ROCKET BATTLE LOG

[indigo_league]

As the clock nears 10 PM on Saturday, the manor (or the parts of it that people aren’t blocked off from, anyway) is completely abuzz with speculation and gossip. What could Lance possibly be planning to announce? And why haven’t any of the Elite Four even been around? They’re fairly reclusive, but it’s safe to say that everyone is at least a little curious, if not actively suspicious.

But it’s time for the big reveal, so manor staff are bustling around, reminding everybody to be in the ballroom in a few minutes for Lance’s important unveiling of… well, whatever it is he’s unveiling! The staff all seem pretty excited, so it must be big, right?

There’s been plenty of room to dance and move around in the Ballroom until now, but with everybody packed in there at once, the space is a little tighter. Especially with the small stage and podium set up in the middle. As the last (or seemingly last, assuming there aren’t any carefree stragglers who didn’t bother turning up on time) person is ushered in by staff, complete with whispers of "Psst! Hurry up, it’s almost time!", the door to the ballroom is shut and the lights dim slightly, sending a hush over the audience.

After some fumbling from whoever’s in charge of the lights (... wait, is that Captain Garfield and his Rattata up there? He’s a theater tech too?! That guy must REALLY be a jack of all trades!), a spotlight flips on and centers on the podium, where the head staffer (who might be recognized as the one with the terrible hipster mustache who’s been doing a PARTICULARLY egregious amount of schmoozing and sucking-up to trainers over the course of the party) is stepping up to the podium.

He clears his throat.

"Welcome, welcome, ladies and gentlemen! On behalf of the Elite Four, we’re all so happy you could join us! We hope you’ve all been having as good a time as we have, because I’ve got to say, I think this is our best party yet!"

He looks around at the assembled trainers eagerly, as though anticipating unanimous agreement.

When there’s an impatient buzz (and a shout of "Get on with it already!" from someone) instead, he laughs awkwardly.

"Oh, yes, well, we’re all here for one reason, right? To see what Lance has brought you all here for! Well, folks, as you can see, he’s not here with us right now… He’s had a bit of a-- how shall we say… an accident! So sad, I know! But fortunately, he’s graciously allowing us to make his announcement for him. Which is…"

On cue, the spotlight turns stark red. If anyone has the presence of mind to look, Captain Garfield's Rattata is holding a bit of red plastic filter in front of it.

But chances are, everyone’s attention is probably going to stay on the stage, because the guy at the podium literally just RIPPED HIS CLOTHING OFF DRAMATICALLY, revealing… yes… a very, very familiar black-and-red uniform underneath.

It’s followed immediately by more ripping sounds as other staff and even some partygoers scattered throughout the audience follow his lead, and the telltale noises and flashing of Pokemon being released from their balls. And many voices, all yelling at once...

"PREPARE FOR TROUBLE! AND MAKE IT DOUBLE!!"

The music shifts.

OOC Notes: The number of characters who must participate in the battle to call it a success is 37! In order to keep track, once you have made your first comment to this post (either a toplevel or a tag to someone else!), please bring it to the CHECK IN THREAD by 10 PM EST tomorrow! YOUR COMMENT MUST BE POSTED TO THIS THREAD IN ORDER FOR IT TO COUNT TOWARDS THE TOTAL.

GUESS WHAT GUYS?

glittertextmaker.info

OOC notes: Here it is, the part where your characters get to explore the Rocket Base and discover its secrets! Maps of each level will be posted in this top post as they are opened up, with blacked out sections being revealed as obstacles are cleared. Obstacle clearing will be based on total comment count to any mod comment with a count listed, whether those comments are contained in a single thread or spread out over multiple different ones. As many people can comment to an obstacle or base level as wish to, for as long as they want, even after it has been cleared. There are a total of two obstacles (including the first one) which are triggered by character actions we will be watching for!

Anyone who wants to thread anything out in the base or mansion during the time characters are trapped (and who doesn't want to use this log for whatever reason) is free to make their own network/action posts with whatever they like! But mods will not be coming around to those with interaction, and they will not count towards clearing obstacles.

Questions? Ask them HERE!

NOTE FOR ITEM RNG: In order for the mods to give out your item, your character must be actively looking through the loot piles in whatever tag you'd like us to respond to with your item! Items can also be given out in the middle of an existing thread between characters, whenever they get around to searching the piles! The header does not have to be in your toplevel.

Links List

Level One



OBSTACLE - KEY CARD (CLEARED)

OBSTACLE - CONVEYOR BELT HELL (CLEARED)

Level Two



Level Three



ELITE 4 JAIL

OBSTACLE - FREE THE LEGENDARY

Comments

SECRET BASE 3

[indigo_league]

[Thankfully, this new floor that the long-sought warp pad brings you to doesn’t seem to be any sort of hell. There’s a hallway, light spilling into it from where it hooks to the right, and when you emerge, the first thing you’ll notice is two doors with keypads mounted on them. One is a double-door set, large, to your right, and it looks fairly sturdy and important. There’s also a locked glass case on the wall beside it, with five sets of Pokeballs resting inside. The other is a single door that is VERY sturdy, right across from it. That darned slippery Rocket you’ve been following all through the base is scrunched up on the floor by the second door, holding that scrapbook like it’s a lifeline. He’s also looking at you with the widest eyes and palest face imaginable as he presses his back against the smaller door like he’s trying to barricade it with his body.

Somebody didn’t think you’d end up making it this far, but somebody’s got nowhere else to run. This might be your best chance to get some answers on where the Elite Four are, what Team Rocket expected to get out of ambushing such a large group of trainers at once...

...And what’s that crackling noise coming from behind the far wall on the left?]

OOC note: In the interests of mod sanity, interrogating the Rocket is first come first serve!

[pipers_son]

[Well, if that's how he wants to be.... With a simple whistle from Joker, Rogue the Furret goes speeding across the room.]

[Hello Mr. Rocket Grunt. Have you ever been full body hugged by the large furry noodle which calls itself a Furret? Well, congrats, you're about to find out.]

[Joker just grins lazily.]

Hullo, mate.

[indigo_league]

[The Grunt tries - oh, how he tries to back away, but Rogue is far too fast for him, and he lets out a reedy, pathetic scream.]

Oh no, oh geez, oh no, oh NO...

[dreamsofahero]

*since Joker and Rogue seem to have this largely in hand, Sion will head to take a look at those doors...*

You know, perhaps if you'd cooperated in the first place, you wouldn't be in for nearly as much trouble...

*.... okay so maybe he'll get in one remark to help rattle the Rocket there first, too*

[dreamsofahero]

*well, Sion will keep an ear on the interrogations, but while that's going on, he'll also take a look at those doors. First checking to make sure they are, in fact, locked, before wasting time with anything else, then examining the keypads on them*

Is this sort of security really very efficient....?

[tearsofademon]

Has anything down here been efficient?

[well someone's bitter as he's trying to listen to the crackling behind the wall, trying to hear if there's anything more distinct about it that would help him tell what it might be]

[dreamsofahero]

It's remarkable they continue to function as a criminal organization at all, really.

[indigo_league]

[Those doors are definitely and undeniably locked! But the keypads on both doors show signs of use - several letter keys have a shine to them from being punched in repeatedly. Looks like you need some sort of code.]

[dreamsofahero]

*well, obviously the first step is to check and see which letters those are! Because cracking a passcode would, ideally, be the easier way through this...*

Far wall on the left

[callbacks]

[Dave's been more than happy to let others take the hero role (herole? No, that sounds sexist) as he putzes around at the rear, generally taking everything half-seriously if only because it's so extra.

The crackling noise, though, is enough to get his attention. He wanders closer, Dedenne on his shoulder with round ears perked and whiskers at attention, unsure he should be approaching at all.]

Guys? ...Anyone else hearing what I'm hearing?

[cyan_maid]

[Jane's ears are pricked, too. She goes over to Dave, keeping her steps soft and quiet.]

What in the world is that?

[indigo_league]

[It sounds a lot like electricity, or something like it...a lot of it, to be making that much noise through a wall.]

[gainedlove]

[Frisk frowns and makes their way over to the crackling wall. They listen closely to the noise, then start to * Check every bit of the wall they can reach to search for anything out of the ordinary.]

Maybe it's a secret room...?

DOUBLE DOORS

[indigo_league]

[The double doors’ keypad grants access when “SLOWPOKE TAIL” is entered, and when the doors open, the room beyond floods with light, and four voices groan and hiss at the sudden shift in their surroundings. Though they’re a reclusive bunch and worse for wear, the figures of the Elite Four and their Champion are hard to mistake for anyone else - Will, Koga, Bruno, and Karen all have an air of strength about them despite their wounded pride and bound arms, and Lance is...well, he looks like he’s been knocked out cold, but he’s alive. It’s been a trying ordeal for all of them, so if you want to speak to the four that are conscious, try to keep it to one Elite Four member. They probably want to get to that glass case with the Pokeballs outside more than they want to be individually questioned.

Also, if anyone needs it, there is a small bathroom sequestered off in the cell. Just. Just putting that out there.]

OOC Note: Please keep your E4 NPC tags to one member per character!

[johto_guys]

[If anyone was going to manage to keep a dramatic domino mask on throughout this entire ordeal, it’s Will. Although…it looks like he’s got quite a shiner underneath, judging by the edges of bruise edging out the sides of the mask.]

[He’d rushed to get his Pokeballs out of that glass case, although once they’re safely clipped back to his belt he’s straightened right back up again and crossed his arms sagely. He’s the Elite Four’s Psychic master, he has to maintain an air of dignity and mystery, even if he was just rescued from a cell and his cravat is skewed to the side.]

[He’s also pretty humiliated that they’d all been captured and held, so he probably won’t want to answer embarassing questions…]

[Just gotta…get back that dignity…]

You’ve all done well, Trainers! Of course, we had a backup plan, but with you all here, we didn’t need one after all! I’ve seen so much in my travels, but to see so many fighting for what’s right in a vile place like this…it’s a testament to your strength.

[johto_guys]

[Koga, the Poisonous Ninja Master, stands apart from the rest of the Elite Four, casting a critical eye to the unpolished yet devious hideout of his captors. He has a particularly scathing look for the keypad that kept him and his fellows locked away. If you get close enough while he's examining it with all the prowess of a grandparents confronted with an iPad, you'll hear,]

A mere code was all that stood in our way...? Even with the knowledge of all my ninja arts, and everything I could muster...

[He might let his grudge against Team Rocket's technology settle down to talk, if you address him, but when not engaged, this is going to be one salty ninja.]

[johto_guys]

_{[Bruno is a man of many strengths but few words and being separated from his team--and so ungracefully too-- had all but rendered him mute from shame. He has spent nearly all of his imprisonment sitting in the far corner, hands on his knees, staring at the floor. But now that his Pokemon are returned to him, he stands tall with his face scrunched in determination.]}

Team Rocket is made of nothing but cowards. Why else would they lock us away instead of facing us in a fair fight? I am proud of you all for showing them what strong trainers can do.

[johto_guys]

<sub>[They're all angry about what happened. They're all angry that they managed to be caught off guard and beaten by a bunch of common thugs.]

[But probably none of them are angrier than the dark queen herself... Karen.]

[There are dark bags under her eyes and her mouth is FROZEN in a tight-lipped, furious grimace.]

[The first thing she did upon release (after getting her Pokemon from the case, of course) was stare piercingly around the tiny basement floor, as though hoping there might be a few Rockets lingering around for her to physically beat to a pulp.]

[It isn't until after 1. Lance has been safely set on a course back up to the surface (and better first aid than can be administered down here), 2. someone's handed her a water bottle, and 3. she has her Umbreon safely in her arms, that she actually says anything but a few terse words to anybody, and when she does, it's clearer than ever that she is capable of Literal Murder (tm) right now.]</sub>

Of course they hit us by surprise.

You all clearly fought them and won, do you honestly think they could have POSSIBLY defeated us in fair combat?

SINGLE DOOR

[indigo_league]

[“SLOWPOKE TAIL”...what a generic evil team password! But that Grunt really did try to keep it from you for a good reason. Entering it into the keypad grants you access to a small room. Inside, there are several television monitors positioned at different angles, focused on a cage of energy being powered by several Electrodes. Judging by how the energy ripples, there’s something inside that’s been trying to escape for some time, but unless the power source is removed, it’s not likely to make any headway.

There is also another door in here, and the crackling sound can be heard at its loudest behind it. Fortunately, you don’t seem to need a key OR a password to open it. Want to see what’s on the other side?]

[Surprisingly - or perhaps unsurprisingly - what we have behind this door is exactly what you saw on the monitors in the room before: an energy cage powered by Electrodes. For some of you, especially those who attended last year’s out-of-this-world prom, the prisoner might be familiar, but it is far from the creature you encountered on the moon. The ever-shifting nebula of its fur has dulled to a languid and cloudy grey, its body no longer stands proud but puddles at the bottom of the cage in exhaustion, and its voice has been diminished to a weak, paltry growl.

Just how long has Nephelis been in here? What is it doing here? It can’t be good if the poor thing is in such a dismal state, even if you know what it is or not. Surely you won’t leave it to waste away in a weird Rocket basement, will you? But hm, how to best get those Electrodes from pumping the cage full of power…]

OBSTACLE - ELECTRODES (15 comments to clear)

[dreamsofahero]

*well, fighting the electrodes is certainly an option, but given how prone they are to exploding....*

Mel! Grass Whistle!

*putting them to sleep, on the other hand, is a much safer approach, no?*

Camera Room

[cyan_maid]

[...Well, Jane had been half right. They're closer to the electric sound, but this isn't quite the source. At least that door over there might bring them even closer.]

What the...

[She pauses to take a look at those monitors, squinting at the displays.]

...Is that...some sort of cage?

[sunnysidewalkstreet]

[ Prompto had been trying to get though here, to help, in his own way.

But as he enters the final room - well, there seems to be a shift in his Type: Null, who lets out a long howl towards the strange Legendary, before trying to approach. Prompto lets out a bit of a shake of his head - Null has never acted like this before, but is just howling. Any Pokemon who listened would hear that Null was simply trying to call for others. Freedom. Give freedom.

So Prompto looks to his Luxio. ]

Come on, IE! Let's get these guys out of the way - and help that guy. You can take some electricity, right?

[ He is terrified. But... that cute cat needs help. Noctis would like him, right? (Prompto thinks all cats are boys.) He's got his camera as well - mostly for when they get rid of the Electrode. ]

[brokencode]

[Just when she thinks it can't get any worse, Angel stumbles onto this. Her stomach twisted hard, and she had to take a moment to steady herself. Skagbait was at the ready, prepared to start knocking heads, but the siren placed a hand on her shoulder, holding her back.]

[This situation needed some delicacy.]

[Fumbling once more with her bag, Angel tossed out Smoosh, the Glameow. She looked from Angel to the Electrodes, and then to the legendary. A sad little mewl escaped her, before raising her hackles up.]

[She was ready for anything.]

Alright sweetheart, let's use Hypnosis!

[notvaljean]

[This is horrifying, and Jean has seen plenty of horrifying things. It's a testament to how bonded he is to his own little ball of destruction that the sight of those poor Electrodes makes the bottom of his stomach drop out. He barely pays any attention to the other creature in the cage, besides a quick glance, before walking over and crouching near the Electrodes.]

Hey, guys.

[He keeps his voice low and soft, and maybe it's only his lack of fear that keeps him from getting blown up immediately. But the Electrodes look so much like Blitz, currently at Jean's side and just as distressed, that he can't find it in himself to be scared. Just sad and very, very tired.]

I'm Jean. This is Blitz.

[Blitz rolls forward a little, uncharacteristically shy, and crackles his own greeting in Voltorb-language.]

Do you guys know each other?

[Jean, that's racist, just because they're all Electrodes doesn't mean they're all acquainted!]

Blitz is the only other one of you guys I've seen. Is this where you've all been? Locked up in a basement, with no sunshine or candies or anything? And just a cat to keep you company? Seems like a pretty sad way to spend your time...

[Blitz crackles: can confirm. Much better outside. More candy, and even trainers like Dumb Narrow here to feed you and take you around to beat up other Pokemon. Do you know that none of them expect Self-Destruct? Like, nobody? It's a lot of work, taking care of a human, but it's pretty rewarding too.]

[rosehecate]

[...Oh what fresh hell is this.

There's a look on Anthy's face that's been intensifying ever since she entered the base - a wicked, bitter, frustrated anger that seems at once too potent and too ancient an expression for a young teenage girl. Heck, Junior is pale as milk, and the Frillish that's been following her hangs back, intimidated but persistent.

She doesn't know what this creature is, why it's caged, but she knows it's Team Rocket's doing, and it makes her sick.]