Session 43, VP2

Though the morning saw the rain dying down, the air was still muggy. The groups' minds were preoccupied as they began the walk back to Hammerfest. Lunala's Echo had been secured within the Strange Bell. Would this be enough to help them drive off Solgaleo?

It wasn't until they neared the edge of the forest that they came across some wild Pokemon playing. Taking a brief rest for lunch, the trainers let their own Pokemon join in the fun. A squeaking from her basket caught Sylvie's attention. Thanks to her efforts, the injured Pikachu was clearly on the mend, & able to join in the repast.

This peaceful moment lasted only until a large winged shape cast its shadow across the clearing. In fear, the wild Pokemon hunkered together. While the group readied themselves, Lauren reached out with their senses. There could be no doubt: this was the Gliscor that had tried to kidnap Bronze, the monster that had carelessly slaughtered the Snubbull.

Strategy was discussed: our heroes refused to leave the smaller Pokemon open to becoming Gliscor's next meal. Sylvie had Thistle tap into his plant powers, exuding a bewitching scent. Sure enough, the shadow began to circle the area at increasing speed. Everyone hid in the bushes, creating the illusion that the Pokemon were alone. Bronze clutched a Pokeball tightly, ready for her part of the plan.

It was one thing to make the Pokemon look defenseless, but the party was hoping to ambush the predator before it could actually attack. At the speed it was going, landing a hit would be near impossible- but such odds were made to be dared. When the moment came, it was too quick for anyone else to track. Primed for her throw, Bronze's arm let loose the very second a whistle in the air announced the Gliscor's divebomb.

The Pokemon was much too powerful to be caught, but that didn't matter: the few precious seconds it took for it to break free saw the Pokeball itself falling into the clearing. Each trainer ran in with their Pokemon to ambush the scorpion-bat as soon as it burst out.

It was immense & powerful, true, but it could do only so much against this many foes at once. It fell unconscious to the ground in short order. Sylvie turned her attention to healing those who had been damaged, when a wet, squelching sound echoed across the space.

Lauren rose to their feet as they jerked the Gible Dagger free from the Gliscor's chest. A coup de grace on an unconscious opponent was unexpected from the Researcher, & the shock was writ large on the faces of Bronze & Sylvie. Reinhold, the only true warrior of the group, nodded appraisingly.

This was not an action taken lightly, & it would remain to be seen how it would weigh on Lauren in the days to come...if it would at all. Night had fallen as they entered Hammerfest. Thankfully, the Pokemon Center was still open.

A nurse around their own age was on duty, & had fallen asleep on the counter. Once woken, she scrambled to help heal their Pokemon. Perhaps it was the lingering fog of sleep that caused her to appear somewhat confused by how to do so.

A brief status update with Brunick led the group to decide to continue on to Forgerun at first light. The Pokemon Center was quiet when the trainers woke. Where the nurse had been the night prior, they found a crumpled-up nurse's outfit behind the counter. A quick scan found no one else anywhere in the building. Unsure what this was, but aware that this was- at the least- quite odd, they resolved to pay Skirlic another visit.

While checking into the gym, they recognized the concussed man they had helped out earlier. For some reason, he appeared somewhat unnerved by their appearance. Skirlic herself was nonplussed to see the party's return. She listened to their story, & accompanied them back to the Pokemon Center.

As she examined the scene, the Gym Leader asked how the group's "supposed quest" was going. Unfortunately, too many cooks can spoil a broth: as the various members of the group began tangentially interjecting into their responses, the details became a bit...murky. Mentions of killers & thieves caught Skirlic's attention.

Before anyone could react, she had placed herself in front of the door leading outside. The muscles in her arms rippled as she crossed them, setting her feet in a ready stance. Violence lurked beneath her words as she asked them to clarify their connections to these criminals. Had the party been responsible for whatever had happened to this Pokemon Center & its staff?

Frantic explanations did little to clear away her suspicions. It wasn't until Lauren exploded on her that Skirlic reacted. She scrutinized the Researcher with blazing eyes for several seconds, before eventually stepping aside from the door. She let most of the group pass her to leave without incident, but she grabbed Lauren's shoulder like an iron vice as they came abreast.

"You & I will have words the next time I see you in my city." Lauren maintained eye contact with the Gym Leader until she released her grip. Anxiety coiled at their heels as the party left Hammerfest. The once-more pouring rain did little to alleviate their spirits along the way. The cover of the willow trees in Brynhilde's Copse was a welcome relief as they bed down hours later.

On his watch, Reinhold caught sight of something strange: not too far away, four bird Pokemon stood in a circle. Though they were all different colored, they appeared to be the same species. The quartet was performing what could only be described as a ritualistic dance. Faint glows trailed their every movement as they moved, seeming almost to weave between the raindrops themselves. Though this was unusual, it did not appear threatening. The Martial Artist kept an eye on the birds for the rest of his watch, but the night otherwise passed uneventfully.

Shortly after dawn, the clouds suddenly dispersed & a strong, southerly breeze picked up. It almost seemed to lend speed to their travels- but that must have been their imagination. Clement weather aided them until they came to the mountains of Skald's Echo. Even from this spot, a large plume of dark smoke could be seen in the direction of Forgerun. What had happened since they last spoke with Brunick?

Calls to his Pokedex went unanswered, adding fuel to their fearful fire. A familiar purple mist soon welcomed them in a sickly embrace as they continued. The smoke could no longer be seen, but its smell was threaded throughout the air nonetheless.

Charred remains of buildings greeted them as they finally entered the town. Near the entire Southern side of the town- the area closest to Sol's Bed- had been razed to the ground. Thankfully, no bodies could be seen amongst the wreckage.

Our heroes carefully made their way towards Brunick's home, encountering no townsfolk along the way. Most of the buildings they could see had been boarded up to help keep out the mist. It seemed the people had hunkered down as best they were able in the wake of the fires.

Their destination came into view, & the trainers could immediately tell something was wrong: the door to Brunick's cabin was wide open to the elements. Lauren made to enter the cabin, only to receive a headbutt to their stomach. As they fell backwards out of breath, Brunick's Kindloof stepped into the doorframe.

The poor Pokemon looked extremely sick. His eyes were bloodshot, his breathing was heavy, & he could not keep himself from swaying as he stood. Sylvie reached out with her senses to soothe the Kindloof, who was clearly in a defensive mindset. Bronze recalled how the moose had enjoyed burning bits of paper, giving some to Sylvie to offer.

The combination broke through its haze: the confused Pokemon slowly wobbled its way to the hearth indoors. Following it, the group could see Brunick's Terrelk & Scorntler crouching on the ground around a collapsed form. Kindloof communicated something to the pair & they made space for the group to approach. Strangely, all three of the Pokemon seemed to be in near-perfect health, aside from the effects of the mist.

Despite expecting this, our heroes were all dismayed to see Brunick's unconscious body on the floor. He was curled into a ball on his side, twitching sporadically. Sylvie jumped into action immediately. Her examination told her that he must have been lying here for at least a day or more, & he showed signs of a terrible fever.

Sylvie sucked air in through her teeth when she flipped Brunick onto his back. On the arm he had been lying on, a wicked burn scaled him from hand to elbow. When she gingerly made to touch it, Sylvie had to yank her hand back in pain: somehow, the burn was painfully hot to the touch. Beneath the blackened skin, lights pulsed like a heartbeat, resembling the trees of Sindri's Kiln.

Realizing she didn't know how to treat a burn this bad, Sylvie asked the rest of the group to clean Brunick up while she called Eplina. The healer answered the call & listened as Sylvie relayed the injury they were dealing with. Even Eplina had never encountered one like it before, but she began working out the ingredients for a salve that Sylvie could make.

Once it was completed, Lauren had Imber fill a bucket with water to sink the Gym Leader's arm into. The flame within Brunick's arm was potent enough that the water soon began to boil. When his wound was as sterilized as possible, the party gently held it up for their Healer to work. Sylvie applied the salve per Eplina's instructions before re-submerging Brunick's arm.

Combining the topical medicine with the water caused it to almost "bake" onto Brunick's skin, just like the clay on his Scorntler. His fever seemed to lessen, but only by so much. While Lauren & Sylvie prepped to move him to a safer location, Reinhold & Bronze rushed over to Ivar's house. The pair knocked, & were quickly ushered inside.

Ivar was hosting several other townsfolk in his house, who all looked over with expressions of hope. Reinhold caught Ivar up on the pertinent bits, focusing on Brunick's current state. When they called for volunteers to help with moving the man, a few of the younger townsfolk left with them. Bronze took stock of the situation. They wanted to move Brunick quickly, to minimize his exposure to the mists, but they couldn't risk jostling him overmuch. Under her instruction, Reinhold & the townsfolk managed to create a makeshift sling between the Terrelk & Scorntler.

It held steady as our heroes transported their friend across town. Once Brunick had been safely laid out on Ivar's bed, Sylvie instructed some more volunteers on how to look after his burn. After catching their collective breaths, the party sat with Ivar to talk a bit more in-depth.

The historian explained that they had been able to inoculate nearly all of the townsfolk, & most of their Pokemon. The mists had begun growing more powerful the past few days. At dawn the day before, Solgaleo's roar shook the timbers of every building.

Finally, the beast had set his sights on the town.

Brunick organized the townsfolk to move to the Northern side of Forgerun, while he headed South to buy them time. From what some of the villagers had seen, he met the lion- alone. The Gym Leader attempted to peacefully convince Solgaleo to leave.

When words failed & the monster lashed out, he began fighting it himself. Now it was clear why the Pokemon in his house had seemed unharmed. Brunick had dodged the Legendary's attacks as long as he could, refusing to have his Pokemon face such a deadly foe. Eventually, his luck must have run out.

Solgaleo struck him with a fire so hot it bordered on the supernatural, & Brunick fell. Much as it had with Bronze, the lion soon lost interest in its beaten "playmate", & left. A few of the townsfolk had seen Brunick get up & walk towards his house under his own power, & so assumed he was alright. Everyone had been huddled indoors in fear ever since.

Knowing the cat's predilection towards the morning light, our heroes reasoned they had some time to think & plan. Some of them explored the fields surrounding the town, while others prepped in their own way for the trials ahead. And one of them took up their Pokedex with trembling fingers, & began dialing a number......