[PKMN FULL] Pressure [M]

Descend into a world unknown! Beneath the surface of the sea is a vast depth of unexpected places and unseen creatures. There are rumors of strange aquatic topography and legends of benevolent leviathans. Though the technology available to us will not carry us into the deepest of trenches, we have an excellent idea of where to look.

Located deep beneath the Islands of Hoenn lies an incredibly extensive cave system that we have mapped out with powerful sonar technology; using this technology we also believe we have located an entrance. In exactly three months our top oceanic geographer will be heading an expedition to this cavern, but she can't do it alone. We are calling upon individuals with a sense of adventure to accompany Dr. Steinbeck. Participants will be reimbursed for their time financially and credited for any discoveries they make. With these benefits, who wouldn't feel the call of the sea?

OEL is not responsible for the injury, death, or disappearance of any participants.

OEL is an organization dedicated to the exploration of the world's seas. With its base in Hoenn their primary focus is the great expanse of ocean to the east of the continent. The thirst for knowledge is their driving force with little attention paid to glory or publicity. As a result they are not well known. They try to avoid dealing with the public because of the complications, but this expedition cannot be completed without the fresh input and labor from outside individuals.

The danger of this expedition is well known among the scientists involved. Who would dare place themselves in such a precarious situation, submerged thousands of feet below the ocean's surface in search of a cave system that may or may not be safe for humans to enter?

The quick and easy answer is Pokemon trainers. These individuals, the scientists realized, are often young and hungry for glory. They are an easily exploited group of people. Promising fame to those who are swayed by that sort of thing, discovery to those that share the OEL's desire for understanding, and money to those in need of it is sure to entice a reasonably sized group of individuals ready to take the plunge.

You are a trainer who has chosen to supply your services for your own reasons. You will board a submarine in Lilycove with Dr. Steinbeck alongside the rest of the recruits and travel down to the only known entrance to the cave system. The voyage will go as planned until the submarine is entirely surrounded by the rock tunnel that leads to the vestibule. A sudden, powerful current forces the submarine through the tunnel and propels it into a jagged rock formation, located just underneath a large cavern with a sizeable air pocket. The rocks hold it there, preventing its ascension to the surface. The hull is punctured and water pours in, destroying a large portion of the submersible's interior and forcing the survivors of the crash to escape and swim to the surface.

Located reasonably close to the surface is an underground beach, its sands undisturbed by human feet. Complete darkness prevents the survivors from navigating by sight. They blindly search for anything but the water and one by one, guided by the instruction of those who first find solid ground, they clamber onto the sand.

This is where your participation truly begins players. From here on you are in control. These natural catacombs are yours to explore. Do you focus on the mission given to you by OEL, or do you focus on your own survival? Will you work as a team, or wander off into the murky darkness on your own? Whatever you do, just remember that you tread in an unknown expanse, any knowledge of which has long since dissipated in the realms of history.

Good luck players. Try not to be engulfed by the Cimmerian Shade.
This RP was constructed with the intention of doing something different. By something different I mean something horrifying. Technically you could call this adventure/suspense, but please be well informed that it will involve elements meant to inflict fear. There will be gore, violence, and character death. For this reason I highly encourage players to submit two characters. One should be labelled as your primary. This is because character death will not always be at the discretion of the player. However, your primary character will be less likely to find themselves in such grave situations. Please be aware of this and prepare yourself accordingly. And, once again, note that if you are accepted you will be engaged in gore, violence, and other triggering material.

1) No godmodding. This is my most important rule.
2) No bunnying.
3) You are free to create NPCs, and encouraged! But don't touch NPCs that aren't yours or that you don't have permission to touch.
4) Don't assume that you have complete control over an event. You are allowed to make attempts to steer the direction of the event, but ultimately it will fall upon a GM to make the call on whether the attempt was successful or not. Therefore it is recommended to send these attempts to a GM before posting it. This rule will become increasingly important as the story goes on.
5) GM's word is law, but appeals may be made.
6) I know there's been an awful lot of "you've been warned!" but this is still for fun! So have fun or else. You've been warned.

Part One: Stranded

Hours had passed since the team had embarked from Lilycove. Dr. Steinbeck perched on the edge of her seat, peering through the portholes one by one. Darkness pressed against the thick glass, the same as it had for most of the trip. It was unclear what Dr. Steinbeck was looking for, or even if she was looking for anything in particular, but her eyes were alight with the sort of curiosity only a scientist could demonstrate. Ages passed like that, with the young man seated nearest her becoming increasingly irritated with her constant motion.

Then a flash of red. Dr. Steinbeck narrowed her eyes and leaned in closer to the porthole behind her, but blackness again surrounded her. Just as she convinced herself that she'd imagined it the submarine gave a hefty jolt. The passengers were kept in their seats by their safety restraints, but she got the worst feeling that this wasn't over.

"Excuse me," she said with a deceivingly bright smile. "I'm just going to check the navigation system."

She unfastened her belts and rose. Before she could take a single step more the sub lurched again. Eyes wide and smile faded, she made to sit back down and refasten her belts. Surely that was just a current. Of course, what else would have the strength to move such a large craft?

Current or not, the predicament wasn't over. Again they shook. This time, however, the abuse didn't stop. The submarine was propelled forward at an uncontrollable speed.

"Keep calm!" she squeaked, trying to control her nausea. "It's just a strong current! We must be close to the opening."

As if on cue, the deafening sound of metal against rock rattled her eardrums. She shut her eyes tightly and held onto her seat as she tried to ride it out. Finally, with enough force to tear through the thick hull, the sub was grounded on a bed of sharp rocks.

It seemed that it was finally over.

Just when Dr. Steinbeck moved to unfasten her safety restraints, water flooded into the sub through the breaches in the hull.

"Everyone evacuate!" she howled before the freezing cold water engulfed her. She gasped in shock at the temperature and promptly swallowed a mouthful of icy salt water. Eyes shut tightly against the sting, she fumbled with her restraints desperately.

John Vero was thinking of how he got where he was right now. He met up with his old friend Roger Balzary in Kalos when he told him of this exotic ocean voyage in Hoenn. He had never been to Hoenn, that intriguing region of water and trumpets. Johnny liked trumpets.

After the flight to Lillycove, they had had only one day to see any sights. They decided to battle some trainers and see their exotic Pokémon. Johnny had especially liked Grovyle. Humanoid body with sharp leaves to give it an edge. He smiled. He had always loved grass Pokémon.

Like Trent, he thought. Trent, a Torterra had been his first Pokémon. He probably wasn't the wisest choice to bring along, but Johnny wouldn't feel right without him. Good ol'....

CRASH! The pleasent thought was interupted by a decidedly unpleasant noise and sudden shock through John's body. His muscles tensed up as he fell and crashed his head right into the cold hard metal floor of the submarine. He managed to lift his weak hand to feel his forehead. Was he...bleeding?

It was at that moment he grabbed his ears. That noise had been loud. He was worried he'd blown his ear drums, but no. He could faintly hear a high squeaky tone. Is that a girl?

He didn't have time to decide whether the sound had come from a human, much less a girl, as then he got a face full of water. Anything resembling coherent thought in his head stopped as he tried to lift his head out of the freezing hellhole that would be his death. He managed to stand, but stumbled around before getting a decent footing, thanks in no small part to the blood in his eyes. He managed to wipe it from his eyes but they, along with his forehead, still burned. It was at this point he panicked.

"WHAAAAAAT?!?"

Oh why did it have to be now? Roger heard his stomach moan. He was hungry. Then, Roger was always hungry. His bulky physique was a dead giveaway. He put his hand over his stomach. Oh well, he thought. This trip was exciting, and a little thing like hunger wasn't going to ruin it for him.

He was going to make a name for himself. Me and Johnny, he thought, down in history. He had met Johnny in the Johto region. They bonded because they both idolized the legendary trainer Red.

I wonder what Red's doing now. Red was something of a hermit, living in the mountains. Either way, he'll hear about our triumph, Roger thought confidently. He'll love whatever Pokémon we-

CRASH! Roger's daydrean was brutally torn apart by the loudest thing he'd ever heard. His ears quaked, and for a brief moment his body shook. No, no, oh Arceus, no. He knew exactly what had happened. The sub had crashed-CRASH! And it did again, this time slowly filling with water.

Okay. Keep calm, Roger. He looked around at his fellow passengers. Some are friends, he thought, looking at Johnny. Others are allies. He looked at that professor. What was her name? Stein something or other? Quit stalling! He scolded himself. He sighed. Do it for them. Roger took a deep breath. Lives were on the line.

"Okay," he calmly, but rather loudly began, "does anyone know a way out?"