bottlecaplogs | WAYFINDING: Heavy Downmoor

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WAYFINDING: Heavy Downmoor

Who: Akechi, Ren, and Umemiya
What: Wayfinding in Heavy Downmoor!
When: Early October
Where: Heavy Downmoor
Warnings: Peril and environmental hazards. ...also, a grumpy bird.

It's rather aggravating that Volcarona didn't join them. An extra body, particularly a large one, would make this whole ordeal more manageable. The howl of the wind marks a foreboding start of their journey.

Thankfully, they had at least planned ahead. Umemiya's size and steel typing makes him the best equipped to ground them. For everyone's safety, they're tied to one another, at least for the climb, with Akechi taking refuge in Umemiya's scarf, to his chagrin.

Still, from his admittedly comfy perch, he sees a simple enough way to ease their struggles and shifts his position so that he can whip up a Tailwind around them.

"I'll try to maintain our air resistance for as long as I can. We should be mindful of our surroundings and the fact that lightning—"

A distant crackle punctuates his words. Further up, there's a terrifying flash.

"—strikes the tallest objects first."

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"And it's drawn to metal, which I suppose I am, as a Steel-type. Lovely. Just remember, if anyone's hurt bad, I do have Life Dew as a move I can use." Though that won't be nearly as much use if he's knocked out, will it?

In the meantime, though, he forges ahead, standing in a bent-knee stance to try and keep his center of gravity low. Umemiya can't help but see this as a sort of grappling fight with the wind as a larger, stronger opponent. Like if he had to take on Togame, a broad-shouldered boy from a rival gang who undoubtedly had a little sumo in his training at some point.

"There weren't any reports of this sort of wind beforehand, right? From the last team out this way? Rain, caves, electricity, that's what I remember being highlights."

"Definitely not. These conditions are... extreme."

Ren's ears are pinned back as he forges on through the wind, his mind eased somewhat by being bound to Umemiya and Akechi (whew, glad they thought of that one). Being so low to the ground, he's not as impacted as Umemiya by the wind... but he still feels like a particularly strong gust could send him flying.

The Tailwind helps, at least, but how are they supposed to map the place in this kind of weather? He's afraid that taking the materials out of his pack will cause them to fly away and get lost, and then where will they be?

"Let's see if we can find a spot where the wind gets broken," he says, "we'll have to memorize our route until then."

"This would be so much easier if one of us knew the move Sunny Day." He grumbles under his breath, grateful for the resistance his Tailwind offers, if nothing else. "Of course, that would put Umemiya-san at risk for fire type damage, but I suppose that's less applicable here."

Still, Ren has a point. They can't merely chart as they climb. Mental mapping will be key. "I agree that we should save our charting until we find shelter. I should be able to keep track of all this; birds do need to have a clear mental map of their terrain, after all."

So perhaps that's the key? If they all compare notes, it should be presentable. That is, if they can make it back in one piece.

"Sure. Question is if shelter is something we can find here." But he'll keep pushing against the wind, head ducked, one arm up to block some of the worst of it.

"Does the fact that these climates exist so close to one another seem weird to anyone else? Like, this feels unnatural to me."

No, Ren's definitely noticed it, too. He nods. "There's something weird about it," he says. "Could just be that it's a different world from what we're used to, but... it's definitely unusual."

In the Metaverse, something like that could make sense. Here, though...?

"Nothing we can do about it now, though. We just gotta keep going."

"I have to wonder if perhaps it's a Legendary Pokémon's doing." It's just a passing thought. Since he can't fly so freely right now, idle musing is the best he can offer. "Though, Flowey did point out that the path to the outpost was... oddly condensed, so it's clearly not merely these outer regions subject to unnatural climates."

For now, they can only ponder, and he can only do his part to keep their momentum going...

Though, the higher they climb, the closer they draw to the temple. Soon, its looming shape appears from afar.

"Sometimes, space around here feels like something out of a video game, where you're crossing from one zone into another. Also, there's a cliff off to our left. Sheer face, don't go to close that way."

He feels the temple on his internal Aura Sense map before he sees it, same as the cliff, and driven by determination pushes onward.

"Got it," Ren slips a little closer to Umemiya, away from the cliff. He's not as high up as Akechi or Umemiya, so he notices the temple a little later than the other two, but it's a relief to see regardless.

"Just a little further," he mutters. He'd like to run on ahead, to grin and make it a race- the urge is really there, but he's also not stupid enough to actually try it in therese conditions.

The relief from the wind is palpable once they do reach the temple, though. Ren feels like he can finally breathe again, without the wind cutting it off.

"Let's take five," he says, "then we'll draw out the map."

When they reach the temple, Akechi heaves a sigh of relief and flutters down to the ground. He needs to stretch his wings and his legs. Moreover, he needs to make sure Ren is okay, so...

Pardon the light display of preening, Umemiya. Bird instincts are strong with this one.

"Well then. I believe it would be wise to start with what's fresh in our minds, then make smaller trips to gradually chart the surrounding areas."

Umemiya nods quietly, watching Akechi check on Ren. Once more he wonders what it would be like for him to have someone, anyone from his own world here. Even Endo, even Takiishi, even someone who hates him, but is familiar. He tries not to show the jealousy that wells up in his chest, instead starting to orient himself, to note what he felt with Aura Sense for the map.

"Good plan, yeah."

Ren purrs lowly under Akechi's attention, but doesn't let himself get carried away. Umemiya is here too, after all.

When they're done, he pulls out the materials, laying out the soon-to-be map. "Let's see here..." he hums, "the cliff near the temple seems pretty important to write down. The path's pretty winding, so it'd be easy otherwise to accidentally stumble off it, if you're not paying attention," he mutters, drawing a path with his paw. "There were some notable boulders on the way here, right? Around the halfway point."

Peering over Ren's handwork, Akechi nods. "The boulders are important landmarks, given that they withstood the wind. For those traversing the region, we'll want to note them." But there's more to consider, like the space between and the steepness of the slops, so he prods another spot, about midway up the mountain.

"Midway up the mountain, there's little in the way of shelter beyond the surrounding cliffs. It's steep, and those ill equipped for high altitudes will need to ensure they have a means to maintain their grip on the way up."

"I felt some sort of emotional response here--probably something with a den in a cave that was trying to decide if we were worth checking into. Sleepy predator energy, maybe some sort of bear? Erm, Ursarang or Stufful?" Indicating another spot. "Don't advise going and finding out which, or if I was wrong completely."

Ren notes down everyone's additions, giving the map further shape. It's starting to look less like a blank piece of paper, and more like... well, a map!

... Honestly, he'd actually love to investigate whatever Umemiya's talking about. Sounds like a whole lot of fun! But he's not stupid enough to try to even suggest they do with these conditions.

"Anything else?" he asks once he's done jotting everything down. "I think I've got most of it for now otherwise."

"Trees." He prods the sides of the path in a few spots. "While they could provide shelter and support, these particular trees bore signs of wood rot and weak branches. It would be wise to be watchful for falling branches when passing through."

Otherwise, it seems rather cohesive. Certainly thorough enough too serve eager explorers.

"I feel good enough about what we have here to head back and turn it in, instead of pushing to find more. How about you guys?"

After all, he chose to go out questing with these two because he tends to find them sensible about things.

Ren glances up at Umemiya, his ear flicking. Part of him wants to push on- finish everything up and map everything out in one go, like he used to do for Palaces... but then, this is quite a bit different from Palaces, isn't it?

... Also, loathe as he is to admit it, the storm has not been kind to his joints. The ache is mostly ignorable nowadays, and while still managable enough right now, he can tell they're going to complain later.

No sense in agitating them more than needed. He did promise everyone he'd take better care of himself.

"That's a good idea," he agrees after a moment, "we have made substantial progress on mapping the place out."

"There's just one more thing..." Akechi turns around, fluttering up to the statue within the shrine.

It's a curious thing. Perhaps Ren sees a metallic, horse-like being, while Umemiya sees a dinosaur-like Pokémon rimmed with pearl.

"This statue... it must be a legendary Pokémon." It may not be related to mapping the region, but it is relevant to Akechi's curious mind.

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WAYFINDING: Heavy Downmoor

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Sorry for the delay, inbox explosions

no worries im kind of all over the place myself rn

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