Offscreen Activities

[Jackie Cat]

Given their findings about Alexander's traversal methods, he also attempts to make contact with Powehi. Nova gives an exact description of Alexander's traversal method and pointedly asks if Powehi has anything to do with it. He also explains Owen's situation and the swarm of Void Shadows within the Quarry. "How can you sit there and bark at us for messing with the world's stability when Alexander's making it far less stable?! If you want stability, then help us get rid of him!"

The Forlasan Dark Matter is not easy to contact, but it can be done. Shadow-laced dreams, black with brackish emotion, make it easier. Eventually, after some experimentation, Nova receives a reply.

I have accepted your – temporary – presence here. I have chosen to cooperate with your 'Wayfarers'. Mind your thoughts, chimera.

I tell you truthfully, the hydra's power to travel between blackened rifts was not my gift to him. I believe it to be a power from his home world... or else one he has developed himself. Much as your patron has developed a technique of a similar kind...

I did not bring the hydra to this world. I would gladly see you Wayfarers evict him from it.

We will speak again.​

 

[Inkedust]

If he is able to see Drapion, Koa tries to get an idea of how much it remembers him, and how violent it is. He’s no longer afraid of it, but is careful about not being pushy. Mainly, he needs to also get an idea of how bad Drapion is and if there’s hope to heal it or if bringing it to the Rangers and the Relic Stone may be too risky.

He brought some food for Drapion and still has the claw Drapion gave him. Maybe Mew can help him get through to Drapion? Show he's not a threat to its dominance, just an ally and friend. Does Drapion have a proper home anywhere?

Also, has Drapion figured out how to self-release from a pokeball?

Drapion still appears to be rather antsy but has notably calmed down and has grown used to Koa's presence. A simple cursory look will reveal that the Blaguarro area is within skorupi/drapion's native range and given that Drapion was first sighted there, it's highly likely that it called that area home before it chased the Wayfarers to Frontier Town.

Meanwhile, Drapion has gotten itself to self-release a couple times but has not fully gotten the hang of it, even after a fair bit of trial and error.

---

"Hey, so, about that protection..."

Nova returns following the Twilight Quarry investigation and explains the situation with the dungeon, how it seems to actively corrupt those who go inside it. He also describes Owen's current state and says some Wayfarers are preparing a potential raid into the dungeon and could use as many countermeasures as possible. He asks if the relic would able to grant some Wayfarers temporary protection for the raid?

Sybil seems to be able to impart some protection from Twilight Quarry's corroding darkness but insists that the Relic remain at Ranger HQ lest it fall into Alexander's hands. The protection will last for half a day or so which should hopefully be just enough for the Wayfarers to find and subdue Owen.

---

Since defeating Moltres, Blaguarro Town seems to have quieted down with all efforts now focused on rebuilding. The Saint - now staying at The Wandering Zera - has begun to grow bored and is pestering the local murkrow murders having grown mildly curious about their presence as she waits for any updates for the search for the Blazing Dawn's Relic.

 

[Butterfree]

In the leadup to the fight at the Twilight Quarry, Dave seeks out Sierra and Luz and the Escarpa for aid, assistance or advice. Any of you down to join? Or have you got anything that'd be useful against some kind of nightmare fucking Shadow Charizard? Ever been down there in that dungeon? It might be hell trying to move down there, right, especially with the shadow wraith nonsense? Anything you'd do to prepare for that?

He also consults Greenbough on whether any of her research might be relevant or helpful. Any idea why the fuck this monstrous dragon would want soup? Any way to bring an extra cache of berries in there just in case? Anything to prevent fucking burns? (His goddamn shoulder will not stop itching.)

He trains his mobility, swaps out his gear, paces restlessly at the Haus. He's not getting a lot of sleep. He drinks at The Wanderin' Zera - if Gerome's there, he asks him for tips too. He also warily checks on how Moltres is holding up. What's this about the Murkrow? And how did she stay lucid while Shadowed, relatively speaking?

Finally, he goes to see Mhynt, asking her more about Owen. Seems like some grounding talk can usually de-shadow someone; is he too far gone to even try that? If they were to try that, what would ground him? How the fuck do you avoid his attacks?

 

[Namohysip]

He trains his mobility, swaps out his gear, paces restlessly at the Haus. He's not getting a lot of sleep. He drinks at The Wanderin' Zera - if Gerome's there, he asks him for tips too.

Finally, he goes to see Mhynt, asking her more about Owen. Seems like some grounding talk can usually de-shadow someone; is he too far gone to even try that? If they were to try that, what would ground him? How the fuck do you avoid his attacks?

Gerome seems to be wrapping up a few things at the bar before leaving for Novelux, but has some time to give a few tips from what he learned about Owen and those wraiths. They seem to behave in a way that reacts to things, but they're still physical beings. Feint them into going one way and use their momentum against them--go another once you're sure they're trying to follow you in one direction.

Mhynt advises that the same tricks won't be as easy for Owen. His Perceive lets him sense muscle contractions and subtle cues of flesh-and-blood Pokemon before the Pokemon are even aware of it consciously. However, Owen has one major weakness: Too many moving bodies, moving in many different ways, in different locations, can overwhelm his Perceive.

At best, it means he can only focus on one or two people at a time; at worst, it can completely stun him. She's unsure how Shadows interact with this... but being spread out on the battlefield could help against Perceive, assuming they aren't forced to group up for other problems.

She also remarks that another way to throw him off is to not have flesh and blood. Mhynt asks if Dave knows how to remove those. It's hard to tell if she's being serious.

 

[Jackie Cat]

Dave seeks out Sierra and Luz and the Escarpa for aid, assistance or advice. Any of you down to join? Or have you got anything that'd be useful against some kind of nightmare fucking Shadow Charizard? Ever been down there in that dungeon? It might be hell trying to move down there, right, especially with the shadow wraith nonsense? Anything you'd do to prepare for that?

Several Escarpa warriors, intrigued by the tactical challenges of fighting a monstrous demon in a quarry rift environment, crowd Dave to discuss various strategies and preparations, each arguing the case for their own hypothetical approaches. It would certainly be a challenging battlefield in which to stay mobile – eventually the argument wins out that a warrior would do well to take moves and battle items to aid in swift and unimpeded movement, and surety of paw on rough terrain.

Sounds like you might want to take some relevant perks...

"Join? You gotta be yankin' my chain. I'm not about to eat dirt in a place like that when I'm in the middle of trainin' my successor."

Luz and Sierra are not willing to come on this mission with other responsibilities at hand, but they wish Dave luck.

"Don't get killed out there. And be fuckin' careful with the light. Shadow can put the hurt on a Radiant aura just the same as the reverse."

Still, something in Luz' unseeing eyes suggests she's more interested than her words would suggest...

He also consults Greenbough on whether any of her research might be relevant or helpful. Any idea why the fuck this monstrous dragon would want soup? Any way to bring an extra cache of berries in there just in case? Anything to prevent fucking burns? (His goddamn shoulder will not stop itching.)

"Soup? Heavens, but that's an odd craving for a 'mon like that. I was under the impression that the deino line are hypercarnivores with a penchant for bone marrow. Quite dissimilar, no? Perhaps it could be... cultural? Or something other than mundane broth?

Greenbough would love to help with uncanny item availability, but the logistics are the logistics. The limits on carrying capacity are governed in part by the amount of attunement an aura can tolerate, and that can't be easily circumvented.

"I'm no physician, my friend, but... So far as I can tell, you're fully healed. Perhaps it's a nervous injury of some kind?"

She suggests that the shoulder pain might be nerve damage. Or perhaps she means it's psychosomatic?

 

[Jackie Cat]

Koa makes time to talk with Tlalli [...]

Tlalli is always happy to make time to talk to Koa. She's fond of his earnestness and good heart, and he may get the impression that she's trying to mother him somewhat. Even if that's so, she already has a daughter out serving with the Rangers, so it's certainly not a suffocating attitude.

“How do you think a Saints power is meant to be used? Or I guess, any great power? Should they try and help or stay out of problems?”

"Depends on the Saint, doesn't it? The Wishing Star is not the Wandering Light is not the Roaming Cyclone is not the Stormbringer. The 'Star, I think, is for hope. The 'Light... a rescuer. The Cyclone is a challenge, and the Stormbringer a reprieve. But we don't see those kinds of rains anymore, more's the pity for the Soja' climate."
Tlalli explains that Saints have many roles, and the mightier they are, the less like mortals they become, with the most powerful being beyond earthly concerns. She makes special mention of the four Sword Saints as defenders and protectors of territories in Tenacinde, to the south, similar to the Soja's Wandering Light.

"Do they intervene to spare every bullied child and burgled artisan? No, of course not. They are not policías. But they are there for the worst of times, and as an inspiration – and warning – to ordinary 'mon."
The gist of much of what Tlalli tells Koa is that legendaries are, in some way, a little like archetypal characters in children's stories, folk tales, and other formative fiction. They represent the concepts they embody, and in so doing, affect how mortals live their lives, and conceive of more sophisticated cultural concepts.

"The Red Wings – maybe you know her as the Angel of Last Breath? Many names for her. Death is a great power, don't you think? I doubt many think of her as 'helping' anyone, but there are still tribes and 'mon that revere the Winged Passing. Sometimes for the mercy of peace after suffering, sometimes out of debt for the lives we take in living while eating our fill."

 

[Jackie Cat]

@Tetra

He also asks about the group he heard of known as the Vanguard. Has she heard of them in her time? What does she think of them?

She has not. The Vanguard don't appear to operate this far west, and made camp in Bedaurejo Castle purely to meet the Wayfarers – it's not surprising that she doesn't.

Without understanding the context of the Vanguard/Covenant struggle, for Tlalli this is just a story of two clans fighting in the east.

Finally, he mentions about the trouble with the railway he’s heard of from other Wayfarers. From his experience in his world, railroads can be a great thing for people, but has it helped here? Could it help the town? Or could it be a bad thing?

"Well, I'm sure time will tell. Have you ever visited the old quarter, dear boy? There used to be a tribal town here. Desert Knot, it was called. When the Stormbringer passed on, the climate changed, and Commonwealth 'mon built up this town here, not having to worry about the big rains. That was about a hundred years ago, now. My grandfather taught me all he knew about how things used to be, but many of our traditions are a thing of the past. Can't exactly give thanks for the storms without the storms, now, can you? But I'm sure if you ask the good people of Frontier Town, it's a wonderful thing indeed that the town has grown so much, letting so many make a living here."
Tlalli is too light of heart and sweet of temperament to say anything outright critical of continuous immigration and development in what used to be her ancestral community, or seemingly to hold any resentment in her heart. Apparently many of her Desert Knot tribe have either fully assimilated, moved elsewhere to join other clans such as the Escarpa, or wholly committed to the Rangers.

She's no political or economic pundit, but she does show Koa a few opinion pieces from recent years by Nathaniel and other authors of the Gazette. Some of these pieces speculate about labour surpluses reducing wages and causing housing shortages, the growing influence of Commonwealth businesses leading to company towns in the Soja', or cheaply imported goods from the east ruining local businesses. Where these pieces make mention of the Escarpa, they are usually framed as a threat, but there are one or two stray lines about the wrongness of laying tracks on clan territory without compensation or agreement (if only for not being pragmatic or sensible).

There's an undercurrent of insular, provincial hostility to newcomers and outsiders, but there's definitely some legitimate local anxiety about the railroad – it won't benefit everyone, or do so equally.

In the same papers, companies like Luctemar Transcontinental have placed ads promising enormous prosperity once the trains run all the way out to the west coast.

 

[Jackie Cat]

@Tetra

Koa has also been trying to make time to spar a little with Sonora, when she's willing. He's a little more curious and open when fighting, especially now that she helped with the raid.

“So how's it been going since the raid? Getting the hang of Radiance?”

Sonora's up for some sparring. She's not exactly a battleheart, but it's a form of purposeful socialisation that keeps her sharp and lets her loose some steam with someone she doesn't have to be too worried about hurting.

"I don't care to use the light too much, t'be honest. It's like hard drink, I guess. Too much, and I risk makin' a fool of myself and giftin' a hell of a headache to the lass wakin' up in my sorry skin the next mornin'."

True to her word, the Floragato avoids wielding Radiance during battles. However, her eyes do flash gold here and there, when she startles at an odd sound or smell...

Naturally he researches anything he can about saints, although he’s particularly interested now in legends that may be tied to those of Sinnoh, such as the lake spirits or Giratina. Or anything about Tyrrier. In addition, he looks into the same topic he plans to check at the monastery - stories of how Saints have used their power and interacted with mortals here.

It seems a trio of Saints whose descriptions match that of the the lake spirits are to be found across the ocean, in the old world.

Giratina is totally unknown in Soja' so far as Koa can tell, save for a stray mentions of an unaccredited folktale or two told by travellers from foreign parts that sound vaguely familiar to Sinnoh folktales Koa will be familiar with from home. If he asks around to follow up on this, he may discover from Emolga Adele in Nina's that at least one of these was told by a Monferno who stopped in town some years ago.

Tyrrier is a region on the northeast coast of Luctemar, a very great distance from the Soja'. It is known for wet and gloomy weather, Old World architectural styles, and being (allegedly) thoroughly haunted. It is northeast of the coastal Commonwealth metropolis of Magna City, and only the wasteland of Malantau is further north still.

Stories of how Saints have conducted themselves is a massive undertaking [[and hard for me to invent and write up within the time available, DAMN girl your boi sure does ask questions]] but Koa discovers that Zeraora Luz – aka the Wandering Light – spent her first century or so as a proper folk hero, known for inspiring feats of heroism, public service in general, and wild parties. She gradually seems to have become more secluded over time following the defeat of a notorious warrior-thief to whom she delivered justice.

There are also mentions among the Abbey's literature of Saints healing the sick, vanquishing warlords, punishing arrogant fools, bringing dramatic periodic weathers, making deals with mortals to teach hard lessons, saving lost children, and (in some cases) causing natural disasters simply by existing. It is said that the Land's Teeth (also known as Groudon's Teeth) are a mountain formation created in living memory in the midwest by said legendary rolling in its subterranean slumber – with great accompanying destruction.

One odd scroll in shabby condition appears to attribute the invention of writing to an ancient Saint.

Another speaks of a 'Hermit' who terrifies wrongdoers away from Obstinea, and kills any who disturb the peace there.

 

[Inkedust]

@Tetra

Tyrrier is a region on the northeast coast of Luctemar, a very great distance from the Soja'. It is known for wet and gloomy weather, Old World architectural styles, and being (allegedly) thoroughly haunted. It is northeast of the coastal Commonwealth metropolis of Magna City, and only the wasteland of Malantau is further north still.

Additionally, it seems that gossip and rumours surrounding the region has increased. Not only is it the native range of the murkrow that has mysteriously spread out across the continent, a new lord has recently taken up power in one of its most populated areas, having taken the current heiress of an extravagant manor as his mate. This has led into plenty of debate surrounding Tyrrier's political landscape and how it may affect relations with the commonwealth and what he plans to do during his visit in the Commonwealth.

 

[Jackie Cat]

"Betel, do you know if it's possible for souls without a vessel to be summoned to Forlas?"

After some consideration, Betel offers what they intuit to be the truth.

I believe that departed souls are generally not eligible for the kind of summoning I performed to fetch you heroic spirits to Forlas. Most worlds have an afterlife that does not permit such planar travels.

However, there are exceptions. For instance, a ghost haunting the material plane is just another soul...

...and a spirit trapped in the Astral Plains, wandering between life and death, could be a valid target, albeit especially difficult to identify and retrieve.

She shows great interest in finding administrative work around the upper-class areas such as the Sun Stone Saloon, taking advantage of the goodwill she had built from running errands for them.

Bellatrix is earning a better rate of pay, lately, and if she is sufficiently shrewd and charming, may be able to influence and learn from these employers.

Over time, Isidora becomes well-acquainted with Little Scriven's library. Following up on the information Ein had given them, she looks for information on the Wight Barren, Eremus Fault, and the wider area they are located in.

The Wight Barren is a desolate wasteland found in the country known as Malantau, in the far north-east of Luctemar. It is a hostile, frozen climate to begin with, and reportedly has deeply disturbing supernatural phenomenae as one approaches its centre, where a mystery dungeon known as Eremus Fault is supposedly located.

It's difficult to verify this either way, as 'mon who attempt investigative expeditions into the Barren are routinely chased away by some kind of spectral figure, presumably a pokémon of some kind. Perhaps it is the 'Wight' for which the Barren is named?

Malantau was once a colony and viceroyalty of the old world country of Arcadelle some centuries ago, and briefly an independent kingdom, before it collapsed due to some internal strife. It is now a sparsely-inhabited territory over which no 'mon claims sovereignty.

There are no records of the Wight Barren existing prior to the fall of the Kingdom of Malantau.

On a particularly free day, she goes to the Ranger HQ with the intention to join them as a Ranger.

Leaf drops by Ranger HQ as and when she's able. She's genuinely still interested in becoming a full-fledged ranger, if they'll have her.

Isidora, Leaf, Koa, Jade and Laura, having all declared their interest in joining the Ranger Union, were placed on an accelerated training and probationary period by Chief Ayda. The Wayfarers' membership is being treated differently to the usual path to earning one's badge, considering their highly unusual circumstances. S

Having deftly defended the Ranger HQ on a midnight watch (while the usual sentries were occupied keeping things together in Blaguarro and elsewhere), these Wayfarers have all been officially sworn in as Rangers of the Sojavena Union. May all of you serve the common good bravely and dutifully.

And hey. Don't lose those badges, rookies.

She tries to spend some time with Leona as well, if and when the lycanroc is up for it.

Leona is open to spending some time with a Wayfarer or two.

She's subdued compared to her midnight counterpart. Quiet, perceptive, a little intense.

[[This is probably worth an actual scene. Are you interested in a one-on-one? ]]

 

[Tetra]

When things have died down a little and Koa has some time alone, he makes his way to the nearest waypoint, and tries to contact Betel. There's something thats been weighing on him for some time...

'I was wondering... What decides what species a uh... soul takes when they come here?'

 

[Namohysip]

The Wayfarers are unceremoniously returned to Frontier Town under the cover of darkness by Giovanni and Red. Giovanni spoke at length with Dave during the flight over about friendship, all the while with an evil smile on his face. He spoke of the science behind bonds and feelings and how they correlate to a Pokemon's aura, and how that resonance can amplify when trust and bonds form between a human and Pokemon... and yet, how two humans have little reaction in the same way. It would be difficult for Dave to see friendship in the same light again.

Those who wished to go with Giovanni to the lab -- such as Silver, Grace, and Mhynt, after some encouragement from her team -- were brought there overnight. They were not permitted to see Owen just yet. Giovanni claimed he had to be stabilized and taught obedience while in his darkened state, though he was only a few rooms over. There did not appear to be any foul play.

Giovanni also kept Ein for the time being, as it was too late at night to do much with Ranger HQ until they could arrange a secure holding cell for him, if desired. Ein was also open for being questioned in his room in Giovanni's lair.

The following morning, in the Maus' Haus, the Wayfarers find a letter in Giovanni's writing--presumably delivered by Red--written in code about some of his findings. First, that Owen was holding a soup can with a message scratched onto it, and no matter what he pressured, he refused to let it go nor show it to him. Second, that Owen was one of the most corroded Pokemon he'd ever seen, and that he was "more wraith than 'mon" at this point, and he wasn't sure if he had a means to repair it without killing him. He didn't know of the relic would have similar results. While Owen was stable, and no longer violent, he did not know how to improve his condition.

 

[Butterfree]

At first Dave rolls his eyes at Mewtwo's talk about the power of friendship. Alternately that and staring as Giovanni chuckles like a maniac about trust and love. But then, as he explains more, an actually interesting hypothesis starts to form. Something specific to humans and Pokémon's auras coming together, where they amplify each other... It's reminiscent of what everyone's been saying about how hanging out with offworlder humans makes their Pokémon partners stronger, isn't it. (As well as of the cheesiest sorts of kids' fantasy adventures in his world, where kids who just become best friends with their Pokémon will therefore just be magically stronger than grown-ass adults with high-level teams.)

What if that's all it is? Some sort of polarity factor to auras, where humans and Pokémon have opposite polarity, and opposite auras amplify each other? Are human offworlders just strong because they're humans transformed into Pokémon, so they natively produce both polarities at once, amplify themselves? One way or another bonds of trust, whatever the fuck that actually means in real terms, create some sort of channel by which the auras involved can affect and amplify each other - sync up frequencies, somehow? And then, if they have kids with a native Pokémon, the kid's aura winds up being 25/75, and so on? Would explain the strength of the human heroes, the heritability of it, the way it dilutes through the generations, as well as how it powers up their partners without making it inheritable from them. All without any weird bullshit where humans just happen to be the superior race - it's not the being human, it's being both at once.

(Unless the humans' aura is 100% human-polarized even when transformed into Pokémon, but all the native Pokémon they hang out with are making them stronger, too? Is there actually any data on whether offworlder humans are strong by default, in a vacuum, or just become strong when they've been here befriending Pokémon for a while? Betel did tell them the main thing was they'd grow stronger quicker than normal - would that have happened even if they'd just been fucking around solo in the desert?)

(Either way, if this is true, then no, being around Pokémon absolutely does not leach the power of the fucking human, Nolan.)

He's not inclined to explain the whole hypothesis forming in his head to Mewtwo, not when he acts like a cackling supervillain about all this, but he does ask how the whole amplified resonance between humans and Pokémon manifests - does that sound at all consistent with how human offworlder power seems to work? Growing stronger faster?

If it does, then he's definitely going to chase this down further... after dragging himself to Dr. Drungfield's to get treatment for his injuries. He probably asks her about it for a second opinion, as well as Greenbough. Does it pass the sniff test? Anything known to be inconsistent or problematic for this? Do we have any sort of technology that might make it easier to create an experimental protocol to verify something like this?

 

[Namohysip]

he does ask how the whole amplified resonance between humans and Pokémon manifests - does that sound at all consistent with how human offworlder power seems to work? Growing stronger faster?

He seems unsure on how to answer. It could be similar, but he suspects that while the results are the same, the mechanisms behind it are different. But for the human offworlders... that seems likely. But even those who had very little human contact, such as the very Charizard they'd taken, seems to be incredibly strong anyway.

"Perhaps you're emulating it," he suggested. "Unless your handler is secretly human. I wouldn't know... but I doubt that."

 

[Jackie Cat]

Winter Crossing has arrived, and the efforts of Escarpa warriors and Soja' Rangers have secured a tenuous peace in the Blaguarro region. Trains are operating again – provisionally, while talks take place with presumptive mayoral candidates about concessions to the Clan – and travelling between as far west as Frontier Town and as far east as the central Commonwealth.

Wayfarers are now able to travel to Novelux, the City of Brilliance.

Novelux is the largest settlement in the midwest, a Commonwealth city through and through. Originally founded more than a century ago as a trading post to do commerce with regional tribes, it has since grown exponentially, largely from immigration. Today, it's a hotspot for technological invention, business innovation, and cultural experimentation, a city of light and noise and the acrid smell of engine oil.

You have already met at least one 'mon who hails from Novelux – Chesnaught Sam, a demihuman security guard employed by Articuno's faction of the Covenant. She told the party that her twice-great grandmother was a folk hero here around the time of its founding, a human summoned to save the region from the Tremor Crisis.

Jade, wanting to track down the Luxio she met when she first arrived in Forlas, has gone to the city's rail and shipping yards to ask the workers there about any relevant rumours, such as a train derailing from nearly three months ago...

[[Other scene hooks to come in the next day or so!]]

 

[MintyMimix]

As Ghaspius checked the mail sent to Drungfield's, he noticed an envelope had been, strangely enough, directly addressed to him.

"Dear Ghaspius 'of the Sun',

Your alchemical endeavors have not gone unnoticed. We believe that with a little bit of guidance, you could perform some truly beneficial work for our business. We are delighted to offer you a position of alchemist, contingent upon screening. Should you choose to accept this offer, you will be responsible for..."

The letter delved into a deluge of chemistry and business jargon as it prattled on about the specifics of the job role. It made no mention of Ghaspius as a Wayfarer, nor any of the group's recent feats, and the "al" in "alchemist" seemed to be scribbled in after the initial writing.

"...If you are interested, please meet with our representative in Novelux on the tour trolley station next to the Museum of Everlasting Brilliance on the 1st of the Months of Spirits. I believe I see potential in others. Such talents should not be wasted, wouldn't you agree?"

The letter had no signature, and the return address was to a PO Box. Delighted and curious to check things out, Ghaspius has openly invited any Wayfarers interested in touring Novelux and meeting this supposed interviewer.

 

[Tetra]

On one of his visits to Mewtwo to see Drapion, Koa asks Mewtwo if he's happened to give away pokeballs to anyone not a Wayfarer. Maybe a different Grovyle, by any chance? While there of course, he spends time with Drapion. Brings some favorite foods. Hang out with his horsescorpion

---

Before heading with Ghapius to Novelux, he inquires after Sybil. Both to see how her studies of the Relic Stone is going, and maybe he happens to enjoy talking with her about her other research... How is her investigation into dungeons going? Any news of other divine dungeons? And what of potential sucessors...

He also wants to try and borrow a bit of the relic stones power again if possible. After all his work with Drapion he'd like to see if its possible to heal him from the shadows and let him return to his proper home. (A tiny part of Koa's trainer instincts longs to travel with Drapion but that doesn't seem fair, not when he isn't staying on Forlas.)
[[ @Inkedust ]]

 

[Namohysip]

Koa asks Mewtwo if he's happened to give away pokeballs to anyone not a Wayfarer. Maybe a different Grovyle, by any chance?

Mewtwo seems puzzled by this and says no, he hasn't, and he's been quite meticulous with tracking his inventory. As far as Koa can tell, Mewtwo is telling the truth, and Red does not contradict him: he did not give Pokeballs in this manner to a non-Wayfarer Grovyle.

 

[Jackie Cat]

'I was wondering... What decides what species a uh... soul takes when they come here?'

Betel takes a while to provide an answer, during which they spend some time in deep thought and analysis.

It seems to be affected by a number of factors, only some of which are innate, and not all of which are immalleable. From observation and intuition, I have hesitantly concluded that some of these factors include a prior close relationship with the target species, a personality trait or proclivity of some kind to which the target species lends itself favourably, and even preferred combat roles to which the target species would be well-suited. I cannot say for certain whether human souls in some way lean towards a specific type, but that may also be relevant. There may even be an aesthetic consideration! However, I would add that a subtle but essential determining factor is the soul's self-image. I doubt that a human would ever take a form they consider entirely inappropriate to them, at least in their 'heart of hearts'.

 

[Chibi Pika]

Lovrina has been complaining a lot lately about being bored, especially after hearing that Ein of all people was first of all not dead, and also going to tenuously ally with the Wayfarers against Alexander (for his own interests, of course).

"C'monnn, it's not like I care what happens to those tryhard losers up at #TerminalOne. The whole reason I was even with Cipher was because all the goody-two-shoes labs wouldn't let me science hard enough because of ethics or whatever."

It seems this could be her way of offering to help. So long as it would allow her to do science again.