Briefing 01 - Video

[sneaking_sin]

[First there's a brief flash of video feed, of a face caked in pale camouflage paint (to match the light snow coating the foliage around him) and bristly with stubbly beard hair, partly obscured by a wide green bandanna and a plain black eyepatch. Then the image blacks out to sound-only, but it reappears a few seconds later. It's clear that he's

Comments

[uses_metaphors]

The Mankey horde follows the lead of the Primape.

It is good to see you once more, Big Boss.

[Raven may be inwardly fanboying. It's difficult to tell.]

[sneaking_sin]

.......

[There is a long, weary pause... he sets the Ekans down and distracts his fingers with his pockets, searching for a cigar.]

...Call me Snake.

[Another pause, shorter this time.]

Hnn. I didn't expect personal greetings when I found myself here. Who are you?

[uses_metaphors]

As you request, Snake.

[It feels strange, though.]

I am Vulcan Raven, gunner and Shaman of FOXHOUND. Before that, I was a soldier at Outer Heaven, a nation of soldiers that you lead in the future.

[sneaking_sin]

Another "friend from the future", huh...

[He's having trouble imagining what he described. He's not sure he wants to.]

I'm not leading anyone right now. Except this snake, apparently. And I've never heard of an outfit called FOXHOUND.

Must be pretty far in the future.

[uses_metaphors]

It is far enough; I came here from 2005.

Has this new land been explained to you?

[sneaking_sin]

That's 41 years away. [He's taking all these details with a grain of salt.]

Hnhh... a little. Though nobody's told me what I can actually eat out here.

[It's times like these he misses Para-Medic.]

[uses_metaphors]

[It's a useful seasoning like that.]

Very little. Provisions for travels are best acquired before one sets out in this land. The Pokemon are inedible and the berries they eat aren't fit for human consumption.

[Raven is lucky to have Atka's milk to supplement his own diet.]

[sneaking_sin]

[A wilderness with nothing to eat WHAT IS THIS HORROR]

[He growls to himself.]

Guess that means I'd better enter a city.

[uses_metaphors]

If you are in New Bark Town still, it will take about three day's travel to reach Cherrygrove City, the next nearest town.

I myself am a day's journey from Violet City, the town after Cherrygrove.

[sneaking_sin]

We'll probably bump into each other, then. A big guy like you would be hard to miss.

Everyone starts out here then, huh?

[uses_metaphors]

The Bison knows how to hide itself when the need is great.

Yes, everyone begins in New Bark Town. It is a good starting point, as the surrounding local Pokemon all are of a low level. It is strange how a Pokemon's strength seems to depend on its location.

[sneaking_sin]

They seem pretty tough to me. [He rubs his jaw.]

Then they're everywhere, right? Are they in the city?

[uses_metaphors]

Did you fight them with the aid of your Pokemon companion?

Which city? Cherrygrove has a few, I believe, but they tend to stay in the tall grass.

[sneaking_sin]

No, I... just grabbed one and tried to eat it. It didn't work too well, and it got away.

I haven't looked over the map much yet. But the tall grass would explain why I've encountered so many. [He likes to sneak through grass.]

[uses_metaphors]

One is meant to use teamwork in these battles.

That would explain things, yes. I take it you have set out already?

[sneaking_sin]

Yeah. I didn't feel comfortable in that town, so I went out into the grass.

You and everyone else keep telling me to use this snake. I've never heard of a trained snake before, but I'll give it a shot.