For most catches, a single post's worth of battling will be enough to catch it. Rarer finds may require some chasing or tactical thinking to pursue the Pokémon, which can be spread out over multiple posts if one wishes. (Although if a multiple-post event takes place, I'm inclined to think posts would be spaced out to allow others to react [or act themselves] if they want to.) There are no special mechanics involved, though. No sense in making things too complicated.
Should I write up a post where Alix catches something, as an example of the basics?
Alix finally tuned back into the conversation. "Oh, we're sharing a bit more? Cool. I was born and raised in Sengun. Specifically, Eyria, in the western mountains."
"Seems we've got people from all over the place," Ato brightly noted. "I'm also a Sengun native. Mystriver's my home, though I haven't been back in quite a while. Work at the Lab keeps me busy. Ah, here we are, the gate to Verdan Forest!" Sure enough, beyond the city gates was a wide expanse of plains bedecked in tall grass and the occasional tree, with the forest standing tall in the distance. A river ran through the middle of the plain, with three bridges spanning the gap.
It was a beautiful sight... if you could ignore the shouts of Trainers young and old rustling through the grass or climbing trees close to the city. The group of five passed through the gates and a short distance onto the route, past the majority of the noisemakers; several schoolchildren dashed past them back into the borders of Regala.
"Okay, team, first steps on your road. Don't let me keep you: have a hunt through the grass, see what you can find. I'll go on ahead, but I'll wait for you guys just past the middle bridge. Gives you a chance to get some early battling in. Sound good?" The commentary came from Ato, who spoke up a little just in case someone or something could drown him out.
Alix nodded. Now would be a good time to start working on training Jen, see how she acted and reacted in battle. Of course, at the same time, she needed to find something to catch to back up Jen for the first Gym challenge. Hang on... Kelsea favours Water-types. Of course she does, Alix, her city's on an island in the middle of a lake! Dangit, I'll have to catch something to take over for Jen in that battle. To that end, she took the lead, heading off the beaten path straight into the grass to stir something up. Jen shifted a little in her arms, curious about the world outside of the Lab.
As she headed off, Ato spotted a familiar face near the river, and hurried to catch up with him. "Ezra? I thought you'd have moved on by now, since you registered yesterday. Or did you only start proper this morning?"
Update #01
Alix: Jen (Torchic), level 5. Scratch, Growl (Speed Boost)
Alright, that's looking good. Feel free to move your sheet to the Characters tab at your leisure.
Also, to all: I've got a post in the works, which will both introduce Ezra, include the first team update, and open up the first route for training and catching Pokémon. Can't post it tonight, though: need sleep.
Seems Rae Zer quit the site. Bit of a shame, that. No sign of @CallSignCorsair either. And since he hasn't posted in IC at all, that's another open slot unless he steps in to contest it.
I'm also going to make one small change I was thinking about earlier today. Nothing too drastic, just a small swap in the Regional Dex. Replacing Zigzagoon and Linoone with Sentret and Furret.
We are, of course, still open to applicants filling the free spaces. =)
"All right, Kei. Time for introductions." Ling pulled out an autoquiver and loaded it into her crossbow with a satisfying click. The first bolt dropped into place automatically. Taking aim was rather more difficult than usual, what with the dozens of wings flapping about. Ling tried to focus: the ship's deck was the biggest concern, not the fascinating storm and its constant chaotic shifting. Drakes. Harpies. She'd never met either, but from their attitude towards the Jurai crew, she didn't expect they would sit down to chat.
Ling adjusted her aim slightly and pulled the trigger, punching a bolt into the wing of one of the drakes. A nearby harpy spun to face the alchemist, propelling itself forward with a push from its own pair. Ling just yanked on the reload lever and brought her weapon to bear. That second to reload was all she had before the fiend was up close and personal, screeching and swiping at her tunic. The physical characteristics of a harpy were best appreciated from a distance: it had a face only a mother could love, its skin was black-grey, its talons were filthy... and it stank to high heaven.
The harpy slashed at Ling, and she felt talons tear fabric and skin in equal measure. She winced. But she held on and rammed Kei into its chest, knocking it back a couple feet. The drastic measure gave her the opportunity to fire a bolt into the harpy, clean through the leather it presumably wore as armour. A second bolt was enough to kill it, leaving it bleeding on the deck. Ling scrambled backwards, having no interest in stepping anywhere near the reeking body. She quickly glanced down at the injury the harpy had caused: it didn't seem to be bleeding too badly. Maybe she could ignore it for now, but it would need attending to later. Right now, there were more of the foul things to put down.
She reloaded Kei - twelve rounds left in the quiver - and began to look for a new opening to shoot something.
The Scar was... fascinating. All of the six magical Elements combining with one another could only be described as chaotic and harmonious, rampant and wondrous, all at the same time. Ling caught herself staring seconds before Commander Hayes approached. So the plan was to use magic to reinforce the ship's already notable armour... she was of no direct help there. Her magical capabilities were limited. So she had to find an alternative.
"Commander, Master Smith, I don't feel that I will be of particular help in providing a shield for the ship," she began, "but I used the downtime to prepare a handful of minor restorative potions, plus a couple of tonics to bolster the mind and sharpen the drinker's magical power a little." She indicated half a dozen vials on her belt: three red potions and three blue.
"Assuming the others will work to prevent damage to the ship, I'll see what I can do about keeping them up and casting spells. Although..." Ling had only just noticed the crew readying weapons all across the deck. "You're expecting a physical fight just as much as a magical assault from the instability of the Scar? What could live in such a storm?" The answer to that question was probably one that she would find out for herself soon enough, but she felt the need to ask all the same. She drew Kei from its holster on her back, and straightened its arms out, tautening the string with the motion. Ammunition would come later.
"So what kind of Pokemon live in the forest? Kickass ones? Also how rough is it going to be out in the forest? Never been here so I'd like to know what to expect."
"The path through the forest is relatively straightforward: a road runs straight through to Verdan's city gates. Or if you're more interested in taking a less traditional path, there's a hiking trail right beside it. The road is easier to travel, but the trail offers splinter paths where you might find an uncommon Pokémon or a group of battling Trainers." Acer unfolded one of the spare maps as he spoke, indicating the two paths side by side.
"As for what kinds of Pokémon you might find, each Kingdom favours one or two types of Pokémon. Verdan is home to Grass and Bug Pokémon, like your Petilil, or the Birchlings and Turtwigs we have here at the Lab," Yang chipped in. "Though that's not to say Grass or Bug-types are the only Pokémon found in the forest, of course. Like in every region, most species naturally favour one particular environment instead of others. Who knows what you'll find? No sense in spoiling the surprise for our overseas Trainers."
"Better that you see it all for yourselves than hear about it from us. Knowing beforehand takes all the fun out of it!" The Ilexes laughed together, joined by a quiet Ato. Acer looked to the younger boy. "But it's time you were on your way. You have quite the journey ahead, and we wish you the best of luck against Kelsea and all the others you'll face. Ato, if you will escort these five through to Verdan?"
"Of course, Professor." Ato produced a Poké Ball and recalled his Mareep back into it, causing the Electric-type to vanish in a beam of light. With that out of the way, the teenager rejoined the party of five. "If you'll follow me, I'll show you the way to the forest." With that, the six of them left the Laboratory, Ato leading the way.
"Tor!" Alix's Torchic gave a rather loud and cheery chirp, bouncing a little in Alix's arms as the Trainer followed at the back of the group. The Fire-type seemed eager to get out of the Lab... it was then that Alix realised she hadn't given her new partner a name. What was the name she had picked out when she was looking at the options online? Something that sounded like the name of a fighter... Jamie? Jasmine? No, no... Jen! That was it. Short, sharp, little bit of a kick to it.
"All right, little one, if you and I are going to work together, you'll need a name. How's Jen sound?"
"Rrr!" Jen chirruped again, eyes bright, and nestled herself deeper into Alix's embrace for a few seconds. Alix took that as an 'okay', and smiled down at her charge. She didn't clearly understand the Torchic's speech, as Jen didn't yet belong to the Fighting type, which was one of Alix's specialties as a Warrior. Still, it was good to know that Jen was happy with her name.
While this one-sided conversation was taking place, Ato continued to lead the way through the streets of Regala, with the newly registered Trainers in his wake. It seemed he was familiar with the layout of the city, as he didn't seem particularly flustered by the hustle and bustle of passersby, and he knew the right places to turn down one street or another.
As the group progressed, he chose to try starting up a new conversation. "So... Shinsuke, was it? I heard you mention to the receptionist you were from Hoenn. What about the rest of you? Where'd you all come from?"
Unless someone has a question for Ling specifically, I'm not sure what I can contribute right now. Writing some sort of 'gets on the ship with the others' post would be more... dull, I want to say, than anything else.
It's been a while, hey?
Just your average Kiwi writer, TTRPG enthusiast, and librarian looking to escape from the troubles of the world. Cats are great. He/they.
<div style="white-space:pre-wrap;">It's been a while, hey?<br><br>Just your average Kiwi writer, TTRPG enthusiast, and librarian looking to escape from the troubles of the world. Cats are great. He/they.</div>
