Member
|
Post by snark on Sept 25, 2019 4:45:56 GMT
Mayu waits until Juri has left before she begins tending to her fallen Pokemon. She could forge on without them, but without Beta and Epsilon she has only three Pokemon left - and one of those fares poorly against Ground-types. The time limit for making it through the desert is quite generous. There's no reason not to rest a while.
It wasn't a fair fight.
She ruthlessly quashes the part of her that thinks that. Of course it wasn't a fair fight. Whatever Faith might say about casual battles, the League cares nothing for fairness. It's an artificial system meant to give the sort of person who wants to take over the country a way to do so in a relatively bloodless duel, as opposed to resorting to assassinations, wars of conquest, populist uprisings, and other similarly destructive methods of seizing control. But of course the people who designed it don't actually want to be unseated, so they've taken care to stack the deck against challengers. Enough to make turnover a relatively rare event; not so much that people are tempted to bypass the system and go back to the old ways. A delicate balance, which every Champion has to navigate carefully before tinkering with the system. Not unlike running a casino, her father once said: the House wants to win as often as possible, but not so much that it discourages people from playing the game at all.
It's stupid to feel cheated. A weakness her enemies will use against her. Her parents taught her that lesson well. (How many times had they turned her emotions against her, wielding them like spurs to drive her to greater efforts?) As she waits for her injured Pokemon to wake, she does her best to scour the frustration and hurt and resentment out of herself. The sand beneath her is colder than ice long before she's finished.
|
|
Member
|
Post by snark on Sept 27, 2019 6:16:33 GMT
After two hours of rest, neither of Mayu's Pokemon has recovered consciousness. Enough, she decides, is enough. She applies a few potions - they won't be permitted in the fight itself, and she can always restock afterward - and continues going. Survival mqKq1jE13d6 3d6 3d6
Perception 3d6+2 3d6+2 3d6+2 3d6·3d6·3d6·3d6+2·3d6+2·3d6+2
|
|
|
17,053 posts
|
13 likes
|
May 31, 2023 21:25:23 GMT
|
Member
|
Post by Raven on Sept 27, 2019 7:12:45 GMT
The whirling sands and featureless terrain combined with distracting thoughts and emotions makes it quite difficult to navigate the area. At some point, Mayu very narrowly avoids stepping in a Trapinch hole and twisting an ankle. That would have put an end to her challenge right quick. Refocusing on the task at hand (emotions can be shoved into a box into some dark corner of her mind), the Froslass hybrid continues to wander the sands. After what seems an eternity, Mayu is finally able to reach a wall again. This one even has a door on it. Whether its the correct exit or not remains to be seen.
Shoving the door open, Mayu half-walks and half-stumbles into the room beyond. Thankfully, it turns out this is the correct door. Juri is even there waiting for her.
|
|
Member
|
Post by snark on Sept 27, 2019 7:59:38 GMT
Mayu halts at the sight of Juri, staring flatly at her. This would be an opportune moment to ambush her with another trainer battle, but doing it with the same one feels rather tasteless.
|
|
|
17,053 posts
|
13 likes
|
May 31, 2023 21:25:23 GMT
|
Member
|
Post by Raven on Sept 27, 2019 8:45:46 GMT
Juri just smirks at you. It's like she knows what's going through your head. Actually, she probably has a fair idea. She probably does this to many trainers who pass this way.
"Heh heh." Juri chuckles. "Don't get your panties in a twist. I'm not here to kick your ass again. That's the Leader's job now." She leads you to a place where you can rest up before your challenge (including getting healed). She rolls her eyes as she explains this, claiming that the Leader always wants people to have healing before fighting her because of 'fairness' or 'honor' or something. Honestly, Juri thinks that's entirely counter-intuitive. What's the point of having someone fight a Gym Trainer to 'wear them down' if you're just going to heal them up after? Feh, not like she can talk the Leader out of her (in Juri's mind) outdated sense of honor. Fairness is one thing. Of course you gotta give the Challenger as fair a fight as possible.
After you are healed up and rested, Juri takes you to the battle arena where you will face Leader Nekura. The older woman bows politely in greeting.
"Welcome, Challenger. As you may know, my name is Nekura Massani, Leader of the Pewter City Gym." She greets. "For those in your position, Shiba-san, you may use up to four Pokemon and I shall match your numbers in kind. This battle shall continue until one side surrenders or is defeated entirely. I hope you have come prepared." She finishes.
|
|
Member
|
Post by snark on Sept 27, 2019 9:32:28 GMT
Although she would never admit it aloud, Mayu finds herself actually agreeing with Juri. What is the point? Pride? She supposes she can understand wanting to crush your enemies at their strongest, foolhardy though it is. But then why bother with Juri at all? Win or lose, the outcome doesn't seem to matter.
Well. She's not about to pass up the opportunity for healing, whatever the reasons.
|
|
|
17,053 posts
|
13 likes
|
May 31, 2023 21:25:23 GMT
|
Member
|
Post by Raven on Sept 28, 2019 2:42:43 GMT
~~After the fight~~
The sandstorm slowly begins to subside as Mayu concedes defeat due to lack of Pokemon. Nekura bows formally to Mayu. "An excellent attempt, Shiba-san." She says in her obviously Johtonian accent. "I welcome your challenge again in the future, and wish you better luck next time. Merely speak to my daughter, Juri, when you next come to challenge and she will walk you to this arena."
Mayu earns 26 Poke XP and loses no money.
|
|
Member
|
Post by snark on Sept 28, 2019 3:10:08 GMT
Mayu inclines her head in acknowledgement, and walks off to brood train. And plan out her next attempt. And brood.
|
|
Member
|
Post by snark on Sept 28, 2019 3:54:00 GMT
Her first stop, of course, is the Pokemon Center. Next... Mayu notes that while Juri was prepared to deal with Grass-types, her team was less well-equipped to counter Water. (If not for Epsilon's control issues...) Meanwhile, her mother seemed to ignore typings in favor of simply being too tough to whittle down easily. Another Water-type or two - preferably a little more reliable than Epsilon - might help make the difference.
She begins the long walk back to Pallet Town - or rather, to the seashore that lies just beyond Pallet. If she happens to spot any likely-looking Pokemon along the way, good. Looking in Viridian Forest (non-dungeon): kWC16y8a1d1001d100
|
|
Member
|
Post by snark on Oct 2, 2019 5:38:26 GMT
Mayu spends the rest of the day... well, wasting time, if she's being honest with herself. But she did catch a Horsea, that's something. If need be she will drown Pewter Gym in water Pokemon, neither Juri nor Nekura seems to have an easy counter for them. It's not lazy to spend a day or so planning her next assault, right?
The next day, she makes another quick trip to the beach to pick up a third water Pokemon - four would probably be overkill - and then heads north to Viridian Forest again. The Chespin she met yesterday may not have wanted anything to do with her, but perhaps she can find another one. Looking for Chespin/Grass-types: gMflaMvb1d1001d100
|
|
Member
|
Post by snark on Oct 2, 2019 7:29:33 GMT
After reaching Pewter once again, Mayu decides to test some of her newer Pokemon. Horse and Mantyke perform well, but it quickly becomes apparent that the Hoppip just isn't very well-suited to battle; she struggles even against Water-types, where she ought to have a significant edge. Maybe someone with the right battling style could raise it to be worthwhile; the Pokedex suggests that Hoppip learns a wide array of powder and seed moves which it can use to bolster itself while confusing the enemy. Mayu, however, believes that the best way to disorient the enemy is to hit them hard and fast. She goes looking to see if anyone here is interested in trading.
Intimidate okgqnnxH3d63d6
|
|
|
17,053 posts
|
13 likes
|
May 31, 2023 21:25:23 GMT
|
Member
|
Post by Raven on Oct 2, 2019 7:41:46 GMT
Mayu gets an offer of a Clamperl for her Hoppip.
|
|
Member
|
Post by snark on Oct 2, 2019 8:03:10 GMT
Mayu is not sure exactly what a Clamperl is, but practically anything would be better than this Hoppip. She'll take it.
|
|
|
17,053 posts
|
13 likes
|
May 31, 2023 21:25:23 GMT
|
Member
|
Post by Raven on Oct 2, 2019 8:13:32 GMT
Clamperl turns out to be exactly as the name suggests. A 'clam' with a pearl inside. the pearl being the actual Pokemon, supposedly.
Clamperl is the same level as Hoppip, Female, Distracted, with Shell Armor.
|
|
Member
|
Post by snark on Oct 2, 2019 8:26:08 GMT
That's sort of interesting. Maybe she really will throw four Water-types at Nekura the second time around... though knowing her luck, the gym leader's last Pokemon would turn out to be a Stunfisk. She must encounter Water-types with reasonable frequency, surely she has some answer to them. No matter. Now that she has an acceptable number of Pokemon to select from, it's time for a training montage to make sure they're as prepared as they can be. Mayu spends the next couple of days seeking out trainers to challenge. Time for timeskips! Two days' worth.
Battle #1 Number of Pokemon: kn5VR4JJ1d100 1d2 3 Win? 1d2 Yes! Result: 27 PokeXP, 0.5 misc XP, $540
Battle #2 Number of Pokemon: 1d100 1d2 5 Win? 1d2 Yes Result: 50 PokeXP, 0.5 misc XP, $600
Battle #3 Number of Pokemon: 1d100 1d2 3 Win? 1d2 Yes Result: 30 PokeXP, 0.5 misc XP, #600
Battle #4 Number of Pokemon: 1d100 1d2 3 Win? 1d2 Yes Result: 30 PokeXP, 0.5 misc XP, #600 Now it's time to return to the Gym. 1d100·1d2·1d2·1d100·1d2·1d2·1d100·1d2·1d2·1d100·1d2·1d2
|
|
Member
|
Post by snark on Oct 3, 2019 4:41:25 GMT
After visiting the Pokemon Center, Mayu sets out westward to Route 3, still basking in the floaty feeling of having bested her first Gym.
|
|
|
17,053 posts
|
13 likes
|
May 31, 2023 21:25:23 GMT
|
Member
|
Post by Raven on Oct 4, 2019 6:42:08 GMT
Mayu makes her way through Route 3 with ease. Upon reaching the Pokemon Center just outside of Mt. Moon, she spies a familiar figure. That...one blind girl from Viridian. "Faith"... yes, that was the name.
|
|
Member
|
Post by snark on Oct 4, 2019 7:01:18 GMT
"Hello," Mayu says, for once remembering to greet someone before getting down to business. "I see you made it through Viridian Forest."
|
|
|
17,053 posts
|
13 likes
|
May 31, 2023 21:25:23 GMT
|
Member
|
Post by Raven on Oct 4, 2019 7:27:40 GMT
Faith turns towards Mayu with a faint smile. "Indeed I did. I even managed to pick up a few new friends along the way. I've even had chance to step into Mt. Moon some. It appears to have a similar situation to Viridian Forest, with the strange pocket dimension version of the normal area." She smiles knowingly at Mayu. "I presume by approaching me, you wish to have a battle again? I am in no rush to depart again, so I certainly have time for a friendly match."
|
|
Member
|
Post by snark on Oct 4, 2019 8:42:12 GMT
"I would not object to a match, but in fact I was simply seeking to exchange pleasantries." That is a normal thing to do, isn't it? Mayu has had some lessons on etiquette and society, but as an only child educated at home she has little experience putting it into practice.
|
|