THE CONTEST SPOOKTACULAR!

[indigo_league]

You arrive before the sun sets over the shining sea, a little before 5 o’clock. A fleet of Corviknight taxis descend near the entrance of the castle, slowly setting their passengers on the ground and allowing them to depart. The golden rays of sunshine illuminate the edges of the castle, casting long shadows and making it take on a rather ominous appearance. Better hop to it–you wouldn’t want to miss the Halloween party, now would you?




WELCOME TO THE HALLOWEEN FRIGHTFEST!

Riegfried and Soy greet you at the entrance of the castle. Riegfried is dressed as a Zubat, toting a blue-and-purple cape, a cute hat with giant ears, and plastic fangs. Soy is dressed as a midnight Lycanroc, wearing a dark red suit and wielding a pair of fuzzy white paw gloves. They welcome you warmly, assuring them that they’ll be well taken care of here. Perhaps you’d like to get something to eat, first? Or maybe you’d like to look around at what games and delights they have to offer! Or, perhaps you’re here to perform in the Contest Spooktacular. The choice is yours!

(If asked about the previous attendants of the castle, Shieldbert and Sordward, Riegfried and Soy will exchange looks and explain that they had been…well, very politely asked to leave and not to come back to Kanto, under threat of legal action.)

EXPLORING THE FESTIVAL The Ball Room The old castle ballroom has been outfitted with spooky decorations and all manner of electrical equipment--all the necessary things to put on a good contest! Most of the furniture has been cleared away, save for a central stage for people to perform. At the beginning of the night, before the actual contest takes place, a costume catwalk will take place! Costumed guests will be encouraged to get up on there and strut their stuff. Don’t have a costume? Don’t worry! The attendants will usher you to a very big walk-in closet for you to pick out an utterly fabulous get-up. All from Riegfried and Soy’s personal collections, of course. They wouldn’t want someone to miss out on a chance to show the crowd what they’re made of! This is also the time for characters to register for the contest. After a few hours or so, an announcement is made informing people that the contest spooktacular will be taking place shortly, and for people to make their way to the ball room. The lights dim and a distant, pre-recorded bone-chilling cackle is heard. Who knows what sort of spooky scary things you’ll be seeing tonight? The Outer Courtyard For those wishing to get a breath of fresh air away from the festivities or to explore the activities the festival has to offer, look no further than the courtyard. Nestled safely within castle walls, a large fountain (certainly too new to have belonged to the original castle) stands at the center of the courtyard, the water gently cascading down over the marble figures of two nondescript and crowned humans, one holding a sword, the other a shield; wide-open doors welcome characters further into the castle. There are a plethora of spooky carnival games that have been set up along the perimeter of the courtyard. They’re definitely rigged, but maybe if you’re lucky, you’ll win that giant Mareep plush. One booth seems to be garnering quite a bit of attention–Bobbing for Applins. If you manage to grab an Applin with your teeth, you get to keep it! Just be careful you don’t bite too hard…. The Stables To the west lie the stables, with a sign posted that reads “HAUNTED HAYRIDE!”. The comforting smell of hay and wood hangs in the air. Instead of the Galarian Ponytas and Rapidashes that previously graced this area, there are a bunch of Mudsdales lounging, waiting for their turn to pull the cart. Outside, there is a scrawny bearded man perched on top of a Mudsdale, patting it on the neck and giving it reassuring words. A nearby cart filled with hay bale seats lies vacant, ready to be pulled alone. Fancy a little ride around the outside of the castle to see the sights? You can watch the sunset over the ocean, and maybe spot a few rare Pokémon! Heck, if it’s dark enough, you could even be so bold as to hold hands with someone else on the ride! Who knows what you’ll find out there? Of course, you could always just hang out with the horses. Nobody’s gonna stop you. The Kitchens To the east lie the kitchens, and what kitchens they are! Characters will be able to smell the delicious aroma of a variety of sumptuous courses being prepared for the festival. Officially, the guests are asked not to enter the kitchen, as to not to disturb the many cooks working there. Unofficially, there are not exactly any guards, so if you really wanted to sneak in, you probably won’t get stopped. The Dining Room Adjacent to the kitchens awaits a large dining room. Tables have been set up in long rows with plenty of room for all with some to spare, and once someone sits down, almost as if by magic, they will soon find one of the waitstaff at their side, presenting them with an extensive menu. Order as much (or as little) as you like! The chefs will have it ready for you in a flash. Many of the menu items seem to be…well, puns. Perhaps you’ll be interested in some Crobat Monsieur, a croque monsieur decorated like a Crobat? Or perhaps a spot of Pumpkaboo Pie? Perhaps a nice cup of Coffee-grigus would do the trick. (Rest assured, no Pokémon have been harmed in the making of any of these delicious selections.) The Inner Courtyard The Inner Courtyard looks…well, different. All the plants seem to have been temporarily removed from this area (as evident by the dozens if not hundreds of potted plants along the outside), and it’s quickly obvious as to why. A haunted house has been set up inside of the courtyard, the temporary walls obscuring the horrors that lie within. The door to enter is slightly ajar, and you hear strange and eerie noises inside. Was that howl from a person, or from a Pokémon? And what about that clanking, shuffling sound? The hairs on the back of your neck begin to stand up. Dare you enter? Fright and fun both await you. Feel free to make up what terrifying attractions are inside the haunted house. At the end, an attendant will present you with a photograph of you and your friends inside the haunted house. Ahhh, treasured memories. The Library It looks like the books were removed from the library with the departure of Sordward and Shieldbert. Perhaps they couldn’t be without their personal collection. Nevertheless, it seems that someone else has taken an interest in this room. A woman with frazzled, gray hair and gigantic spectacles stands near the entrance, a slightly unhinged grin on her face as she welcomes you inside. You see, her name is Dr. Espa–she’s a paranormal investigator, and she needs your help to study ghosts! No, no, not Ghost Pokémon–she wants to track down Bill’s great-great-great-uncle, and any other ghosts that live within these halls! The doctor–if she can even be called that–has a wide variety of pseudo-scientific equipment on hand, including spirit boxes, dot projectors, EMF readers, temperature gauges, and more. Your task, should you choose to accept it, is to wander into the deepest, most haunted sections of the castle and report back to her on whatever you find! If you weren’t already motivated by the pursuit of knowledge, she’ll also offer you a reward of 2000P for any evidence that you find. She’ll…accept any evidence, really. Is she a staff member, or just a regular woman with a keen enthusiasm for ghosts? It’s hard to tell. Riegfried and Soy certainly don’t know who she is. The Tower Not all of the towers have undergone restoration, but the grandest, largest of them has. It will take some real stamina to climb all these stairs, but if they do, characters will be rewarded with a stunning sight. From the tower’s high vantage point, it seems the entire Kanto region is on display in the incredible view. The ocean stretches out along the horizon, but closer to home, characters will be able to behold wild forests and cliffs, the green lush routes of Cerulean Cape itself and millions and millions of stars twinkling up overhead. The Rocky Beach The main attraction outside of the castle is a small stretch of rocky shoreline accessible just outside the main courtyard and down a surprisingly sturdy set of stone stairs. It looks like a group of people have set up a nice, warm bonfire on what little strip of sand they can find--perfect to stave away the chilly waterfront breeze. Why don’t you help yourself to a cup of warm cider and sit by the fire for a bit? If you’re done making your clothes smell like smoke, you could also comb the beach for interesting trinkets. Shells, whole or broken, peek out between smooth pebbles and the rare piece of sea glass, and at low tide clumps of seaweed lay draped over the craggy outcroppings. Nothing is stopping you from fishing or poking around in the shallows for Pokemon, but you're more likely to find an interesting souvenir than a new friend... And all the rest... Beyond those sparkling rooms and done up corridors lies... the rest of the castle. The parts of the castle not quite done with their renovations are roped off, but nothing is stopping guests from exploring if they so wish - especially if they are interested in finding those rumored lost treasures or traps. While the rest of the castle shines, these parts of the castle feel almost haunted. Dust and derelict dominates the rooms, old broken furniture covered in dingy white sheets and creaking doors adding to the atmosphere. Did the eyes of that painting just move? Why is there a weird draft coming from that wall? What was that strange ominous creak coming from behind you? Are there any dungeons? Wait, did you just hear someone crying in a far off room? Jeez, no wonder they say this place is haunted.

---

AVAILABLE POKEMON Naturally, this wouldn't be a Pokemon Prom without some Pokemon to catch! All catchable Pokemon range between the levels of 10 to 30. The Pokemon in the castle mostly haunt the unfinished section, but feel free to have the occasional encounter in the renovated sections too! Castle Impidimp; Gastly; Haunter; Litwick; Lampent; Duskull; Shuppet; Sinistea; Misdreavus; Yamask; Dreepy; Honedge; Doublade**; Dusclops**; Mimikyu**; Polteageist***; Gengar***; Courtyard Venonat; Venomoth; Drifloon; Phantump; Pumpkaboo; Murkrow; Rookidee; Zubat; Hoothoot; Woobat*; Noibat*; Rocky Shore Galarian Corsola; Binacle; Staryu; Wimpod; Frillish; Krabby; Relicanth*; Wimpod*; Kingler**; Jellicent**; Slowking***;

---

TRICK OR TREAT! Near the entrance of the castle is an old man dressed in dark, heavy wool clothes with a mysterious gleam in his eyes. He holds an oil lamp in his hand, waiting for those to approach. If you get close enough to speak to him, he’ll ask you a question. ”Halloween’s not over ‘til you’ve got yourself a good haul of candy. How do you feel about a little bit of…trick or treat?” He’ll regale you with an old tale about the castle grounds. You see, the castle was built by a relative of Bill (you know, the Pokemon storage system inventor?), but no one has lived in it for years and years because it is haunted. Though previously only haunted by the ghost of Bill’s great-great-great-uncle, the recent human activity in the area has caused droves of Ghost and Dark-type Pokémon to flock towards the area and take advantage of this newfound source of fun. Those who attended Prom 2020 would remember that trainers were allowed to search for hidden treasures among the secret passages and strange traps. This year, however, the search will be a…little different! Instead of trying to find treasures, your characters will be exploring the labyrinthian hallways and secret passages to find tricks…or treats. Feel free to explore those abandoned halls and ruins for these supposed long-lost treasures. Better check for hidden rooms and passages behind old bookcases, trap doors covered by thick dust-riddled carpets, and perhaps even a hidden vault or two in the castle basements. Players are free to go absolutely wild in coming up with secret passages and hidden secrets for their characters to find. Let us know in your comment where your character will be looking! As characters explore, they will have a 50/50 chance of encountering either tricks or treats! A character that rolls a treat will have a generally positive encounter with a Pokémon, who will likely lead you to great treasure and sweets! Conversely, a character that rolls a trick will probably be pranked by a Pokémon. Characters will not be able to catch the Pokémon they encounter, unfortunately–they’ve gotta scare the other guests, too! In both cases, characters will stumble upon a random assortment of sweets and ghost-related items, including but not limited to rare candies, Alcremie pastries, poffins, and other consumables! Characters may also find a rare, unique item that may be sold for about 5000-6000P or kept as a memento. In order to allow for an element of surprise, every character that wants to participate in trick or treating is allowed to comment once to a special RNG comment to find out exactly what they will encounter. Each treasure will consist of somewhere between two and four items, the exact number of which will be left up to chance. For any questions, please refer back to the previous OOC post.

Comments

[outofsynth]

[Echoes is quick to note the bag of goodies that Usi's holding, promptly turning his attentions to begging off him once he realises that their trainers know each other.

Min is possibly not quite as excited to see Marik as Echoes is Usi, but he still looks pretty happy as he waves a hand to greet him.]

So do you! I like that you guys match. I've kinda worn something like this before, but classics are classics for a reason.

[dreamsofahero]

"Oh, there are shops that sell similar things, especially in the larger cities."

Which is probably good to know in case the little guy eventually wears out or tears the current one.

"It's your birthday, then?"

[outofsynth]

[This is an antique! And truthfully probably the nicest piano Min's ever had to have the opportunity to play, which probably isn't helping his reaction. Especially since Riz is so unrepentant. He's seen Ryan use his guitar to smack a giant butterfly right into a fireplace and never said boo to that, but unlike this there was a real threat and at least that was his own instrument.

Unlike Riz, Min does have an ear for music and knows full well now that it's fine. It's possible the impact could still cause it to go out of tune once it settles, but he would have expected it to have gone at least a little out of key if Riz had caused a problem. Now he's honestly more annoyed at being wrong.]

It's not nothing! You obviously don't know anything about pianos, so you should stop acting like everything's fine when it's not.

[outofsynth]

[ooc: Please pretend I didn't link Linkin Park, oh my god. This is the cover I meant to post.]

"They could be!" Min agrees, much to the delight of his new friends. He'd had thoughts himself about seeing whether they'd like to come with him, but they're so at home he knows he couldn't ask them to leave.

"I'd say it's too bad they haven't renovated this part of the castle so more people could appreciate them, but I don't know if the main area is ghost-friendly."

[thetombkeeper]

[Usi, being an absolute troll, doesn't wait for Marik or Min to give him the okay for sharing a couple pieces of candy. Knock yourself out, kid. It's good for you!]

Hey! Check with Min first before-

[Too late. The Gengar just mimics Marik's cackle-laugh a little too well, complete with throwing his head back. The blonde huffs and crosses his arms, trying to hide the fact that his face is red and that he's probably acting a bit more pouty than someone his age should.

This ghost is going to be the death of him.

Marik takes a deep breath and slowly exhales.]

... I'm starting to regret matching but thank you. That's, uh... Franken... something or other? I'm afraid I'm not super familiar with a lot of horror movies.

How has your night been?

[thetombkeeper]

[He shoots a quick glare at his Gengar who's too busy snickering to himself to care.]

Y-Yeah. You're welcome.

[Marik clears his throat.]

Thanks. ... I'm sure you can guess who picked it out. It seemed... fitting and casual enough for my first year.

[Chen claps his clawed mittens together softly. They all match!

The blonde shifts his weight to one side. Usi decides his trainer needs some help and waddles over to Shy, motioning to the chairs next to her with a big but happy grin. Upon realizing what he's doing, Marik hisses through his teeth and gives him A Look.

He'll just ignore that and see what Fluttershy says instead! Unless master wants to ask her himself~

... Is what the Gengar's grin seems to say to Marik.

He sighs, shoulders slumping just a little.]

Dh... Hhgh. ... Do you mind if we join you?

[ripetuto]

It's nothing we can't get cheaper somewhere else, probably. It's mostly for kids.

[Bruno takes his hand and Leone doesn't pull away. He's getting better about this.]

I mean, there's the bobbing for apples, but that's about it.

[zukeini]

Who even knows. The guys who own this place have so much money apparently, they could afford a region view.

[Still though, as engaging as this conversation was, the young slime dragon drifted off to sleep again.]

They always throw these parties. Knock on wood, so far so good on the goings on. But I got a bit partied out.

Re: Library

[zukeini]

[Oh, an audience. Ooh, goody goody. Zuke practically looked giddy in his still calm demeanor. His face was lighting up just enough to showcase this.]

Back in my home country, an old belief was that ghosts linger when a person died for seven whole days. In a full moon, they said they actively tried to possess others and cause even terrible illness.

They used to change their own names, the people related to the departed, so that the ghost couldn't recognize them in some possible way. But also, sometimes, they tried to give it a meal so it could take the body of an animal. Perfect for a kill.

Only then could you possibly be able to disperse them. So they said.

[outofsynth]

[Min opens his mouth to protest, except... Echoes doesn't waste any time taking the candy with his little bat hands, popping them in his mouth wrappers and all. Min panics, scooping him up and trying to prise open his clamped shut mouth. Thankfully he at least has the sense to spit those out because he was not letting his trainer get his jaw open.

Min-Gi lets out a disgusted groan, but he's relieved he doesn't have to worry about missing candy wrappers, at least.]

Frankenstein's Monster. Some of the movies are great, others... not so much. If you like reading you should at least check out the book they're based on; Mary Shelley's a fantastic writer.

[Not that he could here. Probably. He's fairly certain it wouldn't exist, but still. It's a good book!]

It's actually been great. I'm not normally big on parties, but I've had a really good time. How about you? It looks like your team are doing pretty well out of it.

[Echoes voices his agreement on that. They have so much candy, and they get to hold it! It's not fair! He's still wrapped firmly in Min-Gi's arms, preventing him going on the hunt for any more sweet things.]

[thetombkeeper]

[If it isn't one of Marik's pokémon being a bad influence, it's another. Usi's usually better behaved so he wants to chalk it up to it being a spooky holiday that's got him in a mischievous mood. Hopefully it's just that.

The teen mutters an apology when Echoes spits out the wrappers, then turns to his Gengar to hiss something under his breath at him before returning his attention to Min.]

... I wonder if they have it here. Or if someone uploaded a retelling of it somewhere on the pokéweb.

[Usi slooowlly holds the bag of candy out to Echoes but Marik slaps his arm back down. Obviously the ghost isn't hurt by it because he's laughing again. It's unnerving hearing his own laugh come out of a big purple blob which is exactly why Usi keeps doing it. His voice is fun to imitate in general though.

Still, he manages a sheepish smile.]

I've had a lot of fun. I can see why this holiday is so popular, especially the costume aspect of it. I hope they hold a party like this every year.

... Did you happen to explore the castle at all? Outside of a cursory look of the rooms, I mean.

[nellacerniera]

[Bruno smiles a little and squeezes Leone's hand.]

The booth's getting more attention than I would've thought. Want to check out what the fuss is about?

[nellacerniera]

Basically, it's trying to simulate a truly haunted location or a story typical of horror fiction--people go through and performers will try to scare them. ... To tell you the truth, though, I've never actually been through one before.

[rolltoavoidpossession]

Oh? [He leans in to look at the dice, trying and failing to make sense of the symbols, before pulling the game board he'd won earlier out of his bag.

Incidentally, how familiar is Marik with ancient Egyptian board games? Because Ryou just pulled out the board for Mehen.]

The ghosts I met tried to show me how to play this, then gave me a bunch of candy and this when I won. It was pretty fun.

Ballroom

[phoenixwiz]

(Meanwhile someone else didn’t have a great ending to his basement shenanigans a while ago despite getting some stuff from exploring the basement. Harry walks right into the ballroom dressed like Robin Hood looking very okay, except that he has a nasty bruising on his nose from hitting said nose onto a brick wall. The young man is trying his best not to think too much on his basement chase with the Misdreavous.

Violet and Rowan are there with him: the former being dressed as a princess topped with a tiara while the latter is as dashing as a pirate with his pirate hat on top of his leaf cloak like plumage.)

B

[outofsynth]

[Min-Gi actually did listen to the explanation, but he's not totally convinced by it. He feels like he probably should be given by the advanced technology they have here, but on the other hand... if these devices could really find human ghosts, then wouldn't there be proof of them already?]

Don't these things seem a little... I don't know...

[He glances at Dr. Espa, who thankfully by now is explaining the spirit box to someone a little distance away. He still drops his voice to a whisper.]

Hokey?

[crystalmaster]

Evan, Isla, and Kiryu, more Eevees, are delighted! Elliott the Espurr likes it too. Cosmo the Ralts isn't into pets so much, but she smiles at the scene.

Radley listens thoughtfully. It's definitely not the kind of existence he would want, but he knows some like the idea of reincarnating.

"That's interesting. Some cultures seem to figure that people are reincarnated based on the results of a judgment. On my world, there's several cultures that say it happens if you need to learn something more. And I've been told there's another where it's actually the highest reward for a good life. But I guess if you believe that all souls reincarnate, there wouldn't be anyone around to judge them."

[crystalmaster]

((LOL.))

"I think ghosts tend to like all parts of old castles, although areas like this can definitely be the favorites," Radley muses.

The Stables

[outofsynth]

[Min-Gi's expression had not been dissimilar when he'd taken his seat a few moments before. He'd thought that maybe this would be a nice way to take in the sights in comfort, but he's already realising that might not be the case.]

Not exactly. I always thought hay would be soft.

[crystalmaster]

[Radley chuckles.]

Yeah, they probably could. I've been to a couple of their shindigs. The Contests have been okay. The Prom ... yeah.

Tower

[outofsynth]

[By the time he makes it to the top, Min-Gi's convinced that no view could make this worth it. He's breathless and a little red in the face from his climb. He needs a moment before he can bring himself to think about walking those last few feet, but his Plusle and Noibat are still full of energy having hitched a ride from Min for the journey up.

They both bound/fly over to enjoy the spectacular view the tower offers, just about avoiding knocking into Zuke and his Sliggoo.]

S-sorry... They're just... excited.

[Even talking hurts.]

[noamuth]

[She nods, and then frowns thoughtfully.] I just hope I've appropriately softened my tale. It can be hard to anticipate what this realm considers appropriate for children.

[noamuth]

[That startles a chuckle out of Vierna, and she accepts the glass.] I'm not certain that would be enough. We might need to feign death.

Library

[outofsynth]

[Shadowmaru sure does have a flare for the dramatic, huh? Not that Min didn't know this from their last meeting, but somehow he still manages to be surprised by just how all out not just his costume is, but the entire scene.

He doesn't have much in the way of canines himself, but his Alolan Vulpix is looking up at him, seeking permission to go hang out with the other Pokémon. He hasn't even noticed she wants anything from him yet.]

Sure! I could listen.

Re: B.

[noamuth]

It's supposed to make a sound when there's a ghost nearby. [She frowns, and waves the EMF meter idly in the air in front of her. It remains stubbornly silent.] Or when there might be a ghost nearby? Something to do with energy in the area.