Video 01

[runicfeathers]

[There's audible frustration as you hear swearing and the pokegear clatter to the ground. (Bear with her, this is still new for her as her world used magic devices as their communication tech.) Once it's picked up and she dusts it off, she lets out a huff of embarrassment before turning the camera feature towards the Fletchling on her shoulder, and then to her own face, pointed ears poking out of her hair.]

As you must now already all be aware, I've little knowledge of this place! A curse it must be to be found in this place without your powers, and then find you've become a mortal like all the natives, how insulting!

[A brief pause before shaking her head, stopping herself before she starts cursing the ancients of Tharcia and going on a tirade about how Rivaersa unfairly cursed her, stripping her of her Phoenix powers.]

But no matter, 'tis unimportant. What draws my attention is that all here seem to be gifted in Beastmastery... how curious, that's a rare gift in my home, a gift by bloodline and tribe in fact. Are all in this place of the same ancestors or family lines? Or do these creatures have a friendlier disposition than most beasts? This one on my shoulder here, whom I've decided to name 'Nova', calls herself a "Fletchling" and says she's going to be my companion as I "train" her to become stronger. Is this what those beasts here are all called, Fletchling?

AND WHAT IS WITH THIS AWFUL NOISE PLAYING NON-STOP?

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[stardiving]

[Oh look, the starting point of this response is a disaster too, as Estinien's Vulpix once again grabs the gear from him (this time, having dug it out of the bottom of his bag) and run off with it.]

Iceheart, bring that here--Halone take it, you little monster--

[There's a short tug of war as he grabs the gear from her. Despite the annoyance in his voice, when he flips the camera around so she can actually see him, there's a cheerful and smug white fox sitting in his lap. She wanted attention and annoying him is an easy way to get it.]

There are different types. You can understand them?

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[amaure]

[Another immortal it seems? The slight point to her ears certainly gives him reason to believe her claims towards not being human at the very least.]

Is it not simply the worst? Certainly not worth the hassle mortals try to pretend it is.

[He'll ask about the whole...understanding Pokémon thing in a moment. That's less important.]

Forgive my forwardness, but what manner of immortal are you?

[runicfeathers]

[Congrats little Vulpix, that gets a small laugh through her frustration so she's not snippy at the responder! Iceheart, what a cute name too. Once she sees him, she sees the creature in his lap as well. That must be Iceheart, what a cute creature to match the name given it.]

Different types? So they're not all called "Fletchling" then? [she nods at the question, as her bird chirps at the video to the one called Iceheart, something about introductions. What a polite bird, compared to her at the moment dense as a rock owner.] Not all of them, only the avians of this place it seems. A mouse-like creature came up to me and I could not hear its voice as I can Nova's.

[runicfeathers]

It is! Truly the worst to be made mortal when you're born... not. I presume you were met with the same insulting fate upon arrival?

[The forwardness of the man stops her briefly, unsure of how to answer at first. Were they in Rivaersa, she'd deny him her kind outright, but here it matters not she supposes. And so, with a sigh and shake of her head, she decides to give the answer.]

A Phoenix, as I see little reason to hide my identity here since it's of little worth now and can't be hunted for my feathers or blood. Forgive my own forwardness as well, but I return your question with knowing what immortal being you are yourself.

[stardiving]

[If anyone could handle her being snippy with him, it's Estinien, he just straight up does not care.

He nods in response to her question.]

They are generally called [And he almost winces, because the name sounds ridiculous] Pokémon.

[Iceheart trills in agreement, and chatters a bit at the camera in response. Estinien just looks thoughtful--he obviously can't understand any of his team, he wonders why she can.

He pushes his hair back over his shoulder, revealing the little Rookidee perched there--it likes hiding in his thick bird's nest mop of hair.]

Iceheart is a Vulpix--though there are two forms, as I hear, ice and fire. Temple is a Rookidee.

[Cathedral is...a dinner plate. And also in its pokeball.]

[Video]

[strings_theory]

[Excuse the small snort in the background as she gets this video set-up, just casually getting it all figured out before it settles on her. She looks... a little irritated, but that's the normal expression.]

It's just kind of a thing that happens here, whether you're fuckin' native or not. And fletchling is just what that one is. [She's shifting the camera to focus in on a moody looking talonflame with... that's... a fucking hat on the damn thing. But he seems content in his tree despite the moodiness. And the being an almost four foot tall bird.]

That's what that one'll turn into at the end of the evolution line, by the way. Pretty useful fuckin' thing. [She is not touching the music thing, sorry.]

[runicfeathers]

[The colourful language takes her aback for a moment, although she's used to hearing language such as that from Dwarves and commonfolk, so it doesn't throw her off completely. But the confirmation of it not being just immortals who get screwed over is something rather pleasing, albeit frustrating all the same.]

How dreadful... [Before she's able to say more, the sight of the large bird puts her in a state of awe, but she mentally notes that is only what Nova is called.] What a stunning creature! This is what my little Nova will become? Ah-- you say "evolution", is this something that happens after what Nova said this "training" would do, or is it something else altogether?

[Her seeming dimwittedness at the moment is only due to not having paid much mind to the scholar that had called himself "Elm" when he spoke, she was too fixated on her new bird friend that resembled her own fiery falcon back home.]

[runicfeathers]

[A good thing were that fiery nature of hers to spark up, and a boon for others who cannot that she can hold that tongue as well.

The name of the creatures makes her eye twitch, how absurd that these wonderful creatures she's seen thus far have such an unattractive and underwhelming name.]

How terrible of a name for them that is, what manner of being thought it acceptable to call these beasts that? Shameful and dreadful if I'm asked!

[Her face lights up at the Rookidee hiding in the man's hair. Now that was something she wasn't even remotely expecting from anyone, but it's charmed her no less. More so than her young bird chirping away at the Vulpix.]

Ice and fire? So they are elemental beasts! [A pause] How many elements are there in this world? In mine, only nine exist. Is that the same number as here?

[stardiving]

[Shocker, he can actually answer this--he's been doing some research on the Gear (when Solus isn't watching, as a matter of pride.) It behooves him to know what he's dealing with, after all. It's slow going, but he's getting there. He has little else to do here, and he's not the sort to leave himself idle, even if he doesn't particularly like researching in musty old books or on electronic devices he barely understands.]

They count 18, though to call them each elements would be stretching the definition. Rock and Ground are counted separately, though by my world's reckoning they would be one and the same.

[Though Water and Ice would probably be the same to most people and he's perfectly used to those being counted separately.]

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[cometkin]

[The person peering back across the screen at her is an older man, bearded and balding.]

Uh, I think 'Fletchling' is just what your little bird friend is called. The animals in general are just called pokemon?

[runicfeathers]

Eighteen? That is an absurd amount, and I dare say unnecessary as well.

[she nods at the rock and ground being the same. What need is there to break the two apart from one another when they serve the same purpose?]

Here they're separate? Strange, in my home they're just called "earth". Ours are Light, Shadow, Lightning, Earth, Nature, Wind, Fire, Ice, and Water.

[This strange world separating elements baffles her and she cannot make sense of why they have so many.]

[stardiving]

[Estinien shrugs helplessly. He doesn't get it either. Hers sound fairly similar to the ones he's used to, with the exclusion of 'nature'.]

One of them is 'Dragon,' which is most certainly not an element, another is 'Fighting', and 'Normal'. They're referred to as 'types'. Tis likely best not to think of them as elemental aspects at all.

[Especially since...like he said. Dragon, Fighting, and Normal? That's not even all the weird ones.]

Some are possessed of two affinities, and can learn techniques from others they are unrelated to. This--damn thing-- [At that, he gives the Gear a little shake to indicate that's what he's talking about] contains information on each.

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[captainash]

Sadly, the music is present everywhere around here, even if the exact song tends to change as you move from route to route. You can replace it with whatever's playing on the radio, but you can't turn it off completely. It'll stop bothering you after a while.

[Probably.]

[amaure]

[...Ah, a phoenix. Poor creature, barely realizes it's not truly immortal, for one must first be living.]

Mm, yes you need not worry over such, as we all are regrettably the same now. Naught unique about us.

[He grins as he answers her question, however. Straight forward and polite, and for that she gets an honest answer.]

I am an Ascian, though I know not whether you are familiar with my kind.

[strings_theory]

[She might as well be the most common breed of Florida Woman, so it's totally fine. Though at the commentary she nods slowly, watching her bird out of the corner of her eye. He knows he won't go anywhere, but you never know sometimes.]

Yep, that's what your bird will become. And, uh, for that particular line, yeah. There's some other Pokemon that evolve via... I guess friendship or some shit? And others with items like stones and such. [She's panning the screen around a bit to settle on a sylveon that's on his back like a ding-dong.] Demon there was one of the friendship ones, [and over to a slowking staring at the water in thought.] and Butterball had to use an item and a trade. It's all kinda weird, but you get used to it.

[runicfeathers]

[Well now that's an insult to the dragons, calling them a type. Magnificent and just as ancient as her kind being boiled down to a "type"? Unacceptable, it would be like Phoenix being a type and she dare not think of that dreadful idea.]

How awful... Such ancient creatures of beauty being demoted to something such as a type. [she tilts her head and gives a puzzled stare at the device.] A wealth of knowledge contained in such a tiny device? My, this world has some wonders worth finding out after all.

[runicfeathers]

[Maybe in that world of yours Emet, but not hers!]

Quite the misfortune to be the same as all, 'tis a shame to have none of the things which make us unique.

[Politeness is a thing she's mastered and uses when it suits her, that's what happens when you deal with political leaders and have to sit through hours of insufferable arguing and boasting at meetings.]

I've not heard of your kind, many apologies. Perhaps too invasive, but may I ask what your people are like? If you'd rather decline, my sincerest apologies for asking too much.

[runicfeathers]

[She tries not to visibly cringe at the name of the beasts of this world, it sounds so... awful to her to call them that.]

That's quite the strange, and... unappealing name for the beasts here, but I suppose I'll get accustomed to it as it seems I'm unable to go home.

[runicfeathers]

[An incredibly frustrated sigh, akin to a growl, comes from her as she shakes her head. Not the answer she'd hoped for.]

I pray to the Ancients it would after some time, but for now it's an infernal screech in my ears. What's this "radio" of which you speak, and where can I obtain it?

[She'd never caught the explanation of if it was on her device or not, she didn't bother paying the woman called mother any mind. That woman certainly was not her mother.]

[stardiving]

[Estinien has a...very odd relationship with dragons, so while he does feel a little strange about it, on the other hand...well, he spent a lot of the last few months palling around with a teenage dragon in a bar drinking sake and eating squid that said dragon had charred for him, and before that, well.

Dragons had been a source of hatred and dread. He'd killed a lot of them. Sort of the entire job description, raison d'etre, etc. And then there was his time as Nidhogg, which is just better off not discussed ever.]

Tis like not equivalent to whatever dragons you are used to. Do not think of it over-much.

[Seriously, he already has that problem with Solus. He gets that it's hard for immortal types to adjust, but make an effort please.]

[amaure]

[SURE, JAN. He knows what he knows!]

My, my, aren't you a polite sort. Much more tolerable than most, at any rate.

[He's talking about you, fellow rockets.]

Perhaps another time, should we find ourselves becoming more familiar with one another. However, should you've any other queries regarding this world—generous as it is to call it such—you need only ask.

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[schachmeister]

Forgive me if I misunderstood you but... your pokemon told you?

[There are... a lot of other questions to answer, yes, but Armin can't help but stumble over that mention. Mentally, at least! There might be a few pokemon capable of psychic speech, but he has never heard of a Fletchling being capable of it.]

[captainash]

The good news is, you already have one.

[This is very much not the answer he wishes he could give, either, but he can at least offer that much.]

It's one of the Pokégear's basic functions. Not sure which model you have exactly, but one of the buttons should bring up a list of channels identified by a number and the letter J. Each has its own music style or a few programs about the locals, so just pick one you can tolerate for a few hours when the usual music becomes too much.

[A pause, as he suddenly remembers an important detail.]

Don't bother with the... second? Third? On the list, though, that one only ever plays a single song.

[cometkin]

Yeah, sorry. It's just what they're called. But I think all the different kinds have different names?

[runicfeathers]

[She sighs and shakes her head, of course she could understand birds. What bird couldn't understand their own kind?]

Yes, of course she did! I can understand and communicate with all forms of birds in my homeland. 'tis naught queer in the slightest there, not around my people nor with the gifted Beastmasters. Do you Beastmasters here not possess this ability to do such things with those you tame?