Foxside: The Temple of Inari 53 - The New Fluffy Overlords

[Fenric]

[Transport]

Caroline's ears flick down in embarrassment

Well... I was looking for things I could recognize, dear. I've never even indulged in a fly spell before...

She sighs, and examines her finger-claws briefly.

I was not one to ever be called "adventurous", Steven

---

[Koi World]

Valrijah scowls

That is a hammer of Thor that I only recently acquired. Rather a lot fancier than the true Mjolnir, but heavily enchanted and rather precious to his paladins.

Kenji chuckles

But hardly your everyday thing to have around. Are you sure you don't have anything more interesting?

[wxdruid]

Koi World

One of Thecla's eyebrows goes up, if she was in her normal form, one of her ears would have twitched. Interesting things you keep on the floor...do you intend to trip everyone who comes in here? Or can you not move it out of the way. Thecla takes a last look around, turns out the clothing store was more interesting than here. She gives Kenji a questioning look - essentially saying, any more?

[Fenric]

Koi World

Thecla and Kenji get a flat look

Alright, alright: I can't move it. That's where the previous paladin left it, and there it will stay until someone favored of Thor comes to get it.

Kenji's chuckle graduates into a laugh

Sorry, miss Valrijah: you might be hosting that hammer for a long time yet to come.

He shakes his head and then turns to Thecla

I'm out of interesting spots, to be honest. There's a really good tea shop, and Grandfather Koi's garden. We'll need to pick up a gift for him, but it's no big deal.

[Deathkeeper]

Transport

"You are when you need to be." he says with a proud smile.

[Zefir]

[Pokémon Battle]

Zack shakes his head

The even matchup in types is making this a real sleeper of a battle. Kelly's inexperience is all but negating the size advantage her Flareon has, but Vis' tiny Torchic has a tough time ahead of it regardless!

Kelly scowls at her teacher's comments.

Ember, squish 'im: use Tackle!

The flareon spins again the spreads out his front paws and leaps!

---

Koi World

I had replied... took me a while to find it myself :)

http://www.giantitp.com/forums/shows...3&postcount=67

[Pokémon Battle]

Torchic is hit by the flareon. It falls down and stays on the ground. Befor Kelly can shout another order Vis takes his pokeball and calls the fire bird back.

"That was good. Come back." Vis says, then throws Lisa back into the fight. "Your turn Lisa"

[Fenric]

[Transport]

Caroline turns to smile at Steven, then her eyes go wide at the sensation as the transport rapidly gains speed and altitude. Her ears involuntarily folding

Oh my...

---

[Pokémon Battle]

The little Kirlia hops out and looks around

Ember!

Kelley's scowl darkens

Ember, use Ember!

The flareon launches an attack consisting of small flames that try to latch on and burn Lisa!

[Deathkeeper]

Transport

Steven smiles.
"Yeah, flying does that. I haven't done this in years, but the ears popping hasn't gotten any easier just because mine got a lot bigger." he says to himself, not showing any of the discomfort that the altitude brings on.

[Zefir]

[Transport]

Caroline turns to smile at Steven, then her eyes go wide at the sensation as the transport rapidly gains speed and altitude. Her ears involuntarily folding

Oh my...

---

[Pokémon Battle]

The little Kirlia hops out and looks around

Ember!

Kelley's scowl darkens

Ember, use Ember!

The flareon launches an attack consisting of small flames that try to latch on and burn Lisa!

[Pokémon Battle]

"Use Teleport" Vis shouts, already knwing that Kelly might know the trick. Lisa will avoid the ember by teleporting to the side of the fire pokemon.

"Now use Confusion." With that a blast od telekinetik energy is aimed at Ember.

[Fenric]

[Transport]

Caroline winces and swallows nervously, which has the fortunate side-effect of opening her ears

Well... it's certainly different. I do think I prefer the slight dizziness and disorientation of a portal or a teleport over this...

Even though the transport does not rely on airplane type wings, it is still moving through the air and has some reaction to turbulence. And thus, Caroline's next step in her introduction to flying is the all too common motion sickness.

And now ... I'm not feeling very well ...

An acolyte notices, and comes over with a glass of soda water.

Here, my lady: take small sips of this.

Caroline takes the glass and sips as instructed. Then the acolyte turns to Steven

Can I get you anything, your holiness?

---

[Pokémon Battle]

Kelly stomps in frustration as the flames miss Lisa entirely, and growls as Ember looks dazed.

Oh, come on! Never before in history has confuse worked so reliably! Fine, Lisa: try this on for size. Ember: use Attract!

Ember sits down and makes big eyes at Lisa. Zack shakes his head

Well... if Kelly's strategy works, we may have a few rounds of the two Pokémon sitting around not doing anything!

[wxdruid]

Koi World

Thecla and Kenji get a flat look

Alright, alright: I can't move it. That's where the previous paladin left it, and there it will stay until someone favored of Thor comes to get it.

Kenji's chuckle graduates into a laugh

Sorry, miss Valrijah: you might be hosting that hammer for a long time yet to come.

He shakes his head and then turns to Thecla

I'm out of interesting spots, to be honest. There's a really good tea shop, and Grandfather Koi's garden. We'll need to pick up a gift for him, but it's no big deal.

Thecla chuckles with Kenji's laugh, she finds the predicament rather funny herself.

Come on Kenji, let's go enjoy some tea and then find that one of a kind gift She has a bemused look on her face. She assumes that Kenji probably has a place in mind for the last bit of shopping.

((been having medical issues lately. If it isn't one thing in life, it's another))

[Deathkeeper]

Transport

Steven waves the acolyte off.
"No, thanks. I'm pretty fine myself." he says politely, having a stomach made of sterner stuff.

[Fenric]

[Koi World]

Kenji nods with a grin

Sorry, Val: I think we're off. Take care!

He turns to Thecla

Yah, tea would be great. Come on!

and he leads the way back out into the quiet street and down a not particularly challenging set of simple turns, arriving at an open-air tea shop with clean benches and lots of room at the counter

It might not look like much, but this is the best tea in the entire city!

---

[Transport]

Caroline sips at the fizzy drink, and winces as the bubbles go up her nose.

It certainly does have the effect of distracting her, though, and while she looks miserable she doesn't look like she needs to dive for a bag anymore.

Do flying things always bounce around this much?

Poor Caroline... this is a really calm flight by turbulence standards...

[wxdruid]

[Koi World]

Thecla smiles at Kenji, she's beginning to enjoy herself and a cup of tea will hit the spot. Thank Kenji, looks like a pleasant place. She'll pick a herbal type of brew and have a bit of honey added to it for a spot of sweetness.

[Zefir]

[Pokémon Battle]

Kelly stomps in frustration as the flames miss Lisa entirely, and growls as Ember looks dazed.

Oh, come on! Never before in history has confuse worked so reliably! Fine, Lisa: try this on for size. Ember: use Attract!

Ember sits down and makes big eyes at Lisa. Zack shakes his head

Well... if Kelly's strategy works, we may have a few rounds of the two Pokémon sitting around not doing anything!

[Pokémon Battle]

Is ember male? Well think so otherwise this wouldn't work at any way.
The attract works. and leaves Lisa attracted.

"Use Confusion, again." Vis calls, but Lisa doesn't seem to go for the attack.

[Fenric]

[Pokémon Battle]

Yes, Ember is male. And confused. And now Lisa won't attack him.

Kelly gives Zack a withering look, which doesn't really accomplish anything.

Use Tail Whip! At least it can't hurt you.

The Flareon unsteadily spins around and lashes out with his tail: a move that should reduce Lisa's defense ability whenever the battle resumes normally.

---

[Koi World]

Kenji nods

It is: nice and quiet, except right at lunch or on festival days. Nothing going on today, though.

He orders a cup of pu-erh and the tea arrives shortly after in thin, unglazed earthenware cups. Kenji sniffs his tea appreciatively then takes a sip.

[Deathkeeper]

Transport

"Inside airspace isn't ever really calm, given all the things happening in and around it." Steven says, in a statement that sounds like it answers her question, but isn't actually related at all, since the proper answer is "yes, and usually more."

[wxdruid]

[Koi World]

Thecla follows Kenji's example and takes an appreciative sniff of the tea before sipping. Definitely hits the spot. Thanks Kenji, it's been a very pleasant trip to a new place.

[Recaiden]

[Gardens]

Here's Arlem, going about his regular schedule of refreshing the enchantments on the compound. Extradimensional monsters are barred, devastating fires impossible, the inhabitants thoroughly blessed, hungry insects shooed away.
The only difference is that today he has five more tails than he used to, and trying to see whether that bothers anyone.

[Fenric]

[Transport]

Caroline smiles weakly, and reaches out to hold Steven's hand for comfort

Oh, good.

She looks out the window, but there's really nothing to see now but clouds.

The first part of the trip only takes about half an hour, and then there's a noticeable feeling of descent. The pilot announces that they are arriving at the main base to do last minute maintenance checks and take on supplies for the longer trip out over the desert: a three hour layover for the fox party.

Three hours! It's not a bad base by any means, but there's really not all that much to do...

---

[Koi World]

Kenji nods and sips his tea

You're welcome. It's always fun to show new folks around! Say: you're a paladin of sorts, right? Can you do any sort of blessing at all?

---

[Gardens]

Today, Arlem will come across the enthusiastic lentil farmer Killick! The dusty brown sand fox is busy tending a patch of pepper plants that have spots on their leaves. This seems to vex the little fox significantly, and when he sees Arlem in his high-rank robes, Killick scurries over

Oh! Holy Priest, sir...

he trails off, seeing five tails, and his head tilts most comically.

[Recaiden]

[Gardens]

Six tails! He usually has one, of course.

"Inari's blessing on you, Killick. What can I do?"

Arlem tilts his head to match, and looks over the fox and his pepper plants.

[Fenric]

[Gardens]

Killick blinks

You have six tails!

His ears fold down

Um... sorry... it's the peppers! They've got the spots!

He nods very seriously, as if that should explain everything.

[Recaiden]

[Gardens]

"Is six a problem?"

Arlem walks over and leans down to look at the pepper plants.

"They're sick, are they?"

[Zefir]

[Pokémon Battle]

Yes, Ember is male. And confused. And now Lisa won't attack him.

Kelly gives Zack a withering look, which doesn't really accomplish anything.

Use Tail Whip! At least it can't hurt you.

The Flareon unsteadily spins around and lashes out with his tail: a move that should reduce Lisa's defense ability whenever the battle resumes normally.

---

[Koi World]

Kenji nods

It is: nice and quiet, except right at lunch or on festival days. Nothing going on today, though.

He orders a cup of pu-erh and the tea arrives shortly after in thin, unglazed earthenware cups. Kenji sniffs his tea appreciatively then takes a sip.

[Pokémon Battle]

Vis isn't going for that. He knows that at the current situation he is on the bad end of the line so he calls back Lisa. (I think he is allowed to it?)

"It's no use that way." Vis says and then throws the Joltik back in. "Go end it spidy."

As he calls out the little spider out, he got hit by the tail whip

[Fenric]

[Gardens]

Killick's ears fold down in embarrassment

N...no! It just surprised me is all.

Then he nods

It's bad when the chilies get the Spots! The leaves turn blotchy and wilt away and then it won't make any fruit.

He scowls at the planting bed

It's bright and sunny, and has good drainage: no reason for Spots.

---

[Pokémon Battle]

And so Lisa is swapped out. Kelly hmms at the Joltik.

But Ember is still confused! Umm... we've lowered his defense, so now improve our attack: use Sunny Day, Ember!

Ember concentrates, and bright sunlight bathes the room.

[Recaiden]

[Gardens]

"Hmm. The problem might be in the soil or the bugs that visit the plants, right? That's how it was for our, well, they weren't chilies. But our plants."

Arlem smiles and puts a hand on the pepper plant.

"It seems these plants are getting sick;
let's drive this illness out right quick."
Be well, plants!

[Fenric]

[Gardens]

Under Arlem's healing magic, the plant is soon clean and spot-free. And apparently quite attractive: several small green bugs hop over from one of the still-unwell plants.

Leafhoppers! Shameless spreaders of bacteria, virus, and fungi!

Killick has a different interpretation, however.

I would have thought a temple was safe from nasty chili pixies! Wretched things.

Granted, here in the Nexus it's not a given that he's wrong... Was Arlem's pest-repelling spell broad enough to catch leafhoppers?

[Recaiden]

[Gardens]

"It should be..."

Arlem scowls at the leafhoppers and points at one of them, gently pulling it through the air through no apparent means so he can look at it closely. He'd thought he got all the relevant crop pests...but the Nexus is probably full of bugs he's never heard of or imagined.

[Fenric]

[Garden]

The insect certainly looks much like a standard leafhopper, but holding on to it with any sort of magic or psionics may be difficult as it proves to have quite a high degree of magic resistance.

Killick, meanwhile, has caught one through more mundane means for which it has no defense. He peers at the tiny thing.

That's not a pixie... it looks like a green flea. There are plant fleas in the city?

[Recaiden]

[Garden]

"There are plant fleas anywhere we bring plants. And these plant fleas can hop through the temple magic."

Arlem nods slowly.

"So what we need is to let in more of the animals that eat the fleas."

[Zefir]

[Gardens]

Killick's ears fold down in embarrassment

N...no! It just surprised me is all.

Then he nods

It's bad when the chilies get the Spots! The leaves turn blotchy and wilt away and then it won't make any fruit.

He scowls at the planting bed

It's bright and sunny, and has good drainage: no reason for Spots.

---

[Pokémon Battle]

And so Lisa is swapped out. Kelly hmms at the Joltik.

But Ember is still confused! Umm... we've lowered his defense, so now improve our attack: use Sunny Day, Ember!

Ember concentrates, and bright sunlight bathes the room.

[Pokémon Battle]

Well, Kelly seems lucky and hoefully Vis got lucky sometimes.

"Ok Spidy. Thunderbolt!"

The small spider concentrates for a moment and then release a lightning bolt aimed at the Flareon. The attack appears powerfull, which must mean this Joltik is very well trained.