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

[ladyharpist]

( mai gives a smile and a nod. )

I suppose that's as good an explanation as any. Guess you get it, hn? Do you feel close to your cards?

[4play]

I do. Although I guess mine are a bit of a special case - Numbers are like fragments of your soul, after all.

[ladyharpist]

( now that's intriguing. )

Number? I'm not familiar with that.

[4play]

Be glad. They are pretty cursed things. [Reaching for his deck again, IV flips through it until he finds a card and shows it to Mai. It's Number 88: Gimmick Puppet Destiny Leo.]

It's dormant here, but usually just touching it would let it possess you.

They latch onto their owners, bring out their worst, and make them fight other Numbers owners in order to gather and dominate all of them in one place. Let's just say that that's a thing that really needs to be prevented, and leave it at that.

[ladyharpist]

( mai takes the card when it's offered to her and turns it over in her hand. she reads it as iv talks and feels sweat at the back of her neck when he explains that touching it possesses people. she nearly drops it but as he said -- it's dormant here. )

If that's how they work, why do you have one in your deck? Aren't you concerned that's going to happen to you knowing that it needs to be prevented?

[4play]

Because this one's latched onto my soul already. Extracting it would take away a lot of my life-force and leave me catatonic at best. [He takes it back and stashes it once more safely she doesn't need to know that he doesn't have one, but three of those things on him] I'm also equipped with something that prevents being possessed.

[He tilts his head lightly to the side, as if in thought]

Well, most of it, anyway!

[ladyharpist]

( no, she doesn't need to know. she'd think he's bonkers. she raises her brows in surprise though. )

It's latched onto your soul? I'd ask how that happened but it's not really any of my business. But the thing that keeps you from being possessed might be nice.

( ... ... ... ... wait, "most of it?" )

What does that mean?

[4play]

[IV gives her a strange look (he'd love to know the answer to that himself too, Mai) before he lightly shrugs his shoulders like it's no big deal.]

That's just what those cards do. Just think of them like they are some high-tech version of some cursed old artifacts, that's less brain-breaking.

And I don't know? I feel like I have grown more attached to dolls as a whole and that I'm a bit more quick with my temper ever since I got Number 88, but could just as well just be me reacting to my changed outside circumstances.

I don't know what other Numbers Hunters use, but in my case it's simply a trick to make the Number think that I'm already possessed.

[ladyharpist]

( it wasn't really just as simple as "that's what those cards do." it was sort of terrifying that a card would possess you. what would make it release someone? there were several things going through her mind to the point that she almost didn't hear anything he was saying to her. )

That sounds like it controls you even when you aren't using it. Not my type of card -- I've had more than enough experiences with mind control in my life.

[4play]

[It's not something she wants to hear any answers to, considering that the Numbers are a damn lot like mental Facehuggers.]

They do. That's why we try to remove them as fast as possible from circulation.

...you were mind-controlled before?

[ladyharpist]

( y i k e s . . . best not knowing, then. )

Who even put them into circulation in the first place? Sounds like something some self-proclaimed evil genius would do.

( she glances off. it might not have been some supernatural control or a card possessing her soul, but dartz had had a hold over her and that counted in her opinion.

she glances to the side. )

...I'd rather not talk about that particular time of my life.

[4play]

Do you really want to know? Because the answer is worse.

[An evil genius would at least be still personal in some abstract way.

IV gives her a good, long look, eyes knowing, but when he finally opens his mouth it's no accusation or demand that comes out.]

Alright. It's your call.

[ladyharpist]

Well, now I'm not sure.

( true enough.

were it demanded, she would have been less inclined to tell him anything. fortunately, he doesn't. mai is a private person anyway. it would take a long time for her to confide in someone new. )

Thanks.

[4play]

[He shrugs his shoulders. The most abbreviated version, then.] Their creators and distributors are some people who want to cause war. They consider themselves the good ones, of course.

[Another shrug, a little more theatrical this time. IV's love for doing things with a flair rarely can stay hidden for long.]

Influence the right people to act against what they would usually do and framing yourself the hero swooping in to safe the day is easy, right? And even if a Number gets extracted from its victim in time, it still leaves them comatose or at least hospital-bound for an undefined amount of time. It's a win-win situation for them~

And nevermind. I have some things I'd rather not talk about, too. Demanding answers you don't want to give would be poor fanservice.