Split Thread PG14

[KaraC]

Split Thread PG14 - SU Closed

Split Thread
​

Background:
Time is often likened to a string with an infinite number of splits that represent the decisions we make every day. But no matter the number of braches, they all stem from a single string. The particular string we are examining stems from an egg. From this egg comes Arceus. From Arceus comes Dialga, Palkia, Azelf, Uxie and Mesprit. From Dialga and Palkia came Matter. From Azelf, Uxie and Mesprit came Spirit. Spirit shaped Matter and became Life. From Life came Giratina and the Mirror World to guard the delicate balance needed to maintain Life.
For a while, life was good within this string. That is until desire warped into greed. Everyone wanted what someone else had and were willing to take it by any means. Men saw the power the pokémon wielded and used dark magic to forge chains that would bring that power under their control.
Then there was war. Great masses of land became unfertile as the Spirit was stripped away to feed the voracious appetites of the dark magics. Three monks and their apprentices despaired at the destruction and created a temple, deep within a mountain. Here, they took measures to undo what was done. Using the very power that was destroying their world, the monks bound the powers of Dialga, Palkia and Giratina. Using it, they moved back to before desire became greed and made the first split in the thread. Had this split been a natural one, Arceus would be on both branches. But because the powers of Time, Space and Balance were bound by unnatural means, one branch of this split was left without Arceus and those who would come after him.
This split, and the world each branch contains. One is lush and green with pokemon of every size, shape and element. With the Legendary Pokémon to maintain balance, the people and pokémon are content.
The other is very different. Life came slowly to this world and when it did, there was little diversity. The people eke out a living on poor soil. Without legendary or element affiliated pokémon to effectively protect habitat, mass deforestation allowed floods to wash away rich topsoil, leaving land that barely supports even the hardiest of plants. The lack of trees, the coal burning electricity plants and the various metal ore refineries have not only created a greenhouse effect so severe some regions haven't seen snow for at least two generations, but also acid rain and waters polluted by runoff from uncaring factories.
Large cities, as places of congregation and trade were and still are dangerous, filled with backstabbing, thievery and the iron fist of a Lord. All the pokémon have no elemental affiliation. They are the Normal, Normal/Flying type, used as beasts of burden, livestock, trained for entertainment and even battled. But these battles are often to the death, a bloodsport.
The surface of this world is mostly cracked and sunbaked. The air and waters are polluted. The only trees are found in frozen or isolated areas. Weapons for common folk are less expensive and largely consist of arrows, spears, swords and slings. Guns and the like are sinfully expensive and can only be purchased by the Lords.
These 'Lords' make their own laws, ones that will benefit them alone. They control the flow and quality of weapons within their cities. The same is true of goods, food, money and pokémon. As such, enforcement of the laws are by the Lords men and the pokémon assigned to them.
The population of these cities with pokémon either train their pokémon to fight, steal, kidnap or be bodyguards for those likely to be kidnapped off the street or from their homes. Those without pokémon are fair game for those who profit from selling people, this slave trade makes good money.
Especially from brothels and the Lords.
The drug trade focusses more on pokémon body enhancement with human recreational being secondary.

Plot:
Explorers sometimes vanish when exploring a new area and the northern most tip of Sinnoh was no exception. North of Snowpoint City, it almost never stopped snowing. Some theorised it was the range of an articuno. Others yet suggested it was a breeding ground of Ice-type pokémon. From there, the ideas become more fantastic and less likely. You four trainers have been recommended by your respective sponsors to search the area the PokéGear of the last two trainers to vanish was last registered. Your camp has been set up in a cave for two reasons. One, as shelter from the everlasting blizzard outside. Two, because the transponder signals of the PokéGears were last received from this location.
The cave itself is suspiciously empty of life and goes very deep into the mountain. No zubat, no geodude, graveller or onix. Nothing. Interested in finding the cause of such a strange phenomena, the four of you take only your pokémon and supplies to explore with.
Curiosity has brought you into a hidden temple with large braziers in each corner, carved walls, ceiling and a sphere, marked like a globe, on a pedestal in the center. It is tinted by ominous black smoke that curls and caresses the various landmasses. The three walls are covered with carvings. The wall on the left, wars, weapons and destruction. The wall across from the entrance shows three humans in hooded robes holding chains that are binding Palkia, Dialga and Giratina. The wall on the right is a triangle. Giratina on top, Dialga on the lower left and Palkia on the lower right. In the center of the triangle is the earth. On the ceiling is the same as on the right, except there are two worlds; one inside the triangle and one outside. The outside world is carved directly above the globe and pedestal.
Without warning, a slab slams down and blocks the only exit. Black smoke spills from the sphere and surrounds each of you in a paralysing black cacoon. It dissipates moments later and the four of you are gone from this world.

All of you are now outside, but there's no snow. The sun is blazing overhead, your phones aren't working, your maps aren't working. All of you must now find out where you are and how to get home. If you can get home.
But not all hope is lost. Coming down the dusty road is a woman in a tauros-drawn wagon! Someone flags her down and she stops in front of your group. Every one of you must now convince this woman that you are from another world and convince her to help you find another way home.

Rules:
-No god-modding.
-No bunnying
-Light gore
-Swearing is minimal. Remember the type of world your character is originally from, anime-verse! People on the new world are harsher, but there won't be anything of an explicit nature.
-Any other of the usual RP Rules that I may miss apply
-No trainer may have a legendary or shiny
-Each trainer may have up to 4 pokemon.
-No one can catch pokemon in this new world with pokéballs, as they don't exist here. If you want a pokémon you have to catch one by hand and make it stay with you
-SU's must consist of:
Name:
Age: (between 20 - 40)
Gender:
Personality:
Description:
History: [optional]
RP Sample: 3 paragraph maximum, 1 paragraph minimum.
Pokemon: (species [a must], attacks [a must], personality [optional])
-If your character is approved/disapproved I will PM you.

Players:
Jo - (KaraC)
Sam Peterson - (Rabbit)
Kiva Kiravata - (KivaXxOnyxAbsolxX)
Vince Mays - (Godzil)
Jay Bondsman - (blablub)

 

[KivaXxOnyxAbsolxX]

Name: Kiva Kiravata
Age: ??
Gender: Female
Personality: Kiva is quiet and withdrawn and tends to stay away fron people. She loves pokemon though and has a tendency to attract them to her. She hates it when any pokemon isn't treated right and has been know to test trainers to see if they are raising their Pokemon Properly.
Description: Kiva looks almost like an Absol. ((see avatar))
History: Kiva was raised in the peaks of Mount Cornet where she lived with her parents. Kiva's exact age is unknown. She has challenged and beaten every Pokemon gym and Leauge. She retired from battle but still catches and trains Pokemon.
RP Sample: Kiva sighed her hair waving slightly in the breeze and cracked her knuckles. Turning she strode over to the trainer know cowering in fear in the corner. She knelt in front of the boys defeated Pidgeotto and gently fed it some berries to heal it. She rubbed its head and stomped on the Pokeball sitting near the boys feet. Tsuri lie unitrested its black fur glowing calmly in the light. The newly healed Pidgeotto flew to her shoulder and nuzzled her apreciatively stretching its wings to revel in its newly found freedom. She turned on the boy a strange light glowing in her eyes.​

"You dont deserve to own this poor Pidgeotto." she said a deadly calm in her voice.
"Dont you know Pokemon are more than mere tools for your enjoyment. They have feelings." she said and somewhere near the top of the mountain a deep rumble sounded.
"Leave here now and never return." she said closing her eyes.

She sighed as the boy stood and scrabbled away. She gently petted the Pidgeotto's head. "Your free to go." she said and smiled as it flew away. She turned releasing a puff of cold air and lept down followed by Tsuri and crouched under the overhang as a Avalanch crashed down the side of the mountain. After it subsided she stood shaking snow from her hair. She turned and shook her head then headed back to the top of the mountain.

Pokemon: ​

Name: Absol ((black and blue))/ Nickname: Tsuri/ Attacks: Sucker Punch; Ice Beam; Tri Attack; Bite
Name: Gengar/ Nickname: Kaine/ Attacks: Shadow Ball; Dream Eater; Destiny Bond; Focus Blast
Name: Porygon2/ Nickname: Komlin/ Attacks: Psybeam; Thundershock; Tackle; Psycic

 

[KaraC]

Leaving the Tauros brothers to follow the path without her supervision for a moment, Jo stood and scanned the sky. Pidgeot was due back soon, hopefully with something bigger than a rattata. The little pokemon were hardly worth the energy Pidgeot used to bring them back. Of course she usually let the bird eat them, which was probably why the blasted beast didn't bother with anything larger. Well, no matter what he brought back this time, she'd eat it and let him go hungry for a couple of days just to make sure he went for larger prey again like she'd trained him to. Her stomach rumbled at the thought before a puff of gas wheezed noisily from under her jeans.

Jo grimaced in discomfort. She'd turned to the travel rations when Pidgeot only brought small prey and while they kept her nourished, they didn't agree with her stomach. Probably because this particular batch hadn't been properly preserved for some reason. She wouldn't buy rations from there anymore, that was for sure.

Ducking into the wagon with a grunt and deftly stepping around the cage holding the bound teddiursa the Culler Lord had hired her to capture, she grabbed one of her potions for the pain in her gut. She'd deck that guy next time she saw him for this! She swallowed the vile concoction and chased it down with a swig of whiskey. The teddiursa whined piteously as she drank the liquid.

"Ahhhhhaaaaaaawwwwwn ..." Her satisfied 'ah' turned into a jaw cracking yawn, reminding her of how poorly she'd slept the last few nights. "Bad meat, bad dreams." She grumbled as she removed the water bottle from the cage and refilled it from the barrel. Out here in the middle of nowhere, clean water was priceless and couldn't be wasted by using an open bowl. The bottle with its metal spout had been pricey, but an investment that had saved her money on the smaller pokemon.

Catching the critter hadn't been easy, especially since one of its parents had been with it. The bolt from her crossbow had gone cleanly through the eye while it was trying to hit Pidgeot. She hadn't wanted to kill it, but the combined efforts of all three of her pokemon hadn't been able to separate them and the Culler Lord was willing to pay a lot for a teddiursa. The pelt would sell well at the tanners.

"Geot, geottoo!" The familiar cry of Pidgeot reached her ears and she leaned out over the back panel with both hands stretched out expectantly. A dead spearow dropped into her hands. She glared at the cheeky thing as he clacked his beak expectantly and eyed the morsel. Holding it up by one wing she eyed it and took it inside.

Surprised she hadn't given it to him, Pidgeot flapped over the top and landed on the drivers seat so he could poke his head through the canvas and coo entreatingly. "Pidgeoooo ..." Jo didn't even look at him and continued to pluck feathers.

"No." She said firmly as she swung her finger to point in the direction Pidgeot had come from. Her mouth had barely begun to form the order to hunt again when a low moo from Big Tauros interrupted them. Pidgeot twisted his head to look before flapping up to perch on top of the wagon. Jo grabbed a pair of binoculars and climbed into the drivers seat before peering through them. There was a group up ahead, some waving for her to stop. She counted four and looked around them. They were in a flat, open area. No hiding places anywhere near enough for an ambush. That didn't stop her from making sure the short sword hidden behind the drivers bench was positioned for a quick draw.

They were dressed strangely too. Full winter gear in this heat? Were they insane? Or worse, from Kanto? 'Fire roaring, burned arms and hands and the screaming ...' The painful memory beget a subconscious twitch before she could continue her observation. There were no pokemon with them, that she could see.

"Sky Guard." She muttered to Pidgeot. He took off and began to climb. He'd make sure there were no fliers waiting and ready to strike. Her eyes were half lidded and un-trusting as a gentle tug stopped Big and Little Tauros in front them.

 

[blablub]

Jay

The trek through the Sinnoh mountains had been an arduous one. Jay had never ventured far from his hometown of Ecruteak, save for visiting the Kanto Pokemon League with his father once. He remembered that spectacle with great fondness, the way those trainers had reared and guided their pokemon into strong and powerful combatants was a sight to be seen.

He shook his head in bewilderment and tried to collect his bearings. "Wha, what happened?" he asked to the world at large. The dark cavern he and his fellow explorers had been in moments earlier had disappeared and given way to a bleak and sun scorched world.
"Lindo, return," he said as he held out the pokeball designed for the small Teddiursa. When the infant pokemon was safely returned to the ball, Jay brought it close to his head and whispered, "Sorry buddy, but until I know what is going on, you're going to have to stay in there."

Jay closed his eyes and tried to retrace his steps. The cave they were in, it had strange markings and carvings, as if telling a tale. The sights had been horrible: battles, bloodshed and chained pokemon. Despite the young man's extensive knowledge of all but the rarest of pokemon, the ones depicted in the scenes were unknown to him. They appeared to be being of immense power forced into servitude and a life of captivity.

Before he was able to relay this question to any of his teammates, a wagon pulled by great Tauros rode up to great them. "Erm," he looked at the others around him. "Anyone want to take the lead on this one?" He was obviously scared.
While he waited for any of the others to take initiative, he nervously fondled the pokeball containing Kandor, his Poliwrath.

 

[Groc]

Vince pushes past the kid to approach the wagon. He stops a few paces away, his hands in plain sight. His Persian crouches behind him.

"Yeah yeah. Ruttin' kids, don't take any initiative... Hello! How are you today, ma'am? We don't mean to startle you. We're headed north. Could you be so kind as to give us a ride? We're not crazy, despite wearing winter gear during one of the hottest gorram days of the year. We have money... right guys?"

He looks over his shoulder at the others, awaiting a response.

Pelipper flies above, and notices Pidgeot. He clumsily flaps away, giving the stronger bird more airspace, but staying close enough to hear his owner.

 

[Rabbit]

{{ Wows. How did I miss the grand opening of this thread? XD }}

Sam grimaced as he stepped into the sunlight. The opressive heat struck mercilessly into the depth of the layers of his clothing. He took off his hat and unzipped his jacket automatically. His two Arcanine, loaded down with gear, panted heavily beside him, as troubled by the heat as he was.

As Sam's eyes adjusted to the unexpected light, they took in the sunbaked landscape - cracked ground, yellowed weeds, a treeless expanse - and tried, unsuccessfully, to reconcile it with the knee-deep snow he had known to expect. The difference could not have been more startling. However he tried, he could find no trace of the Sinnoh he knew - except for the shapes of the mountains on the horizon. His eye leapt to them gratefully as a hint of something familiar. And on against the backdrop of the mountains was a Tauros-drawn wagon, moving in their general direction.

Sam waved frantically, as though hailing a taxi cab, and the wagon approached, stopping before the group. Sam could see that the driver was a small, middle-aged woman, her expression sceptical and distrustful. He put a hand on the scruffs of both Arcanine and induced them to sit with a bit of pressure, hoping that the beasts, each rivalling the Tauros in size, would seem less intimidating sitting down. As for himself, he was always conscious of the handgun in its holster at his hip.

Taking a cue from Jay, Vince stepped forward. "Hello! How are you today, ma'am? We don't mean to startle you. We're headed north. Could you be so kind as to give us a ride? We're not crazy, despite wearing winter gear during one of the hottest gorram days of the year. We have money... right guys?"

Sam gave Vince a sceptical look, wondering why he was so certain about which direction they were headed in. He had only one direction in mind - back the way they had come.

He coughed lightly and suggested in an undertone, "Vince...maybe we'd better figure out where we are, first."

 

[KaraC]

"Summoners ..." She hissed as she spotted the Demons sitting behind the man who had asked for a ride. Unseen, her hand clenched around her short sword as she examined them one by one. Above, Pidgeot screeched warningly. He wasn't alone up there. The screech was followed by two clicks and a sharp "Geot!". One of them was armed.

The pain in her stomach returned with a vengeance but she forced herself to ignore it. She was outnumbered by either Summoners or Demon slaves from Kanto, this was no time to be weak.

There were stories about the Summoners, people with Demons strolling into cities and acting like they were Lords. That usually got them dead, fast. Sometimes they sent their demons to fight and were always surprised when the pokemon attacked them directly. Then they'd vanish in a flash of blue. She knew they were saved by the Kanto Demons. She'd seen a Demon do it twenty six years ago.

Now here was a whole group of them, asking her to take them south to Culler City and probably get their fool-selves killed.
"Call down your Demon, Summoner. Or Pidgeot'll kill it." She growled before nodding to the tauros sized orange demons. "Muzzle and hobble them. Then turn out your pockets, I'll assume any remaining bulges are hidden weapons." She ordered, glaring at the man in front of the two sitting Demons.

The man was solid with black hair and gray eyes. The biggest threat out of this bunch. The shadow of Pidgeot was joined with his. Pidgeot had seen a gun-bulge on this one. Sure they were willing to pay, but she didn't want to have her brains blown out in her sleep.

 

[Groc]

Vince is taken aback by her sudden change in attitude. He looks up, worries for Pelipper.

"Pelipper! Come back!"

Pelipper gracefully falls out of the sky, barely catching himself before he crashes. He stands in front of Vince, fearfully looking for Pidgeot.

"Stockpile, Pelipper!" Vince removes his winter gear and hat, tossing them into Pelipper's mouth. Vince places Torchic in as well, trying to hide her from Jo's sight.

"No need to become violent, lady. Just a bunch of lost people."

 

[Rabbit]

A screech above him caught Sam's attention. He raised his head and saw a Pidgeot hovering above, its proud sillhouette blocking out the sun like an omen of death. Their shadows coincided. This was one of the driver's Pokemon, he surmised, and he didn't like seeing it there at all. Those things were huge.

Sam was suprised how quickly the woman's distrust had turned into what he took for hostility. Her reaction to this group of passengers, and her request for them to turn out their pockets - both weres out of the ordinary. Something was going on here that he couldn't understand - besides the landscape having gone wacky, of course. Why was she calling them Summoners and their Pokemon Demons? Did they really look dangerous to her?

He stepped forward and held his hands palms up in a gesture of peace, his eyes on hers, trying to read her expression. His voice was level; he spoke with a bit of a drawl. "Whoah, now. We're not a threat, we just need a ride. I can't muzzle my Arcanine, but I assure you, they don't bite. As for me, I don't bite either. Do you ask all your passengers to empty your pockets?"

{{ I'm going to be away until Friday evening, so Godzil is going to take over Sam's character until then. I wish him luck! ^_^ }}

 

[KaraC]

Her eyes widened at the flying Demon as it landed and opened it's large beak.
"No need to become violent, lady. Just a bunch of lost people." The short one said, obviously trying to appease her. She didn't believe it for a moment. Her eyes flicked back to the two big ones, there was something about them that was familiar and not in a good way. Of course when it came to Demons, none of her memories were good.

"Lost Demons and Summoners? Tauros-s***." She snarled, trying not to let the fear show. There was movement from the corner of her eye and her attention snapped to the armed one.
"Whoah, now. We're not a threat, we just need a ride. I can't muzzle my Arcanine, but I assure you, they don't bite. As for me, I don't bite either. Do you ask all your passengers to empty your pockets?"

Sunlight flashed off the metal of her naked sword as she drew it and pointed it at him. "You got no papers, you're dressed for cold weather in the height of summer and you're wearing a gun. So yeah, I do."

Arcanine ... there was that sense of familiarity again. She rolled the word over in her head. Arcanine. Arc ... ''Arc! Aroooooo!' Flames spilled from the mouth of the Demon, setting the building alight...' Her eyes widened. "Prove it! Hobble and muzzle them!" She barked. Her arms were exposed to the light now, revealing the old burn scars that licked up both arms and vanishing under the fabric of her shirt.

 

[blablub]

Jay

Taken aback by the woman's harsh words, Jay had taken up position behind the two older men. Hoping they would sort out the situation. He had taken the time to study the pokemon under the woman's command. The Pidgeot looked horribly powerful, even from the height it was at, there was a harsher tone to the creature than he was used to. It was as if the pokemon had been bred for war, not sport.

The Tauros looked no better. He had taken in injured and orphaned Tauros before and even while scarred they still had a certain gentleness to them. At least, a feeling you could take one of the creatures in and love it. These beasts scared the living hell out of the young scientist.

He was horrified at the thought of muzzling the Arcanine and Sam was as well, as far as he could tell. He quickly jumped between the police officer and the barbaric woman.

"Please lady, we are lost and need help. A moment ago we were in a cave deep in Sinnoh's snowy peaks. We have no idea what happened," the young man's voice trembled as he tried to speak confidently. "You seem to know more of us than we of you. Can you explain to us what is going on?"

As he asked the question, he started turning out his pockets. A pokedex, cellphone, candy bar, journal, heated gel packs and three pokeballs were taken out of his jacket. After that he opened his backpack and emptied it. Besides various instruments and research equipment he recovered a bag of dried travel food and a larger bag filled with pokeblocks and several berries.

"Your T-T-Tauros, they are beautiful," Jay attempted to ease the critical situation they were in by offering kindness instead of discussion. "I am a researcher and caretaker of pokemon, or demons as you call them. I have much experience with Tauros and I can help you groom them. I have food here that is very nutritious and a perfect complement to their diet.
I, eh, have some dried food here for you as well, if you are hungry."

The young man looked expectantly at the woman, hoping this act of kindness helped.

 

[KaraC]

Jo pursed her lips in thought before raising her free arm to the sky, all the while keeping sword and eyes on the men in front of her. Behind her, Pidgeot spiraled down and landed on the top of the wagon. His eyes glinting with unyielding fierceness and no small bit of hunger. The last few days, all he'd had was the small game Jo had let him eat. Until today that is. He'd eaten nothing yet today. Pidgeot clacked his beak and half-spread his wings threateningly, ready to strike.

"My tauros aren't any of your damn business." She snipped at the tall one. At the sound of the clacking beak, she allowed her eyes to flick over the contents. Most of the items were things she'd never seen before. The berries, journal, heat packs, candy bar and the preserves were recognized easily enough. She kept her face neutral, the berries alone were worth more than enough to pay for passage. Some of them were extremely rare and hard to find as they required rich, loamy soil to grow to the healthy specimens before her now.

"Hnnn." She grunted, free arm still raised. Demon slaves or Summoners, they might just make it worth her while to assemble the cargo wagon and give them a ride. Not until that gun was out of their reach though ... "Dump the clip and give me the gun. Then we'll talk."

 

[Rabbit]

Sam's eyes widened at the sight of the weapon. From his angle it looked like a long kitchen knife. He had expected a gun, not a steel implement. He thought it was an odd thing for her to have. Nonetheless, it sent a clear message - the lady meant business.

The Arcanine beside him remained still, but they were watching Jo's weapon. but He kept his hands on their ruffs. The situation was something like an 'armed suspect' scenario, with one large difference - the woman was in control. It made him unsure of his footing. If things got out of hand, he could draw his gun in a flash, but would he be willing to shoot? Clearly she was acting only in self-defense. It wouldn't be rational for her to charge at the three of them with that knife.

It would be wiser to instruct Jackie to disarm the woman, but he had never commanded Arcanine before, had only seen it done. Beth might be able to hold off the Pidgeot if it tried to defend its owner. Hopefully the Tauros weren't trained for battle. They were large, heavy beasts, and as dangerous as a rolling truck when roused. Maybe Vince could take them on...Jay he had little faith in, the man didn't look like a seasoned trainer. This was all 'worst-case-scenario' thinking and it flashed though his mind barely heeded by his consciousness, which was concerned only by the woman's command. "Prove it! Hobble and muzzle them!"

Before Sam could reply, Jay stepped in, trying to defuse the situation with kind words and gestures. He turned out his pockets and emptied his backpack, putting the the edibles where the woman could see them. Sam was impressed by the young man's guff. His offerings seemed to have an effect on the woman. She called down her Pidgeot and looked over the pile of goods, a calculating expression on her face. Jay seemed to have evened the odds. Did the woman consider it profitable to take them as passengers? Or was she planning to kill them and take their loot?

"Dump the clip and give me the gun. Then we'll talk."

"Only if you drop your knife," Sam replied emphatically. "You're not willing to get shot, but I'm not willing to get stabbed. Vince? Jay? What do you say?" The question affected them all. If he disarmed, the whole group would be weaponless.

{{ Sorry for the mega-edit. I'm...doing research? }}

 

[Groc]

Vince slowly took a step back. This whole situation was getting out of hand.

"Alright, lady. Put it down. Sam, drop the gun."

Vince unstraps his gun from the back of his belt, tossing it to the ground. He subtly shifts to hide his back from Jo. Sam and Jay see an old-fashioned sword on his back, and he hopes they get the hint: he has a weapon, something to match Jo's.

"Pelipper, get back!" He holds up Pelipper's ball, returning him and everything he swallowed.

"That should keep her off-balance." Vince thinks to himself.

 

[blablub]

Ray

Despite Jo's harsh words, Ray was pleased with himself that he managed to distract her from the arm's race long enough to make her consider taking them in as passengers. He didn't say anything when the woman told him to stay away from her Tauros, instead he nodded nervously, he understood.
"I...I'll just clean up this stuff then," he stuttered as he knelt back on the ground and started picking up his possessios. As he did so, he unconsiously opened his cold weather jacket and took it off. He also took off the thick Mareep wool sweater. His shirt underneath was already half soaked with sweat from the beating sun.

He was relieved to see both men with him cooperate and disarm themselves. Should push come to shove, they would still outnumber the woman's pokemon, which was a great comfort for the young man.

 

[Rabbit]

Sam narrowed his eyes as he saw what was strapped to Vince's back. A sword? He has a sword? Is he trying to hide it? He decided not to argue and just follow Vince's lead. "Fine, Vince. Your call," he replied, not turning around. He unholstered his gun and dropped it to the ground where it set off a small cloud of dust. He looked at the cart's driver, hoping to see a change of expression on her face.

 

[KaraC]

The cloud of dust settled around the gun. Jo tilted her head ever so slightly before she cautiously bent at the knees and picked it up. A quick examination revealed that, yes, he had tossed her a real piece. Then she took a closer look, examining the smooth lines and seamless, nearly invisible welds. This was Lord quality.
"Hn." Her eyes flicked to the three again, hardly phased by the Demon that vanished into the ball. That was a promising sign. They were only Summoners, not Slaves.
She could deal with this.

There was a dull 'clunk' as she put the short sword on the wagon seat behind her. Within reach if things turned ugly. Big Tauros snorted and shook his mane free of sand. Little followed the lead of his brother. Above, Pidgeot gave a single mighty flap and settled his wings against his body. Like his trainer, his gaze remained suspicious.
"You gotta pay for a ride to Culler City. After that, how you get yourselves killed is none of my business."

 

[Groc]

Vince nods and whipsers to Sam.

"See, kid? First rule of negotiation: Always know what you need. And always keep an ace up your sleeve. Now, what do we have for payment?"

"Hey lady! What exactly will you take in trade for a ride?"

 

[KaraC]

A droplet of sweat from the searing orb above rolled from her right temple and followed the curve of her jaw. No one knew where Summoners came from and after having seen the giant berries, she was a little curious. If she got them to spill, she could have that source all to herself. And if the soil was that fertile ...
"Money or trade. That one can pay for himself." She motioned to Jay and waited for their offers.

 

[Rabbit]

At the word "kid", Sam's sam soured as though he had smelled something unplesant. He frowned and crossed his arms. He felt Vince was acting too rashly. He was treating the situation as a game - a game that he was going to win. But Sam couldn't fully relax while Vince had a sword strapped to his back that the driver wasn't aware of. This situation was going to blow up eventually, he felt it. Yet it wasn't his place to change Vince's mind. "Kid" indeed.

"Money or trade," the woman replied to Vince's question. She seemed to like what Jay had unpacked. Sam turned to Beck, who was standing patiently on his right side, and, reaching up, opened the rucksack strapped to his back. He was in search of similar items. The rucksack was mostly filled with small devices, like flashlights and a handheld radio. The radio caught Sam's attention at once. He stuck it in his pants pocket, intending to try it out later - it might give them a clue to where they were. Suddenly he was reminded of just how incredibly uncomfortable he was in the heat. He shrugged off his outer jacket, revealing an ash-grey knit sweater. He spread the jacket over Beck as though over a bench and resumed his search.

He quickly located what he'd been looking for - a handful of energy bars and two hyper potions. He turned to the driver, holding up his finds in both hands. "I have some food, and potions for your Pokemon," he called. "Will you take that as payment?"