Session 14, VP2

Silence and dust filled the air as the rubble settled. The trainers stood frozen as they processed what had just happened. Tense words were exchanged at the unilateral decision that had been made, the situation quickly became heated. Before things could devolve any further, Bergie put a stop to the discussion by insisting they get the rescued townsfolk to the Pokemon Center.

With innocent lives in their hands, the rest of the group fell into step as Bergie and Stompy led the way through the town. No other people could be seen in the dying light. All of those who had been searching for survivors during the daytime had retreated to the three remaining holdouts. As the trainers neared the Pokemon Center, they could see several armed citizens manning the barricades in fear.

The rescued people were quickly brought into the Pokemon Center to be examined. Thankfully, no lingering physical effects could be found; the four freed folk tossed restlessly as if gripped by nightmares, but even this seemed to be fading by the minute.

Thinking back on how strong light had weakened the shades, Sylvie suggested that she rush over to the Colosseum to bring Donner along. He & Duna had proved to be quite effective back in Ever Dam, and Sylvie was sure they would be able to do the same here.

Unwilling to let her risk being overtaken alone, Lauren & Naivara both volunteered to accompany her. As the trio set out across the town, Naivara released Peach, as Lauren hefted their flashlight. Every step they took, they waited to hear the sound of enemies approaching; as no foes made themselves known, the heroes didn’t know if they should be hopeful or worried.

Back at the Pokemon Center, Bergie put his medicinal skills to use on some of the gathered townsfolk. As he passed amongst them, he inquired about Eplina’s whereabouts. One of the former bandits that the group had brought into town told Bergie he vaguely recalled seeing her over at the mines.

Filled with worry, Bergie told Bronze that he was going to try to head out in search of her. Despite Bergie’s mention of it being risky, Bronze immediately offered her company for the jaunt. Reinhold offered to stay at the Pokemon Center, to catch the remaining party members up upon their return.

To the South, the trio arrived at the Colosseum without incident. A small group of townsfolk stood watch at the entrance, while most of the people huddled together in fear within. Lauren & Sylvie followed the familiar psychic pull, finding Donner trying to lend aid to the scared townsfolk.

Naivara subbed in to lead the crowds in some meditation exercises while Donner was brought up to speed. Once the situation had been explained, Donner eagerly agreed to move to the Pokemon Center with the other trainers. Not wanting to leave the townsfolk completely undefended, our heroes looked around for any possible sources of light.

At four corners of the building, & on the Colosseum floor, stood large metal dishes meant to hold flame. With those lit ablaze, the group felt the tension palpably decrease. Across Drillsberg, Bronze & Bergie left the Pokemon Center.

The two made light discussion as they walked, hoping to focus on something besides their dire situation. As they reached the pass out of the city and into the canyons, both of them came to a stop simultaneously. It was distant, but they could hear what sounded like stone moving on stone, coming from one of the higher rings of the town.

Bronze stealthily vaulted her way closer to the source of the noise, with Bergie trailing behind. As the entrance to Frigga's Temple came into view, their fears were proven true: the sound of shuffling feet and shifting rock drifted out of the collapsed temple entrance, the shades within working to clear the rubble. Suddenly, Bergie let out a sharp intake of breath.

Seemingly overseeing the action was one of the ethereal spirits that had been released alongside Gudbrund. The two trainers exchanged a glance, and began to slowly creep away. After only a few seconds, Bronze's Pokedex began to ring with an incoming call from Lauren. Bergie quickly snatched the Pokedex and stuffed it in Stompy's mouth to deaden the sound, but the damage had been done.

Though the spirit had no eyes to speak of, our heroes could feel its gaze on them nonetheless. One of its hands coagulated into the shape of a morningstar, as it let loose a cry in Elder Vanic. Not wasting a second, Bronze & Bergie took off back towards the Pokemon Center. Bronze's Pokedex rang again from inside Stompy's mouth, and Bergie answered it mid-stride.

Out of breath, he relayed what was happening to Lauren. The sounds of stone moving had ceased, and now a mass of footsteps could be heard in pursuit. Bergie handed the saliva-covered Pokedex back to Bronze as the two careened back to the Pokemon Center's barricades.

When they arrived, Bergie set about warning the townsfolk manning the barricades, as Bronze headed inside to find Reinhold. Realizing they only had a few moments before the horde reached the building, the two began to unscrew and gather any mirrors they could find. Bergie leaned his head inside the Pokemon Center, letting loose a bellow of warning.

Mouths set in grim determination, Reinhold & Bronze ran outside, locking the door behind them. The ill-fated phone call had spurred the rest of the group into high gear. Before they could even see the Pokemon Center, they were forced to shield their eyes from a bright light sweeping back and forth across the empty town.

Cresting a hill, they could see that the light was coming from their friends: working together with some of the citizens, Reinhold was forming a ring of mirrors around Ros' tail. The amplified light was being cast over as many shades as possible to slow them down. With the precious seconds this bought them, Naivara, Lauren, Sylvie, & Donner managed to regroup with their allies in front of the Pokemon Center.

A quick headcount revealed there were 35 shades being led against them by the spirit. Even counting the townsfolk able to aid them, our heroes stood sorely outnumbered.

Tactics were quickly decided upon: Naivara had Peach join in helping Ros create light. Bergie & Bronze then used Perrypus & Mas to cleave a small group off of the approaching force. Once they had forced a handful of the shades further afield, our heroes entered the fray alongside their Pokemon. Furious blows were traded back and forth.

It took several minutes, but the group managed to subdue and free 5 of the shades. In the time it took for this to occur, the rest of the shades had began assaulting the barricades. The spirit, disconcertingly, was nowhere to be seen. If the trainers continued with their current strategy, they would no doubt be too slow to save the Pokemon Center from being overrun. As most of the group started to charge back to the barricades, Sylvie called for them to stop.

With no time to explain, Sylvie pointed at the swarm of shades, shouting for Bergie to flood the ground beneath them. Perrypus launched forth a veritable geyser of water, pooling around the feet of the possessed enemies. At the same moment, Sylvie & Donner turned towards each other and nodded. Their sync made words needless. The corners of his mouth turned upwards as Donner whistled and pointed into the night sky.

Duna reacted before the sound had faded, rocketing skywards in a flurry of feathers. A heartbeat of silence ran through our heroes. Time seemed frozen as they saw the shades beginning to crest the barricades. Clawed hands were grabbing hold of the defenders, rending armor and flesh. A crack from above broke the spell as a gleaming yellow comet descended upon the battlefield.

Wreathed in lightning, Duna let loose a raucous cry. Seconds before she would collide with the ground, she swept upwards & over the shades. The lightning in her wake made contact with the pool of water, and the night exploded.

When they could see once more, our heroes knew the tide had been turned. The combination attack had knocked several of the shades unconscious outright, and heavily injured many more. As one, they rushed in to press the advantage. Though they were still taking wounds in the skirmish, there was a rising feeling of confidence growing in their breast.

Shade after shade was struck down, the herd thinning every second. When there were only 10 shades left, the spirit made itself known; invisible, the spirit had crept behind the barricades to where the townsfolk were wielding the mirrors. With one sweep of its spiked hand, the mirrors were shattered into dust.

The remaining shades roared as their strength waxed back to full. Leaving the rest of the shades to his allies, Reinhold took up the Sapphire Gible Dagger, and turned to engage the spirit. The two struck back and forth in a blur, each doing their best to dodge the opponents' blows. Despite the renewed strength of their foes, the other trainers refused to give in.

It took no small amount of blood & bruises, but they soon found themselves the only ones still standing upon the field. The townsfolk stood in mute wonder as our heroes encircled the spirit. It loosed an indecipherable curse in a guttural voice, and transformed: both hands became replaced with massive morningstars, and its arms stretched impossibly thin and long. Even with their combined powers, the spirit was slowly pressing the trainers back.

It knew no fatigue, and felt no pain. The one thought beating within its soul like a drum was the need to maul all that would defy its master, whatever the cost. The lashing tendrils of its arms whipped through the air faster than the eye could follow. Every strike drew blood and battered flesh, seeming only to heighten the spirit's frenzy.

A rending sound rang out as its phantasmal head split open in a jagged gash, a maw lusting after the taste of sinew and marrow. The overwhelming fury of the spirit grew like a tidal wave. It raised both arms above its head with a screech, and both spiked hands began to swell larger, blotting out the moon high above. Before the spirit could strike, there was a sudden burst of blue light from behind it.

Ros was crackling with sparks of cyan across her form, eyes set upon the creature threatening her trainer. She reared onto her hind legs, teeth bared & eyes wild. Tufts of her cottony wool began to fall away, drifting away on a growing wind. When it seemed the electricity would overwhelm her form, Ros cried out into the sky.

Vivid streaks of lightning arced from Ros, down onto the spirit. It crossed its arms in an attempt to block the attack, but the light was far too powerful: there was a boom as electricity cleaved straight down the spirit's form. The spirit stood for a second more, before splitting in two. Falling to its knees, it began to dissolve into the night, whatever force giving it life finally overpowered.

Evolved, Ros ran to Bronze's side to give her a staticky hug. The sudden cheers from the citizens seemed somehow even louder than the thundercrack Ros had rained down. With the aid of many hands, our heroes managed to make their way through the subdued shades, freeing them from Gudbrund's cursed gems. It was well after midnight when the work was finished.

With this influx of bodies, the Pokemon Center was heavily overcrowded. As the group began to discuss moving some of the people to the Colosseum, Bergie stepped aside as he received a call on his Pokedex.

When he returned a few moments later, his face was ashen, his eyes frantic. Anxiously fidgeting, he explained that the call had come from Gunnar. He didn't know the full details of what had happened, but it seemed Gunnar had made his way into the caverns beneath the temple in his search for Saffa. Though he had successfully found her and reached the Nest Cave, it was not without cost; Saffa had been severely injured in a fight against another spirit, & Gunnar himself was barely able to stay on his feet.

He had exhausted his supplies of medicine, and knew that he was unable to do anything further on his own. Bergie told the group that he needed to rush to save his friends, even if he would have to do so alone. Naivara immediately stepped up, swearing to help Bergie bring them back safely. Lauren also offered to accompany them, but Bergie suggested that the town would need more trainers than this rescue would.

With little time for goodbyes, the two trainers set out into the moonlit desert after being given some helpful items from their newfound allies. Despite the odds arrayed against them, our heroes had successfully driven Gudbrund's forces back for the first time.

Although he still possessed over half the population remaining, they had proven that the fight was not hopeless. Dawn was only a few hours away, and exhaustion threatened to drown the trainers. They had no idea what Gudbrund would offer in response to the night's battle, and though they had found their footing, the situation was still perilous. The only thing they knew for certain was that they would need all their strength to see this through.

Deep in their hearts, doubt still gnawed. Just as, beneath the city, a festering evil stoked the flames of perdition to a fever pitch. Was the smell of smoke filling the night sky real, or imagined?