January - February Test drive

[indigo_events]

➞ Post with a character you wish to test drive in this game's setting.
➞ Tag other people's starters and thread out shenanigans!
➞ Invite your friends! Try out new characters! Come play with us!
➞ Have fun!

NOT SURE WHERE TO BEGIN YOUR TEST-DRIVE JOURNEY?
CHECK OUT ALL THE LOCATIONS WE HAVE AVAILABLE IN:

JOHTO | KANTO | SEVII ISLANDS

Feel free to make various prompts in multiple locations!

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OTHER USEFUL LINKS:
NAVIGATION | RESERVES | APPLICATIONS

Comments

[desertpowered]

[Now there's some information that could be useful. Paul gets a bit close to the screen, Hulud scuttling some distance away to let his Trainer speak.]

Team Rocket. I'll keep an eye out - I haven't actually had an encounter yet, but what little I've heard about them is bad. Can you please tell me what you know?

[Paul is deadly serious this time, and his previously relaxed expression seems to sharpen. This is a threat worth his full attention. Paul is a newcomer.]

[nightyorb]

[Riz similarly goes into a mode that is all business -- all rizness. He even has a little notepad that he is reading from.]

Right, so, Team Rocket seems to be a primary criminal element in this world. From what I've heard, they've been responsible for both petty crimes and big things. I mean stuff like attacking banks and capturing the Elite Four at least once. There's also people saying they are involved in, like, the gambling establishments here, which I don't have any proof of, but I also wouldn't put beyond them. Cause of course criminals are involved in gambling, that is like crime 101.

But as a regular trainer out on the road, especially as a newcomer, you're more like to deal with their grunts -- which are their low level members that focus on stealing pokemon from other trainers. Technically everybody can be a target, though they do seem to focus on pokemon that are either very powerful or rare. A lot of them attack people while in uniform to disguise their own identities, so if you see anyone approaching out all dressed in black with caps and large red Rs on their shirts, just fuckin' run, you know? They aren't above punching you if it comes down to it.

[Ask him how he knows!]

I've also know of at least one person that got here and was immediately kidnapped by them. They tried to blackmail him into working for them, so be wary of that as well.

The police are pretty useless when it comes to handling anything Team Rocket related, and I've got my theories as to why, so don't bother going to them. Instead, if you run into any trouble, Rocket related or otherwise, you should contact miss Jane Crocker of the Fletcher Gym in Goldenrod City. She's also from another world and she runs a detective agency. I work for her too, and I promise we'll actually take your cases seriously.

[desertpowered]

The police are useless, then. Can't say I'm too surprised, they seem nice but ineffectual - no wonder this Team Rocket group operates freely. I'll see Miss Crocker in Goldenrod at some point - she sounds like a good contact to have either way. It's good to hear that there are people here who have a grip on things.

[This world seemed a bit too sweet on the surface, and it doesn't particularly surprise Paul that there's a darker underbelly. He's dealt with the threat of kidnapping and worse where he comes from, and he's not defenseless, but the other kid's advice to run seems good. Especially while both he and his parther aren't on their feet yet.]

I'll say this much - they'd better not touch Hulud. I won't let them have him. We look out for each other here.

[He strokes his partner's head protectively, and the Trapinch nuzzles him.]

How do you know about the punching? I'm guessing you've had a few brushes with these people yourself.

You're right - we should keep in touch. I can tell you anything interesting I learn or come across.

[nightyorb]

They punched me when they caught me trying to infiltrate their base. It's fine, I've had worse.

If you really want to protect your pokemon, you should train them up properly. They'll have an easier time grabbing him if he can't defend himself. It might sound really weird to have animals do your fighting for you, but that's just how this world works.

[That was something Riz did learn from being beat up by Team Rocket. He hadn't really put any effort into training his pokemon before that point, not really seeing the point of earning badges and all the other things the people in this world care about, but that black eye had certainly been a strong motivator.]

[desertpowered]

[Hearing the story, Paul has decided he isn't going to try any stunts like that until he grows strong enough as a trainer to handle himself. There's a line between courage and recklessness]

Notes taken. I've been fighting with Pokémon in the wild and against other trainers to help him grow stronger, and it seems like that's the right call. It feels strange, but I learned to fight in my world so I could defend myself when the time came for a serious fight with higher stakes. It's the same way for him.

[Paul isn't competitive, exactly, but he sees the value in training and preparation. And in this world that takes the form of Pokémon battles. Besides practical reasons, it sounds like it's an important line of defense against Team Rocket.]

Did they take your Pokémon?

[nightyorb]

No, I got lucky there. I guess they didn't think they were strong or rare enough to be worth the effort.

[Which... nice not to lose his pokemon, but not so nice knowing it was all just because they were looked down on.]

We'll make them regret that.

[desertpowered]

It's good that you didn't lose your Pokémon. I don't know how rare Trapinch is, exactly, but I'll be careful either way.

[Paul's own vengeful streak sympathizes. He'd feel the same way in that situation if his pride was hurt - glad that he didn't lose his partner, but injured and angry nonetheless.]

Your advice has been very useful. When I get to Goldenrod I'll have to find your employer. Maybe I can find a job with her. That line of work is one I think I could be helpful with.

[nightyorb]

Really? Have you got any experience with this sort of stuff?

[desertpowered]

In the world where I came from, I had to be quick on my feet to stay alive - so I'm good at noticing things. Small details in the environment, identifying poisons, reading people's body language. If there was something even slightly wrong and I missed it, it could cost me my life. I was taught how to fight people older and stronger than I am.

So yes, I think I could help.

[nightyorb]

[That sounds like a very familiar set of skills. That's essentially all the things Aguefort also teaches its students, with a healthy dose of magic on top.]

Huh. Are you some sort of adventurer too?

[desertpowered]

No - I was royalty, back in my home universe. It's not as pleasant as it sounds. When you're a member of a powerful family, you have powerful enemies.

[Paul smiles bitterly. In some ways, the relative anonymity of the Pokémon world is better for him, and safer, though he knows better than to let his guard down completely.]

But a lot of those skills can be transferred to adventuring, you're right about that. And it sounds like it's a good idea to be careful with Team Rocket about. It wouldn't be the first time I've had to defend myself.