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.

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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***;

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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

Princess Allura | OTA

[heartofalioness]

A. I Use My Songs to Entice You (Ballroom, Pre-Contest)

[Aside from a quick run on the catwalk to show off the gown and mask she managed to find, Allura will most likely found “backstage,” taking some time to center herself and touch up on her white Ninetales’ and Dusk Lycanroc’s fur before their due to go onstage for the contest. She’s not nearly as nervous as she had been before her first concert back in February, but Riz had been right back then; going on first is much less nerve-wracking than waiting as others perform. At least there aren’t too many entries before her. Still, she won’t say no to a bit of friendly chat before the contest, it’d be a good distraction.]


B. And with Curses Advise You (Ballroom, Post-Contest)

[That had been an emotional show, but she was very, very proud of how Avara and Coressa performed tonight. And now, at least, the three of them could relax and mingle with the other guests, congratulations the other contestants if she can, nosh on a few pastries and tea smuggled from the dining room, maybe get in a nice dance or two. Although a few of the less finished corners of the ballroom might catch her attention, if someone’s in need of an investigation partner.]


C. And All of My Bag of Tricks to Choose and Rise You (Outer Courtyard)

[After a while, though, Allura could use a bit of fresh air… okay, and maybe she’s curious to see if any of the sweets she sampled at the summer festival can be found here too, even with the dining room having a host of desserts already. Not to mention some of the games look like she could beat them, even if rigged. (She’s giving the haunted house a wide berth unless someone REALLY begs her to come with the, though. She almost judo flipped the actors at the Test of Courage this summer.)

If anyone isn’t too caught up in the hustle and bustle to notice, however… might notice something lurking in the shadows, following the princess as she goes about her business. Maaaaybe point that out to her? (Or don’t, it’s Halloween.)]


D. I'd Rather be Burned as a Witch Than Never Be Burned at All (Wildcard)

[[Got something in mind not listed in the prompts? Hit me up on Plurk or PM Allura’s journal!]]

Just Wanna Bewitch You in the Moonlight (Closed to Keith)

[heartofalioness]

[Well, it's certainly been a night so far. The contest was great, as was meeting her new Woobat Venza. (The attack of the Banette in Mareep-plushy's clothing, not so much.) But as nice as the excitement is, even she needs a moment of quiet. And more importantly, she has a date to keep.

After a quick trip into the room she and Keith are staying in for the night, she makes her way down to the beach. Not in the heavy gown and mask from before, that would be a nightmare to bring to a beach walk. Instead she changes into something a bit more... streamlined. Warm and comfy enough for the beack, but she has a feeling Keith might like this aesthetic. Now to find him.]

[tempredmental]

[Keith had also changed. For the contest, he'd worn something a bit fancier, even if he hadn't been on stage, because it had seemed appropriate and kind of matched how fancy Allura's dress had been. But, for now? The more comfortable "costumes" had come out, and he'd definitely gone more comfortable.

Though, could it really be considered a costume? It was almost something he'd normally wear.......

Either way, he was waiting near the entrance of the castle, as taking a quiet walk on the beach after the crowd and excitement of the contest would be a good way to relax. His shiny Lycanroc was laying at his feet, and he was looking out over the water as Allura approached, seated on a bench with one leg pulled up to his chest.]

[heartofalioness]

[Allura, meanwhile, is flanked by her own Dusk Lycanroc Avara, Coressa, and Woobat Venza whom Allura caught just tonight.]

Pardon me, sir. You wouldn't happen to have seen a Paladin of Voltron nearby, have you?

[tempredmental]

[He turned as she spoke up, and then gave her an amused smile in return.]

Actually... I have.

[He stood, moving closer to take her hand in his.]

She's right here.

[Two could make that joke. He gave her a soft kiss on the cheek.]

[heartofalioness]

[She chuckles at the kiss, stealing a brief one from his lips in kind.]

So you have. And I've found you... [She holds out a hand clad in a pink fingerless glove.] Care to join me?

[tempredmental]

[He smiled and took her offered hand.]

Always.

[He gently pulled her close to his side so they could start their walk.]

Did you have any particular place in mind or are we just going to wander the beach?

[Not that the latter was a bad idea. It sounded pretty nice, actually, but he was curious if she was thinking of something specific.]

B

[scalpelofmarmora]

[After all the performances were done, Ulaz decided to congratulate the other teams on their shows as well. He wanted Irkut and Foudre to learn good sportsmanship. Even if they wanted to win, they could be glad for the others. Not that they were bad sports, but Irkut was still younger and it was good he understood it and Foudre... was a Mightyena.

So the trio approached Allura and her team. Foudre and Irkut were still wearing their costumes from the performance, but apparently Irkut had found a witch's hat between the stage and here and was putting it on as they walked over]

Congratulations on the performance.

[heartofalioness]

[Absolutely adorable. Allura smiles brightly as they walk over.]

Thank you, Ulaz. And congratulations on yours. The three of you quite well.

[Irkut being such a ham might have gotten the best laugh out of her for the night.]

[scalpelofmarmora]

Thank you. They certainly seemed to enjoy it.

[Ulaz had definitely appreciated his Espurr being a ham and scooting around on the stage to get back stage. Of course, couldn't say anything during the performance, but now he could.

Irkut and Foudre both greeted Allura's Pokemon, Irkut giving a wave after settling the witch's hand on his head]

[heartofalioness]

[The snowy Ninetales and copper Lycanroc both bark greetings in turn.]

As they should. Have you all been enjoying the rest of the evening so far?

[scalpelofmarmora]

[Foudre wags her tail a bit. She was happy Mightyena when she had Ulaz by her side]

It has been going well.They seem to be enjoying themselves. How has your evening been?

[heartofalioness]

It's been lovely so far. I've become quite fond of festivals like these; it's nice to have a glimpse or two of human culture.

[Who knows when she'll be able to see her reality's Earth's celebrations for herself, after all. Not to mention last year involved swarms of Beheeyem knocking out people and picking around in her brains. Hopefully NO ONE randomly goes unconscious THIS time.]

B

[blue_ice]

[ Kaiba's just taking in the atmosphere with Leizi post-contest, with King carrying Selene. They're all wearing wizard's hats (even Kaiba, who chose a black one to go with his black robes. They all wave when they spot Allura and her team. ]

Hey. Your Pokémon were like professional actors, telling a powerful story. Have you eve done theater before coming to this world?

[heartofalioness]

[Ah, she perks up as she turns to face Kaiba.]

Thank you, Kaiba. Your performance was very well-done as well, and entertaining. [Flat out adorable, really.] And something like that. It's a long story, but for a while my team and I did a series of shows in order to boost morale and encourage support for our resistance.

[Basically they went on the Captain America war bond circuit for a bit.]

C

[woofdad]

[Grant doesn't notice Allura's mysterious follower, at least at first; he's just looking to come up and say hi. ...Though he's got to make sure not to walk faster than the three Wooper trotting along behind him, who seem to have decided they're done being carried around for now. Honestly, it's still probably equally cute, particularly along with Grant's distinctly Quagsire-reminiscent outfit.]

Allura, hey! You having a good time with any of the games?

[heartofalioness]

[Allura turns and... oh no, she brings a hand up to her smiling mouth to stifle a giggle, that costume is WAY too cute.]

E-evening, Grant. And so far they're entertaining, even if my luck hasn't been the best. How are you tonight?

[woofdad]

Oh, you can laugh, I look ridiculous. [He's grinning as he says it. He didn't pick this costume for dignity!]

I'm doing pretty well. These guys-- [He indicates the Woopers, one of whom immediately takes that as a sign to toddle up and start begging to be pet. He indulges that pretty readily.] --haven't been getting in too much trouble, so I can't complain.

By the way, I don't want to forget to say this - your contest entry was really lovely.

[heartofalioness]

[Okay, she'll let out a small giggle then.]

If you insist. [The humor settles down in time for the compliment though.] And thank you; I'm very proud of these two.

[Coressa and Avara give polite barks- calm and chipper, respectively- in kind. And don't mind if they start walking up to inspect the brood of Woopers. Babies!]

I take it these three three are a recent clutch?

[woofdad]

Yeah, they did really great.

[The Woopers immediately notice New Friends, and bounce over with a series of little "woop"s to meet them.]

Believe it or not, no; I can't recall, were you there for all the, uh, business with the lost temple last year?

[That's a start to a sentence.]

C

[shiro2hero]

GEN!

[Listen, Shiro's been out and about, going to check up on friends and team. But his ghost is faster. He hasn't made it into Allura's vicinity just yet. Haunter (the Gengar) on the other hand, definitely has. Don't worry, Allura! It's here to help!]

[And it looms up behind her, facing into the shadows with the most disapproving frown the round purple ghost can muster. It's actually shaking its stubby finger at whatever it is lurking. The tone is very young man what do you think you're doing.]

[heartofalioness]

["Whaaaaat it's just a Halloween prank, I'm not gonna hurt her! Hey, wanna join in?"

Meanwhile, Allura doesn't see the Mareep doll out of place yet, but she does notice the Gengar.]

Haunter?

[shiro2hero]

[Still shaking its finger. Still lecturing. Don't you scare people when they're not expecting it! That's rude! Save it for haunted houses!]

[Then it turns back to Allura with an apologetic expression. There's a lot of pantomime going on. Look at this thing! It was going to scare you!]

[heartofalioness]

[OH SHOOT, time to play inanimate! The doll freezes and looks like it's just hanging where it's supposed to, ready to totally be one in an oh-so-fair game.]

... Do... you want us to win you a doll?

[shiro2hero]

[Haunter's jaw drops.]

[It shakes its head. It gestures back to the doll, freezing, and then moving again. Trying to impart the fact the doll is just pretending to be frozen.]