[@Pirouette]

[color=green]‘Of course! That will be 1,900P,’[/color] the woman at the Berry Garden said, and the purchase was done. Erika applied the Damp Mulch and planted the berries in her little patch of soil in the garden, ensuring she didn’t need to water her berries, and then she was on her way. After that, she awaited the return of her companions.

Eventually, from the direction of the Gym came a… positively dancing Joshua, who was followed by a Zubat spinning around him. 

[color=668570]‘ERIKA! WE WON!’[/color] Joshua called out so happily, lifting his new sparkling Treetop Badge up high. [color=668570]‘And it was all thanks to this hero! Who’s the best darling hero Zubat? You are, that’s who! You’re the best, most delightful, beautiful Zubat across the land, and you’re my hero! You’re an absolute charm, Zubat! My hero!’[/color]

Erika has never seen a happier Zubat, the bat acting positively abashed in the praise but flying about making happy Zubat-cries.

Behind Joshua, Ewan arrived, nodding appreciatively at Erika.

[color=decdad]‘Thank you for the tip about the weather. It made me remember I had found a Hail TM in the Frozen Cavern earlier, and I applied it to great effect. Sven really came through, despite Ground-typing. Just had to switch between him and the rest at steady intervals to keep Hail going, but with that, I won modestly easily. That Bellossom was no joke, though, has to just keep my distance and let the hail do the job. Archie wasn’t very happy with that and had to be coaxed into giving me the badge by his butler…’[/color] Ewan sighed a little, seemingly regretting his strategy but coming out on top nonetheless.

[color=decdad]‘In any case. Your tip saved me. Please, have this other TM I found as, er, payback,’[/color] Ewan said, offering something to Erika and looking like he found what he said a bit amusing.

[center][color=6ecff6][i]Erika obtained TM66 Payback![/i][/color][/center]

Joshua then proceeded to tell the epic tale about how his Zubat saved the day, but through his flowery descriptions it basically amounted to “Zubat used Confuse Ray and got lucky repeatedly”. Still, Joshua was pretty good at making a dramatic story out of it. 

Eventually, a young woman approached them, having found her way towards them. A blonde girl in a tight hat with goggles, wearing a jacket and had way too big a backpack on her back. She found Erika decently quickly, but stopped a bit of a distance as she noticed the other two.

[hider=Elana][url=https://i.imgur.com/vgnsN1d.jpg][img]https://i.imgur.com/vgnsN1dl.jpg[/img][/url][/hider]

[color=668570]‘Oooh, you must be the guide Erika spoke about!’[/color] Joshua flew back on his feet, skipped over and bowed ever so gracefully to her. [color=668570]‘I am Joshua, and it’s a delight to be charmed by your presence. I can feel the weight of your experience already from here, and it has touched my heart. It shall be a gift to be amazed by your enchanting abilities!’[/color]

[color=f0b4a3]‘… Likewise?’[/color] Elana asked, looking a little confused as she looked between Joshua and Ewan. She then took to walking around Joshua and proceeding directly to Erika, leaning in really close to whisper. [color=f0b4a3]‘You haven’t tricked me into going to a mixer, have you?’[/color] she asked, mildly startled.

Anyway, with that out of the way (and probably with a few Erika lines explaining), they were on the way!

Still, here’s Stillwood Village if she wanted to do anything here.

[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.

[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 are at the Gym. Rodger’s also at the gym. Maple and Ellyn can be caught up to.[/i]
8. Wait. [i]Wait for Joshua and Ewan to come back, for Elana to arrive, and for all preparations to be made for the departure to Mt. Strength.[/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][/hider]

Otherwise, they departed westwards. Leaving the village, they’d still find themselves to be in Stillwood Forest, albeit one which wasn’t quite as tight and let sunlight shine down through the trees. This route was the gradual thinning of the Stillwood Forest, until eventually it led somewhere else. Either to the route where it always rained, or to the mountain.

[hider=Now Arriving At][center][h2]Route 4[/h2][/center]
 
[center][url=https://i.imgur.com/acuwPmM.jpg][img]https://i.imgur.com/acuwPmM.jpg[/img][/url][/center]

Route 4 is a pleasant stride through the forest known as Stillwood Forest, in which Stillwood Village dwells. Being at the base of Mt. Strength, the ground is decently uneven and you’re going to be going uphill as well as downhill and the beaten path isn’t even flat. But, it’s a pleasant forest where you’re unlikely to run into many problems. Being where it is, Route 4 has the unique little advantage that it gets a couple wild Pokémon from the surrounding forests AND a couple stray Mt. Strength dwellers that leak down onto Route 4, allowing some trainers that would never dare traverse the mountains at least have a taste of what kind of Pokémon they might expect up there. Maybe.

It should be noted, the inhabitants of Stillwood Village usually don’t tread very far from their village… but Route 4 is very much their route. There are Aroma Ladies aplenty around here, walking about on random walks through the forest just enjoying life, making the route decently populated by odd ladies that look like they might have inhaled a bit too many spores, given their wide smiles. But, otherwise, the route is as much a route as any other.

And here’s a couple of Pokémon. There and there in the ground stick out some plants, and Erika can identify them as Pokémon sleeping during the day using her Pokédex.

[center][url=https://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/4/43/043Oddish.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/7f0Qaw5.png[/img][/url][/center]

[center][color=6ecff6][i]Pokédex Entry #43 – Oddish, the Weed Pokémon. During the day, Oddish finds nutrient-rich soil to sleep in and absorbs, specially preferring cold soil. When touched by the moonlight, it then pulls itself up and starts wandering, spreading its pollen and looking for a new place to sleep. If it is pulled up by an aggressor during the day, it shrieks out loudly.[/i][/color][/center]

Just lounging around are a couple of living rocks. One can reason that they’re among those that came rolling down Mt. Strength and then decided to stick around.

[center][url=http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/9/98/074Geodude.png][img]http://i.imgur.com/uWRWPD6.png[/img][/url][/center]

[center][color=6ecff6][i]Pokédex Entry #74 – Geodude, the Rock Pokémon. Found in fields as well as mountains. They commonly rest, half-buried in the ground and indistinguishable from normal rocks. There are always way more Geodude around than a traveler will notice. Stepping on one by accident may trigger their rage.[/i][/color][/center]

Here and there are these spore-emitting walking mushroom-Pokémon that seem to be a favourite with the local Aroma Ladies.

[center][url=https://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/d/d8/285Shroomish.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/nocXtzD.png[/img][/url][/center]

[center][color=6ecff6][i]Pokédex Entry #285 – Shroomish, the Mushroom Pokémon. It lives deep in dark, damp forest where it eats the composted soil and fallen leaves. By day it remains still in the forest shade, by night it moves to eat. If it detects danger, it can spout highly toxic spores from the top of its head, strong enough to make trees wilt.[/i][/color][/center]

Drifting among the trees are small, light Pokémon that are very happy that it is currently spring.

[center][url=http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/f/f8/187Hoppip.png][img]http://i.imgur.com/Bpg2ZDN.png[/img][/url][/center]

[center][color=6ecff6][i]Pokédex Entry #187 – Hoppip, the Cottonweed Pokémon. Known to drift on winds, Hoppip is known to clutch to others of its kind to not be separated or to prevent being blown away. It is so light, even the gentlest breeze can lift it. When Hoppips gather, it is said spring is on the way.[/i][/color][/center]

And, lounging by a gate that appears to be leading to Mt. Strength, are a couple humanoid Fighting-types, either resting or practicing lifting rocks or so, just taking a break from otherwise tough Mt. Strength.

[center][url=https://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/8/85/066Machop.png][img]http://i.imgur.com/uWLphvM.png[/img][/url][/center]

[center][color=6ecff6][i]Pokédex Entry #66 – Machop, the Superpower Pokémon. A Machop is built up by a special muscle, which despite its size makes it stronger than 100 humans and will never tire no matter how much it strains itself. This combined with their general availability makes them a common choice for helping humans with manual labours.[/i][/color][/center]

[color=f0b4a3]‘And to get to Mt. Strength, we’re heading up here,’[/color] Elana says, gesturing up a path. Erika’s free to go there, unless there’s anything she wished to do here.

So? Anything here that Erika wants to do or just onwards to Mt. Strength?

[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]Plenty of Aroma Ladies around, if you so desire.[/i]
4. Talk. [i]They can also just be chatted to![/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][/hider]
 
[i]Connected areas: [/i]
Route 3. [i]To the west is the soaked forest route on which it always rains.[/i]
Mt. Strength. [i]A mighty mountain with perhaps equally mighty inhabitants, just north.[/i]
Stillwood Village. [i]East lies a calm village inside Stillwood Forest, many of its inhabitants clueless on the outside world.[/i]

[hider=Route 4, known Pokémon]Common:
#43 Oddish (nocturnal)
#187 Hoppip
#285 Shroomish

Uncommon:
#66 Machop
#74 Geodude

Rare:
[/hider][/hider]

So, assuming she heads on.

Heading up the forest hill towards Mt. Strength. The mountain-range rises above, but after a walk up the cliffside the entrance can be found fairly close to the base. The arc of rock is carved-out with great effort, with patterns and ancient letters and the like, the opening wide enough that a truck could be driven through. With the stories of the wild caves of Mt. Strength going around, one wouldn’t be blamed expecting to be delving into caverns of absolute chaos and roughness. Yet as one descends into the cave and it opens up in its whole honesty, the ground beneath becomes… cobblestone.

[hider=Now Entering][center][h2]Mt. Strength[/h2]

[url=https://i.imgur.com/vNrPyTN.jpg][img]https://i.imgur.com/XBST9Eq.png[/img][/url][/center]

The caverns of Mt. Strength opens up into multiple corridors, dark depths branching in multiple directions. However, those expecting a typical rocky cave will be surprised. Something is immediately evident as one treads into Mt. Strength and that is that someone once lived here, long-term, and had buildings constructed out of the stones of the cavern. Remnants of whoever lived here are clear as day, as one walks on cobblestone and stairs, see remnant unlit lanterns and banners, old rock buildings standing around in the depths of the mountain. Arcs of stone remain, and here and there bridges remain, although one can question if you should trust them. An abandoned settlement in the mountain, left behind for unknown reasons… except, is it truly abandoned? There are signs of recent if unskilled renovation. Who’s maintaining them?

Why, the Pokémon, of course. There are Pokémon hard at work maintaining, reconstructing and living inside these supposed ruins. At some point humans no longer needed the fortifications of the cave, went outside, and the Pokémon took it over. They live here, creating their own society of strong Fighting-types with their own hierarchy with the strongest at the top, you’ve wandered into a whole different world, here, a world of brawling fighters, of dojos and rock-breaking competitions, of king-of-the-hill matches, thrones held my mountains of muscle, of Pokémon reconstructing the old buildings here before they inevitably are torn down again in another destructive scuttle. Here the Fighting-Pokémon are king, and humans are the guests. Will you earn their respect, or face their might?

So, with the exception of the building straight ahead, there were multiple tunnels around, going in different directions. One could move in the rough directions of down-left, straight forward and up-right. Forward would lead through the settlement, in which… there’s already a bit of a brawl going on. A Timburr and a Mienfoo was squaring of in the square, while there others of their kinds as well as Machops and Meditites watching. Based on the amount of damaged Pokémon were lying about, clearly they had some form of arrangement where two who wanted to fight stepped forth and then they had a match. It would be simple to join in.

Other Pokémon were simply training themselves by lifting or breaking rocks or arms-wrestling or similar. Others, primarily Meditites, were meditating or resting.

[center][url=https://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/8/85/066Machop.png][img]http://i.imgur.com/uWLphvM.png[/img][/url][/center]

[center][color=6ecff6][i]Pokédex Entry #66 – Machop, the Superpower Pokémon. A Machop is built up by a special muscle, which despite its size makes it stronger than 100 humans and will never tire no matter how much it strains itself. This combined with their general availability makes them a common choice for helping humans with manual labours.[/i][/color][/center]

[center][url=http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/7/71/307Meditite.png][img]http://i.imgur.com/QzaKLiU.png[/img][/url][/center]

[center][color=6ecff6][i]Pokédex Entry #307 – Meditite, the Meditate Pokémon. It is found deep in mountains, meditating for hours on end and surviving on a berry a day. It trains its spirit, and by heightening its inner strength it somehow achieved levitation. It also enjoys daily yoga workouts.[/i][/color][/center]

[center][url=https://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/6/69/532Timburr.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/BDKcLn7.png[/img][/url][/center]

[center][color=6ecff6][i]Pokédex Entry #532 – Timburr, the Muscular Pokémon. They make habits of training themselves by carrying square logs and wielding them as weapons. They’re know to appear at construction sites and helping with the carrying. They pick bigger logs as they get stronger, and when they can handle any log without problem, they’re close to evolving.[/i][/color][/center]

[center][url=http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/4/41/619Mienfoo.png][img]http://i.imgur.com/TFL9mn1.png[/img][/url][/center]

[center][color=6ecff6][i]Pokédex Entry #619 – Mienfoo, the Martial Arts Pokémon. While not very strong, it’s very fast and has mastered the art of elegant combos using claws to increase damage. As it concentrates, it grows in speed and efficiency. They have a tendency to start acting like their trainer’s personal bodyguards.[/i][/color][/center]

A Machoke stood, arms crossed, like overlooking the conflict, though he looked kinda bored.

[center][url=https://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/8/8e/067Machoke.png][img]http://i.imgur.com/jknr6uM.png[/img][/url][/center]

[center][color=6ecff6][i]Pokédex Entry #67 – Machoke, the Superpower Pokémon. It is known to help people with extremely tough labour in order to toughen up. It’s muscles is as hard as steel, yet it still needs to wear a belt which holds back its energy in order to not tear itself apart with its own strength. It can pick up a truck with one hand, and will never get tired.[/i][/color][/center]

[color=f0b4a3]‘The rules of Mt. Strength are pretty simple. The higher you go, the higher the level of the Pokémon you face,’[/color] Elana said, stepping forward and lobbing a Pokéball up into the air.

[color=f0b4a3]‘The Pokémon are [i]modestly[/i] friendly, but if you walk around with a strong-looking Pokémon out, they’ll come flocking to challenge you. Going without Pokémon at all can also be dangerous, as these wild Pokémon know trainers usually come with Pokémon to defend themselves. To show that you’re not worth challenging, the solution to not being attacked in Mt. Strength is therefore…’[/color] she said, catching the Pokéball and throwing it into the ground, and with a flash something showed up.

Something pink. Something fat with a cherry on top, a tongue sticking out and an incredibly derpy expression.

[color=f0b4a3]‘… Walk with your most lame-looking Pokémon at your side,’[/color] Elana finished. [color=E9C9D8]‘Slurpuuuuuff!’[/color] the Pokémon excitedly called.

[center][url=https://cdn2.bulbagarden.net/upload/8/8d/685Slurpuff.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/PPny1iK.png[/img][/url]

[color=6ecff6][i]Pokédex Entry #685 – Slurpuff, the Meringue Pokémon. Combining a Swirlix with a Whipped Dream makes it evolve into this sweet Pokémon. Its sense of smell is 100 million times better than a human’s, even a faintest smell tells it everything about an area. Its fur contain a lot of air, making it soft and much lighter than it looks.[/i][/color][/center]

[color=f0b4a3]‘Still, I didn’t bring Slurpuff just to look silly. Its nose. It’s the best nose in the Pokémon world. If anything can find your Dawn Stone,’[/color] Elana said, lifting up an evolutionary stone and flipping into the air before catching it again, [color=f0b4a3]‘it’s this guy. Just, any stones he finds that aren’t Dawn Stones, I’ll keep as part of my fee. Deal?’[/color] Elana asked, looking directly at Erika. The stone in Elana’s hand was a Shiny Stone, so not exactly a Dawn Stone, but possibly smelled similarly, maybe.

[color=f0b4a3]‘That aside. You have the map. Anywhere in particular you want to go?’[/color]

If Erika inspects the map…

[hider=Map]By and large, the caverns of Mt. Strength could be divided into four floors.

B1 - Lowest floor. It’s just a vast array of tunnels, but a single, massive room stands out. It’s marked “Mountain Castle”. Otherwise, it’s just a bunch of tunnels looping back into one another in frankly impossible-looking ways. Hm, actually, doesn’t the map look edited here?

1F - The first floor. It’s has this massive chamber in the middle where the Pokemon town ahead of the entrance is located. Elsewhere arrays of tunnels go in varying directions but not leading anywhere in specific. The two possible exits to Route 4 and to Route 12 are marked, on both sides, as are places to go higher… or lower. 

2F - The floor above. Several large chambers are interlinked, and even goes outside the mountain here and there for outside mountainous paths. There’s a lot of marked rooms here. The Dojo. The Throne Room. The Mountainside Arena. The Rock-Breaker’s Room. Bridge of Challenge. Town of Champions… And more.

.3F - The top floor is significantly smaller than the other floors, but also features what appears to be a very, very long climb. Along the way is an exit to the Magnetic Platform, and far, far above those… is a split path, one leading west, and the other east. There, clearly marked, is the West Pillars, and East Pillars.[/hider]

So. What does Erika feel like doing here?

[hider=Mt. Strength things][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. Move. [i]The act of putting one foot in front of the other repeatedly to generate movement.[/i]
	3.1. Out. [i]Route 4 is right behind you.[/i]
	3.2. Forward. [i]Focus on getting to the other side of Mt. Strength.[/i]
	3.3. Up. [i]Brave the greater heights of Mt. Strength.[/i]
	3.4. Down. [i]What might dwell in the depths of this mountain?[/i]
	3.5. Roam. [i]Who cares where you end up? Pick a cave and go with the flow![/i]
5. Specify. [i]If you specify what you want to do, the GM will take it into account and tell the result.[/i]
6. Trigger random event. [i]Force the GM to use his imagination to make a scenario for you.[/i]
7. Search. [i]The abandoned settlements seem looted already, but maybe something lies around?[/i]
8. Challenge! [i]Find a suitable fighting-circle and prove yourself superior! Tougher the higher you are in the mountain![/i][/hider]

[hider=Mt. Strength, known Pokémon]Common:
#66 Machop
#74 Geodude
#307 Meditite
#532 Timburr
#619 Mienfoo

Uncommon:
#67 Machoke (more common the higher you go)

Rare:
[/hider][/hider][/hider]