Prom 2023 - Back to the Falls!

[indigo_league]

What’s this? There’s glitter in the air. What’s this? There’s dresses everywhere.

Oh right. It’s Prom time.



From the afternoon on, on Friday the 7th of April, your characters will all be arriving at Tohjo Falls via the transport arranged for by Lance. He did end up borrowing a few of those Corviknights from the JKBA, but there are also several of you who will find themselves flown to the Falls by one of Lance’s Dragonites or Charizards. Please give them a poffin if you are able, they are all very good boys and girls.


Your characters will be set down on a tiled driveway (more like flyway, Ha) in front of an impressive-looking villa. Those who have been here before might note that the villa has gotten a bit of a renovation and an update. Turns out that when Team Rocket kidnaps you and keeps you captive in your own home for several weeks while wrecking the house and digging Arceus knows how many basements beneath the house, you might be entitled to some compensation.

And from the looks of things, Lance and co used that compensation to turn their little vacation home back into something where they can relax in peace.

After you arrive, you’ll be greeted by Lance or one of the other Elite Four members, who will give you a quick run-down. You are free to explore the house and surrounding area at your leisure. Please respect their privacy and do not go into any of the locked rooms. You’ll find your accommodations behind the house, so feel free to head there and unpack. Oh, and, there will be a little announcement later, so if you could be in the dining room for that, that’d be stellar.

Well, off you go!




WELCOME (BACK) TO THE FALLS

THE SIGHTS The Villa As mentioned by Lance and Co, parts of the villa are off-limits to guests. Not to worry, there is nothing nefarious hiding there this time. It's just that those rooms are the Elite Four's private quarters, and they'd rather not have people go through their underwear drawers! Other areas that are off-limits include the kitchen, but this is just for practical reasons; wouldn't want to get in the way of the cooks preparing lunch and dinner. Still, even with these off-limits areas, there is still plenty to see. Library On the upper floor, there is a decently sized Library for anyone who needs a bit of peace and quiet. The books within are part of the Elite Four's personal book collections. There are a lot of books related to each members' preferred Pokemon type, as well as a very sizeable collection of books on Pokemon Battling, strategies and counter-strategies, in addition to a good number of autobiographies from famous (former) gym leaders and Elite Four members. Their books aren't all business though! There is also plenty of fiction available, as well as non-fiction related to the Elite Four's personal hobbies. The books are not marked, so it's hard to tell which book belongs to which E4 member, so have fun trying to figure out who added the books on glassblowing to the collection, and to who the knitting books belong to. Gallery Also on the top floor is a gallery that contains the many prizes each Elite Four member has won over the years, as well as some interesting artefacts they've found during their lives. Ever wanted to see Lance's first badges? Or perhaps Bruno's weightlifting trophies? And wow, looks like Will participated in some contests back in the day! Okay, those things probably aren't worth hours of visiting, but there is also a collection of photos of various legendary pokemon, as well as some items related to them, such as a feather that is said to have belonged to Ho-oh, a scale that was left behind after Groudon and Kougre fought and could it be true? One of Hoopa's hoops itself? Fascinating! Dining Room Obviously where characters can dine. Unfortunately, the dining room itself is not big enough to fit all characters at once, so they've also set up some tables outside among the tents, and people are asked to check back if there is no space. When not in use to have dinner in, the room is left open and available to anyone who'd like to use it. Ball Room Now that prom night is finally here, your characters may enter in what was previously forbidden. Yes, beyond these doors lay a mysterious land of, uh... tables and a dance floor. Listen, there is only so many ways you can describe a ballroom, okay! There is a central floor where people may dance if they so desire, and around that spot, plenty of tables and chairs have been set up for you to rest your tired dancing feet at. Though there is no big dinner served at prom, there are staff flitting around with refreshments and canapes and, fitting the style of the villa, tapas. There are, of course, also flutes of champagne and wine and other adult drinks. Note the emphasise on adult, there. Don't expect to con these waiters into giving you something if you are underaged. (instead, try and find a trusted, untrustworthy adult friend. It's okay. We won't tell your mom. Pool Outside, of course, is the pool. This hasn't changed that much from previous visits here. It's... well... it's a pool! What more can we say? It's a good place to have some fun and play around, but if you are more into relaxation or perhaps even catching some rays, there's also plenty of space around the pool with plenty of deck chairs available to you. It is still only April, so to make sure nobody catches pneumonia in the pool, the water has been heated. Please do not heat the water further. You know what we are talking about! The Accomodations Those who have visited before may remember that the Villa doesn't exactly have enough bedrooms to house all promgoers. In fact, there have been years where you just kipped on the floor in the garage-like area. Maybe Lance is trying to match the standards set by previous organisers. Maybe there was a little extra money left over after the renovations to plurge, but this year, you won't be expected to sleep on the floor in a sleeping bag! Instead, behind the Villa, beyond the pool area, there is a field of tents. And these aren't your basic little travelling tents. These tents look pretty luxurious. True, you will still be sharing them with a few others, but at least you'll be sleeping in something like a regular bed. There are also some chairs and benches dotted around the area, where you can sit and relax, as well as a few open tents that have tables and benches inside of them where one could eat breakfast or dinner. (And, of course, there are tents available too where you can take care of the, ah, less glamourous needs of the human body. No need to bring your own TP either, it will be provided!) The tents house four people each. If you, for whatever reason, want to cram more people inside, Lance will be a little startled but will allow it. If you try to grab a tent all to yourself, Lance will give you a very disappointed look. The Surroundings If your character isn't the type to hang out for hours by the pool or spend their entire Saturday already getting ready for prom, why not go exploring a bit? The area around Tohjo Falls is normally off-limits to people, after all. This might be your only chance to see it. (unless we come back again here next year) While exploring, your character has the option of trekking into the forests behind the villa or descending into the cave that houses the waterfalls this area has been named for. Wild pokemon can be found in each area, though please be careful! As few people visit this location, the pokemon here are very unused to humans. Please always bring a strong pokemon with you when you go exploring! And who knows, if you keep an eye out, you might run into an unfamiliar pokemon or two... Forest (lvl 20-45) Charjabug, Corvisquire, Venipede, Sizzlipede, Fletchinder, Greedent*, Whirlipede*, Nincada*, Flapple**, Appletun**, Talonflame**, Ninjask**, Shiinotic**, Sprigatito**, Centiskorch***, Vikavolt***, Corviknight***, Trevenant***, Scolipede*** Cave (lvl 20-45) Sandshrew, Woobat, Rolycoly, Noibat, Roggenrola, Aron*, Glimmet*, Sandslash*, Rhyhorn*, Carkol*, Noivern**, Swoobat**, Boldore**, Fuecoco**, Lairon***, Rhydon***, Glimora*** Falls (lvl 20-45) (Fishing/Surfing) Qwilfish, Staryu, Arrokuda, Wishiwashi, Finneon*, Skrelp*, Lumineon*, Relicanth*, Starmie**, Overqwill**, Quaxly**, Seadra**, Gyrados***, Barraskewda***, Dragalge***, Kingdra***

---

THE ANNOUNCEMENT


Once everybody has arrived and has been given some time to unpack, it's time for the announcement Lance has been teasing. What is this unique opportunity he mentioned? Will this have anything to do with prom itself? Has Lance conned us all into attending a Tupperware party?

In any case, you all gather in the dining room. The Elite Four is gathered at the front of the room, Lance taking the center stage. Will is standing next to him. For a moment Lance just glances out over the crowd, as if checking that everybody is here, before he clears his throat and begins.

"First of all, let me say that I am very happy to see you all here. It's been a few years since we last were able to greet you in our home, and here is to hoping things won't end as badly as last time.

But that is not what this announcement is about. Rather, there is going to be some changes within the Elite Four. Changes we'd like to make you a part of.

A few months ago, Will announced to us that he will be stepping down from his position as Elite Four member to--" Lance seems to pause for a moment, looking at Will, "--pursue opportunities elsewhere!

Of course, we cannot leave his spot unoccupied, so in the last few months, we've been hard at work vetting and narrowing down the choices for who will replace him. And finally, we've been able to narrow it down to just two remaining candidates. It's been a struggle, let me tell you! We've had so many qualified and incredible trainers who wanted to join us, but we believe we've found the best two.

And that is where you come in!

As I said, we have been able to narrow down the field to two final choices. And what I'd like to offer you this weekend, is an opportunity to take an active part in deciding who gets to be our newest member. You all, after all, have proven over the years that you not only care about pokemon, but you've also grown to care about this world, often helping us out when situations were dire. We believe you, as much as anyone, have a right to determine the future of this region.

In just a moment, I'd like to introduce you to our two final applicants. I can already assure you that they are both excellent trainers, and very skilled battlers, as well as individuals who we believe we can rely on in a bad situation. What we'd like if for you to cast the final vote on who takes over Will's position.

Throughout this weekend, they will make themselves available for questions. Please ask them anything you wish to know, and please also discuss the manner among yourself if you wish. Whichever person you choose, know that we already feel we could work and depend on either of them. At the end of this meeting, we'll distribute voting slips to everyone. These cannot be replaced, so please hold onto them, and once you've made your choice, please submit them to the vote box in front of the Ballroom before the start of the dance. Then, during the party on Sunday, we will reveal who will become our newest members.

Now, I've said quite enough, so let me introduce you to our two final applicants--"

The dining room doors open, and two figures stride in, walking to the front to join Lance and the other Elite Four members.




"Please welcome Bede from the Galar region and Malva from the Kalos Region"

---

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Comments

Weaponry

[mamalike]

Eda's Hoothoot is both highly curious and incredibly jumpy, and she hates to sleep in her Pokeball. As such, she picks up on the sound of Dimitri's woodworking, a and knows she must check it out. Just... Not alone, of course. Once Eda has been pecked awake, she groggily follows Hoothoot to the source of the sound. When did she become such a pushover?

When she comes upon Dimitri, she has no way to know it's him. Their conversation was a voice call. She just stares back at him for a moment, first looking annoyed, but that fades a bit as she thinks of the talk she's been hearing about this party. She sighs tiredly, scooping her Hoothoot up in her arms.

"Okay, but why?"

[nastyboy]

Well, now that he's been caught, this is kind of embarrassing, and Dimitri's shoulder shift upwards a little bit, tense. Still, he knows he does have to answer.

"It is... Well, I hope to reassure myself. For the most part." It makes him feel less passive, although he doesn't always know if that's an actual truth or not when it comes to things like this. "Of course, conventional weaponry does not always work here in these lands, even when they do not spontaneously break... But sometimes it is good to have."

[mamalike]

Eda scowls, clicking her nails together as she nods.

"You know, I've heard people talk about this getting dangerous, so I've been staying on my toes... But I like the idea of taking more action. This place just seems to make that tough!" She sighs. "Not many ways to fight back besides our Pokemon, seems like..."

[nastyboy]

"And if you try to use things as a weapon, they break in short order," Dimitri confirms. "Although one can get creative enough with their Paliens, if they work together, and wood is easy enough to replace."

Ask him about rat throwing!

Or don't.

Or look it up on the internet.

"I will say that many who are local here get rather stunned, when you resort to such measures, however."

[mamalike]

Paliens! How many people here can possibly use that word, she figures? Eda's annoyance fades, and she grins.

"Dimitri!" And then it hits her, exactly what he said. The part about locals getting stunned is what it is, Eda's used to funny looks. But the bit about the Paliens has her laughing with a snort. "Wait, really? I mean, I know Pokemon can fight, but I wouldn't think of them being weapons.... Huh."

Although she did see that very "cursed sword"-looking one when she and Hunter were exploring the Ruins of Alph, so who knows?

[nastyboy]

Dimitri's stare is just, Grade A empty for a second, nothing in the skull whatsoever, but then his memory finally catches up to him on recent Gear conversations. "Oh! Eda, yes? Hello. I am glad that you decided to come, for right now."

He'll assess prom as it goes and possibly change that opinion, it's fine.

For now, however, he perks up a bit now that the conversation is going in a slightly more acceptable way and he knows who he's talking to. "Oh, not weapons, but combat partners! Of course, they have to be small enough to fit in your palm, but it works well enough. Hold on a moment-"

Turning to the side, he makes a couple of quiet but sharp whisper sounds, and there's the sound of a little yawn. A plain ol' Rattata slips out from behind some of the gathered wood, whiskers twitching. He looks up at Eda as he gets up to his hind legs - and yes that was a dab, he's polite - before hopping up into Dimitri's outstretched palm.

Just like that, he rolls into a little rat shaped ball.

Perfect for violent throwing.

[mamalike]

It takes a second, but Eda beams as it all clicks. "A ratty toss! Oh, that's too good..." she trails off with a light but impressed laugh. Really, you get your Pokemon right in range, and they can do some damage on first impact too. It's creative thinking and she's here for it.

[nastyboy]

"Ratty toss, yes!" Dimiri puffs up with pride, and even Gremlin's tail uncurls to smack around a little bit excitedly. "I actually used to have an entire team composed of Rattata, and who were all extremely proficient in being thrown. However, well, most of them have evolved since then..."

Carefully, he lowers Gremlin down onto his lap. "Raticate can also be tossed, of course, but they do lose some of the momentum." Fur growth, and all that.

[mamalike]

Eda snorts with amusement. "I bet you could roll a Raticate even easier. Like bowling? But... A whole team of Rattata, huh?"

Look, she's not going to deny that Rattata are cute and fun little-- Well, gremlins, but it still surprises her to hear that. "Why the focus on just one Pokemon?"

[nastyboy]

"Well..." Dimitri's shoulders shift up a little awkwardly as he tries to figure out the right way to answer that. Or, rather, a way to answer that which doesn't go into all the awkward details of how he was when he first arrived.

"I was encouraged to get as many companions as I could here... and Rattata are extremely common, so that is one part of it." Truly, they are spread across a very wide range of places, which Dimitri doesn't mind at all. "Additionally, three amongst my team knew each other from before, so things ended up like that."

He's no monster who will split up friends.

"So with all of that and a few personal views at the time... I ended up with all of them together in the end, and they're all very lovely."

[mamalike]

Eda nods. She's not the type to pry, anyway, but she can recognize the uncomfortable shrug of 'that's a long story'. Besides, it doesn't seem strange to her that people would encourage newcomers to collect many Pokemon. There's benefits to having a team on hand, instead of just sticking to one or two partners. She's figured that much out by now.

"You know, I wound up with two Espurr that way. When I caught one, her little pal wasn't too happy about it, so he came along too." She laughs. "Of course, not before he tried to get a few good hits in on me."

[nastyboy]

With the conversation shifting into familiar territory, Dimitri eases up, and nods along. "That's not very surprising to hear. Many of the entities here have formed bonds and goals of their own long before they ever met us, and sometimes we are merely a stepping stone on the the way to such things." And he's pretty content with that, honestly. It's nice, to know he's helping people, even if those people tend to be fight obsessed and covered in fur, or scales, or crab shells.

"It sounds as though he has quite a fighting spirit! I hope that the two of you have gotten along a bit better since then. I know that psychic types especially can be... tricky."

Nearly as much as ghost types.

Ghost types are the worst.

He is not biaseed in this assessment at all.

[mamalike]

"He's a scrappy one, alright, but since he seemed to start accepting he was part of a team, he's been pretty good. Oh, but both of them always know when bathtime is coming up," she laughed, shaking her head. "They always hide and it can take a while to find them!"

[nastyboy]

Oh boy. Dimitri snorts a bit, although he has to admit he has no small amount of sympathy. Alas, if only he had psychic powers as well, so that he could run away and keep his cloak out of Dedue and Claude's hands...

"Well, hopefully it does not give you too much trouble," Dimitri says. "Sometimes there can be a slight period of adjustment when they are still new, and getting used to it all. My own team has become very large since I first started, so I am familiar with the process."