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The Indigo League ([personal profile] indigo_league) wrote in [community profile] victory_road2022-10-28 09:52 am

THE CONTEST SPOOKTACULAR!

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.
desirestruth: (If I knew I wasn't loved)

[personal profile] desirestruth 2022-11-04 01:15 pm (UTC)(link)
But sir, she can see your ankles, that is lewd?

Naeva does pause, reaching up to tap her finger to the mask, measured and contemplative.

"It is a funerary mask...as this is a festival which honors the dead, I found it appropriate. And the ghosts here have agreed, thus far."

At 'magical creatures', though, Remy has made himself known. Jarlaxle has gone a whole ten seconds without appreciating this tiny Riolu and his magnificent cape, and Remy will not abide by it! ...At least, this is what we must imagine those imperious yips meant.

"...He appreciates the compliment." Did Naeva snerk? No, of course not, must have been a chair pulled out. "I found your performance...fascinating, if somewhat...ah, concerning? That did seem to be the aim..."
nevercaught: (self-assured)

[personal profile] nevercaught 2022-11-08 10:45 pm (UTC)(link)

Jarlaxle smiles broadly. "It was meant to be horrific on multiple levels. Initially, just because a seemingly helpless creature that cannot be killed and will retaliate with force unexpectedly is most disquieting—and it is also my hope that the viewer is similarly disquieted by the traditional sacrifice of the thirdboy once they recall that my performance was based on a true story."

Edited 2022-11-08 22:46 (UTC)
desirestruth: (And fell into Hell)

[personal profile] desirestruth 2022-11-08 10:48 pm (UTC)(link)
"...I beg your pardon, but did you just say infanticide is traditional?"

She has some concerns, Jarlaxle.
nevercaught: (obnoxious)

[personal profile] nevercaught 2022-11-08 10:59 pm (UTC)(link)
"Only in the noble houses and only by the Matron Mothers," Jarlaxle says, "but yes, unfortunately so."

He has no business speaking of these things so casually but here we are.
desirestruth: (Have you forgiven me?)

[personal profile] desirestruth 2022-11-08 11:03 pm (UTC)(link)
"Funny to call them Mothers if they're doing such a thing."

She may have...growled, just a little bit, but manages to pull it back together.

"...A true story, you said. What became of the child?"
nevercaught: (self-assured)

The specific location of where his wet nurse raised him is headcanon but the lake is CANON

[personal profile] nevercaught 2022-11-08 11:19 pm (UTC)(link)
He sketches an elaborate bow. "You see him before you. With Lolth's price paid through the untimely death of my brother, my mother ceased her attempts to sacrifice me. Alas, my death had already been announced, which meant she needed to save face. She instead wrapped me in my swaddling clothes turned shroud and cast me into Lake Donigarten, as she would have if it had succeeded—but my wet nurse was waiting at the side and she fished me out and took me to be raised in the shadows of the great house, at the silkweaver priory within the house compound."
Edited 2022-11-08 23:20 (UTC)
desirestruth: (Where is my motherland?)

SCREECH WHY IS MENZO LIKE THIS

[personal profile] desirestruth 2022-11-08 11:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, no, there went Naeva's composure. She is actually stunned speechless for a second but her anger is coming seconds after, at a very sharp pitch.

"She threw you in the lake?!"
nevercaught: (skeptical)

Re: SCREECH WHY IS MENZO LIKE THIS

[personal profile] nevercaught 2022-11-09 12:00 am (UTC)(link)
"Yes," Jarlaxle says, with a shrug. "And my wet nurse fished me out almost immediately."
desirestruth: (pic#13213294)

[personal profile] desirestruth 2022-11-10 03:43 pm (UTC)(link)
She would be gekkering if she still had the correct vocal chords.

"What kind of--!!!" Her voice cracks and she stops. Deeeeeep inhale. Exhale. Count to ten. ...Count to thirty. "...I find the implication this is common distressing."
nevercaught: (explaining)

[personal profile] nevercaught 2022-11-11 05:55 pm (UTC)(link)
"Only among the thirdboys of reigning Matron Mothers," Jarlaxle explains, far too calmly. "And only if one of their two older brothers hasn't already died. Lesser mothers of the noble houses and common drow do not traditionally engage in infant sacrifice."
desirestruth: (The end of the tunnel)

[personal profile] desirestruth 2022-11-11 06:09 pm (UTC)(link)
Naeva stares at him kind of bloodlessly. That's worse. That's a great deal worse.

"So male children aren't given much worth."

It's a question even if her tone is dead flat.
nevercaught: (explaining)

[personal profile] nevercaught 2022-11-12 02:42 am (UTC)(link)
"Oh no," Jarlaxle says. "Not at all. That was part of why I left."

(The reasons why he left are more complex than that, of course, but it is still part of why he left.)
desirestruth: (And follow this song)

[personal profile] desirestruth 2022-11-13 08:17 am (UTC)(link)
"...Well, then it did have a better ending after all."

She won't call a stranger's life happy without knowing, but she has to assume that his freedom from such a society is better?
nevercaught: (conversational)

[personal profile] nevercaught 2022-11-25 03:13 pm (UTC)(link)
"Oh yes. I've had a long and interesting life and outlived both my mother and most of my acknowledged siblings," he replies. "I had nineteen, in fact! Mostly sisters."
desirestruth: (And fell into Hell)

[personal profile] desirestruth 2022-11-25 03:16 pm (UTC)(link)
"N...nineteen?"

Naeva just visibly winced. Giving birth twenty times sounds like a special kind of hell!
nevercaught: (conversational)

[personal profile] nevercaught 2022-11-25 03:59 pm (UTC)(link)
"I suspect she spaced them out a fair amount," Jarlaxle says. "She did live to see two-thousand, I am told. Yvonnel the Eternal, they called her."
desirestruth: (The end of the tunnel)

[personal profile] desirestruth 2022-11-25 04:06 pm (UTC)(link)
"That would...certainly make it more of a relief, I imagine. Though I do wonder how many more she murdered in that time."

Naeva says it a little flatly, focusing on things that don't make her brain wobble a little bit. Her 100 unaged years are strange in her world, two thousand is the realm of the gods themselves.
nevercaught: (contemplative)

[personal profile] nevercaught 2022-11-25 04:48 pm (UTC)(link)
"Oh, I'm sure she lost count within her first two centuries of life," Jarlaxle says. "I did and I was never a priestess. But if you mean her own children... no, it was just myself that she attempted to, out of both duty and the fact that she did have no other choice. If House Baenre had failed to make the same sacrifice that the rest of the noble houses of Menzoberranzan did, it would be inviting open war against it."
desirestruth: (And fell into Hell)

[personal profile] desirestruth 2022-11-25 04:51 pm (UTC)(link)
"..."

There's a lot one can say with one hollow-eyed look into the distance, or at least that's what Naeva hopes, because she can't seem to find any words for this situation whatsoever.
nevercaught: (weary)

[personal profile] nevercaught 2022-11-25 04:56 pm (UTC)(link)
Jarlaxle sighs. "I have disturbed you, have I not?" He'd wanted to disturb people with his skit a little, of course, but this was possibly too much.
desirestruth: (What if I return?)

[personal profile] desirestruth 2022-11-25 05:01 pm (UTC)(link)
"I can't say you haven't." She sighs herself, and shakes her head. "But I'm well aware my own experiences would likely be disturbing as well...I can't find it in me to fault your honesty about it."
nevercaught: (self-assured)

[personal profile] nevercaught 2022-11-25 05:03 pm (UTC)(link)
"Ah well." He grabs a pair of champagne flutes from a nearby refreshment table and holds one out to her. "To disturbing experiences?"
desirestruth: (If I knew I wasn't loved)

[personal profile] desirestruth 2022-11-25 05:05 pm (UTC)(link)
She takes it after a moment (being able to eat and drink normally is strange to her still) and raises it in toast.

"To new memories, I think."
nevercaught: (flippant)

[personal profile] nevercaught 2022-11-25 05:19 pm (UTC)(link)
"A much better toast," he agrees and clinks his glass against hers.
desirestruth: (I won't admit the game is over)

[personal profile] desirestruth 2022-11-25 05:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Then she will carefully drink the champagne--it is fizzy and she doesn't want to splutter right here in public, and smile.

"I do hope your experiences here have been quite...different."