Thirteenth Spell: It's All Ore-ver. [Vid/Text/Voice]

[behindblueskin]

[Backdated appropriately.]

Malva's warning to stay out of the tunnels was really unnecessary; at least to Keldor. He's sensible enough to know to stay out of danger, unlike some people who'll be ensuring that their friends drink for free tonight at the bar, due to all the beers being held.

No. If there's any amateur spelunking to be done, it's with a group of volunteers going about the city checking to make sure nobody—human or pokemon—has fallen in. And to round up the worms.

Being the largest out of the group, Keldor is given the task of being the guy to help hold onto the rope while others rappel themselves down to look for anyone foolish enough to fall in.

A Makuhita was one such rescuee. It's happy to be out of that hole.

It might even be someone's newest partner.

But just as the little yellow guy is helped out of its predicament, though, the Flamigo swarm arrives, and within seconds the group is beset by enough of these lawn ornaments to celebrate a fortieth birthday party [many happy returns?].

They're loud, they're obnoxiously pink and they're everywhere.

They need to be gone.

"I have an idea."

He reaches into his bag, grabs what he thinks is a berry, and throws something at one of them in hopes that it'll distract them.

In actuality it's a ball, and it bounces off the head of one of the knot-necked birds, and in an instant it's caught while Keldor makes "no I did not mean to" noises.

Wow.

Fantastic.

Just what he really wanted.

Can this day be over now?

Comments

Video

[dreamsofahero]

"... Should I presume that you typically don't keep a stock of repels on hand?"

Because really that could have prevented all this. Probably. Maybe.

[behindblueskin]

Oh, he has repels, but...

"Would that work on a flock this size?"

Don't repels usually repel smaller numbers?

[dreamsofahero]

"Well, it would certainly be more effective than throwing a pokéball, I imagine."

Or there's the whole using it as intended and spraying yourself down before heading into an infested tunnel, but surely that goes without saying...

[behindblueskin]

Keldor grumbles something not worth repeating. Especially for the younger audiences out there.

"I had thought to throw a berry at them, not a ball."

Nobody was expecting a swarm to happen. That's why no one thought to use repels. The only pokemon they intended to find in the tunnels [infested? Maybe by people and 'mons who needed Malva's warning] were pokemon in distress or Orthworms that needed capture.

[dreamsofahero]

Maybe not a swarm, per se, but if you're not anticipating at least normal Pokemon, you're not properly paranoid about this place yet.

"To be frank, I doubt that would have been much more effective, either. In fact, it could even possibly lead to them thinking you have more food to offer."

[behindblueskin]

Okay. He might be just enough of a rookie to not know that yet.

"I had intended them to all try for it. At once."

You know. Have them squabble over the treat while everyone else makes a getaway.

Obviously, as you just saw, it didn't work.

[dreamsofahero]

Sion's been here for over a decade, so he's definitely picked up a thing or two.

"Has that worked for you for wild Pokemon before?"

[behindblueskin]

Keldor will soon be starting Year Two, so he still has things to learn.

"It has. But the ones it worked on were not out roaming in numbers such as these are; only singles or small groups."

All the other swarms were not so "swarmy" as this Flamigo swarm is.

[dreamsofahero]

"Then if I might give a suggestion, unless circumstances preclude it, try making use of a repel immediately before entering an area where encountering wild Pokemon would be problematic. And even if it's too late for that, using one may cause some of the group to back off, at least."

Can't fix the situation he's already in, but can certainly give advice for the future!

[behindblueskin]

Yes, sadly, these turkeys don't intend to leave until whatever it was that caused them to swarm like this passes. They'll just stand around making a lot of noise and make some people suddenly desire to take a Florida vacation.

"I shall remember that. I am, after all, still on my trainer's journey."

And he will. Damn it, why did there have to be two swarms in a row OK the Orthworms technically don't count as it was man-made, but still. It sure felt like one.

[dreamsofahero]

"For now, however... If you have a Pokémon that can use moves that they're weak too, perhaps that would encourage them to scatter."

You know, the good old tried and true method.

[behindblueskin]

"That does seem to have worked in the past."

Although, given that some areas can have a wide type variety, the repel strategy may prove invaluable someday.

[dreamsofahero]

"Exactly. Though you should be ready to take advantage of any opening, since with so many around, it may not last for long."

He's been here a long time. He's very well-acquainted with swarms. Unfortunately.

Video

[crystalmaster]

Radley has to laugh a bit. "Uh oh. Are you gonna keep it or try to trade it?"

[behindblueskin]

"I could consider that."

But who wants one of these party decorations?

Inexperienced trainers who think "All pokemon are good ones"?

Maybe he can leave it in his storage box.

Way back in his storage box.

[crystalmaster]

"I wonder if they're tougher than they look. At least some of them seemed to be pretty scrappy. I saw a whole bunch of them unleash attacks at the same time."

[behindblueskin]

"Some do appear to be of a particularly pugnacious nature."

Is that what you meant?

[crystalmaster]

"Yeah. So maybe yours will be useful and not just a living lawn decoration."

[behindblueskin]

"'Lawn decoration'?"

Contrary to the narration, Keldor knows nothing about people using plastic flamingos as lawn ornaments, so this one's a new one.

[crystalmaster]

"It's a popular thing back home, for some reason. When I saw some here today, I thought the fad was suddenly here, too. Then I realized they were alive."

[behindblueskin]

"They are a..."

He searches his mind to think of what a "lawn ornament" might consist of.

Well. There were statues and topiaries back at the palace...

"...kind of statuary?"

In a way? Yes, Keldor.

[crystalmaster]

"Yeah, pretty much. Usually made of plastic, though. People put them in their front yards."

[behindblueskin]

"For what purpose would they do such a thing?"

Listen Keldor. Who really knows. People are just strange when it comes to their kitsch.

[crystalmaster]

"I have no idea."

Several Eevees pop up and warble. They don't know either.

[behindblueskin]

And so we circle back to what to do with this particular one.

Honestly, looking at the ones it used to be a flock member to, they don't really seem like much. Just loud and pink and currently being herded away by people with pokemon best capable of driving back such a thing as a flock of Flamigos.

He sighs.

Does he really want to train his?

Does he really want to give up so early before testing its potential?

Okay now he's feeling bad about giving up on a misfit, when he'd taken it upon himself to stand up for these misfits.