indigo_league: Artist: <user name="jellosaurusrex" site="tumblr.com"> (Default)
The Indigo League ([personal profile] indigo_league) wrote in [community profile] victory_road2025-02-17 08:13 pm

Swinub Scurry

Who: Everyone!
When: February 21st-28th
Where: Blackthorn City
What: It's the Swinub Scurry!
OOC Info: here!


Race day dawns bright and early on the 21st. In Blackthorn City, residents are bustling before the Winter sun is fully risen, completing setup for the veritable sea of Swinub-themed stalls and decorations that has been sprouting up throughout the week. The extra advertising has sparked peoples’ competitive spirits, and there’s also an ocean of handmade posters and signs cheering on specific racers.

Understandably, the majority of signs are for locals… but if any characters showed up earlier in the week to sign up, and had their Pokemon out and about, they may have picked up some fans! Is that a cute handmade doodle of their Pokemon hanging off a nearby balcony?

Speaking of racers - anyone who’s stayed in the town since at least last night, or arrived sufficiently early in the morning, will be invited to a complimentary breakfast! It’s simple and traditional, but there’s plenty to go around - rice and miso soup for everyone, and a vast spread of side dishes, including pickled and cooked vegetables and deep fried tofu. This food may be shared with Pokemon, though there’s also lots of high-vitamin Pokemon food specifically available!

Race sign-ups remain open until noon, when racers will be expected to gather up at the starting line - coincidentally, right in front of the big main event stage. As they harness up their Pokemon and double-check their sleds and supplies, the organizing committee for the event will be giving a speech. 30 minutes later, a loud whistle from the committee lead heralds the start of the race, and everyone will be off!

(Glance to your right as you pull away from the crowded stage area - that’s definitely Gym Leader Clair watching!)

Out on the trail, racing trainers and Pokemon will quickly be struggling, but more with the wilderness than with each other! While trainers with less than six Pokemon harnessed up are allowed to bring a regular team to deal with wild Pokemon, trainer battles are off limits during the race. There’s more than enough to worry about as is!

(That’s not to say there aren’t one or two racers willing to stoop to sabotage, provided they see an opportunity where they think they won’t get caught.)

The trail is marked with red streamers on trees and rocks, but they’re few and far between, and there’s intermittent snow showers that make visibility low. Trainers were provided with a map at the race’s start, but this isn’t the city - you better hope you can interpret contour lines and similar-looking landmarks. It’s easy to get lost! These aren’t the nice, trampled-down paths of routes - trainers will find themselves having to dodge around trees, bounce over rocks, and cross frozen streams and rivers! Speaking of frozen rivers… careful, the slushy weather earlier in the month left some of those with a more fragile layer of ice than others…

On top of that, the wild Pokemon out here are higher in level than on the routes! Trainers will find themselves having to fend off large, dangerous Pokemon like Beartics, Lycanrocs, Cetitans, and Hisuian Braviarys.

And then there’s figuring out when to rest. Any veteran racer will tell you it’s a bad idea not to let your Pokemon have a break for at least a few hours, no matter how much stamina you think they have. Dealing with the wilderness takes a lot out of you. (Every race, there’s someone overconfident enough to think they can just keep going… who then ends up staggering into the finish well behind the pack, their Pokemon completely wiped.) But… do you push as far as possible before resting, and hope you can keep your lead? Or do you rest early, and hope to breeze past everyone else while they’re taking their break?

Back in town, the festivities will have kicked into full swing! Food stands abound - in particular, given the weather, there’s endless options for warm bowls - rice porridge (particularly in the mornings), ramen, udon, oden, stew… But for those who don’t want something soup-adjacent, they will find plenty of other treats, like mochi cakes grilled over a charcoal fire, crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside, with both savory and sweet varieties.

There’s stands with souvenirs and traditional crafts, too - do you want a textile with a Piloswine pattern? Of course you do. There’s lots of options for accessories for your Pokemon - woven collars and bandannas, scarves… and clothes for you too, if you’re so inclined! There’s little wooden and ceramic Swinub charms - rub their noses for luck - and various wood and papercraft objects. One particularly large stand seems to be doing a thriving business in traditional Spinarak silk soap!

On and around the main stage, there’s always something going on. During the day, there’s a constant stream of updates and commentary, with several large screens streaming video from race officials following the race on flying Pokemon. But there’s more: every day of the race has a few additional events on a small side stage, like a panel with former racers talking through their experiences, or a Pokemon performance.

As it begins to get dark, activity will slow down… but even in the wee hours of the night, the stage will stay open with the next shift of commentators, albeit with a much more sleepy, relaxed atmosphere. (Absolutely no loudspeakers, people are trying to sleep.) Some brave and selfless stalls will stay open all night with hot drinks, and tiny local bars so small they only seat a handful of guests offer a warm, friendly place to stop and relax well into the early hours of the morning. Even Blackthorn City’s onsen is kept open well into the night, offering a steamy soak to people and Pokemon alike.

In the early afternoon of the 22nd, the very fastest racers will start showing up at the finish line! They’ll be met with cheering, as will every racer that arrives afterward - it’s a Swinub Scurry tradition that every racer must be welcomed back enthusiastically, no matter how long it takes them. Yes, even in the middle of the night. (There’s a reason the finish line is located at the edge of the city.)

Trainers and Pokemon will be dragged back to the center of the festivities and brought inside to warm up and enjoy another complimentary meal. They’re expected to stick around the city until the race is officially over - they want their medal, right? - but they’re otherwise free to enjoy the celebration around town! They may have to suffer through occasional excited crowds when they’re recognized, though people will let characters go if they beg off by saying their Pokemon are tired or hungry. On the other hand, being recognized at stalls might mean getting offered some small treats and goodies on the house - particularly for those who performed well in the race!

Shortly after sunset on the 23rd, the race will finally come to a close when old man Junzo comes placidly trundling in with his full pack of Shuckle. The cheers for him are… lackluster, to say the least, but he seems entirely unbothered. At this point, all the racers will be called to the stage, with anyone who completed the race presented with a medal, anyone who participated offered the option of taking a Swinub egg (assuming they didn’t get caught cheating)... and the top three winners particularly hyped up and praised! Hope you wanted to be on TV?

But that doesn’t mean the festivities are over! While the intensity will ramp down over the week, and the stage and performances will have shut down after the 23rd, the stalls and extended local business hours won’t close down until the 28th.
officerdown: that my love language is acts of service and all i know how to do is kill (like it's MY fault)

[personal profile] officerdown 2025-03-29 03:38 am (UTC)(link)
Yet another party joins the fray. Scar adjusts as he sits, taking into account that there is now someone looming over him. That's a new challenge. He's frazzled and out of his depth and the first thing that comes out of him, level-toned if uncharacteristic, is:

"It doesn't appear to be a baby seal, yet."
no_ufo_ending: (chill)

[personal profile] no_ufo_ending 2025-03-29 04:15 am (UTC)(link)
Henry carefully places the egg down in a towel nest before climbing backward into the water with his whole ass out. Once he's in, he turns and violently slaps a small wave at Envy just because.

"He might! The guy who sold it to me has been breeding Seel for years."

And then he turns to Scar to hear his observation, which he takes as a joke. So he lets out a good-natured chuckle. Oh, Scar, you're so funny!
loopsiedaisy: (🌑 Head and heart)

[personal profile] loopsiedaisy 2025-03-30 02:52 am (UTC)(link)
Those are Pokemon??

[That's messed up. Not that Loop doesn't think of Pokemon as people - especially after spending some time as one, but honestly even before then - but those really just look like humans. At least from a distance.]

Would those even be good at pulling a sled...?

[Judging by how far behind that team is, evidently not!]
outofsynth: (1000_cb=20210514203402(1))

[personal profile] outofsynth 2025-03-31 04:58 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah. You can see the differences more clearly closer up, but some Pokémon are kinda human-like.

[Min watches the screen, though he probably doesn't need to. Not only are they quite far behind, but they're a team who are going well into the night. Min just hopes they decide to take a break before he gets called in to rescue them. They are started to look pretty worn down judging from their movement.]

I guess they might have some moves that could help them, but they do seem like they're struggling.
seacub: (:])

[personal profile] seacub 2025-04-01 08:56 am (UTC)(link)
Great! [Perfect, perfect.] Alright let's see...

[Get a few poles....and...]

I'm going to feed the main pole through, if you can grab the other end when you see it? From there we can drive the ends down.
seacub: ('boy i sure hope nothin bad happens')

[personal profile] seacub 2025-04-01 08:58 am (UTC)(link)
It's really interesting to think about how they handle most transport with that, actually. I mean...there's no clear roads for trucks, but somehow the pokemarts and local businesses are...fine?

[oh, thinking of that-] ...not to mention Celadon- I would have thought that department stores get most of their supplies from ocean trade, but Celadon is landlocked.
senorita_perfecta: (Conversation)

[personal profile] senorita_perfecta 2025-04-01 09:28 am (UTC)(link)
Snowball is pretty much very insistent that his Trainer needs to get the Spheal scarf right this instant. The Spheal is doing all what he can to convince her to buy it now. But Isabela isn’t going to rush her shopping time so soon as she approaches the scarf in question and takes a closer look at it.

“Wow, the Spheal print on this one looks really spectacular and lovely,” she muses as she examines it further.

“Roselia, Lia,” Carmen agrees as she joins the scarf checking with her.
phdepression: (absentee_father)

[personal profile] phdepression 2025-04-01 03:04 pm (UTC)(link)
Jotaro nods. He knew that Cali was from a rough area in the future but he didn't realise how life had been on top of that. Jotaro's childhood had been much cushier, though his life completely changed upon heading to high school too.

"Fair enough. You're still a med student? Or have you technically already graduated? Should I be calling you Doctor Cali?" he asks her.

"Ohhh! I haven't seen a white Zoroark before! JoJo has a black Zorua but I've never seen that variant. Sounds spooky. But has Cali thought about evolving you? At very least to expand your movepool?" Crank asks.

The waiter comes to take their orders. Anything else you want besides ramen, Cali?
Edited 2025-04-01 15:05 (UTC)
phdepression: (o_o)

[personal profile] phdepression 2025-04-01 03:11 pm (UTC)(link)
[Vivian is more than happy to stare at Doppio. He gives her weird vibes. Nothing bad, she doesn't think at least, just weird vibes. She pouts when he looks away though.]

Fair enough. Doesn't seem like I'm not going to either tonight but I'm going to try some short bursts over the next few days. See if regular breaks but constant motion will do us better than starting and stopping like normal.
phoenixwiz: (Confidence Within)

[personal profile] phoenixwiz 2025-04-01 03:58 pm (UTC)(link)
Arcanine! Arcanine! Arcanine!

Heheheh. Oh Godric, you silly big dog. Sure yes, I’ll get to that right away.

(Harry quickly gets to where the other end of the tent is at and, upon spotting it on the snowy ground, grab hold of it. Godric happily barks in sheer delight as he wags his tail in excitement.)

Okay, got it! I’m holding onto the other end of the tent now. Let’s get this tent set up.
calisugarfiend: We have the first time look at Humanoid Cali without her Mask looking nervous. Please do not make her go out in public without her mask (HUMAN CALI)

[personal profile] calisugarfiend 2025-04-01 05:32 pm (UTC)(link)
"I actually graduated with a medical license the day before I arrived here, so this was weirdly like the best graduation gift I could've asked for. Though, I prefer to still be called Cali, we weren't very formal back where I came from." Cali smiled a bit as she explained, being sent to the Pokemon World truly was the best graduation gift possible.

"Oh man that Zoroark was, that one made this creepy ass illusion forest to trap this guy and his Zoroark team in. The little Cavity Queen over there basically managed to negotiate the entire situation out with that one. I think Cali still has the fur tuff from it, I really hope she doesn't decide to get one on our team." Sweet Sixteen recounted, shivering a little at the thought of repeating it again before thinking on the evolution part, "I hope she does, I'd like to give that Zoroark a piece of my mind after that rumpus when I do evolve."

Cali thinks for a bit as the waiter arrives before deciding to go with the ramen, she'll have the mochi ice cream as well.
crystalmaster: (Default)

[personal profile] crystalmaster 2025-04-02 12:06 am (UTC)(link)
Radley is amused by Snowball's insistence. He's definitely getting the Eevee family one, and then he finds one with Pokemon kitties.

"This looks like a keeper too," he remarks as he looks at the napping Meowths and wide-eyed Espurrs on the scarf.
loopsiedaisy: (🌓 And now I turn through heather walls)

[personal profile] loopsiedaisy 2025-04-03 03:30 am (UTC)(link)
[They definitely are. From the stage, the quiet tones of the commentator are speculating on whether the duo of Pokemon are struggling even more because their gaits don't match - they're a similar size and from the same evolutionary line, but the Gardevoir's feet sink into the snow much further than the Gallade's, being pointier.]

I guess if I didn't have Meeple I wouldn't really have a good Pokemon for pulling a sled either...

[Loop's assuming that's the reason the trainer has those two pulling the sled - that they don't have a team member better suited.]

[Admittedly, without Meeple Loop wouldn't have entered at all.]
shiningkindness: (243)

[personal profile] shiningkindness 2025-04-03 09:16 am (UTC)(link)
Saving the number in her gear, Fluttershy nods. "I'm sure it will be! Good luck when you get started."
shiningkindness: (318)

[personal profile] shiningkindness 2025-04-03 09:17 am (UTC)(link)
Right. That's always the challenge, isn't it? [ She giggles a little. ] I'd love to spoil my Pokemon, if I could. But I have to be able to feed them too.
calisugarfiend: A Super happy Cali waving to you in hello as fast as a little hummingbird (Default)

[personal profile] calisugarfiend 2025-04-03 05:14 pm (UTC)(link)
Cali, likewise does the same as she beamed with a very sunny sort of energy, "Thank you Fluttershy, I'm just super excited to work at the Pokemon Center soon. I have to head back to the First aid stand, but I hope I'll see you again soon."
senorita_perfecta: (Laughter)

[personal profile] senorita_perfecta 2025-04-03 07:42 pm (UTC)(link)
Isabela couldn’t avoid Snowball’s pleads to buy the Spheal’s scarf for long. She could tell because as soon as she turns to face him his eyes have widen up, just begging her to buy it.

“Lia, Roselia, Lia,” Carmen gently reminds her, even noticing Snowball being, erm, very insistent on her buying it.

“Oh okay, don’t cry so soon,” she gently tells him while she also pets him on the head, “I’ll get it right now. You sure have an eye for fashion trends, don’t you, Snowball?”

“Spheal!”

And so Isabela finally grabs onto the Spheal scarf before noticing Félix pointing to her the Meowstic line scarf that Radley is also checking out. He just thought that the print looks really nice.

“Wow, that scarf looks really good as well.”
senorita_perfecta: (Confidant)

[personal profile] senorita_perfecta 2025-04-03 07:49 pm (UTC)(link)
Same for me too. I also have plenty of Pokémon to feed and look after as well while trying to find ways to treat them once in a while. It can be difficult to juggle both needs and wants of our Pokémon at times especially when money is tight.

Noi, Noi!

(It is right at this moment when Isabela realizes that she has been talking to someone new to her for a while now and she almost forgets to introduce herself and Félix. Oops, she needs to do that right away before it slips past her mind again.)

Oh I nearly forget to introduce myself and my Pokémon right now. My name is Isabela Madrigal and that little bat is my Noibat Félix, it is really nice to meet you today.

Noi! Noibat!
crystalmaster: (Default)

[personal profile] crystalmaster 2025-04-03 09:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Radley chuckles. Yeah, he wouldn't have been able to resist Snowball for long.

"There's a lot of cool ones here. I see one over there with Grass Pokemon."

"Eevee-vee!" exclaims Evie.
phdepression: (a smile?????)

[personal profile] phdepression 2025-04-04 08:38 am (UTC)(link)
Jotaro orders himself a beer and the waiter heads off, leaving the two to keep chatting. Jotaro nods to the woman.

"Cali it is, then. Sounds like you're happy with how things have turned out. I'm glad for you." He means that. "Your skills will certainly be useful here. It's nice and peaceful but you always need a doctor..."

"What? That's so freaky. That's so cool your trainer managed to get out of the situation by just talking them down. I'd have no idea how I would have dealt with that... JoJo may have done the same though..." Crank shakes their body, simulating shaking their head. "But what do you need to evolve? Items? Or just lots of fights like me?"
outofsynth: (it's make-believe)

[personal profile] outofsynth 2025-04-04 12:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, it's not like it seems that weird to start with. But when you start thinking about it? It doesn't seem like it should work as easily as it does.

Goldenrod makes sense, and even some of the smaller stores you could probably stock pretty easily using the warps. But Celadon? There's no way.
calisugarfiend: Human Cali is smiling warmly (Smiling Human Cali)

[personal profile] calisugarfiend 2025-04-04 05:44 pm (UTC)(link)
After being out of the mask for a bit, Cali relaxes finally after thanking the waiter as she returns to talking with Jotaro, "It's been the best here, I'm looking forward to working as a medical assistant at the Pokemon Center, I want to get a good feel what the medical field is like here."

Sweet Sixteen couldn't have agreed more about how freaky the whole thing was, "It really was, just an absolute ride that experience was. Cali just got really lucky that Zoroark was willing to humor her, it could've gone south if that one disagreed. As for the evolution part, it's weird, we need a specific apple to evolve with. I'm eying the Sweet as I'm not a fan of roommates and the other one is just not my flavor at all, too tart."
seacub: (:])

[personal profile] seacub 2025-04-05 01:32 pm (UTC)(link)
Great! In we go then...

[That's the main pole in place then!] Right, one down, a few more poles to go!

[They'll go on like that for a while, but the tent will go up in no time as a result. Soon, they can happily say the tent is up!]

That's yours done then- any problems inside?
seacub: (AND NOW A PIPE TOO??)

[personal profile] seacub 2025-04-05 01:37 pm (UTC)(link)
Even factoring the cycling road in just doesn't work- unless it's hiding an underpass from Fuschia somehow...

[HMMMM...........]
senorita_perfecta: (Default)

[personal profile] senorita_perfecta 2025-04-05 06:44 pm (UTC)(link)
“Lia?”

“Wow, there is one with Grass Pokémon as well?” Isabela is surprised to hear it but her interest nevertheless is heightened, “Well in this case, I would love to see it.”

Carmen runs up to find the scarf in question and proceeds to hand it over to her to look at it herself.

“Oh my! This one looks so gorgeous.”

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