((
Remember to keep in mind the RP aspect, as the whole point of this little 'experiment' is to see if there's room for story and roleplaying in CAP ASB. I would suggest that you don't even need to dive right into the battle, if you don't want to -- RP out the pre-battle angst, the challenge, etc.... or not. I leave it in your hands! You are the players, and I'm just the facilitator -- so have fun with it!))
The sun was setting, bathing the ruins in a pleasant orange-pink haze. The light played brilliantly upon the white columns and statues which lay strewn about the ancient courtyard. Nestled within a craggy valley far from any hint of civilization, these ruins had lain undisturbed by man or Pokemon for years -- perhaps even centuries. However, as if to foretell the turmoil that was soon to come, the reflecting pool in the center of the courtyard broke it's stillness.
An Absol peered into the water, pawing at it with his foreleg. This Absol was unlike others of his species, his coloration sharing more in common with the sunset than with the norm. His red horn quivered slightly -- it was often said by the superstitious that Absols used their horns to predict disaster. Disaster or not, he did sense a presence. Two humans, approaching the valley from the south. He sensed others -- energies held in captivity. The Absol felt a sting of hatred, but it was tempered as he remembered his own master. Master, who was so kind. Kind, yes... but intolerant of disobedience. However, the humans had come, just as Master said they would.
Absol had done well. He had obeyed.
((Berserker, you have the first action; if you want to dive straight into the battle, I'm sure playforkeeps wouldn't mind if you 'noticed' him and challenged him. However, I leave it up to your discretion.))
I'd like to propose something a little different; if it's not within my bounds to do something like this, I'll gladly step down and forget about it should a mod tell me to. Anyway, what I'd like to propose is a chain of battles, all with the same participants, linked together by a common RP plot. I'm thinking 3 battles, because nobody's done something like this and I'd like to start fairly small. If it works out and the participants enjoy, the chain can be lengthened, or we can start a new one with a longer one in mind. I will be the 'ref' of these 3 matches, moderating the battles and controlling any NPCs that may feature prominently (hint hint). Again, in order to start simple, it'll be a series of matches featuring only 2 trainers. If you're interested, you should also be interested in roleplaying; your trainer character should have some sort of personality worked out. Backstory or anything extensive isn't necessary (although you're certainly welcome), just an interest in and willingness to RP. You'll be encouraged to interact with/react to the other trainer beyond just giving your commands in battle or throwing in the occasional taunt -- regular paragraph format is also highly encouraged. Here's the hook that I have in mind:
"It's true!" insisted the barkeep, "I saw 'im with my own two eyes!"
"Oi Tom, anybody tell ya you shouldn't drink on the job?" The jibe had come from one of the patrons of the sparsely populated pub. Relative to Tom, he was at the far end of the bar, nursing an empty glass. He was hunched over and ragged-looking, but his speech was clear, so the night was still young.
The joint they were in looked like exactly the kind of place eccentric individuals would gather and tell outlandish tales in -- it was cared for, but aged in ways that made it look shabby. The tables, chairs and bar were all made of wood, and a whispy layer of smoke hung about the space due to all of the smokers.
His walrus-like mustache bristling in indignation, Tom continued. "I don't need any of yer guff tonight, Sam -- it was a shiny Absol, plain as that empty glass in yer hand. Need a refill, by the way?"
Sam waved his cup in the air and nodded. "And what's that supposed to mean, anyway? 'Shiny'?"
"Well some Pokemon, they're funny lookin' -- different colors, you know." The barkeep's eyes widened as he filled his patron's glass. "This Absol, it had kinda pink fur, and it's horn and tail were bright red."
Sam's eyebrow raised so high, it was in danger of flying right off his face. He took a swig of his drink before rambling, "Uh-huh. So let's say you really saw this 'shiny' Absol." Tom nodded vigorously as Sam continued, clearly unaware that he was being mocked, "What, you just happened to be trekking out in the foothills, and then you happened upon some creepy, run-down ruins, and in these ruins, you just happened to see a bright pink Absol."
Tom's face was practically gleaming with stupid, childlike wonder. Sam could tell that, no matter how crazy it sounded, the barkeep believed it with all his heart.
"Sounds like a Pokemon Trainer's dream, if ya ask me." Sam drained the remainder of his glass and tapped it on the table. At the gesture, Tom turned around to retrieve the bottle as he suggested, "I wouldn't be so sure. Somethin' about that Absol... I tell ya, somethin' was off."
"Off? Besides it being fabulously pink? Or an Absol, for that matter?"
"Only superstitious buffoons believe in all that nonsense about Absol bein' a bad omen and all that. But this one. I tell ya, he looked at me and sent shivers down my spine. Felt like I was never gonna be happy again."
Sam chuckled into his drink, "Well, I'll let all of the 'superstitious buffoons' know that there's an especially evil Absol on the loose. Although, if you're that worried about it... you could always sick Bruiser on him, really give 'im a piece of your mind."
At the mention of 'Bruiser', Sam turned around and tilted his glass toward a grossly obese Stoutland, sleeping on his back in a natty dog bed in the corner of the bar.
Tom absently began to clean a glass, his eyes widening and his voice going low in ominous reverie. "I was quite the trainer in my day... but even then, I'd leave that Absol well enough alone. Some Pokemon are just... bad eggs, if you ask me. And he was one of 'em. Ain't nothin' good can come to anybody that picks a fight with him."
-----
So for any interested RPers out there, there's your hook; the idea is that somehow, you overheard this conversation, and you're headed to the ruins to try and capture this rare Absol. For any mods reading, no I do not intend to hand out Pokemon in any capacity. This is strictly a roleplaying hook, and without spoiling too much, nobody is going to be capturing any Pokemon. Here are the battle specs:
Arena - Mountain Ruins
Nestled deep within some craggy foothills, the trainers have come upon a set of ominous ruins. The ruins themselves are nestled in a small valley, with cliffs rising to the north, east and west. It took our trainers all day to get here, and the sun will be going down soon -- the use of Sunny Day will be ineffective.
The battlefield appears to have once been a courtyard of some sort, with fallen marble pillars and statues of legendary Pokemon littering the area. Toward the far end of the courtyard rises a sheer cliff-face -- set within the cliff is a grandiose archway leading into the ruins below, but we won't be headed down there (yet). In the center of the couryard is a pool of still water that is deep enough to be swam in (why is it filled, I wonder...?). The trainers will eventually encounter Shiny Absol, who will observe, and sometimes alter the battle...
3v3 Singles
All Abilities
No Items
DQ Time - 3 Days
5 Chills/1 Recovery/3 Partial Recoveries
As I said, I will act as the ref for these battles, so the next step is for two RP-willing combatants to step up. This should be fun, and you'll be able to say that you got to participate in the first experimental RP of CAP ASB -- you know you want to!
-----
"It's true!" insisted the barkeep, "I saw 'im with my own two eyes!"
"Oi Tom, anybody tell ya you shouldn't drink on the job?" The jibe had come from one of the patrons of the sparsely populated pub. Relative to Tom, he was at the far end of the bar, nursing an empty glass. He was hunched over and ragged-looking, but his speech was clear, so the night was still young.
The joint they were in looked like exactly the kind of place eccentric individuals would gather and tell outlandish tales in -- it was cared for, but aged in ways that made it look shabby. The tables, chairs and bar were all made of wood, and a whispy layer of smoke hung about the space due to all of the smokers.
His walrus-like mustache bristling in indignation, Tom continued. "I don't need any of yer guff tonight, Sam -- it was a shiny Absol, plain as that empty glass in yer hand. Need a refill, by the way?"
Sam waved his cup in the air and nodded. "And what's that supposed to mean, anyway? 'Shiny'?"
"Well some Pokemon, they're funny lookin' -- different colors, you know." The barkeep's eyes widened as he filled his patron's glass. "This Absol, it had kinda pink fur, and it's horn and tail were bright red."
Sam's eyebrow raised so high, it was in danger of flying right off his face. He took a swig of his drink before rambling, "Uh-huh. So let's say you really saw this 'shiny' Absol." Tom nodded vigorously as Sam continued, clearly unaware that he was being mocked, "What, you just happened to be trekking out in the foothills, and then you happened upon some creepy, run-down ruins, and in these ruins, you just happened to see a bright pink Absol."
Tom's face was practically gleaming with stupid, childlike wonder. Sam could tell that, no matter how crazy it sounded, the barkeep believed it with all his heart.
"Sounds like a Pokemon Trainer's dream, if ya ask me." Sam drained the remainder of his glass and tapped it on the table. At the gesture, Tom turned around to retrieve the bottle as he suggested, "I wouldn't be so sure. Somethin' about that Absol... I tell ya, somethin' was off."
"Off? Besides it being fabulously pink? Or an Absol, for that matter?"
"Only superstitious buffoons believe in all that nonsense about Absol bein' a bad omen and all that. But this one. I tell ya, he looked at me and sent shivers down my spine. Felt like I was never gonna be happy again."
Sam chuckled into his drink, "Well, I'll let all of the 'superstitious buffoons' know that there's an especially evil Absol on the loose. Although, if you're that worried about it... you could always sick Bruiser on him, really give 'im a piece of your mind."
At the mention of 'Bruiser', Sam turned around and tilted his glass toward a grossly obese Stoutland, sleeping on his back in a natty dog bed in the corner of the bar.
Tom absently began to clean a glass, his eyes widening and his voice going low in ominous reverie. "I was quite the trainer in my day... but even then, I'd leave that Absol well enough alone. Some Pokemon are just... bad eggs, if you ask me. And he was one of 'em. Ain't nothin' good can come to anybody that picks a fight with him."
-----
So for any interested RPers out there, there's your hook; the idea is that somehow, you overheard this conversation, and you're headed to the ruins to try and capture this rare Absol. For any mods reading, no I do not intend to hand out Pokemon in any capacity. This is strictly a roleplaying hook, and without spoiling too much, nobody is going to be capturing any Pokemon. Here are the battle specs:
Arena - Mountain Ruins
Nestled deep within some craggy foothills, the trainers have come upon a set of ominous ruins. The ruins themselves are nestled in a small valley, with cliffs rising to the north, east and west. It took our trainers all day to get here, and the sun will be going down soon -- the use of Sunny Day will be ineffective.
The battlefield appears to have once been a courtyard of some sort, with fallen marble pillars and statues of legendary Pokemon littering the area. Toward the far end of the courtyard rises a sheer cliff-face -- set within the cliff is a grandiose archway leading into the ruins below, but we won't be headed down there (yet). In the center of the couryard is a pool of still water that is deep enough to be swam in (why is it filled, I wonder...?). The trainers will eventually encounter Shiny Absol, who will observe, and sometimes alter the battle...
3v3 Singles
All Abilities
No Items
DQ Time - 3 Days
5 Chills/1 Recovery/3 Partial Recoveries
As I said, I will act as the ref for these battles, so the next step is for two RP-willing combatants to step up. This should be fun, and you'll be able to say that you got to participate in the first experimental RP of CAP ASB -- you know you want to!
Remember to keep in mind the RP aspect, as the whole point of this little 'experiment' is to see if there's room for story and roleplaying in CAP ASB. I would suggest that you don't even need to dive right into the battle, if you don't want to -- RP out the pre-battle angst, the challenge, etc.... or not. I leave it in your hands! You are the players, and I'm just the facilitator -- so have fun with it!))
The sun was setting, bathing the ruins in a pleasant orange-pink haze. The light played brilliantly upon the white columns and statues which lay strewn about the ancient courtyard. Nestled within a craggy valley far from any hint of civilization, these ruins had lain undisturbed by man or Pokemon for years -- perhaps even centuries. However, as if to foretell the turmoil that was soon to come, the reflecting pool in the center of the courtyard broke it's stillness.
An Absol peered into the water, pawing at it with his foreleg. This Absol was unlike others of his species, his coloration sharing more in common with the sunset than with the norm. His red horn quivered slightly -- it was often said by the superstitious that Absols used their horns to predict disaster. Disaster or not, he did sense a presence. Two humans, approaching the valley from the south. He sensed others -- energies held in captivity. The Absol felt a sting of hatred, but it was tempered as he remembered his own master. Master, who was so kind. Kind, yes... but intolerant of disobedience. However, the humans had come, just as Master said they would.
Absol had done well. He had obeyed.
((Berserker, you have the first action; if you want to dive straight into the battle, I'm sure playforkeeps wouldn't mind if you 'noticed' him and challenged him. However, I leave it up to your discretion.))
