Paved Roads Quest Catch-all! | OTA

[dripdrive]

Who: Emporio, You and maybe even some asshole ostrich (Anasui)
What: Paved Roads quest
When: Throughout May
Where: The city streets further towards the forest.
Warnings: Anasui being Anasui.

For a while, Heliolisk has been in charge of expanding the city streets further towards the forest, making transport of goods and services easier and overall expanding Bottlecap Bay. The project had been slow going but progressing well until about two months ago, when Heliolisk noticed that some of the streets have somehow diminished in length. The reason why remains unknown. Perhaps it was a quirk of the forest that the guilds didn't understand - 'Maybe the forest doesn't want to be expanded into?' - but that didn't explain why some of the roads closer to town were also disassembled, making patches in the road. Many other Pokemon also pointed out there are a number of cobblestone towers alongside the path wherever these patches are, obviously sourced from the road itself!

The mystery of why the roads are shortening is largely left to speculation in favour of actually solving the problem. Hence why the quest has appeared on the quest board again, this time from Polteageist: they need reliable Pokemon to help clear the roads of debris, flatten the dirt where it needs to be flattened and place the cobblestone back.

There are many roads to be fixed and you'll likely find Pokemon already there, regardless if you're doing a patch job or going all the way to the forest's edge to re-expand the paths. One of those Pokemon is a large Espathra, who only casts a half-glance at you before going back to what he was doing. He seems to be placing cobblestone in a very particular way...

...and according to the Cubone rounding up as many as possible for the job, that's entirely typical. He can't be sure if it's something he specifically did in their own world, mind you, but he's pretty sure he would have if possible. Emporio notably seems more concerned with just gathering stones to be available for Anasui to place. Perhaps it's a strength thing. Perhaps not? He's absolutely doing his part, but occasionally he'll watch someone else putting their stones down and then glance in Anasui's direction before wincing. As if he knows something.

And maybe he does, because after a good bit of work with their own team, Emporio will jump.

"...Anasui's gone!"

...It's probably fine, right? Best to just focus on your own work.

Although... if you are placing cobblestone down, you may notice Anasui behind you, pulling up the stones you JUST placed and swapping their places. What is up with that???

[[OOC - To account for how many are involved in Anasui and Emporio's team for Paved Roads, and the fact that the Mods saw fit to refer to him in the quest response over all, this is a thread-jack friendly open log! Specify if you want Anasui or Emporio most of all, but otherwise, there's no holds barred here. That said, if you do not want threadjacks, please note this in your tag in. That way it doesn't get too unwieldy for you.]]

Comments

[seacub]

The hammers? Those aren't really a problem actually... The piano had been a grand, and the hammers are actually pretty closely connected to where the keys are located. After that, there's a few framing pieces over and around the strings...so, it's actually not too bad from there!

...Plus, ghost objects can't be altered. Anything that damages them or removes components is reversed in moments.

[outbounds]

... But you just said he took the piano apart.

[ How fast did he disassemble the piano, Emporio. Did he do that without even knowing its structure beforehand. ]

[seacub]

Uhuh.

He kept at it until he was fast enough to actually succeed for a bit too.

The determination is why Weather had to get him to put it back together and knock it off so we could sleep...

[This is how Polteageist can still win!!!]

[outbounds]

... That. Is actually kind of impressive. How fast is 'moments'?

[ He was going to suggest a Rubik's cube, but since it specifically seems to be taking things apart that won't really help ... ]

But also. Is there a way for us to tell him to take apart something that isn't the roads right now.

so apparently polteageist gave him an origami fidget toy and im losing it

[seacub]

It depends- it can range from a few minutes to a full hour, in the Piano's case...but given the complexities of a grand piano, it was still really astounding!

[ah right the roads] R-Right...

...well, at least in this case I think it's more about his dedication to making sure the road is 'perfect'...b...but, um...

...We're working on it? ...there's not really a lot here that he can reasonably take apart...

so what you're saying is here's how the rubik's cube can still win--

[outbounds]

... I am Emmet. I understand wanting to do a good job. Yup! If something is worth doing, then it is worth doing well.

But also. We are not exactly professional bricklayers or pavers.

[ there is only so much that can be expected from an entirely volunteer squad of novice and amateur Pokemon with little to no prior experience, probably, doing their bests? ]

begging emmet to actually suggest that to anasuis face omgggg

[seacub]

Nope.

[Ah.]

Technically, neither is Anasui, but he's definitely particular.

sure, and then they'll have to figure out where to get one. hey where are the woodcarvers in town-

[outbounds]

Technically? [ Is there some technicality where he would qualify? ] Wait, never mind that.

What is it that is wrong with the roads right now? Is it alignment, size, fit, uniformity?

[ At least some of those he can help control for when he's hauling things out from the Spire's supply rooms... Though maybe that won't really help considering the human—well, Pokemon—element of actually paving the roads. ]

somewhere, a bidoof shudders

[seacub]

Mmmmm...

Well, for the roads we're making...it's probably something about the stone placement. Either just the 'wrong stones' or the way they're put in.

I've tried to cope by just focusing on prepping the road so he can put the stones down, haha...

hop to it, beaver boy

[outbounds]

Huh. Have you learned any ground moves to help with that yet? Or are you doing it all manually?

we did it gang, a way to lead into secret power-

[seacub]

[Ah. Aha.]

S...still nothing on that end...

It feels more like I'm getting every type but ground...

[Which no doubt seems Very Odd given the cubone thing.]

the realization hitting me last night like a steel chair to the head

[outbounds]

Every type but...? [ That is odd, he's pretty sure the Cubone movepool is not that diverse. ] But Hidden Power does not change type, and I have not seen evidence of the Terastal phenomenon here... Fling takes on different types depending on what you throw. But you do not sound like you are talking about that.

Explain. Elaborate, if you will!

Just like WE DID ITTTT

[seacub]

Huh?

It does?

[Fling does that?? He can have elemental baseboll??

(Not really, but it can have some wild effects at least.)

Emporio blinks though, and stands away from his work to explain.] Well...so far, no one's felt like the move is a different type.

It just looks it. Like...when I was helping for a quest in the woods, I ended up charging someone with green needles. But then, when I was training with Laios, it looked more like I threw lightning at him...

secret power no longer so secret.......................

[outbounds]

Well, it does not change type exactly. But it does take on certain properties usually attributed to them. Mainly because the items thrown usually already have those properties, but.

[ Fling, that is. Throw the Flame Orb and King's Rock, Emporio. You know you want to. You know you want 100% flinch or burn chance.

You also definitely want to throw a DVD and have it somehow hit as hard as a fire type blasting an opponent at full power. But anyway, something in Emmet does perk up to metaphorically stand at attention when Emporio describes the move. ]

Hm? Are you saying that it feels like you are only using one move?

[ The Zoroark cocks his head. ]

Where were you when you were training with Laios?

AFTER ALL THESE YEARS.... ....WEEKS,

[seacub]

So I should look into what I can throw...

[He's become unstoppable...]

Mnnh...I don't know if I'd say it feels that way for me, but it at least does for everyone else. ....other than the occasional side effect I guess..

[As he mutters that bit, Emporio's attention registers to the question Emmet asked.] Oh. Uh...just in town. We'd hoped that by building as much electricity related stuff as possible, we could both test my immunity, and trigger a ground type move. They set up an electric terrain and everything.

it's been 3000 years i mean what

[outbounds]

[ Right. The electric immunity. The one that Emporio should definitely have, so what about those Lichtenberg figures, huh.

Anyway. ]

Guess I can't ask if it paralyzed him. Electric types can't be. But okay. What you are describing sounds more like Secret Power rather than Nature Power. ... Didn't realize Cubone got that, actually! [ Well, Nature Power was unlikely too, given that mostly it's the more ... nature-y Pokemon that tend to be able to access it, but. ] Maybe it was a TM somewhere in another region ...

You are correct, by the way. Always Normal type. Doesn't matter what it looks like. Changes appearance and side effects based on terrain.

hfgjklhgjkdfhg

[seacub]

[wow emmet you can't just ask why a ground type has lichtenberg figures godddddd]

Mnh...no, he definitely can't, so-

[And now he's distracted entirely by having an answer, thanks-] You... You actually recognize the move? It's actually all one move!?

...I guess that explains why I could never hit the Ghost Pokemon with it though...

[outbounds]

[ That's why he isn't asking???? give him some credit!!! but guess they'll very much put the 'fidget/stim toy for anasui' plans elsewhere for now. ]

Hm? Yes? It is all one move. There are moves with even more variance if you'll believe it. You have not yet seen Assist, Mirror Move, or Metronome, have you? [ This isn't even an exhaustive list, even including the things he's already mentioned, especially if he starts going into things like Mimic or Copycat. ] Moves that look like different things. Moves that can be different things. Yup. Still just the one move!

The one move that. As far as I know, only Audino learn via experience in battle? [ There's a brief moment where the edges of his mane and collar soften and blur, some of the wisps of his fur curling down from his ears for a breath or two as if to suggest the shape of softly furled tendrils, but only briefly. ] Almost a signature move but not quite. Other species can get it via cross breeding ... and like I said. Maybe they made a TM for it in other regions?

[ He cocks his head again, curious as he unloads a few more paving stones. ]

For you ... maybe the closest equivalent would be an Egg Move? Is this something you had to learn? Or did it feel natural when you got here?

[seacub]

I...don't think so..?

[The idea of a move that does even more, is honestly a little dizzying. At least he has answers, but all the same, this is very confusing.

...Perhaps more so when, uh...] ...Was that...almost shapeshifting? [He can't help but ask, only to shake it off.]

Other than 'Tail Whip', it's the first thing that comes whenever I actually attack. I didn't learn 'Headbutt' until after.

[outbounds]

Hm? Oh. Sort of, probably. The fur there— more ghostly, less anchored. Can sometimes react even if I don't have intent. Do you want to see what Audino look like?

[ Or at least some approximation of one, if they don't have any working in the clinic? ... do they have Audino at the clinic? ]

Because that sounds a lot like an Egg Move, yep. Or whatever is closest when we did not actually hatch here.

[seacub]

If you can? I don't think I've heard about or seen one at least...

[Maybe they've been passing ships. For multiple months.

Yeah.]

Hmn. I...yeah.

If it's meant to be like...a special ability then I guess it could make sense for some, but I don't remember being able to do anything like...that.

[Shame no one here likely knows about the Secret Base establishing feature.]

[outbounds]

[ Not without some maniac in an explorer's outfit inventing it to be used only on verrrry specific spots in the wilderness to create semi-permanent living spaces instead of setting up camp the normal way, anyway. This is probably not happening in PMD. ]

The mystery of your Secret Power ... well. If it is like an Egg Move, it is probably something to do with what makes you you. Even if it is not obvious right now.

But! Audino. Mostly going from memory, so might not be 100%. Still, okay. Let's see.

[ Not here, not him. He hasn't yet done an illusion while this relatively relaxed, but let's see. A nonexistent wind sets his collar and mane to billowing, unnaturally and eerily, briefly shrouding the Zoroark from sight as his form also goes hazy and indistinct. It redistributes itself; a smaller shape, softer edges, kinder eyes, gentle paws, lighter smile. Two-colored ears, dusty red and pale cream, sensitive tendrils curling down from them in soft loops. A faux scalloped 'coat', almost, made by sections of fur that grow longer and in a different color than the rest. The tail ... he doesn't have to do too much there, right? It's white and puffy, not unlike how his own mane tends to be...

Something like that, anyway. What opens its (still gold) eyes and blinks gently back at Emporio isn't a perfect recreation of an Audino, but most of the right things are in the right places, if with some quirks in color and overall appearance (for one, the faux coat is less patterning and more almost actual coat for how much longer the fur comprising it is... not quite Mega Audino in appearance, but approaching it). ]

Like this. Sort of. Verrrrry sensitive feelers. They very often work in clinics and Pokémon Centers, where I come from.

[ Also when he comes from, presumably. ]

[seacub]

Hmnnhnn....

[That's going to feel so weird until someone points out how astoundingly easy it is that he found some kind of clearing or whatever.

But, it's time to watch some shapeshifting. Very soon, he doesn't have to crane his head up so much to talk to Emmet! How refreshing.]

Oh wow!!

...They look like they'd suit the role really well. At the very least, I don't think too many would refuse treatment if that was their doctor...

[Who can say no to that face? WHO CAN SAY NO!

Emporio is going to have strange ideas on what Audino look like.]

[outbounds]

Yup! They are typically kind Pokemon. And they are verrrrry in tune with and aware of their environment. Said to be like radar! And for more precision...

[ He'll raise a paw to 'unfurl' one of the curled feelers somewhat, holding up the end of it in said paw. ]

These can be used something like stethoscopes. Can apparently discern how someone is feeling or when an egg might hatch by listening through them. I do not know exactly how to replicate the underlying structures that would cause them to be so sensitive, so I do not really benefit the same way even if I take this shape. Cosmetic remodel only for me.

But it is fine. Means I won't be extra, extra sensitive to loud noises either.

[seacub]

Oh wow. I can see why they'd keep those curled up then if they're that sensitive...

[He pauses at that though, thinking about other options.] ...Does that mean you probably...could copy features like that completely?

...Like with Water Pokemon?