Altimis scoots his bottom back until he's sitting up against a boulder. He accidentally leans against something sore, (Ooh, that's gonna leave a mark.). He waves Sombra away with a nod, and she crawls close to the ground.
A usual Onix would be easy to tame, an angry Onix... not so much. The onix went back underground, so it'd be difficult to sense, but not impossible. Sombra is leaning close to the ground and trying to feel and preempt where it will appear next; again, difficult, but not impossible.
Her horn starts to glow, and she backs up against another wall. The world begins to rumble, before the magnificent beast appears.
Altimis starts doing some quick calculations in his head, though it was too soon to come to anything conclusive...

Sombra has a Lonely nature (+ATK/-DEF), and would be attacking with physical attacks. Does that follow her nature?
If not...

If so, add the following...

Altimis crosses his fingers.
I'm going to make a post assuming it follows the nature...

Sombra's horn glows more radiantly, and even some of the dust that had been kicked up seems a bit thinner due to the increased light. She steadies herself against the stone as the world around them shakes.
A few smaller rocks shift and roll along, and then a few larger boulders crack, then Sombra launched herself in the air swinging her horn and releasing the stored energy preemptively.

The onix soared out of the ground again, dislodging more debris, and Sombra's blow connects with it just under the chin. The onix looks slightly dazed which allows Sombra ample time to return and stand firmly between it and Altimis. She releases a loud growl and her horn is glowing again.

"Atta'girl, Sombra!" Altimis cheers from behind her. He winces a bit, as he remembers his pain.

I don't know exactly what the process is for not battling pokemon, but is there any chance that Sombra would be able to communicate with the Onix and (relatively) peacefully entice it to relax/go away.

For example: saying we're here to help, or trying to find out why it's angry etc...

Altimis: You're hemmed in on all sides and separated from Shuuji - but Sombra is no stranger to fighting alone. She pounces. It's like watching a rockslide in slow motion - the wild Onix reels from the force of the blow, skidding and slamming into the opposite wall! You've scored one hit out of three!

You race through possibilities in your mind, trying to figure out a way to communicate with the Onix. You know that Sombra can speak with it... but what would she even say? What could calm down a raging Onix? Sombra looks to you for orders - then you're snapped back to reality as you feel a sandstorm start to whip up inside the cavern! The wild Onix is whirling around you faster and faster, trapping you inside a sand tomb!

You and Sombra start sinking into the ground...

What will Sombra do?

Altimis sticks his hand out to try and correctly assess the direction of the rotation of the sandstorm. He shifts himself around the boulders accordingly to avoid the brunt of the storm, but loose sand is still flying around causing some of the debris to shift and sink as well. After a few brief moments he holds his hand in front of hi mouth and shouts to Sombra.
"See if you can knock some sense into it! Use Night Slash!" Altimis struggles to cough out.
Sombra nods and wearily looks for an opportunity to pounce at the Onix. She quickly dusts her feet off, and launches herself into the storm.



Regarding pokeballs... do I have to wait until the pokemon has taken three hits... or must they be used befor ethree hits occurs? Just for future reference...

Sombra completely misses the Onix as it flails around whipping up the sandstorm. She appears to look disgusted with herself as she cradles a boulder for protection.
Altimis shifts around a bit to avoid the shifting debris, and when he does, a small stone rolls out of his pocket. He doesn't notice exactly what it is, but he picks it up quikly in order to prevent it from being lost among the other stones.
When he picks it up, it begins to glow, and the same effect as Sombra's horn happens. The effects of the sandstorm seem to lightene slightly, and Altimis gets a slightly better view of the Onix.
He quickly assesses the pattern and tries to explain it to Sombra as well as he can, in hopes for another attack.

"Look how it moves..." He goes into details about the tail and the body following behind the head, and whipping around. "...just follow the head and the body will find its way there soon enough. Or better yet, jump against the sandstorm, and it will find you! Just make sure to deals som damage when you do!"

Sombra nods, and once again launches herself into the sandstorm.

using the star piece. Now that I'm analzying the sandstorm... do I get an extra die for using my talent? If not...


If so, add...

That's what I did, I thought. After a brief analysis, I had Sombra jump against the sandstorm, so that they would inevitably connect? Right?
To be fair, I forgot to post after noticing the five and re-describe what happened... so something like this should suffice (maybe)?

Sombra leapt into the sandstorm, going against the wind. As predicted, the Onix came around, and met her with unstoppable force.
Altimis heard a difficult crush, but Sombra acted as though she were unfazed. She wrapped herself around the body of the Onix and climbed on top of it as it flailed through the storm. When she was stable, Sombra harnessed a dark energy, and slashed fiercly with both of her claws.

... Bits of rubble fell from Onix's nigh impenetrable armor.

It shrieked loudly and flung Sombra aside like a ragdoll. She landed harshly near me, and her legs crumpled for a moment. Two hard blows were difficult to handle, but she was still determined to protect Altimis.

"Be careful out there Sombra. You're doing well, but you're under much duress. Bide your time appropriately, and try again." He soothes from his vantage point, as he, once again, squirms out of the shifting rubble.

Okay, enough joking around.

"Your Onix can still dig, right? In that case, he should be better off than we are. Therefore...
I'm going to start running, and just pray I don't need that rope. Do whatever, although your chances of being productive here are slim."
Stretching the limits of how long a conversation should be in the current situation, I head off into the/a tunnel.

"Whimsicott, can you keep me safe from any debris, just in case?"

Not sure if you want a roll for anything, but I assume you do. Either my nature in sprinting the best I can, or my bond if rocks falling is an actual threat.

Jet looks over the chaos as the cavern collapses around them. His first instinct is to try and somehow rush the cliff side, somehow try and dig Tiny out of the solid rock before the water rises. As much as it pains him though he knows Lucas is right; standing around here will just get them in more trouble. "Damn it! Tiny! If you can hear me dig up! UP! Get out of here! Get to safety!" With that he runs from the cavern, following close behind Lucas, keeping an eye of the ground beneath them for signs of weakness.


It is 3d6 right? Two for putting my Talent to use and +1 for the situation being Overwhelmingly Dire?

Also jeez look at them dice! Where were you when Tiny needed you!

altimis: That's still not what I'm looking for. I don't see you being Jolly, stubborn, or vowing to catch them all. You aren't using your bond with Sombra because you're still thinking in terms of tactics, not really connecting with your Pokémon. To save time I'll run with what you gave me, but please keep this in mind for the future.

Repel spray is basically insect repellent. The plan you have to distract the Onix is pretty cool. I would give you a Star Piece for roleplaying if you did that.

You're carrying generic brand Poké Balls. How many you have isn't important. Throwing a Poké Ball to cover your escape is a perfectly valid plan, and I would give you a Star Piece for that too.

I thought of rewarding boxcars (rolling all 6s), but it would be weird to have a critical success outcome that got more difficult the more dice you rolled. Maybe as an optional houserule.


Jet and Lucas: Yeah, you're out of here. You cut the line, land lightly on your feet and go go go. Falling debris. Jets of freezing water. You dodge them all! Speed is all that matters!

"Damn it!" Jet yells. He should have known. Tiny doesn't deserve to be dragged along in his stupid mistake. Maybe... maybe at least one of us can still be saved! "Tiny! If you can hear me dig up! UP! Get out of here! Get to safety!"

You hear no reply but the rushing water and thundering rocks. You hope Tiny heard that. You hope he lives a long and happy life. Jet got a Star Piece.

But for now you have to run -

Crack.

Lucas: Ow. Ow. Excruciating pain shoots through your foot, and you stumble and fall to your knees as the passage disintegrates around you. Did you... did you sprain your ankle? Arceus, it hurts. You can't run like this. You look onward in desperation, trying to find something, anything, but all that meets you is the darkness of the passage into the earth...

You feel the ground crack and crumble into the rapidly widening river...

Jet: No! No way! You can't leave Lucas like this! You skid to a stop and reach out your hand - but a massive boulder dislodges from the cave roof and slams between you and Lucas with a thud, leaving you staring at nothing but blank stone. And another. And another. Water begins to spurt from the cracks.

Lucas...!?

Lucas: You can barely feel your limbs any more. Something slams into you from above. It's all too loud. You close your eyes...

...

OH GIRATINA WHAT

Jet: You stumble backward as the blockage crumples outward with explosive force, sending flying debris and ice-cold water droplets everywhere. A gunmetal gray mass soars triumphantly into the air and lands like a chopper on the highway, swiveling to face you.

Tiny cracks what you assume is the Onix version of a grin. Lucas and his Pokémon are sprawled out on the Onix's back, still stunned. Looks like your best bro came through for you after all. Tiny has ascended to 3 Loyalty!

The cavern shudders from another collapse. Tiny tilts his head and presents his tail to you, as if to say: "Get on, buddy. Let's blow this joint."

You hop on. Tiny revs up and rockets down the exit passage, leaving the collapsing cavern far, far behind.

It's good to have friends.


Altimis: Sombra crouches as the sandstorm rages around her, and you feel a cold wave wash over you. Her horn begins to pulse with dark energy... with killing intent.

She lunges. The sand bites into her fur, drags long cuts along her flanks, but her horn rips a gash the color of night through the unnatural storm! You hear a shatter as her Night Slash pierces the Onix's defenses, cutting right into its soul! Sombra and the wild Onix traded blows!

Then it's over. Sombra tumbles back into the sand tomb, and you look on with horror as the quicksand builds up around you with frightening speed. You try to kick your way free, but it's no use - the sand is too soft. You and Sombra are stuck fast and can't move!

The sandstorm recedes and you see the golden visage of the Onix leering at you from the shadows, like some kind of ancient carved mask. Then it roars, and you feel the stone all around you begin to buckle and tear. A shockwave shreds the ground! A deadly crushing Stone Edge is heading right for you!

What do you do?

You sprained your ankle and got the wind knocked out of you - minor concerns, but it could have been much worse if Tiny didn't rescue you. You'll be fine after a breather.

Sorry, I misread the rules and simply assumed I could use my talent as well (that's where my confusion was). Noted for future intent.


Where is Sombra in general? Is she within an arm's reach? Is she several feet away? Across the cavern? I'm assuming Sombra is within arm's reach if the Onix's Stone Edge is heading towards me as well.

As the sandstorm dies down, Altimis relaxes at letup of constant beratement. That was the wrong thing to do.
As the now still sand settles on the ground, it piles on top of him and Sombra, and fills in too many spaces to count. Altimis realizes this too late to free himself from the sand, and Sombra's weakened condition was no match for the rising sand.
Onix, however, had anticipated this and was already aiming another attack. Stones and boulders start to crack and slowly make their way for him. He chuckles softly to himself.
"Cheater..."
With no time to dive out of the way, he reaches naturally for his belt.
(I have one chance for this... I better make it count.)
Altimis' hand finds what it was looking for, and they detatch from his belt. One expands as he brings it by his shoulder, the other he drops in the sand.
He throws the pokeball at the Onix, pieces of fracturing stone barely missing it as it sails through the cavern. Altimis starts kicking his legs back and forth to help compact some of the sand. And as soon as Altimis could see that the trajectory was fair, he brought the other pokeball up and pointed it at Sombra.
"Sombra, return!" He shouts, as a faint light surrounds her, and she disappears. Before the light completely fades, he chucks it over his shoulder, and starts digging with his hands. As the pokeball smacks against a boulder, an enlightened form of Sombra appears on his left.
"Figured, I'd help you out there. Now help get me out of here." He says as the pokeball flies back and knocks him in the shoulder. He didn't bother to catch it; his hands were too preoccupied.
As the fracturing boulders grow closer, Altimis slowly finds his footing and backs himself slightly out of the sand pit. Sombra grabs a hold of his collar and helps pull him out of the sand, while he pushes from within.
Finally, the Pokeball Altimis threw at Onix connects, and a burst of light erupts from the device. As the Onix fades from view, Altimis says, "We need a place to hide, *argh* careful... and fast. If it breaks out, we need to be out of sight."

So, Altimis is using Sombra's pokeball to free Sombra from the sand.
He is throwing a pokeball at Onix in order to delay the danger, and hopefully hide.
Altimis and Sombra are digging/dragging him down into the hole where Onix erupted the first time (if possible). I'm assuming it's the one I'm closest too.

What do I need to roll for what actions?