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

Entry tags:

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

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!)

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The number of people coming into Lugia's cavern, shouting and taking flash photography and generally making a nuisance of themselves, not to mention those who try their luck at going into the water and being driven back by the three birds?

Yeah, that was going to get old eventually.

Two days after the cavern is discovered is about where Lugia's patience with the constant disturbances ends. These humans are clearly not going to simply go away and leave it in peace, and its three birds are only growing more and more upset. They've only just swooped towards yet another enterprising soul making a move at surfing towards the lake when that barely-seen shape beneath the water finally rises.

Lugia breaks the surface of the water with an authoritative cry that resonates throughout the caves, and with a few flaps of its wings perches on that small island. The other three birds cry out too, returning to their own rocky perches. Their job keeping the humans away is done, and they don't seem as aggressive as before. Just...watching.

Lugia looks out on the humans and Pokemon crowded on the rocky beach of the cave with a sort of exasperated resignation, folding its wings. It doesn't look aggressive, and won't attack if approached...although Pokemon won't carry their trainers all the way to the island, and the water is too frigid to swim in.

Still, you'll be able to get close enough to maybe try communicating with the great bird?

Honestly, Joker would be a liar if he said he hadn't been waiting to take a dive in himself. It's just that he was going to wait while there were enough people to distract all three birds, and then go in himself in hopes that he could make it past them. It's a bit cutthroat, but, well, he doesn't feel too bad about it. It's why he's been standing to the side, watching in amusement and resting his hand on Sapphire the Walrein's head.

As it turns out, he won't need to bother.

Along with everyone else, he's left gaping as Lugia itself rises out from the waters.... and of course discretely takes a shot because why waste a once in a lifetime event? But the Pokegear is gone in a flash as he quickly reaches for another one of his Pokeballs. Sapphire, he's starting to suspect, might not be the best choice for this little endeavor... Especially after hearing that loud and haunting cry.

That's how he ends up on the back of Coffee the Noivern. After all, if three bleedin' big birds can be constantly divebombing poor unfortunate surfers, why not one of his own? Of course, on his shoulder, always with him, is Angel the Mime Jr, and he has Ash the Larvesta tucked away in his hoodie as well. Both small Pokemon seem uncertain, but they stay with him regardless as he gets airborn.

Coffee still doesn't seem on getting too close, but... That's fine. Joker has a ringmaster's voice in the end, so he can keep a bit of distance as he calls out to the massive Legendary.

"HULLO! Sorry about all of the ruckus disturbin' ya! Yer not hurt or anythin', right? Since it seems like yer friends over there were gettin' an awful lot of stuff!"

Lugia turns its great head towards the human on his Noivern, clearly having heard that carrying voice.

There doesn't seem to be any sign of injury, and at the implication that there might be any weakness whatsoever, Lugia spreads its wings out and flaps them once, pointedly, sending a gust of air across the whole cave. No, this legendary is in perfect health thank you very much.

Still, Lugia appreciates the apology for the disturbance, and nods once, seeming ready to listen to anything else this particular human might say.

Well that settles that.

The gust sends Coffee spinning, leaving the Noivern hastily trying to right himself. Angel's eyes go pink as she tries to help as well, which helps the small group right themselves faster than most. Which is good.... since Joker was busy holding his Larvesta tight to his chest with both arms.

"That's good!" he says cheerily once they're steady in the air again, apparently not too bothered by that spin. Working in a circus sure does come in handy when it comes to getting your bearings. "Would it be alright if we came a bit closer ta ask ya some questions? Things have been a tad bizarre lately, have ta admit!"

Lugia rumbles, but after a minute or two that probably seems longer under the Legendary's considering gaze, it nods down at a smaller rock sticking out of the water a little ways away from the main island, just large enough for Coffee to land on and for Joker to get off and stand if he doesn't mind it being a bit cramped.

That's as close as Lugia will allow, but it will allow that much.

Hey, he's done worse. It takes a little bit of nudging for Coffee to go and land, but eventually the Noivern does. After a second of making sure he won't fall into the water- Sapphire doesn't need a heart attack- he beams up at the Legendary.

"Thank ya kindly! Mighty generous of ya since we're in here makin' a ruckus." Best to not insult the giant bird dragon thing after all. "Anyway, yer not the only one who's been up and about! Entei, and his two friends have been raisin' an unholy ruckus lately, I gotta say." A pause as he waits to see the reaction, Angel leaning forward on his shoulder doing the same. Time to see if any of the other Legendaries care what the others do.

While others were mystified, Newt was worried. The other three birds seemed extremely protective of the other Legendary in the water and that made him wonder if the large beast was hurt or perhaps there was something else going on. Something that had put the larger one in danger. Whatever the case was, Newt wanted to do what he could to help.

So he was extremely relieved to see Lugia finally break the surface and settle on the small island, the young man looking the Legendary over as best he could from where he was but it was hard to say if Lugia was injured or not.

Which is why Newt wanders away from those gathered to find a spot that puts him at least a bit closer--though a bit is even pushing it in terms of how close he is--his Drampa companion (who he had fondly been calling Albus) shuffling along with him. On his shoulder is Fay, the Flabebe sister to the one traveling with Armin currently, who twills and waves at the large bird though she's acting far more respectful than usual which tells Newt just how serious these creatures are to other Pokemon. He reaches up to gently cup a hand around Fae, giving her a small smile before his gaze goes to Lugia as Albus the Drampa bumps his head against Newt's back.

"Ah--hello--Lugia, is it? Yes?" Because perhaps the creature preferred another name. Who knows. "...Are you alright?" It comes out sincerely, worry splashed on Newt's face now that the ice was broken so to speak. "Your friends seem rather worried and, well, from what I've heard about the lot of you this sort of appearance is rather uncommon. If you're injured, we can help."

Lugia turns its head to look down at the human speaking to it, and the kind gestures towards his own Pokemon do not go unnoticed. Nor does the worried look, although that makes Lugia raise its head again proudly and let out another loud, sonorous cry as though to prove that there is absolutely nothing wrong with it at all.

And, to be fair, there don't seem to be any visible injuries anywhere on its body, and given that Lugia is mostly white, they'd certainly stick out if there were.

Once Lugia's posturing is finished, that head leans back towards Newt and his Pokemon, giving them an expectant look. Well? Can't they see that there's no need to think it weakened?

Hey, you can't blame Newt for being concerned. All the others were making quite disturbance for no obvious reason.

The display gets a rather fond smile out of the young man and he waits for Lugia to finish before the hand that had been resting against Fae comes to rest on his chest.

"My apologies. I was simply worried," Newt said as Fae let out a little twill on his shoulder, pressed close against her human friend's neck as she watched Lugia with obvious awe. "The others--" He gestured to the other birds. "--seemed to be rather intent on bringing everything they could get here to this cavern. I've seen many creatures do the same sort of thing if there's an injured individual or even a young one around."

As Newt spoke, his Drampa companion lifted it's head, peering sightlessly in the direction it could sense Lugia, letting out a low rumble.

It has been pretty intense lately, sir.

If Lugia had been any other animal but a bird, it would have sniffed at that comment.

But the Drampa gets its attention, and Lugia listens to what the dragon has to say...and doesn't seem to know what he's talking about. The Legendary has been down in these caves the whole time the weather has been going wrong, the mess outside has been off the radar. It glances back at the three other birds, expectantly.

They busy themselves with preening suddenly. Or looking in the other direction.

Lugia, exasperated, turns back to Newt and the Drampa, letting out a questioning noise. Exactly what do they mean by 'intense'?

Newt doesn't have to be able to completely understand them to tell what's going on. The obvious way that the trio busy themselves like that and the exasperation on Lugia's face is telling enough.

"Oh...oh dear," he murmured with a sigh as Albus the Drampa huffed softly "Ah, I don't want to get your friends there in too much trouble and really it's more what the other three--the Legendary Beasts as others tend to refer to them as--have been up to but there's been a rather chaotic mess of weather developments that's resulted in something of a stand off."

He really wishes he had his magic right now. He could at least illustrate it all for Lugia. Then again, this was a Legendary creature and could probably figure it out easy enough.

"Your friends there made their appearance a few days ago which prompted us to begin searching for you. They've had quite a bit of fun stealing items and food from those that had gathered about."

Lugia's eyes narrow at this news as it gives a displeased rumble. No, this seems to be coming as a surprise...sort of?

Because what it does next is shake its head in that same sort of resigned frustration that it had shown when it first emerged from the water.

Albus might be able to make out a few rumbled mutters along the lines of, "Of course, can't leave for even a moment..."

Albus let out a low chuckle, earning him a curious glance from Newt.

"What is it humans say? Kids will be kids?"

"I truly am sorry to be the bearer of such frustrating news," Newt spoke up after Albus, not really sure what the two were chatting about but Albus's demeanor made it obvious it wasn't anything too bad. His gaze returned to the legendary as, on his shoulder, Fae giggled softly though was doing her best to contain it. Watching Legendaries get scolded was just kind of hilarious! "But if there is some way we can put a stop to this...I know the Legendary Beasts are not your responsibility which is why there's a group at the Bell Tower attempting to find Ho-oh, but if there's anything you can do that could help ease the chaos..I'm worried that if they keep it up at the mountain that humans and Pokemon alike are going to get quite injured."

Lugia's tail lashes

"Ho-oh OUGHT to be taking care of this."

Newt might not be able to understand the words, but the tone behind the rumble is clear.

Albus sighed, shaking his head and that, in combination with that tail lash, was enough to get a soft frown out of Newt.

"..I understand that Raikou, Entei and Suicune are not the trio you oversee but do you honestly intend to just sit by as they destroy everything in sight?" he asked, gaze returning to Lugia as he crossed his arms. On his shoulder, Fae squeaked and ducked underneath the collar of his coat. "That does not seem very responsible. As a Legendary, are you not--shouldn't you be more concerned with what everyone around you does?"

Now Lugia turns that displeased look down on Newt, because how dare this human scold it, Lugia, guardian of the seas?! As though it did not care for what was happening?

The great wings spread out and flap again once, whipping up the water, at the same time it lets out a much deeper, more authoritative call that echoes in the cavern. It doesn't feel so much like a frustrated tantrum as it does a demand for respect.

Lugia leans down closer, almost to eyelevel with the trio but still just a bit above, speaking to Albus.

"You may inform your human that of course I am concerned with what is happening. I do not intend to do nothing."

Perched on their rocks, the three birds seem to droop slightly with disappointment, although Zapdos lets off a few sparks of annoyance along with it.

Well you have been hiding out in a cave during all of this, Lugia.

Newt doesn't flinch as the Legendary beast leans down close, seemingly unafraid of that little display that the other had just put on.

"There's no need to get a temper about it," he said through a sigh as Albus rumbled lowly.

"He means well. He worries about all manner of creature," Albus said thoughtfully as he leaned down to bump his head against Newt's. The young man reached up to pet the Drampa's head, earning himself a low purr. "He wants to help. It has just been tiring for all of us."

Word traveled quickly among Pokemon and it hadn't taken long for many of them to hear about what was going on at Mt. Mortar.

"...I do not mean you any disrespect, my friend, but I think it may be for the best if you stepped in sooner rather than later," Newt spoke up, unaware of what exactly the conversation between the two was but body language at least gave him a clue. "And if there is anything that you need us to do, we are here to help."

Fae twilled from her place on his shoulder before floating off it, twirling about on her flower before giving Lugia a big smile.

They'd all help!

His Dad had always taught him; you do not mess about fae creatures, you do not try to outsmart beings of great power, and you do not make deals with dragons.

But just talking to em didn't count as any of that, right?

So Ash very carefully approached Lugia, with Diarmuid at his side to help him speak with the giant, Legendary Diving Pokemon. Thankfully Dish understood the gravity of meeting this Pokemon and let him ride on her back, instead of carrying him. Might not appear too...mature, when trying to talk to a demi-god. Although when she stopped and wouldn't go any further, he patted her head and praised her for taking him out just a little of the way. He could call out from here, don't you worry Dish.

The first thing he did, and Diarmuid followed suit, was to bow to Lugia. It just felt like the right thing to do. He straightened up and ruffled his hair, feeling really sheepish. Diarmuid knew that the great bird was a psychic, so only interjected to phrase was Ash was saying in a more focused, refined manner.

"Hey. Look, first I gotta apologise about, everyone here. I had no idea everyone would like, come rushing in like it's Brighton fucking beach. I just wanted to make sure nothing happened. Like, the dogs have been out of control lately, and then these guys-" He waved an arm to the three birds perched nearby, "started appearing and taking everybody's stuff? It felt like things could go to hell real fast. And we didn't know why they were taking stuff. I mean, we're guessing it was for you?"

Ash did well to apologize first thing, because Lugia doesn't know for certain which human it was that found the cavern, but it does know that suddenly this nice quiet secret cave is full of a whole crowd of humans and Pokemon making a ruckus. The bow certainly also helps things along.

So Lugia looks slightly appeased, giving Ash a deliberate nod of acknowledgement although its eyes narrow and it lets out a displeased, frustrated rumble at the news of the Beasts. It had NOT known about all that going on.

Another nod at the question. Of course they had been bringing their guardian food and gifts!

"See, the thing is; is it your birthday? Cos, we've been wondering why they're suddenly bringing you all this. My friends have been worried that you're hurt, but you look pretty healthy from where I'm standing." Technically sitting, given he's on Dish's back to talk with Lugia.

"Now, I ain't suggesting anything," he glances at the other birds real quick incase they're about to swoop on him for saying this, "but when I bring my Dad a bunch of presents out of the blue, it's because I've done something. Either I fucked up on accident or I knew I shouldn't have done a thing but I did it anyway, but then I try and give him something nice. You know, so he doesn't get too mad with me. Course, he just immediately figures out that I'm buttering him up over something and calls me out on my shit, but it'd be worse if I hadn't given him something first I think."

Basically. Had the birds already fucked up and angered the dogs? Cos it was the first explanation Ash could come to about why they're bringing Lugia all this shit, especially if Lugia hadn't seemed too happy about the dogs acting up.

One of Lugia's feet taps at the ground, almost as though it's thinking this over, before it turns to look at the three birds, eyes narrowed searchingly.

The three of them immediately start up a chorus of protests, which any Pokemon would be able to understand (at least the basic gist, they're all kind of shouting over each other):

"No! That isn't right--"

"--human doesn't know what he's talking about!"

"We thought you'd stay longer if we brought you all that!"

"Ho oh should have been taking care of it!"

Lugia cries out again, in a way that's almost scolding but not quite as annoyed as before, but definitely intended to get them to stop shouting. After all, that's no way for dignified Legendaries to behave in front of everyone. They do settle down, albeit looking ruffled, and Lugia turns back to Ash, a questioning sound coming from its mouth. Well? Anything more to say, human?

Diarmuid didn't interrupt the birds arguing, although he did catch the basic message and gave it to Ash. (Possibly) not troublemakers, but trying to keep Lugia here. And saying Ho-oh should be 'taking care of it'. Ash took it in quietly and looked up at Lugia's questioning sound.

"Look, I know it's probably nothing to do with you and honestly, you'd rather we all just left you in peace with these guys and sodded off. There's people at Bell Tower trying to get in touch with Ho-oh right now but, if there's something you can do, we really, really need your help." His expression softened and became more serious, remembering Noctis' message.

"The weather stuff? Yeah, that's annoying. But right now there is a massive wildfire on Mt. Mortar because of the dogs, and it's tearing through everything. It's so bad people have gone there to try and help. Hell, they went there because Entei and Raikou - I think that's the pair there - were stomping around, roaring at each other and causing enough back and through lightning and fireworks. Which was bad enough for the local Pokemon and people in terms of how dangerous that shit is. Now it's lit up and they're all in way more serious danger, and the pair of 'em still won't stop what they're doing!"

"Again, I know those dogs aren't ya thing. These guys here are. And I know, it's really shitty that everyone turned up here when you just, wanted to be left alone. But we only came cos we're worried as all hell."

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

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