[video]

[stratezeitgeist]

[A young man comes onto the screen. You might have difficulty telling that he is a man, he does have very pretty features. You wouldn't be the first to think so. He looks very tired, but seems to be holding himself together well enough. He tries to keep it out of his voice and off his face, but he is suspicious of everything, including using the PokéGear and its applications. There may be enemies out there, but there may also be friends.]

[His voice is a little soft, but confident and well-enunciated. He has what sounds like a British accent.] Greetings. My name is Alphinaud. I must admit, I am only attempting to make contact with others to understand my predicament more fully.

I have... I have my theories— about all of this, of course. However, one of my more burning questions has to do with my companion.

[The camera moves over to a Yamask, contentedly floating mid-air]

This is a ghost of what was once most assuredly a man if the Pokédex is reliable. How did this happen, and how may I release his soul from its wretched state?

Comments

video;

[unconchonable]

[Did you want help? TOO BAD, have Eridan instead!]

Uh, you can release it into the wild, but that's likely the only fuckin' releasin' you can do for it.

[A beat.]

I don't recommend that, eff-why-aye. 'Specially if that's your only pokèbeast. Why you concernin' yourself with that shit anyway? It seems pretty flippin' content, eye-emm-oh.

video;

[stratezeitgeist]

[The camera snaps back to Alphinaud's incredulous expression.] Why should I be concerned that a man's soul is trapped in the body of a specter? Truly? He may be content now, but I catch him looking at his mask and crying for Gods' sake. Have you ever been pulled from slumber by such a sound?

[He looks somewhere between truly disturbed and piteous. Partly for himself and how he was unable to sleep after that happened.]

What's more, what if this could simply happen to any of us? We know not the mechanism of how he was cursed. Regardless, I have another companion at my disposal. I would not be defenseless were I able to help him pass on.

video;

[unconchonable]

Sounds like a good lullaby if I ewer heard one.

[No, he'd be annoyed as fuck, if not spooked initially, but that sounds way less cool, and he's not about to get empathetic with this guy here.

The mention of two is interesting. Suddenly, Eridan feels like he might have seen this guy before. Maybe around the rocket base..?]

Did you just show up here? I mean, if you only got two an' all.

[Time to sleuth out if this is a fellow rocket, while ignoring the implications that he might become a ghost pokèmon. Honestly, he's already dead, or was killed at least. So if that was gonna happen, it probablu should have already.]

video;

[bertall]

I'm not sure how it happens myself. I've, um... I've been wondering it too, but I don't have anything that looks like that one.

<sub>[Except Sir, but Sir doesn't carry around a mask.

Speaking of Sir, a small little Phantump peeks into the frame with a curious little trill. Is that another one like him? Can he say 'hi'? Is it a friend?]</sub>

This is the closest thing I have, but I'm not sure if calling them wretched is the right thing. They seem pretty happy to be with us, so I'm not about to stop it.

_{[A beat, and Bertolt glances down towards the Phantump.]}

I'm Bertolt, by the way.

video;

[stratezeitgeist]

[The color drains from his skin as Phantump comes into view] What is that? Is that a ghost wearing a stump as a mask? Where did you find it?

[His questions come quickly; he tries to ease the panic from his voice.] A pleasure to make your acquaintance Bertolt, but you are clearly actively being haunted, same as myself.

video;

[bertall]

He sort of belonged to a friend. B-But he's not haunting me. I've never seen him act malicious towards anyone except for a few Pokemon when they were harassing me. I honestly don't think this one has a mean bone in his body. Er... If he had bones, I mean.

Video

[dreamsofahero]

*don't worry he's hardly the only pretty young man around here--*

It's certainly true that there are cases of Yamask who were previously humans, but under what circumstances a human may become a ghost pokemon upon dying is unknown.

However, I'd recommend learning whether he wants you to do something like that before attempting to; he may be perfectly content with his current state.

*... Sion may possibly be well-acquainted with a formerly human yamask, himself*

video;

[stratezeitgeist]

Unknown. Wonderful. What's to stop any of us from becoming a Pokémon is closer to my concern. Trust me, were I to become a little animal separated from my senses, I would hope that I could be granted the mercy of eternal rest. Not... This, whatever this is.

[The yamask floats into view. It knows Alphinaud is upset, and just wants to make him feel better. Too bad touching him makes Alphinaud's skin crawl as he shrinks away from it.]

Re: video;

[dreamsofahero]

For all that pokemon battles are popular here, this world seems to be a rather safe, peaceful place, so I rather doubt you'd need to be afraid of somehow dying here.

Perhaps you should start with trying to find out how he feels about things first?

video;

[equietus]

[Huh.

The accent is enough to give pause, but the way he speaks is far more familiar than how the others of this world speaks. And, perhaps he looks like someone he might have seen before...

Around the Warrior of Light, but to be fair, the business of others outside of his own, weighed little in his memory. The man in the video looks oddly like a scaleless Xaela, especially since his eyes stayed the same.]

I doubt you'll have much luck, this place seems greatly set on saddling us with daunting creatures that ill-fit.

[Like his overly friendly and playful noibat.]

video;

[stratezeitgeist]

[Oh, a familiar accent. How nice, actually, to understand every word another man was speaking.]

So... Is that all there is to it? Am I now the caretaker for a dead man's soul within a shadowy beast's body? And I am to command him as I would a carbuncle in battle? [Oops, he didn't mean to mention the carbuncle. Not that it was a secret, of course, just that no one knew what he was talking about most of the time. Like when he asked if they might have an aetheryte to attune to by any chance.]

There is something terribly deranged about all of this.

video;

[equietus]

[Unfortunately, Sidurgu isn't familiar with carbuncles. Arcanists are far removed from Ishgard, and in a city where summoning such creatures is considered heresy, the names are far removed.

That isn't to say he's never seen one, but that doesn't mean he knows what they're called, either.]

...Sure. Whatever it relates to that makes this place easier to understand, then go with that. Unfortunately, you are not wrong. I suppose you could always abandon it.

Don't let these fools and their idiotic melodrama towards these creatures sway you of your course.

[If not for the fact he needs his, he would have abandoned it days ago.]

video;

[shiro2hero]

Does it want you to release it?

Mine is supposedly a human spirit, but it's... honestly perfectly happy that way.

[He nods to one side, without actually looking. Because his Gengar, named "Haunter", is slowly materializing out of a wall nearby.]

video;

[stratezeitgeist]

I don't know. I don't think so.

[he folds his hands, clasping them tightly to try to keep himself mentally anchored here. His face betrays his adject terror]

Why is everyone so nonchalant about being around ghosts? This place is astonishingly haunted, isn't it? What tragedy must have befallen the people here for such rampant curses to take hold of so many souls?

video;

[shiro2hero]

Hey, hey, take it easy.

We're not actually sure these guys are anyone's souls. Not for certain.

But Haunter here... it came from an egg, same as the rest of the ghosts we've met.

[And Haunter nods in agreement. Beaming. It made eggs of its own with a beautiful Mimikyu. Do you want to hear about that, strange man?]

It could just be urban legend at this point.

[Video]

[findingbeasts]

In a manner of speaking that is it's released state. The lore says that when someone passes they can become a Yamask and live on as said Pokemon.

[Take that as you will though. Newt hasn't entirely figure out how ghost Pokemon function in full but he has his ideas and has learned quite a bit from talking to various ghosts.

He offers a slight smile.]

Unless your companion is in distress I can promise you it's state is far from wretched.

[Video]

[stratezeitgeist]

Do all people here release their aether in this way then?

[That would make sense. That would be horrible, but logical.]

If he isn't distressed I would almost be more concerned about his weeping. I would be distressed, too. Am I simply to attempt cheering him up? Seems rather cruel, if I can speak openly.

[Video]

[findingbeasts]

I wish I could give you a definite yes or no answer to that but unfortunate I really can't. I only know a little bit of lore about this world and one can only pull so many facts from that.

[It really isn't all that bad, is it? There are far worse things that could happen to a person.]

Pokemon are meant to be our companions more than anything else. Your friend there is probably worried that he's done something to upset you or that you aren't content with him.

Video

[11121_assumption]

[ Someone asked about ghosts. Walter Sullivan, who had been a ghost for a decade before being dragged into this world and forced to remember what it was to have a pulse and a need to breath oxygen, appeared to be alone when he answered the young man, sitting on a bench under a tree. Of course, that's not really the case. ]

You cannot release a spirit from it's state, unless you find the cause of it's transformation.

There are many Ghosts here. Not all are in 'wretched' states. [ At his side, a Phantump faded into view. He seemed shy but came forward when Walter gestured to him. ] This is a Phantump. They are said to be the spirits of children who die in forests. I believe that, for them, it is a form of reincarnation. A chance for another life.

I have not owned a Yamask. But I have several Ghost-type Pokemon. None are distressed over their existence.

[[ OH NO I'M SO SORRY, I THOUGHT I SENT THIS TAG ]]

[stratezeitgeist]

Why are the entries on these creatures so fraught with horror, then? Are we not meant to find them horrifying? They are dangerous, are they not?

[And what's more...]

Am I mistaken, or aren't ghosts distressed by their very definition?

It's cool!

[11121_assumption]

I do not remember being very distressed as a spirit in my world. I simply was. But if you insist...you can ask them yourself.

[ Sorry Alphinaud, you're speaking to a man who was a ghost himself. And who has an ample supply of them in this world; with a careless move, numerous pokeballs of his burst open and yep, there's a whole crew of ghosts around him; Assumption the Alolan Marowak sits beside him on the bench, waving hello. Gloom hovered over his other shoulder, giggling and also waving cheerily. At his other side, Doll the Banette appeared, lazing against Walter's side. There was another Pokemon, but she was hiding herself for the moment. ]

[queen_stabbity]

Well, normally I'd suggest you find a licensed necromancer - I could even refer you to some - but they're not here and their knack wouldn't work here anyway.

But they doesn't look like they're in a wretched state. Have you asked them if they wanted to be sent on?

[stratezeitgeist]

I would... have to decline even if you could find one. Is that even the proper... profession for this? I thought they just made zombies and the like.

[He meditates on his pokemon]

Looks can be deceiving.

[queen_stabbity]

Oh sure! My Aunt Aolfie is one and another, Theo, is married to a family friend. I mean, you have to go through a lot of tests and everything to get a licence but it is a proper profession. They put spirits to rest all the time. Someone has to, right? You can't have spirits rattling around haunting things if they're causing problems.

As for zombies you're not supposed to make them without a proper permit; even critters. With becoming intelligent undead you need to get the person being change's written permission and there's a whooooole long process to that one too. Psyche evaluations and everything.
[She hesitated.]

At least in my world.

[After watching him meditate on the pokemon she frowns.]

I didn't say looks. I asked if you'd asked them if they wanted to go. If they don't want to go then you're gonna have a crow bitten time getting them to leave.

[If he's not going to ask, she will turning her attention to the Yamask.]

Do you want to go? Are you suffering?

< video >

[guiltyeyes]

[ Did someone say 'Ghost'? Because Mari and her Mimikyu-- both of which are sporting purple bows (one in Mari's hair and the other around the creature's neck) --are taking a stab at addressing the new fellow. ]

Hi! I'm Mari! It's cool to see another new face. [ She hasn't seen a Yamask before but. ]

Ghost Pokemon are strange. Their entries say things about being attached to people or places when if you do your research, they can be bred. He doesn't look all that concerned to be with you. I don't wanna say he's distressed or anything.

Truth is, that no matter what the mythology behind the Pokemon, it's still an animal and a friend like any other. I tend to believe that all of those things are stories.