[@Joshua Tamashii]
[sub][sub][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66LCfFqIbAA]appropriate music[/url][/sub][/sub]

[color=goldenrod]‘I, uh, didn’t dare to look at her. Can’t help. A whole bunch of pairs of eyes I could have met and looked guilty to. Sorry,’[/color] Leila said, looking a bit awkward.

[color=paleturquoise]‘My Pokémon have been here right beside me. I wasn’t doing nothing, I was preparing the tent, making me the only one who was actually preparing for our camping. I kept track of my Pokémon, too. Are we sure that the perpetrator is among us? It could just have been any wild Pokémon that happened to pass by as Palpitoad left to investigate the earthquake,’[/color] Annica reasoned, crossing her arms as she considered it.

To get more information out of her, it may be needed to point out another contradiction or find something in the court record somewhere. Maybe.

What will Amelia do now?

[hider=TESTIMONY: Backpacker Leila][center][url=https://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/e/e4/VSBackpacker_F_SM.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/KdQaabU.png[/img][/url][/center]
[color=goldenrod]‘So, the three of us are friends. We came to Route 2 together.’[/color]
[color=goldenrod]‘We came across the Water Stone, but Palpitoad protected it.’[/color]
[color=goldenrod]‘I sent Barboach to cause an earthquake, but got too scared to take the stone!’[/color]
[color=goldenrod]‘I didn’t dare look back on Annica, in case I looked suspicious!’[/color]
[color=goldenrod]‘Any one of her multiple Pokémon could have been looking at me!’[/color]
[color=goldenrod]‘I later checked on the Palpitoad and the Water Stone, but both were gone.’[/color][/hider]

[hider=TESTIMONY: Lass Annica][center][url=https://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/0/0a/Spr_Masters_Lass.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/kkQlKFu.png[/img][/url][/center]
[color=paleturquoise]‘I went to set up camp for us for later, because we were going to spend time here.’[/color]
[color=paleturquoise]‘I didn't do much else, just watched Leila nearby by the waterside.’[/color]
[color=paleturquoise]‘There was this odd earthquake out at the water at one point, maybe a different Palpitoad?’[/color]
[color=paleturquoise]‘Leila eventually left towards the site where we found the Water Stone and Palpitoad.’[/color]
[color=paleturquoise]‘It was shortly after that Palpitoad started washing over the route with water.’[/color]
[color=paleturquoise]‘Anyways, I don't particularly have a reason to want a Water Stone.’[/color][/hider]

[hider=TESTIMONY: Bug Catcher Eric][center][url=https://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/6/6b/VSBug_Catcher_PE.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/a4txroy.png[/img][/url][/center]
[color=greenyellow]‘Yeah, while those two were doing boring things, I went Pokémon hunting!’[/color]
[color=greenyellow]‘I was battling the wild Pokémon of Route 2 the entire time!’[/color]
[color=greenyellow]‘There was that weird earthquake at one time, and I saw Palpitoad depart to investigate.’[/color]
[color=greenyellow]‘So there was a time there when the Water Stone was unguarded.’[/color]
[color=greenyellow]‘… I was tempted. I would have wanted to gift Amy a Water Stone for her Staryu...’[/color]
[color=greenyellow]‘But I'm in no rush! I'll find her another one!’[/color][/hider]

[hider=Court Record][list]
[*] Attorney's Badge. [i]… This is a Sun Stone.[/i]
[*] Earthquake Testimony. [i]An earthquake happened that distracted Palpitoad. Would have been hard to miss.[/i]
[*] Leila's Barboach. [i]A healthy Barboach. Has inherited a bunch of moves from parents.[/i]
[*] Leila's Belongings. [i]Hiking equipment. A fishing rod. A ridiculous amount of peculiar rocks and stones. A diary with a ton of writing about wanting to compete in contests. There’s a Fire and Leaf Stone among them.[/i]
[*] Annica's Murkrow. [i]A healthy Murkrow. Looks pleased with itself.[/i]
[*] Annica's Fletchling. [i]A slightly damaged Fletchling. Looks a bit nervous.[/i]
[*] Annica's Belongings. [i]A couple Pokéballs and Potions. A phone. The wrapped-up-in-a-hurry remains of the tent they were going to camp in. A pair of tickets for a ferry from Pureplain City to Sunyshore City.[/i]
[*] Eric's Surskit. [i]A damaged Surskit. Still pretty peppy.[/i]
[*] Eric's Ledyba. [i]A damaged Ledyba. It's suffered a Burn.[/i]
[*] Eric's Belongings. [i]Bug catcher net and cage. Bunches of Pokéballs and Potions and Repells and anything else a good Pokémon Trainer needs. A photo of a young girl together with Annica.[/i]
[/list][/hider]

Or she could leave. 

[hider=Suggestions to actions]1. Find Pokémon. [i]Can be specified what kind of Pokémon is being searched for, and how you search.[/i]
2. Train Pokémon. [i]With this command, we can jump ahead in time and skip posting about grinding.[/i]
3. Seek trainers. [i]There should be some here and there. Note, some may challenge you, regardless.[/i]
4. Talk. [i]There’s some other travelers around. Maybe seek answers to any burning questions you have.[/i]
5. Move along. [i]Move along normally, letting any events that may come happen naturally.[/i]
6. Hurry along. [i]Intentionally avoid confrontations and try to get safely to the next destination.[/i]
7. Specify. [i]If you specify what you want to do, the GM will take it into account and tell the result.[/i]
8. Trigger random event. [i]Force the GM to use his imagination to make a scenario for you.[/i]
9. Area Specific: Fishermen Huts. [i]See what the fishermen over there's got going.[/i]
10. Current Event: Palpitoad Flooding. [i]Random event.[/i][/hider]

[i]Connected areas: [/i]
Pureplain City. [i]You can get back without complication.[/i]
Infested Woods. [i]You’re right next to it.[/i]
Wet Caverns. [i]May need to cross a bridge or two to get there.[/i]

[hider=Route 2, known Pokémon]Common: 
#13 Weedle
#16 Pidgey
#161 Sentret
#270 Lotad
#283 Surskit

Uncommon:
#60 Poliwag

Rare:
#158 Totodile
#420 Cherubi
#536 Palpitoad[/hider]


__________________________

[@Pirouette]

In the end, Ewan managed to defeat Maple, but that was actually barely. Half Ewan’s team were weak to fire, so it was really up to Duessel the Psyduck to pull his weight for a long stretch of that.

Meanwhile, in the fight between Joshua and Ellyn, Ellyn barely won, in large part because of her recently evolved Quilava being a great deal more competent than the small Pokémon that littered Joshua’s team, but it was a close battle.

[color=668570]‘Ah, Erika! Welcome back!’[/color] Joshua said, smiling so widely. [color=668570]‘Yes, we’re here to defeat Archie! We just went to catch some birds in the Mountain Valley to help us with the task! They should come in handy!’[/color] he said, quite hopeful about this.

[color=decdad]‘I could head for Mt. Strength. I could use a Fighting-type,’[/color] Ewan said, nodding to Erika as she appeared.

[color=507173]‘You’re one of Kalmia’s…’[/color] Ellyn commented, eyeing her kinda suspiciously.

[color=db845c]‘Oh, oh! Yes! You are! I’m Maple! This is Ellyn! We’ve already beaten the Bug and Grass-gyms!’[/color] Maple said, excitedly.

[color=507173]‘… Mt. Strength is the wrong direction to get to any of the three remaining Minor League gyms around here…’[/color] Ellyn muttered.

[color=db845c]‘Lesse. Mt. Strength. Fighting-types,’[/color] Maple focused. [color=db845c]‘They’re strong against… I already got Fire for Ice… Normal, Rock, Steel and Dark. …’[/color] Maple’s eyes widened. [color=db845c]‘What the- almost all types Fighting is strong against is Major League Gyms! Is this some kind of conspiracy!? An anti-fighting-type initiative!? Wait, are there any more types with similar disadvantages…!?’[/color] 

[color=507173]‘… uh. Pretty sure that’s just coincidental…’[/color] Ellyn said, but Maple was already wrapped in the conspiracy.

[color=db845c]‘Regardless! That means I have little reason to go to Mt. Strength as it is! Unless I want Rock-types for the Flying-type Gym… but no! Rock has too many weaknesses! A full team of Electric Pokémon it is! Come, Ellyn! To the Power Station!’[/color] Maple said, spinning to grab Ellyn and carry her somewhere.

[color=507173]‘… Power Station is beyond Mt. Strength, could be a case for an adventure…’[/color] Ellyn quickly mentioned.

[color=db845c]‘…’[/color] Maple stopped short. [color=db845c]‘TO MT. STRENGTH!’[/color] Maple spun around and headed back towards Route 4, still dragging an Ellyn with an expression questioning why she opened her mouth with her. Problem with that was that Erika probably wasn’t going towards that place yet, because…

[color=668570]‘Yeah, we got to beat the Gym Leader first! If you’re fine with waiting, then that’d be really sweet of you~!’[/color] Joshua said, Ewan nodding and the two of them went off, first to the Pokémon Center after that battle and then over to the Pokémon Gym.

Would Erika do anything in the meantime, then? There was someone she wanted to have along as a guide, was it?

[hider=Stillwood Village][center][h2]Stillwood Village[/h2]

[url=https://i.imgur.com/NDG5NfG.jpg][img]https://i.imgur.com/Y9bCCki.jpg[/img][/url][/center]

Inside these calm forest lies a village completely in-tune with nature. The buildings are built around or in the trees of wood and stone, the light shining onto the village stifled by the great trees above. In the air, meeting your nose as soon as you tread into the village, is filled to the brim with the smell of forest and spores. It’s a wild smell, but somehow it is extremely relaxing and any worries seem to be stifled before the calming village ahead where everyone is always so calm and happy, wild Pokémon walking freely on the roads of the place. This is Stillwood Village, the most relaxing place imaginable, it’s people in touch with nature and wishing the best to all those who come to their cozy and ancient little home.

Wild Grass Pokémon freely wander the streets, spreading their spores into the air which the townspeople actively walk through every single day. They are all smiles, very helpful, the entire village and all visitors afflicted by the relaxing sensations brought by the spores during their stay in Stillwood Village. However, these spores are the reason quite a few avoid Stillwood Village, arguing that it messes with one’s mind. It is extremely rare that a member of Stillwood Village moves out of the village, after all. It will also quickly become evident just how little the members of the village care about the world at large, all their worries gone by the relaxing spores and just continue living, no troubles in the slightest.

That’s Stillwood Village for you.

Budews, Roselias and Shroomish were above all the ones to blame for all the spores in the air, the relaxing smell and the effect that seemed to drain on a person’s worries entering the village. However, in the air drifted smaller beings.

Hoppips floated along the winds in Stillwood Village, and high above Skiplooms floated to catch the light heading down, further decreasing the amount of sunlight that actually touched the villagers treading about the village. Also walking about were…

Numerous Oddishes had apparently failed to understand that the relative dark was not due to night. That aside, the nice smell of the village was only occasionally interrupted by foul smell of a passing Gloom, but that problem seemed to only be bothering visitors as the villagers didn’t even seem to notice.[/hider]

[hider=Suggestions to actions, Stillwood Village]1. Find Pokémon. [i]Can still search for Pokémon in cities~[/i]
2. Talk. [i]In cities, there are considerably more people one can talk to. Talking can give you info on local rumors and such.[/i]
3. Exit. [i]Exit the town to any of the connected areas.[/i]
4. Specify. [i]If you specify what you want to do, the GM will take it into account and tell the result.[/i]
5. Trigger random event. [i]Force the GM to use his imagination to make a scenario for you.[/i]
6. Notable Places. [i]Visit any of the places in the city![/i]
	6.1. Pokémon Center. [i]Heal all your Pokémon.[/i]
	6.2. PokéMart. [i]Go to a store and buy things.[/i]
	6.3. Pokémon Gym. [i]???[/i]
	6.4. Herb Store. [i]Selling bitter medicine that is very good for your Pokémon![/i]
	6.5. Flower Shop. [i]For decoration and for pleasant smells, the flower shop has the best selection in Isson![/i]
	6.6. Berry Garden. [i]Allows trainers to rent earth to plant their own berries. New trainers gets a kit to start them off![/i]
	6.7. Treehouse Arena. [i]Even forest-people want to battle it out sometimes. Lots of berries as prices~[/i]
	6.8. Ancient Woods. [i]An older part of the forest. Dangerous, but said to hold a link to the past. There are large old rocks here. What more could they hold?[/i]
7. Familiar Faces. [i]Joshua and Ewan heading for the Gym. Rodger’s in the gym. Maple and Ellyn can be caught up to.[/i][/hider]

[i]Connected areas: [/i]
Route 4. [i]Forest route at the base of Mt. Strength leading west to Rainrock City.[/i]
Route 5. [i]A grassy incline connecting mountains, forests, plains, Stillwood and Lakewatch.[/i]
Route 14. [i]The waters of Dragon Lake are also known as Route 14. It connects Lakewatch Town, Highhill Town and Stillwood Village.[/i]
Mountain Valley. [i]A passage between Mt. Strength and Mt. Chill, a shortcut to Worldedge City.[/i]

[hider=Stillwood Village, known Pokémon]Common:
#44 Oddish
#187 Hoppip
#188 Skiploom
#285 Shroomish
#315 Roselia
#406 Budew

Uncommon:
#45 Gloom 

Rare:
[/hider]

__________________________

[right][sub][sub][url=https://youtu.be/Ui6wp7VV9VU?t=165]Gym battle in progress[/url][/sub][/sub][/right]
[@hatakekuro]

Crocus successfully put hit Beedrill with a Leech Seed as the giant bee appeared, and then Growled to decrease the bee’s attack as it homed in for a Fury Attack! It flew forth and thrust down its piercers in a furious charge and-

Utterly missed. There was now a string of needle holes in a line straight past Crocus position, but Crocus had been entirely untouched. Beedrill took some damage from Leech Seed draining health and sending it to Crocus.

[color=7192de]‘Oh, well. It was worth a try,’[/color] Lorette shrugged a bit. [color=7192de]‘Beedrill! U-Turn!’[/color] she then commanded.

Beedrill spun about, suddenly covered in green energy as the bee surged towards Crocus, intending on hitting and then flying off back to its Pokéball!

Crocus has a choice between trying to counter/prevent the move, or taking the hit and making a first move against whatever new Pokémon might appear. Do decide that now, before opening the hider, if so.

[hider=Should the U-Turn hit]U-Turn was a powerful move in the hands of a powerful bee. Even with growl in place, it did a HEFTY bit of damage to Crocus, though not over half. After that, Beedrill was returned to the Pokéball, and Lorette smirked a little at him. [color=7192de]‘Alright, let’s try this,’[/color] she said, and she threw a new Pokéball into the air. It cracked open, and a new, white-furred decently large larva-like Pokémon, with five red-hot horns with fire burning off them…

[center][url=https://cdn2.bulbagarden.net/upload/f/f4/636Larvesta.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/g6KdzRT.png[/img][/url]

[color=6ecff6][i]Pokédex Entry #636 – Larvesta, the Torch Pokémon. A Pokémon said to have been born from the sun. It lives at the base of volcanoes. It spews fire from its five horns in order to repel enemies, but can also use these flames to fly. When about to evolve, it encases itself in a cocoon of fire until the evolution has been completed.[/i][/color][/center]

Unless Basil had preemptively switched Pokémon in reply to the U-Turn, Lorette’s next move would be the same. [color=7192de]‘Larvesta! Flame Charge!’[/color] she’d command, and Larvesta would be coated in flames as it surged forward at its target…[/hider]

How will Basil react?

__________________________

[@Gardevoiran]

Somehow sensing that they were on the cusp of something, JoJo and Skylar spent some more time grinding! They Confused some more Geodudes, some more Sandshrews, maybe even Disarming Voiced some Sandiles, until finally…!

[center][color=6ecff6][i]Jonathan grew to level 20![/i][/color][/center] 

JoJo feels a wealth of energy within him. He has a choice. He can let the energy loose now, or he can hold it back to release at a later time for maximum drama.

[hider=if now]A swirl of light took place as JoJo’s appearance changed. His legs grew longer, the white which covered them sprung loose to form a kind of skirt and thin green legs stood on the ground. His horns shifted to point sideways instead of front and back, and his hair split to let his eyes out and grew on the sides. But, above all else, he found himself infused with additional psychic power in his horns, athleticism in his limbs and an instinct to use them.

[center][color=6ecff6][i]Congratulations! Jonathan evolved into Kirlia![/i][/color][/center]

[center][url=https://cdn2.bulbagarden.net/upload/0/00/281Kirlia.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/iRiMDX6.png[/img][/url]

[color=6ecff6][i]Pokédex Entry #281 – Kirlia, the Emotion Pokémon. It’s horns amplify its psychokinetic powers, allowing it to see glimpses of the future or distort space to display mirages. It’s highly sensitive to its trainer’s feelings, instinctively dancing in response to happiness. It’s said to grow more beautiful when exposed to positive emotions.[/i][/color][/center]

[center][color=6ecff6][i]New Pokémon evolved! Skylar earned 2000 P![/i][/color][/center][/hider]

That was done and Skylar’s still in the mines. What will he do now?

What will Skylar do now?

[hider=Desert Mines][center][h3]Desert Mines[/h3][/center]

[center][url=https://i.imgur.com/P7ryh68.jpg][img]https://i.imgur.com/P7ryh68l.jpg[/img][/url][/center]

The Desert Mines is what the town of Raremine was created for. Outside the entrance exists a small gathering of tents and buildings to supply the people passing through, where different people gather to potentially purchase the findings of the mines. There are different mines for the various metals that are used throughout Isson for construction, but the place people think of when heading to the Desert Mines is the one specific where trainers are allowed to pick up their own pickaxes and head down to dig! The miners tend to use their Pokémon to help with the digging, and a lot of the Pokémon they use are native to the cave itself, so for some help just catch one and go at it!

There are maps showing where you’re more likely to find different things, be they stones, fossils or remnants of ancient civilizations. The mines themselves are well-lit, with lamps in the ceiling letting people wander free. The Pokémon here are very used to humans walking about and are constantly maintaining the structural integrity of the tunnels, making it a very safe working environment, despite being a mine. But, deep in the mines is a place where people stop going, lamps no longer light the place up, a place where Pokémon are allowed to live free. What sort of secrets might await in the deepest depths of the Desert Mines? Are you here to find out?[/hider]

[hider=Suggestions to actions]1. Find Pokémon. [i]Can be specified what kind of Pokémon is being searched for, and how you search.[/i]
2. Train Pokémon. [i]With this command, we can jump ahead in time and skip posting about grinding.[/i]
3. Seek trainers. [i]The miners around here commonly have Pokémon and could totally take you.[/i]
4. Talk. [i]There’s plenty of miners and some researchers one could talk to.[/i]
5. Mine. [i]Grab a tool, and get to chopping! The miners always appreciate the extra help! Your chances may increase with a Pokémon helping![/i]
6. Brave the Cave. [i]Seek deeper into the cave, see what form of secrets the depth of the mine might hold.[/i]
7. Mine Sellers. [i]People on the outside of the mine willing to buy scraps you may have found![/i]
8. Specify. [i]If you specify what you want to do, the GM will take it into account and tell the result.[/i]
9. Trigger random event. [i]Force the GM to use his imagination to make a scenario for you.[/i][/hider]

[i]Connected areas: [/i]
Route 7. [i]Right behind you.[/i]

[hider=Desert Mines, known Pokémon]Common: 
#27 Sandshrew
#50 Diglett
#74 Geodude
#529 Drilbur
#551 Sandile

Uncommon:

Rare:[/hider]