Deino what Lurks

[Micah]

"The item we seek is a necklace. Any person or pokemon who wears it is surrounded by an aura of warmth and positive attitude. In addition, it makes any fire attacks that the wearer uses incredibly potent, able to strike and burn anything at all. Fire attacks launched from the wearer should be able to seriously damage and potentially even destroy the spirit of the tower."
Turning to Enzuna, "Representatives of every dragon type pokemon live on the Isle of dragons. They are generally solatary creatures, so it is likely we will only encounter a few, but it will likely benefit everyone involved if you both form a bond with one of the dragons we do encounter."

[Blank05]

"Hmm... A Dragon Pokémon? Not my usual company, but we could use a new friend, I suppose." Zashi looks to the Old Man, "Do you have any idea as to where the necklace is, on the Isle of Dragons?"

[anonyman]

"As far as I know, neither me nor Zashi are capable of using fire. Draconic Aura is one thing, but I don't know if I am able to alter my elemental alignment.
I have been searching to bond with at least one, and if possible more. But dragons are proud and wise, so I will avoid the more direct methods of capture, and attempt to commune with them when we arrive."

[Micah]

"The elder dragons keep it locked in a vault. It will likely only be a matter of asking about it. We may have to convince them of the rightness of our cause and the purity of our hearts as well. There may be mysterious trials to prove ones courage. The dragon elders can be a bit traditional about things like that. And as far as fire attacks, that is why I believe you must find a dragon companion, preferably one of which can learn fire moves. The dragon fire amulet works especially well when the fire actually comes from a dragon."

[Blank05]

"Alright, so a dragon that breathes fire. Based on the legends I've heard, that shouldn't be too difficult." Zashi rummages through his pockets and pulls out his Visadex and tries to do some research to pass the time.

[anonyman]

Enzuna nods and sits back. A dragon that breathes fire...Shouldn't be too hard to find one at least. Convincing it will be the real trick.
And not dying by a trial of courage. That too.

Enzuna goes into mediation to pass the rest of the trip, focusing his connection with the Aura. He'd need it soon...

[Micah]

All in all the journey takes about twenty hours by boat. You arrive at about midnight. In all that time, the old man has neither slept, eaten, drank or relieved himself, though the captain of your tiny vessel has done all four. He shares his food with the two of you as well. With the journey over, the captain says, "I'm going to be exploring the coast of the island. I will check back here at this time every day. Meet me here whenever you are ready to return to the mainland. With that, the man pushes off and starts rowing away.
The island itself looks tropical. Their are palm trees growing on the beach and you can see a volcano rising up from the center of the island.
"We may wish to camp on the beach tonight. Our goal is the top of the volcano, and it is better to be rested when meeting the elder dragons."

[Blank05]

Zashi let's out his Pokémon to share the work load of setting up camp. Also, to better acquaint himself and his team to their new recruit, Yūrei. Hensō changes into Mina(Cubone) and heads off with the other POkemon to gather some wood and other materials for the campsite. After setting up camp, Zashi and the other Pokemon will ritualize Yūrei into the group with an hour of training before sleep.

Survival- 16383425812d6+2
Perception- 2d6+1

Training
1st 1/2 hour- 5xp
2nd 1/2 hour- 2xp

[anonyman]

Enzuna searches the area for a good place to set up camp and then sends out Onix.

"Alright big guy, get us some good defenses."

The large snake takes no time at all as it rumbles through the ground, altering the dirt to make a ring of rocks surrounding the camp, with an opening facing the beach.

<I'll have Onix use his Groundshaper to 'fortify' the camp (or at least make it slow down anything that wants to come in>

The Aura Guardian then sets off to explore the surrounding area and get a feel for what might live nearby.


5446776883d6+2Perception
2d6-2Survival
2d6+2Pokemon EDU

[Micah]

The two of you and your pokemon set up camp, the onix gets it secured and Zashi gets some training done. Meanwhile, Enzuna wanders the surrounding area. He finds tracks and markings indicating that many young dragon types likely live in these parts, Dratini, Bagon, Deino, Gible, Axew and the like. Other than some Horsea that you spot swimming off the coast however, you don't spot a single one of these pokemon. It is though they have all left at once, not long ago. Troubled by this news, you speak of it to Zashi and the old man. "It is a custom of the dragon elders to forbid contact with visitors that have not passed the trials. If you are diligent it is still possible to find some, for the children of dragons are no more prone to obedience than any other child, but most of them are far away right now." Unless there is something else you guys wanted to do that night, you all sleep fairly well, your dreams filled with ghosts and dragons. You wake in the morning and break camp. All of you trek along a small thin path for several miles. The trees become thicker and it becomes more and more difficult to see the mountain that is your destination. Eventually you come across a break in the endless path. There is a stone archway, with large wooden doors, shut and locked. "The trials begin here lads. The first few parts are sort of psychological tests. I do believe there is a question written on the door." Indeed there is. Inscribed in the enormous doors is what you can only assume is the same question written in over a hundred different languages. After a quick search you find it written in both the language of your homeland, and in Kanto. The question in question is this, "From what does a warrior draw there strength?" Below that is a second question. "From what does a poet draw his songs?" and finally "From what does a healer draw there cures?"

[Blank05]

Zashi reads the inscription over and over again in his head. He thinks he's come upon the answer and says it as a question.

Spoilered for Enzuna, just in case.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Answer}
"From one's Inner Fire? Their Spirit?"

((By the way, I'm not the best at riddles, if this is one, so... yeah lol.))

[anonyman]

Enzuna briefly wonders what response he would get if he answered 'proper spelling', but such comments were rarely received well back home at the dojo either, so he bites his tongue.

"Is it their past?"

[Micah]

#I assume you refer to the incorrect use of their vs there? Sorry if my grammar is every annoying. I usually know the correct one if I am thinking about it, but when I am writing I don't even think about the fact that there is more than one way to spell words and just go with the first one that comes to mind.

You both speak your answers and the gate opens. As it does so, the old man speaks up. "The dragon elder's are all about judging the worth of your character and what have you. Most of the early questions are used to figure out what you find important and what you believe about the world and such. You can cheat your responses a bit, but in my experience it is usually a good idea to be honest with dragons."

#OK, there are five more gates like this that just ask questions and are going to open up pretty much regardless of what you say, unless it is really non-heroic or selfish. I'm just going to describe all the questions instead of posting them one by one.

Gate 2: What is the most important skill for a soldier? For a warrior? For a general?

Gate 3: Who is more important, your child, your spouce, your parent or your friend?

Gate 4: What is the noblest goal?

When you get to gate five, the old man comments, "I'm not really sure what is up with this gate. It feels like they just got tired of their cryptic nonsense for a bit. But they jump back to it for the last question so I am not really sure."
Gate 5: If you could take three things with you to a deserted island, what would they be?

Gate 6: Open this gate.

[Blank05]

At each door, Zashi gives eac question ample thought before answering

#2 "Defense"

#3 "A child

#4 "To create harmony"

#5 "My weapon, my knowledge, and Minashigo, my Cubone and first friend."

[anonyman]

<I was just teasing Such things don't bother me
I just thought it funny imagining Rayquaza with a chisel thinking to himself "Is it Their or there? Urgh, my English is so rusty compared to the other thousand languages" before hammering it in and then saying 'fuck it, good enough'.>

Gate 2) Honor. A soldier without honor is a mercenary, a warrior without honor a thug, and a general without honor a tyrant.
Gate 3) A child. A spouse or friend is your equal, a parent your superior. A child however must be held up, as your legacy.
Gate 4) The noblest goal is to keep the balance of the world, for only if the world grows together can the world grow at all.
Gate 5) Nothing. For a warrior to train in isolation he must leave all behind to find true strength.


Spreading the teachings of his home and his own beliefs, Enzuna opens the final gate.