The dog days aren't quite over yet...

[indigo_events]

Who: Everyone participating in the Dog Days of Summer event!
Where: Mt Mortar, the Bell Tower, OR the Seafoam Islands
When: August 17th-31st
Summary: With the Legendary Beasts running amok, it's up to everyone to help figure out what's wrong and get everything back to normal!
Log:



Bell Tower

Volunteers helping at the Bell Tower will arrive in Ecruteak City and be welcomed into the Bell Tower-- the normally-reclusive monks are still fairly stiff, but in the interest of not driving off the very help they asked for, they will be much more accommodating than usual.

Little studies have been set up all over the archive rooms in the upper floors, allowing volunteers to group up at tables and pore over old tomes and scrolls for any information that might be related to Ho-Oh or the three Beasts-- of course, there’s also a wealth of information about legendary Pokemon from other regions… just don’t let the monks catch you getting off-topic!

Gym Leader Morty will also be present helping with the research, and is using his Indigo League funds to finance inn lodgings in town for all volunteers. As for refreshments, local restaurants have also stepped up, eager to provide free food for all volunteer researchers! Gogoat-drawn carts full of fresh, traditional cuisine will come trundling up to the Tower several times a day (breakfast, lunch, and dinner)-- often accompanied by the restaurant-owners themselves. The guy who runs ECRUTEAK HOUSE OF DUMPLINGS will be there a lot-- he and his Emboar are particularly bombastic about stuffing everybody full of delicious fried dumplings at every opportunity. Gotta stay well-fed if you want to study!

That said, anyone wishing to pull an all-nighter will either have to bring their own snacks or rely on the monks’ supplies-- which means plain rice, hot tea, and not much else.

----

Mt Mortar

The base of Mt. Mortar is a flurry of activity no matter what the hour-- the center of operations is a large camping area at the foot of the mountain, where a small army of tents have been set up. Rangers and volunteers alike are rushing around, and anyone just arriving will be asked to sign in and mark whatever tasks they’ll be helping with.

Strong trainers can sign up for field work, which can involve anything from patrolling the mountain to evacuate campers to helping corral the panicking wild Pokemon population (bright side: there’s even more rare ones running around than normal, and capturing them is a quick and easy way to get them out of harm’s way!). Trainers with flying types may even wind up helping to carry water over from the Lake of Rage in case of what the Rangers all fear: forest fire.

More inexperienced trainers will lower-leveled Pokemon will be encouraged to stick around base where it’s a little safer-- but don’t worry, there’s still plenty of work to be done! Several meal tents are set up around the base, where you can serve (or be served) quick meals from hot pans, soup kitchen style. Nothing fancy or extravagant, but nothing that won’t taste great after a long hectic day of running around the mountain. And hey, it’s free.

A first-aid tent is also set up where trainers and their Pokemon can have injuries patched up-- the Nurse Joys staffing it can always use assistance to keep up with everything.

Sleeping quarters are provided via cot-filled tents set up around the base-- those ones are first-come, first-serve, so grab one fast! Helping the Rangers out is an all-day-all-night affair, so everyone just sleeps and eats when they get the chance to. Reminders to do both on a regular basis are posted all around-- nobody wants sleep-deprived trainers doing dangerous work, even if, between the constant roars of Raikou and Entei and the constant activity within the camp, sleeping could get pretty difficult.

Fortunately, one of the first things you’ll be handed upon arriving is a pair of heavy-duty earplugs.

----

Seafoam Islands

On the shores of the Seafoam Islands, everything is… well, chaos.

The beaches are COVERED in tents of all shapes, sizes, and… raggedness. It seems many folks have shown up in lieu of Greg’s frantic video post, and they’ve more or less taken over. You can barely see the sand! Things are quite a bit less organized than they are over at Mt. Mortar, which unfortunately means that for food and first-aid, you might need to wind up heading over to the teeny tiny little dock town with the inn (booked solid, sorry!) and the shop (Blaine’s beach is less occupied, but he can be seen from time to time passive-aggressively picking up peoples’ trash around the outskirts of the tent army and scowling).

Because out on the beach, there’s no first-aid to speak of and if you go to the ‘food tent’, you’ll just be handed something like this.

Fortunately, unlike their hilariously futile efforts to find Celebi and aside from their clear lack of event-managing knowledge, it seems the Seekers actually are onto something. Every six hours or so, Articuno, Zapdos, or Moltres CAN be seen soaring high overhead and disappearing around the back of the mountain, often with stolen food or shiny things glinting in their talons.

The Seekers themselves are more concerned with getting all their equipment functioning than they are about accommodating all the tourists who just showed up to sit on the beach and stare at the horizon in hopes of seeing one of the Birds-- but if you can actually find them in the chaos, they’ll eagerly put you to work.

In this case, 'work' means 'heading straight into the caves to try and #FindLugia'. Well? WILL YOU?



(Remember to SIGN UP over here!)

Comments

FOREST FIRE

[indigo_events]

The efforts of the rangers and all of the volunteer trainers have kept disaster at bay for nearly a week.

But it wasn't going to last forever. Between Entei's heat waves and Raikou's lightning strikes, not to mention all the panicked Fire types in the mountain it was only a matter of time before sparks from a struck tree catch in a patch of dried out undergrowth that nobody happens to be around to put out. Within minutes, the fire is racing along the ground up even more trees, and then more and more until it's a full on forest fire.

Pokemon are fleeing the blaze in huge numbers, trying to reach safety, but that's likely to hinder efforts to get the fire under control even more. The rangers are calling on everyone still here, everyone who can do anything, to send out their teams to keep the fire from spreading even further than it already has. Water, Ground, Rock, even other Fire types who could burn fire lines into the ground near the edges, are anyone's best bets for tackling the fire itself.

The Rangers will be directing people as best they can and trying to tackle the most intense areas of the fire themselves rather than purposefully putting the volunteers in danger. But anyone who seems to know what they're doing will be welcome help--at this point they've all been stretched thin.

It's going to take everyone's help to save this forest, and in the meanwhile the Legendary Beasts continue to roar above the smoke, seemingly heedless of the destruction they've caused.

[agent3]

[So Thida has a Problem.

She wants to help out when news of spreading fire breaks out. It's her first thought (and her second is to insist the Tepig she'd saved earlier in the week to stay behind, but he's stubborn and scared and trots at her heels like a sad, lost puppy). Unfortunately, the call for certain types of Pokemon leaves her grim, because she only has one that fits the bill.

Oku.

She's not up at the front lines with people keeping back the main part of the fire - no, she and this Pokemon are too tense to be reliable there - instead, Thida hangs back, noticeably nervous around her Octillery as they both keep their eyes peeled for anything that seems too dry or a bit too close to sparking a flame - and then shooting a Water Gun at it.

You might get sprayed, but in this situation, it may be more help than hindrance.]

[notvaljean]

[When the water hits Jean, he actually stops, turns, and opens his arms wide. It's been a long, brutal day of actively fighting against the fire, and getting doused with a cool spray is exactly what he need. Spray on, red octopus, spray on!]

[agent3]

[Holy cow is someone encouraging her to keep spraying? Hold on, Oku's going to ramp up the water coming at you, Jean, and aim it more in your direction. You're going to be soaked to the bone, but then it will be significantly more difficult to be set on fire!]

Uh - ah! Aaaah, Oku! Don't hurt 'im!

[IT'S KIND OF ALSO A POWERFUL SPRAY OF WATER?? Pls be careful Jean]

[notvaljean]

[It's okay, Jean is pretty tough. He shields his face from the worst of the blast, and starts laughing as the water sluices down him. From a safe distance, Polo the Incineroar watches with a distasteful look on his face. He knew Dumb Narrow was, well, kind of dumb sometimes, but this takes the cake. He's getting wet. On purpose!]

Watch the face, buddy! Arc it up, can you?

[If the spray is going over Jean's head, it'll feel more like a shower and less like getting blasted with a firehose.]

[agent3]

[Funnily enough, Oku obliges, and tilts her head back. Now it's a nice, cool shower raining down on you, Jean, while Thida catches on that you want to be soaked.

The thought is at once relieving and primally terrifying, but she'll let it happen.]

[notvaljean]

[Once Jean is good and drenched, he makes a 'stop' gesture with his hands and steps out from under the spray. Seeing that it's Thida, he strolls over to her, looking more cheerful than he has in days.]

Pretty handy Pokemon to have around these days, huh?

[U see what he did there? Jean offers a hand to Oku.]

Hi. I'm Jean.

[agent3]

[And Oku obliges! Say what you will about octopi, she's a very well-behaved one that happily places a tentacle in Jean's hand. It's slippery and weird, but gentle.]

Guess so. Didn't mean t'getcha.

[notvaljean]

[So weird. But friendly, and that's what counts.]

It's okay. It felt really good.

[Otherwise, he would've gotten out of the way.]

How's it going?

[You know, besides the huge forest fire and everything.]

OTA

[shiro2hero]

[He didn't have any water types, but ground? Definitely. His Marowak, and even Kuro's ground-type moves were coming in handy. Building trenches and walls. Doing everything they could think of to build up things the fire couldn't burn. Protection for the panicked pokemon, to keep the fire from getting too far out of control.]

[Everything's going according to plan, up until another one of those sharks stumbles and staggers its way into the path of one of the trees Kuro the Aggron is knocking down in hopes of getting some fuel away from the fire. Shiro is yelling at his pokemon to stop, but gravity works.]

[So.]

[Of course he's going to pretty much baseball slide into the way of the tree and the Gible. Metal arm held up like a shield, out of habit. And of course, it's only marginally effective, since the thing is basically just a prosthetic anymore.]

[Down goes the tree. Away scurries the Gible. And leaves the poor Aggron staring in abject horror at what just happened.]

[notvaljean]

[Jean came equipped with two water Pokemon, and they've doing their parts, along with Polo and Rocky. The Aerodactyl has been up in the sky, keeping the rest of them informed about what's going on, and Polo has been busy burning up the fuel before the fire can get to it. Jean has been riding on Fisch the Gyarados, putting out any fires that stray too close, while Fat Ice Dog rolls closely beside, directing any fleeing Pokemon down the mountain and to safety.]

[It's working pretty well, as long as none of them get tired and need to take a break.]

[Fisch is vomiting water at the encroaching flames when Rocky swoops down, yammering and agitated, trying to get their attention. Fisch ignores him, but Fat Ice Dog listens, and then barks in distress and goes barreling off in the opposite direction.]

What the?

[That is so unlike the Spheal that Jean turns Fisch around and follows. It's not far to go, fortunately, and Jean comes crashing into the clearing on his Gyarados like some ridiculous, fish-dragon riding knight.]

Fuck!

[A foul-mouthed knight, apparently. Godsdammit, Shiro, what the fuck? Jean slides down the side of Fisch's neck and hits the ground running, falling to his knees next to Shiro and a very worried Fat Ice Dog.]

Is anything broken?

[shiro2hero]

[Shiro's Aggron is, apparently, frozen in the spot, for once in his life. The big pokemon pretty much reacts like anyone who thinks they've just accidentally murdered their best friend and dad. More than a little shell-shocked about this turn of events.]

[Look, he's big and made for fighting other pokemon. People are friends!!]

[Luckily for Kuro the Aggron, his trainer is not dead. Just pinned with a tree pressing him into the ground. And, you know, smoke inhalation and all of this nonsense.]

Oh... you know... just my pride. [Spoilers, some things are definitely broken. But that snaps his Aggron back into motion, pushing urgently at the tree, and rumbling out worried thanks to the Spheal.]

[notvaljean]

Yeah, bullshit.

[You don't just have a tree land on you and only hurt your pride. Jean has spent enough time zipping around on his maneuver gear and seeing the aftermath of other people's bad decisions in training to know that, at minimum, Shiro is going to be super sore and stiff tomorrow.]

Hey, whoah! Stop that!

[Directed at Kuro, and Jean gestures frantically at him to stop pushing on the tree.]

You need to lift it off him. If it rolls, it's going to roll over his legs. Fisch! [The Gyarados slithers forward, taking up a position next to Kuro.] I need you both to bite and lift the tree at the same time, got it? And you... [Fat Ice Dog] ...get under his other arm and help me pull him out when they lift, okay?

[Never let it be said that Jean isn't good in a crisis, but Shiro is taller and heavier than he is, and he's going to need help to drag him to safety.]

[shiro2hero]

[Kuro just looks even more devastated. If it's even possible. Aggron don't have ears to lower, but his tail does lay flat on the ground, while he hunkers down, trying to lick his trainer's metal arm in apology. He does stop pushing though. What is he supposed to do?? He's so sorry!!]

It's okay... it's fine, buddy...

[That bit, directed by the guy under the tree to the big pokemon.]

[Good, though, directions are good. Kuro can follow directions. Positioning himself to lift instead, nodding at the Gyarados. They can do this! They got this!]

[Just got to heave up. And hold.]

[notvaljean]

[Jean is familiar enough with the body language of Aggrons, thanks to Bertolt's Reiner, to know that Kuro is feeling contrite, and he takes long enough to pat his nose as he licks at Shiro's arm.]

Let's get him off the mountain and then you can fuss over him all you want, all right?

[Fisch bends low and gets the tree trunk in his mouth, muscles tensing as he gets ready to lift. Fat Ice Dog squeezes under Shiro's arm, up under his armpit, and braces himself to roll. Jean gets a good grip around Shiro's chest, hoping he isn't grinding any broken ribs together, and gets himself ready.]

This is probably going to hurt. Sorry.

[And then to the Pokemon:]

On three. One... two... three, LIFT!

[shiro2hero]

[The big guy snorts, butting his head into Jean's hand for a moment. But it's all business, from there on. They have a job to do, right?]

[Shiro himself is nodding, clearly doing his best not to give away that yes, it does hurt. But like before, when Haunter's rest came before his own, he's not going to admit there's a problem. Not while everyone here is still on the mountain, and while the mountain is on fire.]

[So when the pokemon lift, when Ice Dog starts to roll and Jean pull, he is clamping his jaw shut, and pushing as much as possible with his feet to help. Until they actually get free.]

[Then he's sucking air in through his teeth, sharply, because holy space lions, Batman that hurt]

[notvaljean]

[All in all, it goes pretty well. The Pokemon lift and roll, and Jean pulls, and they get Shiro out from under the tree. But Shiro is a lot heavier than Jean thought he'd be, and the heaving motion of getting him free strains his back. He hardly notices, but his hand starts bleeding again too, the stitches torn open, and Jean collapses on the ground next to Shiro, panting and exhausted.]

Shit...

[So, he's free. But it's pretty damn clear that he's hurt, and they're stuck on a mountain, and Jean is completely out of ideas for how to get them down it. Rocky would be the fastest, but he can only carry one person at a time, and Jean doesn't think Shiro can hold on by himself. Fat Ice Dog is too small, Fisch is too slow, Polo can only carry one person at a time, and Jean doesn't know about Kuro, but Reiner the Aggron is a pretty rough ride.]

Shiro... what do we do?

[Jean is great in the moment; not so hot at the long-range planning parts.]

[thenightsky]

This is exactly why Noctis brought along part of the Karp Squad, specifically the leader and the stingy old lady.

As soon as Leviathan and Splash are released it doesn't take the Gyarados long to realize why they're here and what they need to do. Noctis just gives them a nod and the two set to work. With a loud roar Leviathan let's loose with Surf, utilizing even the smallest bodies of water in the area to drench surrounding trees and grass in an attempt to stop the spread of the fire. Splash is her usual self, seemingly uncaring about the situation but as soon as she sees all the panicked Pokemon in the area, she joins in with Hydro Pump. As she works she also uses her body to block Pokemon from the raging fire, guiding them along to safer areas.

She may not like listening to Noctis but hey, she's not heartless.

Said prince is back with Bean, the Snorlax using Surf as well to try and quell some of the flames as best she can while protecting her trainer at the same time. Noctis looks pretty beat but he's not about to leave the front lines now, calling out orders to Splash and Leviathan as he attempts to not get too overwhelmed by the heat as Carbuncle perches on his shoulder keeping tabs on everyone in the area that he can sense.

Shepard and Chocochick are helping with evacuation efforts around the area so don't be surprised if you end up with a Lycanroc assisting you or a Toucannon swooping in to pull Pokemon and people alike out of the area.

[pikapikajankenpo]

In the same vein, Pikachu and Rapidash and Graveller were the most logical choices for this.

While Rapidash ran about, soaking up flames and heat to allow others to escape, Pikachu and Rapidash were leveling the ground in front of them, creating fire pits in order for the fire to be contained.

Looking up at Noctis, she called out, "On your left!" As Graveller cracked the ground and caused a Earthquake that shattered the ground full of burning brush and trees. Pikachu caught it with a application of psychic as she waved.

"We're clearing a path, help me out with these Pokemon!" Yayoi had scooped up a few small critters in her arms and was pulling them to safety.

[thenightsky]

Noctis dodged as soon as he heard Yayoi call out, Carbuncle letting out a squeal as he attempts to hold on.

"On it!" he called back, making his way over to where she was so he could gather up some of the Pokemon. His Lycanroc made her appearance then, nosing along some terrified looking Pokemon as fast as she could get them to move. She let out a gruff bark and Carbuncle hopped off Noct's shoulder to go help.

"We need to start herding them back towards the campsite."

[pikapikajankenpo]

"Agreed," replied Yayoi, the usually bright and bubbly girl dead serious. It was almost a 180 in personality as she commanded her Electric Pokemon to herd, and doing a good job at it too. Like she had been part of a group that regularly fielded disasters.

"The worst of it is the initial flash," grumbled Yayoi as she directed Pikachu to psychic a group of stragglers over the damaged ground. "With those dogs quarreling, the worst of it is barely over."

[thenightsky]

"I'm starting to wonder what it is they're even arguing over," Noctis said irritably, watching Carbuncle and Shepard herd the group of Pokemon they had downhill towards the camp. His gaze was pulled away from them as something bumped into his leg and he turned only to find himself staring down at a Geodude. The Pokemon let out a rumble that was obviously fearful and Noctis's gaze softened.

"It's alright, buddy," he reassured the rock Pokemon before urging him after the others. "Go on."

Once the Geodude was on it's way Noctis looked back to Yayoi.

"I'm going to do one last sweep of this area. I'm worried that some smaller Pokemon might have ducked into holes or in between some of the rocks."

[pikapikajankenpo]

"Same here, it's probably something really dumb though." grumbled Yayoi as her own Graveller moved to uproot some of the burning trees and stamp it out with eager motions.

"Got it. I'll get Pikachu helping you out with Psychic," she said, calling her first partner over. "Mimikyu, can you help out?"

deathkyu nodded, even if it's own outfit was smoking a little. It waddled towards the pair.

[thenightsky]

Noctis can't help but snort softly.

"Probably considering this seems like petty bickering," he said as he gestured towards the mountain before tossing that subject aside. There was no use getting irritated right now because there were Pokemon that needed their help.

His expression relaxed--still determined but pleased as well--and he offered the Mimikyu a wave.

"That'll make things go a lot faster. If you need them to do anything, Shepard and Carbuncle should be make in no time. Just tell them what you need alright?" Noctis said as he took a few steps back and started to turn, ready to do his last sweep.

[pikapikajankenpo]

"All possible." Replied Yayoi as she coordinated her Pokemon towards the area, and they spread out to partner up with the others.

"Sounds good, I'll ask. Thanks." said Yayoi as Pikachu levitated some rocks and Graveller helped out. deathkyu's shadow claw picked up a few as well, and scooped a small Pidgey out of the way.