Pokemon Umbral Theatre 36: We're Alone, We're Very Alone

[Astral Harmony]

If you wish to enter Metal Hell, there's little anyone can do to stop you, and thanks to the number of Pokemon, there's plenty to catch and eat in both meat and vegetables. So naturally those people who couldn't make it in the upper world have built a somewhat impressive community down there. If you've ever played Final Fantasy VII, the place does kind of feel like the slums in Midgar.

Anyways, I read you PM and I'll handle everything you had to say today before the afternoon.

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Nov 23 ~ Off The Wall, by Armored Bishoujo

Armored Bishoujo: "Greetings, all players of Pokemon Umbral and all you lurkers who somehow enjoy reading our extremely slow and ridiculously convoluted story. This is Armored Bishoujo, the Elemancer of Lightning and a lover of fighting women everywhere! But enough about me, let me introduce our first guest in our first episode of Off The Wall. Off The Wall is a new and small segment of the Pokemon Umbral universe where I use my GM powers to make certain NPCs temporarily self aware so that they can talk about and explain things that the story itself doesn't get into very deeply. Today's segment is about Honmyr's mecha industry, and to help you learn about it, allow me to introduce-"

Alucard Prescott: "Hallo, everybodyyyyyy! I am Alucard Prescott, who hasn't been introduced in the real story yet but will be very soon. I am a young and beautiful genius who a lot of bad people have their eyes on, and not just because I'm cute or because my eyes are derp't all to hell. It's because I'm a super rare prodigy with a mastery in electronics, electricity, mechanics, engineering, circuitry, I could go on and on! Nearly every kind of modern mecha and combat vehicle in Honmyr owes itself to my talent at design and creation. So without further ado, let me tell you all about Honmyr's mechanical terrors. Note that this doesn't include things like military vehicles and mobile weapons platforms, as that is still a wild and erratic industry and I could fill more books about it than that dumbass Harry Potter."

Honmyr's Mecha Forces (First Successionary War to present day)...

Automaton
- Time of Use: First Successionary War - Present, but in a much smaller capacity.
- Variants: Engine Automaton, Furnace Automaton, Ashen Knights
- Force Size: First Successionary War (4000), Present Day (Less Than 500)
- Armaments: Various melee and ranged implements from swords, battle rods, axes, polearms, spike knuckles and many others to light machineguns, small cannons, flamethrowers, napalm cannons, bazookas, rocket launchers, grenade launchers, mine layers and mortar cannons.
- History: Reverse engineered from Heritage Technology from before I was even born, the automata were a part of the Republican Front and were deployed on the continent of Homnyr to increase enemy death tolls while minimizing allied casualties, and were wildly successful, even after some war criminals passed on information about their weaknesses (the mineral in the furnaces and the fuel in the engines) to the enemy in exchange for just about whatever they wanted. If it wasn't for the emerging power of the Rezonscape which drove many noble samurai and Republican Front soldiers to insanity, it is likely the automata would have more or less annihilated the Hiroshiho Empire. The information on their weaknesses came too little, too late, I guess.
- Current Day: With the reverse engineering of Heritage technology becoming the norm of our technological development jumps, the automata have become quite obsolete. They're powerful, sure, but they can't hold a candle to the mecha we have today. Most automata that exist and are still in use are very different from how they used to be, having been upgraded and modified all to hell. The majority of them are considered to be Constructomechs, automated robots that work in the construction industry whenever having a more specialized construction mecha would be less cost effective. About the only Automata that still remain true to their "built for war" natures are the Ashen Knights. Purchased by Irene Crosswald well over a decade ago, they too have been heavily modified, and to this day they patrol the dark and winding steel tunnels of Metal Hell, dealing death to the psychotic Madsoldiers and hopeless Rabandito that thrive there by the thousands.

Battleframe
- Time of Use: A Few Years After the First Successionary War - Present
- Variants: Construction and Wartime Operations (Battleframes used for construction are usually called Constructoframes)
- Force Size: Thousands and Slowly Climbing but Mostly Stagnating
- Armaments: Everything from construction materials like fork claws, arc welders, and industrial chainsaws to modern weapons like beam cannons, gatling guns, surface-to-air missile launchers, and nearly every weapon that the automata used to do battle.
- History: Battleframes are the forerunner of the modern RDPA, and basically function the same way except for having an exposed cockpit, although modern models come preinstalled with kinetic barriers while many old models are being fitted with them or steel cages for the protection of the pilot. This was pretty much when my genius was starting to get recognized and I began getting involved in mecha development.
- Current Day: To this day, Battleframes are used Honmyr-wide by nearly every construction company, by the Police Force for when a little extra oomph is required, by emergency services like Fire & Rescue, and naturally by the Honmyr Prideguard where they are used in the same capacity as mechanized infantry. Until the day comes that RDPAs are cost effective to build and maintain, Battleframes will probably never become obsolete on the battlefield.

Mechanoknight
- Time of Use: Roughly a Decade Ago - Present
- Variants: Treadknight, Insectoknight, Hoverknight, Turretknight, Turbineknight, etc.
- Force Size: Thousands and Climbing Fast
- Armaments: While Mechanoknights can be made to wield just about anything, they are usually equipped with the heaviest of heavy weapons for maximum damage over wide areas. Expect particle cannons, thermobaric rocket launchers, space compression cannons, grand sabers, ion cannons, anti-armor sniper rifles, plasmathrowers, and heavy beam and projectile cannons.
- History: First constructed before the outbreak of the Second Successionary War, that war was where Mechanoknights really began to proove that they weren't just my first original wacky idea. The purpose of Mechanoknights is the swift eradication of large infantry forces and decisive anti-armor strikes, and they brought that in spades, although they also preform very well when seiging enemy fortifications. Back in those days, Treadknights and Turretknights were more or less the mainstay of all Mechanoknight forces.
- Current Day: The specific name of a Mechanoknight usually refers to the type of lower body they possess (large tank treads for the Treadknight, six legs for the Insectoknight, a fortified base for the Turretknight to rotate on, etc.) and Mechanoknights have been adapted to every environment to date, from the skies to the seas, and all it takes is a simple change of the weapons loadout and body type to suit the environment and terrain. The Republican Guard and the Honmyr Prideguard have the largest numbers of active Mechanoknights, but private corporations and the Pokemon Advanced Tactics and Counterterrorism Agency also have their own handfuls here and there.

Rapid Deployable Powered Armor
- Time of Use: A Few Years Ago - Present
- Variants: Mostly Ground Warfare and a Few Naval and Hazardous Environment Varieties
- Force Size: Several Hundred and Slowly Climbing
- Armaments: A mix of modern-day Battleframe weapons and compact Mechanoknight weapons.
- History: With no war to speak of under their belt, the Rapid Deployable Powered Armor or RDPA still has something to proove.
- Current Day: RDPAs are considered to be superior (but not by much) to Battleframes and weaker than both Mechanoknights and Automechs, but have found some popularity due to be cheaper than their superior technological brethren to produce, and some people consider them to be the answer when that illfated day comes that Mechanoknights and Automechs become self aware and start slaughtering their makers. The most prevalent of an RDPA's features is their ability to be quickly deployed and extracted from a battlefield at the request of their registered user, almost as quickly as one can deploy and recall Pokemon. The quickest time one has managed to deploy and activate an RDPA for battle is a mere 4.6 seconds.

Automech
- Time of Use: A Few Years Ago - Present
- Variants: All have been built for heavy combat and elite tactics
- Force Size: Little more than a dozen, with one or two being produced each year
- Armaments: The latest in ultra modern military-grade Heritage weapon systems, cleverly designed, extremely dangerous, and often a bit odd.
- History: There is very little history when it comes to Automechs, though I for one expect that to change in the following years.
- Current Day: Only the richest and most powerful government agencies and corporate powerhouses would have the money and resources to possess any number of Automechs. The Honmyr Prideguard, Adonova, Black Cradle, Veldyne Corp, Ironworks, Ricewood Masterworks, the Republican Guard, the Hiroshiho Empire and PATCA all fall under this umbrella, and usually safeguard their Automechs like treasured lovers until they absolutely must deploy them for combat.

Evolith
- Time of Use: A Few Years Ago - Present
- Variants: Only combat models, differing by the element of attacks they use.
- Force Size: Thousands and Climbing at an Alarming Rate
- Armaments: Pokemon moves, although as time passes specialized TMs are being created to give Evoliths moves that an enemy will never see coming.
- History: Before the outbreak of the First Successionary War, Kagura Kazetsubaki fled the Hiroshiho Empire to escape assassination from her vile half-sister Sakuya, the current ruler of the empire. Settling in the western edge of Honmyr, she gave up all responsibility for the empire or Honmyr and began to embrace her greatest love: archaeology. Discovering the powerful and mysterious relationship between evolution stones and the mineral now called Evolite has resulted in a massive technology jump that doesn't involve Heritage technology at all. I should point out here that I myself have had no influence of any kind on the invention and construction of the Evolith, although I sort of wish I had. Some of them are incredibly powerful.
- Current Day: With a rather small amount of training in comparison to learning about any other kind of mecha, just about anyone can create and control Evoliths. Evolution stones and Evolite are both in vast supply, and thus Evoliths have become both very inexpensive to produce and extremely quick to shape and awaken. If anyone can find any Evolite motherlodes in Honmyr like there is in the west, it's entirely possible to form a entire battalion in less than half a year with the right amount of experienced professionals or factories.

[Menarker]

Looking forward to more Off-the-Wall articles in the future. ^^

[Astral Harmony]

Off The Wall by Armored Bishoujo

Armored Bishoujo: "Greetings to all you Pokemon Umbral faithful. Today marks the day of another Off The Wall, starring your host, Armored Bishoujo. Since I didn't receive any requests from you players or even any lurkers that happen to be ogling this place, I'm just going to go ahead and talk about something I think could be helpful in some capacity."

Jeanette Ricewood: "Today's subject is something that I have been researching for decades and am always happy to discuss with those who are interested in the history of our world and its rather perplexing lore. I am referring to one of our most incredible and powerful mysteries to date, the Heritage Sites. But before we begin to discuss those, it would benefit you to know about a scientific theory I published in my youth first."

The Dual Technologies Theorm

Let's not mince words: anyone who thinks it is normal to have standard bicycles hand-in-hand with the miraculous technology behind Pokeballs is a gullible idiot. The Dual Technologies Theorm points this out with no shame whatsoever. As it is, we have two levels of technology. Everything from our cars to our televisions to our bicycles and clothes are based on Generation Technology, which comprises everything we have been able to invent and create ourselves without assistance from Heritage Sites.

Heritage Technology is any kind of tech that we have discovered in Heritage Sites or have reverse engineered from the tech that we have discovered in Heritage Sites. I mentioned Pokeballs before. Yes, those are reversed engineered from Heritage Technology. We also owe our teleportation platforms, the healing machine at the Pokemon Centers, the PC Storage System, the Global Trade Network, Ranger Stylers, Pokemon DNA infusion processes, pharmaceuticals, Inquiry Visors, and nearly all of our combat robots and most military hardware to experimenting with and understanding Heritage Technology.

Heritage Sites

There are several huge rumors about how the Heritage Sites have come to exist on the Pokemon World. Some suggest ancient and yet much more highly advanced human civilizations that no longer exist today. Some suggest aliens. Others believe it to be the work of Pokemon that we may have never seen before and probably never will see. And while Heritage Sites aren't all that difficult to infiltrate and explore, what these locations reveal offers no concrete proof whatsoever. Maybe that's one of the reasons we study Heritage Technology in the first place; to find out where the hell it all came from and who created it.

A Heritage of Blood

Here's something the school textbooks will never tell the kids: Heritage Sites are the sole reason for the First Successionary War that occured between the foreign Republican Front and the native Hiroshiho Empire of Honmyr. In the beginning, it started with scouts who discovered that Honmyr was littered with Heritage Sites. However, it wasn't until renowned warriors Irene Crosswald and Vladier Burkmont teamed up and started to explore Honmyr's surface and underbelly that we learned about how much of a Heritage Technology motherlode Honmyr actually was.

Most continents have one Heritage Site and are lucky if they happen to have two of them. Some, like Ransei and Jurich, possess none at all. Honmyr literally skullfucks coincidence by initially harboring at least nine from just a few months of investigating. Once that was revealed to those who would be interested in financing a military invasion of Honmyr, even the most pessimistic and guarded financiers were throwing their money into a massive war effort. We knew the Hiroshiho Empire wasn't simply going to let us set up shop on the continent, so we had to take opportunity by force. And thus began one of the bloodiest and craziest battles ever waged on the entire planet.

Heritage Sites In Honmyr

Here is a brief list of all known Heritage Sites so far:

- Ruins of Rezonance or Rezonant Ruins: Six in total, though there is a smaller Heritage Site located within the Rapturous Depths that is considered a seventh ruin. They are located throughout Honmyr and are securely locked against intrusion, though a special relationship with the Rezonscape's maddening influence seems to unlock them when the concentration reaches a certain density. Still, only few know what they were built to contain, as they are protected by powerful and coordinated guardians while also housing numerous deadly traps.

- Eternal Engine: Considered to be two Heritage Sites in one, a massive metal forge and a gargantuan factory/armory right below, the two are connected together and heavily protected by some of its own generated mechanical weapons. They are located far to the west, just a hour drive south of the Recycled City.

- Pandora's Needle: This Heritage Site is a hidden elevator leading from some unknown location in Fainas Metropolis down into Fallen Eden, a classified location inhabited by dangerous Pokemon.

- Chaos Atelier: Partially constructed by the Republic of Honmyr alongside some ruins that were already there to house and study the Rezonark, the source of the Rezonspace. An incident has long since forced the facility to be locked down and to this day, it remains securely sealed off from the rest of the world. The entrance is located within the fifth sub basement of Metal Hell and is only accessible by two special keys.

- Akashic Vault: A classified facility located within the classified Fallen Eden, you just can't get anymore classified than this place. Almost nobody knows what is inside, though speculation runs wild that this place contains untold knowledge and powerful guardians.

- Scarlet Armories: Funded by the government using the labor of hard criminals, three such facilities exist in key locations where human populations are almost nil. They are most likely used to store extremely powerful weapons and technology that has come to be understood as Heritage Site research bore fruit, and it is doubtful that anything inside these facilities is publicly or privately available. Anyone who knows about the existence of these three places or even just one of them can only guess as to why they were constructed and supplied in the first place. Between the Honmyr Prideguard, the Republican Force, the Police Force, PATCA, the Recycled City's protectors, Hiroshiho Imperial Forces and even countless mercenaries, just what reason could there be for needing even MORE firepower?

- Husks: A catchall term that refers to Heritage Sites for which all technology has been extracted, understood, and put to use. Honmyr has five of these so far, and we expect to have a few more in about another decade. Despite no longer possessing any technology of value, Husks aren't completely useless. Pokemon trainers can often find new Pokemon there to add to their collections, but they should be wary in case any criminal gangs decide to use a Husk as a fortified hideaway.

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Off The Wall (Nov 29 2013)

Armored Bishoujo: "Good extremely early morning, everybody. It's Off The Wall with your host, Armored Bishoujo. Today's Off The Wall subject actually comes as a request from Renny Tresserhorn, who writes..."

Renny Tresserhorn: "Not sure if this would count as an 'Off The Wall' topic strictly speaking... although I do wonder who Irene considers to be her toughest opponent in Honmyr. She has made a lot of enemies after all, and has personally dueled several of them. It would be interesting to see how she personally views each individual challenger she faced..."

Irene Crosswald: "Which I guess is why I'm here. I wish you'd've made an appointment, Bishoujo. I'm still pretty damn drunk."

Armored Bishoujo: "Apparently not drunk enough to speak clearly and make complete statements. So come on, for the people in the audience, why don't you talk about your track record?"

First Blood

- Target: Tetsuzu Morimoto, the Ebony Tortoise General
- Rating: 5/5
- Recollection: I am perhaps the finest warrior the world has ever produced, so most people would be very surprised to find that I never fought for real until I was nineteen years old. This was before the outbreak of the First Successionary War. Sakuya Kazetsubaki was doing any underhanded thing she could do to secure her inheritance of the throne, despite the fact that she was the only one who really gave a shit. Then again, her father the emperor who was alive up until shortly after the war ended, did sort of voice his favoritism of Kaguya Kazetsubaki, birthed to him by one of his mistresses. Tetsuzu Morimoto was the Ebony Tortoise General of the Four Great Generals of the Hiroshiho Empire. My father Yuu, my mother Haruno, and Kaguya herself were the other three. Tetsuzu hated being considered the most inferior of them all, owed mostly to his large belly borne from cheap alcohol and greasy meat and his unsavory habits of sexual harassment and a lack of respect for the imperial family, and when Sakuya promised Tetsuzu many great things for the capture or elimination of the other three generals who fled Kazetsubaki City when Sakuya tried to have Kaguya assassinated, Tetsuzu couldn't possibly refuse such a great opportunity. Endless wealth, fame and bitches for just one night of effort. He was one step ahead of father and I when Yuu came to get me out of the house. Despite his foul nature, Tetsuzu didn't wear the Ebony Tortoise armor for nothing, and was a peerless warrior in his own right. To think that my first real battle was going to be against him. If it wasn't for my father being there along with me, I do not think I would have survived. If you wish for a more detailed explanation of our fight, then just wait for Crimson Wounds Chapter 1. In the end, my father stayed behind to engage Tetsuzu and bought me the avenue I needed to continue fleeing the capital before we were completely encircled by the regular army. If only I was as strong then as I am now...

People

- Target: Sakuya Kazetsubaki, the Princess of the Hiroshiho Empire
- Rating: 3.8/5 - 2.4/5
- Recollection: I have done battle with Sakuya quite a few times, in both wars, in between the wars, and even after. I've dueled her, I've handled ambushes personally led by her, I've battled her and her forces alongside valuable friends and every time, her technique and practical abilities just seem more and more outdated in comparison to my ever-increasing arsenal of martial combat styles, weapons and tactics. Sakuya was never really a superb warrior to begin with, and there are experienced and honorable samurai and ninja within the Imperial Army that I feel are better suited warriors and leaders. Then again, Sakuya has spent much longer dabbling in backroom politics than on the battlefield, and as a result is a subpar warrior and general to begin with. But still, by some miracle of the devil, she has the love of her people, something I could never achieve which is what I keep telling the president when he urges me to put her down and take the throne for myself to unify Honmyr into an unstoppable military machine. The emperor and my mother are brother and sister, which sort of makes me a princess too but it's really complicated. Be that as it may, Sakuya is far too useful a tool to simply remove, but I would never expect her to be manipulated by me nor can I let her take control of all available forces in Honmyr given her lackluster leadership record. This is why I need Ray Green. Well, this is actually just one of the reasons why I need Ray Green.

- Target: Bezelain Bernasse, the Leader of Adonova
- Rating: Strongest Opponent By Leaps And Bounds
- Recollection: Bezelain is the mother of Giovanni Bernasse, the leader of Team Rocket. Bezelain used to own Team Rocket herself, but passed this organization on down to her son in order to focus on a more elite, close knit, specialized unit that suited her personal needs and ambitions. Actually, Team Rocket may not have been called that until Giovanni inherited it. Regardless, Bezelain is to her son as Adonova is to Team Rocket, in which the former is far superior to the latter. Giovanni is just a disappointing kingpin who has been repeatedly defeated by a prepubescent boys and girls, and Team Rocket, while having a few decent badasses, is basically a bunch of incompetent twats. Bezelain is a seemingly flawless swordsmaiden with unsurpassed charisma and, even now that she's confined to hospital beds and wheelchairs, still possesses a godlike nobility and an intimidating aura. She also possesses a keen mind and has no dearth of talent, able to write best selling novels as well as lead armed forces. Adonova is a very small and incredibly effective fighting force consisting of a mere six members that Bezelain has personally invited into the fold, and they serve her with both unshakable devotion and relentless enthusiasm. Once again, Bezelain is someone I was not able to defeat on my own when I first fought her. However, unlike the others, Bezelain is someone who continues to surpass me even after everything I've personally achieved. No matter what I am able to overcome and no matter how irreparably crippled she is, I will still always respect Bezelain as my ultimate nemesis.

- Target: Silk Takayuki, the Hiroshiho Empire Ninja General
- Rating: 4/5
- Recollection: This probably would have been rated lower, but she did sort of ambush me and I'm giving her props for that. I fought Silk during the Second Successionary War while other soldiers and samurai were duking it out all around us. Those who tried to participate in our battle to assist one of us were slaughtered by the other chick and kicked away or ignored. I think Silk's problem was that she wasn't as good at fighting by herself as I am.

- Target: Shibito, a Three Years Running Sparta Arena Grand Champion
- Rating: 4/5
- Recollection: It was my first time participating in any Sparta Arena matches, let alone the Grand Tournament. Shibito had pretty much always had a complex about being the Grand Champion, because she never actually defeated the previous champion, my mother who retired, and felt that her title was undeserved until someone stepped up that could potentially rob it from her. I guess that was me, although I didn't actually care about achieving the title. I fought Shibito with all of my might simply because that is the only way for warriors to honor their opponents in battle. I'll admit, she was tough and very determined and put up a really great fight, but she just didn't have enough power to match me. By this time I was really coming into my true nature, and my skills were breaking limits here and there.

Pokemon

- Target: Phosphode, the Wretched Body Legendary Pokemon
- Rating: 5/5
- Recollection: Although I was assaulted by detachments from the Imperial Army and their trained and domesticated Pokemon forces, I never really felt challenged until we stumbled upon Pandora's Needle while searching for Heritage Sites all over Honmyr. Pandora's Needle was the method we used to enter Fallen Eden and is the only means that one may travel there to this day. And by 'we', I mean that I had some friends with me, a couple of them from my hometown of Kazetsubaki City and some military types from overseas like, you guessed it, Vladier Burkmont. He was a lot more handsome and it was so adorable the way he got uncomfortable whenever I teased him, but let me get on with it. In Fallen Eden, we were doing relatively well against the Fiend Pokemon despite having no prior knowledge of their existence or experience in fighting them. That changed for the worse when a large stone column crashed down, causing Vlad to take severe injuries saving my life and the two of us were separated from the others as more Fiend Pokemon drove them away. I was so lost and Vlad was leaning heavily on me, drifting in and out of consciousness. Battles with Fiend Pokemon only got worse after that since I was basically by myself and protecting him from further injuries. But still, I managed somehow until I found something that changed my destiny forever. I won't talk about it here, so instead I'll talk about something I also found. It was a big, white, misshapen Pokemon named Phosphode. Getting anywhere near it caused me to choke, my eyes to burn and my skin to itch badly. No doubt that it's body was full of noxious biochemicals that were exhumed into the surrounding air with each coughing exhalation Phosphode made. Although I did injure it quite a bit, my health was worsening by the minute, especially when I had no choice but to face it in close combat. In the end, I never defeated it. A new friend that I met that fateful day drove it off. I guess it's just another one of those encounters that I was not yet physically ready to attempt.

- Target: Balor, the Miasma Lord Legendary Pokemon
- Rating: 4/5
- Recollection: Some people just don't give Poison type Pokemon enough credit. Deployed strategically, you can cripple your opponents and cause them to get on the defensive which can open many tactical windows, assuming you can stall the battle for enough turns. In order to proove my worth to Balor that I would be a worthy master, I refused to deploy my Pokemon in this battle and decided to fight him with just my own strength. I have to say, while the battle was tough and even took over an hour for me to finally defeat him, I never really felt that I could lose to Balor even as the poisonous miasma had me on my last legs. I don't have anything else to say about this fight, so here is a picture of a Buneary with a pancake.

- Target: Unownaut, the Taboo Word Pseudo-Legendary Pokemon
- Rating: ?/5
- Recollection: This is a trick inquiry. To this day, I still have no clue how I acquired Unownaut. The rumors in the internet suggest that I needed to have had one of each Unown and then... go somewhere, I guess. I may have had all those Unown and may have had gone somewhere, but the Unown are gone now and I have no recollection of any possible trip I may have made. Regardless, if I did fight it, I must have won because I got it right here. Unownaut will probably never say a word about how it and I met, but I guess it's not such a big deal. That just means that I'm the only who currently has one and you all can just suck it.

[Menarker]

A really useful guide on the Heritage Site. And a deeper look into Irene's life. Makes me wonder if she ever managed to avenge her father by defeating/killing the Black Tortoise knight.

Irene: "I've been bitter that I wanted to avenge my father, only to find out that the fat ass died of a heart attack due to his obese lifestyle"

[Astral Harmony]

Off The Wall (Dec 12) by Armored Bishoujo

Today's Subject: The Sunken Commonwealth

Armored Bishoujo: "Greetings, all you wacky Pokemon Umbral faithful. This is your oversexualized-and-loving-it host, Armored Bishoujo. Ray Green of PATCA has plans to do a sitdown with me and conduct a collaborative effort regarding the governmental and political structure of Honmyr which promises to be radically entertaining, but apparently he is completely distracted by people that he puts up with because he doesn't get the benefit of gaining buffs should he decide to kill them. At any rate, today's Off The Wall topic is another random curiousity from Honmyr's favorite bishounen, Renny Tresserhorn, who expresses a passing interest in a rather uninteresting topic, namely the Sunken Commonwealth. To help us discuss this unimpactful subject, we'll be joined by the daughter of the current kingpin of the Azureal Mafia, Morrigan Azurea."

Morrigan Azurea: "Good afternoon, everyone. Today I'll be your guide into a subject that isn't very complex or particularly neat, the Sunken Commonwealth."

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The Sunken Commonwealth
- Established: 8 Years Ago
- Location: 140 miles southwest of Cardinal Beach, beginning at 60 fathoms under the sea level.
- Population: 512 People (93% Water Pokebrid, 7% Seaworthy Pokebrid), 12782 Pokemon (89% of them uncaptured)
- Land Alliances: Very minor trade with Hiroshiho Empire and coastal businesses.
- Enemies: No open hostilities with any nation or organization.

How Did It Start?: Just about everyone in the world has been fascinated by the majesty of the seas at some point in their life. This interest is even greater in the Pokemon World simply because you can take the sea life right out of the sea and into battle with you. The Sunken Commonwealth sort of started out as a large underwater expedition now that the process of creating Pokebrids was much better understood and a lot easier to conduct thanks to researching Heritage technology. It was from these Water Pokebrids who were so enamored with the seas that the commonwealth found its first citizens and the giant colony has been growing with each passing month.

What Should I Expect?: If you're expecting a place like Rapture from Bioshock, forget it. The Sunken Commonwealth is not so advanced nor does it try to be. The greatest technology available in the area would be the four geothermal plant system that provides power for whatever the commonwealth needs power for, which is usually for lights and heaters. It is dark and cold down there. The commonwealth is not a tourist trap and it isn't a place you would go to for entertainment purposes, which is pretty much why the Sunken Commonwealth is only so large.

How's The Government?: Everyone works for the betterment of the colony, which means that everyone works for the sake of themselves and everyone else and you can use your free time to work for your own benefit and your own benefit alone. They prefer a more reclusive society that keeps them from having to concern themselves with issues in the surface world and allows them all the time they could want to pursue their own interests beneath the tides.

And The Military?: There's no official military, just a standing militia. Every single resident of the colony receives some measure of training in defending themselves and the colony from dangerous Pokemon and ne'er-do-wells from the surface, but that is all.

What Is the Azureal Mafia?: The Azureal Mafia is the exception to all of this. By using the colony as a staging point for further exploration of the ocean, the mafia has garnered huge sums of money from undersea mining operations and harvesting pearls and valueable aquatic Pokemon, and likely has discovered an underwater oil reserve or two. The colony sort of benefits from not getting in their way despite any damage the mafia deals to the ecosystem, but tensions are riding high and it's likely the Azureal Mafia may commense a hostile takeover of the colony to build a much stronger power base. Some suspect that in due time, they may begin to actively threaten ships passing through the area.

What About Morrigan Azurea?: If you wish to know anything about me, then accept my optional dungeon and come get me. To be honest, I've never quite agreed with what my father and the mafia are doing, but I've also never been interested enough in exactly what they do. However, even I can only tolerate so much injustice, and there will undoubtedly come a time that I will need to hurt some people to bring a little more stability to the tides.

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Off The Wall (Dec 30) by Astral Harmony

Today's Subject: Holidays In Honmyr

Astral Harmony: "Well, perhaps not just the holidays, today's Off The Wall will provide finalized notes on holidays and annual events that occur throughout Honmyr and the regions that they are celebrated in. And today we have a really unique guest who more or less forced herself upon us."

Rosa (From Pokemon B&W 2): "And I think we both know who to blame for me becoming a regular part in Pokemon Umbral, winkwinknudgenudgeAstralHarmonyandMenarker."

Astral Harmony: "Well, after those pictures Menarker showed me, I found that Pokemon Umbral would be lacking a bit in the 'weird girls with disturbing Pokemon fetishes' department if we didn't bring you over here. Anyways, we're not here to talk about you and surprisingly, we're not here to talk about me, either. We're here to talk about all the holidays and special annual events that occur throughout Honmyr. Let's get 'r' started."

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Big Events Throughout Honmyr (Listed by Beginning Date)

Name of Holiday/Event: Day of Victory
Type of Event: National Holiday
Date(s): January 9th
Commemorates: The conclusion of the Second Successionary War
Celebrated By: Most foreigners but also a surprisingly large number of Hiroshiho people as well. The war wasn't hugely popular on either side of the fighting.
Characteristics: The greatest commemoration of this date is a statue built by famous artist Victoire Bertrand depicting Irene Crosswald standing with both swords drawn across from Sakuya Kazetsubaki on her knees and holding her naginata as she finally surrendered. When Victoire displayed this fine piece of art, the date gained its name, Day of Victory after her name, and civilians generally spend this day by giving thanks and gifts to not only the soldiers who fought and were injured during that brutal war, but often to those who continue to fight for peace and justice to this very day which includes the Honmyr Prideguard, Police Force, and PATCA. Expect superb food and more alcohol than you can ever force down.

Name of Holiday/Event: Mating Season
Type of Event: Annual Occurrence
Date(s): Late February (20th to 27th) to Early June (3rd to 10th)
Commemorates: N/A
Celebrated By: Nearly all Pokebrids, whether they want to or not
Characteristics: A strange and as-of-yet unexplained side effect of the whole scientific procedure by which one becomes a Pokebrid, mating season is a few months out of each year in the which Pokebrids throughout Honmyr experience a kind of burning arousal that usually results in all kinds of new relationships and the season has also often been associated with an explosion of pregnancies. Some Pokebrids can tough it out and doing so is usually easier for males and those who only have a single Pokebrid form, whereas women with multiple forms will be affected the strongest. You can generally expect the scent on the wind to change as pheromones fill the sky and there will at least be stark changes in behavior. A lot of guys who are usually not successful in love are very thankful for mating season.

Name of Holiday/Event: Sparta Arena Tournament
Type of Event: Annual Occurrence
Date(s): April 10th to April 17th
Commemorates: N/A
Celebrated By: Contestants of the tournament and spectators
Characteristics: Popular votes determine just how each tournament is conducted, the scale of the tournament, who is allowed to participate and various other factors, but all tournaments fall into this exact timeframe. Managed by the Arena Tournament Committee (ATC) and the mascot girl Spartina, the tournaments draw huge crowds from as far away as the Hiroshiho Empire and the distant Recycled City.

Name of Holiday/Event: The Greatest Trainer Tournament
Type of Event: Event
Date(s): May 13th
Commemorates: N/A
Celebrated By: Mostly young adults and teenagers, particularly Pokemon Trainers.
Characteristics: Grab a Great Hunt Pokeball and hit the nearby rural areas and forests. You've got four hours, so take your time and bag yourself a good one, because once everyone has returned, there will be a tournament going well into the evening involving just that one Pokemon you've captured up against match after match after match of the Pokemon that other trainers have caught. Winning the tournament offers various rewards, like a date with acclaimed celebrity Alphonsine Dionne, a new car, some really nice Pokeballs that you can't get anywhere else, gift packages stuffed with all kinds of cool stuff, and a lot of pride as you will be quite famous for a while.

Name of Holiday/Event: Day of Honor
Type of Event: Day of Observance
Date(s): July 13th
Commemorates: The birthday of Emperor Naoto.
Celebrated By: Most people of Hiroshiho but also many foreigners.
Characteristics: Emperor Naoto Kazetsubaki was the father of Sakuya and Kaguya Kazetsubaki and uncle to Irene Crosswald. While he wasn't a very good military leader, he was a man dedicated to peace, honor, and self-sacrifice, and was the one who decided to end the First Successionary War upon the outbreak of Rezonscape-induced madness among both his armies and those of the invading Republican Front. Since then, he had worked tirelessly with the fledling republic in maintaining peace and discovering what had happened on the battlefields during those chaotic days, but did not get far before he died. Rumors abound as to how this happened, but the popular rumor is that he was assassinated by order of his daughter Sakuya, who not only desired his throne and power but also detested the idea that Emperor Naoto would make peace with the Republic of Honmyr. Day of Honor is typically observed by praying and making offerings to the various temples of the local gods for the safeguarding of Naoto's soul. For many foreigners, this is a day in which soldiers who served during that war are presented with various gifts, usually in the form of tasty food and all the beer one can drink, and the occasional offering of sex.

Name of Holiday/Event: Commitment Day
Type of Event: National Holiday
Date(s): August 23rd
Commemorates: The bond of lovers
Celebrated By: All lovey-dovey couples
Characteristics: Are you truely in love with the one you claim to love? Commitment Day is the day that you prove it beyond any possible doubt. You should never be expected to spend a lot of money to prove how much you love your significant other, and more often than not it requires that one is able to tell just what their lover would like on this day simply by reading his or her mood. And of course, women are wholey expected to show how much they are committed to their lovers as the men are.

Name of Holiday/Event: Succession Day
Type of Event: National Holiday
Date(s): September 17th
Commemorates: The conclusion of the First Successionary War ending in victory for the invading Republican Front.
Celebrated By: The Republic of Honmyr, the Recycled City and by the occasional Hiroshiho natives that found the invasion to be quite a godsend.
Characteristics: Mostly celebrated by the merchandising of dolls, action figures, commemorative coins and other trinkets based on the day itself and the more memorable individuals who carried the day such as Irene Crosswald, Vladier Burkmont, Marta Kerensky, Kaguya Kazetsubaki, Matthew Andricksen, Haruno Yamakami (Irene's still-living mother), and more. Fainas Metropolis goes a step further than any other location by having a parade that features themed floats and lots of alcohol-infused partying and other inappropriate activities. Other major locations will usually have a fair or a carnival.

Name of Holiday/Event: Day of Open Hearts
Type of Event: National Holiday
Date(s): December 23rd to December 25th
Commemorates: Spending yet another full year with all your friends and family
Celebrated By: Almost everyone.
Characteristics: Sort of a merging of Thanksgiving and Christmas, the day of open hearts is where one spends three days with those he or she cherishes, be they best friends or close family or lovers, and there are quite a few who merely celebrate it like a three-day long Commitment Day. Good food, good drink, good company, and good cheer are the order of the days, and there are plenty of events throughout the towns and cities where neat stuff is sold and games can be played.

Name of Holiday/Event: Week of Renewel
Type of Event: Annual Occurence
Date(s): December 26th to January 1st of the next year
Commemorates: Preparing yourself to face the next year
Celebrated By: Anybody who gives a shit
Characteristics: The idea behind the Week of Renewel is to focus solely on cleaning up and getting your life organized for the next year. Many businesses use this week to focus on all the deep cleaning they usually don't get around to handling, and many people spend these days getting all of their paperwork in order and giving their homes, cars, possessions and gardens a deep and thorough tidying up. It's helpful to be able to face the new year with an organized house, an organized business, and an organized mind.

[Menarker]

Interesting holidays and events!

I imagine Sakuya HATES that "Day of Victory" statue. ^^;

Surprised that Honmyr's version of Valentine's day took place a few days apart from Renny's birthday.


Got a new "Off the Wall" topic and it's a big one!

Topic: Pokebrids! Life after surgery!

Various sub-topics and questions include...

1: Accessibility of Pokebridization. We know it's available to civilians, but is it like buying a cell-phone where every teenager and even some kids can possibly be expected to have one? Or is it more like a car or implants where it is more akin to a status symbol?
Additionally, are there any particular restrictions on who can opt for the surgery? While it is shown that even the very young can get a surgery, are there any health conditions that'd prevent access to it? Required background checks? Family consent among minors? (Since the procedure generally cannot be reversed?)

2: Regulations about allowed forms? Someone opting to be Electrode or Muk or certain ghost pokemon would probably invoke some amount of concern about their intentions. Ditto for espionage concerns. Also, any health concerns that might come from taking poison types, machine pokemon, or a form with unusual limbs or lack of them? (Dodrio being a prime one for no arms and three heads) (Some of these are already apparent as we already have Rachel who is a Magnezone pokebrid, and she doesn't seem to suffer any undue hardships.)
It is already known that legendary pokemon DNA has some issues with certain individuals, aside from their scarcity.
Additionally, what is the accepted limited on the number of forms on any one person? Or does it vary on based on the person's degree of fitness and factors such as age? (Although the RP notes that pokebridization process seems to be easiest at a younger age.) (Based on what we seen for the RP, 5 forms seems to be the absolute most a body can handle, while even above 3 is rare)

3: Restricted moves? The use of Attract is BOUND to cause lots of romance/relationship related issues that would make the Jerry Springer show perpetually busy! Mean Look would be primarily used by stalkers/muggers. Various status powders like Stun Spore or Sleep Powder would be the next roofie. Various OHKO moves like Perish Song being a public threat (especially if that one is played over a loud-speaker... if that is at all possible), or Gravity near an airport. This in addition to the very simple mis-use of combat moves against non-combatants. Although even during consensual duels between willing combatants, are there restricted moves to prevent undue harm/lawsuits like Earthquake to prevent various structural damage?
(To be fair, this isn't any different from pokemon in general. Just that humans directly do stuff, though Attract is a genuine new social issue to address.)

4: Post-Surgery recovery: How long does it take a typical person to recover, be able to use any techniques, paradigm shift and so on? Possibilities of rejection? Outside factors that might influence this?
(In the RP, Renny's recovery post-surgery seemed to be influenced by some innate connection with pokemon, or so Joy claims.)

5: Mating Season and Reproduction: The effects and how to either boost or restrict its effect! The legal issue of consent between potential partners! How being a pokebrid influence your offsprings! (If any!)
Do the Egg Groups have an effect here?
Does becoming part pokemon lead to the side effect of being targetted by actual pure pokemon in this regard? (We'd ask Liz or Rosa on their personal experiences, but they aren't pokebrids and they probably targetted the pokemon instead of visa versa)

6: Pokebrids in common lifestyle settings or certain professions: Are pokebrids restricted/penalized in various aspects of life? IE: Psychic pokemon in a school setting for increased chance of possible cheating? Pokemon with stat buffings or raw high stats in althetics competitions (segregation between normals and pokebrids?). Poison pokemon forbidden from professions requiring hygenine? Psychic type moves/forms in fields that value privacy or proper mental conduct like psychiatry or law enforcement?

7: Effects on economy: New products designed toward pokemon with new limbs or body types? New openings in industries or professions for pokemon with specific expertise? (Pokebrid with prehensile vines can be used where strength and dexiterity is needed). Specific pokemon types working in fields that makes best use of it. (Fire/Electric for most tech industry, grass/water/rock/ground for various nature/resource based fields.)
Magnetic shielding on all tech to protect against various magnetic pokemon-forms such as Probopass or Magnezone in general addition to electric type forms/moves.

8: Effects on Geology: This is one big city, with so much pokemon and terraforming, have the altered the landscape or seascape in any way? Pokebridization seems to be at least not super rare, so can they make entire mountains for defense or scenery or somesuch? Funded projects for a literal mount rushmore? Technically the wildlife should be brimming, cause 1 grass pokebrid can pretty much cure all the natural issues. Though a poison pokebrid determined to stopping it... (this is sounding like Captain Pokeplanet but with 18 or more Power-Rings)
With the vast abundance of water pokemon/forms, would there be a big call for plenty of water environments like lakes, port cities or public swimming pools (both in and outdoors so they are available regardless of seasons)
Artificial use of weather moves. Are they too small-scaled to have an effect on neighboring areas? Or will mass use of them by the collective society possibly have a disruptive effect on nature (IE: triggering a natural disaster)

9: Transportation: Do pokebrid with fast movement speed share the road with cars/bus? Are flying types, levitators and teleporters allowed to fly around the city or are privacy concerns a larger issue? Are public transportation able to handle certain larger/denser pokemon or those with unusual shapes?

10: Various Misc Trivia: Most popular forms (Like Ditto for those with a very "healthy" libido", or various human-shape forms for those who want to remain as close to human as possible)
*Feel free to add other interesting facts/details that might not otherwise fit in the other topics*

[Astral Harmony]

Off The Wall (January 2nd) by Astral Harmony

Today's Topic: A Pamphlet For Pokebrids

- Astral Harmony: "So I was debating whether I was actually going to do the topic of Pokebrids or not. Outside of battle, being a Pokebrid isn't particularly special when you consider that this is the Pokemon World and any lengthy subjects on it would be as boring as an hour long Powerpoint slide about how cardboard is created."

- Lola: "Seems like Astral Harmony isn't going to introduce the guest so I'll have to do it myself. I am Lolianne "Lola" Phelps, an experienced Pokebrid and PATCA Medic Specialist. Pleased to meet you all. Today's topic is about Pokebrids, of course."

- Astral Harmony: "So like, I tried to do this twice last night but it ended up being so friggin' boring that I decided that it wasn't worth posting. But then I decided that Off The Wall is a segment that is more designed to be informative, not entertaining. So, yes, this is going to be very dull, but at least someone's going to read it, eh?"

-----------------------------------------------------

Pokemon Hybrids 101 ~ Life Before & After the Procedure

Consultation & Interview: Before we gas you and get started, we will need to run some tests. Don't worry, you don't have to study for these, but there is still a chance you can fail. Can't help the genes, right? Once the tests are concluded, you are assigned one of two ranks: Rejected or Accepted.

The Rejected rank means that you are not allowed to undergo any procedures whatsoever. That doesn't mean that you can't try: there are plenty of doctors who will conduct the procedure if you have the money and will offer a signature absolving them of any side effects you may have after the procedure is completed. However, this is not recommended unless your goal is to actually become an Asura. People are all over the Internet these days trying to find miracle cures for a Rejected status, but so far, none of these are scientifically proven or recommended.

Most people fall into the Accepted status, which means they can undergo one procedure and, as additional tests and experience will eventually allow, further procedures to acquire additional forms. Most people usually settle for one, two or three forms but extensive experience will usually allow one to achieve five total stable forms. There are restrictions, however. Currently, it is illegal to splice oneself with legendary Pokemon DNA or any species of Pokemon that has not been sufficiently studied (Fiend and Shadow Pokemon).

By the way, there is actually a secret third rank called the Xodeus rank. The Xodeus rank is truely special and is held by only a handful out of Honmyr's entire population. It's also an unofficial rank, and the current testing methods employed by laboratories and medical facilities cannot detect whether one is a Xodeus or not. Also, the concept of a Xodeus status isn't well known, restricted mostly to rumor. Those with Xodeus have differing notable features, such as custom Pokemon forms, numerous Pokemon forms, partial Pokeshift capabilities that minimize battlefield disadvantages while granting the usual Pokebrid advantages, and many more. The Xodeus potential was ultimately Reynold Faynoc's goal in conjuring forth the next evolutionary step of mankind, but outside of Myrie Ricewood and Mio Kazetsubaki, he never quite locked it down before his demise at the hands of a sentient sword with wings. Don't ask.

Hybridization: The scientific, medical, and surgical procedures by which one becomes a Pokebrid is all molded together into a term called Hybridization. Simply put, with a lot of machines monitoring your body, you are injected with DNA from the chosen Pokemon form along with a large number of manmade L-cells ("Limiter") that keeps the DNA from dominating your body. Constricted by the L-cells but otherwise allowed to run rampant, the DNA fuses with and reconstitutes your body to accomplish the ultimate purpose of the procedure; giving you access to the Pokemon's moves, types, abilities, etc. It goes without saying, but the subject receiving Hybridization is deeply under the effects of anethesia for the duration of the procedure (usually around nine to fifteen minutes) and often several hours past that time frame for the sake of handling any issues that might crop up, but this very seldomly occurs.

There are no age restrictions on receiving Hybridization, and the earliest age at which it has been safely conducted is ten. You are not required to receive written acceptance from your parents in order to have the procedure done, though most children do since they cannot afford the procedure themselves.

Post-Hybridization Aftercare: For such a special procedure, there is very little in the way of aftercare. You are given the doctor's number in order to contact him or her regarding any side effects not expected to occur after the procedure, a perscription for some really nice painkillers (don't try to sell 'em, you'll usually end up arrested for it), and instructed to focus on just getting used to the new form and functionality. For most individuals, this takes anywhere from several months to little over a year, and it's recommended that maintaining good exercise and getting into the occasional fight is helpful in shortening this downtime.

Additional Procedures: Attempting to have another Hybridization requires that you undergo the same testing, consultations and doctor interviews just as before.

Pokemon Form Restrictions: Many Pokemon forms do not physically match up with the human body. This is not any kind of issue whatsoever. General changes to the human body may involve extra apendages, an alteration in skin tone, key features of the Pokemon's body imposed upon the human host, and other factors. However, these changes generally do not affect the life of the individual or how their experiences differ.

Ultimately, for a form to be allowed for Hybridization, it has to be officially approved. Once again, legendary and Fiend Pokemon are not officially approved forms.

Pokebrid Parentage: One of the body systems in particular that is prevented from any tampering thanks to the accompanying L-cells would be the reproductive organs. In other words, the parents can be spliced all to hell, but their designated egg groups or any other factors do not affect the offspring. The child will always be a pure human.

- Astral Harmony: "Don't be disappointed, Renny. Think of what would happen if your kid did receive your altered DNA. Now you just murdered Lola because your baby boy inherited your Gallade form's armblade and sliced his way out from the inside like a Xenomorph from Aliens."

Life As a Pokebrid: Once you get used to your new altered body, you may find that your life surprisingly doesn't change too much. There might be new job openings due to your new abilities and you might no longer require a vehicle to get to the store, but unless you got that form for fighting, you wasted your money. After all, most people who catch Pokemon are also people who train Pokemon, especially for battle or breeding, and since Pokebrids can't use their Pokemon forms for breeding, that merely just leaves the battling.

A Miscellaneous Q&A With Astral Harmony & Lola Phelps

- Question: So what are the most popular Pokemon forms?
- Astral Harmony: "The answer to that is usually the same for the question 'what are the most popular Pokemon?'. When you really get right down to it, people just get what they love when it comes to their favorite Pokemon or Pokemon forms."
- Lola: "Rebellious boys like cool, rebellious forms. Some women tend to gravitate towards cute or sexy forms. Others prefer forms that look very professional and serious. But generally speaking, a lot of people go for a form that allows at least one type of travel power, whether it be surfing, flying or running really fast."

- Question: Can you offer any tips before I go under the knife?
- Lola: "Umm... no knives or sharp tools are involved in the Hybridization procedure. Some syringes, sure, but nobody's going to cut you."
- Astral Harmony: "Here's a big tip: be damn sure what form you want before you take it. There are no backsies once the procedure has been completed. Once a Gallade Pokebrid, always a Gallade Pokebrid. The only thing you can do then is evolve the form if it can be evolved, but the conditions by which a form can evolve are a mystery."

- Question: If I were a Pokebrid criminal, what would happen to me if I was caught?
- Astral Harmony: "I think he's confessing. Quick, get his information."
- Lola: "The punishment for criminal activity is usually handled the same as it is for Pokemon trainers who utilize their Pokemon for criminal activities. Ultimately, you are responsible for your crimes whether those crimes were commited by Pokemon registered to you or by your own hands."

- Question: So is it the Lopunny form that gives you your large breasts or-?
- Lola: "...Rachel, is that you?"
- Astral Harmony: "Ugh, why can't women just be satisfied with their own natural bust sizes? Real men like me don't care about how large or small your breasts are. Geez, ladies, if your man has a problem with your chest size, then I suggest you stop dating little bitches like him."
- Lola: "Careful there, Astral Harmony. You might actually endear yourself to someone. Anyways, my bust size has nothing to do with my Pokemon forms, and it is definitely recommended that you DO NOT attempt to use Hybridization for the sole purpose of fixing a body that by all rights isn't really broken in the first place. It's too much money for something that couldn't possibly be a surefire guarantee."
- Astral Harmony: "Represent, Miss P."

- Question: How does all this Pokebrid nonsense affect the environment and whatnot?
- Lola: "...What specifically is he referring to?"
- Astral Harmony: "I'm not sure, but I'll just say that the introduction of Pokebrids hasn't really changed the environment or the city or the government or anything else. Remember that this is a society and a world that has been inhabited by Pokemon for god knows how long and humans have been using Pokemon in some capacity or another for perhaps dozens of generations. Now that human beings have the abilities of Pokemon, do you honestly think that it would change the world all that much? I can see where you would get the idea that it would, but boringly enough it doesn't. Sorry if you should find that disappointing. The biggest thing that ever happened since Pokebrids entered the picture was the creation of the Sunken Commonwealth, and most people don't even bother giving a piss about that."

- Astral Harmony: "Well, I would say that this just about covers everything that was pointed out to discuss, and really, additional questions about the subject of Pokebrids will only yield uninteresting answers, I can assure you. Anyways, I hope that those who bothered to read this tripe got some kind of enjoyment out of it and won't be hunting me down demanding repentance for the suicide of their brain cells. They would've just wasted it on hentai anyways like I do. Anything to add before we sign off, Lola?"
- Lola: "Hmm... maybe I should ask Renny just how many kids he would like me to give him?"
- Astral Harmony: "Nope, that's not interesting either. 'Night, fuckers."

[Astral Harmony]

Crimson Wounds, Chapter I: Rain Dyed In Red

Battle Party Character Cast

Megumi Yamakami ~ Irene Crosswald, 19 years old, before she changed her name and not long before she first met Vladier Burkmont. Despite Megumi's incredible future, her childhood and young adulthood were both quite uneventful and filled with days of nothing but training, although Megumi loved honing her body as much then as Irene loves honing it in the present day. Her fathomless talents in battle stem from the skills passed down by her ninja master of a father Yuu, her samurai-slash-pirate-slash-barbarian of a mother Haruno. Megumi wields the Sovereign Dawn, a daikatana with a whopping three-meter long blade.

Yayoi Kosakura ~ Megumi's closest and most loyal friend. She serves as a messenger, scout, spy and interrogator for the government, though before the First Successionary War, her talents came to be of little use to the emperor. She has a really embarrassing secret and Megumi is the only one who knows of it. As Megumi continued to keep Yayoi's secret without demanding any sort of compensation, Yayoi's friendship with Megumi became unquestionable. Yayoi wields six chakrams that have been honed to a killing edge, though to this day our story begins she has never used them against a living target with an intent to kill.

Shirou Shirogane ~ Another of Megumi's close friends, Shirou is an expert of bushido but has always preferred to settle violent issues with talking... and then with his incomparable swordsmanship should that eventually and inevitably fail. Despite his skills, he lacks the warrior mentality that Megumi and so many others possess, and will absolutely refuse to kill a man or a Pokemon. Knowing this, Megumi and Yayoi both have a few Union Techniques with him in which Shirou focuses on the setup of enemies so that one or both of the girls can put them to death more easily, their most common one being the Red Moon Reaver Alpha and Bravo variants. Shirou seems to be into cougars, and has had a crush on Megumi's mother Haruno since the day he met her.

Marta Kerensky ~ A major in the Republican Front, Marta trains her body near-constantly, and is one of the most dedicated and motivated fighters you can find on the battlefield. Her love of heavy firearms and ordinance is unquestionable, and prefers heavy machineguns and rockets. She believes in Matthew Andricksen and Vladier Burkmont and thus selflessly pledges her body and soul to the conflicts ahead.

Vladier Burkmont ~ A highly decorated colonel in the Republican Front and a veteran of wars far and wide, Vladier is devoted to achieving great honor and glory for himself and those who swear loyalty to him. In keeping with his own desires, Vlad has worked tirelessly to improve himself all across the board, having keen knowledge of Honmyr's terrain, mastering the native language, and forging his body to near perfection, a far cry from how he is in the present day. He is most notable for how fun he is to tease and his general awkwardness around women.

And now, our tale of tragedy and war begins...

BGM: "Hopeless Resolution" by Valkyrie Profile OST

*A young, ravishing kunoichi and her handsome, blue-armored father sprint through the nearby forest at high speed, rain blasting at their exhausted bodies.*
- Megumi: "Dad, there!"
- Yuu: "Those two are yours. Remember your training."

*Megumi and her father Yuu are quick to gain ground on and dispatch the five armored warriors who were apparently searching through the forest at random.*

- Megumi: "I recognize those insignias. These men used to work for mom."
- Yuu: "They're just rent-a-ronin now."
- Megumi: "Rent-a-ronin?"
- Yuu: "After your mother's rampage across the southern strip of ocean ended finally, these men who served her loyally had nothing to do. They can't farm, they can't even fish. The only marketable skill they have is that they can sorta swing a katana without looking like an idiot."
- Megumi: "What the hell is our empire coming to? Wait, what the hell is going on, period? You told me to gear up and then we started running to the northwest. Did something happen at the castle or-?"
- Yuu: "You know Sakuya-Hime, right?"
- Megumi: "Barely, which is weird, considering I'm such good friends with Kaguya-Hime."
- Yuu: "Well, Sakuya's been hobnobbing it up with the aristocracy and the council, doing what she can to solidify her grip on the throne. However, Emperor Naoto's decision is final no matter how unpopular Sakuya can make it, so she's conducting a kind of royal serial killing effort."
- Megumi: "What's that got to do with us? Oh, wait, are we helping Kaguya?"
- Tetsuzu: "Yes, you are. Or, at least that's what we'll say as your father's head rolls into the basket and you're used as a human urinal."

*The BGM stop as Megumi and Yuu turn around to find Tetsuzu, the Ebony Tortoise General of the Four Great Generals, lumbering up from ahead of them with soldiers and militarized Pokemon on his flanks.*

- Tetsuzu: "Evening, you two. Out for some late night training in the middle of the night? One would think you'd postpone something like that until the rain subsides, at least."
- Megumi: "One might also think that the four legendary Great Generals were above bribery."
- Tetsuzu: "And hello to you too as well there, Megu-chan. I must say you look absolutely delectible when soaked completely through."
- Megumi: "And I must say your multiple chins look even more pronounced with all these stark shadows. So tell us, Tetsuzu; how has Sakuya come to own your soul?"
- Tetsuzu: "She doesn't. Unlike you two and your lovely Haruno, I don't swear loyalty to any one fool, especially not a woman. Not when I can make more money and have more fun playing the field."
- Yuu: "We don't have time for you, Tetsuzu. Either step aside or be cut down. Your decision."
- Tetsuzu: "Hmm... tough choice. How about option C? It's the one where I kill you and bring your head on a silver platter to Sakuya. And if I'm lucky enough, she'll allow Megumi to live so that I may have a fresh young plaything for my harem. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"
- Megumi: "I can't believe a monster like you would have the title of the Ebony Tortoise General. You disgrace your empire and your family. A shame, really. I always respected your sister."
- Yuu: "Well, my daughter? Shall we teach this illmannered brute respect?"
- Megumi: "Too late for teaching this old bastard new tricks, dad. Best to put this rapid dog to the blade before it infects others."

BGM: "Heroic Battle" by Digital Devil Saga 2 OST

*The battle commenses. Despite having far superior numbers, the thugs and the allied Pokemon aren't able to do much damage to the elite duo of father and daughter, and they are easily dispatched in great rushes of blood despite this being Megumi's first real battle. Tetsuzu, however, is far more capable of standing his ground.*

- Megumi: "More of Haruno's old friends. And this is when she probably needed them the most."
- Yuu: "Desire drives men to do the unthinkable, my daughter. I imagine that after Haruno ended her rampage, these men had a bad reputation and couldn't find decent work."
- Megumi: "That must be hard, but unfortunately I cannot stay my blade for their sake."
- Yuu: "That is perfectly sufficient. Dying by your blade could only be the most honorable death any of these bastards can hope for anymore."
- Tetsuzu: "You men are pathetic. Are those swords you carry with you merely for show? Forget sparing Megumi, just kill the both of them! Now!"

*More trading of blows. Tetsuzu is easily enough of a match for one warrior, but the two warriors he is dealing with are an overwhelming challenge. If it wasn't for the items he was holding and those being used by others, he probably would be dead by now. Plus, there are just too many reinforcements.*

- Megumi: "Dad? How many more clotting capsules do we have left?"

*The BGM ends with an interrupting flash of lightning.*

- Yuu: "I think it's about time."
- Megumi: "Huh?"
- Yuu: "Megumi, you will listen carefully and obey immediately. Get lost."
- Megumi: "What? Wait! C'mon dad, we got this!"
- Yuu: "Even if we do, we'll be surrounded by the regular army in just a few more minutes, much less time than we're going to need to decide this fight. As your father, I order you to escape."
- Megumi: "There's been more than enough blood spilled on the grass tonight, dad. Yours isn't joining theirs."

*Yuu aims his next arrow at Megumi.*

- Megumi: "And once again you pull this shit. Fine, I'm gone, but if I don't see you again, I'll never forgive you!"

*Megumi spares one last look at the relatively healthy Tetsuzu and his reinforcements, then flees.*

- Tetsuzu: "All of you chase her. Now!"
- Rent-A-Ronin: "But boss, how about you? The princess will be angry if we let that girl escape, sure, but if we don't kill Yuu-!"
- Tetsuzu: "I can handle this."
- Rent-A-Ronin: "But-!"
- Tetsuzu: "I. Can. Handle. This."
- Rent-A-Ronin: "... Right, boss. Everyone, after the girl!"

*After the thugs and allied Pokemon left, Tetsuzu reached within his armor and produced a clotting capsule. Then he simply tossed it to Yuu. As Yuu looked at the capsule, Tetsuzu produced the rest of his capsules, consumed one, then dropped the rest negligently on the forest floor. Yuu, being a veteran warrior himself, instantly knew what this meant. Two warriors, no health items between them, in a duel to the death.*

- Yuu: "What's this? A duel of honor, between warriors? How uncharacteristic of you, Tetsuzu."
- Tetsuzu: "Yes, well, let's just say I've got something to prove in this fight."
- Yuu: "Do tell."
- Tetsuzu: "Even though no one would ever dare compare us four generals to our faces, I know what they say behind my back. What they whisper. I'm the inferior one. Inferior to you. Inferior to your wife. Inferior even to Kaguya. The weakest of all the generals. But that all changes tonight."
- Yuu: "Hmph. Well, if you truly wish to fight and prove your status as a warrior, then I would be a complete asshole if I denied you this opportunity."

*Yuu discarded a number of the weapons he knew would be relatively useless against Tetsuzu's up close and personal fighting style, then readied his katana.*

- Yuu: "Step forward, brave warrior! I, Yamakami Yuu, will stand witness to your courage and skill this dismal day."
- Tetsuzu: "Your bloodied corpse with be the perfect testiment of Mamiya Tetsuzu's warrior might! UrrrraaaaaAAAAGH!!"

*Tetsuzu exploded into a full blown charge with the many years of anger he has suppressed all this time.*

BGM: "Must Be Dreaming" by Frou Frou

*Megumi, now all alone, hurries through the forest. A loud noise in the direction she came from causes her to pause and take a look back. There's no physical evidence of what that noise could have been, but-*

- Megumi: "Dad..."

*Smaller, quicker noises alert Megumi that she is no longer alone.*

- Megumi: "Can't you guys just call it a night or something? I just lost my dad, you dicks."

*Megumi readies her Sovereign Sun while multiple thugs and assisting Pokemon block Megumi's flight from the city.*

- Rent-A-Ronin: "There she is! Get her! She's worth an early retirement for all of us!"

*One thug and two Pokemon rush forward to put Megumi down quickly. Megumi's beautiful, bloodied, sad face is the last thing any of them see.*

- Megumi: "You're right. I guess you can call being sliced clean up the middle 'an early retirement'. So, uhh... any more of you slipshot shitheads wanna be the first to step up?"

*And now the group is finally reinforced by regular army samurai and ninja...and their better-trained Pokemon.*

- Megumi: "I am the daughter of Yamakami Yuu the Azure Dragon General and Yamakami Haruno the Crimson Phoenix General and they have painstakingly imparted me with a centuries old legacy of warrior skill honed into a single devastating artform. Step forward, you unworthy bastards, and see how you rank up against Yamakami Megumi!"
- Samurai: "Give it up, traitorous wench. It's over."

*The sounds of steel clashing against steel coming from one specific direction has alerted two more people who find the battle to be unfolding in a very violent fashion.*

- Yayoi: "That's Megu! I knew she'd make it!"
- Shirou: "I don't see her father with her. Well, nevermind that for now. She needs help badly."
- Yayoi: "Just stay here, Shirou. This is a battlefield, and you're only going to be in the way if you can't bring yourself to kill."
- Shirou: "I can't, but I'm sure I can still be useful in this fight."

*Yayoi and Shirou enter the battle from the other side, catching the remaining enemies in a pincer. Shirou uses his wooden sword to setup enemies for Yayoi to more easily execute. In less than a minute, Megumi's life is no longer threatened.*

- Megumi: "Yaya. Shirou. When everything's gone to shit, it's good to know I still have good friends."

*Megumi, overcome with exhaustion, finally falls unconscious. Yayoi rushes forward to assist her.*

- Yayoi: "I've got her. Shirou, can you scout ahead and help us get back to that one place? You have a much better sense of direction."
- Shirou: "Got it. Let's hurry."

*When Megumi recovers, she finds that her wounds have been dressed along with a canteen full of cold, refreshing water. Then, remembering something, she hurries out of what she discovers to be a tent.*

- Yayoi: "Whoa, Megu! Hold it, you're still recovering!"
- Megumi: "Dad! We've gotta rescue dad!"
- Haruno: "Megu, dear, you must calm down."
- Megumi: "Mom, dad was-! ...Dad was-!"

*Megumi's legs falter and she falls forward but an unidentified man in a large military green trenchcoat is there to help her from eating the dirt.*

- ??????: "Take it easy, young lady. Your wounds were much more serious than you must have thought."

*Megumi looks up into the chiseled face of a man she doesn't recognize as being from the empire.*

- Megumi: "...This might just be the blood loss talking, but you're pretty cute."
- ??????: "Ah... right. Now, you should return to your cot and rest. It won't do you any good to be running around. Here, let me help you."

*The unnamed man supports Megumi and helps her back to her bed in the tent.*

- Megumi: "...He's dead, isn't he? My dad has died."
- ??????: "..."
- Megumi: "It wasn't hard to figure it out. He would be right here with me if he was alive at all."
- ??????: "I don't know what to do to possibly console you, so I guess I should start with introductions. You are Megumi Yamakami, yes? Your friends have spoken highly of your skills, though I am sure the mountains of praise they heap about them couldn't possibly do your true abilities justice. My name is Vladier Burkmont."
- Megumi: "I thought so. You're not even from this land, are you?"
- Vladier: "No, I'm not. There's someone else with me that you'll be introduced to later. A woman by the name of Marta Kerensky. Anyways, this may sound very sudden, but would it be too bold of me to ask for your help?"
- Megumi: "I can barely stand on my own feet and you're begging for my assistance?"
- Vladier: "Your mother, your two friends, and the princess Kaguya all speak highly of your talents, though the young man Shirou seems displeased by them."
- Megumi: "He's one of those... y'know, the conscientious objector kind of guys. You've seen his wooden sword, right? It's the only weapon he uses and he absolutely refuses to kill people."
- Vladier: "Perfectly understandable. I would even go as far as to say I'm a little jealous. Unfortunately, I rarely get the choice of letting my opponents live."
- Megumi: "Much respect, Burkmont-san. So who is your opponent this time? Anyone I know?"
- Vladier: "Right to the point, then. I like that. I'll be honest, Miss Yamakami-"
- Megumi: "'Megumi's' fine, sir."
- Vladier: "Of course. And please, just call me Vlad. Or Vladier, if you must. Anyways, my opponent this time is the largest enemy I've ever fought."
- Megumi: "...The Hiroshiho Empire. Your target is the Hiroshiho Empire, isn't it?"
- Vladier: "Your mother did tell me you were particularly insightful, too. I represent several parties who are very interested in... well, do you know what a Heritage Site is?"
- Megumi: "I assume it has something to do with all those ruins?"
- Vladier: "All that and then some. Well, we expect that there are some incredible secrets within those ruins. Technology that is somehow both ancient and yet vastly superior to what we currently possess. Pokemon that you could never see anywhere else. All kinds of mysteries await to be uncovered."
- Megumi: "And the Hiroshiho Empire is in the way."
- Vladier: "Emperor Naoto, while a respectable man, stubbornly refuses to allow us to unearth and explore the Heritage Sites. Unfortunately, a lot of wealthy and influential individuals overseas have decided that an invasion might be the best course of action, and Marta and I have been covertly dispatched to this land of Honmyr to see for certain that all those brave soldiers who will be committed to the resulting war will not be dying for anything insubstantial. In other words, a war is brewing and my efforts will decide if it's really worth it."
- Megumi: "So that's it. That's why you want my help."
- Vladier: "I'm asking a lot, Megumi, I know. You'll be putting your life on the line many times, hunted by the very same empire that you used to call home, and you might not even get to understand why. I know that I could never appropriately compensate you fully for the sacrifices you would be making should you agree to do this. So whether you say yes or no, understand that I will respect your decision either way and not press the issue any further."
- Megumi: "Don't worry, I'm going to help."
- Vladier: "...Perhaps you could think this over a li-"
- Megumi: "For nineteen years, all I've done is train my ass off, Vlad. There's something to be said for the value of strength, but still I have to wonder; just what the fuck is all of my strength for if I never really push it to its limits? Those men I killed as I was fleeing the city was the very first time I ever drew blood from someone. I'm starting to feel that this chain of events is what all that hard work and effort was finally leading up to. So there's not going to be any further arguements, Vlad. Yamakami Megumi is going to war on their asses."
- Vladier: "...Well, I'm certainly not going to deny you what you really feel. Welcome aboard, Megumi, and please get some sleep. We've all got a big journey starting tomorrow."

-----------------------------------------------------

Daisy the Disgruntled Trainer, Act II - Chapter II: Nyonlight City

Daisy Miltower [Warbringer / Shock Trooper] ~ A lover of high-powered handguns and unfiltered cigarettes, Daisy has developed by leaps and bounds in a very short time, showing deft command of her Pokemon despite her hatred of Pokemon and the training thereof while presenting sound tactical solutions to every fight she's been in. Her current objective is a cavern at the summit of Mt Sugaroma, the lair of the legendary Pokemon of Jurich, Belzybrand. In order to reach it, however, she will have to either avoid or defeat anyone who stands in her way, whether it be police, the Chariot Organization, or her own mother Yuzuru.

Bianca [Enforcer & Scout / Pokemon Trainer] ~ From the Pokemon Black and White games, Bianca is visiting Jurich as a favor to Professor Juniper. This research revolves around the Convergence Event, in which massive amounts of evolved and legendary Pokemon are swarming on Honmyr. Her visit to Jurich is in regards to Belzybrand, the only legendary Pokemon that hasn't ventured into Honmyr. Daisy figures that Bianca actually has a kind of 'wants to be bullied' nature to her, and has taken that as a cue to tease Bianca mercilessly.

Mavelyn Mapleseed [Pokemon Hybrid / Enforcer] ~ The mother of Chartreuse, a lover of adventure, and the only Pokebrid left in Jurich after her daughter's flight, Mavelyn longs to return to Honmyr once again, and has joined Daisy just for that purpose. She's had a long-standing crush on Samano, attracted initially by his looks, style and money, but has been developing deeper feelings since. Her three Pokebrid forms are Volcarona, Ninetails and Chandelure.

Ranbuki Seigan [Pokemon Ranger / Enforcer] ~ The older brother of Angelique who doesn't know the difference between loving his sister and "loving" his sister, something that disturbs those who know him. He would take any risk to protect Angelique from harm, but more often than not he ends up doing something stupid and humiliating both himself and his sister. Still, he's an able fighter, and Daisy knows she can count on him for at least that.

Samano Baskart [Destroyer] ~ The richest and most influential man in all of Jurich, but considering how small Jurich is, that isn't saying much. Still, he's wealthy, successful, and a powerful ally on the battlefield. Like Angelique and Ranbuki, he too is a member of the Spiroch Tribe, the native inhabitants of Jurich, but unlike those two has forsaken the traditions and rituals of his tribe to embrace the spirit of capitalism and now owns a branch of hoppin' night clubs called Mirror Shot. He has joined Daisy's group because he sees the warrior spirit of the Spiroch in Daisy, and because he has grown tired of living it up in Jurich. There comes a time for every man to put his life on the line for the sake of something greater.

Dolores Ichijo [Slayer / Enforcer] ~ Behind every good man is a good woman, and behind Samano is an elite ninja maid from Hiroshiho. For helping her parents out of an extensive monetary bind, Dolores has sworn total loyalty until death, and Samano would never ask for anything more than that. She is beautiful, polite, well-mannered, an amazing cook, an astounding mistress of cleaning, and handles all of Samano's paperwork without any signs of irritation or exhaustion. Dolores fights using claws, each blade connected to a chain to allow for the long distance raking of fleshy targets.

Lanana Simburgh [Scout] ~ Works for the Nyonlens Films movie production company, which has recently begun to document Daisy's explosive journey, much to the aforementioned firebrand's disinterest. Lanana's special camera and skill at pinpointing enemy weaknesses is far too good for Daisy to pass up bringing this mocha-skinned Spiroch girl along with her. Well, that and once you've gotten Lanana on your ass, even threats of violence or the actual carrying out of violence isn't enough to get her off of you.

*Daisy, Bianca, Ranbuki, Mavelyn, Samano and Dolores are traveling the lesser-traveled routes to Nyonlight City, the only other major city in Jurich. It's the last piece of human civilization one can find before continuing eastward to Mt Sugaroma.*

- Bianca: "Wait! Please don't leave me!"
- Daisy: "Keep your damn voice down, Anca. We're too close to the road."
- Mavelyn: "She's right, Bianca dear. The police are all over the place. Don't worry, we won't leave you behind."
- Daisy: "Heads up. Looks like we hit a really serious roadblock here."

*The others have a look at Daisy's observation.*

- Samano: "With a checkpoint of that scale, there's no doubt about it. Baby, you're public enemy number one."
- Daisy: "Ha! And my mother told me I'd never amount to nuthin'."
- Samano: "Dolores, get me some information on that blockade, would you?"
- Dolores: "Of course, Master."

*Dolores is there one instant and immediately gone the next.*

- Bianca: "She's so cool."
- Ranbuki: "What will we do, Daisy?"
- Daisy: "Let's just wait. Anca can catch her breath and we can figure out what to do when Dolores returns. But I don't understand. According to what Aunt Irene told me, Chariot is not officially sanctioned within any federal governments across the world. They can't order the police to do shit like this. Maybe the cops have had it in for me for a while."
- Mavelyn: "Maybe they're just really bored. Being a Jurich law official can be one of the most boring jobs in the world."

*After about forty more seconds.*

- Dolores: "Master, I have returned."
- Samano: "Let's hear it, baby."
- Dolores: "Apparently, the only one that the police are searching for is Miss Miltower."
- Mavelyn: "Oh, so we can just enter the city? Alright, take care, Daisy.
- Daisy: "Not that I terribly mind you all abandoning me, but can you possibly have a plan for us meeting at Mt Sugaroma first?"
- Mavelyn: "I'm just kidding, Daisy sweetie. There's no way we'd abandon you, either. But what could we possibly do?"
- Daisy: "Samano, got anyone inside the city who could get me some assistance?"
- Samano: "I have some people who owe me some favors, but what are you thinking about, exactly?"

*Daisy looks thoughtful for several seconds.*

- Daisy: "I can make some miracles happen with a decent makeup kit."
- Samano: "Alright, I think I can pull some strings, but you might have to do something for these people while in the city."
- Daisy: "If it doesn't cost me too much time, I can do that."

*Samano makes a call and, within twenty minutes, hails down a van exiting the city. The van pulls over until it's no longer seen by the police and a Spiroch woman hops out from the driver's seat.*

- Lanana: "Mister Samano Baskart, hanging out in the woods with a bunch of beautiful women? I guess that means it's Wednesday."
- Samano: "There's your target."
- Lanana: "Indeed, it is. Daisy Miltower, correct? I'm Lanana Simburgh, a producer with Nyonlight Films. Samano and I are good friends. Do you think we can be good friends, too?"
- Daisy: "Sure thing. Good t'meet you, Miss Simburgh."
- Lanana: "Mrs Simburgh, but please, just call me Lana."

*Daisy and Lanana shake hands.*

- Daisy: "So, uhh... Nyonlight Films, huh? Does this favor involve a movie of some sorts?"
- Samano: "Sorry, baby, but that's usually the situation when you involve Lana. I'm sure it'll be something quick and unobstructive, though."
- Daisy: "Relax, Samano, I'm not stressing it. So Lana, is there a little makeup studio inside that van of yours?"
- Lanana: "The mobile makeup studio is ready for lights, camera, and action!"
- Daisy: "Excellent. Okay, Bianca, lend me your old clothes and your Pokedex, please."
- Bianca: "Huh? Alright, sure. Just please don't break it."
- Daisy: "Relax, I know what I'm doing. I'll be back in five minutes. No peeking. But if you must peek, no pictures, please."

*Daisy takes Bianca's items and enters the van. And when she steps out...*
- Everyone Else: "Whoa."
- Daisy: "So did I do alright?"
- Bianca: "This is crazy!"
- Mavelyn: "I'll say. You look just like Bianca... with less flattering clothes."
- Bianca: "That's a little hurtful, Mavelyn."
- Lanana: "Even I'm impressed. You don't seem like the kind of girl who takes great pains with her makeup, and yet you managed to copy Bianca's old style perfectly. How?"
- Daisy: "It really helps me to avoid my mom when I don't look like her daughter. One day I convinced her that I was this one douche from my town. Next, Bianca, please say some words at me."
- Bianca: "Huh? What should I say?"
- Daisy: "Perfect, that'll do."

*Daisy holds her throat a bit and coughs several times.*

- Daisy: "Okay, how do I sound?"
- Bianca: "Wow, now you sound just like me too! Even our text color is the same!"
- Samano: "If you've even got the original owner convinced, I doubt those police are gonna see through your disguise."
- Bianca: "This is so cool! It's like I have a twin sister!"
- Daisy: "She seems oddly happy about this, but if she likes it, maybe I can give her more sister treatment later. Anyways, let's get going now. There've been times when I imitated a voice so long that I forgot what my original voice is. When I imitated Chartreuse one time, I ended up speaking like her for almost a week after I was done."

*They rather easily bypass the police checkpoint, although not entirely without incident.*

- Daisy: "Kind of a bold one, wasn't he? Admitting that his ultimate dream is to be in a polygamous marriage with twin sisters."
- Bianca: "You didn't have to egg him on, did you?"
- Daisy: "But he said he was going to pay for all the cigarettes I could smoke! That's true love there, girl."
- Ranbuki: "That's all it takes for you to give up on your real boyfriend?"
- Lanana: "Next stop: Nyonlight Films."

*Daisy was back in her regular clothes inside the studio and was already making demands.*

- Daisy: "I don't want to be the main villain but I want to be the most powerful of them all. And I want to have the sexiest costume you've got."
- Director Simburgh: "Ahh, young Daisy Miltower. I'm glad I got to meet you in person."
- Daisy: "Chop chop, bossman, I ain't got all day to do this. I have a date with destiny."
- Director Simburgh: "Well, to be honest, Miss Miltower, that's exactly what I'd like to discuss with you."
- Daisy: "Huh? Well deal me the deal, yo."
- Director Simburgh: "Alright, since you seem to be in such a hurry, allow me to give you the abridged version of my latest magnum opus. I call it 'Daisy the Disgruntled Trainer'! It uhh... it's a working title."
- Daisy: "So wait, your latest project is to make a movie about me? I plan to no longer be in Jurich in just the next two days."
- Director Simburgh: "Oh, don't you worry, that's perfectly fine. You'll just be taking my wife here with you when you leave."
- Lanana: "Good to be working with you, Daisy."
- Daisy: "I'm not sure that's a good idea, bossman. I mean, what I'm about to do is really dangerous and everything."
- Director Simburgh: "Not a concern, Miss Miltower. My wife is in tiptop physical condition. It actually makes me feel rather inadequate."
- Lanana: "Geez, love, just rub it in, why don't you? So, Daisy, does this mean you're not going to uphold your end of the deal?
- Daisy: "I was just worried about you, Lana. I mean, even I don't know just how dangerous this can get. But very well, I do keep my promises. Welcome aboard, Lana."
- Samano: "Leaving the city should be easy enough, which just leaves us with having to ascend the mountain."
- Ranbuki: "Indeed. Climbing Mt Sugaroma is going to be a challenge. The stronger of us should be fine, but I fear for those of us who aren't as well traveled."
- Daisy: "We'll just have to manage somehow. Hey, director, we've had a rough road. Do you think we can stay here for the night?"
- Director Simburgh: "Sure, it's a day off. Plenty of places to crash. You could even act in a short viral video or two if you want."
- Daisy: "Awesome. Well, everyone, this is the moment of truth. We haven't been together long and who knows where destiny will take us when we reach Honmyr, but I'm counting on each and every one of you tomorrow. Let's breach the mountain and ride one of the fastest flying mounts in all of the Pokemon World, the Legendary Pokemon Belzybrand. Honmyr is on the horizon!"

Astral Harmony: "Kind of a short one, and not a terribly funny one, but I think I did alright. Daisy's mission to get the hell out of Jurich is finally closing in on the climax, where she must battle with her own government and brave the treacherous trails of Mt Sugaroma in order to return to Honmyr, the next great leap in her destiny. Can she break through the police cordon? Will Belzybrand take her and her friends with it to further adventures in Honmyr? And can she possibly defeat anyone and everyone in her way in order to escape? Well, you already know the answers but prepare to find out anyways in the next, and final, chapter of Daisy, the Disgruntled Trainer."

[Astral Harmony]

Off The Wall (Feb 5th) by Astral Harmony

Today's Topic: New Classes & New Characters

- Astral Harmony: "Hello there, all you deranged people and those who will soon become deranged because you're reading my RPG. This is Astral Harmony and with us is a new guest that has yet to appear in the story itself."

- Odin Oak: "Did you wait long? I am Odin Oak, Gary's older sister. Don't bitch about my first name; it's awesome as hell. But it's true, I haven't actually been in the main story, yet still I'm sure we'll run into each other soon. So our topic is... uhh, new classes? Have you even balanced the old classes yet, Astral?"

- Astral Harmony: "Class balancing has pretty much gone out the window, especially since all the PCs just decided to customize the hell out of their own classes. They want all the power but they don't wanna spend rank points to get it. Anyways, yes, new classes, of course, but we'll also be discussing new characters that will be coming down the road, including yourself."

- Odin: "And why would we be talking about me?"

- Astral Harmony: "Just getting the names out of the way."

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Present Classes

- Astral Harmony: "But hey, let's go ahead and reintroduce the current classes just because I love talking."

The Slayer
- Description: Slayers are highly trained or otherwise physically augmented humans who can go toe-to-toe against Pokemon and other humans and mecha without any kind of Pokemon assistance. Most often, Slayers are those who are indifferent or just plain against the use of Pokemon, or maybe just don't care to train the damn things.
- Function: Uses type-based damage via weapons while being protected by type-based armor. The original class that has nothing to do with Pokemon at all.
- How To Use AP: Mostly attacking, but also for item use and swapping equipment.
- Results of Ranking Up: Have more weapons and armor equipped at the same time, deploy a Rapid Deployment Powered Armor (RDPA), deal damage to multiple targets and gain permanent type and status defenses. They can also use Slayer-specific accessories and consummables.

The Pokemon Hybrid (Pokebrid)
- Description: Pokebrids are humans who have been spliced with Pokemon DNA and take on some of their physical characteristics. But more importantly than that, Pokebrids are capable of incredible powers and abilities based on the Pokemon from who the DNA was extracted.
- Function: Uses the Pokemon form's attacks, abilities and types along with other miraculous abilities (such as Paradigm Shifts) to take the assault directly to the enemy.
- How To Use AP: Using the form's moves and any carried items.
- Results of Ranking Up: Gain additional Pokemon forms (each one with its own unique Synchronicity Technique), become able to initialize Paradigm Shifts, and are generally more effective in combat due to additional statistics and defenses.

The Pokemon Trainer
- Description: The classic Pokemon game class, the Trainer is a vulnerable individual who instead utilizes the various Pokemon they have on their person to conduct tactical warfare.
- Function: The Trainer deploys Pokemon into battles, swaps them out as necessary, and uses their moves.
- How To Use AP: Using a Pokemon's moves and assisting them with items.
- Results of Ranking Up: A Trainer can have more Pokemon, use special techniques to alter the Pokemon's moves and create custom hold items that can benefit specific Pokemon that they prize.

The Pokemon Snagger
- Description: The most underutilized class, a Snagger has a smaller number of Pokemon available to them than Trainers of the same rank, but can use powerful Pokeballs that allow them to snag and gain control of enemy and unaligned Pokemon for their own temporary use.
- Function: Get into the fight and deploy what Pokemon they have, using their attacks while using their own special Pokeballs to snag additional Pokemon straight out of the grasp of the enemy.
- How To Use AP: Use a Pokemon's moves, use items on those Pokemon, and attempt to snag Pokemon temporarily from the enemy or unalligned Pokemon.
- Results of Ranking Up: Possess more Pokemon initially, be able to snag with greater success, be able to use Snag Balls with more punishing status effects (activate should the snag fail), and create custom hold items for their favorite Pokemon.

The Demon
- Description: By ingesting the Magatama, a strange creature with otherworldly powers, a human can become a demon. Magatama grant the consumer with powers unique to them, and thus being a demon can be rather similar to a Slayer if you ignore the fact that demonic abilities typically ignore the laws of logic.
- Function: With the power of a Magatama inside of you, use special powers and have special abilities for both offense and defense that are unique since you customize the Magatama yourself.
- How To Use AP: Using some of the Magatama's abilities.
- Results of Ranking Up: The Magatama level up and grant the demon additional abilities. The demon is also able to have more Magatama, can swap them out in mid-fight, and even "equip" multiple Magatama at once.

-----

Future Classes

The Pokemon Ranger
- Description: By using a Ranger Styler or by having an innate spiritual bond with all Pokemon (like members of the Spiroch tribe), the Pokemon Ranger is able to befriend enemy and unalligned Pokemon in a way similar to the Pokemon Snagger, but utilizes the powers and abilities of Pokemon in a much different way.
- Function: Befriend Pokemon using the Ranger Styler or Spiroch Bonding, then use their powers to aid your assaults or protect you from harm. You can sort of think of the Pokemon Ranger as the bastard child of a Slayer and a Pokebrid.
- How To Use AP: Use Slayer-style attacks and items. The Pokemon you befriend do not require AP to offer you their potential and instead have individual Energy (EN) Gauges that, when reduced to zero, cause the Pokemon to be released.
- Results of Ranking Up: Possess more Pokefriends at a time and be able to use their EN more efficiently. More powerful skills will also be available from certain types of Pokemon.
- Characters With This Class: Angelique, Ranbuki & Crow

The Pokemon Rider
- Description: The Rider class uses mountable Pokemon and machines to do battle. It would be best described as a Slayer class that uses a more permanently allowed, but less effective, RDPA to commense paired warfare on their enemies.
- Function: Fight while mounted on a Pokemon that has been especially trained for mounted warfare, making them hardier than the Pokemon used by Trainers and Rangers. With the warrior and mount fighting in tandem, some serious damage is expected.
- How To Use AP: Attacking, having the Pokemon attack, and using special maneuvers to layer on even more pain or offer additional protection.
- Results of Ranking Up: Having additional Pokemounts and being able to swap between them during battles. New maneuvers will be available to maximize their turn-by-turn potential.
- Characters With This Class: Hanae & Prisceres

The Deckmaster
- Description: The Deckmaster uses a deck of cards called the Destiny Deck and their own powerful spiritual energies to bring the magic within the cards to life by summoning creatures, casting spells, and setting traps to control the flow of battle. If the Deckmaster doesn't have any other class to back them up, then they are considered defeated when they have no more cards.
- Function: Draw cards and use them to give life to beasts not from any Pokemon World you've ever been to. And if you don't much care for letting others handle work you could do yourself, then use your spell cards for direct damage and other effects. Or if you prefer a defensive role, there are plenty of trap cards that, when set up, can really screw up your enemy's strategy. You don't decide what individual cards you want in your deck, but rather you assign a number or numbers from 1 to 100 to that card, and during the Upkeep Phase, some 100-sided dice are rolled. If one lands on the number you assigned to that card, you gain that card.
- How To Use AP: All three types of cards require AP to cast, and summoned beasts from Beast Cards also require AP in order to attack. By the way, you use your Rage to bypass the normal rules of the Destiny Deck, giving you the ability to revive cards from the graveyard, duplicate cards in your hand, or do all kinds of other wacky stuff.
- Results of Ranking Up: Allows you to have more Card Points, or CP, which decides how large your deck is, how large your draw is, and how many cards you can hold in your hand. You can also use higher ranked cards and have more beast cards and trap cards cast at once.
- Characters With This Class: Xar'Le & Eldys

Troop Master
- Description: The Troop Master calls in human and mechanical allies to fight for them in a way very similar to how Pokemon Trainers rely upon Pokemon. In other words, they are the Pokemon Trainers for those who secretly fantasize about Pokeballs that can capture people. Expect your units to possess attributes such as Humanoid, Mechanical, Undead, Demonic, etc.
- Function: They function exactly like a Pokemon Trainer, with custom units, not Pokemon, as their little fighting force.
- How To Use AP: Use your unit's attacks and use items to assist your units. Like a said, a Pokemon Trainer that doesn't use Pokemon.
- Results of Ranking Up: Command a larger reserve force and give them special orders to augment their abilities. Your units will also be upgraded as well and you'll be able to have somewhat weaker versions of the various specialists.
- Characters With This Class: Astarte & Jessica

The Pokedo Master (Pokemonk)
- Description: Forget the weapons. Forget the monsters. Forget the damn deck of cards. The Pokedo Master needs not any of these things to deal damage that is not only competitive, but completely defies the rules. And they don't need no stinkin' gimmicks or Heritage Technology. They combine ancient Hiroshiho striking martial arts with a deep understanding of Pokemon anatomy to gain all kinds of bizarre advantages that will have everyone else screaming foul. A Water/Ground type? The Pokemonk can deal super effective electric damage to those by Type Piercing the Ground type. It holds a Persim Berry? Prepare for a confusion status that the berry did not heal. It just used Water Sport? The Pokemonk's fire attacks are still just as powerful.
- Function: Like a Slayer, but possessing unique abilities that allows them to bypass target types, abilities, held items like berries, and moves to deal damage that would otherwise be impossible.
- How To Use AP: Attack like a Slayer, or apply their vicious Pokira Techniques to their normal attacks.
- Results of Ranking Up: Unlocks more and more Pokira Techniques and reduces the AP cost of applying them to your normal attacks. Also gives you natural resistances to types, status effects and debuffs.
- Characters With This Class: Yuzuru, Odin, Sunshine & Rosa

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A Brief List of New Characters

- Rosa Gilhearth [Pokemonk / Enforcer] ~ An unashamed masochistic Pokemon molester. Yep, she's fucked up, hardcore. When she did all her personal research and learned about Ruin Pokemon after no end of determined effort, she couldn't possibly have gotten to Honmyr any faster.

- Odin Oak [Pokemonk / Enforcer] ~ Yeah, she's Gary Oak's older sister. She had a crush on Ash Ketchum but lost him to the thrill of continuing his Pokemon adventure and the ever-growing gaggle of cute girls he was gathering without really trying. Because of this, she actually dislikes Pokemon and works for the Purging Party, a special branch of the Police Force that is desperately trying to control the Pokemon congestion. No doubt about it: Honmyr's flooded with the fucking things.

- Sunshine Moses [Pokemonk / Enforcer] ~ One of Gary Oak's former cheerleaders who fell out of the gig when Gary lost in the Kanto Pokemon League, returned to Pallet Town to think about what she was going to do now, got involved in informing Gary and Odin about Professor Oak's death, and ended up sticking with Odin, joining the Purging Party and supporting her out of admiration.

- Kyosuke Mamiya [Slayer / Enforcer] ~ The son of the late Ebony Tortoise General Tetsuzu and a one-night stand, Kyosuke is an almost appallingly beautiful man with long blonde hair and blue eyes as clear as a perfect sky. Raised much like Lucian Caprico, he is also unnaturally respectful of women, treating even female enemies with kindness and dignity. His goal is to restore the lost honor to his family name brought on by his slain father.

- Prisceres Valdivere [Rider / Enforcer] ~ A lovely woman with bright pink hair and shiny azure eyes, Priscere is so much in love with Kyosuke that even thinking about him causes spasms of ecstasy. She's a foreign noblewoman from Sinnoh who came to Honmyr to enrich her own development as a refined lady, and has since been inseparable from the man of her dreams.

- Hanae Mamiya [Rider / Shock Trooper] ~ Tetsuzu's older sister, now just older than 60, and while her looks have faded with time, her samurai spirit hasn't diminished in the slightest. She, like Kyosuke, wishes to restore honor and glory to the Mamiya name, and does so by resurrecting the Pokemon Rider class, which existed back in Hiroshiho's past when cavalry was a big deal.

- Jessica du Schneider XVII [Troop Master / Shock Trooper] ~ Her full name is Jessica Dervishi Grigoryan Leitner Ibrahimov Kavaliou Willems Demirovic Kucerova Jorgensen Rebane Heinonen Lindholm Maisuradze Dubois Angelopoulos Lakatos McCarthy Colombo Kelmendi Liepins Paulaukas Micallef Georgiev Van Leeuwen Andreassen Dabrowski Moreira Popescu Ramirez Yildirim Shevchuk du Schneider XVII, and she knows her full name by heart though she is considerate in allowing everyone else to simply call her Li'l Jes. She is perhaps the richest person on the entire planet and funds the operations of the Diefication Front, granting them access to advanced but medievil weapons, armor, and robots. She also has four special robots of her own that are loosely based on the names of My Little Pony characters. She also has a powerful maid who surprisingly isn't a ninja or a robot. What is this world coming to?

- Prismal Flash, Cutey Puss, Beautyhead & Berryheart ~ Jessica's personal automech force of bipetal bird-like killing machines. Prismal Flash packs loads and loads of lasers. Cutey Puss uses silly weapons like pico hammers and folding fans. Beautyhead handles physical projectile weapons like gatling guns and cannons while Berryheart is a walking biohazardous environment, so don't let their absurd names fool you as they can be just as deadly as the Gabriel Force automechs. Specifically, as a group they are referred to as the Phantom Carnival. Why? Stealth. They have some highly advanced optickal camoflauge and sneaking abilities.

- Tart Brownstone [Slayer / Enforcer] ~ A member of the Jacksor Circus Troupe, Tart is the blademistress who can perform jaw-dropping feats with all kinds of bladed implements, and also does some acrobatics when not fiddling with edges. She does have her own Pokemon, but those are strictly for the circus performances and are ill-suited to actual combat.

- Kraud Brownstone [Destroyer] ~ Built like the Hunchback of Notre Dame on steroids, Kraud isn't a particularly handsome man but he is a big and powerful one who performs as, you might have already guessed, the strongman. When push comes to pulverizing, Kraud displays unmatched brutality with his massive wooden mallet. Despite his appearance and all of his muscle, Kraud is actually both intelligent and well-spoken, having more degrees than the rest of the performers combined. He's always willing to listen to the problems of others, has sound and insightful advise, is perpetually calm under pressure and is very diligent in all that he does. Truely a man who cannot be judged by his looks alone.

- Luna Jacksor [Slayer / Sniper] ~ Luna was adopted into the Jacksor Family Circus by Ringleader Jacksor when she lost her family and friends to war. She performs the most incredible trickshots anyone could ever see using her custom revolvers, but most guys go to see her just because of how ridiculously beautiful she is. Skin the color of fine chocolate, purple eyes one can get lost for days in, and curves that no car should be driving on combined with a traditional japanese kimono and getas make Luna almost irresistable, and those that cannot resist her learn that she has a special magnum revolver called the Midnight Pegasus, a handcannon with a meter-long barrel that can send a man's entrails exploding out of the exit wound for up to thirty yards.

- Catrina Baskinot [Warbringer / Sniper] ~ A self-proclaimed heroine of love and justice, although her partner Extober declares all of this to be completely false. Catrina claims that Extober and her are lovers, something that Extober is also quick to counter with a snappy comeback. Other than these features, she's not really special in any way, although her weapon is sort of unique. It's the bastard child of a crossbow and a pump-action shotgun, which basically means a crossbow that can be reloaded by cocking it. It's surprisingly accurate, though, and allows Catrina to deal damage at a considerable distance.

- Extober [Destroyer] ~ Extober wears a thick trenchcoat, gauntlets, boots and a metal helmet that completely hides the face and head, leaving not an inch of skin exposed on his entire body. He claims that he is Catrina's servant, but it seems that he is more like one who keeps Catrina in line, much like how one might keep his pet Poochyena in line by popping it on the nose with a rolled-up newspaper. He uses large magnums and has a coffin on his back which functions much like a swiss army knife, containing a variety of terrible weaponry.

- Milky Littleton [Warbringer / Shock Trooper] ~ Milky dresses and fights like a cheerleader despite no official training and is the affectionate and devoted girlfriend of Bobby Bill, the fat and slobby but intelligent senior hacker in the Flamewarriors. Her hair contains all three colors associated with neapolitan ice cream and her attacks involve pom poms, cheerleader acrobatics, and fireworks.

- Barbarossa Uthgart [Overblade / Shock Trooper] ~ Barbarossa or Barbara is the senior Slayer instructor for Irene's combat academy. She has lost both her dominant right arm and left eye in the wars, but unlike others such as Rayleen and Alice, she has never bothered to have them replaced. Instead, she has struggled and not only managed to regain her former potential, but far surpassed it. Despite only having one arm and one eye and being middle-aged, she remains quite beautiful with her long pale blonde hair and great figure.

[Menarker]

... Interesting... I'll look at it more when I got time to spare from my project due in 7 hours. (Although Renny is already kinda built like a Pokedo Master since he already forgoes weapons as a Slayer. Maybe if you have some advice or thoughts about that class, I can integrate that in some fashion, like that tech I'm still trying to complete...)

Also, we are spending "rank points". The customization is just less strict about the exact effects but still devoted to the flavor somewhat.

Note that Gary Oak's sister already had a name, Daisy. But since that's already taken, I suppose Odin is fine... Although that seems like a very masculine name. I would have figured a name like Freya instead. *Shrug* Ah well.

Kyosuke and Princeres appearance/personality seem to mimic Renny/Lola quite a bit? =3

And I'm so tempted to make a Deck-master. Don't tease me into making me do it! I'd bring back my old Yugi-Oh character from the aborted RP on NPF!