>>5702385
First

>>5702385
Claiming for rock eaters

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117 KB PNG

It was a strange feeling to experience as you boarded the eccentric contraption. The expectation for it to defeat the weight of gravity was abysmal, but against all the odds, it lifted off. Carrying most of the guild on one last trip to the strange realities beyond, you were ready to brave the storm to get there. Unlike the others, this one needed a bit more finesse.

The room within was cramped, if just to make space for the complex gears and pulleys operating the wings. There was just enough space for the guild to be in the head of the vessel, with limited space in the actual body. Contained within its core and powering the whole show was the creation of Doctor Doppler’s bleeding-edge genius: the Internal Combusting Engine. It was a large spinning cylinder with a chair and a sideways blast trap, operated by a lever with a substitute doll taped to one end. Someone had to be the unfortunate victim of controlling the blasts. But, it was, to the doctor’s word, “the most efficient power source known to Pokékind.”

That was debatable.

You were joined by a Tropius carrying anyone who didn’t feel comfortable sitting in a wooden airship powered solely by explosions.

Chapter 46: Flight of the Swablu

>>5702392
>Sable rides on Tropius
I dunno about you buddy, but with the rate that guy's stuff fails catastrophically I'm surprised anyone got on that thing.

>>5702392
"I can't say that I'd ever see the day I'd run on an explosion powered machine..."
Stern looks pretty nervous simply being on the flying machine.

>>5702392
Staring into the surreal and bizarre wonder of the flying machine's core, Theodore eye's glimmer with an engineer's delight. Finally- something he can wrap his head around, a machine of sufficient complexity to challenge his knowledge, but familiar enough that he could apply that knowledge to it.

>>5702395
"Marvelous," Theodore breathes. "I can't believe this is made out simple woods and scrap metals!"

>>5702392
>Charles marvels at the “break through” in technology that makes the power center of the flying machine.

“Wonder how the doctor came up with this…orientation of parts.”

>>5702396
"I hope there was SOME sort of safety measures put in play, the wood might catch fire! This has gotta be the most dangerous ship I've been on!"

>>5702392
>>5702398
"Science is capable of many things. Magic is capable of more, though."
Poli jumpscare! When did he get here? Always was. Probably.

>>5702400
"There's definitely a concern, but this is a prototype, Stern. We'll let the marketing handle that," Theo chuckles.

>>5702404
"Hm? Oh hey, Poli! You're on this mission too? Off to find another one of those switches in the time-space anomalies?" He asks, turning back to the Politoed with a cheerful glimmer in his beady, black eyes.

>>5702393
"Haha. I can trust it can get the guild there, expeditiously... hehe. I cannot verify if it'll be in one piece, however..." Sneasel remarks, also mysteriously having elected to make use of Tropius' services instead of riding the machine she had commissioned.

>>5702396
>>5702398
>>5702400
You can hear the clicking and grinding of gears as the cylinder in the middle spins to power the entire machine. Mismatched parts, rushed patch-jobs, and strange design choices make you think this was supposed to be an Altaria, but ended up looking like an amalgamated cancerous flying-type.

There is a paper tacked to the wall, written in printrune. If you can read it, it says:
>Your contribution to the SCIENCES is appreciated, testing subjects! Don't perish, because then I cannot learn anything from the dead! I have tried. The ghosts do not give up their secrets.
>Signed, Doctor Doppler
>PS, due to time constraints and because I do not believe in them, there are no safety measures.

The last part simply has a Haunter rune repeated many times. You can assume it's "muahahahaha" in written form.

>>5702404
“Ack!”
>Charles turns around
“P-Poli? When did you get here?”

>>5702410
Stern looks at the note.
"Oh."

>>5702410
>The last part simply has a Haunter rune repeated many times. You can assume it's "muahahahaha" in written form.

“A creative writer too it would seem…”

>>5702410
"Surprising how this might not be the most unsafe vehicle we've been in during our adventures. Man, when is pokekind gonna catch up with human food franchises, that's what's really missing."
Kaku is also there in the ship, for how long is anyone's guess!

>>5702410
Theodore finishes reading out the letter out loud and laughs, in his usual haunting style that now fits perfectly with the haunter runes.

"Heheh. . ." He whips a tear away, "'don't believe in time constraints'. . . gosh, I wish I didn't either."

>>5702410
Yeah, that was my thinking, too.
Oh hey, I wanted to tell you something. I went into town the other day to get some info about what Yveltal said. Did you spy on me then or should I keep talkin'? Heh.

>>5702406
"Yes, but mostly explosions." Poli gestures vaguely at the craft they're aboard. "What if there was a time-space explosion? Would that be messed up or what?"
>>5702410
>>5702411
>>5702413
"Yesterday!" This isn't true, but he's being cryptic on purpose for the bit. "He's great! His inventions work all the time. Just not always in the way you want them to!" Poli doesn't seem to see the issue with that. Or any of the lack of safety features.

>>5702417
“Yes, I still remember the last one you touched. Giving your soul for poké. What a crazed invention!”

Rolled 1 (1d1)

Spiritomb is there.
"Wow, Lost Hope and friends! What are the odds? That includes us by this point riiiiiiight?"
They slide across the ground closer with a grin.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOnMIjl19g8>>5702410

>>5702417
"Time-space explosions are cool."

>>5702417
"Definitely, but I can't say that I wouldn't like to see one for show."

>>5702421
"Hello!" Theodore waves at the solid form of sin, Sealsman. "I haven't seen you in a while, Spiritomb. How's the market treating you?"

>>5702421
"Hi, Spiritomb."

>>5702420
"Actually, I did it for fun!" Poli declares. Truthfully, because nobody claimed the money...
>>5702421
He turns to the funny vendor next. "The odds are pretty good, but what about the evens?" Poli asks, a statement meaning absolutely nothing.

>>5702421
"Seals! How's it going? I dunno about that, I think some here people are still, uhh, on the fence..."

>>5702421
"So you're joining us on adventures now hm? Lovely."
>Charles worries about this new complication

As the machine shudders and groans, creating noises that would scare those uninitiated in the ways of Doppler's inventions, you cross over the mountain range leading to the summit scoped out by the last scouting team. With the electricity in the air, you can feel the dancing static. This seems to have the strange effect of making the internal combusting engine speed up, causing the machine to lurch forward as it picks up more energy.

One bad hit from lightning and this thing is definitely going to ignite...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wazkQF8gaE

This realization cannot help but make you feel on edge. Not to mention other things... considering the rickety nature of the vessel, there's probably a slim chance that encountering any kind of Pokémon "resistance" would spell its untimely demise.

>>5702416
"Hehe, let's hear what you've had to say." Sneasel doesn't even look like she's in a position to pay attention, much less give the courtesy of eye contact. You have a sneaking suspicion that doesn't matter.

Your choices:
>Remain in the vessel's head cabin.
>Enter the main body.
>Open the hatch and stand outside. There's no rails here, however...

>>5702430
"Aw, what'd I say about the place catching fire? If the lightning hits, that's bad..."
Stern stays where he is, in the head cabin.

>>5702430
>>Enter the main body.
"So, how many expenses did the doc spare? I hope there's at least cushions..."

>>5702424
"You are our market! No wait hold on..."
They think for a second, spinning their green soulspheres around like a buffering symbol.
"...s'good."

>>5702426
>>5702428
"Heh, we can make a few guesses... They'll have to get in line, though."
They eye >>5702429 as they say this.

>>5702427
"Good question! We'll have to ask Steven. He's somewhere around here..."
They shrink into their Odd Keystone and rummage through their collective personalities. As a result, they're not bothering with making a choice on the >>5702430 dilemma. That probably counts as
>Remain in the vessel's head cabin
though...?

>>5702430
"Hm. . . This baby's whining, maybe we should take some guard positions to make it feel safe?" Theo suggests, kicking open the hatch and climbing up, his shadowy tendril claws launching onto the vechile.

"Oh! And Spiritomb? I'll take five boxes." He says before climbing out.

>>5702430
>>Open the hatch and stand outside. There's no rails here, however...
"I wonder if we can jury rig a grounding rod...Anyone care to join me?"

>>5702430
Well, we gotta go to the Tree of Life, for one. Aside from that, Wigglytuff is acting... a little odd. Said something about a battlefield getting weird, then it's like he... woke up or something? Forgot everything we talked about.

>>5702430
>Remain in the vessel's head cabin.
>>5702435
"That's silly. If the whining's all in your head, then it can't hurt you." Poli disagrees, justifying his decision to remain where he is with... uh, maybe poetic isn't the right word.
>>5702434
"I hope Steven's good at math." he remarks.

>>5702435
Spiritomb tacks a freebie on top of Theodore's purchase.
"Give us a pool or we're picking for you~."

Pool 1: Nostalgia
Pool 2: Dual-Citizenship
Pool 3: Tropical
Pool 4: Mountain
Pool 5: All-new
Pool 6: 3D
Pool 7: Island
Pool 8: Combative
Pool 9: Times Change
Pool 10: Corruption
Pool 11: Corruption 2
Pool 12: Local

"One o' eight Mistralton... One o' seven Mistralton..."

>>5702436
"I'll join," Theo offers.

>>5702439
>Pool 7: Island

>>5702440
"My thanks Theo! Be careful. Looks like Doctor Doppler didn't feel the need to develop OSHA."

>>5702439
>Pool 11: Corruption 2
"I'm probably gonna buy 2?"

>>5702431
>>5702434
>>5702438
You can see the target mountain with its crown of eternal lightning from the two forward viewing ports in the head cabin. With a generous estimation, you can expect to be there in maybe less than half an hour, provided nothing causes any problems.

>>5702435
>>5702436
You can feel the whipping wind attempting to drag you away as the flying machine chugs away to its destination. The heavy thumps from the imitation wings accentuate the biting air as you stand outside. Those clouds in the distance look strange. Stranger than what you're used to, anyway.

>>5702433
Inside the main body of the airship, you realize that it's probably the least comfortable place to be. Considering the hair on Kaku's body, there's a slight chance he might get caught in a gear and experience sticking his hand in a Klingklang. Except with his whole body. There is a minimal walkway just above all the exposed machinery.

While you're down here, you can see the entrance into the engine and some rudimentary controls: "OFF and GO FASTER."

Rolled 20 (1d20)

>>5702444
>>5702446
"Heheh, noted."
They somehow feel lighter. How much lighter? stay tuned! Same gacha time, same gacha channel!

>>5702447
Spiritomb looks around to see if any parts aren't solidly attached. Y'know to fix them. Yeah. Definitely.

>>5702437
"Haha, hold your thoughts." Sneasel taps on Tropius' side, urging her to fall back. She briefly glances back to Sable. "How good are you with taking, heh, evasive turns?"

Rolled 14 + 2 (1d20 + 2)

>>5702447
>Charles attempts to provide foot holds for him and Theo with sticky goo
> +2 Goo

"Here Theo, this should help us keep a good footing."

>>5702450
>Sable grips Tropius
Well, I'm certainly ready now! Let's do this.

>>5702451
"Thanks!" Theo shouts over the wind as he steps into the goo.

Shadowy claws extend out from the white marking on his bottom paws and grasp at the hull for added support.

"I love Shadow Claw."

>>5702447
Theo shades his eyes and glances at the mountains. "What kind of clouds are those? Nimbus?"

>>5702447
"Whew! Very user friendly design. Hmm..." Kaku sees the GO FASTER sign and knows exactly what he wants to do. "Oh, that's just what we need!"
>step on the gas

>Tintoretto this whole time was at the very edge of the ship.
"I'M THE KING OF THE WORLD!!"
>He is so insane that you don't know whether or not he ever watched Titanic on VHS or if he truly believes he thinks he's the king of the world

>>5702454
"You certainly get a lot of utility out of it! I wonder if Goodras can learn it..."

>Charles also looks at the clouds
"I recall the name but couldn't tell you which name belongs to which cloud."

>>5702447
Citrine is up on the main deck, snoring. He's been like that for most of the time, but his sleep is more restless now. There's no sun...

Rolled 7 (1d20)

>>5702447
Poli continues to stare out the window. "So we've got a little while..."
There's only one thing for Poli to do: start cleaning, beginning with the deck. That said, dust is known to interfere with machinery, so maybe a cleaner workspace might help everyone in the long run.

>>5702458
Theodore waves at the Dreepy

>>5702458
"Yes. Yes you are you crazy dragon..."
>Charles watches Tintoretto lost in his own world

>>5702449
The cabin's incessant noise and jittering has finally overcome your ability to ignore it. You quickly seek out and jam supports back into place. Finally, you have achieved peace of mind with a sense that the head of the vessel isn't simply going to fall off at an inopportune moment.

>>5702451
>>5702454
>>5702460
Charles has given the two a better platform to stand on. They will have a lower chance of falling victim to falling. Theo also takes the chance to secure his own future by holding on tight.

Clearly, those clouds look like they were put together, to conceal some sort of something. Or maybe you're being paranoid.

>>5702458
His proclamation might just go completely unheard, as the machine and wind might just swallow any words he's trying to say.

>>5702464
The genius of Doppler is hard to clean. Probably because the stains and burn marks are not your natural accumulation of dirt and dust.

>>5702456
>>5702452
The machine picks up even more speed as the explosions roar and rattle the cylinder. Just as the airship leaves the two on the Tropius behind, the clouds around them burst apart. Dozens of Pokémon capable of flight flood out of the concealment, all of them clothed and badged.

Sneasel laughs as Tropius extends her wings to full length, catching the wind to break right.

It's an ambush from the Federation!

>>5702474
Yeah, that just figures...

>>5702474
"Perfect. Look, the sprucing up even attracted Mourners!"
Spiritomb takes out their obligatory merchant carpet and lounges on it like they're at the beach, shrinking into their Odd Keystone.

>>5702474
"Oooh that's not good..."
>Charles shouts to the rest of the ship, hoping a snoring rock might hear
"WE HAVE INCOMING! FEDERATION!"

>>5702474
"Hm. . . Those clouds don't look natural. . ." Theo hums turning to Charles. "Should we have someone check? I don't have anything that'd let us look that far."

He leans over down the hatch. "Maybe they do?"

>>5702474
"Hoo boy, things couldn't be easy, couldn't they?"
Stern looks at the enemy Pokemon.
"Prepare for battle! We have enemies in coming!"
Looks like he's got previous experience in fighting off invaders in ships...

>>5702480
"Look closer Theo! Federation!"
>Charles points at the now appearing pokemon

>>5702465
>Tintoretto gazes at Bewear with unshut eyes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQ7--_Ujp1w
>>5702474
>Tintoretto does the nya-nya-nya.
How to do the nya-nya-nya:
1. Hang your tongue on your left side of your mouth.
2. Gentilly bite down on it
The result: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qngww3n6izs

>>5702474
>>5702478
Theo turned around the moment the clouds being clouds.
>>5702482
"Oh look it's the Federation."

". . ."

"OH NO IT'S THE FEDERATION!"

"What do we do?! Draco Meteor?!"

Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>5702474
>>5702487
"'s the wha?" Citrine asks, groggy. "Shit, what? They beat us here, too? Let me, uh..."

>Frame 1 Wide Guard on wakeup

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>5702487
"As good an idea as any!"

>Charles reaches for the sky...
>A tear opens up above the Federation team!
>Charles pulls his arm down, and along with it, a shower of meteors!
>He hopes to reduce the numbers of Federation members the Guild will need to fight!

>Charles used Draco Meteor!

>>5702474
Vee changes scarves to avoid being detected as a different, totally unrelated Eevee.

>>5702474
Kaku makes his way back to the head. "Maximum Overdrive, engaged! Wait is that..."
"Oh joy! Blow those morons out of the sky!"

That Tropius has been anxiously scanning the guild ever since it first appeared alongside this mechanical hazard. She's been mumbling to herself this entire time, only now audible enough to make out to her passengers, Sableye and Sneasel.
"Are they talking about the Feds?! The Federation?! I can't get caught again! S-should I fly somewhere or d-do something...? Just stay here?"

>>5702504
Well, I don't think they're here for you. Try to stay hidden, we'll play more of a supporting role in this fight.
>Sable turns to Sneasel
You got any long-range moves?

>>5702474
Theodore is eyeing the sky for largest flying 'mon he can. "Maybe I can catch a ride. . ."

>>5702478
>>5702481
>>5702487
It looks almost as if the Federation called in every single 'mon who could reasonably intercept flying targets to converge to this one area. Dragons, birds, psychics... it looked as if they were no longer pulling any punches in trying to stop the guild from accomplishing their mission. They're determined to swat you out of the sky for good!

>>5702497
>>5702481
>>5702477
In the head cabin, there is a steering wheel that wouldn't be out of place in an ocean-faring vessel. There is a single lever that controls going up and down.
>Evasive maneuvers! [Might disorient your own team]
>Maintain course!
>[Player write-in]

>>5702490
>>5702493
Meteors all around the sky begin raining. However, instead of impacting any of the sixty airborne assailants, they crash and burn in the electrified clouds, painting the wind with burning purple streaks of dragon-infused energy.

Citrine deploys a Wide Guard, however, it doesn't look as if the Federation is going to hit them with one big move. The massive group begins to move in close, aiming to board from the top of the machine, where Charles and Theo are holding on. The first wave of Federation agents land, a Fearow, Swanna, Toucannon, Honchkrow, Fletchinder, and Masquerain. They all loudly shout their own version of "you're under arrest!"
>Fight them off!
>Distract them and retreat!

>>5702475
>>5702504
>>5702509
Another set of agents breaks off to chase the Tropius.

"Haha! Fly hard, because your life depends on it!" Sneasel cackles as she encourages Tropius to begin making hard and difficult turns. Considering she's not exactly built like a fighter, it's strenuous on the leafy wings. "Heh. I do not."

>>5702511
Well you can be my spotter, then! Huh, funny... I always wanted to be a fighter pilot.

Rolled 18 (1d20)

>>5702511
"Ooh, we always wanted to do this."
Spiritomb vibes. That's Astor's technique!
https://www.youtube.com/embed/f84ciGBhK8o?start=0&end=3

Rolled 20 (1d20)

>>5702511
>>Fight them off!
"Dammit!"
>He curses, unable to hit any targets

"Guess we have top side duty."
>Charles tries once more to bring down the dragons wrath!
>Charles used Draco Meteor on the boarders!

>>5702511
>Tintoretto waves at the incoming Federation Pokemon.

Rolled 16 (1d20)

>>5702511
Citrine fires off a Power Gem at the Masquerain, who has the unfortunate fate of being 4x weak to Eock. "Cool it, we mean well! What is wrong with you guys???"

Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>5702511
Theodore stares at them in shock, swiveling his head around in search of what to do. He's not strong like the rest of the guild, or have powerful moves like them.
He could run inside, but the ship would hardly provide them any protection, and then Charles would left to fight alone. . .

It's a brain-twisting problem, but Theodore is an engineer. Problem solving is what he does.

"I don't think so." He replies, leaping off the side of the airship.

Shadowy tendrils suddenly snatch the Swanna off with him.

>Fight them off!
>Rolling to mount Swanna!

"I'll be back Charles! I gotta catch my flight!"

>>5702511
Stern looks at the steering wheel, and grasps it, before turning it!
"Hard to starboard! Keep your feet steady!"
Stern calls out.

>>5702521
rock. rock. rock. its rock.

Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>5702511
Poli finally catches on between his mopping.
"More brutes and barbarians? This stinks..." he whines. "Here I thought I was going to sit in a cool machine until it blew up."
Nonetheless, he waddles up to the controls to fiddle with them like a child who's just discovered an arcade machine...
>Evasive maneuvers!

>>5702522
"WHAT?!?"
>Charles asks, bewildered by the sudden departure!
"Where are you going?!"

Rolled 13 (1d20)

"E-eh? I haven't had to fight this many Feds before! Get lucky if you wanna swing at 'em, I'm keeping us from getting hit! Hang on, you two!" Tropius whips up a Twister from the turning winds and soars straight into it, to render her flight unpredictable!

>>5702524
>>5702526
"Alright, you guys do that!" Kaku heads to the hatch...
>>5702511
And stands outside with Citrine and Charles. "Don't start without me!" Kaku Bulks Up twice, bracing himself for the raid!

>>5702535
>>5702521
"Oh thank heavens..."
>Charles is grateful for the assistance!

>>5702514
He has some good vibes. Even if he's in a flying death trap, it's good to have positive emotions.

>>5702516
With the air now saturated with dragon energy, burning hot meteors aim truer than ever, striking at the Federation agents. However, they're not caught completely off-guard. Experienced with fighting, most of the teams have already deployed some kind of defense or screen to ward off the draconic fireballs. Others are not so lucky as they're met with explosive results. It's managed to shave off some of the attacking forces, but most of them are otherwise unscathed.

The airship rattles as the meteors pummel the first wave, causing them to crash and punch right through the fragile wooden roof.

>>5702518
Some of the agents actually wave back.

>>5702521
Citrine fires at the bug with a blast of energy, lasering the poor thing off the vessel. It flutters away, dazed, vanishing behind some clouds.

>>5702522
Theo does an incredibly risky maneuver of jumping off without any sort of back-up plan. However, the bird is a slippery target and the two are grappling for control as they plummet to the ground. Their feathers and fur puff up and out as they enter an electrified cloud.

>>5702524
>>5702526
The airship groans in protest as it is forced to take action way beyond its rated tolerances. Which, it has none. It's a prototype, so you're pushing previously unknown boundaries! For the most part, the airship manages to avoid the worst of forty attacks coming from all directions. Currently, only the left wing has been set ablaze by hostile dragon fire, with the rear gears covered in ice.

Despite his random action, Poli drops the pitch of the machine, narrowly avoiding Pin Missiles intended for the head cabin! They instead pierce and cause cosmetic damage in the neck of the airship, puncturing holes for the wind to enter.
>Continue evasive action! [You will go further off-course]
>Get us back on track!
>Attempt to make repairs to damaged parts.

You're about halfway to the summit.

>>5702534
>>5702513
Tropius hits herself and the two passengers with a blast of wind as she begins erractic flight. For the most part, she maintains enough control to dust the pursuing Pidgeot and Salamence.

"Haha, get shooting, then. Target, heh, rich environment."

>>5702535
As Kaku exits, he can see the carnage and chaos as an army of agents swarms the craft like a stirred Beedrill nest.

For those outside:
>Identify targets for better accuracy!
>It doesn't matter, just shoot randomly!
>Attempt to push away anything trying to land!

>>5702545
Dodging the first wave of attacks, Stern realizes that they probably can't take down the dozens of foes normally.
"We're gonna have to go straight to the summit from here on out! Full speed ahead! And someone get that fire before it spreads to the rest of the ship!"
Stern gets the ship back on track, hoping to make use of the time inbetween attacks.

>>5702545
"YOU STINK!!"

>>5702545
Spiritomb looks for Steven.

Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>5702545
>>Identify targets for better accuracy!
"Uuh...That one! Watch out for that one!"
>Charles points to a rather intimidating Pokémon

Rolled 5 (1d20)

>>5702545
"C'mon! It's across the sky or across the ground!" Theo shouts, trying to use his natural strength and along with Shadow Claw to reign her in.

"I can survive this fall but you can't!" He warns.

Rolled 3 (1d20)

>>5702545
Grandma told me about a guy that did this where she came from...
>Sable opens up a volley of Power Gems at the pursuers!
>Sable starts humming and making machine-gun noises
https://youtu.be/1snEYPg8TXs

Rolled 17 (1d20)

>>5702545
"One down!"

>Identify targets for better accuracy!

Citrine takes aim at the second double-weakness that's boarded already, the Fletchinder. "Charles, careful!"

>>5702548
"Do you think we can outlast them? No, right? I don't think one-at-a-time can work, but they're ready for spread moves..."

Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>5702545
>>Attempt to push away anything trying to land!
"GET OUT OF MY SHIP!" Kaku channels his outer ogreness and wrestles all the feds off the plane!

Rolled 18 (1d20)

"Oh? Oh! I've still got it! I can help, I can help! If you guys don't have any ideas, just back me up whenever I do move. I'm a guard, I can take a hit or two! Uhh, that being said, mind my wing. It's a little burned..."
Tropius soars back to the ship, in front of the neck to break the wind and recduce drag.

>>5702561
"I don't think we can, which is why I've changed course! We can't dodge forever!"

Rolled 17 (1d20)

>>5702545
"More mess..." Poli doesn't seem that bothered by it, though, given his usual dopey smile. In fact, he seems happy about having the opportunity to clean... or more accurately in this case, repair by attaching some stray debris to the Pin Missile puncture holes.
>Attempt to make repairs to damaged parts.

>>5702565
"You know what, I'm not sure how much it matters, we're already partway there. I'm more worried about how we're gonna get off this thing. Not exactly looking forward to jumping... I've only got one Air Balloon."

>>5702568
"I've got a second, if that helps! I wouldn't use it though, they'd probably shoot us down."

The airship clearly wasn't meant to be rated for combat. You hear a horrifying snapping and crunching as any kind of sustained damage and the rough handling has dislodged the entire engine! The ship is quaking as if it was caught in a Magnitude 10 move as the smoke stacks begin throwing up plumes of acrid and evil smoke. You're so close... but the entire thing is going to rend itself apart!

>>5702548
The ship is back to flying straight toward the mountain, luckily still obeying the controls. Those in the cabin can feel the wheel and levers attempting to rip themselves out or throw the entire thing haywire.

>>5702566
Poli begins sweeping and cleaning. Somehow, this ad-hoc method provides results, buying them just enough time to keep the rattling airship in a single piece.

>>5702553
Charles' biases direct him to a group of Togekiss. Absolutely terrifying creatures. Truly diabolical beasts that strike fear into the most battle-hardened fighter.

>>5702554
Neither of the two seem to be making considerable progress as they struggle and pass through the clouds.

>>5702556
>>5702564
Sable's shots cut through the air and clouds, but they can't seem to land their marks as the fliers gracefully dodge and weave his attacks with significant practice, or outright miss. Tropius' actions help to alleviate the turbulence, but the machine's time is certainly spelt out. Sneasel taps on him and the Tropius. "Haha, nice try, but we've got more pressing matters. We have to save one of the idiots."

She whistles to Tropius to tell her to dive, dive, dive. They need to go rescue Theodore before he becomes paste.

>>5702561
The Fletchinder is getting back up and noticing the surroundings ripe to be set ablaze. Citrine notices with his great aim... he might just be able to take two-for-one.

>>5702562
Kaku manages to ward off any attempting to land with his aggressive actions, but his overzealous strength has crushed one of the gears and retaining support. His heart skips a beat as his leg falls through as if there was nothing beneath him. Luckily, he's just been wedged. Gears, scrap, and wood scatter below, lost forever.

The Federation, now with a clearer target, begin to launch attacks on the wings. Most miss, however, they only need a few good shots! Fabric burning, gears melting, ropes snapping, and an out of control engine is a brewing recipe for disaster. Up in the cabin, you can see a warning paper flutter out.
>If you can read this, it must mean my machine is exploding. Excellent. Now you can test the true genius I have planned! My escape plan!!!
>Remove the wheel and press the red button to escape!!!
>Signed, Doctor Doppler
>PS, you might explode, but don't die, remember? I get nothing if you expire!
>20 Haunter runes

Rolled 20 (1d20)

>>5702574
"Fly! Dangnabit!!!" Theodore shouts, slapping some sense into the Swanna- or trying to at least!

>>5702574
>Tintoretto now understand his true power now that the ship is going to crash.
>He fazes through walls until he sees Charles.
"HEY CHARLES!"

>>5702578
"Y-yes???"
>Charles is momentarily distracted by Tintoretto!

>>5702574
"Worst ship I've ever taken control of in my life!"
Stern gets a bad feeling from the 20 Haunter runes, shortly before accidentally pulling off the wheel.
"Well, at least it's still on the right path..."
Stern looks to Citrine.
"I'm gonna push the button and hope it gets us ALL out of here! That good with you?!"

>>5702579
>Tintoretto gets a mischievous grin
"YOU STINK!"

Rolled 15 (1d20)

>>5702574
"AW! DAMMIT! Ok, uhh, surely all that stuff was just weighting us down, hehe..." Kaku tries to get himself unstuck before this ship's timely demise.

>>5702581
: (
>Charles looks...disappointed
"Now is not the time for insults Tinto."

>>5702580
Stern looks at everyone outside, and calls out to them.
>>5702578
>>5702577
>>5702579
>>5702566
>>5702562
"Get in, everyone! I dunno what this is gonna do, I don't want to leave you all behind!"

>>5702584
"Uhh, going!" Kaku has no intention to go down with the ship.

Rolled 12 + 2 (1d20 + 2)

>>5702584
"Huh? A-alright!"
>>5702581
>Charles grabs Tintoretto and heads inside the ship
>Charles tries to apply goo to areas that look about to collapse to give the Guild some extra few seconds!
> +2 Goo

>>5702574
Spiritomb still is not phased, but they may phase soon.

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>5702574
>Sable provides covering fire as Tropius descends
>>5702577
>...not that they need to, seeing as sense may well have just been slapped into that Swanna

Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>5702580
"Right!"
>>5702574
Citrine goes for his piercing attack against the Fletchinder and the agents behind, before following the >>5702584 order and ducking into the interior.

Tropius nods and Evokes Sunny Day to catch light on her leafy wings and speed up with chlorophyll before diving down to the falling belligerents. It's something of a misnomer, as the storm is still very active and omnipresent. It merelyy creates a hole in the clouds for light to shine through...
Addressing both Theo and Swanna, "Something's happening topside. It's not safe here!"
She tries hanging underneath them in case they fall further.

>>5702574
"Yay! Explosive surprises! I LOVE explosions and surprises!" Poli begins clapping for the Big Red Button.

File: +_a181ea58d009b3fff678b22(...).gif (82 KB, 326x326)

82 KB GIF

>>5702588
>Tintoretto is now in your inventory.

>>5702574
"Alright, a little cramped, but here goes nothing!!"
Stern slams a fist onto the button, assuming everyone's in the cabin! Excluding Theo and Sable!

Rolled 17 + 2 (1d20 + 2)

>>5702595
but like, with a roll.

>>5702577
Swanna screams before finally relenting and reluctantly opening their wings to catch air. It might just be too late, as their trajectory and Theodore's weight is aiming them right at the rocky cliffs. Instead of horizontal doom, they're both now facing vertical doom! Swanna flaps their wings to avoid crashing the both of them into anything... but their energy is wearing right out.

>>5702580
>>5702582
>>5702585
>>5702588
The wheel cleanly breaks away, revealing a shiny button hidden within its mount and housing. You feel a great urge to press the button as it calls its Primarina song out to you. You know better than to hit it without everyone here, right...?

Kaku manages to make it out by accidentally going back in. He drops and rolls into the main body, avoiding having his head removed by one of the rogue wing beams snapping off. Now it's a mad dash to flee back to the cabin amidst the attacks.

Charles begins glooing the structure back as best as he can with the limited time. He manages to avoid being blast by a shot from a Federation flier, watching the beam of energy punch right through both decks and knock another set of gears loose. He can hear the engine exploding erratically as the main body becomes uncomfortably... that's a fire! There's a raging fire in here now!

>>5702593
The shot slaps the Fletchinder into his buddies as the bird recoils back. The ensuing shot sends the two agents off the platform as they're both bonked in the head by the last moving wing-beams. They promptly are caught by the roaring wind as they're taken away.

>>5702592
>>5702595
Just as he was about to summon another volley of covering fire, Sableye clearly wasn't ready for the Tropius to suddenly dive at the speed she's suddenly managed to acquire. As the sunlit storm surrounds them, Sableye is now hanging precariously on the rear wing, holding on for dear life and limb. Theodore is almost out of reach as the Swanna moves to not be hit by the rocks. Tropius manages to close on in, keeping with steady flight.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KQB8PzAOsU

>>5702596
>>5702599
The flying machine is utterly wrecked and looking less and less airworthy by the second. If there's any time now, give into the urge and press that button! Or don't.
>I don't trust this guy! I'm ditching. Oh. Sorry. Too late.
>You know what? Fine! Button it is!

An explosion wracks the ship as the neck-bridge is violently separated from the main body. A giant hole has opened up beneath the head cabin...! The wings on top furl further open and stretch wide as a tube extends from the rear. You hear a series of clanging booms as you accelerate to ludicrous speed... it's Doctor Doppler's secret invention: the External Combusting Engine! You race off to the summit.

>>5702597
>Tintoretto does his idle animation!
>He's reading Lolli's Lollis.

Rolled 9 (1d20)

>>5702603
>Sable tries to get back to his seat!

>>5702603
"I should've really expected this to happennnnn!!"

>>5702603
>Tintoretto notices the button...
"Barles... throw me..."

>>5702603
>thisisfine.jpg

Rolled 10 (1d20)

>>5702603
"Go go go!" Theodore eggs her own, using Coaching on Swanna!

"You're not done yet!"

Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>5702607
"Button? What button???"

>>5702603
>Charles tries to put out any remaining fires in the segment he now finds himself in
>Charles used Life Dew!

Rolled 10 (1d20)

>>5702603
Citrine uses Iron Defense and braces himself!

Rolled 7 (1d20)

>>5702603
"Wow! This surprise is AWESOME! I want MORE explosions!"
Poli is doing a happy dance in place, eager to hear more explosions. How well? ...Perhaps some questions are better left unanswered.

Rolled 8 + 2 (1d20 + 2)

"Owowow! That's my burn! Sit tight Sableye, I can get both of you!"
Tropius uses Sky Drop! She lunges forward with stubby legs to clamp onto Swanna and Theo, before starting a steep shuttle loop upwards! She turns as she flies, keeping Sable on the inside of the loop to press him back into herself

>>5702603
"AAAAAAA-"
Kaku is either in the crashing coffin or the accelerating soon-to-be-crashing coffin, which one is more panic inducing?

>>5702612
>He points to the wheel
"THAATTTT!!!!"

A Swellow and Ninjask are the last two, doggedly-determined, Federation agents somehow keeping up with the might of the Externally Combusting Engine. They're looking to do a sacrificial push to shove the entire thing off course. If anything goes wrong now... you'll be deader than dead if you hit something at the speed you're going! But it's difficult to move at this speed...

>>5702612
Charles watches as his Life Dew appears and instantly turns into a mist, covering the entire area due to the speed.

>>5702615
Poli defies physics by dancing, somehow.

>>5702609
>>5702605
Theodore manages to get the Swanna not to smack into anything. With Sableye managing to scramble back onto hugging Tropius' back leg, they're just right about close enough to retrieve their friend.

"Haha! Come on, let's not get left behind. Heh. We'll miss the fun!" Sneasel shouts down, holding out her claws, as if they could be long enough to reach that far. She shrugs when Tropius just grabs the both of them and accelerates to meet the group. With her loop, Sableye is thrown back on.

Rolled 8 (1d20)

>>5702623
>Charles notices the last two agents outside a window and tries for one more Draco Meteor to shut them down!
"Oh no you don't!"

>>5702623
"Ack...! Someone needs to keep them off our tail, for just a bit longer....!"
Stern tries his best to aim a Flamethrower at the Ninjask!

Rolled 17 (1d20)

>>5702623
Hello again! Sorry for the trouble!
>Sable aims a precision Power Gem at one of the two Feds that're still keeping up

Rolled 18 (1d20)

>>5702626
Roll

File: LK-N37[1].gif (4.02 MB, 720x404)

4.02 MB GIF

>>5702623

>>5702620
"A bit late now I think! Apologies!"

Rolled 8 (1d20)

>>5702623
"Woo!" Theo shouts, guiding Swanna back to their airship.

He spots the Swellow and Ninjask and rears his arm back. "Hey! Back off!"
He uses Strength! With the Tome of Transformation, it has some range, like a haduken!

>>5702633
"YOU HAVE FAILED ME."

File: past the mountains.png (725 KB, 768x512)

725 KB PNG

>>5702625
The Draco meteors following the two agents only encourage them to go faster. For if they stop even for a second, the darkness will catch up. And blow them up.

>>5702627
>>5702628
>>5702635
The Power Gem suddenly blasting out from behind the two and the Flamethrower jetting out from the side of the decapitated head cabin forces the two to finally break their pursuit. With Theo's distracting flex of power, the bird and the bug are smacked by the Meteors, crashing any kind of momentum they had.

Finally, the head cabin surges past the summit and into the gap between reality. As gravity loses its grasp on the group and the cabin practically disintegrates around them, they find themselves floating around in breathable space. A giant object looms ominously above as nine different planetoids orbit the once-empty sky.

...well, then. This is new.

Mission complete!

+450EXP +300P

>>5702641
What in the world...

>>5702641
"What in the...? That's not very sturdy craftsmanship..."

Citrine is focused on the wrong things.

>>5702641
>>5702645
"What in the world..."
>Charles says, unknowingly parroting Sable

>>5702641
"What. . ."
https://youtu.be/bOuc02gPmBw

>>5702641
"Pretty..."

>>5702641
Spiritomb sheathes their obligatory merchant carpet in time to avoid damaging it.
"Well, good enough time as any..."
They pop out for a bit to do their thing.

>>5702449
SUMMARY:

Theodore[6 Pool 7]: -540 pokecoins
Stern[3 Pool 11]: -214 pokecoins

Forbidden Boxes purchased: 9 boxes

1612 Forbidden Boxes given away so far.

Cool Guys Pool progress: 0/108 returned pulls.

Rolled 582, 685, 139, 715, 972, 865 = 3958 (6d1058)

>>5702665
Theodore's Epitaph purchase.

Rolled 539, 48, 512 = 1099 (3d594)

>>5702667
Stern's Epitaph purchase.

Rolled 778 (1d905)

>>5702385

File: tumblr_inline_p2bb8fF0OU1(...).jpg (77 KB, 1280x960)

77 KB JPG

>>5702890
>Mimikyu
Well I'm wearing a better costume

>>5702890
>>5702894
Ah, a friend! Good to have you!

>>5702641
With the debris from the destroyed flying machine scattered around you, floating helplessly in a vacuum of space, you cannot help but wonder where you could be. Some of you know breathing in space simply isn't possible, yet here you are. But... last you checked, there wasn't a massive floating object just above the surface of the world. That would have probably been some cause for concern to reach your own isolated corner of the world. Unlike the others, this one didn't seem so clear.

You can try to speak, but you quickly realize that you can't! Or smell, for that matter. All your senses feel dull. Taking a single, experimental swipe, you realize you can partially influence your momentum.

Regardless, you observe your surroundings, since for the most part, that's all you can really do. Quickly, you realize that there is a belt of rocks streaming in and out of the strange sphere. They pass almost seamlessly, going right through its eldritch glassy surface, like a drop of water touching a ripple-less lake. You cannot help but wonder if that's the goal. Whatever is beyond or within that celestial surface.

Chapter 47: Font of Reality

Your choices:
>Attempt to latch onto the rocks.
>Try and launch yourself there on your own.
>[Player write-in]

Rolled 13 + 2 (1d20 + 2)

>>5706896
>Attempt to latch onto the rocks.
Well, here we go...
>Sable digs into a rock bound for the sphere (+2 Excavation?)

Rolled 9 (1d20)

>>5706896
Theo looks around in confusion and uneasy at the sudden environment he's been thrust in. It feels like scuba diving, but even more unnatural.

>Try and launch yourself there on your own.

Theo reaches out his spectral claws like tendrils to try and pull himself closer to the bizarre sphere in the sky. Was it a black hole or temporal anomaly?

>>5706896
>what fucking year is it
>also, awaken, somehow

Rolled 20 (1d20)

>>5706896
Before anything else, Kaku chokes on Joy Seeds and now he's stronger than Citrine.
"That hit the spot. Now... off to the sky-thing."
>Try and launch yourself there on your own.
Kaku takes advantage of his strong hairy physique to "jump" across space.

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>5706896
Spiritomb throws a Forbidden Box in the opposite to float ahead. Their expression says you should probably get going before they get ahead and there's no more items to take.

>>5706896
"Is this what space is like...!?"
Stern attempts to get footing by reaching the rocks!

Rolled 8 + 2 (1d20 + 2)

>>5706896
"I was right, i do fly better!"
>Try and launch yourself there on your own

Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>5706911
roll

Rolled 9 (1d20)

>>5706896
Citrine tries his best to orient himself while floating, not necessarily an easy task. But eventually he lines himself up with the sphere.

>Try and launch yourself there on your own.

Citrine summons Power Gems behind him and strikes himself with the beams to propel himself forward. If all his senses were dulled, surely this wouldn't hurt too much, right?

>>5706911
I miss my sense of smell already.
Stern thinks.

File: Eeveesunhat.jpg (130 KB, 1536x1184)

130 KB JPG

Rolled 8 (1d20)

>>5706896
Vee alternates between whipping his tail around and swinging his satchel to propel himself in the general direction of the not-water's surface. He's having a very floaty time.

>>5706896
>Tintoretto decides to be lost in space.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3-YGVb6Tbw

>>5706928
>How did he get lost? He got so butthurt that he couldn't push the button so he left the alliance.
>Let's see how long he'll endure?

Rolled 5 (1d20)

Sensing the absence of...something in the air, Bind can't help but wonder if he's not in some metaphysical space. He tries simply willing himself forward.

File: riding the belt.png (680 KB, 768x512)

680 KB PNG

>>5706903
Sable manages to grip onto the rocks. Due to his lack of mass, either by being small or a ghost, he's picked off and launched into the path, hurtling into the mirror barrier. He braces himself...

>>5706904
Theodore elects to throw his claws out and use them to swim-cut through the not-space. It's not efficient by no stretch of the imagination, but it does do something.

>>5706906
Kaku manages to coincidentally latch onto a sturdy portion of the flying machine's wreck, launching himself and hurtling through the starry expanse as if he was some sort of Warlock.

>>5706907
Spiritomb makes an exceptional throw! However, space is a spacey place, and he ends up inadvertently throwing it somewhere that doesn't get him any closer to his objective. He's going in the vague direction of the mirror sphere, but at his trajectory, he'll miss.

>>5706911
Stern doesn't judge the movement correctly, thrown off by his strongest sense feeling like he's been thrown completely under the weather. Moving hapazardly into the rocks, he's immediately struck and becomes one with the belt himself! He's going there now, but injured.
>Stern takes 200 environmental damage!

>>5706912
Astor realizes, without that cushiony air to help him, he just flaps around for the most part. He's going! Just very slowly.

>>5706914
All his senses involving the perception of the environment! Pain is still very much real. He's now moving forward in the exchange for some of his own health!
>Citrine takes however much damage that Power Gem would do to himself.

>>5706924
Vee manages to build up some momentum, moving at a slow pace into the area.

>>5706935
Nothing happens.

>>5706934
It's quiet here. No sound, no smell. Just a void between him and the stars.

Meanwhile, Sable, Theo, Kaku, Stern, Citrine, and Vee find themselves nearing the light-bending surface of the strange object. They find their vision warping as they pass through it. There's no feeling aside a cool wash of chilling light... where are they heading?

Rolled 17 + 2 (1d20 + 2)

>>5706944
'I can fly better!', Astor thinks, too sure of himself and his abilities

Rolled 7 (1d20)

>>5706944
>wait, guildies? over there?
>I feel I should probably follow, however I got here...
>oh, I know!
>cast tries to turn himself away from the sphere, and fires a weather ball! according to the 2nd law of thermodyamics it's force SHOULD also push him towards the orb

Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>5706944
>Sable tries to make sense of what's beyond through the distortion.
Wooooooooaaaaaaaahh...

Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>5706944
After watching the empty Forbidden Box open with special effects, Spiritomb bears an amused expression that says 'Heh, Entropy...'
They simply reach out to the nearest rock and throw it to try propelling themselves again, leaving everyone down a platform.

Rolled 16 (1d20)

The facial expression of a beat. Perhaps he should've seen that coming.

Bind lunges for the rocks with a stretch and a fully extended everything.

Rolled 14 (1d20)

>>5706944
>Charles existus!

"This is the strangest place I have seen yet..."
>Charles says, trying to figure out where to go!

>>5706944
"Okay now I'm bored."
>Well THAT didn't take long.
>Tintoretto launches himself to get near the surface of the strange object.

Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>5706944
Vee does a little spin as he tries to move faster. He's enjoying himself, but it's a little hard to be not-spinning.

He waves at some of his friends, cheering silently while rotating towards the goal.

>>5706944
Theo shivers at the sensation, blinking between the light bending sight and darkness when he can't handle it. His Shadow Claws whip around looking for something to grasp.

>>5706944
"!!!!!"
He hasn't even gotten into battle yet, and he's already not feeling the best! Oh well, at least he's going to where he needs to be...

>>5706944
"Aah! Seizure warning!" Kaku warns the viewers while swimming into the mirror world.

>>5706944
Citrine ponders how light could feel cold like that, checking to make sure his bag is secure as the group begins to pass through.

Rolled 7 + 2 (1d20 + 2)

>>5706944
>Upon receiving word form the director Charles needs to travel he enlists to grapple his way there!

>Charles forms a lasso of Goo and attempts a gooey climb!
> +2 Goo

File: bending light.png (723 KB, 768x512)

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>>5706946
Astor manages to force himself into the path of the asteroids, eventually bouncing and giving him the false momentum of space flight.

>>5706947
Cast sends himself toward the orb with moderate success. He'll hit it, but not in the same area as everyone else seemed to be going in from.

>>5706949
>>5706950
Spiritomb throws an asteroid out of alignment, right into the closing Bind! With his innate skills, he manages to carefully weave around the asteroid and use that as a launchpad. If he hadn't been paying attention, the Lopunny would have been comically struck by the space rock.

>>5706953
His ghostly flight feels dulled in the sea of darkness, but he can make his way there.

>>5706954
Vee might feel a little space sick as his sensation of up and down loses all meaning.

>>5706961
Charles' gooey lasso sticks to the nearby asteroid as it drags him in.

As everyone enters past the folding light, where the colors all bleed into the same, you watch as everything bends and inverts. It's like being in the center of an expanding lens, piercing some sort of theoretical shape. Light and stars move in impossible ways until it finishes going inside out. Wherever you are now, it's different. Nine planets move around in their own orbits around the strange outside in of the mirror sphere.

Come on astronauts! Take one giant leap. For man and 'mon.

What you can see...
>A world of crackling light and boiling clouds.
>A world full of noxious ooze and gas.
>A world that looks its held together by an ethereal web.
>A world of tall and sharp glowing crystals, pulsing in rythym.
>A world of moving columns of fire, slamming against the molten surface.
>A world of frozen rails and objects moving impossibly fast.
>A shrouded world, covered by something.
>A dark world... with something past its veil.
>That planet looks really normal, actually. Too normal. It's impossibly normal. If anyone in the party is old enough, it reminds them of a computer background of perfect green hills.

>>5706971
"I get the feeling we need to explore some of these, if not all."

Rolled 9 (1d20)

>>5706971
What the fuck? Windows XP? Wait, what's that?
>Sable tries to look through the dark world's veil

>>5706971
>>5706973
dibs on the cloudy one!
>Cast flies towards he shrouded world

>>5706971
"Ack! Oh no, too many options! Why can't there be an obvious railroad to guide us..."

>>5706971
>A world of frozen rails and objects moving impossibly fast.

"What is that?" Theo thinks, reaching out to hold onto something solid, shadowy claws snaking towards the frozen rails.

"What is this suppose to mean?" Theo wonders.

>>5706971
Feeling one of the options as more familiar than the others, Vee bounds over to the world of darkness to check it out.

He tries to make a random sound along the way to check if speaking is an option again.

>>5706971
Astor chooses...
>A world that looks its held together by an ethereal web

>>5706971
Citrine is instinctively drawn to the crystalline "world".
>A world of tall and sharp glowing crystals, pulsing in rhythm.

>>5706971

>>5706974
"Sable, want to join me for that one?"
>Charles points off in the distance at the crystal planet

>>5706977
"Oop! There goes Cast."

>>5706971
Stern is drifting towards...
>A dark world... with something past its veil.
He doesn't like the look of any other place.

>>5706971
>Tintoretto takes his first step to see...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqsaivz4aAo

>That planet looks really normal, actually. Too normal. It's impossibly normal. If anyone in the party is old enough, it reminds them of a computer background of perfect green hills.
Bind tries doggie-padding to towards the light and cloud planet, but Spiritomb's rock has imparted just a bit too much momentum. He shakes his fist at the Odd Keystone, mouthing an endless stream of curses at 0 volume.

>>5706971
>>5706977
"Gah, Cast wait up!"
>Charles follows Cast to the cloudy planet!

>>5706971
>>A world of frozen rails and objects moving impossibly fast.
Kaku sees everyone going different ways and decides to stick with Theo because no offense, he's kind of an idiot.

>>5706989
Regardless of whether Spiritomb is actually playing dumb or just can't read the guildmaster's lips, they give a wave and head for the
>That planet looks really normal, actually. Too normal. It's impossibly normal. If anyone in the party is old enough, it reminds them of a computer background of perfect green hills.
path. They're certainly old.

>>5706985
Oh... you're tearing me apart with the choices, man!
>>5706992
Oh, bye then! Have fun!

File: into reality.png (936 KB, 768x768)

936 KB PNG

>>5706974
The only thing he can see is that something there isn't. Or is... was... huh? Ugh. It hurts to try and look further.
>You gain a headache for your troubles.

>>5706981
>>5706986
The two of them float past its veil and feel the weight of gravity give them a sense of up and down. It's unnaturally dark here. With the backdrop of the stars, you'd expect light... The air here smells stale and musty. You feel like you're being watched. The crunchy ground rattles.

You can speak, but you wonder if that's safe to do.

>>5706977
>>5706992
Passing the shroud, you realize that the air is thick and hard to breathe with the weight of starry moondust. Beneath you, the planet is spinning in random directions. You'll have to figure out how to... land.

>>5706980
>>5706993
As you enter, you have to throw yourself to the side to avoid being splattered by a supercooled magnetically levitating rock, screaming by at the speed of sound. The rush of cold air bites your fur and hair. Nearby, you can see pools of ferrofluid spiking to indicate that a maglev stone is approaching. At least you have some warning!

>>5706983
You can feel your spirit wanting to stick itself to the web. Gravity here is weak, so moving around shouldn't be difficult. But you have a deep-seated feeling getting stuck means bad, bad things.

>>5706984
There's a harmony here, you realize, as you touch down between the spires of skyscraper tall crystals. As you listen carefully, there's a song that resonates between each stone. Each beat, each note, shifts the planet a little.

>>5706989
>>5706994
The two of them arrive at the planet that is too normal. Everywhere they look is just the same perfectly green hills for miles. Well, granted it's some sort of strange micro-planet, they could probably walk for a day and end up in the same spot. But they can't be here forever! There are no landmarks! Where do they even need to go?

Sneasel is lounging nearby, star-bathing. There's not really a sun, so...

>>5707001
>Oh wait, sorry Tintoretto doesn't have feet.
>Tintoretto floats over to the world filled with noxious ooze and gas, maybe he'll meet a couple new friends there.

Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>5707001
"Hmmm..."

Does this place need a stronger beat? Citrine starts stomping around to the "tune". He's one of the crystals, technically, surely he'll be let into the song...

Rolled 7 + 2 (1d20 + 2)

>>5707001
"OH GOOD HEAVENS!"
>Charles attempts to make a goo parachute for a somewhat safe decent!
> +2 Goo

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>5707001
aaaaagggg... W-wait, Vee! Stern! Don't go in- oh for fuck's... fine, just wait for me!
>Sable descends into darkness... can he see where others cannot?

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>>5707001
Vee doesn't feel all too spooked, as though he's used to being watched from the darkness. That feeling of uncertainty isn't possible to lose, however.

For a moment, Vee lies down and closes his eyes...

Rolled 6 + 2 (1d20 + 2)

>>5707001
'Sneaky...' Astor thinks, trying to traverse the web without touching it (Maybe flying?)

Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>5707001
"Magnetic force Ted... Nature's force. We better get moving!" Kaku looks for a way out of this utopia of death.

Rolled 18 + 2 (1d20 + 2)

>>5707001
>land
>implying I, Cast, literal cloud who has not once touched the floor and has a critical weakness to grass, needs to land
>>5707005
>Charles does however, Cast tries to manipulate the wind to help with the parachute!
>+2 aeromancy

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>5707001
"Widows, but no mourners..."
Spiritomb, demotivated by a lack of things to take, gives a glance around for potential gacha fodder just to be sure...

>>5707014
>>5707001
'I really hope Sneasel has the first clue about any of this...Oh, she's lounging. Guess it's up to me and...nyeh.'
Does Bind really use voice fillers on his internal thoughts?
Bind sticks his tongue out and make a dash for The Horizon. Surely there's something out here, if he makes a long enough dust trail from the problem(s).

Rolled 16 (1d20)

>>5707001
"Ferrofluid. . . This whole place is like the magnetic caves in Unova. . . It must a giant railgun system," Theo muses out loud as he examines the speeding rocks.

He chooses a rail that seems to lead deeper into the sphere and watches the ferrofluid carefully with his claws outstretched.

"I've got a train to catch. . ."

>>5707001
"Hey, Vee..."
Stern whispers as he looks around, uncertain.
"You think it's good to light up the place further?"

>>5707009
>>5707020
Vee doesn't respond on account of him using the moment to rest and take in the environment, but he shakes his head, for now.

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>5707024
>>5707001
Stern nods, and tries to see if he can smell anything.

>>5707003
Entering the atmosphere makes you feel nauseous and sick. You don't want to be here long. The swamp makes walking difficult, and the constant toxic gas makes high-flying hazardous. The plant life here is interesting, like a purple mangrove grove. You can see the roots leading somewhere. But the closer you get, the worse the air becomes.

>>5707004
He can feel the pulse through his body. His own thumping causes a crystal beneath him to shift up, just a little bit. What tempo to go to where the song is the strongest?

>>5707005
>>5707013
Charles manages to land successfully with Cast's assistance. However, as soon as he touches the ground, the planet sucks in its shroud and stops spinning. With a blast of cosmic powder, it's off to the races! It leaves Castform behind in its stardust trail, with Charles piloting an entire planetoid!

>>5707010
Astor flies slowly. However, he isn't careful. The closer to the webs he gets, the stronger their soul-pull becomes. He can hear ghostly skittering.

>>5707008
>>5707009
>>5707020
>>5707033
In the great deep dark, Sable hits the ground hard. It crunches... like bones? Those are definitely... bones. The not-living thing is here! He's on top of it! He's sitting... they're all sitting on top of it! It's in the floors!
>Sable is struck by insanity damage.

Vee can feel something rumbling and slithering between the cracks in the dark ground. Stern can smell a dark and unfriendly presence. Not all of it is quite "there," spatially speaking, but it is pervasive. It reminds him of being in a den, or nest, caught between two different dimensions? A home of some kind?

>>5707011
>>5707019
Kaku notices that there's a massive spire of moving ferrofluid, where all the rails intersect. They splash against the metal water and react violently before it shoots out like a spool of cooled thread, creating a new rail. However, his fascination has caught him off guard, and he's clipped in the shoulder by a sonic rock.
>Kaku takes 150 environmental damage.

Theo takes the chance and grabs on. His arm almost feels like it's going to be ripped out of his shoulder, but he's got a good grip!

>>5707014
>>5707018
Bind goes running to the horizon and is immediately lost. Everything here looks the same. What? What is he supposed to do?

Spiritomb trips against something strange. A place where the environment looks... crumpled. A good eye would've noticed sooner. Confused, he looks to Sneasel, who is now hiding under her blanket, conveniently blending into the grass. She calls out to the spirit. "You should, hehe, probably hide. For your safety. Hah."

Above the planet, something echoes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0XUBaWvoV4

Rolled 1 + 2 (1d20 + 2)

>>5707034
'Maybe i shoul- leave!'
Astor is doing his best to not touch the web

Rolled 10 + 2 (1d20 + 2)

>>5707034
>the orb stole charles!
>GO FUCKING GET TO IT!
Wait, Charles!
>weather vane, speed my ass up with the wind!
>+2 aeromancy

Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>5707036
The Strings of Destiny resonate, delaying Astor's fate!

Rolled 1 + 2 (1d20 + 2)

>>5707034
>>5707038
"Hu- Wha- H-HOW DO I STEER THIS THING?!?"

>Charles tries to make impromptu reins with strands of goo, taking the planet on a round about of the larger space the planet resides in!
> + 2 Goo

>>5707034
"KAKU!!!" Theo yells out to his friend as he races past, he shoots out a claw to try and catch him as he practically flies towards the spire.

>>5707034
In the same motion as tripping, Spiritomb phases into the ground.

Rolled 17 + 2 (1d20 + 2)

>>5707034
>>5707042
(HP 1290/1440)
"-UCK! Hey, wait up!" Kaku sprints his way to the spire, careful to not get splattered by high speed boulders.
>Kaku Parkour! +2

Rolled 10 (1d20)

"Woah! Wait, do either of you hear that?"
uhh, intuition roll. Bind was a little distracted last time he heard any Bayonetta bosses fighting.

Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>5707034
Citrine goes for a heavy stomp every once in a while, in a rhythm, but a slow one. It just comes more naturally to him.

...he tries not to damage any crystals.

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>>5707034
Vee opens his eyes and slowly stands back up. "I think... we should just go. Don't bother anything."

He walks forward before looking at Stern >>5707033. "We don't need to know everything, do we?" He doesn't inform the others of his findings.

>>5707034
THEBONESITHUNGERSTHEFLOORSITDWELLSTHEDARKNESSITCONSUMESAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
LETMEOUTLETMEOUTISHOULDN'TBEHEREIWANNAGOHOME
>Sable is having a horrible vacation

Hiding would likely be better, but it doesn't occur to him. He hits his panic button, substitute.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLmZpG0QykM

>>5707051
"And don't listen to that," Vee adds, advising Stern not to hear what >>5707052 Sable's screaming about. He isn't paying attention to it, either. It's for the best.

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>>5707034
>Tintoretto dips in the swamp and goes deeper then no mon could ever go before...

>>5707051
Stern shrugs.
"If you say so! I don't like these vibes anyway."

>>5707062
>>5707052
"...I definitely won't!"

>>5707036
>>5707040
>>5707043
>>5707047
>>5707060
The skittering pauses as Astor nearly avoids something happening. There's a horrible shuddering feeling rippling through the entire space.

Bind can feel his primal prey instincts flair up like a seriously bad case of allergies. A massive presence enters the nearby space, its shadow darkening the originally idyllic hills. Deep feral eyes scan the area with crazed movement. However, it stops and lets loose its resonating cry before departing. It effortlessly moves through the area, heading to the spectral webbed world, looking for the interloper.

Bind avoided danger, but now someone else has the heat on them.

Palkia is watching the Spectral Web World. Be careful, Astor. Everyone can hear its cry. Your characters are now alerted to the Lord of Space's presence.

>>5707041
>>5707038
Charles has no license in piloting an entire planet, his attempts to wrangle it have no effect. With Castform now in space, there's no air to control! Weather Vane moves weakly before doing absolutely nothing. In any case, it's moving at celestial speeds, way too fast for Cast to have any hope of catching up.

The Goodra can assume that the planet only reacted when he touched it, along with moving on a set orbit. Can the two of them figure something out before the living weather ball becomes star-kill?

>>5707042
>>5707046
Theodore reaches his arm out, but it's moot, considering that he's moving too fast for human reaction to even grab on. Almost immediately, he's at the ferrofluid fountain. His ride begins to lose shape as it disintegrates into rolling metal spikes.

Kaku flattens himself to the ground as he avoids another close call, with the blowing wind giving his hair tips so frosted he could probably find his way to flavor town if he wanted. Out of breath and his mouth cold from the air, he can see Theodore being "consumed" by the metal water.

>>5707049
The slow, periodic stomps only cause his platform to go up. The music is below. It is lively music.
>Fast beats! Thump-thump-thump.
>Pausing and stomping. Thump/stomp-Thump/stomp.

>>5707063
The swamp is thick and dark. But it isn't deep enough to go down. His own spectral powers find that going past the layer reveals venomous brambles, making up the rest of the planet's layers.

>>5707051
>>5707052
>>5707070
Vee and Stern can feel whatever is here moving toward the screaming, attracted by the interaction. The ground sags, and they realize the planet might not be so "solid." They probably need to head down.

Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>5707076
>orb has an idea!
>he weather balls, to try and use the momentum to push himself out of the line of orbit

Rolled 3 (1d20)

>>5707076
"Uh...Think Charles, think!"
>The dragon repeats to himself!

"Hm...Maybe if I..."
>Charles kneels down and places his right hand to the planet, seeing if it elicits a response!

>>5707076
Noting Palkia's feral state, Spiritomb's momentary excitement dies down back to its prior levels. Regardless, they stay still like they were on the ship.

Rolled 15 (1d20)

>>5707076
NOHELLCANCOMPARETOTHEONEWITHIN
>Sable's fractured mind attempts to repair itself

Rolled 3 (1d20)

>>5707076
Theo whips his head around in panic, eye screwed shut to keep out the ferrofluid and terrified as the deific roar rips through the world.
He doesn't have time to think about it, he tries to swim out to the edge of the ferro fluid for air and a better look.

>>5707076
>Tintoretto thinks to himself...
"We must go deeper, we must make our trek, we must see if there is anyone else in this place to stuff insyde ajar because eye want it."

>>5707076|
>>5707081
"There's nothing to worry about, Sable." Vee provides unhelpful help and continues moving on. He walks and doesn't stop walking for anything shy of a sheer drop into the void. He doesn't need to know that which is not wished to be known. He's alright with how things are.

>>5707081
Stern looks ready to doing something drastic to shut up Sable, but it looks like Sable's got a grip.
Instead, he looks to Vee, and shrugs.
"I guess we go down?"
Stern does his best to go 'down'.

>>5707085
>>5707084
He nods. "Very."

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>5707076
'...'
Astor stops moving, although the Strings of Destiny are resonating back at him in a mocking way, he might still defeat fate again

Rolled 508, 206, 592, 572 = 1878 (4d850)

>>5707076
"Ugh... why did it have to be metal?"
It's been a while since we had a move roulette, hasn't it?
>tic-tic-tic

>>5707087
... nope, he just made things a lot worse

Rolled 5 (1d20)

Bind doubles over with a wheeze. He goes straight to use Secret Power, partly to maybe reveal a nook to hide himself, partly to discern the essence of this un-mysterious planet.

Rolled 9 (1d20)

>>5707076
"What in the world was that...?"

"Hm, whatever. Guess I have to..."
>Fast beats! Thump-thump-thump.

Citrine tries to get the platform to go down instead, as though quickly stomping it into the earth.

Rolled 3, 11 = 14 (2d20)

>>5707076
>>5707088
>Metronome becomes Steam Eruption! Kaku is no longer cold.
"Wheew! Much better!"
>Metronome becomse Shift Gear! The electromagnetic energy in the air gives Kaku a boost in Speed and strenght!
"Alright, here I go!" And he runs, looking for Ted.

>>5707077
>>5707078
Castform avoids being flattened by the grill-end of an entire planet, but Charles is still hurtling around in a circle. With Charles' interaction with the planetoid, it starts moving in a different orbital pattern. Maybe it doesn't like being touched?

>>5707080
>>5707091
Bind can feel something wrong near the gacha guy. Well, aside from the Spiritomb himself. Like space isn't quite right in that area. Well, in context. This whole place isn't quite right, but the immediate area is less so.

>>5707081
>>5707084
>>5707085
>>5707086
Sable gets a grip on reality, but he's not out of hot water just yet. The thing he saw is approaching his position rapidly. He can choose to simply depart the planet and call it a lost cause, or try and figure something out.

Meanwhile, for Stern and Vee, they feel for the ground where the ground is weakest. The two of them can "dig" down, but it's more like pushing things aside as if they were just sorting stuff around.

>>5707082
>>5707094
Theodore doesn't realize how sticky the ferrofluid is once he's touched it. To him, it might as well be alive with how its threatening to drag him in. Kaku shakes off his chills (along with his ticket to flavor town), and starts running after Theodore. His feet crackle with reverse energy as he strides across the metal water. He is sinking, but if he keeps moving, he might be able to rescue Theodore.

As he goes across, one of the rails parts the ferrofluid like the Red Sea, revealing something in the spire.

>>5707083
Going deeper will result in being cut up by the brambles. Are you sure?

>>5707087
Palkia screams out in a rage that almost sounds as if he was personally offended by whatever Astor did. With one might cleave, the webbed world is sliced into. Parts of the webs burn with residual spacial energy, tinged with void fire. The shockwave cripples the Staraptor, stunning him briefly. Astor's position has been revealed! Palkia is zeroing in!
>Astor takes 600 environmental damage!

>>5707093
Citrine causes the platform he's on to go straight down, watching as the crystals shift to the beat. They move like teeth, opening and closing like a jaw as he enters the depth of the planet. It's... actually beautiful down here. With the acoustics here, the music is even stronger. There's some sort of reverberating hum. The music is pleasant.
>Slow beats now. Thump. Pause. Thump.
>Maintain speed. Thump-thump-thump.

Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>5707114
"Hm...All right, how about the other way?"
>Charles removes his right hand and places his left hand down

>>5707114
>Tintoretto goes deeper.
>He shall meet with someone....

Rolled 18 (1d20)

>>5707114
>well, he can't get Charles off there without being bodied, so cast needs a new goal
>hmm, everyone else has the other worlds covered, but maybe some light would help.
>and it can help see if that star sneasel is sunbathing by does anything interesting.
>Weather vane time! Cast tries to brighten the sun. if palkia will be pissed at this level of tampering is up in the air

>>5707114
"This is a super weird feeling..."

Rolled 20 (1d20)

>>5707114
Not much chances for our bird, but to trust fate (A massive change)

Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>5707114
Theodore tries to escape from the ferrofluid and through vibes alone uses Couching on his nearby friend Kaku- he can feel the vibes!

There's enough of his energy for someone else to feel it- anyone is free to receive the other coaching. (+1 Attack/Defense)

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Rolled 4 (1d20)

>>5707114
>>5707121
Vee takes a deep breath, "Just don't worry about it," and once again closes his eyes as he tries to push through the terrain and into the place he feels they should be. He puts very little effort into it and tries to move along with the motion of the writhing entrails of this world.