Rex was happy to be back in his element. "They consider the trail 'our territory,' so as long as we stay on it, they generally won't bother us. Unless something panics them, they are hurt bad, or one of their children run up to you. Then it always starts with 'oh, look at the baaaaaaabieeeeees' and then turns into panic and screaming. Every time. Yeesh. So, yeah. Babies. Stay at a distance, don't touch unless you know what you are doing."

Mister Bitey had snatched up a stone on the roadside with his mouth, and was clearly teething as he gnawed on it. It spoke while chewing. "Deino. Deiiino. (I could just get back into the Pokeball and not be out here walking.)"

"Well said, Mister Bitey. Just use common sense, and we'll be fine."

Miko jumped now and then, startled by the movements of plumes of leaves, or a small Pokemon zipping through the grass.  She wasn't used to there being so much activity, home had been relatively quiet and isolated.  Able to see birds, but not really interact with them at all, and the odd grumpy looking rock type that wandered out of the caves.  These were treated to food, praised, and generally went about their business.

Not wanting to be perpetually scared, and a little embarrassed by the looks the low shrieks got her, Miko actually slips off the trail just a little bit, to see what she can find.

Just off the trail Miko gets a small glimpse of a bend in the stream with a pair of what, after some thinking, she identifies as Nidoran. The poison rodents sip water before a shadow overhead causes their ears to twitch, gazing upwards before vanishing back into the grass.

Whatever flew overhead was too quick for her to catch sight of however, but the gazing around does reveal a strange sight. A Mankey sneakily climbing down a tree to what appears to be a napping Marowak.

Everyone had been so quiet sense getting on the trail, it was actually starting to irritate Penny. She is a city kid at heart, and this quiet was driving her nuts. "Oi Miko, ye said yer from Johto befar didn' ye? Wha' part ye from? Evar been 'round Blackthorn? 'Corse I'm 'rignally from Motostoke, Over in Galar."
This message was last edited by the player at 06:00, Sat 06 May 2023.

Miko had been taking in the forest path, admiring nature and the Pokemon in it.  She paused to take in the sight of the Mankey sneaking up on something she didn't recognize.  A Bone-Head maybe?  Or... no that didn't sound like a nice Pokemon name.  Most of them had pretty nice names.  Either way, that Mankey was probably going to do something rude, you didn't sneak up on a sleeper unless you were going to do something bad.

Penny's sudden breach into conversation elicited a startled shriek from Miko, hands moving to her breast as she breathed heavily and swallowed before finding an answer.  "Once or twice, Papa took me through the Ice Cave to see Blackthorn when he'd go on long trips.  He said it was good for me to get away from the shrine once in awhile.  Mama would look after things while we were away.  I remember... the steep cliffside running south, and the blue haired gym leader there who was not as nice as the old man gym leader from the west.  Also that there was water, and dragon noodles in the water."

Rex's normally flippant attitude shifted a bit, and his voice gained a sharp edge to it. "Never been to Blackthorn. Well defended. Only one good route in, constantly watched. The back door's tricky to climb, no good ways to conceal yourself.

He raised a hand, dropped his voice to a near whisper, and the smile was clearly returning. "Hold on a moment. Whatever this Mankey has in mind, it's gonna be good no matter how it goes. We are about to witness nature's idea of a practical joke."

Mister Bitey, for its part, had noticed a rock of suitable size, and began to gnaw on it, clearly intent on sharpening its underdeveloped teeth.

The Mankey drops onto the Marowak's head with a carefully placed jump.

It's the work of seconds before a hand reaches up and flings the tiny primate pokemon over your heads.

You can't help but watch its arc with an almost performance note as the Mankey lands on its feet and ready for a fight.

On your other side stands an adult Marowak at just over three feet tall. Not that intimidating a figure until you take in the large bone it holds at rest.

"Maro wak."

Miko looks between the two Pokemon worriedly.  There was going to be a fight if this wasn't handled very carefully, and the little monkey was probably at a severe disadvantage.  Clearing the fear from her voice she spoke up, raising her hands just a little at each party.  "Now, now... there's no need to get heated."  First she addressed the clear elder of the two Pokemon.  "It's just a child, and was only having fun.  It's a little inconvenient, but it didn't really hurt you, or take anything."  Then to the Mankey.  "And you know better, you were just a little bored, right?"

13:40, Today: Miko Yoshida rolled 16 using 4d6 ((4,3,4,5)).

(PokePsychologist to improve dispositions.)
This message was last edited by the player at 16:41, Mon 15 May 2023.

"We are... uh... between them. Don't know if you noticed." Rex was not liking where this was going, and Mister Bitey was growling at the Mankey, recalling their last run-in with one of those. "Easy, Bitey. We're backing down, and we are backing down slowly. Our position is not safe. Then we can talk them out of it if we want, okay? Shrines? You listening? Come on, follow me while you talk, alright?"

He was trying to use a single finger to encourage Miko to follow him back, because he did not want to engage in much whole arm movement, because it might agitate the Mons. That said, his left hand was pulling a knife from a fold in his clothes in the small of his back, and he was hiding it under his hand and arm, ready to hurl it.

OOC: 11:35, Today: Rex Rivers rolled 21 using 4d6.  Stealth, to hide the knife he's drawing.

The Mankey rolls its eyes but seems to have little problem with you. You get the impression you're just a conveniently placed obstacle for it.

Of course it then sticks its tongue out at the Marowak and blows a raspberry.

The Marowak in response lofts the club up an inch and stabs it into the ground. It's strong. The impact causes each of you to tremble for a second, before a sound behind you makes you realize the Mankey has fallen into a sudden hole.

There's the thinnest of cracks running from the bone club to the hole.

"Maro."
There's a very small smirk on his face.
He looks you over and his eyes linger for a second on your pokeballs and hands before dismissing you.
The club gets waved, indicating you to step off to the side.

It is only seconds later that a cry comes from the hole.
"Key-eee!"
A small ball of fury launches itself from the hole and is met with a oddly nonchalant Marowak that seems to be doing the bare minimum to intercept the blows, but not a single strike goes through the guard.

"Well, I guess if they're not going to stop fighting... and we're not really involved, maybe we just go?  I know Pokemon fought all the time near home."  Miko had tried to improve their disposition towards her and get them to stop fighting by making friends, she didn't have anything else beyond actively intervening in a fight that she wasn't really involved in in the first place.

"Either one could be handy for the gym ahead..." Rex frowned at his train of thinking. "Nah. I don't use Pokemon."

"Deino? (So I can sit the next fight out?)"

"You and I have a relationship based in mutual profit and honest companionship. We can tell each other anything. Neither of us is using the other."

"Deino-Deino. (Speak for yourself. I expect pampering when we get where we are going.)"

"Absolutely, friends for life." Rex smiled at the fight. "Now, play nice, you two! This ain't for keeps."

He kept his eye on them as a slowly moved around them.

"Well either way while we're here." Penny pulls out to poke'dex and listens in on their entries, not that anything particularly sticks.

Sorry that it took me so long to post.

The Marowak gives you a skeptical look as it continues blocking the strikes coming its way.


Miko, for you it is rather noticeable that the Marowak hasn't struck back at all. That seems odd for a wild pokemon.
Rex, you hesitate for a second as you get a mental image of a bratty kid trying to fight one of the Masters only to be toyed with. It's even holding one hand behind its back.
And Penny, you just see that the Mankey seems to have no end of drive to try and win, no matter how outmatched it clearly is.

The lot of you safely skirt around the match, but it isn't long after that the Mankey stops its assault with big heaving gulps of air as it finally tires.

When it seems like the little creature has finally had enough, Miko will approach it, and squat.  Hands resting lightly on her knees, while it takes a breather, she feels reasonably safe.  "Energy is very important, and how you use yours will determine what kind of person or Pokemon you grow into."  She explained with gentility to the fuzzy little ball of attack.  A little breath, not quite a sigh.

"Having a reason, something to love, fight for, and protect.  That's very good.  Doing something because it feels nice, when it hurts others is wrong.  I could help if you'd like."

"Well, yeah. Now, bear in mind, 'it was funny' will make some pretty good memories. I've got a lot of those." Rex gave a malicious chuckle as he recalled a few of those. "But I'm guessing you want bonehead here to teach you how to be as awesome as they are. Good luck, but... you know. Maybe offer some food for friendship instead of head jumpings. Everybody likes to be fed. Unless the fighting is what you wanted. Fighting's a good way to learn, admittedly. Iron-"

He stopped the quote momentarily, and finished it in a more subdued tone. "-sharpens iron."

"You'll find what you're looking for."

He noted what Penny was doing, and decided to pull his PokeDex out as well. "Right. Uh, words have appeared, and learning has been done."

Pendragon recognizes that kind of fire, she gives the Mankey a good leer, believing that he'll resist it. She puts great effort into being clear (Also I'm being lazy about typing her accent) "Strength, does not need to be proven, Little one. Only the weak concern themselves with it. Your opponent has successfully demonstrated this." She points over to the Marowak. "Now hear me strieght! I ain't saying to rest on ye'r laurels, get'ng stronger is a fine goal, however. Hey Marowak, did ya always live 'round here or did ya come from afar?

03:11, Today: Penny Drake rolled 14 using 4d6.  Charm the Marowak into answering.

The Mankey seems to be paying closer attention to the lot of you by now and has caught its breath.

Penny, the Marowak examines you for a moment before reaching into a small hollow on the tree and pulling out a weathered Ribbon.

It holds it up as if to provide you your answer.

General Ed to identify.

It then proceeds to start giving what you'd assume to be a lecture to the Mankey, a short one, but it ends with it pointing at the three of you with the bone club before thumping it's chest and returning to it's napping spot, arms crossed as it watches the proceedings.

The Mankey appears to be considering the group of you.

"The Pokedex says it's a Fighting Type, so... if it wants to battle to see who it goes with, I shouldn't.  Fujo is weak to fighting, and could get hurt really badly.  We only just left Pallet."  Miko states responsibly, picking up the Snorunt and cradling it against her chest where it shivers.  "I could teach you a lot more than fighting, Mom and Dad impressed the ideals of peace, tranquility, responsibility, and comfort on me.  You'd be well cared for as a companion, but maybe... not as strong as you could be with someone else."  She added self consciously.

OOC: 12:17, Today: Rex Rivers rolled 6 using 1d6.  General Education.
If the difficulty is on par with a literacy check, he actually got this one.

"Hmm. Fighting, eh? That's discipline and actual technique when you say it." Rex didn't ask that last so much as he was confirming it. He weighed his options. "I'm to understand throwing yourself in this tourneys is frowned upon, so I guess I'd be showing a bad example by taking them on myself. 'You might get hurt!' Sheesh. What are your thoughts, Mister Bitey?"

Mister Bitey shuffled behind Rex. "Deeeeeei-nooooo." (Noooooooooooo.)

"Eh, he's just shy about new folks, especially Mankeys. Still, he makes a good point, and if we aren't confident we can catch them with a show of strength, we got no business trying to tell them what strength is and is not. Penny, please tell me that the Mankey isn't a silver bullet to you, too."

Penny thinks a moment, * being lazy on the accent again. * "Lancealot is also a fighting type so I don't think so. But also he doesn't resemble any of the band-mates I dreamed of, more importantly while I get where he's coming form I don't know if he'll be a good fit for us." Gesturing to her an Lancealot, who has wondered away to gleefully watch a leaf dance on the wind. "Perhaps this needs to be more of an open ended question, he travels with us as a group, figures out who suits him for himself, whether that's one of us or someone else is up to fate."

12:30, Thu 06 July: Penny Drake rolled 7 using 2d6.  General Education.

The aged badge appears familiar, holding the crest of the Kanto League on it with an especially resilient trim. At a guess, it's a Champion's badge, signifying that it had partakes in an official league battle resulting in the instatement of a new Champion.

Far from a common event, asking the right person could probably tell you a lot about this pokemon.

Meanwhile the Mankey appears to consider the traveling offer. It takes a minute but it walks up and gives a nod.
It will travel with you for a time.

"All's well that ends well I suppose.  Welcome, Mankey."  Miko offered cheerfully and made to continue along the trail.  The adventure was about the journey, not the destination.  They had already made themselves a friend, or a rival, and maybe some sort of mentor.  It was strange to think of Pokemon more like people.  The ones that came along the shrine were often very placid creatures and left things or looked for food.  The Bergmites were silly, with their wide spaced eyes and their little waddling gaits.

She missed home already, but she'd be back someday.

Penny gave the Mankey a solute and took up the rear, as she was already noting that she lacked the crews' athletic capabilities and was hoping to avoid becoming winded. "Oy, Lance lets not doddle in the woods all night, ya." Lancealot who'd been paying attention snickered as he knew they would be doing so regardless and just how much Pen hates camping out.

"I'm to understand that unless we dawdle, we'll make it. First time traveling to a place seems longer than it is, but we are making good time." Rex glanced over at Mister Bitey. "Yes, Mister Bitey, I was getting to that."

"Deino?" (I did not say anything.)

"Bitey agrees with everything I just said, but also notes that Pewter Gym used to be famous for its rock aces. We don't have good experiences with rocks. We can handle them, but ouch."