these_balls: (SERIOUS MOD BUSINESS)
Route 29: mods ([personal profile] these_balls) wrote in [community profile] route_10652014-10-27 03:00 pm

HOENNWEEN: INTRO CHALLENGE LOG

Who: Hoennween Plot Participants!
Where: Tohjo Falls!
When: Wednesday, October 29th
Summary: You've just received a call from a mysterious voice asking you to come help save the world. This is Day One of The Rest Of Your Life™ — the introductory skirmish that will determine your field position for tomorrow and the advantages you'll have going in to the fight against Archie and Maxie.
Rating: PG-13 in general; please mark threads that go higher accordingly!
Log:



YOU ARE HERE. YOU'RE FIGHTING THESE GUYS AND ALSO POSSIBLY THESE GUYS. THEY'RE NOT HAPPY TO SEE YOU.

ETA: AND THIS IS YOUR BACKGROUND MUSIC!

KEY:
GRAY areas in the north are a range of mountains that form a natural barrier around part of the Tohjo plain where the Elite Four's resort is located. It is both difficult and dangerous to get up into the mountains proper, but this seems to be the direction from which most of the Team Magma Grunts are entering the area.

GREEN areas in the southeast and southwest are densely-packed forested areas interspersed by lakes and rivers that seem to be feeding into the main waterway into the area. It is both difficult and dangerous to venture into the woodlands proper, but this seems to be the direction from which most of the Team Aqua Grunts are entering the area.

• The BLUE area in the south is the massive lake that feeds the eponymous falls that give Tohjo its name. You will also find Team Aqua Grunts here taking great care to hold control of the lake, if you're interested in engaging in a water battle.

PINK diamonds in the east and west are the sites of massive formations of Mysterious Plot Crystals™ jutting up from beneath the surface; the Grunts on both teams appear somewhat wary of these growths, so they will be keeping a reasonable distance from them while still doing their best to protect them.

• The BROWN rectangle dead-center in the map is...the Elite Four's resort. Not exactly what you might call a fortunate place to be located, but it's easy to see why this might be considered prime real estate for both teams. You're likely to find members of both Team Aqua and Team Magma hanging around here, so be cautious!


A FEW OTHER SETTING NOTES:

• As per Arceus's summon, there will be Gen VI Pokemon joining the battle on their own! You may NPC these Pokemon, within reasonable limits; you may not capture them in Pokeballs, and they are still wild so they will not take commands from characters the way a captured Pokemon would from its trainer. However, they do recognize that the portaled-in humans are fighting on roughly the same side as they are, so they won't attack player characters and might occasionally come to their aid if need be — you're free to NPC them as you like for purposes such as this.

• The aforementioned Gen VI Pokemon can be any Pokemon that swarmed during September, plus any of their evolved forms. They've had several weeks in the wild to get buff and settle in; now you can see what they've got to show for it!

• You may NPC the Team Aqua and Team Magma Grunts as you see fit; either one can be found anywhere on the map, though Team Magma will be more highly-concentrated in the northern areas of the map, and Team Aqua will be keeping more to the south.

• There is no restriction on how many Aqua and Magma Grunts you may fight.

• You may fight members of both teams on this log if you so choose; you are not required to pick just one or the other to focus on for this particular log.

• You may forego Pokemon battling entirely and simply beat up the Grunts with physical violence yourself. If you KO a Grunt, they will white out and be warped to the nearest Pokemon Center back down in the regions proper, where they will be arrested by an officer of the Kangaskhan Police.

FOR CHARACTERS INTENDING TO USE HONEDGES LIKE WEAPONS: due to the high volume of questions we have received on this topic (it's a popular inquiry!), we want to clarify for this Pokemon in particular —

If you choose to use a Honedge as though it were a traditional sword, the most that the Honedges will allow might be slapping the grunts with the flat side of the blade. They are still opposed to attacking/killing humans, opponents or not, and if you try to stab an opponent with them, you're going to get a really obstinate ghost sword going incorporeal and ineffectively going through them. There's also the fact that you're grabbing them by the head and swinging them around — they won't like that very much.

PLEASE NOTE: if you intend to use a Honedge in this manner anyway, we may ask that you experience light IC consequences for it later in the plot! We're not barring you from getting your sword skills on with your Honedges; we're simply pointing out that there may be natural outcomes that follow from those choices.

UPDATE: if you would like to interrogate the grunts, check here for information you can learn from them!


~

☆ THE NUMBER TO MEET OR BEAT IS 50 PARTICIPANTS.

REMEMBER: IF YOUR CHARACTER DOES NOT POST TO THE INTRO CHALLENGE LOG AT LEAST ONCE
(AS A TOP-LEVEL COMMENT OR IN RESPONSE TO SOMEONE ELSE'S TOP-LEVEL COMMENT)
BEFORE 9:00 PM EST on OCTOBER 28, THEY WILL NOT COUNT TOWARD THE 50-PARTICIPANT GOAL!

~


QUICK LINKS

EVENT LINKS MASTERPOST | THE INTRO CHALLENGE INFOPOST | QUESTIONS FOR MODS | INTRO CHALLENGE PARTICIPATION CHECK-IN THREAD
me_first: (disgruntled)

[personal profile] me_first 2014-10-31 05:16 am (UTC)(link)
If we could direct them with fire or something else, maybe we could... corner them...
foolishwren: My MILKSHAKE, you guys. (He asks if i want kale in my milkshake)

[personal profile] foolishwren 2014-10-31 05:38 am (UTC)(link)
Thanks. I appreciate it. Seriously.

[Carousel lets out a whicker, seemingly in agreement.]

... Uh, sorry, I guess I should introduce these guys. This is Carousel.

The Absol's Alessa.

And the bird up there is Sunny.
wing_attack: (neutral)

[personal profile] wing_attack 2014-10-31 05:45 am (UTC)(link)
No problem. And this is Rachel. Regal is the Braviary that's been flying around and throwing people in the lake. Volts is a Zebstrika... he's been running around.

[Rachel waves a paw at the group.]

Nice to meet you guys.
awesmazings: (☼ and all the gods)

[personal profile] awesmazings 2014-10-31 05:58 am (UTC)(link)
...Wait, are we both talking about the lake, or the grunts? Or both?
foolishwren: are waiting to GOOF OFF with you (SILLY GIRLS in YOUR AREA)

[personal profile] foolishwren 2014-10-31 06:23 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah. Good to finally meet in, uh, person.

[He's a little taller than she thought he'd be. To be fair, everybody looks short when they're squashed into a tiny PokeGear screen.]
me_first: (armed and... dangerous?)

[personal profile] me_first 2014-10-31 06:36 am (UTC)(link)
The grunts. I thought that... changing their landscape around them would make them easier to manage.
armoredsoul: (Shaky ground)

[personal profile] armoredsoul 2014-10-31 06:44 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah. If we split up and each take one half of the area, and then everyone we tell makes sure to spread the word...we won't get everyone, but it should be enough. Once we're all close, we can team up more and get through the defense they've pulled together.
wing_attack: (unpleasant truths)

[personal profile] wing_attack 2014-10-31 06:46 am (UTC)(link)
[This is true. The technology is still kind of weird to him.]

Yeah. Regal's sure changed since you last saw him. But he's a lot happier now.

[A grunt nears them, and Rachel lumbers off to go beat up his Pokemon. Tobias doesn't seem too concerned, at least.]
armoredsoul: (Getting serious)

[personal profile] armoredsoul 2014-10-31 06:47 am (UTC)(link)
As if you could pull of something this big on your own! You're not half clever enough to pull it off!

[But still his eyes narrow, considering that--Envy wouldn't just say that outright, it's not his style...or would he? He doesn't yet know enough of what Envy is like without Dante pulling his strings, which makes him much more dangerous.]
armoredsoul: (Nervous laughter)

[personal profile] armoredsoul 2014-10-31 06:52 am (UTC)(link)
[Cecil steps forward a few paces to sniff Carosel curiously in greeting, and Al shrugs.] Well, it is hard to keep track of everything going on here! But yeah, might be a good idea to slow down maybe a tad.

Hehe, I don't think we did with all the talk about weird owls in backpacks. My name's Alphonse. [He holds up a hand for her to shake with a friendly grin.] And you?
katostrophic: (EXCITED ☢ we do what you don't)

[personal profile] katostrophic 2014-10-31 10:21 am (UTC)(link)
[...

...

did you say BLOW UP-]


Are you telling me that those crystals explode?!

[DIST DIST DIST CAN WE GO BLOW UP SOME CRYSTALS PLEASE CAN WE]

I have to test this out!

[You know, for science! Or something!]
katostrophic: (DAMMIT ☢ and let the crazy out)

[personal profile] katostrophic 2014-10-31 10:31 am (UTC)(link)
[Good question. They're both scientists; how is he supposed to explain that he just feels like something isn't right here? In all honesty, this entire situation has been suspicious from the beginning, and Kato would be willing to bet that whomever provided Nebilim's voice was not the woman herself.]

I don't know. But I think...perhaps someone, or something, was trying to entice you into coming here. Look around; many of the people here look just as confused as you are.

[And it's true; dispersed between the masses of red and blue grunts, there are a number of regular citizens, running around either fighting or looking like they're searching for someone. Could they have been brought here just to deal with this...?]

I don't think threatening this girl is going to get us anywhere. I think it would be best if we tried to work out what is going on.

[There we go; something logical. Something Dist can focus on, to hopefully get his mind off the Professor, even if it's just for a moment. They have a question, and they need an answer.

...]


...are you alright...?

[His hand hasn't left Dist's shoulder, after all.]
friendyousohard: (Hunting the Wild Pinkie Pie)

[personal profile] friendyousohard 2014-10-31 11:03 am (UTC)(link)
Noted. Does it reflect?

[Having a Hyper Beam launched back into your teeth doesn't sound like a particularly good time to her.]
friendyousohard: (Glasses: 20% more nerdy)

[personal profile] friendyousohard 2014-10-31 11:08 am (UTC)(link)
Indeed! Guess we'll be putting that all to use today. Well, let's see if we can find a good place to set up... The Elite Four's house is nearby, I think if we can blaze ourselves a path there we'll have something to put our backs against.

[Sure, they haven't been having any trouble yet, but getting surrounded and slowly worn down by wave after wave of grunts is definitely a thing that could happen.]
friendyousohard: (My hair static requires further study)

[personal profile] friendyousohard 2014-10-31 11:21 am (UTC)(link)
[It's a bit later in the day. Anna and Elsa have been supporting each other, but the swarming enemies just keep coming. There's a group of five Magma grunts coming straight to them, and no one would blame them for being a bit exhausted at this point...

When a voice thunders out from behind them.
]

Tesla, Zap Cannon!

[The massive electric blast wipes out two of the grunts and sends the other three staggering back as a massive metallic floating beast moves onto the battlefield, a single massive red eye glaring down at everything it sees. On its back, Twilight glares down at the hapless grunts. By her side, Starswirl the Alakazam turns his eyes to the Princess and the Queen. He warps down between the grunts and them.]

Go with Twilight. She will lead you to the safe zone so that you may recuperate and join forces with the others.

[He glances over his shoulder at them, and manages a reassuring smile.]

We will protect you.
friendyousohard: (My hair static requires further study)

[personal profile] friendyousohard 2014-10-31 11:25 am (UTC)(link)
Someone we can't see, maybe? Someone who called us in here to stop them? I somehow doubt they wanted us here.

[Though, then again, they still have no idea what the group's plan is. The sudden arrival of the outworlders might still play into it, depending on how the leaders want this to go...

Wait. The leaders. Twilight turns her own eyes to the grunt, narrowed and sharp.
]

Who's in charge here? Who do you answer to?
enjoymyatelier: :smith: (sola i'm dying)

[personal profile] enjoymyatelier 2014-10-31 11:47 am (UTC)(link)
[Kayneth turns around and... yep.

that is a feel that he feels.]


Whoever's responsible for this could have really just said legendaries and I'd be right there, you know. There was no reason to do... that.

[...he gives a look to the Ampharos, because she has stopped electrifying the lake and she really needs to start that again]
dressofheaven: (The tiniest sadist)

[personal profile] dressofheaven 2014-10-31 12:04 pm (UTC)(link)
[It isn't Ilya who notices her friend running to join her, but one of her other Pokemon. Heavy, metallic stomps draw closer and closer to Cynthia until, with her ride gone, Talos the Metagross manages to catch up with her.]

Do you require assistance reaching the Mistress, Lady Cynthia?

[Awww, he's such a polite metal psychic spider monster.

And given that Ilya is now having Berserker pick up one of Team Magma's Mightyenas and throw it at the grunts, things might be safer on his back...
]
dressofheaven: (... Why the heck did you do that?)

[personal profile] dressofheaven 2014-10-31 12:28 pm (UTC)(link)
I didn't know you had a brother.

[She glares at the ground for a moment.]

It was my mother, for me. I haven't heard from her in ten years...
dressofheaven: (Bored now)

[personal profile] dressofheaven 2014-10-31 12:30 pm (UTC)(link)
[She glares down at him, and her Pokemon all make growly sounds, not recognizing him, but none of them move to attack. After a moment, she grumbles out an a response.]

It's more like I'm bored. None of these scum are putting up enough challenge to distract me anymore.
in_praetego: <user name=signontheline> ([!!] | Been a while since I could)

[personal profile] in_praetego 2014-10-31 12:32 pm (UTC)(link)
[ D: What? Was it something he said? Was something off? But he won't say a thing about that. ]

I think I'll be able to. Kizamime has a notch on his wing... that should be enough to pick him out.

[ There's a frown of his own though. ]

A message...? Looks like that's how everyone came here, the way I see it... do you mind if I ask who from?
in_praetego: <user name=signontheline> ([...] | It's Been a While > Staind)

[personal profile] in_praetego 2014-10-31 12:37 pm (UTC)(link)
A girl?

[ The root part, he can probably see. Might've been from a Bulbasaur or a Bellsprout or something else using vine whip at the time, given all the battles going on right now but... the girl? That part just didn't add up. There's a measure of skepticism even as he and Airi settle him near the egg pile.

Come on, bro. He's the one who covers up, not you. ]


Look... sorry I ran off on my own. It was just... Kizamime flew off and then I heard...

[ A pause. Was what he heard even real? But there's a shake of his head though. ]

Are the gerbils okay?

in_praetego: ([...] Who you really are)

[personal profile] in_praetego 2014-10-31 12:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks.

[ And as if to trade off for the supplies, Yukio's Chansey is tugging at Riku's shirt and offering him an egg in return. It'll cure whatever ails ya! ]

Looks that way... question is who they are and what they want. I wasn't able to get much from one of the ones in blue. We'll try our luck with one of the red ones later once everyone's healed up properly.
cawsforalarm: (Ooh! ✧ I can set myself right here)

[personal profile] cawsforalarm 2014-10-31 12:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Uh, yeah? I can't see how they wouldn't beco--

[Explosions?]

[Explosions.]

[Kato's enthusiasm is clearly infectious.]
That's what I said, but I didn't have anyone strong enough to make them blow!
cawsforalarm: <lj user=bloodlessons> (Creepy ✧ Like vibrations with no end)

[personal profile] cawsforalarm 2014-10-31 01:35 pm (UTC)(link)
[The growls don't seem to unnerve him at all. He's dealt with many ferocious creatures making angry noises at him, so these guys aren't too much of an issue unless they attack.]

Well, here's a tip: I haven't even been challenging their Pokémon. It's way more fun to just attack the Grunts themselves!

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