Buzzster Hooperham
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The Quizmaster
Player Character
Posts: 132
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Buzzster Hooperham
OOC Username: D-Bug
Arena Points: 70
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Post by Buzzster Hooperham on Jun 7, 2023 11:29:51 GMT 9
"I can bite someone," Zac said, nodding at the sage advice. "Nice and easy fix. Who do I start with?"
Chikorita helped him navigate to the center of the obelisks, where he (approximately) faced Verai. Apparently Seers received supernaturally acute senses in exchange for their eyesight, but Zac's were still coming in. All he'd gotten so far was heightened taste and smell.
"I'm all good. Just can't see anything," Buzzster clarified. "And I don't know what a Mistra is. I was just wandering around in the forest, tripped and hit my head on a Shuckle, and then I had a dream about a weird deer thing in the snow."
He paused for a second, as if he were a patient describing his symptoms to a doctor. "Did the same thing happen to you?"
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Buzzster Hooperham
•
The Quizmaster
Player Character
Posts: 132
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Buzzster Hooperham
OOC Username: D-Bug
Arena Points: 70
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Post by Buzzster Hooperham on Jun 7, 2023 10:06:00 GMT 9
Zac staggered into the field, and was only stopped from bumping into the grouped players by the little voice on his shoulder: Chikorita.
He was 100% blind, and had been wandering out on the Steppes for days at this point, unable to find his way back to the settlement or even to open his menu (that's not so much a blind thing as it is a 'Zac' problem). He'd been drawn here by the sound of Cygnus' voice, and as he listened to the man's speech he became more and more certain he'd finally reached safety!
"Yeah! Stupid birds! Give me back my wings!" Buzzster said, missing the point of the speech but managing to capture the spirit. He was pushed forwards to the table and grabbed the first thing his hands landed on: a bicycle.
With Chikorita's help he wheeled it over to a group of other players and did his best not to let on that he was completely blind. "How's it going gents and gentlewomen," he said to the two men. He reached out a hand to shake, deftly spearing the air between Morpheus and Kallisto. "The name is Buzzster Hooperham, and I'm just keen as heck to get up into the sky and fight some bloody birds, amirite?"
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Buzzster Hooperham
•
The Quizmaster
Player Character
Posts: 132
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Buzzster Hooperham
OOC Username: D-Bug
Arena Points: 70
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Post by Buzzster Hooperham on Jun 7, 2023 9:32:54 GMT 9
Zac was lost.
He's missed the turn off to Briarbane on his way back from Misty Timberland, and had ended up wandering, out, long, and far away from home. He's trekked through acres of grassland, skirted towers of steel that punctured the clouds like giant staples, and had been attacked by Yanma on three separate occasions.
As Zac approached the ring of obelisk stones he didn't notice Verai, but Petal did! The Chikorita was perched on his shoulder, giving him much needed guidance. "Left! Around the rock!" "Ow!" "Sorry. More left." "This is one hell of a rock!" "Yeah it's super tall." "Like the big metal bastard we hit earlier?" "No this one is smaller and blacker. Hey there!" Chikorita waved to Verai and Kitten with one vine, the buds around her neck blooming in joy.
Zac made no attempt to dodge as Kitten launched themslves upwards, and the cat hit him right in the face, making him stumble. "Ah! More Yanma!" "No that's just Kitten." "Oh. That means that Verai is here?"
It was a strange question to ask, but when Kitten got a clear look at Zac's face they would notice something odd: Buzzster's eyes weren't the vibrant green they'd been last time. Instead they were a pure, milky white.
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Buzzster Hooperham
•
The Quizmaster
Player Character
Posts: 132
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Buzzster Hooperham
OOC Username: D-Bug
Arena Points: 70
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Post by Buzzster Hooperham on May 28, 2023 8:56:25 GMT 9
"Huh. Must be for someone else," Buzzster said, shrugging off the complaints about his otherwise perfect prophecy.
They searched the room a second time, and Zac tripped over a rock that was half-buried in the packed, sandy ground. "Gah! Careful everyone, someone's put this bloody rock here!" Zac rubbed his bruised shin, and his words tumbled through his head like dropped marbles. "Put it here..." How did he know that? Was it his latent psychic abilities finally awakening? His immense geographical knowledge? Or was it the fact that the rock has made a hollow, plastic sound when he'd kicked it.
The group excavated the rock, and Zac turned it over. Something clattered around inside. "You hear that?" Could it be the secret to all of this? The mercury ceiling, the metal balls, the door of stone?
Zac punched a hole in the plastic rock, and out fell a key. It was longer than any key he'd seen before. Even larger than the novelty 'key to the city' that he'd stolen from the Mayor's office on his trip to Alberta. He handed it to Verai. "And where there's a key, there's bound to be a lock." He grinned. This mystery was as good as solved.
The door was as inscrutable as before. A plate of cold stone without mark, handle, or even keyhole. "There's gotta be a hole here somewhere," Buzzster complained, brushing down the dusty surface with his huge hands. "Or a crack, or something!"
He leaned against the door as he picked off a chunk of flaky stone, and the simple weight of his body made the slab swing open.
Blessed fresh air and blinding sunlight filled the darkened room, and Zac covered his eyes. "Ah! Bloody hell! It's like a flashbang at a nightclub!" he shouted, pawing his way forward to freedom.
They were OUT. The trap had been simpler than they'd imagined. but there was much left unknown. What was the purpose of the metallic ceiling? What did the balls mean? What about that cryptic plaque that had told them the stars would offer them guidance?
And what door fit that giant key?
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Buzzster Hooperham
•
The Quizmaster
Player Character
Posts: 132
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Buzzster Hooperham
OOC Username: D-Bug
Arena Points: 70
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Post by Buzzster Hooperham on May 28, 2023 8:35:36 GMT 9
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Buzzster Hooperham
•
The Quizmaster
Player Character
Posts: 132
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Buzzster Hooperham
OOC Username: D-Bug
Arena Points: 70
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Post by Buzzster Hooperham on May 28, 2023 8:32:40 GMT 9
Three trainers versus a swarm of Beedrill had been an uphill battle, but just as the picnic had seemed completely ruined a horde of snack-loving trainers had wriggled out of the woodwork to fight off the winged menace.
Gouts of flame from Wolf, @nephilim, and Lucille scorched the air, and blasts of mental energy from Yuze shook the swarm, as a secondary group of trainers sprinted into (or away from) from Beedrill, intent on grabbing eggs by any means necessary. Buzzster could respect anyone why put their body on the line for breakfast.
"That's the way! Give 'em hell!" Buzzster said, sliding closer to an ovoid protrusion he'd spotted at the bottom of a tree. A Beedrill flew in close and he pulled an armful of azalea blossoms from thin air and hurled them at the flying creature. He made a mad dash for the egg.
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Buzzster Hooperham
•
The Quizmaster
Player Character
Posts: 132
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Buzzster Hooperham
OOC Username: D-Bug
Arena Points: 70
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Post by Buzzster Hooperham on May 20, 2023 21:50:54 GMT 9
Zac checked the tightness of Sneee's collar. It was just right. he loosened it a little just in case. "You never know when you might need to slip out of somewhere," Zac said wisely. "That's why I never wear a belt!"
The pair set off in search of a toy. Buzzster prodded one of the toys on the mat. it jungled.
"Sounds fun!" Sneee said, tail swishing from side to side. "I want that one!"
Zac picked up the toy, which was a ring of fake keys, each of them made of a different bright metal. "Perfect! Taking after your old man then!" He waved the set in front of Sneee, who batted them playfully. "Ah crap, that reminds me."
He headed over to Verai. "Howzit goin' man! What are you lookin at me like that for?" Zac laughed, a deep, belly laugh of genuine enjoyment. "I wanted to thank ya for such a fun time." He looked over to where Sneee was holding the keys in his mouth and shaking them back and forth. "He's a great little guy and now I feel like I know how to look after him." He grinned. "So anyways I've got a little something for ya." He reached behind the catman's ear and pulled out a full bouquet of sunflowers. Not fake, plastic ones, but glorious, honest-to-goodness, full-stemmed beauties.
He handed the flowers to his friend. "This is for the great time, ay?"
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Buzzster Hooperham
•
The Quizmaster
Player Character
Posts: 132
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Buzzster Hooperham
OOC Username: D-Bug
Arena Points: 70
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Post by Buzzster Hooperham on May 12, 2023 21:49:26 GMT 9
Zac put down the face roller. "I feel younger already! How about you?" he asked the little Nickit.
Sneee stretched out his neck, shook out his fur, and worked his jaw, loosening the rejuvenated muscles. "I feel wonderful! Do it again!"
"Hold tight, we got another round of freebies comin' up."
Verai brought around the box of collars and Zac reached deep inside, pulling out...A mysterious pink collar with a fish tag! "Oho! Now nobody will question whether your a cat!" he said, as he clipped it onto Sneee. The subtle pink band was almost hidden underneath the Nickit's thick black fur, but when he moved his head there was a flash of pink and a jingle of silver.
"You look bloody dashing! I gotta admit I wasn't sure at first, but that fish suits you."
"Do-do you really think so?" Sneee asked, pawing at his face to hide his blush.
"Of course! Fish and foxes go together just like Jacks and Aces, or like" Buzzster looked over at Verai, "like fish and cats..." He turned back to Sneee the pair shared a wink and a chuckle together.
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Buzzster Hooperham
•
The Quizmaster
Player Character
Posts: 132
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Buzzster Hooperham
OOC Username: D-Bug
Arena Points: 70
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Post by Buzzster Hooperham on May 7, 2023 10:00:32 GMT 9
With Petal still running off towards the lake, Buzzster took some time to recombobulate. "We need a plan," he said, sticking close to Wolf and Genesis. "Let's work together. These Beedrill aren't going to defeat themselves, ay?" he asked, looking between the pair for facial cues. Buzzster wasn't very 'savvy' with Pokemon, and who knows! Maybe they're one of those ones that explode or like to fight each-other.
"You two seem to have the firepower down, so I'll lead the swarm over here. Funnel them in, so to speak. If they're all in one place it should be easier to wipe 'em out with a big attack!" Buzzster pulled a long trail of colorful scarves out of his sleeve and started waving it in the air. "Hey! Hey ya bloody great bugs! Come over here we've got warm orange juice and strawberry sandwiches!"
A horrid buzzing filled the air as The Swarm rose from the nearby fruit trees, drawn by Zac's loud voice and the promise of easy fructose. Dozens of massive yellow and black bodies descended on them, with fruit on their tongues and murder on their minds.
Now all they needed was a big attack!
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Buzzster Hooperham
•
The Quizmaster
Player Character
Posts: 132
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Buzzster Hooperham
OOC Username: D-Bug
Arena Points: 70
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Post by Buzzster Hooperham on May 7, 2023 9:25:10 GMT 9
Zac was face-down in a puddle, but this time it wasn't his fault.
He'd been walking in the Misty Timberlands, gotten UI-blinded, tripped, and fallen onto his Shuckle, knocking himself out. Classic mistake. Could happen to anyone. And honestly it was best not to dwell on it.
And it was easy to forget, because the Misty Timberlands weren't here anymore. Neither were his Shuckle or his pants.
Zac snored, blowing unconscious bubbles in the pool of rainwater until he suddenly jolted awake. "Ah bugger me that was a rough one," he pulled himself upright like a mammoth struggling to escape from a tar pit, and cracked his neck with his hands...or tried to. Suddenly, his stubby little arms were too short to do anything with.
He couldn't crack his own neck, he couldn't drive a speedboat, he couldn't perform closeup magic, and he couldn't play the cello (he'd had lessons but there wasn't one on hand. In a pinch he could probably pivot to bass though).
The rainy grassland was full of unfamiliar faces. That's not because Zac didn't know the people (which was true), but also because those people were now Pokemon (that he also didn't know). The Pokemon were gathered around a blue alligator thing with a massive head. Buzzster toddled over to the group, and caught sight of himself in a puddle.
He was a blue alligator thing too. "Huh. This must be one of those avatar things I keep hearing about."
Unfazed by his transformation, Buzzster joined the other. He blinked at the fuzzy, bandana-wearing Eevee next to him "orioncayge ay? Like the fighter?" he asked, overhearing the Eevee's introduction. "Makes sense. You're a big guy, aintcha?" he said to the shoulder-height Pokemon. "Nice head thing. Kinda like a magic cloth. You could hide some cards under there. A coin, or a dove maybe. Good thinking, keep 'em guessing. Name's Zac." He stuck out a stubble blue hand to 'shake'.
He looked between orioncayge and Galatea. "Are you two related?" he asked the Eevees.
A thought struck him, and he addressed the Totodile at the center of the group. "Hey! Are we related?"
They weren't, but Zac's legitimate niece was standing right next to him. He'd been searching for her in-game for months, and had unfortunately been unconscious during the villainous Mudkip's introduction. "What is this place?" he asked his aquatic relative.
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Buzzster Hooperham
•
The Quizmaster
Player Character
Posts: 132
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Buzzster Hooperham
OOC Username: D-Bug
Arena Points: 70
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Post by Buzzster Hooperham on May 5, 2023 13:31:15 GMT 9
"It's fine!" Snee said, nestling into Aero's hands. "I like being held. Just don't drop me, okay?"
Zac dumped the eggshells on the side of the tub. "Fortune-telling!" he exclaimed, excited to share his passion. "It's a fine art, and often overlooked. And unlike those astonomy hucksters Oomancy is the real deal. You don't have any eggs on you, do you? If you do I can tell you a snippet of what's in store." He winked at Aero like a cool uncle about to tell a very stupid joke.
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Buzzster Hooperham
•
The Quizmaster
Player Character
Posts: 132
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Buzzster Hooperham
OOC Username: D-Bug
Arena Points: 70
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Post by Buzzster Hooperham on May 5, 2023 11:23:23 GMT 9
"Let's see what's in the ol' bag, ay?" Buzzster said, sliding fifteen Oreos up his sleeve on his way to the bag. This wasn't greed, this was necessity. It was absolutely necessary that he stockpile everything he came across that wasn't nailed down. You never knew when times you be rough.
Zac stuck a crumby mitt into the bag and pulled out a Jade Face Roller. He'd seen them on a 2am infomercial. They were aimed at the elderly, the gullible, and the vain, which meant Zac had bought one secondhand the week he saw it on tv. "Huh. This is for cats too? C'mere Snee, let's get rid of those wrinkles!"
"I don't have wrinkles!" complained the cat, as Zac ran the cold roller gently over the feline's face.
"Damn straight," Buzzster said, switching to himself for a few rolls, then back to the cat, "and with proper self-care we never will. Weren't you listening to the teacher guy? Have you been brushing your teeth?"
Snee hung his head. He hadn't.
"Cheer up bud, this is a classroom, not a courtroom. Nobody's cracking down on you today. We're all learning together." He grabbed a feta and mint Danish off the table. "Here, chew on this. It'll do until we get you a proper brush."
Snee gobbled down the pastry, which left fresh pieces of mint between his sharp teeth.
"There we go! Long-lasting freshness." He turned to Verai. "Okay teach, we've mastered this roller and personal hygiene, that's next?"
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Buzzster Hooperham
•
The Quizmaster
Player Character
Posts: 132
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Buzzster Hooperham
OOC Username: D-Bug
Arena Points: 70
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Post by Buzzster Hooperham on Apr 22, 2023 22:06:46 GMT 9
Zac loved the darkness. It was an essential component of magic, crime, and shadow puppets. Well I guess light was more important than darkness when it came to shadow puppets, but what is light but simply the absence of darkness? Makes you think, huh?
He crept through the forest, one hand outstretched, grasping at the mist in front of him with hopes of finding something solid. Instead, all he found was more uneven footing, pointy branches, and a Sneasel who slashed up his pants before sprinting away into the murk.
"You could have tried to help," he said to Poncho, the Shuckle he was carrying under his arm. The turtle poked its head out of the nearest hole, squinted at the misty surroundings, then retreated back inside. "That little bastard ruined my best pants."
"I'm more of a 'glass cannon' type," Poncho said, voice echoing inside his shell. " If the enemy has attack priority then my potential DPS falls off massively."
"Shut up with your gibberish, I think I can sense something..." Buzzster said. He stopped cold, as a shape loomed in the gloom. Was it just another tree? Was it a debt collector? A second wild Pokemon, come for his other pant leg?
The shape grew clearer. "It's a body..." Buzzster said, just as a popup appeared in his UI, blocking his view of the potential homicide. "Stupid computer!" Buzzster said, swatting at the prompt.
Seer has been equipped The world went black.
Zac stumbled forward, blinky milky eyes that were completely blind to the world around him. "What the-" he stumbled, dropped Shuckle, and then slipped on a patch of icy leaves. His head smacked against the dropped Shuckle, and the mist closed around him, taking him to a land of vivid dreams.
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Buzzster Hooperham
•
The Quizmaster
Player Character
Posts: 132
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Buzzster Hooperham
OOC Username: D-Bug
Arena Points: 70
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Post by Buzzster Hooperham on Apr 22, 2023 21:47:52 GMT 9
"Fire snake ay?" Buzzster said, trying to remember which one that was. Was it Scorpio? No, that's the bloody scorpion. Gemini? No, that was the twins. Virgo? Nobody really knew what Virgo was, so it was probably the fire snake. Sure. Why not.
Zac rearranged the balls into what he remembered as the constellation for Virgo. Predictably, nothing happened, but Zac was feeling his fortune-telling bone tingling again. His fingers tingled, and with a deep and mystic voice he spoke the language of the stars, filling the darkness of the cave with the whispered secrets from far above.
"Listen closely, Virgo, for your Pokemon partners are whispering secrets of victory to you. Trust your instincts and carefully calculate your moves to outwit your opponents. Beware of those who try to sabotage your journey, but do not fear for your trusty Scyther will come to your defense. Remember to stay organized and plan ahead, for chaos may ensue otherwise. The stars predict a fateful encounter with a wild Ditto, be ready for whatever transformations it may bring."
It was a fine fortune, only thrown off by its incorrect astrological information, Buzzster's inexperience, and the onset of mercury poisoning.
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Buzzster Hooperham
•
The Quizmaster
Player Character
Posts: 132
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Buzzster Hooperham
OOC Username: D-Bug
Arena Points: 70
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Post by Buzzster Hooperham on Apr 22, 2023 21:34:51 GMT 9
"Yeah sure!" Zac said, holding out his egg-shell covered hands for Aero to pat the newcomer. The little fox stood proudly in the mess of creamy shards, and well it should. Was there a more miraculous appearing act than that of birth?
Zac found himself entranced by the bearing of the little fox. The smears of darkness under its eyes were oddly charming, and its chunky, mop-like tail was surprisingly prehensile. "Actually, could you hold him for a sec? I want to check his future."
With the fox out of the way, Buzzster studied the egg pieces. "You know, there's great wisdom in the remains of an egg. The ancient Greeks used to call it Oomancy," he said truthfully, "and there are even some Scots druid that do it. Pretty nifty stuff if you know what to look for."
Zac had tried his hand at fortune-telling before, and thankfully it was way easier than it looked. He cleared his throat, and spoke truth into the world. "You possess great intelligence and adaptability. Your wits will be put to the test in the coming days, but trust in your instincts and you will find a way to overcome any obstacle. A great opportunity is coming your way, but be wary of those who may try to take advantage of you. Stay true to yourself and your values, and success will be yours."
He looked into the shaded eyes of the little baby fox. "Oh, and it says your name is Sneee."
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