bottlecaplogs | Exploration: Red

Meeting that question with a laugh, the Slowking nods as he answers, probably gently enough to let Akechi stay in place.

"Sure aaam!"

Of course every quest with reduced visibility provides quite the challenge when he's already working with so few eyes, but as far from ideal as the area's conditions may have just become, Akira's been in undeniably high spirits throughout the group's travels.

It's hot. Even as a Water type, even having known that it would be, it's almost unbearably so. Or rather, he's well aware salamanders of the aquatic sort can't survive such temperatures-- and in turn beyond thrilled that he's learnt something new about his current form by simply remaining conscious.

So for a change, it might be distraction rather than just his personality, that's preventing him from recognizing any real problem. He's having fun. The Cubone's typing seems like a natural fit for the area. The Rookidee's already found somewhere to perch. Clearly, all three of them must be fine! Even as he moves closer to Emporio and offers a hand, he's only trying to correctly play along with whatever's just started.

"It's great how we're already seeing a range of weather. I'm getting a bit excited thinking about if this dust storm might carry any special properties like the fog and rain earlier."

"Same here. ...Actually it's almost comfortable..."

Emporio is honestly surprised at how well he's doing out here. With his helmet on, he'd pulled on a scarf both to prepare for if the woods would be similar to the North Forest- after all, they'd arguably exited from all three woods to get to the Outpost Valley, and this side of their map would be closest to that out of the other options- but also because of the heat itself. Heat, after all, spoke to potentially bad air...

...And it is, but they certainly didn't anticipate this.

"I can't even tell how we got here from the woods...there wasn't any sign of this kind of thing from the valley." Then again, they are on a shield volcano. It'd probably be more bizarre if they came out in say, a vast mountain range. ~~The other region teams will have a hell of a report to share.~~

He's not coughing- but, as he looks to Akechi, he's still worried. This storm after all is...well.

"It's neat to study, but we really need to find shelter before stopping to take any notes. These winds must get fiercer the farther up you fly..."

Which, ugh.

"Can you at least see a clear path Akechi?"

"Clear with an asterisk." Squinting further, he brings a wing over his eyes to shield his view. "There's a pillar ahead. A clear landmark we can use as a beacon. However, we need to be mindful of the surrounding lava."

Even through the dust, its glow tints everything in eerie shades or orange and red. "I..." He leans forward on his perch. Through the haze, a loud crashing sound echoes. "We should watch for falling stones and debris. We may need to move slower, though that does put us at risk due to the heat..."

Unless Akira has a solution.

For now, he'll whip up a Tailwind, both to enhance their mobility and to provide some cool air currents.

"We can't take notes!?"

Akira sounds almost hurt for a moment, taking Emporio's words as serious instructions. He wasn't planning to stop as he observed, but maybe even trying to look would be too much? ... Right, keeping his focus ahead is more important at the moment, in order to let Akechi keep watch.

At least, at first.

"Slow is fine!" soon comes as an almost urgent response the moment that breeze picks up. Sure, he might be the most likely kind of Pokemon to say as much, but there's more to it. "Moving faster can actually make the heat more dangerous. There may be exceptions for Fire types or the inorganic sorts, but I can't let you two overwork yourselves while we're so far from the clinic."

How would he be able to examine them as thoroughly as he'd like out here, with all this dust in the way?

But as far as any concern for himself goes... It does feel nice, and he's happy to dismiss his own warning to instead pick up the pace as much as the Tailwind's effects allow him. After all, recognizing the move from an earlier conversation,

"This one can only protect us for a short time, right? I may be able to find some non damaging uses for Water Gun once it's up."

"N-not with this surrounding us! The longer we breathe it in the worse the consequences could be!"

He politely refrains from saying that Akechi specifically is probably the most at risk. Instead, he just nods in agreement with Akira's observations, and then squints ahead at the hazy shadow that the bird pointed out.

He also, still politely, doesn't mention that he really feels great actually. Huh.

"Hopefully they have a first aid tent ready by the time we're back out at least...Ah-"

The tailwind whips, and though Emporio shivers a bit, he does nod. "Better that than water gun in my case. Let's take advantage of it while we can though, we still have to find our way back from this place too. Uh..."

He pauses- he hears...no, feels something- "Watch it-!"

A rock falls, not landing on the path, but instead splatting through the lava. A bubble of the gleaming molten rock rises up like an ominous lantern, and the cubone finds himself momentarily frozen at the sight.

It seems to have cleared the dust a little at least. Briefly anyway.

The falling rock makes him fluff up, eyes glued open. He may look ridiculous, like a giant puffball, but once the shock subsides, his feathers smooth again.

"I can use Tailwind to combat the dust, if nothing else. Akira-san's water may actually prove useful against not only the heat, but the lava."

Cooling molten rock solidifies it. It may be trickier in the heat, but it is an option, and they can use the terrain to their advantage in theory.

"Actually, weren't you capable of generating cold before? That may be an especially worthwhile skill under these circumstances."

... Having been told off for his curiosity towards it already, maybe it's best not to mention how the others inhaling the dust might be a necessity if he's to learn whether or not its composition is normal.

He should probably just carry on without pause. But while he's content to keep moving ahead despite the warning, Akira can't quite look away from the brilliant glow of that lava as it's displaced. What an exciting sort of hazard to add to their adventure!

And what an interesting pair of suggestions, to follow it.

"Hm... I'm afraid I don't really know how that snow started back then, so dealing with the lava might be the best I can do. If you want me to try clearing a path, I don't mind! For some reason I've had lots of patients caught up in explosions to learn from, so treating just the two of you won't be any trouble at all!"

Enthusiastic as that questionable reassurance might sound, it's not his intention to expose his teammates to any burns or the like from potential reactions if he can avoid it. It should become apparent soon enough, as the temperature around him slightly drops, that it was more of a joking effort to scare them into keeping their distance if they decide to go that route.

Though as the cooling air leads to mild snowfall as well...

Huh.

How did he cause that, exactly?

"Would Tailwind be best for that..? Hmmm..."

The glow of the magma sinks back down, and the dust quickly starts to overtake them. At least the pillar seems...closer?

"I'd like warning before we use any water, but..." Emporio pauses, turning to Akira as the other speaks. He's about to say something about being relieved to hear that Akira thinks it'll be fine, when the chill descends.

...And brings snow, for all that the ash storm isn't gone. "Uh."

Uh.

"...Well...I guess this is a...good news and bad news situation..?"

"Ground types are weak to ice, if I recall, but so long as it's focused on our surroundings, it should be all right." Actually, hmm...

He flutters back into the air, squinting. "What if I utilized Tailwind to scatter the snow or at least redirect it? It could part the dust and spread Akira-san's ability if directed properly..."

It's a risk, but perhaps one worth taking. Adaptation is pivotal in dangerous terrain.

... There's bad news? Is it the visibility? The snowstorm hasn't made things any worse that he can tell. It just hasn't exactly improved anything beyond the temperature, either.

Still, his demeanor shifts to something calm, almost serious, as he looks Emporio over just for a moment. The child really doesn't seem unhealthy as these effects go on, or anything. In that case...

"This snow won't be capable of causing any damage, so I'm not sure our types need to be a concern with status moves. Modifications should be fine. I'd like to see how effective it is, as well, when it's redirected."

"And water, and grass...it's the water that's important though," Emporio adds emphatically, before giving Akechi's plan some serious thought.

"It...should work? Just as long as Akira and I stay near to each other... ...And rain doesn't normally cause serious harm either, but I still get a rash," he points out to Akira. "I'd rather not spend half the journey getting a rash..."

But, it looks like they're all in agreement then!

"I wonder if something like a Sand Attack would mitigate any adverse effects..." He keeps beating his wings, trying to clear the way forward. "Dust isn't quite the same, but there's certainly no shortage of material to work with."

He's used it before, as a means to disorient enemies. Defensive applications are new, but not impossible...

One thing at a time, though. They need to stay alert.

A rash just from contact with rain? What's in the water, here? Or is it something closer to the Ground type's body being washed away? Having seen the latter often enough with certain youkai, it could be possible. Regardless,

"I'll treat it if you get one!" ... Does that sound too eager? "Not that I'm gonna do anything with Water moves near you, though! I promise! We just shouldn't risk any further impairments to our vision in these circumstances. Good kids like you two ought to be kept safe, after all."

Although to make such a claim after joining them to explore the center of a volcano... It might be apparent that his concepts of safety and danger are, well, different, if he has them at all.

In the moment, safe means bringing the two back alive and healthy. So with their navigation covered, he'll keep an eye on the rest of the area, to help ensure they don't fall prey to anything just out of sight.

He's ground type, he's ground type!!

And to be entirely fair, it does have to be a constant rain. Akira isn't far from the mark with his guess about being 'washed away'- it's basically like being under an acid rain for the poor kid.

"Hm. Good question? I don't know if we should experiment too much with it... ...Oh, uh, thanks for the reassurance though!" he adds honestly to Akira. At the very least, the Slowking's bedside manner is leagues better than Anasui, and chances are pretty high the espartha will have him cornered the minute they get back.

Emporio squints through the haze though, as another distant glow from a lava bubble meets his eye. "...It looks like we're a lot closer to that shadow at least...Do you think it's some kind of tower? It definitely stands out..."

"We're surrounded by lava. The tower is distinctly black..." The further they travel, and the more Akechi beats his wings, the clearer its shapes become. Shiny, far smoother than pumice... "I believe it's made of obsidian..."

Squinting through his goggles, something seems odd. "...And I believe we may want to take a closer look at its surface."

They just have to get there in one piece.

There's no doubt in Akira's mind that they'll make it. They've already found their method of surviving the elements. All that's left is carrying on.

Once the group's closer to that towering structure, once the texture pointed out on its surface is clear even through the storm,

"Oh? Hold on, what sort of exciting new thing is this, carved into it!?"

Curiosity piqued, there's little to keep him from rushing forward to find out. With the glass covered in so many symbols, he just has to look over each and every one!

"It's too organized to be art, so is it something to read?" Eager as he might be to try, though, he can't understand it, as a slight tilt of his head easily lets on. Maybe the locals can translate? Except, given the circumstances of the journey out here, that would have to mean...

"What kinds of intelligent Pokemon were here before the ones who greeted us? Do you think we'll meet any?" His musings grow a bit louder, now finally directed at his teammates. No, of more immediate importance while he's involving them, "I might have made an oversight in only studying our biology since arriving. Have either of you seen anything in this script before?"

"You can tell it's obsidian from this far..?"

That's Emporio's main question as they make their way closer of course. And eventually they make it so close that the storm is entirely absent. Emporio looks around, curious at the cleared air, and in the meantime the others surround the pillar.

From here it looks almost alien. A towering, crooked thing, inhuman in its design and yet wholly unnatural as well. Eventually walking closer, he slowly reaches into his pouch for a roll of parchment he'd brought with.

He's quite relieved that it's so thickly made, now. "I don't think there's anyone here, at least...but it is clear that there were Pokemon before us here. The writing looks entirely unfamiliar though."

The etchings are certainly fascinating. So fascinating that Akechi moves closer to try and discern what they might mean.

It's difficult. He's yet to find anything in the archives that match these symbols.

"We should jot them down for future reference." Reaching into his satchel, he also takes out some parchment to get started. "If it didn't risk the integrity of the structure, I'd almost suggest breaking off a piece to bring back with us."

But that would disrupt the site, so it's far from ideal.

They can't read it either?

Between that confirmation and seeing the two prepare to take notes, Akira only becomes more excited. He could do the same, but where's the progress in that? He'll leave them to it! Instead,

"No, don't worry! Breaking it should be fine as long as we copy the text accurately first! Looming over the whole volcano like that, it's too blatantly ominous not to try. If we've found some kind of magical seal, isn't that the fastest way to learn what it's holding back? Even if it's only a sign or a story, we can still preserve a piece in the archives!"

Well, and any resulting shards if the break isn't clean could prove valuable in other ways. New information and new medical supplies? He can hardly wait!

Clearly struggling with patience around the matter, he moves to at least feel the surface of the spire. It's fine if it burns him a little in this heat! He'll just--

...

All the Slowking can manage is an intense burst of laughter as he backs away, unharmed but almost stunned. After a moment, blushing heavily,

"That's great! Did either of you hear them too? Ahh, this really demands further study..."

Or possibly someone to stop him from trying again.

"Right." They're all in agreement then. Emporio follows after Akira with his slate, raising a mitt to the side. "Okay, let's see if I can feel out the shapes best, and-"

And Akira just...did. That.

"Uh...What?"

Cautiously, he puts his hand to the stone.

And immediately pulls it back. SCREAMING??

"UH- Maybe that's a bad idea actually!?"

That's... concerning. Very concerning. Judging by Emporio's reaction alone, it seems touching the structure is unwise.

"So touching the structure directly causes some sort of mental reaction?" He really shouldn't. It's like sticking a hand in a bear trap, but curiosity gets the best of him, and—

"Gah!" He wobbles back, cringing at the cacophony of voices. "...This is clearly no ordinary volcano. We should... report this to Mightyena-san."

But he is not directly touching it again. That was a mistake.

There's no sound as the others attempt the same? Hm...

"I wonder if it's another telepathic system like ours, or if it's more like a gathering of lost souls! What I wouldn't give to examine it with my own eyes..." A strange statement while they're already there in person, maybe.

His Shellder's eyes have already opened as if going through the motions, but even so, it's just not possible to see what sort of magic's behind any of this. Then he'll press his hands to the glass again and focus, tying to make out what he can among all those voices. Trying to understand, even as they drown out everything else around him.

"Th- That's not what you need to be doing at all!!" Emporio protests, rushing to try and pull the Slowking back. "Listening to that for more than a few minutes could leave us deaf...or worse!"

This is a difficult act, given the size of the other compared to him. "We'd end up having to drag you to the clinic if you touch it too long!"

Desperately, he looks at Akechi for help.

"Akira-san, I understand that you're intrigued, but you mustn't place undue stress on your mind when we need to return to the outpost." He glances at Emporio, nodding. "And seeing how neither of us is particularly large, it would be rather inconvenient to transport you, were you to lose consciousness from over zealousness."

No, deafness shouldn't have anything to do with it when the noise is bypassing his actual sense of hearing. But.. stress? Right, the mental toll of taking in so much information at once could be a problem, if he could only manage to pick it apart to learn from it. What would that feel like, anyway? Right now it's just kind of...

Disorienting...

He's not sure, when he finally snaps out of it, slumping down to just sit there instead, how long he may have spent trying to listen. Seconds? Minutes? Is the Cubone still at his side? Whatever the case, there's an urgency to Akira's voice once more when he speaks up.

"Ah!! Right, we can't leave before we've copied the text down!"

If that's the most concerning part of all this, he's.. probably fine.

That's super bad! That's super not fine!!

Emporio trades an anxious look with Akechi, but ultimately chooses not to address anything about what just happened aloud. Instead he just....nods.

Slowly.

"Y...yeah. Let's just copy what we can see, and then head back. ...I'd say we could take rubbings, but paper would burn up here, so we'll just have to use the wax slates..." he mutters, pulling out his own.

"It's better than nothing." So, naturally, Akechi follows suit and tries his best to gather as much of the text as possible. "No doubt we'll be well regarded by the other guilds for our efforts, even if we leave without a complete picture."

It's still a major breakthrough. Something they can build upon with time.

Exploration: Red

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look up ancient greek wax slates they're so cool...

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