Pokemon: Shadow of the Syndicate (OOC)

[Xivilai]

Plot

Some time in the not-too-distant future, Pokemon have mysteriously vanished from the wild. No one knows how or why this happened, but it caused Pokemon to become exceedingly rare to encounter. So rare, in fact, that the Trainers who once dedicated themselves to catching and raising Pokemon have also all but vanished. All that remains of Pokemon is the Shadow Syndicate, an organization who used the disappearances of Pokemon as their opportunity to oppress the people of the Orre Region. Even when the rare Trainer does appear and tries to challenge the Syndicate, they are forced to follow a crooked Ante rule which forces the defeated trainer to surrender his Pokemon to the victor. Between the Ante Rule and the power of the Syndicate itself, none have truly challenged them or their mysterious leader known simply as Zed. Outside the Syndicate, stories spread about a young and shady-looking Pokemon Trainer with a Dragon type Pokemon for his partner. Nothing is really known about the young man, but the Syndicate began offering a huge reward for the capture of the Trainer. Things are bleak for the Orre Region, but perhaps not completely hopeless. The thing about the world of Pokemon, is that even in the darkest of times, there are always those forging a strong bond with their Pokemon partners (rare though they may be) and continue to fight with some semblance of honor.

Basic Info

In this RP, you play as a citizen of the Orre Region, and you secretly have a Pokemon partner. The fact you're a trainer is kept secret to avoid trouble with the Syndicate, but at the same time, someone has to eventually stand up to them and prevail, right? Meanwhile, there's that mysterious Outlaw Trainer to worry about as well, since the stories about him indicate that he is also a dangerous individual to encounter. Still, so long as you and your partner work hard together, then perhaps there is hope after all...?

Rules

1. As always, make sure to follow the standard site rules involving flaming, OOC arguments, and etc.
2. Have a decent knowledge of how Pokemon works. Or at the very least know how to use Smogon and Bulbagarden.
3. Pokemon will level up based on a system I will explain below.
4. Since this is level based, moves MUST be accurate to the level of the Pokemon.
5. TMs and HMs will come into play later, so no using them for now.
6. Battles will still be very much roleplay based, as such you are allowed to use certain aspects of the Anime (such as using Agility to dodge an attack or Quick Attack to get in close for a stronger hit) but still keep the in-game battle system in mind as I would still like to remain at least somewhat faithful to the games.
7. Certain evolutions can be changed for convenience's sake. For instance, if you want a Trade Evolution like Alakazam or Machamp, then I say it makes more sense to obtain the evolution via level up (perhaps at level 40 or simply make them a Happiness evolution) than to have to find some NPC willing to trade only to trade them right back.
8. You'll start with a single Pokemon at level 30, and make sure you choose well, because obtaining new Pokemon is something that will NOT be happening very often, if at all.
9. Have fun!

Leveling Up

Yes, there will be levels/experience but I've come up with a very simplified way to go about it. Basically, every 10 exp gained will equal one level up. Battling a Pokemon of equal level to yours (as in no more than 3 levels higher or lower) will get you 2 exp. A lower level Pokemon (greater than 3 levels lower than yours) will be worth 1 exp. Higher level Pokemon (ie more than three levels higher than yours) will be worth 4 exp. If this proves to make it too easy to level up, then the 4 exp will likely get nerfed to 3 instead. It's probably easier to explain this way:

X=Your Pokemon's level, and every 10 Exp gained gets you a level up.

X + 4 = 4 Experience points
X + 3 = 2 Exp
X + 2 = 2 Exp
X + 1 = 2 Exp
X = 2 Exp
X - 1 = 2 Exp
X - 2 = 2 Exp
X - 3 = 2 Exp
X - 4 = 1 Exp

Useful Links

Bulbapedia
Smogon University
Serebii

Character Template

[U][B]Trainer[/B][/U]

[B]Name:[/B]
[B]Age:[/B]
[B]Gender:[/B]

[B]Appearance:[/B]

[B]Home Town:[/B]

[B]Personality:[/B]

[B]Bio:[/B]

[B][U]Pokemon Partners[/U][/B]

[B]Name:[/B] (Nickname)
[B]Species:[/B]
[B]Gender:[/B]

[B]Appearance:[/B]

[B]Level:[/B]
[B]Exp:[/B]
[B]Total Exp:[/B]

[B]Nature:[/B]

[B]Ability:[/B]

[B]Moves[/B]
[LIST=1][*][*][*][*][/LIST]

[B]Personality:[/B] (Optional)

[B]Bio:[/B] (Optional)

Cast of Characters

Connor:

Spoiler

Trainer

Name: Connor
Age: 19
Gender: Male

Appearance


Home Town: Unknown

Personality: He usually presents himself as a soft-hearted and sometimes goofy guy. He will often attempt to dissuade any would-be enemy, preferring to avoid battling if at all possible. Though in times like these, that hardly ever works and he is almost always forced to reluctantly battle anyway. However he may seem on the outside, in truth it's only part of him. He does have another, more ruthless side, only surfacing if someone manages to truly piss him off. It's a side that rarely surfaces, but when it does, it has a tendency to leave a lasting impression on those who witness it.

Bio: Not much is known about Connor's childhood. The most common thing he'll say is that being a Pokemon Trainer runs deep in his blood. What that means is still a mystery, but one thing is clear, it's not an exaggeration. Indeed, Connor's skill in Pokemon Battles are often unmatched, as if they are second nature to him. He also clearly has a bond with his Partner, and a very strong one at that. Despite his clearly kind-hearted nature, people are almost always immediately frightened by him the minute they see his Pokemon. This is because Connor is in fact the supposedly dangerous Outlaw Trainer with a Dragon Type Pokemon, though one would never think so based on his usual nature.

Pokemon Partners

Name: Shimmer
Species: Dragonair
Gender: Female

Appearance


Level: 30
Exp: 0
Total Exp: 300

Nature: Adamant

Ability: Marvel Scale

Moves

1. Dragon Rage
2. ExtremeSpeed
3. Thunder Wave
4. Agility

Personality: As her nature suggests, Shimmer is adamant, unmoving in her beliefs and never backing down from a challenge. She can seem cold to others, but their bond gives her an obvious soft spot for her Partner.

Bio: Shimmer's exact history is about as obvious as her partner's. While it's unknown how the two met or became a team, their strong bond suggests that they've been together for quite a long time, possibly since Dragonair was first born. Only she knows the true reason for Connor's "other side" and while she is usually very good about obeying him, it is only during those rare times when his other side shows that she is ever hesitant.

[TAGM3Kiid]

Trainer

Name: Mason Crow

Age: 18

Gender: Male

Appearance: I'll find one later.

Home Town: Agate Town

Personality: Mason is very humorous and likes to joke around. He can appear to be slightly rude though, he usually does not do this to anger as he's always in a rush. He is never angered easily, and no one seems to really know what makes him angry if there even is anything. Besides being a jokster he is quite serious, behind his silly mask he is a strategist. Before the Syndicate appeared he would enjoy battling and be quite friendly, however now battling is life or death for trainers Pokemon. He takes everything seriously now, his goofy shell has hardened and though he will still be fairly friendly he is much more serious. He was also taught at a young age how to fight if a situation got rough.

Bio: Mason was never a cliche, he could never talk to Pokemon or the such but he enjoyed being around them. At a young age he would train with his father battling pokemon and learning martial arts. He decided to become a Pokemon trainer when he was 14, around that age he started to enjoy catching, training, and battling Pokemon.
Mason had previously had 4 Pokemon for battling. He also had a Spheal
(Who he named Leo) which he would also train, however he would never battle with him. Eventually when the wild Pokemon started to disappear and the Shadow Syndicate mysteriously appeared near that time, he fought them. Eventually he was beaten by many trainers. He lost all of his cherished Pokemon, except Leo. As grateful as he was to have Leo, he was also scarred. He hardened from his gutoofiness and got serious. He has so far won 3 battles with his Spheal but he dares not tempt the fates.

Pokemon Partners

Name: Leo

Species: Spheal

Gender: Male

Appearance:




Level: 30

Exp: 0

Total Exp: 300

Nature: Jolly

Ability: Thick Fat

Moves

1. Ice Ball
2. Growl
3. Body Slam
4. Aurora Beam

Personality: Leo is a very curious Pokemon, usually found sniffing and occasionally spinning rounder things around to get the feel of texture and smell. He is never angered easily and it usually dopey, to act cute of course.

Bio: When Leo and Mason met they had a very good friendship. He originally caught him because he liked how curious he was, as he first found him sniffing him and rolling around, goofing off. Leo was never actually used in battles befores, he's the only Pokemon Mason has left because Mason had lost them all running from the Syndicate.

[Xivilai]

You're aware that the Nature slot refers to the actual in-game natures right? Curious isn't one of them.

[TAGM3Kiid]

Yes I did, I thought it was one. I'll fix it.