Mangrale

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Aberrant Emissary (PMD w/ Fusions) [WIP]

@Bacon
Hello there! Welcome to the site and thanks for the interest. To be honest, I've never actually been in a PMD RP either, so this is all new to me. The earlier entries (Up to Explorers of Sky) are what I'm drawing the most inspiration from in terms of finer details like items and so forth. But this project for the most part should wind up being its own thing, so hopefully no one will need that much experience in order to get into it.

That said, there's plenty of things I'll be going for in this RP that will put off plenty of people (such as fusions like this guy), so I probably won't be the one to go to for that pure and simple PMD experience. I can't guarantee that this will click with you when all's said and done, but I can guarantee that it will be finished and open someday.

Would be cool if I see you again when that happens, but in the meantime, don't be afraid to check out another of the site's other RPs to join. A good deal of them would be happy to have you. And if you have any questions about how to navigate this place or whatever, feel free to ask around and someone will surely get you sorted. I hope you enjoy your time here.

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Aberrant Emissary (PMD w/ Fusions) [WIP]

Alright so, first off, time was at a premium for a while here. Some things you can't help, you know. Unfortunately what I did spend an inordinate amount of time on was a reevaluation of the in-game calendar. I know I said I didn't see the point in tampering with it further, but I couldn't help but fixate on it as of late and so wound up wanting for better than a season paired with a dreadfully basic day counter.

So it started with wanting to change the name of every day in the week, but I soon came to realize that not only were my attempts at substitutes terrible enough for me to give up, but that said attempts would have been pointless in the end anyway. So much of our lives are tied to the days of the week that it'll likely end up being far too annoying for players to make "new" associations just for this RP.

Month names were what I ultimately took a stab at, but before I tell you them, I'll need to give you some background. The rudimentary idea of a single annual day separated from the more evenly divisible 364 days of the year was actually something I lifted from a concept I came across some time ago: the International Fixed Calendar. With just one standalone day and an extra month, I got myself complete uniformity across all months and years (standard leap year terms may apply).

The biggest drawback for me however was that 13 months cannot be spread across four seasons evenly (no matter how hard you try). Now, can even that bit of annoyance be overlooked in the end? I don't know. Maybe? I'll have to consider how I feel about it some more before I rewrite anything I have on the calendar section. For now though, I could list out the month names I've settled on.

1. Nokta 4. Nenoh 7. Reor 10. Lalao 13. Mikkatia
2. Irvesi 5. Onshin 8. Vanou 11. Ragal
3. Ojoth 6. Uishi 9. Solka 12. Depala

I'm sure you'll get the trick I used right away. The point is to get across that this is indeed its own world with its own cultures, as it really didn't sit right with me to stick with RL months. It really came down to preference, but I also understand if anyone feels names like these don't fit that well with what you expect from PMD. Suggestions are always welcome, but I thought I might as well put it out there.

And as a way of a bonus, here's a shield for similar items in your inventories. Took longer than the sword sprite, but in the end, I'm happy that it communicates what I want. See you guys later.

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Aberrant Emissary (PMD w/ Fusions) [WIP]

@Elite Minor
Appreciate the possible interest. In the future, just about every update I've made will be put together in a single list for quick reference. At around that time, I'll bump this IC again to see if anyone wants in after they know what they'd be getting themselves into.

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Aberrant Emissary (PMD w/ Fusions) [WIP]

Hello again. This is a smaller update coming at you sooner because I wanted to throw some ideas around for implementing individual character inventories. To sum up, as I have it now, every player character will be able to carry a limited number of items wherever they go (I currently got it as 5 unstackable slots for simplicity's sake), along with an additional slot specifically for equipment (your gameplay-functional garments or accessories). Clothing items worn purely for show will likely be covered in the "appearance" part of the CS and perhaps there'll also be a count for the money PCs carry with them.

I'm leaning towards the floor being open for players to propose their own ideas for new equipment and items, even for their pokémon at the start of the story, though they will have to be treated and balanced accordingly. For instance, there can certainly be equipment like bags and such that could give you more item slots, but any of them accessible at the start will only get you 1 additional slot.

Now then, true to my word, I wanted to give some novice sprite work a try for a class of item that doesn't exist for the PMD games already, in this case: weapons. I hold no delusions of the quality, but even this piece , such as it is, feels like beginner's luck. I don't think I can justify branching off into different types of weapon sprites like spears and so on, but a real artist is more than welcome to try. No, at best I might just pass off some recolors to represent different grades/varieties of weapons. Now and again I'll try at more sprites for things, but for now, I'm happy to say that I won't be relying on emojis just yet. Thanks for catching up on this vanity project of mine and I'll see you next time.

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Aberrant Emissary (PMD w/ Fusions) [WIP]

Okay so this one requires some explaining. After looking at the barracks in the last post, I decided soon after that I wanted to make it into it's own separate location. From what I understand, garrisons indeed encompass barracks and more, but they're typically a part of bases and such. Could be getting something wrong in there, but there's still time to change things around if need be. Course, if everything's square I will go back an replace the barracks in the fort with something else.

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▬Stone Ward Garrison

▬Stone Ward Garrison_{│The Best & Brightest│}

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While anyone not outright hostile to the cause of Aurora's unification may find sanctuary within Harmony, those pokémon who've pledged themselves to the Brigade specifically are encouraged to move the short distance down the Sojourn River. Within the equally impressive walls of the garrison, a regimented yet rewarding life awaits a new generation that would show the strength and the courage to achieve greatness. The dangers of the mountains cannot be underestimated, but the dutiful recruits trained and stationed here are those most capable of finally bringing order to its chaos, once and for all!

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○ Sun Recruit Barracks

○ Sun Recruit Barracks_{│Rest for the Worthy│}

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Housed inside the designated structures at the opposing east and west ends of the garrison lie amenities fit for novice and veteran alike (respectively). Generous communal spaces containing dual rows of straw beds will look all the comfier after a long day serving your fellow mon. And in both barracks, culinary service members see to it that their mess halls never fail to provide all the nutrition a growing protector needs, day in and day out. It is hoped that, under the care of such efforts, a recruit will not only build bonds of lasting comradery with their fellows, but also come to carry with them the spirit of the Brigade wherever they go.

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○ The Steel Yard

○ The Steel Yard_{│Test Your Metal (& Mettle)│}

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The great open court that first greets each and every newcomer when they first arrive has undergone a number of changes over the years, its most substantial coming from the desire to better hone the capabilities of the recruits who stay within its walls. Practice and discipline are key parts of every hopeful's day, and the seasoned instructors' job is to make sure everyone gets the most out of their assigned training program. Following the favorable assessment of one's skills and determination comes a new recruit's first true rank and assignment, their first defining step into their new life of selfless heroism across the land.

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○ Brigade Armory

○ Brigade Armory_{│That Little Extra Edge│}

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Supply storage is nothing new to the pokémon of Aurora, but when it comes to things as valuable as hard-sourced items and prefabricated equipment, for an operation as organized as the Brigade no less, it is a matter handled with a particular eye towards security. Rank and permission are the only assured ways to gain access to anything not directly issued at the start of an assignment and it is hard to doubt why upon beholding with your own eyes the excellent craftsmonship of the weapons and armor transported directly from Iron Ember Forge, among other vital tools set to aid in all our ongoing endeavors.

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The inclusion of weapons and armor in a PMD story is not one that I take lightly, especially because any item/class of item that doesn't already come with a sprite may very well wind up having it made by me (or maybe I could resort to emojis if I'm just that terrible at it). All the same, I shouldn't assume that I can't still stray further from what made PMD unique from other RPG settings, even after all the other things I'm going for. But unfortunately for you guys, I'm still into this. See you all later for the next update.

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Aberrant Emissary (PMD w/ Fusions) [WIP]

Hello again. Sorry about the delay. With this I should be ready to continue further into the mountains for the next one. It is likely to belong to the alliance and whatnot, but I'm debating whether it should feature an adventurer's guild or not. One should exist in the mountains sure, but as for exactly where it should be, I don't quite know yet.

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►Valley of Echoes

►Valley of Echoes

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▬Fort Harmony

▬Fort Harmony_{│The Fortified Mediator│}

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There once was a vision for Fort Harmony that earnestly saw it as the shining, undisputed haven of the Meridians, which had previously been pictured as a long untouched wilderness that would finally yield its foreboding reputation to the notoriety and honor of the Sun Brigade. Instead forces greater than even the nuisance of wild pokémon encounters have contested the settlement's choice territory along the Sojourn River (as well as other associated establishments). Nevertheless, the fort has risen to meet each and every challenge thrown its way, and defiantly continues as a well defended foothold for all allied development to this day.

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○ Iron Ember Forge

○ Iron Ember Forge_{│Bravely Forge Ahead│}

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The thickest clouds of smoke rise from the fiery heart of Fort Harmony, whose imposing doors open to a relentless operation among several furnaces, the smaller ones along the interior. This leaves the giant "Master Furnace" located at the center of the ground floor, teams working around the clock to both maintain the controlled inferno as well as managing its production. In this way, the Brigade's skilled blacksmiths can fashion a wide variety of useful equipment from the ores transported from mining efforts in the mountains. Thanks to the forge, the ore of today can help a frontiersmon face tomorrow with confidence!

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○ Zephyr Post Office

○ Zephyr Post Office_{│How Words Take Flight│}

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With the desire to stay in touch with the coastlands being as high as it was for the original caravan, it was a natural decision to have another Zephyr office up and running within the fort's secure walls. In the following years, as the alliance settled deeper into the valley, so did the demand for fast and effective carrier services also rise in turn. Yet more than ever before, under the less than welcoming eye of the natives that call the mountains home, a deliverymon must be ready for danger at a moment's notice and so, if necessary, are to be trained and equipped just as any other member of the Brigade would. Fly true, brave carriers!

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○ Harmony Barracks

○ Harmony Barracks_{│Rest for the Worthy│}

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While anyone not outright hostile to the cause of Aurora's unification may find sanctuary within Harmony, those pokémon who've pledged themselves to the Brigade specifically are encouraged to move into the grounds sectioned off from the rest of the fort. Here a court opens to a training ground, living quarters with an adjacent mess hall, and an armory, where a steady supply of new equipment courtesy of Iron Ember Forge keeps the barracks well stocked. The dangers of the mountains cannot be underestimated, but the dutiful recruits trained and stationed here are those most capable of finally bringing order to its chaos, once and for all.

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It's become apparent that, if the factions are to come to the fore, even as far as possible backgrounds for PCs, then I really should go back and elaborate on them some more, their structure and operation for a start. The friendlier guys should go first, as players might want to look to them first if anything to tie into their backstories. The Burrowers, Hollowers and Crossbones might have to wait until further into the story as more is learned about them. I'll make a personal outline for them for sure, but I likely won't write it all down like the others until later on. But for now, it's on to the next set of locations. See you then.

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Aberrant Emissary (PMD w/ Fusions) [WIP]

Alrighty! Took longer than I wanted it to but I pride myself in delivering eventually above all else. Here is the second POI in the gulf. Some rewrites have occurred, and keep in mind that some edits and even new featured locations can be added over time. The idea with this one is that getting a port up and running, although ultimately rather successful, wasn't altogether straighforward. Also, there's very much that idea that, the closer to the wilds a place is, the more strange things can occur.

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▬Swift Breeze Harbor

▬Swift Breeze Harbor_{│A Very Welcoming Site│}

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First impressions can go a long way in a budding relationship, and in the case of Swift Breeze, many a weary sailor have come to take no small amount of relief when they lay their eyes on Aurora's solid ground for the first time. The subsequent moments in their experience, however, are largely determined by when in the harbor's short history they find themselves in. It wasn't until relatively recently that regulations were put in place to set it mostly on par with other rest stops in the civilized world. But nowadays, so long as the sea satiates its terrible wrath elsewhere, you won't find a better place to ease the fatigue of a long voyage than here.

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○ Drift Fairy Docks

○ Drift Fairy Docks_{│High Water Reprieve│}

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As just about any dockworker of respectable seniority can tell you, second time really is the charm when it comes to the harbor's most important development. And even then, the path to something resembling a safe haven from the worst the sea has to offer had been little more than trial and error until a handful of accomplished building teams finally arrived to work their magic. Nowadays, the docks can welcome all manner of seafaring craft, its calm waters sheltering just as well as its tireless longshoremon service them. Yet there persists whispers of another force looking out for sailors as of recently, one supposedly just under the surface.

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○ Fog Water Wharf

○ Fog Water Wharf_{│Unsinkable Aspirations│}

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Originally called Whirlpool Wharf, its completion was met with plenty of excitement on the part of the original Tidal villagers who stayed behind during the Sun Brigade's first trek. To most of their companions from overseas however, its slapdash construction was as trustworthy as its silver-tongued promoters. Fast forward to the modern day, and while businesses at the wharf share a measure of the nearby docks' continued success, its rickety piers have largely remained unchanged. All attempts to repair, renovate, or even demolish the structures being met with strange misfortune, leading many to believe them and their murky waters to be cursed.

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○ Night-Eye Lighthouse

○ Night-Eye Lighthouse_{│Life Preserving Light│}

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The venerable standard of almost all legitimate ports was one that, in this case, thankfully came under the purview of recognizable professionals, the establishment of which also lacking in confounding mishaps. Standing at a respectable thirty-four feet atop the commanding vantage of what would come to be named Chimecho Bluff, the lighthouse is not only operated by the most stalwart of keepers, but is also a towering platform for a remarkable piece of experimental technology, the very latest of its kind: a contraption that amplifies and directs the beam of a modified luminous orb! It's a breakthrough for safety and science!

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I may be moving on to the mountain range after this, likely Fort Harmony and what you can find in there. As you can imagine, the most notable and well known places are likely to come first, leaving a good deal of other places to be revealed over time. I'm also looking into the 'mons you're apt to find in each spot (like the lighthouse keeper for example). At this stage, it's hard to determine how much of a presence they'll have in the RP, but at the very least I can see a descent share of jobs/quests coming from them. I'll get back to you all when I can. Take care.

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Aberrant Emissary (PMD w/ Fusions) [WIP]

Hey guys! I wanted to complete the whole set of them, so that's why this didn't come sooner. Just to clarify, Tidal Town isn't where the RP starts (as far as the main story is concerned anyway). I'm doing the arduous (to wait for) task of piecing together parts of the other regions before the final stretch. It's groundwork for what's to come. Anyway, have a look if you want.

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►Glistening Gulf

►Glistening Gulf

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▬Tidal Town

▬Tidal Town_{│Crossing of Currents│}

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Not a port town given the precautionary elevation, but nevertheless a place that proudly carries on the spirit of the original village just as much as it thrives off the backs of the industrious and sea savvy. As sails both local and from across the Shimmering rest at Swift Breeze Harbor, their caravans make the short cobbled route here to reap the rest and rewards due for their hard work. And there's never a shortage of opportunities to share in their good fortunes, provided you aren't afraid of getting your hands (or what have you) briny. When great currents meet, there's no telling what fortunes they'll carry to the surface!

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○ Fair Scale Market

○ Fair Scale Market_{│Irrefutable Bargains│}

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Out of all that lends its voice to the cacophony of a typical, busy work day within this veritable hive of activity, everyone would agree that PoKé speaks the loudest and the clearest. The vendors of the many stalls and storefronts that line the streets aren't in the business of turning away anyone fluent in speaking its language. Just don't expect any specific one of them to have everything you could ever want. Remember, as a wise mon once said: "The only thing better than finding something you were looking for, is finding something you weren't looking for at a great bargain!"

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○ Zephyr Post Office

○ Zephyr Post Office_{│By Wind & Wings│}

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Atop a steep hill scalable through a flight of planked stairs (among other accommodations of course) rests the welcoming, familiar style of office belonging to one of the most trusted mail carriers in the known world! Hardly a day passes where one doesn't see messengers in their employ soaring overhead, on one end or another of a dutiful flight across the land. The outgoing are looking at a delivery either to another reachable office at a verified location, or even certain other places within reason. The connections among all who live and work in Aurora is a powerful thing, and everyone at Zephyr want to help keep them as strong as possible!

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○ Shellback Guild Hall

○ Shellback Guild Hall_{│No Treasure Too Small│}

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Standing proudly near the center of town, owing to its credit as one of the prominent pillars that's made Tidal what it is today, the grand structure lies at the forefront of Stampede operations in the Coastlands. The sheer volume of jobs and requests that Zephyr sends its way on behalf of their clientele alone proves just how trusted of a name its made for itself since its inception. Course, the good it does for the community occasionally takes a backseat in the headlines whenever the scent of treasure is in the air. Still, the guild's founders stand by the belief that there are treasures of all kinds just waiting to be discovered. You just gotta nurture it!

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To reiterate, versions of this kind of thing will appear in the RP, but with additional and possibly different text each time for a whole host of situations, some for just flavor and others for interactions of more substance. Did that make sense? I'm sure I'm not the first to try something like this on the site, and I can almost assure you that I won't be able to execute it as well as I want, but I wouldn't suggest a workload like this if I didn't think the very notion to be really awesome. Anyway, another location set is probably in the cards next time. See ya'll then.

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Aberrant Emissary (PMD w/ Fusions) [WIP]

Hey guys. It's been a bit on my end, mostly due to some setbacks here and there. What time I've had has partially been put towards considering how the world will be presented by the time the RP starts. It makes sense for some points of interest to already exist of course, but like I said, there will be plenty to discover over the course of the story. As of now, the plan is to further divide each of the current three regions of Aurora into interconnected divisions, then down to their points of interest. And finally, depending on the point of interest, further consideration can be put into the services and whatnot that are supported there.

Likely not the best way to explain it, but next week I'd like to take that meaningful stab at an example: That of Tidal Town. It will be located within a prominent division of the Crescent Coastlands called Glistening Gulf (as of this post). Doing things this way already ensures a notable undertaking for me, so to spare myself in the short term I believe I'll forgo writing any sort of descriptions for divisions like this gulf. That said, the plan is to take a little inspiration from text-based RPGs and set a reusable format for POIs like Tidal Town for when players enter them in the IC. Might sound strange but even if any participating player can read everything there is to read in places like towns, their characters can only know and do so much given their circumstances. How much a character can reasonably do in a day is something that future me will have to decide on at some point.

Now as far as what Tidal should have on offer at the outset, right now I'm thinking that an open market, a guild hall and a post office would make for a good start. I'll get started on that when I get the chance and give an update next week when I feel like I've made enough progress. Wish I had something to show now, but I wanted some kind of update to keep myself from fixating on the lack of one, if nothing else. Anyway, yes I'm still alive and should still be next week. The first step is always the hardest and this project is the first of its kind for me so it's almost nothing but first steps. Like always, thanks to anyone waiting patiently for this, even if it's out of curiosity, and take care.

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Aberrant Emissary (PMD w/ Fusions) [WIP]

Hello there. Here's the orbs I have listed out so far, with straightforward descriptions for each. Unfortunately, I'm not in a position to give this the full ttrpg treatment of grid-based dungeons and whatnot, so while the effects of many orbs will translate well enough, reworks will have to happen as this part of the game comes into focus (especially in terms of potency, which is kept at a minimum for now). Letting orbs work in the "overworld" sounds like a can of worms, but perhaps those that reasonably could can do so to a limited extent if nothing else.

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Utility Orbs

Utility Orbs

All-Hit	All-Mach	Blowback	Cleanse	Decoy
Escape	Evasion	Fill-In	Foe-Fear	Foe-Hold
Foe-Seal	Hail	Hurl	Identify	Invisify
Lob	Longtoss	Luminous	Mobile	Mug
Petrify	Pierce	Pounce	Quick	Radar
Rainy	Rebound	Rocky	Rollcall	Sandy
Scanner	See-Trap	Shocker	Silence	Sizebust
Slow	Slumber	Snatch	Spurn	Stairs
Stayaway	Sunny	Switcher	Totter	Trapbust
Trapper	Trawl	Two-Edge	Warp

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By the end of this list, I'd decided to leave the next round of drudgery that is "status conditions" for a future turn. I'd like to shake off the mind-numbing with something new for a change, likely after I make an addition to the CSs as I have them now. The next stage of locations (POIs and such) may be next up, but we'll see. Little time this week, but I should be able to get started soon. Until next time.