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

#FOUNDLUGIA

[indigo_events]

As if by magic (which, let’s be real, the speed at which cryptozoology gossip spreads basically IS magic), word makes it back to the beach that Ash and Jinx made a breakthrough-- possibly literally, since there’s no way that crack is going to fit a person through it without being widened.

Between the Legend Seekers with all their bulky equipment (don’t even ask how they made it this deep without dropping it in the water somewhere) and some speedy beach-gawkers who managed to make it to the front of the pack, the rush down to the underground lake is a chaotic affair. But eventually (possibly after making a few wrong turns), most everyone makes it.

Where?

To an immense, yawning cavern lit from a large hole in the ceiling, evidently leading to open sky. The water sparkles and laps at the stone walls of the cave, and reflections dance upon it. Reflections of… the three primary colors, red blue and yellow?!

That’s right-- perched and preening on various rocky outcroppings jutting out of the water are Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres-- or perhaps just two of them, if one is out scouting for more trinkets and treats to bring back with it.

Speaking of trinkets and treats… towards the center of the underground lake, there is a small, crescent-shaped island of lumpy rocks. Scattered all over them are Berry remains and shiny objects that twinkle in the sun. There’s even a stunning chrome motorcycle laying halfway into the water-- a recent news report mentioned Zapdos swooping over the Cycling Road and soaring away with a distraught Cueball’s bike. His tear-filled eyes from the TV interview brought many a sympathetic ‘Awww’ to the lips of the beach bums outside when it aired.

But more importantly, something big is visible in the water in the middle of the island, resting just under the surface. Every so often, a sliver of something gleaming and silver breaches the water a little before disappearing again.

Congratulations.

You #FoundLugia.

But anyone daring to step into the waters just might come face to face with three very angry Legendary Birds who seem strangely intent on preventing anyone from reaching that island in the middle… Actually, who are we kidding.

There’s no ‘might’ about it.

Anybody bring any birdseed?

[WELL FOLKS, THIS SURE IS A CONUNDRUM. Will anybody be able to battle, bribe, or just straight up Surf-like-hell past these birds to get to the mysterious lord of the deep? We’ll find out on the 25th!]

[NOTE: This will not be NPC’d or judged, so feel free to thread out your characters attempting to get past the birds in any way, at any pace, and with any level of competency you desire! They will be aggressive, swooping at characters and their Pokemon like angry magpies that are the size of small airplanes, and might even carry people up into the air before dropping them into the water-- fun for the whole family!]

[rambling_runner]

Ash was in utter awe. He didn't actually find he'd be the person to find this place. But here he fucking was. Face to face with three massive, legendary Pokemon in a beautiful, open cavern. And under the surface...a fourth Pokemon. Their master. It had to be. When stepping further into the cave didn't incite any attacks...he might have taken some pictures on his Gear and saved them. Because this sure as hell felt like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. But when the larger birds got hostile at him approaching the water, he wisely backed up and recalled Dracula, who was trying to get an idea of where the birds were with his echolocation - he didn't want to risk the birds getting pissed about being screeched at.

[ Closed to Jinx ]

"Holy shit..." he murmured as they took in the view. As he looked up at the birds, Holokai mirrored his awe and stared at the large, silver something in the water. He opened a different Pokeball, releasing Diarmuid the Gallade. It didn't take long for him to register Ash's mood and, seeing what they had found, he understood immediately. "What do you think the one in there looks like?" He pointed to the silvery mass lurking under the water.

[ OTA ]

It surprised him how fast people came. He quickly warned those he could that going near the water was not a good idea, given how it pissed the birds off. Of course, not everyone listened to him and when that happened, Ash just shared a look with Diarmuid and kicked back to watch them deal with the bird's fury. He did feel a little disappointed that everyone and their grandma had turned up. Without the crowd, it had been so...peaceful, quiet and felt almost sacred. There had been an aura about this place, but with the number of people present steadily increasing, it had lost that touch.

Regardless, he's trying his best to avoid people trying to find 'Ash Fox, the Legend Seeker who found this place'. He's got his hood up and if anyone he doesn't know asks, his name is Courtney Love.

[badluckbabe]

Jinx was left speechless.

While it had always been her intention to find one of the mythical birds and the horde where they were bringing their loot, there was a part of her that never actually expected it to happen! That's why they were mythical right?

But here it was right here. Slowly...cautious about setting off the big bird she drew out her pokegear, and a pair of pokeballs, summoning out Noir the Absol and Hex the Honchkrow. Her two strongest pokemon. Instantly both Mon's eyes widened in shock and aw. Hex's beak even fell open and she started to back away, being the smartest one of the three of them.

"The Motorcycle?" She looked again, sharp eyes combing the water before spotting it.

"There's something bigger down there...oh wow. This is...this is bigger then we thought." Way too big for her rookie rocket ass. Having had her butt kicked more times then she could count both in this world and back home...it was starting to become apparent that this might be a "Cut your losses" kind of situation.

Besides maybe they could still get some kind of reward if they could talk the bird into calming down the weather.

Two more pokemon, her Brionne Trixie and her Drifblim Zepplin. While Trixie might not be able to carry Jinx in the water she was one of Jinx's only water pokemon so she could at least be helpful recovering items. Meanwhile Zep could probably carry her across the water but it would leave them both quite vulnerable.

"So, I didn't really come up with a plan for getting this far. What about you?"

[rambling_runner]

"Honestly? I figured someone else would find 'em, do something amazingly stupid and then we'd have to figure out how to get everyone to calm the fuck down." Ash said bluntly. Diarmuid stood at his side and took in Jinx's pokemon. He didn't like being outnumbered, by neither the legendary birds nor Jinx's team. But he understood that Ash was being cautious and thought that, with Jinx and his teams combined, they had enough of a number advantage to the legendary trio. He spoke to them all telepathically; his voice was definitely his own although he carried Ash's mixed Irish/London accent.

"They seem calm right now. Currently, we should simply not attempt to aggravate them from this state."

[badluckbabe]

"I mean...yeah obviously but we've gotta do something. We're the first ones here we might have a chance to stop all this before the rest of the world finds out where the big bird...dragon...is?" She wasn't entirely sure it counted as a bird, did it have feathers? She'd have to get closer to find out and so she was climbing ontop of Zep balancing precariously as she tried to urge the balloon shaped ghost to carry her over.

Zep was...not enthusiastic about the idea.

[rambling_runner]

"They're not really doing shit though. Aside from nicking things, they're not going about causing thunderstorms or blizzards or whatever, and fighting with each other." Ash reasoned, staying back. He noticed Zep's reluctance as well and looked to Diarmuid, who shook his head and even put ana rm between Ash and the water. Nope, he's not going to get any closer.

"Really we'd need to figure out if they're linked to the dogs and what's going on."

[badluckbabe]

Jinx sighed and sat crosslegged on her Drifblim pulling out her pokegear and starting to dig through the data.

"Fine. We'll take it slow. But if it turns out this guy is the key to stopping the mess out there you owe me and my girlfriend lunch."

Unfortunately the pokedex entree on Lugia would not prove terribly enlightening.

"Guardian of the seas, a single flap of it's wings can devastate houses, can create storms." This did not increase her thoughts that she was going to be able to beat it even if her whole team ganged up on it.

"I miss having super powers."

[rambling_runner]

"Yeah, I miss my magic. But if they kick off and create a storm to go with the dogs bullshit, then you can tell Saint Peter why we're dead." Ash said bluntly. Diarmuid nodded, agreeing with Ash's decision to stand back. Even going so far as to gently usher Ash back further from the water.

His gear simply supported what Jinx's had said; it slept deep in the sea because it's powers were too strong, and could cause horrific storms.

[schachmeister]

The moment he had gotten Ash's message and those pictures, Armin was back on his feet, hoisting his backpack onto his back after stocking up on supplies --he was excited, not stupid-- and he was off again. It didn't matter that his legs still felt a bit heavy. Or that the side of his foot was starting to get a bit rubbed raw in these shoes --he had never expected to miss his old uniform boots, but they certain stood up to abuse more than the shoes you could get here-- because Ash had found them.

Ash had #FoundLugia.

He stuck to the route Ash had given him in his message, and after a good while, he finally came to the crack Ash had described, widened far enough that a person could slip through. Undoubtedly, it would end up broken through even further as the hordes got here, but for now, this was enough to let Armin slip into the cavern and--

Oh.

His eyes widened as he took in the sight of the three legendary birds perching like sentinels on various outcroppings. They apparently weren't so hostile as to immediately attack him for entering the cave, but Armin was very certain that all three of them had noticed him enter and wouldn't just let him do as he pleased. The fourth pokemon was still no more than a pale silver ghost underneath the water's surface, indistinct and hidden from view, but already just that was enough to fill Armin with a sense of awe. And he remembered, of course, that they were here (well, he was here) to make certain that whatever was happening on Mt Mortar wouldn't find its sequel here, but even with that in mind, it was practically impossible not to feel awed by the presence of four legendary pokemon, creatures of legend that had, some say, created this very world.

His steps felt a little too loud in the wide open cavern, but thankfully, they drew no ire from the birds, who only followed him with their eyes as he slowly approached Ash's very familiar shape. His cheeks were a bit flushed, half excitement, half exertion from getting here as fast as he could, and above them, his eyes shone, his voice automatically falling to a hush. "You found them."

[rambling_runner]

"Somehow." Ash smiled and clapped his shoulder when he was close enough. He had wished Armin had been with him when he had found them but, ti just didn't work out that way. They had to part ways a couple of times to explore every avenue and spread their resources when it came to helping the people and Pokemon in the caves. But he was here now. He hadn't missed this, and that matters the most.

"Quick thing; don't go near the water. They won't do shit if we're on land, but they flare up if anyone goes near the lake. probably cos...well, it's in there, innit?"

In all the awe and majesty of the birds and this place, Ash hadn't noticed something. An Oshawott standing right by his side, folding his little arms and nodding along with what he was saying. Diarmuid had noticed the little otter...but seemed to just be watching how this would play out.

[schachmeister]

"It must be. Mr Newt said animals usually collect food like this if they are taking care of a young animal or a wounded one. If Lugia is injured, I can see why they wouldn't want us to come near." The shape they could see underneath the water was too large to belong to a young one, so that was probably out. But Lugia could still be injured. Especially with the other legendaries having a spat over in Johto. Perhaps Lugia had accidentally gotten caught up in that.

"If those crowds from the beach get here, they probably won't stay away from the water though..."

Because somehow it seemed that half the people out there didn't have a shred of common sense. It was mind-boggling to Armin, but perhaps that was how people turned out growing up in such a calm and peaceful world.

[rambling_runner]

"The girl I was with when we found this place tried that. The birds swooped on us and dumped us in the water - and that water is bloody cold." He shivered. He was lucky he had brought a change of clothes and left his beg on dry land this time. "If they're protecting it, then they've got it covered."

He groaned however, at the thought of everyone from the beach coming. "You didn't message anyone else, right? From the beach? I only told you and Noctis, and he's on Mt. Mortar right now. I really don't want people trying to rush here...or the Legendary Seekers setting up camp out here and making a huge fucking show of it." It was quiet and private right now. If the Legendary Seekers brought all their shit here, it wouldn't be like that for long. They might end up trashing the place too; he had noticed the rubbish gathering on the beach in his brief pass through.

[schachmeister]

Armin shook his head. "I didn't tell anyone. I packed up and left the moment I got your message. But I don't think this will stay hidden. Soon or later, someone will catch on." Armin frowned a little, thinking of Mr Newt and Mr Pines. And Angel too. "And while I don't the whole beach to descend on this place either, there are a few people who I think should see this. They might be able to help us understand what is going on here."

[rambling_runner]

Ash sighed and folded his arms. Armin was right. The two of them (and Jinx) couldn't solve this problem alone. But he still wasn't sure who else he'd want to bring out here.
"...you might wanna call those people quick then, if word's already spreading. So they can get here first and see the birds before they get pissed by everyone crowding them."

At his side, the Oshawott folded his arms to copy Ash, giving a firm 'Osha!' in agreement. Which is when Ash realised it was there. "....did this one come in with you?"

[schachmeister]

Armin was busy fishing his gear out of his pocket, a running list in his head of who to contact --Mr Pines and Mr Newt for certain, and Angel and Krieg as well; but was there anyone else?-- when Ash's words interrupted him, and he glanced down a bit confused. The sight of the little Oshawott standing there, copying Ash's posture made his lips twitch up into a smile despite the serious situation they were dealing with. "He didn't come in with me. It looks like you made a new friend."

[rambling_runner]

"Wait, really?" How had he not- well actually it would've been easy given he was distracted by the everything in this cave. He took a sidestep, to see what the Pokemon would do. It tried to copy him, but needed to take a few extra steps because of the difference in their sizes. Ash unfolded his arms and put a hand on his hip.

"How long have you been here, huh?" The Oshawott copied him and began to talk to him. Diarmuid tapped Ash's shoulder and translated, making Ash's eyes widen. "Wait, you've been following me for an entire day already??" The Oshawott just looked very smug with itself, nodding.

[schachmeister]

Armin had to bite down on a soft laugh. The whole situation was rather serious with the legendaries and another great beast hiding underneath the water's surface, especially taking into account what was happening on Mt Mortar, and yet somehow, Ash still managed to get himself trapped in these little situations.

"I don't think it is alone either." Armin nodded at another Oshawott eyeing them all from a bit away, hiding behind a rocky outcropping. Was it more shy? Wary? Just the only one of the two with a lick of common sense and stranger danger? The world might never know.

Still, it wasn't long before Armin's amusement sobered a little. "It might not be the best idea for them to stay here." If everybody from the beach did descend on this cave, chaos would be inevitable. And two little pokemon like this might easily get hurt or trapped in that sort of situation, especially if the more idiotic legendary seekers did manage to anger the three birds. Or whatever was underneath the water.

[rambling_runner]

Ash nodded. He was right about that. "God, I really hope they don't cause more shit getting here...there was enough trouble from the activity in the caves, having a mob all rushing down the same path could be real trouble. Hopefully it makes them just, avoid that route until everyone's fucked off."

He turned to the Oshawott. "I'm real flattered but you better get going somewhere with your friend. It's gonna be getting real busy around here-" but the Oshawott looked so insulted, and shook his head stubbornly, folding his arms and tilting his head up at him. Ash leaned down, both hands on his hips. "Look, it's-"

The Oshawott responded by putting it's hands on it's hips, leaning back to mirror Ash's pose - and then fired a Water Gun at Ash's face. It didn't hurt, just got him wet. He spluttered and shook his head. "Damnit!" The Oshawott just pouted and firmly said something - then planted it's ass on Ash's shoe. Ash looked down at it, brushing back his now slightly wet hair, then up at Armin.

"Dude." Help him please!

[schachmeister]

Ah, now this was familiar. It reminded Armin a bit of how Niccolo had acted. No matter how often Armin had shooed the little bear away, he had always stubbornly resisted or returned. Though in that case, it was Magellan who had managed to impress the little pancham to the point of not wanting to leave.

Resting his hands on his knees, Armin leant down a bit to take a better look at the little Oshawott who had so stubbornly planted ass on Ash's shoe. "I think it wants to stay with you. You must have left a good impression on it."

[rambling_runner]

Ash's shoulders sagged. Honestly it wasn't bad but he had a feeling this was going to be a stubborn git of a Pokemon. "Okay. Right, I'll get him in a ball." He took out a pokeball and tried to bounce it down on the Oshawott's head. But the Oshawott moved and avoided the ball, giving him a look. "What?"

Diarmuid translated again as the Oshawott pouted at him, now sitting on his other shoe. Turns out, the Oshawott knew that any pokemon Ash caught was getting sent back to the Pokemon Centre. And he wanted to stay right. Here.
"Oh my god. Right, okay, you can stay. Just, don't get swept up with everyone else. And get your arse off my shoe."

The Oshawott gave him a pleased look. So now he had Holokai and this Oshawott who refused to use Pokeballs. He sighed. "Wanna come and check on that other one? Just in case it's actually this one's twin?"