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heartkick_inc[The teens returned to town late that night, soaking wet, and acting like they were starved as they showed up for dinner with a change of clothes and excited chatter. There weren't too many places to eat in town but there was a small restaurant not far from the Pokemon Center that also served as a rest stop for travelers. Neither of the young men felt like cooking after their day and it was nice for a change to just sit back and relax while someone else made dinner. Been a while since they'd done that....]
Old Woman: [she runs the place, but you'd think she'd hire some help around here given how old she seemed as she slowly walked over with a tray of bread and water glasses and set them on the table between her somewhat noisy guests. She certainly wasn't frail though, and half the town knew it, and despite all their chatter, she seemed as excited as ever to overhear them] It sounds like you two have had quite the busy day.
Birch: Apparently we have! Though a good portion of the afternoon we spent wandering Union Cave looking for what turned out to be a Lapras of all things.
Norman: [amused] No monster here, I suppose that would be a relief to you all.
Old Woman: Ah, the creature that arrives about this time every week? Many travelers have told about strange cries deep in the cavern. We've never had any accidents in regard to it though, so I've always found it quite harmless. ^w^
Norman: Lapras are rare though. If I were you, I wouldn't go spreading the word about what's down there. >.>;
Old Woman: It’s a pleasant mystery either way. I wouldn't tell because I wouldn't get to hear all the strange things people come up with for an answer. You won't believe some of the ghost stories and tales of monsters in the deep that breed here in this hall when someone wonders aloud what it could be. And I find it more fun that way ^w^
Birch: Speaking of.... [bit of a wry grin as he's not sure what kind of reaction to expect] While we were trying to find the source of the noises, we came across a section of the cave that lead to what appeared to be large ruins half built into the mountain. Do you any stories about them? o.o
Old Woman: [smiles] Oh I know a thing or two.... But let me grab your dinner first. ^w^
Birch: [chuckles] Alright.
Norman: Well she didn't seem mad about it, at least ^w^;;;
Birch: If they say its alright for us to go then, do you still want to go first thing in the morning?
Norman: I wouldn't mind looking around the place, but do you have any other work you need to do?
Birch: My work is studying the area in and around Azalea Town, which has turned into studying the habitats of pokemon throughout Johto. [takes a bite of bread] If there's any wildlife in there, I suppose that would fall under my studies as well. ^w^
[They both go quiet a moment as they look up to see their kind host coming back to the table. The only other customer in the place had just finished paying and was on his way out the door so the old woman asked the pair if it would be alright for her to sit with them as she explained things and graciously took her seat.]
Old Woman: Ah, let's see. We don't know any more about the ruins than anyone else does, but there isn't a lot to know about them. You know how scientists are with naming things, so it’s come to be called The Ruins of Alph. Short for Alphabet, mind you which only makes sense because while there are paintings of people on the outside.... inside the walls are completely covered in writing.
Birch: Of what?
Old Woman: No one is quite sure really. They're just strange letters, given at random it seems, that were carved into the stone walls like some sort of fanciful wall paper design. There are statues however in what is considered the "main chamber" since it seems to be the largest, but that too is a mystery as they don't seem to say or mean anything. However there are twenty six statues as there are also twenty six letters so one person... I forget the young lady's name, but she was the last go looking there, said that it’s possible each statue may represent something. Like those old children's books going "A is for Abra, B is for Beedrill, C is for-
Norman: [huh, this is a lot less interesting than he thought it would be] But what would be the point?
Old Woman: Heavens if I know, no one has any idea.
Birch: You said the last woman to come through here.... Do you think it would be alright if we took a look around?
Old Woman: Suit yourselves. People from both here and Violet City have wandered the place looking for loot and answers and neither has come up. [there's an odd gleam to her eye though] I do warn you though, no one stays for long. We've never had any accidents reported but many have come back here saying that strange things occur in those dark buildings.
[Now you have their attention. The boys are now staring intently]
Old Woman: They say one can feel a strange presence there, and soft noises that perhaps are the echos of the ancient spirits that still wander those halls. If you take a radio with you, strange music can be heard coming in through the speakers.
Norman: ....... [ghosts. Oh joy, ghosts. Well at least he knows how to take care of THAT if it turns out to be true. Or at least... if they're anything like ghost pokemon] Do you mean to say the place is haunted?
Old Woman: I wouldn't know, I only know the stories. People come up with all sorts of things for that place too. The whole city was abandoned because of a great tragedy. Perhaps it was the home of some wealthy family, a temple maybe? Some talk of madness that drove some poor sap to carve all that meaningless babble on those walls, others that it’s really some divine language we could never decipher. The stories get stranger with each passing visitor, though most are the ones who found the main chamber. Where did you say you found these?
Birch: While exploring Union Cave. The area we came across had wild Smeargle and looked pretty long since abandoned.
Old Woman: Now that is a strange thought. Or place I should say. I don't now many who have gone THROUGH the cave to reach the ruins, since the main chamber can be reached by those who dare to traverse the woods.... Did you find anything else out there?
Norman: Quite a few Natu running around if that's what you mean o.o
Old Woman: [now you have her attention. Natu are.... strange. Not rare, exactly but they do hold some folklore to them about their strange otherworldly gaze. Now why would so many be around there?] I meant other than the ruins. That area perhaps isn't very well known, clearly not often explored. I'm sure there is nothing there, but some caution would be wise. The ruins are ruins for a reason.
Norman: We've traveled more dangerous places before. [Like Burnt Tower which they honestly weren't supposed to go in. There was even a sign out front saying BEWARE ALL YE WHO ENTER HERE more or less, and the place was full of holes, rotting floorboards and rat-pokemon.]
Old Woman: [nods in understanding] Well you two have already quite the reputation as trainers, and your exploits up north have traveled well. But if you find anything, would you do me a favor?
Birch: Favor? o.o
Old Woman: If you do find anything, don't tell me. The mystery is far more fun if it stays that way. ^w^
Boys: [well that lightened the mood and certainly brought up a smile for both]
Old Woman: [she runs the place, but you'd think she'd hire some help around here given how old she seemed as she slowly walked over with a tray of bread and water glasses and set them on the table between her somewhat noisy guests. She certainly wasn't frail though, and half the town knew it, and despite all their chatter, she seemed as excited as ever to overhear them] It sounds like you two have had quite the busy day.
Birch: Apparently we have! Though a good portion of the afternoon we spent wandering Union Cave looking for what turned out to be a Lapras of all things.
Norman: [amused] No monster here, I suppose that would be a relief to you all.
Old Woman: Ah, the creature that arrives about this time every week? Many travelers have told about strange cries deep in the cavern. We've never had any accidents in regard to it though, so I've always found it quite harmless. ^w^
Norman: Lapras are rare though. If I were you, I wouldn't go spreading the word about what's down there. >.>;
Old Woman: It’s a pleasant mystery either way. I wouldn't tell because I wouldn't get to hear all the strange things people come up with for an answer. You won't believe some of the ghost stories and tales of monsters in the deep that breed here in this hall when someone wonders aloud what it could be. And I find it more fun that way ^w^
Birch: Speaking of.... [bit of a wry grin as he's not sure what kind of reaction to expect] While we were trying to find the source of the noises, we came across a section of the cave that lead to what appeared to be large ruins half built into the mountain. Do you any stories about them? o.o
Old Woman: [smiles] Oh I know a thing or two.... But let me grab your dinner first. ^w^
Birch: [chuckles] Alright.
Norman: Well she didn't seem mad about it, at least ^w^;;;
Birch: If they say its alright for us to go then, do you still want to go first thing in the morning?
Norman: I wouldn't mind looking around the place, but do you have any other work you need to do?
Birch: My work is studying the area in and around Azalea Town, which has turned into studying the habitats of pokemon throughout Johto. [takes a bite of bread] If there's any wildlife in there, I suppose that would fall under my studies as well. ^w^
[They both go quiet a moment as they look up to see their kind host coming back to the table. The only other customer in the place had just finished paying and was on his way out the door so the old woman asked the pair if it would be alright for her to sit with them as she explained things and graciously took her seat.]
Old Woman: Ah, let's see. We don't know any more about the ruins than anyone else does, but there isn't a lot to know about them. You know how scientists are with naming things, so it’s come to be called The Ruins of Alph. Short for Alphabet, mind you which only makes sense because while there are paintings of people on the outside.... inside the walls are completely covered in writing.
Birch: Of what?
Old Woman: No one is quite sure really. They're just strange letters, given at random it seems, that were carved into the stone walls like some sort of fanciful wall paper design. There are statues however in what is considered the "main chamber" since it seems to be the largest, but that too is a mystery as they don't seem to say or mean anything. However there are twenty six statues as there are also twenty six letters so one person... I forget the young lady's name, but she was the last go looking there, said that it’s possible each statue may represent something. Like those old children's books going "A is for Abra, B is for Beedrill, C is for-
Norman: [huh, this is a lot less interesting than he thought it would be] But what would be the point?
Old Woman: Heavens if I know, no one has any idea.
Birch: You said the last woman to come through here.... Do you think it would be alright if we took a look around?
Old Woman: Suit yourselves. People from both here and Violet City have wandered the place looking for loot and answers and neither has come up. [there's an odd gleam to her eye though] I do warn you though, no one stays for long. We've never had any accidents reported but many have come back here saying that strange things occur in those dark buildings.
[Now you have their attention. The boys are now staring intently]
Old Woman: They say one can feel a strange presence there, and soft noises that perhaps are the echos of the ancient spirits that still wander those halls. If you take a radio with you, strange music can be heard coming in through the speakers.
Norman: ....... [ghosts. Oh joy, ghosts. Well at least he knows how to take care of THAT if it turns out to be true. Or at least... if they're anything like ghost pokemon] Do you mean to say the place is haunted?
Old Woman: I wouldn't know, I only know the stories. People come up with all sorts of things for that place too. The whole city was abandoned because of a great tragedy. Perhaps it was the home of some wealthy family, a temple maybe? Some talk of madness that drove some poor sap to carve all that meaningless babble on those walls, others that it’s really some divine language we could never decipher. The stories get stranger with each passing visitor, though most are the ones who found the main chamber. Where did you say you found these?
Birch: While exploring Union Cave. The area we came across had wild Smeargle and looked pretty long since abandoned.
Old Woman: Now that is a strange thought. Or place I should say. I don't now many who have gone THROUGH the cave to reach the ruins, since the main chamber can be reached by those who dare to traverse the woods.... Did you find anything else out there?
Norman: Quite a few Natu running around if that's what you mean o.o
Old Woman: [now you have her attention. Natu are.... strange. Not rare, exactly but they do hold some folklore to them about their strange otherworldly gaze. Now why would so many be around there?] I meant other than the ruins. That area perhaps isn't very well known, clearly not often explored. I'm sure there is nothing there, but some caution would be wise. The ruins are ruins for a reason.
Norman: We've traveled more dangerous places before. [Like Burnt Tower which they honestly weren't supposed to go in. There was even a sign out front saying BEWARE ALL YE WHO ENTER HERE more or less, and the place was full of holes, rotting floorboards and rat-pokemon.]
Old Woman: [nods in understanding] Well you two have already quite the reputation as trainers, and your exploits up north have traveled well. But if you find anything, would you do me a favor?
Birch: Favor? o.o
Old Woman: If you do find anything, don't tell me. The mystery is far more fun if it stays that way. ^w^
Boys: [well that lightened the mood and certainly brought up a smile for both]
