System Admin
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Administrator
Posts: 1,474
Player Name: System
OOC Username: M00K
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Post by System Admin on Oct 14, 2024 10:13:21 GMT 9
 STORY QUEST: CENTENNIAL CHECKUPS
OSTELLIA STORY QUEST POST-WORLD EVENT"So Hearteater was a Lunala," says System Admin:ProfessorAsh. The (former) Pokemon Professor sits in a freshly-scrubbed laboratory. The equipment is ancient: hinges rusted, steel tarnished, lighting dim and flickering: but all is organized. Sanitized. Meticulously uncluttered, especially compared to the disaster zone of Bunya's Lab back at the Asper Settlement. Notably, she has left several overgrown sections of the lab untouched: perhaps she's studying the biodiversity. There are also are signs of habitation: a cot in the corner, an organized stack of army rations, and a portable coffee machine. Ash lives and breathes in the Abandoned Laboratory. She has nowhere else to go. "Nihilego couldn't give me a clear description at the time, but now I think I understand. Communication with their kind is… fascinating." The silver-haired woman glances up at the jellyfish-like Ultra Beast, who is perched up on top of a shelf with its tentacles dangling, looking almost like a young girl. "You have my thanks. Because of you and the other trainers, Nihilego can finally be free to live as it wishes."She makes no mention of the broken seal on its Pokeball, of the fact it is technically a wild Pokemon now, of the trueness of its freedom in a world where Pokemon are captured whether or not they consent and exposed to dangers they might never have imagined. Ash is the head of PLASMA: an idealistic group which seeks to change this fictional world for the better. Perhaps you'd be interested?The silver-haired woman stands up, approaching an old, blocky computer monitor. Wavy lines appear on the display as she turns it on. "What I'm concerned with now is the Wild Pokemon which have just returned to Ostellia. Do we know how long they were trapped in Hibernaculum in their… colorless state?" She types quickly, pulling up a list of all the known Pokemon restored to the local routes. "For all we know, their 'color' could have been slowly self-regenerating over time. Hearteater might have been feeding on them for generations."She turns to you (or the cutscene camera), taking a deep breath. "Insurmountable as it seems, I'd like to do a checkup on each of these species. Check their vitals, examine them for any side effects of their previous condition. Capture and release: after I've confirmed the Pokemon isn't experiencing anything unusual, I'll release it back into the wild." Ash is upfront about this. "Naturally, you'll be compensated. I've found a new backer for my research recently."This 'new backer' is System Admin:Claw, from whom members of The Creed guild would have received an [tangent= "New Pokemon from a faraway land? Mm, sounds like our business. Bring the little fugitive everything she asks for. Anything else? Why, that's yours to keep, 'less you want to bring something pretty back for the missus."]additional directive.[/tangent] {COMPLETED}ROUTE 7: DROWNED HARBOR
- Dhelmise, Gastly, Finizen
ROUTE 8: FORGOTTEN NEXUS
- Skiddo, Aron, Snivy
ROUTE 9: DUNE DISTRICT
- Varoom
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Buzzster Hooperham
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The Quizmaster
Player Character
Posts: 155
Trainer Class: 
Player Name: Buzzster Hooperham
OOC Username: D-Bug
Arena Points: 70
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Post by Buzzster Hooperham on Oct 15, 2024 23:34:19 GMT 9
"Hey, Professor!" Buzzster said, looking around the downgraded lab space. Petal was perched on his shoulder as usual, and her eyes went wide. The first place she had ever know was the Starter Lab. This was like coming full circle.
"Petal said you were doing checkups on the Pokemon," Buzzster said, indicating his Chikorita with a jerk of his thumb. He pulled out his Golden Pokeball and handed it to the Professor. "I caught this little bastard Varoom while I was looking for my stolen name. He's all yours if you want him. My real one is in the Everworld."
He found a rickety chair and sat down. "So you're the top science dog here, right? Maybe you can answer my question. When we first met you asked me about the afterlife. I answered with my favorite quote." He paused, and cleared his throat. “There's a part of me that thinks perhaps we go on existing in a place even after we've left it.”
"Well I'm still pretty set on that answer, but I'm no science guy. So what do you think? What do you think the afterlife is like, Professor?" |
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Alkaid
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Player Character
Posts: 566
Trainer Class: 
Player Name: Laurence Anderson
OOC Username: Akivili
Arena Points: 10
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Post by Alkaid on Oct 16, 2024 5:34:52 GMT 9
It didn’t take long for him to find the marker that had ‘Story Quest’ on it—hilariously it wasn’t too far away from the route where he’d found the Skiddo, so it was worth checking out.
(Although, of all places, why in an abandoned laboratory? Wasn’t that a little suspect?)
Either way, he knew that the Skiddo was not going to be staying with him for long, so he had the golden Pokéball that had the Gras-type inside it as he located where the Professor was—wasn’t it weird that there were two, and not one?
The one at the Starter Lab, and this one out here? Either way…
He waited for the redhead that had gone before him to finish speaking before he approached next.
“Just like the one who came before me, you mentioned that you’re looking to study the new Pokémon? Happened to find one not too far away from where the laboratory is. I don’t know what they’re called, just that they’re a Grass-type, so there is that…”
He would come to a stop as he folded his arms.
“Is it just me or there’s two of you Professors? One at the Starter area, so color me curious, you’re the one who travels? Never thought there’d be more than one Professor doing business at the same time, so there is that…”
He wondered if he would be able to get an answer to that.
(After all, this was a new world for him to explore. This definitely didn’t exist on the European servers, if his memory served him right. Plus, he wondered if they could tell that they really weren’t from the North American server in the first place…)
giving Skiddo to the Professor!!
for science! |
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System Admin
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Administrator
Posts: 1,474
Player Name: System
OOC Username: M00K
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Post by System Admin on Oct 16, 2024 10:41:28 GMT 9
Ash does a double-take when her first visitor in her new laboratory is Buzzster Hooperham. "It's been a long time," she says guardedly by way of greeting, perhaps noting the name change. She wishes she could check her old Starter Lab records for 'Buzzster Hooperham,' but sadly, those documents are back at the lab in Asper with Dr. Bunya, if they are even still in one piece.
Though she cannot understand Petal, she addresses Buzzster's starter as well. "Hello again, Chikorita. I'm happy you're still looking well."
"The afterlife - yes, that was a standard interview question I used to ask." The silver-haired woman examines Varoom, checking its fluid levels and tire pressure. "The prospective trainer's answer helps to show whether they've come to the lab 'in the moment' or whether it's part of their larger plan. Some have never thought about it. Some already take the answer for granted."
Varoom is healthy, and Ash lets out her breath quietly in relief. "Personally, I can say with certainty there is life after death, at least for some people. I've met many ghosts and phantoms in the field over the years, though their circumstances tend to be unpleasant. I imagine most 'normal' spirits tend to wander, or simply depart. Perhaps there is no 'afterlife' so much as an infinity of other worlds to discover, and an eternity of time to do so."
In another server, in another timeline, a version of System Admin:ProfessorAsh had likely met Alkaid before. Perhaps she had even given him his starter, unless she'd been away at the time and her young assistant System Admin:Bunyaa had taken care of it.
For this Ash, he is a fresh face. "I'll take a look at it," she says, then recognizing the mountain goat-like Pokemon, "Ah, a Skiddo! A common mount in Kalos. It must have an ideal niche here, scaling the overgrown buildings."
Ash has never been in the business of dishonesty. "You must be more familiar with my replacement, Dr. Bunya. She was my lab assistant, previously, though calling her 'professor' is perhaps a stretch." She checks over the Skiddo, checking the plant matter on its back for ants and its hooves for signs of excess growth. "I wouldn't say I travel. I'm not here strictly legally, you understand. The Commission ordered I return home almost a year ago. I suppose I spent too much of their money in fruitless pursuits." Her mouth twists wryly.
She straightens up. "This Skiddo seems in good health. Please let me know if you find any others."
Alkaid receives 25 BYTES for SKIDDO |
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Josh Devlin
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Lionheart
The Creed
Posts: 1,256
Trainer Class: 
Player Name: Josh Devlin
OOC Username: RaikouRider
Arena Points: 68
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Post by Josh Devlin on Oct 16, 2024 16:21:05 GMT 9
Returning to Sector Jarzick of the Abandoned Lab, Josh was floored to see how clean it was. The moratorium on riding within its halls was a nice bonus, too, Rime keeping him cool in the wake of the lab's heat-generating equipment. "Great to finally meet you, Professor Ash," Josh introduced himself, Thunder sounding a greeting squawk of his own as he sniffed around in search of a breakfast pastry to peck at.
The PLASMA logo was unsettling to Josh. Though he enjoyed his Pokémon's personalities, he was certain that not all of them would be willing to ferry him around UNOVR if he broke the seals on his Poké Balls. He expected that a Pokémon as snippy as Mirage would leave him immediately, were he to join Plasma. As such, were the Professor to try to convince the racer to join Plasma, he would politely decline.
Josh nodded, having confirmed a lot of the information the Professor had by virtue of being on both the scouting team and on the raiding team. "You're absolutely right; Hearteater was feeding on the Pokémon for generations. While we can't prove anything now, what with Hearteater being sealed in a coffin for what I expect to be the remainder of time," not UNOVR's service life; that was no way to speak to Plasma's leader, as Alicia Westfield had once warned him, "Ostellia should slowly return to how it looked before Hearteater came."
Josh whistled for Thunder, who quickly returned to Josh's side in a flash of thunderous steps and kicks. "Is this your first time seeing a Pokémon like this, Professor?" he asked with regards to the Galarian Zapdos. "When I went to the Thunderfall Shrine to hatch two Pokémon eggs, one of them hatched into this Pokémon," he said as he clicked open Storm's Poké Ball as well. A UI warning forced Josh to recall his steed, Rime, back into her Poké Ball due to limited space. "Storm here hatched as expected. But Thunder looks completely different. Do you have any idea why?"
Once they had chatted back and forth about the origins of the Galarian bird for a while, Josh exhaled; he needed to get down to business. If high-ranking members of the Creed noticed him lollygagging, he wouldn't hear the end of it. "In any case, I ended up catching Ayla, this female Aron. I feel you'll get more out of studying her than I will." He handed the Professor Ayla's Poké Ball in silence.
Giving away Ayla the Aron to Prof. Ash! (Catch is pending in mod reqs) {Party}Thunder the Galarian Zapdos (Juvenile) (Levels: 3/3/3)
Storm the Zapdos (Juvenile) (Levels: 3/4/5)
Rime the Alolan Ninetales (Levels: 3/4/5)
Keleth the Galarian Rapidash (Levels: 3/3/3)
Mirage the Ninjask (Levels: 3/4/5)
Ayla the Aron (Levels: -/-/-)
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Morpheus
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Heart and Sol
Player Character
Posts: 193
Trainer Class: 
Player Name: Shiro Kuroda
OOC Username: Spinner
Arena Points: 30
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Post by Morpheus on Oct 16, 2024 17:07:07 GMT 9
Morpheus sighed as he entered the lab with Ourus and Pica with him, still covered in bruises from the last encounter. He was surprised to see the Pokemon Professor NPC who gave him his Snivy was still here in the game. Not to mention she offered a small Story Quest for the players after the raid. Still, it's worth the hell catching the stubborn Snivy for him to get this chance.
"Um... Hello, Professor. I don't know if you remember me and my Snivy, but I'm glad you're after...what happened." He frowned at the thought of the Thunderfall's aftermath. "I'm sorry about what happened. I'm just glad Zapdos and the wild Pokemon here are okay."
<<Uh, Morph...>> Ourus nudged her vine to his back. <<Did you forget why we're here?>>
"Oh, yeah!" He took out his Poke Ball and showed it to Professor Ash. "I just got this guy during our exploration here. I was hoping to keep this Snivy. But..." Morpheus took a glance at his Grass-type partner, who was still glaring at the ball. "I don't want mine to make some enemies. I hope you can take care of it for a while."
His Snivy huffed. <<She better...>>
He groaned, seeing he needed to change the subject before he and his party left. "By the way, we saw a strange shrine nearby. It looked like it was one of the shrines that went missing in Asper. Do you know about it?" He recalled something was moving in his bag when we went there, so he needed some answers before he could get back to heal his team.
Then when she asked him to join her cause as part of the new Team Plasma, Morpheus's eyes widened, recognizing that name anywhere. "Uh... Sounds tempting, but I'm afraid my interest lies elsewhere. Sorry..." He tried his best to politely turn down the request. But something about her connections with one of the games' villain team rubbed him the wrong way. He hoped this was only his paranoia talking.
Giving away a newly-caught (but rude and annoying) Snivy to Prof. Ash. |
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System Admin
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Administrator
Posts: 1,474
Player Name: System
OOC Username: M00K
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Post by System Admin on Oct 16, 2024 17:46:28 GMT 9
"Josh Devlin," Ash says, giving you an approving nod of recognition. She does not seem surprised by your age: perhaps she has seen many apparent children pass through the doors of the Starter Lab. "Our local specialist. It's good to meet you in person. Thank you for your work on the reconnaissance team— I'm sure your experience was invaluable."
She regards the young Galarian Zapdos with raised eyebrows, briefly misunderstanding it to be a Pokemon from Ostellia you've brought here for her to do a checkup on. "Ah! I understand now. This is your Pokemon. Reconstituted from DNA using Dr. Bunya's revivification machine, I'm guessing?" Ash shakes her head, not in disapproval, but in sheer disbelief at how far technology has come.
"It looks closer to the description consistent with Galarian mythology. I'm not sure trainers have ever reported it before, but when I had my field camp in the Surge Steppes, I occasionally observed changes to wild Pokemon in the shrine's vicinity." Ash remembers a time a wild Ponyta had wandered too close to the Giant Shrine, then abruptly transformed into its psychic-type equivalent.
"We know the shrines were once items the Legendary Bird trio considered valuable. Perhaps they used to use them to instill the Form Change in themselves, when such a thing was necessary. You would have to ask Zapdos himself for a clear answer." She raises her brows at the sight of the second juvenile. "...The one on the Steppes, that is."
Josh Devlin receives 25 bytes for ARON Morpheus's greeting makes Ash's eyes soften. "Thank you, Morpheus. I do remember you, of course. You fought hard at the Thunderfall Event. Thank you for placing your trust in me, even at the end."
She seems amused at the starter Snivy's reaction to the wild one, taking the Pokeball and releasing the other grass snake on the examination table. "I'll make sure it's at full health before I release it back into the wild. Unless, of course, it wants to stay."
The Snivy says some rude and annoying things which Ash cannot understand, but she seems to infer the gist. "It seems not."
When Morpheus brings up the nearby shrine, Ash's brows raise. "Yes, you're exactly right. It is the shrine which went missing from Asper. I was surprised to find it here as well— it feels like I've come full circle." She seems rueful. "Trainers have renamed it the 'Thunderfall' Shrine, by Zapdos's request, I suppose."
Ash finds your reaction to the name 'Plasma' curious. Back when she first revealed her plans to revive the ancient organization, some of her trusted trainers had reacted with similar familiarity. "It need not be tempting," she says gently. "It need only be the right thing to do."
Morpheus receives 25 BYTES for SNIVY |
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Shalin Nariya
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Cowgirl
Mythstar
Posts: 479
Trainer Class: 
Player Name: Dawn Gorsuch
OOC Username: RaikouRider
Arena Points: 26
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Post by Shalin Nariya on Oct 22, 2024 7:16:51 GMT 9
Shalin dismounted from Queen Zing and recalled her before entering the Abandoned Laboratory's refurbished halls. It wasn't that she didn't have to dismount from her bee; she felt it would be disturbing for those who worked inside to hear the Pokémon's constant buzzing... and with her being affected by a HUGE SEAL and the walls' surfaces being so smooth, the reverberation might even cause some structural damage.
Vibration was a potent weapon in the Beta Tester's hands, after all.
Making her way to Sector Jarzick, the first things she saw inside were the Professor and the Plasma decor. She wouldn't join Plasma herself out of fear of her Pokémon not being accepting of her Beta Tester nonsense, she had respect for those who did. The girl also had far too many Pokémon to split her attention among.
"Afternoon, Professor," the scar-covered eccentric greeted the researcher as she placed a now-empty Poké Ball on her desk after releasing the Dhelmise contained within. "Kyukon ended up saving my life after this Pokémon overwhelmed me. It's... really powerful," she remarked, showing all the scars the ghost-type gave her... and would have been gushing blood were it not for the Mantyke's healing. "Comparable to the Invasive Species in power."
Kyukon {Party}Queen Zing the Beedrill (Levels: 3/3/4)
Prower the Floatzel (Levels: 3/3/4)
Flit the Yanma (Levels: 2/2/3)
Dondon the Tropius (Levels: 2/2/3) Cond: KO
Michiko the Frosmoth (Levels: 2/2/3) Cond: KO
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System Admin
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Administrator
Posts: 1,474
Player Name: System
OOC Username: M00K
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Post by System Admin on Oct 22, 2024 10:34:17 GMT 9
Ash's brows raise as Shalin describes the Dhelmise's power level as comparable to those of the invasive species. "Truly? I wonder if part of that is its unique typing. Or its size," she adds, "Perhaps don't—"
Too late: Shalin Nariya has already released the twelve-foot-tall anchor in the middle of the Laboratory. It lands with a crunch and a groan, impacting into the cement. The top of its body scrapes the ceiling, dislodging bits of root and soil, and Ash winces. "—well, it certainly measures up to the species standard." She has to crane her head back to see the top of it.
Ash does not immediately rush into performing a checkup on the Dhelmise: she seems more concerned with you. "Those lacerations seem severe. Were you fighting in place of your Pokemon? If so, I applaud your courage." She sees you have received healing recently, so does not offer you any bandages or dressings from her meager supplies. "Perhaps you understand the injuries so many Pokemon suffer in our defense."
Shalin Nariya receives 25 bytes for DHELMISE |
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Altair
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Sky Trainer
Mythstar
Posts: 544
Trainer Class: 
Player Name: Evert Steilsson
OOC Username: Akivili
Arena Points: 59
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Post by Altair on Oct 23, 2024 4:25:54 GMT 9
Luckily, he didn’t have to go too far from the Drowned Harbor in order to return to the laboratory—it was a good thing he didn’t white out the first time he’d come out here!
…and right on the heels of seeing a monster-sized… was that an anchor, or a Pokémon?! The familiar visage of a greenette would catch his attention, and he would chuckle at the sight.
“Oh, Shalin,” he cackled quietly as he waited for her to finish up, and then he moved in to put his submission next… huh? Okay, wait a second—compared to the one in the Starter Labs, she looked more… regal?
To be fair, his mind did an instant recoil the moment he saw the jellyfish hanging around not too far away from where they were, and… okay, calm down, that’s not going to stab its way into your neck and mind-control you!
Shaking his head a little bit, he would pass over the golden Pokéball that had the Gastly inside it; making sure not to pop it open and make the same mistake that Shalin had done earlier.
“I don’t know how much of an expert you are with Ghost-types, but… are they, and by they, I mean the Ghost-types that exist in this world, be… you know, considered alive? Since… they’re technically somewhere in between the realm of the living and the dead…” he mused, brow furrowed.
Honestly, the mind boggled at times when it came to the lore behind some of the Pokémon that existed. Moreso this particular typing.
giving Gastly to the Professor!
asking the hard questions huh, Altair? |
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Alicia Westfield
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Player Character
Posts: 730
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Helen Rose
OOC Username: AzureGhidorah
Arena Points: 12
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Post by Alicia Westfield on Oct 23, 2024 10:45:41 GMT 9
”Professor~!” Alicia chimed cheerily. Katachi, her Kartana, sat on her shoulder as she stepped into the renovated lab. All the while trying to suppress a shiver. ”… Hoo boy, never thought I’d be back here after… that incident…”
Even if she’d conquered the worst of her anxiety spawning from this lab… It never fully goes away.
[tangent=“Are we sure this human will be okay with us just barging in?”]"⏃⍀⟒ ⍙⟒ ⌇⎍⍀⟒ ⏁⊑⟟⌇ ⊑⎍⋔⏃⋏ ⍙⟟⌰⌰ ⏚⟒ ⍜☍⏃⊬ ⍙⟟⏁⊑ ⎍⌇ ⟊⎍⌇⏁ ⏚⏃⍀☌⟟⋏☌ ⟟⋏?"[/tangent] Katachi asked in concern.
[tangent=“I knocked! And besides, The good professor’s expecting company for the next… couple weeks I imagine? It’s fiiiiine~.”]"⟟ ☍⋏⍜☊☍⟒⎅! ⏃⋏⎅ ⏚⟒⌇⟟⎅⟒⌇, ⏁⊑⟒ ☌⍜⍜⎅ ⌿⍀⍜⎎⟒⌇⌇⍜⍀'⌇ ⟒⌖⌿⟒☊⏁⟟⋏☌ ☊⍜⋔⌿⏃⋏⊬ ⎎⍜⍀ ⏁⊑⟒ ⋏⟒⌖⏁... ☊⍜⎍⌿⌰⟒ ⍙⟒⟒☍⌇ ⟟ ⟟⋔⏃☌⟟⋏⟒? ⟟⏁'⌇ ⎎⟟⟟⟟⟟⟟⋏⟒~."[/tangent] the pinkette replied to the paper Beast as smoothly as she breathed. Even without Contact ranks, not that Ash would be able to check for that, Alicia was obviously fluent in the alien tongue. Then she shook her head ”Ahem! Sorry about that! Some of my Beast friends are a little nervous here and there still after the Hearteater nonsense. Katachi here is my newest, not counting Gurulu who joined up mid-charge into the belly of the beast.”
Then she giggled softly. ”Ah, right. Gotta get to what I’m actually here for. Went poking around the Harbor for a pokemon and this Finizen was the first one to come around. Here’s hoping your findings are positive so far?”
She set the pokeball on the table, folding her arms behind her back as she stepped away. ”… And I admit I wish it was you still in charge. Bunya scares me a bit ever since that asinine Mistra trip went belly up… And don’t ask me what she was thinking, I didn’t have all the details until it was too late to object.”
She wasn’t so daft as to think she could’ve altered Ash’s fate in a favorable way. But… she still wanted to. It wasn’t fair from what she’d gleaned of the events.
———————————————————————
Passing a friendly dolphin to the good professor.
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System Admin
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Administrator
Posts: 1,474
Player Name: System
OOC Username: M00K
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Post by System Admin on Oct 23, 2024 20:44:26 GMT 9
Altair surprises a smile out of Ash. "Well. I'm perhaps the leading expert on ghost-types, actually," she says. "My cryptozoology work prior to UNOVR was focused on supernatural occurrences in more standard Pokemon, but I did most of my graduate study on how ghost-types are created."
Ash seems very pleased to be asked about her favorite subject. "Ghost-type Pokemon are absolutely steeped in unfounded superstition. Centuries of it, in fact, which makes the topic extremely difficult to break into. Some individuals are absolutely convinced Drifloon took their children to the Spirit World or that Banette is a spirit inhabiting their child's lost toy, and will not be told otherwise."
"Ghost Pokemon hatch from eggs, like any other Pokemon. They are not spontaneously generated by supernatural circumstance. One could argue perhaps the ghost-type's spirit itself is reincarnated from some previous life, such as the stories around Yamask and Phantump, but there is no substantial evidence to corroborate this. Actually, with Pokemon Speech having just been discovered, I suppose interviewing ghost-type Pokemon to confirm any memories of past lives could shed some light on that theory."
Ash seems to have just realized the implications now. She stops to scribble a note. "...in any case. You asked if they were alive or dead. That would depend on your definition of those words. They have a physical body, incorporeal though many are, which true ghosts lack. I would categorize them as 'alive' unless unhoused from a physical form, at which point they become 'undead.' I hope I've answered your question."
She gives a little start, as if just remembering Gastly, and goes to examine the ghost-type.
Altair receives 25 BYTES for GASTLY Ash stands up as Alicia Westfield enters. "Welcome. I don't believe we've met," she says. Her brows raise at the sound of the alien speech, and her eyes flick to the Kartana on your shoulder. The Nihilego on the shelf stirs as well, as if in response to its alien brethren. Lights strobe faintly within the bell of its head. [tangent=Welcome, lost one. This one is overjoyed to see you free, and bonded with a kinder master.]"One of the invasive species! Wonderful. It must be such a relief to have your own mind back,"[/tangent] Ash says to the Kartana. There is a strange double-ring to her words as Nihilego communicates simultaneously, a symptom of their unique bond.
"Everything has been positive so far," Ash confirms. She takes the ball and looks around, perhaps realizing she needs to get a water tank. She stops dead at the next thing Alicia says, one hand still in the air. "Dr. Bunya took a trip to Mistra?" she echoes, disbelievingly. "Does she have any idea how dangerous that is? What am I saying, of course she doesn't." The silver-haired woman seems to deflate. A faint regret crosses her face. "She never thinks things through. Spontaneous leaps of thought have always been her style— sometimes genius, usually madness. I just hope she's treating the Starter Pokemon well."
She sighs after a moment, as if it's better not to think too hard about her former assistant. "In any case, thank you. I appreciate the sentiment. I do miss meeting new trainers, and my current position is much more... precarious than the one I occupied when I was in charge of the UNOVR operation. I wish I could have done more good in the world while I had the convenience of power. But such is the price of doing the right thing."
She gives a thin, sad smile.
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