Redeemer's Grotto

The village, was huge. And that feels like an understatement. The entire residence was underground beneath a large mountain with most of its interior actually carved out, with occasional small crags and slits that streaked across the extremely high ceiling above you. "That must be where the oxygen and light outside come in from" You think to yourself. Four impossibly towering pillars hold up the roof above the village's head, with staircases and and rooms engraved around them to be used as vacancy and watchtowers.

Although a little too dark for your comfort, there was plenty of lighting to see all of the citizens, dirt roads, and signs around. Especially the buildings. The buildings are made of the very rock used from digging inside the mountain, either sculptured out our clayed together in large stones, giving a very sturdy and earthy look to the whole area. You watch as you enter the door a stretched sign reading, Redeemer's Grotto carved into the rock banner, Let those with minds rise above the evils that lurk our world. Torches were lit everywhere and anywhere they could to destroy any sense of pure darkness, which so happen to reveal to you were of local soldiers scouted all around, wearing the same exact symbol on the flags at the entrance upon their leather padding. Villagers roam the streets freely, with the town's guards kindly greeting them and moving on with their lives as if the world wasn't in an apocalypse. You could get used to this.

The Scyther stops you from moving any closer as to what seemed to be a large Charizard wearing the outside skeleton armor of an Aggron, who bears the three horned skull on its head with the shoulder armor pieces on, well, the shoulders. The orange dragon's clawed hands grab the sides of the helmet, lifting it off, to expose the Charizard's face. The armored lizard was male judging from his masculine torso while protruding a yellow cushioned gut, thick legs, packed muscle, and reveals a long scar going from his brow over one of his eyes, streaking across to stop at his jaw. Fat or not, he was intimidating

"Pence, who are our guests?" His deep voice asked the Scyther, Pence. It seemed more of an order, than a question though.

"Chief Ryzer, I found these two outside of the gate. They want to help with the infection epidemic." The Charizard chief just grunted.

"Isn't everyone? You know that's not a good enough excuse to let newcomers into our city, but what I'm really interested in is if can you explain to me how they found the gate?" The Charizard, 'Ryzer' apparently, inquires with a smokey huff.

Pence shudders a bit in fear, "F-Forgive me, sir...it was my mistake, however..." The bug was debating on whether to confess the truth on the matter, or merely lie to keep Rose's skin in the clear. Although, the Buneary appears from behind you, raising a paw in the air.

"It's because of me." She says softly. Her ears were bent downward in sorrow along with her face dreading her actions. The chief looks down upon her, but instead of a face of anger, he seemed a tad bit...happy? The Charizard crouches down to his struggling endeavors from his thick body and weighing armor to her height, and pats her head.

"Looking for your sister no doubt. Don't worry my fair girl, I'm sure she's out leaving ferals in the dust right now." He pats her one more time before standing up fully to look at you again. His unhappy tone returns, and yet, it sounded a little less sinister, "I'm sorry, but you may as well turn around, for we know little to just as much as you do about the infection. They crave for whole flesh and even the occasional sadistic pleasure with their purple eyes. That's all we know. We've kept as far from it as possible and we would like to keep it that way. We've had our own theories on its spread because of some of the guards during infected raids turning, but we're careful about spreading misinformation. I don't want any of my people testing these grim ideas, you understand?" He explains to you. You thought so, figuring that they wouldn't know much, especially since they literally live under a rock. You also notice that during his speech, he held Rose, close. Even Pence had an emotion of unwillingness towards the topic.

"Do you know anyone who might know though?" You inquire before the chubby Charizard could turn to leave. The reptile ponders for a moment, silently thinking to himself as you notice Pence's glare darts from you to the Village Chief, and back to in a repeating sequence. Anxiously waiting, Ryzer finally brings his attention back to you, assuredly making up his mind.

"...Hmmm, there may be one pokemon you might wish to look into, but the journey there may be a bit hectic. He's a Toxicroak from what I've heard, and he lives in a swamp just south of here. According to some of our messengers from long ago, they reported that he's a professional when it comes to diseases or mental illnesses." The Charizard trails off in his explanation.

"I'm expecting a 'but' here..." You worriedly question. He nods.

"But, I believe the last report I ever received about his whereabouts were about a year ago. I wouldn't be sure if he's around the swamp area anymore, or if he's even alive still. There's also infected thriving in that place. Most of the hordes we fight off come from that bog." His cautious warning was greatly stressed in the danger. However, he sighs as his arms crossed against his breast-plated chest, "Although, if you're truly wanting to uncover any details about this chaotic infection, the Toxicroak would be a great start for investigation."

"Thank you for the information. I would hate to pester you any longer, but would it be alright if my friend and I stay a night here?" You ask, "It would only be one night."

"Pester me?" The Charizard bellows out a mighty laugh. "You brought back one of my citizens safe and sound. You've done enough to live here." He picks up Rose and places the rabbit on his left shoulder. He tosses a hand for you to follow as he turns around. The Village Chief peers back at you during his walk, "I am Village Chief Ryzer, and welcome to Redeemer's Grotto. Come to my home after you've splurged this city of its wonders. Just ask any guard and they'll be more than happy to point you in the right direction. Now please excuse me as I escort this little lady to her home." Rose giggles and hugs his long neck. The Charizard chuckles before leaving, "Go indulge yourselves for what Redeemer's Grotto has to offer!"

Pence huffs and takes his leave close to the Village Chief's side as he glares at both you and Jackal. You ignore the bug's attitude and bring your attention to Jackal who was strangely quiet the entire time. "You good with staying here?"

He raises a brow. "Now you ask me?" With the Scyther and Charizard far off in the distance by now with their backs turned, Jackal huffs, "Hmph...I'm not sure if I like those two, mainly that Scyther."

"I'll be sure to inform the guards to let you sleep outside in the feral-filled tunnels then." You return with a sarcastic tone.

"Pff. You know what I mean though." He tugs on his satchel and begins to head out into the town's streets.

"And where exactly are you heading off to?"

He turns around, but continues his walk backwards and away from you. "I'm gonna look for a bar. There's bound to be a few in this giant hole." The Typhlosion disappeared into the busy crowd of other Pokemon citizens as the Chief and his crew had done. You were now left alone and free to do what you like within the city. But what to do? Figuring out that this city probably has its own currency system to have kept its civilized society stable, you are completely broke to these Pokemon, rendering it useless to bother to purchase any goods for your journey.

Guiding through the paths, you absorb the details of the stone constructions and amount of Pokemon around, not used to such an environment. The darkness to the area actually grows on you with time, slowly letting your mind forget that things could be much brighter. during your time in the city, many bystanders either greet you as a new-comer or compliment in wonder since you're the first Lucario they've ever seen. It wasn't like your race was endangered, but it was true that you haven't come across any other Lucarios in your lifetime besides your parents. But typically if you ever have the rare chance of meeting a Lucario, it most likely wouldn't be under a mountain.

One instance stood out the most to you, however, from all of your encounters. A Sneasel stops you from passing as she steps from an alleyway. "Oh, excuse me, mi-" You are cut off as she snickers mischievously and trails a finger up your chest.

"I thought I heard a rumor of a Lucario entering this city. Typically guards ignore or **** away anyone whoever tries coming here. So what made you so special among the bunch that they let in, hmmm? There was a commotion that the Village Chief himself offered for your stay here. You sleeping with him or something?" Her sly and smiling expression puts you in unease as the single digit begins to slide up to your neck.

"Wh-what? No, we-" You are interrupted for the second time once the Sneasel's finger reached your lips, pressing down on them.

"Ah, well then allow me to introduce myself. My name is Maple, but you can call me whatever you like." Her body steps closer to you, to the point where her body heat was soaking into your flesh from the close contact. The sultry cat flicks an ear as the claw tip circles at the outer edge of your mouth. "Typically I don't see many Lucarios out and about these days, and I'm wondering if you wouldn't mind having a little chat with me."

It was blatantly obvious of what she was really asking, although your mind actually has difficulty processing it all from the girl's bosom squeezing her breasts into your chest. You shudder at their texture with a strange, but sweet-smelling aroma surrounding the girl. Her perfume was almost mind-controlling. You sadly played dumb to her request. "To...talk about what exactly?"

Her blue eyes roll with her grin before she answers back, "Oh dear, have I already enthralled your cock already? My, you are a dog." Her hand tugs at your groin before she brushes past you with a wink. "If you're interested, I can give you a proper 'town welcoming' by meeting me at the Eastern Well later tonight. Just ask around to find it, Lucario." And with that, Maple vanishes into the crowd like so many others have done to you today. You legs shake a little from having such a seductive woman flirt with you and actually offer a tempting deal, and it was even free with no strings attached! You saw little reason to refuse such a thing, and you did plan on leaving tomorrow, so you may as well enjoy your time here. However, you saw something a little dangerous about the cat, be it her dark-type nature or the fact she never bothered to get your name.

"Maybe she has some kind of canine fetish or something..." You guess in your own thoughts. The idea actually makes you greedily happy a little.

You spend the majority of the day exploring the city, seeing its attractions, if there were any to offer, and stop by the occasional bar to see if Jackal was inside. Alas, you have no luck finding the Typhlosion and you skip the pubs without even purchasing a drink. Through time and boredom, you soon glance up to see a clock tower reveal that it was getting close to sunset outside. You weigh your options of what to do next. You could either go see the Village Chief about that generous suggestion of letting you stay for free, or....you could meet up with Maple the Sneasel and see what she really wants to do with you besides just talk. Blood begins to boil in your groin with the thought, however, you were certain Jackal would also be at Ryzer's den which had you a little worried about him. You certainly did not want to prepare and leave the city in the morning without knowing where he was within this massive chasm. You didn't want to lose precious daylight in having to search the entire city for him.

1. Meet with the Village Chief. You have an apocalypse to worry about.

2. Well, maybe you could spare some time with Maple~... *