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

[lightningbearer]

"A few, yeah." His player just fails at updating his info. "Most of them aren't bad."

Just, you know. Whitney and her tantrums.

[4play]

"I see. Do you really want to risk unleashing a second bad one on the world, then?"

IV considers his words for a second, before smirking lightly.

"Although I guess it could be fun. There is a certain satisfaction to successfully dealing with people like that." Very nicely put for 'beating them all up'.

[lightningbearer]

To that, Geddoe just shrugs.

"Wouldn't be my problem keeping him in line if he acts up."

If the kid throws a tantrum upon losing? Big deal, so long as Geddoe's granted the victory appropriately, and all that. He's good at chucking things like that into 'somebody else's problem' territory rather than getting hung up on it.

[4play]

Okay, that gets an actual laugh out of IV.

"Pffft, true! We better make sure whoever has to deal with that gets a guaranteed raise for their job, tho~" He's still snickering.

"Are these fairies really that strong?"

[lightningbearer]

"They're no strong or weaker than any of the other types," Geddoe responds with a shrug. "Though I think some people think that the ones that look cuter are weaker than the ones that look fiercer."

Which is a stupid assumption to make, but some people are like that.

[4play]

IV makes a face at that. "'Each type has its own strengths.' That's such a non-reply! I don't care about looks, I care about effectiveness! What's their strengths, their weaknesses?! I know that they are apparently good against dragons and are the new IN thing because they're new, but what else?!"

Pardon his spurt of brattiness, there's only so much pseudo-political talk IV can take without needing a good distraction.

[lightningbearer]

"Dragon, dark, and fighting types."

Those are the ones they're strong against, though Geddoe isn't pausing to make sure he's following along.

"They're weak to poison and steel, fire resists them, and they resist bug types."

Of course Geddoe has that memorized. He's a mercenary, knowing what he's up against and what tools he has at his disposal is an imperative.

"Whether they're strong or not depends on what they're up against. Same as all the others."

[4play]

That earns him a stare.

Then, after a really long moment, IV just tossed his hands in the air, rolls his eyes and sighs.

"You're such a pokemon in human form, has anybody ever told you that before? I bet I could grab your face and make faces with it and you'd let me!" But the information about their weaknesses is actually good, and he is definitely going to make sure to memorize it. It's just that this stoicism is like a moving laser dot to the inner cat of IV's need to make others react to him. Attention is good. Attention means that you won't be dismissed or tossed away and replaced that easily.

Giving the mercenary a look that pretty much screams "dad, I'm disappointed in you", IV drops his hands. "You can say that about most cards too, but there's still a slew of things to consider before you decide whether to add them to your deck or not. Most of the people here seem to just like them because they are cute."

[lightningbearer]

Geddoe does raise an eyebrow at that little tirade. It's almost a subtle challenge of try it, kid, though he otherwise seems entirely unfazed. You're a hundred years too early to get him riled up.

"And any good card dealer would tell you there's no such thing as certain cards always being 'stronger' than others, it depends on what else you've got in your hand, what your opponent plays, and so on."

No, he doesn't know the specific card game the kid's referencing, but he does know card games in general.

"If you know that much, why even bother asking if one type is 'strong' in the first place? Just ask what its strengths and weaknesses are and think for yourself."

[4play]

"Yes, but there are still those that are more versatile or clearly over-powered than others. And some are just plain dangerous to have." He ought to know, he has some of those cards in his own deck.

"Maybe I just want to hear what other's people think on the subject matter."

[lightningbearer]

"For specific Pokémon, maybe. But there's too much variety within a given type to say something like that."

Seriously, there's like, hundreds of them? There's both overpowered and nigh-useless ones for basically every type. And even those are still somewhat circumstantial.

"Then you heard it." Geddoe just... crosses his arms at that. Seriously, kid, what more did you expect? "If you want to go find someone whose opinion is more what you want to hear, feel free."

[4play]

"I meant the cards, but whatever." The less Geddoe questions IV's mention of cards that are dangerous to have, the better.

IV mimics the crossed arm gesture and gives the other a look that's very much a stubborn teenager. "No thanks, I'll pass. Hearing everybody gush about fairy types is just as annoying as your cardboard replies."

ITT: bratty kid meets adult who won't indulge his brattiness XD

[lightningbearer]

Frankly, Geddoe would just assume he means a game where possessing a particular card means losing the game. Or one where particular cards can score highly if circumstances are just right, but are dead weight or a detriment otherwise. There are a good variety of ordinary card games where he's from, it's almost close enough.

That said, generally speaking Geddoe's a pretty patient guy, not to mention not easily provoked. But that doesn't mean he's willing to waste his time and breath on a kid who's clearly not actually interested in what he has to say. Which means all IV gets in response to his mockery is a shrug.

"Suit yourself."

And he turns to go like that's the end of the conversation. If the kid actually wants to ask him more, he can do it without being a brat about it.

poor IV, he wasn't even consciously setting out to be a brat to him this time XD

[4play]

There are some things IV absolutely can't stand, feeling like he's being talked down to being one of them. His own big brother is quite good at that, and each time it'd raise his hackles without any fail. Like he wouldn't notice when somebody said a lot of 'correct' pretty verbiage without saying anything at all! This guy was doing his best to say nothing to anybody, to the point where even his own pokemon have very obviously taken it up to try and communicate for him, what the hell does he think that he is?!

"What a waste of time... !"

Not giving the man another look, the teen stalks off. He'll just go and find somebody who actually wants to talk, instead. Preferably somebody around his own age, since all the adults here seem to be bonkers.

Geddoe WAS trying to help point him in the right direction and got mocked for it, soooooo

[lightningbearer]

Geddoe can certainly be vague when he wants to be, but in this case, he wasn't. He simply wasn't given much to work with, and therefore started with the basics. If that wasn't what the kid wanted, well, he should have been more specific.... And not resorted to mocking the guy who did answer his questions when under no obligation to.

But that's fine. He's not interested in just standing around being insulted. If the kid wants to ask him again later, then he'll see how things go then. For now though, he's probably going to see just what sort of drinks are available here.