Puzzling a puzzle with puzzles on more puzzles.

First topic message reminder :

not really ooc but it's OOC, also the title will be explained, and some first post info that helps me think... anything spoilerish will be in a double layered spoiler tab within this tab... and remember kids, Spin to win. Have fun. xωx:

Nothing unusual happening around Grassveil Town's Marketplace just the usual missing stalls and that most pokemon are huddled around the center of the Plaza. "wait... what?" Yooka said aloud as she realized what was really going on. Missing stalls and a group was forming? Did something happen or is something happening?

Usually the Plaza would be full of activity and there would be bountiful of merchandise being handed around. Yooka didn't know that the Grassveil Guild and the Aileron Guild decided to play a little game with the citizens. A miniature challenge with a reward of one thousand poke for the first to solve ten puzzles and anyone's names written into a book if they can even just clear the ten puzzles.

ooc, Obvious stuff about the reward:

A Zoroark and a Noivern were at a rather stand-out, and the only, stand explaining the event to anyone willing to volunteer. However, just before Yooka arrived the Noivern had flown off leaving the Zoroark to the activity. "Well hello miss... Your not a common Kecleon are you? Being Purple instead of green I mean. Well anyway, would you like to try your hand at our ten puzzles? It seems to be getting quite the attention. heheh." The Zoroark panned his arm out to the massive group around the stall.

Most of the pokemon next to Yooka gave her a slight glance but ignored her overall. It's not unusual for a Kecleon to be a different color. They are known for their natural ability to change color. Yooka just had a very stressful return from a mission that practically made this purple color permanent. She didn't mind it all that much.

"ofcourse, It's because the guilds issued an event for the public. If your looking for the merchant stalls then just follow the road north for a bit." Yooka felt like she knew this Zoroark but the feeling passed when she found herself saying sure. The Zoroark handed her a piece of paper and said "First you'll need a partner, just go looking for another pokemon. Hah, just like what we Zoroark are known for, the first puzzle seems like an illusion. Good Luck!" Yooka was turning around but then the Zoroark spoke up again. "One last thing, The partner you chose is to answer the puzzle... You came over and recieved the first puzzle. anyone who recieves the first or the future puzzles cannot be the one to answer. Bring back the answer once you've figured it out."

So she'll need to find a partner huh...? Shouldn't be to hard but what he said about only the partner answering and how she can't somewhat confused her. Does that mean she can't answer 'this' puzzle? Heh, guess that's why you'd need a partner, doesn't mean she can just answer it and tell her partner. So what's on the paper anyway? Nothing, or at least, there isn't anything on it from what Yooka can see. It was all grey and rather looked more like dust than parchment or wood.

answer:

Looking at the cookies he cocked his head hesitantly before taking one and nodding his head. "What do I do for fun?" His ears flicked around as he thought for a minute, chewing the cookie slowly as he processed the question. The feeling of chewing caused a primal feeling of calmness to wash over him. Swallowing the sugary treat he looked at Yooka, speaking softly as he answered. "Um, I like singing and drawing...oh! And games, I'll play pranks on Pokemon or challenge them to games." He said matter of factly, nodding his head as if he agreed with himself. "I can't gamble like the older pokemon, but I still like to play games with them. Mostly just to make a living. Things like if I flip his coin where will it land, heads or tails. Things like that. I'm not good at thinking games, though. They're too hard..." He admitted with a laugh, his face dark red with embarrassment.

Looking at the Kecleon he cocked his head to the side. "What about you? What do you do for fun? I assume puzzles." He said as he gestured to the papers on the ground with a chuckle. "Puzzles are fun, though, I'm just not too good with them." The grey chinchilla said as his head rocked back and forth. It seemed his body language and his speech almost went hand and hand. He seemed to act more than speak but when he started talking he didn't stop until he felt like he had talked someone's ear off. He put the last of the cookie in his mouth as he started to enjoy it. He was calmer now and he was also thinking more clearly. He didn't understand the puzzle one bit but he looked at it in confusion and chewed, breathing quietly and focusing on the papers.

He couldn't figure out anything about the puzzle before the both of them but he seemed to actually be more calm and levelheaded about it. His smile growing as he looked at Yooka. "I don't know if you know what you're writing...but you figured out a lot by the looks of it. Thank for for asking me to be your partner. I'm sorry I'm all over the place."

ooc, some form of ignorance is ... ... you couldn't possibly have known it...:

The Minccino looked rather embarrassed due to how he spoke. Yooka paused and looked intensely at her backpack when he mentioned he likes to prank others. Pranks, huh? She stayed silent for the rest of his little conversation. "Well, I have a bad history with 'pranksters'... I'm a little more on edge about them." Yooka went silent for a few more seconds and went back into the paper-puzzle. She did it again... probably causing problems due to just saying stuff. The tenseness for her was back stronger than it was before the break. She couldn't really concentrate on the puzzle and a thought occured rather quickly.

He was sorry for something rather nonchalantly... and Yooka wasnt really caring enough to show any sympathy. She had a straight face and spoke like this was nothing. "Well, Your sorry for your reasons... but with me, I dont really care about that kind of stuff... You probably couldn't guess it but I don't get along with others in the usual way." She looked over towards the Mega-Alakazam who is currently meditating. "I'm not actually interested in anything anyone would actually consider fun. I'm just making conversation to keep you from being bored. I'm more interested in things that are unusual or strange. Like this event for example, but just ignore what I said. It's probably just me being weird as usual... Just enjoy whatever it is you can. Perhaps I can find something that would be surprising for you." She went back to focusing on the puzzle.

Unlikely. But she paused staring at the grid page and the failed attempt at figuring the extra symbols, she just noticed the similarity and decided to try something. She put a letter inside the grid where the number/letter portions of the extra symbols matched. she noticed the patterns and had a breakthrough. "HOW DID I NOT!?! It's chess! Wow... and here's us talking about our versions of fun..." She put the papers from her notebook back into her notebook, now that she knew what was up. However she took out a new piece and redrew the eight by eight grid. "Ever played chess?"

He almost jumped out of his skin as Yooka exclaimed. His eyes went wide before he calmed down almost as fast as he got scared. Yooka didn't strike Nightingale as the type of expressed much emotion but as she exclaimed that she had found out what the puzzle was his view of her somewhat shifted. He smiled as he looked at the paper. Chess? He didn't really play much but he knew about it and played it a couple of times. "Here and there. I haven't really played in a long time." He admitted as his eyes scanned the paper. Something clicked in his head as he remembered how the old Pokemon where he grew up would announce where they would put their pieces. "So these are just...the squares on the chess board? Then what is the last line? Or do we need to figure that out.." He questioned aloud; his eyes looking over the paper. He didn't know the board of what the squares numbers and letters where. He was lost but still, he was a little bit happy as he wasn't as lost as he was before.

"You don't like pranks?" His question flew out of his mouth before he could think about it. Nightingale knew most Pokemon didn't enjoy when he pranked them but he only found out AFTER he had already done the deed. So knowing that Yooka doesn't like pranks he took a mental note not to mess with her. His eyes seeming to look through the Kecleon as he squinted, trying to carve into his memory that Yooka didn't like pranks or pranksters. She had said that they were on the fence about them but he figured it'd be safer to assume that Yooka didn't like pranks and keep himself from getting another lecture about how some Pokemon didn't find these things amusing and how their day was ruined because of him.

His face soon went back to normal as he nodded his head. He would remember this, his opinion of Yooka didn't seem to change much as they have told him outright that she did not like pranks. If he was yelled at by them, however, then he would have lost some respect. But he seemed to enjoy that they had warned Nightingale beforehand. His smile grew on his face and he nodded his head, agreeing with nothing. Nightingale sat on the ground, his front paws next to the paper. "So...can you explain this puzzle to me?" He begged, wanting to know more about how this puzzle that seemed to hurt his head.

As soon as he asked she answered "Yep, but I'd say it's a game still playing, I can also assume the last line is the next or last move. However, I cannot tell what it is without recreating the game." Yooka ripped a page out of her notebook, shredded the page into pieces big enough for the grid she made, written names of each piece on the scraps, and went ahead and started playing. She wasn't aware of the significant movement from both sides of the game. to Yooka, it seemed like two gods were duking it out. "Whoever the two were that played this game were good, but I don't really play this game much either." When she finally arived at the last line... it was quite obvious where the next piece would have to be moved. "Well, I'm finally finished on this. I was actually expecting something alittle more... well, harder. I guess this puzzle was more on just the aspect of figuring it was chess... as there is only one move to make." as she said that she filled the last line with 'Rxh7++'.

Yooka leaned back and turned to face the Minccino, "As for your earlier assumption about me and pranks. I do, unless they don't serve a 'good' purpose. Just don't think too hard on that either, for some evil-looking pranks could be 'good' in the long run. I keep an optimistic eye on them." Yooka was about to get up to hand the paper over to the Alakazam, but he was already lifting the paper, while floating right next to her. She flinched as the Alakazam nodded silently again. however, this time she heard him when he telepathically spoke.

"Good, the second puzzle of yours is cleared, now onto the third." The paper-puzzle vanished but was replaced with a simple 'Roll-call Orb'... Yooka stared at it like it was a joke and then looked at the Alakazam really intensely. "Seriously... Is this suppose to be the next puzzle or is this--" "What's the point of this puzzle? The five Ws and the lonely H, can't you figure it out yourself?" The Alakazam looked directly at Yooka and did a rather smug face before going back to his original place.

Yooka only stared at the orb on the table when he teleported. She spoke up but mostly to herself and wasn't really paying attention to the Minncino next to her, as she was alittle upset to herself. "Did he really just play a prank himself? or is he serious...? heh... I can't tell if this one was a bad or good one, but I can see he's been listening in on our conversation... He's making an example of me, Hah! that figures. Well, we're apparently at the third(?) puzzle, but... whatever, I can definitely say this is a roll-call orb. It's purpose is to teleport allies back to the user, simple yes? no..."

Turning to face the Minccino, Yooka shrugged and shook her head. "I'm done, I'd rather not answer to a rather conveniently timed bad joke. Yeah, it has a purpose, but meh... nevermind. I'll continue." She went to pick up the floating orb but before her hand touched it a visible field formed around the orb, shocking Yooka. She wanted to yelp but forced herself to remain silent. She sucked on the singed finger and stared at it more intensely.

ooc, tough one to think about. {4 posts/7 posts}:

As Nightingale watched the Kecleon pull their hand away and suckle on their finger be blinked and looked confused. But he spoke in his soft and feminine voice. "Yooka? Are you hurt? Do you need me to get you anything?" He questioned, wanting to know if this Pokemon who helped him get this far. He didn't want them getting hurt, and seeing them hurt only made him more upset. His ears flattening on his head. He walked over to Yooka and looked at the Orb itself. His eyes were fixated on it as he wanted to reach out and touch it. But seeing how Yooka was 'burned' he fought against his instinct rather quickly. "Five W's and a lonely H?" He repeated the question aloud as he started to question what would have five W and an H. His gray eyes looked at Yooka, almost pleading with them, begging for some information, any kind of information about this puzzle. "I don't...understand. Is he talking about Pokemon names? Or buildings?"

He was starting to think about these questions like always. He wasn't that good at puzzles but there were some days where he would excel at solving them maybe these cryptic puzzles are just not his style, or maybe he was just having an off day. Whatever the case may be he was helping by giving Yooka information that didn't solve the puzzle, most of the time at least. His ears were pressed to his head in fear that she was hurt more than she was showing. He didn't think she was someone to put on a tough front but he wanted to make sure. He was a caring soul, acting like a parent when he saw one of his friends get hurt. Sure, he wasn't a good parent by any means but he would shift attitudes quickly. Some Pokemon from his old town found it flattering and cute that he cared about others so much, others found it weird how he could change from happy go lucky to caring and scared at the drop of a feather.

"Would you like me to get you some ice or something to put on your finger?" The ashen chinchilla question with a cocked head, forgetting about the puzzle for a minute and focusing more on the safety and well-being of his friend. His tail swished from side to side, not in happiness but more in a curious and slow movement. Like he was thinking, trying to figure something out. his gaze shifting from the orb to his friend. What about this thing infront of him allowed it to hurt them? He hadn't seen an orb in the Pecha forest every time he went exploring so maybe it was rare. Or maybe it's something the guild just keeps around. Then again he only checked for berries, not shiny orbs.

Yooka practically smirked to herself when the Minccino asked if she's ok. Did it look like she was ok? She was, it was only just a shock. Why be so serious over such a small thing? It's a funny thought to have, almost something Darcy would do. Yooka kept a straight face infront of the Minncino and just shrugged,""Meh, I've been hit by worse. but yes, 5 Ws and a single H. Sounds more like a riddle than a puzzle... but, riddles are word puzzles so the orb probably isn't the thing I should be 'looking' at." She turned her gaze back to the floating orb. "I bet it's more of a situation considering the way he looked at me before he left. I really think he was making an example of me. I think this puzzle may be linked to our conversation we 'just' had... But I doubt it's a 'prank'."

Looking back at her hand. It was fine, no singe to be seen due to her move recover. Practically passively using it on the small stuff only to actually activate it if something big happened. However, the barrier made it's point, dont mess with it. Don't mess with... pranks? No, she herself does them every now and then. Some pranks can hurt? Definitely... It's probably that. but why use a rolecall orb? "I think it's suppose to represent pranks... I got shocked by it, probably to say 'dont mess with pranks', but 'everyone' does that a some point. I bet its more like, 'Pranks can hurt' or 'some pranks can hurt'. Actually the 5 Ws could be a reference to 'who, what, when, where, and why'. With the Single H being 'How'. 'Some pranks can hurt' is a what." Yooka shook her head slowly. It made sense but it didn't make sense to why this is a thing? Is it suppose to be a lesson or an actual puzzle? She rested her head down on crossed arms on the table. What could the rest be...?

The idea was perfect, the five W's and an H representing who, what, where, when, why and how? But what was with the rollcall orb? It was a piece of the puzzle after all and it wasn't something to overlook. Sure it is pretty shocking but Nightingale didn't believe that it had to do with pranks. His mind brought up a different solution almost instantly. "Um, Yooka..? If this orb is a roll call orb like you said...maybe we need to find some Pokemon? Like you said, the clue is five W's and an H, but...what if it's Who is the Pokemon, Where is the Pokemon, Why are they gone, when did they leave...that may not be the answer, though!" The ashen Pokemon was confident enough in his answer to say what he thought about it but didn't have enough gusto to back up his claims and stick by them. "I'm not saying you're wrong; yours definitely makes sense. But I'm just throwing my two cents out there..eheh..." His front left paw rubbed the back of his head as he let out an embarrassed chuckle. He enjoyed being around Yooka and didn't want to annoy here by saying she was wrong. But Nightingale wanted to desperately help solve these puzzles in any way he could.

His attitude seemed to change, he was back to his "old self", where he was more carefree about everything, though he was a little intimidated by Yooka. She scared him, honestly. She seemed so serious and strong that it was a little scary. But he wanted to see through that. There were times where Yooka showed she was nice and he enjoyed that but when it came time for Yooka to focus on her puzzles he seemed to notice that the air around them seemed to change and that the purple Kecleon was in her own world. She wouldn't give him the time of day if they were not partners for this puzzle contest.

Then he remembered, they're on the third question. Sure, every Pokemon here is on the third puzzle too but no one had passed the third puzzle yet. And if they were the firsts to do so then Nightingale would consider that a win. Even if they gave up on the fourth or they just didn't have enough time. Beating everyone else was his main priority and a wicked grin grew on his face. "I got to say, though, Yooka. I'm happy you let me work with you. Even if I didn't do much I am glad I got to meet you." His wicked grin shifting to a happier and more sincere smile.

ooc:

The Minccino surprised Yooka more than she thought... The orb being a roll call orb and this being a guild event. Was it actually referencing teammates more than pranks? "Ofcourse! What and How: Rollcall orb brings an ally back to the user when things tend to get seperated! Who: Guildmates or allies from your own party! Why: not sure but I may get to that. when: ...also unsure... where: hmm... maybe this isn't the answer..."

Yooka pulls out her notebook again; there were still plenty of blank pages within. Placing it on the table infront of both of them, she wrote down the two possible answers for now in two different pages. Pranks and Partymates, she also written the 5Ws/1H on the lower half of the pages. "The 'where' and 'when' will be the harder of the six to get. Perhaps its a mix of the two... mm, Don't use rollcall orbs too often or meh, I can see now this was pretty hard to answer..."

She decided to try something. This time she was a little more prepared. She concentrated her recover move on her left hand and just went for the orb. What she got in response was a rather long shock along the entirety of her arm instead of just whatever was touching it. She stepped back slowly and gave a slight laugh before looking at the Minncino. "Well, confirmed. Can't touch it... Can't feel anything in my arm either. Pffff, that was fun." Yooka refused to look at her arm expecting it to look like it was fried, it wasnt. It looked perfectly fine due to her concentration but it was rather limp for the moment.

The Alakazam looked over at them, rather confused. Yooka looked at it with a smirk. She was bored and this object has her interest due to whatever the Alakazam did to it. Future Sight? meh... She's more interested in finding out how the barrier works than the orb-puzzle itself. However, she's trying to see if something would happen if someone got hurt during this event. The Alakazam re-evaluated Yooka and teleported over. "Looks like I'm going to have to watch you for a while, I didn't think someone would go so far as to actually take the shock twice." The Alakazam actual spoke up instead of telepathically.

Yooka just shook her head slowing while smiling and sat down, "Alright." She expected the Alakazam to teleport back but it just sgarted meditating right where it was instead. She continued to smile while she went back to the notebook. Can you read minds aswell? Wouldn't surprise me.

ooc, half this post is a hint:

A wide smile was spread across his face as she seemed to take his answer seriously. It made him feel as though he could contribute to the little operation team they ran. Cyan eyes followed Yooka, seeing her write was nothing new but he watched as she reached out and touched the orb a second time. "Yooka, I wouldn't touch...that..." he managed to spit out, not wanting her to get shocked again. She seemed more calm about it though and as her arm pulled away and she spoke Nightingale looked visibly dumbfounded, but also a little upset. Her words, however, seemed to wipe the dumbfounded look on his face and replace it with a more upset and concerned look. "You didn't have to touch it again, Yooka. You could seriously hurt yourself." He stated as he stood on his hind legs. Putting his paws on his hips and scolding the much older and much wiser Pokemon. Sure, he couldn't argue with results and throwing oneself into the line of fire and taking one for the team would provide the best results for the both of them, however, Nightingale didn't take to kindly to the idea of his friend being hurt again.

Nightingale walked up to the orb, he seemed to get a rather bold idea. His tail started to glow, the light seemed to reflect off of it and he stared the orb down, his brow furrowed in anger. Iron Tail, he was using Iron Tail. But was he going to break the orb? Sure, it was a stupid idea as it was a key item they would need to solve the puzzle. He turned his body, but it wasn't with a violent motion. He seemed to be gently moving it or trying to anyway. He wasn't sure if it would hurt but he was determined to see it he could move it. Although his eyes widened as he felt the shock in his tail. It was only a quick bat but it was still enough for him to feel it and jump in mostly surprise. His idea was pretty stupid, he could have broken the orb, but he somehow managed to just shock himself. He couldn't think of anything else to do, almost all his ideas were thrown out the window at this point. "Well, I got nothing. What about you, Yooka?" He questioned, eyes shifting to look at his purple friend.

He walked back to Yooka and sat beside her, his tail not glowing anymore. Though his fur seemed to stand on end, floofed out as if some Pokemon threw him in a body of water and then dried him off. His focus on the papers in front of Yooka. His eyes looking back and forth between the two pages. Sure, trying to figure out both of them would be good but she shouldn't do it. "My mama always told me that if you chased two Pokemon you wouldn't catch either. I know you're super smart but maybe I could help with the work load?" He questioned, wanting to help his friend in any way he could.

ooc, 'stories' don't 'need' to follow a set path...:

Yooka was getting a little impatient with the orb-puzzle. The little Minccino did 'try' to talk her out of doing something foolish but Yooka did it anyway. She didn't really care if she got injured doing something like this. If these puzzles actually managed to cripple her, she would of gave props to the creator of the puzzle. These puzzles, in a public event where potential kids could participate... smart idea, very smart. At least now she knows that it is not possible to touch the orb, even with force. She'll need to work around it.

She even almost laughed when the Minccino tried to use a move on the orb and went frizzy from the orbs barrier. The Alakazam sighed while she held in the laugh. Once, the Minccino said he didn't know what to do. She nodded and went back to her book. "I'm not smart, It's just your perspective of me ...buuut... thanks. I do research on the subject at hand before doing things but I had no time for this." She closed her book and looked at the orb. Suddenly and sharply, "No." Then Yooka laughed. "Well, that didn't work and apparently this alakazam can see the future."

She went back to her book, and wrote down, 'Don't attack the orb as a team. The Alakazam can see the results. Apparently its deadly.' Yooka smirked and the Alakazam opened its eyes and looked at Yooka. "Is the barrier part of the puzzle or is it to keep us from moving it?" The Alakazam remained silent but its gaze intensified. Yooka shrugged after a few. "No answer means he can say the answer but refused to due to a code. Which tells me it 'does' have something to do with the Puzzle. Again, im not smart, im just resourceful." She laughed again and the Alakazam scowled as it when back to its meditation.

ooc, Yooka's "smarts: