This world is inhabited by creatures that we call pokemon. People and pokemon live together by supporting each other, but now the scourge threatens the safety of the entire region. Kohaku has become a dangerous place, where children stay at home and only brave souls go adventuring.
Welcome to KOHAKU. Come for the nightmares. Stay for the tea and crumpets.
The season is SUMMER. It is easy for survivors to forage for food from the land, as there are entire abandoned farms ready for harvest. On the downside, you can smell the corpses.
swarms
GRAND OPENING !
Welcome to KOHAKU REGION's grand opening! If you're interested in joining, come check out our grand opening giveaway!
"it is, isn't it? but there's a disadvantage to it as well - tearing someone away from death takes at toll on them, body and mind. they'll be weaker after they come back, and disorientated; but with enough care and caution, they'll be fine."
the clauncher ignores the krabby, because what in the name of arceus just happened.
"Does it take the same toll on the user?" Hieronymous' sudden change from brashness to quietness was a little startling, an effect he had never seen a Ranger sign cause before. He really hoped the man would be okay . . .
hiernymous waves his cane in the air, demonstrating that no, there isn't such a toll. "it's only fatigue, boy. i'll be fine after a good night's rest."
he looks carefully at the ranger. "you've seen the sign; do you think you can draw the sign yourself?"
He paused, closing his eyes and trying to visualize the sign. With small, precise hand movements he traced it out, unwilling to just turn on his Styler right away. Slow, unsteady motions slowly became more crisp and confident, Dan grinning a bit as he began to better understand what he had been shown. "I think I can.
Dan cringed a little at the sight of the injury. Such brutality could only have been the work of the Scourge or of a negligent trainer: he was unsure which possibility disgusted him more. He took in a slight breath, keeping his composure as he steadily started to lift his Styler.
"Don't worry. You're in good hands now . . ." he responded, voice gentle but reassuring. He began tracing out the patterns Hieronymous had demonstrated, slowly but surely. He knew it was too late to let his nerves get to him now.
87sSdN|_ 1-20, flawless revive. 21-40, good revive. 41-60, standard revive. 61-100, unsuccessful.
When the sign had finished tracing he waited, watching to see if his mission had been a success. The fatigue had left him a bit breathless, but he had the feeling everything was going to be okay.
the unfezant stirs and sits up, coughing awkwardly, and the old ranger digs out another blanket and drapes it over the bird pokemon. it huddles into the warmth, and hiernymous takes the clauncher over to it so that they'll be sharing body heat, at least.
"good job," hiernymous grumbles. what is it with these newbie rangers and getting the sign right on the first try these days? but he does give him a nod. "you know the sign now - don't forget it. and be sure you use it sparingly; it is not a toy to fool around with. death is not a game."
"I understand. I'll treat it with the reverence it deserves." Dan's voice had gone quiet, part from fatigue and part from the sheer awe at what he had accomplished.
Of course, that didn't mean he'd forget the sights he saw. So many corpses stacked atop each other in this mausoleum. The dead and the dying alike being tended to, despite there being more injured than attendants. The sheer, frantic pressure that went into saving a life: was this really what the aftermath of the Scourge war was like? It was a grim, yet very sobering reminder.
"Is there anything else I can do for them?" he asked, shooting a worried look first at the recovering Pokemon, then at the multitude of bodies and slabs surrounding the morgue.
"no." hiernymous' voice is old and weary. this is a talk that he finds he has to give to every ranger that passes through the shrine - they all think that with the rebirth sign, all they have to do is wave their styler and everything will be alright. but it doesn't work that way. "the dead should stay dead. only use the sign in times of great need."
"as for the living..." he glances toward the two pokemon; both are looking at dan with interest, although they are still traumatized by their death and resurrection. "if you wish, you may take one of them as a partner. otherwise they will go to sa'di for training as a starting ranger's partner or will stay here and help defend the shrine."
"I understand. Thank you very much for your teachings." He smiled, reverent and thankful, before moving toward the two Pokemon.
He wished he could take them both in. And yet sadly, he only had room for one other partner on his team. He squatted down to look the Clauncher in the eye, smiling gently at him. "You can come with Ambrose and me. We'll take good care of you, promise," He then turned to the Unfezant. "And you're really big and strong. I know you'll be able to keep any new rangers safe and sound."
He reached out to gently pick the tired Clauncher up, Ambrose looking up at him and flashing a grin. He waved casually, as if welcoming his new partner-in-crime to the squad.
he watches as the clauncher goes along with the two, and nods decisively. the unfezant, he puts a reassuring shoulder on; the bird pokemon smiles up at him, still shaken from his recent pull from death. the clauncher will have to go through some therapy as well, no doubt; and hiernymous wishes the trio luck.
"take care of it." he turns and with the unfezant at his heels the old ranger starts back up the stairs, leaving what pokemon that take care of the morgue to blow out the light. "i'm getting too old for this."