires don't spread. It merely looks like someone tossed a fire on top of the bush.

"Y'all could've just said you didn't like it," Armstrong suddenly responds, head snapping to Vee's location as if he knew where he always was. "Why do you need to be so violent? It's happy here without violence. It's perfect. No one has to change."

Rolled 3 + 2 (1d20 + 2)

>>5565268
>Sable points out everything
Fake, fake, hollow, that's cardstock... Nothing here is real, and I'm just getting pissed off. I want out of this madhouse.
I WANT OUT!
>Sable tries to dig through one of the walls blocking off a passageway (+2 excavation)

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>5565268
Citrine steps out, heading for the fountain, charging up and firing a Power Gem at it the second it's in sight.

Rolled 15 (1d20)

>>5565268
"Mmmm... Lasagna!" Poli takes out lasagna to share with his friends-weird nightmare copy or not! Who will he find? He seems to have forgotten all about the apparent weirdness in his cooking duties.

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>5565268
Theodore- does not stop! Instead he keeps flailing around and spinning like a goddamned bayblade of destruction! He's wailing something in wildspeak.

"It's time for me. . . to break it down!"

Rolled 3 + 2 (1d20 + 2)

>>5565268
Brock starts laughing and apparently something only he can see. He picks up Cobalt over his shoulder and walks out of the infirmary.
"HEH HEH HEH! You got a real funny streak little bro, we're not being violent, just messing around a bit."
He looks for everyone else "Hey bros! Check this out! Little bro learned new tricks!"
>Keep "Cobalt" from escaping (+2 Strength)

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>5565268
>>5565273
"Fake you say? Well, glad to have some solid evidence we're in some sort of...simulation."

>Charles attempts to break the 'fake' items with breaking swipe!

Rolled 4 (1d20)

>>5565268
>>5565243
"Do you think something's going on? Let's find the others!"
Stern pulls a Dora the Explorer and starts finding his way to the nearest action.
Stern does a Dora

>>5565268
>>5565280
>Cast just... sits there
yeah... let's find the others
>he's spotted a fire, rep lost with... someone. no idea who caused it.
(and voiding for the night)

Rolled 9 (1d20)

>>5565268
"Aaahhh...I see." Bind feels a little trapped, understanding now that there's nothing to learn. He's starting to panic. He tries... pricking himself on some bramble?

>>5565268
"Woah, this is the weirdest thing..." He then wears the stone scarf. "And it's really unconfortable, what even is the point? I gotta show the others..." Kaku backtracks to regroup with the guild.

File: EvilEevee.jpg (208 KB, 1772x3000)

208 KB JPG

Rolled 15 + 3 (1d20 + 3)

>>5565268
Vee's blood seems to stop where it is in his body after hearing Armstrong behind him. He knows there was no one looking before.

"I-" he can't even say a word. "...You're not... You don't get it..!"
He stands in an agile manner, unsure of if he should fight or run away. He does his best to shake off the feeling of fear.
"...You really don't get it, do you? I don't care how perfect it is, I'll always be looking for trouble!"

Vee stomps his paws into the ground with (tiny) force. "That's my right and mine alone, and I don't care who I have to go through to do what I want! I'll tear down this whole guild if I can't burn it, and you're gonna watch!"

Vee isn't sure of the type of altercations he might be facing soon, but taking note of Armstrong and Cobalt both being Fighting-Type, he reaches into his scarf to double-check that everything is there, and smirks.

Vee used Quick Attack!
Vee fled!
He runs back inside and guns back towards his room. Hopefully it has what he's looking for; his Evolution Stone collection.

(+3 Crimeness)
Breaking cosmic laws, the second best kind of crime.

>>5565273
>>5565279
Together, they begin wrecking havoc in the storage, turning the whole place upside down! Sable screams as he attempts to dig. With a single swipe, he immediately chunks a wall away, almost excavating a perfect cube from the cave. Charles, on the other hand, sends the shelves crashing down! The items clatter to the ground undamaged. A testament to their false existence.

"Is that how you behave when everything is nice? Just destroy everything? All of you only know violence. It's perfect here. No one has to change. We can live happy." An Aggron growls, somehow manifesting in the storage rooms.

>>5565274
As Citrine's Power Gem shatters the relatively fragile fountain, he senses a presence towering behind him. "But. When. Presented. With. Perfection. You. Crave. Destruction," she drones out, sounding disappointed.

>>5565276
>>5565289
Poli walks out to find Bind and Vespi, just as the Lopunny is pricking himself on a bramble. "Perhapzzz it wazzz wrong. No fighting. No dangerzzz. But you choozzze to harm yourzzzelf inzzztead when prezzzented with difficulty," Vespi buzzes, circling around Bind.

>>5565277
>>5565278
Theo does exactly as he says... but he's the one who breaks down!

Brock attempts to reach out to grab and bring Cobalt out of the infirmary, but she sidesteps the telegraphed grab. Cobalt shakes her head. "S-So when things aren't right, you choose to lash out? It's nice here... no need to w-worry anymore. Why still hold onto b-being an animal?"

>>5565280
>>5565285
>>5565300
Stern and Castform watch as the altercation between Vee and Armstrong go down, in flames! They rush after the fleeing Vee as the Chesnaught moves impossibly fast to keep up with the darting Vee.

"Don't y'all like peace? What's with this nonsense 'bout trouble? You'd be right fine with just living like that all the time? Ain't it tiring?" Armstrong asks, maintaining a stomping pace that seems out-of-place with his speed. "Here, y'all don't need to worry about survivin', fightin' for scraps and by the skin of your teeth just to see another day."

As Vee arrives in the room, he quickly realizes with horror that his entire collection is just merely perfect recreations of actual stones! They're just useless rocks!

>>5565293
Kaku arrives back to the plaza to see Citrine being loomed over by Celesteela. Looks like something is about to go down.

All the voices of the not-guildmembers overlap, echoing across the fake halls. "Perfection is too much for you. All you know is violence. Perhaps it's best to speak your language after all."

LHG vs.... LHG!?

Find out next Insomnia...

File: Hiss.jpg (359 KB, 2048x1536)

359 KB JPG

>>5565321
Vee doesn't make so much as a noise as he finds that his plan might not work... He keeps a hold of the faux-stones for good measure, just in case...

"This is the life I chose. I'll stop when you make me stop." Vee prepares himself for the worst, feeling as confident as he can in this present moment.

>>5565321
"Oh, we are dropping the pretense now? Finally, some real action!" Kaku is itchin' for a beating.

>>5565321
Brock cracks his neck and knuckles "So much for playing nice. We tried, little bro, but you're not playing ball."

Their words still linger in your head... it's a fight, alright!

Charles and Sableye stare down an Aggron, surrounded by the shattered false items and the cavernous halls of the storage.

Citrine and Kaku take defensive positions as the towering form of a Celesteela begins backing them into a corner.

Poli and Bind find themselves surrounded in the garden, trapped by a swarm of hostile bee Pokémon and an angry Vespiquen.

Theodore and Brock shift uncomfortably, readying for battle in the sterile room of the unfamiliar Infirmary against a Lucario.

Stern, Castform, and Vee find that a Chesnaught is blocking the only way out of the imitation room, his large frame making it impossible to slip by without a scuffle.

Rolled 9 (1d20)

>>5573437
"It dawns on me... this isn't a great matchup, huh? Ah well."
>Kaku Fakes Out steela', then Bulks Up!

>>5573437
Theodore's stance spreads out as he prepares for a fight. He turns to Brock and nods before hopping onto his back.

"Stufful!" Theodore cries, climbing onto Brock's back and meeting the Lucario with a determined look.
"Ready, Sloth Bro?" He asks, his head on a swivel for anything of use in this infirmary. There must be some medicine here.

"I'm not in the mood to take these fakers out one at a time. Poli, any chance you know...anything about our garden?" He asks sheepishly. He readies his most powerful tool of The Trade, a Miss Swirl Chocolate cookie.

>>5573437
No, it's how I react in a gilded cage. Hell, I'd say it's more copper than gold anyway. It looks like you sat on the seeds, stompy. The orbs are dull and meaningless, I've got 50P that says the sky's fake, and I'm willing to bet you're not even half the threat you are in real life.
But I know you're just as big of an asshole.
>Sable Digs!

>>5573437
Brock seems to go still for a moment and looks around confused before his eyes settle on Theo.
"Hey bro!"
This seems to snap him back to reality as his gaze turns back to the Lucario.
>Brock used Amnesia

File: bag.jpg (824 KB, 1000x1271)

824 KB JPG

>>5573437
>>5565329
Vee stands ready to leap into action, facing Armstrong. Technically, Vee is in his element, even if it's just a sick, organized imitation of his room.
"Stern. Let's burn this place to the ground, starting with him, huh?"
He is holding onto something in his scarf. He's preparing for a partner move!

Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>5573437
Astor

>>5573455
>>5573437
"No. I do know this one is... perfect-er, though." Poli thinks. Having somehow avoiding provoking any enemy, he doesn't see any reason to fight and is awkwardly standing beside the enemy.
"Why are you fighting? It's nice to not fight."

>>5573450
Citrine shakes his head. "Yeah, it's pretty bad. But we've weathered worse. Got anything to hit her with or are we going to need to get creative with this?" he questions as he also bulks himself up... with Iron Defense.

>>5573463
when the
when the name is dropped!

Rolled 10 (1d20)

>>5573460
"Welp, if you say so Vee!"
Stern turns to the Chesnaught.
"Get outta here!"
Stern's fires flare up, he uses Flamethrower!

>>5573463
"I'm not!! This was...an interpersonal communications and Vespi's first resort is violence! How is that my fault!"

>>5573458
"Stufful!" He cries, clapping his paws together to rouse his bro's fighting spirit!
"You can do it, bro! Don't let anything stop you!" He says before locking eyes with the imposter Lucario, a pink shimmer in his eyes shoot straight into his enemy's heart.
>Theodore uses Coaching!
>Theodore uses Baby-Doll Eyes!

>>5573470
>>5573437
"Wow. That's dumb." Poli immediately turns 360 degrees, then another 180 to face Vespi. Why did he turn so much? Nobody knows.
"I already don't like violence, but dream violence in an otherwise perfect place is worse! Time to teach you my peaceful ways... by force!"
Unfortunately, he's still lacking in garden knowledge. He has lasagna from last time though???

>>5573465
"Oh, I got plenty in me to hit her with. It's just a matter of outliving her, and I don't know how she stacks up to the real deal. Guess I'll counting on you for that, again!"