All of the challengers face the gyms in the same order, which is why there is always a crowd of people waiting for you; they are there to watch the challenge take place. It's also why the first three leaders all show up to see you off once you beat Kabu; because most challengers don't make it past the third gym. Kabu is the first big hurdle and most challengers fail at that point.
I was trying to find a source that says the order is based on strength, but I can't find one. Maybe I'm making that up.
But they do also have multiple teams depending on how many badges the challengers have, it's just that they know exactly where in the order they will sit.
@King Cosmos - in the game, there's a snippet that says that the gym leaders battle each other to determine the order of the gyms. You're definitely not making it up. Sable could fall anywhere on the line-up, and can end up in any gym location, I'm pretty open to that.
Just curious, what's the period of time that this all takes place? One season?
Hard to say. Although the game does seem to have a day/night cycle outside of the wild area that progresses as you go through the game, and although there are a few points where you sleep in hotels and so on, if we took it seriously then the Gym Challenge would only last like a week, week and a half tops. Realistically it would be longer than that, I would think, to give people more time to beat every Gym; but then again, maybe the short time period is part of the challenge.
It definitely takes place over a set period though, with challengers requiring an invitation from someone from the league (including Gym leaders I would assume) to take part. They have an opening ceremony at the start and a Champions Cup at the end and only those who managed to get all eight badges in that time get to take part in the latter.
Submitting two characters, will only go with one. Just couldn't decide between them.
The names Isla, spelt C-H-A-M-P
NAME: Isla Owens
AGE: 23
GENDER: Female
BIRTHPLACE: Circhester
GYM TYPE: Ice
APPEARANCE: As pictured above
PERSONALITY: Isla is fiercely competitive having come from the world of snow sports into Pokemon training. While she takes a very light hearted demeanor to most things, this quickly changed when challenged.
BIOGRAPHY: Born and raised in Circhester, Isla was a snowboarding prodigy. Her early life was junior championship after junior championship. This carried on into her early adulthood when she represented Galar in the International Wintersports, she took home the gold for her snowboarding.
Everything was looking good until she suffered a nasty injury while on the mountain. No one was really around her and the situation looked pretty dire. This was until a wandering Snover saw her and helped her down the mountain. It was a good few months in the hospital with the state her leg was in. The Snover didn't really leave, instead choosing to stay around and keep her company. The Snover let itself be caught once Isla was discharged and she gained her first Pokemon.
Isla's leg never healed quite right after the accident and although she still goes up the mountains regularly for fun, her competition days are well behind her. But she found herself a new competition, Pokemon training. It didn't take long before she took a gym leaders position and if people don't look out, she will be champion in no time.
TEAM: I don't know quite what this entails or the restrictions on it, so I will just give a 6 fully evolved Pokemon team and it can be changed later.
Abomasnow Weavile Froslass Beartic Eiscue Alolan Sandslash (an import because she thought they look so cute)
RELATIONSHIPS: [Relationships with other gym leaders]
You get only one chance here, don't waste it
NAME: Yui Takahashi
AGE: 27
GENDER: Female
BIRTHPLACE: Spikemuth
GYM TYPE: Electric (not in Spikemuth though)
APPEARANCE: As pictured above
PERSONALITY: Yui gives off the appearance as if she doesn't care about a lot of things. To be honest, she doesn't. In her mind she has reached where she needs to be. Most people who reach her gym lose without much of an effort on her end. She treasures the few moments when there is a true challenger.
BIOGRAPHY: Yui's family immigrated to the Galar region from Johto a few generations ago with a descent amount of money. They came over in order to expand the family business. However, before she was even born, her father's shitty investments and criminal ties to Team Rocket lost the family the company and landed them smack bang in the middle of Spikemuth.
Spikemuth isn't the sort of place to raise a kid, but Yui made it work. She had talent and the know how not to waste it. Her father told her not to leave the house too often, which she later found out was because he was trying to hide from Team Rocket rather than a regard for her safety. Yui rebelled against that. This was something her grandmother respected and gave Yui her first Pokemon, an Elekid from Johto. It was a treasured friend of her late grandfather, and her grandmother saw fit to bestow the Elekid on Yui. It was a great honor.
It was quick to training and she continued to do so until she was a right age to leave Spikemuth on her own. She took over the gym of another town and moved her grandmother over to stay with her. They weren't going to hide, Team Rocket is in other regions entirely. She wasn't going to live her life in fear because of them and she wasn't going to let her grandmother spend the last years of her life in some dump in Spikemuth either. As for her mother and father, presumably they are still hiding in Spikemuth. It has been too many years for Yui to remember where exactly, not as though she is looking. In her mind, she is a big enough name now if they want to find her they can.
TEAM: I don't know quite what this entails or the restrictions on it, so I will just give a 6 fully evolved Pokemon team and it can be changed later.
Electivire Toxtricity Raichu Galvantula Boltund Ampharos (import from Johto)
RELATIONSHIPS: [Relationships with other gym leaders]
To be honest, considering we're pretty much ignoring the events of the game here, the Gym Challenge could be changed so that there is no set order. Plus I think it'd work better that way.
"You think you stand a chance against Eden Steel?!"
NAME: Joseph Johannes is his real name, and his stage name is Eden Steel
AGE: 27
GENDER: Male
BIRTHPLACE: Hammerlocke
GYM TYPE: Steel
APPEARANCE: Sporting his favorite yellow jacket and blue jeans, Joseph stands in at "6'4, towering above most others. While the bright blonde hair and the height certainly make him stand out, nothing makes him stand out more than when he's in full costume for his TV superhero persona: Eden Steel.
Eden Steel bears both the sword and the shield, both made of gleaming steel with golden trims. The shield also bears an image of an Aggron. He also wears a set of full plate armor, made of similar shining steel and gold trim, yet on the breastplate lies the face of an Arcanine, roaring defiantly. His helmet covers most of his face, yet a "T" shaped gap in it allows him to see.
PERSONALITY: Joseph himself enjoys occasionally getting into character for his fans, but his real self is all about good sportsmanship, and fairness in everything. He's willing to fight however his opponent decides, singles, doubles, even no dynamaxing. He also has a bit of a knack for food, though he's found himself rambling on occasion.
Eden Steel on the other hand is a vigilant warrior, who fights against all evil, and will do anything to keep the peace. He believes steel is the best type, and it will help him save the world.
BIOGRAPHY: Truth be told there isn't really a whole lot that was significant about Joseph's childhood, apart from a few things. For starters, his parents didn't come from Galar, they were from Johto, and they had moved here for work related reasons. As such, Joseph grew up with a Johto accent, rather than a Galarian one.
Secondly, as a child, Joseph's favorite thing growing up were Saturday morning cartoons. The hero in shining armor would always beat the villan, and the day would be saved. This would eventually shape the future of Joseph's entire life.
At just the age of 14 Joseph managed to score a few acting gigs here and there, constantly trying to improve himself. And eventually, one day, he found himself playing a minor character in a tv show. He wasn't always on screen, but he was finally on TV. It's what he had always wanted.
Unfortunately, due to budget cuts from higher up, the show was cut short. Deciding to take a break from acting, Joseph instead decided to travel Galar, building experience and gaining life skills. Eventually, Joseph decided that taking up a position as a trainer in a gym, would help him more, and at the age of 24, Joseph rose to the top, become a Steel type gym leader. He trained and trained, and was known for taking on any and all opponents, regardless of skill levels, eventually making several separate teams for just that.
But something still nagged at Joseph. His acting career. He felt unfulfilled in his dream, despite being in a successful station. With the earnings he made over a year of battling, Joseph decided to take acting classes, and soon, was making his own TV show. He couldn't just go as himself. He'd need a persona. A new name. Some sort of inspiration.
He spent week after week traveling the region looking for inspiration, before eventually, he came across the mural in Stow-on-Side. The sword, and the shield. That's it! He'd be a knight, in ancient times, wielding the sword and shield, defending against the forces of darkness with his dear pokemon. He would become... Eden Steel.
The show, called Man of Steel, would go on to moderate success at first, with the second season having much more. After the years however, Joseph decided he'd take a small break before season 3, looking for a little more inspiration before starting again. Although, for Joseph, or perhaps Eden, inspiration is just around the corner. With the sudden disappearance of Galar's champion, this may be just the thing he's looking for.
TEAM: Joseph has 9 teams, one for each badge, and his personal team.
His ace pokemon - A Scizor named Ares An Aggron named Athena A Metagross named Dionysus An Aegislash named Zeus A Corviknight names Hermes (Hermes is Joseph's Gigantamax pokemon) And lastly, a Magnezone named Hephaestus.
RELATIONSHIPS: None so far. He's been a little too preoccupied with his own life and his pokemon to have made many friends, but now that he's finally got some free time, he is looking forward to making some.
Appearance. Stands at six feet. Auburn, shoulder length hair has been dyed blonde and is often tied up and kept out of his way during work. Lithe build approaching fit. His wardrobe is usually lax with loose fitted shirts and comfortable pants, whether they be jeans, cargo or even sweats. He's most often seen in boots, a necessity given his time spent off the beaten path.
When challenged, he'll answer with whatever he's in at the time, wherever he's at.
Personality. Known to be sensible. Wise. Not one to throw his weight around in a room for the sake of attention. Thomas's take on life is one of devotion and hard work, even if at first glance he exudes the opposite. He seems fairly laid back and is often taking time where it's appropriate and when he can. When it's time to make moves however, he will. Outside of work, he's kind, compassionate, a little bit of a flirt, a little bit of a romantic, very much a klutz but has enough social bones in his body to get by.
He approaches his Gym Leadership with much of the same enthusiasm, ushering in new trainers with a pride that he relishes while ensuring that they're not necessarily the 'best' but dedicated to their journey and to their pokemon. He likes to think of himself as a reminder that the most important aspect to be a trainer is growth and that embracing weaknesses and mistakes are a major part of that and not something to be overlooked. It's a lesson he's had to apply to his own life on multiple occasions, only reinforcing its importance.
History. Thomas was born a single child and in the city of Wyndon, although this would not become his home. His family being as nomadic as they were kept on the move and so, much of his early life would be spread across the entire continent. To help with the inherent lonely nature that travel placed on him, Thomas began taking bits and pieces of the cities and regions he would visit with him when he left. These trinkets arrived in the form of various small plants and saplings. By chance, during one of his pickings he would accidentally mistake an Applin for a simple apple from which he intended to take seeds. The little dragon would become his first official Pokemon and best friend.
His journey to becoming the Gym Leader he is now began shortly thereafter. Recognizing that pieces of themselves had become inspirations for the young boy's dreams, they took to nurturing his flame. His mother had in fact been a successful trainer herself and his father, a researcher in the science of agriculture. Surprisingly, their varying careers made for a relationship that worked well on the move and also meant more opportunities for Thomas to learn. Two lessons remained the most important during his early days: His father taught him the importance of growth, the cycle of the world and how a single plant fit into that. How everything started with good soil but was maintained with love. One made for deep roots and the other ensured a strong and healthy plant. Relationships worked in much the same way, whether it be with people or Pokemon, and building those relationships with love on a strong foundation meant stronger bonds and a stronger team. His mother impressed upon him the importance of adaptation, of recognizing weakness and learning how to overcome it. She would remind him that just like the Pokemon he grew to love, plants too learned to survive in even the harshest of environments and that he would have to learn to do the same.
The last lesson he learned he taught to himself after he'd watched the saplings and plants he'd taken from around the world grow old and die. No matter how good the soil or how much love and attention you give, everything withers in time.
Thomas was approached after he graduated as a potential candidate for gym leadership in his area of expertise. By then, his travels and his prowess in battle had garnered for him a bit of a name. He initially refused, resigning himself to a life on the move as had been the norm for him. Additionally, having followed in his father's footsteps, his studies required him to travel to the different habitats and study flora in their natural home. Rooting himself in one place, particularly to a Gym, was counter intuitive to that.
A certain someone convinced him otherwise and since then, he's been nurturing the spirits of trainers looking to take the crown. To this day, however, he stands by the fact that he is naturally the worst candidate for his position. Even then, he holds to his promise all the same.
_
A dense forest to the Northwest of Turffield is home to Thomas's gym. Finding the clearing and the ruins marked as the origin of the surrounding forest is the mission. In respect to the sacred nature of the land and to the battles held there, only immediate family, close friends, other gym leaders and the Champion are allowed to spectate on location. Everyone else must watch the broadcast.
Here's mine, I'm adding onto the pile of males and I went a bit unorthodox regarding pokemon team so I understand if that's an issue, but here he is:
If you came here looking for an easy recipe for victory, you can piss off right now!
NAME: Nordrin Yasmar
AGE: 31
GENDER: Male
BIRTHPLACE: Hulbury
GYM TYPE: Gourmet
APPEARANCE:
Nordrin is blue eyed, and while he might joke (read: state with no hint of humor whatsoever) that the stress of dealing with idiots turned his hair white early, it's actually his natural color. He's been growing it out since he was young, and the more people chastise him to cut it the longer it stays uncut. He stands at 6 foot 2 inches (188cm) and though he was never able to pack on muscle as much as he would have liked, he keeps in good shape. Other than the flat resting bitch face he's known for, another trait that stands out about him is the coarse, scarred nature of his hands. They're evidence of a life of hard work.
PERSONALITY:
First impressions paint Nordrin as a man of little patience. That is completely correct. He is passionate, driven, and ambitious - he is also arrogant, and considers his time as extremely valuable. He works hard and doesn't have much extra time for playing hard, so if you're wasting his time he won't hesitate to tell you. Very often Nordrin comes off as a rude for a lot of people because he isn't afraid to speak his mind, no matter what's on it. It's landed him in hot water before, but Nordrin is nothing if not prideful. Since returning to Galar, he's also earned a bit of a reputation as a heart breaker - leaving a list of both men and women behind him to focus on his career. Being a more recent addition to the gym leader circuit, this might be all his fellow leaders know about him.
Growing up less fortunate, one might think that he does charity work to help others in situations he once faces. That is completely incorrect. He won't help anyone that doesn't try to help themselves and he doesn't do charity work. That said, he does take apprentices and gives out sponsorships. He gives everyone a chance to show they're hungry for more in life, and then gives them second and third chances so long as they don't give up. He will never turn a blind eye to those in need, but he has no sympathy for people who has given up on themselves.
Beyond all of the haughtiness and pride, it's clear that Nordrin has a gentle side, if only for his craft. He has a master's touch, and watching him cook or battle shows off just how much care he puts into both aspects of his life. He can be kind and nurturing for those under his care, but he isn't one to go easy on them. He wants to bring out the best in those around him, so that he can continue to evolve as well. He never stops chasing new heights.
The traits he most admires in others are adaptability, creativity, personal pride and most of all tenacity. His efforts in High Steaks Gym are intended to bring those out in others. After all, Nordrin is well aware that talent is not something you're born with, it's something you can grow - so it's up to everyone to give themselves the conditions in order to see that talent grow.
BIOGRAPHY:
In the sea side town of Hulbury, you're either a fat cat or a laborer. Luxury imports fuel the city's bustling tourism industry, where those with the means browse high end shops and restaurants. On the flip side, dock workers and street hawkers fill the city's underbelly and keep the whole of Hulbury moving with little recognition.
Nordrin came from a small family of Hulbury's less fortunate. Every day his father fulfilled orders and hauled meat, fruit, and vegetables from the shipyard up the steep hill to the better part of town. Back breaking work for little pay. Even just supporting a household of three was tough. At a young age, Nordrin took simple jobs to help his parents out. He worked as a delivery boy, Pokemon sitter, and stall worker. Once he was a bit holder, he landed his most impressionable job as a dish washer in the back of one of Hulbury's prestigious restaurants. Day in and day out he endured jabs from the chefs, patrons, and even waitstaff looking down on people like him.
Nordrin had talent, he was a quick study and adaptable. In down time he would try and replicate the dishes the cooks made, and some times he would even succeed. As one might expect, no one gave him the time of day. The chefs belittled him, and even his fellow cleaning staff didn't believe he could get anywhere. None of this stung as much as when Nordrin would return home at night, and the only thing his parents encouraged him to do was keep his head down and not make trouble. For Nordrin that was as good as a betrayal. They didn't have the ambition that he did, if they even had any at all. After one night of explosive anger in which Nordrin attacked the restaurant's annoying, pompous host, he was thrown out of the restaurant and fresh out of a job. Now a teenager, Nordrin channeled his anger into drive and left home with only a backpack and a quickly scrawled note. In his heart was a promise to return to Hulbury and prove everyone wrong. He was determined to make something of himself.
The world was dangerous to travel alone. It was more necessity than anything that Nordrin became a Pokemon trainer. He never gave anything less than a 100% though, so he took raising Pokemon seriously. He traveled briefly around Galar before stowing away on a ship bound for Kalos, where he spent a majority of his adult life studying both Pokemon battling and culinary arts. After years of hard work he exceeded in both fields, becoming an accomplished chef in a triple star restaurant and obtaining the rank of Duke in the region's Battle Chateau. His next stop in world domination was the Hoenn region, where he aimed to perfect the more unique techniques.
It was only relatively recently the Nordrin returned to Galar, taking Hulbury by storm. He opened his own restaurant and aggressively advertised it, stealing business from other establishments which he viewed as elitist and classist nuisances. His restaurant expanded to include a Pokemon gym once Nordrin's infamy spread around town and beyond. Now, he runs a brutal brutal brigade in the city's High Steaks Gym. The goal of the combination gym and restaurant is to nurture talent, challenge expectations, and provide high quality entertainment and food for patrons from all walks of life.
TEAM: Nordrin's team is very unorthodox compared to his fellow gym leaders. He believes it's important to think outside of the box, and so his wide variety of Pokemon with different strengths and weaknesses forces opponents to get creative when they battle him. Of course, every Pokemon in Nordrin's team is also under his employ, providing food or labor in his restaurant. A practical, tasty team.
Personal team: Other Pokemon:
RELATIONSHIPS: [Relationships with other gym leaders: n/a for now]
Credit to Lucky for suggesting the restaurant's name by the way.
Idk, I wanna stick with my Knights and Dragons theme I have in mind, but since someone else already has a knight, I'm not sure now.
Seems like a perfect set up for a rivalry though. Since Eden is an actor I don't know how good his actual swordsmanship skills are? (The CS doesn't mention them specifically I don't think so it could go either way. Perhaps @Lord Orgasmo can enlighten us)
And Z and his Sirfetch'd and Gallade will be calling both of them out anyway :P
