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"

---

Not sure what is going on? Why not check out our prom FAQ

Comments

[singlespacedad]

"Hard to sleep when you're expecting an attack."

Mando has only been to one of these before, but he's heard enough stories to know how they tend to turn out. He takes the knife from Dimitri and sets up shop across from him. He's not a natural with carving wood, but he holds the knife with ease.

"It makes sense. The wood's light too. Easier for anyone to carry."

[nastyboy]

"But then, of course, you risk having exhausted yourself before anything happens."

Which you can power through, if you have enough rage, spite, and horrific degrees of mental illness, but Dimitri has been told by multiple people now that sort of thing is terrible, so.

Best to just focus on carving now, although he keeps an eye to see if Mando needs any help.

"Indeed. I've been teaching my daughter how to use lances as well, but she's still very young. Until she's grown up a little more, lighter weapons are best for her. And I hope that will be the case for any other young ones here in attendance."

[singlespacedad]

Mando shrugs. "I'm used to operating on two, three hours. I've grabbed naps during the day."

He's not quite as used to it now as he once was; sedate, calm Pokemon World has dulled the edge of his instincts a bit. But he's still ready to throw down at a moment's notice.

"Your daughter is here?" Mando didn't know that! He looks at Dimitri in a new light. "That's a good plan. Start her with weapons she can handle easily and then advance as she gets stronger."

This is the way.

[nastyboy]

Oh, to meet a fellow comrade in the Terrible Lack of Sleep Life Choices camp. Dimitri nods, as though that's just a perfectly acceptable way to go about things. Somewhere, Kent the Munna is sighing.

But you know what's more important as a conversation topic while carving weaponry for potential disasters?

Parent talk.

Dimitri can't help the pleased but almost embarrassed expression which crosses his face. "She only relatively recently began to call me her father... It's something of an honor, that she would." The need to parent is Strong in the Blaiddyd genes. "I think she really does have a good attitude towards training thus far. When things get even a little difficult, or you don't understand something as quickly as you'd like, it can be easy to give upon training, but she's so good at getting back up on her feet! Sometimes something like that can make all the difference, don't you think?"

Can't be a good warrior if you throw a fit at the slightest obstacle!

[singlespacedad]

Obviously this is the right choice re: sleep! What are they supposed to do, sleep when they could be attacked? Absolutely not!

... maybe Mando should get a Munna too.

Mando stops carving when Dimitri starts talking about his daughter, and damn, is it this charming when he talks about Grogu or the boys? Because this right here is charming.

"It makes all the difference. That's what I keep telling my boys." Boys, plural. Mando has three now, with two of them here and one that he'll be retrieving whenever he goes to his home world. "You can't teach a warrior spirit. It needs to be a part of who they are."

[nastyboy]

"Exactly." Dimitri nods enthusiastically. "It's either something you always had in you, or you experience something that you have to face head on. Not everyone is suited for it, but my Eri is so good at pulling herself out from the mud."

Not that she ever should have had to deal with everything she dealt with, but... Dimitri is glad she made it to him.

Enough of that, however, because he leans forward. "But to think you have sons! How many, then, and their names? It already seems like a good family, with a man like you at the helm."

[singlespacedad]

Mando nods in agreement with Dimitri's assessment. "Yes. And then they need a good teacher, to help them hone their warrior instincts."

Like he's doing with his daughter, obviously.

But then Dimitri goes and asks about his sons, and Mando lights up. Can helmets smile? Because it really looks like this helmet is smiling. "Two of them I met here. Riz and Boober. They're older, and so don't need me as much, but they're great kids. Riz is already an excellent agility fighter, and Boober is shaping up to be a strong ally off the battlefield."

There's no dishonour in not actively participating in battle. An army runs on its stomach and schematics, and that's where Boober shines.

"In my own world, I have Grogu. He's still very young, and doesn't speak yet, but he's already shown a fighting spirit." Mando turns his shoulder to show Dimitri the mudhorn emblem on his armour. "He helped me kill a mudhorn in an honourable battle. That's why it's the symbol of our clan."

[nastyboy]

Can helmets smile? Please.

Dimitri is Faerghan.

Of course helmets can smile.

Hearing that passion only makes Dimitri lean forward more, nodding along all the more excitedly when he recognizes those names. Riz and Boober! How wonderful to hear that they have a father in such a fantastic man. He wants to ask a little more about them, because of that familiarity... but that can come in due time. They are here in Johto as well, after all, and so Dimitri is sure that he can mention them any time with ease.

But the youngest! "Oh, what a talented little one!" he exclaims, fighting to keep his voice low. "The mudhorn is not a creature native to my own homeland - please, tell me all about the battle! I would love to hear how Grogu helped you."

[singlespacedad]

See, Dimitri, this is why Mando needs to hang out with you more: you recognise the very distinctive moods and emotions expressed by a helmet.

Mando beams at Dimitri's interest; he doesn't get to tell this story often. "A mudhorn is a big, ugly desert beast. I was trying to get one of it's eggs..." to get back his ship parts, but he'll just leave out that part of the story, "and it woke up. It headbutted me a good thirty yards out of its cave. Broke my chest plate."

Mando wraps on his current chest plate. "I didn't have my beskar yet. It wasn't this chest plate."

The only armour stronger than his beskar is his plot armour. Anyway...

"The thing was throwing me all over the place. Besides the chest plate, it messed up my arm guards too. My armour was crumbling, I was beat to hell, and I was down to a knife against this raging beast. I figured it was going to kill me, and the best I could do was go down like a warrior." He pauses for dramatic effect. "But then Grogu, this kid I'd known for a couple of days at this point, uses the Force to stop the mudhorn and hoist it into the air. He held it there until I could get close enough to use my knife and finish it."

The thing is, Mando isn't entirely sure now that he did much of anything in that fight. He's not entirely sure the mudhorn is dead; it's possible Grogu put it to sleep, and it woke up later, pissed off and with a tiny knife wound in its neck. Mando doesn't know, he didn't stick around long enough to doubletap.

"I told the Armourer about it later. I didn't think it was an honourable kill, but then she pointed out that it was a Mandalorian and a foundling who took it down." He shrugs. "I think Grogu deserves most of the credit, if I'm being honest. That thing had me down and almost out before he stepped in."

[nastyboy]

When he was little, Dimitri could spend hours listening to the tales of battle his father and Rodrigue told to him, whether from personal experience, or from history, or even in the old fairytales and folk stories that were passed down of figures such as Loog. They were thrilling, admirable, things he could never forget if he tried.

Of course, after the Tragedy, well, he became more aware of the dark and bloody reality of war and combat. It's soured his views, just a little bit, although he can never be too angry at children like Chip who love to live out the pretend ideal of knighthood all with little wooden swords.

Yet despite those experiences, there is something in him that will always remember the feeling of being near a fire, listening to stories and admiring the way Rodrigue kept his father safe, or how they could look in the aftermath and see what good they had done for innocent people.

It's a similar feeling in him now as he listens to Mando's tale, nodding and listening with wide eyes. It helps, too, that hunting beasts is different to hunting men, and so he can enjoy the tale fully, wood utterly forgotten.

"Still, you took it down together!" Dimitri proclaims at the end of it, still fighting to keep his voice down. Getting into such a riveting conversation in the middle of the night was possibly a mistake, but he won't regret it. "Yes, Grogu restrained it, but it was your hand which drove the blade into its flesh. And you were prepared to fight it to the last as well! To say that is nothing would be doing you a disservice.

"Not to mention, that is the thing stories are made of! A testament to a bond made and the bond it would become. No wonder she told you it was an honorable kill, and that it was made to represent you and your own."

[singlespacedad]

Mando chuckles and nods, pleased by Dimitri's enthusiasm. Yeah, there's just something about sitting around a fire and trading stories, isn't there? It's a feeling like no other.

"That's what the Armourer said, too. She was right about Grogu becoming my foundling when he started as a bounty." The Armourer is right about a lot of things. This is a Mandalorian who consistently brings a hammer to a blaster battle and always emerges triumphant. She's amazing.

"What about you, Dimitri? What are some stories from your world?"

[nastyboy]

While he can't say it's exactly the same, this Armourer sounds like some sort of blacksmith, and Dimitri nods along. Smiths certainly do seem to have some sort of wisdom to them that just can't be found anywhere else. This Armourer knows what she's talking about.

But when he gets that question - Dimitri pauses. Just a moment, grip on his carving knife a little more loose than normal.

"Certainly, there are a great many stories from there.... Faerghus, my homeland, has always prided itself on being a kingdom of warriors." Knights, to be more specific, but sometimes that's just getting into the gritty details of it all. "Almost all of our major stories have to do with that."

In the end, they're a focused people, he can say that much.

But after hearing a personal story like that from Mando... Maybe it wouldn't feel like an equal exchange of stories. And, more than anything else, Dimitri thinks that maybe Mando might get it. Or, at least, he's hoping so, a bit.

"Have you met Dedue, one of my lovers? A rather tall man, of a dark complexion and pale hair."

[singlespacedad]

Mando nods in approval at Dimitri's description of Faerghus. A kingdom of warriors sounds right up his alley, and any stories or legends from this kingdom are bound to be good.

"I haven't met Dedue." There are a lot of people around the Pokemon world that Mando hasn't met but probably should have by now. This is what he gets for being the Yojimbo archetype a loner. "Is he from your home world as well?"

[nastyboy]

This isn't surprising, and Dimitri nodes a bit. "He can bit a bit reserved, at times - in that, perhaps you and he may get along." Sometimes, all one need do is sit in silence with another person, and that's enough. Dimitri sort of gets it, in a way.

"But while we are from the same world, our homelands were neighbors - my Faerghus, his Duscur. Whereas Faerghus made its home in the harsh and could mountains along the coast, Duscur found some more prosperity with the waters turning a tad warmer and their earth plentiful with various minerals. Yet despite the fact that they had no obligation to do so, they did many a kindness for us. Kindnesses that stretched long before I had been born, in fact.

"But men are men, at the end of the day, and there were some in Faerghus who said we should be more demanding in trade, perhaps take lands for our own." Dimitri's lip pulls back, teeth bared in disgust as he swipes a hand through the air dismissively. "My father disagreed and could not be swayed. Said it was easier to regain resources than the trust of a good ally. So, one day, he took me, my mother, and many other warriors to travel to Duscur, for diplomatic reasons."

And this is the part he hates to remember. To think about. But it feels fair, to trade a personal story for a personal story, so, as he has many times in the past, Dimitri works past the feeling.

"But our traveling party was ambushed... and by people far stronger than we could have ever prepared for, in a land far from known enemies." Dimitri's eye narrows. "The entire party was slaughtered - my father included, and a dear friend who had been assigned to guard me, as I was but a child when this all happened. Yet still they managed to do one thing, and that was keep me safe and hidden. A survivor.

"I will never forget the appearance of those people who attacked us. Yet even for all that I was the only survivor, none back in Faerghus would listen to the words of a child and what he had seen. In the end, the blame ended up falling onto Duscur's feet, and a war was declared on them.

"So I did the only sensible thing, and stole a steed to make my way to battlefront."

He actually stole, like. a lot of horses, honestly. Or else they'd faint on him in the middle of the road.

That's not an important detail.

Dimitri hisses a breath out through his teeth. "Although it was hardly a battlefront at all... Merely ruined towns and villages. I made quite a nuisance of myself, and no introduction to the men of Faerghus that I passed, only did childish things such as chase them off and stolen armaments as I ran to see who of Duscur I could find."

Because he may have been a child... But he was a child with super strength and in the midst of a panicked breakdown. With both berserker strength and mentality, along with the absolutely bewildering sight it must have been to see a random child on the front, he made it a surprising distance into Duscur.

"In the end, I did not find many.... But I did find Dedue, in the end. A boy only a few years older than me. It took some scars, but I managed to pull him out from the mess..." Dimitri manages a huff of some grim amusement. "And that was when everyone else finally managed to catch up with me - including a dear friend of my father's. I wish I could say that I made a good case for myself, and Dedue, but I am afraid that, as a child, I could only throw a tantrum."

He might have threatened to bite someone. Or worse.

....Likely worse.

"But it was thanks to Rodrigue - my father's dear friend - that Dedue was technically brought into my service, despite the climate being what it was. But it was exactly because of that climate that, on paper, to the rest of Faerghus, that he could only be seen as my retainer. In my eyes, however... We have always been partners."

His fingers twitch just a little bit, gripping his carving knife tighter, and his voice goes low and dark. "Because those who slaughtered my father, and all of our men - there is no doubt in our minds that it was they who used Duscur as a scapegoat.

"So, together, we will bring Duscur back to its own people and, just as importantly... We will find those responsible, and bring justice cleaving straight through them, even if I must do it with my bare teeth."

It wouldn't be the first time.

Still, all that talking, and he finally lets loose a long breath, letting the feelings at least settle in him instead of rattling out from his body. He sets the carving knife down, just to be safe, and leans back. "In truth, I do not tell that story often. The general idea of it was well known back home, and I am not sure how to speak of the details here, in most cases. But you told a personal story of your own family, so I thought it fair to tell one of mine."

And, well, if there is one gold thread to be found in that entire miserable and bloody tapestry... Dimitri smiles just slightly. "And I cannot be anything but glad, that Dedue and I met. It has taken many battles by his side, and arriving here in this place... But he and I are lovers, to which I cannot be happier or prouder."