Emporio's March Catch All - Quests + OTA

[seacub]

Who: Emporio, his quest buddies, and More!
What: Questboard Catch-All! + Bonus Prompt for Visits
When: Early March + Month-long Wildcard
Where: The Forest, and the Town
Warnings: Will be added as needed

[[OOC - The quests are in a psuedo-chronological order, but I've left the official timing vague to keep things open. As it stands, while Quest prompts presumably happen earlier in the month, the open prompt could be at any point in time.]]

[RESCUE SMOOCHUM]

[It starts, in part, with an agreement. Being in Lum, Emporio and the Ring Spirit naturally have an advantage in accessing the quest board, though not near as much as others higher up the chain. It's access enough though, and so the agreement comes into play; the Ring Spirit has finished reading up enough that he feels ready to tackle some kind of mission. Not just berry gathering either, a proper quest, with possible reward.

And so, they get to the quest board, look at what's left and... ...well it ended up being that there were actually rescues remaining. Only one would really work for his typing, but it's sure a rescue.

So the assignment was taken, a few others contacted via pearl and-]

Okay. From what we know, Smoochum went somewhere in...this direction of the woods.

...Apparently though, that's about all we have. [Thanks Onix.] So our best bet is unfortunately going the same way and hoping we find something.

[But that said, given who is in this group... ...He looks to Akechi.] I don't know if we should go too far away from each other, but if you're alright with flying now, it might be a good idea to fly a little ahead and above us to get a better view.

[And then, Ingo-] Do you think that fire you used last time might help us signal someone lost, as we go?

[A bright beacon seems easier for a scared pokemon to spot, than nothing at all!]

[MISSING?]

Huh?

[That's a little weird, Emporio thinks when he goes to the quest board a little after a successful rescue.] ...Wasn't this one already taken?

[He could have sworn that he saw someone take hold of this particular quest poster. Actually, he feels like he's seen it twice now but that can't be right.

Still- this time, he opts to take it, what with the sheer oddity of it all catching the Ring Spirit's attention as well. Of course, while the two of them are plenty clever, they should probably get help from one other...

...Which naturally, is how Emmet is recruited early into the investigation. It'll be a good test of that nose, right?]

Okay. Phantump is fairly small, and ghost-grass type- they look a little like a tree apparently, or...I guess more like if a piece of a tree had a little ghost in it, with glowing eyes?

[Emporio, helpfully, has a little note taking slate now, and has been using it to keep track of things. He's been doing his best, and coordinating with these pearls seems to be helping with that a lot.] I managed to find someone who thinks they saw them, what about you guys?

[BUSY BEERIES]

[After all of that, Emporio could use a wind-down. There's always a need for berries and sticks. The woods are nice and (relatively) dry, and supposedly walking in woods is relaxing.

So, berry gathering.

The cubone breathes out, helmet on his back.

All he needs to do, is Not think about that phantump!

...yep. Just gotta focus on berries.]

How are you guys doing?

[JUST ON THE BERRIES.]

[WILDCARD - LUM ROOMS]

[Being in Lum has its perks, and one of them is that technically speaking, one could argue that Emporio has his own address. At the very least, he definitely has his own door, which people can knock on and visit him at near the edge of the town.

Of course, that can go one of two ways- if they're smaller than four foot, he can let them into his relatively small (but certainly cozy) abode. Otherwise, he's going to just have to come outside and go somewhere else to do...whatever it is his visitors are here for.

But on that note- what IS he getting visitors for?]

Comments

BUSY BEERIES

[bladeofnymeia]

[A Cubone without its helmet is supposed to...not be a thing. Firoza doesn't know that - she's just kind of confused at why Emporio chooses to wear his like a backpack. It's got to be heavy. It's bone, isn't it? Looks like bone.

She hums in response to his question.] Well so far. I have a project in...the beginning stages. [A pause as she considers how to elaborate.] I want to make satchels for everyone. I can sew, normally. So, if I practice, I should be able to sew even as I am now. And once I can do so, satchels should be easy to make, so long as I can get the materials. But, that's thinking a bit further ahead.

How are you doing?

[ :) ]

[favorforafavor]

[Oh, so this is a bigger question-- "how's life" rather than "how are you doing presently on the berry mission that we're on together picking berries in the berry patch". Dark Heart, meanwhile, is trying to see this through because that's the person he's become, as it happens. The Nickit pokes his head out of a nearby bush.]

The mission, mostly. [He shakes off his leg, the twigs and leaves clinging to it.] Or are these not the berries we're after?

[seacub]

Uh...

[He was, in fact, asking about the berries. How awkward!

He's nicer than Dark Heart in this situation though, so he just nods.] That's good to hear. Uh. These definitely look like the berries marked as edible in anything I've read so far, so we're doing well on that front.

[Hold on while he comes up with a clever way to hold his helmet.] I was going to store some using this actually. Should let us bring back more than anticipated at least.

[bladeofnymeia]

Oh! How clever.

[Let's go take a look at those definitely edible berries.]

If we twist them carefully, they should come cleanly off of their stems without tearing them...

[It would kind of be rude to bring partially-destroyed and closer to spoiling berries back in Emporio's little bone helmet, which he may or may not wear later.]

[favorforafavor]

[Looking down at the skull being extended to them, a grin curls across Dark Heart's face, somewhere between awe and "holy shit what the fuck". That's nuts!

So he doesn't seem too mean-spirited when he asks;]

Isn't it better to get more of them? Someone or another will get to them quick enough.

[seacub]

I think so, at least!

[Why thank you Dark Heart, it is nuts, and super rad-] I'll have to cover the eye holes with my hands, but it's the easiest way to carry it anyway.

[Though, they should probably fill whatever the other two are using first, so that he can help them to actually...do that.]

[bladeofnymeia]

[Firoza's probably got like, a basket. Which was very nice and thoughtful to whoever gave it to her! But oh gods there's no easy way to carry this but in her mouth by the handle.

All the more reason to regain her skills and make some bags.]

Then, maybe we ought to fill it last? So we can all pick berries together.

[favorforafavor]

[Meanwhile like a thief in the night, Dark Heart is just tugging around a fabric bag and tossing berries into it. Time for a game of disappearing bearsrries.]

Why not? It's all going the same way at the end of the day, right?

[He plucks a berry rather hastily, which might raise Firoza's hackles a bit. But it's fiiiine it's all pretty much in tact. The berries aren't rotting on the vine and falling apart as he snaps them loose. No big deal!]

[seacub]

Right, that's probably a good idea.

We just need to make sure we get all of the berry...

[He says, inspecting one oddly.] ...It's really weird to see things like bananas just. In a bush like this...

MISSING?

[outbounds]

They keep getting lost, it sounds like... [ says Emmet, dropping back in from... wherever he was a moment ago. information gathering in town, obviously, but. ] Or. Well. Someone said something about hearing them say something about "doing it all over". Whatever that means. Didn't see where they went, though.

[ which is why his ears are held carefully neutral, even pitched a little forward, his overall posture one of alertness. ]

I know what Phantump look like. Scent— work in progress. Firepaw has been keeping track of the general trends for each type, but! Variance in different species. You know.

If it's the forest they went into, though, then it might not be that easy to track depending on how deep. You know how it was when we went.

[ so hopefully they just got lost in town or along the coast somewhere? ]

(Grumpearl > Emporio, Emmet)

[improvking]

[ The Ring-Spirit is tardy in returning to their designated regrouping spot - in fact, just before the other two get too restless, he checks in via grumpearl. ]

I found a few different shopkeepers who thought they saw Phantump - they were pretty widely spaced out, but it seemed like Phantump was heading in a specific direction... not wandering, but moving with purpose. I plotted my best guess at the sighting's locations around the city...

[ The pearl sends the image of a very rough sketch of the city drawn in the dirt, with a few X's marking out a vague line... and then the image of a Mimikyu using his stick-tail to indicate a particular juncture on the sketch near one of the last X's. ]

Can you two meet me here?

[ The request is followed by a psychic look around one of the smaller crossroads in town, from nearby a little cafe and a sweet shop.

The Ring-Spirit includes his best guess at the actual address, but warns he's still figuring out how they mark the road names here. (Apparently it's not fully standardized.) ]

Following the sightings took me far enough away from where we were supposed to regroup that I figured it'd be faster to just wait here than for me to go all the way there and come all the way back again.

Getting close to the outskirts.

[seacub]

D...Doing it over huh...

[hey he hates that-

But in any case, the boy does nod. Scent is a work in progress, but they have a general idea...

And oh, the pearl is going off.] Huh?

[Ring Spirit...why...] Uhhh...if you've got a lead I guess we don't have much choice..?

[He looks to Emmet. Help?? You know precisely how fast he is and that is Not Very-]

[outbounds]

Yup. [ Honestly, Emmet doesn't much like it either (why does this specific request keep reappearing, he could've sworn he's heard some of the other Oran guild members talk about finding Phantump already), but it doesn't show on account of the smile he's still wearing even after the Ring Spirit's check in. He sends back a wordless affirmative, but it takes a little bit of effort not to snicker when Emporio looks to him. ]

Need a ride? Fine, fine! Now boarding for a rendezvous. Destination: cafe on the other side of town.

[ Somewhere getting close to the outskirts... ]

I am pretty sure I can't take you with me if I go through the shadows. Too tangible. If I want to have any real speed, I cannot hold you. [ His gait on two legs is less heavy than it was, but four is still the way to go for now if he wants to be quick; Emmet drops down to all fours, adjusting his center of gravity, and crouches low to let the Cubone climb up. ] You will just have to make sure to hang on tight, okay? Please keep your hands and feet within the ride while he is in motion.

[ Unovan Zoroark are known to carry Zorua around in their manes. Emporio's no Zorua, but guess he might as well be living up to that anyway. Anyway, presumably once Emporio's gotten situated, it's time to nyoom off in the direction marked on the map. Finer navigation can wait until they're closer to that particular crossroad. ]

[improvking]

[ The Ring-Spirit waits at their destination, keeping himself occupied by pondering his dirt map. If the others take any amount of time in finding him, he's expanded the map somewhat.

He's keeping half an eye out for his companions' arrival though. ]

[seacub]

Y-yes please...

I don't mind piggy back, so that's fine. One second-

[He's clambering right up there, and clearly Emporio's well versed in the art of hanging along for the ride, even if it's not quite the same as this. It takes a bit of clambering, but he's soon gripping tight and poking his head out of a mane.]

Mnh- Okay! Let's go!

[Just about there Ring Spirit, one moment-]

[outbounds]

[ Zoom they go through the cobblestone paths of the city; the fact that the Ring Spirit's communique included a picture drawn in the dirt is already clue enough of how close to the edges of the town he is, considering it's only the outskirts that have dirt paths as compared to paved roads. Emmet's gotten better at this since he first arrived (and ended tripping over himself at least a few times), but though he would like to try to push himself to see just how fast he can go he'll hold back a bit to keep the ride a little more comfortable or manageable for Emporio.

Anyway, let's see, the buildings and storefronts fly by, let's head in the right direction... there we go, the cobblestone's starting to give way to dirt paths, let's slow down to get a better look around and see if they can spot the cafe pointed out earlier by the Mimikyu.

A-ha— ]

You were right. That was pretty far from our intended station. Made for a fun run, though!

But you, you have been quite busy, haven't you? Did the shopkeepers have anything else to say while you were waiting?

[improvking]

[ The Mimikyu straightens somewhat as his companions approach, bringing himself to back to attention. ]

Well, the cafe owner complained about me making a mess of the road, but nothing useful. Neither shopkeep could remember having seen Phantump at any point either... or at least wouldn't admit to it.

At last sighting, Phantump was headed in this direction, but I haven't determined which path they took from here.

[ And this is a crossroads after all! ]

RESCUE SMOOCHUM

[offtracks]

I can! Though it may be best for Smoochum to remain where they are, rather than attempting to come to us!

[He can use the fire to help navigate, though, and also just. Yell really loud. He's pretty decent at finding people by yelling really loud.]

I can also try tracking them via scent...though I have never smelled a Smoochum before, or even an ice-type. Psychics, I imagine, do not have a particular smell to them? [Ice seems like it should smell like snow, though.]

[improvking]

I'll keep an eye out for footprints. If Akechi's going to be flying, I think that leaves me the closest to the ground among us.

[ "Somewhere in this general region of the forest", hm? Very specific, super helpful. ]

I'm not very experienced in navigating woodlands...

[truthdecided]

[Akechi nods. It's a solid enough plan, and his flight does put him in an advantageous position for scouting.]

We'll need to ensure that we don't lose track of each other, even if we do have a starting direction.

[He takes a few steps forward, peering up at the treetops.]

I could fly low enough that you can follow along, unless you'd rather I leave first and return once I've found proper clues.

[seacub]

[As long as they have some way to signal, that's good enough for Emporio. The boy nods, and looks to the woods then.] Got it- if it's something that smells different from the rest of the woods at least, that'll be a start. Smoochum did come from the town...

[But, hey, chin up Ring Spirit.] I'm just about as close, so we won't be looking with just one set of eyes at that level at least...

[Ahem, as it is.] I think if you stay in enough range that Ingo can smell where you are, that should work? If you stay too low, I don't think you'd be able to get that 'birds-eye' perspective after all...

[Though the trees may well make that an issue in itself. Hm.]

I guess do your best...

[offtracks]

Stay within shouting range, and I am sure it will be alright!

[That's what he and Gliscor often do. "Shouting range" for Ingo is rather larger than a lot of people, but no matter!

As they set off, he walks with his head lowered to the ground, trusting Akechi and the others to keep an eye on their surroundings. Following a scent trail is still a little strange. It really draws his focus to how much his senses have changed since taking on this form. Now, he can tell that a number of various Pokemon have passed through here recently: some that he can recognize, many he does not.]

There are many scents this close to town...I think we shall have to walk a little and let them become less confused.

[improvking]

[ As they walk, the Ring-Spirit tries to split his attention between staying aware of their surroundings and keeping an eye out for useful footprints. So far nothing's stood out to him either. ]

Mn, sounds good... [ Next he calls up to Akechi: ] You seeing anything yet?

[truthdecided]

[It takes a moment for Akechi to respond, as he works his way higher into the treetops. At a glance, there's nothing out of the ordinary. Just footprints of passing Pokémon here and there, the occasional nest from fellow flying types, and yet...

There's a sound, however faint. Interesting...

Hopping down from a branch, he descends enough to return to earshot.]

I hear some squabbling in the distance! It may be unrelated, but we'll want to remain diligent.

[Given past experience, it could turn hostile.]

[seacub]

Got it, [he determines, doing his best to keep his eyes open in the meantime. They're bound to catch something after a point, at least- Smoochum is supposed to be a bright pink color right? That has to stand out.

And yet instead of sight, Akechi is soon reporting back with news on the sound.] Squabbling?

[The helmet that he's already pulled on is given a slight tug, as if to make sure it's still in place.] ...We'd better check somehow just in case then...

[Hmmm.]

I can be pretty quiet, but I'm not sure how well I can hide my smell right now...