The Toymaker
link to event post
Rutherford Aspen
Lucky Egg
Life Orb
Quick Claw
Lucky Egg
Choice Specs
Choice Scarf
Post order:
One of Fort Colorcastle and Prismaticism sends and equips
The other player sends, equips and orders
I order for both of Giga-Golurk's turns
Remaining player orders
I ref
link to event post
30 Years Ago...
"I'm going to be spewing sand for weeks, I say."
"I told you we could make it if we ran!" The younger researcher replied with alarming enthusiasm. "You're taking this too seriously, Doc!"
The chamber below was a spacious, circular hall with a smooth stone floor. All around the walls, large inert statues stood at attention, their purpose lost to time. Bristlecone was taking in the sight of it all with wonderment. "All these years and I had no idea... Goodness, I need to update my thesis!" Shaking his head, the elder researcher hurriedly changed the subject. To Rutherford, he shouted, "Is this what that gizmo of yours is for?" Whirling around, Rutherford positively beamed. Hurriedly searching through his supplies, he replied, "I was hoping you'd ask!"
Rutherford produced a small glass orb with curious extrusions from his pack. "I'm calling it the 'Influence Device'," he explained. "Ancient Unovans wrote about a technology that stores emotions for later reference or conveyance. You saw my thesis, right Doc?"
"...Charmed to meet you, Billy-Gene" said Bristlecone, clearly repulsed.
"Alright, all ready." Rutherford stood in front of his chosen host Golurk shell, with his prepared Influence Device held gingerly in both hands. "Are you ready?"
There on the ground, a small darkly-colored Pokemon lay prone, before collecting themselves and beginning to stand. Bristlecone and Rutherford stood warily, and the shadowy Pokemon looked back at them.
Deep in the desert of Unova Route 4, two researchers shake sand loose from their clothes and belongings. The sandstorm outside whipped up almost as soon as they had set out. The intensity of the sand was such that they had been forced to shelter in place when the storm worsened, costing them hours of progress at times. The elder researcher was rather curmudgeonly about the whole ordeal.
"I'm going to be spewing sand for weeks, I say."
"I told you we could make it if we ran!" The younger researcher replied with alarming enthusiasm. "You're taking this too seriously, Doc!"
"Enough with the 'Doc'! How many times must I say it—that is Professor Bristlecone to you!" The doctor pulled up his waistband and marched forward with his characteristic perpetual indignation. "And you, Rutherford, are not taking this nearly seriously enough! When was the last time we heard from the base camp? We've been on radio silence for almost all of this infernal storm. What if we had been injured, or buried, or gotten lost?"
"Details, details." Rutherford waved away his mentor's critique. "All's well that ends well, right? We're here in one piece." Bristlecone bristled, and said, "Aren't you a father, now? Think of poor Terrance and be more careful!"
"I am thinking of him! Terrance would want his dad to be a cool explorer, right? I've got a lot to live up to!" Before Bristlecone could bristle further, Rutherford changed the subject. "Look around—This has to be the place!"
The two researchers were in cool, clear stone room, decorated with a narrow carved relief from one side of the entrance, wrapping all the way around the room, to the other side of the same entrance. The relief depicted skeletal joints, musculature and its points of attachment to the bone, the range of motion of those joints, and other anatomical details. "These are the carvings from your thesis, Doc!" He walked up to the relief and began to poke, prod, and twist at the stone; as if something would happen or respond.
Bristlecone sputtered, "Y-You be careful with those!" Without turning around or stopping, Rutherford answered, "I'm always careful, Doc! Don't worry about it!"
Bristlecone continued his opposition, and said, "You approached me because of my expertise with these carvings! I can't say I expected you to try to... play with them!? What are you doing here, that you couldn't have done with our replica at the Academy?"
Rutherford didn't respond; instead, he continued probing and prodding the relief with a confident smirk. Before Dr. Bristlecone could chastise him further, Rutherford beckoned him to approach. "Watch this," he said as he pressed on a specific carving's chest, right over where the figure's heart would be.
The room around the researchers shuddered, and the relief split along a straight vertical seam. The panels began to slide back, and then parted like double doors to admit the two researchers entrance to a deep, pitch-black stairwell leading who-knows-where. Even before the last stone finished sliding into place, Rutherford was striding forth confidently. "See?", he said, descending into the stairwell. When his mentor hesitated, too dumbfounded to fully process what he had just witnessed; Rutherford followed up, "Hey, Doc! Are you coming or not?"
The chamber below was a spacious, circular hall with a smooth stone floor. All around the walls, large inert statues stood at attention, their purpose lost to time. Bristlecone was taking in the sight of it all with wonderment. "All these years and I had no idea... Goodness, I need to update my thesis!" Shaking his head, the elder researcher hurriedly changed the subject. To Rutherford, he shouted, "Is this what that gizmo of yours is for?" Whirling around, Rutherford positively beamed. Hurriedly searching through his supplies, he replied, "I was hoping you'd ask!"
Rutherford produced a small glass orb with curious extrusions from his pack. "I'm calling it the 'Influence Device'," he explained. "Ancient Unovans wrote about a technology that stores emotions for later reference or conveyance. You saw my thesis, right Doc?"
Bristlecone nodded. "How could I not? All that quackery about 'emotional wave energy'. Half the Academy thought you'd be committed." Rutherford rolled his eyes while his mentor changed the subject again. Bristlecone continued, "You said this was an observation trip only. What are you trying to do here?"
"Well, people have tried get the instructions from active Golurk plenty of times. No matter the method, though, the information comes out as jibberish, right?" Bristlecone nodded again, and Rutherford continued, "Since my thesis, I've been thinking about it. I don't think they have instructions, per se. They aren't structured sets of logical branches. The opposite, really; the terms in their etchings don't have any clear paths or associations between them. I think they run on more nebulous ways of defining wants or wishes of their creators."
"You're saying they run on the 'opposite' of logic..." Bristlecone said, clearly doubtful. "You think they run on feelings?" Rutherford nodded, "I think that's pretty close, yeah! So, we're going to try the opposite of those other tests: We're going to give feeling-instructions to an inactive Golurk. I've brought along a particular Pokemon to help with this test. Meet Billy-Gene!" He drew a ball and released his aide at his side.
"...Charmed to meet you, Billy-Gene" said Bristlecone, clearly repulsed.
Rutherford paid him no mind. He was already engrossed in explaining his test. "What we're doing with the device here is pretty simple. I based it on the bodies of other Golurk you've seen elsewhere; specifically the earthenware used in their chassis." Bristlecone looked around at the inert statues around them, while Rutherford continued, "Hemogoblin like Billy-Gene here is known to burn feelings as a 'fuel' of sorts; so we'll fill the Influence Device with the product of that reaction."
"You're using burnt feelings?" Bristlecone asked. "I have to wonder if there's a quality issue with that." Rutherford shrugged and continued his preparations, so Bristlecone added, "What are you expecting to happen, if this test actually animates a Golurk?"
"If this works, the Golurk should initially respond like us," Rutherford explained, to Bristlecone's surprise. "Fueling a Golurk with our processed, ambient emotional energy should influence it to respond based on that same emotional input. Curiosity, some apprehension, and a pinch of skepticism."
Collecting himself, Bristlecone crossed his arms in a huff and said, "More than a pinch, I'd say."
"Alright, all ready." Rutherford stood in front of his chosen host Golurk shell, with his prepared Influence Device held gingerly in both hands. "Are you ready?"
"I'm ready to stand far, far away," said Bristlecone. Rutherford laughed and replied, "I thought you had more than a pinch of skepticism?" Bristlecone made an annoyed noise. "I'm also a practical man, Rutherford."
Rutherford allowed himself to become engrossed in his test. "That should do it. Let's stand back, you two." He stood back from the Golurk to be tested. The Influence Device sat gingerly in the crack of the Golurk's body, glowing warmly with its emotive filling inside. A wire connected the device to a crude control device in Rutherford's hands, allowing the researcher to back up to a safe distance. "All clear?"
Bristlecone harrumphed an affirmative, and Billy-Gene nervously peeked at the test setup from behind Rutherford's leg. "Alright then," Rutherford said, grabbing the switch firmly. "We're starting now!"
When Rutherford flipped the switch, the effect was immediate and dramatic. The Influence Device immediately flashed pinkish-white, flooding the vision of the researchers and forcing them to look away. The connecting wire sparked and detached, thrown away by the reaction. The flash of light was almost immediately stimmied and smothered, though, by a shadow that emerges from within the Golurk's housing. Once the device's glow was obscured, Rutherford was able to make out the nature of the intervening shade.
There on the ground, a small darkly-colored Pokemon lay prone, before collecting themselves and beginning to stand. Bristlecone and Rutherford stood warily, and the shadowy Pokemon looked back at them.
And then, as if they finally realized what they were looking at, the shadowy Pokemon turned and leapt back into the waiting Golurk's chest cavity! The researchers watched, dumbfounded, as the statue began to stir! Its features—and expression—changed to match those of its occupant. The Influence Device sank into the crevasse of the Golurk's frame, becoming lost from view.
Bristlecone was the first to speak. "Was that part of the test!?" Without turning around, Rutherford said, "We'll handle this, don't worry about it!" Billy-Gene shot his trainer a deeply incredulous look, displeased with being volunteered for such a thing.
The fused Pokemon lurched forward with a large, earthen step, and began to approach the researchers!Wave 1
The initial weather is Sand.
The initial weather is Sand.
Rutherford Aspen
Rapidash-Galar
Level2 1 EXP: 0 / 10
Serious nature ( +None, -None )
Typing: Psychic/Fairy
Abilities: Run Away, Pastel Veil Hidden Ability: Anticipation
HP: 85
Attack: 7
Defen.: 5
Sp.Atk: 6
Sp.Def: 6
Speed: 105
Size: 3
Weight: 4
Movepool
Level 0:
Calm Mind
Dazzling Gleam
Facade
Hypnosis
Play Rough
Protect
Psychic
Psycho Cut
Quick Attack
Rest
Round
Sleep Talk
Smart Strike
Snore
Substitute
Swords Dance
Tackle
Tail Whip
Wild Charge
Zen Headbutt
Level 1:
Agility
Charm
Confusion
Double Kick
Drill Run
Fairy Wind
Growl
Heal Pulse
High Horsepower
Misty Terrain
Morning Sun
Psybeam
Psychic Terrain
Swift
Level
Serious nature ( +None, -None )
Typing: Psychic/Fairy
Abilities: Run Away, Pastel Veil Hidden Ability: Anticipation
HP: 85
Attack: 7
Defen.: 5
Sp.Atk: 6
Sp.Def: 6
Speed: 105
Size: 3
Weight: 4
Movepool
Level 0:
Calm Mind
Dazzling Gleam
Facade
Hypnosis
Play Rough
Protect
Psychic
Psycho Cut
Quick Attack
Rest
Round
Sleep Talk
Smart Strike
Snore
Substitute
Swords Dance
Tackle
Tail Whip
Wild Charge
Zen Headbutt
Level 1:
Agility
Charm
Confusion
Double Kick
Drill Run
Fairy Wind
Growl
Heal Pulse
High Horsepower
Misty Terrain
Morning Sun
Psybeam
Psychic Terrain
Swift
Skyhammer (Tapu Koko)
Level 1 EXP: 00 / 10
Bashful nature ( +None, -None )
Typing: Electric/Fairy
Abilities: Electric Surge Hidden Ability:Telepathy [LOCKED]
HP: 85
Atk: 8
Def: 6
SpA: 7
SpD: 6
Speed: 130
Size: 3
Weight: 2
Movepool
Level 0:
Aerial Ace
Brave Bird
Calm Mind
Dazzling Gleam
Defog
Facade
Hyper Voice
Iron Head
Light Screen
Protect
Quick Attack
Reflect
Rest
Roar
Round
Screech
Sleep Talk
Snore
Substitute
Thunder Punch
Thunder Wave
Thunderbolt
Toxic
Wild Charge
Work Up
Level 1:
Agility
Charge
Confide
Discharge
Double Team
Echoed Voice
Eerie Impulse
Electric Terrain
Fairy Wind
False Swipe
Iron Defense
Rain Dance
Roost
Safeguard
Shock Wave
Spark
Steel Wing
Swagger
Swift
Taunt
Thunder Shock
Withdraw
Level 3:
Nature's Madness (sig)
Level 1 EXP: 00 / 10
Bashful nature ( +None, -None )
Typing: Electric/Fairy
Abilities: Electric Surge Hidden Ability:
HP: 85
Atk: 8
Def: 6
SpA: 7
SpD: 6
Speed: 130
Size: 3
Weight: 2
Movepool
Level 0:
Aerial Ace
Brave Bird
Calm Mind
Dazzling Gleam
Defog
Facade
Hyper Voice
Iron Head
Light Screen
Protect
Quick Attack
Reflect
Rest
Roar
Round
Screech
Sleep Talk
Snore
Substitute
Thunder Punch
Thunder Wave
Thunderbolt
Toxic
Wild Charge
Work Up
Level 1:
Agility
Charge
Confide
Discharge
Double Team
Echoed Voice
Eerie Impulse
Electric Terrain
Fairy Wind
False Swipe
Iron Defense
Rain Dance
Roost
Safeguard
Shock Wave
Spark
Steel Wing
Swagger
Swift
Taunt
Thunder Shock
Withdraw
Level 3:
Nature's Madness (sig)
Lucky EggChoice SpecsChoice ScarfVs.
Giga Golurk!
Giga Golurk
Level 1
Serious nature ( +None, -None )
Typing: Ground/Fighting
Abilities: Iron Fist, Klutz, Technician
Traits: Has Boss Immunities. Takes two turns per step.
HP: 137 (90 + 95/2)
Attack: 13 (9 + 9/2)
Defen.: 9 (6 + 6/2)
Sp.Atk: 7 (4 + 7/2)
Sp.Def: 9 (6 + 7/2)
Speed: 117 (55 + 125/2)
Size: 5
Weight: 7
Movepool
Level 0:
Astonish
Brick Break
Earth Power
Earthquake
Facade
Fire Punch
Flash Cannon
Focus Blast
Ice Beam
Ice Punch
Protect
Psychic
Reflect
Rest
Rock Polish
Rock Slide
Round
Shadow Ball
Shadow Punch
Signal Beam
Sleep Talk
Snore
Strength
Substitute
Thunder Punch
Thunderbolt
Toxic
Zen Headbutt
+
Aura Sphere
Blaze Kick
Bulk Up
Calm Mind
Iron Head
Poison Jab
Shadow Claw
Shadow Sneak
Will-O-Wisp
Work Up
Level 1:
Confide
Confuse Ray
Curse
Defense Curl
Double Team
Flash
Helping Hand
High Horsepower
Iron Defense
Mega Punch
Mud-Slap
Night Shade
Pound
Power-Up Punch
Rain Dance
Rock Smash
Safeguard
Sandstorm
Shock Wave
Stealth Rock
Sunny Day
Swagger
Trick
+
Agility
Coaching
Counter
Echoed Voice
False Swipe
Force Palm
Role Play
Sucker Punch
Swift
Giga Golurk!
Giga Golurk
Level 1
Serious nature ( +None, -None )
Typing: Ground/Fighting
Abilities: Iron Fist, Klutz, Technician
Traits: Has Boss Immunities. Takes two turns per step.
HP: 137 (90 + 95/2)
Attack: 13 (9 + 9/2)
Defen.: 9 (6 + 6/2)
Sp.Atk: 7 (4 + 7/2)
Sp.Def: 9 (6 + 7/2)
Speed: 117 (55 + 125/2)
Size: 5
Weight: 7
Movepool
Level 0:
Astonish
Brick Break
Earth Power
Earthquake
Facade
Fire Punch
Flash Cannon
Focus Blast
Ice Beam
Ice Punch
Protect
Psychic
Reflect
Rest
Rock Polish
Rock Slide
Round
Shadow Ball
Shadow Punch
Signal Beam
Sleep Talk
Snore
Strength
Substitute
Thunder Punch
Thunderbolt
Toxic
Zen Headbutt
+
Aura Sphere
Blaze Kick
Bulk Up
Calm Mind
Iron Head
Poison Jab
Shadow Claw
Shadow Sneak
Will-O-Wisp
Work Up
Level 1:
Confide
Confuse Ray
Curse
Defense Curl
Double Team
Flash
Helping Hand
High Horsepower
Iron Defense
Mega Punch
Mud-Slap
Night Shade
Pound
Power-Up Punch
Rain Dance
Rock Smash
Safeguard
Sandstorm
Shock Wave
Stealth Rock
Sunny Day
Swagger
Trick
+
Agility
Coaching
Counter
Echoed Voice
False Swipe
Force Palm
Role Play
Sucker Punch
Swift
Post order:
One of Fort Colorcastle and Prismaticism sends and equips
The other player sends, equips and orders
I order for both of Giga-Golurk's turns
Remaining player orders
I ref
Round Summary