Session 101b

The Team Stormcloud factory lies before Sam and Max. Somewhere inside reportedly lurks the team's leader.
Unfortunately, all entrances appear to be blocked at the moment, rubble having fallen over them during the fighting.
Max Thorn: "Minerva can probably dig us a hole through the rubble, but…we might be better off getting in from the roof…?"
[OOC] Sam Spade: But the rest of the team is going to the roof and we're not. So…
Sam Spade: "Any windows?"
[OOC] WC GM: Don't let that stop you if you think it the best solution.
There are indeed several windows. The first floor ones are difficult to get to, but above that some are even open - although they seem to have proximity sensors, automatically shutting when someone tries to fly in.
Max Thorn: "…That we can smash through? Yeah, that's a thought."
Sam Spade: "I'm in the mood to smash through something."
Max Thorn makes a polite 'after you' gesture toward a likely suspect.
Sam Spade: "Malta, can you…?"
Malta: "Talon!"
Malta darts up into the sky, then hovers near the window, whipping up a whirlwind around herself. Razor Wind!
[OOC] WC GM: Autohit, but roll damage.
Malta rolled up 2d6+10+17: 34 (2 5)
The reinforced glass is tough. It is a good thing Malta did not try to smash through, though one or two more Razor Winds should do the job.
[OOC] Sam Spade: I was gonna have Chicklet Dynamic Punch but Chicklet is down for the count.
Malta shrieks in rage and cuts loose once more.
[OOC] WC GM: Yes, this is factored into this encounter. You'll get a chance to rest after, but this is an extended combat.
The window spiderwebs, goes opaque, then slowly shatters. Much of Malta's second Razor Wind is more about widening the hole than making it, but there is now a big enough opening for Sam, Max, and any of their pokemon - one at a time, and a story off the ground.
Max Thorn: "Hmm. Malta, if you wouldn't mind…once you help Sam up, could you help me up?"
Malta caws in triumph, then bolts forward, smashing into a likely part of the remaining window! Acrobatics!
Malta comes away with shards of safety glass in her talons.
Malta glares at the window, then dives down to the…well, walkway.
Sam Spade: "Whoa! Be careful, Malta!"
Sam Spade: Sam carefully picks out the shards.
Some of the shards are big enough to use as weapons.
Stray Hyper Beams blast from the rooftop, seeming to momentarily drink up all light in the nearby sky as they pass overhead.
Max Thorn: "…I hope things are going okay up there."
Sam Spade: "Me too. Malta, think you can get us inside?"
Malta: "Flame!"
Malta grabs Sam and drags her into the sky.
Sam Spade: "Malta, wait!"
Sam is hurled into the building.
Malta darts back down and gently grasps Max's shoulders, then pulls him up.
Max Thorn gets ready to land as he's picked up.
[OOC] WC GM: Does Sam set down on the windowsill, or further inside?
[OOC] WC GM: Actually - NM, fling works.
Sam Spade falls through the window and rolls, not ungently.
As Sam flies in, the roof shakes. Before she can even land, something small, black, and yellow falls from the ceiling - Pichu, falling helplessly right in front of her, mid-air.
[OOC] WC GM: Within arm's reach.
[OOC] Max Thorn: OH BOY
Sam Spade pins the pichu down, and demands, "What did you do?"
Pichu: "Pichuuu!" He squirms in her grip ineffectually.
The floor Sam lands on seems a bit soft and furry, like a thin carpet…and moving. It is decidedly yellow, with black and red highlights.
Sam Spade: "…What…did you do."
Sam can feel an electric field gently coursing through the floor.
The pichu's voice echoes from several points on the floor…and the walls and ceiling, likewise carpeted at first glance.
Sam grimaces and looks around the room.
Max Thorn gets flung in right about now, though he lands shorter than Sam did owing to his greater weight. "Oof."
The floor "pichu" s where Max lands.
The room - from eyes in every direction - begins to look back at Sam.
Max Thorn looks around, and issues a flat, "What."
Sam Spade raises the pichu in her hands. Is it *the* pichu?
The pichubot in Sam's hands begins to fall apart.
Malta dives in after Max and alights on the pichu floor.
Sam Spade sets the pichubot on the pichucarpet.
Max Thorn: "…Please don't tell me we're in a nest of ditto."
A thousand or more voices call out from all around the room, "PIII, CHUUU!"
Sam Spade: "It's worse."
Sam Spade takes a few more steps forward, looking around.
Shapes begin to resolve - various kinds of metal shaping, electronics fabbing, and general manufacturing equipment, stuck on automatic. New pichubots emerge now and then.
Max Thorn lets Minerva out again, now that they're inside the factory.
If one could get a leg through the carpet, the pichubots would be about knee high.
Max Thorn: "…Oh, I see now. Lovely."
Max Thorn: "Well. Let's go see how to shut this down, then."
Sam Spade: "Yeah."
A wave of thunder rolls through the pichucarpet, temporarily paralyzing those in contact with it. It wears off after about a minute, but the pichus seem to be gearing up for more.
Sam Spade: "Um. And quickly?"
Max Thorn: "…And here's me deciding Antheia could use a rest." Max swears, then goes a-hunting.
[OOC] WC GM: Tech Ed or Perception to search.
Sam Spade rolled up 5d6: 17 (5 3 5 2 2) (Perception)
Max Thorn rolled up 6d6: 24 (5 5 3 6 1 4) (Tech Ed)
Cable runs that seem hastily assembled lead up the walls, apparently channeling power and data. The power feeds go through the roof; the data feeds to a pichu-covered unit in the middle of the ceiling. The building being a three story tall warehouse means Sam and Max have line of sight to the unit, but the covering will need to be removed to see what it is.
Max Thorn: "…I'm thinking a Dragon Breath or three'll do the job."
Max Thorn tries to predict the timing of the Thunderwaves so he can jump just before they roll through…
[OOC] WC GM: Relevant skill - I can see cases for Combat, Acrobatics, and Focus
[OOC] Max Thorn: I'll go with Combat.
Sam Spade pulls out Noiseless's pokeball and releases the Noibat.
Max Thorn rolled up 6d6: 17 (4 2 2 3 5 1) (Combat)
[OOC] WC GM: Is Sam jumping too, or does she have another solution?
Sam Spade rolled up 6d6: 21 (5 4 3 2 1 6) (Focus)
There are dance games with less focus than Sam and Max display. Which is good, as the waves of thunder start arcing and becoming thunderbolts, then just plain thunder.
Arcs ripple around the factory, and soon Max and Sam are effectively playing electric jump rope.
Max Thorn: "This is ridiculous."
[OOC] WC GM: Tech Ed if you want - though I suspect OOCly you might already know where this is heading.
[OOC] Max Thorn: Oh probably. Best to be sure, though.
Max Thorn rolled up 6d6: 19 (1 2 3 6 2 5) (Tech Ed again)
The electric arcs rotate around and around the facility, just like a motor.
Max recalls seeing floating platform machinery forming the platform around the factory.
But inefficient, apparently built to receive the output of a building-sized engine.
[OOC] Max Thorn: a fucking Megaman stage. that's what this is. :V
[OOC] WC GM: I did take some inspiration from Air Man's stage, among other sources. :3
[OOC] Max Thorn: *punt* :P
Max Thorn: "All right… Minerva, toss some Dragon Breath at that unit."
[OOC] WC GM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opADNvgeZYY
[OOC] WC GM: Roll to-hit - the pichubots are blocking, but Evasion 0 - then damage if hit.
Max Thorn rolled up 1d20 2d8+24: 5 (5) 28 (1 3) (AC 2, paralyze on 15+)
[OOC] Max Thorn: Unfortunately, all her other, more damaging, moves are Melee, so…
The unit continues to not move, effectively paralyzed before it was even hit.
A few of the pichubots are brushed away, falling to the floor. Behind them seems to be some kind of glass container with more yellow and black inside - maybe another pichubot?
Max Thorn: "…That's either a master-copy pichubot or an actual pichu."
The electric jumprope changes its rhythm, becoming faster as well.
[OOC] WC GM: Athletics/Focus/Combat again
Max Thorn rolled up 6d6: 26 (5 4 4 6 5 2) (Combat)
Minerva rolled up 5d6+2: 19 (2 5 5 4 1) (Acrobatics)
[OOC] WC GM: And Sam?
Sam Spade rolled up 5d6: 22 (2 5 4 5 6) (Focus)
Noiseless hovers over the floor, focuses, and a wave of energy rolls out of her. Dragon Pulse!
[OOC] Max Thorn: brb
WC GM rolled up 4d10+30: 48 (10 1 4 3)
Minerva is grazed for (48-SpDef) electric damage. Sam and Max manage to evade, but their margin is closer this time.
[OOC] WC GM: Noiseless is attacking the floor? Roll it if so.
[OOC] Max Thorn: 72/107
Sam Spade rolled up 1d20 3d10+10+17: 7 (7) 47 (9 6 5)
Noiseless manages to scatter enough pichubots to expose a spot of floor, temporarily.
The floor is crisscrossed with power and data cables, two of which are gently glowing a soft blue-white.
Sam Spade: "Power lines?"
Max Thorn: "Probably. Let's cut them and find out."
Minerva proceeds to Dig into the floor, targeting those particular cables.
[OOC] Max Thorn: Or tries to, anyway.
The cables are cut easily. The floor begins to tilt, one way then another. The walls must be a bit flexible as this does not immediately tilt the ceiling.
Max Thorn: "…Um."
Sam Spade: "…Should we be in -"
Sam Spade: "Um. How was the factory being kept up again?"
Sam Spade: "PICHU BOTS! DID WE BREAK THE FACTORY?"
Pichubots: "PICHU?"
Max Thorn: "What a…helpful response."
Storm clouds gather outside. Sam feels a tingle of familiar power, far above.
Sam Spade: "Uh. I think someone might be intervening?"
Max Thorn: "On whose behalf, though?"
[OOC] WC GM: Reconnecting the power lines, or what are you doing?
Max Thorn hastily tries to reconnect the lines to see if that corrects the tilt…
[OOC] WC GM: Tech Ed
Max Thorn rolled up 6d6: 23 (1 2 6 6 2 6)
A few quick splices, and the floor stops threatening to fall away.
The electric jumprope slows for a bit, perhaps reestablishing itself.
Max Thorn: "Right…let's focus on that, then." He gestures up at the central unit.
[OOC] WC GM: So, next move? Anyone that can fly can get up there, or there are other ways.
[OOC] Max Thorn: I'd say Malta or Noiseless could go give it a few whacks.
Noiseless darts up to the central unit and glares at it. The glare drops as she looks at Sam, a question in her eyes.
Sam Spade: "Do we kill that, Max?"
Max Thorn: "I'd believe so, the electric jump-rope got harder after Minerva attacked it so they obviously care about it."
Max Thorn: "And there's a pichu in there. Could be the one you want to punch into the stratosphere."
Sam Spade: "Okay! Noiseless, go!"
The pichubots reshuffle themselves to cover the earlier hole to the floor. They are now almost waist-high.
Noiseless hovers a bit back from the core and lets out a high-pitched whine. For a moment, nothing happens, then a huge rock falls through the ceiling and smashes into the core. Draco Meteor!
Sam Spade rolled up 1d20 4d10+20+17: 19 (19) 63 (10 3 3 10) (Smite)
The core unit comes off the ceiling - there being no more ceiling for it to be attached to, in that location - landing right in front of Sam. The machinery, and the electric jumprope, grind to a halt.
Max Thorn: "Oh, good. I like guessing correctly."
In the ruins of the node - a scanner, that had been feeding measurements to make pokebots out of - lies a certain pichu, somewhat dazed while crawling free of the wreckage.
Sam Spade darts forward and smacks the pichu.
Sam Spade: "WHAT WERE YOU THINKING!?"
Pichu: "Piii, chu?"
Through the hole above can be seen Moltres, Zapdos, and Articuno peering down quizzically, while cuddling someone of Dojjian complexion that neither Max nor Sam immediately recognize.
[OOC] Sam Spade: Does the someone give Sam a familiar *feeling* at all?
Max Thorn pulls an Ultra Ball out and bounces it in his hand, eyeing the pichu.
[OOC] WC GM: A little.
Max Thorn glances up momentarily… "I wonder."
Sam Spade: "Well, we'll see what *they* have to say."
The pichu backs away from Max warily, right into Sam's chest.
Max Thorn: "Right, just as soon as we deal with *this* pipsqueak."
Sam Spade: "…I meant about the pipsqueak."
Max Thorn: "Oh."
Sam Spade waits a second, then grabs the pichu and flings him up towards the hole in the roof.
Max Thorn gets ready to bean the pichu with the Ultra Ball if it doesn't look like the avian trio are going to do anything to him.
The pichu flies up into the air. The legendary birds watch him ascend, crest the arc, then descend.
[OOC] Max Thorn: He's going to throw it as soon as the pichu lands, if the trio don't do anything to him, in other words.
The lady with them scowls. "Hey, down there, could you smack him for me? He was draining me to power something about making enough of him for everyone."
[OOC] WC GM: They don't, but Sam gets a chance to act first.
Max Thorn: "He'll be brought to justice, and that's going to be the next item on the long list of charges he'll be facing."
[OOC] WC GM: Since he's basically falling right back toward Sam.
Sam Spade: "Yes ma'am!"
Sam Spade waits until he's back in reach, then tries to hit him to Max.
[OOC] WC GM: Roll it. Struggle attack if no other move.
Just as Sam is preparing to strike, she can feel flame and fury gathering around her fist of their own accord.
[OOC] WC GM: Does she go with it, try to temper, or…?
[OOC] Sam Spade: Try to temper it, I think.
Sam Spade rolled up 1d20: 15 (15)
[OOC] WC GM: Hits
Sam Spade rolled up 1d8+6+8: 16 (2)
[OOC] Max Thorn: Combat to catch the little rat, then?
The impact would have smashed the pichu into the wall, at least knocking him out if not killing him. With Sam's focused restraint, though, the pichu is merely lobbed on a high arc straight to Max.
[OOC] WC GM: No need. Just roll capture check.
Max Thorn tosses the ball at the pichu, which is easy enough.
Max Thorn rolled up 1d100: 90 (90)
Sam Spade: "Is that what you wanted, Lady?"
The ball wobbles and clicks mid-air, capture complete before the ball returns to Max's hand.
Max Thorn: "Feeling better, Sam?"
Fiza: "Call me Fiza. That will do." She tilts her head. "I saw that, just now. You struggle against your power?"
Sam Spade: "I…ah…don't think that was my power. I think?"
Sam Spade: "Are you the gym leader?"
Fiza: "I am. And the rebellion leader…or I was."
Fiza: "I can see it in you. It is power you are loaned, but it is still power you control." She frowns. "I have seen this power before. Are you the lover of the lady who freed me just now?"
Sam Spade: "Ah. That's…that makes sense."
Sam Spade: "Uh, no. No - wait. Um."
Fiza: "Ah. Please forgive; I was not sure."
Sam Spade: "Was that lady about yay high, purplish hair? Or…was she the friend of those birds?"
Sam Spade: "Because if it was Cheri, then no, but that one might be lending me some of their power?"
Fiza: "I refer to the one who has befriended the master of my friends."
Fiza: "Yours is the power of that master's beloved."
Max Thorn: "Then no. We're friends with her, though."
Sam Spade: "She's great though, isn't she?"
Fiza: "I…can not fail to compliment my rescuer, yes."
Fiza: "She and her ally are up here, rescuing another ally. Would you care to come up here so we can all speak together?"
Sam Spade: "That would be quite useful."
Sam Spade: "Malta, can you give me a lift?"
Malta: "Talonflame!"
The pichubots have begun shutting down, raining down from the ceiling and walls. They are soon shoulder-high on the floor, their depth growing.
Malta grabs Sam and hauls her through the hole in the roof.
Max finds himself in a rising tide of pichubots.
Max Thorn climbs up the pichubots…
[OOC] WC GM: Jumping bot to bot to get to the roof's hole?
[OOC] Max Thorn: Something like that, yeah.
[OOC] WC GM: I'll allow a Combat check to try it.
Max Thorn rolled up 6d6: 13 (1 2 2 5 1 2)
[OOC] Max Thorn: …well I guess I was about due for a garbage roll.
[OOC] Sam Spade: At worst, Malta thinks the faster ways to get Sam to the ground are more fun.
Max manages to jump from pichubot to pichubot, but not fast enough to make progress.
[OOC] Sam Spade: If that's okay?
[OOC] WC GM: It is.
Malta dives back in through the hole, sans Sam, and hauls Max out of the pichupile.
Malta: "Talon?"
Max Thorn: "Thanks, Malta."
Malta: "Flame!"
Malta sets Max gently down on the rooftop…
Melted beams and other such collateral damage attest to the recent battle among the scaffolding above the roof.
Esme and Linnea are there off to a corner with Tim, looking perfectly at home in the middle of craters and melt.
Fiza: "Thank you for rescuing my city. I apologize that I now must ask you for more, but it seems this is my fate."
Max Thorn: "Troubleshooting is kinda our job at this point."
Max Thorn: "…I'm just glad I'm not literally shooting trouble."
Fiza: "Yes, umm, that is prophetic phrasing. You see, the trouble will be shooting at you, with self-destructing pineco grenades."
[OOC] WC GM: +100 pokemon XP each for this battle - even Esme & Linnea