Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6067467 >...my alarm clock just went off. I've got to be up and downstairs by now. The customers are waiting for me, I can't waste any more time dreaming of that exploding spaceship. Where's my Walkman? The world ending would be preferable than waging
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Fri 26 Jul 2024 22:06:12 No. 6067470 Report >>6067467 Salutations, /qst/, and welcome to the Poké-pocalypse! The world won't exactly be ending, per-se, not as far as I'm aware... but it'll most certainly be changed forever, probably for the worse. Whatever will happen in this new reality, you'll play a big part in shaping the outcome.
Updates will be as frequent as I can make them, but I've got a busy irl schedule so expect maybe 1-2 posts a day as standard. At worst, 2 per week.
Pokémon presentation will go off of anime logic and I'll keep things somewhat light in terms of mechanics. There aren't going to be any levels or stats, more emphasis on figuring things out in the moment and writing.
All that said: have fun! I'll be around for a few hours today and write significantly more after this first choice.
Anonymous
>...it's so hot. Too hot. That's what I get for sleepin' outdoors in the middle of July. I should get up before i'm accosted by some wannabe sheriff or mean cowboy. does he have a death wish
Anonymous
>>6067467 >>6067470 Interesting concept, QM. I'm looking forward to this quest. Before I vote, could I ask where in the world we are?
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Fri 26 Jul 2024 22:23:29 No. 6067482 Report >>6067478 The United States. Which specific state varies based on the answers. The first is as far west as possible, the last is as far east as possible, and they're all southern.
Anonymous
>>6067467 >>6067478 >>6067482 >Southern California >Dallas or Austin >Florida How grim. That being said, California gives the most opportunities to bug out if SHTF and FEMA goes ballistic, so
>...it's so hot. Too hot. That's what I get for sleepin' outdoors in the middle of July. I should get up before i'm accosted by some wannabe sheriff or mean cowboy. Anonymous
>>6067467 >...it's so hot. Too hot. That's what I get for sleepin' outdoors in the middle of July. I should get up before i'm accosted by some wannabe sheriff or mean cowboy. Location aside, I would never choose to be a dirty urb*nite
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sat 27 Jul 2024 00:36:56 No. 6067550 Report >>6067476 >>6067483 >>6067524 You readjust yourself. You're missing something. A hat, maybe? You're... not sure...
"Sir? Have you got any business to attend to here?"
Crap.
You tilt your head up, towards the voice, briefly wincing as the sun is eclipsed by the large brim of a man's hat.
"I'm just makin' sure. We don't want no loiterers 'round these parts. I'm not sure how you cityfolk did it back in New York-" -your brow furrowed at the rude implication- "-but we don't take kindly to strangers lingering 'round bars."
"I don't want trouble, sir." You got to your feet and brushed sand off your legs. It took some mighty willpower to fight off the headache that followed. Good thing you already had plenty to spare. "I just... didn't have anyplace else to sleep last night."
The sheriff raised a brow. "I thought you said you had a room booked down at Bessie's place. Somethin' about having a reservation, I remember?" The stocky man's eyes narrowed as he went on. You distracted yourself with how much shorter he seemed now that you were both standing across from each other.
"We've got enough cheats in this town as-is, boy, so you best not be tryin' to bolster their numb'rs."
"I can assure you that I'll be doing no such thing, sheriff. In fact," you made an exaggerated stride towards his left, only to be caught and brought to your interrogator's eye level.
"You ain't goin' nowhere 'til you promise to do no harm."
It was hard to suppress the snigger that prospect prompted. The sheriff growled and continued. "No matter how funny you might find that, boy, I think it's actually quite the light sentence given the circumstances. Now, <span class="mu-i">say it.</span>"
You put some distance between the two of you and cleared your throat. Your expression soured as you began to speak. "I, Walter Buchanan, stranger to Shenanigan's Gulch, promise to do no harm to..."
The remainder of the sentence was drowned out by a massive <span class="mu-s">BOOM</span>.
A man went flying out of the window to your left. Another object followed on the right-- was that a <span class="mu-i">table</span>?-- and the entire bar was soon alight.
"What in tarnation- ?!"
The sheriff said something else, but you couldn't hear it. He was too busy running to the fire department and you were too busy getting the hell away from the flaming wooden column you'd once called a place to sleep.
A teenage boy burst through the door with a little girl holding onto his back. Meeting his eyes struck you with a panic you'd not yet been consumed by. "There- it- I-"
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sat 27 Jul 2024 00:38:03 No. 6067551 Report >>6067550 By the time you'd gotten far-enough away from the building not to feel its heat, it was too late to do anything else. The sheriff had returned, and his first order of business was to cuff you from behind. His voice cut through your fear with a tone so sharp that the thought of it made you bleed. <span class="mu-i">"You've got a lot of explainin' t' do, boy."</span>
>Resist arrest. (Roll a d100. DC 70, best of 3.) >Go along with the sheriff without any complaints. >Other (Write-in). Anonymous
>Go along with the sheriff without any complaints. I don't trust the dice.
Anonymous
>>6067551 >Resist arrest. (Roll a d100. DC 70, best of 3.) I don't trust the law
Anonymous
>>6067551 >Go along with the sheriff without any complaints. I LOVE THE LAW
Anonymous
>>6067551 >>Resist arrest. (Roll a d100. DC 70, best of 3.) I HATE THE LAW
Anonymous
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6067639 He is deeply conflicted about society and shit
Anonymous
>>6067551 >Go along with the sheriff without any complaints. Anonymous
>>6067551 >Resist arrest. (Roll a d100. DC 70, best of 3.) I LOVE HATING THE LAW!
Anonymous
>>6067551 >>Resist arrest. (Roll a d100. DC 70, best of 3.) Anonymous
>>6067551 >Resist arrest. (Roll a d100. DC 70, best of 3.) Fuck it we ball
PoképocalypseQM (on phone)
PoképocalypseQM (on phone) ID:fikORCBP Sat 27 Jul 2024 13:02:02 No. 6067821 Report >>6067562 >>6067635 >>6067675 >>6067738 >>6067739 5 for resisting arrest…
>>6067552 >>6067632 >>6067674 …vs 3 for playing along.
We’re resisting arrest! Please <span class="mu-s">roll a d100</span>. The highest roll of the first 3 attempts will be used against the DC. I’ll return in an hour or two to write a post about the results.
Anonymous
We're not off to a good start here.
Anonymous
Rolled 1 (1d100) >>6067821 Anonymous
>>6067837 lmao, breath status?
Anonymous
Rolled 2 (1d100) >>6067821 Anonymous
Rolled 59 (1d100) >>6067831 That's not how it works
DetectQM
Quoted By:
Rolled 19 (1d100) >>6067821 Oh fuck..
Anonymous
>>6067840 Sorry, I'm quite new here.
Anonymous
>>6067837 >Apocalypse quest >First roll is a critfail Fitting, I guess
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6067858 Well we will die to the police not the apocalypse
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sat 27 Jul 2024 14:13:38 No. 6067863 Report >>6067831 >>6067837 >>6067839 Dear lord.
I'll write up the reply in a jiffy. I did not expect a crit fail followed by a 2/100.
Anonymous
>>6067855 All good, chief. Below the name section and above where you type the body of your post is a line that says 'Options'
You wanna put: dice+1d100 (or whatever amount of dice is required.
If you have anymore questions the QtG Thread on the board is a good place to ask. You can also test out rolling there.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
I did not trust the dice. I am vindicated in my belief, but rolls this abysmal? Jesus Christ.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6067866 I looked it up right after seeing the first comment, I think I should be filled in now.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6067863 Your job is to make it entertaining, not to make us look good
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6067855 It's okay.
We are a
mostly nice community, I swear.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sat 27 Jul 2024 15:59:22 No. 6067920 Report >>6067831 >>6067837 >>6067838 The feel of metal against your wrists, the sheriff behind your back, the heat pulsing forth from the burning shack you were now forced to stare at--
Every breath grew heavier. Your train of thought had been treading water before and now it was drowning. The heat, the panic, all someplace so unfamiliar-- it was getting to you.
You hadn't come this far West for nothing. You'd dared to spend a single night at the bar, drinking for just a moment, trying to get along, trying to please these people, make yourself less of a stranger--
Another one of your stupid ideas came to mind. Without the forethought to think it through, you acted before you'd grasped its entirety. A sharp pain met your lip as you felt yourself kicking like a horse, throwing yourself back. Bitterness infected you, seeping into every thought, forcing your lip near its breaking point, forcing you to action, and as you thrust yourself in the direction opposite the flaming bar... a loud thud rung through your entire being.
Your desperate attempt to nail the sheriff someplace vulnerable had devolved, plunging you into the same darkness he'd help you escape.
<><><><><>
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sat 27 Jul 2024 16:00:23 No. 6067921 Report >>6067920 Only God knew how long you had been knocked out for. It'd felt like days. Days of nothing but dark, throbbing pain, resonating throughout your entire being.
When you finally found the strength to wake again, the first thing you noticed were the huge iron bars now blocking your vision.
Crawling back a few paces netted you an odd sight. You were most certainly in a prison cell, but it was the most ramshackle kind of "prison" you'd ever seen.
Peeking through the bars, you saw only a path to some other room to your left and another cell across from you-- empty. There seemed to be some kind of closet to your right... and nothing more.
Within the room was nothing but a sink, a pot, and a thin cloth upon which you noticed an unsettling stain of sorts. Even with your above-average knowledge of Earth's creatures and their function, you couldn't place its origin. You resolved to sleep on the floor, among the dirt and rocks that comprised it, if ever you needed to rest.
It took hours for you to see another soul. In that time, the most you could do was try to keep yourself awake (it wasn't the easiest feat to pull off while injured in 100-degree heat) and fix your bandages. The sad excuse for gauze covering your bleeding head barely cradled the wound. Every time you touched it you felt yourself spin.
Eventually, the pain became so brutal that you could've sworn you'd started seeing visions.
Your slip into surreality began early, nearer to dawn than noon, when you'd blinked and seen some kind of mist past through the bars of your cell. Reaching out to touch it brought no sensation-- not the light chilliness of the mist back home, not anything warmer. It took you several minutes to realize it'd gone.
As the day passed, things grew more and more dire. The mist was followed by sudden jolts of fear apropos of nothing. You once saw the bars keeping you here disappear and, becoming overwhelmed with relief, fell forward, through them... only to be brought back to reality as your forehead was caught between the cold metal rods that still confined you.
The madness reached its peak when you heard an unfamiliar woman shout from your left nearer to sunset. "DEMONS!! DEMONS, ALL OF YOU!!"
A loud ruckus followed and you soon saw the stumpy sheriff from before retreating into your hallway, pistol in hand, seemingly attempting to beat something back through the only means he knew. A loud series of bangs proceeded to deafen you for just a moment. Then came a crushing silence.
Whatever he was fighting seemed not to mind at all-- indicated by its immediate barrelling towards the sheriff. The small creature seemed impervious to the sheriff's bullets-- you struggled to see any dent left by the weapon as its form became clearer...
It was unlike anything you'd ever seen.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sat 27 Jul 2024 16:01:24 No. 6067924 Report >>6067921 Almost like a rhinoceros, yet obviously metallic. It hadn't a horn to speak of, nor any visible form of self-defense, yet you'd just seen it tackle a grown man to the ground and shake off a bullet like it was nothing. You couldn't make out many familiar features. No visible mouth, no claws, no real tail or even ears. Neither mammalian, nor avian, nor reptilian...
The creature seemed to be weighing the sheriff down to the point where he was struggling. He attempted to roughhouse the creature, punching its sides and moving with such force that any animal you'd seen around here would certainly be off of the man by now, but it all came out futile. It was only when the sheriff began to turn blue that the smooth rhinoceros relented, stumbling off of your captor... and heading towards you.
Another jolt of fear shot through you as the creature approached, only stopping to delight at the arrival of three more creatures, all nearly-identical to himself, and you found yourself frozen as it ran towards your cell-- slamming into your bars with a loud <span class="mu-s">CLANG</span>.
You convinced yourself it wasn't real, that you were going mad-- and you'd have been right, had the creature done anything other than immediately begin <span class="mu-i">eating</span> your cell, chowing down on iron as if it was oatmeal, making a hole large enough for his compatriots to pour into your cell and presumably have you for lunch.
Lucky, then, that they were preoccupied with the bars.
The sheriff sputtered something. It took effort to make out what he was saying-- effort that you were instead putting towards finding some kind of notebook or weapon. Your cell had nothing to help you, the creatures were approaching quickly, and the sweltering heat combined with your aforementioned injury left your state less than able to make the easy escape these monsters had afforded you.
By the time you'd risen to your feet and began bolting through the hole it was too late. One of the creatures had spotted you and tackled you from the back, seemingly taking pleasure in the act, throwing you to the ground and forcing blood from your nose.
You considered yourself lucky that the naked rhinoceros soon jumped off of you, running out of the sheriff's office, seemingly delighted by its destructive rampage. You hadn't the time to ponder why-- you needed to force yourself, up, onto your knees, ignoring the bleeding, out of your jail, now.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sat 27 Jul 2024 16:02:24 No. 6067925 Report >>6067924 The scene you found yourself in next was one of utmost chaos.
The bar had disintegrated into ashes by now. You wondered how not one resident had managed to quell the flames only a moment, as the reasoning soon became clear.
An <span class="mu-i">enormous</span> snake, seemingly made entirely of rock, shook the earth beneath you. The massive monster emerged from the earth just in front of the heaping pile of ash, emitting a low grumble, unearthing an even larger body upon which it seemed to maintain a precarious balance.
Accompanying it was an entire menagerie of strange and unseen creatures. Rocks seemingly rolling <span class="mu-i">themselves</span> into buildings, enormous harpies with feathers of steel, and bipedal anteaters were but a few of the sights you saw immediately upon exiting the sheriff's office.
Had you been in a better state, your heart would've been aflutter. The ten-thousand dollars you had been promised for your excursion would have been ironclad, practically laid at your feet by now, more than guaranteed by such incredible wildlife pervading the West. You could almost see your big-city boss in front of you, chomping his cigar and congratulating you on crushing their competition so thoroughly...
It was rather unfortunate, then, that you were in such dire straits.
You dragged yourself across the street to the clinic. It seemed to be one of two buildings not besieged by some kind of unnatural apparition, with many residents of the town already gathering there, and there was nothing you needed more than medical treatment.
Gunshots reverberated in the background, mixing in with the screams of the innocent, and the trek to the nurse's seemed a long road through Hell itself. When you finally reached the welcoming room and seated yourself it left you more relieved than you'd felt in ages. After a few minutes of rest you decided to take it upon yourself to survey the situation.
You sat alone. The people of the town numbered few, mostly huddled amongst themselves, and a few were giving you bewildered or begrudging looks.
A mother and her children were huddled in a corner across from you. A man with a bleeding leg sat to your left.
The earth shook lightly once more. One of the children hung tighter to her mother's dress.
The clinic was silent save for scant whispers among the townsfolk.
It took a little girl tapping on your shoulder to pull you out of an oncoming trance.
"Mister? Why's your head all white like that? Don't you have hair?"
You noticed most of the clinic turning to stare at you.
>Ignore the girl. >Tease her and play along. >Explain your head injury and the gauze on it. >Other (Write-in). Anonymous
>>6067920 >>6067921 >>6067924 >>6067925 >Tease her and play along. "Well, in the East we periodically shed our hair for aerodynamic purposes. This makes us run from our foes faster. Don't you think something like that would be needed at this dire moment?
Anonymous
>>6067925 >Tease her and play along. PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sat 27 Jul 2024 23:33:44 No. 6068229 Report >>6067927 >>6067935 After a brief glance at the rest of the clinic, you decided to make some levity of the situation.
"I did, once, but the stress of this prompted my body to shed it. It's an Eastern practice; over in New York, we lose our hair to become more aerodynamic when escaping danger." You flashed a pained smile at the small child.
She blinked back.
A moment later the girl tugged on the shirt of the person she was sitting next to. "Eddie? Eddie, 's that true? Do ya know if New Yoakahs do that?"
You traced her motion and let your eyes rest upon a gangly boy, probably no older than 16, covered in freckles and topped with a curly bush of red hair. He seemed to be avoiding eye contact, instead choosing to answer while staring at the same mother you'd been watching beforehand. "Nellie, I-I dunno. I don't think people do that. A-an' I've never met anyone who does, anyways."
The little girl-- Nellie, you presumed-- crossed her arms and huffed. "Silly Eddie, you're s'pposed t' know everythin'! Why dontcha know that?"
A few patients laughed. Some just smiled. One of them commented on the quip as if it was the girl's trademark.
Whatever the boy answered couldn't be made out amongst more noise from the background. The steady influx of people. The slow cramping of the room. Eventually, there was such a throng of people that you'd have been surprised if the entire town wasn't here.
A sort of smothering comfort enveloped you for a time. The ruckus from outside seemed to melt into ambience. The chattering of the townsfolk consisted mostly of prayers and reassurance. The predictability of it all allowed you a half-hour of relaxation before a voice hushed the clinic into silence. You couldn't see whose it was, but it sounded vaguely like your squat aunt.
"Alright, alright, settle down... everyone!!"
It took the lady shouting for you to realize that she was attempting to talk over a few wailing babies. How had you not heard those before?
"Ah know we're all under stress right now. Thank the Lord up above that we're still amongst the livin'. But ah'm gonna have t' ask yah t' split up into groups here. Children with children, wahves with their husbands, bachelahrs with bachelahrs... an' everyone who ain't sick with everyone who ain't sick. Y'all can stay here-- Lord knows there ain't any place safer at the moment now the fire station's gone-- but ah need t' know who t' treat an' who's just visitin'."
There was some commotion in the front and you felt people brush past and reorganize. The squat lady's voice could be heard talking over it all, calling people by last name into various offices, instructing a small gaggle of girls working for her to go to this or that family's room. It took far too long for you to realize that you weren't going to be seen any time soon.
<><><><><>
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sat 27 Jul 2024 23:34:45 No. 6068231 Report >>6068229 It took until sunset for someone to see you.
The waiting room had been empty for some time prior.
The stone walls of the clinic's only comfort was in applying pressure to your wounds, keeping you sane and barely-conscious the entire time. Throughout that taste of Hell you could do little more than wonder if the ten-thousand dollar grant was really worth chasing if this was how the journey was going to <span class="mu-i">start</span>. Finally, you were pulled out of your own head by a sharp bark from the exhausted medical lady.
"Buchanan, Waltah!"
You rose.
Eyesight blurred as blood came rushing back into your legs. Thoughts returned to soup as the medical lady-- nearly two-thirds your height-- gave some bitter explanation of her circumstances, choking on something as she repeatedly thanked God for the clinic's safety and the lack of any death. All the specifics were lost on you, as by the time you reached your room the only thing that pulled you out of your stupor was a vision in the window.
Some kind of face grinned at you from the window. You couldn't make its details out. For a moment, looking at any other person granted them the same eerie smirk... but a single blink was enough to bring you back to earth.
You were going mad, clearly.
"I'm not asleep, am I?" A thought escaped through your mouth.
The lady from before had gone by now. You were instead answered by a taller, younger girl in nurse's dress, with a shake of her head and a soft request that you lie upon her table and let her examine you.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sat 27 Jul 2024 23:35:45 No. 6068233 Report >>6068231 As the young nurse ran her hands along your body-- pressed your stomach lightly, knocked on your knees, felt your head with a touch soft enough that it didn't hurt-- you heard her whisper under her breath. "Absolutely deplorable. You should've been here much earlier..."
"I doubt coming much earlier would've saved me from this madness."
The girl looked wide-eyed at your response. Had she expected you not to hear? Regardless, she gave an audible reply. "Well, it most certainly would have saved you from such great damage to your skull."
Her fingers traced the back of your head and slowly peeled off the aged gauze. You winced as the wound was given room to breathe, air pricking at your scalp. She continued, wrapping your head in fresh bandages. "You'll need to keep these on for a few weeks. Keep your head as still as you can, make sure it is always covered in something plush. You... should be fine, afterwards."
The hesitation didn't persuade you, though it was hard to debate the diagnosis without further knowledge on the subject. You instead thanked the nurse with a nod.
It soon dawned on you that you had nowhere else to go. Nighttime was hardly an hour away and you didn't know the state of the small inn you'd been staying at.
What lay ahead was uncertain. What would you do next?
>Leave the clinic, risking the outdoors, and try to find the inn for a good night's sleep. >Ask the nurse or her boss to stay at the clinic overnight. >Get as far away from the town as you can. Try to find a railroad and see if they're still selling tickets. >Other (write-in). Anonymous
>>6068229 >>6068231 >>6068233 >Ask the nurse or her boss to stay at the clinic overnight. We are going batshit insane and probably severely braindamaged. Best to not take too much risk on this one considering previous results of taking that course of action.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6068233 >Other (Find a nice abandoned building to sleep in) >>6068239 If we're a brain damaged freak, let's act like it!
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6068233 >Get as far away from the town as you can. Try to find a railroad and see if they're still selling tickets. Adventure!
Anonymous
Anonymous
>>6068233 >Ask the nurse or her boss to stay at the clinic overnight. Anonymous
>>6068233 >>Ask the nurse or her boss to stay at the clinic overnight. PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sun 28 Jul 2024 16:31:03 No. 6068660 Report >>6068239 >>6068298 >>6068308 >>6068469 It took a single glance out of the window for you to make up your mind.
You weren't certain of the inn's state, but you were certain of the danger that lay on your way to figuring out. At any other time you might've braved such a small journey... however, the reappearance of that grin atop a decrepit saloon's sign instead returned you to your table. "There's an entire beastiary of demons out there intent on separating a man's head from his hind and I dunno if I'll be able to reach someplace safe to sleep. Would you mind if I stayed the night?"
The nurse, already busying herself with other matters, returned her attention to give you a once-over. "You'd have to ask Elva."
A pause, then a repetition. "You saw her earlier. She wasn't in the sunniest of moods."
Oh, the short one from before. You thanked the nurse with a nod and took to the hallways, quickly tracking down your nurse's boss.
"What? Stay the naght?" Elva grumbled. Her aged face crumpled further into itself. "Ah don't suppose you've got payment?"
Shoot. Despite knowing you lacked even basic essentials on you after your brief stint in jail, you checked your pockets to make sure. And, as you'd expected, you turned up nothing but lint. "...no, madam, nothing."
Elva frowned. "An' you expect me t' just let you stay here anyways. Of course." She mumbled something under her breath and moved to leave, only to be stopped by the same nurse you'd seen before.
"Madam, he has a serious head injury. It'd be reckless to send him away so early."
"You're kiddin' me, raght? He's way too lucid for that!"
You hesitated to mention what you'd been seeing.
"Kidding in such dire circumstances would be rather dangerous, madam." The nurse remained calm.
Elva looked you up and down, crossed her arms, and seemed loathe to admit: "...ah'll give him one night. He's gotta git by sunrise. Otherwahse ah dunno how ah'm gonna treat the Thompsons."
With that, you and your nurse retreated to your room once more.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sun 28 Jul 2024 16:32:04 No. 6068662 Report >>6068660 Before you could say a word, the nurse spoke. "You'll be alright. I exaggerated just a smidge." She started towards the gauze on her desk.
It took a second for you to process. "When? While talking to your boss or when diagnosing?"
"Just now. For a head injury, you got off lucky. I have seen much worse." The gauze was now in a cabinet. A stethoscope took its place in the nurse's hands.
The relief that followed was immmediately noted. "I'll have you up by dawn, though you really should rest some time longer." The nurse peered out the window. "...the Gulch is more intact than I thought it would be. It seems that even demons need to rest."
She said some more things you didn't quite catch through your oncoming dizziness. "If the demons wake before you do, I'll bring you where you need to be. Where did you say that was, again?"
The request caught you off-guard. "Champing Bit Inn. I'm not sure where it is from here."
"Alright. I'll have you there by morning." The nurse continued to meddle with her tools. "If i'm missing, just call for 'Cora'. I'll hear."
A half-hearted nod was the last thing you could muster before passing out.
<><><><><>
"Come on, come on!! Wake up, right now!"
Your eyes fluttered open. It was most certainly not sunrise. "What on earth are you doing?" You spat out the words more coherently than you managed to get off of your makeshift bed.
The nurse hurried across the glass bits littering the floor. "Hooligans, taking advantage. Up you get."
She hoisted you onto your two feet for just a moment before you batted her away. "Get your hands off of me, I can walk fine!"
The nurse caught you just before you tripped on more glass. "Not fine enough!"
The two of you-- or, really, the nurse dragging you along with her-- fled the clinic under starlight.
<><><><><>
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sun 28 Jul 2024 16:33:41 No. 6068663 Report >>6068662 Champing Bit Inn was only partly intact. The sign had taken enough damage that the nurse had nearly missed it and the door was off its hinges, on the ground, practically acting as the new welcome mat. Otherwise, however, it seemed somewhat untouched.
Entering the building proved to be less easy than it seemed. What few people were awake seemed to be the most paranoid. You spotted an elderly man hiding behind a toppled table, glaring at you with a fierce hatred. A woman in a rocking chair turned the other cheek. The receptionist's expression soured as you approached. "I've reserved room 103 for the month."
"Have you got yer key with you?"
There was an awkward silence. The nurse-- promptly greeted by her name-- stepped forth. "He lost it to the demons. The clinic is under attack and he needs shelter."
The receptionist gave you another look before letting you through. "It should be to yer right, down that hall."
<><><><><>
Cora had gone ahead of you and was now yanking at the doorknob. "It's stuck. Here, you try."
No luck. You spent a few minutes being gentler with it and noted the lock to your companion. A hairpin and some fiddling later, the two of you opened the door.
The only oddity in your room was a lump underneath your bed's blankets. Otherwise, all was clear.
Cora did not follow you in.
>You don't know how long this room will be safe for. Make some efforts to barricade the windows and reinforce the walls with what you have. >Make sure your possessions are all still accounted for. There's a trunk you brought with you here. It should be in your closet... >Investigate the lump underneath your blankets. >Invite Cora in (Write-in what you'll say to her or ask her to do). >Return to the lobby and try to find a newspaper. >Other (write-in). Anonymous
>>6068663 >Invite Cora in (Write-in what you'll say to her or ask her to do). Its not like she can go back to the clinic and you don't like having a debt unsettled.
>Investigate the lump underneath your blankets. Anonymous
>>6068699 The same, but ask her if she has a(nother) safe place to stay too.
Anonymous
Anonymous
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sun 28 Jul 2024 20:19:07 No. 6068808 Report >>6068699 >>6068704 >>6068757 >>6068787 This surprised you, if only because you'd become used to having her by your side. "There's no need to stay outside." You motioned to the empty chair in one of the room's corners.
Cora hesitated for a moment before following your gesture. "...thank you." She gave the room a glance.
"Have you got anywhere safe to stay? If the clinic is too dangerous..." The bed's mattress gave a quiet squeak. It didn't seem to appreciate your sitting upon it much.
Cora chuckled at the notion. "What, do you think I live at the clinic? Please, only Elva is so dedicated." Her expression was unreadable. "I have a small place to myself on the outskirts, nearer to the creek. Where your railroad came from."
You raised a brow. "You're native?"
Another chuckle followed from the restless nurse. "Hardly, but I've been here long enough. I don't hide my accent-- surely you've noticed."
The lump was getting hard to ignore. You shuffled off of the bed. "English, yes, I just gave you the benefit of the doubt since you were workin' here. I've only ever heard voices like yours back New York City."
You yanked the covers off of your bed to reveal... a small package, with envelope attached. The handwriting on it was familiar.
<span class="mu-i">Mr. Buchanan
To wherever he may be in California</span>
"I'm surprised you've been. Your accent doesn't sound much like any citygoers I know." Cora continued on in the background.
You did your best to ignore her continued pestering. You agreed with her on the amusement that Gulchgoers brought the pair of you by immediately assuming you had come from a city, despite your voice, that it was bizarre how far their disdain seemed to go on that alone... but you weren't really listening to her beyond the superficialities. The letter was more interesting.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sun 28 Jul 2024 20:20:07 No. 6068812 Report >>6068808 <span class="mu-i">July 7th, 1884</span>
Only two days before you'd been jailed.
<span class="mu-i">Son,
I have heard, through a graepvine, that you have been Sent to California as of six eeves ago. Is this the reason for your suden dissapearanse? You have worryed your mother sick with your lack of comyunication.
It should be nown that I understand you are working for Ten Thousand Dollars and may not come back. Please do be certayn you will come back, as dyeing will make me angry enough to kill you.
Atached is a present from your brother and a new chaynge of cloths. He insistid you would be intrested in a new plant he has seen growing in your bery farm. He dubbd it a "berrynut". I do not think it is edible.
Be well and reply.</span>
"Buchanan?"
You ignored Cora for another moment as you unstrung the package. Within was exactly what had been promised: a clean change of clothes, now somewhat dirtied by the package, and a small basket of "berrynuts".
The name was apt. The hard, brown shell covering what you presumed to be a fruity center was like nothing you'd seen before. You initially assumed it to be some misshapen acorn, but its texture was far too smooth up top and the fruit itself was nearly thrice the size. You could feasibly use it as a baseball.
"Buchanan! I've been speaking to you!"
The neglected nurse was already frowning when you turned to look at her. "You shouldn't be bowing your head so much. It won't help the crack." She came over and adjusted your position, gently correcting a slouch you hadn't even noticed. "And I'd appreciate it if you listened to me before you read a letter. We were in the middle of a conversation."
[Choose two.]
>Show her something (specify letter or berrynut in your reply). >Chastise this girl for talking down to you while reading a letter from your family. Her conversation could wait and she is acting out of line. >Thank Cora for looking out for you. >Put the letter and gifts away in your trunk, assuming it's still there. >Begin barricading the windows and reinforcing walls. >Other (write-in). Anonymous
>>6068808 >>6068812 >Thank Cora for looking out for you. "Sorry for ignoring you. Now, what were you saying?"
Anonymous
>>6068812 >>6068818 +1
>We have brain damage and will now start ignoring basic social norms Kek
Anonymous
>>6068812 >Show her something (specify letter or berrynut in your reply). Show her the nuts
>Thank Cora for looking out for you. PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sun 28 Jul 2024 20:40:17 No. 6068830 Report Quoted By:
>>6068825 Everyone knows the first sign of brain damage is being rude.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sun 28 Jul 2024 23:07:43 No. 6068915 Report >>6068818 >>6068825 >>6068827 Posting more today because I feel like it.
The curse is fucking real. ------------------------------------------------------
"Sorry, I didn't mean to ignore you." You rubbed your head a little and straightened your back. "Thank you for tellin' me about the posture, I'll keep it in mind for later..."
You turned to Cora, two nuts in hand, making sure to position them in front of the ever-brightening window. "...I was just looking at these."
She gave the berrynuts a glance, but didn't say anything.
"You need berries to make your medicines, right? Have you ever seen a pair like these?"
Cora briefly inspected the pair. "...no, nothing like them. They're too big to be berries. Though I do believe you may be overestimating my-"
"Thanks." You put the nuts back in their basket and picked them up, shooing your curiosity away for another time as you start towards the closet. The novelty of a few weird nuts could wait until you had everything else in order.
Cora cleared her throat. "As I was saying, I believe you may be overestimating how much I know about berries. I don't make medicine anymore-- I just apply it."
Anymore? "Well, I figured these might just be some kind of berry we don't grow back home, and that, since you aren't from this country, you might've known more. I thanked ya thusly." You thought you could hear a low buzzing coming from the doorknob and briefly avoided it, instead glancing at Cora as distraction.
The nurse avoided eye contact. "You're welcome."
For a time, all was quiet.
The wooden floors ceased their creaking, the curtains were still-- time itself seemed to slow down as you took in your modest surroundings for just a moment. The thin mattress hardly bothered you.
"I never got your first name." Cora broke the silence. You glanced in her direction.
Her hair was somehow darker than yours, blacker than any you'd seen in years.
"Oh, it's Walter. Walter Buchanan." You snapped yourself out of your brief trance, only to see Cora opening your closet door for you, saying something... that you weren't hearing.
Moments later her hand went stiff and the door <span class="mu-i">slooowly</span> crept open, the nurse no longer there, the door no longer requiring her, the room shrunken by a sharp gasp. Before you could process what on earth had happened, Cora was already stumbling to your bed and wrapping her hand in gauze, cursing under her breath the entire time.
Returning to the closet, confusion rising, you saw some kind of blue sheep in the shade, sat atop your trunk and leering at Cora, with horns reminiscent of a wasp's stinger and a lengthy tail disappearing into the darkness.
A demon.
>Grab Cora's (healthy) hand and run out of the room. >Grab a chair and try to shield Cora from any further attacks. >Other (write-in). Anonymous
>>6068915 >Grab Cora's (healthy) hand and run out of the room. We can't tank this, just run and hope the army is called in
Anonymous
>>6068915 >Grab Cora's (healthy) hand and run out of the room. I know we aren't the best at running right now, but I think our chances fighting this thing are somehow even worse.
Anonymous
>>6068915 >Grab Cora's (healthy) hand and run out of the room. Anonymous
>>6068915 >Grab Cora's (healthy) hand and run out of the room. What chocked Cora's hand is likely a Mareep, who may be after the berries. If we can snag the two fruits before we bail, that would be good.
Anonymous
>>6068979 But Mareep can't learn bite!
;) PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Mon 29 Jul 2024 01:35:03 No. 6068986 Report >>6068979 You still have the berries with you in one of your hands. You were opening the closet to put them away but never got that far.
>>6068921 >>6068926 >>6068957 >>6068979 Seems pretty decisive, but I'll let the choices run overnight because I don't have the time to write a reply right now. I'll write it up in the morning.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6068979 >>6068981 >chocked Shit, I meant shocked.
kek Anonymous
>>6068986 >You still have the berries with you in one of your hands. You were opening the closet to put them away but never got that far. Good to know.
>I'll write it up in the morning. Take the time you need.
>July 7th, 1884 Oh, that explains the accents. This will have massive implications on what our options are and what we need to look out for. The "Wild West" is approaching its end, the Gilded Age is about to be in full swing, dying from diseases that are trivial in the modern era and legally-enforced prejudice are still very much a thing, and we have very rudimentary tools to work with. On the other hand, we also have a lot of opportunities without the bureaucracy of the present day. We can name Pokemon, coin training techniques, start a berry orchard business before Rockefeller or someone similar can bully us out of business, and find various utilities for Pokemon once we figure out how to tame them. Psychic and Electric types, for example, will be revolutionary for communication. Flying and Water types will make transportation much faster. As this period is earlier than the other options, the subsequent world will look close to unrecognizable. It's important to remember that various parts of the world may or may not be in a state of anarchy. There are also many highly intelligent Pokemon, some of them vastly more so than humans, so it isn't out of the picture for a social revolution or even nation of Pokemon to arise at some point.
Anonymous
>>6069010 >start a berry orchard business Funny you should mention this, as we are in California we are in close proximity to Central Valley. The Sun Maid corporation, one of the largest raisin producers in the world, grows almost all their grapes in this one region, it is perhaps one of the most fertile grounds in all of the continental United States. And our brother just gave us a sack of berries for cultivation. This is no longer APokéAlypse quest, it's PokéPlantation Quest.
Anonymous
>>6068915 >Grab Cora's (healthy) hand and run out of the room. PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Mon 29 Jul 2024 14:15:28 No. 6069348 Report >>6068921 >>6068926 >>6068957 >>6068979 >>6069201 Without further thought on the matter you immediately moved to grab Cora by her right hand and dashed out the door.
You felt the nurse giving little resistance, stumbling at first but soon matching your pace. By the time that you'd made it to the hotel lobby you could hardly feel that you were dragging her anywhere.
Your heart beat through your chest. Blood flooded your brain. A brief break before the door had you soon interrogated by the receptionist. "What're yew doin' out here? I thought you needed that room."
Through a few light gasps you explained the monster you'd seen in your closet. Within a minute, you were surrounded by laughter-- some subdued, attempting to be polite, some not even bothering with the courtesy. "Bwahaha!! A monster? In <span class="mu-i">these</span>halls? From your closet, no less!"
You sharply corrected the description and motioned to Cora's bandaged hand. The latter action brought the room some hush. "A... a monster from your closet, that's still..." The receptionist was rapidly losing confidence.
It was only when the very same blue sheep from before came running down the halls, bleating an unholy cry not unlike the swan song of an exploding street light, that the lobby truly grasped the severity of the situation. Another safe haven, compromised.
<><><><><>
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Mon 29 Jul 2024 14:16:31 No. 6069349 Report >>6069348 You and Cora ran until your aching legs could run no more. They felt like splinters beneath your leg, mere accessories to your torso, finally wearing out their welcome and stumbling to a crawl.
Cora was the first to go. It wasn't much wonder as to why the sedentary nurse who spent most of her days at a small clinic was less fit than the renegade farm boy who took it upon himself to walk to the big city for his dreams. She soon took on the role of director, pointing you towards narrower areas that'd hopefully shake the demons while guiding you vaguely towards her house. "I don't know whether it'll be safe, but we're running out of options," she'd thought aloud.
When you finally caved, you considered yourself incredibly lucky to have made it far enough to spot a railroad in the distance. Not far off from that was the small house Cora had mentioned before.
From a distance, it looked rather shoddy. Built out of the same wood as the rest of the town, yet upon a stony shore which seemed to provide it significantly less stability than the stronger houses you'd seen upon Shenanigan Gulch's soil earlier on your trip. The roof especially seemed to be slanted towards the front and almost sliding off of the back. It reminded you of the shack on the river where you'd kept fertilizer back home.
The house was almost twenty feet away. Your feet refused to make the journey. You <span class="mu-i">needed</span> rest more than anything in that moment. Even the riverbank upon which you now sat did not tempt your thirst with its steady stream. You were too tired to stop and quench it.
Cora lay not far from you. Unlike yourself, she was taking full advantage of the river's offerings, sipping from the bank and splashing her hair. You wondered if she was used to this. "Is that your house over there?" Just to make sure.
The nurse glanced back at you and nodded, too tired for words. She returned to letting her bandaged hand soak.
More time passed. You were enjoying the peace but found it hard not to be restless. The sooner you could get to shelter the better, and you were incredibly exposed out here. The Gulch was but a few winding paths south, while the riverbank was wide and lengthy. You could even see strange fish pervading it, larger than any you'd ever seen with sharp fins and enormous jaws. Their lack of aggression was a miracle and you weren't convinced that it would last.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Mon 29 Jul 2024 14:17:32 No. 6069350 Report >>6069349 Once the two of you finally regained some energy, you started posthaste towards Cora's abode.
Upon entering, you were assaulted with a thick layer of dust over everything. Her house seemed to be somewhat bigger on the inside-- there were, in fact, multiple rooms within it-- but it was as if she hadn't stepped foot in it for weeks. "I thought you said you lived here."
The nurse blushed. It wasn't the kind of blush you knew from flattery-- rather, a sour reaction to mockery. "I do. And I cleaned it just yesterday..."
She stepped in front of you and traced a finger across the nearest shelf. Her expression shifted. "...this isn't dust. It's dirt."
A glance towards the floor granted you the closest thing you'd get to an answer. A near-perfect hole in the wood from the back of the house-- another in the front. A disfigured lump of wood lay warped between the two.
You took precautions.
Circling the house brought you no clarification other than the sight of a sleeping ant. An <span class="mu-i">enormous</span> sleeping ant, as tall as a fifth of Cora's walls, covered in steel and chittering in its sleep.
It seemed... unrelated enough to the incident. However... you are well aware that ants like to burrow.
>Let sleeping ants lie. You're in no state to attempt anything at the moment and, even if this means that you may be in immediate danger, you <span class="mu-i">need</span> some rest. >Watch the ant for a little while to make sure it doesn't try any funny business. >Search for a weapon to beat it back with. You can't risk having any source of danger nearby. >Other (write-in). PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Mon 29 Jul 2024 14:24:39 No. 6069351 Report Quoted By:
>>6069350 Forgot to mention that searching for a weapon will involve rolling a d10.
Anonymous
>>6069350 >Watch the ant for a little while to make sure it doesn't try any funny business. We can't just shank a durant, and gunfire would attract other demons. We don't need two people watching it Cora can get her stuff
Anonymous
>>6069348 >>6069349 >>6069350 >Watch the ant for a little while to make sure it doesn't try any funny business. We should also alert Cora about the giant steel ant daemon in her back yard. Maybe this time she will believe us.
Anonymous
>>6069350 >Watch the ant for a little while to make sure it doesn't try any funny business. >>6069352 Agreed. Even a bullet would have trouble puncturing its shell.
>>6069360 Supported. However, it's likely that she'll come to the same conclusion as we do.
Anonymous
>>6069151 >This is no longer APokéAlypse quest, it's PokéPlantation Quest. Probably so. Pic related is an election map of the US in 1884, when Grover Cleveland was on the ballot.
It'll be funny if mudslinging posters comparing him to a Snorlax start getting printed. Hawaii is currently a unofficial occupied protectorate with the 1887 constitution not yet ratified, meaning that this whole Pokeapocalypse is likely to change this situation entirely. Alaska itself became a district of the US under a month before the events of this quest, actually, and who knows what will happen there. Events more pertinent to our situation in Southern California are numerous to list, but it's a curious coincidence for a Pokemon quest that The Big Four are active. They will likely have access to private militias and try to attempt to take very unconstitutional advantage of the chaos. We need to reestablish order in the community and figure out how to tame the Pokemon before the Four become a big problem for us. On that note, we should put together a primer of historical events and factors that would be relevant to our situation.
>>6069350 >Durant I just realized that Durants attack in groups. It's probably a good thing that we don't provoke it, but if it is alone, that's pretty strange. That would imply it is either an outcast or the whole colony was scattered from each other when transported from whatever region they come from.
Anonymous
Anonymous
>>6069574 >Big Four More like ELITE Four, amirite?
>>6069350 >Watch the ant for a little while to make sure it doesn't try any funny business. Wanna be our started, little buddy?
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Mon 29 Jul 2024 20:55:42 No. 6069634 Report >>6069352 >>6069360 >>6069510 >>6069594 You watched the strange ant for some time.
As it slept, you noticed occasional movement in its legs. Sometimes it'd shake its head a little or give a quiet chitter of some kind. What did demons dream of? You could only guess. Surely nothing pleasant...
It'd been several minutes now and the ant hadn't done anything. You found yourself crouching down, the nutberry basket's handle briefly swishing from one hand into both, about a foot and a half away from the steelclad creature.
That seemed to cause some kind of disturbance-- the ant stirred and blinked and chittered before opening its half-lidded eyes just enough to start looking you over. You felt a sharp tug at your thoughts-- it wasn't a good idea to stay this long-- yet you ignored it and did little more than back away a few paces.
The ant reciprocated with a <span class="mu-i">horrendous</span> noise, akin to a train screeching to a halt, and was soon joined by four more of its kind.
It made no movement towards you.
You never took your eyes off the bastard, feeling around the ground as you rose to your feet, clutching a rock in your free hand as you gripped your basket in the other with force. "Walter?"
Cora soon joined you. "I heard a loud sound, I wanted to make sure you--" Her eyes caught the ant's. You shuffled in front of her as she seized up. She went on in a calm, trembling tone. "I-I don't understand what they would want from someplace like this."
The demons had begun moving forward... slowly. None of them made any moves towards you, yet none looked friendly. Only one in the back hesitated to join the rest of the group that'd begun slowly encircling you.
You moved to run towards the house but found one of the ants in the way. You tried to step over it and found another ant on the other side of the first. The rest of the ants begin closing in, chittering like old ladies at a group meet, looking you and your nurse companion up and down. One of the ants soon prodded at your ankle, pushing you backwards, lightly bumping Cora on the way and dropping a nutberry right in front of one of them.
It took all of two seconds for that nutberry to vanish into an ant's mandibles and for the ant to vanish in the general direction of Gulch's train station down south.
What-- "Foul creatures, get <span class="mu-i">away</span> from my <span class="mu-s">house!!</span>" Cora shouted. "The Lord commands it!!"
Next thing you knew, one of the ants had actually retreated away from your companion... only for an angrier ant to give Cora the same ankle treatment you had received earlier. "Ow! Stop it!!" She stamped her foot, just barely missing one of the monsters.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Mon 29 Jul 2024 20:56:43 No. 6069635 Report >>6069634 You had to restrain her from kicking the thing exactly where its mandibles could catch her leg. "Cora, stop it. I know what they want." The nurse gave a little bit of resistance, struggling in your arms for a moment before giving a defeated sniff and crossing her arms. "Alright then, please, do tell me your brilliant solution to ridding my lawn of these <span class="mu-i">awful creatures</span> that you so conveniently know all about."
Instead of saying anything you just shuffled further in front of Cora (bumping her into another ant, which she made sure to point out to you when it happened) and offered one of the ants a nutberry.
A moment of silence fell over the once-chittering colony. One of them approached, looking to the nutberry for just a moment. Cora's initial apathy soon turned to curiosity as the ant paused before you...
...only for the rest of the colony to now surround this one ant and chitter something in unison. Said ant looked to its compatriots and chittered back, and before long the two of you were left alone.
Odd. Why hadn't they taken it?
You watched as the small group of strange demons followed the direction of their former companion. Seeing them head down the riverbank, made tiny by the great mountain the railroad ran along, making their way towards a train... surely this wouldn't be a good thing, especially for any poor passengers that'd have to deal with those beings, but if they hadn't attacked you...
"What... what was that?" Cora's voice had lost a lot of the anger it'd held previous. It'd shrunken, too. You weren't confident she hadn't said anything between the two 'what's.
"I'm not certain." You turned to face her, readjusting your basket and counting all the nutberries to make sure all but one was accounted for. A brief return to your jail cell flashed before your eyes, your bars made decrepit by the work of a demon, your flesh spared.
You refocused on the nurse. A stutter took hold of you for just a moment.
"I-I must admit, with what I know of biology and God's creatures, it's a bit hard t' call those creatures demons. Surely if they were so inherently ill-intentioned we'd have lost our feet by now instead'a just a bit of skin off our ankles, right?"
Cora gasped at the implication. "What makes you say that? These creatures have done nothing but harass us! They burnt my hand, they dug through my floor, they-- well, as you said, we nearly lost our feet to them just moments ago!" She circled you almost as the ants had, pacing back and forth and massaging her bandaged palm.
You simply stayed where you were, confident that you had all your nutberries with you, following Cora's trail with naught but your sight. "They broke me out of prison. A swarm of creatures ate away at my bars and left me untouched."
Cora stopped.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Mon 29 Jul 2024 20:57:44 No. 6069636 Report >>6069635 Her expression shifted violently between contempt, curiosity, and utter confusion. A brief realization struck you-- she didn't even know you'd been there in the first place, did she? "You..."
She backed away. A sharp laugh left her for a moment before she thought to herself. "I never figured you were the criminal type."
"...neither, but I guess I was a bit too close to that burnt-down bar t' be let off without any questioning."
"But you were already in a cell. Had you not been found guilty?"
You shook your head and gave a sharp sigh. "We can't be going off on tangents like this. Cora, whatever these creatures may be, demons or not, hostile or friendly... I think these berries might help calm them somehow." The basket was raised.
The nurse glanced for a moment at the basket. Then at you. Then at the mountain in the distance. The ants couldn't be made out anymore.
"...I don't trust you. But I've seen what they do. The demons and your strange nut-berries."
Silence.
Cora turned away and started towards the front of the house. "We need food. You have protection. Go to Shenanigan's Gulch. See if there are any people willing to trade for produce. I won't leave this place."
You nodded. It brought you no pleasure to leave her alone. She seemed rather fond of the idea, however, and you had already started hankering for something to chew on. Lord knew when last you ate.
>Suggest that you try to eat the nutberries instead. Leave the grocery shopping for later. >Do what Cora asked you without hesitation. Go to Shenanigan's Gulch for food. >Pretend to go to Shenanigan's Gulch... before attempting to forage in the woods instead. >Other (write-in). Anonymous
>>6069634 >>6069635 >>6069636 >Do what Cora asked you without hesitation. Go to Shenanigan's Gulch for food. I am a bit suspicious of how Cora still does not trust us, but I guess that the other townsfolk don't like us any better.
Anonymous
>>6069636 >Do what Cora asked you without hesitation. Go to Shenanigan's Gulch for food. Let's see if we can arm ourselves before we make the journey in case we run into a rather aggressive Pokemon. We should also split one or two of the berries open to hold onto seeds for growing more, although the message
>>6068812 implies that their growing season may have passed. We are in a desert, however, so there's a chance we could get away with trying to grow them in the late summer or early fall. They aren't edible for humans all the same; it'll be a tough sell unless we have an opportunity to demonstrate their "pacifying" qualities.
Anonymous
>>6069636 >Do what Cora asked you without hesitation. Go to Shenanigan's Gulch for food. >>6069653 +1 Anonymous
So I found some interesting historical information that indicates where we are. It turns out that Shenanigan's Gulch was a real place, and is now known as Pollard Flat, located in present-day Riverside County, CA. The name of the town actually changed to Portuguese Flat in 1853 before it changed to Pollard Flat later due to the heritage of its first settlers, although it wouldn't be unlikely for the original name to stick for the locals for a few decades after. From what I gather, it appears mining was the town's main sources of income. Robert Pitt was a notorious tycoon who operated in the area until two years prior to the events of the quest, when he was arrested for the murder of a miner. Allegedly, the town was named after a John Pollard in his honor the same year. There's a lot of detailed information on this page:
https://myrcns.com/2020/06/19/a-history-of-pollard-flat/ Anonymous
>>6069636 >>Do what Cora asked you without hesitation. Go to Shenanigan's Gulch for food. Anonymous
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Tue 30 Jul 2024 14:01:53 No. 6070048 Report >>6069823 Just chiming in to say that this is 90% correct! Shenanigan's Gulch is indeed a real place, and it did indeed have its name changed to Pollard Flat. Yes, the locals are still sticking to Shenanigan's Gulch for now, mainly because I found the name funnier and a lot of the (admittedly fictional) businesses are still named in accordance with the name Shenanigan's Gulch and not Pollard Flat.
No, the town is not in Riverside County. That's actually the near-opposite of its true location in Shasta County, much further north.
The town in this quest is based off of and supposed to be the real Pollard Flat, but i've taken extensive creative liberty with how it's structured and who lives there. Nobody is based off of real residents, for instance; everyone in this quest is a fictional person living in a real town.
Next post should be up in about an hour. I'm writing the outline as we speak.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6069823 >>6070048 >No, the town is not in Riverside County. That's actually the near-opposite of its true location in Shasta County, much further north. Ah, you're right. I misread one of the sources I looked into for the information. My bad. That means the area is actually forested, however, implying that the mining industry must still be very active in the quest to draw so many rock, ground, and steel types. Who knows
, QM aside, the range of diversity that lies in the forest.
>Next post should be up in about an hour. I'm writing the outline as we speak. Cool stuff, QM.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Tue 30 Jul 2024 15:40:55 No. 6070067 Report >>6069641 >>6069653 >>6069666 >>6069837 >>6069933 You lingered only a short while longer. Cora had promised you an entire dollar in coins to shop with and had fulfilled that promise within minutes. The moment the currency struck your hand, you shook Cora's (as best you could while she was hesitating to reciprocate) and started towards the town without more than a glance back to the shack.
On the way to the Gulch a single thought grew louder and louder until you could hardly ignore it. Why <span class="mu-i">had</span> those nutberries calmed the strange ants? You found yourself glancing at your basket-- first occasionally, then repeatedly. By the time the town was within sight you found yourself taking an aside to sit down and attempt to crack one open.
It was an easier affair than you'd expected. As soon as you'd found the sharpest, biggest rock in the area, the shell of your chosen nutberry seemed to crack with only a modicum of effort. All it took was three strikes to an area near the top and you heard a quiet <span class="mu-i">pop</span>.
The small "cap" atop the nut fell to the ground, briefly spinning like a dropped coin, revealing a small and wrinkled piece of... something... inside of the nut.
Your prediction of a "fruity center" could maybe apply if you'd been thinking of a raisin, or especially an apricot. Otherwise, it was bupkus. The tiny crumpled thing in the middle of your brother's present was by no means edible-- to a human, anyways-- and looked more like a chewed-up wad of gum with small, circular seeds stuck in it. It didn't seem to smell like anything at all.
This "fruit" seemed to have fallen from somewhere, being otherwise detached from the interior of the nut, seeming unable to stick to any part of its surface. Upon further examination of the cap, it became evident that the fruit had been growing upon its bottom.
You cracked open another nut in the same manner. This one contained the strange fruit, as well, but this one's color was different. Your original nut had an orange fruit within-- this one seemed to look almost <span class="mu-i">pink</span> in its appearance.
Curiosity began to run rampant within you. Were these multiple varieties of the same nut? Different species deriving from the same tree? Maybe the change in color was due to shift in temperature or some kind of spoilage. Spoilage due to temperature?
It could be solved-- <span class="mu-i">had</span> to be solved-- later. Your stomach roared and drove you back to the Gulch.
<><><><><>
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Tue 30 Jul 2024 15:41:56 No. 6070068 Report >>6070067 Re-entering town resulted in an assault to your senses.
The chaos that had engulfed the town when last you were there had abated, somewhat, but the people remained in turmoil and you could hardly hear yourself think over all the noise.
Men were already chipping in to help rebuild fallen storefronts and crumpled houses. You could see teams of workers handling lumber, stone, various tools. Women were taking over operation of the stores that were still working. You counted a textile store, a restaurant, and a general goods among those still in operation. Not a single mouth was silent among them-- workers shouted orders to other workers who shouted affirmations back, while their wives complained of their husbands' duties and gossipped about all the children, drawing comparison between how loud they and the men were, giggling amongst themselves as if they were in on some joke you couldn't quite parse, taking the orders of customers too weak or small to help with rebuilding.
Of the demons-- you could see few. Those that remained in the town didn't seem to be doing nearly as much terrorizing as previous. The metallic rhino creatures you'd seen break you out of prison seemed determined to devour any metal they could find and appeared to be the greatest nuisances, traveling in packs and gleefully headbutting any human they found with metal in their arms so as to knock them down and steal their supplies. The large metallic birds would circle people for some time, their shadows creating ominous "stars of death" above those who caught their interest, but you didn't see them doing much other than scaring the living daylights out of people or fighting with the local vultures. (The metallic birds would always win-- in rather brutal fashions.)
Turning south, you pondered that the greater threats would be the occasional visitors from down south, those descending from the great mountain. You thought yourself crazy, at first, upon seeing a dark mist envelop the area after such a thought. No-one else seemed to react to it nor notice the difference in shade. You alone, too, were greeted by the sight of an enormous and frightening skull mere inches from your face, seemingly ethereal and unable to be touched-- the moment you tried, the entire apparition fled and life returned to normal. Small versions of this enormous apparition seemed to dot the path to the peak.
Furthermore, the massive snake you had seen previous could be seen forever in that direction, lingering near the base of the mountain, its destructive size making sure the town hardly went an hour without seeing a tree or bird collapse near it. The remnants of a rock slide buried a small field that you remembered seeing at the edges of town earlier.
All these sights and sounds seemed to distract from the incessant snapping you soon heard from something in front of you. "Mister? Hello? Mister!!"
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Tue 30 Jul 2024 15:42:58 No. 6070069 Report >>6070068 You blinked. "Sorry, madam, I'm here." An excessively scruffy teenager in overalls frowned at you.
"Mister, you came ov'r here an' said you'd buy somethin' ten minutes ago. You've caused a line-up." The kid was right. Someone was breathing down your neck. "Hurry up."
Before you lay a rather extensive display of produce. Blueberries, raspberries, cherries, lettuce, rice-- you were rather spoiled for choice considering the size of the town. You commented as much to the cashier and soon got to checking out.
The doorbell rang as you left the store, a small bag in hand, various produce filling it to the brim. You snatched a copy of the local paper as you headed back into the great outdoors, eyes immediately fixating on the strange curiosities before you. Surely spending what little currency you had left on some documentation was a good idea.
You left another bell behind you, a fresh notebook in hand, cherry pits in your cheeks, your mind more preoccupied with the quiet kid in the general store corner wearing some kind of red makeup. He'd never spoken a word; just spent his time leering at customers, waiting for some kind of reaction that he never got.
It took nearly bumping into a large crowd to ground you in the moment and another glance at where it was headed to truly bring you back to earth. What looked like half the town was pouring into the local church. You could hear commotion coming from inside and see more and more people heading its way. Checking the paper confirmed your suspicions: it was Sunday, July 14th.
>Follow the crowd into the church. This doesn't sound like a regular sermon and you need to occupy yourself with something distant from Cora. Besides, this seemed interesting. >Take advantage of the crowd to observe the demons without interference. The town is more than eager to get away from them, and you finally have some way to write down your observations... >Go straight home. >Other (write-in). Anonymous
>>6070068 >The large metallic birds would circle people for some time, their shadows creating ominous "stars of death" above those who caught their interest, but you didn't see them doing much other than scaring the living daylights out of people or fighting with the local vultures. (The metallic birds would always win-- in rather brutal fashions.) Now that I think about it, much of the "normal" animals might be in danger of becoming extinct. There's no way most of them can compete with what Pokemon can do. The only ones that may survive are domesticated animals, or ones similar enough to certain Pokemon to breed with them. Smaller insects, funnily enough, are small and numerous enough to get by relatively unaffected. Perhaps "regional" forms will begin to appear after some time.
>You alone, too, were greeted by the sight of an enormous and frightening skull mere inches from your face, seemingly ethereal and unable to be touched-- the moment you tried, the entire apparition fled and life returned to normal. Looks like a Duskull.
>>6070069 >your mind more preoccupied with the quiet kid in the general store corner wearing some kind of red makeup. He'd never spoken a word; just spent his time leering at customers, waiting for some kind of reaction that he never got. Maybe he's a Zorua. It'd be hilarious if we find a talking Meowth. >it was Sunday, July 14th. We must have been knocked out for quite some time.
>>6070069 As tempting as it is to begin observing some of the Pokemon now that most of the townsfolk have gathered in the church, we have too many goodies on us and we could be easily outnumbered. We should either head back to stock our goods and ask Cora if she knows anyone that could help with observing the creatures, or find someone attending the sermon that has a similar idea to do so. There's bound to be a local huntsman or whatnot that's curious about what these new arrivals are.
Here's the Wikipedia page for International Code of Zoological Nomenclature in case it's useful: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Code_of_Zoological_Nomenclature Anonymous
>>6070067 >>6070068 >>6070069 >Go straight home. I have no doubt we will meet some other demons or daemons on the way home, and I don't want to take a risk with the giant steel birds.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Tue 30 Jul 2024 20:31:59 No. 6070172 Report Quoted By:
>>6070086 >>6070137 Seems pretty unanimous and it's been a while since the first post. I'll get to writing soon.
Thanks for the suggestion, though it's worth noting that the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature wasn't instated until 1905. We'll probably be sticking to Strickland's codes, if any. PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Wed 31 Jul 2024 01:41:24 No. 6070276 Report >>6070086 >>6070137 You took a moment to weigh your options.
The church was interesting, but you knew it would be incredibly crowded. Your hands were rather full at the moment-- in a best-case scenario, you might only lose a few berries or have some fruits smushed. It would be best to come back later, either when you had less valuables in hand or when the church was emptier.
The town... you turned to face the monsters, counting them as you went.
The metallic rhinos alone numbered in the double-digits, and you'd seen what one of them could do.
Regardless of protection or possible intention, you decided to leave your research for later. When you hadn't been attacked previous, you'd also held nothing of value. It was very possible that you were now a target since you had an entire bag of produce to your name.
With that, you shuffled away from the crowd and headed back to Cora's home.
<><><><><>
The walk back home was, thankfully, uneventful.
You felt yourself at ease for the first time in days as the now-familiar chattering of man and mon alike faded into the background, the sounds of chaos absconding to leave you with naught but some chirping birds and the upcoming river's quiet ripplings to listen to. Your breaths went from sharp, gasping things to some semblance of normalcy not long after.
Upon making it back to Cora's place, you gave a polite knock (with what little room you had to move your arms) and stepped back.
It took the nurse some time to answer, and when she did so she seemed more surprised than glad to see you. "That was rather quick."
[cont.]
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Wed 31 Jul 2024 01:42:57 No. 6070278 Report >>6070276 >No new posts You let yourself in and left the groceries upon Cora's meager dining table, correcting the bag as it began to slump. "I do tend to keep t' my word. I expect you don't begrudge me for taking so little time."
The nurse took your nutberry basket from you and shook her head. "I'm more appreciative of your efforts at the moment." A moment was taken to contemplate, then-- "You must've been the petty type."
The implication prompted a huff. "Cora, I can guarantee you I've never been a criminal to begin with. The only reason I was ever locked up was choosin' the wrong place to pass out." You pulled up a thatched chair and motioned for Cora to return your basket. "Bring that back; I've got something to show you."
Cora did as you asked, but stayed only a brief moment. She quickly got to stocking produce instead, laying it all out atop a dresser and sorting it into different baskets she had atop a different shelf.
After a protracted wait, you finally managed to get her to settle down and showed her what you'd discovered on the way to the Gulch. Cora seemed somewhat unimpressed by the discovery, commenting how she "wish[ed] that it had a proper fruit", but humored your inquiry about naturalists in the area.
"Oh, you're serious. Well... nobody comes to mind, really. You're rather fish-out-of-water here in more ways than just being foreign. Shenanigan's Gulch is a mining and trading outpost, not a proper city." There seemed to be a hint of bitterness in her tone. "It's a shame, but I doubt you'll find help. Better you look elsewhere if you're out for animal trackers."
The rest of the day was spent planning out tomorrow and making sure the house was as good a safe haven as you were gonna get. Windows were barricaded (at Cora's insistence), meals were made and split between the icebox and the table, a few more nutberries were hollowed out and your pointy rock was made into a makeshift dagger.
<><><><><>
Next morning was a brief one. Cora insisted she stay at home the entire time-- you couldn't convince her to leave no matter what you did and struggled for arguments that would persuade her to come with you. Eventually, you just left the house without her.
In your hand you kept your nutberry basket. Within it was only a couple of nutberries. The rest of the basket was filled with your dagger, a few snacks, a (very, <span class="mu-i">very</span> crumpled) edition of yesterday's news, and your new notebook.
Now all you needed was your old pencil and pen and you'd be golden.
[cont.]
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Wed 31 Jul 2024 01:43:58 No. 6070279 Report >>6070278 You entered town with some confidence in your stride. It was a bit hard not to feel somewhat full of yourself when you'd found a way to defend yourself from such strange and dangerous beings, after all, and even harder when you weren't thinking straight.
Finding the hotel was rather easy at this point. You'd passed by it repeatedly while heading back and forth, each time thanking the Lord that it was still intact, thinking ahead to when you'd finally reclaim your trunk of stuff. It brought you some solace to know that, even if that demonic sheep remained, you'd be relatively unscathed on your way there.
Entering the lobby was easier than assumed. It seemed like the entire place had been abandoned after the incident. Or maybe the receptionist just hadn't come in to work yet. You weren't sure. But the halls were rather empty. It was only when you reached your door that you'd gotten confirmation of human activity after your previous escape. The room next to yours had a locked door and someone snoring inside of it. You paid the snoring stranger no mind, instead choosing to open your creaky door...
...the room was clear.
You moved to your closet.
Any static that'd gathered there before had gone by now. The sheep wasn't here. You breathed a sigh of relief and dragged your trunk out from the closet and quickly got to looting it.
Within was... everything you'd packed! Multiple changes of clothes, plenty of books on different branches of biology, five dollars and some spare change, a pencil, further writings...
You paused. There was movement somewhere. Glacing around the room...
...gave you no answers. There was nothing.
You returned to rummaging in your trunk.
Once you'd confirmed-- properly, this time-- that all you owned lay within, you shut the trunk and picked it back up, carrying the basket on your arm and starting towards the exit.
<><><><><>
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Wed 31 Jul 2024 01:44:58 No. 6070280 Report >>6070279 The sun stung your eyes as you left the hotel. No matter, you thought, you'd get used to it soon.
Minutes passed without your vision clearing.
You took a few steps out of the shade. Time continued to crawl by.
You saw no better.
The sun wasn't usually this bright. What on earth was happening?
You could hear commotion towards the south. Some kind of threat was certainly afoot. A threat that could be connected to this sudden brightness, perhaps...?
A person was running away from the scene. Then another. More and more people followed in the first's footprints.
Your trunk could be seen stashed in a bush near the hotel just as you dashed off to take a look.
<><><><><>
The scene that followed could only be described as revolutionary.
[cont.]
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Wed 31 Jul 2024 01:45:59 No. 6070282 Report >>6070280 Gathered around the remnants of the old field was every person in town not yet working. Children, their grandparents, and what few folks had been injured poorly enough to be exempt from building work or shop care.
Atop the rocks burying the old field was one of the bipedal anteaters you vaguely remembered from your first true encounter.
From its mouth spewed a continuous stream of <span class="mu-r">fire.</span>
Pure, heaven-scorned, <span class="mu-r"><span class="mu-i">fire</span></span>.
Further flames left its wrists, flowed through its veins, spewed forth from a great chimney behind its back. Its entire torso seared with heat, the flames radiating from its bulging veins creating an atmosphere so scorching and brutal that you could compare it only to your idea of the sun...
Stars of death provided the only shade to be had around the scene. One lay above the demonic flamethrower, cast dangerously below the flame, now moving--
A great screech split the sky.
The crowd fled.
One of the enormous metal birds came crashing down next to the flaming devil. Another followed.
You stood rooted to the spot.
Children began to shout for their parents. The geriatrics of the town rushed to their families-- you heard them protesting nearly as loudly as the children. The sound of chopping wood and shouting orders began to dwindle.
One of the birds climbed to its feet and grasped the anteater's neck.
The fire was cut short. You heard a muffled scream from the demon. One of the alloyed birds that'd remained aflight now dove, drilling its beak into the anteater's skull, joined by its companions in the brutal endeavour not long after.
You turned to run, tripping over yourself but briefly, heading in the general direction that you knew you'd come from, desperate and trying not to panic and awed and unsure.
You needed your trunk, where you were. You were-- Cora, she would be safe-- this was no time for <span class="mu-i">notes.</span>
You found your trunk. You FOUND YOUR--
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Wed 31 Jul 2024 01:47:00 No. 6070284 Report >>6070282 It was being eaten.
You tripped once more. That caught the attention of the little rhinos. They'd taken a liking to its clasps.
You forced yourself onto your knees and readjusted your basket.
A glance to the town.
More chaos. Men had begun shooting at the birds and the birds had begun to react accordingly. Some children tried to join in, tossing rocks at their assailants, only for their mothers to force them into housing or away from harm.
Your vision was blocked by a familiar black-and-yellow tail hovering above your head.
You bent to the right. It was hard to make things out. You saw something fly into the sky and heard something else scream after it. Was it human?
You reached for your makeshift dagger. You knew it wouldn't do much, but you <span class="mu-i">needed</span> the rhinos away from your trunk. You pointed it at them, tried to pry them off...
A light tackle brought you to the ground-- a shift at the last minute had thankfully saved your head, and you soon got back on your feet and kicked the trunk in a vain attempt to loose its assailants.
Instead, you just attracted more curious demons.
You were surrounded.
Instinct moved your hand to your basket. A nutberry slipped into your hand.
Which was the weak link?
>The metallic rhino that just tackled you, now showing its back as it munched on your trunk's tiny clasps. Surely if you tempted this demon, its companions would step down just like the ants had. >The electric sheep who doesn't even know you're here. If you tempted it away, you could find something to use against the rhinos and get your trunk back. Another bird screech distracted your train of thought. You had to think fast or, you were convinced, you could attract the attention of the more hostile demons down south.
Anonymous
>>6070276 >>6070278 >>6070279 >>6070280 >>6070282 >>6070284 Jesus... six posts. Good going, I suppose.
In either case;
>The metallic rhino that just tackled you, now showing its back as it munched on your trunk's tiny clasps. Surely if you tempted this demon, its companions would step down just like the ants had. This little guy merely tackled you when you threatened it with a knife. Can't do too much harm, can it? Plus, it at least isn't static like the sheep demon.
Anonymous
>>6070284 >The metallic rhino that just tackled you, now showing its back as it munched on your trunk's tiny clasps. Surely if you tempted this demon, its companions would step down just like the ants had. Anonymous
>>6070284 >The metallic rhino that just tackled you, now showing its back as it munched on your trunk's tiny clasps. Surely if you tempted this demon, its companions would step down just like the ants had. As much as I like fluffy Mons like Mareep, I can't pass up on Rhyhorn. It's just too cool.
Anonymous
>>6070307 Given they're small and metallic rather than rocky, I think these may be Arons.
>>6070284 >The electric sheep who doesn't even know you're here. If you tempted it away, you could find something to use against the rhinos and get your trunk back. A Mareep is a cute started option, though.
Anonymous
Holy shit, QM. Good stuff. Make sure to take care of yourself.
>>6070284 >The metallic rhino that just tackled you, now showing its back as it munched on your trunk's tiny clasps. Surely if you tempted this demon, its companions would step down just like the ants had. I'm guessing this is a Lairon, as Rhyhorn is a rock type and the former eats iron. This option is also the least aggressive of the two.
Anonymous
>>6070284 I'll vote for the Mareep on the grounds that it's cheaper to feed.
PoképocalypseQM (on phone)
PoképocalypseQM (on phone) ID:fikORCBP Wed 31 Jul 2024 13:38:53 No. 6070537 Report Quoted By:
Letting this vote run for a few more hours because I’m busy. Next update should be out in the next 4.
Anonymous
>>6070284 >The electric sheep who doesn't even know you're here. If you tempted it away, you could find something to use against the rhinos and get your trunk back. I don’t want to have to feed this thing iron.
Not to mention, electric is good against steel. And there are a lot of steel types around.
Anonymous
>>6070555 Actually, Electric resists steel, but isn't effective against steel
>>6070284 >The metallic rhino that just tackled you, now showing its back as it munched on your trunk's tiny clasps. Surely if you tempted this demon, its companions would step down just like the ants had. PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Wed 31 Jul 2024 15:19:11 No. 6070564 Report Quoted By:
>>6070292 >>6070302 >>6070307 >>6070329 Four for Aron,
>>6070326 >>6070371 >>6070555 Three for Mareep
It's (narrowly) settled! I'll get to writing.
And thank you for the compliment. I'm glad you're enjoying my silly little idea. Anonymous
>>6070329 >>6070371 >>6070555 You know what? I'll take a gamble and change my vote to the sheep.
>The electric sheep who doesn't even know you're here. If you tempted it away, you could find something to use against the rhinos and get your trunk back. PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Wed 31 Jul 2024 15:41:00 No. 6070583 Report >>6070562 >>6070574 Nevermind, you two tied it lol. I'll go find a tiebreaker and revise according to that, hold on a moment.
Anonymous
>>6070583 >>6070307 I'll swap over my work vote from not-Rhyhorn to the sheep.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Wed 31 Jul 2024 15:51:46 No. 6070593 Report Quoted By:
>>6070590 Alright, that works. Sheep it is, then, 5-3. (Re-)writing!
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Wed 31 Jul 2024 16:48:37 No. 6070623 Report The metallic demons had already seen you. You'd seen what they did to the sheriff when he interfered with their snacking on your prison bars. You didn't want to end up like him. So, instead, you slowly turned around and began approaching the sheep. It was only when one of the birds, with a loud <span class="mu-i">SWOOSH</span>, flew over you that the blue demon noticed your approach. To your surprise, it didn't immediately shock you like one of its kind had Cora. It seemed more surprised than anything. The strange creature backed up for just a moment-- a moment that you took to offer it your nutberry. The second that followed hung suspended for what felt like ages. Your wrist in front of you briefly flashed, a burn appearing upon your palm despite feeling no pain, the world around you flashing for another moment-- --only for a blink to bring you back to the sight of a docile blue sheep trying and failing to grasp the smooth fruit-like nut, laid upon an untouched hand, that you'd offered it. The sight was almost comical. A brief moment of placidity in such a heated scenario. But you had no time to waste on pleasantries. As the berry kept slipping from the sheep's sloppy jaws, you began moving further and further away... until you finally had space-enough to flee the scene. <><><><><>
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Wed 31 Jul 2024 16:49:38 No. 6070625 Report >>6070623 Panic remained your main companion as you threw yourself back into the heart of the turmoil. The sun had thankfully dimmed by now, but the reason as to why was rather unpleasant.
A glance to your right brought laid your eyes upon an unmoving beast. The once-fearsome flamethrower now lay defeated, stiff-- conquered upon foreign soil.
Stars of death littered the ground. You withheld gasps as you witnessed attack after attack on healthy fighters or anyone near them. You felt a tug to help them, but the desire was soon snuffed out by a near-death experience as one of the flying ferocities barely grazed your skull and ripped away a lot of your gauze.
Sweat laced your brow, dipped into your sclera, dampened your clothes. All you could focus on was how it could've been blood.
You scanned the abandoned shelves scattered amongst storefront after storefront for anything that could be of use. There was no more time to dawdle on spectating. You knew the demons attacking your trunk enjoyed metal, so you didn't bother with any of the groceries.
Winston & Co.'s was empty. Hard-for-Wear Hardware seemed to only be stocking wood and bricks. Simpson and Dudley's General... there!
<><><><><>
You made your way back to the trunk, gripping your basket in one hand and an entire dinner's worth of empty cans in the other. The atmosphere forced you into tunnel vision-- you could see what was ahead, you could hear what was around, but you <span class="mu-i">needed your trunk</span> and nothing could distract you from that.
Once you'd finally returned to the scene you wasted no time in tossing cans towards the troop of trunk-terrorizers. Their tiny brains seemed to appreciate the gesture, with many of the monsters soon moving to munching on the cans instead of the trunk. The longer you did this, the more the sheep from before-- which you assumed would have left by now-- seemed to try and help. Once only one or two of the demons remained upon the trunk, your caprine companion took it upon itself to try and shoo the others away with light tackles or loud bleats. It was quite the bizarre sight.
Eventually, your trunk was as safe as it was going to get. You congratulated the sheep underneath your breath. The small metal creatures had completely vanished, as had your supply of cans, and you were free to inspect the half-opened trunk's contents.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Wed 31 Jul 2024 16:50:39 No. 6070626 Report >>6070625 Your expression soured. They'd gotten to its insides. Gone was your pocketwatch, gone was a fair amount of your cutlery. Your revolver remaining intact was a nice surprise, but most other metal things were either desecrated or destroyed.
A bleat came from your left. Was the sheep replying to you? ...no, it couldn't be. You returned to the trunk.
There was no way it could close. It would need plenty of repair work that you did not have the time for.
You as you forced the trunk between your arms, tightly shut, with your basket dangling from a loose hand, and turned back to whence you'd came.
The sheep followed.
>Head straight home. The town has saved itself before and it can do it again. It's not like you can help much when you're carrying so much stuff, anyways. >Take a detour to try and tempt some of the steel birds with your berries. That might get them to calm down and could help save some townsfolk from further attack. >Other (write-in). Anonymous
>>6070623 >>6070625 >>6070626 >Take a detour to try and tempt some of the steel birds with your berries. That might get them to calm down and could help save some townsfolk from further attack. We might as well. Our sheep might even assist us!
Anonymous
>>6070626 >Take a detour to try and tempt some of the steel birds with your berries. That might get them to calm down and could help save some townsfolk from further attack. Anonymous
>>6070626 >Take a detour to try and tempt some of the steel birds with your berries. That might get them to calm down and could help save some townsfolk from further attack. Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6070626 >Head straight home. The town has saved itself before and it can do it again. It's not like you can help much when you're carrying so much stuff, anyways. Their current crisis isn't nearly as severe, it looks like the Skarmorys(?) are mostly leaving the town be.
Anonymous
Anonymous
>>6070626 >Take a detour to try and tempt some of the steel birds with your berries. That might get them to calm down and could help save some townsfolk from further attack. Steel and flying… easy pickings for our wooly friend!
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Wed 31 Jul 2024 22:31:58 No. 6070764 Report >>6070637 >>6070660 >>6070664 >>6070672 >>6070699 Another swoosh stopped you dead in your tracks.
A now-familiar figure flew overhead, sharply turning in the sky and returning to your rearview.
A bandage fell down to cover your left eye.
A near-miss.
You focused skyward to see an ironclad enemy staring you straight in the face.
It was hard to make out exactly what it was doing; your trunk obscured its claws, and it flew directly in front of the sun. As rays of light danced upon its gleaming feathers and christened the demon with its own infernal halo, it became impossible to see the specifics of its face or torso.
All you could see was the silhouette, the pointed horn aimed at you, and that which shone around it--
<span class="mu-i"><span class="mu-s">SHHHH-CRICK</span></span>
You were <span class="mu-i">pushed</span> backwards. Your heels dug into the dirt and your teeth into your lip. The blasted bird was upon you.
Its claws dug deep into your trunk, tearing into the leather casing, talons mere inches from your heart and evil eyes but an inch from your nose. The bladed helmet it wore was made apparent solely by how close it had gotten to cutting your jaw from your skull.
Bereft of better options, you thrust your trunk forward, trying to throw off your armored attacker to the best of your ability, jostling the case back and forth and cursing underneath your breath.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Wed 31 Jul 2024 22:32:59 No. 6070765 Report >>6070764 To your great dismay, the demon held on throughout <span class="mu-i">all of this.</span> It only gripped onto your trunk further, deeper, <span class="mu-i">leering</span> at you with such fierce intensity that you felt your very core shaken. Eventually, it tore into the trunk casing so deeply that only the wooden cover remained upon your beaten travel box.
That great grip soon turned against the bird, causing it to lose balance and stumble away from you, struggling to keep aflight as it found itself unexpectedly off-ground. You took the opportunity to run a few paces back and reorganize, shuffling your basket to the forefront and barely shaking out a nutberry from within.
The bird began to regain its balance. It remained fixated on you, and you on it.
A brief hum of static passed you as you returned to your feet and outstretched a hand, nutberry resting upon it, expression forcibly made calm by the situation.
"I've seen what these do to your kind!! I know you have no quarrel with my trunk case, nor am I certain you have any qualms with me. If are to prove me wrong, I reckon it would be a better idea to lay your eyes upon this morsel of magic first!"
You found yourself smiling as you spoke, fear turning to arrogance as the bird before you grounded itself and folded its mighty wings. You had made the right call. It was listening.
The creature approached slowly, at first. It never lost that leering expression that'd unsettled you so greatly before. You found your hand beginning to shake the closer it got, but forced it still. You'd dreamed of moments like this, back at home. You just never pictured you'd be experiencing them here, close to home, rather than someplace wild and exotic like Tasmania or Kenya.
Your confidence only began to crack when you noticed the bird beginning to speed up.
Its approach had quickly gone from a cautious stride to an assured attack. The sharp beak pointed straight at you became enveloped in wind, the front of the beast now resembling an enormous bullet, and, just as the creature got close enough for you to make out the scratches and marks upon its in-built armor, you heard an enormous <span class="mu-b">CRACK</span> of thunder.
The creature crumpled where it was, enormous beak opening into an ear-bleeding screech, collapsing before you to reveal... the sight of a little blue sheep behind it.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Wed 31 Jul 2024 22:33:59 No. 6070767 Report >>6070765 It took a simultaneous gasp from everyone for you to notice the crowds of people lining the town streets.
Murmurs filled the silence. People worrying for what would come next-- some hoping you followed the bird, others dreading the thought. You could barely make out a word. All you could hear was your own heartbeat.
The townsfolk of the Gulch weren't the only one to notice, however. You soon saw a Star of Death upon the little sheep that could, for but a moment, as your first foe struggled to get back on its feet. How it could even do so was a miracle to you-- you could smell its burnt feathers, see the crackle of electricity keeping its limbs stiff, hear with great effort how its armor struggled against itself. No matter.
You swung the nutberry basket away once more, putting all of your force into cracking the devil's jaw with a sure smack of your trunk to the side of it, and once you'd downed your great threat, you earned yourself audience to the very same sheep from before summoning lightning to its aid.
One by one, the birds fell. Some could withstand zap after zap, tackle after tackle, but they all fell eventually. You made haste in helping, now embracing your trunk's use as a weapon, teaming up with the tiny terror to take out as many of the flock as you could.
<><><><><>
You never got used to the thunder. The sound of its clap. What it meant. How you'd first heard it.
Even now, hours removed from the occurrences on Central Road, you found your heart pounding as if you were about to fall off of a cliff. Even while the talk of the town, while questioned by the sheriff and cleared of guilt, while enjoying an entire round of drinks being dedicated to you at Nannie's Nano-Bites, you found it hard to calm yourself. You'd used up all that stability while fighting for your life.
You glanced to your left. To your sheepy companion, now laying next to you, deep in slumber. This... this small sheep, the same reason Cora now wore the same bandages you required, was the main reason you weren't back at the clinic, attempting to heal from unspeakable scars to both your body and mind. It hadn't left your side throughout that entire time.
All it took was one offering of this strange nut and the creature seemed as loyal to you as a dog you'd kept for years.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Wed 31 Jul 2024 22:35:00 No. 6070768 Report >>6070767 <span class="mu-i">How? How did it work?</span> Why hadn't it worked on any of the birds? The birds, no less, which had taken down another strange beast-- one of fire and flame the likes of which you'd never seen, the kind you'd only hear in stories of great hardship, of houses burning down, of volcanoes erupting. And this sheep, this small creature, this little blue beast, had somehow summoned <span class="mu-i">lightning</span> to itself, stricken down a bird nearly thrice its size, had no difficulty in decimating the rest.
A throb of pain in your forehead reminded you of your bandages, of your circumstance, of the fact that you were in no position to be gripping your gauze so firmly. You relented, taking a moment to observe the crowd and distract yourself, 'til you heard a voice.
>It was familiar. Female. Definitely panicked. >You heard it, but it wasn't directed at you-- rather, the whole of the crowded restaurant. Someone yelling for everyone to settle down. >High-pitched, urging someone else along with it. Sounded like a little girl. You'd heard it before, but where? >It didn't sound human. Anonymous
>>6070764 >>6070765 >>6070767 >>6070768 >It was familiar. Female. Definitely panicked. Cora's here for us!
Anonymous
Our sheep is good civilization.
>>6070768 >You heard it, but it wasn't directed at you-- rather, the whole of the crowded restaurant. Someone yelling for everyone to settle down. Bandits? Gentlemen thieves? Weary travelers or National Guard? Lets find out
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6070768 >It didn't sound human. Anonymous
>>6070768 >You heard it, but it wasn't directed at you-- rather, the whole of the crowded restaurant. Someone yelling for everyone to settle down. Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6070768 >It didn't sound human Cautiously picking the mystery box.
Anonymous
>>6070797 Did you make that image yourself? If so, that's awesome :)
Anonymous
>>6070797 God bless. We'll become the first Pokemon Ranger yet.
Anonymous
>>6070768 >>6070770 >It was familiar. Female. Definitely panicked. If it's Cora, let's make sure she doesn't electrocute herself trying to kick the Mareep.
Anonymous
>>6070768 >>6070857 >three are tied Shit. I'll change to this.
>You heard it, but it wasn't directed at you-- rather, the whole of the crowded restaurant. Someone yelling for everyone to settle down. >>6070834 That'd be neat.
Anonymous
>>6070819 Partly? Opening up tegaki lets you import a picture, in this case a reaction image of a dog I had, and draw over it.
(The lack of eye glare was bothering me)
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6070879 I got as much, I was just wondering if you sketched the Mareep over it yourself.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>All it took was one offering of this strange nut and the creature seemed as loyal to you as a dog you'd kept for years. My best guess is that it's because the nutberries Apricorns are used to make Pokeballs. Getting a Pokemon to eat one when it's compliant enough is effectively the same as catching it. Then again, they can also be blended into smoothies.
Anonymous
>>6070767 >Nannie's Nano-Bites What is that a pun on in the late 1800s?
>>6070768 >It didn't sound human. Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6070626 >>Take a detour to try and tempt some of the steel birds with your berries. That might get them to calm down and could help save some townsfolk from further attack. Anonymous
>>6070770 I'll change my vote to
>You heard it, but it wasn't directed at you-- rather, the whole of the crowded restaurant. Someone yelling for everyone to settle down. to break the tie.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Thu 01 Aug 2024 13:13:46 No. 6071109 Report Quoted By:
>>6070771 >>6070797 >>6070863 >>6071104 Closing the vote on this option ahead of time to keep things certain because this vote has been tied like three times now and I want to write today lol.
>>6070797 >>6070879 These are adorable anon, I'm saving them right away.
>>6070908 >What is that a pun on in the late 1800s? Nothing. I chose it because it might be funny to the audience (who knows what a nanobyte is in the modern day) but would also make sense with how old stores were named. It's a restaurant that's not as big as the other one in town, so it's dubbed "nano".
Anonymous
>>6070768 >You heard it, but it wasn't directed at you-- rather, the whole of the crowded restaurant. Someone yelling for everyone to settle down. Good sheep! Do we know what the little guy eats yet? He/she deserves something special for saving our hide.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Thu 01 Aug 2024 15:29:40 No. 6071160 Report >>6070771 >>6070797 >>6070863 >>6071104 >>6071111 It was a familiar voice. One you'd heard not even half a day ago.
The sheriff spoke up once more. "Quiet down, all of you!!"
You heard distant murmurs dissipating. Whispers of uncertainty and curiosity. Vague throwing-abouts of whether you'd been sent here by someone who knew this would happen or whether it was all complete coincidence. The last voice to go was a lady not far too far from you asserting that you were part of a circus show, coming to town and pulling off an elaborate marketing campaign to make itself known.
Once silence gripped the small eatery the sheriff spoke again. He climbed atop a table and made himself visible. "You've all been gathered here t'day t' eat, sure, but I haven't been hearin' much talk of <span class="mu-i">why</span> y'all are around t' eat in the first place."
He scanned the area, eventually looking in your direction and settling upon it for most of the following speech.
"Just a few hours ago, our little town was struck by threats we'd never seen b'fore. For days now we've been assaulted by all manner of demons 'n dangerous folk, tearin' down our buildings an' attacking our people. T'day was the worst attack on our little Gulch yet. We've lost many a man in so short a timespan," he took off his Stetson and held it to his chest, "an' we've yet t' even lay them that've passed t' rest. But, while them folks were still bleedin', one man took it upon himself t' make sure the rest of us got out alive. A man who didn't even know of us 'til a week an' a half ago, and one whom we've not gotten t' know very well since."
All eyes were on you. The sheriff was pointing directly at your table.
You glanced both ways, then back at your sleepy, sheepy companion. Rising from your chair seemed to wake it, and the loyal stranger quickly got to trailing you as you headed towards the sheriff. Upon arriving at his table, the sheriff motioned for the crowd to clear away and gave you and your sheep enough space to be noticeable amongst the crowd.
"Walter Buchanan, sir, can you spare us a few words?"
>Focus on your sheep. "I couldn't have done it without some help from those you call foes." >Soak in the glory. "I am honored to have served my new home." >Be humble. "I did what I had to in the moment. Nothing more." >Some other direction. (Write-in) Anonymous
>>6071160 >Focus on your sheep. "I couldn't have done it without some help from those you call foes." Also show and explain how our nuts are the key to taming these monsters, the information is too important to keep to ourselves
Anonymous
>>6071160 >Some other direction. (Write-in) >"Thank you for the words. I did what was needed in the moment and am mighty humbled to have been of service and be standing here right now," you began, then gestured one hand toward your dormant companion. "Help from this little stranger also made it possible, and I suppose it's only fair to share the gratitude I received with him. He hardly knew any one of us, yet stuck around until those metal birds couldn't harm us anymore. I hope some of those other critters share inclinations similar to his." You then joked, "for their own sake with those like him around." It says a little bit of what we need to say at the moment without stepping on any toes.
Anonymous
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6071160 >>Some other direction. (Write-in) >Focus on the future. "In truth, If you were to ask me the truth of what the appearance of these creatures meant, what kind of calamity brought them to this little corner of the state- of the world, I would not have any better answer than you. And the events of the past day, well, they raise even more questions for me. But that small miracle we all saw gives me hope, and an idea of how we might weather even the worst of these demons... creatures... whatever you want to call them. And I'm certain that one way or another, Shenanigan's Gulch will stay standing for a long time coming."
Anonymous
>>6071176 +1
I like it. Let’s try to sell the idea of cooperating with the “demons”.
Realistically, I think the Skarmory were the only Pokémon to actually attack people. A small mining town like this could easily sustain herds of the Arron/Rhyhorn/whatever they are with ore dug out of the mountains.
Anonymous
>>6071160 >Focus on your sheep. "I couldn't have done it without some help from those you call foes." We could not have done it without our little yellow ray of sunshine.
Anonymous
>>6071160 >Focus on your sheep. "I couldn't have done it without some help from those you call foes." Love me sheep, simple as.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Thu 01 Aug 2024 22:54:36 No. 6071396 Report Quoted By:
>>6071176 >>6071188 >>6071210 >>6071310 >>6071326 >>6071174 since this is a speech instead of a binary choice, I'll try to combine the tie into something cohesive. The (excellent) write-in is already somewhat sheep-friendly, so it shouldn't be too hard.
I'll post a little bit later. Something came up so my schedule won't be as free as it was until Saturday. After that, though, things should be back to normal.
Anonymous
>>6071176 +1. Also, despite what
>>6071174 said, I'm perosnally VERY against blurting out the secret of the nutberries here. We'll get mobbed or robbed. I don't trust these rubes.
Anonymous
>>6071404 Oh, sorry, should have tagged OP too.
>>6071176 Anonymous
>>6071404 +1 to that.
We’re in a position to start selling some snake oil. Except we actually have something to offer these people, anti-demon services.
Let’s play this up and milk it for what it’s worth.
Anonymous
>>6071417 Are we really going to be this morally dubious?
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6071453 Maybe, maybe not. But we shouldn't tell a panicked mob that already suspects us of (essentially) witchcraft that we happen to have magic berries that can keep them safe from demons. They'll hate, fear, or envy us. We won't get to keep them, and they'll sue them up before we can plant them and make this resource renewable.
>>6071404 >>6071405 These are me, btw.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6071160 Hey, just caught up with the thread. I do have a little something to toss into the other write-ins.
>”Before I met my strange friend, I had been in the care of Elva and Cora. Both helping to care for my injuries and providing shelter at various points, and the latter for dragging me out of the clinic and accompanying me when things went further sideways. I’d much appreciate it if you’d spread some more goodwill their way.” Can’t forget to call out some of the people who helped us get here to begin with. It’s the right thing to do
and it earns more goodwill to call out locals to share in the spotlight since it shows we’re not taking the people here for granted either when they help us. D. Spenser
>>6071160 >>Some other direction. (Write-in) >>"Thank you for the words. I did what was needed in the moment and am mighty humbled to have been of service and be standing here right now," you began, then gestured one hand toward your dormant companion. "Help from this little stranger also made it possible, and I suppose it's only fair to share the gratitude I received with him. He hardly knew any one of us, yet stuck around until those metal birds couldn't harm us anymore. I hope some of those other critters share inclinations similar to his." You then joked, "for their own sake with those like him around." I like the write in. Also, I am inclined to nickname our Mareep Mary if they're a girl, and Franklin if they're a boy.
PoképocalypseQM (on phone)
PoképocalypseQM (on phone) ID:fikORCBP Fri 02 Aug 2024 04:30:05 No. 6071525 Report >>6071174 >>6071176 >>6071188 >>6071210 >>6071310 >>6071326 >>6071404 >>6071514 It was an odd feeling, talking in front of this many people. You’d never really done it before. But, despite your unfamiliarity with the situation, you took to it like a duck to water.
“I really oughta start by thanking you for the opportunity, sheriff. I didn’t expect t’ be sharing any speeches today.” Not after all that, for sure. You glanced at the sheep for another moment— it looked up at you and back out at the crowd. You followed its line of sight.
“I’m mightily humbled to have been of service and standing before you all today, though I’d be remiss to take all the credit for that myself.” You scanned the crowd for a moment before going on.
“If it wasn’t for the works of Elva and her clinic staff, nurse Cora especially,” mild reaction from the crowd, “I woulda been a dead man or raving lunatic right about now.”
Your eyes returned to that of your blue companion’s. “An’ if it wasn’t for the little stranger standing right beside me, we’d still be at the mercy of those vicious birds.”
The sheep followed your words up with an appreciative bleat, laced with static, shushing the crowd and attracting some interested looks from those closest to it.
PoképocalypseQM (on phone)
PoképocalypseQM (on phone) ID:fikORCBP Fri 02 Aug 2024 04:31:05 No. 6071526 Report >>6071525 That gave you pause. Had the sheep just responded to you? Or was that just funny timing?
The crowd gave you pause, leaning in to inspect the sheep or offer empty palms, to which the sheep did naught but offer a curious stare back.
Once the crowd had retreated, you continued.
“He hardly knew anything about us folks, yet he defended us like we were his family and didn’t quit ‘til all those birds were burnt to a crisp.” The crowd’s tone began to shift from intrigue to appreciation. Some people began to smile— others quietly agreed. One older man gave a loud hoot.
All you did was chuckle, in response, and continue on. “I hope, for both our sakes, that some other critters of his ilk share similar inclinations towards us humans.”
The sheep by your side walked in front of you, pushing you slightly, looking up to the sheriff and attempting to wedge itself between you two. “Maybe, someday, if we find more creatures with a mindset like this special fella’s, we won’t need t’ suffer through attacks like today’s any longer— the kind that’ve given us no rest since these creatures first appeared. We won’t have to fear what we know can be defended against, after all.”
The crowd was quiet…
PoképocalypseQM (on phone)
PoképocalypseQM (on phone) ID:fikORCBP Fri 02 Aug 2024 04:32:06 No. 6071527 Report >>6071526 …before erupting into interested chatter and brief expressions of impression.
The conversations people continued bordered on total cacophony.
“How’d he do it? He is unfazed, but my husband-“
“I’d like myself a sheep like that!”
“Surely in league with…”
“How blessed we are to be gifted…“
“Both a hero <span class="mu-i">and</span> an orator, of that caliber?”
“The sheriff’s..!”
“Hush now…”
You returned to your seat, joined by the sheep you had yet to name. The sheriff spoke next… though you already saw a few interested parties eyeing you.
“Thank you, Walt’r, for your speech.”
The sheriff donned his Stetson once more. “It means all the more comin’ from someone so new t’ us.”
He pulled out a bottle of beer and raised it. “To the future of Shenanigan’s Gulch, everybody!”
Those in the crowd who could mirror the gesture did so with haste. You found yourself bereft of a glass with which to mimic it, but smiled along regardless.
A unanimous <span class="mu-i">clink</span> reverberated around the eatery. You swore you could see the sheriff chugging his <span class="mu-i">entire bottle</span> through the sea of glasses, but by the time you could get a clearer look he’d already gotten off the table and sauntered towards the back of the restaurant.
In theory, you had just been left to your own devices again.
In practice, you could see multiple people approaching you from a multitude of angles.
>Stay where you are. Maybe pet the sheep a little bit. If they all come at once, you’ll have control of the conversation and get to hear from them one by one. >Wave over a specific person in hopes that the remaining flow of people is either stopped or stemmed. >Other (write-in). Anonymous
>>6071527 >Stay where you are. Maybe pet the sheep a little bit. If they all come at once, you’ll have control of the conversation and get to hear from them one by one. And when we get a lull, we should go check on Cora.
Anonymous
>>6071525 >>6071526 >>6071527 >Stay where you are. Maybe pet the sheep a little bit. If they all come at once, you’ll have control of the conversation and get to hear from them one by one. Form an orderly queue, please. One by one, everybody!
D. Spenser
>>6071527 >>Stay where you are. Maybe pet the sheep a little bit. If they all come at once, you’ll have control of the conversation and get to hear from them one by one. We are injured and exhausted.
Anonymous
>>6071527 >>Stay where you are. Maybe pet the sheep a little bit. If they all come at once, you’ll have control of the conversation and get to hear from them one by one. Anonymous
>>6071527 >Stay where you are. Maybe pet the sheep a little bit. If they all come at once, you’ll have control of the conversation and get to hear from them one by one. Should be easy enough to direct them to figure it out themselves instead of needing us to do it. Something like waving them all over and saying
>”Now that the speech is over, I would like to remind folks that not long ago I was rightly chided by a kid for holding up the line at the grocery store when I’d fogged out for several minutes. I’d ask y’all to be courteous to me and each other by working out what questions you all share to ask first and then who will speak first for their own.” No harm in leaning on our injury to remain sympathetic, and it’s less likely they’ll take offense if we struggle to manage the conversation effectively.
Anonymous
>>6071527 >Stay where you are. Maybe pet the sheep a little bit. If they all come at once, you’ll have control of the conversation and get to hear from them one by one. >>6071780 I think that might be overselling the bit.
PoképocalypseQM (on phone)
PoképocalypseQM (on phone) ID:fikORCBP Fri 02 Aug 2024 20:07:08 No. 6071995 Report >>6071531 >>6071534 >>6071568 >>6071682 >>6071780 >>6071828 all of this is pretty unanimous. I’ll write up my reply tomorrow. Will try to take the write-ins that work best with the situation into account :)
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6071995 Thanks for the heads up, QM.
The compliment about the write-in is very much appreciated. Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6071995 Alright, we shall be waiting for more of this good stuff.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6071828 Oh, I saw saying it with a smile and a laugh. Show that we’re self-deprecating in good humor but gently remind them that really, we’re seemingly fine until we’re not. Besides, I do want to play down expectations at least a little longer where possible. The higher they are, the quicker we’ll be under the microscope if we fail to meet them.
Doesn’t seem like a stretch to joke around about something serious either given everything that’s been going on. It’s a defense mechanism for some people
like myself when confronting things directly feels more likely to make you to vent instead of staying productive about things.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sat 03 Aug 2024 15:36:39 No. 6072498 Report >>6071531 >>6071534 >>6071568 >>6071682 >>6071780 >>6071828 You kept your guard up as a small swarm of people approached you.
Most of them were older women, you noticed, with one of them even being the questionable character you'd heard accusing you of promoting a circus earlier. Whether she was repeating such an accusation to your face escaped you as everyone began to talk at once.
It took you surrendering your posture and clearing your throat to get everyone to quiet down. "Ladies and gentleman, please, I can't hear any of you through this mess. I haven't an inkling of how y'all're going to hear what I have to say this way."
You slowly began to return your hands to your knees. Once the cacophony had quieted somewhat, a teenage girl led the charge by unleashing a horde of gossipy questions upon you at her first opportunity.
Was it true that you'd been branded a criminal but hours before? Did you know that the birds were going to attack in advance? Were you some kind of animal wizard? How come you'd never been to church yet took to the company of these demons so easily?
You answered all of these with obvious sarcasm or nothing at all. Despite your young age, you had the distinct feeling that you were far too old for this shit. It took an intervention from your bovine bodyguard to ward off the girl, with her attempt at testing whether your gauze was real or tissue paper earning the ire of the sheep and granting the girl a new bruise to nurse off.
Unfortunately for you, many of the other questions were of a similar tone. In fact, one of the older ladies had actually gotten offended that the teenager had "stolen" some of her ideas and stormed off earlier on. It took an audible protest for you to ward off a bunch of the stupider stuff... leaving you with nobody but an aspiring journalist to talk to.
His face was visibly nervous, littered with uncertainty and scant drops of sweat. The poor kid kept looking at you, then your companion, then at your trunk, then at you again. It took a few minutes of stuttering for the guy to start saying anything of substance.
"S-sir, a-ah'm here r-representin' t-the W-Weekly Shasta C-Courier..." ...he shuffled his notes, seemingly having started reading from the wrong page... "...w-was sent here b-bah mah boss, a-ah jus' arrived t-this evenin'. A-ah was... a-ah was wonderin' if y-you could answer a f-few queschuns?" He finally made eye contact.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sat 03 Aug 2024 15:38:33 No. 6072499 Report >>6072498 You spent a half-hour humoring him. The nervous teen's questioning was a breath of fresh air compared to all the baggage the town gossips seemed to carry. All he asked about were easy facts.
Where were you from? Union Village; "a little ways off from Oswego." You didn't clarify further, and the reporter didn't have the confidence to ask for elaboration.
How long had you been here? "About two weeks, give or take a few days." He seemed surprised.
Did you have family in the area? "No, sir, none that i'm aware of."
This kind of easy questioning continued on for some time. The boy only piqued your interest after another seemingly-mundane question. "A-are you aware of t-these events b-bein' replicated a-anywhere else?"
You asked for clarification. "O-oh, a-ah mean attacks l-like t't-day's <span class="mu-i">anywhere</span> else, s-sorry sir. T-there've been r-reports... a-ah've heard in S-Sacramento, L-Los Angeles, e-ev'rywhere... w-<span class="mu-i">weirdo</span> c-creatures t-that don' l-look much like y-you..." ...he glared at the sheep.
Was this happening all across California? "I've only got experience with Shenanigan's Gulch, sorry... unless you can elaborate?"
The reporter swallowed his nerves. His eyes soon drifted to your sheep's and never left them. "...t-the papers a-are sayin' w-we've seen d-demons like y-y-your f-f... f-friend ov'r here.... t-there're a b-bunch in t-the state..."
He took a few steps away from you. "W-we're n-not a big p-paper, a-ah don' know a-about t-the rest o' t-the world..." ...his voice quieted somewhat... "...b-but ah've g-got a feelin' C-California a-ain't alone, a-an' ah jus' wanted t-t' know if m-mah pet theory..."
The boy's voice petered out into something you couldn't hear before a long pause left you both silent. Eventually, the boy-- still looking only at your sheep-- rushed himself into wishing you goodbye and vanished into the ever-thinning crowd.
>Follow the boy and ask him to continue elaborating. He's caught your interest even through all his nervous stammering. >Get your trunk and head home. It's getting rather late. >Other (write-in). Anonymous
>>6072498 >>6072499 >Get your trunk and head home. It's getting rather late. Cora must be getting a bit worried, and I don't think we are going to get much more interesting exposition here.
Anonymous
>>6072499 >>Get your trunk and head home. It's getting rather late. Anonymous
>>6072499 >Get your trunk and head home. It's getting rather late. Sorry I am late, had to save the day and get dragged into things, also hope you don't mind our new friend who tried to electrocute you earlier
Anonymous
>>6072499 >Follow the boy and see if he’ll walk with you to Cora’s place. You could use some information, and you have an idea to run by him. I’d like more information on how well the town is going to hold up if trade is stopped by these creatures. This is a mining town, so I assume it’s not self-sustaining on the food front. He can also give us a quick rundown of who is important in the town. We’re likely to interact with them more once things get settled.
Also, he doesn’t seem comfortable interviewing people, but he can probably take notes well enough and package them in a digestible format later. We could use someone like that to start noting these creatures. What they eat, what they avoid, what can provoke them, things of that nature. We could use eyes on new planife in the area as well because
we need more apricots it may not have stopped at new creatures. I’d be willing to bet that readers would be mighty interested in a newspaper that could tell people all this too.
Run the idea by him, see if he’d be willing to stick around and document our encounters with these creatures in the future. Like it or not, we’re likely to be dealing with them more than most until other “friendly” ones can be found or tamed.
Anonymous
>>6072499 Doubleposting bleh, but I didn’t think of these earlier.
I can also write in
>Track down the sheriff and see if he’ll meet with you at Cora’s early tomorrow morning. You expect you’ll be working more closely with him in the near future. We’re probably not in the best condition to speak with him now given we’ve been drinking and the sheriff has to keep a tough front while so many people are around. I do want to set a flag event before we get swept up by something else though.
>See if you can pick up a rough pillow or blanket for sleeping outdoors from any stores. Cora will have a problem with your new companion, and you should be prepared. I’m not accepting a choice between Cora and our fuzzy friend if she’s too afraid of it coming into the house. Her home was attacked before and she’s too far away to get help if it happens again, but our Mareep saved our life too and many others in the town. We may be sleeping on the porch tonight.
If she hears Thunder, she should hide and not come out until we call her out. If we’re still not used to it after all this exposure, she’ll be absolutely terrified to see it in action. Anonymous
>>6072499 >Get your trunk and head home. It's getting rather late. We can always track down the kid at a later point if we need to talk to him.
Anonymous
>>6072559 +1, very sensible. Good forethought!
>>6072499 PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sat 03 Aug 2024 20:23:27 No. 6072685 Report >>6072559 seeing as these write-ins are excellent but a plethora of people have already voted for the two choices I gave in the initial post, I'll just incorporate these into the next post as part of Walt's plan of action. Thanks for suggesting them.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6072685 Always happy to contribute with write-ins! Pretty sure my success rate isn’t better than anyone else, but I make it up through volume.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sat 03 Aug 2024 22:16:34 No. 6072790 Report >>6072505 >>6072524 >>6072527 >>6072534 >>6072559 >>6072599 >>6072652 Well, that was that.
This tiring day was finally coming to a close.
A sigh of relief escaped you as you got to your feet and stretched for a moment, then moved to grab your trunk once more. The process was a little awkward, but you just barely managed to keep it shut and away from the nutberry basket with some effort.
It was time to go home.
<><><><><>
Leaving Nannie's Nano-Bites behind you proved a smidge harder than you'd initially anticipated. You were pretty sure the <span class="mu-i">entire</span> town had been in that place, because trying to leave amongst the steady stream of people flowing out of the restaurant sure made you <span class="mu-i">feel</span> like it had been. Despite the difficulties, though, you managed to make it out onto Central Road just fine.
An odd quiet settled over the damaged town once you gazed upon it. Especially in comparison to how you'd last seen it, the place almost looked at peace for once.
In... out... your heart had finally slowed enough that you could breathe easily again... even as someone nearby began to retch and vomit. Clearly, the sheriff hadn't been alone in his ambitious drinking ventures.
...a few moments of thought were spared for the lawman as an idea came to you. It'd have to wait until tomorrow morning, you figured, but it'd do.
The sheep was distracting you, anyways. It'd followed you out of the restaurant, of course, and was now bleating in the direction of the defeated anteater from before. The creature hadn't moved from where it last was. You wondered if the sheep was expressing that it knew something was wrong with it.
And now you had to consider Cora, as well. You were a guest in her house, after all, and she didn't have the most pleasant history with this creature. Hm.
<><><><><>
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sat 03 Aug 2024 22:17:35 No. 6072793 Report >>6072790 A prayer occupied your thoughts as you headed down the trail to Cora's house with a rough pillow underneath your chin, blocking what parts of your vision the trunk already hadn't. You felt the pillow worth it-- especially just for the knowledge that the general store was open so late-- but you weren't comforted by the knowledge that you were now rather vulnerable to being blindsided. The only solace you had was the fact that you could still see at all.
Even now, the sheep refused to leave your side. You felt it brushing against your leg, prompting your hairs to stand on end, occasionally giving the odd look up at you or making a quiet "mehh" at nothing in particular. With each noise your curiosity grew. The crackle of electricity that pervaded its battle cries seemingly came and went as the sheep pleased. Perhaps it was some sort of warning?
Upon reaching the river, you were surprised to see Cora resting on the opposite bank. She was equally surprised to see you... and your wooly friend.
The nurse approached you with caution, never letting her eyes leave the sheep, tiptoeing over the river with a fair amount of grace before stopping as far as she could from the sheep.
She spotted you... then her gaze fell upon the sheep. "...I'd advise that you back away a few paces, Walter. We have an unexpected guest with us."
You replied with a gentle chuckle. "I wouldn't call it unexpected. This creature's been followin' me like a dog since I fed it a nutberry back in town."
Cora's eyes widened. "Now, why would you do that?"
<><><><><>
You delivered a lengthy explanation as the pair of you got to bringing your heavy load inside and Cora got to lighting the place up for the night. The routine was occasionally interrupted by a gasp from Cora or a bleat from the sheep, but otherwise went smoothly. However, it was only as the pair of you sat down to have dinner that Cora seemed to finally grasp things.
"The entire town... at one restaurant... and it didn't move an inch?"
"Well, it moved plenty. But only t' follow or protect me."
The nurse looked to the sheep again, which was now sitting at your side and ogling your meal as if it was its own, with caution. "...I still don't want it here. I... I believe I can trust you, but this sheep-like demon has yet to earn the same position."
You raised a brow. "I thought you considered me untrustworthy."
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sat 03 Aug 2024 22:18:35 No. 6072796 Report >>6072793 Cora's shoulders eased a little. The nurse almost looked embarrassed to continue. "Well, yes. I figured after you'd left that I would honour my promise not to trust anyone branded a criminal, and that included you... but once I finally had some time to myself I found it a little foolish. You've saved me from danger with little obligation, carried me to my home when we were under attack, even listened to me and brought me groceries while I was pitching a fit about your criminal record. I'm lucky you haven't barricaded me in here and left me to rot with how I've been behaving towards you."
The sheep gave an impatient bleat. You found yourself offering it a piece of untouched lettuce in an effort to quiet it. The sheep seemed to appreciate the gesture, but the speed at which it finished your measly morsel clearly signaled its desire for more. "I don't think you need t' worry about me treating you like one of the old barn animals, madam. I'm just repaying the debt I owe you for all of this." You motioned to your bandaged head.
A few moments of quiet eating passed before the nurse spoke up once more. "I appreciate it." She offered up a shy smile with her apology.
You returned the favor.
The sheep was herded outside for the night, much to its dismay. The creature was offered your spare pillow as comfort, but it still seemed rather upset by your choosing to leave it outside. Not even you were comfortable with the idea of it sleeping in the house, however, so it spent its night sleeping beside the shack instead of within it.
Come early morning, you were already outside and washing yourself. You planned on finding the sheriff as soon as possible, but beyond that your day was free. What were you to do with this free time?
[Choose two.]
>Track down that paper boy and see what he has to say. There's no way he could have left town by now. >Try to get to know Cora a little more. It wouldn't hurt to get to know the person giving you shelter. >Start trying to document some of the creatures by portioning out times to observe and take notes on them. You'll spend at least some time during both the night and day. >See what you can do to help the town recover from yesterday's attacks. You probably won't be able to help with construction due to your head injury, but maybe some other clean-up is in order? >Take a lengthy rest someplace safe to calm your nerves and soothe your healing wounds. >Explore the woods on the other side of the river to see what's there. Anonymous
>>6072790 >>6072793 >>6072796 >Start trying to document some of the creatures by portioning out times to observe and take notes on them. You'll spend at least some time during both the night and day. >Try to get to know Cora a little more. It wouldn't hurt to get to know the person giving you shelter. Let's go with these two. I honestly don't think that boy could have told us much more, and I think knowing more about the creatures could help soften Cora's demeanor towards your little companion.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6072812 could should be couldn't, sorry.
Anonymous
>>6072812 +1
for the future we could ask around if anyone knows how to grow those nutberries
Anonymous
>>6072812 Supported. The paper boy might stay in town for a day or two longer at the least due to all the Pokemon running around, and it'll be quicker to get Cora to warm up to our Mareep this way. Speaking of which, beginning documentation will allow us to develop a naming convention for the creatures; no one knows them by their "original" names and this is now semi-historical fiction. Henri Douvillé's contribution to naming codes in 1881 is the most recent to the events of the quest, but the QM mentioned Strickland earlier, so it's likely his call if it comes to that, kek.
Anonymous
>>6072812 +1
It's not been very long so the boy probably doesn't have much information for us yet
Anonymous
>>6072812 +1
>>6072834 I mean they look like oversized colorful acorns effectively, even without OOC meta knowledge of how easy it is to grow these things it wouldn't be much of a stretch to put one in the dirty water it for a bit and see if anything happens.
Anonymous
>>6072834 >>6072882 We should be able to figure out how to cultivate and distribute the nutberries after talking with the sheriff. They grow into small trees, so it'll be a long term project.
Anonymous
>>6072796 >>6072812 Supporting. I would only want to explore after coordinating with him so we can go with a small party, and taking our own notes is one way to show what we’ll need someone to do while we’re traveling or patrolling or whatever. We’ll be the least helpful in the town as well, especially if our friend gets too protective while we’re working.
We can always ask the sheriff for help finding the paper boy if press-ganging him as our writer gets traction.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6072796 >Track down that paper boy and see what he has to say. There's no way he could have left town by now. It would make sense that he'd wait until morning to leave
>Take a lengthy rest someplace safe to calm your nerves and soothe your healing wounds. Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6072796 >See what you can do to help the town recover from yesterday's attacks. You probably won't be able to help with construction due to your head injury, but maybe some other clean-up is in order? >Start trying to document some of the creatures by portioning out times to observe and take notes on them. You'll spend at least some time during both the night and day. PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sun 04 Aug 2024 13:30:48 No. 6073314 Report Quoted By:
>>6072812 >>6072834 >>6072849 >>6072877 >>6072882 >>6072900 yet another pretty unanimous vote! I'll take into account.
I've got the day free today so I'm going to try and reply as much as possible. Will leave votes open for about an hour and then reply.
Writing...
Anonymous
>>6072882 >>6072895 We're a biologist
There are plants who need to be eaten by an animal and be digested to then be able to grow in their poop.
There are plants that need to be burned in bush firest for their hard shells to crust, so the plant will then grow.
There are plants that need to be frozen first and dew to activate the growth process.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sun 04 Aug 2024 15:47:15 No. 6073371 Report You finished your morning routine with a newfound certainty directing your thoughts. Today there would be no chaos-- no, today would be a day of discussions and research. Something calm for once... <><><><><> Your trek to the sheriff's office was thankfully uneventful. Your sheep brought you company, once more refusing to leave your side, as you gave a brief knock upon the shoddy door. After some commotion, the short man built like a brick whose face you'd come to memorize greeted you with a half-aware expression. Whatever greeting he gave was slightly slurred, and he refused to talk to you before disappearing into a room and returning with a wet face and wide eyes. "So, Mr Buchanan, you here for sumthin'?" the man barked, his old vigor returning to him, leaning back in a spinning chair and giving you a stern look. "Just your audience, sir," you pulled up a chair across from him. The sheriff seemed intrigued. "Go on." "I was wonderin' about trade, sir, and farming 'round these parts." He raised a brow. "I heard this was a mining town with little interference in the wildlife-- it's part of why I was sent here, sir, to study. I wasn't told as much about the flora, but I've not seen many fields here. Am I right to assume that you mostly import foodstuffs?" The sheriff spent some time pondering. You could tell it had been a while since he'd answered questions like these. "...well, you wouldn'ta been right some time ago, when we were makin' efforts to curb that. But... with our fields destroyed an' our town less-than-organized, ah wouldn't say we've got much t' eat besahdes the berries in th' woods and whatev'r we can get from the Redding trains." A frown crept onto your face. Would trains still be running during circumstances as dire as these? Your train of thought was halted by another reply. "Why ask?" "Well, sir, I'm not from 'round here. You know that much. I just wanted to know the situation of basic necessities and how it'd affect my research." The sheriff's brow began to furrow. "You keep talkin' about all this research, boy, and I'm still here in the dark. All ah know about you is that you showed up a week or two ago, you stayed at our hotels and drank at our bars, then saved our town from a bunch o' demons whom you're now insistin' aren't actual threats. I'd like it if you explained what you're doin' here before discussin' this research o' yours."
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sun 04 Aug 2024 15:48:16 No. 6073372 Report >>6073371 A brief explanation ensued. Once you were finished, the sheriff seemed to ease up a bit.
"Lookin' t' research our local flora and fauna for a fortune, eh? What luck you've had, then, t' wind up here 'n now." He gave a dry laugh. "Ah suppose ah can't fault you for your timin'. If you knew about this, ah'd've had plenny more questions than ah've got about now."
You nodded. "Definitely. You wouldn't know anyone who could help me with my endeavors, would you?"
The sheriff shrugged. "Best I can do ya for is the local news. Any journalist ah've met seems t' be great with notes. Simpson an' Dudley's has got some bear traps in case you need 'em," you winced at the possibility that you might, "but that's about it."
That was your main pair of questions answered, but you still had the sheriff's attention. What would you do with it?
>Warn him of the metal-eaters that could sabotage train lines and recommend he prepare for interference. >Ask about fertile land within the state. >Clarify your stance on the 'demons' and recommend against trying to attack or drive them out without provocation. >Ask about evacuation plans and whether the town had any if things got dire enough; which city would people move to and how, what it would take for such plans to be put into effect, etc. >Nothing. Move on and start researching the strange new creatures. >Write-in. Anonymous
>>6073371 >>6073372 >Warn him of the metal-eaters that could sabotage train lines and recommend he prepare for interference. "They might not be actively hostile, but they sure have an appetite for the rails."
Anonymous
>>6073372 >>Warn him of the metal-eaters that could sabotage train lines and recommend he prepare for interference. And even if the train lines are in tact, if every other town has these problems, they may need the food for themselves, and are looking after their own first.
May be smart to put some rationing into effect until we can be sure that we can still get food from outside town.
>Clarify your stance on the 'demons' and recommend against trying to attack or drive them out without provocation. They seem to be smarter than regular animals, and they've been brought here by forced beyond our understanding. The sheep thing was just a scared animal, and now it clings to us because we were the first to show it kindness.
Anonymous
>>6073372 >Warn him of the metal-eaters that could sabotage train lines and recommend he prepare for interference. It would be important to note that they appear to be living off the metal and are likely pests rather than predators.
>Clarify your stance on the 'demons' and recommend against trying to attack or drive them out without provocation. This might be information the sheriff may or may not be realizing at the moment, but it's good to avoid unnecessary conflict. If our sheep-like friend can be agreeable, perhaps others among the new fauna can be as well.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sun 04 Aug 2024 16:47:27 No. 6073413 Report >>6073377 >>6073385 >>6073410 Pretty unanimous once again. I'll integrate everything. Writing...
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6073413 Damn, wasn’t in time for my own question.
I wanted to ask him if he expected we’d be needed to accompany any caravans for trade since the roads and rails likely aren’t clear. Even if these creatures aren’t everywhere yet it’s pretty obvious living creatures breed. Their habitats will expand over time.
I’m not opposed to being called on for it. All I’d ask for in return is his influence to get us help in studying these creatures wherever possible. We need info if we’re going to tame the new wilds, and it can’t wait until university folks from the other coast find their way over here to poke and prod things.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sun 04 Aug 2024 17:36:23 No. 6073437 Report "I'll keep them in mind. Thank you, sheriff." You sat yourself up a little straighter. "You mentioned, earlier, how I was insisting that these newcomers were not a threat." An eager nod from the sheriff interrupted your opener. You continued. "And I stand by that. Unless you attack them first, I don't think there's much reason t' fear these creatures." The sheriff sat up as straight as you had, immediately moving to correct you. "We didn' do anythin' to those birds, Buchanan." You kept your posture. "I saw the gunshots, sheriff. You may not have hit them, but you most cert'nly caught their attention." Your eyes drifted to the sheep pacing around your chair, seemingly looking for some kind of threat. "I didn't provoke this little blue fella, and he did nothin' to me. In fact, he understood my intentions well enough t' seemingly bond t' me, and I've had some trouble shakin' him off since." Another quiet chuckle escaped you. It was funny to think that you were even trying to rid yourself of its company. "These new arrivals are certainly smarter than your average sheep or bird. They understand kindness and know what we mean by 'em." "I think, if ah can do it an' come out unscathed, there's nothing stopping you and your town from holdin' off on the pistols and provokin' fights until one of them's already made an aggressive move." You kept your tone steady and your voice quiet. The sheriff seemed to take slight offense to your implications, but he didn't respond until he'd seemingly cooled down a little. "I assure you, boy, that our town has no problems with this sorts'a stuff until our folks are provoked. We're already takin' your advice." "I'm glad to hear that." You hoped the sheriff was being genuine and that what you'd witnessed earlier was just a fluke. "...though, I figure it'd be irresponsible of me not to let you know of the metal-eaters." "The met'l eaters?" "You've already had a close encounter with 'em, if my memory's got things right." You jabbed a finger at the messy hallway that led to the jail cells. Or, what remained of it. "...right. Those devils."
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6073335 Well yeah but we got a ton of em don't we? My main point is as far as im aware we got enough of those things to experiment with and something as simple as "does it need anything special to grow or can it just grow with minimal effort?" seems pretty important to figure out. Besides we probably aint the only fellow with seeds like these and id rather us not get beaten out by the first casual joe to make a uneducated logical conclusion.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sun 04 Aug 2024 17:37:24 No. 6073440 Report >>6073437 "They ate my prison bars, back there. It's how I got out. Ever since, I've seen them chase after metal, and <span class="mu-i">only</span> metal. Never have I seen one lay a finger upon a human soul save for your own, and I heard you firin' bullets at them earlier."
The sheriff frowned. He was going to say something but bit his lip shut instead.
"Now, I figure there's some real danger in a town swarmin' with these creatures getting its food supply solely from railroads."
You saw his face turn pale.
"And you saw what my companion did t' those birds."
The sheriff gave a slow nod. He seemed to be paying attention to something else, now, that only he could see. His thoughts, perhaps.
"If it's any consolation, I'd be willing to accompany some trading caravans just in case the train network goes down. To keep them safe. All I can ask for in return is that you help me with my studies as much as possible." A hint of ice crept into your tone. You hadn't intended it to, but the situation was grave. It required such seriosity, did it not?
There was a long bout of silence. Then, the sheriff finally spoke again. "...it'd be a pleasure t' have you protectin' our food supply, Buchanan. Ah'm sure the rest o' the town would say th' same once you explain things."
Your expression grew softer. "I'd hope they would. Thank you for agreein' to this."
The floor complained as you shuffled back and got out of your seat. "If ever you need me, I'll be down at Cora's house on the River. I don't plan on leaving this town for some time, sir, so it shouldn't be hard to find me."
The sheriff nodded and tipped his hat to you.
On your way out the door, you paused for but a moment. "...consider some kind of rationing, sir, if anythin' goes awry."
With that, you left the sheriff to his own devices.
>Begin researching the local wildlife; specifically, the new creatures. >Pick up one of those bear traps the sheriff mentioned first. >Write-in. Anonymous
>>6073335 Well yeah but we got a ton of em don't we? My main point is as far as im aware we got enough of those things to experiment with and something as simple as "does it need anything special to grow or can it just grow with minimal effort?" seems pretty important to figure out. Besides we probably aint the only fellow with seeds like these and id rather us not get beaten out by the first casual joe to make a uneducated logical conclusion.
Anyway
>Begin researching the local wildlife; specifically, the new creatures. Also sorry for briefly posting between ya post OP.
Anonymous
>>6073437 >>6073440 >Begin researching the local wildlife; specifically, the new creatures. Let's see the local fauna.
Anonymous
>>6073440 >Begin researching the local wildlife; specifically, the new creatures. Anonymous
>>6073440 >Begin researching the local wildlife; specifically, the new creatures. PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sun 04 Aug 2024 18:16:56 No. 6073463 Report Rolled 40 (1d100) >>6073441 No worries man.
>>6073441 >>6073443 >>6073449 >>6073460 Once you'd left the sheriff behind you, it occurred to you that you hadn't thought of where exactly you'd begin your studies. Where did you want to focus your research for the day?
>Just around town is good. You might be interrupted by townsfolk, but there should be plenty of wildlife to study without danger here. >By the river. You'd be close to Cora and able to study someplace quiet. The only downside was that you hadn't spotted many of the strange new creatures in there at all... >In the forest. Arboreal areas always had an abundance of wildlife, so it'd be a great place to start looking... assuming you knew how to find your way back. >Up the mountain. There was no way you'd make it out unscathed, but it might help to know more about the place all the deadliest threats seem to be coming from. Anonymous
>>6073463 >By the river. You'd be close to Cora and able to study someplace quiet. The only downside was that you hadn't spotted many of the strange new creatures in there at all... This ties into the "rest and recover" option from a few updates back, I think
Anonymous
>>6073463 >Actually... You have one cooperating specimen right next to you. Take measurements, weigh it, draw it, see how well it responds to commands
Anonymous
>>6073463 >Just around town is good. You might be interrupted by townsfolk, but there should be plenty of wildlife to study without danger here. >>6073470 Seconded. Let's start with our little buddy, name him according to the zoology codes of the time, and note qualitative and quantitative information about the creature like
>>6073470 suggests. Each one we study could be categorized by family, to genus, to species, to subspecies
, to evolution in that order alphabetically. That way, they could be identified both separately from the existing animal species or with them depending on the use case.
Anonymous
>>6073463 >By the river. You'd be close to Cora and able to study someplace quiet. The only downside was that you hadn't spotted many of the strange new creatures in there at all... Our boy Waltur has a career cut out for him in the field of marine biology.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6073463 >Just around town is good. You might be interrupted by townsfolk, but there should be plenty of wildlife to study without danger here. Anonymous
>>6073463 >By the river. You'd be close to Cora and able to study someplace quiet. The only downside was that you hadn't spotted many of the strange new creatures in there at all... There may be new plants as well, and we’d find them near water most likely. Besides, it’d be good to know if we have to worry about the drinking water for the town since I assume the river is a key source of it.
>Actually... You have one cooperating specimen right next to you. Supporting
>>6073470 , it makes sense.
>See if your companion can lead you to other nuts like the ones you have. No idea how good at tracking our friend is, but if we truly think it’s pretty intelligent then we should try to have it help. If it takes us somewhere specific, I’d let that override my river vote.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sun 04 Aug 2024 19:26:04 No. 6073530 Report Quoted By:
>>6073468 >>6073498 >>6073524 River it is!
>>6073470 This write-in is also pretty popular, so I'll take it into account. I appreciate all the planning ahead.
Anonymous
Unrelated, I wonder if anyone has tried cooking and eating the dead ant or birds yet. Might want to use any that we take down to supplement food stocks if they’re edible. I assume they have fleshy bits, it’d just be hard to get to them.
Anonymous
>>6073531 Just get the arons to eat the metal
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6073532 Good thought. If they have saliva then we’d need to test how toxic it is to touch or ingest with medical staff nearby to force us to throw up, but that’d be a good way to domesticate them. Give them food, get our own food afterward.
… not that I’m saying we need to be the one to test this. If needed, sure, but most people could volunteer for a test of this sort.
Anonymous
>>6073531 I.... this is one of the concepts I'd be comfortable with never being touched on.
Anonymous
>>6073555 There was a quest in which anons ran a restaurant that served cooked pokemon. It was pretty neat given the descriptions from both a food safety and cooking process viewpoint.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sun 04 Aug 2024 21:11:07 No. 6073604 Report hey, sorry, there's been a family emergency I'm not sure i'll have the time for another post today and might be busy tomorrow thread's not dead, I just won't be able to post for the rest of the day will return to the usual 2-a-day schedule when this clears up
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6073604 No worries, QM. I hope everything turns out okay.
Anonymous
Wow, I really like this quest. Getting flung into 1884 California with pokemon spontaneously manifesting afterwards is a really fun idea, especially since there is absolutely no information on what pokemon even are. I'm gonna keep a close eye on this. But what's the longterm gameplan? We still need to figure out how to cultivate those taming acorn things before we run out of all of them, and we need to deal with co-existing with the demons since there is no human weaponry currently in existence that can really hurt them. I'm not going to get into the fact that any pre-existing animals bigger than a mouse are just Fucked™ by the new natural order, or that its possible that other parties have a headstart in understanding and weaponizing the creatures, but that will have to be addressed sooner or later. All that said, Mary is a good name for our shining beacon of a sheep.
Anonymous
>>6073555 This is the United States in the 1880s.
Someone, somewhere, has already shot and eaten one of these creatures.
And probably got the hide tanned and turned into a floor mat.
And just wait till the city people get a look at the new fashions that can be made with steel feathers…
Yeah this is gonna go badly. Like it did for most wildlife west of the Mississippi River. And we’re almost 100 years away from the Endangered Species Act being passed.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6073604 We’re praying for ya QM.
Here’s hoping your family comes out okay!
Anonymous
>>6073604 No worries, thread’s not going anywhere in the meantime!
>>6073632 I suppose we need to figure out our own motivations before we do the long-term plan. Do we intend to exploit these new creatures, or shepherd them? Do we build a large flock and spend our time leading it all, or focus only on keeping a small one so we have time for other activities? Will we travel with people, or go about by ourself and our fuzzy(/not-so-fuzzy) friends?
Personally, even ten thousand dollars seems trite when we’re now friends with a blue sheep that can call down the wrath of heaven itself. What is money compared to that level of power? Anyone with a small group of these creatures can terrorize and capture entire towns to serve at their whim. Anyone who would go around fighting that or simply educating could demand similar respect in this sudden new world order.
But given our character’s inclinations, I’d prefer to become what would essentially be a wandering Professor in game-speak. Keep a light pack, travel around, and learn how everyone can live in the new West with these interlopers.
I’d do 3 mons max myself. We may have more while in a town as we learn and educate others, but I’d rather travel with a small, strong group than try to manage too many creatures in different habitats.
>>6073684 The thing that’ll slow this train down is the high lethality of so many of these species. You’d need larger teams of people to hunt them down until trainers establish a footing, and that’ll limit how quickly they can move and hunt.
There will probably be laws regulating trainers passed by the government. One of the enticements to get people to register and travel out west could be the right to capture, kill, and sell the parts of these creatures legally (everyone else wouldn’t be allowed to kill them without a trainer involved) if they can get it registered as one of the interlopers. It’s not like anyone’s encountered wildlife that can naturally melt steel with a high-powered flamethrower after all, and most people would want to keep it that way until others figure out how to manage all this safely.
It wouldn’t stop poaching from others (in many cases it’d resolve itself until people know more) but it would give every town a reason to have a trainer, much like a sheriff. That should keep casualties low enough to keep settling the west.
I’m just spitballing here though. Their reaction will be judged more by what’s it’s done to the rest of the US.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6073632 I mean orcas will probably be fine they are practically IRL pokemons already anyway.
Anonymous
>>6073632 >But what's the longterm gameplan? Being the first "Pokemon professor" with Ranger work on the side doesn't sound too bad.
>any pre-existing animals bigger than a mouse are just Fucked™ by the new natural order Not necessarily. Gigantic squids, grizzly bears, Siberian tigers, deep sea creatures and all the other big or ferocious predators might get by through sheer force alone. Others like horses might end up crossbreeding with Pokemon, potentially creating new species in the process. Insects and rodents will get by just like they have before. Animals already domesticated should also be fine.
>Mary is a good name for our shining beacon of a sheep. Someone suggested Franklin if the Mareep ends up being male, kek.
>>6073567 I'm looking forward to this eventually being touched upon as well. Miltanks will be a game changer for agriculture.
>>6073684 I think the combination of both higher lethality and chance of domestication should remedy this, as
>>6073713 mentioned. That being said, the emergence of trainers will become a bureaucratic nightmare. If you think hunting licenses and gun possession laws are already a hot topic, this will be tenfold. Owning Pokemon might be considered a constitutional right under the Second Amendment, even if they won't necessarily be considered weapons. What are you going to do, keep an Eevee away from a kid?
>>6073713 >I’d rather travel with a small, strong group than try to manage too many creatures in different habitats. With Pokeballs out of the picture, I agree. This might be the "standard" for group size for most trainers in this world.
Anonymous
>>6073783 Speaking of considering pokemon guns I wonder if after this realities equivalent to WW1 using certain pokemon in war will be a warcrime.
Anonymous
>>6073783 I can’t see how pokemon would fall under the second amendment any more than owning a trained bear would. Yes, they can both kill people, but neither is firearm under the law.
Now, whether a completely new amendment regarding pokemon gets passed would be an entirely valid question. Religions are going to die, form, and be remade around this event. No reason governments shouldn’t as well. I see people wanting to settle some matters, such as settling the legal status of intelligent pokemon like Alakazam, through the amendment process to ensure what gets passed sticks for a long, long time.
Anonymous
>>6073783 While we're discussing the implications of things, some of the other things I can see happening besides the ones I mentioned are:
>Former Confederate states begin using Pokemon as slaves for their plantations, reviving slavery. >Big pharma doing what it already does and attempting to nickel and dime every aspect of Pokemon care, including making sure the Pokecenter machine never sees the light of day. >People raising Pokemon as intelligent and conscious as human beings like as if they were their own children. A separate category for these will be designated, but they will almost certainly become second-class citizens at best until their equivalent of MLK comes along almost a century from now. I can't begin to imagine what slurs against Pokemon would sound like. They'd probably be simple ones like "pet," "demon," or "boy/girl" as one would refer to a dog. >Religious movements are incited or invigorated by the arrival of Pokemon, specifically legendary ones. Expect some Mormon or Jehovah's Witness type cults. >Military doctrine and war strategy are revolutionized by Pokemon, bringing about an arms race rivaling that of the Cold War. >Energy and electricity will develop around Electric and Fire types, democratizing energy yet creating a very precarious precedent for treatment of Pokemon. Edison is going to flip but Tesla will have the time of his life. Anonymous
>>6073792 Certain Poison, Psychic, Dark, and Ghost type abilities would be the most likely if that happens.
>>6073799 >I can’t see how pokemon would fall under the second amendment any more than owning a trained bear would. Yes, they can both kill people, but neither is firearm under the law. Pokemon can be practically used to defend one's self and resist a tyrannical government, so it might. The QM for Pokemon Loser Quest
I miss it brought up a hypothetical situation in which one kid killed dozens of people by detonating a bunch of Electrodes in one area.
>Now, whether a completely new amendment regarding pokemon gets passed would be an entirely valid question. >I see people wanting to settle some matters, such as settling the legal status of intelligent pokemon like Alakazam, through the amendment process to ensure what gets passed sticks for a long, long time. Oh, one certainly will. This is going to be a monumental societal shakeup.
>Religions are going to die, form, and be remade around this event. No reason governments shouldn’t as well. Golurks would become synonymous with Judaism due to their IRL inspiration from golems. Christianity will survive as it always has, but pseudo-Christian cults will arise. Who knows what would happen with Native American cultures.
Anonymous
>>6073814 >>6073826 I was also thinking of pokemon like Bouffalant and Tauros giving the then still fighting indians a second lease on life, as real buffaloes went extinct one year after the current story date.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6073832 >Shoot what you think is a buffalo >Turns around >It's a Boufalant and it's about to fire a hyper beam >mfw Anonymous
>>6073783 >Not necessarily. Gigantic squids, grizzly bears, Siberian tigers, deep sea creatures and all the other big or ferocious predators might get by through sheer force alone. I'm pretty sure a Pikachu could 1v1 a Siberian Tiger and come out on top. In terms of outright firepower, Pokemon outgun conventional animals by a country mile. I can see the really deep sea animals, small rodents and insects getting on by like they always have, but the apex predators of yesterday are either getting written off the census or getting bumped down the pecking order by a drastic magnitude.
>That being said, the emergence of trainers will become a bureaucratic nightmare. If you think hunting licenses and gun possession laws are already a hot topic, this will be tenfold. I also think that in the further future, powerful trainers would "become" the military, where strong trainers make for a strong country. Tanks and helicopters mean jack shit when someone rolls up to the battlefield with a goddamn Tyranitar.
>With Pokeballs out of the picture, I agree. This might be the "standard" for group size for most trainers in this world. Pretty sure it was early gen II lore that people used to walk around with pokemon before someone had the bright idea of cracking open an apricorn and capturing pokemon. My comfortable limit would be 3 critters walking about with us at a time. Wonder if we'll ever invent pokeballs.
Anonymous
>>6073826 >Certain Poison, Psychic, Dark, and Ghost type abilities would be the most likely if that happens. >be in the trenches >endure weeks of horrific warfare, sounds you swear came from Hell itself, muddy trash caked in disease and filth, and your own urges to curl up and die >one of your comrades moans in pain, covered head to toe in hellhound burns >another is completely comatose, as if his very soul was taken from him >you went with your buddy to run out of the trenches, only to see him get swallowed alive by the hungry purple demons >hear hellish incantations that give you headaches >see hallucinations of the dead beckoning you to join them >pockets of pitch blackness periodically materialize on the battlefield and suck everything in it's range into itself, killing anyone and anything almost instantly >yfw you feel a chill up your spine at the dead of night Anonymous
>>6073792 I mean, the world of the Pokémon games did have a Pokémon War. Lieutenant Surge tells us as much, and that he served with the Pokémon that he uses in his gym.
With the Pokémon world as sparsely populated and peaceful as it is, it wouldn’t really surprise me if the world was created by the veterans of an apocalyptic war who just never wanted to fight again.
Anonymous
>>6073909 There is next to no armor in the world that can shrug off a direct hit from an artillery shell. Pokémon will die just like people on the battlefield. And there is no way in hell a 6’ tall Tyranitar would survive being hit with an entire machine gun magazine.
Now the question comes to: what *could* they be used for? Because if we’re talking about something like WW1 trench clearing, there is a case where a Tyranitar could truly shine.
Anonymous
>>6074204 >There is next to no armor in the world that can shrug off a direct hit from an artillery shell. There wasn't, until Pokemon appeared. It's really up to the OP to decide the limits of pokemon in this setting, but it does get crazy fast when you consider all of the material available. For example, Tyranitar's dex entries:
>Its body can't be harmed by any sort of attack, so it is very eager to make challenges against enemies. >If it rampages, it knocks down mountains and buries rivers. Maps must be redrawn afterward. >Tyranitar is so overwhelmingly powerful, it can bring down a whole mountain to make its nest. This Pokémon wanders about in mountains seeking new opponents to fight. Obviously these interpretations aren't ironclad between different pokemon media, and you can reasonably assume that these are more myth than fact in a more grounded setting. Maybe in this world it could still get hurt by artillery shells, but I believe it could eat machine gun bullets and ask for more. But there's no telling for sure until OP declares it or we come across that scenario in-quest.
Anonymous
>>6074204 Forgot to respond to this
>Now the question comes to: what *could* they be used for? My first thought was training psychic type pokemon to teleport large amounts of supplies to the home field, or drop a bunch of set bombs and missles directly above enemy territory. There's also launching a bunch of self destructing pokemon like Electrode out of cannons, using poison pokemon like Weezing as a substitute for mustard gas and acid attacks, and ground type pokemon to trap and incapacitate ground units like tanks and foot soldiers by making the ground unstable and muddy. We've seen Skarmory shrug off bullets, those could probably fuck up helicopters no problem and harass the soldiers below. Smart pokemon like Alakazam and Metagross could be in charge of tactics, and healing pokemon like Blissey and Audino would be able to mend the physical and mental wounds of injured combatants. The pokemon arms race is basically inevitable, and warfare with magical creatures sounds scary as shit.
Anonymous
>>6073909 >I'm pretty sure a Pikachu could 1v1 a Siberian Tiger and come out on top. Fair enough, but it's terrifying how many hits a grizzly bear can take before going down.
>I also think that in the further future, powerful trainers would "become" the military, where strong trainers make for a strong country. Tanks and helicopters mean jack shit when someone rolls up to the battlefield with a goddamn Tyranitar. I think it will have a very similar effect as drones do, oddly enough. Long-range artillery and armaments would receive the most development, as those can be used from a distance as long as Pokemon can guard them. Pokemon that can teleport, create portals, and dig tunnels would also be extensively utilized.
>Wonder if we'll ever invent pokeballs. Even with the technology
at least publicly available today, that would be an immense undertaking. Saying someone had the idea to make one would be like saying someone looked at two magnets repelling each other and getting the idea to make a quantum experiment chamber. I suspect that they will never be touched upon in this quest for this reason alone.
>>6073921 This would have been a summary of the quest has we voted for the 1910s.
>>6074199 This has the unsettling implication that war is so apocalyptic and inhumane in the Pokemon setting, the regions avoid it altogether. There are already horrifying things used in war IRL and politicians still wage wars, just for reference.
>>6074204 >>6074226 Long-range bombardments could probably take one down, but as it's more efficient to use another Pokemon to take one down, it would be used to soften one up so that others could finish it off with little trouble.
>>6074229 These are goods predictions. I could also see dog-like Pokemon being used as alphas for "normal" dogs in early 20th century warfare or hunting, able to lead them to a fidelity that no man could before.
Anonymous
>>6074308 >I suspect that they will never be touched upon in this quest for this reason alone. I mean it's not a impossibility, do got to remember Pokemon Arceus exists and they pretty much answered the question of "but how do these ancient people get pokeballs?" by inventing a mcguffin called a tumble stone that sorta just magically combines with a apricorn to make a more primitive version of one. Now if any of those magic stones exist in our world or if Pokemon Arceus is being considered at all by OP as relevant I can't say.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6074348 I kinda hope they don’t invent Pokeballs.
I like our wooly companion following at Walt’s heels instead of spending his life in a capsule.
Anonymous
>>6074348 >Pokemon Arceus exists and they pretty much answered the question of "but how do these ancient people get pokeballs?" by inventing a mcguffin called a tumble stone that sorta just magically combines with a apricorn to make a more primitive version of one. The game's alright, but this always felt like fiat to me. I think it would have been far more interesting if they came up with a system to tame Pokemon without Pokeballs, rather than get lazy and keep them in despite the massive retcon that would be.
>Now if any of those magic stones exist in our world It would be a very big problem for Pokemon that rely on stones to evolve if they don't, Eevee being just one example, but I don't think they would occur naturally here. If they did, cobalt and sulfur mining would look humane in comparison. That being said, it would either take a divine intervention of sorts
which would cause seismic shifts on a calamitous scale that we would have felt by now or a highly advanced scientific breakthrough to achieve that. Trafficking would become a massive crisis with Pokeballs in the picture, if things ever reach that point in the distant future. I expect that Pokemon reliant on stones to evolve will either adapt over generations to find alternative means to do so or evolve into new forms entirely, not unlike regional variants. Imagining a Doublade evolving into a form with three swords or a male Kirlia evolving with a brimmed hat and six shooters is pretty funny.
>if Pokemon Arceus is being considered at all by OP as relevant I can't say. It is canon in the Pokemon setting, but I'm not sure if I understand what you mean.
Anonymous
>>6074385 I'm talking about the tumblestones specifically, they are a mineral in Pokemon Arceus and certain pokemon drop them, pretty much I mean "will OP at some point add or bring up tumblestones or not?" cause that will effect heavily the feasibility of there being anything resembling a pokeball within the timescale this quest is set in.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6074391 Yeah, I know what you meant by that. I'm saying that if tumblestones aren't present, evolution stones likely won't be either.
Anonymous
>>6074385 There’s nothing saying that the evolution stones couldn’t be existing minerals or compounds in our world, right? We’ve never had pokemon before so it’s not like we’d know about that particular property.
Anonymous
>>6074475 Fossilized leafs could replace Leaf Stones and meteorites could substitute Sun and Moon Stones, but the rest seem pretty out there.
Anonymous
>>6074496 Actually all evolutionary stones are based upon real minerals apparently according to some guy on a pokemon wiki I read.
As follows
>Fire Stone = Oregon Sunstone >Water Stone = Iolite (aka Cordierite) >Leaf Stone = Leaf fossil >Thunder Stone = Cat's-eye elbaite tourmaline >Sun Stone = Aragonite nodule >Moon Stone = Nickel-iron meteorite >Dawn Stone = Peruvian Opal >Dusk Stone = Amethyst >Shiny Stone = Cleiophane >Ice Stone = Larimar Now granted alot of these are pretty much unattainable in a modern setting to the average joe nonetheless in North America during the 1880's but it's neat to know regardless.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Mon 05 Aug 2024 22:20:54 No. 6074601 Report Good news: crisis (seemingly) averted! I will likely still have to handle some parts related to it, but for now things seem to be stable enough that I can post again. I'll get to that tomorrow since it's rather late here. Thank you all for the well-wishes.
In the meantime, I'll chip in with some answers to the discussion you guys have been having as thanks. They won't be comprehensive (so as to avoid spoilers), but I'll give clarifications where I can.
-
>>6073632 Thank you very much! I'm glad to hear you're enjoying things. :)
As for the long-term gameplan: that's up to the players. Walter has a direction in the background (document new species in NoCal, then bring the research back to New York to be granted 10k dollars in 1884 money-- equivalent to about 320k in today's money), but it's more of an overarching mission than it is a solid direction. I'm seeing plenty of people suggest the route of a Pokémon ranger or professor, both of which would suit Walter well, but the way he ends up is ultimately in your hands.
>>6073909 No, Pokeballs aren't going to happen in this quest. There's an extremely distant approximation (at best) that I have in mind, if you're willing to invest in that, but there will never be anything as sophisticated as the Pokeball here. It's hard to believe it even by today's tech standards, let alone those of the Gilded Age. Same goes for instant-healing machines and PCs as well as any modern Pokedex.
>>6074226 I've stated in the beginning of the thread that I'm going to go mostly off of anime logic, but that's only partly true. Given that the anime has such wonderful occurrences as small children hugging snails made of magma (and coming away unscathed) and 10000IQ geniuses eating dog food off the floor, I'm going to be working off of weird fanon that is 99% anime + dex entries. Some of the more ridiculous stuff in both fields will be discarded for that which makes sense and I'll be filling in some of the gaps of information (like what 70% of the dex eats) myself with real-life equivalents or pure speculation.
It's a shame that a series this extensive with its cast and relatively intricate with its detailing can't be consistent about powersets or basic minutiae like diets, but it is what it is.
>>6074348 There won't be any tumblestones in the quest, nor will there be evolutionary stones.
I have extensive substitutes for the latter, as well as many "trade with unique item" evolutions, lined up for if they ever become needed, but tumblestones are just odd and too vague in purpose to be integrated in any significant fashion. Maybe Z-A will elaborate, probably it won't, but even if it does I'll be ignoring it since this quest will have started before its release and already excluded tumblestones.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6074601 Completing our job and then using our 10K as seed money to become a ranger/professor sounds good to me.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Mon 05 Aug 2024 22:25:42 No. 6074604 Report >>6074385 I'm not sure about specific regional variants yet. I'm trying to sort out existing regional forms via their origins
(eg Galarian Corsola probably wouldn't exist yet, but Hisuian Sneasel might) and I don't think I want to make fanon regional forms to complicate things much further. I might touch on the concept, especially if there's a timeskip later, but for now I'm staying away from custom regional forms.
>>6074568 I actually didn't know about any of these and I can see the resemblance, but they would definitely be far too expensive to acquire and I doubt they'd magically acquire evolutionary properties
even via the method of arrival I have in mind . They won't be used as substitutes in the quest, but they will be used in any Pokémon trivia game I participate in from now on.
-
I'll be back tomorrow with the usual two posts and things should go smoothly from there. Thank you again for keeping the thread alive with all your neat speculation, and I hope you enjoy what's coming next for Walter. :)
Anonymous
>>6074568 Huh, that's pretty cool.
>>6074601 >Good news: crisis (seemingly) averted! That's great, QM! I hope things get better for you going forward.
>as well as any modern Pokedex. This doesn't include our creature encyclopedia in the making, does it?
>There won't be any tumblestones in the quest I think the quest would be more interesting without them, personally. >nor will there be evolutionary stones. I have extensive substitutes for the latter, as well as many "trade with unique item" evolutions I'm curious to see what you plan for that.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Mon 05 Aug 2024 22:34:48 No. 6074615 Report Quoted By:
>>6074612 >This doesn't include our creature encyclopedia in the making, does it? No, there's no tech involved. It'll probably end up like Legends: Arceus' dex, which is literally just a notebook.
Anonymous
>>6074604 >I'm not sure about specific regional variants yet >I don't think I want to make fanon regional forms to complicate things much further. I might touch on the concept, especially if there's a timeskip later, but for now I'm staying away from custom regional forms. There go my dreams of a brown Braviary with a white head.
>I doubt they'd magically acquire evolutionary properties Isn't it the Pokemon in particular that reacts with them? I could be wrong.
>I'll be back tomorrow with the usual two posts and things should go smoothly from there. Thank you again for keeping the thread alive with all your neat speculation, and I hope you enjoy what's coming next for Walter. :) Of course!
Anonymous
>>6074620 >There go my dreams of a brown Braviary with a white head. A regular Braviary ending up on The USA's iconography would be sort of baller, anyway. Turn up the saturation on that badboy, and it's ore patriotic than any natural animal on Earth.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6074601 > No, Pokeballs aren't going to happen in this quest. Entirely understandable. The first old timey wimey phones aren't even 10 years old yet right now and pokeballs are advanced even for 21st century standards. I like Legends Arceus but they were totally bullshitting with the proto pokeballs.
>It's a shame that a series this extensive with its cast and relatively intricate with its detailing can't be consistent about powersets or basic minutiae like diets, but it is what it is. Yeah, just have to make do with headcanon about anything that isn't about pokemon battles or ancient lore. I'm excited to see what pokemon are really capable of in this quest.
>>6074625 Bald eagle can eat its heart out. You can FLY ON a Braviary. If riding a gigantic flying beast wearing the flag on its hide while blasting your firearms to the sky isn't the most American thing you could possibly do, then nothing is.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Tue 06 Aug 2024 13:05:40 No. 6075015 Report From there, you figured you could spend your day researching the new creatures you'd dedicated the last few days of your life to. You'd come here to study new wildlife, after all, and had just been greeted with an absolute abundance of it. Thinking back to the strange fish you saw in the creek near Cora's house, you resolved to check there first, and quickly made your way home. <><><><><> Time seemed to slow by the riverbank. You found your train of thought drifting out to sea, any urgent thought being carried away upon the small current pervading the small creek you now loitered around. Your fists relaxed into palms upon the small pebbles littering the sides of it, your breathing went from a hasty march of air, in and out, in and out, to a relaxed stroll upon the shore... After some deep breathing, you decided to pull out a pencil and put it to paper. <span class="mu-i">July 13th, 1884.</span> You began with a recollection of all that you had seen. Awaking from prison, meeting the metal-eaters, finding yourself under Cora's care. You recalled the snakes made of stone, the birds of steel, even the same type of electric sheep, now sitting before you, that had chased you out of your hotel room... ...and quickly found yourself struggling for words. You couldn't just keep calling these creatures by such colloquialisms. You were a biologist. You needed a <span class="mu-i">system.</span> The next several hours were spent dividing your attention. It took no time at all to grasp just <span class="mu-i">how</span> enormously daunting this ordeal would be. To document each and every new species you found... surely, such an endeavor easily awarded you the title of local madman. Yet you persisted.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Tue 06 Aug 2024 13:06:57 No. 6075017 Report Kingdom names were considered, then canned. Phylum after Phylum was conceptualized and binned within a matter of minutes. You hammered away at names after names after names and hardly took a moment to consider just <span class="mu-i">how</span> in-depth you'd have to go for this. Even just measuring your sheep was a chore. She (you'd checked) didn't seem to share your appreciation for your fancy new tape measure, nor understand why you kept gently poking her jaw until she bleated at you to stop. All the while, you kept looking away from her to do <span class="mu-i">something</span> with that strange orange claw of yours... <span class="mu-i">Sex: Female.</span> <span class="mu-i">Height: Approx. 2' 01".</span> <span class="mu-i">Length: Approx. 3' 02".</span> <span class="mu-i">Weight...</span> you stopped and looked to your companion, slowly moving to her side and observing what you could of her stomach area to her spine. <span class="mu-i">...approximated at 70 pounds.</span> Underlined, next to it: <span class="mu-r">Weigh on scale ASAP.</span> And those were just the basics. The process had somehow managed to make you admire Linnaeus even more than you already had. You went on to describe <span class="mu-i">everything</span> you could about your tolerant friend. How she felled the birds, how she commanded electricity to do so, how she followed you so loyally and only barely protested when you took measurements and notes on every little noise she made. You found yourself writing an entire paragraph on how she spoke alone, going off onto tangents about her possible understanding of human speech, how the electricity affected her inflection... It was only when you looked up from your notepad to see the sun a full quarter of the sky away from where it had been last that you understood how long you'd spent writing about a single creature. One with no name, no less... Your eyes fixated upon the sheep's. Her pure-black peepers returned the favor. You knew of a classification. You had an entire rough <span class="mu-i">tree</span> planned out, in your head, for how you could classify these strange beasts. And yet, through all this, you'd neglected an equally-important name for much too long. What nickname would best fit your sheepy friend?>Write-in
Anonymous
>>6075017 We will name her Mary.
Quick question QM, what do we do about dietary needs? Will Mary much grass all on her own?
Come to think of it, that’s a pretty intriguing area of study for Walt to go down anyways. Given that some of these things eat STEEL of all things…
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Tue 06 Aug 2024 13:20:54 No. 6075029 Report Quoted By:
oops I forgot to give all the guys who voted (you)s lol lemme rectify that real quick
>>6073468 >>6073470 >>6073493 >>6073498 >>6073524 enjoy :)
>>6075027 She's a sheep, she'll graze just fine. She might need other supplements, but she can subsist off of just grass and/or hay for quite a while.
A rarer kind of diet might help her be stronger, though... Anonymous
>>6075017 Species: (preliminary) quasi-aries fulgor (almost sheep lightning)
Name: Hera
Why Hera? The name should be something special, and we were thinking of lightning in mythology, but could only think of Zeus, but she's female, and Hera is Zeus' wife.
Anonymous
>>6075015 >>6075017 I propose we name her Lucia, as her electricity and demeanor brings a spark of light to her surroundings.
Anonymous
>>6075060 Lucerna as latin for lantern
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6075062 No, it is derived from the Latin word Lux/Lucis, meaning (day)light/life.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6075017 Aria, from Aries. Ironic due to us considering her bleating to sound horrifying (I think Mareep's ingame cry sounds nice)
Anonymous
>>6075031 It looks like Astrape and Bronte were the personifications of Lightning and Thunder in Greek mythology, carrying Zeus’ thunderbolts.
I’d vote for calling her Rain myself. Where there’s rain, there’s Thunder. It’s also simpler, and I am a simple man.
Anonymous
>>6075017 >Mary Classic sheep name.
Anonymous
>>6075017 >Species: Caprinae Quasi-Ovis Fulgor This should provide a clear and flexible enough definition. I think Mary for our own sheep suits her just fine.
>>6075031 Aries is a species name and specifically refers to the domesticated sheep we're already familiar with. IMO I think what we found warrants a term outside of that.
>>6075104 Bronte has a good ring to it.
Anonymous
This
>>6075031 was me phoneposting
>>6075104 I think it's unreasonable to assume MC has access to Wikipedia right now
for a number of reasons I saw them too, but I kinda don't like either of them
>>6075138 I'd actually put the quasi on Caprinae, or even quasi-animalia
working theory is rather that they stem from a completely different tree of life,
but since we don't go that deep anyway, my method would be "quasi-[animal they resemble] signifier", like I already did
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6075138 >>6075161 "Quasi-Caprinae Ovis Fulgor" is what you mean?
Anonymous
>>6075017 >Mary She's an almighty sweetheart and our favorite little lamb.
Anonymous
>>6075017 >Mary works for me, for our fluffy friend.
>Quasiovis Fulgur seems a good placeholder binomial. "Lightning Almost-sheep" Like the others pitched, but a bit more concise and elegant.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6075289 >seems a good placeholder binomial. "Lightning Almost-sheep" Like the others pitched, but a bit more concise and elegant. It does sound like "quasi-" really fits better in front of ovis.
Anonymous
>>6075031 >>6075138 >>6075161 >>6075289 From what I read in the last entry, I think Walter has already thought of a genus and species name. I think our lovely QM was only asking for a nickname.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Wed 07 Aug 2024 00:18:42 No. 6075524 Report Quoted By:
>>6075027 >>6075130 >>6075277 >>6075289 Mary seems to have won handily! I'll write up the next entry after dinner. Should be an hour or two from now at worst.
>>6075345 Correct. I've already got a lot of the classification stuff worked out behind the scenes
because I went overboard with the concept and found doing it very fun . I figured it'd be quite the pacebreaker to halt and ask for a species classification from the audience every time we found a new mon, so I've got a handy list that Walter will be drawing from to keep things up to speed instead. I appreciate the suggestions regardless.
Anonymous
>Should be an hour or two from now at worst. RIP, QM. He was gored by a rampaging Rhyperior.
Anonymous
Anonymous
>>6075700 >>6075853 Ugh, yeah, I really underestimated just how taxing yesterday was on me. I’ll make up for it today, especially since I’ve got all of it free. Apologies.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Wed 07 Aug 2024 15:07:26 No. 6075914 Report Without another word, you put pencil to paper once more. Of all the names you had been considering, one stuck out as the simplest and most fitting to you. You gave your friend a small headline above the notes you'd written out about her. <span class="mu-s">Mary, First of <span class="mu-i">Fulvis Khrysómallon.</span></span> Your newly-christened companion soon began to sniff your pencil, first trying to push it out of your hand before resolving to simply chew on its ends. It took more than you'd anticipated to free your pencil from her grasp. No wonder she could eat that nutberry so easily-- her biting force seemed to be greater than even your old farm dog's! <><><><><> The sun was setting. You'd spent your entire day on this wonderful project of yours. By the time it was getting hard to see what you wrote, you knew it was time to wrap things up. It was a shame-- you felt you could do this forever, and be happy while doing it. Nonetheless, you needed sleep. You took to your feet and started towards home. Throughout all of that time, you'd found very little of note in the river. That was a slight disappointment, but more than made-up for by Mary's company. Your strange sheep seemed to learn its new name rather quickly, visibly reacting by the fifth or sixth time you addressed her by the moniker, even learning to tie certain words to certain actions through little more than observation of your own behavior. At points, your studies almost seemed to be mutual-- with every stroke of your pencil and measurement of her capabilities, she'd begin to understand something nearby you would refer to or what you wanted her to do. She seemed especially recipient towards commands of any sort, especially those involving some form of physical movement, but you only figured this out when you asked her to stop chewing your pencil for the fourth time that night. She was certainly still some kind of animal... but, if she was, she was the smartest you'd ever seen. Was she alone in this kind of intellect? If the other creatures could share similar levels of power, was there anything stopping them from sharing a similar level of intellect? "Good evening, Walter."
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Wed 07 Aug 2024 15:08:27 No. 6075915 Report >>6075914 Cora broke your focus. She'd opened the door before you could turn the knob.
"How have you been today?"
She seemed genuinely amicable, leading you in and keeping Mary at the door, sitting you down while she made dinner.
You'd been meaning to talk to her... what were you going to say?
>Discuss your studies and Mary's new name. [Choose how in-depth you'll go. You could just bring up how you studied and named the sheep and leave it at that, or you could explain the entire classification system you have in the works and the absence of new creatures in the creek. It's up to you.] >Ask about dinner and mention the possible food shortages ahead. >Bring up your discussion with the sheriff and all that entailed. >Try to convince her that Mary is safe to keep in the house. >Ask about her foreigner status and how she got here, as well as how long she's been here for. >Talk about the nutberries more with her. Discuss the possibility of growing them, what they contained inside, where they came from and how they don't seem to be a cure-all for taming the demons. >Ask about her day. >Discuss the uncertain future and your ultimate dream. >Write-in. Anonymous
>>6075914 >>6075915 >Discuss your studies and Mary's new name. Explain to her everything about Mary, and her classification, excluding the whole classification system. Based off of this information,
>Try to convince her that Mary is safe to keep in the house. Know thine frenemy.
Anonymous
>>6075915 >>Bring up your discussion with the sheriff and all that entailed. >Discuss your studies and Mary's new name. mostly the intelligence of Mary in particular and that we are trying to gauge the intelligence of more of these creatures, also that the river seems safe
>Try to convince her that Mary is safe to keep in the house. Anonymous
>>6075915 >Discuss your studies and Mary's new name. I’d say we went to the river and tried to d new creatures and plants there, but we didn’t find any so we mostly spent time studying our sheep friend. We nicknamed her “Mary” and the rate at which she learned that name and other commands is frightening if it’s shared by many other creatures. The other details are in our notes if she’s truly curious, but little else is useful day-to-day info.
>Try to convince her that Mary is safe to keep in the house. With the commands in mind, I’d like to see if Mary would be receptive to having her sleep just inside the front entrance to guard it. Mary seems keen to follow commands and protect us, and it seems like a reasonable compromise to get her inside during the evenings.
>Ask about her day. I’d mention we spoke to the sheriff regarding trade and other stuff, but we’d like to give her the chance to speak on her day first and we can share it with her if she’s curious afterward.
Anonymous
>>6075880 No worries, I'm glad you're alive.
>>6075914 >Fulvis Khrysómallon >Gold-Fleece Lightning Sheep That's pretty neat.
>>6075915 >Bring up your discussion with the sheriff and all that entailed. We're going to be on rail watch duty soon, so it's important for her to know.
>Discuss your studies and Mary's new name. Explain the stuff we found about Mary and tell Cora the classification we gave the sheep. We don't need to go into explaining the classification system itself if she doesn't want to hear it.
>Try to convince her that Mary is safe to keep in the house. Anonymous
>>6075915 >Ask about her foreigner status and how she got here, as well as how long she's been here for. >Talk about the nutberries more with her. Discuss the possibility of growing them, what they contained inside, where they came from and how they don't seem to be a cure-all for taming the demons. >>6075914 >No wonder she could eat that nutberry so easily-- her biting force seemed to be greater than even your old farm dog's! Other observations to make here:
>That level of biting force seems unnecessary for a regular grazing diet. Could Mary be omnivorous? >Mareep milk is likely to be unpalatable given the unpredictable diet, if they're even mammalian. Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6075949 >>That level of biting force seems unnecessary for a regular grazing diet. Could Mary be omnivorous? It could just mean that she's adapted to chewing into harder shells like those of the nutberry.
Anonymous
>>6067467 Yooooo another Poképocalypse quest! I'm fugin here for it, the anesthetics and imagery are kino as fuck. Imma read up!
Anonymous
>>6075915 >Discuss your studies and Mary's new name. We'll just say how we studied Mary and gave her a name, but elaborate on her intelligence. She's smarter than the average sheep.
>Try to convince her that Mary is safe to keep in the house. She has been on her best behavior since she took a liking to us. A little curious, sure, but it didn't hurt anybody.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Wed 07 Aug 2024 17:19:15 No. 6075975 Report >>6075919 >>6075930 >>6075933 >>6075939 >>6075967 Alright, we'll be bringing up Mary's name and discussing our studies on her intelligence and new classification. We'll also try and convince Cora that the creek is safe to be in and that Mary belongs in the house. (Bonus points to the anon who figured out what the classification meant, I'm glad that you like it!)
>>6075965 Oh hey, you read the original? Nice! I regret to inform you that this is only vaguely related by now, but I do hope you appreciate it regardless. Glad to have you on board. Nice art btw.
Anonymous
>>6075975 I did, as well as found the other stuff he mentioned on Akun, but the twist you put on it with the 19th century is super fun! And thank you, here's some more.
Here's hoping we can have some cool base and team building! A lot of the world building here is gonna be wild. Poke-cults, the native's takes on pokemon... psychic types alone are gonna be craaazy. Keep up the good work my guy!
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Wed 07 Aug 2024 20:28:10 No. 6076073 Report "Good evenin' t' you too, Cora." You gave the nurse a smile. "Today's gone well. I spent most of it researchin' the creek nearby." Cora raised a brow as she went from counter to stovetop. "North Salt?" You shook your head. "Not unless that's the name of the one you border, no." Chopping on wood preceded Cora's reply. "I'm surprised you had enough creek to study. I don't remember it going too far before emptying into the Sacramento." "It doesn't. A lot of that time was spent trekkin' around the ends of it and studyin' little Mary out there." You looked back to the doorframe, where Mary was still standing. The little sheep still seemed somewhat upset with the situation, pacing in circles and refusing to let the door close. "Mary? Have you found another girl to run off with?" Cora joked. Before she could go on, she turned around to see you looking towards your sheepy research subject. "Oh, don't tell me you've <span class="mu-i">named</span> the thing already." "She's not a 'thing', Cora." You returned your eyes to hers. "I've studied her all day. Her capabilities, her behaviors. I have reason to believe that her intelligence, if not as profound as man's, can easily match any functional dog's." Cora frowned. "So she can stay outside like them, can't she?" You paused. "You keep your dogs outside?" The nurse shuffled in place. "...I've never had one. I just thought that they ought to belong outside. I've only ever seen street dogs, anyways." It did occur to you that nobody at the Gulch owned a dog... but didn't she come from someplace else? "Well, I don't find it fair that a creature who's done nothin' but try to protect you an' I gets t' be treated worse than a street dog. I hope you can find it in your heart t' let her into your house some day soon." Cora's expression softened somewhat, but she didn't seem convinced. "...I'll consider it."
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Wed 07 Aug 2024 20:29:11 No. 6076074 Report >>6076073 She brought a somewhat sloppy salad to your table, decorated with blueberries and consisting mostly of lettuce, sliding into the chair across from you and changing the subject. "What reasons have you got to believe she's as smart as any given pet, anyways?"
"Wll, mf mwas sayn," you finished your first bite, "she knows her name. She's even learned some words. I can show you, right now, if you want--"
Cora gave a sharp shake of her head and continued eating.
"Well, I can show you eventually, how she's learned. What she knows." It was hard to quell the rising excitement in your voice. "I've been able to classify her, Cora. I think I can understand how she eats, what she's like. She really is like some kinda fake electric sheep imbued with otherworldly power an' intelligence. <span class="mu-i">Fulvis Khrysómallon</span>, I call her an' her kin."
The nurse ate away at her food, partially intrigued, as you let yourself be carried away by enthusiasm. "All these new creatures, Cora, they're unlike anythin' this planet's ever seen before. They look similar, but they're def'nitely different. Fascimiles at best. If I were any loonier, I'd say it almost gives credence t' Spontaneous Generation. I needed an entirely new <span class="mu-i">Kingdom</span> for them--"
You heard a knock on the door and were snapped out of it.
"Am ah interruptin' anythin'?"
The sheriff stood a-ways away from Mary, peering into the house and leaning on the open door.
Cora beckoned him in, her cheeks too full to say what her hands soon did, and offered him a chair.
"Thank you kindly, missus." He tipped his hat to her, then turned to you. "You mentioned protectin' food supply, right? Well, ah've got a job fer you that'll help you dip yer toes in the wat'r an' help our town out."
What could warrant him interrupting dinner like this? You motioned for him to continue as you ate, curious.
"Our food supply comes by train. You know that much. But ah forgot t' mention the date it does, back there in mah office, didn' ah?" He took a glance behind him, noticed Mary watching him, and turned right back. "We get our supplies Wednesday mornin's. Them trains don't go unoccupied, either. Sometimes there're passengers. And, well..."
The sheriff leaned forward and rested an arm over the back of Cora's chair. "...you know today's Tuesday, dontcha? Can ah count on you, tomorrow mornin', t' see that our train gets through to us alright?"
>Write-in. PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Wed 07 Aug 2024 20:33:09 No. 6076076 Report >>6076011 You flatter me man. Thank you.
I had no clue the author had anything to do with anonkun. Did he end up ghosting /qst/ for the place or just put out an announcement on there or something? Anonymous
>>6076074 >"I've been able to classify her, Cora. I think I can understand how she eats, what she's like. She really is like some kinda fake electric sheep imbued with otherworldly power an' intelligence. Fulvis Khrysómallon, I call her an' her kin." If it weren't for the fact that these things literally came out of nowhere, we'd sound like a schizo.
>Write-in. >Ask where along the railway we expect to watch and follow the train, who else will be in the group, and how this has been typically done before It's important to understand how these operate so we can develop a plan to respond to Pokemon attempting to eat the rails or assail passengers. A map of the length of tracks we plan to patrol would also be immensely helpful.
Anonymous
>>6076076 nah, just that he read a similar story there and started one here before being claimed by the qm's curse. It is what it is Anonymous
>>6076073 >>6076074 Of course, where do you want us to be tomorrow morning?
Anonymous
>>6076074 >” I haven’t been keeping track of the days myself. It hasn’t felt that important these past few days.” >”I take it the train starts here and delivers ore before returning with goods and passengers? If it starts elsewhere then it’d make more sense to take a carriage or train to its start now.” >”Who else will come along? I may need help if different sections of the train are attacked at once.” >”If… the other stops may be worse off than us. How prepared are we to take them in if they see we’re safer? I don’t want to be asked to turn the heavens against scared people swarming the train.” I’ll also back
>>6076097 , same thought as my first one.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Thu 08 Aug 2024 00:37:37 No. 6076212 Report >>6076106 Ah, shame.
>>6076097 >>6076138 >>6076182 Alright, I'll try to make something out of this. We're definitely asking the sheriff lots of questions.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6076212 Important stuff deserves important questions!
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Thu 08 Aug 2024 02:10:05 No. 6076256 Report "Of course you can." You'd agreed to this, after all. No reason to go back on an agreement like this one. The sheriff grinned and slapped his knee. "Great! Alrighty then, here's what I need ya t' do..." A lengthy rundown followed. Where exactly you needed to be by morning, how early, for how many stops you'd be following the train. The sheriff even pulled out a small map of the area to make sure you knew exactly how things were going to go. "You'll need t' be up bah dawn, at the station, helpin' us load an' unload stuff from th' train when it arrives. Then, if ya can, ah'll need you t' head all the way down Sacramento River 'til you reach Redding." When asking how you'd get across the bridge there by foot, the sheriff gave a quick answer. "Jus' get in the train when the bridge comes up. Ah'll tell the driver t' let you on board anytime." You raised a finger-- "Yer sheep-demon can come too." You lowered it and nodded. He squinted for a moment at your sheep, then continued. "I'll get a bodyguard 'r two t' accompany you later down th' line. You'll prah'bly pick them up 'round Slate Creek. From there ya should be all good t' keep accompanyin' the carriage." You finished the last of your salad and proposed another question. "If the other stops are as in-danger as we, is Shenanigan's Gulch prepared t' take in any emergency visitors?" The sheriff stopped. Cora gave you a small nod, insinuating she alone would be willing to help them out, before taking her last bite and beginning to clean the table. "Ah... ah hadn't thought o' that." He mulled over the statement for a moment. The lawman's index finger, thick as a brick, fiddled with his broom mustache. "Uh... ah could set up some tents while you're out. We've got enough campin' supplies at Simpson and Dudley's t' take in maybe twenny-odd people?" You hoped he wasn't just pulling that number out of thin air. "And if you can't?" The sheriff sighed. "Ah hope it doesn't get t' that point. But if it does, ah'll send someone down t' Redding an' see how many spaces they've got open in their hotels. Shouldn't take more than an hour there an' back t' let us know." He rose from his seat just as Cora returned to hers. "Be by the train station t'morrow mornin' as early as possible. You gotta be there bah dawn, but ah'd-preciate if y' came earlier. Ah dunno what those metal-eatin' creatures would think'a the ores we gotta deliver, an' it'd help t' have some backup." The sheriff extended a hand. You gave it a firm shake. "You can count on it, sir."
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Thu 08 Aug 2024 02:11:06 No. 6076257 Report "Glad t' hear it, Buchanan. Ah'll see you then." The sheriff took his leave, only briefly wish you well. "Have a good evenin' with Ms. Kent, now." The door shut behind him, much to Mary's dismay. His exit was followed by an irritated bleat from beyond the house's walls. Cora could be heard making a bed. "Right, now, I suppose you should head to bed early." She hurried behind you and began taking off your jacket, motioning you towards your sleeping bag. "I don't know why the sheriff sees it fit to entrust a man with a head injury with a risky job like that, but I've got no room to question. I've just got to help where I can." You moved to say something, only for her to tell you to turn towards the corner. Once she was in her nightgown, you spoke. "It ain't that bad, Cora. I haven't even seen things for a day or two now." The nurse gave you a mild look. "I'm glad to hear that... though, I do worry that it might change tomorrow. I've heard of patients going through lulls in their hallucinations before." She knelt by her bedside and spent a few minutes in prayer. From what you heard, you'd noticed that she'd begun referring to God in... less certain terms. "Don't die out there." With that, Cora gave you a gentle smile and crawled into her bed. "Goodnight, Buchanan." "Goodnight, Cora.">Your sleep was uneventful, but restful. If you dreamt anything, you couldn't remember it. >It took some time to fall asleep. Too much was on your mind. Eventually, though, you managed... only to be greeted with an unpleasant dream. >You slept very deeply, dreaming of nothing but pleasantries and having some difficulty waking.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6076256 >>6076257 >You slept very deeply, dreaming of nothing but pleasantries and having some difficulty waking. "Yes..... more classification...... more phyla.... more classical references....."
Anonymous
>>6076256 The sheriff already had everything planned out except for possible refugees. I knew it! He’s still not getting how fucked we all are. The old world order has crumbled and we must forge ane-
Ahem.
Sorry, got distracted.
>>6076257 >It took some time to fall asleep. Too much was on your mind. Eventually, though, you managed... only to be greeted with an unpleasant dream. If we can call down thunder, what will the others do to us? Those with power, and those without?
Anonymous
>>6076257 >Your sleep was uneventful, but restful. If you dreamt anything, you couldn't remember it. It seems this is a choice between early but shook, collected but late, or somewhere in between. I'll opt for this option.
>>6076262 The US government and neighboring countries should still be around for sure, and it isn't a total collapse of infrastructure as it would be with a society dependent on electricity, digital documentation, hyper-specialized occupations, and high-maintenance commercial logistical chains for bare necessities. However, there will be certain groups looking to take advantage of the chaos, massive ecological shifts, cultural upheavals, and all kinds of other stuff mentioned earlier in this thread.
Anonymous
>>6076257 >>Your sleep was uneventful, but restful. If you dreamt anything, you couldn't remember it. Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6076257 >It took some time to fall asleep. Too much was on your mind. Eventually, though, you managed... only to be greeted with an unpleasant dream. Anonymous
>>6076286 I don’t want to think about what will happen when road bandits discover that Pokémon can be tamed.
The Skarmory flock will seem tame in comparison.
Anonymous
>>6076257 >>Your sleep was uneventful, but restful. If you dreamt anything, you couldn't remember it. I feel that we have finally reached the point of our body allowing for full rest, but in that "deep coma, no thoughts" kind of way.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6076323 >roving gangs of road bandits that tamed murkow, purrloin, rattata, and other pickpocket pokemon start harrassing travelers and stealing all of their shit >road bandits using pokemon to block the road >road bandits that use bug and grass pokemon like parasect to put people to sleep and then rob them >road bandits that use psychic pokemon to hypnotize people into giving their items away and then make them forget how they got robbed >road bandits that use electric types to paralyze people and rob them defenseless It's a scary world out there.
Anonymous
>>6076257 >Your sleep was uneventful, but restful. If you dreamt anything, you couldn't remember it. Been a long day, we'll need the rest for the big mission tomorrow.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Thu 08 Aug 2024 13:54:23 No. 6076559 Report Quoted By:
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Thu 08 Aug 2024 14:56:22 No. 6076580 Report The night passed without much worry. When you woke with the sun, your immediate first thought was one of joy-- of uninterrupted sleep, of rising when you needed to. A glance to your right confirmed that Cora was still sleeping soundly. Once you'd gotten ready, grabbing your clothes and a couple of nutberries to stash away in your jacket, you headed for the door. A single glance back affirmed that Cora was still asleep. The smile that'd accompanied you throughout never faded. <><><><><> The sheriff and a couple of other men had gathered around the train station by the time you and Mary had arrived. Your acquaintance gave you a hearty wave and motioned for you to stay by his side. "We've got about ten more minutes." The sheriff motioned over to a big crate of what looked to be gold (and some other precious metals you couldn't name) on his right. "This's our cargo." The man huffed a bit. "We used t' have many more crates'a these... but this is what's left. Ah've got Bobby 'n Jim ov'r there," he motioned to the two other men, "they'll be liftin' this into th' train. Ah jus' need you t' make sure things go smoothly, a'right?" You gave the sheriff a firm nod. "Alright. I can prolly do that jus' fine, sir." The first sign of unease came when Mary began looking down the railway and rubbing against you more than usual. With all the waiting, you ended up getting bored enough to go and look down the track with her... only to see a small group of greyish figures coalescing along the sides of it. Later still, the train hadn't arrived when it was supposed to. Nobody seemed to notice-- you'd not been checking the time, and everyone else was busy hauling things and listening to instructions. It was only when you spotted the hands sticking out of Jim's pocket watch that you realized what had gone wrong. The sheriff batted away your attempt to nudge his shoulder. You tried to interrupt his instructions to the strongmen and were shooed away by pointing out your bad manners. Eventually you attempted to jump down onto the rails and head there yourself, but the sheriff stopped you with a grip stronger than any you'd felt in years. "Are you crazy, boy? Th' train's gonna run right over you that way!" "The train won't be running anywhere if you don't let me go!" You scrambled back onto the platform from the edge and tried to shake off the sheriff, but he wouldn't let you go. "...explain how."
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Thu 08 Aug 2024 14:57:44 No. 6076584 Report You opened your mouth-- and suddenly found that you hadn't needed to. An extremely loud horn came from the other end of the railway, followed by Mary giving a distressed bleat, and you could see the train <span class="mu-i">toppling over</span> as it hit some enormous and artificial bump. The sheriff let you go. <><><><><> A swarm of metal-eaters larger than any you'd seen in town were harassing the entire train. Rails were being torn up. Wheels were being eaten away at. One of the crazy things had even managed to climb the railing and start eating away at the carriages. He was soon followed by at least three more of his bretheren. Mary didn't waste any time, noting the panic in your expression, immediately summoning her Shocking Thunder to try and disperse of the creatures. However, much to both your dismay and surprise, the attack seemed to only moderately affect the metal-eaters. A particularly strong one didn't even stop eating when he'd been hit, and one of his kin retaliated by digging up some moist dirt and tossing it towards Mary's face. Your girl let out a cry and ran back to you, shaking her head in an attempt to get the mud off, acting as if she'd been stung by boiling water. It took your own wiping-away of the dirt for her to be back in fighting shape, but even then... Mary looked visibly hurt. You gave a glance back down the track. The sheriff and his accomplices were following you without the cargo. >Wait for backup. Retreat, then give the sheriff and his accomplices a low-down of what's going on and hope they can help. >Toss mud back at the metal-eaters. You're not sure it'll do anything, but you're mad and want some revenge. >Rush to the carriages and attempt to help as many passengers as possible. >Attempt the same nutberry tactic you'd used on the metal ants attacking Cora's house. >Take time to scout out just how many metal-eaters there are, where they'll most-likely strike next, what their main points of interest are. (Roll 1d100, Bo3)
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6076584 >>Attempt the same nutberry tactic you'd used on the metal ants attacking Cora's house. plead with them to not harm the passengers
Anonymous
>>6076584 >Your girl let out a cry Well, when you put it like THAT, QM...
>Toss mud back at the metal-eaters. You're not sure it'll do anything, but you're mad and want some revenge. Focus on the ones attacking the passenger cars. Call over the sheriff if he or his men can help evacuate the passengers meanwhile.
Anonymous
>>6076584 >Toss mud back at the metal-eaters. You're not sure it'll do anything, but you're mad and want some revenge. >Kick them away from the train. They’re not very large so you should be able to knock some over until they give chase. Then you’ll need to run. Hey, I can understand them wanting to eat the train, but hurting Mary badly is uncalled for. Besides, if we tick enough of them off we can lead them away from the train and towards the bodyguards.
Meta-wise, I’m guessing Mary got hit with Mud Slap? Aron seems weak to it as well so turnabout is fair play here. It also seems to be weak to Fighting, and Low Kick counts as a Fighting move. Any kick aimed at them by us is a Low Kick by dint of how short they seem to be, and Mary could possibly follow our lead by kicking with her back legs. We’ll see how well our foot holds up after the first couple kicks. Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6076635 >Well, when you put it like THAT, QM... We ain't Welsh, OR Catapult Beetle.
>>6076584 >Take time to scout out just how many metal-eaters there are, where they'll most-likely strike next, what their main points of interest are. (Roll 1d100, Bo3) I doubt metal-eating monsters are a threat to fleshy humans, except by accident.
Anonymous
This might be a bad matchup and we're outnumbered. Better rethi-
>they hurt our little lamb >>6076584 >Toss mud back at the metal-eaters. You're not sure it'll do anything, but you're mad and want some revenge Fuck you fuck you fuck you fuck you
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6076580 >>6076584 >Rush to the carriages and attempt to help as many passengers as possible. Let's see who the possible passengers are.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6076636 It's funny, nearly everything we've seen so far is weak to ground type, so some incredibly wrong assumptions about what devestating things regular dirt does to Pokemon might spread around. (Skarmory is immune, Durant and the possibly a Zorua take normal damage but it would dissipate the latter's disguise)
>>6076584 >Rush to the carriages and attempt to help as many passengers as possible. Hopefully nobody has any gold teeth or the like.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6076584 >Attempt the same nutberry tactic you'd used on the metal ants attacking Cora's house. PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Thu 08 Aug 2024 19:16:55 No. 6076718 Report Quoted By:
>>6076635 >>6076636 >>6076654 We're throwing mud!
>>6076636 Yeah, Mud-Slap. Performing actions similar to moves =/= using moves, though. PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Thu 08 Aug 2024 20:37:01 No. 6076755 Report Mary made another, quieter noise, gave you a look, and tried to jump back into action. This time, you didn't want to leave her alone. You scrambled to your feet and headed after her, chasing the group of metal-eaters on the train's left and your right-- those closest to the passenger carriage's door. As you ran, you scraped your nails into the mud and made a ball with your palms, tossing it straight at one of the metal eaters trying to get at the carriage's doorknob with a shout. The metal-eater immediately stumbled backwards, falling off the precarious tower of friends he'd lifted himself up with, falling back-first into more mud and struggling to un-stick itself. Satisfied with the results, you replicated the attack tactic with a few more metal-eaters while Mary ran around shocking the metallic demons to the train's left. It was pretty hard to miss the metal-eaters' enormous heads, nailing most of them even partially while scooping up mud ball after mud ball. Those in the mud took a long time to recover, those hit by it seemed to be noticeably slowed, and you had no shortage of material to work with. You kept at this until the sheriff and his strongmen arrived. "Walter!! Watch yer sheep!!" It took you a moment to figure out what the sheriff meant-- your inital expression of confusion left you once you saw Mary stumbling around, desperately trying to shock what you presumed she thought was a metal-eater... instead, repeatedly nailing a large stump off to the side. She had mud splattered all over her face and hooves and seemed to be struggling quite a lot. You moved to help her but-- tripped? By what? A look back... your pant leg? In its mouth? You struggled for a time, your ankle being pulled away from the rest of you, the sheriff yelling something-- until your leg was freed and you scrambled to Mary's aide. More and more mud was being tossed both your way and hers. It was clear that you'd found a way to make the metal-eaters rather mad. The only benefit was that more of them were moving towards you and your back-up than focusing on the train. If you could just get up and focus on the stragglers... <span class="mu-s"><span class="mu-i">BANG, BANG, BANG BANG</span></span>
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Thu 08 Aug 2024 20:38:02 No. 6076757 Report Gunshots went off from the passenger cabin. Some metal-eaters flinched, most didn't care. One ran right at the bullets, face first, mouth open. It caught one, unfazed, and went about its attack as if it'd been tossed a grape from a bunch. It was hard not to shudder at the sight. Even knowing that they ate metal... it was something else to see them eat your best methods of defense for breakfast. But you were dilly-dallying. You knew there were people in the passenger's-- "--get t' the cabins!!--" --no way to deny it now. Mary called after you, but you motioned for her to stay there. You weren't certain she-- "--stand down, don' shoot--" --understood that. However, you knew for certain that she understood the visible pain coating her skin and burning her cheeks. "Mud ev'rywhere..." A small family's worth of people poured out of the passenger carriage as the door's hinges were eaten by the demons. Your attempt to get closer was thwarted by a shrill cry from one of the steel-snackers throwing itself in front of you. Looking up at least let you see that the passengers seemed as unharmed as you had been in that cell. Most of the demons' attacks towards humans focused on you and the sheriff's posse. <span class="mu-s"><span class="mu-i">BANG</span></span> The sheriff fired a round into the heavens. More metal-eaters were alerted... and you slowly began to lose them. Their eyes were on the sheriff now. This was your chance! You took it instantly, sprinting across the deteriorating rails, avoiding the metal-eaters as best you could, running to the passenger cabin and climbing up its side, trying to help people out. Clearing debris, carrying belongings, even carrying a person. A small boy, probably not older than five, his mother, his father, what you assumed to be their grandfather-- "Easy on the pocketwatch. I've got money in it." --you ignored his odd comment and continued helping him and his family out of the carriage. The train was completely on its side at this point. What remained of the wheels has became circular saws, the pipes being broken and eaten off the bottom of the train had become an unholy kind of sadistic staircase, and half of the route back down to earth needed to be taken on the top of the metal eaters' heads. You'd only ceased the back-and-forth journey when you saw the carriages completely empty of valuables and people. The first thing you did upon getting your feet back on (comparatively-)solid ground was toss a glance to the sheriff-- Oh Lord.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Thu 08 Aug 2024 20:39:03 No. 6076758 Report The man himself was trying to fight off metal-eaters with his bare hands. He was, as last time, losing spectacularly. Even with the assistance of the two brothers-- Bobby and Jim, right?-- the sheriff was close to being buried. You shouted for them to "hold on" but it was cut off by a great big <span class="mu-s">SPLAT.</span> The sound had come from behind. Your head shot back. One of the cargo carriages had been flung open, its door-hinges presumably devoured, with the doorframe painted mostly red. Splotches of other colors could be seen dotting the perimeter and dripping off of the sides of the carriage. Oh God, had one of those metal-and-rock beasts fallen right into the town's food supply? The family and condcutor were fleeing towards town. Their grandad seemed more interested in examining debris. The sheriff had visibly broken a bone and the two men he'd brought along with him were now using stray bits of metal to try and beat back the metal-eaters. The train was toppled. The railways were being torn up. Mary was out of action and you were beginning to feel dizzy. But you had to do something. What would it be?>Prioritize saving what you can of the food supply. >Prioritize helping the sheriff free himself from the metal-eaters. >Prioritize convincing the grandad to help do one of the above while you attempt the other. >Grab Mary and flee to Cora's... or beyond, if you need to. >Write-in.
Anonymous
>>6076755 >>6076757 >>6076758 >Prioritize helping the sheriff free himself from the metal-eaters. The man needs help.
Anonymous
>>6076758 >Prioritize helping the sheriff free himself from the metal-eaters. >Shout at the grandfather that they only eat metal. He can save some food if he’s careful. I don’t consider the old guy a priority, but if he helps he helps. Go after the sheriff, if he goes down the town might look to us for guidance instead and I’m not dealing with that.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6076758 >Prioritize saving what you can of the food supply. >Get the old fogey to help Anonymous
>>6076758 >>Prioritize helping the sheriff free himself from the metal-eaters. Anonymous
Anonymous
>>6076757 >Prioritize helping the sheriff free himself from the metal-eaters. Anonymous
>>6076758 >>Prioritize helping the sheriff free himself from the metal-eaters. We really need to catch and train an Aron to run herd on these guys as an Aggron.
Anonymous
>>6076758 >Prioritize helping the sheriff free himself from the metal-eaters. This suddenly turned dire, didn't it?
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Fri 09 Aug 2024 13:47:50 No. 6077135 Report Quoted By:
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Fri 09 Aug 2024 16:48:41 No. 6077239 Report You bent down to start scooping more mud into balls. You weren't sure of any other way to help the sheriff, and he was in great danger right now. Your method worked, somewhat, with the small tower of metal-eaters quickly toppling after the first ball of mud or two. That hit gave the sheriff enough breathing room to brute-force the rest of them off him... though you noticed that he did so with a rather awkwardly-bent knee and so many bruises that you could mistake him for a blue-skinned creature himself. A sprint forward let you rush the sheriff away from trouble while Bobby and Jim tried to fend off the rest. You wanted to keep going, to just run back to town and get everyone to safety, but Mary hadn't caught up yet. You yelled for your accomplices to run back to town as you returned to the toppled train. More and more splats could be heard as the metal-eaters tried to rescue the first of their fallen kin. It seemed they weren't smart enough to try and use some kind of rope... No, that was a distraction. You ran to Mary's side and yelled to the old man who'd been running in circles trying to shake off metal-eaters chasing after his pocketwatch. "You there!! Sir!!" He pointed to himself. You gave him a nod. "Get what ya can from the train's cargo!! These creatures-- they only want metal!! They won't pay any mind to our food supply!!" The older man gave a resolute nod as he forced a metal-eater away from him. Mary forced herself to her feet as you approached. She gave a weak bleat and soon tottered over to your side. More metal-eaters were closing in on the train. Some of them were eyeing you with pure contempt. You had to get out of here. <><><><><>
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Fri 09 Aug 2024 16:49:50 No. 6077241 Report The sheriff coughed up something fierce. Cora sat by his bedside. "Give it a bit of time, sheriff. Your lungs should be fine, as should most of your chest..." ...her eyes trailed down the rest of his body... "...I can't say the same about your leg." Her patient growled under his breath. "Ah'll manage. 's long as th' town's safe." He cleared his throat. Mary gave another quiet sound. You quit your eavesdropping and got back to inspecting her burns. And... they <span class="mu-i">were</span> burns, weren't they? They'd mostly faded by now, but you could see small patches of darker skin on her legs and parts of her face. She winced whenever you touched them. Yet, they'd been caused by the same mud that had left you permanently with nothing more than a brisk shower. Cora had offered bandages for the burnt blotches, and you had taken them, but neither of you could do much for the bits around her eyes. Mary didn't protest the lack of coverage much unless those spots were irritated. You heard your name called, but didn't register it until it was repeated. The sheriff wanted you. "You called for me?" "...accordin' to Ms. Kent, ah've broken a leg. She's insistin' that ah don't do mah duties 'til it's healed." Cora seemed... apologetic? The sheriff continued. "Ah need someone t' fill in for me, at least fer a couple'a days, an' t' make do on mah part." He handed you his badge. It had a piece of paper tucked behind the lettering that read "temparary". "Ah'd like it if you took on the role, or found someone capable of it in mah stead." The sheriff winced as Cora began attempting to plaster his leg. "C-careful on th' knee, please." "Sorry. I'll start a little lower."
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Fri 09 Aug 2024 16:51:31 No. 6077243 Report "Low'r?? It's broken there too?" Cora nodded. The sheriff spat out a curse. "...Walt'r, ah wish ah could jus' be doin' all this mahself. But the nurse's insistin' an' ah don' think ah can argue with my limpin' leg." He grit his teeth. "Or th' broken foot." "So ah need someone capable ah defendin' the town an' directin' people t' do keep things movin' while ah'm outta work. And you've gone outta yer way t' help defend this place from very dang'rous threats twice in th' last week." You glanced down to the temporary badge. Then back at the sheriff. "...I'll do what I can, sir.">Call a town meeting asap. You need to let everyone know of the sheriff's injuries and of your temporary sheriff status. >Find some way to contact Redding and see if you can get outside help. >Write-in.
Anonymous
>>6077239 >>6077241 >>6077243 >Call a town meeting asap. You need to let everyone know of the sheriff's injuries and of your temporary sheriff status. After this we can go to Redding. First the people need to know.
Anonymous
>>6077243 >>Call a town meeting asap. You need to let everyone know of the sheriff's injuries and of your temporary sheriff status. Anonymous
>>6077243 >Call a town meeting asap. You need to let everyone know of the sheriff's injuries and of your temporary sheriff status. We can decide to attempt to contact Redding at the meeting.
Anonymous
>>6077243 >Call a town meeting asap. You need to let everyone know of the sheriff's injuries and of your temporary sheriff status. It’s more appropriate than leaving them without guidance while we get in contact with Redding. Regrettably. I’ll still be arguing to put someone else in charge during the meeting.
Anonymous
>>6077243 >Call a town meeting asap. You need to let everyone know of the sheriff's injuries and of your temporary sheriff status. Let's avoid panic and check on the food supply.
Anonymous
>>6076758 >>Prioritize helping the sheriff free himself from the metal-eaters. Anonymous
>>6077396 Shit, they’re attacking him again? Is the sheriff secretly made of metal or something?!
Anonymous
>>6077445 He’s a ‘copper’ who’s got a big iron on his hip.
Anonymous
>>6077243 >Call a town meeting asap. You need to let everyone know of the sheriff's injuries and of your temporary sheriff status. Lets rip that bandage off right now.
>>6077445 >Western Robot Sheriff Could be a decent oneshot on this board ngl
>>6077449 Could be that too, Carlos.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Fri 09 Aug 2024 22:38:49 No. 6077463 Report Quoted By:
>>6077246 >>6077249 >>6077275 >>6077347 >>6077367 >>6077451 Another unanimous result!
>>6077451 Here's hoping someone with more free time than I makes a Steamworld quest and makes that dream a reality.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Fri 09 Aug 2024 23:31:57 No. 6077502 Report You left the clinic with the sheriff's badge in your hand. Mary trotted next to you as you headed for the town square, soapbox in hand. The town was busy as ever; reconstruction crews attended to every other building, children ran across the streets. You could hear uncertain whispers amongst the women-- worries of there being no food wagon, mutterings about the unusual amount of metal-eaters heading in the direction of the train station. The area seemed strangely bereft of monsters. This was your chance to speak without interruption, for sure. The townsfolk would hear of the sheriff's misfortune without having a similar fate befall themselves. But you needed to prove that you had plans for keeping things in order while he was out of commission. What topic would you focus on after the initial announcement?>Prioritize the town. Emphasize staying here and trying to build things up. >Prioritize communication. Emphasize sending well-defended groups down to larger cities and gathering information on supplies, places to stay. >Prioritize evacuation. Emphasize finding someplace safer with a steady food supply and returning to the Gulch once the situation is less dire. >Prioritize finding a different sheriff. Let people know the position is up for grabs at the end of the announcement. You don't want to be in charge of this situation and the sheriff asked you to find someone capable.
Anonymous
>>6077502 >Prioritize the town. Emphasize staying here and trying to build things up. Sending parties to other towns when we likely have no idea what else might be in the forests is a bad idea. Saying that we're not prepared to substitute as sheriff will cause panic, and there's no guarantee that we'll get the town back if we evacuate. Our best option is to get the fertile farm lands operating again, hiding the metals in a place the Arons won't find them, and establishing patrols and defensive perimeters. It'll take two or three months for the sheriff's leg to fully recover. We could have his men help us manage the situation.
Anonymous
>>6077502 >Prioritize the town. Emphasize staying here and trying to build things up. I'm pretty sure other towns have been hit just as bad if not worse than us, and we're a pretty small and secluded gulch as is. These people look to us for answers since we tamed Mary, and its not like evacuating will be much help if these creatures have spread this far out
Anonymous
>>6077502 >Prioritize the town. Emphasize staying here and trying to build things up. We can't just abandon the funniest town name on earth.
Anonymous
>>6077502 >Prioritize understanding these new monsters. The wild west is untamed once more, and we need to assert ourselves over it again. Backing what
>>6077532 said, but I want to focus on the biggest unknown in all this. We’d be willing and able to do the research work, but if the town feels safer with us as sheriff then we need to find men and women willing to study in our stead. The focus is on repelling or taming these creatures so that we can either sustain ourselves or safely make contact with other towns.
As long as we show there’s a plan to get things back on track and not just wait for someone else to come along and save us, we should avoid a panic.
Anonymous
>>6077540 >We’d be willing and able to do the research work, but if the town feels safer with us as sheriff then we need to find men and women willing to study in our stead. This will have to wait until the town gains more confidence in us as a leader.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6077547 What else will give them hope? Rebuilding and fortifying the town is just survival. It’s necessary, but something needs to be done to show we’re doing more than just holding on to what we already have.
Besides, all I’m looking for with this right now is 2-3 volunteers. Enough to make sure we have people actively looking into this while the rest do the needed work of rebuilding the town.
Anonymous
>>6077502 >Prioritize the town. Emphasize staying here and trying to build things up. Nobody wants to leave their home, and we have no reason to believe anywhere else is any safer.
Anonymous
>>6077502 >>Prioritize the town. Emphasize staying here and trying to build things up. Three major points for it: 1) We have infrastructure already built for this location. 2) People outside the town know we are here. 3) The people of the town already know the area, so they will be able to more easily identify changes made by the monsters.
Anonymous
>>6077502 >Prioritize the town. Emphasize staying here and trying to build things up. PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sat 10 Aug 2024 14:46:57 No. 6077898 Report Quoted By:
>>6077532 >>6077537 >>6077538 >>6077579 >>6077760 >>6077820 Alright, going with this. The next post will likely be quite long, so I'm not sure when I'll have it up.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sat 10 Aug 2024 15:12:08 No. 6077911 Report Quoted By:
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sat 10 Aug 2024 19:30:47 No. 6078114 Report A small lump began in your throat as you got atop your soapbox. The people already-gathered in Town Square began to take notice of you. You didn't fear them, nor the speaking-- no, you were more concerned with your position. Just a week ago, these people would likely have rioted had you been in charge of them. Yet now... ...you had an audience. "People of Shenanigan's Gulch! I've got an announcement t' make! A-a speech, if you will." Children crowded around Mary. You felt the sheep brush up against your shuffling feet as the town gathered around your little stand. "...if you can, ah'd like some space..." A few of the kids backed off. One of them yanked at Mary's ear before being pulled away by his mother. The only kid to remain close to Mary after that was the one in makeup. "Er-hem... some'a you mighta noticed the absence of a food carriage today." You hoped that was the right term; you'd just stolen it off of the gossipping ladies. The crowd returned wayward nods-- they understood. "This is due to an attack on th' train bringin' both people an' food t' the Gulch. It happened earlier this mornin', 'round eight a-m." Central Road erupted into a cacophony. "Attack?! Why, ah bet it was those darned creatures--" "The Bakers!! The Bakers-- are they alraht??" Some people tried to run to the train station-- to see if you were telling the truth-- others stopped them, forced them back to the crowd. Some tried to rush to Simpson and Dudley's General, remembering the canned food, thinking that was all and they should have been stocking up by now. It took so much shouting to get everyone back in order that your voice had gone hoarse by the time people had settled down. Your speech began properly with plenty of coughing. "Please... settle. The passengers 'r safe. You won't go hungry. I promise it t' you. I've got to." A woman in the crowd, still histrionic, interrupted. "A-and what about the sheriff? What's he got to do now that he's not tellin' us this?" You swallowed your discomfort and spat it out already. "The sheriff's got his leg broken. I'll be takin' over for him, temp'rarily, t' try an' keep things 'n order." More discussion forced itself into the speech as you forced the crowd to ease. "We were attacked by a group'a metal-eaters when tryin' t' get them away from the cargo." You cleared your throat for the last time. "They never wanted our blood-- they only got'n our way when we forced 'em away from what they saw as food. They're all docile now but, please, don't go lookin' for the train. I can't guarantee it's safe yet." You motioned over to Mary. "All's well regardless-- Mary's gotten a few burns," some hushed whispers questioning whether the assailants could breathe fire were shared, "an' I'm a bit bruised, but I promise t' you as Temporary Sheriff that I'll do my best t' keep this town intact." Silence followed the announcement.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sat 10 Aug 2024 19:31:48 No. 6078116 Report The only thing to break the silence was a quiet murmur. Then another. A man spoke up. Apprehension laced his tone. "What d' you want us t' do, then, sheriff?" <><><><><> You set about trying to direct the town. People were dispatched to try and clear the old fields of boulders. Yet more people kept rebuilding. Those that remained were tasked with sowing seeds in new fields they made themselves. Hours turned to days. Carriages were built and named. Certain ones were designated for certain things. Those most familiar with the surrounding area offerred advice, volunteered themselves, worked towards establishing deeper contact with the surrounding towns. Redding sent their own carriages as soon as they heard of the attack, realizing that something had gone wrong days after it'd occurred, while the rest of the neighborhood stayed silent. Seven days made a week. The people came to you for answers. Even the begrudging few had no other choice by Sunday. You attended Mass, feeling obligated to be amongst the crowded Gulch people, and felt a brief uplift as everyone put aside their differences to pray. Such an uplift was soon dampened by the swarm of questions people had for you later on. Where did this material go? Which carriage was leaving today? Was the sheriff better yet? Why hadn't the tomatoes grown already? When you weren't answering such onslaughts, you'd begun seeing things once more. Even as your head healed you remained assaulted by visions of deep fogs and evil laughter, brought about by the Devil Himself. Two-hundred and sixteen hours turned to two-hundred and forty. Study session after study session became untenable due to how often you were needed. You saw new species after new species and failed to classify anything due to inevitable interruptions and sheer exhaustion. <span class="mu-r">Food supply was running low. A child had gone missing.</span> <span class="mu-b">The metal-eaters had harassed a miner and they were short a pickaxe.</span> <span class="mu-g">One of the rival restaurants had closed early "due to overcrowding" and ended up</span> <span class="mu-r">flooding Nannie's Nano-Bites with so many customers that they had to start serving people cooked ingredients instead of full meals.</span> <span class="mu-b">People weren't working hard enough,</span> <span class="mu-r">or too much,</span> <span class="mu-g">they needed</span> <span class="mu-r">breaks</span> <span class="mu-g">and</span> <span class="mu-b">less of them.</span> Your head spun as you spent what little free time you'd gotten was spent scanning a copy of the Sacramento Daily Record-Union from the Redding carriage of morningtime.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sat 10 Aug 2024 19:32:53 No. 6078118 Report Quoted By:
Underneath the title: <span class="mu-i">July 25th, 1884.</span> Enormous letters littered the front page in various sizings. Above it all: <span class="mu-s">SACRAMENTO REMAINS IN TURMOIL</span> <span class="mu-s">RAILROAD NETWORKS REMAIN DAMAGED, TELEGRAPH LINES UNAFFECTED.</span> In smaller letters underneath this: <span class="mu-i">Crocker refuses comment, not seen Publicly since Early Morn.</span> You glanced at the start of the article. <span class="mu-i">"East and West are Separated once more by the failures of Southern Pacific..." <span class="mu-s">COUNTRY-WIDE PANIC AS AUTHORITIES OVERWHELMED</span> Almost an entire page was dedicated to headlines alone. You continued. New York City was blocked off from the rest of the world. Nobody could get in or out save for newspeople bringing and sending mail. People allying themselves with what the paper called "demonic intruders" had overtaken the government and total chaos had already led to two pages worth of obituaries when it began. Various stories of "on-the-ground State Militia" soldiers struggling against rising classes of radical independents and business-backed armies littered the paper, with most emphasis given to the brave troops in Sacramento keeping things so calm that the story was immediately followed by an entire page worth of ads. Expunge a demon today! Selling Anti-Demon Armories, visit 715 J Street... <span class="mu-s">JESUS CRIES AS GOOD MEN ABANDON HIM. Newest Testament Available on 718 Oak Avenue, around Corner. Satanists Need Not Enter...</span> Reports of a political cartoon driving people to madness, attacking the demons. The writer seemed unable to settle on whether these people were delusional and violent or worth listening to. You tossed the paper aside when it began talking about Finnish Witchcraft, your brain pounding like an overworked heart. Mary wasted no time in chewing the paper to bits for you. A heavy sigh left you as your head slid into your hands and your forehead followed onto the sheriff's desk. A knock on the door almost made your heart skip a beat.</span>
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sat 10 Aug 2024 19:34:15 No. 6078122 Report Underneath the title: <span class="mu-i">July 25th, 1884.</span> Enormous letters littered the front page in various sizings. Above it all: <span class="mu-s">SACRAMENTO REMAINS IN TURMOIL</span> <span class="mu-s">RAILROAD NETWORKS REMAIN DAMAGED, TELEGRAPH LINES UNAFFECTED.</span> In smaller letters underneath this: <span class="mu-i">Crocker refuses comment, not seen Publicly since Early Morn.</span> You glanced at the start of the article. <span class="mu-i">"East and West are Separated once more by the failures of Southern Pacific..."</span> <span class="mu-s">COUNTRY-WIDE PANIC AS AUTHORITIES OVERWHELMED</span> Almost an entire page was dedicated to headlines alone. You continued. New York City was blocked off from the rest of the world. Nobody could get in or out save for newspeople bringing and sending mail. People allying themselves with what the paper called "demonic intruders" had overtaken the government and total chaos had already led to two pages worth of obituaries when it began. Various stories of "on-the-ground State Militia" soldiers struggling against rising classes of radical independents and business-backed armies littered the paper, with most emphasis given to the brave troops in Sacramento keeping things so calm that the story was immediately followed by an entire page worth of ads. <span class="mu-i">Expunge a demon today! Selling Anti-Demon Armories, visit 715 J Street...</span> <span class="mu-s">JESUS CRIES AS GOOD MEN ABANDON HIM. Newest Testament Available on 718 Oak Avenue, around Corner. Satanists Need Not Enter...</span> Reports of a political cartoon driving people to madness, attacking the demons. The writer seemed unable to settle on whether these people were delusional and violent or worth listening to. You tossed the paper aside when it began talking about Finnish Witchcraft, your brain pounding like an overworked heart. Mary wasted no time in chewing the paper to bits for you. A heavy sigh left you as your head slid into your hands and your forehead followed onto the sheriff's desk. A knock on the door almost made your heart skip a beat.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sat 10 Aug 2024 19:35:16 No. 6078125 Report When it opened, you saw one of the Bakers standing before you. The old grandad who'd helped with saving food a week and a half back. "Are you busy, sheriff?" You shook your head and gave the man a tired motion to sit across from you. "...c'min, Mr. Baker." He took his seat. "You sound exhausted, sheriff. Might that be the reason you mistook my name for another's?" The man was met with eyes so tired that you saw his expression briefly change to one of shock. He cleared his throat and elaborated. "...though I arrived here in their company, I am not, in fact, a Baker." An outstretched hand was offered to you. "Thomas J. Steele, pleased to make your acquaintance." The shaking that you gave it was limp, but this 'Mr. Steele' made sure to keep his hand firm on yours. He placed both palms atop your hand and gave you a smile. "I've noticed you've had some trouble keeping things in order, and come to propose a course of action that might have you relieved of this stressful occupation just yet." You understood about half of what he said. Why had you nodded for him to continue? "It just so happens that I have quite a bit of experience in the field of public leadership." The man fluffed the neck of his well-made tan suit. "If you so desire, I could act as a kind of advisor to you. Or take over temporary leadership in your stead-- just for a few days, you understand... unless you wish otherwise." You looked the man over. His massive graying mustache made reading his expression something of a chore in your decrepit state, yet you could see his baby-blue eyes well enough to tell that he hadn't dropped that friendly smile of his. Being sheriff <span class="mu-i">was</span> taking a toll on you. It was hard to deny that. But did you trust this man enough to take it over for you?>What's that matter? As long as your duties as sheriff stopped taking over so much of your life you were happy. >No. He would make an alright advisor, but you didn't feel comfortable letting him take this job from you-- even if you weren't enjoying it. The townspeople didn't need another change in leadership right now. >Write-in.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6078114 >>6078116 >>6078122 >>6078125 >What's that matter? As long as your duties as sheriff stopped taking over so much of your life you were happy. I don't think Waltur can last much longer with the current pace of things. He needs an out, and we want to see more of the world and the (de)mons in it.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6078125 >>No. He would make an alright advisor, but you didn't feel comfortable letting him take this job from you-- even if you weren't enjoying it. The townspeople didn't need another change in leadership right now. The guy is a sleazebag. I do not trust him. I say we get the people others trust to act as heads of specific groups. A council must form, and we must also start getting others to become Trainers.
Anonymous
>>6078125 It looks like two-and-a-half weeks have passed in the quest since our character arrived. I wonder why we haven't checked in on the sheriff once every while and asked him for advice on more complicated matters.
>Write-in. >Suggest to split obligations so that he can handle the more administrative roles. Voice that you appreciate his help, but remind him that the sheriff returns to his position once he recoveries. This will give us more opportunities to be out in the field and finally get some more research done while being close enough to make sure Thomas doesn't get to any funny business. Speaking of which, Thomas J. Steele was an actual politician who did a term in Iowa.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_J._Steele Let's keep an ear on what's happening at nearby towns like Redding.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sat 10 Aug 2024 20:25:24 No. 6078172 Report >>6078169 >Thomas J. Steele was an actual politician who did a term in Iowa I feel the need to clarify that this character isn't the same guy.
Also, thank you for the laugh. I chose the name as a dumb play on George Washington Steele, whose name I also found funny, and didn't expect it to actually be a real person, let alone a congressman. Whoops. Anonymous
>>6078169 >>6078172 I wonder if Thomas Jefferson Steele and George Washington Steele were related? >>6078125 >Suggest to split obligations so that he can handle the more administrative roles. Voice that you appreciate his help, but remind him that the sheriff returns to his position once he recoveries. Anonymous
>>6078125 >>6078169 Supporting this. If he gives pushback, we can also suggest helping the townsfolk and working his way up as a trusted member of the community.
It’s not like the badge means anything by itself. People listen to us because they believe we’ll fight for their interests. Same with the sheriff. Proving that to them will go much farther than any authority we’d give could go.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sat 10 Aug 2024 22:55:52 No. 6078260 Report Quoted By:
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sun 11 Aug 2024 01:43:43 No. 6078349 Report Maybe partly. "I do appreciate you askin'." You straightened yourself out a little, meeting the man eye-to-eye. "I'd be glad t' hand off a lot of the administratin' to you. I'm not great with that kind'a stuff." Steele's smile didn't waver. "Oh, administrative duties?" You cracked your neck. "Yeah, temp'rarily. I dunno if you heard, but the actual sheriff's outt'a commission at the moment." Thomas arched a brow. "No, I wasn't aware. How long would I be involved, then?" The calendar was right there... "...well, whenever his leg gets better. Knowin' how long those usally take t' heal, I suppose I'd wager another week or two? Maybe a little longer. Def'nitely not longer than a month an' a half." Steele shook the hand you'd left in his palm. "I'd be glad to help until the time comes. When should I start?" You were going to give a later date. Surely you'd finish today by yourself. The gray fog coalescing behind Steele made you reconsider. "...as soon as y' can, kindly." Thomas' smile turned to a smirk. "I'm not exactly busying myself around here. I can start now if you'd like." Alright, that was enough. You raised a brow and straightened yourself. "Is there a reason you're so eager t' take this position, Mr Steele?" The man's smirk evaporated, replaced by slight dodginess. "I mentioned a hefty amount of experience in this field, yes? And I've been stranded in this community with no mayor for some time now." He was somewhat on-edge from your squint, yet continued. "...I came here only for business, sheriff. That business of mine is down South, and wasn't supposed to cost me this many days. I was supposed to have returned home and resumed working in government by now." Your expression eased. "I don't want to let myself get too complacent, you see, and you're quite obviously inexperienced, so I felt it my duty as your senior to offer some assistance." "Well, I appreciate the offer, sir." You unfolded the piece of paper lodged behind the badge's letters and wrote "sheriff" below the existing "temprary", as well as some urgent things that needed taking care of on the other side of the slip. The paper soon found its way into Steele's palm-- "cut it into a star if you want to, might help th' townsfolk know--" and you found your way out of the office. <><><><><>
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sun 11 Aug 2024 01:44:44 No. 6078351 Report The sheriff's badge hid in your shirt pocket as you followed the gray fog down Central Road. Mary trudged behind you, loyal but confused. You weren't really aiming to follow the fog; it just gave you some direction while you went off to recuperate for a bit. After an hour's rest by the outskirts of town, and the fog's decision to once more vanish into thin air, you figured you needed to do something with yourself. It didn't need to be anything particularly intensive or important, just... something. Anything at all. What would it be?>Attempt an expedition out of town to track down some new and interesting species. [Will open a sub-vote if chosen.] >Return to Cora's house and read some of the books you brought with you here. >Experiment with the nutberries some more. >Attempt to train Mary-- see if you can tie words to actions, test her intelligence. >Search for the missing child. >Write-in.
Anonymous
>>6078351 >Search for the missing child. I want to plant those damn berries, but for now, this is sort of our duty.
Anonymous
>>6078122 >SACRAMENTO REMAINS IN TURMOIL >most emphasis given to the brave troops in Sacramento keeping things so calm that the story was immediately followed by an entire page worth of ads. Odd. My best guess is that most other cities and towns in California have been placed under martial law.
>New York City was blocked off from the rest of the world. Nobody could get in or out save for newspeople bringing and sending mail. People allying themselves with what the paper called "demonic intruders" had overtaken the government and total chaos had already led to two pages worth of obituaries when it began. I figured New York would be screwed from the start, but I think it's implied that the US government is still operational.
>JESUS CRIES AS GOOD MEN ABANDON HIM. Newest Testament Available on 718 Oak Avenue, around Corner. Satanists Need Not Enter... >You tossed the paper aside when it began talking about Finnish Witchcraft Yeah, no surprise. What do they mean by "Newest Testament?"
Anonymous
>>6078351 >Search for the missing child. This is a human life on the line. Research and nutberry planting can wait.
Anonymous
>>6078388 >What do they mean by "Newest Testament?" Someone's started a NRM or apocalypse cult centered on the Pokemon.
PoképocalypseQM (on phone)
PoképocalypseQM (on phone) ID:fikORCBP Sun 11 Aug 2024 04:07:12 No. 6078459 Report >>6078388 Ah shoot, I made a weird typo. The second Sacramento is supposed to read San Francisco. Apologies.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6078459 Huh. I expected San Francisco to be in more chaos with the urbanization and all the water type Pokemon that must be nearby.
>Apologies. No sweat.
Anonymous
>>6078351 >Search for the missing child. Let’s go save a kid. We can research the (de)‘mons we find along the way, but we’ve gotta secure the townspeople first.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6078349 >>6078351 >Attempt an expedition out of town to track down some new and interesting species. [Will open a sub-vote if chosen.] More mon, please!
I know what I did, Utah.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sun 11 Aug 2024 13:44:08 No. 6078641 Report Quoted By:
>>6078356 >>6078391 >>6078486 We'll be looking for the missing kiddo today!
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sun 11 Aug 2024 16:34:42 No. 6078704 Report Ah, right. Through all this hurried exhaustion you'd nearly forgotten... there was a child missing. You recalled what you'd heard about the situation. The child was mute. Part of the reason the panic had escalated to this extent was that the kid's parents couldn't just call for her to come home and see her returned. They'd also checked where the kid usually played-- she wasn't behind the hotel, she wasn't near the fields, she definitely wasn't at the town square. You also knew that her parents were miners... so if there was anywhere you should start asking, it was there. <><><><><> The stark difference in temperature between the rest of Shenanigan's Gulch and this mineshaft hit you like a brick the moment you stepped foot within it. Dust assaulted your eyes as it gunned for the exit, the gravel beneath your shoes kept your ears constantly busy, and you couldn't see anything until your eyes forced themselves to adjust to the darker tunnel. Mary's voice echoed throughout the shaft as she stepped in, giving some kind of introductory bleat that you didn't have the energy to tell her off for. Some kind of shriek called back, mixed in with some human voices, and your sheep wasted no time in chasing after all the chatter. She only stopped once she'd found someone nearby; a short man, covered in dirt, with a partly-broken pickaxe in hand and an ashy broom mustache covering his mouth. You would be able to tell that he was a miner, even without his equipment, from how deeply his face was worn. "Eh? What's this..." The man noticed you and straightened himself, nearly bumping his head as he left his crouching position. "Oh, sheriff! Ah-- fer now, right? Ye need somethin' from me?" You shook your head gently. "Nothin' more than information." Mary ran back to your side, keeping a watch out for any trouble. "I was told of a missing child..." The guy cut you off. "Ah, a poor soul, that one. Ah don' remember her name, but ah know who you're talkin' of." He readjusted his sagging, dirt-caked jeans. "'bout yay high, black hair in a lil' bob, wearin' overalls?" The description warranted a few blinks. That matched up perfectly with the description you'd been given, with less emphasis on her lack of speech... so you nodded. The miner gave a dry laugh. "Good luck findin' anythin' on her. Best ah can offer you is her brother down there." His hand shot out in a vaguely right-facing manner while he kept his half-toothless grin steady. "Looks sim'lar 'nuff, wearin' jeans lahke mine. All I know is that he's somewhere 'round these parts an' can speak plenty. Heard he's been takin' this pretty badly." With another nod and a sigh, you moved on.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sun 11 Aug 2024 16:35:44 No. 6078705 Report The mines began to wear on you as you traversed them. Hardly a minute went by when neither you nor Mary coughed out some kind of dirt or dust. Part of you wished that Cora was here and had some kind of magical solution to watery eyes and dust in your throat, but you waved away that kind of wistful thinking with ponderings on why your sheepy friend wasn't being burned by the dirt here like she was at the train incident. You passed by person after person, stopping to talk to nearly everyone you'd met, asking for clues as to the girl or her brother's whereabouts and directions around the mineshaft. Sometimes you asked the same person the same questions within a ten-minute span and found yourself apologizing on instinct. To be fair to you, it was pretty hard to tell one miner from another, save for in height. Many of them were noticeably short-- whether that was just because you were taller than average, you didn't know, but you almost mistook some of them for dwarves or children in the deep dark. Eventually it got too dark to think. You had to focus too much on avoiding obstacles or walls to think of much else, and asking for directions became futile. By the time you'd reached the deepest parts of the mine, you were bent over like a dinner napkin at a fancy party trying to fit through the dirty holes that the mineshaft had deteriorated into. Eventually, however, someone who fit the prior description caught your attention. A young man, probably no older than seventeen, sat at the end of one of the tunnels. He was rather still. Even when you got near him, he didn't move much. It took Mary calling from the entrance to the tunnel for him to do anything-- and even then, all he did was flinch. You turned his face around to meet yours and were met with the sight of a kid whose face was almost too delicate to belong to someone mining in a place this deep. Tears stained his cheeks-- what parts of his face weren't visibly wet were instead covered by so much soot and dust that you wondered how he breathed at all down here. The kid hiccupped and turned away from you, sobbing quietly, only speaking up a minute or so after you'd remained by his side. "W-what're you here for?">Be blunt. You're here for information from him, and nothing more. >Try to cheer him up. If this really is the child's brother, you might as well try and uplift his spirits. You're going to find his sister, after all! >Say you'll tell him once he gets out of this mineshaft. It clearly isn't doing him well to be down here. >Write-in.
Anonymous
>>6078704 >>6078705 >Say you'll tell him once he gets out of this mineshaft. It clearly isn't doing him well to be down here. and then
>Try to cheer him up. If this really is the child's brother, you might as well try and uplift his spirits. You're going to find his sister, after all! Honey makes the words flow better than vinegar. Plus, I like to think Waltur is a nice guy.
Anonymous
Anonymous
>>6078705 >Say you'll tell him once he gets out of this mineshaft. It clearly isn't doing him well to be down here. I don’t want to be too go-getter about finding his sister in case we don’t find her today. Raising his spirits gives room to crush them.
I’m trying to think of what we can offer that others haven’t in the meantime. Maybe Mary has a good enough sense of smell to find her if he can give us something his sister has worn? We can trace her path from when she was last seen (or hit her usual spots) until Mary finds something.
Anonymous
>>6078705 >Say you'll tell him once he gets out of this mineshaft. It clearly isn't doing him well to be down here. PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sun 11 Aug 2024 21:26:20 No. 6078933 Report Quoted By:
>>6078711 >>6078718 >>6078908 Alright, we'll pull him out of the mineshaft and tell him after that. I'll try to find some compromise between being blunt and sugary since it's split.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6078705 >Say you'll tell him once he gets out of this mineshaft. It clearly isn't doing him well to be down here. I'm
>>6078396 Anonymous
>>6078705 >Write-in Try and reason with him that we're here to help find his sister. We know more than most about these creatures so we're the best help he's going to get
Finally caught up, and all I can say is I hope to god none of these irl pokemon are obligate carnivores. We'll just have to see when/if we find the girl...
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6079015 >carnivores Oh, if ONLY that was the worst case.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Mon 12 Aug 2024 01:05:36 No. 6079018 Report "I'm here to get you out of this tunnel." You kept your voice calm and quiet. The kid sniffled and turned away from you. "No, go away. Ah'm s'pposed t' be here. It's mah work." He curled into a ball, knocking over some of the rocks he'd dug out of the mine, and Mary bleated back at you two. "A-an' tell yer sheep t' shut it!" This was going to be harder than you'd thought it'd be... You twisted around and motioned for Mary to keep it down. You hadn't a clue whether she understood so, just to try and earn the boy's trust, you piped up. "Mary, keep it down!" The boy chuckled. "M-Mary? That's what y' named her?" What was so funny about that? "It's a perfectly good name. I don' see you suggestin' anythin' better, anywho." Another cough. The kid's moving around was kicking up dust. He began to uncurl himself just a little, taking up as much space as he could without hitting his head, his expression relaxing just a bit. "W-well, fer one, Noisy would work." He rubbed his cheeks-- covering them completely with a layer of dirt-- and tried to smile. You could tell he was trying to be happy more than he was being genuine. The effort was infectious-- even your tone was lighter, despite the insincerity, and you even managed a gaff. "Well now, that'd just get confusin'. Imagine tryin' t' call her name durin' a big show or some'n. Everyone'd be askin' for her!" Ms. Noisy gave another bleat down the tunnel and you gave her another hush. The boy asked why she was bleating so much through his quiet snickering. "I don't think it's very comfortable for her t' stay down here so long. She's used t' big wide plains 'n pretty skies." You assumed. Really, you weren't certain. Mary wasn't your average sheep. That description seemed to dull the boy's expression. "Ah wish ah could be seein' some o' that raght now. Dad said he wouldn' let me outta here 'til ah brought him back a bullion o' gold." You blinked and retreated a bit, shooing away dust as you retorted. "What? How would you find a bullion of gold down here?" The kid gave another <span class="mu-i">hic</span> and laughed a dry laugh of near-desperation. "Ah dunno!! But he said ah gotta keep minin' till ah do!" The thought baffled you. "I... your dad wasn't bein' serious, I don't think." A distant rumble came from outside the shaft. You heard Mary turning towards the sound, her hoofbeat echoing through the tiny tunnel until both it and the rumble had faded, a small cloud of dust briefly obscuring her. "Forget what your dad said, anyways. It's clear you've been down here way too long." "An' what makes you think you know better than mah parents, Mr. Nobody?" You glanced beneath his chin. He looked pretty skinny. "I don't think your parents would want you t' have been down here for days at a time."
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Mon 12 Aug 2024 01:06:45 No. 6079020 Report The kid burst out laughing. You quietly thanked God that the roof was smooth-- otherwise, his close family would come out of this whole experience without any children at all. "Mister Nobody, you may not know anythin' 'bout much, but you sure know how t' make me laugh!" "Ah've only been here eight hours t'day! This... this ain't even as long as yest'rday!" His voice cracked. "I-it's not a big deal, anyways. There ain't nothin' more fun t' do out there without Rosie 'round." Rosie? That must've been his sister's name... through all the crying, her mother had never mentioned it. "...well, you've still got t' eat. And it's getting nearer t' lunch now. We should go." There was silence between the two of you for just a moment... ...before the kid rubbed his cheek again and nodded. He agreed to go with you-- on the condition that you told him jokes on the way there. <><><><><> Once the sun stung your eyes and the three of you could feel grass beneath your feet again, you finally let Otto (the kid)'s hand go and put a hand to your head. The change in light would've bothered you on any day, but today it was especially bad. You spent a few minutes getting your bearings and letting the sun spots fade before leading Otto back to town and, especially, to his parents. It was a bit rough, heading down the thin mountain trail with such a cramped party, but the three of you managed... so as long as Mary was in front. Once you'd gotten back to Shenanigan's Gulch, Otto's family was waiting to meet you in the town square. His mother expressed her gratitude and you explained the situation. She soon began to pout. "Oh, shame, he shouldn'a taken that so bluntly. He's never been real good with that-- abstraction 'n orders 'n the like..." Her gaze drifted back to Otto, who'd been hugging his father this entire time. "...Rosetta's never had those kinds'a issues. Maybe that's why ah didn' think fer him." "Did he come home for meals and bed rest?" "Oh, yeah, well... he's an adult now, an' when he was little we just let him go wherever 'slong as he came back... ah didn' think anythin' was wrong." The muck never raised any questions? "No, he's always been pretty dirty! Ah never had reason t' wonder where it came from, a-an' ah knew he worked in th' mines."
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Mon 12 Aug 2024 01:07:46 No. 6079021 Report Otto came by to interrupt. "You told me you'd tell me somethin', Mister. Once we were outta the tunnel." You'd nearly forgotten. Erhem... "...I'm here t' help find your sister." He chuckled and stuck his hands in his overall pockets. "Well, good luck sir. Ah dunno who can do it if not ma er pa, but ah think you've got a chance. The creek ain't so narrow, anyways..." Otto's mom looked incredulous. "Otto, don't lie t' the man!!" She smacked him upside the head. "Ah'm not lyin', ma! That's where ah last saw her!" The creek, huh? You took mental note... ...and decided to take your leave, as well, once you saw Otto and his mother beginning to argue. Well, you had a lead now. What were you to do with it? >Check the creek. Otto might not have been there too long ago if he's been leaving the mines to eat and sleep. >Check around the creek [Forest/Railroad tracks]. Rosetta can't have gone too far since... whenever Otto saw her. >Check someplace else. [Write-in.]
D. Spenser
>>6079021 >>Check the creek. Otto might not have been there too long ago if he's been leaving the mines to eat and sleep. Anonymous
>>6079021 >Check the creek. Otto might not have been there too long ago if he's been leaving the mines to eat and sleep. Start there, and fan out.
Anonymous
>>6079021 >Check the creek. Otto might not have been there too long ago if he's been leaving the mines to eat and sleep Anonymous
>>6079021 >Check the creek. Otto might not have been there too long ago if he's been leaving the mines to eat and sleep. Additionally, if they can provide us a piece of clothing or other item, maybe we can have Mary sniff it out?
Anonymous
>>6079018 >>6079020 >>6079021 >Check around the creek [Forest]. Rosetta can't have gone too far since... whenever Otto saw her. She isn't IN that small creek, dullards.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Mon 12 Aug 2024 12:20:51 No. 6079252 Report Quoted By:
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Mon 12 Aug 2024 14:29:17 No. 6079301 Report Follow it, of course. To the creek you went! <><><><><> The area didn't look too different to when you'd last seen it. The quiet rush of a small waterfall near the end was the only noise you heard for some time, with the muddy shores as empty as ever and the steep slopes on either side making sure that, if Rosetta had somehow slipped down here, she'd not have been able to leave. The place seemed empty, as it had before... "Mehh!" Mary came trotting over to you, seemingly about to do something, before her expression rapidly changed and she dashed off towards what looked like a blue pebble sticking out of the mud on the creek's bank. You followed her, of course, your guard slowly faltering as you approached without error and found... a shoe? Mary's next bleat was muffled, stifled between the heel of the shoe and her mouth. You tried to pull the little thing away from your friend, only to face resistance from the blue bovine. Your minor tug-of-war ended quickly, in total Khrysómallon victory, with your reward being a wild goose chase around the creek to try and get the thing back. It took Mary splashing water in your face for you to finally relent. The sheep almost seemed proud about her victory, positioning herself across the water in the driest spot of the creek, devouring her prize with pride. Yet you watched her chew on the shoe and couldn't help but think... could it help you somehow? There was no guarantee that this shoe was Rosetta's. It hadn't been here for long-- its relative cleanliness made sure you knew that much. And there wasn't any blood staining it... so whoever this belonged to wasn't hurt... You'd exhausted your one lead, too, by coming here and finding nothing. But... sheep had incredible senses of smell. And Mary could surely understand some kind of "smell" command, right? Well... it wouldn't hurt to try. <><><><><>
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Mon 12 Aug 2024 14:30:18 No. 6079302 Report The next few hours passed by like a speeding train. You spent so long trying to train Mary to understand how to sniff things that, when it finally clicked, you pumped your fist in the air and shouted victory. She seemed to understand the concept of smelling, as well as tying that to a motion or command, but it took significantly longer for her to understand someone <span class="mu-i">asking her</span> to smell something for them. It took almost as long to get her to learn how to follow the trail of a specific scent. Sheep really had no sort of need for this kind of tracking ability, so it made sense... you were just grateful that Mary had the capability to learn it whatsoever, especially on such a short notice. When she finally did understand, however, you were on a trail almost immediately. The little sheep had her nose to the ground, shoe still in her mouth, tracing its origin directly to the forest across from the entrance to the creek (and, past it, Cora's house). Your funny friend paused right before the forest's entrance, beckoning for you to come, but you knew that place was already rather dangerous <span class="mu-i">without</span> these strange creatures residing within it. And given that they'd been seen as far away as Tombstone Mountain... maybe it was better to take precautions?>Sure, maybe it was, but rescuing a child was more important. Mary is protection enough-- everything else can wait. >You weren't going to risk getting just as lost as Rosetta seemed to be. Better you return to town and get some supplies first.
Anonymous
>>6079162 We did study the river previously, so we can hope it gives us an edge in seeing anything out-of-place along this creek that could signify either her direction or the presence of other creatures.
Anonymous
>>6079301 >>6079302 >Sure, maybe it was, but rescuing a child was more important. Mary is protection enough-- everything else can wait. Our golden girl will beat all the baddies.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6079302 >You weren't going to risk getting just as lost as Rosetta seemed to be. Better you return to town and get some supplies first. Rustle up a posse. Are we sheriff, or ain't we?
Anonymous
>>6079303 And here I thought I’d refreshed before posting.
>>6079302 >Sure, maybe it was, but rescuing a child was more important. Mary is protection enough-- everything else can wait. Not sure how long the scent trail will last. If Cora’s home isn’t too far from here then I’d let her know we’re heading into the forest and to grab our “bodyguards” from the train to organize a search party if we’re not back by nightfall.
Anonymous
>>6079302 >Sure, maybe it was, but rescuing a child was more important. Mary is protection enough-- everything else can wait. Every moment waiting to act is another moment the child could die. Better act now. We also don't know when the scent will break.
Anonymous
>>6079302 >Sure, maybe it was, but rescuing a child was more important. Mary is protection enough-- everything else can wait. Best to get to it.
Anonymous
>>6079302 >Sure, maybe it was, but rescuing a child was more important. Mary is protection enough-- everything else can wait. We dont know IC but pokemon could do all sorts of horrific bullshit. I'd rather find a child than a corpse.
Anonymous
>>6079356 The kid dying might be a bit overzealous (the previous tone of the quest doesn't suggest something this grim would ever happen) but I am sure she would appreciate it if we made haste.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6079416 We already know that several people died when the Pokemon arrived, and some tried firing bullets at the Pokemon. It's entirely possible.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Mon 12 Aug 2024 19:17:25 No. 6079453 Report Quoted By:
>>6079316 >>6079328 >>6079356 >>6079375 >>6079381 Alright, we're heading in without reinforcements.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Mon 12 Aug 2024 22:28:58 No. 6079542 Report >>6079461 Precautions could wait. A child was in danger, and you might've been on the cusp of finding her.
You followed Mary into the forest... with naught but her, a couple of nutberries in your pocket, and that shoe to guide you through.
<><><><><>
Your sheepy friend was rather adamant about following the scent. She barely ever stopped to look where she was going. It took until she nearly bumped into a fallen log for her to glance up. And when she did, you followed suite.
The suspicions you'd had upon entering were confirmed pretty quickly. This forest was a lot deeper than you'd first anticipated it to be.
There seemed to be some kind of permanent dark shroud hanging over it, the trees extending so far into the heavens that they blocked out almost all light, with every other surface being occupied by some moss or rock or plant of some other type.
Every step Mary took crushed a multitude of plantlife underneath her sturdy hooves. Twigs and leaves, both fresh and aged, gave way to even the slightest movement. The constant stream of noise was rather unsettling, as well.
A chirp here, a squawk there... some kind of screech rung out about the place. You refocused on Mary to try and distract from the ambience, only to find her now sniffing a noticeably verdant bulb of sorts.
You became fixated on it, as she had, almost immediately upon noticing it. The thing was barely-grown and nearly the size of Mary's entire head. Its shade of green was so much paler than the rest of the plantlife that you couldn't help but wonder if it'd actually originated in this forest. You snuck closer and closer...
...until the bulb <span class="mu-i">crawled out of the ground</span>, revealing some kind of reptilian attached to it.
Mary stumbled back with a loud bleat, alerting the strange new creature to the two of you. It gave a nervous <span class="mu-i">croak</span> of some kind, gazing up at you with a mixture of curiosity and terror. It tilted its head--
A loud howl rang out through the forest.
You were getting distracted.
It was hard to take your eyes off the strange creature, but you really <span class="mu-i">really</span> had to. If that howl meant what you thought it did, Rosetta would be lucky to make it out of here unharmed.
Not one glance was given to the bulbous stranger as you headed deeper into the woods.
<><><><><>
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Mon 12 Aug 2024 22:29:59 No. 6079543 Report Mary was back on the trail of the scent... for about twenty minutes. That was plenty of time-- more than you'd anticipated you'd get out of such a scent... but it helped nothing. The two of you were now someplace dark enough that your skin almost looked as grey as the pond to your distant left, without a child in sight. Nor any hint of human interference. This part of the forest was inhabited only by dark shapes and even darker vines, crawling across every surface and smothering what little light could dare to escape their grasp without hesitation. It was a pleasant surprise, then, to see Mary suddenly light up like a candle. Her golden fleece shone almost as brightly as the wick you kept by your bedside back at home, applying a warm glow to the gloomy forest, giving you the gift of sight in the darkest place you'd seen since the mineshafts. The small red gem at the end of her tail glowed the brightest of all, bathing an entire clearing in red-tinted light and illuminating the figure of... a small child up ahead. "Rosetta!" You cried out on instinct. It was such a relief to see her intact, even someplace as sketchy as this. Her dark, short hair was visible from here. Even while tinted red there was no mistaking that coloration. Rosetta didn't answer, of course. You hadn't expected her to. The forest itself seemed to be smothering your attempts to reach out. But... she wasn't reacting to your approach, either. Mary made some kind of noise. It sounded... wary? You lowered your voice to a whisper and glanced back at her. "I need you t' keep it down, please, just fer now. I dunno how she'd react t' you yet an' we <span class="mu-i">need</span> t' keep her calm." The sheep pouted for only a moment. She backed up afterwards, stationing herself by the entrance to the clearing, protesting no further. Her retreat made you aware of the rather tall grass you'd now found yourself knee-deep in. You put any worry out of your mind as you quietly approached the child. It was only when you saw another, slightly further off, that you stopped. The second child was... different? You could make out some reddish hair, a shorter height. Similar... stature... Rosetta didn't seem to be breathing. Her chest, now directly to your right, wasn't expanding nor contracting. Yet she was sat right in front of you, in overalls, looking exactly as described, staring at the ground. A chill ran up your spine as you caught another silhouette out of the corner of your eye. There was a third child. You were losing it. Surely there couldn't be <span class="mu-s">three</span> missing children. Nor were you even certain-- A thought struck you. Your hand slowly moved to tap Rosetta's shoulder. And she vanished.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Mon 12 Aug 2024 22:31:43 No. 6079544 Report An intense fear ran through you. Panic began to take hold as you waved your hand, uselessly, in the general vicinity of where Rosetta had been. Something was <span class="mu-i">very, very wrong.</span> Mary cried out from behind you. You didn't hush her. She trotted into the tall grass, seemingly as shaken as you were, followed by some pale green thing you couldn't make out in the grass. All of a sudden, her tail shot up and her stature resembled a statue. A snicker echoed through the clearing. Then another. Then a third, followed by what sounded like some kind of low bark. You were going insane. The grass was tall enough to cover you up to your chest while crouched, as you were now, and up to your knees while standing. You couldn't make out anything beneath your lower body. Yet you heard some movement-- a dash away from where Rosetta had been. Soon after, something plunged into a bush. >Sneak towards the obscure silhouette of the third child. >Sneak towards the darkened red-headed second child. >Try your luck and attempt to catch whatever's in the grass (with your hands). >Scramble around for any kind of weaponry you can find in the grass. >Focus on trying to find your pocket and pull out a nutberry. >Stay where you are and don't move. Just stay alert and make sure Mary's close by.
Anonymous
>>6079544 >Focus on trying to find your pocket and pull out a nutberry. >Try to speak with this creature. Anything that can generate illusions like this is more intelligent than normal. Say that there’s a family that wants their daughter back safe and sound, and that’s what we’re here for. If we can find and take her home, this doesn’t need to escalate.
If it does need to escalate
>Tell Mary to call thunder on herself, and find your own weaponry. I’m guessing she’s paralyzed right now so she may not respond yet, but she’ll get it eventually.
Anonymous
>>6079544 >Try to speak with this creature. Anything that can generate illusions like this is more intelligent than normal. >Slowly feel around for any kind of weaponry you can find in the grass. Anonymous
Anonymous
Oh, and if anyone has any idea on what we’re dealing with then feel free to mention. The last Pokemon game I beat was Yellow so I’m hopeless at guessing at what we’re encountering. I recognized Onyx and Geodude so far and that’s it.
Anonymous
>>6079600 We've encountered Skarmory, Aron, Mareep
Mary , Heatmor, Durant, and just now Bulbasaur. I don't know what we're facing at the moment, however. That being said, the howl indicates that at least it's not a child-snatching Drifloon, but illusions are very concerning.
Anonymous
>>6079607 A Zorua has been implied, I believe.
>>6079600 Maybe Houndor?
If Rosetta dies, we may get a Phantump out of the deal. Anonymous
>>6079608 Don’t even mention that thing. The kid is coming back alive.
>>6079607 Is Driftloon the one that kidnaps children and carries them to the land of the dead?
Anonymous
>>6079608 >A Zorua has been implied, I believe. That's right.
>If Rosetta dies, we may get a Phantump out of the deal. You fucking monster.
>>6079613 I believe so.
Anonymous
>>6079607 >howling >illusions Its this motherfucker. Be wary. Our second biggest obstacle (the first of which is drawing this creature's ire) is tge fact that Rosetta is a mute. If we're not careful, we could end up coming back to the village with a Zorua or Zoroark instead of a human child.
>>6079608 You are a very bad and evil anon
Anonymous
>>6079620 Either it's looking for its pup back in the town, or its on child-snatching duty for its mother.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6079544 >Stay where you are and don't move. Just stay alert and make sure Mary's close by. We don't know if this mf wants to eat us or whatever, so our best bet is Mary picks up the scent again. Far as I know not even psychic types can trick olfactory senses, so illusions ought to fall just as short.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Tue 13 Aug 2024 03:05:56 No. 6079664 Report >>6079608 >If Rosetta dies, we may get a Phantump out of the deal. Stop giving me cruel ideas.
Anonymous
>>6079560 Also backing this, if the Zorua can understand us the same way Mary can then MAYBE we can get out of this without a fight. For all we know we coukd convince it to follow the girl back and boom, free Zorua for the town.
Anonymous
>>6079620 >>6079646 >>6079666 Good thinking, anons. The 'darkened redhead' is probably Zoroark then, right, since it has red hair with black tips?
Anonymous
Anonymous
>>6079692 Then adding to my vote at
>>6079582 :
>>6079544 >address the darkened red-headed second child, specifically >>6079613 >>6079617 >>6079620 >>6079664 >cruel ideas I want to try to save her, but if we fail, I'm just saying we should give the dead child a nutberry and add her to our supernatural taskforce, wherein she will fight dangerous animals until such time as she transforms into a giant haunted tree with legs. Is that so wrong?
D. Spenser
Quoted By:
>>6079544 I support the write in of
>>6079560 Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6079542 >>6079543 >>6079544 >Sneak towards the obscure silhouette of the third child. I don't think Rosetta had red hair, and I do know a certain demon which does...
>>6079620 >>6079646 >>6079679 I don't think foxes howl, but I do think it might be either Zoroark or some other disguising (de)mon.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Tue 13 Aug 2024 12:54:44 No. 6079875 Report Rolled 112 (1d255) >>6079560 >>6079582 >>6079599 >>6079666 >>6079714 Alright, we're pulling out a nutberry and trying to reason with the red-head. Please roll 1d100, Bo3 will be used.
Captcha: WX2HAK Anonymous
Rolled 44 (1d100) >>6079875 Your dice worry me
Anonymous
Rolled 8 (1d100) >>6079875 ROLLIN’!
Anonymous
Anonymous
Rolled 62 (1d100) >>6079875 Here's hoping for the high double digits
Anonymous
>>6079910 The dice have not been nice to this quest.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Tue 13 Aug 2024 16:25:47 No. 6079998 Report >>6079880 >>6079894 >>6079910 Taking these.
>>6079949 Yeah, they really haven't lol. I thought cutting down on them might help but they seem to have taken that as a personal offense.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6079998 This is the Poképocalypse, not soem sort of Poképaradise.
Anonymous
>>6079949 >>6079998 I think we did pretty well, considering 62 is p average. Let's just hope we don't roll any more single digits.
Anonymous
>>6079998 I have a tinfoil hat theory that the dice results on this site are impacted by the frequency of rolls and the kinds of results that show up prior. It wouldn't surprise me if 4chan has some kind of LLM tool to interpret if certain results are good or bad depending on the context.
>>6080065 Every number is equally likely on a single role. Averages only come up when two or more results are added together.
Anonymous
>>6080109 Don't fuckin rain on my parade with knowledge, I came to the IRL pokemon quest to AVOID stats and shit
Anonymous
>>6080138 Coming to a Pokémon-related fanwork on a board widely renowned for being the most autistic on 4chan to avoid stats is an interesting decision.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6080173 I mean, I’m in this quest when I haven’t really advanced past gen 1 in any official media. I’m weirder being here than a crunch-lite anon.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Tue 13 Aug 2024 22:45:33 No. 6080300 Report >62/100 Your heartbeat quieted as you forced yourself to return to the moment-- to focus on the noises, the movement around you. There was some kind of yip from someplace a few feet away that you couldn't make out... You slipped a shaky hand into your deep pant pocket and pulled out a nutberry. There was no indication that such a tactic would work, but you figured that, if something was behind these visions... and Mary seemed to be confirming that it wasn't just you seeing them... then it might be another one of the demons at work. After a few moments of hearing nothing but an encroaching gust of wind, you started inching towards the red-headed child to your northwest. You kept your hand raised, nutberry nestled within, never leaving your crouch as you approached... ...only for a huge <span class="mu-s">YELP</span> from behind to startle you out of it and drop the nutberry. You turned around to see-- nothing, of course. Your brow furrowed for just a moment. Maybe you'd just been missing something? Another entity brushed by your leg. You saw grass rustling, approaching the pale green thing near Mary, before completely vanishing. You looked back to where you'd been going... the nutberry was nowhere to be seen. Your hand in the grass where it had fallen confirmed as much. Glancing up, however, netted you the view of an unspeakably horrible-faced child. You couldn't even begin to count the monstrosities. Maggots crawling out of its nostrils, ears like a devil, eyes filled with pus-- you audibly gasped as if you'd been stabbed upon seeing it. You felt a brief impulse of rage grasp you, but you pushed it away, instead forcing yourself to stare the horrible apparition down as if it was a poorly-behaved dog. Within seconds, the image had gone... with your only remaining company being gregarious laughter and snorting. Part of it sounded human... the rest did not.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Tue 13 Aug 2024 22:46:34 No. 6080304 Report Mary trotted over, visibly shaken, now more confused than fearful. She glanced both ways and then up at you as if awaiting some kind of command. "J-jus' make it a bit brighter, will you?" A blinding flash soon enveloped the clearing for just a moment. Once it'd gone, you could clearly see a bush to your right and empty grass leading further into darkness ahead of you. Mary was visibly struggling to keep this up-- you could see her teeth clenched and she was trembling ever-so-slightly-- so you thanked her and told her that was enough after you'd spotted a trio of children and a small dog-like form some ways away from the bush. Approaching the children was given as much caution as beforehand, but this time you got close enough to wave at one of them. Blue eyes, reddish hair in a ponytail... was that the same makeup as the strange kid in town? But it couldn't be the same child. Besides the obvious gender difference, this one didn't seem to recognize you or Mary and was confused by your gesture. A simple wave... and this kid didn't even grasp that. You were going to say something to her but were soon cut off. Another kid, this one a dark-haired boy free of the strange painted eyebrows, stepped in front of her and... made gestures at you. Not a word was understandable. A point at you, then a point at himself, then to his head. He flapped a hand like a mouth talking, then shrugged. "...I'm sorry, I don't understand..." The kid stamped his foot and huffed, heading further into the forest. You took to following him... ...only to find him, some time later, conversing with a rather wild-looking child in what seemed to be some kind of hand-language. A little dark-haired girl, with one overall strap loose, covered in dirt and twigs, with hair worn in what you presumed to be a bob, was gesturing at the boy while he gestured back. Mary had stuck by your side throughout this. Seeing the girl made her glance up at you. Your nod was all the confirmation she needed to let out a short bleat, noticeably shakier than her usual ones, in the direction of the pair. The two kids flinched at the noise, with the boy making some kind of gesture to the trio from before... but being stopped by the girl. More gesturing... Rosetta now stood at arm's length, glancing at Mary before making some kind of sign at you. First was a wave, followed by her putting a finger to her elbow and moving it to her chin.>Tell her outright that you're clueless as to what this could mean. >Express that you're here to save her first and foremost. >Try to repeat the gesture. >Make up signs of your own and hope she understands them. [Which ones? Provide a translation.] >Just wave back and smile.
Anonymous
>>6080300 >>6080304 >Express that you're here to save her first and foremost. Also add that her parents miss her and that her brother is quite upset. We have to give her a reason to return.
Anonymous
>>6080304 >Express that you're here to save her first and foremost. >Make up signs of your own and hope she understands them. [Which ones? Provide a translation.] Point at her. Point at her friend. Point at us. Shake our hands together. Point to everyone all again and make gestures to leave together.
Hopefully this will get the message across that we are here to help and are friendly, and that if they so please they can leave the forest.
On another note, Do you think that they're gesturing to think at them? Would Buchanan even be able to deduce that?
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Tue 13 Aug 2024 23:01:25 No. 6080313 Report (Meta heads-up: not sure I'll be able to make a second post today. My schedule freed up much later than anticipated and I've lost most of my writing time to that.)
Anonymous
>>6080304 >>6080310 Seconded.
>>6080313 No worries. Thanks for the heads up.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6080304 >Tell her outright that you're clueless as to what this could mean. >Express that you're here to save her first and foremost. Make eye contact. Her parents and bro didn't mention ASL, or her being deaf as well as mute. Would be a weird oversight... I bet she reads lips.
Anonymous
>>6080304 Not enough info for an ASL conversion, but our MC doesn’t know they aren’t paying enough attention for us to use the internet to figure it. Clever.
I’d guess that the first one was suggesting we could talk to them by thinking. Not sure what the girl is asking, but one possibility I saw mentioned “who” and that’s good enough for us to start with anyway.
>Introduce ourself as the temporary sheriff. >Her parents mentioned she was missing, and our sheep friend managed to track her down. >She can understand the boy she’s with, right? >He can understand her, right? >Did he help her? Hurt her? >Are you well enough to come back home? If the boy helped her,
>Does the boy need anything? If we have our pencil and pad we could hand it to her for more complicated questions. If not, there’s always the dirt around us to write on/with. Other than that it’s a bunch of yes/no questions since we can understand that easily.
Anonymous
>>6080304 >Write-in Show Rosetta your sheriff badge, express that you’re here to help her.
Anonymous
>>6080313 That's fine, leaves us longer to devise a plan!
Also adding to my
>>6080310 post here,
>Tell her outright that you're clueless as to what this could mean. Like we can GUESS but we don't know if this is official asl language or just them making signs at us. Also wanting to add
>>6080380 >>6080399 These two, so she know's we're temp sheriff, who hopefully she trusts.
Anonymous
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Wed 14 Aug 2024 16:17:39 No. 6080675 Report Quoted By:
>>6080306 >>6080310 >>6080602 >>6080380 Alright, i'm going to try and put together something from this.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Wed 14 Aug 2024 19:05:15 No. 6080779 Report You remained lost, unable to truly understand the girl. How could you communicate, then..? Well, it wouldn't hurt to start by talking. You'd seen her flinch at Mary's bleat. Surely she could understand human speech. "...hello. I presume you're Rosetta?" The girl immediately frowned, giving the boy she'd been with some kind of worried look. Following her eyesight saw the boy copy her expression with a touch of anger. Odd... You thought for a moment, then pulled out your sheriff's badge and pointed to it. Keeping quiet seemed to ease both the boy and the girl. The relative lack of noise seemed to attract the other two children to what you were doing. One of them, the red-head, was accompanied by what looked like a scruffy grey dog in boots, its nose a Rudolphish red, which promptly took to sniffing Mary up and down. The other had hair browner than a tree trunk's and the most obvious makeup of all of them-- red eyeshadow, red brows, even a tuft of red at the top of his head. When you glanced at it, the boy tried to hide the tuft and look away. Rosetta clearly understood what you'd meant, miming a finger gun and a tip of the hat. A point from the badge to your face. You were sheriff. She nodded. How to say parents... you pointed at her and above her head, then traced a frown with the same finger. Rosetta didn't understand. "Your parents are worried." She learned. The other children became increasingly involved. The darker-haired one motioned for the brown-haired kid to stay by Rosetta's right side while he flanked her left. Both children did not take their eyes off of you... though their expressions were more curious than wary. Rosetta herself seemed somewhat uneasy, glancing back at the other kids more than she kept eye contact with you, and you tried your best to ease her concerns. You pointed at her, then at her friends. Next came a motion to yourself, followed by a shake of both your hands, ending with a point towards the clearing's exit and a mock-walk with two of your fingers going back and forth.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Wed 14 Aug 2024 19:06:30 No. 6080780 Report The more you seemed to sign at her, the more her nerves calmed. By the time you were done signing Rosetta had a small smile on her face. The rest of the group, however, was more mixed. The red-head had been trying to mirror your movements (to no avail past the handshake) and seemed disappointed. The brown-headed child seemed more sad than anything. The darkest-haired one... seemed to immediately understand, and gave you a dangerous expression. He butted in to begin signing himself. It was a little hard to make out. It began with a dramatic point at you, then at the exit. The kid shuffled in front of Rosetta and glared at you... but did nothing. The message was clear, yet didn't align with the action. You pointed at your badge yet again, this time tapping the cooling metal twice. The kid only relented slightly. Mary was now moving to protect you. Her light shone just brightly enough that you noticed a slight... <span class="mu-i">flicker</span> in the boy's face when her tail briefly swooshed by him. Those questions had to be asked later. You had to get Rosetta back first. The reality of her friends could wait until you were certain that the most-real child was safe. You pointed to the boy and mimed the same flapping noise they'd made before. (It stood for speech, didn't it?) The same finger was redirected to Rosetta, who was now smiling from ear to ear. She shook her head with vigor and tried to clarify-- another flapping of the hand was followed by a full-body X with her arms. Soon after, she repeated the motion she'd made when she'd greeted you. A finger to her elbow, slowly moved up the forearm to her chin. Was that the term she used for her language? You had to hope so. <><><><><> Only God knew how long you spent in that clearing, sat in a circle with your legs crossed, trying to communicate with a group of people who couldn't speak English (let alone any other language) and almost seemed to take offense whenever you did. Figuring out specific signs, repeating them, integrating them into sentences. You asked so, so many questions. Names were given. Explanations followed. The pack of children lived here and had taken Rosetta in as one of their own after she taught them her language. One of them couldn't sign, but he was a great fighter and seemed to be some kind of hunter for the group. You noticed that they never referred to this "mute" one-- the scruffy dog-- as anything other than another kid. As time flew by and you began to realize just how long it had been since you'd first found the group, you felt it reasonable to start explaining why you were here and that Rosetta had to go.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Wed 14 Aug 2024 19:07:30 No. 6080782 Report [Mary came with me here at you sniffed.] [Mary heart.] The sheep was given a pat on the head which she appreciated with a quiet bleat. [Mary stone?] It was all very crude. Rosetta was pointing to the dark-haired kid, now, who had yet to relax around you. [Mary wrong stone. Mary berry.] You pointed to the scruffy dog. Rosetta nodded. [Mary wrong speech handsign. (You substituted your own name for a language which had none.) Mary berry.] You nodded back, then changed the topic. [Stone punch Rosetta, hair dirt?] [Wrong, Stone hug. Stone yes(? You weren't confident that a thumbs-up meant "yes" as opposed to "good". The former seemed to fit most situations better.)] The boy was good, he didn't hurt her. She'd gotten this dirty either by choice... or by being out here much longer than you'd thought her to be. [Stone pocket beg?] 'Stone' took notice of the signage and began signing himself. [Wrong pocket beg.] The sentence was followed by him crossing his arms. A sharp, unsteady exhale left Rosetta and the girl gave Stone a big smile. She couldn't laugh, but you could tell she was trying. [Rosetta pocket beg?] [Rosetta in mouth stomach.] You glanced at your sheep and motionted to a nearby bush with blueberries on it. Mary left for a moment after-- once she'd returned, she leaned over Rosetta's lap and dropped a small bunch into the girl's palms. While she was eating, you took to signing once more. [Rosetta leave clearing me Mary?] Silence. You clarified. [Parents cry. Shrug Rosetta, cry.] She didn't understand the shrugging-- you were using it improperly, perhaps. [Parents Rosetta wrong, cry.] That was more clearly understood. [Stone small Rosetta wrong Rosetta cry.] She didn't understand that either, so you drew a small silhouette of Rosetta in the ground. (You could tell it was her because she had twigs in her hair.) Next to that, you drew a taller boy crying. The girl gulped down the last of her blueberry snack and looked to you with a melancholy you didn't think small children were capable of. Her motions became small, closer to her chest. [Brother (she pointed to the drawing) wrong speech handsign. Rosetta cry. Brother wrong.] One of the other kids interrupted-- the redhead, whom Rosetta called Twig. [Brother wrong (emphasized greatly). Twig heart Rosetta. Stone heart Rosetta, Tree heart Rosetta, brother wrong. Parents wrong.] The other children repeated the gesture. There was no way they were just going to let her go, but you needed them to. ...<span class="mu-i">or,</span> you could try something else. [Roll 1d100 for all of these choices, Bo3. If your write-in involves some kind of persuasion or attacking, roll as well. Otherwise, just post it without dice.]>Stick to the original plan. Try to convince the children to let Rosetta leave without them. >Intimidate the pack with Mary and hope they'll give her up after slight threats. >Attempt to convince the children (and their dog) to come with Rosetta to town. >Write-in.
Anonymous
Rolled 98 (1d100) >>6080779 >>6080780 >>6080782 >Attempt to convince the children (and their dog) to come with Rosetta to town. Here's hoping.
Anonymous
>>6080790 GOOD GOD I AM A LIVING GOD EMPEROR OF THE HUMAN RACE
Anonymous
Rolled 19 (1d100) >>6080782 Uhhhh
Hmm. I want to know more about why Rosetta seems so adamant to return. I *think* it might've been due to a disagreement between her and her brother and parents. Obviously, these children (and dog thing?) aren't keen on leaving Rosetta, and these are their woods, so outright confrontation will be very bad for everyone involved. I think our best shot is through compromising and bringing them along with her.
>Attempt to convince the children (and their dog) to come with Rosetta to town. Not ideal, but we have to make it work and there's no way we're coming back empty handed. With the way she reacted to human speech, I'm hoping that the town isn't too noisy or agitated when she comes back. Maybe we need to warn her friends that the rest of the people in town are Loud!
Anonymous
Rolled 8 (1d100) >>6080782 Alright, a little hard to follow but my guess
>Stone, Twig, and Tree are the other kids. Berry is the dog. >She asked if Mary and Stone fought? We said it wasn’t Stone, but Berry. Rosie confirmed? >Stone isn’t why Rosetta has dirt in her hair. >Stone didn’t ask Rosetta for help, it was the other way around >The main help sought was food >Brother had said the wrong thing to Rosetta, and she cried. >The others love her, her parents and brother are wrong. I’m guessing the brother or parents met Rosetta with them and pulled her away thinking they’d hurt her, and she later ran away with them? It didn’t seem like the brother was hiding anything intentionally since we were told about the missing child and he directed us to the creek. The mother was a bit more sketchy, so maybe the parents do know what happened.
Maybe these “human” forms weren’t something they had at the time and it’s an illusion to help speak with her? If the brother/parents saw them as actual creatures it’d be understandable to pull her away, and he doesn’t seem to be the sharpest lad. Might not have connected the dots on why she may have run away.
With all that in mind,
>Attempt to convince the children (and their dog) to come with Rosetta to town. Where there’s one, there’s many. Any of these creatures more willing to lend aid than harm should be held close since there’s plenty more that aren’t. If I’m wrong about the circumstances of why she vanished, I’ll stick by that much at least.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Wed 14 Aug 2024 20:32:23 No. 6080815 Report >>6080806 I'll clear this up to help with voting.
>Stone, Twig, and Tree are the other kids. Berry is the dog. Correct
>She asked if Mary and Stone fought? We said it wasn’t Stone, but Berry. Rosie confirmed? She asked if Mary is like stone (can speak). Mary cannot, nor can Berry, so you likened Mary to Berry and she understood.
>Stone isn’t why Rosetta has dirt in her hair. Correct
>Stone didn’t ask Rosetta for help, it was the other way around Correct
>The main help sought was food Correct
>Brother had said the wrong thing to Rosetta, and she cried. Approximately.
>>6080800 was correct; she left after an argument between her entire family, but her brother said the straw that broke the camel's back.
>The others love her, her parents and brother are wrong. Correct
wrong in her eyes, of course Anonymous
I just want to let you know, QM, that you're doing a fantastic job with this quest.
>>6080779 >was accompanied by what looked like a scruffy grey dog in boots, its nose a Rudolphish red That looks like a Poochyena.
>>6080782 >Attempt to convince the children (and their dog) to come with Rosetta to town. It seems like an argument happened between Rosetta and her family, and kids being kids, the Zorua misunderstood the situation and are trying to protect her by keeping her in the forest. This option is the only one that will avoid any conflict with them, but things are going to get very complicated with several Zorua wandering around town or getting adopted by couples. Zoroark can speak perfect speech as "humans" and cast illusions powerful to trick hundreds of people at a time. Shenanigan's Gulch will be living up to its name very soon.
>Rosetta >is a mute I see what you did there.
>>6080792 Good shit. That sounds like a line Soldier would say.
>>6080806 >Where there’s one, there’s many. Any of these creatures more willing to lend aid than harm should be held close since there’s plenty more that aren’t. Zoroark and Zorua form close bonds with their packs. Once more Zorua enter town, its community will have to accept them as their own for things to go smoothly and to get them on our side. This will be a monumental challenge in a time when slavery was a recent memory and even skin color was an issue.
Anonymous
Rolled 86 (1d100) >>6080815 Thanks. I’ll support
>>6080800 in mentioning how loud things may get.
I’ll add one more request to
>>6080806 (rolling again just in case), though it won’t affect my vote either way.
>See if Rosie or Stone can describe/show you the argument that occurred. I assume Rosie has already said what happened to Stone, or they gleaned it from other means. Either way, hearing the specifics of what was said may help us defuse tensions later.
Unrelated, I forgot to comment on the “Rosetta Stone” pun last time. I’m guessing it’s more that they assigned themselves names based on nearby objects so Rosetta could call them by “name” easily, but still. Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6080800 >Maybe we need to warn her friends that the rest of the people in town are Loud! Checked. This is a good call.
>>6080833 >I’m guessing it’s more that they assigned themselves names based on nearby objects so Rosetta could call them by “name” easily, but still. Also checked. I wouldn't be surprised if this becomes a cultural idiosyncrasy among Zoroark down the line.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6080832 That’s a really good call-out about slavery and how hard it’ll be to accept these creatures as equals.
I do have a response for that if the family gives us any lip about them, one that might feel appropriate for our sleep-deprived and over-stressed sheriff:
>Grab something colorful >Set it in an open area >Motion Stone towards Rosie to cover her ears/eyes >Tell Mary to hit the target >Full power Once everyone is able to see and hear again, remind the folks that this is the new world we live in, where steel birds fly in the sky, critters find bullets tasty, and a sheep can call down God’s judgement. And if some creatures who had the intelligence and means to kill both us and our sheep and leave us rotting in the woods were willing to feed and protect their daughter, I wouldn’t argue about the particulars too loudly if no one is getting hurt. Take the friends where you can get them, lord knows we don’t need more enemies.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6080832 ....thanks, but that was just my genuine reaction.
In either case, I think that this roll will basically clear the way for the next couple of entries to go swimmingly. I am already anticipating many more classifiable mons.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Wed 14 Aug 2024 23:36:01 No. 6080899 Report >>6080790 >>6080800 >>6080806 >>6080833 alright, we're trying the compromise
Should be smooth sailing since we've got a 98 on our hands
Will see what I can do regarding getting it out today, I am once again busy. Might be able to do it a few hours from now.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6080832 >>6080899 Checked. I also voted for the third option. Anonymous
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Thu 15 Aug 2024 13:40:25 No. 6081234 Report >98 You had no idea how the town would react to the arrival of three new children, but at this point you had to at least try. You weren't getting Rosetta out of here alone and you needed her back in town no matter what. So... you compromised. [Rosetta leave clearing?] You had to pause to try and think of how you'd communicate further than that. [Rosetta leave clearing clearing?] The children were confused. You resorted to another drawing in the dirt, this time of the creek. Mary dangled her tail above each one you made so that the children could see. That... didn't seem to help communicate anything. Had these kids ever left the forest? You turned to Rosetta. [Rosetta heart town (you made another drawing)?] She shook her head, but seemed hesitant. More drawings were made. [Rosetta heart fields? Rosetta heart town square?] This seemed to catch the attention of her friends moreso than Rosetta herself. Tree especially seemed intrigued by the town square. Perhaps it was because of all the tiny people you drew in it. He began signing. [Tree town square go?] Stone became alarmed. [Tree pack heart! Clearing pack!] [Town square Rosetta?] Tree pointed to the little people. [Tree heart Rosetta, heart town square.] Rosetta soon joined in, her expression unreadable. [Town square Rosetta yes. Town square brother (emphasized) yes.] A collective hiss rang out through the clearing. A yip came from Tree-- though, it seemed to be closer to his knees than his mouth-- and Stone took to a low growl. Hm... You returned to the conversation with yet another drawing. [Brother mines. Town square brother wrong. Parents cry.] The girl you were here for soon grew despondent. She was giving the rest of her 'pack' worried glances by now. Ones not meant to derive comfort from them... moreso, meant to wonder if they were keeping her <span class="mu-i">from</span> the comfort that she seemed to be sorely missing. You continued. [Parents cry. Brother wrong, Rosetta wrong. Parents heart Rosetta, heart Brother. Cry Rosetta wrong.] You stopped yourself, then put words in her parents' mouths. [Parents Rosetta yes. Brother Rosetta yes. Parents, Rosetta, Brother pack. Parents heart pack.] Whether they had actually changed their minds on the argument wasn't information you were privy to... however, it seemed to finally get through to Rosetta.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Thu 15 Aug 2024 13:41:27 No. 6081236 Report [Rosetta leave clearing?] She stood up. [Rosetta pack town square.] Cacophony gripped the gritty grotto. The oppressive darkness was made heavier by the eruption of yips, growls, whines and other types of noise. Berry had taken to Rosetta's overall-pant leg, tugging at it, begging her to stay through the only medium he could. Stone was furiously signing things you couldn't understand. At one point he motioned a heavy hand coming down on his fist... was that meant to signal death? Some other kind of harm? It prompted Rosetta to shy away, so it was certainly some kind of threat... you prompted Mary to step in front of Rosetta just in case, which prompted Stone to cool off just a little. Twig, on the other hand, was bouncing between worry and fear-- you made out vague signs for food. Some kind of full-body question-mark sign probably indicated mystery, though it was hard not to chuckle at when you saw it, and there was no doubt in your mind that shaky hands meant some form of apprehension. Rosetta was signing back, her small arms somehow never tiring, mainly talking to Stone and glancing back at you. Fragments of [Rosetta cry] and [Rosetta heart parents] could be made out. You wondered just how long the girl had slept without sheets, without a roof over her head. The last bath she'd taken. The last meal she'd had that wasn't some form of wild berry or, possibly, dead animal. How many times she might've been attacked by the wildlife. The pack had clearly kept her safe enough... what would things have been like for her without them? Rosetta ran to you and hugged you tightly. The gesture almost made you stumble over into the bush behind you, but you steadied yourself and returned the hug. It'd been a long time since she'd felt something like this. That much you were certain of. <><><><><>
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Thu 15 Aug 2024 13:45:41 No. 6081237 Report <><><><><> Prayer after prayer was said in your head, thanking God that you'd just barely gotten out before nighttime. You glanced to your side. Rosetta's face was still stained with tears. She hadn't been crying for almost half an hour, yet she looked as if she'd kept at it until mere seconds ago. Her nose was nearly as red as Berry's. A chorus of yips sounded out as the forest-children faced the sunset for what seemed like the first time. Stone visibly recoiled while the rest simply shook themselves or forced their eyes shut. Berry stumbled over to the side of the small river in front of you, throwing himself at it like he'd been set on fire, returning to the pack only to shake off all the water with such force that you saw it go <span class="mu-i">right through</span> everyone but Rosetta. The children looked wet afterwards, of course, but not in the right places. Tree had made his hair damp, Twig had somehow gotten her shoulders wet. Neither of them were short enough for Berry's shaking to have reached that far. Only the pale green bulb-lizard, now trailing Rosetta like a tail, seemed to appreciate the impromptu dowsing. You motioned for the girl to turn around and look at it. She'd been too preoccupied with conversing-- both with her pack and with you-- to notice it until now... and when she finally saw the stranger trailing her, a smile stretched across her face for the first time in hours. <><><><><> The setting sun kissed Central Road, drenching it in a sort of pink glow that you'd never really expected the town to wear well. Yet its presence was so welcome, so soothing, that you felt yourself unwind upon seeing it. Even through the sheer exhaustion weighing down your shoulders it was hard not to appreciate the sight of the setting sun. The light dancing on rooftops, the small bits of dust shining in the air... It helped that the road was rather sparse at the moment. There were maybe two or three people outside. One of them was Nannie, fixing up some plants in front of her restaurant, looking away from you as she did it. Across from her, down a store or two, was Steele. He was carrying some kind of basket to the amateurish fields finally taking hold at the end of the biggest street in town. His once-pristine suit was now covered in dirt. His pants were nigh-unrecognizably dirty. Otherwise, the area was empty of people. It wasn't even compensated-for by demons. A rather large metal-eater lay slumbering near a half-eaten piece of ore near the fields, with a strange brown dog covered in facial hair chasing one of the electric sheep out of the town, and... that was it.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Thu 15 Aug 2024 13:46:41 No. 6081238 Report Rosetta's pack soon began to wander. Twig was shocked by the mere existence of shops, already examining the work-in-progress signage decorating a half-destroyed unit. Tree was watching the few people about town with great curiosity. Stone was trying to reason with Rosetta, still, but facing frequent resistance when the girl had her hands free to sign instead of dote on her green follower. All four of them seemed more fascinated with the town than fearful of what strange new things it showed them. A good start... but you had to bring this escapade to an end. How would you do so?>Try to find Rosetta's family and make sure they know of the news before everyone else. You have no idea where they live, but they need to know first and foremost. >Call a town meeting and explain the situation. [Write-in what to focus on and what to say.] >Attempt to negotiate the circumstances with Steele before all else. >Leave all this for tomorrow and retire to Cora's with the children.
Anonymous
>>6081234 >>6081236 >>6081237 >>6081238 >Attempt to negotiate the circumstances with Steele before all else. Then, we go to the family. Steele is someone used to bearing authority and a commanding age advantage. Plus, he speaks proper English. I think he could smooth out any problems with Rosetta's family.
Anonymous
>>6081238 >>6081261 Agreed. We need to get on record that we found Rosetta and check in on whatever Steele has been up to anyway.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6081234 >Parents, Rosetta, Brother pack. Parents heart pack. Family saves the day again.
Anonymous
>>6081238 >Attempt to negotiate the circumstances with Steele before all else. We should let him know before a misunderstanding happens
Anonymous
>>6081238 >Attempt to negotiate the circumstances with Steele before all else. If he’s just a couple stores down then may as well.
I’d follow it up by asking him to arrange for a town meeting later while we track down the parents. I’d normally prioritize them if Steele wasn’t so close by.
Anonymous
Have been lurking for a while, but I wanted to pop in to say that you're doing some pretty impressive stuff, QM! I love your writing style, and I've never been more hooked about an impromptu ASL session before.
I'll be sure to keep an eye on this thread and any subsequent ones in the future.
>a strange brown dog covered in facial hair chasing one of the electric sheep out of the town Oh shit, a Lillipup/Herdier? Big fan of that doggo line. If we were going to go into Mareep herding, I'd say we should try getting one.
>>6081238 >Attempt to negotiate the circumstances with Steele before all else. PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Thu 15 Aug 2024 20:59:34 No. 6081510 Report >>6081261 >>6081308 >>6081319 >>6081331 >>6081400 Pretty unanimous result once again. Negotiations with Steele will be up next.
Just wanted to mention in advance that I might end up shifting from two updates a day to one come Monday. I'll be out most of tomorrow for real-life reasons, and come next week I'll be in a similar position until about mid-December.
>>6081400 Yep, that's a Lillipup.
You have good taste in dogs. They're pretty common around here and I realized I hadn't yet written one in halfway through the forest, so there it is lol. Expect a few more in the quest's future.
>you're doing some pretty impressive stuff, QM! I love your writing style, and I've never been more hooked about an impromptu ASL session before. Thank you plenty for the compliments, I try my best. I'm glad you've all been entertained by my fun little project. :) Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6081510 Once a day's typical around here, so no worries, QM!
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Fri 16 Aug 2024 03:27:22 No. 6081761 Report Steele was only a few stores down and you'd let him share your duties... it was only right to fill him in on the sudden shift in population. You took a brief glance at the misfits now meandering around town before heading over to your partner in law. Steele saw you before you'd even given a wave. You could tell from the shock that was written all over his face. "Sheriff, good lord!" Your pants were blackened from the soot of the mines, your hair was almost as dirty as Rosetta's, your eyes remained set inside deep, dark bags... it took Steele choking on his words to prompt you to reevalutate your appearance. "Ah, sorry 'bout that. I suppose I'm s'pposed t' look better for this job, eh?" Your laugh was a tired one, though laced with enough genuine mirth. Steele's brow unfurrowed only the slightest bit. "Well, I'm looking no better myself..." The man gave a hearty chuckle and chased off what worry remained on his face. "We've both been quite busy. I can ascertain that much. But is there some cromulent reason for there to be a lizard in the arms of that child?" You did a 180. Was Rosetta <span class="mu-i">hugging</span> it? Wow, she'd gotten attached fast. "Oh, good eye, sheriff." You chuckled, but weren't sure why. "I actually came to talk to you about all that." A hand was spun around the general radius of the children. Steele raised a bushy brow. "'All that'? Yes, please do tell..." Explanation ensued. <span class="mu-i">Detailed</span> explanation, from the mines to the forest. At least, as detailed as you could get in the moment-- you were beginning to crash and truly felt yourself slowing to a crawl as you spoke. It was a bit hard to answer all the questions Steele had for you. "These children-- they aren't real?" "No-- well, they don'... ah'm not sure..." "Rosetta disappeared in your arms, yet I see her standing within spitting distance of me." You feared the distance this man considered himself able to spit. "Just let me explain..." Later into the whole thing... "So this child invented an entire language herself..." "Was... was she not speakin' what mute people speak?" "Whatever you have described to me is most certainly not American Sign Language. I'd think it an original creation." How did such a girl get stuck with that kind of family? And, of course, the final question. "You <span class="mu-i">invited them to the town?</span>" "Well, I wouldn't use the word 'invited'..." Steele's expression was unreadable. "You brought five more mouths to feed to a town already running short on supply, and these newcomers can't even make commensurate reparations as thanks?"
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Fri 16 Aug 2024 03:29:38 No. 6081763 Report That actually got to you. You forced yourself not to raise your voice in response. "<span class="mu-i">Steele,</span> I was tasked with returnin' this girl <span class="mu-i">to her parents.</span> I have done so in the best way I can. Had ah not invited those she cared about, deeply, I am not convinced she would have been brought back unharmed. In fact, 'm not sure her nor I wouldda gotten out of there free of any bleeding or infection at all." A moment was had to collect yourself. "I need lodgin's for the children. I dunno if Bessie's has enough room t' spare with all the dented houses, but I can't just force her senpai'ly to take on so many more kids aft'r already strugglin' with their existing two. If they have t' live in tents for now, let it be. As long as they can stay here, yeah?" Steele seemed surprised by your brief dip into iciness. He was almost impressed, if you were reading his face right. "I'm sure we can find them something." You sighed relief and went on. "Good. Aft'r that... after that, we'll need t' find the parents. I'm not sure where Rosetta's family lives, but I need t' tell them next morning about their child. Have you any clue where they live?" Steele adjusted his collar and stood up a bit straighter, proud. "I took it upon myself to learn of everyone's abodes when I first came here. I'll have you know they're just off Central, on South." Ah, on the second of three streets. That's why you hadn't seen it. ...wait, did Steele just-- "Will you be telling town of this new development as well?" Oh, he was ahead of the curve. You blinked a bit. "Y-yes, that was just what I was going to say next. I'll need you to be with me at a town meeting once we've told the parents." "What for?" "I haven't told the town of our agreement yet... I may as well make things official." The man gave you an understanding nod. "I see." The sunset had faded away now, leaving the town in a darkness broken only by the enormous array of stars above you. Something softer was muttered underneath your breath. Steele's eyebrows raised once more. "Is there reason for this? I feel it'd be something of a fire hazard so close to wood..." You gave the man a weary stare. He understood. "I'll keep a fire extinguisher in the vicinity. Things will go accordingly, don't you worry." Why was he flashing a finger gun at you and grinning. Surely he wasn't trying to hit on you? Maybe he thought it was a way to relate to younger people. You were too tired to properly speculate, and just gave a tired grin back. <><><><><>
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Fri 16 Aug 2024 03:30:40 No. 6081766 Report You and Mary trotted down the unpaved road to Cora's house. Your arms felt like weights, weighing you down with every step. Your eyes were barely keeping themselves open. And when Cora opened the door and saw you... well, her concern was at least twice that of Steele's. As she hurried you inside and shooed off the sheep you couldn't help but think you had to look like a shambling corpse for her to be this thorough about bandaging every scratch you had under those pant legs. You couldn't help but glance at Mary while Cora fussed over you... The door was still open, but she was standing in the frame looking disappointed. Hm.>Invite her inside regardless of Cora's opinion. >Try to reason with Cora once more and get her to let Mary stay with you in the house. >Apologize to Mary and keep her outside... for now.
Anonymous
>>6081761 >>6081763 >these newcomers can't even make commensurate reparations as thanks? >"I took it upon myself to learn of everyone's abodes when I first came here. I'll have you know they're just off Central, on South." That's a little odd. I have a hunch that someone with big ambitions sent him to this town for one reason or another.
>"Is there reason for this? I feel it'd be something of a fire hazard so close to wood..." What is he referring to?
>>6081766 >Try to reason with Cora once more and get her to let Mary stay with you in the house. She helped save a kid's life today. Mary deserves a roof over her head.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6081766 >Apologize to Mary and keep her outside... for now. It IS Cora's house, and animals are used to living outside.
>Maybe you can convince Cora to lend Mary a blanket or some shelter as a token? Anonymous
>>6081774 >What is he referring to? The town's a little on-edge about the demons, and we're bringing a bunch of shapeshifters or illusionists who are the most obviously-demonic of the bunch, and who snatched a child, and telling the people here to share food and space with them. There may be, shall we say, vociferous disagreement.
D. Spenser
>>6081766 >>Try to reason with Cora once more and get her to let Mary stay with you in the house. I think we need to form a team fast, if only to build a shelter for Mary and friends to have.
Anonymous
>>6081766 >Try to reason with Cora once more and get her to let Mary stay with you in the house. Keeping in mind our tired and beat-up state, I imagine we can’t manage much of an argument or we’ll be run around verbally. So I’d say:
>She tried to protect me out there. >She failed. >She’s a little too smart to let stew in that thought alone. I’m pretty sure just hearing that will hurt Mary, but that reaction may get Cora to cave for a night. It’ll be important to let her know we don’t hold it against her.
Anonymous
>>6081777 Ah, I understand. We should introduce the forest trio to the other Zorua that happened to wander into town. If they wind up opting to stay, we'll need something to keep them productive and out of mischief to avoid getting lynched. Watching over or helping herd what livestock remains close to town might be a good fit.
>>6081778 This sounds like a solid idea once Mary evolves into an Ampharos, but that's a long while from now.
>>6081782 I don't want to risk Mary feeling unappreciated or ashamed.
Anonymous
>>6081792 >Watching over or helping herd what livestock remains close to town might be a good fit. We should find them SOMETHING to do, sure. That sounds almost literally like a fox-watching-the-henhouse situation, though.
Anonymous
>>6081793 Shit, you're right.
Speaking of foxes, pic related is probably happening to one guy out there. Anonymous
Anonymous
>>6081761 >>6081763 >>6081766 >Try to reason with Cora once more and get her to let Mary stay with you in the house. Lil' Waltur can't sleep without with a sheep to count....
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sat 17 Aug 2024 01:00:02 No. 6082314 Report Quoted By:
>>6081774 >>6081778 >>6081782 >>6081867 locking in votes for when I'mm free tomorrow tomorrow
we're reasoning with cora
Anonymous
I've been looking at some other events that had happened in 1844, turns out Hong Kong gets its first modern police force back in may! I can only imagine how they're handling triad members with Pokémon.
Anonymous
>>6082526 This... this story is happening in 1884, not 1844.
Anonymous
>>6082530 Oops. Well my point stands! Appearantly there was a seige battle off in Sudan, and Germany formed a protectorate over West Africa. Colonial Poke-powers leading pokewarfare is gonna be something else.
Anonymous
>>6082539 We are so lucky that we didn’t pick the WW1 start.
Anonymous
>>6082541 Yeah, one day humanity and pokemon will have to cross that bridge. I think there might be only 1 World War in this timeline. It sounds unbelievably horrific and inhumane
Anonymous
>>6082549 >>6082541 Honestly , looking back at it , I think the 80s choice would have been wild. Imagine a vapor wave pokepocalypse. Imagine OJ Simpson and Michael Jackson with pokemon
Anonymous
>>6082559 >Soviets invade Afghanistan >United States gives the Taliban PokeBall technology to help them fight back >fast forward to 2000s, United States troops face high casualties from Electrode suicide bombers What could go wrong?
Anonymous
The sexual revolution is gonna be wild if we ever get to that point.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sat 17 Aug 2024 15:22:43 No. 6082567 Report "Cora?" The nurse continued bandaging up the scratch on your right elbow. "Yes?" Your eyes had remained on Mary. Cora followed your line of sight and didn't say a word. Her hands just moved a bit more slowly. When she finally spoke up, it was with a quiet voice. "Surely you don't sleep with normal sheep in your house back home?" "Normal sheep can't guilt anyone into wantin' t' sleep near you so I've never had reason." You chuckled before taking on a more serious tone. "Cora, I have no reason t' think Mary would hurt you whatsoever. She risked her life out there t'day t' save a child, and if it weren't for her ah'd probably have been eaten by some night-seein' wolf on the way there." For some reason, this prompted Mary to politely sit within the frame of the door and flaunt her big tail-light. No more was she pacing about. She was trying to emphasize her big eyes, too... was she trying to be smug? Cora began to wrap another bandage around your knee. She glanced down at her hand for a moment, the static shock from the hotel now invisible on her skin, and then back at Mary. Your knee lay half-wrapped for a brief moment. You continued. "She didn't end up saving that child, either. I know her smarts, an' I don't think it'd be very kind t' leave her outside an' let her stew in that thought alone tonight." Whether she stewed at all was beyond you, but you couldn't deny that Mary certainly seemed to ponder from time to time. It was a safe assumption. The nurse finished wrapping your knee before backing off. "Buchanan, are you sure you aren't fit to be sheriff? Because you're rather good at reasoning with those who don't want to hear it." She was suppressing a laugh. "I'll have her here... so long as you promise to show me why you are so certain of her 'super smarts' tomorrow. I'm curious as to why you seem so confident, and why you claim that this sheep with control over static is nearly as smart as us." Her tone was almost joking, as if she couldn't take the mere thought of it seriously. It didn't seem to be laced with any contempt towards you... rather, more wary of the sheep than anyone else. You had to strain yourself to hear what she said next. "...and please keep her away from my bed. As courtesy." That was good enough for you. Cora watched you nod and didn't stop you from heading over to Mary and prompting her to follow you indoors. Not with words, but with a point and a gesture. When you got into bed, Mary lay on her pillow next to you, soon as sound asleep as any lamb could be. <><><><><>
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sat 17 Aug 2024 15:23:43 No. 6082568 Report Morning came quietly the next day. You found yourself awake before both Mary and Cora, with the outside world proving just as quiet. The sun had yet to rise.>Go check on the children. They're supposed to be in their tents. This might risk waking them up very early, but you want to make sure they're there. >Wake Mary and Cora up early to show Cora some of Mary's skills. >Find Steele and make preparations for the town speech. When sunrise comes, you need to be ready. >Write-in.
Anonymous
>>6082567 >>6082568 >Go check on the children. They're supposed to be in their tents. This might risk waking them up very early, but you want to make sure they're there. The false children could be quite unpredictable (being completely foreign to the town and all), so it might be our best choice here.
Anonymous
>>6082559 For reasons I surmised earlier in the thread, society would have been sent into chaos further if the quest started later in history.
>>6082560 It's a good thing that the QM wouldn't have placed Pokeballs into play regardless of what we picked.
>>6082566 It may happen a lot sooner now. >>6082568 >You found yourself awake before both Mary and Cora, with the outside world proving just as quiet. I have a feeling that this will end up like those dad and dog situations, in which the former initially objects to getting the latter only to end up bonding with the pet the most out of anyone in the household. Just wait until Mary evolves to stand on two legs and grab things with her "hands" to help around the house.
>Go check on the children. They're supposed to be in their tents. This might risk waking them up very early, but you want to make sure they're there. This is the most pressing of the options.
Anonymous
>>6082580 >Go check on the children. They're supposed to be in their tents. This might risk waking them up very early, but you want to make sure they're there. Priorities, I have them straight.
If they’re already up we could ask Mary to play with Rosie as a distraction so we can speak with the other kids as well. It’d also be a small demonstration of Mary’s intelligence if Cora comes out while that’s happening since it’s not like we taught her what “play” means in advance and she’s too loyal to wander off with a kid if we didn’t order it.
Anonymous
>>6082615 >If they’re already up we could ask Mary to play with Rosie as a distraction so we can speak with the other kids as well. It’d also be a small demonstration of Mary’s intelligence if Cora comes out while that’s happening since it’s not like we taught her what “play” means in advance and she’s too loyal to wander off with a kid if we didn’t order it. If this situation comes up, this is a good idea.
Anonymous
>>6082568 >Go check on the children. They're supposed to be in their tents. This might risk waking them up very early, but you want to make sure they're there. Sleep is secondary to safety, and this is the 1800s. a slight fever or cut they hadn't seen could mean certain doom.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6082615 >>6082636 And yeah, backin this. As far as we know, we picked up a feral wild child. Buchanan doesn't KNOW he's a Pokémon but kids love lil fluffy things so it'd make sense to let Mary have free reign
Anonymous
>>6082660 Three of those children are highly likely to be mon pretending to be kids, so they will be more than fine. Rosetta herself could maybe have a problem, but seeing how she survived in the woods for quite a long time there isn't much reason to assume she would become gravely ill or infected now.
Anonymous
>>6082684 I think we’ve seen enough evidence to assume that. The lack of “missing” kids alone is enough to suspect something fishy given the distances involved between settlements and creatures making travel dangerous. The illusive Rosie and maggot-infested child are evidence, but possibly something we could excuse as the effect of something else in the forest.
The children getting splashed by water and being wet/not wet where it didn’t make sense? Sounds coming from kids that don’t line up with where their mouth is? Yeah, that’s enough to say we’re seeing an illusion. A very complex one to blend in and avoid aggressive reactions that could threaten their “pack”. It makes no sense by “modern” scientific principles, but we had to chuck that edition when steel birds flew and sheep started calling lightning. Accept the empirical observation for what it is and delve into the mechanics later.
Stone is likely the oldest given their assertiveness, wariness, and better control over the illusions. It’s part of why I’m hoping to talk to them separately from the others while Mary plays distraction. Partly to see what they really look like, partly to see if they’re wounded and we can’t tell. Not like anyone could treat an illusion’s wounds, so why show them?
We can assume they’re all children, at least. They’re all roughly the same size and the two with less control clearly aren’t fully developed yet even when compared to Stone. I’d guess that makes Stone older, but not an adult/parent
/evolved creature. Which likely means their parents are gone since they clearly have a family/pack mentality yet they’re fending for themselves. They’re much easier pickings than an adult must be, and the idea of further developed illusions from what Stone shows would be terrifying to grasp.
Lots of things we can pick apart with Stone to show we aren’t dumb, yet the fact we’re helping at all shows we’re not opposed to them in spite of all these factors.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
By the way, how is the sheriff doing?
D. Spenser
>>6082568 >>Go check on the children. They're supposed to be in their tents. This might risk waking them up very early, but you want to make sure they're there. As stated, this is the highest priority.
Anonymous
>>6082568 >Go check on the children. They're supposed to be in their tents. This might risk waking them up very early, but you want to make sure they're there. >>6082707 Tough to communicate all these very valid arguments to a fox-monster who only speaks Shenanigans's Gulch Bespoke Rosetta-Specific Sign Language.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6083057 I’m pretty sure they understand speech, and a lot more than they let on given that Mary herself understands us far faster than any creature normally could. I’m thinking they just struggle to communicate back effectively verbally. Getting sounds right must be harder than visuals since they’ve always screwed it up. Even their laughter didn’t sound quite right.
Pretending you’re deaf is a lot safer than the alternative of being discovered as something else.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sun 18 Aug 2024 16:18:21 No. 6083413 Report >>6082580 >>6082612 >>6082615 >>6082660 >>6082792 >>6083057 What the fuck, apparently I dreamt of closing the votes here instead of actually doing it. I'll do that now and get to writing right away lol, my bad.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6083413 Nice going, QM. Now we'll starve.
Don't sweat it, kek. PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sun 18 Aug 2024 18:43:13 No. 6083494 Report The search for Rosetta's temporary home felt rather lonely. You hadn't expected just how used to Mary you had gotten over the past few weeks. The feeling didn't haunt you for much longer, though, as you found yourself by the children's tents rather soon. They weren't hard to spot, what with three of them having caved inwards and impaled upon their central poles. Set up off the outskirts immediately nearby town square, the small encampment was made moot by a single large tent in the middle that had apparently been reserved for Rosetta specifically... ...but, as you rolled up the cloth door, you soon came to find had been taken up by her entire pack. Rosetta lay off to the right on a thin blanket, her small lizard friend snoozing atop her with a kind of serenity you'd attributed only to Mary before, surrounded by a small carriage's worth of what looked like scruffy dogs. Berry was the most obvious one, laying directly at Rosetta's feet with his ears attentive and swiveling even in his sleep. Your entrance forced both his eyes open and his head to pivot your way. To Rosetta's left was a small fox kit, adorned with a tuft atop its forehead and a luscious collar of black fur, with a face nigh-identical to that of Tree's snoozing peacefully. He was joined by a similar stranger to Rosetta's right, this one sleeping on its belly and seemingly snoring, sharing most of the Tree-lookalike's traits. Its position more prominently featured the wispy tail and little red boots you could just barely see tucked underneath Tree's collar. In the back of the tent, laying its head directly next to Rosetta's, you could very clearly make out another fox kit. This one's dark-gray eyes were open, glaring at you with the same unnerving suspicion you'd come to expect only from the armored birds. His expression made Stone's identity rather obvious. The leer made it rather hard to keep your thoughts straight. Your suspicions being proven right helped nothing. Had you encountered this pack but a month ago, you'd have fallen to your knees in prayer and chased them as far away from any human settlement as possible. Now you faced an even more pressing problem. How would you convince a small town of god-fearing Christians to accept shapeshifting animals communing with the vulnerable in foreign tongues into their lives? A sudden thought gripped your brain and piloted your course of action. Before you knew it, you'd started signing.[Stone Berry?] You felt goosebumps seize your skin as an apparition of the Stone you knew yesterday replaced the image of the leering kit. Even as he began signing back at you in this new illusory form, you couldn't help but fixate on how those signs were being made without any true arm to trace the side of, or any fingertips to imitate the flapping of a mouth with.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sun 18 Aug 2024 18:44:14 No. 6083496 Report It took a moment for you to parse Stone's questioning of your visit and formulate a reply. [Town square boom speak (there wasn't any word for "loud" that you knew of).] You plugged your ears. [Stone yes?] You hoped he understood what the ear-plugging meant. The image of Stone gave you a thumbs-up. He accepted your reason for being there with a few more signs that you couldn't quite understand before asking you to leave. It was rather unfortunate, then, that you had a job to do that required people he'd concerned himself with. You could tell that the sun was beginning to rise through the tent's thin walls... and you had yet to deliver Rosetta to her parents. [Rosetta parents yes.] You knelt down to the girl, trying to gently poke her awake without rousing her bulbed friend nor the other members of the pack, and were rewarded with a pair of very blinky irises squinting at you. Rosetta was noticeably groggy-- so much so that, when you signed what you'd said to Stone at her, she just tilted her head as if you were doing something crazy. It took her carefully re-placing the bulbed reptile and rubbing her eyes to come into her own and understand the signs you were now repeating to her. It took some careful explanation for her to stop signing back disagreement, with a particularly frustrating episode involving you repeating to her what she'd agreed to do the night before, but once she'd run out of ways to insist that her parents wouldn't miss her she prompted Berry and Stone to leave the tent with you. The rest of the pack, temporarily, remained within the tent. <><><><><>
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sun 18 Aug 2024 18:45:15 No. 6083497 Report The sun was nearly halfway above the trees before Rosetta's mother answered the door. The way she did so, too, was in a rather odd fashion-- after you'd heard her start approaching it, the thing swung open with murderous intent and slammed into the other side of the wall hard enough that you heard the wooden planks it was made of creak. Then, once the woman in the doorway became clear, you were greeted with the slightly-hunched woman with a bun and apron you'd known from before. Her nose almost looked <span class="mu-i">more</span> crooked in the dark, with her hairy unibrow being made especially obvious, and the gray streaks invading her hazel hair were somewhat harder to notice away from direct sunlight. A pair of baggy eyes bore into your brain for longer than you'd liked them to. Her expression was... well, first and foremost, it was very obviously sleepy. You figured her family wasn't the type to rise with the sun if this was how they both reacted to a rather normal waking time. And yet, even when she laid eyes upon the small dog and second child alongside you and her daughter, it didn't change. "...ah wasn't'ware that ah lost <span class="mu-i">two</span> kids." She looked to Berry. "...'r that ah hadda dog.">Explain the situation in plain English. Her daughter befriended a pack of shape-changers (+ a weird scruffy dog and pet plant-lizard) and wouldn't come back without them. >Fib a bit. Her daughter was found amongst a strange pack of normal children in the woods with a pet dog and lizard-demon that wanted to come live in town with her. >Write-in.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sun 18 Aug 2024 18:48:19 No. 6083501 Report Quoted By:
>>6083494 >The leer made it rather hard to keep your thoughts straight. Your suspicions being proven right helped nothing. Had you encountered this pack but a month ago, you'd have fallen to your knees in prayer and chased them as far away from any human settlement as possible. the "and" in here is supposed to be "or"
Anonymous
>>6083494 >>6083496 >>6083497 >>Explain the situation in plain English. Her daughter befriended a pack of shape-changers (+ a weird scruffy dog and pet plant-lizard) and wouldn't come back without them. No use in lying. Rosetta is right next to us to prove us wrong.
Anonymous
>>6083497 >Explain the situation in plain English. Her daughter befriended a pack of shape-changers (+ a weird scruffy dog and pet plant-lizard) and wouldn't come back without them. Lying shouldn't even be an option. We'd be disproven instantly.
Anonymous
>>6083497 >Explain the situation in plain English. Her daughter befriended a pack of shape-changers (+ a weird scruffy dog and pet plant-lizard) and wouldn't come back without them. Something doesn't feel right about Rosetta's mother.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sun 18 Aug 2024 20:28:35 No. 6083573 Report >>6083504 >>6083506 >>6083527 Gonna lock in the votes early and make another reply later. This one was mostly a stopgap so that I didn't have one enormous 8+ message post clogging things up.
Anyways, we're being honest! Entry later today.
Anonymous
>>6083497 >Skip some details until you’ve gotten some yourself. They took care of their daughter after she’d run away. We had thought her kidnapped. I don’t see why we have to lead with the hardest parts when we don’t know the full situation. Our understanding was that she’d been taken by creatures as no one indicated any disagreements before she left. From what Rosetta said, that was incorrect.
The fact that they’re shape-shifting creatures can go unaddressed until we understand why this information was withheld when it would have helped us talk her into coming back. We’re the sheriff, we get to dictate the pace of an interrogation.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sun 18 Aug 2024 20:29:57 No. 6083577 Report >>6083574 and I'll integrate this as well because of the timing and the fact that it's well thought-out
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6083577 Thanks! I’m all for honesty as well, just changing up the order in case we have to resolve some family drama before we deal with her new friends.
The mom has been pretty weird at times. With how simple-minded the brother is I could understand if there’s some abuse directed at Rosie that he doesn’t get. Not like she could tell another adult after all.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6083497 >Explain the situation in plain English. Her daughter befriended a pack of shape-changers (+ a weird scruffy dog and pet plant-lizard) and wouldn't come back without them. Tell her that there's similar in nature to Mary. Mischievous, but otherwise harmless, and in fact can be a good help.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sun 18 Aug 2024 23:25:59 No. 6083724 Report >>6083573 Nevermind, it'll be tomorrow. Scope creep got to me and i'm in no state to write something this extensive right now.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6083724 We got into a lot of drama when we asked our questions, huh? No worries, at least it’ll be easier than starting from scratch later!
Anonymous
>>6083724 All good.
>OP is asleep While we wait for the next update, we should figure out what to do with the pack of Zorua, and the Bulbosaur and Poochyena in case Rosetta's mother goes apeshit. Once we have all current issues settled, we should check in on the OG sheriff.
Anonymous
D. Spenser
Quoted By:
>>6083497 >>Skip some details until you’ve gotten some yourself. They took care of their daughter after she’d run away. We had thought her kidnapped. Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6083856 If Rosetta’s mother goes apeshit then we’ll need to figure out what to do with ROSIE first.
We’re bumming a house off Cora already so I’m not sure we’re able to support her directly. Given the deaths that have happened though I feel it’s safe to assume there’s orphans in the town and a small system set up to support them. We could ask around and see who could take her. I’m sure we could enlist her brother to help search too.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Mon 19 Aug 2024 15:11:33 No. 6084123 Report "I wasn' aware of why your daughter ran away either." The crotchety woman across from you raised a brow. "And wha would you need t' know that? All ah did was yell at her a bit. Otto was arguin' with her and ah didn' know what she was sayin', so there wasn't any harm done." Her expression remained hardened until she let her eyes rest on Rosetta a little longer. You saw her take in the twigs, the dirt, the scratches everywhere. Something inside of the woman seemed to melt at that. "...none t' me, anyways." She bent down to try and reach out a hand but was stopped by Stone, who forced himself in front of the two and stretched his fake arms from side to side. "What the--" "Madam, I'd advise against that for now." "Why? She's mah own kid an' ah'm not allowed t' hug her??" Stone growled and began to glare at the mother. You continued. "While your daughter was lost, she was taken in by a pack 'f wild forest kits. She told them all about your yellin'." "So what about mah yellin'? Why would that..." A flicker of doubt crossed the mother's expression before she doubled down. "Ah yell all th' time, I don't see what this's got t' do with her runnin' away." Rosetta backed away a bit to try and see her mother through Stone. You saw her mother's face dart between confusion, despair, and anger. Another attempt was made to hug Rosetta-- another failed result followed. Stone would not budge. It was a bit hard to explain exactly why Rosetta had chosen to run away now if this truly was normal... however, given the emphasis on her brother... "...I think she thought you didn't like her as much as Otto. You took a side, an' it was the side she wasn't on." The girl seemed to acknowledge as much, giving you another thumbs-up from your right. "An' that's the only mention of you she's given t' the children." Her mother seemed to break a bit, there, shoving her hand to the side to try and push Stone away-- --only for that hand to go right through his torso. A scream rang out. One so loud that you could hear nearly every resident of South Street coming to. You launched into a desperate explanation almost as habit. "Now then, don't scream so loudly--" "What?? Don't scream?? DON'T SCREAM?? Sheriff, that's no--" "It's just'n illusion, madam, there's no need t' panic!" "Just an illusion..." The woman stumbled back into her house, scrambling to get back on her feet after a brief trip, her face barely visible within seconds and her panicked footsteps resounding throughout the house. People were beginning to open their doors. When you next saw Rosetta's mother, she was gripping a wooden cross in her hands so tightly that you could see her palm creating splinters out of smooth wood. "Sheriff, <span class="mu-i">what has taken mah daughter? <span class="mu-r">What demon have you brought to mah house??</span></span>"
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Mon 19 Aug 2024 15:12:34 No. 6084124 Report <><><><><> The amount of explanations you had to give after the debacle at Rosetta's house had left your throat sore before you could even begin your speech. Now that you stood atop your soapbox, Steele by your side, with Rosetta and her entire pack trying their best to hide behind the two of you, you were at the mercy of the audience yet again. Cora could be seen watching from the porch of the clinic while Mary stood in front of the soapbox, having gone ahead of the nurse and sniffed you out rather easily. Most of the town crowded around about a foot or two away from your shoddy little box. You began your speech with as much confidence as you could muster. Better you open with the good news than the gritty details. "Shenanigan's Gulch! Today 's a joyous day! One on which we celebrate the return of one Rosetta Gilman!" The hesitant crowd gave a few claps. Someone hooted and upped the energy somewhat, though the applause remained reserved. "She has returned from a two-week stay in the forest, where she was given hospitality and cared for by a small pack of illusory," you glanced back at the pack of false children, "fox kits." You prompted the children to come forth. Stone did as he was told, his expression still rather grim and his fingers in his ears, with Twig following after and Tree remaining hidden. Two or three more prompts wouldn't pry the shier kit out of hiding. Berry eventually protested, so you had to relent. Murmurs spread throughout the crowd. Rosetta's mother cried out again-- "They're demons!! All of 'em!! They've taken my daughter an' walk in her flesh!!" To your surprise, few people were stirred by this. Even when Rosetta's mother ran on-stage and stuck her hand into Twig's "head", the most a few crowdgoers became was sickened or disgusted by her actions. "W...wha'..." ...the lack of support seemed to further dismay her. Twig's visage soon faded from the disruption, revealing the dark-and-red kit beneath the illusion that you'd met only a few hours prior to the crowd. She scampered away to Rosetta, seemingly trying to hide herself, growling in a fashion far less confident than Stone's former threats had been.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Mon 19 Aug 2024 15:15:08 No. 6084125 Report The town pastor was the first to speak. He made himself known through a gentle push to the front. "Sheriff, let it be known that this single madwoman does not speak for the rest 'f us... but there's no denyin' the suspicion with which ah view these creatures." His gaze slowly settled on Twig specifically. "Why are you so certain of little Rosetta's safety if she's been taken in by shape-shiftin' demons? The Lord warns us of such creatures, who present a false image to lure in the unwary, who have nothing but malintent in mind fer the innocent." "Is it not safe t' call such deceptive creatures daemons? Must we trust that the child we see'n front'f us is truly Rosetta, and truly safe t' take back inta town?" Silence fell over the town square. It took you a moment for you to truly retort. "I can guarantee you, past'r, that this child is no illusion." You gave Rosetta a gentle pat on the shoulder. The crowd returned to its previous murmuring once they saw your hand steady on her shoulder. "And that she will come t' no harm by these demons. She's slept with them, tonight, and yet she stands here before us all, alive 'n well. Is that not proof enough?" The pastor raised a bony finger to his sharp chin and massaged his goatee. "And yet, their influence... sheriff, ah do feel it worth questionin' their motives. They keep her from her family," you recalled your awkward explanation to him back on South Street, "they act possessive 'f her, they do not speak nor are they honest about their true appearances. You expect us t' believe that they did her no harm deep in that there forest? Fer weeks, they did naught but care fer her?" Steele's sentiment was widespread, then... "Pastor, ah don't mean t' tread on your opinion, but have we really any other choice? This is a small child with no way of speakin' t' the common man," Rosetta seemed a little offended by the implication but didn't act on it, "lost in the woods for days if not weeks on her own. An' I've asked her myself, she wants t' see her parents again. We can't simply leave her to live in those woods." The pastor retorted near-immediately. "Does the 'only choice' trump the safety of our town t' you, temp'rary sheriff? Are you willin' t' risk our town bein' compromised bah demons or runnin' out'f food t' keep this girl company?" >No. The pastor and Steele have made good points and you can't risk further provoking the townsfolk. You have to find some way to separate Rosetta from her pack and return her to her mother. >Yes. The demons have done her no harm and you stand by that. Even now, they're mostly keeping quiet and away from other people. There is no reason to go back on what you promised them. Rosetta's mother, on the other hand, might never accept them... >Write-in.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6084125 >>No. The pastor and Steele have made good points and you can't risk further provoking the townsfolk. You have to find some way to separate Rosetta from her pack and return her to her mother. Anonymous
Man, what a tough situation this is. I paused after reading a line to think about what might happen next a couple times. This has me hooked, and I'm not sure what would be the best course of action going forward.
>>6084124 >Even when Rosetta's mother ran on-stage and stuck her hand into Twig's "head", the most a few crowdgoers became was sickened or disgusted by her actions. "W...wha'..." ...the lack of support seemed to further dismay her. It seems like she has a local reputation as the crazy lady in town.
>>6084125 This is a difficult choice. A cold separation between Rosetta and the pack of Zorua is going to cause either Rosetta to sneak out into the woods more often, or the Zorua to sneak into her house and endanger themselves in the process. Either way, this will cause us a lot of grief in the future; starting a feud with a species of Pokemon that can create illusions for hundreds of people at a time will not bode well for the town. On the other hand, taking them as they are will cause the townsfolk to become wary of us and eventually the prospect of accepting the Pokemon, and we'd have several problems to deal with. Both will hurt us in the long run.
The best way to deal with this is to find a way for these shapeshifting foxes to gain the trust of the townsfolk through the pastor himself. We'll have to communicate to the pack that the town is suspicious of their illusions and worry that they are trying to deceive Rosetta to harm her over time. Even if that isn't true, the townsfolk don't see it that way, so if they truly want to see Rosetta again, they'll have to show that they can be trusted. We will have to take them to meet with the pastor to see what that would entail, and separate Rosetta from the pack until those expectations are met. Explain to the pastor our concerns about the potential consequences of a cold separation to get him onboard. If he initially refuses, quote the Bible:
>And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. (Acts 10:15, KJV) If God can make them clean, they should be clean enough for the townsfolk. This whole arrangement might entail being tutored by the pastor and helping with the operations of the church. I'm assuming that one of the first, if not the first, stipulations that the pastor will make is no illusions in town, let alone in the church. If mini Master Hands are a no-go, this might make communicating difficult, so we'd have to brainstorm if it comes to that.
>Write-in. >No. The pastor and Steele have made good points and you can't risk further provoking the townsfolk. Convince the pack to meet the pastor with you to see what he would have them do to gain his trust and that of the town so they can play with Rosetta again. The Zorua may not like this very much, but this is the closest compromise we can arrange.
Anonymous
Anonymous
>>6084123 >>6084124 >>6084125 >No. The pastor and Steele have made good points and you can't risk further provoking the townsfolk. You have to find some way to separate Rosetta from her pack and return her to her mother. Just make sure Rosetta's mother and some of the more wary townsfolk don't see them when they visit their packmate and we should be fine here.
Anonymous
>>6084125 >Yes. The demons have done her no harm and you stand by that. Even now, they're mostly keeping quiet and away from other people. There is no reason to go back on what you promised them. Rosetta's mother, on the other hand, might never accept them... >Call for a town vote on the matter in general for next week. This is important enough to settle the matter beyond your own word. They’ve done no wrong, and if they can’t be allowed opportunities to continue proving that then the alternative is to put a bullet in their heads now. I agree these creatures are dangerous, and no amount of education or learning will change that. It can channel it at best. We need everyone to be clear-eyed about that.
Put it forward to a vote. We believe we’re correct, but this is a matter for the community. How far will they accept creatures such as these into the town versus controlling or killing them? We’ll respect the vote, even if we campaign for a specific side.
Anonymous
>>6084278 >They’ve done no wrong, and if they can’t be allowed opportunities to continue proving that then the alternative is to put a bullet in their heads now. Are you out of your goddamn mind? Anonymous
Outside the shocked reaction, we are speaking of a town of pretty damn uneducated hicks here. We have to display the dangers these demons can pose before we can reiterate the importance of their friendship to us. If we cannot beat them (which we most certainly can't), join them. Like the NRA says, bad guys with guns are only beaten by good guys with guns.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6084253 >Just make sure Rosetta's mother and some of the more wary townsfolk don't see them when they visit their packmate and we should be fine here. I don't mean to knock you down, but someone would inevitably find out over an extended period of time, and we'd be in deep shit if we're implicated in that.
Anonymous
>>6084292 No, it’s pretty reasoned.
If these creatures can’t be trusted in the town, they’ll never be given the chance to prove they’re able to work with us. We can live separate for a time, but the best analogy given the era is how the US worked with the Indians. It worked out until it didn’t, and they got beat down. Hard. That said, the Indians couldn’t call down lightning, or cast actual illusions to hide themselves from the enemy. If we want to talk about risk management, we need to be prepared to attack and not just defend.
I believe it’s wrong to do that. They’ve done absolutely nothing wrong. But if they’re going to be blocked out even after helping one of our own then what does that leave when they mind their own business and times get tough? They’ll be the scapegoat. If they do attack us? We’ll need to respond more forcefully. In this era, “force” can mean splitting the sky.
We, personally, are a greater danger to everyone than these kits are, yet we’ve had multiple opportunities to prove that we will defend others and people have accepted us as a result. If we didn’t have those opportunities and still had Mary, they’d need to have this very same conversation about what to do about us, a potential tyrant in the making.
So I say make it clear that this decision isn’t just about now, it’s about the future and what that’ll bring. Have the whole community decide what it wants to be. I’d say we let them stay for now, but our word shouldn’t be final on this in either direction.
>>6084295 There is the option I proposed earlier. Grab a target and tell Mary to hit it full power. But things seem calm enough that it’s unnecessary to do that when they’ve already seen what she can do.
Anonymous
>>6084278 >They’ve done no wrong, and if they can’t be allowed opportunities to continue proving that then the alternative is to put a bullet in their heads now. I don't think we could do that in good conscience.
>>6084295 >We have to display the dangers these demons can pose before we can reiterate the importance of their friendship to us. Mary has already done that for us. Notice that no one has a problem with the Bulbosaur. I believe that it's the specific nature of the abilities the Zorua have that make them unnerved. People know about thunder, about plants, about fire, and all these other things we see in nature. But what about shapeshifting? Or, at a later point, telekinesis? Mind reading? Telepathy? That's stuff they could hardly imagine experiencing for themselves. Our only shot at coming to a solution where both parties have peace of mind is if we get a thumbs up from the pastor. Religion plays a bigger role at the time of the quest than it does in the present day, so if we can eventually get him to feel a lot better about the Zorua, that would not only allow the latter to meet with Rosetta in peace, but make establishing relations with Pokemon publicly a lot easier. Simply put, good word from the pastor sets a good precedent going forward.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6084292 On second thought, give me a couple hours. I’ll write up a little stump speech after work to put it in better perspective.
Anonymous
>>6084308 >the best analogy given the era is how the US worked with the Indians. It worked out until it didn’t, and they got beat down. Hard. The Trail of Tears incident showed that this was by no means unprovoked. The US government picked a fight with almost every tribe, and it went beyond just taking land, raping and scalping just being the tip of the iceberg. Not that Native American tribes were clear of guilt themselves, but the US wasn't there to bring peace and smiles to everyone. That alone makes this situation very different from the example you gave.
Anonymous
>>6084313 > I don't think we could do that in good conscience. I agree. If they want to talk about the risks these creatures pose though… well, if they’re already scared of the kits, the adults will be worse. We don’t need OOC knowledge to guess that.
>>6084322 And that history would suggest that we’ll end up picking fights with these creatures, they’ll respond, and we’ll end up in a war if we don’t make active efforts to encourage peace over suspicion. It may happen even if we DO, and it may be other creatures who strike first as a result, but my point is that if we’re willing to toss out ones who have helped us over suspicions alone then there’s no reason to expect that things will turn out better than what we’ve seen there. It may even be the US in the role of the Indians if it gets bad enough.
Not that I think pokemon would unite like that, but no one IC could know that for certain. Doing the speech now.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6084344 >If they want to talk about the risks these creatures pose though… well, if they’re already scared of the kits, the adults will be worse. We don’t need OOC knowledge to guess that. That's throwing out the baby with the bath water.
>And that history would suggest that we’ll end up picking fights with these creatures, they’ll respond, and we’ll end up in a war if we don’t make active efforts to encourage peace over suspicion. We're not the army of some nation. We're Walter Buchanan, and until the original sheriff recovers, our job pretty much is to bring peace and smiles. Leaving it up to a disorganized "vote" without a plan and with nothing but hearsay to inform the townsfolk is a recipe for disaster, and will only agitate the consequences of whatever decision is made.
>It may even be the US in the role of the Indians if it gets bad enough. Except we're not dealing with people of other cultures and nations, we're dealing Pokemon. Most of them are just highly intelligent animals, while others are beings as intelligent as humans
or even more who are effectively starting with a clean slate socially and culturally. There is no cultural nor political barrier because they have none. Peaceful options are a lot more viable because of this.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6084125 >Write-in The pastor and Steele have made good points. The kits can’t stay in town while emotions are running high and the supply situation still looks bad. Have them stay on the town outskirts with Rosetta where they can scavenge for themselves while still being close at hand.
Call a town vote in a week or so once people become more comfortable with them. Then the decision can be made on integrating them.
Do not return Rosetta to that crazy bitch. Even the townspeople seem to trust the demons more than her.
Anonymous
>>6084125 >”Alright. Valid concerns have been raised, and I can’t address them in a single meeting. But it’s clear this will not go uncontested, and it speaks to the character of this town in ways we well all need to answer for. I can, at least, offer a defense of my view as someone who speaks now with a badge on my chest, the notebook showing my work in studying what walks this earth, and a creature that stands by my side even as I speak.” >”I’m sure we’ve all read newspapers on what the world has come to now. D.C. is in chaos. Religions are reeling. New governments and prophets are coming up, promising salvation, damnation, tyranny. All for good reason.” >”We weren’t alone in what happened to our town when steel birds attacked, ants crawled out from the earth and breathed fire, and sheep called lightning from the skies above. We also haven’t seen everything that’s come of it either. The creatures we’ve seen are likely not the same seen elsewhere, just as they haven’t seen ours.” >”And so it falls to us, as it has everyone else, to figure out how we deal with our new corner of this world. Do we embrace the creatures, or reject them? Can they bring us safety, or will using them only attract more danger from those who see them as a threat? Do we even have a choice in the matter, or are these matters going to be made far above our heads?” >”That last one, at least, I can answer. This is not the last time we will have this discussion, but it is the first one we, as a community, will be responsible for regarding these creatures.” >”I can safely say that I am of more danger to you than these kits for now. A man who can call lightning down is more dangerous than some kits that can conjure illusions, of which the younger ones can’t always do convincingly.” >”But we aren’t just talking about kits now, are we? It doesn’t take someone from university to tell you creatures grow. What I can offer that may be missed, though, is that kits with half-baked illusions would be easy prey. The adults would need far stronger illusions to cover for their weaker kin. What’s more, they show a pack mentality that suggests they’ll travel in groups with many such adults. If we’re already having qualms about them in our community, I can tell you for certain that’ll we’ll have outright panic when just one of the adults is spotted, knkwing more are out there. Knowing they’d find these kits, and that they’re smart enough to speak about our community.” >”That’s when I’ll be called in. To put people’s fears to rest. And if we can’t trust kits, the only tool I’ll have left is a fist from the heavens.” Anonymous
>>6084395 >”Of course, that’s only if someone can tells them we can’t be trusted. Someone like these kits here, who may grow to be adults themselves. If we want to talk about only the risks, pastor, then I know of one way to minimize them. It’s to put my pistol between their eyes and pull the trigger now, before they become a threat.” >”I can’t argue with the logic. But I don’t have to be happy about it. And I feel entitled to hate anyone who makes me feel that killing something that has only done me good so far is the right course of action. Much as I can accept how anyone may hate being forced to embrace something that will destroy them.” >”That is why I’m standing by my decision for now, but I will ask for a town vote to be held next week to settle this issue for all. By virtue of my office and my gun I’m entrusted with handling this matter as I see fit, but that shouldn’t be the case. Today it’s just kits, but tomorrow can bring both better and worse. I’m afraid that if we can’t decide on a common direction, regardless of what it is, we’ll wither away on the vine as others already have. Our world is now too small to seek answers outside right now, and we need to remember that regardless of our differences on decisions like these we still have each other to rely on.” >”If my decision is overturned, I will accept it. I owe the position I’m in that respect, even if I disagree with the outcome. Also understand that if anyone wishes to speak with me on this I’ll try to keep my door open. Assuming I can get the paperwork cleared out enough to let people in. If you hear me screaming in there, assume I’ e been trapped and knock down the wall for me, if you all don’t mind.” Phoneposting is a bitch.
Anonymous
>>6084395 >>6084396 As respectfully as I can put this, these words already make me worried and the QM hasn't even settled the vote yet. This would make it sound like we have no idea what we're doing
which may or may not be true, but we don't want to give people that impression and are trying to push accountability away from ourselves for leading the pack here. It would send the town into panic or an uproar.
Anonymous
Anonymous
>>6084434 You’re also making it sound like only the sheriff should be responsible for deciding something as important as where the lines are drawn with regard to these new creatures, and I’m just as alarmed by that. If the idea of having them vote on something like this is enough to panic them, they’re either going to fall apart or join up with the first warlord that promises to keep them safe even if they terrorize the town in the meantime.
We have Mary. We have the badge. We can absolutely have the final say in any argument put towards us, regardless of who gets shafted by it. That wouldn’t make it any more right. The town needs more of a say on this matter than the few people who decided to raise their voices during a town meeting that a sheriff decides to humor. It’s setting too much precedent for the future.
Anonymous
>>6084490 >You’re also making it sound like only the sheriff should be responsible for deciding something as important as where the lines are drawn with regard to these new creatures, and I’m just as alarmed by that. If that was true, I wouldn't have suggested to consult the pastor.
>If the idea of having them vote on something like this is enough to panic them, they’re either going to fall apart or join up with the first warlord that promises to keep them safe even if they terrorize the town in the meantime. I'm not sure what argument is being made here. Are you agreeing that a vote shouldn't be made in the first place? Are you trying to say that I'm making these assumptions? I'm trying to understand, not accuse you of anything.
>The town needs more of a say on this matter than the few people who decided to raise their voices during a town meeting that a sheriff decides to humor. This is one of the reasons why reaching out to the pastor is important. He's perceived as an example of faith and morality in the community and answers to them accordingly. If he agrees to tutor the pack, what happens with Rosetta's relationship with them would ultimately be left in his hands.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6084125 >Write-in. Argue that shape-shifters are those who shed/betray their humanity and court destruction unto their friends, family or neighbors. In contrast, 'demons' can only be so crafty or cruel before their (in)actions trivializes the point: for example, the idea of giving up their biggest inherent advantage all for a single girl as collateral. As for Rosetta's safety, she cared for a third party deamon apart from the pack. Its continued presence skews the overall influence of her supposed capturers. Their tertiary bond is visibly available without reproach or disregard from the pack meaning it was an accessorial pillar of comfort allotted to her.
>A miracle happened in the search of a lost kid. That is reality to a temporary sheriff whose confidence hinge in the faith of Shenanigan's Gulch. For the pious, let prayer guide them to the whereabouts of Rosetta, and what they cannot readily see with their eyes let their hearts uncover the fate of their visitors. Perhaps they'll find the similarity of masked strength shared between shaken town folks and adept fox kits. Anonymous
>>6084533 To convince the pastor of their good nature, pick a holy or divine mon to display its virtue for him. Works guaranteed!
Read: it sucks that the first couple of mon we try to introduce to the town are dark-types. Quite literally the worst type for a religious bunch to accept into their ranks. Anonymous
>>6084187 >>6084202 >>6084463 Closing the votes on this since it's got the most support as of now.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Tue 20 Aug 2024 17:30:23 No. 6084890 Report Quoted By:
>>6084889 (dropped my trip. i'm just reapplying it.)
Anonymous
>>6084781 Ghost might have been even worse, I guess, but not by much. Psychic if it's Hypno or the Alakazam line specifically, with their spooky brain powers and Baphomet-looking face; the Satanic Panic namedropped them IRL as I recall.
Anonymous
>>6084899 Sure, it could have been a Grimer or something dangerous to humans, but we have to think within the logical restrictions of NoCal, in which case a dark type is pretty damn close to the nastiest thing you could find.
Adding to that, let's hope the kits don't pull the hideous illusion trick they so graciously presented to us back in the forest in front of the townsfolk. Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6085036 We did spot Duskulls in the forest earlier in the quest, so we got pretty lucky finding Rosetta all things considered.
PoképocalypseQM (on mobile very tired)
PoképocalypseQM (on mobile very tired) ID:fikORCBP Wed 21 Aug 2024 03:00:26 No. 6085203 Report That was a hard question. One that you knew an even harder answer to. A defeated sigh was the first thing to leave your mouth. "No." Rosetta's expression turned dire. You continued. "Pastor, you raise a fair counterpoint. The safety of this town shouldn't be put at risk, 'specially not now." The pastor gave a slow nod while you went on. "I will have Rosetta removed from these creatures..." ...a gasp... "...<span class="mu-i">temporarily.</span>" Your tone turned ice cold. Your expression, however, warmed upon seeing the girl. She seemed to remain distressed, so you turned away from the crowd to sign at her and the pack. [Town square wrong see (you had no clue what to say for illusions). Town square heart Rosetta, shrug pack.] A mite of understanding wormed its way into Rosetta's expression, while the pack was torn between confusion and anger. You had to force Stone away from you with Mary's help, prompting her to act as a barrier until he calmed down, but the other kits were more dismayed than in the mood to protest. You returned your face to the crowd, only to see the pastor narrowing his eyes. "These demons... they speak'n tongues as well?" Hah. Right. "Rosetta taught these creatures. They don't speak anythin' else, sir." The pastor read your lips with a narrow stare as you went on. "I'll be removin' Rosetta from her... pack..." you hesitated to use the word in front of the crowd, but they seemed not to react-- "...and, instead, askin' you, sir," you extended a finger to the aging man and his dark robes, "t' meet with these creatures and prove their innocence within th' week." The town square erupted into speculation. The pastor himself immediately began to object. "To bring demons to a church-- you cannot seriously be considerin'-!!" "It doesn't have t' be at a church, sir past'r. All I ask is that you give me the chance t' prove these creatures innocent, and t' help you have faith in them."
PoképocalypseQM (on mobile very very tired)
PoképocalypseQM (on mobile very very tired) ID:fikORCBP Wed 21 Aug 2024 03:01:26 No. 6085204 Report "My faith remains only with The Lord, sheriff, an' ah cannot let my honesty be shared with the demons He has warned me against." You straightened your posture. "Then at least let these demons prove themselves so. Allow them t' spend time apart from their most-loved one, in His service, giving unto the town as the town has given unto them. Surley if they were demons, as you say they are, such an act'd torment them?" The crowd had grown silent as your verbal gunfight drew to a peaceful end. The pastor turned his head away for a moment... before giving you a reluctant nod. "Ah've only got a few conditions they've got to meet before all else." <><><><><> No illusions, no entering the church, and no more than an hour with Rosetta a day... It was infinitely easier to convey with your notebook. That much you were grateful for. You focused on that positive as best you could while transcribing the town meeting to the pack back at their tent. They weren't taking the news well. Stone wasn't even here-- he'd gone to sulk outside, occasionally interrupting your signing by throwing dirt at the tent's cloth walls, and Rosetta had only just stopped crying over the news. It brought her comfort to know that she could still see the pack, of course... but you could tell that the loss of their collective sleeping quarters hurt her greatly. Especially now that her mother wouldn't let her back into her own house. You just hoped that her stay at Bessie's would be kinder to her than the priest had been. Time passed you by. Stone eventually returned to the tent. Rosetta learned that Berry and her lizard faced no such restrictions and that she would still have them for company. If she saw them while they were taking a break, she could communicate with them so long as the pastor supervised. These small bits of salve began to heal the verbal wounds from earlier, visibly so, and the kits began to calm down. The pastor would educate the pack, the pack would prove themselves docile... whenever he felt safe enough to return the pack to Rosetta, they would be reunited. Just past noon, the pastor arrived to bring the kits with him. Rosetta was allowed to give the three of them tight hugs goodbye, in their true forms. The pastor would not rob her of such a nicety. Eventually, though, they had to go. And Rosetta was left, with you and her 'pets', in the tent. >Stay a little longer and comfort her as best you can. >Say your goodbyes and start the rest of your day. >Write-in.
Anonymous
>>6085204 >Say your goodbyes and start the rest of your day. Duty's duty. Can't wait 'til we can ditch this sheriff gig.
Anonymous
>>6085204 Wait, has a week passed or is this the first day?
Anonymous
>>6085203 >>6085204 >Say your goodbyes and start the rest of your day. Sorry ma'am, we need to classify more mon.
PoképocalypseQM (on mobile and very tired)
PoképocalypseQM (on mobile and very tired) ID:fikORCBP Wed 21 Aug 2024 11:44:25 No. 6085408 Report >>6085260 It’s the same day as the speech, the pastor wanted them to start right away “for the safety of the town”. Was going to include it in the post but I think it slipped my mind and my time limit had already run out by the end.
It’s part of why the choices are a bit abrupt lol. If you mean in the quest overall, it’s been about two weeks since you arrived. The quest began on the ninth and it is currently the twenty-sixth.
Anonymous
>>6085204 >Say your goodbyes and start the rest of your day. We’ve spent a lot of time on this case already. There’s bound to be other things that have popped up.
Anonymous
Just a general question for the thread: what type of mon/what specific mon fits Waltur the best in your opinion? Doesn't have to be limited to the ones we have found in NoCal, just any mon you can think of.
Anonymous
>>6085204 >Say your goodbyes and start the rest of your day We've done the best we can, and the onus is on the pastor if anything goes wrong! Though this being said, we should probably inform him that if he wants something done, he has to learn their weird hand language, or at least some ASL for Rosetta's sake. Honestly, I want to catch us a Skarmory, that shit'd be cool. They can regrow their metal feathers right? Infini-metal right there. Get a large enough flock of Skarmory and you won't even need to mine for ore anymore.
Anonymous
>>6085204 >Say your goodbyes and start the rest of your day. Right, this is the late 1800s, back when people were still godfearing. Baby steps and all that, but we have work to do.
Anonymous
>>6085204 >>6085408 I meant the speech, but thanks for the clarification.
>Say your goodbyes and start the rest of your day. Let's part politely.
>>6085454 I think Mary does a fine job already. That being said, a Gligar
for Gliscor's tricks , Dragon type of sorts, or a highly intelligent Pokemon of some kind could be interesting. Here are some other thoughts I had over the past several days.
>Jynx will eventually be used in minstrel shows. I shouldn't have to explain why. >Ludicolo will be adored by Mexicans, becoming the unofficial second national animal of Mexico. >The local Civil War veteran, struggling with PTSD from experiencing war as a teenager and with the death of his wife, finds a Togepi while on a trip in the woods. Feels follow. Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6085699 >>>The local Civil War veteran, struggling with PTSD from experiencing war as a teenager and with the death of his wife, finds a Togepi while on a trip in the woods. Feels follow. Hollywood, get on this one.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6085454 >>6085699 You know what? A Heracross would kick ass.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6085454 Decidueye, because it's especially observant?
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Thu 22 Aug 2024 01:41:09 No. 6085944 Report Quoted By:
>>6085258 >>6085385 >>6085413 >>6085610 >>6085684 >>6085699 another unanimous vote, expect a reply in the next 24 hours
Anonymous
>>6085454 Even though it is my own phonepost, I'll make my own suggestion.
I'd go for Unown. Because Waltur's actions are in effect controlled by our writings on this board, I think there is no better mon to represent him than a pokémon which is literally its own writing system. As Waltur is a conduit for our delirious ramblings I think there is no better pokémon to represent him than one which is a symbol of our methods.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6086053 Oh and also its slightly psychic so it uhhh fits his head injury I guess lol
Anonymous
>>6085454 I get the feeling that without pokeballs, we'd only be taking care of 3-ish pokemon at most, not considering the possibility of outside help. They have very unique needs. I want to stick with just Mary for now, but if we absolutely needed another to make our lives easier, I'd get a Decidueye. It can fly, covers Mary's weakness to ground, is intelligent, and has excellent vision and precision. I would trust one for recon as well as search-and-rescue. Plus it's cute when it wants to be.
But on the topic of using pokemon, we need to get our hands on sewaddle, they make silk like crazy. Silk is still a valuable resource in this time period, right?
Anonymous
>>6086172 I’d second that one. For some reason I think Walter would fit well with a really big bird. One of the regal-looking ones.
Anonymous
>>6086172 >>6086175 Decidueye is a good pick, but I am also thinking of Swellow, Articuno and Noctowl if we head in the big bird direction. Two other picks I think are rather out there but could work are Corviknight and Xatu.
I however don't think we will find many fully evolved pokémon, as every single one we have seen thus far has been either non-evolving or unevolved.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6086172 >>6086175 >>6086241 I think if we're going to get a Flying type at some point in the future, he or she should be big enough to ride on when they fully evolve or be a rather intelligent one, either of which would make for good scouting. Any Pokemon that can levitate can do such a job, actually. That being said, I think there's a lot of potential with the muscle, instincts, and personality a Heracross could bring. They're found in the kind of forests we live right next to as well, and should be amicable enough when offered tree sap or honey.
Anonymous
>>6081799 What's this from?
Anonymous
Just caught up on this quest. Pure kino.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6086344 >It's from the episode called "The Fox Princess" in a cartoon series called Hungarian Folk Tales. PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Fri 23 Aug 2024 00:08:05 No. 6086613 Report Quoted By:
>>6086358 ah, hey, glad to have another guy on board! You came at quite the interesting time haha, next post is gonna be a neat one. I'm writing it up as we speak.
Thank you for the compliment, too. PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Fri 23 Aug 2024 01:48:51 No. 6086679 Report It was a shame things had to end this way... but, really, this wasn't a worst-case scenario. The kits got to stay in town and possibly help further the case for their innocence while they were at it. Rosetta still got to see them while they worked, and her other companions weren't even objected to anymore. Despite all the downsides... this was as happy an ending as you felt this case was getting. And you were satisfied with that. Rosetta was, of course, less thrilled. You could hear quiet sobbing to your left and turned to see the girl hanging over her small hound, hugging the fluffy creature and drowning her tears in its never-ending cascade of gray fur. A small green bulb soon joined the pair, rubbing its head into Rosetta's lap. The moment was spent, on your end, drawing up a small parting gift for the girl. A lightly-sketched image of her and her pack, together, with some words written near the bottom. "A vision of your future. All will be well. -Walter." You slipped the paper onto the blanket Rosetta now called her bed. It took you a few more minutes to pull your head away from the scene and out of the tent. You'd nearly forgotten to say goodbye. <><><><><>
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Fri 23 Aug 2024 01:50:29 No. 6086680 Report Entering a new month felt like entering a new world. It'd been almost a month since you'd come here. In that single month, your life-- no, that of the entire <span class="mu-i">world's</span> had changed immeasurably, as if Mary's sound nap upon your lap wasn't proof enough of that. You sat by the creek, now, studying a particularly odd specimen of <span class="mu-i">Inscis Rubrectus</span> by the shore. Its signature sault was noticeably higher than most other members of its species that you'd seen... which was really saying something given how ridiculously common they were, <span class="mu-i">especially</span> around the creek. This one could nearly jump to the top of the decrepit train without much effort. How much higher could it go...? ... The lack of wildlife diversity had begun taking its toll on your psyche. Your entire purpose for being here was to document wildlife and yet, in the full month of your stay in this small Northern town, you had yet to jot down more than ten new species across Shenanigan's Gulch and the nearby creek. You'd certainly <span class="mu-i">tried</span> to do some documentation in the forest, and had even made decent progress... up until a week or so ago when a small orange bear had made sure that you'd never step foot in there again by tearing up what remained of your work clothes. Everything that demanded your interest also demanded your head, and it was becoming exhausting to stick only to the more docile species around the area for safety's sake. It was a shame, too, that those common species seemed to be becoming more numerous than the fiercer types, and <span class="mu-i">especially</span> the native wildlife. It certainly left the town much safer-- there hadn't been an attack in a whole week now-- but it left your studies rather hollow. At least your head was finally feeling better. Mary jolted to life and gave a brief shriek. The movement subsequently forced you into action, after your legs finally woke themselves, doing a 180 to see-- the sheriff? He was limping. The makeshift cane under his left armpit made the situation a little comical, what with the cane being visibly taller than him and all, but all inclinations towards a hearty chuckle vanished upon seeing the enormous cast encasing the sheriff's left leg. Behind him came Thomas J. Steele, the <span class="mu-i">real</span> temporary sheriff by this point, looking equal parts solemn and wistful. Mary jumped off your lap and landed by your side as you rose to meet the visitors. "Sheriff, Steele." "Walt'r."
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Fri 23 Aug 2024 02:00:29 No. 6086686 Report The sheriff's tone was... acrid. It was clear he was still not 100%. "Walt'r... ah'd like you t' leave this place." Wait, what? "It's nothin' pers'nal, don' get me wrong. Ah'ppreciate yer company at the best o' times." He cleared his throat. "But ah don' like what you've done with my town. Not a day's gone by when ah don' look out th' window t' see another argument or attack. Sure, we've got a lull now, but who's t' say this peace'll last?" Well, that wasn't really your fault-- "Not yer fault, sure, an' ah appreciate yer efforts t' keep these demonic monsters away from us." His eyes narrowed into slits. "But you jus' let an entire pack 'f demons into our town an' let 'em stick around th' pastor like it's no big deal. You've tried t' get them t' prove their innocence-- an', sure, ah'll concede that they haven't done much since arrivin' t' warrant anyone's ire." His tone's temperature began to drop to subzero levels. "Yet they're still demons, ain't they? Ah see them walkin' around an' ah can't help but think that ah don' know who t' trust anymore. Ah can't believe they'll keep their word. Ah've got t' touch Cora's shoulder each time she comes t' see me t' make sure she ain't a demon'n disguise." Whatever you were going to say was cut off. The sheriff turned his attention to Mary as he went on, his brow furrowing to the point of covering his eyes. "You walk around my town with th' power of the heavens in yer company, blessed be Our Lord, an' you think it gives you th' right t' let loose a horde of shape-changers who want the mad crone's child fer their own. You expect my people t' simply accept these spawns of Satan into their lives like it's some kind of lesson on acceptance." The longer he continued the more wild his expression became. He was almost shouting now, his hands refusing to stay by his side as some kind of primal <span class="mu-i">fear</span> began to enter his voice, his tone becoming increasingly erratic as his deepest thoughts spewed forth. "Ah've spent weeks, Walt'r, bedridden an' unable t' do anythin'. Ah've had t' sit there'n watch as you stir up my town intah somethin' ah can't recognize. Ah step foot outside, t'day, finally able t' walk, an' what do ah see? Ah see false children walkin' among my people, doin' the work meant for our sons 'n daughters, rallyin' around some witch's kid as their Messiah, communin' with the local beasts who took this leg from me. Ah see a man I entrusted with th' safety of this town sittin' back an' sacrificin' it all t' the Devil fer some far-fetched ideal of peace between a bunch'f bloodthirsty, dangerous <span class="mu-i">monsters</span> an' a tiny town already strugglin' with the basics."
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Fri 23 Aug 2024 02:02:14 No. 6086687 Report Quoted By:
The spit flecked onto your shirt pocket was beginning to settle in. A grave silence held over the creek as you felt your soul pierced by the sheriff's shaky stare. The sheriff's badge soon found its way from your shirt pocket into his hand. Steele was the next to face the lawman's verbal knife. "An', of course, another city kid gets t' be temp'rary sheriff because you weren't cut out fer the job. One just as welcomin' t' the devil's spawn as the rest'f yous." "Sir, really, I--" "Don't speak." The sheriff was finally beginning to falter. "You've said enough with yer actions." Steele's offended expression told the sheriff all he needed to know as the crippled brick of a man made his final remarks. "...ah want you gone by t'morrow evenin', Walt'r. You too, Steele. Yer family already wised up'n left, so what's stoppin' you?" More silence. The sheriff's white-hot glare had cooled into an exhausted frown. "Steele already knows. Cora was gonna tell you later t'day, but ah felt it necessary t' give you the news ahead'a time in case you decided t' book it early." He chuckled, the humor as dry as his wrinkled face. "Take yer sheep with you. Everythin' you own. Ah can't do anythin' about the plague'a demons you brought here, but ah sure as hell can keep you from bringin' any others. So ah'd like you t' <span class="mu-i">git, <span class="mu-s">boy,</span> so ah don' have t' see you again</span> for some time yet." <span class="mu-g">You have two days to pack your things and get out of here.</span>>Talk to Cora about all this. >Coordinate what you're going to do and where you're gonna go with Steele, if anywhere at all. >Say your goodbyes to the entire town via the soapbox. >Stock up on as many resources as you can without the sheriff giving you the stink-eye. >Write-in.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Fri 23 Aug 2024 02:14:34 No. 6086704 Report The man was pacing now. "I-it just-- that's not how it <span class="mu-i">works,</span> boy. Not 'round these parts, not <span class="mu-i">nowhere</span> us people live." That could-- "Ah don't want <span class="mu-s">change,</span> <span class="mu-i">Walt'r,</span> ah want mah town <span class="mu-i">safe 'n sound</span> an' ev'ry monster in California <span class="mu-i">banished from ev'ry place our small town has t' tread.</span>" The spit flecked onto your shirt pocket was beginning to settle in. A grave silence held over the creek as you felt your soul pierced by the sheriff's shaky stare. The sheriff's badge soon found its way from your shirt pocket into his hand. Steele was the next to face the lawman's verbal knife. "An', of course, another city kid gets t' be temp'rary sheriff because you weren't cut out fer the job. One just as welcomin' t' the devil's spawn as the rest'f yous." "Sir, really, I--" "Don't speak." The sheriff was finally beginning to falter. "You've said enough with yer actions." Steele's offended expression told the sheriff all he needed to know as the crippled brick of a man made his final remarks. "...ah want you gone by t'morrow evenin', Walt'r. You too, Steele. Yer family already wised up'n left, so what's stoppin' you?" More silence. The sheriff's white-hot glare had cooled into an exhausted frown. "Steele already knows. Cora was gonna tell you later t'day, but ah felt it necessary t' give you the news ahead'a time in case you decided t' book it early." He chuckled, the humor as dry as his wrinkled face. "Take yer sheep with you. Everythin' you own. Ah can't do anythin' about the plague'a demons you brought here, but ah sure as hell can keep you from bringin' any others. So ah'd like you t' <span class="mu-i">git, <span class="mu-s">boy,</span> so ah don' have t' see you again</span> for some time yet." <span class="mu-g">You have two days to pack your things and get out of here.</span>>Talk to Cora about all this. >Coordinate what you're going to do and where you're gonna go with Steele, if anywhere at all. >Say your goodbyes to the entire town via the soapbox. >Stock up on as many resources as you can without the sheriff giving you the stink-eye. >Write-in.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6086679 >>6086680 >>6086686 >>6086704 >Coordinate what you're going to do and where you're gonna go with Steele, if anywhere at all. If we are going, we need to know where we are going. Steele did have a place to get to, as he certainly didn't intend to stop in the Gulch before the train had a minor inconvenience.
Anonymous
>>6086704 >Coordinate what you're going to do and where you're gonna go with Steele, if anywhere at all. >Talk to Cora about all this. and
>Warn the pack and Rosetta that the old sheriff's taking his job back, and has his eye on them Anonymous
>"It's nothin' pers'nal, don' get me wrong." >proceeds to go on a personal tirade Well, at least we studied every Pokemon we came across so far aside from the Teddiursa. The sheriff is going to pick a fight with the wrong Pokemon and get the town killed, but it doesn't seem like we're in a position to do much about it.
>>6086704 >Coordinate what you're going to do and where you're gonna go with Steele, if anywhere at all. >Talk to Cora about all this. >Write-in: Check in with the pastor to see what's been happening with Rosetta and the pack. In this order. It seems like it's been about a week, right?
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Fri 23 Aug 2024 03:14:44 No. 6086750 Report >>6086737 Yep, August 2nd.
Weird captcha. What did 4chan mean by this? Anonymous
>>6086704 >Tell him that he can put it to a vote. America is a democracy, after all. He ain't your damn president. Anonymous
>>6086704 >Coordinate what you're going to do and where you're gonna go with Steele, if anywhere at all. >Warn the pack and Rosetta that the old sheriff's taking his job back, and has his eye on them >Write-in. >"I took care of these 'Stars of Death' with Mary here. I brought back Rosetta from the wild. I even rescued you from those steel ants, and this is how you repay me? By stabbing me in the back and telling me to get lost?" This is so much bullshit.
Anonymous
>>6086796 >>6086763 >>Tell him that he can put it to a vote. America is a democracy, after all. He ain't your damn president. >>"I took care of these 'Stars of Death' with Mary here. I brought back Rosetta from the wild. I even rescued you from those steel ants, and this is how you repay me? By stabbing me in the back and telling me to get lost?" Nice way to get shot, guys. He's the town's only armed authority. His word is law around here, so we have to move. No buts or arguments. This could become dangerous for us if we keep talking at all.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6086704 I agree with
>>6086737 We'll save the public goodbye for tomorrow.
I would avoid talking to the sheriff any further, if talking about the creatures has him as riled up as Rosetta's kooky mom his mind is more than made up. No point in pressing.
Anonymous
>>6086704 Supporting
>>6086731 . We can ask Steele to accompany us to Cora’s at least as it’d give us time to talk.
There’s a non-zero chance the sheriff is being influenced by something. If he was aware of all this while he was recovering then he could have intervened. It’s not like Cora couldn’t call us in to speak with him, he only had a broken leg. He wasn’t in a fucking coma.
I’m backing speaking to Rosie and the kits for the warning, but also to ask if they’ve sensed anything unusual recently that may have coincided with a spike in hostility towards them or between town residents. It’s a shot in the dark, but I don’t think we have any means to check for undue mental influences.
Not that I’m opposed to leaving town anyway. I had hoped to get more berries grown so someone could defend it better and we could grow our own stock, but if we’ve run out of pokemon to easily document then we can try move on to other pastures.
Anonymous
>>6086989 I think the sheriff is influenced by nothing but his age, his unfamiliarity with the world and his religious beliefs.
This man is from the 1880s. If Chinese people were enough to get Californians a-killing during the gold rush, imagine what these insane demons would have done to them.
Plus, he is also pretty damn old, clearly hasn't seen much of the world around him and is staunchly rooted in his position as the town's defender in the name of God, in which he has also has a very solid belief. I think the man just did not want to confront us until he was strong enough in his recovery to kick our measly butts out of his town.
Simply put; if you put yourself in his shoes, this is more than a reasonable response. No insidious mind-control needed.
Anonymous
>>6086737 Supporting this option. It sucks donkey balls that we're getting kicked out after sticking our necks out for these people, but I don't think the sheriff is *entirely* being a bastard for the sake of it. I imagine that with nothing to do for days on end would just spin paranoid fear after fear in a brand new world of magic creatures when everything was predictable for decades before. New people showing up around the same time as new fantastical creatures thought to only exist in wild books and legends? It's enough to set the paranoia alarm in anyone, and there's a heavy responsibility resting on that man's shoulders. It's best we accept that authority for now and regroup solo. We can't do much other than wish the town well. They will definitely need it if they're making enemies out of the pokemon.
I can only imagine what it would be like if pokemon suddenly started existing with no prior context to their existence
Anonymous
>>6086973 Don't be a pussy and take this shit lying down. We have Mary right here to back us up if need be. Besides, old fogies like this love their patriotism. Suggesting a vote could very well work.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6087041 We do still have Steele, and he seems like a nice enough chap. Might as well go wherever he wants to go.
Anonymous
>>6087061 We are either going to take this lying down or going to take this lying six feet below the soil. I don't think the sheriff is in any mood for discussion at this point.
Anonymous
>>6087063 With this many witnesses around?
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6087072 >witnesses ... Steele and Mary?
It's not worth eating a bullet when we have a bigger goal in mind.
Anonymous
>>6087010 It would require the sheriff being a much bigger coward than I thought, but I accept it could be entirely ordinary. It means he had several opportunities to (attempt to) convince us otherwise, which he refused to do, and therefore accepted that he would do nothing to protect the town he believed being corrupted until after he recovered. Which he’d do… by giving us a stern word to leave town. Because he can’t actually pin anything wrong on us and in spite of being too terrifying to confront while injured we’re also too human to fight with after recovering. Somehow.
He may have gone through phases while in recovery, but it still leaves him a much weaker man than I originally credited.
>>6087061 >>6087063 We have Mary, we’ll win any fight we want against any one person in this town. Even the sheriff. She should be able to dodge well enough so the first shot against her doesn’t kill her(assuming he doesn’t shoot us first), but the same can’t be said of her counterattack.
But I don’t care enough about the town as a whole or the sheriff himself to fight him over this, whether by a vote or something more physical. Say goodbye to the people who supported or depended on us, get some supplies, and move on to learn more is where my mind’s at.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6086737 >>6086750 Got it. That means the pastor will come to his decision later today or tomorrow. If he allows the pack to continue to spend time with Rosetta once every while, the last option listed here
>>6086731 would be good to do afterward and shouldn't take long.
>>6087102 >It would require the sheriff being a much bigger coward than I thought, but I accept it could be entirely ordinary. It means he had several opportunities to (attempt to) convince us otherwise, which he refused to do, and therefore accepted that he would do nothing to protect the town he believed being corrupted until after he recovered. Which he’d do… by giving us a stern word to leave town. Because he can’t actually pin anything wrong on us and in spite of being too terrifying to confront while injured we’re also too human to fight with after recovering. Somehow. >He may have gone through phases while in recovery, but it still leaves him a much weaker man than I originally credited. This is a very good observation. He's not used to not being in charge.
Anonymous
Damn, reminds me of this.
Anonymous
>>6087102 I think you might be fundamentally misunderstanding the mindset of people like this sheriff. There is no convincing Waltur to his side, for Waltur has already shown himself on the side of the demons. There is only getting him as far away from you as possible or six feet below the dirt. This man arrested us when we were simply standing somewhat near the building that exploded in the beginning of this thread. I don't see him being capable of rational evaluation that mirrors our own.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6087102 That's an acceptable enough reason to vote that way.
>>6087212 This is not. This is just fearmongering and being, as previously stated, a pussy. With a strange attachment to the phrase "There is only getting him as far away from you as possible or six feet below the dirt" given the repeated usage of it over several posts. It's not that witty, anon, and I really don't think it'll come to that. Granted, I doubt I'll be convincing anyone of joining my vote at this point, but I still feel the need to shit on this kind of shadowrunning.
Anonymous
>>6087061 We can't be a dickhead about this issue. I get it, but rebuking a highly respected officer of the law will do far more harm than good. Escalating shit in this era means that someone WILL die, and I'd rather not leave little Mary all alone. It wouldn't be fair to our little lamb, it wouldn't be fair to Rosetta and the kits, it wouldn't be fair to Cora, and it wouldn't be fair to the town. The only thing we did wrong was not tell the sheriff what we were doing with his town.
There are only two ways I can see this going down. We take the highway or someone takes a permanent dirt nap. Conflict between stubborn men never goes well, and it spills out and hurts the whole community.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6087169 I was thinking of this scene as well.
If the sheriff goes on that "crusade" of his, the town will share the same fate as the vault. >>6087273 Agreed. Rosetta and the pack are under the scrutiny of the sheriff as it is, and the new temporary sheriff feels very similarly about the new animals as we do anyway.
Anonymous
Anonymous
Quoted By:
On a completely unrelated note, would Waltur vote Cleveland or Blaine?
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Fri 23 Aug 2024 20:50:06 No. 6087351 Report >>6086731 >>6086737 These two are pretty similar and have the most support, so I'll be combining 'em
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Fri 23 Aug 2024 22:53:47 No. 6087471 Report You could only watch as the crippled sheriff stumbled away. Steele stuck by your side, to your surprise, keeping quiet until the sheriff was completley out of sight. "...well, I suppose we haven't got much of a choice, have we, Walter?" The man was in shockingly decent spirits. The grin on his face gave away the fact that he wasn't being entirely honest about the cheeriness, but even his attempt was a shock until he clarified. "I wouldn't mind some company on the way to Sacramento, and it seems our schedules have both been cleared." He wasn't serious. "You're headin' t' Sacramento <span class="mu-i">on foot?</span>" "Yes, well, I haven't got a horse now, have I? Nor have I got your skills with..." ...he glanced at Mary... "...taming anything to ride there." Delayed rage washed over you. "You're okay with lettin' the sheriff trample over you like that?" Walter's tone took a confused turn, the man correcting his tie and beginning to head towards town. "Oh, it's hardly <span class="mu-i">trampling</span>, young man! He just gave me the push I needed to resume what I was already doing before the... unfortunate turn of events that prompted me to abscond in the first place." You followed the other former sheriff, Mary trailing behind you, trying to talk sense into the nonchalant fellow. "We haven't got food, shelter, transportation... Steele, he's takin' that from us just because ah tried t' help some kids." "I have enough on me to stay at any hotels we find." "An' if we don't find any?" "We camp! Surely you've had some experience?" The man's grin became a bit less hollow. "Food will be in no short supply with a portable campfire on our hands," he motioned to Mary, "nor will we need some other self-defense. She'll provide light, too... I don't think you understand just how blessed you are for having such a companion, kid." Was he dead set on this? You stopped. "I haven't agreed t' anythin', Steele." Steele stopped, too, and gave you an inquisitive look. "You haven't, have you? Then what do you say? Are you going to join my pilgrimage to Sacramento or keep at it on your own?" >Sacramento could have telegram lines, a steadier supply of food, and some place to stay. You may as well tag along. >You don't want Steele around regardless of where you go. If you leave, you'll be leaving alone. Or with Cora. >There are higher priorities to attend to. Tell Steele you'll get back to him tomorrow.
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PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Fri 23 Aug 2024 22:55:27 No. 6087474 Report (<span class="mu-s">We'll still be doing
>>6087351 , just in parts.</span> These are relatively pivotal moments so there will <span class="mu-s">probably be sub-votes for each one</span>. The votes in them will essentially determine what happens after all three of the initial decisions are written up and played out.)
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6087471 >Sacramento could have telegram lines, a steadier supply of food, and some place to stay. You may as well tag along. I like this fellow.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6087471 >Sacramento could have telegram lines, a steadier supply of food, and some place to stay. You may as well tag along. Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6087471 >Sacramento could have telegram lines, a steadier supply of food, and some place to stay. You may as well tag along. >"Yes, well, I haven't got a horse now, have I? Nor have I got your skills with..." ...he glanced at Mary... "...taming anything to ride there." Absolute nonsense, let's test our suspensions with the nutberries and find a pokemon for Steele to tame. These demons are more only a little less intelligent than humans and Steele is good with humans ain't him? Some promises of a full stomach and smooth tone should fetch him any critter that isn't immediately hostile.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6087471 >Sacramento could have telegram lines, a steadier supply of food, and some place to stay. You may as well tag along. I would suggest we ask around and see if anyone knows what’s going on in Sacramento before committing us. He’s probably the best person to do that, he had a better head for where everyone was and (I’d assume) know if they travel around.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6087471 >Sacramento could have telegram lines, a steadier supply of food, and some place to stay. You may as well tag along. Lets hope we don't get run out again. Hopefully the place is still standing
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6087471 >Sacramento could have telegram lines, a steadier supply of food, and some place to stay. You may as well tag along. Anonymous
>>6087471 >Sacramento could have telegram lines, a steadier supply of food, and some place to stay. You may as well tag along. >>6087474 So we're still meeting with Cora, the pastor, and possibly Rosetta and the pack afterward, right?
Anonymous
This is the best unanimous vote yet.
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PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sat 24 Aug 2024 13:08:36 No. 6087794 Report >>6087651 >So we're still meeting with Cora, the pastor, and possibly Rosetta and the pack afterward, right? Yep, I'm just doing subvotes for those decisions first. Whatever you vote on for the next 2-3 posts will be done after talking with Cora and visiting the pastor.
>>6087784 Agreed! Glad to be writing it. Next post should be soon. :)
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PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sat 24 Aug 2024 16:55:20 No. 6087918 Report ... Sacramento... well, it didn't sound bad. Not nearly as bad as trying to make it on your own out in this brave new world, for sure. They had telegram lines there, some place nice to stay. Even if the city was theoretically in ruins, it was probably in a better state than the Gulch has ever been in. You offered Steele your hand. He gave it a firm shake back. "Splendid! It's settled, then! I can start making preparations for the two of us--" "Hold on." Your palm slipped away from his. "Ah don' know about it just bein' the two of us. I wanted t' talk to some other folks..." Steele's grin didn't waver. "Ah, no worries. As long as you keep the party small, I suppose it won't be an issue. I traveled with a family of four before, after all. I can do it again." You and Mary made two, so... two more? "Ah'll keep that in mind, then." You gave Steele a thumbs-up. He returned the favor. "Good, good! I'll see you in the evening with my new inventory. We can leave tomorrow morning--" "I'd rather a bit later." "Tomorrow evening, like the sheriff requested of us." Steele corrected himself. "When tomorrow's sun sets on this speck of a town, we will have left it." And so, Steele vanished. He'd headed straight for town with no break. Meanwhile... you had someone to catch up with. <><><><><> It felt odd entering Cora's house so early in the day. It wasn't lunchtime, nor were you in need of dinner, and you definitely weren't tired enough to sleep. And yet, here you were. Cora, to your surprise, was as well. You could hear her muttering as she dashed from corner to corner, stuffing things into a bag. She was in her nursing dress. Its smock was covered in some kind of blood... dried. Old. "Wh- Walter?" She'd noticed you. "What are you doing here so early?" No use in beating around the bush about it. "I have t' leave you, Cora. All'a town, in fact. The sheriff wants me out." Her eyes widened for a moment, then grew skeptical. "How very like him to time it for today," she muttered, before continuing in a normal tone of voice. "What could you have done to deserve this kind of treatment? You've been helping me, the town, everyone."
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6087794 Cool. We should ask Steele if he's heard about what's happened with Sacramento in the papers
>>6078122 .
>Agreed! Glad to be writing it. That's gladdening to hear. About 650 posts and going strong.
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PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sat 24 Aug 2024 16:56:20 No. 6087920 Report Quoted By:
That delayed anger returned, subdued, for just a moment. "...the kits went too far. I've not got an inklin' of what'll happen t' them." Cora's sympathies were withheld for just a moment. She said nothing, continuing to pack her bag. "Ah wanted t' object t' his mistreatment, his discountin' of all I've done for you Gulchers," Cora muttered something unintelligible, "but Steele offered me a trip 'n some guarantees of safety. I'll be leavin' with him t'morrow." You felt it right to start packing your own bags. You didn't have much to pack-- hardly anything had left your trunk, you'd been too busy to bother with it for long-- but there was little point in being lazy. Mary trotted into the room after you. Cora only barely hesitated. As you were putting away nutberry basket, a thought occurred to you.>Leave a few nutberries with Cora for the townsfolk to figure out. Whether the sheriff will find and dispose of them is unknown to you as of now, but it'd be better to take the chance than leave the townsfolk completely defenseless. >Focus all your energy on trying to get Cora to come with you. You enjoy her company and might be able to find her some better nursing work in a bigger city like Sacramento. >Try to recruit Cora and leave the nutberries someplace else. Splitting your attention, however, will probably make for a more obvious hiding place and a less convincing argument. >Don't bother with either. Pack up your nutberries, give Cora your regards, and leave.
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PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sat 24 Aug 2024 16:57:54 No. 6087924 Report That delayed anger returned, subdued, for just a moment. "...the kits went too far. I've not got an inklin' of what'll happen t' them." Cora's sympathies were withheld for just a moment. She said nothing, continuing to pack her bag. "Ah wanted t' object t' his mistreatment, his discountin' of all I've done for you Gulchers," Cora muttered something unintelligible, "but Steele offered me a trip 'n some guarantees of safety. I'll be leavin' with him t'morrow." You felt it right to start packing your own bags. You didn't have much to pack-- hardly anything had left your trunk, you'd been too busy to bother with it for long-- but there was little point in being lazy. Mary trotted into the room after you. Cora only barely hesitated. As you were putting away your nutberry basket, an idea came to you.>Leave a few nutberries with Cora for the townsfolk to figure out. Whether the sheriff will find and dispose of them is unknown to you as of now, but it'd be better to take the chance than leave the townsfolk completely defenseless. >Focus all your energy on trying to get Cora to come with you. You enjoy her company and might be able to find her some better nursing work in a bigger city like Sacramento. >Try to recruit Cora and leave the nutberries someplace else. Splitting your attention, however, will probably make for a more obvious hiding place and a less convincing argument. >Don't bother with either. Pack up your nutberries, give Cora your regards, and leave.
Anonymous
>>6087918 >>6087924 >Leave a few nutberries with Cora for the townsfolk to figure out. Whether the sheriff will find and dispose of them is unknown to you as of now, but it'd be better to take the chance than leave the townsfolk completely defenseless. Philanthropy. If not for Cora, at least for Rosetta.
Anonymous
>>6087924 >"but Steele offered me a trip 'n some guarantees of safety. I'll be leavin' with him t'morrow." It's odd that he didn't tell us that Steele offered Cora the same thing, but it seems like Cora plans to go regardless, so no need to convince her to come. Just who is this guy?
Mark Twain? >Leave a few nutberries with Cora for the townsfolk to figure out. Whether the sheriff will find and dispose of them is unknown to you as of now, but it'd be better to take the chance than leave the townsfolk completely defenseless. Let's make sure to leave an ample diversity of nutberries. She's planning on coming at the moment, however, so there's no guarantee this will work. Should we tell her that the sheriff keeps thinking she's a demon?
Anonymous
>>6087924 >Leave a few nutberries with Cora for the townsfolk to figure out. Whether the sheriff will find and dispose of them is unknown to you as of now, but it'd be better to take the chance than leave the townsfolk completely defenseless. I'm not going to ask Cora or anyone else to pack their bags with us and leave the only town they knew to a place that might just be as worse off, if not outright gone entirely. But I also don't want to leave them high and dry to get killed by particularly aggressive pokemon. From what I know from dex entries, the historical interactions between humans and pokemon are what end up giving the latter vicious reputations, like Hydreigon. Shit like that isn't solved by bullets, and it NEVER ends well.
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PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sat 24 Aug 2024 17:33:25 No. 6087965 Report >>6087949 >She's planning on coming at the moment She's in her work attire, what makes you think that? Anonymous
>>6087924 >Leave a few nutberries with Cora for the townsfolk to figure out. Whether the sheriff will find and dispose of them is unknown to you as of now, but it'd be better to take the chance than leave the townsfolk completely defenseless. >Tell Cora to keep one for herself, and let her know about the sheriff testing to see if she was a demon while he was recovering. She should have a backup plan for herself. She did tell you once she was an out-of-towner, so she’ll be blamed before many others if things go wrong. I don’t want to go heavy on convincing her to join, but she treated us well. She’s deserves to know she may get tarred through her association with us (especially if the sheriff takes exception to the nutberries) given she’s not a native and she can decide if and when it makes sense for her to head out. If she decides on it later then we may still be at Sacramento. If it’s still standing.
If she decides to cut and run now, I say we just take the berries with us rather than hide them (option 2). Without someone we trust here to work on figuring them out I’m unsure anyone will even take the risk of angering the sheriff by using them. He was willing to toss us out when we helped save the town, after all. Most people can’t claim that to fight charges of demonic corruption.
>>6087949 The line is worded weird, but I think
"Ah wanted t' object t' his mistreatment, his discountin' of all I've done for you Gulchers," Cora muttered something unintelligible, "but Steele offered me a trip 'n some guarantees of safety. I'll be leavin' with him t'morrow."
was still us talking, Cora only interjected something we couldn’t hear when we said Gulchers. Probably a reminder that she isn’t one of them. Maybe not to the town’s satisfaction, at least.
She’s packing up for something else. Work, maybe? She doesn’t have the sheriff to treat anymore.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6087924 >>Try to recruit Cora and leave the nutberries someplace else. Splitting your attention, however, will probably make for a more obvious hiding place and a less convincing argument. Leaving her here sounds like a bad idea, considering what the sheriff said.
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PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sat 24 Aug 2024 18:29:26 No. 6088029 Report Quoted By:
>>6087989 >"Ah wanted t' object t' his mistreatment, his discountin' of all I've done for you Gulchers," Cora muttered something unintelligible, "but Steele offered me a trip 'n some guarantees of safety. I'll be leavin' with him t'morrow." >was still us talking Correct
>She’s packing up for something else. Work, maybe? Also correct
apologies for the weird wording, proofreading when you're sleepy is a bad idea lol.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6087924 >Don't bother with either. Pack up your nutberries, give Cora your regards, and leave. Anonymous
>>6087949 >>6087965 >>6087989 I understand. Thanks for the clarification.
>Leave a few nutberries with Cora for the townsfolk to figure out. Whether the sheriff will find and dispose of them is unknown to you as of now, but it'd be better to take the chance than leave the townsfolk completely defenseless. >Tell Cora to keep one for herself, and let her know about the sheriff testing to see if she was a demon while he was recovering. She should have a backup plan for herself. She did tell you once she was an out-of-towner, so she’ll be blamed before many others if things go wrong. Supported.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6087924 We’re somewhat tied between
>>6087932 /
>>6087953 and
>>6087989 /
>>6088107 . I know I did vote to leave berries behind, but I feel my write-changes the intent a little much to consolidate.
I’m basically advocating for
>Warn Cora about what you heard, and offer some nutberries. >If she decides to come with us, we don’t hide berries for the town since no one would know what they do. >If she decides to stay, we leave several with her for both herself and the town and explain what they do. It’s basically “option 2, and if it fails then option 1” vote. The fact it’s not trying to hide berries if we succeed at option 2 is the reason it’s not option 3. I don’t want to push her to join us and leave what she knows behind either, just arm her with what we know, give her a backup plan if she stays, and welcome her if she’s afraid of staying.
Note that if Cora joins us I’m not opposed to still leaving some nutberries for Rosie or even the pastor if he seems reasonable enough about the kits after working with them. I just don’t know how that encounter will go yet.
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PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sun 25 Aug 2024 15:03:18 No. 6088671 Report Quoted By:
>>6087932 >>6087949 >>6087953 >>6087989 >>6088107 We'll be leaving a few nutberries for the townsfolk with Cora and warning her about the sheriff.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6087924 >Don't bother with either. Pack up your nutberries, give Cora your regards, and leave. >>Though let Cora know she's welcome, if she wants to come. Anonymous
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6088730 Its the demons, I tell ya!
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sun 25 Aug 2024 18:52:30 No. 6088841 Report "Walter, you forgot some of your... nutberries." Cora hesitated to finish the sentence, the word "I didn't forget anythin'. I want you 'n the Gulch t' have some." The nurse paused her to-and-fro properly, finally looking you in the face. "Why now?" "...self-defense." You looked left and right, confirming that the three of you were alone, then continued. "He doesn't trust you anymore. Not you, not th' town. He told me he'd been testin' t' see if you're a demon while you were healin' him." Cora's face showed immediate recognition, followed by an angry blush. She cursed something under her breath. "I don' trust that the sheriff'll stop at jus' tryin' t' get the kits out of here. I think he wants 'em all gone. That won't leave the local demons feelin' kindly towards the rest'f you, and the only way I've found t' fend them off... has been t' use one of my own." Your eyes drifted to Mary, who seemed to finally be catching onto the fact that something abnormal was happening. Her beady little eyes seemed unable to settle on you or Cora, darting between the rest of the house and your faces. "I don't think there's any guarantee they'll work, or do anythin' right away. Mary's been my only success story so far. But one's better than none, and all'f you'll need t' defend yourselves." The rest of the nutberries went into the trunk with the rest of your things. You already had a pair in your pockets-- you'd made a habit of carrying them around at this point-- that left you with about ten nutberries in your trunk. "Teach the townsfolk when you can, please. Teach your patients too. Let them handle a berry or two an' let them near a nicer creature. The birds didn't take t' them, the fire-breathers're too dang'rous. Just try t' reach out t' what you can." "If it's possible, try t' grow more. I don't know of any more berries than what i've got on hand, and finding more of these's crucial. At the worst'f times, it might mean the diff'rence between humanity's survival and its extinction." Cora seemed unnerved by your tone. It was clear just how deeply you believed what you were saying to her, and she didn't seem to appreciate its implications. Nevertheless, she gave a quiet reply. "...thank you, Walter. For still thinking of this place even as you're gone." She chuckled a little as she stuffed the remaining berries into her work bag and passed you on her way to the door. Before she left, the nurse gave you an uneasy smile and a wave. "Even if the sheriff disagrees, the town's right to call you a hero. Be well, and stay safe." With that, Cora was gone. She'd left a small kit of medical essentials in your trunk. Your bed had a note on it, too... <span class="mu-i">Walter, This bedroll is yours. I'm unsure if you already have one, yet it does me no harm to gift you a spare. Cora Kent</span> It was only when you placed the bedroll upon Mary's neck that she seemed to grasp the magnitude of what was happening. <><><><><>
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PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sun 25 Aug 2024 18:53:31 No. 6088844 Report The church greeted you with quite the surprise. Opening the door to say hello was, instead of the pastor himself, <span class="mu-i">Twig,</span> a paper sticking out of a "shoe" of hers and soon finding its way into your hand. She looked like the child you'd first met in the forest, yet her hair was now "tied" into a long braid and her attire was nearly identical to Rosetta's. You gave the little note a once-over. <span class="mu-i">Hi, wELcomE two cHuRcH</span> It was hard to make out. The letters were very crude, and the note was covered with large splotches of ink, but... the pastor had been teaching them to write? <span class="mu-i">And succeeding?</span> That alone put a smile on your face. Twig made a gesture-- the same one you knew to mean "give"-- and you returned the note to her. She gave you a stiff wave back and walked away from the entrance to let you head down the sparse pew. The creaky floor made sure that the pastor, standing at the end of the room and going over something in one of his many books, heard of your arrival far before you could inform him. "Sheriff! Or," he corrected himself, "<span class="mu-i">former</span> sheriff. What brings you here so earl-ay?" He was in good spirits, his thin lips stretching into a grin as he waited for you to catch up. How did he know about your <span class="mu-i">former</span> status if he didn't already understand why you were here? "Past'r." You looked around for the rest of the pack. Stone was absent, but a kit whom you presumed to be Tree could be seen trying to dust the entrance to the church. "I came t' let you know of my departure." You felt both kits turning their attention to you. The pastor raised a brow. "What, you came here just'ta say you're leavin'?" Was he playing dumb? You clarified. "Yes, leaving town. The <span class="mu-i">real</span> sheriff wants me out." A few yips resounded around the church. The pastor just chuckled. "Ah, what a shame. Ah was just about'ta tell ya about the daemons 'n their progress." He leaned over his stand and extended a hand to you. "Let it be known that I an' th' Lord will see to yer continued acceptance at this here church. Ah can't speak for the rest'a the town," he chuckled again, "but ah can't deny what you've done fer us after bringin' me a handy pair'a servants." You shook his hand back. Your tone was a bit quieter in reply. "I do hope they ain't just servants t' you, past'r." The clergyman grew louder. "Ahaha, oh no! Well-- no, no!" His eyes refocused on you. "Ah can't say, in good faith, that a pair'a daemons is a worthy servant of this Holy place, of course! But they've been very, very helpful once ah wrangled them inta place."
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PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sun 25 Aug 2024 18:54:32 No. 6088845 Report Twig came up to the pastor's side while the man went on. "They've taken very well t' the Lord's tongue. They can't speak it, but they sure can write. More than any daemon ah've ever heard'a could do." He presented another note to you like a proud father showing off his child's first drawing. On it was scribbled a crude ABC, bordered by several scratchy and incomplete paw-marks. "Never have ah been prouder t' be proven wrong, young man." He cleared his throat and made a motion to Twig, prompting her to leave in a rather hasty manner, before his face turned more solemn and he turned back to you. "Now, you'll understand why ah still can't let them near young Rosetta, nor outta mah sight. Today's the first day ah'm allowin' them inta church, even, an' the fact that they aren't burnin' upon its Holy floors is as much a surprise t' me as it is ta you." You feigned agreement. "But with how they've promised an' shown not t' hurt others, how they've helped me when told, how they've taken t' learnin' like a baby does his first suckle on a mother's nip... ah don't think it'll be too long. There'll be no need ta speculate on the state'a the children while yer gone." Except for the one thing you'd neglected to mention. You finally brought yourself to interject. "Pastor, sir, ah feel the need t' mention the danger you and the pack're in." The jolly man paused. "Ha-- what?" "The sheriff doesn't just want me gone, sir. He's of the opinion that this change ain't for the better, an' that the kits are putting you all in danger." A brief silence engulfed the room. Twig stood still, her shoulders cramped, while Tree glanced at you with nothing but nerves in his eyes. "I dunno what'll change his mind, if anythin'. He's not sure who's who, who does what. You best be prepared for some kind'a questionin', or somethin' of a more... violent nature, if it ever comes t' that." The pastor continued to listen as you went on. He rearranged his hands to be on the book, but never took his eyes off of you. "Rosetta has another demon. A scruffy pup, red-nosed, who can fight. She'll be fine. That li'l lizard, too, with a bulb." You turned to look at Tree, then Twig. "You have the kits. They can fight plenty too, though they don' deserve it." Back to the pastor your gaze went. "The rest of the town has nothin'. Ah gave Cora tools t' change that, and instructions too. If you can, get'n touch with her. Give a sermon on them, make some kind'a announcement. Get the word out. Jus' keep the town safe however you can."
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PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sun 25 Aug 2024 18:55:49 No. 6088846 Report You watched pastor's expression harden with your final words. His acknowledgement of your warning was brief, laced with apprehension, and not followed by much more speech from him. You only heard more out of him as you turned to leave. "May the Lord keep you well, old sheriff. Give Steele my regards, and know that ah'll do everything ah can t' keep Rosetta safe." A final nod and wave left you on the church's steps, facing the greying skies alone once more. Mary ran over to greet you, happily bleating something out and nudging your side. <><><><><> Your final night in Shenanigan's Gulch would be spent at the same place you'd arrived. Bessie's Grand Inn had a room open, so you figured you'd book a place there. Cora had to stay overnight at the clinic, anyways-- there was some kind of emergency that you'd occasionally hear the fruits of while strolling down Central Road. Once morning came, you gathered your trunk in the makeshift sling you'd been provided for it and started out of the inn just in time for the church bell to ring. Watching the town crowd around the church entrance reminded you of the day, as did the fresh stocks of news scattered around the general store's stands. Today was your final day here. What would you be doing with it? [Choose two. Write-ins can substitute for one or both, depending on how many actions they suggest.]>Meeting with Steele immediately and setting off as soon as he's ready. It would take you the entire day to walk to the nearest town-- better you leave early than weigh yourself down with sentimentality. >Attending the church sermon to make sure your instructions were heeded appropriately. >Buying up what you could at the general store. Grabbing some canned food, camping supplies, spare newspapers. Steele said he was taking care of this, but you're not sure you want to rely so heavily on him. >Saying your goodbyes to the various townsfolk you'd met through a soapbox speech. >Exploring the local area to make <span class="mu-s">absolute sure</span> that you'd documented everything there was to see in terms of wildlife here. [Which area? The forest? The mountains? The mines? The creek? Clarify.] >Trying to train Mary as much as you can before you leave. You need to make absolute sure that she will heed your commands at a moment's notice, and that she understands those commands accurately. >Write-in.
Anonymous
>>6088841 >>6088844 >>6088845 >>6088846 >Buying up what you could at the general store. Grabbing some canned food, camping supplies, spare newspapers. Steele said he was taking care of this, but you're not sure you want to rely so heavily on him. and then
>Meeting with Steele immediately and setting off as soon as he's ready. It would take you the entire day to walk to the nearest town-- better you leave early than weigh yourself down with sentimentality. Got nothing to say for this one, I just want to hit the road. This town is getting quite old.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6088846 >Attending the church sermon to make sure your instructions were heeded appropriately. >Saying your goodbyes to the various townsfolk you'd met through a soapbox speech. Anonymous
>>6088844 >>6088845 >Opening the door to say hello was, instead of the pastor himself, Twig, a paper sticking out of a "shoe" of hers and soon finding its way into your hand. She looked like the child you'd first met in the forest, yet her hair was now "tied" into a long braid and her attire was nearly identical to Rosetta's. You gave the little note a once-over. >Hi, wELcomE two cHuRcH >He presented another note to you like a proud father showing off his child's first drawing. On it was scribbled a crude ABC, bordered by several scratchy and incomplete paw-marks. "Never have ah been prouder t' be proven wrong, young man." I have to admit, reading this put me in a much better mood today.
>>6088846 >Buying up what you could at the general store. Grabbing some canned food, camping supplies, spare newspapers. Steele said he was taking care of this, but you're not sure you want to rely so heavily on him. We can chat with anyone we've met at our soapbox announcements while doing so, but let's try to keep as low of a profile as possible.
>Meeting with Steele immediately and setting off as soon as he's ready. It would take you the entire day to walk to the nearest town-- better you leave early than weigh yourself down with sentimentality. Best to leave before the sheriff decides to be more "proactive."
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6088877 > I have to admit, reading this put me in a much better mood today. Same here, QM's got a way with the Pokémon characters that makes them delightful to read.
Anonymous
>>6088846 >Attending the church sermon to make sure your instructions were heeded appropriately. >Buying up what you could at the general store. Grabbing some canned food, camping supplies, spare newspapers. Steele said he was taking care of this, but you're not sure you want to rely so heavily on him. Anonymous
>>6088846 >Meeting with Steele immediately and setting off as soon as he's ready. It would take you the entire day to walk to the nearest town-- better you leave early than weigh yourself down with sentimentality. >Buying up what you could at the general store. Grabbing some canned food, camping supplies, spare newspapers. Steele said he was taking care of this, but you're not sure you want to rely so heavily on him. This seems like the most responsible options. I don't know when or if we can go back, and there simply isn't any time to dawdle with the sheriff breathing down our neck.
Anonymous
>>6088846 >Buying up what you could at the general store. Grabbing some canned food, camping supplies, spare newspapers. Steele said he was taking care of this, but you're not sure you want to rely so heavily on him. >Meeting with Steele immediately and setting off as soon as he's ready. It would take you the entire day to walk to the nearest town-- better you leave early than weigh yourself down with sentimentality. Anonymous
>>6088846 >Trying to train Mary as much as you can before you leave. You need to make absolute sure that she will heed your commands at a moment's notice, and that she understands those commands accurately. >Saying your goodbyes to the various townsfolk you'd met through a soapbox speech. I trust steele and the pastor, but we should make it clear that these partings are not of our own volition. As much as I don't want to cause a schism in town I know that it's going to form naturally over time, so better people get the message quick. The sooner we train Mary up the sooner we can tame ourselves more pals!
Anonymous
>>6089045 >The sooner we train Mary up the sooner we can tame ourselves more pals! Which pals would you like Waltur to make?
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6089073 One that we can realistically find in the NoCal environment, that is.
Anonymous
I hope these guys aren't cropping up in Cali.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6089094 Oh god, they probably are. Though maybe only they prevo for now?
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Mon 26 Aug 2024 13:47:19 No. 6089465 Report Quoted By:
>>6088859 >>6088877 >>6088943 >>6089011 >>6089043 Alright, this one's pretty unanimous too. We'll be leaving asap.
I'll leave the vote open for a bit longer because I have some stuff to attend to before I write, but for now it's settled on this.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Mon 26 Aug 2024 17:08:55 No. 6089558 Report Preparing. Yeah, that's what you'd be doing. You'd handled all your goodbyes yesterday and making yourself so known to the town after the sheriff's temper tantrum was a bad idea. It was best to just pack up and meet with Steele, you figured. So the day went. You swung by Simpson and Dudley's for the last time, making brief conversation with the cashier as you stocked up on basic camping supplies and wished him well, dropped by Nano-Bites for lunch to keep your camping stock intact, watched as the town poured out of the church with a mixture of confusion and energetic conversation... "Walter, my young fellow! I'm pleased to see you!" Steele stole your attention, heading down Central Road with a plethora of supplies underneath one of his arms. Behind his back was a sling holding a trunk about half the size of yours, with the bushy business(?)man carrying it approaching in great spirits. "I see you've brought your bovine beneficiary as well," he motioned to your loyal companion, "and some extra supplies." The two of you started walking towards the outskirts. "Ah wouldn't leave without her. It'd be a crime," you chuckled. The sheep seemed unaware of your compliment, her expression more concerned than anything, as she strutted alongside you. "Yes, yes, well, I wasn't sure if she'd object like those other demons do. I've not seen one follow a boy like you, you know that!" Steele sifted through his mustache as he spoke. "Now-- the sun has hardly set, boy. You're certain you want to leave this early? You haven't any unfinished affairs in need of a neatly-wrapped bow?" "No, none come t' mind." You glanced at the decrepit train as the pair of you passed it. Steele met your gaze for a moment, tracing your eyes to the wreck... before quickly looking someplace else. "Ah, good, good! We'll set off now, then, yes?" Pulling your eyes away from the train, and Cora's house, forced a nod in Steele's direction. The aged man lit up once more. "Brilliant!" Steele spun on his heel for just a moment, giving the town a wave, quipping goodbyes and making a joke you didn't get the punchline of. And, with that, the pair of you left Shenanigan's Gulch behind to pursue a new future. <><><><><>
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Mon 26 Aug 2024 17:09:56 No. 6089560 Report You and Steele saw fit to follow the Sacramento River on your way to Redding. That kept you on track, after all, and provided a surprising amount of space between you and the murky woods you'd failed to research but a week beforehand. Mary remained quiet throughout most of the trip, most of her emotion being relegated to the occasional worried stare at you or glance to some movement in the river. It was rather dismaying to note that most of the fish from the creek carried over to the Sacramento River, and none were very new. <span class="mu-i">Pinnascis Carunbulus, Oncorhynchus Tshawytscha, Inscis Rebrectus...</span> you'd seen all this before. The forest seemed ever-so-tempting to the naturalist mind in comparison, and you sometimes found yourself theorizing whether it was <span class="mu-i">really</span> such a bad idea to take some detours into there when you were feeling particularly peckish for knowledge. The skies on your trip were far more curious. The Stars of Death that plagued Shenanigan's Gulch seemed near nonexistent once you'd left the mountains, replaced instead by peculiar-looking starling with a lilting cry and some kind of feathered neck ruff. During the night, most of these birds would disappear to be replaced by what looked to be some kind of living dust bunny made of blue dirt. The only features you could make out against the dark-blue sky were a pair of wings and some kind of round protrusion from what you assumed to be the creature's front. Both avians never seemed to descend, with most of the starlings disappearing into treetops and the dust bunnies instead choosing to make themselves anonymous amongst a swarm of their own. By the time crickets began chirping, both you and Steele felt it pertinent to settle down and try to camp. <span class="mu-i">Where,</span> exactly, was unsure. You thanked God for an uneventful first day, yet camping where you'd walked would leave you very vulnerable. Open skies nearest a river with rowdy fish, right next to a forest you had already experienced danger in, with your north and south being appended by different, dangerous mountains. The farm's threats were predictable, understandable. You could easily ward off a wolf or a coyote with any old gun. Bugs and crazy livestock were no issue if you had a roof over your head or even just some fencing to sleep in. But this? Being so exposed to the elements that your very bed was nearer to the earth than anything manmade? You had to admit-- that had never been your strong suit. Part of you longed for your oldest brother's companionship. His penchant for such outdoorsy activites would have served you well here, as would being near someone with whom you shared flesh and blood.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Mon 26 Aug 2024 17:11:01 No. 6089561 Report Steele's speech snapped you out of such wanting. "We'll camp here, Buchanan, and be safe among the taller grass. Should a demon attempt to attack us, your sheep can simply fend it off." A makeshift tent was stuffed underneath his arm, the man clearly already settled on his course of action.>Argue that someplace nearer to the forest would be a better place to sleep. You're aware that it's dangerous, but even the backing of tree bark and the shelter of tree leaves would be better than absolutely nothing. >Agree, but only on the condition that Mary not do all the defending. Try to make fortifications around your tent instead of depriving your friend of sleep. >Insist that you keep pushing forward until you find someplace better to camp. Night has only just fallen, after all-- you'll probably have a few more hours until sleep becomes unavoidable.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Mon 26 Aug 2024 17:13:55 No. 6089566 Report Quoted By:
(Bonus meta thing: I made a pastebin!
>https://pastebin.com/FM2wawpk It's just to keep track of inventory and traveling companions atm. Not sure if I'll go any further than that with this doc, but I'll definitely be updating it as I go along and it'll probably be in thread 2's OP.)
Anonymous
>>6089558 >>6089560 >>6089561 >Agree, but only on the condition that Mary not do all the defending. Try to make fortifications around your tent instead of depriving your friend of sleep. Feels like the best thing to do now. Walking in the dark is not a bright idea (sorry for that one) and moving closer to the forest which had a Teddiursa whale on us before is not the best course of action either.
Anonymous
>>6089561 >Agree, but only on the condition that Mary not do all the defending. Try to make fortifications around your tent instead of depriving your friend of sleep. Anonymous
>>6089561 >Agree, but only on the condition that Mary not do all the defending. Try to make fortifications around your tent instead of depriving your friend of sleep. Camping in tall grass in Pokémon territory, what could possibly go wrong?
Captcha is 4AVGAY
I guess I’m 4ava gay
Anonymous
>>6089561 >Pull out your map and see if you can locate where you are. Perhaps there’s a better geographical feature or rest stop nearby you can use. I’d suggest a small river bend myself. Less likely for anything to cross it quietly.
Why yes, I did use the pastebin to see we had a map. If nothing jumps out at us,
>Agree, but only on the condition that Mary not do all the defending. Try to make fortifications around your tent instead of depriving your friend of sleep. If there’s any questions about it, we can dryly point out there’s a reason we never patrolled the town all through the night. It’s generally not good for getting through the next day.
We can attempt shift watches and wake the others when needed.
Anonymous
Anonymous
D. Spenser
PoképocalypseQM (on mobile and very tired)
PoképocalypseQM (on mobile and very tired) ID:fikORCBP Tue 27 Aug 2024 11:11:24 No. 6090272 Report Quoted By:
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Tue 27 Aug 2024 22:31:26 No. 6090624 Report "Sounds like a plan." You gave Steele a firm nod before picking up on the last sentence. "But Mary's staying asleep. I don't see why she's entitled t' any less rest than us." Steele moved to object, but you continued. "I'll just build us a fence 'r two. Should do us nicely for now." <><><><><> You drew a hand across your sweaty forehead, proud of your work, finally free to relax as the final stake was laid in the dirt surrounding your camp. A spiky circle of logs pointed outward in a circle, their small branches and bits of bark providing extra protection against any foes who tried to climb the fence. It was a shame that you couldn't find enough logs to close any of the substantial gaps between your spikes, but you figured that the stacks of rocks substituted just fine. It'd take quite the effort to knock those over, as it did to bring them to the area in the first place, and they would give you more than enough forewarning if anyone tried. The fence wasn't stellar-- hell, you could see a few glaring flaws already-- but it'd do for one night. As much as you didn't want Steele to be right on this front, Mary would help compensate for any of the fence's flaws if you needed help. Steele noticed your pause and motioned for you by your small campfire where he'd been joined by Mary and, after a brief glance around to make sure that the three of you weren't being watched, you joined him. "At last, the palisade stands! Good job, young man." Steele gave you a hefty slap on the back and smiled. His hand was a lot heavier than you'd expected it to be and it took some genuine effort not to cough under its weight. Mary seemed mildly alarmed at the action but calmed down when you showed no explicit sign of pain. "Now, have you any dinner for the pair of us?" His question was promptly answered with a meal in his lap. "How very considerate of you! I hadn't expected an entire sandwich tonight!" It was a good thing his tone was so overtly enthusiastic. Had that come out of someone else's mouth you'd have been offended. You rubbed your nose and took the first bite of your legume-laden concoction. "It's just beans 'n bread, Steele. Not hard t' make." "Don't downplay yourself lad! You put in effort to make our night a safe one, and I want to admire the perserverance that took." Steele chomped down on his own sandwich, splattering bean water across his mustache and partly on his suit. He wasted no time in taking a handkerchief to the suit but seemed unfazed by the mustache. A glance up and down Steele's quickly-staining attire left you with a question. "May I ask-- why're you wearin' a suit for a trip like this? For dinner, too? We haven't got any washin' stuff for it out here."
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Tue 27 Aug 2024 22:32:27 No. 6090626 Report Your answer came packaged with a great guffaw. "Walter! You speak like you would wear anything else if you could! I wear this suit because I like it and because I can, Walter. I have the money to replace it should it truly become tarnished beyond repair, but I have yet to require such a service." He motioned to your button-up shirt. "I don't presume you are wearing long sleeves and buttons because it fits the occasion." You glanced where he was looking. "...no, not really." His point made, Steele went on with bravado. "Exactly! So, I wear my suit! And you wear your shirt." He took another big bite of his sandwich, then another, and another... before you'd even had half of yours, Steele's entire dinner was finished. "I must thank you once again, Walter! This sandwich was a truly marvelous end to my day." Your mild acknowledgement seemed to bolster his attempts to flatter even further. "Don't be modest, now. I wouldn't have even considered making one, nor putting up a fence like this." He motioned around to your defenses. "I feel it fair to show my appreciation for such niceties." The fire began to peter out. You motioned to Mary to shock it once more, forcing the flame to flare up and cough a factory's worth of smoke westward. The sheep hardly appreciated such a gesture and made her opposition known, much to the amusement of both you and Steele. Once you'd finished your dinner and wrapped your sack once more, you shuffled over to the jolly businessman by your side and decided to orient yourselves with the map you'd managed to pick up with the final food carriage at Shenanigan's Gulch. Mary's softly-lit wool made sure you could see even as the campfire petered out and the sky became truly darkened. "I see... we've gone so far already?" "From what ah understand, yes. The forest is off that way an' I can see the creek this map's pointin' me to way over there." You pointed towards a branch of the Sacramento River now splitting off into the distance. "See here? That's s'pposed t' be Squaw Creek, if ah've got it right." Steele brought a finger to his squared chin. "If you do indeed. I'll have to trust you on that." More discussion on moving forward ensued. The pair of you agreed that following the river remained a sound plan after seeing how far south it extended, with a few stops on the way in places like Redding and Marysville providing supplies and rest, and that the two of you should spend no longer than a weekend at any given stop lest you become complacent. <><><><><>
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Tue 27 Aug 2024 22:33:28 No. 6090628 Report However, now that you were tucked into your bedroll, complacency was the only thing you could think about. The chilly winds of nighttime made the tough night even tougher. Every sense of yours was on such high alert that you had taken to counting stars as distraction. Sheep were out of the question now that you had the constant snoring of your own electric variant nearby. The sky was as unfamiliar as the long grass your thin sleeping arrangements sat upon. All the constellations your father had taught you were either out of place or absent entirely. The birds you <span class="mu-i">did</span> see so late at night were just as alien, with the flying dust bunnies from before helping nothing. It was no surprise, then, that when you heard a <span class="mu-i">THUNK</span> from behind you, you were up in mere moments. Something had knocked over a rock. Something that you could no longer see. You glanced over to Mary. Sound asleep... and untouched. Your bag was next. Also unscathed. Steele's face was covered by the pompom on his nightcap but you could tell he was alright... <span class="mu-i">There!</span> Completely reversing your position forced your sight onto a large... wolf? Hyena? <span class="mu-i">Canine</span> creature with your rucksack halfway in its jaw. The evil thing seemed shocked that you'd noticed it, yet kept its cool. It didn't approach nor flee. It met your eyes with its own, piercing into you with a face framed by two enormous locks of dark hair cascading down its cheeks and a similarly-dark tail raised far above its forehead. [Choose one.]>Wake Mary up right now and ready her for battle. The creature hasn't shown aggression yet, but you NEED that rucksack back. >Grab one of the rocks it knocked over and throw it at the thing yourself. There's no need to get the sheep involved. >Take one of the twigs from the dead campfire and see if it likes playing fetch more than it likes stealing your food. >Pull out a nutberry and offer it. That might prompt it to drop the sack... >Write-in
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6090624 >>6090626 >>6090628 >Take one of the twigs from the dead campfire and see if it likes playing fetch more than it likes stealing your food. It remains a dog in some ways, right? Anyway, if this doesnt work,
>Wake Mary up right now and ready her for battle. The creature hasn't shown aggression yet, but you NEED that rucksack back. Anonymous
>>6090628 >pull out a nutberry and offer it. That might prompt it to drop the sack... Wild dogs are more likely to consider food than playing fetch with a stranger.
I agree with waking Mary up if it doesn't work.
Anonymous
>>6090628 >Grab one of the rocks while maintaining eye contact, then point at the pack with your other hand followed by the ground. If it listens, perhaps you can direct it away from the pack and give it a little food before giving it a berry. It should be smart enough to figure out what we mean.
I don’t know which pokemon this is so I don’t know if we’d want to tame it (we can drop the nutberry, basically) but I’d like to deal with this peacefully if possible. I just don’t want to give it an opportunity to decide we’re an easy mark and steal our pack.
Anonymous
>>6090646 It's canid so we can assume it's not alone, and we already know how smart those are without also being a xenozoo.
Anonymous
Steele is cheery. Too cheery...
>>6090628 >Pull out a nutberry and offer it. That might prompt it to drop the sack... That thing is a Mightyena. It's an evolution above Mareep and would tear Mary apart in a direct confrontation. Out first priority is getting it to open its mouth to quickly snatch the sack.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6090752 >pointing that out C'mon, man. There are plenty of non-meta reasons to a nonviilent first contact.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6090649 >not being a Xenozoo I read that as discouraging us from trying to befriend this one, but your vote is for the nutberry so I’m wrong on that. Not sure what you mean then.
Good call on it traveling in a pack since it’s a canine of some stripe. That gives more incentive to wake Mary, but I want to avoid panicked, sudden moves above all else. It hasn’t shown any behavior suggesting it’s aggressive or scared so it’s clearly waiting on our response.
As long as we remain calm while facing it down I’m hopeful we can make it think we’re not worth the trouble. We have our own “pack” here and even if it could win/get away our attitude can suggest that it’d get injured doing so. That could very well be a death sentence near the forest.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
Oh shit, is that Absol? That's... A bad omen, right? They appear to warn people of imminent disaster.
>>6090752 Almost as bad... Hm.
>>6090628 >Wake Mary up right now and ready her for battle. The creature hasn't shown aggression yet, but you NEED that rucksack back. >Grab one of the rocks it knocked over while you raise teh alarm. PoképocalypseQM (on mobile and very tired)
PoképocalypseQM (on mobile and very tired) ID:fikORCBP Wed 28 Aug 2024 12:28:14 No. 6091138 Report Quoted By:
I’m gonna let this vote run a little longer because the current tie is mutually exclusive. Really not sure how I’m supposed to write up something where Walter simultaneously tries to threaten and bribe an intruder. I’ll post much later as well just due to business, but I’ll get something out for sure.
D. Spenser
>>6090628 >>Pull out a nutberry and offer it. That might prompt it to drop the sack... Mightyena is beyond us for right now.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Wed 28 Aug 2024 23:35:00 No. 6091440 Report Quoted By:
Rolled 150 (1d255) >>6090641 >>6090752 >>6091341 Alright, thank you Spenser for the tiebreaker! We're offering a nutberry.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Thu 29 Aug 2024 01:10:43 No. 6091484 Report You needed that sack back. It was far too late to fiddle with this, to try and go through some kind of diplomacy or fight, so you just reached a hand into your deep pockets and pulled out the one type of diplomacy you knew worked on these beasts. Your heart beat out of your chest as the lumbering canine snuck closer, its grip as solid on the sack as it had been before, drool slowly sliding out of its jaw as it sniffed the berry... ...before it turned around, its tail brushing past your face (yet, oddly, not feeling like more than a slight breeze to the touch), and instead decided to sniff around Mary. The slumbering sheep most certainly did not appreciate such a gesture-- that much was made clear by the subsequent shocking of the stranger, its fur unresponsive yet its movements very well indicating that it'd been stiffened almost entirely. Its eyes drifted to you with an odd sort of expression. A request for help? Fear? Confusion? The sack remained in its jaw. You approached, slowly, carefully... reaching out a hand... watching the wolf, with great strength, lower its head as your hand approached. The nutberry remained in your palm, the sack in the creature's jaw, your companions still asleep. Hm.>Throw your nutberry like you would've thrown the stick. It responded to it well enough that it might drop the sack to chase after it. >Throw the nutberry like you would've thrown the rock. There's no way it'll be able to attack you if it's this numb... but it'll definitely be able to drop that sack as long as you aim for the jaw. >Pull out the notebook and start sketching, brainstorming, writing. If it's sat there barely able to move, you'll be able to get a bunch of easy measurements and study it up-close without interruption. It'll be especially easy with the other two asleep and, given this creature's size, you doubt you'll get this opportunity again anytime soon. >Try to gently take the sack from it directly by mouth. You'd have to get really close to Mary and risk both waking her up and dealing with a questionable response from the creature simultaneously. [Roll 1d100, Bo3] >Pet the creature and see if it responds to touch well enough to comply when it's in a weakened state. >Write-in.
Anonymous
Rolled 83 (1d100) >>6091484 >Try to gently take the sack from it directly by mouth. You'd have to get really close to Mary and risk both waking her up and dealing with a questionable response from the creature simultaneously. [Roll 1d100, Bo3] I think we can trade with this beast.
Anonymous
Anonymous
Quoted By:
Rolled 19 (1d100) >>6091484 >Try to gently take the sack from it directly by mouth. You'd have to get really close to Mary and risk both waking her up and dealing with a questionable response from the creature simultaneously. [Roll 1d100, Bo3] Anonymous
Rolled 87 (1d100) >>6091484 >Try to gently take the sack from it directly by mouth. You'd have to get really close to Mary and risk both waking her up and dealing with a questionable response from the creature simultaneously. [Roll 1d100, Bo3] Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6091484 >Try to gently take the sack from it directly by mouth. You'd have to get really close to Mary and risk both waking her up and dealing with a questionable response from the creature simultaneously. [Roll 1d100, Bo3] >>6091516 Nice.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6091484 >Try to gently take the sack from it directly by mouth. You'd have to get really close to Mary and risk both waking her up and dealing with a questionable response from the creature simultaneously. [Roll 1d100, Bo3] I'm really tempted to sketch it. or slug it one, but then again... If it's looking to us for help, maybe it's smarter and more receptive to our overtures than I'm giving it credit for?
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Thu 29 Aug 2024 19:45:52 No. 6092126 Report Quoted By:
>>6091516 Clears the DC by a mile. We're snagging that bag!
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Thu 29 Aug 2024 22:56:34 No. 6092259 Report >87 Caution followed every step you made towards the creature. The sound of the dry dirt and crinkling grass beneath your shoes sounded louder than it ever had... but the closer you got, the less danger you felt. The sack thief had yet to move from its previous position. Every movement it made seemed to have clear effort behind it; enough to instill confidence that it wouldn't be going anywhere anytime soon. It was little surprise, then, that it showed minimal resistance to your attempt at stealing the sack back. Sure, it nipped and growled, but that growl definitely wasn't frightening enough to deter you. It was about as terrifying as a yelp from one of the kits back at the Gulch, with the frustrated gekkering that followed being about as reminiscent. Nevertheless, your sack was safe and sound. Opening it up revealed a wonderful yet obvious truth: all of your food was plenty intact. Even the softer fruits that you'd packed near the top seemed safe from any bruising. Huzzah! You glanced behind you. Mary was still asleep. Hovering your palm over her wool left your hairs standing on end. Best not to touch it for sure... A shuffle back to where your bed lay gave you enough space to shut your sack and start searching for your notebook. No matter what the demon had tried to do to your stuff, you weren't going to pass up an opportunity to study something you'd never seen before so closely. Within mere minutes nearly half your page had been filled up. An enormous sketch of the creature was the first thing to be recorded, of course, with description of basic features to follow. You inched closer to the stranger, your eyes wide and detailing every bit of minutia. <span class="mu-i">Long black fur, in twain, akin to a pair of tails.</span> Its gekkering grew louder. A pause was given after the new volume, but swiftly abandoned once you caught sight of the dark markings on its legs. Boots! Dark boots! On grey, no less... <span class="mu-i">socks marked similarly to</span> Obscurnus Catulus, <span class="mu-i">possible relation?</span> It'd have to be a pretty distant relative, that was for sure, but there was no harm in entertaining the idea. Ears <span class="mu-i">like a gargoyle's, pointed skyward, red interior...</span> the shade of red interested you, its prevalence among the inner-ear's flesh being particularly absurd-- <span class="mu-i">warning sign? Sickness?</span> You reached out a hand--
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Thu 29 Aug 2024 22:57:34 No. 6092260 Report The stranger yowled, its sounds now loud enough to attract attention, its body succuming to a sudden burst of life forcing it to jump away from your palm and gape its mouth wide open. You heard Steele stir far to your right. Mary had already risen, the groggy sheep now trotting over to your right side. This newcomer was starting to cause problems. Your studies would have to wait. A sigh escaped you as you rose to your feet and...>...turned to Mary for help. [Write-in what you want her to do.] >...started making loud sounds and waving your arms to try and scare it off. >...jumped at the intruder, aiming not to catch it but just to spook it into running like it had when you'd extended a hand. >...left the thing alone and went to make sure Steele was still asleep. Maybe if you left it alone it'd quiet down? >...stuffed a spare newspaper in its mouth. If it still made a sound through that, you'd be impressed. >Write-in.
Anonymous
>>6092259 >>6092260 >...stuffed a spare newspaper in its mouth. If it still made a sound through that, you'd be impressed. Let Steele sleep >:(
Anonymous
>>6092260 >...stuffed a spare newspaper in its mouth. If it still made a sound through that, you'd be impressed. Though we could allow give it food. Either way, it should be too confused to make a fuss.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6092260 >...left the thing alone and went to make sure Steele was still asleep. Maybe if you left it alone it'd quiet down? It's clear that we've violated their personal space.
I doubt Mary could convey that we are friendly but it would be nice to try in the meantime.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6092260 >...left the thing alone and went to make sure Steele was still asleep. Maybe if you left it alone it'd quiet down? Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6092260 >...left the thing alone and went to make sure Steele was still asleep. Maybe if you left it alone it'd quiet down? >...turned to Mary for help. [Write-in what you want her to do.] Watch our back, sheep-friend.
Anonymous
>>6092260 >...stuffed a spare newspaper in its mouth. If it still made a sound through that, you'd be impressed. >inb4 it already knows howl I wonder if regional variant Pokémon are a thing? This poochy's got red ears where typically they got black. Unless of course this isn't poochyena and I am a fool.
Anonymous
>>6092936 I doubt its even a Mightyena at all. The red ears already had me confused because Mightyena noticeably doesn't have those; now that I have more time, I also looked up what gekkering meant (I assumed it was a hyena sound but it was a fox cry instead) and am getting the idea that this is not a Mightyena at all.
Anonymous
>>6093070 Also, do note I say Mightyena here because the post specified long fur, which is something exclusive to Mightyena and wouldn't really make sense in a description of a regular Poochyena.
Anonymous
>>6092936 >>6093070 >>6093072 I’d just like tot ale a second to congratulate QM on generating this conversation.
It would be so easy for us to metagame just by knowing what Pokémon we were dealing with. But he (she?) wrote this quest in a way so we know just as much as Walter.
Zoroark was kind of easy to pick out but that’s only because of the unique effect. We had like three different contenders for what the “metal eaters” were before QM put up a picture of Arron.
And now we’re sent into wild speculation just through the description of a black dog. Bravo, QM. Bravo.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Fri 30 Aug 2024 23:44:46 No. 6093165 Report >>6092272 >>6092357 >>6092936 Wow, the meme option won? Lmao, writing.
Glad people are picking up on some discrepancies in the meantime. Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6093113 Yeah, I was a little worried about it, but the way the story is written you have to a real pokemon nerd to figure out exact identities. Maybe its a houndour?
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sat 31 Aug 2024 00:26:17 No. 6093182 Report Rolled 42 (1d150) >>6093165 I forgot to roll, silly me
Anonymous
>>6093165 >>6093182 Didn't the fourth option get the same amount of votes?
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sat 31 Aug 2024 00:51:10 No. 6093190 Report Quoted By:
>>6093184 Yes, but I didn't have much to say on the matter
and forgot to tag all those posts . I'm incorporating both into the write-up, kinda.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sat 31 Aug 2024 00:54:53 No. 6093192 Report ...stuffed a spare newspaper in its mouth and left it alone to make sure that Steele was still well. The creature seemed to jolt as you fashioned some of your newspaper clippings into a big fat wad that promptly clogged its mouth far too much to let it keep yapping. A quick check confirmed, too, that Steele had somehow managed to sleep through this entire ordeal. Mission accomplished! ... Questions plagued your drowsy mind as you found yourself once more sitting and studying the thing. Mary rubbed your arm and gave a whining bleat, clearly longing for some attention, and as you scratched her behind the horns you couldn't help but wonder... <><><><><> The night passed with no further incident. You'd only realized as much when you came to, much later, with your head on your notepad and a sleepy sheep resting her cranium upon your calves. In front of you lay a torn ball of newspaper clippings, held together with wayward strands of spit, covered in black and red hairs that you hadn't seen since you'd visited the church. Huh... You were snapped out of your groggy awakening with a brief panic. Backwards, forwards, to the sides-- oh, phew. You'd left the rucksack underneath your notebook, safe and sound. "It's about time you got up!" Steele's jolly roar caught your attention. You were soon joined by the man, a smile on his face as always, with him offering you a hand and continuing his greetings. "You've been asleep for much longer than I would have figured a sprightly figure like you would need. Your sheep, too." He continued going on about how the pair of you were full of energy while you took a look around the campsite. There'd been some kind of skirmish, you assumed, judging from the small pile of red and black fur not too far off from Mary's sleeping body. More red and black fur could be seen strewn about on the way out of the campsite, disappearing into the tall grass. Looking to your stalwart companion showed you a scab on her cheek from some kind of sharp object-- whether it was a tooth or a claw you couldn't tell, and it was hardly deep enough to warrant much attention beyond the bare minimum (which you swiftly provided her). The campsite itself was almost entirely bereft of identifiers by now. "I took the liberty of packing up for us. I felt that it was the least I could offer you after you fortified such a large area for us." You gave your thanks to Steele and soon began devising ways to carefully and peacefully pry Mary off of your legs. Some fiddling with pillows later found the sheep awake and well, rising from her four legs as you did your two, giving a happy bleat to you and Steele accompanied by a light stamping of her hooves. The sheep lit you another campfire in the ruins of your sleeping area at your command so that you could cook breakfast, and once the three of you had eaten heartily you found yourself ready to hit the road. <><><><><>
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sat 31 Aug 2024 00:57:09 No. 6093193 Report Your route to Redding the day before had been easygoing, but today was a real challenge. Soon after you'd set off, the three of you were faced with a thin trail through several mountains as your only way forward. The area didn't seem to be so deadly until you took note of just how tall the grass had become. It became difficult to see Steele at some points, with even Mary getting lost on occasion, and you were soon forced to walk on tip-toes to make sure that you could see <span class="mu-i">anything.</span> "Walter? Walter, boy, are you around?" A faint voice called from someplace in the sea of grass. A faint bleat accompanied another, followed by something running into your calf and quickly raising an electrified tail to deal with... something. Something that you most certainly saw by the time you could make out that Mary had rejoined you. Three piercing yellow eyes could be seen through the tall grass, glaring at your friend. A fourth pair, blue in color, could be seen to the left. It was looking more at you than at Mary... but you were too busy being distracted by the middle pair's odd twitching to focus on that. A low growl resounded through the tiny patch of tall grass the pair of you now occupied. Whatever Mary had done to anger these strangers, you didn't know... but now you had to deal with it. How would you go about that?>By making noise! Call out for Steele. Pretend to bark. Be as intimidating or confusing as you can to try and get back on your intended route as soon as possible without issue. >By battling! If Mary could take down so many Stars of Death, she'd have no issue with a very small pack of angry canines. Especially not with an ally like you by her side. >By running! You're only a coward when it makes strategic sense, and a 2v3 (or 4) matchup seems like a pretty valid excuse for a "tactical retreat". Besides, you had someplace more important to be!
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sat 31 Aug 2024 00:59:50 No. 6093194 Report Happy 50 story posts, everyone! The thread's going to hit the bump limit soon so I'm already making prep for the second one, even if the board seems slow enough for that not to be a necessity until maybe half a week from now.
I'll link the pastebin (
https://pastebin.com/FM2wawpk ) yet again since the date's been updated, and I hope you've been enjoying things so far. We'll definitely be at Redding by the end of the thread and I'm having a blast writing this so I'm very excited for the future. Thank you all for reading my dumb passion project. :)
Anonymous
>>6093193 >By making noise! Call out for Steele. Pretend to bark. Be as intimidating or confusing as you can to try and get back on your intended route as soon as possible without issue. We wouldn't know exactly what we're fighting, and we certainly don't want to run in tall grass.
>>6093194 Thank you for delivering something so engaging and creative. It's a delight to see this updated.
Anonymous
>>6093192 >>6093193 >By making noise! Call out for Steele. Pretend to bark. Be as intimidating or confusing as you can to try and get back on your intended route as soon as possible without issue. No idea what this is, but I don't think Mary wins a 3v1 without some scars we cannot treat over here.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6093194 Time flies when you're having fun.
Anonymous
>>6093193 >By making noise! Call out for Steele. Pretend to bark. Be as intimidating or confusing as you can to try and get back on your intended route as soon as possible without issue. So what are you guys thinking, We want to be the first poké-rangers? First champ?
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sat 31 Aug 2024 20:02:48 No. 6093733 Report Quoted By:
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sat 31 Aug 2024 22:19:15 No. 6093863 Report By making a lot of noise! Without any warning, you began hooting and hollering like someone had just won a super close sports match. You cupped your hands around your mouth, began backing away, and prompted Mary to follow you. The sound startled the assailants for some time. You saw the blue pair of eyes vanish entirely into the grass, supposedly scared away by your random outburst, and the yellow pairs were soon directing themselves at each other as opposed to you... "THOMAS J. STEELE! THOMAS J. STEELE?" You interrupted your own incoherence to yell out for your companion. A faint shout back followed. You couldn't make out the words. Soon enough, however, you saw a top hat sticking out of the tall grass and headed your way. Mary made sure to cover your front as you backed further and further away, trying to stick to the route you'd been going down earlier-- A sharp bleat cut through the cacophany. You didn't understand what it was for until you could feel blood already trickling down your leg. A small dog, not unlike Berry, had sunken its teeth <span class="mu-i">firmly</span> into your left calf. Mary slammed into its side soon after, her horns aglow and her movements weighty, but her strong tackle led to a sizeable streak of pain across that calf and an enormous hole on your left pant leg. It was only after you'd forced yourself to keep your eyes on the confrontation that you saw the dark-booted dog on the ground, its claws dug into dirt, its fur twitching and its eyes glaring-- "Hello!!!" <span class="mu-i"><span class="mu-s">WHAM.</span></span> Another one of the dogs went flying. Steele could be seen where it once was, his traveling trunk stained with spit, watching as the enemy was flung back into the grass. A snarl brought him around to your side, the tall-hatted traveler turning 'round to see the snarling pooch you'd been dealing with before, his eyes briefly glazing it over as he instead forced his focus onto you. "Walter! You called?" A hint of nerves crept into his tone. You gave the man a confident nod, yet they remained. "I'll do my best to help you, young man, but I haven't got more than this case to fight with! Nor am I any kind of fighting talent!" The final pair of yellow eyes had crept out of the creepy grass, its expression a mixture of fear and hatred, the canine's disdain now focusing on your sheepy companion, its fur on end as Mary's tail let off a bright glow. She bent down and stamped a hoof-- only for Steele to catch your attention, the man having narrowly blocked a bite from the injured dog from before, his trunk now acting as a shield-- Your leg bled and bled. You had no choice but to wrap it up mid-battle, leaving Steele to do some defending, tying the wound with gauze and tightening as best you could without a tourniquet. The <span class="mu-i">minute</span> the gauze held, you repositioned your own trunk and went to help your human friend. You were about to mimic Steele's defensive maneuver, to position your trunk as a shield that you could bash, to fight back--
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sat 31 Aug 2024 22:20:15 No. 6093865 Report <span class="mu-i"><span class="mu-s">BZZ-AP</span></span> A loud <span class="mu-i">crack</span> followed the noise. A sizzle could be heard next. Mary stood victorious, her houndly foe on the ground, defeated. It was clearly not dead... but it was most certainly incapacitated. You couldn't help but cheer her on. The celebration, however, was cut short. "Buchanan!!" A <span class="mu-i">thud</span> to your left. Steele had been pushed back into the dirt, with the single remaining hound <span class="mu-i">still</span> fighting him and desperately trying to scramble up his smooth leather trunk to scratch at Steele directly. Steele thrust his shield forward as the hound tried, throwing the dog back into the tall grass (which, almost thankfully, had cushioned its blow). Your only remaining assailant was left in such a state upon returning to the battlefield that you felt a single touch would've knocked it unconscious. Mary, her solo work done, trotted over to the pair of you and joined Steele on his left to make a sort of wall in the grass. All of you now had the hound cornered. There was a tense silence as the mangled mutt glared at you with pure hatred. It didn't seem able to stand still. It was twitching, growling, snorting like an enraged bull. A pang of regret plucked at your heartstrings as you watched the rabid demon grip the dirt like it was holding on for dear life... only for that regret to fade into cautious confusion. In the multiple weeks you'd spent at Shenanigan's Gulch, studying its habitats and the species within them, you had yet to see a single demon exhibit bioluminescence. Despite that, you couldn't help but swear that this one seemed to be glowing.>It could be some kind of last-ditch attack. Command Mary to down it while it's vulnerable and get this over with. >Back away so that you can't see it and it can't see you, then return once you're sure it's safe. Part of you won't let you flee completely-- whatever the hell this is, you want to see it-- but you need to keep you and your party safe first and foremost. >Don't move. Ask Steele and Mary to keep away, but remain rooted to the spot. Whether this is dangerous or not, you want a front-row seat to whatever this is and are willing to put yourself in danger for it.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6093863 >>6093865 >Don't move. Ask Steele and Mary to keep away, but remain rooted to the spot. Whether this is dangerous or not, you want a front-row seat to whatever this is and are willing to put yourself in danger for it. We shall be the first man on earth to see a Mightyena. Also the first to classify it. We shan't stop winning in this quest.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6093865 >Back away so that you can't see it and it can't see you, then return once you're sure it's safe. Part of you won't let you flee completely-- whatever the hell this is, you want to see it-- but you need to keep you and your party safe first and foremost. Things that start glowing means its about to blow the fuck up. Lets get FAR away from the blast radius.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6093865 >Don't move. Ask Steele and Mary to keep away, but remain rooted to the spot. Whether this is dangerous or not, you want a front-row seat to whatever this is and are willing to put yourself in danger for it. Reckless in pursuit of knowledge!
Anonymous
>>6093865 >Don't move. Ask Steele and Mary to keep away, but remain rooted to the spot. Whether this is dangerous or not, you want a front-row seat to whatever this is and are willing to put yourself in danger for it. If Buchanan dies, what happens? Are we gonna start playing as Cora or the preacher?
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>we spooked the voyeur Aw phooey.
>>6093865 >Back away so that you can't see it and it can't see you, then return once you're sure it's safe. Part of you won't let you flee completely-- whatever the hell this is, you want to see it-- but you need to keep you and your party safe first and foremost. I don't like how we've been foregoing caution lately.
Anonymous
>>6093865 I love our little sheep.
>Don't move. Ask Steele and Mary to keep away, but remain rooted to the spot. Whether this is dangerous or not, you want a front-row seat to whatever this is and are willing to put yourself in danger for it. Only if we have a firearm. Otherwise,
>Back away so that you can't see it and it can't see you, then return once you're sure it's safe. Part of you won't let you flee completely-- whatever the hell this is, you want to see it-- but you need to keep you and your party safe first and foremost. PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sun 01 Sep 2024 16:22:12 No. 6094467 Report >>6094197 Thank you for reminding me to put your revolver in the pastebin. I had completely forgotten that Walter had one lol.
The vote was made when (I'm assuming) other people didn't remember either, though, and we don't have bullets for the thing anyways, so I'll be counting this as a vote for backing away.
Nevertheless, I'll try to write this like a tie. >>6094063 I actually have a backup plan for if this happens. It doesn't involve the Gulchers directly, but they'd definitely be more prominent for a time if Walter passes on yeah.
Anonymous
>>6094467 So we CAN die out here. All the more reason to be cautious then
Anonymous
>>6094508 We already have a slight chance of dying to an infection with our wound, mind you. There aren't any fancy hospitals here in the sticks.
Anonymous
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sun 01 Sep 2024 19:16:59 No. 6094586 Report Your feet refused to move. Instead, your mouth threw itself open, blabbing words you weren't paying attention to as your eyes remained fixated on your shining opponent. The light was getting brighter and brighter. It was unlike any bioluminescence you were familiar with. Mary and Steele's absence was hardly noticed as you remained focused, unable to pull your eyes away from the occurrence, not thinking to do anything but look. It was only when the light started <span class="mu-i">expanding</span> that your feet finally felt their weight. No longer were you tied down by imaginary bricks. No longer did your feet belong to this very spot, feeling as if they were naught but tree roots in the dirt. No, in fact, they felt quite the opposite. The light wasn't leaving the demon. Instead it was contorting it, growing it, forcing the dirt beneath its feet to give way as the creature's claws elongated, dug in deeper, sunk into the loosening dirt. The creature had never stopped snarling. The low growl resounding throughout the battleground seemed to grow louder, ringing in your ears, causing concern to some distant entity that could barely made out as a faint human voice called out to you from behind. Steele's, certainly, but-- You forced yourself backwards, nearly stumbling, as something <span class="mu-i">flared</span> out of the light. It fell back into the glowing mass, its shape uncertain-- The light rendered you blind for just a moment. When your vision returned, you were faced with the sight of the angriest long-haired wolf you'd ever seen. Gone was the small bloodied pooch you'd been observing just moments before. Gone was the light that had swallowed it whole. In its place was a horrible snarling creature, its wounds healed, its expression filled with unimaginable amounts of hatred and malice, its noises unearthly and unwelcome and louder than you thought a wolf's cry could ever possibly be. You'd seen a similar creature before, in theory, last night... but nothing quite like this. Not nearly of this size. Not nearly of this temperament. Not--
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sun 01 Sep 2024 19:18:00 No. 6094588 Report <span class="mu-s">TH-KUNK</span> Your heart pounded in your throat. You glanced to your left, then in front of you, then down at your leg and back to your left again. Mary stood atop the rabid creature, her forehead dappled with blood and her right hoof hanging precariously over the wolf's jaw as the creature lay on the ground, conquered for the time being, growling and bleeding and unstable. The wolf was snarling, jerking, resisting like there was no tomorrow as it howled with pain. Its face was visibly mangled below the nose. It threw a claw at Mary's cheek-- she dodged, threw her hoof down-- "Buchanan, boy!!" Steele grabbed your arm and forced you away from the fight. "There's no fighting this! We have to run, now!" He stumbled over to your trunk and grabbed it, his arms now occupied by all your things, his eyes betraying his words as he never let their gaze leave the sight of combat. A yowl sounded out through the small area as a bolt of electricity struck the rabid wolf. Mary was nearly thrown off as it jerked mightily to her side, trying to force itself to stand, failing as your sheep held fast and kept it pinned. Mary bleated, her voice coarsing with static, looking back at you with more determination than you'd ever seen in her beady black eyes. She looked down at her opponent and stamped once more. It was hard not to wince at the loud crack of bone that brought with it, the subseqeunt snapping of bones and gnashing of teeth that was promptly silenced, the pool of blood forming beneath the berserk demon. One part of you felt sick. The other was fascinated. Both parts agreed that Steele was right. You had to go. <><><><><> "Who's them new folks ov'r there?" "Couldn't know 'em. I ain't ever seen them round these parts..." "Oh, dear, one of them's limpin'! Surely you can do somethin' about that?" "It doesn't seem to be much of an emergency, sweetheart. And... he's being followed." "That's... a critter, ain't it?" Murmuring. Gossip. Rumors. The moment you limped into town, that was all you could hear. There was a tangible tension in the air. A thick kind of unease that would bend any knife that dared to slice it. Every block had multiple soldiers stationed at various parts of it. You couldn't tell from their uniforms, but Steele recognized them as members of the California state militia. "...they bring nothing but bad tidings, Walter." You glanced to your left. A newsboy was handing out papers titled "The Reading Independent". His advertising quieted the moment you came near. An indescribable fear replaced his standard expression. The small crowds scattered about him seemed to follow a similar path. One woman shrieked. A man seemed to reach for his armaments, then reconsider. Mary trotted by your left.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sun 01 Sep 2024 19:19:00 No. 6094589 Report You stopped to observe the town. It was far larger than Shenanigan's Gulch had ever looked. Entire areas held nice-looking houses, multiple stores could be seen just from walking in... there was even a fire department a little bit further down the street. And yet... there remained visible signs of wear and tear. The railroad, an obvious centerpiece of the town, was visibly decrepit. Bits and pieces of its tracks were randomly torn out and it was clear nothing had ridden down this rail for at least a month. Dried blood could be seen scattered about some porches here and there. Silence hung over the town in spite of its enormous size. A well-decorated sign was the only thing to celebrate your arrival. <span class="mu-i">REDDING WELCOMES YOU. Pop. 1,873</span> Your attention was taken away from the polite decoration by one of those soldiers. Steele had mentioned their roped hats, their tall boots... there was no doubt about this man's profession. "State your reason for visiting immediately, sir." Some kind of long gun was by his side. It was a little hard to tell which kind in your exhausted state, but even if you were in tip-top shape you weren't sure you'd be able to identify the thing. All you knew for sure was that the man seemed to be gripping it rather tightly. You hoped he had no intention of using it.>State that you're just passing through town and you'll be gone by next morning. It's your intention and you have no real reason to stray from it. >State that you're here to visit for a few days. It might be worth it to stick around so that you can stock up on supplies, heal your leg wound, and plan ahead in safety. You can see a post office, too, so maybe you could contact your parents while you're at it.
Anonymous
>>6094586 >>6094588 >State that you're here to visit for a few days. It might be worth it to stick around so that you can stock up on supplies, heal your leg wound, and plan ahead in safety. You can see a post office, too, so maybe you could contact your parents while you're at it. We'll be fine. Probably.
Anonymous
>>6094589 >State that you're here to visit for a few days. It might be worth it to stick around so that you can stock up on supplies, heal your leg wound, and plan ahead in safety. You can see a post office, too, so maybe you could contact your parents while you're at it. God dayum. Mary takes no prisoners. This could a problem for later if she shows that attitude for more mundane encounters.
Anonymous
>>6094589 >State that you're here to visit for a few days. It might be worth it to stick around so that you can stock up on supplies, heal your leg wound, and plan ahead in safety. You can see a post office, too, so maybe you could contact your parents while you're at it. I suspect we’re good on supplies, but we could use a professional to look over the leg wound.
Anonymous
>>6094589 >State that you're here to visit for a few days. It might be worth it to stick around so that you can stock up on supplies, heal your leg wound, and plan ahead in safety. You can see a post office, too, so maybe you could contact your parents while you're at it. Mary is a trooper. She deserves a reward of sorts when we have the opportunity to get her one. By the way, we should decide how to design the naming convention for evolutions.
Anonymous
>>6094589 >State that you're here to visit for a few days. It might be worth it to stick around so that you can stock up on supplies, heal your leg wound, and plan ahead in safety. You can see a post office, too, so maybe you could contact your parents while you're at it. We need our leg checked, at least.
We need leather gloves so we can pet Mary without getting zapped.
Anonymous
>>6094589 >State that you're here to visit for a few days. It might be worth it to stick around so that you can stock up on supplies, heal your leg wound, and plan ahead in safety. You can see a post office, too, so maybe you could contact your parents while you're at it. Anonymous
>>6094589 >State that you're here to visit for a few days. It might be worth it to stick around so that you can stock up on supplies, heal your leg wound, and plan ahead in safety. You can see a post office, too, so maybe you could contact your parents while you're at it. I can’t decide if the image of a sheep American History X’ing a wolf is funny or terrifying.
Anonymous
>>6095254 Wait until she starts walking upright.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6095283 ...Oh yeah, Flaafy is going to give every bible thumper a heart attack.
Anonymous
>>6094843 Isn't leather conducive to electricity? Rubber should work better, but it isnt really nice to use for petting gloves.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6095352 Dry leather doesn't conduct.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Mon 02 Sep 2024 20:43:39 No. 6095535 Report Quoted By:
>>6094605 >>6094608 >>6094634 >>6094717 >>6094843 >>6094863 >>6095254 Unanimous once again. I'll take some suggestions into account as well.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Mon 02 Sep 2024 22:22:50 No. 6095595 Report "I'm just visitin' for a few days, sir." You stood yourself up as straight as you could (given the state of your left leg). The soldier's cold expression never warmed, his grip on the gun not loosening. "And your company?" Steele thought it his question to answer. "I'm with the boy. We are both destined for Sacramento, joined by no-one but ourselves." He spoke the words while extending a hand in the direction of Mary, who proceeded to hold eye contact with the soldier for an unnerving amount of time. Silence lasted awhile before the man stepped aside. "...cause no trouble." You could hear a begrudging reluctance in his voice. The same kind of begrudging that demanded he hold his gun tightly enough to splinter his palms. The soldier's eyes never left your sheepy companion, and your simple walk through the town elicited much of the same kind of staring. "It isn't doin' anythin! Not t' him, not t' us! Oh, Anna, am ah dreamin'?" "Hush, now! It might hear you..." The gaggle of women fell silent as you walked past them. You hardly noticed their faces, instead dead set on your end destination down this long dirt road. It was plain as day... and put a pit in your stomach. The town clinic... so stuffed with people that the line to enter extended across half the town. There were people snaking through entire neighborhoods, waiting to be permitted entry. Only God knew how long some of them had been standing there for. You and Steele took your places at the back of the line, Mary nestling herself between the two of you, spending her time trying to rub off the blood lacing her head with her tail. At one point she gave a frustrated bahh that made the old woman in front of you turn back to watch. She glanced at Mary, her hands trembling no more than your average old lady's would, before striking up conversation. "Why, that's a strange sheep you've got there, young man." A chuckle filled the awkward silence that would've existed had your response taken any longer. "...thank you, ma'am." Steele intercepted the conversation to begin singing Mary's praises. "She saved us, you know!" The two became rather chatty rather quickly. It was... odd, given everyone else's reactions. Why the lady hadn't recoiled or glared was beyond you. Eventually you found the strength to reclaim your conversation and ask some important questions. "Ma'am, sorry, is there a reason everyone else here seems t' be mortified of my girl? The guard gave her a look, a man thought t' reach for his weapons..." Steele backed away and tipped his hat. "I'll leave you to it; I <span class="mu-i">must</span> know the reason for this outrageous length," the man whispered to you before departing. He remained in good spirits, much like the lady who now answered you.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Mon 02 Sep 2024 22:25:11 No. 6095597 Report "Ah, of course, of course! Well, child," she propped up her cane and placed both palms upon it, "it hasn't been very long since an attack, see. It's nothing so fierce as what I saw back in my day, when I was a younger girl off in the east, but you see," the woman cleared her throat and adjusted her half-moon glasses, "well, the younger men and women here, they haven't seen war like I have. They saw lightning and thunder and loud baahs of livestock and thought, why, surely the devil himself had touched down on their little town." You watched Steele disappear down the line and talk to some man in a vest and pants nearer to the entrance while the old lady continued on. "But, ah, I noticed! I knew better, I saw the panic in their little faces! Like your little sheep, here, there were once many of her kind... many, many indeed! And, oh, they <span class="mu-i">hated</span> the gunfire. As did I! It was intolerable, to fire on these creatures so readily! When all they had done was make noise and run about, their little tails glowing, sparks lighting their little wooly dresses! Yet they did, they did! And now we have here, lines and lines, scores of stupid people," she coughed and cleared her throat once more, "people who felt that the mines would be safer, people who'd forgotten about the water..." Steele had returned as the lady continued to ramble. You greeted him with a handshake and he tipped his hat to the woman with a brief "madam" accompanying it. She took this as a sign to continue. "...i'm just here for a little poisoning, you see..." You began whispering to him while she continued. Steele brought the same information the woman had, yet made it brief. The Iron Mountain Mines had left almost half the workforce sick, the town was still recovering days later. "...my little doggie, oh, she protested! But I needed to bring her with me, as the doctor had ordered..." The pair of you would be lucky to get an appointment in the next week. He'd mentioned your dog bite and gotten some salve to clean it up with, but that was the most you three could hope for without cutting in line. "...oh, my, was it enormous. A buzzing metal thing flying overhead..." You stopped the lady and thanked her for her time. She was surprised to hear you were leaving-- "So soon? You're limping, child!" After the explanation she conceded. "A doggie bite... oh dear. It'll be a few days, but you can take your leave." And so you did, merrily. <><><><><>
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Mon 02 Sep 2024 22:26:57 No. 6095600 Report Finding some place to stay had been hard. Even harder once the first inn willing to offer you a room hadn't let you bring Mary inside. You were tempted to just leave her outdoors... but she had already fended off a rock or two on your way there. Leaving her alone almost seemed like some kind of plea for violence upon her. The three of you only found rest upon checking into the worst inn in town, stuck on Redding's outskirts in a dark patch of dirt, so desperate for patronage that the man in charge had given you a pair of room keys before you'd even introduced yourselves. You found yourself alone, with Mary, that night. It didn't seem so revelatory a change at first, but once you'd swapped out your dirty gauze and cleaned your leg wound it really began to dawn on you. There was no Cora to snore the night away, no massive disaster to interrupt a good night's rest... Steele slept next door, so deep in slumber and so quiet that you sometimes forgot he was there at all. It was odd. The total, uninterrupted silence... you weren't used to it anymore. Not for so long. Peace finally felt within reach. After a month of nonstop moving and fighting... solitude. The night was young. Your room was safe, if dusty, and filled with nothing more than a bed and a desk for you to use. Dark oak kept the floor sturdy and held intact the sole window belonging to this hideaway... What would you do? Now... and later?
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Mon 02 Sep 2024 22:27:58 No. 6095604 Report [Choose two: one from the top category and one from the bottom.] -NOW->Go to sleep. You're tired, your leg needs rest, and it'll be easier than ever to get good rest with so little noise around. >Write FURIOUSLY in your notebook about everything you'd seen. About the shapeshifting cur, about Mary's vanquishing of it, about the food thief and the marked similarities. Their ears, they weren't the same! Yet everything else... >Draft a letter to your parents explaining your trip to Sacramento and what happened in Shenanigan's Gulch. [will lead to a sub-vote] >Fiddle with the nutberries some more. You'd bought a little pot for them back in the Gulch but never had the time to plant one. You could spend the evening studying them and trying to figure out what they might need to grow. >Just relax. Read the papers, read some of your books, watch Mary... go to sleep only when you truly cannot keep up anymore. >Write-in. -THEN->Focus your stay on getting better and stocking up. There's no reason to do anything more in this town. Just get better, restock, and continue on your merry way. >Focus your stay on researching the local creatures. That's what you're in California for, after all, and it'd be a waste to just assume that the wildlife was identical to Shenanigan's Gulch. Especially given that the old lady had mentioned something about... poison? Poisonous creatures? Something like that. >Focus your stay on calming the local populous down. Trying to earn the trust of the state militia will do you well in the future, and you're curious as to why the mere sight of Mary got people drawing guns. The Gulch hadn't been that paranoid even after a few deaths... why was Redding any different? >Focus your stay on finding information. Keep up wtih the papers, ask around town about things, buy new maps. Is there a nearer telegram line than the one in Sacramento? What was happening outside of this chaotic State? How was New York doing? Surely your family was okay... right? >Focus your stay on training yourself and Mary to survive tougher situations. You saw what she did to that rabid demon back near all the creeks and you need to channel that kind of fighting spirit into something you could directly control. It would keep you safe, secure, and on top wherever you went. >Write-in.
Anonymous
>>6095595 >>6095597 >>6095600 >>6095604 >Write FURIOUSLY in your notebook about everything you'd seen. About the shapeshifting cur, about Mary's vanquishing of it, about the food thief and the marked similarities. Their ears, they weren't the same! Yet everything else... and
>Focus your stay on researching the local creatures. That's what you're in California for, after all, and it'd be a waste to just assume that the wildlife was identical to Shenanigan's Gulch. Especially given that the old lady had mentioned something about... poison? Poisonous creatures? Something like that. We shall research the mon, as befits a properly obsessed man.
Anonymous
>>6095604 >Write FURIOUSLY in your notebook about everything you'd seen. About the shapeshifting cur, about Mary's vanquishing of it, about the food thief and the marked similarities. Their ears, they weren't the same! Yet everything else... >Focus your stay on finding information. Keep up wtih the papers, ask around town about things, buy new maps. Is there a nearer telegram line than the one in Sacramento? What was happening outside of this chaotic State? How was New York doing? Surely your family was okay... right? Anonymous
>>6095604 >Draft a letter to your parents explaining your trip to Sacramento and what happened in Shenanigan's Gulch. [will lead to a sub-vote] >Focus your stay on calming the local populous down. Trying to earn the trust of the state militia will do you well in the future, and you're curious as to why the mere sight of Mary got people drawing guns. The Gulch hadn't been that paranoid even after a few deaths... why was Redding any different? Anonymous
>>6095604 >Just relax. Read the papers, read some of your books, watch Mary... go to sleep only when you truly cannot keep up anymore. I think we need to unwind some becore we can sleep. We’re just now realizing how different things are and I know that can play merry hell with any “I’m going to sleep early” plans.
>Focus your stay on researching the local creatures. That's what you're in California for, after all, and it'd be a waste to just assume that the wildlife was identical to Shenanigan's Gulch. Especially given that the old lady had mentioned something about... poison? Poisonous creatures? Something like that. I would still want to speak with the state militia though. The lady mentioned a buzzing, flying metal thing and we know Mary is good against flying metal things. Taking a few down would benefit the town and we could study the creatures if they’re new as well.
We can trade that for knowledge on the mines and poisonous creatures. If anything has fouled the water nearby then it’d behoove us to see what CAN drink from it. Snakebites can be treated by antivenom, and it’s not impossible for some of these creatures to naturally have some.
Anonymous
>777 posts before this one >>6095604 >Write FURIOUSLY in your notebook about everything you'd seen. About the shapeshifting cur, about Mary's vanquishing of it, about the food thief and the marked similarities. Their ears, they weren't the same! Yet everything else... >Focus your stay on calming the local populous down. Trying to earn the trust of the state militia will do you well in the future, and you're curious as to why the mere sight of Mary got people drawing guns. The Gulch hadn't been that paranoid even after a few deaths... why was Redding any different? >>6095641 >We can trade that for knowledge on the mines and poisonous creatures. If anything has fouled the water nearby then it’d behoove us to see what CAN drink from it. Snakebites can be treated by antivenom, and it’s not impossible for some of these creatures to naturally have some. Supported.
By the way, I thought a Croagunk, Scraggy, or other kind of delinquent Pokemon would fit Steele pretty well, given that he can apparently talk to almost anybody. Smeargle would also be a good match.
Anonymous
>>6095641 >If anything has fouled the water nearby then it’d behoove us to see what CAN drink from it. I hope we have a method that doesn't involve potentially poisoning a lot of unsuspecting test subject mons.
Anonymous
>>6095694 Sylveon would be a good pick for a guy who's really good at making friends.
Anonymous
>>6095694 Idk, Steele is more of a dominating presence than these small Pokémon. He is still an old rich man. I would think of a "nice uncle" typed mon.
>>6096208 I'm gonna murder you for mentioning that creature. Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6096316 You're just hangry, anon. Have some food, cheer up! Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6096171 I was thinking of setting up a stakeout and seeing what naturally goes to it. There’d be less competition for “unclean” water sources so I’m hoping some creatures naturally gravitate towards them to avoid conflict with other species that need “clean” water.
Anonymous
QM, how long until we witness Native Americans riding into battle on a herd of Bouffalant?
Anonymous
>>6095604 In the interest of moving the vote along I’ll switch my vote
>>6095641 to
>Focus your stay on calming the local populous down. since I saw the request in /qtg/ for a tiebreaker. I find helping the town and researching creatures to be something that requires part of both to accomplish either effectively.
QM, it’s alright to point out that there’s a tie when it gets close to when you’d write just to see if someone shakes loose to get things moving.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Tue 03 Sep 2024 22:13:08 No. 6096427 Report Quoted By:
>>6095609 >>6095636 >>6095640 >>6095641 >>6095694 Alright, we're writing about our travels and calming the local populous down.
>>6096425 I'll keep it in mind for the future, though I'll admit the prolonged absence in this case was more because I got busy with something else as opposed to wanting people to change their votes and holding out until that was done.
I was going to see if I could somehow split Walter's attention if I didn't get a tiebreaker within the hour but then something else came up and I only just got free from that.
Anonymous
>>6096413 That would be badass, but I can't imagine anything as baller as some Yuma or something riding up on a Ponyta or Rapidash at the head of an Indian coalition. Imagine seeing a man stride a burning horse, unbothered by the flames, before anyone understand just how 'magic' Pokemon can be? That's the sort of shit that inspires and terrifies.
Anonymous
>>6096413 >>6096432 The first pokemon tamers would be living legends of their era. Imagine if a guy running for president showed up riding a fucking CHARIZARD. It doesn't matter what he says because everyone would listen to the guy that has DRAGONS at his beck and call.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6096487 William J. Bryan's rhetorical prowess combined with a dragon on stage may have won him the election(s) he just couldn't seem to win.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Wed 04 Sep 2024 02:25:19 No. 6096610 Report Quoted By:
Writing now, sorry for the long delay. Busy day.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6096432 Funny you should mention that.
This abomination of a statue outside the Denver airport is based on a local legend, of a red-eyed stallion that breathed fire.
In this universe it’s not even a legend. It’s just Rapidash.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Wed 04 Sep 2024 02:48:09 No. 6096626 Report You couldn't get your mind off of what you had seen earlier in the day. The snarling barbarity of a creature you knew to be docile. The terrifying transformation from an animal you could see comforting a little girl to a true beast that knew nothing but death and how to bring it about. The twistinng of a rather normal animal into something... different. Larger, more powerful. More dangerous. Part of you wanted to say more evil. As you put pen to paper, that thought lingered in the back of your mind... but you wrote, ignorant to its nagging, as impartially as you could on the matter. <span class="mu-r"><span class="mu-i">Obscurnus... Validanis,</span></span> you settled on the name right then and there-- you could sort out any specifics of classification later-- <span class="mu-i">is a fearsome creature, descended directly from <span class="mu-r">Obscurnus Catulus</span> by methods I cannot begin to articulate...</span> You wrote of the change. How suddenly it had happened, what it had brought upon the creature. The memory of it slashing at Mary while its jaw was lopsided and broken chilled your spine. <span class="mu-i">...one cannot begin to imagine the amount of resilience this creature holds, the willpower within it prompting it to battle...</span> how come it was so driven? How come the first specimen you had seen was not nearly so aggressive? Was this kind of sudden transformation exclusive to the family? <span class="mu-i">Like Columbus upon the ocean, hoping with confidence to find a new world, I await the appearance of land to anchor my great discoveries to empirical study of this fascinating unknown...</span> Did you have to factor this into classification? Or, more accurately, did you want to? <span class="mu-i">...again, I owe my life to a creature with power enough to light a small village aflame, a creature who has bid her existence to my companionship and protection...</span> Mary displayed a terrifying aggression after it had threatened you. One you'd never seen before. Was this kind of brutal impulse inherent to all these new arrivals? Was it brutal or protective? What determined something that deserved protection to these creatures? How different were they from one another, really? <span class="mu-i">Why had those ears been a different color?</span>
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Wed 04 Sep 2024 02:49:10 No. 6096628 Report Question after question after question flooded your mind, spilling out through your pen tip, flooding your paper with words upon words upon words written into lines that could not contain them, written for an audience that could not answer them, written for nobody in particular except for your own clueless mind, starving for knowledge and enraptured by the feast these new creatures represented. What could you call them? Demons they were not. Though some displayed similar aggression, to brand them all as agents of the Devil would be akin to deeming every animal a demon for the sins of the crocodile or the lion. And "creatures" was far too broad a term, one so incredibly vague and nondescriptive that it proved scientifically useless... As you lifted pen from paper for the final time that night, you couldn't help but long for some finality to this great question. A title to grant the new arrivals that had saved your soul and taken many others. What on earth could you call this new branch of Life?>Write-in.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Wed 04 Sep 2024 02:51:23 No. 6096632 Report Quoted By:
(New pastebin ahoy. Figured I should write down some of the classifications Walter's been whipping up for these creatures in a more easily-accessible format than "translate this Latin I posted in the thread a week or two ago and never mentioned again".
Making these has been some of the stupidest fun I've had in my life and I'll probably have the whole dex done in a year with how much I've been indulging in it. Here's a link:
https://pastebin.com/njD8Yvfn )
Anonymous
>>6096628 Neofauna seems appropriate
since we've only met one Grass-type, and it's primarily animal . Which, of course, makes Mary a neopet.
Anonymous
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6096636 Neofauna sounds good to me, considering the types of pokemon we've seen are almost all animal-like. Wonder if Buchanan would reconsider the name once he comes across more unorthodox pokemon.
Anonymous
>>6096626 >>6096628 I like this entry. A lot. Waltur endulging in his obsession is very nice.
As for the name: for now I support
>>6096636 , for it would be logical to name it as such.
However, as soon as we will lay eyes upon something like a Klink or Magnemite, I suggest changing it over to Novaturae. A combination of Nova and Creaturae
(plural nominative form for both words, as we are speaking of many, many creatures here) should probably do the job well enough.
Anonymous
>>6096636 Neofauna sounds good to me.
>>6096918 There should be different names for different broad classifications of Pokémon. Ones more resembling plants will be Neoflora.
Maybe the ones you describe could be called Automata or Animata or something like that. Something to designate them as “normally inanimate objects given life”.
Anonymous
>>6096939 I thought I'd think up names and visualize a bit, with another classification for all "newcomers" (i.e. Pokémon in general).
Anonymous
>>6096977 I’m not married to the term Automata.
I just wanted to convey the idea of an object given life. I can’t find a translation for Donavita, but if it fits the general idea then I’m good with it.
I think we can get even more granular though. Neoflora could represent mons similar to real world animals, but what about more fantastical creatures that can’t really be described as “animal, vegetable, mineral”?
Ghost types might need their own classification just because they don’t neatly fit into any other category.
Anonymous
>>6096628 I assume we’re defining them at the Kingdom level right now since that was the highest hierarchy that Linnaeus had. That said, a “Domain” level was added far in the future to deal with bacteria/viral/monocellular groups.
Should we get a headstart on that and create the “Domain” groups instead? All existing creatures would be under something like “Terran” and pokemon are filed under whatever we decide? I tried looking at “first other” and I’d get something like”Primalius” for the domain. No telling if a second wave of weirder mons could come after all.
Neoflora could then be a Kingdom under that for all animal-like creatures until more study is done to identify common ancestors.
Anonymous
>>6096636 >>6096977 Supported. I agree that Donavita would be a better fit for that third category, but as
>>6097053 says, we'll need a category for Ghost types and any esoteric ones like Porygon. Here's my suggestion for categories.
>Neofauna: resemble conventional animals >Neoflora: resemble conventional plants >Donavita: resemble animated objects or matter >Vita Spectri: bear traits akin to ghosts >(any ideas?): bear no resemblance to any aforementioned categories Some "Noviciae" may belong to multiple categories. We'll have to classify Types at some point.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6097117 I played around with a Latin translator until I found something that might work for our purposes.
Nova Essentia - new essence
The essential characteristics of this being are completely alien to Earth. It suggests a wildly diverging evolutionary path that may suggest an extraterrestrial or occult origin.
Anonymous
>>6097053 It was not a personal thing, don't worry. As for Donavita, it is a combination of Donata and Vita, meaning "Given" and "Life" respectively.
However, I do think Pokémon should not be a domain. As far as domains go, they determine things much more fundamental than the difference between old and new species. I believe all Pokémon are Eukaryotes anyway.
Noviciae would become a kingdom for the aforementioned reason (and the fact domains did not exist yet). I'm honestly torn between doing the phyla based on appearance or type. This is mostly because we have seen Waltur make evolution lines the same genus (a move that I think is very handy and logical for us) which could mess with the appearance-based model a bit. Think about the Gastly line here.
But, as far as the appearance model goes, here are some suggestions based on
>>6097117 's phyla.
>Vita Spectri: bear traits akin to ghosts I was honestly thinking more of Phasmata: Phasma + Formata, "Ghost/Specter-Formed"
>(any ideas?): bear no resemblance to any aforementioned categories Dissimilationes: Dissimilis + Animationes, "Different/Dissimilar Beings"
Anonymous
>>6097117 >>6096977 >>6097053 Xenofauna and Xenoflora would be my preferred substitute, as these things are without any doubt foreign to Earth.
Xenomateria for ones resembling matter.
Xenophasm for ghosts.
And here's the kicker: We can dual-type things by saying "Subject is Xenofloral and Xenophasmal"
Anonymous
>>6097150 I am torn on your solution; on the one hand, they are definitely new to the world we live in. However, they are very much adjusted to surviving and living in said world, so calling them "foreign" or "alien" would be a bit weird to me.
I would also not support double-assigning a species of Pokémon to phyla, for this is never done in real life and would cause any classification effort to go haywire organisation-wise.
Anonymous
>>6097150 I like the prefix neo because the neopets thing is cool reference.
Anonymous
Anonymous
>>6097081 >>6097148 When we eventually understand it in character, Egg Group is probably the most logical way to organize families of Pokemon.
>>6097150 Foreign to OUR Earth, but if they came from the Pokemon world, the games and dex entries occasionally reference real world locales. Lieutenant Surge is nicknamed The Lightning American or soemthing, and I believe China is referenced explicitly as well, while Mew was located in South America.
Not that we know any of this. As for ghost-types, they're comrused of exotic matter, but so must a Magnemite or Ponyta be. They all are "alive" though in that they eat, expel waste, and breed. Even Ghost-types are arguably more "living things" than viruses are.
Anonymous
>>6097213 This would be a good solution if it were not for the fact that Pokémon can be in multiple egg groups at once, creating the same problem as encountered before with the proposal in
>>6097150 .
A vital part of classification is that you cannot have something be part of two same-level (sub)groups at a time. They don't do this in the world of biology for a very good reason, instead deciding on changes in placement whenever a definition changes or something new is found out about a debatably classified species.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Thu 05 Sep 2024 00:04:16 No. 6097372 Report Wow, you guys have been busy.
Should I leave the vote open for longer or just go with
>>6096636 's write-in since it's so popular? I'm open to either since there seems to be enough pushback to the idea of neo<span class="mu-i">fauna</span> specifically.
>>6097213 Also agreeing on the egg group thing here, but also the issue with that brought up in these posts (
>>6097334 >>6097154 ). All this classification has stuck mostly to species names as a result of how messy a category as broad as Pokémon species gets on the macro level.The cleanest solution i've found to this mess has been to sort the whole thing by way of a borderline quiz, where categorization goes from "is a Pokémon" to "a Pokémon that looks like something that already exists (animate/inanimate)/does not look like something that already exists" to reproduction type descending into broader generalizations like "things that burn other things" or "things that would break your hand if you tried to punch them" before ripping off game typings, egg groups, etc all the way down into genuses and species (which you have already seen demonstration of). I call this "cleanest" because it's still a fucking mess but it's a cleaner mess than the four or five initial attempts at structuring this that I made up. If you find out how to do this in a manner that makes sense and doesn't give the average person a headache, please send confirmation and explanation to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, Washington DC to collect the bounty of $100,000 and a lot of overdramatic praise. >>6097081 >I assume we’re defining them at the Kingdom level right now since that was the highest hierarchy that Linnaeus had. Correct assumption, you get a cookie!
I was considering inventing Domains way too early for similar reasons as you, but I decided against it because it'd be a bit pointless when 99% of Pokémon life is almost certainly eukaryotic. They aren't so alien that you'd be able to properly justify an entire new category of cell for them.
Well, maybe you could argue some extremely specific fictional cells related to stuff like psychic powers or evolution, whose functions I will never be able to accurately explain, might earn a Domain, but that definitely wouldn't be discovered until <span class="mu-i">decades</span> after the initial appearance of these things so they don't really concern the quest. Yet. Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6097334 >multiple egg groups without perfect overlap IRL, we call that a species complex or ring species, I believe.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Thu 05 Sep 2024 00:11:38 No. 6097383 Report Quoted By:
>>6097372 >Correct assumption, you get a cookie! I'm stupid, sorry: you're defining the colloquial term for mon more than you are the actual kingdom name, but the colloquial term will probably be used as the kingdom name for a while before things settle down into a more rigid order, so I suppose you're doing both.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6097148 >>6097372 >Pokemon are Eukaryotic Thing is, it doesn’t matter what they are in the “traditional” Domain. In the context of this story, Domains don’t exist yet. It’s free real estate. Moore can figure his shit out a century later.
He’ll need to call his level of classification something else and he’ll have to accept it because the alternative is that we come back as a ghost and haunt his ass.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Thu 05 Sep 2024 01:50:05 No. 6097468 Report >>6097372 Shit, I guess I'll have to let it run out a little longer. Something came up, I haven't got the time to write today anymore.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6097468 It happens. Thanks for letting us know!
Anonymous
You know, I gotta ask, are regular ass animals still around? Or is it more that every Pokemon has replaced their real world inspos? Like, are the only fish around Magikarps, Basculins, etc? Are the only bugs left Pokemon? Or is there still fauna loke how that one Pigeotto ate this here worm?
Anonymous
Quoted By:
So what will the name be? If I recall correctly, we agreed on there being a kingdom for all Pokémon, so there is not reason to debate further on other classification errands. Instead, let's focus purely on the name for the kingdom of all Pokémon. I currently support Noviciae, but Novatura but other options are still on the table; shall we try and reach a consensus here?
Anonymous
Quoted By:
So what will the (colloquial) name be? We can't go too Latin and stuffy, but we also need something to properly define all the Pokémon without calling them "Pokémon" (for obvious reasons, we cannot carry them in our pockets yet).
Anonymous
>>6097819 I think real life animals are "slowly" getting replaced. Pretty sure Waltur noted how the terror birds in the sky were brutalizing the once familiar wildlife.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Thu 05 Sep 2024 16:19:11 No. 6097976 Report >>6097819 Yes,
>>6097899 got it pretty close. Real animals still exist but are being greatly endangered by Pokémon.
Last call for whether <span class="mu-s">Neofauna</span> should become the colloquial (+ temporarily Kingdom) term for them. I didn't get an answer last time but I've got time to write so I wanna settle this now to maximize writing time.
Anonymous
>>6097976 Sure, we'll go with Neofauna.
Anonymous
>>6097819 >>6097976 I and another anon were talking about it earlier ITT.
>>6070086 >>6073783 >>6073909 On top of what was already discussed, some existing animals might get along with certain Pokemon. I can see Wailord getting along just fine with whales.
Anonymous
>>6097976 >Last call for whether Neofauna should become the colloquial (+ temporarily Kingdom) term for them. I didn't get an answer last time but I've got time to write so I wanna settle this now to maximize writing time. I think it should be fine for the animal-like Pokemon.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Thu 05 Sep 2024 17:15:14 No. 6098024 Report Quoted By:
>>6097986 >>6098018 Alright then, I'll stick with neofauna for now. It definitely makes sense for Walter to revise it later down the line when less animalistic mon come along, but I do want to write today so neofauna it is.
>>6098012 Probably, yeah. A lot of the native wildlife in areas with more indiscriminately violent Pokémon like Skarmory are likely going to get axed regardless though.
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PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Thu 05 Sep 2024 23:08:11 No. 6098276 Report Quoted By:
Late entry today as well due to heavy workload. I'll be with you in an hour or two.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Fri 06 Sep 2024 00:43:46 No. 6098334 Report As you stared at the dam of information before you, reviewing every species and genus you'd come up with on the fly, you pondered. A glance was given to your rudimentary Tree of Life... The name was an easy choice, wasn't it? These were a new type of animal the world had never seen before, yet they were similar enough to existing fauna to share part of a term... You shuffled around in your trunk for a moment before pulling out one of the blanker newspaper strips you'd saved for an occasion like this. Upon it you wrote a word, which you soon tucked into the small metal flap adorning the cover of your notebook. And so, the mundane and ordinary notebook you'd once claimed possession of transformed into the new and exceptional <span class="mu-i"><span class="mu-b">Notes on Newly-Arrived Creatures:</span> <span class="mu-r">Approximate Study of Neofauna.</span></span> ----- Crowning the new branch of life had driven your writing impulses into overdrive. You spent hours poring over your old draft for the Tree of Life-- rewriting, rerouting, scrapping entire magnorders to be replaced with new ones, trying desperately to make some sense of the lower orders for which you had no basis... It only dawned on you to sleep by the time the moon had completely left the frame of your window. You had to stick your head outside to spot it, and even that was a chore due to thick leaves from a tree that had taken a liking to your room's wall. You tried to keep as quiet as you could. Mary was snoozing on the other end of your bed, so soundly asleep that you could swear she was counting copies of herself in her head, her ear flicking every now and then purely to worry you further. The creaky floor helped nothing... but once you'd finally made it to your bed-- a <span class="mu-i">real, proper,</span> spring-laden bed-- it took no less than half an hour to find peace and finally join your companion in her sleepy travels. <><><><><> Sunshine burst into your room at the same time that Steele had. "Walter? Are you awake?" The sturdy man found himself facing the ire of Mary before he could hear anything from you, the sheep baahing at him and huffing with discontent. The stamping of her hooves on the already-noisy floor was what finally brought you back to Earth. "mm...Shteele?" You rubbed an eye, finally allowing you to see more than the man's outline and mustache. He didn't seem particularly panicked... what did he need you for? "You've been asleep for a magnificently enormous amount of time, Buchanan. It's nearly noon." Wait, what?? Steele was shooed out of the room, Mary quieted. Jeans went on before undergarments, jeans were removed for undergarments, undergarments were tossed aside to button up the shirt...
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Fri 06 Sep 2024 00:44:47 No. 6098335 Report You stumbled out of the room looking a special kind of disheveled. The kind you'd hoped to emulate at some university in your old life's future. Your dark combed hair was, today, more akin to a crumpled leaf or bundle of straw than anything resembling proper hairwear. Your shirt was only half-buttoned, the neat cuffs at both ends only residing upon your right arm, the trusty pair of loafers you'd sworn made you look more professional instead lending you an air of asymmetry... This was commented on by every man in the lobby save for Steele. Richer men in better clothes, their wives, their children, their acquaintances and their enemies... Thomas J. Steele seemed to avoid your eye contact once you'd begun to notice. It brought you some relief to realize, once you'd taken another step out of grogginess, that this was more due to Mary still trailing behind you than anything else. The eyes of the guests never left her, nor did the staff's, nor did your own. What was so special about her that you soaked up this much attention? Some chattering from the outside let your eyes look elsewhere. Children were running around outside. You heard one screaming about zapping another, shorter boy who squealed with laughter while they ran around together. The other retaliated by mocking some kind of bull charge, his fists acting as mock horns to ram his playmate with. The sight was one for sore eyes. Even in times as dire as this, children found reason to play and make believe... but you couldn't help but wonder. Why zapping? Why not just tag? Another glance was given to Mary.>Turn back to the lobby and be blunt about what you want. You've hardly been here a day and you're already under scrutiny from everyone you meet. Why does everyone seem so interested in you? In Mary? >Leave the hotel and watch the children for some time to see what happens. It's just a guess, but... is their playfighting related to Mary somehow? >Go out on the town and try to assess the social state of things. People might not be as stressed today as they were yesterday, for whatever reason, and it would do you well to understand your place in the town. >Write-in.
Anonymous
>>6098012 Sharpedos will love whales without energy attacks, too. That's the problem.
>>6098335 >See if we can't find an authority and make ourselves useful to earn some trust, medical care, and supplies Seems obvious why everyone's staring at the world's first (?) Pokemon Trainer. Giveb what that old lady told us about them gunning down some Mareeps or some similar species, I think we know what the kiddos are imitating, too.
Anonymous
>>6098334 >>6098335 >Turn back to the lobby and be blunt about what you want. You've hardly been here a day and you're already under scrutiny from everyone you meet. Why does everyone seem so interested in you? In Mary? We are gonna be as blunt as a baseball bat about this. I want answers, damnit.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6098335 >Go out on the town and try to assess the social state of things. People might not be as stressed today as they were yesterday, for whatever reason, and it would do you well to understand your place in the town. Anonymous
>>6098335 >>Turn back to the lobby and be blunt about what you want. You've hardly been here a day and you're already under scrutiny from everyone you meet. Why does everyone seem so interested in you? In Mary? Anonymous
>>6098338 >the world's first (?) Pokemon Trainer I don't think we were the first, however we are certainly one of the first.
Honestly, I don't think the event of us meeting another trainer or witnessing the taming of another Pokémon through a nutberry is even that far off, really. It'd be about time Steele got his own companion.
Anonymous
>>6098616 Depends on how widespread the nutberries are. Walter received his in a package from his brother, who found them on his farm and didn’t know what they were.
So I’d assume that they’re all over the country’s western half at least. In which case, someone’s bound to have figured out what to do with them by now.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6098621 Waltur's brother was from the east of the country, if I recall correctly. It was New York, right?
Anonymous
>>6098335 >Turn back to the lobby and be blunt about what you want. You've hardly been here a day and you're already under scrutiny from everyone you meet. Why does everyone seem so interested in you? In Mary? >>6098338 >Sharpedos will love whales without energy attacks, too. That's the problem. Whale clicks underwater can make a person go deaf.
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PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Fri 06 Sep 2024 16:21:36 No. 6098693 Report <span class="mu-s">testing</span> <span class="mu-i">to</span> <span class="mu-r">make</span> <span class="mu-b">sure</span> I <span class="mu-g">still</span> have OP powers
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PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Fri 06 Sep 2024 16:35:29 No. 6098698 Report >>6098693 odd, why'd the (You)s stop working? Ah well, at least I can still format.
I'll let the vote run a little longer because I haven't got the time to write yet. Being blunt is currently the forerunner.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6098338 I don't think we are the first trainer, we might be the first Professor though.
Anonymous
>>6098335 >Turn back to the lobby and be blunt about what you want. You've hardly been here a day and you're already under scrutiny from everyone you meet. Why does everyone seem so interested in you? In Mary? Getting "run out of town" vibes again
>>6098693 >>6098698 Don't take my word for it but I think its tied to OP's ID instead of cookies
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Fri 06 Sep 2024 22:31:46 No. 6098877 Report Quoted By:
>>6098345 >>6098550 >>6098691 Alright, i'm free. We're asking around the lobby.
>>6098749 Huh, i'll keep it in mind for the future then.
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PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sat 07 Sep 2024 00:07:41 No. 6098939 Report You turned back to the lobby, giving those waiting there a look-over. There... weren't as many people as you thought there were. There was a man in a well-tailored suit looking out of a window while his wife gave you a disapproving look, her large sun hat hiding part of her face. One of their children clinging to her while he looked at Mary. Another, less well-off patron to your right... Only four people? ...wow, you'd expected less for the worst inn in town. You approached the fella that seemed to be more relatable than the richer family. He seemed far happier to be there than they did... yet, when you got nearer, he spontaneously shuffled a few seats over and started mumbling to himself. You couldn't hear anything he said, but that became unnecessary when the man hollered upon Mary's attempt to sniff his shoe. That drew the entire room's attention-- and invited a shriek from the lady across from the three of you. That was enough to make you ask. "What'n the world have I done t' make you all so upset?" You tried to be a bit quiet about it, but the question came out louder than you'd wanted it to. Steele gave you a look, anyways, and the sudden silencing of everyone else told you that they had similar opinions. You reiterated. "It's a genuine question. I don't mean you no harm," you shot a glance at Mary, "nor does she." The man who'd shuffled away spoke up first. He proved to everyone what being loud was <span class="mu-i">really</span> like. "WELL, NOW, AH FIGURE IT'S EASY FER YOU OUTTA-TOWNERS T' SAY SUCH A THING! YOU HADN'T NO ZAPPIN'S T' DEAL WITH!" The old yeller turned to you, his wiry beard and misshapen face highlighting the crooked teeth he now spat at you through, glaring as he spoke. "YOU JUS' SKIP INT' TOWN," he made a waving motion with his bony hand, "BRING 'N A MENACE, PUTT'N IT UNDER SOME MAGICK SPELL T' NOT ZAP THE CRAPS OUTTA US..." Surely they didn't think you were some kind of <span class="mu-i">demonic wizard?</span> You looked to the family to gauge their reaction-- oh, right, he'd sworn. The patriarch spoke up whilst his wife covered her 'poor baby's' dollish ears. "We can't take your word for it, stranger. Last time one o' those was spotted 'round here," he motioned to the sheep, "we lost a few men. Ol' Sammy," the man was interrupted by a hock and a spit in his general direction, "lost his hearin'. Or so he says." Another hock and a spit. "WHY AH AUGHTA... AH AIN'T NO LIAR, FRIAR..."
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PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sat 07 Sep 2024 00:08:42 No. 6098940 Report The man bent down to shine his stickied shoe. "There's no tellin' what that thing'll do. 'N assumin' you've got that little lady under control somehow... well, we've heard what happened t' New York City. What's t' stop people from gettin' ideas about it here?" He looked into you with an icy stare, its effectiveness only dampened by the aforementioned shoe-shining displaying more of his back than his face. "I hope that's enough expl'nation for you." >It is. Give the man a polite nod and goodbye and leave this place behind for the day. >It is, but now you're curious. New York City? Was there some danger you hadn't heard of? >It is. Ask about some town basics instead. What store sells travelling supplies, what is the food situation, are there wagons going anywhere but Shenanigan's Gulch, etc. >It is. Swear that you are truly here to do no harm and offer your services in ridding the town of any particularly aggressive beasts. It'd make a good excuse to go out and research with... >It isn't. The mentions of poison and buzzing things still spin around in your mind. Bring them up and ask for some elaboration. >Write-in.
Anonymous
>>6098939 >>6098940 >It isn't. The mentions of poison and buzzing things still spin around in your mind. Bring them up and ask for some elaboration. and then, if possible:
>New York City? Was there some danger you hadn't heard of? I want to hear what the Pokémon have been up to out here and back at home.
Anonymous
>>6098691 >Whale clicks underwater can make a person go deaf Not exactly Hyper Beam or Hydro Pump, though, is it?
>>6098940 +1 to
>>6098944 Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6099090 Honestly, I think the whales would be pretty safe due to the fact that juvenile whales are always protected by a pod of other mature whales which can demolish any Sharpedo with one slap of their tail.
Plus, with so many other intermediate-sized fish around, I doubt a Sharpedo would even bother with such a high-effort target.
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PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sat 07 Sep 2024 21:18:11 No. 6099461 Report Quoted By:
>>6098944 >>6099090 Alright, we'll ask for some elaboration.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sat 07 Sep 2024 22:15:52 No. 6099506 Report The mention of New York City left little room for silence. "Actually, if you can spare some time, I'd like t' know a bit more than that." The man arched a brow. "Really now? You haven't heard squat?" You shook your head. "I've been on a trip down here, fightin' t' make it an' not gettin' much rest. That kind'a lifestyle leaves little room for national news." The man brought himself up to a sitting position and put his arms behind the bench, not hesitating to go on. His tone grew... solemn. "...well, now, i'm impressed. It's been some time now, but 'bout two or so weeks after these dem'ns showed up... New York City was 'quarantined'. Nobody could get in, nobody could get out." Hearing such a thing felt like fantasy. You felt part of you grow cold... "New York City? Or New York state?" The man chuckled. "Jus' the city, don't you worry. Hellhole that it already is, it got worse. People were obviously kept in with guns 'n generals. The entire state militia was focused on 'em for a time. Then, only five days later..." The crazy guy hooted once more. "GO ON, TELL 'IM! THERE'S NUTHIN' STOPPIN' YEW, LIAR-FRIAR!" He was quickly shut up with a subzero glare from your fancy informant. It took the same informant a little time to finish the sentence he'd started. "...well, folks talkin' like you showed up." His eyes drifted to Mary sitting politely by your side. Something in his expression shifted upon seeing her. "I don't know what creatures they had way out east, but they must've been powerful beasties. Lots of 'em about the place, too." His hairs stood on end. "The militia entered some kind'a state 'f war that hardly lasted a week. The papers here've been crazy about it since the declaration; they're talkin' like it's the apocalypse, like there's no comin' back from this." That cold stare was now fixed on you. "Men of all sorts. Powerful men, mind, who could hold their own even just a little bit... someone among'em found out how t' bring these bein's under their control. And once they had the Devil on their side... well, there wasn't any stopping Hell's Armies from takin' over such a rotten place." The man, whom you assumed to be some kind of Briar (Mr. or not), looked back to Mary. His wife seemed offended that he'd spoken on the situation at all, going on to chastise him for the crime. It wasn't hard to understand who they'd lost to that affair. The way she cried about her close family was with a passion you hadn't heard in years.
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sat 07 Sep 2024 22:16:52 No. 6099507 Report Opposite to this heartbreak was Old Sammy, slapping a knee and guffawing. "THERE HE GOES!! THERE'S THE WIFE'S WHININ'! AH, WHAT A FUNNY ONE SHE IS!!" The madman went on. "CAN YA BELIEVE A LADY LIKE THAT!! WE GET SOME BUZZY MONSTERS, LITTLE BITS'A POISONIN'-- AND SHE THINKS WE'RE GOIN' THE WAY OF THE DINOSAUR!" A streak of desperation forced your attention towards Steele. He was... paler than you'd seen him in quite a while. When he saw you, however, the familiar bushy smile he donned made him look much less worse-for-wear. "Oh, well, no matter! We're in California, son, we haven't got a reason to worry!" Steele's next move was... incomprehensible, to you. It was hard not to admire the amount of willpower it must have taken to react so coolly. "Samson, sir! You mention such oddities-- they haven't dealt any harm to you, have they?" Sammy laughed again. It was a shrill, unpleasant kind of noise. "KID, AH'D BE MORE WORRIED 'BOUT THE GUNMEN!! AH DIDN' NEED THAT HEARIN', JUS' LIKE AH DIDN' NEED THAT EYE!" His eyes were both intact. Very obviously so. Steele continued as if the man had a point. "Then, Mary isn't an issue, yes? Nor are all these poisonings?" "WHO'S MARY? AH AIN'T GOT A WIFE!!" More laughter. The futility of this endeavour was becoming apparent. The voice of Briar's wife sounded like honey down a sore throat in comparison. "He's mad, you can see that! They're very dang'rous, these things! A little horned alien that put a girl to sleep with nothin' but a touch of its palm, a livin' pile of pure poison... some say they even saw whole balls 'f steel jus' floatin' around, judgin' the place with their big eyeballs... they all come down from th' mines, their mount'n home, 'n terrorize... t-terrorize... anyone who t-tries t' change things with 'em..." Briar continued in place of his whispering partner. "Your sheep is just one 'f many, stranger. If you don't live 'n fear here, you live six feet under. There's no other way t' keep things going, y'see." Some sort of argument exploded between Steele and Sammy. It wasn't long before the three of you were out the door and far away from the hotel... <span class="mu-i">just in case</span> the crazy old man felt like getting physical. <><><><><>
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG
PoképocalypseQM !!w58WRl7ypiG ID:fikORCBP Sat 07 Sep 2024 22:17:53 No. 6099508 Report Melancholy overwhelmed any pain that you could've felt from facing the sun so late in the day. The leaves you were seeing it through helped mitigate it regardless, but... no. You turned to your human companion. Your family didn't live in the City... but what if Briar had a point? Especially near the epicenter... what if people were trying to replicate that kind of chaos? "...Steele?" The bushy-faced businessman gave you a mock-salute. "At your service!" "...Steele, after you're done in Sacramento... where will you go?" Mary looked up from your lap at him. The pair of you saw Steele's expression dull. "Well, I... I hadn't thought of that. I was just going to return to Indiana, as I always do." He turned his attention to the decrepit railroad running through town, just ahead of you three. "If the Sacramento rails aren't working, however..." His brief dip in tone was replaced with the usual sort of fire you had come to expect. "Then I'll go there on foot. It'll be good exercise, indubitably! And, boy, I am quite in need of such things!" You couldn't help but grin a bit at the guffaw that question had left you with. He continued. "If you haven't any other plans, I'd be happy to have you!" ... "...well, I was just thinkin' about my family. They're in... New York, Steele." His expression didn't falter. "Ah'm... ah'm a bit worried, is all. They should be fine 'n such. The whole reason I have Mary with me is thanks t' them." "But I can't be sure, Steele. An' there's nothing I'd rather like than t' be sure, about this, right now." Steele kept strong. "The only one stopping you from being sure of this is yourself, Buchanan. If you know in your heart, truly, that your kin are well... then that they shall be!" ... It was hard to accept that kind of thinking. You instead turned your train of thought to productivity. What you'd do today. You couldn't just sit underneath a tree and pet Mary all day, after all...>Yes you could, actually. You can walk with your leg, but it hurts enough that you think some resting here would do it well. Spend most of the day under the tree, planning routes and writing up lists of supplies. >Keep up your idea of getting some interviews. There's no chance that Briar's mindset is the only one in town, and you really need people to stop throwing rocks at your lamb friend. >Look for any opportunity to help the town out. Hit the clinic, the general store, the fire station, anywhere. The town is clearly in dire straits. It wouldn't hurt to try and win the local populous' favor. >Search for neofauna as soon as possible. How are you going to assess the threat if you don't know what it is? Best you identify what's causing trouble and put it to pasture before things get worse. >Write-in.
Anonymous
>>6099508 >Track down one of the militia and see if they can point you to one of their own with experience around the mountain to share. They may fear you, but sending one madman to their grave may accomplish something good and information costs them nothing. Staking out the mountain for research seems like the best idea. We can make it a further priority to investigate wherever the poisoned water is coming from if they have ideas on that.
Mixture of helping the town and searching for neofauna, with a focus on helping the town to stay in line with the earlier vote. Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6099506 >>6099507 >Look for any opportunity to help the town out. Hit the clinic, the general store, the fire station, anywhere. The town is clearly in dire straits. It wouldn't hurt to try and win the local populous' favour. We have to earn their trust somehow...
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>6099524 Just the prospect of getting Waltur anywhere near something like a Grimer terrifies me.