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 Dec 3, 2022 0:38:54 GMT 9
"...It's done."
Professor Ash stands back and surveys the cluster of field tents, arms crossed lightly over her chest. After a moment, she gives a sharp nod. "It will do. Thank you for your help." The group of men and women from the newly-named Briarbane Settlement wish her luck, packing up the last of their things into their wagons for the ride back to town.
They leave Ash alone, but not truly alone.
The Professor's Beautifly perches atop the main tent, fanning its silvery wings in the light of the setting sun. The light catches off of the towering Giant Shrine in the distance and the woman shades her eyes against the glare. "Beautiful," she says to herself, watching distant lightning crackle down the steel spire, "And strange. Very strange." How had all these steel features come to be? Surely they'd been constructed for a reason. Metals in their pure form were seldom the product of nature alone, though that did not make them un-natural, necessarily. Merely... strange.
Thankfully, the latent electricity in the air is doing wonders for the generator already. As Ash steps into her tent, the computer there boots up immediately. She takes a seat at her desk and puts both hands to the keyboard, mentally composing her first report and tallying how much of their research grant they can afford to throw away on it.
"I wonder if orioncayge will still visit me out here," she murmurs. "Or Laguna, with that latest Everworld report." Would Bunya appreciate them properly? Surely not, but the other academic had her own strengths.
Her mind wanders. What of Furrlicity Purrfection? She hadn't heard from him since the Noonlight Raid. And was Tuesday still fraternizing with C.L.A.W, the Creed guild leader? What had happened to Sarah Lee and Bergamot Gristleborg after they'd restarted the Beta Ferry?
Ash is not lonely. Doubtless, she will soon be inundated with the consistent stream of new trainers from the mainland requesting Starter Pokemon— as she always is. But in this brief moment of peace, she thinks of the few remarkable people who still treat her like one of them, and wonders if they'll notice she's gone. ASH'S FIELD RESEARCHWhile researching the spires, Ash is collecting the following STEEL-TYPE POKEMON found in the Steppes. If you catch one of these Pokemon, you may post IC to exchange it for a BYTE reward! You will not keep these Pokemon— they will be removed from your box after you post. Evolved versions are also acceptable, but will not earn any extra BYTES. Players may also post here simply to interact with System Admin:ProfessorAsh, either reporting supernatural phenomena or other information she might find interesting.
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orioncayge
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Bandana Guy
Round 2
Posts: 770
Trainer Class:
Arena Points: 20
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Post by orioncayge on Dec 5, 2022 20:37:19 GMT 9
"I'm sorry, she's where?"
Orion could scarcely believe the professor had quit her lab in exchange for a field study, let alone the Yanma infested hellhole that was the Steppes. Sure, it was one of his favorite places to adventure, the birthplace of Space Jam the Man (1996), and the place where he'd experienced his first Pokemon Evolutions. But there was no way he could leave her out here alone where she could get mauled by an endless horde of bugs, or worse, a victim of whatever corruption goo had managed to escape the last ass beating they'd handed out. Just because this was all a game for him, it didn't mean the prof wasn't in any mortal danger. He arrived to the camp atop his Blitzel Zeus, who still continued to bitch about being relegated to ride duty, and Orion continued not to care.
"I used to rule these steppes with an Iron fist." "And you got punked by three starter mon and you're part of the team now." "You are insolent" "You are ten snarky comments from me throwing you to the giant shrine and getting a mudbray from bethany." "You would denegrate yourself to such a lowly beast?" "Fuck around and find out Zeus,"
Dismounting at the edge of camp, the fighter would take it all in. It looked rather large, all things considered, yet felt...empty. Like the programmers forgot to give the professor a support staff or something. Tutting slightly, he would mosey through, looking for any sign of life with a mild sense of trepidation building up in his chest. He was half expecting to enter a ransacked tent and get a quest prompt "FIND THE MISSING PROFFESSOR"
Instead, he pokes his head into one of the few illuminated tents and finds her at her computer, silently clacking away at the keyboard. Letting out a breath he didn't realize he was holding in until now, the fighter would chuckle as he entered. "Digging the new venue, majestic ass view. Wild open spaces, very uh...manifest destiny and all that." Shrugging off the bag slung over his shoulder, he would cross to her desk, rummaging through it and withdrawing a few effects as he did so.
"I didn't know what your coffee sitch was out here, so I managed to snag some essentials on the off chance you were lacking." Setting a French press and a kettle before her, he would give a slight flourish. "It's windy as shit out here and with the weather getting colder we can't have the worlds best professor getting too chilly without something warm to drink eh?"
Plopping his bag down, he would crack his neck and glance around, pulling up a small crate to sit across from her on. "But I doubt you came all the way out here just to have cook coffee on a camp stove and drink it while staring at the giant shrine. What're we researching? and what can I do to help?" With the horrors of the briarbeast fading into the rearview, Orion was keen to return to a sense of normalcy. What better way than to bug the professor for a quest.
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Sarah Lee
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Soldier, Poet, King
The Creed
Posts: 483
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Barack Orama
OOC Username: Ladybug
Arena Points: 35
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Post by Sarah Lee on Jan 2, 2023 21:49:00 GMT 9
Sarah looked around the interior of the temporary lab. It was astounding what Ash had managed to put together, but she had expected nothing less from the professor.
Ash did not seem like the sort of person to do 'servicable', or 'functional'. She did 'top of the line' and 'exceptional'. Hell, the lab even had a coffee maker!
"Afternoon Professor, I've arrived with a sample, as per your request." She placed the Duraludon Pokeball on Ash's desk. It felt heavy. Full of import and academic potential. "It's a Duraludon, obviously. I'll see if I can bring down another for you too."
"And if orioncayge or Laguna haven't filled you in regarding the search for Cygnus, I'll give you the long and short: He wasn't at the location you gave us. Bunya was. We helped her repair the Beta Island Ferry and thankfully Bergamot Gristleborg got bitten by a Carvanha."
Sarah Lee gives Ash a Duraludon 100 BYTES PROCESSED
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Tuesday
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Battle Legend
The Creed
Posts: 1,602
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Martín 'Mars' Marzán
OOC Username: Stells
Arena Points: 138
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Post by Tuesday on Jan 6, 2023 19:49:26 GMT 9
She hasn't seen System Admin:ProfessorAsh ever since the ASPER SAMPLING quest had been completed. Some would think that this is because notably selfish as Tuesday can be, she has nothing to gain from visiting the Professor now that the quest is over, and while for the most part they would be correct, the truth of the matter is that she had actually intended to stop by the Briarbane lab.
The problem?
Between the end of the fiscal year and the actual end of the year, Tuesday hadn't spent much time on UNOVR, and once she had finally gotten a chance to visit Ash's laboratory, she had found it deserted with no more than a notice.
"I can't believe they made you come all the way to the Steppes." is the first thing the Alchemist says when stepping into the Professor's new facilities, a smirk tugging at her rosy lips. But, who's they? In Ash's mind, who had told her to come to this place? Had it been a decision she made herself? Passingly, Tuesday wonders.
It's the presence of the adorable Eevee that manages to steal her mind away from such thoughts. It walks by her side, but when it sees the professor, its fluffy wags and its pointed ears perk up. The small Pokémon approaches Ash, as if familiar with her, and crossing her arms, Tuesday watches.
"She's really cute. Has been a great addition to my team, so I wanted to come to thank you personally... Still not sure what I should name her, though. Any suggestions? I plan on evolving her into a Jolteon." Tuesday had decided that she would give the Eevee whatever name Ash chose for it, but it wouldn't be as fun to just say that, right? Instead of doing so, she bring a Pokéball out of one of her pockets, placing it on the desk and playfully winking at the professor. "Here's a Duraludon as a little thanks."
There's another pressing question that had brought her to this place today, but there's a certain order of business to things, and in her opinion, this definitely comes first.
Tuesday GIVES PROFESSOR ASH A DURALUDON 100 Bytes processed
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Post by Furrlicity Purrfection on Jan 11, 2023 14:45:50 GMT 9
The Steppes were not typically where Furrlicity liked to visit. Ever since taking on the Charmer Class the very air seemed to bite into his skin. It was uncomfortable and the atmosphere heavy. There wasn't anything here for him, either. It was just a place to wander when he tired of the woods and dared to venture elsewhere.
Except today. From what he understood, Ash had relocated from the main town to tents out here. She was easy enough to find. The little base camp was set up next to the Shrine, map markers pointing the way when he had become lost in the unfamiliar landscape. The tent came into view and Furrlicity felt relief when he pushed open the flap and poked his head inside.
"Ash! Good to see you!" He offered the woman a nod and smile. Ash would get the chance to take in his own new appearance. Thanks to the Crown of Thorns and his Rainbow Flame Cloak, he looked more like the Corruption King he had been during the raid. Remnants of it still remained in the flakes of his aesthetic dust and the color of his eyes. That timer ticked in the corner, unknown and much like a bomb waiting to go off.
"Has anyone bothered to tell you what the fuck happened out at the Manor?" Humming, he crossed the makeshift room and found a seat to plop himself into.
The Briar Bud was taken from his inventory and plopped onto the table. The creature stomped around, picking up a paper and trying to drag it off. Over the course of their conversation it would try and use the papers to create a nest.
"So, like, Chadwick invited us all to this party at the Manor. My guys found a keg in the woods. Lots of weird shit happened! Turns out that we were solving the murder of Chadwick's parents. There was like, Corruption or something inside the keg and we were drinking it? A lot of our pokemon turned against up and an old guy was inside the Keg the whole time! The Corruption took over a Shinx and turned her into a massive version of this little guy. Real crazy shit. Then a Moltres egg hatched and there was a super epic battle."
Pretty fucking long winded! But Furrlicity just tilted his head and looked a bit sheepish.
".... And I think I'm Corrupted, too. Like, right now. I was the last time we talked, too, but I didn't understand what it was. It made me attack everyone when shit went down." He'd only heard about the weirdness after he'd talked to Finnegan Fjord later. "It's dormant but I know it's still there. The Noonlight Shrine was what got me, since I hung around there so much. It was like I fell into this big pit of it and wasn't the same after."
He shakes his head.
"I've been to the Shrine since then, though! It seems all clean, now. Moltres lives on the tree there, too."
Furrlicity taps his blackened, sharp nails on the table. He had info-dumped a lot of Relevant Lore he wanted Ash to know all at once. She probably needed to process it all. Taking out a pokeball, he called out his Impadimp. The little gremlin walks over to Ash and tries to tug and look up her lab-coat, giggling as it tries to pester her.
"He was one of my pokemon that got Corrupted. He seems fine now, too. Like nothing even happened." A sniff. "Do you think I can be cured?"
Furrlicity lore dumps on 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 Jan 16, 2023 13:49:13 GMT 9
Ash would much prefer to be in her sterile, clinical laboratory, where System Admin:Bunyaa was probably even now dripping barbecue sauce all over her clean floors. But science waits for no one, and Ash signed up for this expedition to be on the leading edge.
She looks up from her computer to see orioncayge, and her serious expression breaks into one of surprise.
"Orion! I see you managed to find my temporary lab," she said, brows raising at the words 'manifest destiny.' She offers you a small smile. "Perceptive as usual. The desire to reclaim the wilderness and return it to some semblance of civility is what backs our whole operation. Some would say humanity has a right to this place. From one end of the continent to the other."
Her eyes crinkle at the sight of the french press and kettle. She seems... very pleased. Both at the compliment and the gift itself.
"...Thank you."
The warmth of the gesture seems to soften all that is cold and chilly about Ash. She cracks another small smile. "I was hoping you'd ask. Though you've caught me at only the most rudimentary stages of actual research." Still, she's willing to share.
"Based on reports, I've observed each of the three "Routes" of Asper demonstrate a unique weather pattern." She counts on her fingers. "Route 1. Always warm and pleasant. Route 2, always foggy and wet. Route 3, thunderstorms, which I've determined seem to come from across the sea to the West."
She turns her screen to show Orion a weather map of the area. "My instruments have picked up plenty of atmospheric activity in this area, but no rain. I hypothesize any stray lightning is dispelled here at the Steppes before moving on to the Timberlands in the east, where remaining moisture eventually sinks and gets trapped in the valley." Ash turns her monitor back around. "But to tell the truth, I'm not here as a climate specialist. I'm here as a surveyor."
Storms to the West. Corruption to the North. Two Shrines activated, but nothing dispelled. A time limit. Funds running dry without progress.
"We have completed surveying and settling Asper. The truth is, it's time to press onward. The question is, to where?"
Orion had asked how he could help. Ash looks him over thoughtfully. "As my f-" She stops, rephrasing carefully. "As one of my best surveyors, I'd value your insight."
West, the true unknown, to a cloud-covered shore across violent seas. North into the mountains, where on a clear day, two peaks could be faintly seen rising above the rest.
"Which way do you think we should we go next?"
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orioncayge
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Bandana Guy
Round 2
Posts: 770
Trainer Class:
Arena Points: 20
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Post by orioncayge on Jan 17, 2023 21:11:28 GMT 9
Perhaps one of Orion's favorite parts of this game was watching how realistic the NPCs were. The way the Steely professors gaze softened as her gaze set upon him warmed his own heart, and the sheer glee that seemed to radiate from her based on his gift and words made it feel like he was talking to a real person, not just a bunch of zeroes and ones, and that concept alone fascinated him to no end. He was infinitely curious about how she seemed to adapt and change, was she incredibly advanced AI? Someone who was paid to GM the game? Or just incredibly clever scripting? What had started perhaps as a bit of a hot blooded desire to try and flirt with the pretty NPC had turned into something much more, and given the exact nature of himself vs her the entire thing was...complicated and illicited all sorts of complicated feelings and concerns within him. Feeling and concerns he would banish as she began to speak, filling him in on her plans and their next move.
"As my F-"
Orion's heart nearly skipped a beat as her words almost carelessly left her lips, betraying the "professional" nature of their relationship. F? Favorite? Friend? Flame? What could she have been possibly about to say? Realistically it didn't matter, but Orion found himself remembering he needed to breath. Alright, she needed his opinion on what was next on the too do list, and he could proffer that with ease.
"I've been exploring this specific region the most, so I do have some insight. Those mountains to the north look interesting, my gut is telling me that there's probably more shrines out that way. Mountains are often believed to be sacred, and if nothing else we're going to find a gorgeous view. That beings said, getting a supply line out that way will be difficult unless we secure pokemon to help us lug things thataway, probably in wagons or carriages. The west seems interesting, we could follow the shoreline and see if we can make out way to the other side of the bay, but the storms seem to be incredibly dangerous and any attempts to resupply via a drop off with a boat would probably be dicer than we want to play with." He paused, chewing his lip softly as he pondered his options. This could shape the game to an exceptional degree, so he felt an immense sense of responsibility.
"My personal vote is going to be the mountains, simply because as of right now the only boat I think we have on hand is the ferry and that might as well be a death trap taking that out on the storms. Adventure and discovery are all well and good, but we cannot jeopardize our safety without taking the proper precautions." This of course, wasn't really Orion's main concern. If something happened on the expedition, Orion would at worst white out and wake up at the nearest shrine or safe place a little groggy but none worse the wear. The professor on the other hand...she didn't have that luxury. This wasn't a game for her, and any danger she faced was very real and very life threatening. Zeroes and ones be damned, he wasn't going to be the reason she died, especially before he got her number.
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Tuesday
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Battle Legend
The Creed
Posts: 1,602
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Martín 'Mars' Marzán
OOC Username: Stells
Arena Points: 138
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Post by Tuesday on Jan 18, 2023 21:50:32 GMT 9
The next time Tuesday steps into the professor's field laboratory up in the heights of the Surging Steppes, no Pokémon accompany her. She does, however, bring four Pokéballs out of one of her dress' many pockets, which are neatly placed down onto a counter soon after she greets the researcher with a casual and cordial "Hey, Prof."The Pokéballs bear labels similar to those marking that of the starter Pokémon the professor herself gives to new trainers, except these ones say the following: Klink, Magnemite, Duraludon, and Duraludon again. The smile Tuesday gives the professor is as radiant as it is proud — glimpse of sharp feline fangs and everything. "I come to steal a moment of your time, so I brought you these as a small way to make up for it." She explains, inviting herself to take a seat. Her attention is on Ash and Ash alone — mismatched, heterochronic gaze never wandering away from her. "There's something I've been wondering about, and I want to get your opinion on it."It's clearly something that matters to Tuesday, for her to have come all this way specifically to ask Ash this question. But, why does she think the professor may hold the answers she seeks? Perhaps because System Admin:ProfessorAsh understands UNOVR in a way no player ever will."You've heard about what happened at Bronstanton Manor, right? I assume someone must've told you all about it." That someone had been Furrlicity Purrfection, which would doubtless surprise Tuesday if she were to find out, considering how he had been going all sicko mode 'I'm the Briar King, I'll eat your Pokémon for breakfast raaaaawr' or whatever at the time. "So, like... Back then, when we were in the middle of the fight and things weren't looking too great, I figured I'd try praying to the Precipice for help. Noonlight just didn't feel right, since we had the whole spike in corruption near it and what not, and you know I've gone to the Precipice Shrine a whole bunch of times."And also sacrificed many Pokémon to it. And talked to it. And prayed. Is that the reason for this strange connection or is it something different? Isn't of getting lost ponderings she has gotten lost in many times before, Tuesday continues her story: "A voice talked to me then, into my head... through this." She reaches up then, an index finger tapping on the beautiful circlet that she's always wearing. "I took it from a princess in the Timberlands soon after you gave me my starter, but nothing like that had ever happened before. It was this overwhelming, cold, feminine voice... And I heard it again recently. At the shrine. Afterwards I got told my favour had increased or something?" Tuesday sounds uncharacteristically confused, and that's because she is. There are obvious links she can make: like that the voice comes from the shrine and that the princess had been connected to it all along, but that's that. Other speculations don't have nearly as much empirical evidence on her part. She decides not to voice any of them, leaving Ash to reach her own conclusions. "What do you think it is? Or, well, more like... Who do you think it is? Oh... Also... Might not be relevant, but I got an invitation? Something about the coronation of the Precipice heir?"Tuesday GIVES PROFESSOR ASH A KLINK, MAGNEMITE, AND DURALUDONEDIT: Tuesday ALSO GIVES ASH ANOTHER DURALUDON
300 BYTES PROCESSED
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Sarah Lee
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Soldier, Poet, King
The Creed
Posts: 483
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Barack Orama
OOC Username: Ladybug
Arena Points: 35
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Post by Sarah Lee on Jan 21, 2023 9:50:12 GMT 9
"What are these all for?" Sarah asked, putting two Duraludon and a Klink down on the professor's makeshift desk.
Sarah had seen the stockpiles of material outside. The workers milling about, or hammering generically at pieces of metal and wood. The camp seemed all set up for habitation, and yet they were still building. Expanding.
What was next?
"I doubt there is much to research about Steel types in general, so I can only assume you have something larger in mind. A plan? A construction? What are we doing out here professor?"
Sarah gives Ash 2x Duraludon and 1x Klink (250 BYTES) 250 bytes processed
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Jinx
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The Tempest
Player Character
Posts: 152
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Sheila Michaels
OOC Username: Haberdasher
Arena Points: 20
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Post by Jinx on Jan 31, 2023 12:27:26 GMT 9
Jinx had thought long and hard about it, but now she entered Professor Ash's tent tentatively, cradling her Duraludon's Poke Ball in one hand.
"Hey, Professor?" Her voice was quieter than usual... not that that said much. "I have something for you. I decided I don't really need this Duraludon I caught-" Jinx was proud of herself for just getting the Pokemon species' name right on her first try. Duraludon--what a mouthful! "So uh, you can have it for your research, or whatever."
Part of her still wanted to keep the Duraludon... but she didn't really need the Pokemon, not as much as she needed the Bytes or the extra box space. It would be better served here.
Still, as Jinx set the Poke Ball down and waited for her reward, she gulped, as if waiting for punishment instead of reward.
100 BYTES PROCESSED!
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C0D13
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Bug Maniac
Administrator
Posts: 2,109
Trainer Class:
Player Name: C0D13
OOC Username: Ladybug
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Post by C0D13 on Feb 7, 2023 1:22:40 GMT 9
Ash's desk is covered in blueprints for a massive construction. It looks like a bridge, or perhaps a railroad, and as she turns her primary focus to Sarah there is a sense that some portion of her mind is still whirring away in the background. A sub-process still focussing on refining and enhancing the plans already in motion.
"I appreciate your hard work, Sarah. It couldn't have been easy taking down this monster," Ash says, taking the Duraludon and putting it in a filing cabinet marked with her pristine, angular handwriting. Construction. "They're the terror of the Steppes, but when it comes to redirecting current they simply can't be beat."
"How very succinct," Ash says. "It's good to hear that the ferry is functional. And with the cloning machine up and running we won't have to worry about sending Bunya off on another six-month 'field trip' any time soon either." Ash's lips curl into a slight frown. "Though I do wonder what she's doing to the Pokeballs that leaves them all smelling like toothpaste."
Sarah Lee's Pokemon have been Processed "That's the advantage of leading the expedition into Asper. Nobody makes me go anywhere," Ash says with a hint of pride. "And I am here because sometimes there is precious little to be gained from sitting around in a lab."
Ash watches the Eevee as it pads across the floor. It sniffs at some of the furniture. "Most of the pieces here are from the lab in Briarbane. Perhaps it remembers the scent."
"Names are not my specialty, answers are. And to determine the right name you must first know more about the Pokemon itself. So, here are three questions for you and your Eevee."
"Are they more optimistic or pessimistic? Have they ever tried to save your life? If you dropped your sandwich on the ground, would they eat it?"
"Answer those," Ash says, taking the Duraludon and showing Tuesday out, "and I'm sure the right name will become clear to you."
Tuesday's Pokemon have been Processed "I have yet to receive a formal report," Ash replies, looking Furrlicity Purrfection up and down and taking in his intense, supernatural aura. "Please, go right ahead."
She firmly yanks a construction blueprint out of the hands of the Briar Bud and dumps out a basket of shredded documents for it to use as its nest. Before Furrlicity starts Ash takes a tape recorder out of her desk and sets it on the table. There was a certain surety that came with being able to listen to a conversation over and over again. Even the finest minds miss some nuance.
As Furrlicity explains the events of the Noonlight Raid, Ash focuses on his expression. His gestures. The things left unsaid. She notes the time stamps of the more prominent movements, so that when she listens to the story again later she can reconstruct it second by second in her mind.
With the story finished, Furrlicity sets his Impidimp on Ash, but a single, withering look from her freezes the creature in its tracks. It backs away, hiding behind the legs of the self-proclaimed 'Corruption King'. "There is a lot to unpack here," Ash says, leaning back for a moment to take in the troubling changes in front of her.
"Last time we talked, I likened Corruption to ghostly possession." She searched his face for hints of someone else, but she still saw the catman staring back at her. "Your skin isn't dripping like tar, and you haven't lunged across table to attack me, which are both great signs. Combined with the fact you came in here of your own volition to ask for help reversing the effects, I believe that you have not yet reached the peak of your infection."
"Between your ongoing Corruption and the observed temporary effects suffered by the Pokemon at the 'party', it does sound like that the process is highly variable in onset, intensity, and effect. From the paper Cygnus published on the reversal of the Corruption via," she pauses, face rigid with professionalism, "his G.A.Y Beam. It would stand to reason that your own affliction could be reversed by triggering a similar reaction."
It was a strange diagnosis. Positive, yet full of ill portent. A promise of salvation following right on the heals of the clear warning: Act now or this will only get worse.
"I suggest talking to the man directly." She makes a quick note on her pad, looking more like a psychiatrist than a Professor. "I'll let him know you're planning on dropping by."
Ash leans forward across her desk, eyes piercing into Furrlicity like hypodermics. "But before you leave, tell me more about Moltres."
Ash takes the offered Pokemon, adding them to the now sizable pile of Steel types in her cabinet. "I'd be happy to offer you a moment, Tuesday. Especially in exchange for such an array of specimens!"
She sits back down at her desk, making notes as Tuesday explains the situation. Interest gives way to perplexity, and finally into cold calculation.
"I would usually council that anyone hearing unknown voices in their head, specifically those not their own, is likely experiencing auditory hallucinations, being manipulated by a Psychic Pokemon, or is suffering from some psychotic phenomenon that I'm really not qualified to judge." She smiles a little, thinking about the similarities between Tuesday's visit and Furrlicity Purrfection's. Was it something about the lab coat that made people come to her for this sort of advice?
"However, if you have received a notification of your 'favor' increasing, and a physical invitation from an unknown person or persons inviting you to a coronation, then it sounds like a rather more mundane, if elaborate, scheme is occurring."
She leans forward in her chair to deliver the cruel reality of the situation. "Someone is trying to scam you, Tuesday. I have heard of some sort of cult in Briarbane. Perhaps they are trying to rope you in? Or maybe some nearsighted entrepreneur is trying to start up a pyramid scheme. Either way, make sure not to give any suspicious people either your BYTES or your time. Even if you feel like you have a whole day up your sleeve." Ash smiles at her little joke.
"I wish I could be more help, but for now simply keep your wits about you and if needs be contact the Briarbane Sheriff's office." She gets up and walks Tuesday out. "Oh, and I've heard that you run a tea shop in the settlement. I haven't had a chance to drop by, but if you happen to stock coffee then by all means bring some by and we can discuss the results of your Eevee's personality test."
Tuesday's Pokemon have been Processed Ash takes the Duraludon, placing it in the same drawer as the rest of the submitted Steel types. Construction
"I appreciate that Jinx! It's less research and more of a large-scale project that requires me to crowd-source materials." She replays the phrasing in her head, not enjoying the fact that it sounds like the Pokemon are going to be used as materials. "Do not worry. If all goes according to planned this Duraludon will be returned to the Steppes once the construction is complete."
Jinx's Pokemon have been Processed
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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 Mar 13, 2023 17:39:11 GMT 9
Ash listens carefully to orioncayge, not just because she asked for his opinion, but because time has shown her that anything that comes out of the fighter's mouth tends to be extraordinarily valuable. Despite clear differences in personality, it's times like these the Professor is reminded of talking to System Admin:Cygnus at the height of his genius.
Unfortunately, the Corruption had effectively robbed the Mythstar leader of his effectiveness, transforming his speech to riddles and his memories to ciphered images. Were it not for the trainers who continued to visit her campsite, Ash would feel very alone.
"I was concerned about the supply lines as well," Ash says, nodding along as Orion speaks. "The area to the North is landlocked and inaccessible by sea, so any shipments will probably have to come in from Briarbane, through the Surge Steppes. I have an idea, however."
She pulls up a 3D hologram of the Steppes. Certain portions (yet to be fully explored) are missing, but enough of a framework has been collected by aerial scouts to relay a good picture of the terrain. Perhaps the Professor's own Beautifly is to thank. In any case, the rolling hills with their periodic steel spires are clearly visible from the surface blueprint.
"This is the Giant Shrine." Ash pointed out the largest of the spires. "Based on readings, the barrier at the Corruption Zone is weakest at this point." She draws a line on the map near its northernmost reach. "I've noticed the concentration of steel spires is higher towards the northern border, and experiments with magnetism seem promising. I propose—"
Ash begins to draw, connecting the spires on the map like dot points on a line graph. They form a roughly straight line from the Giant Shrine to the northern border. "We take advantage of the natural topography. A few spires would need to be relocated for maximum efficiency, of course, but with Pokemon periodically stationed down the line, we should be able to construct a magnetic rail from one side of the Steppes to the other. It would dramatically reduce freight times, and perhaps even become viable for human passengers."
The Professor does not say the unspeakable: even if they build the rail, how will they breach the barrier at the edge of the Corruption Zone once they get there? If the Corruption does not lift in time, there will be no choice but to take their chances on the stormy Western seas. Without effective ships, perhaps Surfing Pokemon could substitute to some extent— but it would be a long, cold, dangerous trip.
Orion is right. Proper precautions must be taken. She will not lose anyone else.
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Bergamot Gristleborg
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Muddy Girl
Mythstar
Posts: 403
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Chryssa Glasgow
OOC Username: M00K
Arena Points: 37
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Post by Bergamot Gristleborg on Apr 23, 2023 22:03:48 GMT 9
Morgana breezed into the circle of tents the good Professor Ash was calling a "lab" and began to snoop around.
First she checked the back tent. It was filled with field supplies, and Runerigus. The ghost Pokémon loomed menacingly, its painted segments rising into the air like the crumbled pieces of a broken arch. "Oops, wrong tent," said Morgana, quickly shutting the flap.
Much like Goldilocks in someone else's house, she went on to the next. This tent was filled with metal- stacked wall to wall with it, like hewn piles of timber. Had this been harvested from the Steppes?
The next tent had Professor Ash in it, typing away unbothered at her computer. Bergamot waved lasciviously.
"I'm here for my reward," she gloated, offering not just one, but TWO Duraludon Pokeballs to the Professor. "I'm relieved you're cleaning the area out of these monsters. They're a public nuisance."
200 BYTES PROCESSED
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M'Foxy
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Player Character
Posts: 232
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Theron Alearnith
OOC Username: spibe
Arena Points: 40
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Post by M'Foxy on Apr 26, 2023 3:41:36 GMT 9
M'Foxy pushed into the tent, a good twenty-six minutes after she'd left it. "I'm baaaack!~" She sang, smiling wondrously up at Professor Ash. "I couldn't find my way to Briarbane, unfortunately- But I did manage to find this!" M'Foxy whipped out the pokeball with a flourish. It was the duraludon, that she and- damn, she still hadn't caught his name!- had caught not thirty seconds ago.
"That's steel-type enough for you, yeah?" M'Foxy giggled. "One of the big boys." It was hard not to sound proud- The two of them had managed to take down the tanky thing, with grit and determination. And a lot of abusing of game mechanics. But, like, details. "Sooo- I heard on the grapevine-" Reddit threads, but whatever- "That you're working on making a railway? Y'know, I know a bit about train engineering myself." M'Foxy said, hopelessly self-aggrandizing. "Maybe we could pour over the plans together? Perhaps over dinner?" Another flashed, somewhat smug, smile.
M'Foxy offers duraludon for 100 bytes 100 bytes processed
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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 Apr 29, 2023 17:05:21 GMT 9
Professor Ash looks up as M'Foxy re-enters, eyebrows raising. "That was fast," she says, swiveling in her chair to meet the fox-woman. A quick scan of the Pokeball reveals it to be a Duraludon, and the professor seems taken aback. A brand new trainer with a Treecko leaves her tent, and comes back not thirty minutes later with the most fearsome Pokemon on the Steppes— possibly in all of Asper?
"You are full of surprises, M'Foxy," she says.
Ash is surprised that word of the proposed magnetic rail has spread so far already, but doesn't question it. "Oh? That may prove to be valuable knowledge," she says, tapping her chin with her pen. "I've started planning a prospective route, but I have yet to do much practical testing. I ran the idea past System Admin:Cygnus during a lucid moment and he came back to me with a potential design, but it'll take some... deciphering."
The silver-haired woman rolls out a blueprint, showing you she is not (in fact) exaggerating. The notations and labels seem to be written in a strange, cryptic script, each letter marked out by bizarre dots and dashes. It looks as though the writer was simultaneously trying to decorate and scribble out each letter as he wrote it.
"The effects of long-term exposure to Corruption," Ash says somberly. Regrettably, your dinner offer seems to have flown over her head. "Truly unfortunate. That said, you're welcome to have a look. I appreciate any input at this stage."
If M'Foxy actually has any mechanical engineering knowledge, she will see immediately the diagrams seem more science fiction than reality. But who's to say they won't work anyway? This is a world of strange powers, Pokemon moves, and fantastical happenings.
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