<span class="mu-s">Quest Hub</span> (<span class="mu-s">stats,</span> party, location, neofauna information, date, time, etc.): <span class="mu-i">
https://rentry.org/PokepocalypseQST</span> ;
<span class="mu-s">Quest Archive:</span> <span class="mu-i">
https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=Pok%C3%A9pocalypse%20Revival</span> ; (Start here if you want to catch up on the quest's previous threads!)
Updates will be attempted daily! At worst, expect an update every 2 days instead of one. Absences will be announced in advance and given definitive end dates if I can manage it.
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<span class="mu-i">In the year 1884, within a world much like our own, the country has fallen under threat from all manner of otherworldly creatures!</span>
Demons have begun laying waste to our great United States! They wield powers matched only by nature's own, combatting her natural fauna with their own unnatural forces! Control over fire, lightning, even one's own perception of reality... such creatures are not to be trifled with, and best avoided!
Yet, despite this common-sense advice, there exist people eager to ignore it! Walter Roy Buchanan, an aspiring naturalist from New York state, is one such person. He believes not in these demons' immense danger to human life, but in their utility to humanity! He sees them as more than mere threats-- instead, he considers these "neofauna" to be the key to humanity's future.
Walter carries with him four such creatures: a wounded sheep with the power to rend Heaven's lightning unto earth, dubbed "Mary"; a gentle silkworm five times the size of his earthly ilk, dubbed "Taylor"; an anxious young elemental with the power to paralyze his foes, dubbed "Florian"; a fiery young stallion with a mane made of flame, dubbed "Aster".
He is joined, too, by two human companions: a wealthy state-and-businessman known as Thomas J. Steele (with his own demon, dubbed Indiana), and Thomas' hired bodyguard: a man by the name of "Andrew," whose own interest in demons almost seems to match Walter's enthusiasm!
These three gentlemen belong to a group of rebels named the Staters, brought together by State Governor C. P. Huntington's atrocities and kept together by their intimidating leader: Aaron Muyr. They have recently suffered multiple consecutive losses: their headquarters were compromised, several of their members were killed in a raid on their base of operations, and the entire city's military presence has been strengthened in response to their activities... all within merely a few days! The Staters exist now as a motley band of young men and other disgruntled citizens, working to dethrone Huntington and save California state from his murderous hatred of neofauna, never meeting in the same place for longer than an evening so as to avoid further disaster. Walter has become an invaluable asset to the group, working to boost their morale and teach members about how best to befriend and utilize neofauna to their advantage while personally tutoring Muyr in the matter for payment.
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PoképocalypseQM !!fwDszUHyX/E ID:wGFVDx4k Mon 15 Sep 2025 04:06:02 No. 6306573 Report Quoted By:
"...I chose to give this speech here, today, in memoriam of all the workers we have lost..." Huntington was loud. The strain in his voice told you he was trying to be somber-- his furrowed expression told you he was failing. "...as you all know, Central Pacific is to undergo a merger quite soon. This is a monumental step forward for California, and for the USA at large. With this merger, the entire West Coast shall have a continuous path between it and the East. Today, I have come to take questions on the matter..." The moment Huntington trailed off, a flurry of questions were launched at the man. Most of them were inaudible-- it was only after Huntington's bodyguards enforced silence that the first legible inquiry managed to slip through. "Why are you so preoccupied with your railroads at a time like this?" Called a reporter, invisible from your angle. "Why am I--" Huntington's face was briefly awash with irritation. Before he could become truly angry, however, the man raised his right arm to the bridge of his nose and spoke again. "With all due respects, I cannot think of anything <span class="mu-i">more</span> important to the health of Sacramento, or California at large. How is a State supposed to function without transportation?" Another question, this time from some other party. A younger man, younger than you-- certainly not any official. "The railroads are a lost cause! Unless you have some way to make them invincible, why are you wasting time on them?" "Must I clarify further?" Huntington challenged the audience, who responded with silence. "For things to return to normalcy, we must restore the transportation networks. Without them, we have no food, we have no communication-- it is absolutely vital that such networks are repaired as soon as possible." More questions, now overlapping. "Then why aren't any of Sacramento's railroads under repair?" "Sir, the demons will simply destroy them." "How will the merger of two companies hasten reconstruction? Won't restructuring of both entities take priority?" "Yes, yes--" Huntington raised his right arm to calm the crowd. "These things take time, gentlemen. Rest assured, I have a plan. The railways shall be repaired as soon as possible." Huntington's voice began to crescendo. "With the combined power of Central Pacific and Southern Pacific, every inch of this coast will soon be connected. We will use the manpower at both companies' disposal to make sure all goes well." Soon enough, the magnate's voice boomed loudly enough that even other customers were paying attention. "And, I can guarantee you this: not one demon shall lay a finger on these new rails. Not a single inch of these new super-rails will be destroyed by the monsters outside our windows. State militia will make sure of it, as will my excellent quality control. No matter what disaster befalls this grand state's recovery, my men and I will be able to handle it."
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PoképocalypseQM !!fwDszUHyX/E ID:wGFVDx4k Mon 15 Sep 2025 04:07:03 No. 6306575 Report Quoted By:
"Yes, yes--" Huntington raised his right arm to calm the crowd. "These things take time, gentlemen. Rest assured, I have a plan. The railways shall be repaired as soon as possible." Huntington's voice began to crescendo. "With the combined power of Central Pacific and Southern Pacific, every inch of this coast will soon be connected. We will use the manpower at both companies' disposal to make sure all goes well." Soon enough, the magnate's voice boomed loudly enough that even other customers were paying attention. "And, I can guarantee you this: not one demon shall lay a finger on these new rails. Not a single inch of these new super-rails will be destroyed by the monsters outside our windows. State militia will make sure of it, as will my excellent quality control. No matter what disaster befalls this grand state's recovery, my men and I will be able to handle it." Much to both your and the magnate's surprise, the crowd went silent once he was finished. It didn't applause, nor did it riot. There was simply a feeling of unease lingering about it all. A tension, only broken by a bolder newsman's prodding. "Forgive us if we aren't wont to take your word for it, sir. You are, after all, well-known for your dishonesty--" "Why, you--" Huntington flared up again, enough that a pair of militia officers had to hold him back from descending the stage. Once the man was restrained, the newsman continued. "And, in the wake of this merger... the people of Sacramento simply want to know why your priorities lay with the railroads and not with the people." Huntington's expression was etched with anger-- he did not reply for several minutes, and spoke with repressed disdain when he did so. "My priorities lie with the state of California. It is to their benefit that I prioritize restoring the means of transportation before all else. I have done all I can for the people of Sacramento: I have restricted the demonic wielders from their public establishments, I have lined every street with dozens of troopers to keep them safe. There is nothing more I can do to prevent the onslaught of demons, at the moment, save for re-emphasize their danger." The response triggered an uproar. Angry citizens hurled insults. Some tried to climb the stage. Things truly came to a head, however, when one man threw a rock straight at Huntington's covered arm. His left arm, tucked away in the man's coat... It hit its target with a sickening <span class="mu-i">crack.</span>
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PoképocalypseQM !!fwDszUHyX/E ID:wGFVDx4k Mon 15 Sep 2025 04:09:23 No. 6306576 Report Much to both your and the magnate's surprise, the crowd went silent once he was finished. It didn't applause, nor did it riot. There was simply a feeling of unease lingering about it all. A tension, only broken by a bolder newsman's prodding. "Forgive us if we aren't wont to take your word for it, sir. You are, after all, well-known for your dishonesty--" "Why, you--" Huntington flared up again, enough that a pair of militia officers had to hold him back from descending the stage. Once the man was restrained, the newsman continued. "And, in the wake of this merger... the people of Sacramento simply want to know why your priorities lay with the railroads and not with the people." Huntington's expression was etched with anger-- he did not reply for several minutes, and spoke with repressed disdain when he did so. "My priorities lie with the state of California. It is to their benefit that I prioritize restoring the means of transportation before all else. I have done all I can for the people of Sacramento: I have restricted the demonic wielders from their public establishments, I have lined every street with dozens of troopers to keep them safe. There is nothing more I can do to prevent the onslaught of demons, at the moment, save for re-emphasize their danger." The response triggered an uproar. Angry citizens hurled insults. Some tried to climb the stage. Things truly came to a head, however, when one man threw a rock straight at Huntington's covered arm. His left arm, tucked away in the man's coat... It hit its target with a sickening <span class="mu-i">crack.</span> Militia descended upon the man in seconds. Large parts of the crowd dispersed. There were cries of confusion, shouts for arrest-- throughout it all, Huntington continued to roar. "You ungrateful lot give me <span class="mu-i">no</span> reason to do any more!! I proceed with this effort, meant to <span class="mu-i">help</span> you, and you repay me with <span class="mu-s">this</span>? <span class="mu-i">Violence in your very own streets?</span>" The man's eyes were white with fury. He raised the pained arm, draped in his black suit and tipped with a white glove-- then tucked it away again, and forced his mouth shut. Once the assailant had been cuffed and carried away by state militia, Huntington composed himself. He did a poor job of it-- one of his eyes was practically bulging out of his skull as he continued onward. But Huntington did not let his face betray his voice, and his next words were chosen very carefully. "Know, Sacramento, that I do not wish to give my life for this city. I do what I must to help our state's capital, but I harbor no love for its citizens specifically. I prioritize California first-- and so, I think firstly of the railroads. I swear, upon my lovely Elizabeth's grave, that I shall do what I can for this city... but my state comes first, and-- should such action be necessary-- Sacramento will suffer for the good of all California."
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PoképocalypseQM !!fwDszUHyX/E ID:wGFVDx4k Mon 15 Sep 2025 04:10:23 No. 6306578 Report More angry murmurs. Huntington was already turning away from the audience, talking to his bodyguards. He descended the stage to your left-- his right arm was stuck in his pocket, shuffling around for something... "Behh?" Mary called. You remembered, all of a sudden, what you had been doing. You realized, suddenly, what you'd forgotten about-- "Ah, shoot!" You hurried back to your table... only to find your eggs and toast stone-cold, but untouched. You took one look back at the stage, noticing a significant cloud of what <span class="mu-i">looked</span> like dust... ...then rushed to finish your meal before Aster got to it. ----- After a cold and stiff breakfast, you drifted towards the post office. It had been some time now-- surely someone had responded? And yet, in and out, you'd barely needed five minutes to learn that your mailbox was empty. If anyone had written to you, their replies certainly hadn't arrived yet. No surprise, you figured, given the turbulent state of things. And, as people passed you by, that chaos became more and more apparent. "...he's just lookin' after his own wallet, I tell ya..." "Melted tracks-- not a word about it, at a railroad questionnaire!" Discontented mumblings and seemingly unbidden rumors took hold of nearly everyone you'd passed. "I haven't seen an issue of the Bee for sale in days..." "Just hold out, it won't be much longer..." The streets of Sacramento were starting to come alive with people going about their day-to-days. Businessmen heading south, children heading west, mothers following after them... You had time to burn in your schedule, so you decided...>Write-in.
Anonymous
Damn, it seems Sacramento really is a powder keg waiting to blow.
>>6306578 >Take a bath (because we probably smell) >Find the hundreth-neofauna again Anonymous
>>6306578 >check on the Bee. I think it's been long enough to call it. Let's see if we can help them out.
Is there a botanist in Sacramento? I don't want to metagame into looking for healing herbs but we can certainly see if they found any nutberries.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6306578 >Take a bath (because we probably smell) and backing
>>6306675 Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6306578 Following up on my earlier suggestion in
>>6304835 Look into other ways of healing Mary faster. Go into the outskirts of the city and see if we can find what wild pokemon use to heal from wounds. Or check with a botanist like
>>6306675 mentioned.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6306675 I should stress we should just look for the botanist or observe wild neofauna if there is any signs of troopers present within eyeshot of the Bee, maybe double back around dusk.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6306576 Jesus. Well, good work, Hutnington... He's practically recruiting for the Stater cause with a public manner like THAT, kek.
>>6306578 >Take a bath (because we probably smell) >check on the Bee PoképocalypseQM !!fwDszUHyX/E
PoképocalypseQM !!fwDszUHyX/E ID:wGFVDx4k Tue 16 Sep 2025 02:47:38 No. 6306895 Report Going to leave the vote open for an extra day to get more of a consensus on things. Taking a bath is pretty easy to write, but all the secondary options are pretty close in votes and I can't write them all.
Anonymous
>>6306578 >>6306582 >>6306895 Changing my vote to
>Take a bath (because we probably smell) >check on the Bee. if that helps anything.
Anonymous
>>6306578 >Take a bath, clean our clothes, refresh and make ourselves look spiffing for our next appearance to our crowd. People won't be following the cause of a tramp, will they? We've got to look legitimate. The Stater movement needs to appear as if it isn't just some disgruntled day-labourers, but a cause with which the thinking man of affluence can also associate (read: we need money if we're gonna do anything to help the Stater cause and we need to attract funding).
Dress this low-down farm-boy up in the finest silk from the orient (read: ask a favour from Taylor), bestow upon his cranium a hat that befits a man of his stature and shoe his poor man's trotters with the finest of Corinthian leather. We ought to take Steele along for this, he'd be overjoyed to spend some time with his ol' chum.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6306988 Nah. Spiffing ourselves up will only make ourselves more conspicuous, which is what we DON'T want. We're not looking to proselytize on the streets.
Anonymous
>>6306934 I think the consensus is to check on the Bee or look for a botanist if it isn't a safe option.
Anonymous
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PoképocalypseQM !!fwDszUHyX/E ID:wGFVDx4k Wed 17 Sep 2025 02:29:23 No. 6307292 Report Quoted By:
Okay, things are much more uniform now. I'm going to start writing and see where this goes!
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PoképocalypseQM !!fwDszUHyX/E ID:wGFVDx4k Wed 17 Sep 2025 03:17:57 No. 6307312 Report Quoted By:
...to make your way back to the hotel for a nice bath. With everything going on right now, you figured it would be a nice way to relax and clear your mind. <><><><><> To your delight, you'd been proven right. As you left the steaming tub, you felt more well-rested than you had in nearly a week. Your muscles were less tense, your mind was as clear as California's bright blue sky... the absence of grime had helped you leave behind the dirty trappings of city life that had begun weighing you down on your way here. By the time you were dressed and ready to return to the streets of Sacramento, you faced a dilemma. You'd left Mary, Florian, and Taylor to rest upon your bed... but, now, they had fallen asleep upon it. For a moment, you dared not interrupt the scene. Mary lay, softly breathing, atop one of your spare pillows. Taylor lay atop her own wool, chittering in his sleep, with Florian nestled in the bug's big leafy collar. The three almost looked like a child had made of them a stack of colorful blocks: and, not unlike such cubic creations, you were convinced that touching even one would bring the entire tower down with it. But, alas, you had work to do... and you couldn't bring yourself to leave your neofauna behind here after what happened to Mary. You stepped, softly, towards the trio, and sounded a quiet whistle. "Come, friends. We've got t' go find ourselves some answers." As Mary groggily clambered into your open arms and Taylor crawled atop them, your mind was already drifting towards your next destination... <><><><><> <span class="mu-i">knock knock knock</span> The noontime sun was already beating down upon you without mercy. You couldn't remember any kind of comparable heat from back home. Even the hottest months of the year in New York were nothing compared to <span class="mu-i">this.</span> Just as you were certain all the bathing you'd done would be wiped away by the vicious sun, someone finally answered... A small, weary woman pushed open the creaky, feeble door you'd knocked upon. Her hair was grey and wiry, her face worn and thin-- she couldn't have been any younger than fifty or sixty years old. Upon noticing Taylor, she shrieked and slammed the door in your face. The "open for business" sign hit you right in the cheek as it swung back onto the wood it'd flown from. You'd already questioned its validity with all the lights being shut off, but now this... You knocked again. "Excuse me? Ma'am? Ah promise he won't--" "Go away! Go-- I don't... I don't want t' sell flowahs t' bugs that'll eat 'em!"
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PoképocalypseQM !!fwDszUHyX/E ID:wGFVDx4k Wed 17 Sep 2025 03:18:58 No. 6307313 Report Quoted By:
Odd. Was she from around here? You lowered your voice and knocked a little quieter. "Ah promise-- ah'm not lookin' for bug food..." Taylor shuffled around on your shoulders. Did he know this conversation was about him? What did it matter-- the lady was yelling again. "His kind's already eaten alla my begonias! An' they're goin' aftah my daisies, too! Ah won'-- ah ain't lettin' a man like you feed my pretties ta that horrible thing!" The most obvious option, and she'd reacted like this... irritated, you felt the need to try one more time. You raised your voice. "For the last time-- I'm not lookin' for plant food! I wanted t' know-- have you got any healin' herbs? Any at all?" The lady had run over to her window by now. The one to your right, with the basil-looking plants growing underneath the windowsill, that had initially made you think she could be a botanist. She was glaring at you with a mix of suspicion and fear. "Do ah look like a botanist? I grow flowahs, fah pete's sake!" ...oh. Just a florist, then. You tried to ignore your flushing face and simply nodded. "...r-right. Thank ya, lady. 'S all I wanted. A question, answered..." ...and another asked. Sure, this was a lousy blunder. But how else were you going to go about looking for a scientist? A man like Schleiden didn't just make himself known to an entire city. You figured you'd have to search through books, catalogues, journals... or, maybe, you could ask around. <><><><><> A futile endeavor. An especially frustrating one, too. How did so few citygoers know what botany <span class="mu-i">was?</span> 'Nothin' interestin' about plants,' sure. Just like there was absolutely nothing interesting about... You slowed your angered pacing. Something important resurfaced. A promise you'd made yourself, that you'd forgotten. <span class="mu-i">"McClatchy!"</span> His office! This morning, you'd-- shoot, you'd forgotten. "Aster!" you yelled behind you, half-expecting him to still be there-- <span class="mu-i">FWWWOOSH</span> --only for a trail of fire to light the way ahead instead. Crowds of people parted by your steed's side, still more gave you bewildered looks-- as you sped ahead, half-certain you'd lost your opportunity, dashing towards the offices of the Sacramento Bee... <><><><><> <span class="mu-i">CRRskksssss...</span> Aster ground to a halt, kicking up an entire nimbus's worth of dust, right in front of McClatchy's old haunt. As you stood beside him, coughing and panting with the effort you'd expended and the dust you'd inhaled, only one thought lingered on your mind. Had you gotten there before the state militia? "Hold," you held a hand out to Aster. He huffed on it, playfully, but did as you told him-- stood straight, dulled his flames, and waited by the door. You reshuffled, making sure Mary was still comfortable underneath your arms, before nudging the... unlocked... door wide open with your body.
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PoképocalypseQM !!fwDszUHyX/E ID:wGFVDx4k Wed 17 Sep 2025 03:20:08 No. 6307314 Report As you stepped into the Bee's offices... you couldn't help but note the lack of people. Bart wasn't around. Neither were many of the people who'd swarmed you upon your first entrance. But it was a Tuesday, and... "...where'd everybody go?" You thought aloud, attracting the attention of one of the few remaining workers there. "Cleared out by the militia." Your heart skipped a beat. The man continued. "They wanted everyone out t'day, for some reason, but left the few diehards without a fight. Wasn' worth fightin' with 'em, ah guess." You took another step into the Bee's offices. The wooden floor creaked beneath your entrance, but silence returned soon after. The sound of this worker's typewriter was louder than anything else in the room. He motioned towards the staircase to McClatchy's office-- which was now cordoned off with rope. "Went upstairs 'n the morn'. Left soon enough after with some... things." The man grit his teeth between words, and you noticed him typing more loudly-- but had no time to dwell on what that meant. "Go up there if y' dare. 'S not like you're interruptin' anythin' down here." What... where could you even begin?>Do as the man said. Go upstairs, see what's up there. >Question him further. [Write-in what you want to ask. I'll try and incorporate as many questions as possible, so answer as many as you have.] >Remain on the first floor and investigate things. Maybe there are some unfinished news stories you could try to print yourself? Or other people, as this worker mentioned, who could give you more information...
Anonymous
>>6307314 >Do as the man said. Go upstairs, see what's up there. Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6307318 +1
The consequences of our actions in delaying, but then again with how fast Huntington and the mystery menace have moved against the Bee, I'm not sure if we could have prevented this
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6307314 >Do as the man said. Go upstairs, see what's up there. Who's that
Pokemon ?
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6307314 >>Do as the man said. Go upstairs, see what's up there. Anonymous
>>6307314 I can feel the spite coming off of this update; choose one course of action or be satisfied with none. Touché.
>Do as the man said. Go upstairs, see what's up there. Anonymous
>>6307454 >feel the spite coming off of this update Towards who? Us? From the QM?
Anonymous
>>6307487 Not going to say much after this. We failed to learn anything from a botanical standpoint, the Bee is all but muzzled and we missed out on ket McClatchy clues. I suppose this is what we get for trying to have our cake and eat it while metagaming. It is what it is, we'll just have to make do with what we get from this and keep it in mind for the next free choice
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6307454 >>6307496 I can promise you that’s not what I’m implying. I begrudge nobody for taking time out of their day to vote.
My posts are based more off of research than off of attempted metagaming or anything like that. Botany at this point in time is still relatively clandestine (it won’t become very well-known until a decade or two in the future, after Mendel), and Walter isn’t familiar enough with Sacramento to know the scientific nooks and crannies of the place. Hence the comments about normal people barely knowing what it is and the failure of the search.
Meanwhile, the Bee wouldn’t have been okay no matter what happened. It was already struggling while McClatchy was at the top, and now he’s gone.
The only difference is that I forgot I’d loudly stated Walter was going to visit it in the morning instead of at noontime, and only remembered after everyone voted for it during the write-in choice. :’) Besides, don’t despair over missing out on clues. It’s far too early for that, and I’ve been pretty liberal with my foreshadowing haha.
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PoképocalypseQM !!fwDszUHyX/E ID:wGFVDx4k Thu 18 Sep 2025 02:36:08 No. 6307740 Report Quoted By:
The vote is unanimous, so I'll go ahead and start writing now.
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PoképocalypseQM !!fwDszUHyX/E ID:wGFVDx4k Thu 18 Sep 2025 03:02:02 No. 6307750 Report Quoted By:
Rolled 57 (1d100) Going to roll this here to determine fate
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PoképocalypseQM !!fwDszUHyX/E ID:wGFVDx4k Thu 18 Sep 2025 03:53:00 No. 6307766 Report Quoted By:
Upstairs, of course. You had no time for questions. You'd come to see McClatchy's office, so that's what you were going to see. You glanced back at the lone worker, only now noticing a few of his compatriots scattered around the office, before wasting no more time and pulling aside the makeshift stanchion and beginning to climb the stairs. The further up you went, the more you seemed to notice discrepancy after discrepancy. While the rest of the office looked like a tornado had hit it, these stairs were immaculately swept. Footprints were absent, dust was a thing of the past... You stopped at the final step. McClatchy's door had been battered down. Splinters of it lay across the floor, leading into his office. It was the only change to the room you'd seen last Sunday. Or, so you thought, until you approached McClatchy's chair. Every hint of ash was gone. The stink of smoke had vanished. Every trace of fire was missing. With it had gone the damaged book, the blackened crumbs on the desk-- even the tie. The only hint of dirt you could find was a small circular imprint of something, jar-sized, where the blackened crumbs had been. Mary sniffed around. You watched her, hoping she'd pick up on something... only for Mary to start struggling, then bleat out concern. "Hey, hey! Mary-- don'--" You struggled to restrain her, making very sure you remained careful as you handled her, trying your best to keep Mary from falling atop McClatchy's desk like she was about to-- succeeding, just barely, with most of Mary's midsection now hanging over your arms. The reason for her random struggle eluded you, its purpose meaningless-- until you spotted a single golden hair left atop a windowsill... and watched it vanish from your fingertips. <><><><><> The rest of that day slipped between your fingers. You spent it, largely, on helping train Muyr and assisting Mary. She was recovering better than you'd hoped-- and yet, she remained confined to your arms. You sat, now, at the Stater meeting. McClatchy's office remained on your mind. But it was getting harder and harder to think in these circumstances. Andrew remained by your side. Although he looked composed and unshaken... you could see his skin already drained of life. His lips were moving, his mouth was speaking: he was praying under his breath, as he had before. And he was doing it just loudly enough to be heard, yet not clearly enough to be understood. "Andrew, why're you..?" You started, but trailed off. You were still in the Sacramento outskirts: the same dry plains as before, now privy to a larger stage and a setting sun. You hadn't changed locations. Maybe that was-- "Muyr didn't tell you," he growled. "Some coordination." Didn't tell you what? He couldn't have just--
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PoképocalypseQM !!fwDszUHyX/E ID:wGFVDx4k Thu 18 Sep 2025 03:54:08 No. 6307767 Report Quoted By:
"ATTENTION, PLEASE." The aforementioned leader raised his voice, already on stage. Beside him stood his otter, tall and proud, holding up its treasured shell as if it were a raised sword. That helped lighten the mood-- it was starting to show off instead of threaten. A nice change of pace, and a pleasant reminder of how successful your training session with Muyr had been today... Something tickled your mind. You pushed it away, inadvertently, while trying to focus. Various Stater troops, now properly kitted out in outdated (but effective) soldier wear, began patrolling each side of the audience. Some bore rifles, decorated with all manner of things-- others bore neofauna, atop their shoulders or by their sides. Rats, coal creatures, black-clad birds-- whatever they had been able to find. Save for their lack of plated armor, they seemed to blend well with regular state militia... "Of all meetings in our future, it is imperative that this one be kept the most secret. For, as I divulged last evening, today we chart our final course forward." Muyr's voice was beginning to grow solemn. Another tickle. You ignored it, instead diverting attention to Andrew. The longer Muyr spoke for, the whiter his knuckles seemed to become. "I will mince words no further. Herman McClatchy, previously our main source of outreach, is presumed dead. His office has been scrubbed of all possible incriminating evidence of any wrongdoing, and he himself has not been seen for several days." Muyr's words did not cause nearly the same uproar as they had last night. There was a silent agreement among most attendees that this news was not nearly as unexpected. While scanning the crowd for reactions, however, you noticed Bart's absence. "This evidence went missing immediately after Huntington's State Militia invaded the Sacramento Bee's offices, and after they informed Mr. Thomas J. Steele that worrying about such a disappearance was folly." A sense of dread began to overtake you. Your immediate reaction was to question-- your second-most immediate was to glance to your right. Andrew was fixated on the stage, his lips finally come to a halt... "There is no doubt that this murder has something to do with the current governor. I believe that he is <span class="mu-i">actively facilitating</span> such deeds to further his own goals." Your heartbeat suddenly became audible. The tickle grew to a throbbing. For a moment, you denied it. "Therefore, as our first retaliatory act, we shall be taking the fight directly to the capitol." Cacophony exploded onto the scene. Most Staters cheered-- some even did so loudly enough for the Stater guard to rush in and try to quiet things down. Some were silent-- dumbstruck, in awe, or in total disbelief. Andrew was one such person, his eyes finally breaking from Muyr's line of sight to meet yours.
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PoképocalypseQM !!fwDszUHyX/E ID:wGFVDx4k Thu 18 Sep 2025 03:55:09 No. 6307768 Report Fewer, still, believed the proposition to be a joke. They whispered among themselves, either questioning the course of action or truly believing it to be a farce... if they were not remaining silent, despite their visibly comedic reactions. You were among such people... until Muyr began clarifying strategy, and unveiled a large map of the capitol park upon which he conducted a rough mock-up of formations and optimal chokepoints. Not long after, you lost your hearing. <span class="mu-i">Bpivs gwc.</span> You snapped back to reality, ears ringing, when Andrew repeated his question. "Walter. Are you with me?">Immediately inform Andrew of what just happened, how it's connected to the hundredth fauna, and your thoughts on the creature. >Ask Andrew to repeat not only his question, but what it might have been attached to. >Say nothing. Pay attention to the meeting and shake your head. >Write-in.
Anonymous
>>6307768 >Ask Andrew to repeat not only his question, but what it might have been attached to. We can't seem compromised. We'll sort it out on our own, later. Just say we were swept up in the emotion of the moment, the realization of incoming rebellion and battle.
Anonymous
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>>6307768 >Ask Andrew to repeat not only his question, but what it might have been attached to. Anonymous
>>6307789 +1
The Abra is thanking us? What for?
Anonymous
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>>6307768 >Ask Andrew to repeat not only his question, but what it might have been attached to. Anonymous
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>>6307888 We did carry it to safety and look after it. A Duskull could easily pray on it while incapacitated.
Anonymous
>>6307768 >Ask Andrew to repeat not only his question, but what it might have been attached to. The golden hair on McClatchy's room, that might have also been Abra's.
I don't remember, does Walter understand the Abra's messages, either immediately or later?
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PoképocalypseQM !!fwDszUHyX/E ID:wGFVDx4k Fri 19 Sep 2025 01:34:32 No. 6308150 Report Quoted By:
Unanimous once again, off I go to write!
>>6308026 No, Walter understands nothing being said. It's partly why I use encryption when posting.
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PoképocalypseQM !!fwDszUHyX/E ID:wGFVDx4k Fri 19 Sep 2025 03:19:51 No. 6308193 Report Quoted By:
Better not to speak with loose lips here and now. "S-sorry, can y' repeat..." You blinked, then started again. "What'd you say?" Andrew narrowed his eyes and took his hand off of your shoulder. "I jus' asked if you were awake. You winced like somethin'd hit you a few seconds ago, but there's nothin' 'round these parts that could've hurtcha." His words got easier to make out as time went on and the inevitable headache loosened. You tried to force out a grin while your head still rang like hell. "Y-yeah. Muyr's words. A bit more than ah was expectin'," your eyes darted back to the stage and returned to Andrew with naught to report. "Ah just got swept up 'n it all. What it... means." Andrew turned back to the stage, too. You'd expected some kind of grim reaction-- a frown, a scowl. Some kind of complaint. But, instead... Andrew simply remained disconcerted. His expression contorted into one you could hardly read behind all the scars. "...don't blame ya. Ah hardly expected t' be facin' the music this soon." This soon? You suddenly became aware that Muyr was still speaking. "I repeat. <span class="mu-s">On Saturday, we shall strike.</span> We will target the capitol, and ONLY the capitol: as much of Sacramento must be spared as possible. If luck shall have it, the people may see our side of this equation and supplement us; if it shall not, it is our duty to protect the people from any carnage we may cause." <span class="mu-s">Saturday.</span> "<span class="mu-i">This</span> Saturday??" You blurted out. Andrew nodded. He and Muyr soon spoke in unison. "We have waited far too long already. The urgency of this conflict cannot be understated-- by not continuing our assault after failing to defend the Floating Dollar, we have opened ourselves up to premature losses. This is a mistake I will not let us make any longer." "An' why in hell-- why didn't you tell me about any of this?" You struggled to keep your voice down as your hairs began to stand on end. Andrew spoke frankly. "Couldn't find the time. Muyr's been shepherding me 'round every hour of every day. Ah asked him, 'n he just kept puttin' it off. Figured you wouldn't be in disagreement, 'n saved it fer tonight." The crowd was beginning to take on a voice of its own, waxing and waning with Muyr's various instructions. The Stater militia, already well into the fray, became more active than ever-- at the fringes of the crowd, some brief spars could be seen between the more well-equipped and those in need of someplace to lash out. A sharp breath left you. "...it's too soon. Look't this," you motioned to one of the spars in the corner. "It'll jus' be chaos. Not enough people've trained for long enough. Not even Muyr'n his otter..." Andrew interrupted. "It's by design. Listen."
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PoképocalypseQM !!fwDszUHyX/E ID:wGFVDx4k Fri 19 Sep 2025 03:20:52 No. 6308194 Report Quoted By:
Muyr's voice overpowered the crowd's once more. "Everyone, I beg of you, remain calm. As it stands, we Staters are a loose cannon: perhaps the loosest cannon ever commanded by one man. But we must save this volatility for the destruction of Huntington's carefully constructed plans, and not for our own." Your eyes began to drift off-stage. You could have sworn you saw a flash of yellow-- "Muyr's weapons are not his own. He has hired killers, second-hand men-- he, himself, is a fat-cat statesman. Some rich kid gorgin' himself on power. Every move he makes's within an established order. The old world's order," Muyr began to echo Andrew again. "We shall subvert this order through innovation, as all good makers of history have." Muyr finished, pausing to let the audience cool down. You simply stared at Andrew, dumbfounded. "He... you saw his script?" Andrew shook his head. "Didn't have one. Jus' practiced this speech. loads've times. This's serious, Walter. I don' think you can change his mind." Were you planning to--? The flash of yellow returned. It returned with another by its side. Then two more. Then three. Then five. Your heart threatened to take possession of your brain, racing to escape you through your throat--
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PoképocalypseQM !!fwDszUHyX/E ID:wGFVDx4k Fri 19 Sep 2025 03:21:53 No. 6308195 Report <span class="mu-i">Givsmm Wakiz Cvqnwzu Zwumw Mkpw Nwfbzwb Nwfbzwb Wakiz Zwumw Bivow Aqmzzi Itxpi Zwumw Mkpw <span class="mu-r">Itxpi Lmtbi Uqsm Qvlqi Zwumw Itxpi Jzidw Tqui Mkpw</span>, Qvlqi Vwdmujmz Lmtbi Mkpw Mkpw Lmtbi, Qvlqi Nwfbzwb Bivow Pwbmt Mkpw Givsmm Itxpi Zwumw Mkpw Nwfbzwb Wakiz Zwumw Wakiz Cvqnwzu Zwumw Sqtw Qvlqi Vwdmujmz Lmtbi.</span> Your head throbbed like the force of a rock was upon it. Your eyes were fixated on the yellow forms now floating distantly, far away, behind the stage-- <span class="mu-i">Jzidw Cvqnwzu Bivow Givsmm Wakiz Cvqnwzu Xixi Zwumw Qvlqi Wakiz Zwumw Qvlqi Bivow Qvlqi Hctc Mkpw Aqmzzi Mkpw Tqui Nwfbzwb Qvlqi Aqmzzi Pwbmt Lmtbi Mkpw Aqmzzi Qvlqi Zwumw Mkpw. Itxpi Bivow Zwumw Qvlqi Itxpi Tqui Jzidw Givsmm Kpiztqm Wakiz Uqsm Jzidw Itxpi Bivow, Bivow Wakiz Jzidw Itxpi Xixi Bivow Qvlqi Hctc Mkpw Itxpi Uqsm Wakiz Dqkbwz Mkpw Uqsm Mkpw Vwdmujmz Bivow Qvlqi Vwdmujmz <span class="mu-r">Nwfbzwb Qvlqi Zwumw Mkpw.</span></span> "Walter?" Andrew seemed-- your eyes went blurry for a moment-- he was shaking your shoulder. <span class="mu-i">Aqmzzi Cvqnwzu Kpiztqm Pwbmt Itxpi Kpiztqm Bivow Qvlqi Wakiz Vwdmujmz Aqmzzi Pwbmt Wakiz Cvqnwzu Tqui Lmtbi Pwbmt Itxpi Dqkbwz Mkpw Jzidw Mkpw Mkpw Vwdmujmz Mkpw F-zig Xixi Mkpw Kpiztqm Bivow Mkpw Lmtbi Nwfbzwb Zwumw Wakiz Uqsm Givsmm Wakiz Cvqnwzu Zwumw <span class="mu-r">Jzidw Tqui Wakiz Wakiz Lmtbi Tqui Qvlqi Vwdmujmz Mkpw</span>, Lmtbi Qvlqi Xixi Tqui Wakiz Uqsm Itxpi Bivow Qvlqi Kpiztqm Wakiz Vwdmujmz Mkpw,</span> <span class="mu-i">Owtn Qvlqi Dqkbwz Mkpw Vwdmujmz Bivow Pwbmt Mkpw Xixi Zwumw Mkpw Kpiztqm Mkpw Lmtbi Mkpw Vwdmujmz Bivow Aqmzzi Mkpw Bivow. Itxpi Vwdmujmz Lmtbi Epqasmg Mkpw Lmtbi Wakiz Vwdmujmz Wakiz Bivow Nwfbzwb Itxpi Cvqnwzu Tqui Bivow Givsmm Wakiz Cvqnwzu Nwfbzwb Wakiz Zwumw Bivow Pwbmt Mkpw Itxpi Kpiztqm Bivow Qvlqi Wakiz Vwdmujmz Aqmzzi Wakiz Nwfbzwb Givsmm Wakiz Cvqnwzu Zwumw Givsmm Wakiz Vwdmujmz Lmtbi Mkpw Zwumw Sqtw Qvlqi Vwdmujmz.</span> Were they all-- you forced a smile and held a hand to your head, though you could scarcely hear what Andrew was saying-- was this all of them at once? <span class="mu-i">Itxpi Tqui Tqui Epqasmg Mkpw Aqmzzi Mkpw Mkpw Sqtw Bivow Wakiz Lmtbi Wakiz Qvlqi Aqmzzi <span class="mu-r">Epqasmg Itxpi Zwumw Vwdmujmz</span> Givsmm Wakiz Cvqnwzu.</span> You could feel Mary rubbing your chin with her forehead. The electricity in her wool stung you, raced through your face like fire atop torchwood-- it helped, somewhat, to bring you back to the moment. Andrew breathed a sigh of relief, his expression softening for the first time in-- <span class="mu-i"><span class="mu-r">Lmtbi Wakiz Vwdmujmz Wakiz Bivow Kpiztqm Wakiz Vwdmujmz Nwfbzwb Cvqnwzu Aqmzzi Mkpw Bivow Pwbmt Zwumw Mkpw Mkpw Xixi Itxpi Zwumw Bivow Qvlqi Mkpw Aqmzzi Nwfbzwb Wakiz Zwumw Bivow Epqasmg Wakiz.</span></span> The final blow was dealt, and all went silent.
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PoképocalypseQM !!fwDszUHyX/E ID:wGFVDx4k Fri 19 Sep 2025 03:22:54 No. 6308197 Report "Walter. There was some-- there were some <span class="mu-i">flashes</span> just now... behind Muyr..." Andrew kept throwing glances Muyr's way, in the same direction that the yellow had been. "They're gone." You followed his now hardened gaze past Muyr, past the Staters... into nothingness. The Californian wilderness, the starry sky thrust upon it... And you began to laugh. It was a pained, uncertain laugh-- but one still derived from joy. Laughter, directed at the allure of the unknown. The very thing that had invaded your mind mere seconds ago. "Y'know, Andrew-- i-if ah were a smarter man, I'd have given all this up by now." You struggled to remember your composure. "All this study'n rebel work... these neofauna, maybe." The concern seemed to worry Andrew in a way you hadn't ever seen him care for before. The buffalo hunter's eyes widened as you went on. "W-we're playin' with more than jus' fire, ah reckon, an' we're all bein' a bit preemptive about this." Andrew simply stared, for a moment, before finding his words. "Are you okay, Walter?" "Ah'm fine, Andrew." You rose to leave, having noticed a number of Staters doing the same thing. "Ah simply ain't a smart man. An' ah think I'd like t' see where this goes." If the future was shrouded in darkness, after all, you figured a little bit of fire was the first thing worth bringing with you. Andrew rose after you, an analyzing concern etched into his expression. Once his eyes had had enough of you, they returned to the stage, where Muyr spoke his final sentence. "May your training go well, and may God help us all." <><><><><>>Wednesday, September 3rd. >Three days remain. The nutberry sapling looked lovely today. A myriad of delicate flowers grew upon its small, dark-wooded branches. Each and every one shared the same three-pronged shape, lined with striped patterns and white in color. To your surprise, any aberrations were incredibly minor; a small spot where it shouldn't be, a slight indent in shape... almost nothing worth noting. You had expected far more turbulence given the way you were growing this specimen. "Behhh," came Mary's familiar cry. She lay at the feet of your bed, atop the ottoman your room had come with and the pillow you had bought for her. There was an innocence in her eyes-- a willingness to greet this new day with a smile that escaped you. There was no doubt that Muyr wanted you to be involved. He had approached you, personally, last night. He had extolled your therapy regimen and assured you that Mary would certainly heal in time to help the cause. You had no doubt that she would love to fight again... but had a hard time convincing yourself that it could be done by the time of the capitol raid. Your eyes lingered upon her wound. It was time to change her bandages and clean what remained beneath them...
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PoképocalypseQM !!fwDszUHyX/E ID:wGFVDx4k Fri 19 Sep 2025 03:23:55 No. 6308199 Report ...but what came after? What would today look like?>Nonstop training. Making sure the rest of your team can still fight, first and foremost, with a special emphasis on walking therapy for Mary. >A relentless hunt in the wilderness for the hundredth neofauna. You saw more yesterday than you even knew existed before then, and you are deathly interested in finding out why. >Planning for the future. You feel it might be worth investing time into planning whatever future you may have after Sacramento. You won't be here forever. >Write-in.
Anonymous
>>6308195 >YOUR EFFORTS ARE /ADMIRABLE/, INDEED, IF THEY ARE FOR OUR KIND >BUT YOU PRIORITIZE SELFISH DESIRE. A TRIAL BY COMBAT, TO BAPTIZE A MOVEMENT IN /FIRE/. Very very interesting from the Abra horde. "Baptize a movement in fire" is very apt here with the mystery burns on the Capitol building, the burns on the door outside where Mary got bitten, us gaining Aster as a mon, Andrew's Chickpea evolving into Combusken, finding the Rolycoly horde at the railyard, us first encountering Huntington at the church service, Walter finally confronting his first Ghost type, the Abra being golden demons but also displaying profound intelligence and enlightenment, the mystery assassin removing McClatchy i.e. "cooking the books"... This entire "Sacramento Arc" of the quest has Fire-type (and religion) themes and symbolism all over it. And we're almost at the ferocious climax...
>SUCH ACTION SHOULD HAVE BEEN EXPECTED FROM YOUR /BLOODLINE/, DIPLOMATIC ONE, >GIVEN THE PRECEDENT SET. AND WE DO NOT FAULT YOU FOR THE ACTIONS OF YOUR YONDER KIN. That line about "bloodline", is that supposed to be for Walter? Did Walter's family get involved in something huge offscreen over at New York? How did the Abra find out if so? Or are they simply referring to humanity as a whole with that word?
>ALL WE SEEK TO DO IS /WARN/ YOU. >/DO NOT CONFUSE THREE PARTIES FOR TWO/. Party one is Muyr and the Staters
Party two is Huntington and his men
Party three is...? Could it be the mystery assassin? Do the Abra count Walter with Steele and Andrew as a third party here? Are they hinting that we shouldn't be confusing Walter and co. as being part of the Staters completely, though Andrew is way in with them than either Walter or Steele are?
>>6308197 >W-we're playin' with more than jus' fire, ah reckon >you figured a little bit of fire was the first thing worth bringing with you. And it seems even the QM is aware of what he's putting down in the updates huh?
Anonymous
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>>6308199 >Nonstop training. Making sure the rest of your team can still fight, first and foremost, with a special emphasis on walking therapy for Mary. Let's get Mary up and make sure she's up for good this time, THEN tomorrow we can plan for the future. Because I don't know about you guys but I'm very glad the end of the Sacramento Arc is in sight. I want Walter to finally get out of here and get the fuck out of California already. Checking a quick map of the US because I forgot the layout of the states, it seems that our next state is going to be Nevada. I don't know for sure if Las Vegas is already established by the 1890s, but outside of Fallout New Vegas and Madness Combat I don't know much media that deals with the state of Nevada in any way. Certainly sounds like interesting research opportunity for the QM
Anonymous
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>>6308212 >/DO NOT CONFUSE THREE PARTIES FOR TWO/. This part is strange for me too. Did we first encounter the Abra before or after getting involved with the staters? If it was before, maybe they do indeed consider the three of us as separate from the staters and Huntington.
The assassin being a third party is possible too, but it seems very convenient that he always attacked enemies of Huntington. Unless the assassin is secretly Muyr, and he was trying to give people reason to doubt and stand against Huntington. Highly unlikely though, I believed him when he said he didn't anything about neofauna and needed Walter's help with catching one.
Our first meeting with Muyr:
>The man leaned forward on the desk, his stare deadly serious. "I know how that dirtbag thinks, and I know that he doesn't belong anywhere near the title of State Governor. I've seen how his takeover has hurt this city, and I can't let him do that to the rest of this state. I cannot stand for a California littered with bums and burned towns." >His eyes drifted to Mary, now sitting patiently by your side. "The best way to prevent that kind of carnage lies in those demons you've got there with you. The power they hold is unimaginable. They turned this city from a thriving port town to a near-wreckage in a matter of weeks. They're like friendly bundles of dynamite. Cannons that you can convince to destroy your enemies." >>6308199 >Nonstop training. Making sure the rest of your team can still fight, first and foremost, with a special emphasis on walking therapy for Mary. I would like to have another try for the Abra, but best do that once we have a nutberry.
Anonymous
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>>6308199 >Nonstop training. Making sure the rest of your team can still fight, first and foremost, with a special emphasis on walking therapy for Mary. I am looking forward to where this is going. While I would want to try and get answers out of our yellow observer, we do need to prepare for the worst.
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PoképocalypseQM !!fwDszUHyX/E ID:wGFVDx4k Sat 20 Sep 2025 02:07:26 No. 6308539 Report Quoted By:
(Gotta get to bed early for something important tomorrow. I'll update once that's over with!)