PlatinumSkink

Darkest Before the Dawn: A CYOA Magical Girl Roleplay [Completed]

Movie Marathon

‘Okay! I’m here now!’ Ronin came in through the door, grinning and looking exactly like she always is. She was holding a big tray of…

‘I brought chocolate cupcakes!’ she said, placing the tray of amateur-made confectionaries on the table with all the other food and stuff, along with two cans of water. Because someone here might need them. ‘Now, let’s make friends, watch movies, and-’ she peered over at the new activity Oros was suddenly starting.

‘Huh.’

Pokémon: Start

@Gardevoiran

Vivia nodded to him and let him go off trying his catching thing while she went off training in the woods for the sake of it. Simply because.

Skylar detected a suitable Scatterbug to attempt catching. He had Celebrity Sing at it, which was successful and the Scatterbug fell asleep and other Scatterbugs scurried away. Skylar then threw the Pokéball!

…

There’s something to be said about a blind person throwing a ball. This usually isn’t much of a problem for Skylar, but this time it was. So he threw the Pokéball and it careened way right of where he intended it to. It bounced off a tree and further right into the woods. Said tree was filled with Scatterbugs that got frightened by the sudden noise and unleashed a cloud of Stun Spore in all directions, catching Celebrity by surprise and Paralyzing her.

Meanwhile, the ball was about to hit another tree… before the tree turned a branch to send the ball flying before the tree ran off. The ball then flew into the crown of a tree, where an Emolga picked it up and carried it off with a happy whistling. It dropped it towards a Sawsbuck, for no other reason than it felt like it… and the Sawsbuck slammed it away with one of its horns, sending the ball spinning off further into the woods.

It then landed in the flower of a Gloom. The Gloom panicked and spread Poison Powder all around it, poisoning multiple Deerlings that were just hanging around. An irritated Sawsbuck charged the Gloom and sent it flying with a strike of its horns, and assumed the other Sawsbuck was the cause of this attack. It charged off, and the two Sawsbucks suddenly squared off for supremacy in the outskirts of Stillwood Forest.

The Gloom, meanwhile, flew into another tree… where a Pikachu was resting. Disturbed by the sudden flying poisonous flower, it let off a panicked Thundershock! Multiple sleeping Hoothoots awoke from sudden electric shocks going through them! Gloom and Pikachu suddenly found themselves assaulted by a small crowd of owls, forcing them to dash off across the branches of the trees they were inhabiting!

… But they ran out of branches! Gloom realized a second too late and almost fell off into the Dragon Lake, which waters the branch was hanging off of, but Pikachu at the last second managed to catch the flower before it fell in! There was a panicked number of moments where it looked certain that Gloom would fall into the waters with Carvanha looking on with interest below, Pikachu struggling to lift the somewhat-heavier-than-itself flower-creature while the impending threat of Hoothoot approached from behind…

… But the Hoothoots realized the situation! The birds with weirdly small wings flew about and grabbed both the Gloom and the Pikachu and lifted them to safety! It was all super-happy and wholesome, and during the lifting the Pokéball fell out of Gloom’s flower. It dropped into the waters of Dragon Lake below, Carvanha fleeing as they came across it, and then it was carried by the currents to a much deeper place…

It sank to the bottom, gently drifting down due to the pressure from above, and then it hit something. That something was absorbed into the Pokéball. The ball rolled once. It rolled twice. It rolled thrice… … … … …

result

click

Skylar caught Stunfisk!

Pokédex Entry #618 – Stunfisk, the Trap Pokémon. It hides itself in mud underwater or on shores awaiting prey to step on it. Its skin is very hard, it’s unharmed by even the heaviest of steps on it. When stepped on, it generates a massive dose of electricity to paralyze its prey before feeding. It’s known to smile as it delivers its electricity…

Gender: ♀
Type: Ground/Electric
Personality: (Up to player.)
Quirks/Talents/Aspirations/Other: (Up to player.)
Level: 19
Moves: Tackle, Water Gun, Mud-Slap, Mud Sport, Bide, Thundershock, Mud Shot, Camouflage
Ability: Static. May paralyze on contact.
Held Item: None.

Currently asleep.

New Pokémon caught! Skylar earned 2000 P!

Would you like to give a nickname to Stunfisk?

Your party is full! Select one Pokémon to send to the PC.

And… that happened. Of course, a trainer was expected to pick up the Pokéball where it had landed, so there was currently a Pokéball with a Stunfisk at the bottom of Dragon Lake containing a Pokémon belonging to Skylar now. Congratulations?

… That aside! Skylar attempted again and was met with no particular difficulties.

result

click

Skylar caught Scatterbug!

Gender: ♂
Type: Bug
Personality: (Up to player.)
Quirks/Talents/Aspirations/Other: (Up to player.)
Level: 5
Moves: Tackle, String Shot
Ability: Friend Guard. Reduces damage done to friends.
Held Item: None.

Currently asleep.

New Pokémon caught! Skylar earned 500 P!

Would you like to give a nickname to Scatterbug?

Your party is full! Select one Pokémon to send to the PC.

So, Skylar started looking for an Emolga by the trees. It didn’t take too long! With some help from his Pokémon he soon found one leaping from tree to tree, taking a leisurely jumping tour just for the sake of it! Perhaps it was the same one from before and his Pokémon had simply been keeping track of it.

Pokédex Entry #587 – Emolga, the Sky Squirrel Pokémon. It lives in treetops and holes in trees made by other Pokémon. It stores electrical charge in its cheeks, and uses this energy to assist flight. It has a thin cape-like membrane between arms and body which helps it fly, and this membrane is capable of discharging the electricity it has stored.

Now, Celebrity is currently paralyzed, so instead Skylar sent out Paradise!

Emolga was a bit distressed to suddenly find a huge Tropius flying after him! Still, nothing like a Thundershock to bring down a flying foe! Emolga spun around and excitedly unleashed a Thundershock attack which struck Paradise straight on…!

It did barely any damage.

Paradise, in turn, stomped the squirrel in mid-air and he was meteor-smashed into the forest floor with a heavy slam. Emolga was pushing himself out of a hole in the ground when it was time for Skylar to finish the fight by throwing a Pokéball at the squirrel.

It ro-

result

CRASH!

Emolga broke out of the Pokéball and flew into the sky! He Quick Attacked into Paradise…!

Still didn’t do a lot of damage, but…

A tinge of pain went through Paradise as Static went through her. Paradise was paralyzed!

One more Pokéball! It hit Emolga and the Pokéball fell onto the forest floor!

It r-

result

-olled once. It rolled twice. It rolled thrice.

click

Skylar caught Emolga!

Gender: ♂
Type: Electric/Flying
Personality: (Up to player.)
Quirks/Talents/Aspirations/Other: (Up to player.)
Level: 7
Moves: Thundershock, Quick Attack, Tail Whip
Ability: Static. May paralyze on contact.
Held Item: None.

At 35% health.

New Pokémon caught! Skylar earned 1500 P!

Would you like to give a nickname to Emolga?

Your party is full! Select one Pokémon to send to the PC.

And with that done… he now had two paralyzed Pokémon, and maybe a situation with an unexpected other Pokémon. He’d used 4 Pokéballs here. Was the plan still to go get a Starly.

Meanwhile. Vivia was over there in the forest, and she had something in her arms…

‘Geesh, you’re kinda heavy, huh,’ Vivia complimented a small tree that she was holding. ‘Well. You are pretty cute, so it’s fine. Welcome to the team, Bonsly,’ she then smiled to the actually-not-a-tree Pokémon she was holding, that happily called back. ‘Bonsly!’

Pokédex Entry #438 – Bonsly, the Bonsai Pokémon. It prefers arid environments. If it gets excess water, it leaks out the water through its eyes, making it look like it’s constantly crying, which also serves to make enemies less willing to attack it. It is a fairly good mimic and are often mistaken for real bonsai trees. Somehow.

Seems like Vivia had added another Pokémon to her team. In any case. What does Skylar do?

Still on Route 5, because I paused you there.

Route 5

Route 5

Just as Stillwood Village is the least visited settlement in Isson, Route 5 is among the least travelled routes on Isson main landmass. The route is a steady incline from Lakewatch Town to Stillwood Village, with some elements of the base of Mt. Chill nearby, the waters of Dragon Lake next to it too, sporadic forest from that surrounding Stillwood Village and some of the plain elements from route 6 as well, along with a very traveller-friendly road makes Route 5 perhaps one of the most naturally stunning routes of Isson. There are no roads for asphalt here, only travellers are explorers seeking or exiting Lakewatch Town for some reason, as well as Pokémon trainers on their journeys.

A peaceful route without any real dangers, it still offers a lot of variation. Walk on the west side by the waters of Dragon Lake to potentially encounter some Pokémon of the lake. Walk by the mountains on the east and perhaps feel some of the radiating cold of the range of Mt. Chill to perhaps see some more mountainous Pokémon or maybe an ice Pokémon that stumbled out of their caves. The route is a bit cold, attributed perhaps best to the proximity to the Frozen Cavern, and it gets colder the closer the mountain you go. Multiple rivers run down from the mountains, part of Mt. Chill that melts, but efficient wooden bridges help passage over. And of course, patches of forest here and there.

The south of Route 5 opens up towards what people call the Vast Plains, or simply Route 6. There parts of the Endless Forest spread out to make things a bit more covered in trees, but as soon as you leave this forest, all you’ll see is plains as far as you can see, and that’d be Route 6. On the other side of the route is the forest that covers Stillwood Village, you need to enter the forest to get to the village. At the middle by the lake is Lakewatch Town, resting a bit above Dragon Lake. And, of course, the passage up to the Frozen Cavern lies up that hill, for those who want to brave the range that leads towards the enclosed and frozen Route 9 on the other side.

Suggestions to actions

1. Find Pokémon. Can be specified what kind of Pokémon is being searched for, and how you search.
2. Train Pokémon. With this command, we can jump ahead in time and skip posting about grinding.
3. Seek trainers. While not many, there are still trainers and explorers in the area, mostly trying to get to the next.
4. Talk. You could seek someone out to talk to them, if you want to.
5. Move along. Move along normally, letting any events that may come happen naturally.
6. Hurry along. Intentionally avoid confrontations and try to get safely to the next destination.
7. Specify. If you specify what you want to do, the GM will take it into account and tell the result.
8. Trigger random event. Force the GM to use his imagination to make a scenario for you.
9. Area Specific: Random House. Uh. There’s an excessively out-of-place red house in the middle of the route, the door standing wide-open. … Want to visit?

Connected areas:
Lakewatch Town. On the south-west of the route, Lakewatch Town lies adjacent to the lake on the road to the Wet Caverns.
Stillwood Village. In the north lies the forest which hides the village, Mt. Strength lying behind it..
Route 6. Vast plains start in the south-east, this route leads towards Raremine Town.
Frozen Cavern. After an incline up to the ridge of Mt. Chill, a cavern of ice could guide the way to Route 9 and Cooldome City.
Endless Forest. To the south, a dark forest looms. There are no indications as to why you’d ever want to go there.

Route 5, known Pokémon

Common:
#10 Caterpie
#43 Oddish
#163 Hoothoot (During night, rumored)
#585 Deerling
#664 Scatterbug

Uncommon:
#25 Pikachu
#438 Bonsly
#586 Sawsbuck
#587 Emolga

Rare:
#172 Pichu

__________________________

@hatakekuro

Basil dashed over Route 1 on the way to the next town. Said town rose before him on a hill, with old buildings and a gentle road leading up around the hill. Surrounding the place was ranches and crops, places of growing food and such, and children running around being happy… a very country place not too far from Pureplain City. He’d arrived.

arriving in

Highhill Town

_{(couldn’t decide what image I wanted to use)}

Highhill Town is a small, lively place that has seemingly stood atop this hill from time immemorial and never really changed. The atmosphere in Highhill Town is much fresher than surrounding places, the buildings are older and the work as honest as ever. The old town is populated by elders and younglings aplenty, and the town has a culture of their own. Plenty of Pokémon assist with the work, either as work-force or the animals that work is being done on.

One usually only crosses Highhill Town on a trip to or from Pureplain City. Regardless, it is a place of beauty. The fields around it are cultivated by hard-working people and Pokémon while the lake to the east gleams in the sunshine as fishermen attend it. There are small roads of asphalt spiraling up the hill to lead to all the old buildings, and children playing around in stairs or nature is very common.

It is said that a trainer praying at the nearby Silent Shrine will be blessed on their journey, so many travel to Highhill Town just for that. There’s also a set of very ancient rocks spread about town, pointing out towards the lake on top of the hill with some engravings. What they mean? Nobody knows. Also, Highhill Town is the residence of a certain Move Changer, whose abilities are sought by some new trainers. What he can do? Visit him to find out.

With that said, Basil made a beeline for the Pokémon Center. The building stood where it could easily be seen with a red roof, and inside he was immediately welcomed as the Pokémon Trainer he was.

nurse

‘Hello, and welcome to the Pokémon Center. Would you like to rest your Pokémon?’

Assumingly, yes.

‘Okay. I’ll take your Pokémon for a few seconds, then.’

She’d then accept the Pokéballs and put them into the machine, and…

Di, di, di-do-da!

‘Thank you for waiting. We’ve restored your Pokémon to full health.’

She says as she hands the Pokéballs back. She then bows to her customer and gives a friendly smile.

‘We hope to see you again!’

With that done, he came out into Highhill Town again, with the sun looking down at him from above and this peaceful little town around him. What will he do here?

Suggestions to actions

1. Find Pokémon. Can still search for Pokémon in towns~
2. Talk. In cities and towns, there are considerably more people one can talk to. Talking can give you info on local rumors and such.
3. Exit. Exit the town to any of the connected areas.
4. Specify. If you specify what you want to do, the GM will take it into account and tell the result.
5. Trigger random event. Force the GM to use his imagination to make a scenario for you.
6. Notable Buildings. Visit any of the facilities of the city!
6.1. Pokémon Center. Heal all your Pokémon.
6.2. PokéMart. Go to a store and buy things.
6.3. Pokémon Gym. ???
6.4. Docks. For fishermen or perhaps a ticket across Route 14.
6.5. Ancient Rocks. Of completely unknown origin, ancient writing on them.
6.6. Ranch. There are ranches around Highhill, if you stand to gain from them.
6.7. Move Changer. We can guess from the name, but what can this man do?
6.8. Mayor’s House. If you see reason to visit, it’s right by the rocks.

Connected areas:
Route 1. To the south, is the common route of first journeys. Green and straight.
Route 3. To the north, the route to Rainrock or the Silent Shrine. A wet woodland.
Route 14. To the east, the lake known as the Dragon Lake, potentially for crossing.

Highhill Town, Known Pokémon

Common:
#10 Caterpie
#16 Pidgey
#66 Machop
#532 Timburr

Uncommon:
#588 Karrablast
#616 Shelmet

Rare:
#198 Murkrow (night)

Darkest Before the Dawn: A CYOA Magical Girl Roleplay [Completed]

<probably also before Lily gets any sort of new management>

So, on some evening when Mariette knew they’d be at home because of her information network, she simply stepped out of her portal in front of the door to Lily and Alexander’s home, closing the portal behind her and holding Bunny in her grasp. She was a little nervous to just show up unannounced, maybe she should have called and asked if she should come first? … Actually, yes, that’s a good idea.

Mariette pulled aside and called Lily’s number on the phone as she leaned against the wall on the outside.

Mariette had to wait a bit longer than was comfortable before the call was finally answered by Lily.

"Oh, uh...Hi, Mariette," she greeted; unlike her usual energetic and peppy self, she now sounded apathetic and troubled.

‘Er, hello, this is Mariette. … Can I visit, or is now a bad time?’ Mariette asked, sounding 8the slightest unsure, somewhat concerned at the tone she was using.

"Well, I...No, it’s fine. I wasn’t doing anything constructive anyway. You know where me and Alex live, right?"

‘I do. I’ll be right over. Thank you,’ Mariette said, and then ended the call. She then waited for quite a few seconds.

---

Alexander was just bringing lunch to Lily when she hung up her phone “Who was that?” he asked as he handed her a plate with a burger and fries as he took a seat next to her and started eating his own.

"Oh, thank you Alex. I was getting a bit hungry." She graciously took the offered plate, and picked out a couple of fries. She seemed a little happier than before, though her lack of energy was still apparent.
"It was Mariette," she answered, and munched on a french fry.
"She asked me if she could visit. She’s probably here any second now."

Alexander nodded “That’s good, you could use another friendly face” before he resumed eating.

"I guess..." Lily mused to herself as she continued eating her meal.

‘I just hope this isn’t going to be trouble, I’m still worried about Lily,’ Alex thought.

---

After a while, Mariette knocked on the door, deciding she’d waited long enough to not be distressingly fast.

Alexander opened the door a few seconds later, Dave perched on his head “...hey” he greeted a little awkwardly not entirely sure what to say as he gestured for her to enter “Lily’s...been having a rough time, so she’s going to seem a little...a lot off. Just a heads up.”

‘Hello,’ Mariette greeted, then blinked at little Dave more so than at Alex when he peeked over. Tiny… … … and then what Alexander actually said connected. ‘Oh. I see. May I ask why?’ Mariette asked.

Alexander stepped to the side to let her in, as Dave just stared at her with unblinking eyes “I’m...not sure if I should talk about it behind her back. I’ve never had to deal with anything like this before, so I’m kind of working blind. Although I am hoping that seeing another friendly face and socializing with someone other than me will be good for her.”

‘Alright, that’s fair,’ Mariette said about not wanting to talk behind her back. She decided to simply enter instead.

After entering the apartment, Mariette saw Lily sitting on the sofa, having curled up in a blanket as she watched a magical girl anime running on the TV. She turned her head, and her hand poked out from the blanket to wave at her.

"Hi, Mariette. I’m sorry I didn’t greet you at the door. I just...I didn’t want to move from my spot." She admitted. "Still, it’s nice to see you again. How have things been with you? I guess you’ve also had it rough because of all the riots and stuff."

Bob and Tim suddenly jumped on the sofa and went up to snuggle with Lily, laying in her lap in an adorable pile of fuzz. Lily petted them gently, managing a small smile as she did.

Mariette was a bit bewildered to see Lily like this. This was not what she’d really come here for, but, huh. Now she was concerned.

When Alexander walked in behind her, Dave took one look and Bob and Tim and flew off somewhere else.

‘I’ve been fine. We successfully saved Sammy, as intended. I’ve been trying to save people in the riots, seemed the least I could do…’ Mariette said, her eyes trailing to Bob and Tim, a slight tint on her cheeks appearing at the rabbit and weasel being cute in Lily’s lap. ‘H… how about with you? I’ve… never seen you like this,’ Mariette asked, looking back to Lily, some concern in her voice.

"Yeah...About that..." Lily sighed, and averted her eyes from Mariette.
"After me and Alex escaped from the rave, I happened to spot a family being attacked by some magical girls. They were bullying a young girl...I decided to go and stop them." Her expression turned sad.
"They turned out to be a lot tougher than I ever thought. It was the first time I broke so many bones. But that was nothing." A tear streaked down her eye.
"The girls went for a suicide attack, and I tried to stop them...But it failed. And...at that point...Ixion protected me. And now...He’s..." She sniffled, unable to continue with her story.

Bob and Tim suddenly got up and climbed to both of her shoulders, and then resumed snuggling. Lily lifted her hands up to pet them both, and pressed her cheek against Bob’s.
"Thank you, Bob and Tim. I’m glad you’re here with me."
“Why are animals better at comforting her than I am?” Alexander grumbled under his breath.

… Her patron had sacrificed itself for her? The sheer idea boggled Mariette’s mind for a bit. Magical Girls are the pawns of their patrons… yet clearly, something was different between Ixion and Lily. … Mariette was somewhat at a loss as for what to say to that. … But… ‘I understand. I’m sorry to hear that. I believe… it’s natural to grieve. Take your time,’ she said, looking a bit lost in her own eyes, clutching Bunny a bit harder. She looked to Alex with those same slightly lost eyes, basically saying she can’t really do much more on that front.

“It’s been kind of rough lately” Alexander said as he rubbed the back of his head “but Lily’s doing a lot better now. We’ve mostly been holed up in here since then, so we don’t really know about any new developments on the outside though.”

Lily picked up the two pets, and placed them on her lap.
"Thanks, Mariette. I’ll get over it. I need to, so I can get stronger, and not let his sacrifice be in vain. I’ll take these burdens, and I’ll make them beautiful again."
She giggled a bit.
"It’s a line from Model Warrior Julianne. It’s one of my favorite shows, even if it’s old."

Mariette took a moment to clutch Bunny as she was listening to them, wondering how she’d handle hard times. Then… she blinked a bit. Oh. That’s what she does. Mariette considered for a second, what Lily had just said…

‘I’ll be… right back,’ Mariette said, turning around and letting a portal open in the room, which Mariette walked through and just left hanging there.

It took numerous seconds. Numerous seconds of very quickly consulting with Eli about what a few things were, how they looked, and then using Absolute Direction for maximum efficiency.

Then Mariette came back, her one visible eye entirely wide and her cheeks just the slightest rosy, closing the portal behind her. She now had something in both her hands. In one, she held Bunny, her eternal companion. In the other… Mariette walked over and pushed a plushie of said Model Warrior Julianne at Lily, looking a bit bewildered herself.

‘Whenever I’m sad… Bunny makes me feel better,’ Mariette said, pushing the bunny to her cheek. ‘I need Bunny, but… you… liked Julianne, you said…? Then she can look after you…’ Mariette said, insistently pushing the plushie at her.

Lily was a bit confused by Mariette suddenly leaving.
"Wait, I...Oh." She lowered her head down on top of the pets.
”I knew she’d be weirded out. Why did I say it? I’m such a dork."
But then, Mariette returned, and Lily’s eyes widened upon seeing the plushie that she was given.
"N-No way...These go for at least 500 dollars online! How did you get one, and so fast?" She stared at the plushie, and then hugged it against her cheek; Alex saw that Lily’s smile, that he had grown accustomed to see everyday, had returned.
"Oh, thank you so much! I don’t know how I could ever repay you."

Alexander couldn’t help but smile ‘It’s about time. Although...this probably would have happened sooner if I wasn’t horrible at providing comforting people and stuff like that’ his smile shrunk as he continued that line of thought ‘She’s only been here for a few minutes and she already got Lily to smile. Man, I’m really useless, aren’t I?’ and that, his smile disappeared with a huff.

Mariette kept dead silent about where she got the plushie. “I stole it” would cause so many weird reactions, after all. Instead, Mariette simply smiled at the slight delight of seeing Lily smile again, and… ‘Don’t… worry about it. Just maybe save my life if you find me in danger sometime,’ Mariette instead replied to the last statement about repayment.

Lily lifted her head up to look at Mariette, looking surprised.
"Danger? Is that why you came to visit? Did something happen?"
She asked, sounding concerned.

Alexander mentally sighed ‘of fucking coure! That’s just how things work in this dumpster fire of a town. Lily can’t even get any friends over without some bullshit getting in the way.’

‘Wait, no, I meant theoretically…’ Mariette suddenly looked troubled, sad to see Lily stop smiling so quickly… but she had to sigh and step back, guessing she had to bring up why she came now. ‘… but yes. I am in danger. Justine von Visceral is back, and she does not like me. She is also the only individual I know that can attack me in my Interdimensional Home, where I'd otherwise feel safe, and it has me worried…’

“Wait, that nutty anti love bitch who kidnapped Lily?” Alexander asked bewildered “Why does she have a grudge against you? I’d have thought if she was here for revenge, she would come for Lily and I first, since there’s two of us in a easier place to reach then your home.

Lily nodded. "If that is true, then we must do something about it." She took her phone out. "I'll ask Alicia. The Beacon will surely help with Justine."

‘… Multiple reasons. We once had a partnership, until she decided to murder. I was then the one who opened the portal that brought everyone through to chase towards her palace. I… or, well, my assistant, Eli, was the one who defeated her little sister, Caroline, as well. She came after Eli at the rave earlier, asking about me. I’m also far more of a threat to her, with my ability to go anywhere and so. That’s why I’m being wary. You may still be in danger, but then I will defend you,’ Mariette said. ‘I did send Alicia a letter. She’s yet to respond.’

"You did? That’s weird, she’s usually good about responding to stuff."
Lily sent a text message to Alicia.

“Shit, how long ago was this?” Alexander asked worried “I really hope nothing happened to her. The last thing we need is for Beacon to be going through some kind of succession crisis. The city’s already in bad enough shape as it is. One of the major factions imploding might just push us into the deep end.”

Mariette felt slight apprehension at Lily suddenly texting Alicia, what kind of answer would she get? ‘Not that long ago, I don’t have any reason to believe she’s taken out, her reason to not answering me is probably different…’ she replied to Alexander.

Lily suddenly perked up.
"Oh, Alicia responded with a yes!" She showed the message to Mariette. "When Justine attacks, the Beacon will be there!" She got up, and hugged Mariette. "Now you have nothing to worry about."

‘Wait, uh,’ Mariette sounded out in confusion as she was suddenly hugged. From what she read of the answer, which was just the single word “yes”. It was exceedingly noncommittal and could mean basically anything. Oooookay, then. ‘Um. Good to know…’ she supposed. Means they’re aware of Justine, at the very least. She wasn’t entirely about to ask for their help, however. There was something she’d come here to ask about, though.

‘Say, Alexander? There was something that I hoped to ask of you,’ she said, still in the midst of the hug by Lily.
Alexander was a bit confused, since he had thought that Mariette was here for Lily, but she had something to ask him “Um...sure. What is it?”

‘… So, as said, there’s a chance Justine will attack me inside my home dimension. If she does, I would like my mansion to stand as a fortress against her assault. As such, I came to ask if it was possible to give Sol’s blessings to my mansion? Like you did with the Earth Bastion? I realize that maybe he wouldn’t want to bless something that technically belongs to a Horror, or maybe it would be more effort than it’s worth, you already made those defensive artifacts for me…’ Which Mariette had collected at an earlier time. ‘… But I still wanted to ask if it would be possible,’ Mariette asked, very aware of the weight of Lily clinging to her.

Lily realized she was making Mariette uncomfortable with her clinginess, and released her.
"Oh, uh...Sorry." She turned to look at Alex, waiting for his answer with a bit lip.

Alexander couldn’t help himself and broke out laughing “S...sorry. It’s just, the idea of it being ‘more effort than it’s worth’ to Sol is just hilarious. That moron is such a bleeding heart, that my first day on the job involved looking around for animal shelters and orphanages to bless. He’d probably lecture me if I outright said no to blessing the home of someone working to save the lives of innocents.” his laughter slowly died down as he shifted to a more business like demeanor “That being said, he’s going to need some kind of guarantee that this is for a good cause. I know I rag on him all the time, but he’s not an idiot who just gives out blessings willy nilly. Now granted, I think he’ll be willing to hear you out, after the role you played in the attack on her place. Although...” Alexander began to trail off “...I don’t actually know who your Patron is, beyond them being a Horror. So I’m not sure if there would be any kind of conflict of interests. Sol hate’s evil, so the idea of his power being used to aid it in anyway really pisses him off. But hey, maybe your Patron is one of the good Horrors, I sure as hell don’t fucking know” he shrugged at the end.

"What kind of Patron is Asengav? What does he like?" Lily asked Mariette. "Ixion loved batteries," she added, looking down.

Mariette looked away. ‘Asengav is… not good, really. But he’s reasonable. He operates in a multitude of different dimensions, and in each he allows the girls he’s stationed there to operate as they please as long as they contribute to the cause. He likes monsters and magical artifacts, and wants me to offer such to him. Which I do, when I can,’ probably mostly off-screen which she isn’t paid for, ‘but the current matter was me probably getting attacked by a more vicious-minded horror-servant. Or so.’

Alexander scratched the back of his head “Thats…maybe workable. I mean, maybe that’ll make Sol okay with blessing your place. I can’t read his mind, so you’ll need to talk with him directly. ”

Mariette bit back a bit. ‘I could try that.’

Lily’s face scrunched as she thought about Mariette’s explanation.
"So Asengav likes to collect monsters and stuff? Hmm...Oh! He’s a janitor!" She lifted a finger, her eyes gleaming with the idea.
"Asengav wants to help by cleaning up! Phew, I’m glad that’s the case."
She gave an easy smile.
"I was worried he’d be another really bad guy, like the one Justine worked for." She looked at the TV; there was a scene where the main heroine was delivering a sappy speech about the light of friendship. She nodded, and turned to Mariette, taking her hand.
"Hey Mariette. Um...Even though I’m still recovering, I do feel a bit restless just sitting at home. So, uhh...can I be there when Justine arrives? I want to talk with her again.”

Mariette kept exceedingly quiet about Lily's misconception about Asengav. Then, though, Mariette found her hand taken, and held a lightly surprised expression at Lily's request. Before she could respond, though…

“Yeah, I’m going to have to veto that.” Alexander spoke up “Lily, I don’t want you anywhere near that nutjob, especially in your condition. If you’re really feeling restless, then we can go take a walk or something, not face down a crazy person!”

Lily looked upset as she turned to Alex.
"But this is Justine! We’ve fought her before, I know we can defeat her again!" She made a sad pout.
"I’m sure if I just get to talk with her, everything will work out...I think."
"And, uh...Mariette needs me to support her as her friend."
She now looked Mariette in her one eye.
"Because that’s what friends do, right? I am your friend, right?"
She asked, practically pleading.

‘I…’ Mariette started, throwing a lightly worried glance at Alexander before looking back at Lily. ‘You are my friend, and I could give you a place to stay and be thankful for any help if you'd give me, but I don't want to argue against Alexander about a matter concerning you. I'd prefer if you sorted it out between the two of you, and I'd accept the verdict…’ Mariette said, looking unsure about this matter.

Alexander flinched and took a step back at the sight of Lily’s sad face looking right at him “I...uh...” He was starting to wonder if she had suddenly gotten mind magic or something. Because it just felt like he was being stabbed in the heart while something squeezed his brain “Look it’s just...I don’t want...” but he suddenly found his linguistic skills waning ‘Dammit, what do I do!? I want her to stay here, where it’s safer, but...’ the memory of Lily’s sad face, the one his words caused, suddenly flashed in his mind ‘...what if I’m just making things worse? She’s a strong girl, she can take care of herself, even in her condition. What if...what if I’ve just been holding her back?’ He derailed that train of thought with a wild shake of his head ‘Dammit! I don’t know what to think anymore.’ he let out a defeated sigh “Just...do what you want, I won’t get in your way”

"Oh, ok…" Lily answered Mariette, and then bit her lip at Alex' outburst, understanding how frustrated he was. The both of them had entrusted her with the decision, and she was torn.
"Alex…" She closed her eyes.
"Thank you for supporting me. I know it must be hard to be with an idiot girl like me sometimes. But this is something I need to do. I don't want to lose any more friends. I need to do what I can to protect the ones I have left." She held a hand out for Mariette.
"I may have lost Ixion, but I have not lost my will to fight! You can count on me, Mariette."

Alexander started to chuckle “You, an idiot? Lily; I’m the idiot! This whole time I’ve been struggling to cheer you up...and yet the freeloaders ended up having more success than me. And then she-” he points at Mariette “-just drops in, gives you a stuffed animal, and suddenly your smile is back.” The energy in his voice faded quickly “I...don’t understand people, I never really have. And I’ve never had to comfort someone emotionally before. These past few days just reminded me of that, as I fumbled around trying to fix you. It’s painfully clear that I don’t know what you need, so I’m not going to fight you on this. Just...promise me something Lily” He took the hand she held out for Mariette “Please; don’t make me regret this.”

She blinked when her hand was gripped by Alex, but he proceeded to shake it, looking determined.
"I promise, Alex." Then, Lily pulled Alex closer, and kissed him on the cheek. She giggled a bit, and turned to Mariette, still holding his hand.
"So, what are we going to do? Just be ready for you to create a portal for us?"

It was a little confusing to Mariette, watching Alexander and Lily’s exchange, her one visible eye looking back and forth between them. She was about to take Lily’s hand, but then Alex took it himself and Mariette had to retract hers. But, it seemed they’d reached a conclusion. ‘Being in a relationship sure seems complicated… I’m glad we never have to argue, Bunny…’ Mariette whispered to Bunny as she clutched him with one arm. ‘Yes. I could open a portal at any point back to my mansion. … Did you want to come at once, or…?’ Mariette asked, a bit unsure what the exact proceedings was.

Lily shook her head with an uneasy smile.
”Not yet. I still have things I need to do, like finding a new Patron for myself. Luckily I know where I can start my search.” She pat one of her pockets, and nodded to herself.
”Anyway, would you like to stay for lunch, Mariette? We could hang out and just do normal friend stuff if you’re not too busy.”

“If you’re looking for a new Patron, I’m sure Sol would be willing to take you in.” Alexander spoke up, his cheek feeling strangely warm where Lily’s lips had touched it “I...was planning on suggesting it once you were feeling better. I didn’t want it to feel like I was saying Ixion was...replaceable? Or something like that. I don’t know, it just didn’t feel right.”

Lily turned to Alex with a surprised look.
"Oh, you were? Well, I'll first talk with Umu, see what he has to offer, ok?"

Suggestion to just stay over and eat lunch and do normal friend things… Sounded nice, reminded Mariette she should probably visit Violet and Sakura at some point…
No, she was not about to suggest her own Patron for Lily. That was not the way.
‘Maybe another time, when I’m not quite so occupied making preparations. For now, I’ll take my leave. You have my phone number if you’d like to reach me. Good luck on your search, I’ll see you later,’ Mariette said, opening a portal for herself to depart through. Lily waved back eagerly with a smile as Mariette disappeared through the portal.
"Ok then, see you later!"
Lily was truly glad that she did succeed in becoming friends with Mariette. She only hoped that they were ready for when Justine attacked...

Darkest Before the Dawn: A CYOA Magical Girl Roleplay [Completed]

@Majoras End Can I say that Deni/Ronin would come over to play with the group she previously interacted with some more to make sure it's not just a one-time-thing, grieve the twins for a bit with the rest of them and then hang out at some point, without necessarily collabing it because I'm tuckered out?

Darkest Before the Dawn: A CYOA Magical Girl Roleplay [Completed]

The Schemers

“Fluid time is weird.”

*reading script* ‘… Aye?’

— Veronica & Mariette

After having been spoken to yesterday by Vermillion Veronica, who had mentioned Justine von Visceral no less, Mariette was eager to find her. She’d use her surveillance of Penrose to pick out her most likely location and start opening portals, scanning inside of buildings and outside, seeking for the perhaps elusive person. Or perhaps Veronica would find her, first? Regardless, Mariette had placed herself inside an abandoned building with Eli looking on with slight concern, her standard point of visiting the city, and spread her field of portals to seek out Veronica’s most likely locations based on the information that had been given to her.

Seems that was enough. Mariette could see the tower poking out from some dilapidated buildings, but she was still contacted first.

“There you are.” It was Veronica’s voice again. “I was just having a talk with Beacon. I was offered an alliance in which I would help them despite their inability to keep their mutts from biting at my heels. Can you imagine the gall?” Mariette could hear the familiar groan someone makes when they stretch their arms. “Would you prefer to have this conversation face to face, or is this fine?”

Mariette kept quiet for a bit, feeling like she'd lost by being found first. Regardless, she opened a portal decently close to where the tower stood. Her hands clutched around Bunny and stepped through, head held high, and Eli stepped in behind her in silent but absolute support.

‘Face-to-face,’ Mariette simply stated, giving no reason.

The shadows in the corners of the room grew tendrils and crept into the center of the room. The darkness pooled until it was large enough to make a portal, and the cradle mother rose from the pool of inky tar not long after. The dark tentacles retreated, and the tar settled into shadows on Veronica’s uniform. “I saved Eli at the cost of my bodyguard. Though that’s not a price I plan on having you pay.” She folded her arms behind her back. “It seems we both have the same enemies.”

Mariette was drawing a lot of parallels to her own way of doing things when Veronica appeared. Hm. Regardless. ‘Eli, cast a cloak of silence upon the room, just in case.’ Being an avid one herself, Mariette was a bit wary of eavesdroppers.

‘Yes, mistress,’ Eli said, starting to walk along the walls of the room and casting her spells of darkness. Meanwhile, Mariette turned to look at Veronica.

‘You speak of Justine von Visceral,’ Mariette said. ‘I played a major role in her downfall last time, and it would appear she wants to see me. Worrying, as she is the one creature I am aware of that can enter my home without my permission. The one person that could launch an attack at my heart,’ Mariette said, some fear in her voice. ‘I’m thankful for your intervention, and sorry for what it cost. Indeed, I would do mostly anything to vanquish Justine, and the threat she poses to us,’ Mariette said, squeezing her bunny against her chest some more.

“Hardly took you any time to accept. I’m a little disappointed, I had prepared a pitch and everything.” Veronica’s lips curled into a smile. “Regardless, this is a desirable outcome. Unfortunately, Justine, the PI, and the Mint all benefited and had forces at the rave. It would not be impossible for them all to be working together.” She kicked a piece of rubble with her shoe. “We have particulars that we need to discuss. How friendly we want to be with each other. I also insist on a contract. I’m a rouge Mint coin broker, and you’re a horror worshiper. We need to ensure we can trust each other and not abuse the other one.” Veronica stopped moving and locked eyes with Mariette. “What sort of resources are you willing to put forth?”

A black veil settled over everything around the room. The portals leading out of the room still functioned, but anyone trying to listen or look into the room would not be able to hear what was going on.

Mariette kept her hands clutching Bunny, while just keeping her eyes focused on Veronica. Accept? Did she accept anything? … Still, it would be bad if they all worked against her…

‘I have firepower in the shape of both Magical Girls and monsters. I have the ability to go practically anywhere I like with portals. I have more tricks than I know what to do with. I have the intel that Justine is liable to attack my mansion at any moment…’ Mariette took a slight pause. ‘I feel compelled to ask the same of you.’

“The Cradle’s advantages are it’s communication network, equipment, and agents. By now you must have heard of agent Silhouette, and while no other agent is on her level, consider her a resume of what Cradle agents are capable of.” Veronica approached a chair to sit down. “The Cradle itself holds a trove of artifacts and weapons. While only I can access it directly, we can better equip your troops if you so desire. I’m going to insist on a policy where if something comes out, something has to go in first.” She placed her fingers beside her head. “As for the communication network, I think you’ve already seen the tower. I can sense every mind in an area with it up. It’s possible to communicate with just about anyone, even if you aren’t on the Cradle’s ‘network’ with the other agents.” She extended her hand. “You’re free to stay in my mansion if you think it’s a more defensible location.”

‘Yes, I know of her,’ Mariette replied, albeit she wondered if she’d have known of her if not for her own information-gathering system. ‘Equipping my troops…’ Now, Mariette considered them decently equipped already, but if they could be equipped better that’d be good, too. ‘If possible, that would be nice. I am somewhat unsure what would need to be put in first.’ Then Veronica suggested living in her mansion. Mariette had to pause to think about it. She was currently in the process of making her own mansion a fortress, but living somewhere else could decrease the chances of being assaulted. Justine could find Mariette’s home, but could she find Veronica’s? ‘Is your mansion an Interdimensional Home, in the Overcity, or otherwise?’ Mariette asked, looking curiously at Veronica.

“My mansion is located within the cradle itself, and counts as an interdimensional lair. This makes it difficult to breech, and extremely dangerous to intruders.” She cast out her hand. “Though by way of contract, you’ll have little to worry about. Of course I can understand if you’re unwilling to move into an area saturated in my magic.” She placed a hand on her chin. “Though perhaps you should remain in your home. If we are to catch Justine, we are going to need proper bait. Think of my mansion as a possible exit strategy.”

‘Those were my exact thoughts. I can receive their attack at my dimension, and escape to yours when I leave,’ Mariette said. ‘Would I be able to count on firepower support as well, and in turn perhaps support your agents when needed?’

Veronica rubbed her chin. “Perhaps we should decide on the nature of our cooperation: If this is going to be a one time joint operation or an alliance.” She tucked her arm behind her back. “Presently my agents are low in number, and I do not believe they could readily offer you assistance without proper notice.” With a nod, she looked at Mariette. “We can always form an alliance later if we so choose. Let us treat this as a single operation that could yield future cooperative endeavors down the road. If that is agreeable, then we need only concern ourselves with our agents behavior for our trap.”

‘Hm. Very well. For this operation,’ Mariette said. ‘I can trust you to not have an ulterior motive against me on this?’ she then asked, simply to satisfy her lie-detector.

Veronica inhaled deeply. ”I am far more pragmatic than idealistic. You have not captured any of my agents, and Asengav has yet to start any world ending rituals. No, Justine is the single target of our collaboration. I’ll ensure you are unharmed simply out of spite.” Veronica sat down, and a chair appeared under her. Shortly afterwards a table popped out of the ground, along with a chair, and there were two glasses and an assortment of drinks from whiskey to orange juice. ”I am interested in gaining access to the Dijin sisters. But that is something we can discuss later. Regardless, we’re going to draft a contract that satisfies you, so there will be no foul play between us.”

Good enough for Mariette. She didn’t think Veronica meant harm to the Djinn Sisters, but even if she did, Mariette’s wishes should protect them. ‘Very well,’ Mariette said, as she sat down on the chair that Veronica had pop up. And here’s some information I don’t know if I want people to have read before the event. ‘I’m going to collapse the dimension on my intruders,’ the portal girl stated simply. ‘I have that power. It would take up to five minutes, but I intend my forces to hold the enemy off for that long. Outside my mansion is a howling blizzard filled with traps, and the walls of my mansion is reinforced with Reinforcement and Curses, not to mention the gathered monsters and Magical Girls of Asengav’s might. If only I could remove Sonia, Justine’s interdimensional travel girl, I could prevent Justine or whatever forces she’s sent from escaping my home dimension as it collapses. That is… my current plan,’ Mariette told, definitely hoping Eli’s darkness magic kept this information from escaping.

”You really do want her dead, don’t you?” Veronica mixed some pineapple juice and orange juice in a cup. ”Unfortunately, I’m not so sure Justine will show up to personally kill you. However, if she means to capture you, we know that Sonia will be there. In which case she will be our primary target for your trap. Her death would severely hamper Justine’s mobility.” She added a splash of rum to the glass. ”So long as you can control where people enter your dimension from, it would be a simple matter for you to notify me when I can deploy my own forces. Though I am concerned about ways to leave the dimension if you’re going to implode it.” Veronica raised the glass to her lips and froze. ”Are we thinking too hard about this?” She lowered her glass. ”Dan was able to prevent me from shifting out of the beach dimension. Surely if he can do that, it must be possible to trap people inside your dimension. It would certainly make escape for Sonia difficult, even more important if she manages to get her hands on you.”

Mariette did not respond to the first statement. The answer was obvious. ‘I don't even know if she's going to attack at all, but if she attacks with any less than all her might, I'll happily pick apart what she did send for her,’ she said with a sharp look in her eye. ‘There are two main entrances to my dimension. The front, from which they'd currently face the full power of my preparations, or through the Void Room, a place where I temporarily store monsters or passageways to other dimensions. If they enter there… they'll die,’ Mariette stated simply as fact. ‘If they spontaneously appear anywhere else it'll be harder, but they'll be assaulted by an unending amount of traps and firepower in rooms where they’ll have a hard time dodging, the walls reinforced with magic to make breaking them not worth the effort, with my portals giving us a significant advantage…’ Mariette sighed out at the end. It truly felt like there was no more she could do.

‘Your concern is justified. My portals would be the only way in or out for us, and while I’ll attempt to rescue anyone, it’d have to be a last-second escape as the defense have to hold strong until then. I can make it so that your agents would be the first ones to be allowed to escape,’ Mariette said, the order not all that important. Then, the thing with Dan was raised, and Mariette’s eye notably widened. ‘… I could certainly contact him and ask. Even if he cannot, a member of my group should certainly have contact with another Lesser Force with similar or equal powers… Hm,’ Mariette said, considering.

”We’re not going to dream up the perfect death trap in an afternoon. All the more reason to stay in contact.” Veronica snapped her fingers, and a small earring stud appeared on the table. ”Wearing that will enable you to contact me, or vica versa, with relative ease. It even works past most dimensions.” She placed a finger on her chin. ”Maybe not me, per say, but someone who can handle the cradle’s end of your plan.” She eyed the bunny. ”Do you like stuffed animals?”

Mariette slowly reached over to pick up the small earrings, considering a bit that they might conflict with the ones she’s already wearing. Anyways. Stuffed animals? Mariette’s grip on Bunny tightened like he’d just been threatened or something, looking at Veronica a little defensively. ‘… What’s the occasion?’

”I’m not sure I follow.” The Astolfo plush appeared in Veronica’s hand. ”I like dolls myself. This size is just perfect, where the torso fits in the palm of the hand.” Her fingers coiled around the doll’s chest, and her thumb caressed the doll’s face. ”I wasn’t sure if you liked them or you did it to lower your enemy’s guard. People underestimate their opponents when they display childish behavior, or are handicapped.” Veronica tucked her knees against her chest and used her other hand to pet the doll’s hair. ”Though I am genuinely fascinated by dolls. I think they are superior to most people I’ve met. Most, but not all.” She looked at Mariette again. ”Do you feel the same way about your bunny?”

‘… Oh,’ Mariette made a light noise of realization, her expression softened. Veronica was talking about a shared interest in stuffed animals or dolls. Mariette looked curiously at the Astolpho doll as Veronica petted it. Then she looked to the bunny she was clutching… ‘… Bunny is my friend. He's always there to comfort me. He's the only part of my lost life I retain, and I cherish him…’ She held Bunny close before looking to Veronica again. ‘I like other animals and dolls, too, but Bunny is… different. He's the only one I'm comfortable with…’ Mariette said, patting Bunny's head.

”It is a genuine then?” Veronica lowered her legs and rest her hands in her lap, still clutching the doll. ”Regardless, please follow up with Dan and discuss your final plans with the Cradle. Preferably soon enough so that we can get all of your troops armed and ready for the encounter. I’ll be taking my leave unless you had something else you wished to discuss.”

‘… Yes?’ Mariette asked with some uncertainty. She then nodded a bit on meeting with Dan, and then… If there were more… ‘One more thing. You’re going to need certain keys in order to enter my home dimension without all the traps trying to destroy you, in order to prevent an agent of Justine sneaking inside. I’ll also be conducting a brief interview with each before handing them the key that works with them and them alone, plus a visual check from my security girl. Do tell me how many keys I should potentially prepare,’ Mariette said, looking to Veronica.

”Four keys at the very least. That would be for my core agents. Silhouette, Trixy, Eliza, and Ronin. You’ve likely seen all of them at some point I trust?” After downing her drink, the table and everything on it sunk into the shadows. ”When you are ready to have your forces outfitted, send them to penrose middle school. There will be someone there to handle weapon and artifact arments.”

‘I have, some more than others,’ Mariette replied, nodding. ‘Very well. Until next time.’

”Until next time.”

Mariette walked back into her portal, Eli following closely behind, and Veronica sunk into her shadow. Once the shadowy barrier around the building fell, it was like nothing had transpired at all.

Pokémon: Start

@Gardevoiran

Vivia looked down at Mac a bit when he showed up wanting to be picked up, and she supposed she probably should. She bent down and picked up the warm fire chicken, shuddering a bit at the sudden heat.

‘Well, suppose I should bring some Pokémon out, too,’ Vivia supposed, and for the moment let Venonat and Scraggy out. They could walk along. She did not want Rotom out… but he’d probably sneak out the Pokéball and accompany them regardless.

‘Yeah, let’s go,’ Vivia nodded, and then they were off.

If you for some reason want to stop at Route 5

Route 5

Route 5

Just as Stillwood Village is the least visited settlement in Isson, Route 5 is among the least travelled routes on Isson main landmass. The route is a steady incline from Lakewatch Town to Stillwood Village, with some elements of the base of Mt. Chill nearby, the waters of Dragon Lake next to it too, sporadic forest from that surrounding Stillwood Village and some of the plain elements from route 6 as well, along with a very traveller-friendly road makes Route 5 perhaps one of the most naturally stunning routes of Isson. There are no roads for asphalt here, only travellers are explorers seeking or exiting Lakewatch Town for some reason, as well as Pokémon trainers on their journeys.

A peaceful route without any real dangers, it still offers a lot of variation. Walk on the west side by the waters of Dragon Lake to potentially encounter some Pokémon of the lake. Walk by the mountains on the east and perhaps feel some of the radiating cold of the range of Mt. Chill to perhaps see some more mountainous Pokémon or maybe an ice Pokémon that stumbled out of their caves. The route is a bit cold, attributed perhaps best to the proximity to the Frozen Cavern, and it gets colder the closer the mountain you go. Multiple rivers run down from the mountains, part of Mt. Chill that melts, but efficient wooden bridges help passage over. And of course, patches of forest here and there.

The south of Route 5 opens up towards what people call the Vast Plains, or simply Route 6. There parts of the Endless Forest spread out to make things a bit more covered in trees, but as soon as you leave this forest, all you’ll see is plains as far as you can see, and that’d be Route 6. On the other side of the route is the forest that covers Stillwood Village, you need to enter the forest to get to the village. At the middle by the lake is Lakewatch Town, resting a bit above Dragon Lake. And, of course, the passage up to the Frozen Cavern lies up that hill, for those who want to brave the range that leads towards the enclosed and frozen Route 9 on the other side.

Suggestions to actions

1. Find Pokémon. Can be specified what kind of Pokémon is being searched for, and how you search.
2. Train Pokémon. With this command, we can jump ahead in time and skip posting about grinding.
3. Seek trainers. While not many, there are still trainers and explorers in the area, mostly trying to get to the next.
4. Talk. You could seek someone out to talk to them, if you want to.
5. Move along. Move along normally, letting any events that may come happen naturally.
6. Hurry along. Intentionally avoid confrontations and try to get safely to the next destination.
7. Specify. If you specify what you want to do, the GM will take it into account and tell the result.
8. Trigger random event. Force the GM to use his imagination to make a scenario for you.
9. Area Specific: Random House. Uh. There’s an excessively out-of-place red house in the middle of the route, the door standing wide-open. … Want to visit?

Connected areas:
Lakewatch Town. On the south-west of the route, Lakewatch Town lies adjacent to the lake on the road to the Wet Caverns.
Stillwood Village. In the north lies the forest which hides the village, Mt. Strength lying behind it..
Route 6. Vast plains start in the south-east, this route leads towards Raremine Town.
Frozen Cavern. After an incline up to the ridge of Mt. Chill, a cavern of ice could guide the way to Route 9 and Cooldome City.
Endless Forest. To the south, a dark forest looms. There are no indications as to why you’d ever want to go there.

Route 5, known Pokémon

Common:
#10 Caterpie
#43 Oddish
#163 Hoothoot (During night, rumored)
#585 Deerling
#664 Scatterbug

Uncommon:
#25 Pikachu
#438 Bonsly
#586 Sawsbuck
#587 Emolga

Rare:
#172 Pichu

Skylar and Vivia headed through Route 5 and headed south, where the trees eventually stopped, the sky opened up, and the world that opened up in front of them was so… vast…

You now step upon

Route 6

Also known as the Vast Plains, it is not hard to understand how Route 6 gained such a name. Seemingly endless, green plains spread in every direction, only stopped by the natural borders that are the cliffs down into the ocean and the mountain range of Mt. Chill. Natural hills have formed, rolling up and down like giant, stationary green waves in this ocean of grass. These hills are also the only form of cover that you will ever get on this plain. Due to the abundance of wild Pokémon eating or battling the grass around here it never grows above the height of your feet. There is nowhere to hide here…!

This goes double. The Pokémon of Route 6 have nowhere to hide. They survive using speed, strength or both. Intimidation is key, in these plains of wilderness. In addition, there is a lot of them. You’re not able to look in a single direction where there aren’t wild Pokémon, to the degree that it is ridiculous. There is no Pokémon, not even rare ones, on Route 6 that you cannot find out exists here with just a number of steps over the route. This, however, means most Pokémon on the route are tempered for battle, it is among the wildest routes of Isson. There are reasons why the unprepared tend to avoid this route.

However, for potentially setting astride a large Pokémon, running across large fields of grass under a blue sky, feeling the fresh air blow past as you thunder on with nothing to stop you? There is no better place.

So, among the population here are burning horses, the smaller ones hurrying to catch up to their parents, while occasionally there are the smaller ones on their own walking about or the larger ones dashing past like flaming arrows at top speed…

Pokédex Entry #77 – Ponyta, the Fire Horse Pokémon. After birth it can barely stand, but chasing after its parent day after day makes it stronger and stronger. Their hooves are allegedly harder than diamond, and they’re known to jump unfathomable heights. Its fiery mane grows shortly after birth, giving it an impressive appearance.



Pokédex Entry #78 – Rapidash, the Fire Horse Pokémon. Can usually be found cantering plains or fields. It is very competitive about speed, loving to run at full speed, around 150 mph. At great speed, its flames blaze ferociously, enhancing its appearance. It only slows down to let its children catch up to it.

There are two-headed birds dashing about like there is nothing better to do, with three-headed ones watching over them or just minding their own business.

Pokédex Entry #84 – Doduo, the Twin Bird Pokémon. While having identical brains, the two heads have different identities. They take turns sleeping, communicate seemingly telepathically and cooperate to their goals. Better at running than flying, it’s found racing grassy plains with powerful strides up to 60 mph.



Pokédex Entry #85 – Dodrio, the Triple Bird Pokémon. It uses three brains to execute complex plans. It has three hearts, three sets of lungs but only one stomach. The three heads are no longer identical, representing joy, sorrow and anger each, occasionally squabbling with different opinions. They’re largely aggressive and should be approached with caution for pecks.

The most famous inhabitants of the are the violent bulls running across the plains, attacking each other and charging aimlessly across the fields. All the other inhabitants have to be suitable for avoiding these, or they will be bashed up beyond recognition.

Pokédex Entry #128 – Tauros, the Wild Bull Pokémon. Famous for their violent nature, Tauros are known to rampage endlessly. When charging, it whips itself with its three tails to fuel its anger. They fight among one another constantly by locking horns. The leader of the herd will have battle-scarred horns, that it’s very proud of.

The exception perhaps being the large kangaroo-like Pokémon with powerful limbs capable of defending themselves, and even the Tauros knows better than to try to mess with their kids, or at least they very quickly learn the lesson.

Pokédex Entry #115 – Kangaskhan, the Parent Pokémon. The child lives in its mother’s pouch until three years old, when it rapidly grows and gains a child of its own. The young is allowed out to play and collect berries if the area is safe. Fiercely protective, the mother sleeps standing to protect its child and will fly into a violent rage if the child is endangered.

In the midst of it all, calm cows wander, eating of the grass. One can perhaps wonder how these friendly Pokémon survive on these wild plains, and one can perhaps stop wondering the first time one sees them rolling as a massive ball of destruction against an offender.

Pokédex Entry #241 – Miltank, the Milk Cow Pokémon. It produces five gallons of milk on a daily basis. Its milk is highly nutritious and seem to help combat sickness. While healthy, it is high in calories and should be accompanied by healthy exercise. It is naturally calm and prefer not to fight, but is known to violently roll at enemies if endangered.

Flocks of noisy birds fly across, avoiding the bigger Pokémon while preying on the bugs hiding in the grass that remains, flying back and forth and perhaps hiding in the trees of Endless Forest occasionally.

Pokédex Entry #396 – Starly, the Starling Pokémon. They flock in great numbers around mountains and fields as they’re weak on their own. Though this is the case, their wings hold a great amount of power. As their singing is famously noisy and annoying, they tend to be chased away from towns.

Larger birds also flock together, more prepared for aggressive actions as they fly looking for prey. Sometimes the flocks meet, and a massive battle of bird VS bird ensures, one of many kinds of battles happening on this plain.

Pokédex Entry #397 – Staravia, the Starling Pokémon. They live in huge flocks in forests and fields, flying to search for bugs. They have considerable attachment to their flocks, and upon meeting another flock of Staravia a huge scuffle between the flocks may occur. If alone, a Staravia cries noisily to be noticed and picked up by a nearby flock.

Occasionally, a lone bird can be seen taking on a massive opponent, a Bouffalant or Tauros or other. Often emerging victorious.

Pokédex Entry #398 – Staraptor, the Predator Pokémon. When it evolves it leaves the flock to live alone. It is savage in nature, constantly challenging foes way bigger than itself. It is known for its will, and will continue to attack even if injured. It constantly fusses about the appearance of its comb.

Larger, lonelier and tougher than the Tauros, occasionally there is a Bouffalant glaring angrily at all nearby Pokémon, more than ready to start headbutting anything that comes too close.

Pokédex Entry #626 – Bouffalant, the Bash Buffalo Pokémon. They’re fiercely territorial and are known to headbutt anything that comes close to it. Their fluffy fur on their head absorbs damage for them when headbutting, while appearing like a wall to enemies. It’s said to be strong enough to derail a train.

The one exception to the vast field of green is the occasional burrows. While the bunnies that inhabit them are primarily nocturnal, one or two can still occasionally be seen dashing across the field, usually from burrow to burrow.

Pokédex Entry #659 – Bunnelby, the Digging Pokémon. Its ears are solid and serve as shovels which it uses to dig large burrows in which it lives. It is mainly nocturnal, and will dig throughout the night. Over the years the ears become stronger, and it becomes able to sever thick roots easily.

Here and there are smaller, red birds. They chirp beautifully, yet fiercely attacks those who wander too closely.
And in the midst of it, there’s one of them with a gold-colored belly that sticks out, but only to the perceptive or lucky._{This is the only hidden message yet, I promise.}

Pokédex Entry #661 – Fletchling, the Tiny Robin Pokémon. Its widely praised for having a beautiful chirp which it uses to communicate, it’s a merciless creature that claws and pecks at those who enter its territory. When captured, though, it becomes friendly and easy to train. When excited or agitated it doubles in temperature, so surprise-poking it is a good way to get your fingers burned.

Occasionally, there’s a larger one, flying across an area before shooting flames down into the grass below it, before swooping in to pick at the prey it had startled with its fire.

Pokédex Entry #662 – Fletchinder, the Ember Pokémon. A territorial Pokémon that will hunt other Fletchinders off if too close. It’s very fast, its acceleration from takeoff is famously high, though can only reach max speed when its flame sack’s gotten warm enough. When feeding it sets grass on fire from its beak, and then feeds on the bugs jumping out in fright.

Far, far above circles the rare large red bird, and with that the smaller birds need to beware. For when it comes, they don’t see it coming until it is far too late and FAR too hot.

Pokédex Entry #663 – Talonflame, the Scorching Pokémon. Its diet is mostly built of smaller birds. It flies high, then swoops down at speeds of over 300 mph to catch its prey. Flames fill the gap between its feathers as it flies. If excited in battle, it fans its own flames to scatter fire in splendor. Its sturdy feathers have been used to make fireproof clothes.

Of course, with so many herbivore pieces of meat around, there are some predators. The Pyroar prides roam around, with cubs playing all around. Here and there are Litleo out on their own, or female Pyroars hunting for food, but trainers should be relatively safe from them.

Pokédex Entry #667 – Litleo, the Lion Cub Pokémon. When young they live in a pride, but eventually leave to become stronger or are thrown out when old enough. They’re curious and hot-blooded, quick to investigate and quick to challenge enemies way out of their league. The stronger the enemy, the hotter the fire in its mane grows.



Pokédex Entry #668 – Pyroar, the Royal Pokémon. The male with the largest mane leads the pride. They breathe powerful fiery blasts to threaten any challenger. While the females protect the cubs and hunt the males are usually lazy, but when they’re threatened they will protect its pride with no regard to its own safety.

Quite a few of these Pokémon could potentially be dangerous. A trainer should mention what steps they take to be safe as they’re crossing Route 6. To their right, they might notice a building standing in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by a fence with Rapidashes around. The Rapidashes have saddles. A large sign says “Rapidash Rapid Delivery”.

So, what here?

Suggestions to actions

1. Find Pokémon. Can be specified what kind of Pokémon is being searched for, and how you search.
2. Train Pokémon. With this command, we can jump ahead in time and skip posting about grinding.
3. Seek trainers. There aren’t a lot around here. Those there may be are likely strong or reckless.
4. Talk. … And if you find any of them, suppose you can talk. Or just talk to those at the Rapid Delivery service.
5. Move along. Move along normally, letting any events that may come happen naturally.
6. Hurry along. Intentionally avoid confrontations and try to get safely to the next destination.
7. Specify. If you specify what you want to do, the GM will take it into account and tell the result.
8. Trigger random event. Force the GM to use his imagination to make a scenario for you.
9. Area Specific; Rapidash Rapid Delivery. You can loan a Rapidash to ride safely through Route 6 for 2000P!
10. ???. … There is a fierce-looking trainer out there, with a humanoid Pokémon of blazing white and red, fighting a whole horde of Tauros by itself AND WINNING, with powerful punches and kicks, one after another. Pyroars look on with great interest.
11. Familiar Faces: Oaken. Oaken went to Route 6 to catch a fire bird, he’s stalking a Fletchinder over there with a Wingull of his own. Would perhaps Skylar want to do something similar?

Connected areas:
Route 5. In the north-west, connecting Lakewatch and Stillwood.
Endless Forest. To the west, a dark forest looms. It’s still there.
More Route 6. Yeah, you’re not getting to the other side in one post.

Route 6, known Pokémon

Common:
#77 Ponyta
#84 Doduo
#128 Tauros
#396 Starly
#659 Bunnelby (primarily at night)
#661 Fletchling
#667 Litleo

Uncommon:
#78 Rapidash
#85 Dodrio
#241 Miltank
#397 Staravia
#662 Fletchinder
#668 Pyroar

Rare:
#115 Kangaskhan
#398 Staraptor
#626 Bouffalant
#663 Talonflame

__________________________

@Savo

Cyril looked around the forest for things as he headed on the way. He didn’t find a lot, but he found some things.

Cyril obtained Balm Mushroom!
Cyril obtained Net Ball!
Cyril obtained Super Potion!
Cyril obtained Luminous Moss!

Then, he found Chloe. She was squatting in front of two Pokémon, which she’d just caught by the looks of it. There was a little green dude (girl) and a little pink ball staring back at Chloe curiously.

‘I’m… out of Pokéballs,’ Chloe said, sighing happily at her cute little new companions, saying this as a result of Cyril coming close. ‘Guess I should head to the Poké Mart before going to the clothing-stores in Highhill Town, huh?’ she said, with a little giggle. ‘Alright! I’m gonna go to Highhill Town, then! How about you?’ Chloe asked, straightening her legs and stretching a little, before very much intending to continue walking, two new cute critters on her side.

What would Cyril do?

Southern Silent Forest

Southern Silent Forest

The awaiting forest that greeted those who entered it was one of utter calm. The Silent Forest is a peaceful place where little in the way of violence or turmoil, giving credence to the name which it is now known by. Pokémon and people at peace with nature often walk among these trees, little noise other than the occasional sound of a Pokémon making their way or playing in the grass. In comparison to the other kinds of forests that one might find in Isson, this is without a doubt the least dangerous and absolutely least exciting one. Still, it is a boon to those of the calm Pureplain City who simply wants somewhere with fresh air to wander every once in a while.

Suggestions to actions

1. Find Pokémon. Specify if you’re looking for a specific kind of Pokémon in the forest.
2. Train Pokémon. With this command, we can jump ahead in time and skip posting about grinding.
3. Move along. Move along normally, letting any events that may come happen naturally.
4. Hurry along. Intentionally avoid confrontations and try to get safely to the next destination.
5. Specify. If you specify what you want to do, the GM will take it into account and tell the result.
6. Trigger random event. Force the GM to use his imagination to make a scenario for you.
7. Area Specific: Wander. This place… it’s so relaxing. Wouldn’t it be so nice to just… wander away… without thinking about it?

Connected areas:
Route 1. To the south.
Route 3. If you head north-east for a while.
Silent Shrine. Go north, you should be able to find the road there.

Southern Silent Forest, known Pokémon

Common:
#546 Cottonee
#548 Petilil

Uncommon:
#39 Jigglypuff
#300 Skitty
#431 Glameow

Rare:
#357 Tropius

__________________________

@Rune_Alchemist

‘… Kh,’ Cathia made a light sound of annoyance as Claire released even more Pokémon into the mix. As a direct response, she took out her remaining two Pokéballs and released their contents, too. They took the shape of a small dinosaur with a hard head and a sleek, leafy snake-thing on legs.

Pokédex Entry #371 – Bagon, the Rock Head Pokémon. It constantly dreams of being able to fly and hurls itself off cliffs to practice. It’s head and body is extremely tough, allowing it to survive this. It’s a big bundle of muscles, and its headbutts can shatter rocks. It’s known to headbutt mercilessly to relieve stress.

Pokédex Entry #496 – Servine, the Grass Snake Pokémon. It moves along the ground as if sliding. Its swift movements befuddle its foes, and avoids attacks by sinking into the shadows of thick foliage, from where it retaliates with masterful whipping techniques. It has a reputation of being posh, as it spends much of its time cleaning itself, for any dirt on it prevents its photosynthesis.

… And since Claire’s acting with hers immediately guess Cathia can, too.

She starts her round with an immediate spree of one-hit-knockout moves. Azumarill blasts off another Bubblebeam at Dwebble, who immediately takes the Super Effective bubbles and faints. Servine manifests a Leaf Tornado around the Slowpoke, which cuts deep into it and faints the water-psychic type with a super-effective whirlwind of leaves. Steelix slides over and drops a Rock Tomb on the Snorunt, fainting the poor little ice-thing as the giant steel-snake towered over it. Bagon meanwhile dashed over and bit hard into the floating Honedge, doing super-effective damage but not enough to faint it.

Gyarados, meanwhile, tried to strike the Tauros next to it… but instead managed to slam its own head into the ceiling, somehow! Gyarados hurt itself in confusion! Honedge, meanwhile, faced the unfortunate reality that while it was pumped up with Sword Dance, it only knew Tackle, Fury Cutter and Pursuit as offensive moves. None of which were very powerful alternatives and none gave STAB-power. It settled for Pursuiting the Gyarados, despite having a Bagon biting into the side of the blade. Even with Sword Dance, that didn’t do a lot. Tauros Horn Attacked Gyarados as well, doing a modest amount of damage. But, Gyarados had still not fainted, but it was definitely on its last legs…

Then came Claire’s counter-attack! Or, part of it, anyway!

Ralia continued filling her portion of the lab up with clones, something that Cathia was DEFINITELY aware of peering in that direction. Laurel Screeched at Steelix in preparation for Zeal flying forth and Power-Up Punching it! … Which still didn’t do all THAT much damage, because it’s a Steelix, but definitely more than Steelix was comfortable with. Pip threw a Razor Leaf at Azumarill, which hit and did a modest sum of Super Effective damage, Azumarill making annoyed noises from over there. Tez tried to hypnotise the Steelix, but had a bad luck roll so guess Steelix wasn’t looking at him right that moment. Floette flew over to Steelix, who’d been badly hurt, and there was a bit too far to interfere with Floette throwing out another Wish over the steel snake…

But that’s when Lure flew in and bit at Floette anyway.

Now, But Bite is not very effective, but since Floette’s a Special Defence tank, may as well Bug Bite over neutral damage Gust anyway, and Floette looked shocked and hurt over suddenly being bitten and preoccupied with being bitten.

On the battlefield right now, Claire’s only remaining allies were Tauros and Honedge, the rest lay fainted here and there. Now Cathia definitely turned to look over at Claire’s Pokémon, a sharp glare in her eyes as she prepared the next move. Last turn’s Wish came down and healed Gyarados a substantial amount, but Steelix honestly looked more like it was in danger now. The Lass was currently panicking, and the other out-of-Pokémon trainer fled.

Claire’s next move?

__________________________

@Eklispe

‘D-don’t let him get to the police station! He’ll have his partner bust him out again…!’ Mia cried out, obviously making stuff up as she ran, from Dawkin’s perspective.

Still… both of them suddenly found that they could run no more, because they were suddenly surrounded by the large bodies of a crowd of very curious miners, who stood with crossed arms and no shortage of Drilburs around to also stare at them. If Pichu tried to Thunder Wave all of these, he’d find himself suddenly repeatedly Mud Slapped by the Drilburs. Mia didn’t look very happy with this, either.

The miners started speaking among themselves.

‘What’s up?’
‘Shrimp says he stole from her.’
‘Punk says she’s a fraud.’
‘Who’s right?’
‘Who knows?’
‘So they’re at odds about it?’
‘Looks that way.’
‘Then there’s only one way to determine the truth, ain’t it?’
‘Yupp.’
‘Absolutely.’
‘Correct.’

With sagely nods and unanimous agreement, the miners suddenly spread out, creating a circle around the two trainers. Their eager expressions and the circle they were making for it could only mean one thing.

‘Let’s see a fair Pokémon Battle! Three on three! GO!’

This apparently passed as fair justice here.

‘This is ridiculous…’ Mia grumbled over there, but regardless glared at Dawkin. ‘Fine, then… I’ll just have to grind you down to dust, then!’

‘Growlithe!’ Allan’s Growlithe called, apparently intent to help her.

here we go

Team Amethyst Grunt Mia would like to battle!

Pokédex Entry #58 – Growlithe, the Puppy Pokémon. Known to be brave and loyal to it’s trainer, but will bark threateningly at anyone entering its territory. It has superb sense of smell and will never forget a smell once it has picked up on it. Through smell, it can sense the emotions of others.

Knows Bite, Roar, Ember, Leer, Odor Sleuth, Helping Hand and Flame Wheel. It’s going to go for Flame Wheel, mostly, intent on taking out the opponent quickly. If faced with a rock/dragon ancient Pokémon, will Leer and then Bite. If faced with a Water Pokémon, may switch to Ducklett.
Justified will raise Attack if hit by a Dark-type move!

Pokédex Entry #572 – Minccino, the Chinchilla Pokémon. It likes to keep wherever it lives clean and tidy, using its tail as a broom for sweeping and dusting. If it finds shiny but dirty items, it usually cleans them. When Minccino’s greet one another they do so through thorough grooming of the other using their tails.

Knows Pound, Baby-Doll Eyes, Helping Hand, Tickle, Double Slap and Encore. Will try to Encore a stat-move, if possible. Otherwise, Tickle to reduce stats, then either Pound or switch to Ducklett.
Cute Charm might infatuate on contact!

Pokédex Entry #580 – Ducklett, the Water Bird Pokémon. These birds are far better swimmers than they are flyers, and make excellent divers. When attacked, it defends itself by splashing water at the offender. Their favorite food is peat moss, and they’ll be found chewing on it constantly.

Knows Water Gun, Water Sport, Defog, Wing Attack, Water Pulse and Aerial Ace. Will Water Pulse or Aerial Ace depending on the foe. If faced with Pichu, will switch to Growlithe or Minccino, in that order, if they’re not fainted already. otherwise Water Pulse.
Hydration would heal status problem in rain. It hasn’t rained here in a while…

Dawkin’s actions? Perhaps he thinks differently from everyone else?

__________________________

@hatakekuro

With higher Attack and higher Health, as well as a steadily increasing Attack-stat due to Rage, Cecil had the clear advantage as the two Pokémon started fiercely butting heads. Still, there was something of elation in the relatively simple battle, just two Pokémon continuously butting heads glaring at one another between each slam, and then just at it again! Bulbasaur was definitely not showing any intention of giving up, intent on tackling down this red thing however he could!

Still, eventually Bulbasaur staggered from taking a bit too much Rage to the head, and Basil opted to throw a Pokéball. It hit the Bulbasaur, and the green saur with a bulb on it was transformed into light and absorbed into the Pokéball, which fell onto the ground, momentarily motionless.

It rolled once.

It rolled twice.

It ro-

result

-lled thrice.

CLICK

Basil caught Bulbasaur!

Gender: ♂
Type: Grass/Poison
Personality: (Up to player.)
Quirks/Talents/Aspirations/Other: (Up to player.)
Level: 10
Moves: Tackle, Growl, Leech Seed, Vine Whip
Ability: Overgrow. Boosts power of Grass-type moves when heavily damaged.
Held Item: None.

Currently at about 11% health.

New Pokémon caught! Basil earned 3000 P!

Would you like to give a nickname to Bulbasaur?

Yupp, that went well.

What would Basil do now? He’s still on Route 1.

Route 1

Route 1

Route 1 is a long, flat and grassy route where most trainers get their first taste of the world. From Pureplain you can see the hills of Highhill in the distance, from Highhill the scrapers of Pureplain looms in the distance, the start of the Silent Forest surrounding the Silent Shrine on the side. There is a larger road, a main road used for travelling in and out of Pureplain City, there are plenty of more mature travellers taking that road to get from point A to point B. But, young Pokémon Trainers usually much rather use the smaller path going out into the grassland. This is some remnants of the plain which Pureplain City was named after, although most of that plain is now swallowed up by buildings of people living around here. Small roads branch out, leading to different places where some individuals have made their houses.

There are many safe roads, yet take one step out of it and you’re immediately in tall grass, where you can already see many first-time Pokémon Trainers are challenging their first Pokémon. One could expect Pokémon Trainers to be searching for Pokémon either in the tall grass or the forest on the side, and also battling one another as they can. From the looks of it, there are plenty of young trainers sporting freshly caught Pidgeys and Rattatas. As one approaches Highhill Town, the forest becomes more plentiful, as beyond the town lies a forest.

Through the route also runs an indent, a drain surrounded by walls, seemingly made for the water to gather up inside it. It’s currently dry, whatever cause of that might be. Some trainers appear to be having fun battling inside it, and they’re running around challenging one another inside it. But, the drain also raised interesting questions about what kind of Pokémon or things one might find should one explore it further.

Suggestions to actions

1. Find Pokémon. There’s searching in the tall grass, and there’s the forest in the left, then there’s the drain…
2. Train Pokémon. With this command, we can jump ahead in time and skip posting about grinding.
3. Seek trainers. There should be some here and there. Note, some may challenge you, regardless.
4. Talk. There’s plenty of young trainers around. There are also houses and travellers. Maybe seek answers to any burning questions you have.
5. Move along. Move along normally, letting any events that may come happen naturally.
6. Hurry along. Intentionally avoid confrontations and try to get safely to the next destination.
7. Specify. If you specify what you want to do, the GM will take it into account and tell the result.
8. Trigger random event. Force the GM to use his imagination to make a scenario for you.
9. Area Specific: Descend. There’s a drain. The kids are having a little tournament in it, challenging themselves to fight in a tight area. Perhaps you’d like to try becoming king of the drain? Or maybe you’d just like to explore it.

Connected areas:
Pureplain City. A bit south.
Highhill Town. A bit north-north-east.

Route 1, known Pokémon

Common:
#16 Pidgey
#19 Rattata

Uncommon:
#23 Ekans
#58 Growlithe

Rare:
#1 Bulbasaur

__________________________

@Typical

‘Diglett!’ Diglett answered enthusiastically. She didn’t do much more. She just looked super happy and was completely useless.

Then Peri roared through the caverns, the echo of the cry of an Onix bouncing between the walls and causing no shortage of somewhat hurt ears. It was moments after that, however, that the cave started sounding in earnest, as there was sudden shaking and cracking and nothing in the cavern staying still as big and powerful things approached.

Crashing through the wall was a snake built out of boulders, much like Peri. Then another through the wall. One dropped from the ceiling with echoing impact as it hit the cavern floor. Regardless, they inspected Peri intently and curiously before two more Onixes appeared. One larger than the others, and one that was right behind him. Peri’s parents watched her over closely…

And then there were some roars. Then some more Onixes roaring at one another. Peri probably felt inclined to join them, because the roaring was in celebration. And then, the Onixes suddenly leaps to carve a new tunnel, and Peri found herself invited to join. Under the assumption she wasn’t about to break tradition, she probably headed with them for a time and momentarily left Eryn and co on their own as the conglomeration of giant rock snakes carried themselves through the tunnels and down to make an entirely new tunnel, digging through and letting Peri down first in order to let her go first and prove what she’s capable of.

They were gone for a while, during which Peri was shown the ropes for how to Onix. While a normal Onix would only have learned this as a move far, far later… mom and dad and the whole pack acted as tutors, giving Peri early access to a powerful Ground-type move, essential to any Onix.

Peri learned Dig!

Eventually, the group of Onixes cracked back through the ground before Eryn, allowing Peri to return to her, Peri’s dad looking proud enough of her as he looked to Eryn, giving a satisfied nod. Peri’s mom, meanwhile, still wasn’t entirely sure about her daughter’s trainer, and took the moment while giving Peri a bit of a hug (basically a nicer Constrict) to whisper some “Onix” into her ear… basically saying that “if the girl proves insufficient, you’re always welcome to ditch her and come back to us,” basically. And with that, that should do for a Onix family reunion, and Peri was let go to return to Eryn.

‘Diglett!’ Diglett happily calls again.

So, what now?

Still in Wet Caverns.

Wet Caverns

Wet Caverns

The Wet Caverns, known so for the sheer amount of water drenching the contents. It’s a large series of tunnels with no real large open rooms, dividing itself up into a fairly simple maze going from one side to the other. The water inside the tunnels thankfully lit up the contents due to some shining mineral in the liquid, giving rise to a mildly lit set of tunnels. Many people prefer not to travel through the Wet Caverns due to them being long and easy to get lost in, in addition to the large amounts of hostile Pokémon which might attack at any time. Yet, here you are…

Still. There are those who travel through it on a regular basis. Those who have learned the trick finds it a fairly easy shortcut between Lakewatch Town and Pureplain City. For enthusiasts there are always the options of delving deeper into the caverns, fishing or surfing to find out what kind of Pokémon might inhabit the depths and the shallow rivers that flow along the underground corridors. It is known to be fairly diverse when it comes to the Pokémon inhabiting it, giving trainers both water- and cave Pokémon to pick from when they want to catch something.

Suggestions to actions

1. Find Pokémon. Can be specified what kind of Pokémon is being searched for, and how you search.
2. Train Pokémon. With this command, we can jump ahead in time and skip posting about grinding.
3. Move back Retreat back to the previous crossroad. Specify further if you know where you’re going.
4. Delve Deeper. Attempt getting deeper inside the caverns. Specify further if you know where you’re going.
5. Specify. If you specify what you want to do, the GM will take it into account and tell the result.
6. Trigger random event. Force the GM to use his imagination to make a scenario for you.
7. Fast-Travel. You know the way, you can get to the other side without issue if you like.

Connected areas:
Route 2. Feel free to fast-travel.
Lakewatch Town. Behind you.

Wet Caverns

Common:
#41 Zubat
#74 Geodude
#118 Goldeen
#283 Surskit

Uncommon:
#50 Diglett
#54 Psyduck
#75 Graveler
#78 Slowpoke
#170 Chinchou (deep well)
#194 Wooper

Rare:
#95 Onix
#302 Sableye

Pokémon: Start

@hatakekuro

A good thing to remember, that a lot of Pokémon love to battle.

At the suggestion, Bulbasaur's eyes widened and it lifted its lowered head of hiding to one of confrontation.

‘Bulba!’ he yelled out, springing forth from the tall grass, ready to do battle. A wild Bulbasaur appeared!

Bulbasaur is going to Tackle, despite what might be the optimum strategy. If met with equal Tackles, it will be a Tackle fight. If faced with dodgy Lupin, he will instead lash out with Vine Whips, which will be fast enough to hit the quick little ice gremlin. If faced with Incinerate from a distance, Bulbasaur will try to hit a Leech Seed from a distance and then focus on dodging Incinerates.

What will Basil do?

Pokémon: Start

@hatakekuro

Lewis and the other kids of the Drainage Kingdom waved Basil good-bye, and then he was off to see what this rare beast was.

Now, Bulbasaur wasn’t actually quite as helpless as Basil had interpreted him to be, he could easily have retracted his vines, dropped back to all-fours and been ready to battle. But Basil quickly assured the Pokémon that he had no such intention, and at the question if he wanted help, Bulbasaur took a moment before giving a small, embarrassed nod. A Bulbasaur weighs… 15 pounds or 7 kg, lifting him up was a piece of cake, despite him being two feet tall and just about even longer horizontally than that. Very light for his decently large size. A Darumaka is just about the same size, slightly smaller even, but weighs like five times that. Huh.

Still, Basil successfully lifted him up on the bridge, and the grass-type was quick to skip a couple of meters into the wild grass to the side. After Basil climbed up, though, he could see that the Bulbasaur was still there, peeking out of the grass at him, momentarily analyzing him. If Basil wants anything more to do with this Pokémon, here’s a chance to do that.

If not

‘Bulba!’ Bulbasaur called to him, translating basically to “thank you” to any Pokémon that heard it, before the Pokémon turned and dashed back into the tall grass, making him difficult to follow.

Basil is on Route 1.

Route 1

Route 1

Route 1 is a long, flat and grassy route where most trainers get their first taste of the world. From Pureplain you can see the hills of Highhill in the distance, from Highhill the scrapers of Pureplain looms in the distance, the start of the Silent Forest surrounding the Silent Shrine on the side. There is a larger road, a main road used for travelling in and out of Pureplain City, there are plenty of more mature travellers taking that road to get from point A to point B. But, young Pokémon Trainers usually much rather use the smaller path going out into the grassland. This is some remnants of the plain which Pureplain City was named after, although most of that plain is now swallowed up by buildings of people living around here. Small roads branch out, leading to different places where some individuals have made their houses.

There are many safe roads, yet take one step out of it and you’re immediately in tall grass, where you can already see many first-time Pokémon Trainers are challenging their first Pokémon. One could expect Pokémon Trainers to be searching for Pokémon either in the tall grass or the forest on the side, and also battling one another as they can. From the looks of it, there are plenty of young trainers sporting freshly caught Pidgeys and Rattatas. As one approaches Highhill Town, the forest becomes more plentiful, as beyond the town lies a forest.

Through the route also runs an indent, a drain surrounded by walls, seemingly made for the water to gather up inside it. It’s currently dry, whatever cause of that might be. Some trainers appear to be having fun battling inside it, and they’re running around challenging one another inside it. But, the drain also raised interesting questions about what kind of Pokémon or things one might find should one explore it further.

Suggestions to actions

1. Find Pokémon. There’s searching in the tall grass, and there’s the forest in the left, then there’s the drain…
2. Train Pokémon. With this command, we can jump ahead in time and skip posting about grinding.
3. Seek trainers. There should be some here and there. Note, some may challenge you, regardless.
4. Talk. There’s plenty of young trainers around. There are also houses and travellers. Maybe seek answers to any burning questions you have.
5. Move along. Move along normally, letting any events that may come happen naturally.
6. Hurry along. Intentionally avoid confrontations and try to get safely to the next destination.
7. Specify. If you specify what you want to do, the GM will take it into account and tell the result.
8. Trigger random event. Force the GM to use his imagination to make a scenario for you.
9. Area Specific: Descend. There’s a drain. The kids are having a little tournament in it, challenging themselves to fight in a tight area. Perhaps you’d like to try becoming king of the drain? Or maybe you’d just like to explore it.

Connected areas:
Pureplain City. A bit south.
Highhill Town. A bit north-north-east.

Route 1, known Pokémon

Common:
#16 Pidgey
#19 Rattata

Uncommon:
#23 Ekans
#58 Growlithe

Rare:
#1 Bulbasaur

Pokémon: Start

@Rune_Alchemist

‘Paaaaachiiiiiriiiiiii…!’ Pachirisu charged itself up for an electric Spark attack on the Gyarados…! … When a huge shadow suddenly overcame its whole being. ‘… su?’ it had time to ask before the entirety of Gyarados body-weight channelled into its tail slammed down into the tiny squirrel! Then again! Then it swung its giant face across the room, demolishing all that came in its way! Then the tail slammed down near Tauros, forcing the bull back! Pachirisu fainted! The “Lass” winced!

This was Thrash, an uncontrollable rampage by a giant Pokémon any close combat fighter would be hard-pressed to contend with…!

‘E-enough with the jokes! Take them out!’ the “Lass” demanded to Claire, pointing towards Gyarados.

Pip growled, reducing the Attack of both Steelix and Gyarados. Ralia was also allowed to Double Team without issue, as Cathia’s Pokémon were focused elsewhere. There’s now a bunch of Ralia clones about.

Ponyta and Slowpoke both started shooting fire and water at Steelix, doing a decent amount of damage both, but it was clear Steelix was way higher level. The giant metal snake responded by throwing a Rock Tomb over the fiery horse, Ponyta unable to dodge in time as the giant rocks came falling and buried it. Ponyta fainted!

And Azumarill just straight-up Bubble-Beamed Golett, causing the Ground-type ghost to fall back and faint at once. Snorunt decided it had picked the wrong opponent and scampered back…!

The “Lass” having pointed at Gyarados, the rest focused their firepower on the beast. Dwebble turned and fired Rock Blast at Gyarados, which did super effective damage but only hit twice. Tauros found an angle to Horn Attack Gyarados, doing some damage. Snorunt then shot Icy Shard at Gyarados, that also doing some damage, which would have been at the beginning of the turn because priority move but Snorunt had hesitated. Honedge took the time to Sword Dance, floating a bit back and preparing, swinging itself around. Altogether, the three attacking Pokémon did a not-insignificant amount of damage to the water serpent. In addition to this, Tez came with his own contribution of a Confuse Ray, hitting the Gyarados and causing it to be Confused ahead of time, much to Cathia’s irritation…

And this is when Floette so happily and unperturbed floated by with a huge smile, called out a happy ‘Floette!’ before a star of pure energy emerged from its flower, flying off into the air above Gyarados before Floette floated back into the backlines charging power to do that again.

‘Wish!? You’re kidding…!’ the “Lass” cried out looking up at the star that was soon going to descend down and heal the great sea serpent.

‘Hmpf. As I said, I will not be defeated,’ Cathia claimed confidently, eyeing Claire’s Pokémon a bit warily. She’d fainted three Pokémon already, but there were quite a few to go…

Claire and co’s new actions?

__________________________

@Gardevoiran@Typical

As they teleported away, the Mr. Mimes behind them gave them some happy grins and enthusiastic waves. Really, they’d just been part of the trial, to see how trainers would react to a neutral party / use their knowledge of their capabilities, they otherwise live here happily with the rest of the Pokémon in the Drain, just because.

So, later, they were taken along the ride homewards.

‘Um, every town and city in Isson has a gym, it’s just a matter if it’s Minor or Major, but yes, Raremine Town has a Minor Gym,’ Vivia commented to Skylar, looking like she was a little worried about being interpreted as a know-it-all. ‘Yeah, we could go there. Route 6 is a bit of an unbeaten path, though.’

They arrived back at the surface, and no sooner had they arrived, than…

‘Well, time for me to leave,’ Lin said, shrugging a bit. ‘Thanks for the adventure, you showed me something interesting,’ she told Skylar, and then looked to Eryn. ‘And don’t worry, I’m not about to go tell people you lost your twin somewhere along the way or something, heh. Have a happy adventure…’ Lin said, returning Cutiecruel to her Pokéball and then started walking idly away into Lakewatch town…

‘Quaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagsiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiire!’ Quagsire happily called to Eryn’s thanks, looking as happy and goofy as ever.

‘Oh, but thank you for finding Quagsire and spurring me onto actually going! Who knows how far I’d actually come, if I’d actually have found what I did without you! Thank you! I’ll certainly tell you if I find something!’ Wilhelm told, enthusiastic and happy about this particular visit. Now, then.

Oaken looked Eryn, inspecting her as she suggested the battle. It took a moment longer than one would be usually known to have someone stare at you.

‘Very well. I will use that opportunity to gauge how far you’ve come and what you need to work on, seeing that it’s now relevant to the success of our mission. I warn that I am likely way ahead of you in the growth of my Pokémon, but if you are fine with that, then I accept your challenge,’ Oaken said, adjusting his glasses. ‘The south plain of Route 5, 8 A.M., tomorrow. Don’t be late,’ he simply states before he turns and wanders out towards the route, because as he said, he has a Pokémon to catch on Route 6. He can do that before the end of the day, he figures.

So with that, we have Skylar in Lakewatch Town.

Lakewatch Town

Lakewatch Town

As one looks upon Lakewatch, it is clear it was once built by the side of the water. Yet, over time, Dragon Lake has actually increased in volume, the water-level rising and swallowing the town. Then the natural conclusion would be to move the town back, follow the water-level, and rebuild at the new shore, right? That, does not appear to have been the thought that went through the minds of the designers of this Town, which is essentially placed out in the water on top of older buildings, the streets of the town flooded in water and to get around one has to make use of their many canoes or get on the back of a Pokémon.

The town of Lakewatch rises fairly high for its size, and vegetation grows pretty freely around the buildings. Most buildings and streets have white floating cobblestone to walk on either side of the streets, with a river of water flowing in the middle. People here are highly accustomed to this, and the streets are constantly bustling with people heading back and forth, as well as people actually gliding down from the higher buildings from the roofs above using strange little paragliders. It appears people live in the higher floors, while business takes place on ground/water-level. There are canoes basically everywhere that anyone’s free to borrow, townspeople commonly jumping down on a canoe, using the force of the jump to drift it to the other side and then simply jump off.

Now, anyone could hear from the name that Lakewatch Town is the town that basically rules the Dragon Lake. The Lakewatchers are a group of people that regularly patrol the waters, and become friends with the dragons that live there. Tours by the Lakewatchers are the primary tourist attraction of the place, along with the fish that is procured from the same lake, and guides are trained to show the way in any surrounding areas. Their boats are also those who trade with the western side through Highhill, keeping the place alive and busy. Plus, there’s always the rumors of treasure or otherwise hiding deep in Flooded Lakewatch, and Descent Tower looms in the middle of town for those hoping to explore… but who really knows? It’s a nice and different place, definitely.

Suggestions to actions

1. Find Pokémon. There’s plenty of water here. Could be any number of Water Pokémon in the different rivers through town.
2. Talk. In cities, there are considerably more people one can talk to. Talking can give you info on local rumors and such.
3. Exit. Exit the town to any of the connected areas.
4. Specify. If you specify what you want to do, the GM will take it into account and tell the result.
5. Trigger random event. Force the GM to use his imagination to make a scenario for you.
6. Notable Buildings. Visit any of the facilities of the city!
6.1. Pokémon Center. Heal all your Pokémon.
6.2. PokéMart. Go to a store and buy things.
6.3. Pokémon Gym. ???
6.4. Lakewatcher Base. From where Lakewatchers embark to patrol Dragon Lake.
6.5. Lakewatch Docks. For getting tours of Dragon Lake, just taking a ferry or fishing!
6.6. Explorer’s Guide Service. With all these strange places around, Lakewatch offers guides to the surrounding areas!
6.7. Descent Tower. A tower in the middle of town, with stairs down to Flooded Lakewatch. Come prepared for the underwater.
6.8. Back Alleys. … What? Lakewatch has a darker section? What are you talking about?

Connected areas:
Wet Caverns. Water-filled caverns that are located to the east. There’s a small hill to climb to get to the entrance.
Route 5. The main exit of Lakewatch, leading to a grassy incline connecting mountains, forests and plains.
Route 14. The waters of Dragon Lake are also known as Route 14. It connects Lakewatch Town, Highhill Town and Stillwood Village.

Known Pokémon

In Town
Common:
#194 Wooper
#195 Quagsire

Waters outside
Common:
#60 Poliwag

Uncommon:
#318 Carvanha
#535 Tympole

Rare:

And Eryn heading to the back entrance of Wet Caverns.

Wet Caverns

Wet Caverns

The Wet Caverns, known so for the sheer amount of water drenching the contents. It’s a large series of tunnels with no real large open rooms, dividing itself up into a fairly simple maze going from one side to the other. The water inside the tunnels thankfully lit up the contents due to some shining mineral in the liquid, giving rise to a mildly lit set of tunnels. Many people prefer not to travel through the Wet Caverns due to them being long and easy to get lost in, in addition to the large amounts of hostile Pokémon which might attack at any time. Yet, here you are…

Still. There are those who travel through it on a regular basis. Those who have learned the trick finds it a fairly easy shortcut between Lakewatch Town and Pureplain City. For enthusiasts there are always the options of delving deeper into the caverns, fishing or surfing to find out what kind of Pokémon might inhabit the depths and the shallow rivers that flow along the underground corridors. It is known to be fairly diverse when it comes to the Pokémon inhabiting it, giving trainers both water- and cave Pokémon to pick from when they want to catch something.

She specifically wanted to go back to the Onix tunnels, so she ignored the main tunnel and went left to the specific wall where she once came out of. Peri, though, instinctively saw the place to dig through, and could drill through without effort. Not going to let her dig through more than that without Dig, however.

Past that, they were in the tunnels again. Long tunnels, not all of them horizontal but could be quite the drop, dug out by Pokémon in various directions, and with a tiny brown mole Pokémon staring at her curiously.

♀
Pokédex Entry #50 – Diglett, the Mole Pokémon. They live underground and spend most of their time submerged. It’s weak to light, and will only pop up where shielded or in caves. They often exist a mere yard underground eating roots. They’re often raised on farms, because soil dug through by Digletts is left perfectly tilled for growing healthy crops.

‘Diglett!’ it then called happily. It’s the same Diglett.

Sooooooo. Nothing’s going to happen just hanging around here. Remember what caused all the Onix to show up last time?

Suggestions to actions

1. Find Pokémon. Can be specified what kind of Pokémon is being searched for, and how you search.
2. Train Pokémon. With this command, we can jump ahead in time and skip posting about grinding.
3. Move back Retreat back to the previous crossroad. Specify further if you know where you’re going.
4. Delve Deeper. Attempt getting deeper inside the caverns. Specify further if you know where you’re going.
5. Specify. If you specify what you want to do, the GM will take it into account and tell the result.
6. Trigger random event. Force the GM to use his imagination to make a scenario for you.
7. Fast-Travel. You know the way, you can get to the other side without issue if you like.

Connected areas:
Route 2. Feel free to fast-travel.
Lakewatch Town. Behind you.

Wet Caverns

Common:
#41 Zubat
#74 Geodude
#118 Goldeen
#283 Surskit

Uncommon:
#50 Diglett
#54 Psyduck
#75 Graveler
#78 Slowpoke
#170 Chinchou (deep well)
#194 Wooper

Rare:
#95 Onix
#302 Sableye

__________________________

@hatakekuro

‘Whoa-’ Lewis made a noise of amazement as Cecil leapt along with the vine-pull, the red ball of energy letting herself be flung straight into Tangela. Now, a thing to consider is that while a Darumaka is 2 feet/0.6 meters, a Tangela is 3 feet/1 meter tall, and ingrained into the ground. Cecil slammed into the bundle of tentacles, but actually didn’t do that much damage, a Tangela’s physical defense superior. Tangela’s vines bound around her and held her in place as Sleep Powder started scattering, but having taken Tangela by surprise she got off an Incinerate first, blasting fire straight into the core of the vine-covered Pokémon… but despite all of that, Tangela refused to faint! Ingrain had healed it enough to make it not fall just yet! Then the Sleep Powder settled… and Cecil fell asleep!

‘Yeah, we got her!’ Lewis called out excitedly.

So, what’s Lewis and Tangela’s next action?

‘Huh?’

I asked, what’s Lewis and Tangela’s next action?

‘W-wait, didn’t I just-’

Cecil is going to wake up next turn and Tangela’s not going to survive one more Incinerate. What do you do?

‘V-vine Whip!’

Cecil is currently embedded inside Tangela’s vines. Tangela can’t Vine Whip her without whipping itself.

‘Then, uh, Constrict…?’

Tangela tightened its vines around Cecil, doing barely any damage! Cecil then readily woke up next turn, and blasted another Incinerate directly into Tangela! The vine-covered Pokémon growled from its burns, before all the vines loosened from Cecil, freeing her as Tangela toppled backwards, revealing that under the vines was… more vines. Tangela fainted!

Basil was victorious! Basil gained 263 P for winning!
Cecil grew to level 9! Cecil learned Rage!

‘… Nnghgnngh-GUH!’ Lewis first made an unhappy noise because he’d 100% thought hitting the Sleep Powder would have been the key to victory, then he recoiled as if taken a blow to his shoulder, and fell down onto one knee, as if actually struck.

‘Big bro- I mean, my king! Are you alright!?’ the little girl skipped over to the defeated youngster king. Donald also looked over with a worried look. Lewis held up a hand to say that it was alright, and then gave Basil and Cecil a smile.

‘Finally, another traveller has been able to defeat me!’ Lewis claimed, like it was a rare occasion. ‘We originally started this tournament because a rare beast was sighted in the far reaches of Drainage Kingdom, and we wanted to check who’d earn the right to confront it… but a Dark Knight went and defeated it, so there was no more reason to hold our tournament. But then, lo and behold, another just like it appeared, and we were overjoyed to once again have a reason to hold our tournaments! But, you have now earned the right! Should you choose to, please proceed in this direction, confront the beast, and then… do as you wish! You have earned the honours!’ Lewis said with a great smile.

The choice was now up to Basil what he wished to do.

If he goes

The drain was long. It was never so deep that he couldn’t climb out of it without some effort, yet still, this thing felt like it ran most of the way from Pureplain City to Highhill Town. It might have felt endless, but there’s surely some form of pleasure in walking along this eternal little valley of rock. At some points, there was still some water from the last time it rained. Still, he could continue for a long time, occasionally ducking under the occasional bridges that allowed passage over the drain for normal people…

And it was at just such a bridge he found the Pokémon. A moderately small, green Pokémon, with a bud on its back, and currently looking up at the bridge, trying to reach up with its vines from Vine Whip to bind around the bridge to try to lift itself up. It had gotten its front-feet lifted, but seemed it was a little difficult to lift its whole body-weight up. It had its front towards Basil as he arrived, so it could blink at him as he arrived, looking a bit vulnerable where it was half-hanging from its own vines.

Pokédex Entry #1 – Bulbasaur, the Seed Pokémon. It is born with a seed planted on its back. At first, it survives on the nutrients from the seed, but then the seed and Pokémon starts growing side-by-side, taking in food and sunlight. Typically likes napping in bright sunlight.

What would Basil do here?

Otherwise. He’s still on Route 1.

Route 1

Route 1

Route 1 is a long, flat and grassy route where most trainers get their first taste of the world. From Pureplain you can see the hills of Highhill in the distance, from Highhill the scrapers of Pureplain looms in the distance, the start of the Silent Forest surrounding the Silent Shrine on the side. There is a larger road, a main road used for travelling in and out of Pureplain City, there are plenty of more mature travellers taking that road to get from point A to point B. But, young Pokémon Trainers usually much rather use the smaller path going out into the grassland. This is some remnants of the plain which Pureplain City was named after, although most of that plain is now swallowed up by buildings of people living around here. Small roads branch out, leading to different places where some individuals have made their houses.

There are many safe roads, yet take one step out of it and you’re immediately in tall grass, where you can already see many first-time Pokémon Trainers are challenging their first Pokémon. One could expect Pokémon Trainers to be searching for Pokémon either in the tall grass or the forest on the side, and also battling one another as they can. From the looks of it, there are plenty of young trainers sporting freshly caught Pidgeys and Rattatas. As one approaches Highhill Town, the forest becomes more plentiful, as beyond the town lies a forest.

Through the route also runs an indent, a drain surrounded by walls, seemingly made for the water to gather up inside it. It’s currently dry, whatever cause of that might be. Some trainers appear to be having fun battling inside it, and they’re running around challenging one another inside it. But, the drain also raised interesting questions about what kind of Pokémon or things one might find should one explore it further.

Suggestions to actions

1. Find Pokémon. There’s searching in the tall grass, and there’s the forest in the left, then there’s the drain…
2. Train Pokémon. With this command, we can jump ahead in time and skip posting about grinding.
3. Seek trainers. There should be some here and there. Note, some may challenge you, regardless.
4. Talk. There’s plenty of young trainers around. There are also houses and travellers. Maybe seek answers to any burning questions you have.
5. Move along. Move along normally, letting any events that may come happen naturally.
6. Hurry along. Intentionally avoid confrontations and try to get safely to the next destination.
7. Specify. If you specify what you want to do, the GM will take it into account and tell the result.
8. Trigger random event. Force the GM to use his imagination to make a scenario for you.
9. Area Specific: Descend. There’s a drain. The kids are having a little tournament in it, challenging themselves to fight in a tight area. Perhaps you’d like to try becoming king of the drain? Or maybe you’d just like to explore it.

Connected areas:
Pureplain City. A bit south.
Highhill Town. A bit north-north-east.

Route 1, known Pokémon

Common:
#16 Pidgey
#19 Rattata

Uncommon:
#23 Ekans
#58 Growlithe

Rare:
#1 Bulbasaur

Pokémon: Start

@hatakekuro

Tangela started with Ingrain… and got an Incinerate blasted in his face! Now, maybe Cecil had poor Special Attack, but Tangela has poor Special Defense in addition to fire being super-effective, so it cancelled out! Tangela regained some health with Ingrain, but he’d taken more damage from Incinerate. Cecil was out of range of Sleep Powder…

‘Tsk… distance attacker…’ Lewis grunted, because clearly Tangela was only the king against enemies trying to counter him in close combat. ‘ … Only one thing to do, then! Vine Whip, and PULL IT IN CLOSE!’ Lewis commanded, and Tangela replied by snapping across the drain and, it being hard to dodge in here, it snapped around Cecil’s red body! It then started pulling the Darumaka closer…!

‘That’s right! Pull it in close, and then use Sleep Powder…!’ the king commanded, and it was possible Tangela wouldn’t go down before Cecil was within range like this!

What would be Basil and Cecil’s actions?

__________________________

@Eklispe

So, an important detail is that you can only effectively Thunder Wave or Sand Attack a single target at a time. Another important factor is that paralyzation is not total immobilization in the Pokémon World, you’re just immensely slowed down and sometimes unable to act. And so…

The door opened and the two grunts of Team Amethyst stepped through and-

Their eyes immediately went wide as they were greeted by Pichu’s Thunder Wave and Cacnea’s Sand Attack!

‘Khk-!’ Allan raised an arm but still got the shocks of Thunder Wave drilled into his body! Allan was paralyzed!

‘KHAH!’ Mia shouted out as she got a blast of sand into her eyes, staggering back and raising her hands to her face!

As said, Allan was currently disguised as a young Hiker, while Mia was disguised as a Backpacker. In addition to the large backpack, Mia was holding a brown decently large handbag, that was the best bet for being the item they were transporting, albeit Allan too had a bunch of stuff on his back. If Dawkin went for anything else than the handbag, do tell, but otherwise we’ll assume he took the handbag. Because these two could still move. It was pretty easy to snatch out of the distressed Mia’s hand.

‘YOU LITTLE-!’ Mia cried, throwing out a missed punch and glaring through reddened eyes after him. Under the assumption this prompted Dawkin to run…

‘A-AFTER HIM…!’ the slowed Allan called, the stutter an effect of the paralyzation, as he grabbed a Pokéball to throw out. Mia also took a Pokéball and threw into the floor. A predictable duo came out, a dog and a duck.

Pokédex Entry #58 – Growlithe, the Puppy Pokémon. Known to be brave and loyal to it’s trainer, but will bark threateningly at anyone entering its territory. It has superb sense of smell and will never forget a smell once it has picked up on it. Through smell, it can sense the emotions of others.

Pokédex Entry #580 – Ducklett, the Water Bird Pokémon. These birds are far better swimmers than they are flyers, and make excellent divers. When attacked, it defends itself by splashing water at the offender. Their favorite food is peat moss, and they’ll be found chewing on it constantly.

‘You won’t get away…!’ Mia dashed after him shortly after he started running (did he pick up his Pokémon? Pichu’s fine, but Cacnea wouldn’t be able to keep up with a running human), Growlithe running and Ducklett skipping while waving his wings. ‘Growlithe, Ember! Ducklett, Water Gun!’

And Dawkin and his Pokémon found themselves shot after by fireballs and waterballs as they came out again on the streets. Now, Mia had some problems seeing, but she could just follow her Pokémon that were fully capable of following. Then, of course, she could shout.

‘STOP THE THIEF!!’ Mia cried out loud when they got out on the streets again, making multiple passerbys turn to look curiously and in alarm at the situation. Some reaching for their Pokéballs.

Dawkin’s actions?

__________________________

@BlackMaiden _{@Joshua Tamashii}

The only attack-move that Milcery knew was Tackle! So the floating wad of cream came flying through the air towards Fennekin… who modestly easily just jumped out of the way and shot an Ember into the creature, as the fox-Pokémon was pretty much twice as fast and had access to a distance move. The fireball hit into Milcery, and…

‘Milcery…!’ the Pokémon cried out a bit as it was burned.

‘… Oh, no, cooked cream is the worst…’ Ellyn commented, looking down on her Pokédex for a bit. ‘… Sweet Kiss?’

Milcery continued to attempt tackling and occasionally kissing Fennekin with Sweet Kiss, but both moves required it to catch up to an inherently faster Pokémon. Fennekin could simply dance around Milcery's attempts to get into contact, while unloading the occasional fireballs into the slow wad of cream unable to dodge. It only took a couple laps during which Ellyn had no idea what she could possibly do before Milcery gave a weak cry and fainted.

Ryu was victorious! Ryu gained 500 P for winning!
Fennekin grew to Level 6!

‘Aaah, this sucks,’ Ellyn complained as she returned Milcery to the Pokéball. ‘I’m made to go back where I began just to lose to a kid that just got his first Pokémon, just because the Pokémon he was given happened to be inherently better,’ she continued, and then took out another Pokéball, and threw it forward to crack open before Fennekin. A yellow-bellied, significantly larger Pokémon with flames on the top of its head and read looked around curiously down at the fellow fire-type Pokémon.

Pokédex Entry #156 – Quilava, the Volcano Pokémon. It intimidates foes with intense gusts of flames and superheated air. Its quick nimbleness lets it dodge attacks even while scorching an enemy. It fires fire-type attacks from its back, meaning one should beware when it isn’t facing you, rather than when it faces you. The fur is practically immune to fire.

‘… Come back when you have as many badges as I have. Then we’ll see who wins,’ Ellyn stated, satisfied by having proven that she wouldn’t have lost a normal battle with Quilava here. She turned to talk with Jacques and Eugene, Jacques giving her a smile and some encouraging talk while Eugene stood ready to transport her back on the Skarmory. _{‘Gh, where’s that kid that promised me cake…?’ Ellyn complained over there.}

‘Well done!’ Kalmia said, stepping to Ryu’s side. ‘It seems you’ve got the basics down well enough. Then, it’s about time you depart on your own Pokémon Journey through Isson! I’ll be right here, do ask me questions either in person or through calling with the Pokédex and I’ll see how I can help you. From Pureplain City there’s both Route 1 and 2 to choose between, each giving a different experience. You have your Pokéballs, right? Then, you’re set to go! Good luck~!’

‘And if you meet our brother, make sure to challenge him to a battle!’ Tim(?) called from the door.
‘Make sure to win, too, so he’s driven to become stronger!’ Tom(?) called as well. Then the two chased one another into the lab with some chuckles.

So, he’s now free to do whatever. What would Ryu want to do?

And, yeah, then there’s Amelia here, too, sitting with all her ghosts. The battle just ended. Would she like to do something? Talk to the new guy? Anything else?

You are currently in Pureplain City.

Pureplain City

Pureplain City is placed on the south-west brink of Isson, with the town facing the water and spreading quite far. The further in-town you go, the higher the buildings become, but the suburbs spread quite far. In terms of sheer landmass, it might even compete with Worldedge City, although maybe not in height. Life passes normally within this city. Children grow up alongside their parents in houses in the long, friendly streets. Jobs come from the depths of the town in the taller buildings. Schools grow from the reasonably high amount of children in need of tuition. And of course, there are lots of Pokémon.

In Pureplain City, human and Pokémon work together. Be it for manual labour or just for company, Pureplain houses often contain at least one household Pokémon and there are many Trainer's Schools around the city have always been plentifully attended, not counting the recent drop of embarking trainers due to the Team Wars. In addition, Pureplain Harbor is known as the “Gateway of Isson”, as that’s where all the ferries from outside the region dock, giving life to quite the marketplace. A common attraction of the city is the Super Contest stage, but other than that, Pureplain remains what it has always been. Pure and plain.

Suggestions to actions

1. Find Pokémon. Can still search for Pokémon in towns~
2. Talk. In cities, there are considerably more people one can talk to. Specify what kind you’re looking for.
3. Exit. Exit the town to any of the connected areas.
4. Specify. If you specify what you want to do, the GM will take it into account and tell the result.
5. Trigger random event. Force the GM to use his imagination to make a scenario for you.
6. Notable Buildings. Visit any of the facilities of the city!
6.1. Pokémon Center. Heal all your Pokémon.
6.2. PokéMart. Go to a store and buy things.
6.3. Gym. ???
6.4. Super Contests. Rank 2 / 4. Where hopefuls become idols!
6.5. Trainer’s School. Where young trainers study to become better. Has a little park of wild Pokémon.
6.6. Kalmia’s Lab. You know you’re always welcome.
6.7. Pureplain Harbor. Known as the Gateway of Isson, it has a marketplace and ferries to places.
6.8. Pureplain Airport. The Gateway of Isson also has a way to dock your flying ships, apparently!
7. Familiar Faces. Kalmia, Cyril, Ryu/Amelia, Jacques, Chloe, Tim & Tom.

Connected areas:
Route 1. Easier path, just follow the bigger road.
Route 2. Walk through quite an amount of suburbs until you eventually reach the path.
Sea. There’s water, alright. Can take you anywhere you want to go, assuming you have means to traverse it.

Pureplain City, known Pokémon

Common:
#16 Pidgey
#52 Meowth
#506 Lillipup

Uncommon:

Rare:
#353 Shuppet (night)