>>2342661
hi Gobble! I hope you are well!

Is it pirate treasure?

(also hi Gobble!)

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>>2342695
[It's good! Well, it's okay but it's all stuff that isn't a big deal. I love you guys! I hope your life is going well too.]

>>2342698
Love you too, Gobble. You're the best!

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“What the heck?” you mutter as the lights turn on. It’s nothing like you expected. You thought you’d just see a simple fishing cabin or something. This is a bunch of religious iconography.

But, why? It seemed like a home from the outside, at least, what you could see in the dark. But on the inside it reminds you of a church or temple of some sort. Everything here is much less grand and less deliberate than the temples you’ve been to though. It seems like more of a disorganized mish-mash of

You look around with Gobble, thankful for the warmth and shelter. The islands are normally pretty warm, even at night, but you woke up soaked to the bone with the wind blowing right into you. You must be acclimatized, because you’re more used to the hot weather than the cold now.

“Hello?” You ask. Nobody answers. You didn’t expect them to, of course, since nobody answered.

“Guess nobody is home.” Your body relaxes despite your brain still being wracked with worry. Your body has decided to do it’s own thing for the most part, taking the mind’s ideas as suggestions. The body wanted warmth and shelter and safety, and it has it. Concerns about rudeness and legal and other issues aren’t it’s concern.

You and Gobble begin to explore a bit more and you try to figure out who lives here. You see a kitchen with a fridge full of snacks and close the door before Gobble sees. You trust him, but unless you plan on feeding him it’d be cruel let him see.

There’s no phone that you can find, but people these days are all using mobile devices, so there could be an old pokedex hidden around here or some other tool or item to let you contact someone.

Gobble looks up at you as his stomach growls. You shiver, catching a droplet of water that almost fell from you to the floor. You wonder what to do now. You feel pretty lightheaded

>Search the house, even if it means invading privacy
>Eat food, you can compensate the owner later
>Just stay the night without touching anything. Channel Gobble’s willpower
>Take a warm shower, cook a hot meal, get some rest, and figure it out in the morning
>Spend time trying to fix/charge your pokedex. You have no idea what's wrong with it
>Something else

>>2342737
>Snoop through some of the religious stuff, which religion is it?
>>Spend time trying to fix/charge your pokedex. You have no idea what's wrong with it

>>2342737
>It seems like more of a disorganized mish-mash of

Butts already?

>>2342737
>>Eat food, you can compensate the owner later
>>Spend time trying to fix/charge your pokedex

I called it! This is a secret normal temple!

>>2342737
>Take a warm shower, cook a hot meal, get some rest, and figure it out in the morning

what happened after this?
>disorganized mish-mash of

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>>2342748
[Let me know if I ever repost butts]

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[It seems like more of a disorganized mish-mash of things collected over time.]

>>2342737
>Just stay the night without touching anything. Channel Gobble’s willpower

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You look around a bit. The items here seem weird, but strangely familiar. There’s a wooden sculpture of a warrior fighting off something that broke off long ago. There’s a collection of carvings with random looking designs. A small necklace of bones. One of those old pokeballs made of Apricorns with nice designs etched all around it. The pokeball is dissected and on display though, obviously empty.

You decide not to do much until you get your pokedex working. The way you see it, getting a call out is the first priority. You’re worried about everyone else and you’re sure they’re worried about you too.

“Gobble, do me a favor and get that light, will you?” You leave the front room to work in the kitchen. You don’t want to just leave lights on all over the house, do you? You’ve always been good at not leaving a light on You remember that time mom got stressed and made a huge deal about it. Electricity isn’t free.

Speaking of electricity, is that all that’s wrong with the pokedex? You thought you remembered them saying that the ones they were giving you were for the islands, so you hope that comes with some sort of water resistance or something.

You try plugging it in for a bit, thinking, taking it back and opening it up. It doesn’t open easy at first, then it all spills right out all over after

“Find the pieces!” You say to Gobble as a bit of something slides by him. He helps pick it up and you look around for the others. After some time, you think you have it all. You clean off some weird bits of sea-gunk and get the sand out of it, then give it a go.

It powers on! Yes! Okay, there’s a thing saying the battery is critically low, but you didn’t charge it long. Hopefully it’s not permanent. “

“Alright Gobble! We did it! Let’s call-”

Just then there’s a noise at the door. It sounds like someone fiddling with doorknob.

>Gobble, come on let’s hide!
>Greet them at the door, you’re sure they’ll understand if you explain
>Bail out the window. You were never here. You just need to make that call
>Something else

>>2342854
>Greet them at the door, you’re sure they’ll understand if you explain

>>2342854
>>Greet them at the door, you’re sure they’ll understand if you explain

...oh boy...

>>2342854
>>Greet them at the door, you’re sure they’ll understand if you explain

>>2342854
>Greet them at the door, you’re sure they’ll understand if you explain

are we missing a some words here?
>spills right out all over after

>>2342854
>Greet them at the door, you’re sure they’ll understand if you explain

>>2342854
>>Greet them at the door, you’re sure they’ll understand if you explain

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>>2342894
[Surprisingly no. It's just an awkward sentence missing a period. But that deserves a butt too!]

>>2342924
Well, thanks for the butt!

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Whoever is there doesn’t seem to be alone. At least, it seems like there’s another set of footprints. A scrambling sound of tiny legs ending it a soft thump, like it fell asleep right after getting inside.

Gobble looks to you. You hold a hand out to tell him to stay calm. People are naturally good. You’re sure once you explain, everything will be okay.

“Hello.” You softly wave as you enter the main room, trying to look as non-threatening as possible.

“Je-! Ghk!” The old man’s skeleton nearly leaps out of his skin. He holds his heart and jumps back into the door he just closed. There’s a small pokemon near his feet that looks asleep, but still stands up and prepares to fight you.

>Stay back and keep calm. ”Are you okay?”
>Quick! Try to heal him! Precious seconds are slipping by
>Quick, call an emergency number!
>Fight that pokemon. You can’t help with it acting hostile.
>Something else

>>2342961
>Stay back and keep calm. ”Are you okay? We don't mean any harm and haven't touched anything."

>>2342961
>Stay back and keep calm. ”Are you okay?”

>>2342961
>Quick! Try to heal him! Precious seconds are slipping by

Grandpa’s heart attack ptsd, poor Herb.

But this time, we can do something about it.

Gobble will keep the little guy off of us.

>>2342961
>>Stay back and keep calm. ”Are you okay?”

>>2342961
>Quick! Try to heal him! Precious seconds are slipping by

>>2342961
>Quick! Try to heal him! Precious seconds are slipping by

Hope you're having a good night so far Gobble!

>Herb! You're okay!

>Actually I think I killed a guy and I'm in shock.

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“Are you okay?” You step forward, reaching a hand out. But you stop yourself. Not because of the pokemon with him, but out of a sense of worry and not wanting to rush into anything just yet.

“Hm?” He checks himself over. “Hm, not today, it seems.” He brushes himself off and cautiously steps forward. “Down, Komala!”

The feisty pokemon stops squaring off with Gobble. It plops backwards and seems to just nap right there in the middle of the room.

“Sorry for scaring you. And um, breaking in.” You say. “I didn’t touch anything! I just washed up on the beach and I don’t know where I am.” You pause and look him over with concern. “Are you sure you’re alright?”

The person stays back, out of reach. “Alright enough to whip you if you try anything.” He says. “But I don’t think you will, will you? Hrm? Nothing here worth stealing. Reporting, maybe, but I doubt you’d want to do that.”

You hold back a sigh. Someone like Kat wouldn’t get mistaken for a thief. “I’m not a burglar. It’s like I just told you. I washed up on the beach and-”

“Hrm? Ah yes, that’s right.” He says, walking forward. “My goodness then. Get yourself some tea then and let’s hear it. What are you selling?”

“I’m not selling anything. I’m lost, actually. What island is this?”

“You’re selling door to door and you don’t even know what island you’re on?” He loudly exclaims as he sets his hat on a hanger. “You’re not on the drugs, are you? I keep telling the young ones around here to stay away from that stuff. Bah. Even the clergy are looking the other way people abuse that stuff. Terrible situation. Terrible!” He scoffs.

Truthfully, despite the situation, you’re so relieved he’s okay that everything else seems like a small enough thing to deal with. You feel bad for him though, he’s clearly not all there. He struggles to get his jacket off.

>Well, he’s safe. Leave. Call Laki or Hana
>Is there someone that looks after him? This situation doesn’t seem good. Get involved
>Ask if it’s okay to stay awhile. You won’t be any trouble
>Ask about the religious stuff everywhere
>Something else

>>2343036
>>Is there someone that looks after him? This situation doesn’t seem good. Get involved
>>Ask if it’s okay to stay awhile. You won’t be any trouble

Just a general bit about if he lives here with anyone, if he'd like you to help up around the house a little, then ask about what he does leading into
>Ask about the religious stuff everywhere

>>2343036
>>Something else
>Keep pestering him for your location.
>Make a call from your pokedex, and if that doesn't work, ask to use his phone.

Let's play "hard of hearing, second language, or senile?"!

>>2343036
>>Is there someone that looks after him? This situation doesn’t seem good. Get involved
>>Ask if it’s okay to stay awhile. You won’t be any trouble

>>2343036
>>Make a call from your pokedex, and if that doesn't work, ask to use his phone.
he's faking it, not that Herb would know that

"nope nope no normal temple temple here, just a crazy old man"

GOBBLE YOU NEED TO ARCHIVE

thanks

>>2343036
>>Make a call from your pokedex, and if that doesn't work, ask to use his phone.

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“Are you...is there someone else that lives here?” You aren’t sure how to broach the subject. “A caretaker or a relative? Someone that helps you out maybe?”

He hesitates. You feel like there’s a flash of something cognizant in his eyes before he looks away. “Ah. Yes. My pills.” he says, pushing himself up to get to the bathroom.

“I’ll get them.” You volunteer, going to the kitchen. You bring the pills and then grab him a glass of water. He didn’t seem to need it, because the pills are already gone. You set it down on the table in case he still wants it.

“For my blood pressure.” He assures you. “So. You said you washed up somewhere?”

“Yes. Not too far from here. I was with my friends and there was an accident and I was flung off. My pokedex was dead and I found this place so...”

“So you let yourself in. Hmm, and here I thought I forgot to lock the door. I wouldn’t want to think I’m losing my mind! It happens in your old age, you know.”

You smile politely. “Sorry about that. I thought maybe there’d be a phone-”

“No phones.” He interupts. “Don’t believe in ‘em. Anything worth saying is worth saying to a face! Or back of the head!” He elbows you, laughing.

You don’t get it and continue to smile politely. “Well, anyway, I charged my pokedex and was just about to call my friends. I was just wondering where we are so I can tell them.”

“Skinny little fella, isn’t he?” He pokes Gobble. Gobble is unsure what to make of that comment.

Is he even listening to you? “Well, I’m going to make a call. Excuse me.”

He follows you closely. “What the heck sort of thing is that? You kids these days can’t hold a conversation because you’re always clackin’ away at those things.” He grabs it out of your hand as you’re dailing.

“Hey!” You reach for it. Somehow his erratic, confused movements keep it away from you.

“Hello?” Hana’s voice answers. “Herb?”

“Hana?”

“HERB! EVERYONE! IT’S HERB!” She screams loud enough that the old man fumbles with the pokedex.

“Is everyone okay?” You try to get through to her between him fiddling with it and her yelling into the background and the dying battery noise cancelling out other sounds.

“We couldn’t [find] Gobble.” You think she says as the battery alert and confusion disrupt the sound. “Where are you?”

“He’s with me!” You say quickly, feeling time is short. You're so relieved to hear that though. “I don’t know where we are but I found-”

The old man’s shaking hands drops it. The pokedex parts fly out all over the place again. “Ah! Shoot!” He says. “They sure make them cheap, huh? Nothing but plastic!”

(continued)

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>>2343191
You scramble on the floor to pick the pieces up. “Nothing looks broken. It was just loose. I could probably put it together again.” You say, trying not to get upset. “Please. What island are we on?”

His eyes appraise you for a moment. Then his nostrils flare. “You smell like the sea. The sea, and that garbage they call food on the other islands. You can smell trash in a diet. Stinks out of pores.”

You just want the location! You’re so tired and hungry and worried and stressed. You really are glad he’s okay, but someone close to you could still be hurt. You’re at the end of your-wait. What did he say about the food you’ve been eating?

“Are those shards?” He asks, sounding a bit different. A bit suspicious.

You’re still picking everything up and feeling upset about that comment.


>Let it go. Ask again about the location, and keep asking until he focuses and tells you.
>Snap! This guy is a jerk!
>Yeah. They’re shards. You earned them doing good deeds
>Is there someone else that lives close by you can talk to?
>Something else

>>2343200
>Let it go. Ask again about the location, and keep asking until he focuses and tells you

>>2343200
>>Yeah. They’re shards. You earned them doing good deeds
>Something else
Ask him for help, Herb could really use anyone's aid at this point

>>2343200
>Yeah. They’re shards. You earned them doing good deeds

>>2343200
>Yeah. They’re shards. You earned them.

>I’m worried sick about my friends, so I’m going to put this back together, plug it in, and call them again.

>>2343200
>Yeah. They’re shards. You earned them doing good deeds. Could you please stop messing with me?

I highly doubt he's as far gone as he's acting. I'd like to think Herb could pick up on that too

>>2343200
>Yeah. They’re shards, and I have earned each and everyone.

>>2343200
>>Yeah. They’re shards. You earned them doing good deeds

>>2343200
>Yeah. They’re shards. You earned them doing good deeds
>Ask again about the location, and keep asking until he focuses and tells you.
objective one find location.
objective two fix the pokedex to calm the womenfolk
objective three get mad natural type shrine knowledge.

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“Yeah.” You say, collecting them. “They’re shards. I earned them doing good deeds. I didn’t even know that was a thing when I arrived, but I’m starting to like them. I got this one with all my friends.” You say, looking at the first one, losing yourself in the fond memory for a moment.

“What sort of good deeds?”

You describe the Slugma issue you ran into at the start of your journey, and Wailmer, and then start going on about Laki and Hana as you put the pokedex back together. “Ah. Sorry. I’m just going to try calling again.”

The battery is dead. You sigh.

“Plug it in over there.” He points. “I’m sorry about dropping it.”

You plug it in, then turn to him. The change in his voice hit you hard. Was he faking it? He WAS! You can see it on his face!

He gets up and starts getting ready to make a meal. “Can’t let a normal type go hungry. Pancakes alright?”

Gobble salivates. You’re so tired you think that salivating would make you pass out.

“...”

>Calmly discuss why he faked it while your pokedex charges
>WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON?!?
>Sit there and judge his pancakes if he thinks your cooking is so bad
>Insist on handling the cooking yourself. You're a guest!
>Something else

[Sorry I'm slow. Surprise visit.]

>>2343304
>WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON?!?
Explain. EX-PLAIN.

>>2343304
>offer to help with the pancakes

>>2343304
>>Something else

>So this is some sort of secret normal temple, huh?

>I won't tell. From what I've seen, all of the temples have important roles they play. I think it's terrible to have to practice in secret.

>>2343307
or at least do the dishes.

>>2343304
>Calmly discuss why he faked it while your pokedex charges
>Something else Which island are we on.

I feel like its probably just to get people to give him the benefit of the doubt as to his Normal type shrine. On account that its supper taboo playing the Old senile man card probably works pretty well with non-zealots.

>>2343311
should we show him Polu's uncle just to put him as much at ease as possible?

>>2343304
>Offer to help in making the pancakes or to do dishes after

>>2343304
>WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON?!?

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You’re so tired. Physically you’re drained. Spiritually you’re drained. Emotionally you’re drained. The only part of you that isn’t drained didn’t get a chance to do so with Laki. The fact that you’re even being grumpy about that shows just how terrible you feel on almost all levels.

But still, you can’t take it out on this man. Even if he played with you, you’re sure he has a good reason. And he’s feeding you, a stranger who broke into his home.

“I can help.” You offer.

“Relax. You’re a guest. We have a proverb about helping anyone that washes up on your shore. Not often you apply it literally, thankfully.”

“I could do the dishes after. Gobble can help.” You’re not just signing Gobble up for work. He loves licking dishes clean. Gobble is already getting ready to help.

“Hey hey now. Don’t think you can cozy your way to the food before it’s ready. You just wait right there and I’ll feed you.”

“It’s okay. Gobble never steals food. He’s got more restraint than anyone I’ve ever met, if I’m being honest.”

He takes the mixing bowl and waves it in front of Gobble. Gobble looks at it longingly, but holds himself back. “Impressive. Or maybe you’re not that hungry after all?”

Gobble tears up. He’s on the edge of breaking.

“Okay! Okay! I was just teasing!” The man goes back to cooking. “Don’t give me those eyes!”

“Not that I’m not grateful.” You begin. “But, what the heck is going on?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He says with an entirely different intonation. “But that happens at my age. You lose your wits and do strange things. But the people of the islands are kind and understanding when it comes to those things.” He signs and brings you a plate. “I’m tired anyway. I don’t think they’d bother with me, but even if they did I won’t be around much longer anyway.”

“Who would?” You eat. Oh jeez you were so hungry you had no idea.

“The clergy! The kids these days tell me nobody cares anymore. Not as much as they used to. They invited a bunch of outsiders and now they have to preach tolerance, so they can’t just go turn around and give us trouble anymore.” He says. “I liked it better that way though. Least you knew what to expect.”

“Better?” You’re listening, but eating. Oh so very much eating.

“Not because of the outsiders. That’s not what I’m talking about. It’s the way they run things. Used to make more sense. When I was a kid, my grandpa told me about how if they knew you were practicing they’d come to your house and smash things up.” He sips some water. “Now it’s all mixed up. I got kids coming to me asking about the old ways. Looking to me like I’m a wise man. That’s no good. No good at all. The last thing anyone wants is to look like they’re converting all the young people.”

Gobble inhales his plate. Then another.

(Continued)

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>>2343363
Oh jeez. These are good. How did he mix them? “So you put on an act?” You manage to talk between chewing.

“Mostly.” He shrugs. “Seems like it’s less of an act these days. I did it before too. It was an understanding of sorts. They know they can't stop us from practicing in secret, but they don't want us getting too bold. So I give 'em what they want. A clown. A living example of how only a senile old man would be interested in the Normal temple and it's history. The kids still come around with questions and looking for advice like I can tell them something the clergy can’t. It’s mostly the same stuff, you know. Nine-tenths of it, anyway.” He turns to you. “Why do you suppose they come to me these days? Older people now too”


>Because it’s got a taboo allure
>Because society is changing and they're looking for answers
>Maybe he just gives great advice
>Ask about the differences. You’re interested too
>He sounds like he doesn’t mind the clergy, despite the past. How come?
>That sounds awful that he’s persecuted like that!
>Ask if he knows Polu
>Something else

>>2343372
>Maybe he just gives great advice
but probably
>Because society is changing and they're looking for answers
>The grass temple had a major upheaval recently for example and one of my freinds was pretty torn up about it.
>Ask if he knows Polu

>>2343372
>Because society is changing and they're looking for answers
>Ask about the differences. You’re interested too
>He sounds like he doesn’t mind the clergy, despite the past. How come?
>Ask if he knows Polu

>>2343372
>Frankly I think it’s a shame you’ve got to hide, or even to pretend to.

>People are probably wanting to connect with their history.

>>2343372
>>Because society is changing and they're looking for answers

Lots of people seem caught up on how they HAVE TO modernize or be left behind when what they're doing already works and is important on its own.
>>2343375
Supporting this basically.

>>2343372
>>Because society is changing and they're looking for answers
>>Something else
There are serious problems in clergy , especially leadership, and it is not getting addressed, so folks are looking for answers that might have greater weight to them.

>>2343372
Because society is changing and they're looking for answers
>Ask about the differences. You’re interested too
>He sounds like he doesn’t mind the clergy, despite the past. How come?
>Ask if he knows Polu

>>2343372
>Maybe he just gives great advice
>Because society is changing and they're looking for answers
>Ask if he knows Polu

Passing out, have a good night Gobble! Thanks for running!

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>>2343416
[Thanks! Take it easy!]

>>2343372
>Because society is changing and they're looking for answers
>He sounds like he doesn’t mind the clergy, despite the past. How come?
>Ask if he knows Polu

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“I think.” You choke down a final bite before letting your plate sit for a bit. You’ll come back to it. “I think a big part of it is because society is changing and people are looking for answers.”

“People are always looking for answers.” He says. “It’s coming to me that’s new.”

“Maybe they realized you give good advice?”

He chuckles lightly. “Maybe they realized I make good pancakes.”

“I’ll say.” You dive in for more. “Right Gobble?”

Gobble’s face is buried in his stack. He gives a thumbs up without looking.

“But I really think it’s a reaction to change. Society changes, so so does everyone’s view of the clergy?” You take a gulp of moomoo milk. “Because the clergy isn’t sure how to deal with it any more than anyone else. I had a friend who got caught up in the middle of that issue at the grass temple. So the message gets mixed up or just not delivered at all.”

“But here I am, still around, still practicing the same as my grandpa did.” He finishes the thought. “Stable. Normal.” He softly chuckles at his pun.

“Umm, sorry to ask, but what are the differences anyway? If you don’t mind explaining. I’m still learning.” Your mind falls to Keira, Polu, the Rayquaza and Jane.

“Where humans fit. We’re the protector.”

“Not Rayquaza?” You blurt out.

“Ah. That old story. See, some people think we don’t believe it. But that’s not how it is. We don’t believe or disbelieve it. We just don’t think it matters.”

“What do you mean?”

“The old story is that some cataclysmic event was prevented by a heroic protector. That humans were seen as special and worth protecting over others. That this grand, legendary pokemon came to save us because of this strange value we possess.”

“You don’t believe the story?” You can’t be as skeptical, given what you’ve been shown.

“Maybe it did happen.” He says. “Or maybe, like some of the more extreme members believe, we were attacked instead by ‘the great protector’ and humans killed it. It doesn’t matter. Humans aren’t special. We’re pokemon! We used to be, anyway. We’re not above the natural order or below it. We’re just in it. Nothing is looking out for us. Our ancestors pass to the next world and while we can send them things and messages, nothing is coming back. It’s on us to continue living through works and effort. What the clergy preaches is....laziness! Complacency! The idea that things just magically work out with faith. I don’t believe that. Things don’t work unless you make them. Your ancestors did the exact same thing to survive and make you as any pokemon does. That’s the meaning of the Normal type temple. Normal types are like us. they are us. They adapt. They learn. They know more moves from other types than any other kind of pokemon. Normal types can take many paths if they choose to work for it.”

(continued)

>>2343442
You nod. It’s an interesting talk. But another thought hits you. “Oh yeah. Do you know Polu?”

“Oh! Little Polu! Yeah. I knew him. Haven’t seen him around. How old is he now?”

“Um, my age.”

He looks you up and down. “But taller, I’m assuming.”

You’re happy enough with a few pancakes in you not to let that sting. At least, not too much. “It sounds like you don’t have many hard feelings against the clergy, despite what they’ve done.”

“Well I don’t like the ones that have given me a hard time.” He says. “But most people are just going on with their day and haven’t ever done me any wrong. And the clergy here aren’t just spiritual leaders like you’ve got on your mainland. They’re everything. Teachers, healers, administrative workers. Community leaders and police. Hating them would be hating the islands themselves.” He takes a bite of one of Gobble’s pancakes, as if to test him. Gobble looks a little hurt, but doesn’t act aggressively. “Plus we did lose the war. Ancient history, sure, but I’m still the descendant of someone who lost and some clergyman high up is the descendant of someone who won. It ain’t fair, but it’s life. We couldn’t compete in strength so we find our own niche on the fringes. It’s the way of all living things. Adapt to survive. Like the Raichu or Vulpix.”


>Ask about Polu when he was younger
>Aren’t you worried that one day there will be none of you left?
>It sounds like what he believes is ‘might makes right’
>Try calling Hana back. It’s been awhile
>Something else

>>2343446
>>It sounds like what he believes is ‘might makes right’
>>Try calling Hana back. It’s been awhile

>>2343446
>Aren’t you worried that one day there will be none of you left?
>Try calling Hana back. It’s been awhile

>>2343446
>This is Kontote, isn't it?

>>Try calling Hana back. It’s been awhile

>>2343446
>Ask about Polu when he was younger
>Aren’t you worried that one day there will be none of you left?
>Try calling Hana back. It’s been awhile
Get that recipe

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[I really hate to do this but I'm afraid I have to call it early today. We will be continuing tomorrow though, assuming a third unexpected guest doesn't pop in. Terribly sorry about the late start and slow pace today.]

>>2343456
thanks for running, gobble

>>2343456
Goodnighty!

>>2343456
thank you for running Gobble.

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>>2343469
>>2343464
>>2343461
[Thanks! Sleep tight!]

>>2343446
>Aren’t you worried that one day there will be none of you left?
>Try calling Hana back. It’s been awhile

>>2343446
>Aren’t you worried that one day there will be none of you left?
>It sounds like what he believes is ‘might makes right’
>Ask about Polu when he was younger

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I can’t wait to be reunited with our girls.

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http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=Pokemon%20Island%20Adventure%20Quest
https://twitter.com/GobbleQM
Character info pastebin in progress: http://pastebin.com/iB0tb7rz
Dice odds for best of 3: http://pastebin.com/994WTT3g

General rules:

There is a 10 minute voting period after each post. Non-contradictory votes will be combined as best as possible.

Write-ins for all votes are always welcome and encouraged. They may not all make it into the post or be altered to fit in, but I'll do my best to at least try to address the spirit of the write-in.

Very important or contentious votes may be redone in a stricter voting system as circumstances warrant.

Combat mechanics involve three rolls of 1d100, taking the best, and using the base accuracy and crit ranges of the the PTU system, roughly, but the 'turn order' will be more like the anime, where sometimes you can do a few moves in a row or be hit by a combo of moves yourself, all depending on circumstances. Stronger moves tend to take more time and have more cooldown than weaker moves and also may leave you open to an interrupt, so beware of that timing. Speed is more important for closing ground, intercepting, and other things and doesn't necessarily mean going first.

Pokemon and trainers are unique, and may have certain specializations, skills, or other things that the video-game mechanics might not allow. Some examples: That kung fu Bellsprout in the anime, that crystal Onix, or a Roggenrolla that can fly. Herb's perception skills, pokemon knowledge, context clues in general, and other things will hopefully come into play to avoid completely unfair, unforeseeable bullshit, but expect more bullshit from more advanced trainers.

Call me out on a mistake and receive a suggestive picture, mostly likely a butt.

Pokemon:
Gobble (Munchlax)
Mace (Roggenrola)
Belladonna (Roserade)
Dice (Croconaw)
Sorbet (Vulpix)

Location: A mystery cabin holding Normal temple relics

Hi again gobble!

>>2345117
How's your day going, Gobble? is Canada still cold?

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>>2345137
>>2345142
[Hello again to you too! I hope you're doing well!

I am, because I have coffee. But yes, it's cold. it's also expensive to heat so I'm keeping it a bit cooler at my place. Luckily cats are warm and cuddly. My comfy levels are out of control.]

>>2345157
Aw yis kitties

Yesterday when I was spamming [update] after a [continued] post my trackpad crashed but it’s better now after restarting my computer.

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“Aren’t you worried that one day, there won’t be anyone left with your religion?”

He sits staring at his drink. You hear the sound of the light buzzing for the first time. “What my grandfather always told me was this: Every time someone here makes it a better place, they’re acting in our beliefs.” He looks off at nothing. “There are many paths to enlightenment, many ways to the other side. As long as people work to make the world a better place, they’re all following the way.”

“That sounds nice.”

“It sounds comforting.” He says before downing the glass. “We believe in enlightenment through action.”

“Oh.” You pause. “I hope I’m not being offensive, but it sort of sounds like before that you were saying might makes right.”

“Some followers believe that.” His voice is soft and low. “Especially the younger ones. And sometimes they’re right.” He concedes. “Sometimes kind words don’t do what a fist can. But the same is true the other way around. Using might is just another action. The tool doesn’t matter. The point is, if you’re not working towards something good, even if you’re doing nothing and not harming anyone, you’re wasting your mortal time. It’s not letting go of attachments that makes you or your loved ones happy. It’s keeping them safe, fed, and able to have a future. Not even the plants are inactive. They grow, spread their seeds, climb to sunlight. Your heart pumps blood, lungs take in air, and your mind,” he pokes your head, “your mind thinks and plans. Do you understand what I’m teaching you? You need to take action in life or you’ve wasted the investment of love, genes, food and effort that made you.” His voice booms.

“I-I think so.” He got so intense towards the end there. You aren’t sure what it is you want to do, but you have to admit you feel pumped to do something.

He slams his fist on the table, startling Gobble. His tiny “So what are you going to do?”

“Call one of my girlfriends!”

“I-What?” He thinks. “Right. Do that. You’re on the northern coast of Kontote by the way. The view of Eelilee is wonderful in the morning. You’re welcome to stay here the night, just don’t make a mess. I’ll get your bed all ready.”

“Really? Thank you.” You say as Gobble bows. You take that as a cue to bow as well.

He leaves to the living room, and you dial Hana. The battery life looks a bit better now, but the screen is still messed up and some of the buttons are a bit unresponsive.

(continued)

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>>2345209
“Herb? Herb!” Hana’s voice shouts through the thing so loud that you have to turn the volume down.

“Soft Hands? Let me see!” There’s some wrestling over the pokedex. After it’s resolved, you see Abigail’s face and hear shouting from the other two, who seem to be chasing her.

“Yo, Goldentop!” She says, moving. "You're alive!"

>”Abigail! Give it back to Hana!”
>Hang up and call Laki
>Quickly tell her where you are before bad luck strikes again
>Ask her what you missed. It’ll just be easier
>Instead of having them come to you, ask to meet them somewhere
>Put your pokemon on first
>It's good to see you
>Something else

>>2345224
>Quickly tell her where you are before bad luck strikes again
>Ask her what you missed. It’ll just be easier

>>2345224
>It's good to see you
>Quickly tell her where you are before bad luck strikes again

>>2345224
>Quickly tell her where you are before bad luck strikes again

>>2345224
>>Quickly tell her where you are before bad luck strikes again
>>Ask her what you missed. It’ll just be easier

>>2345224
>Quickly tell her where you are before bad luck strikes again
>Ask her what you missed. It’ll just be easier

>>2345224
>>It's good to see you
>>2345234

>>2345224
>>Quickly tell her where you are before bad luck strikes again
>It's good to see you

>>2345224
Basically,
>Is everyone okay?
and
>What happened?

>>2345209
>His tiny
Butts?

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>>2345279
[Dang!]

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>>2345326
>>2345279
Do I call double butts for you forgetting to clarify the original sentence?

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“I’m on the northern tip of Kontote!” You blurt out.

“Huh? Where?”

“Kontote! The northern tip!”

“The pit? Where’s the pit?”

“No! The northern tip of Kontote! The-”

“What? You’re breaking up!”

“KONTOTE! NORTHERN! TIP!”

Abigail starts to giggle, then break out in laughter. “You’re too easy. I’m just messing with you. You’re coming in-” There’s suddenly movement and blurry motion. A few moments go by and she’s back. “You’re coming in loud and clear. We can be there in the morning, unless you’re in trouble.”

“Phew. Okay. No, I’m safe, and Gobble’s with me.”

“Yeah. I heard. Hana and Laki were going crazy. Luckily I can keep a cool head in a crisis.”

“Did I miss anything?”

“Hana was calling Kat to have her search for you with that Lugia right before you called. That would have been cool. Laki got all emotional and said she wants you to g-” There’s some wrestling and running noises.

“DON’T LISTEN TO HER!” Laki’s voice is barely audible.

You watch closely, but eventually get a little bored and pet the little Komala pokemon. It’s not very responsive.

After some time, the call comes back into focus. “Where was I? Oh yeah, in all seriousness they took it pretty hard. Hana blamed herself, then Laki blamed her, but then Laki blamed herself, and then me, and then herself again.” She sighs. “We put that on hold thanks to Gardevoir. Turns out she doesn’t like when we fight.”

“Wait, why was everyone blaming themselves?”

“Hana was charging herself, Laki was practicing Rain Dance and made it hard to find you, and maybe when I was cooking I let some hot stuff spill on Wailord. I don’t think I did, but...Look, I’m glad you’re okay, okay? Wailord’s been in a sad mood since we lost you. Anyway, it looks like you’re inside, did you find a pokemon center?”

>Uh yeah. A pokemon center.
>The blame game doesn’t help. Everyone should forget about it
>It’s all your fault! You promise to make it up to everyone!
>Ask what she knows about the Normal temple
>Put the pokemon on, please
>Put Hana and Laki on please
>Something else

>>2345393
>It’s all your fault! You promise to make it up to everyone!
>Something else
A nice old man is letting me stay at his house!
>Put Hana and Laki on please
>Put the pokemon on, please

>>2345393
>It’s all your fault! You promise to make it up to everyone!
>I'm staying the night at an old man's place. he seems nice.

>>2345393
>she wants you to g
She wants him to what?! What?!

>It’s all your fault! You promise to make it up to everyone!
>Put the pokemon on, please

>>2345393
>No, an old man invited me to sleep in his cabin tonight.

>Could you pass me around? I wanna make try and talk to everyone I can while I've got connection.

>>2345393
>A kind stranger is putting me up. Put Hana and Laki on please, It was nobodies fault. I was training Gobble and he flinched harder than expected and hit wailord.

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>>2345385
[Sure! I was just going to have Herb pet the Kamala.]

>>2345435
>Pic
When does she come back and realizing that herb is a good boy, demand to join the cuddle pile?

>>2345393
>>It’s all your fault! You promise to make it up to everyone!
>>Put the pokemon on, please
>>Put Hana and Laki on please

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“It’s not your fault or theirs or Wailords. It’s mine.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I was training Gobble and-” Gobble’s eyes shoot up. He looks guilty. “I made him flinch harder than expected. It was a bad decision as a trainer.”

“Cool. Your fault then. Works for me.” She teases. At least, the tone sounds like she’s teasing. “I was planning on sharing all the fish to say thanks for always feeding everyone, but I guess since you ruined it we’re even. Infact, coming to find you makes it so you owe me.”

You smile. “Can you put the others on?”

“Oh I see how it is. No time for Abigail now that you owe me. Real typical! Real nice!” She makes a lot of noise complaining. She seems to be almost instantly tackled by a big blur.

“Soft Hands!” Laki shouts.

“Herb!” Hana says, gently rescuing Abigail from Laki’s death grip. Bella quickly climbs up Laki’s shoulder. As she does, Mace flies up to see the screen, and Sorbet hops onto him. Dice chomps onto his leg and he struggles to keep himself up. Meowth climbs poor Hana, curious to see what everyone is staring at. A few other pokemon crowd around.

“I’m really glad to see everyone.”

You catch up a bit, telling them that a night old man is letting you stay the night. You skip over the details for brevity.

“Come on let’s go now!” Hana insists.

“It’s too dark.” Laki says. “Don’t you guys know anything about getting around on the islands?” There’s no viciousness or anything in her voice. She sounds really happy, actually.

>Make arrangements to meet them somewhere in the morning
>Have them come to the cabin. You won’t feel right until you’re with all your pokemon
>Ask a question (write-in)
>Something else

>>2345393
>>2345402
Get married, she's worried we'd died before meeting her parents

>>2345493
>Make arrangements to meet them somewhere in the morning

I doubt the old man would enjoy us spreading the location of the normal temple even if it's just to this small group.

>>2345493
>night old man
Your finest butt please!

>>2345493
>>Make arrangements to meet them somewhere in the morning

>>2345493
>Make arrangements to meet them somewhere in the morning

>>2345493
>>Have them come to the cabin. You won’t feel right until you’re with all your pokemon

It'll be fastest and easiest if we stay at the one landmark we know.

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>>2345497
[Did I post this one yet?]

>>2345493
>>Have them come to the cabin. You won’t feel right until you’re with all your pokemon

>>2345514
Nope, that's a fresh butt! Thanks!

>>2345493
Hana's insistence that we be picked up from the old man's house after we phrased it in a way that makes it sound like we're some doe-eyed kid that's going to get taken advantage of is less funny when I remember that Hana's been raped.

We (the audience) should probably keep ourselves (Herb) from fucking with her like that.

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“I haven’t seen where I am very well.” You explain. “So how about you guys head to the northern tip of the island in the morning, and we’ll call and meet somewhere?”

There’s a general consensus and agreement.

“So, you’re sure you’re alright?” Hana asks. “You’re not doing some tough guy thing but really you lost a leg to a Sharpedo, right?” The others give her an audible reaction to that question. “Well if I can’t ask something like that, who can?”

“I’m fine. Really. Not even a bruise. And Gobble and I are even full of pancakes.”

“I’m so glad.”

“Me too, Soft Hands. We’re going to spoil you rotten later.”

Oh my. You hope it’s a new shirt. “Aw jeez, you don’t have to do that. And Hana, do you really think I’m a tough guy?”

She hesitates. “I think you’re a sexy guy!”

It’s unclear what happens, but it seems like Abigail and Laki elbow and tease Hana for a bit.

Oh jeez, the battery seems to be dying again. You think it must be broken. You thought they could go like a week or more between charges.

“My battery is dying.” You tell them.

“Okay. We’ll see you in the morning.” Laki says reluctantly.

“Miss you.” Hana says, making a heart shape with her hands behind everyone’s back.”

>Love you too, Hana. Night, everyone!
>I love you both. Cya!
>See you in the morning
>Wait, one more thing (write-in)
>Something else

>>2345493
>Make arrangements to meet them somewhere in the morning
Don't put anyone else in danger you monster!

>>2345562
>>Love you too, Hana. Night, everyone!

>>2345562
>Love you too, Hana. Night, everyone!

>>2345562
>I love you both. Cya!
Make a heart back at Hana.

>>2345562
>I love you both. Cya!
>heart fingers

>>2345562
>I love you both. Cya!
Yes! Let it begin!

>>2345562
>>I love you both! Cya!
>Heart fingers.

>>2345562
>I love you both
>heart

>>2345562
>>I love you both. Cya!

>>2345562
>I love you all. Cya!
>heart fingers

we need to get Absy back for the teasing. lob that ambiguity in there and then cut the call.

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“I love you both.” You say, making eye contact with Hana and Laki. You recreate the little heart shape that Hana just showed you.

Hana smiles and plays with her hair.

“Alright Soft Hands. Good n- Wait, what did you just say?”

Abigail’s face contorts to almost cartoonish proportions of smugness at Laki’s reaction right before the feed cuts out.

Your heart pounds. You turn to Gobble. “Was that a good reaction? She looked happy. She did look happy, right?”

Gobble thinks for a moment, then gives you a thumbs up. Somehow, that relaxes you.

“Bed’s ready.” You hear from the other room. “And if it counts, I think that girl feels the same way.”

“You were listening?”

“I’m not deaf.” He says. “I can hear every fart your little Munchlax makes.”

You turn to Gobble. He puts on an air of indignity as he rises to those words, but a quick sniff of that air betrays him. He humbly and embarrassingly sits back down.

“It’s okay Gobble.” You pat him on the head.

“Course it is. He’s a munchlax. There isn’t an insult in the truth unless you got something to be ashamed of.” He yawns. “Anyway, make yourself comfortable. My home is your home for tonight. Just don’t rearrange my medicine or I’ll probably die. Unfortunately for you I do snore pretty loudly. So does he, sometimes.” He points to his small pokemon. “Hey! Wake up! Time for bed.”

He and the small pokemon go off to his room. Before sleeping, you decide to take a quick shower to get all the sand and beachness off of you. You don’t want to dirty up his blankets. After that, you tiredly make your way to the couch. Gobble follows and puts himself down to be your pillow. He seems to like the weight of your head.

The snoring starts.

>Go to sleep
>Check out some of the items on display
>Chat with Gobble. He hasn't evolved yet
>Meditate
>Something else

>>2345688
>Go to sleep
If the snoring is to much then switch to plan b
>Meditate
practicing in non-optimal conditions leads to greater gains!

>>2345688
>Meditate

>>2345688
>>Go to sleep

As much as I absolutely love jumping onto every meditate option I can, Herb's been through a lot between getting the succ and getting slapped to the nearest landmass. Plus, we're going to need the energy if we're going to unlock Hana's lewd (unless it's already fully unlocked, which would explain a lot).

But yeah, if we're tossing and turning, might as well try to

>Meditate

>>2345688
>>Meditate
lets do spooky aura things

woooo I'm a ghost

>>2345688
>Chat with Gobble. He hasn't evolved yet
"I love you, Gobble. No matter what form you take."
>Meditate

>>2345688
>>Go to sleep

He'll evolve when he's ready, and when QM gobble is ready

>>2345688
>Meditate
>Snuggle with gobble.

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You toss and turn for a bit. You want to go to sleep. You’re so tired and drained. Surprisingly dehydrated, too. You feel like you’ve been walking in a desert for weeks. Your skin is so dry.

You lay there for a while, listening to the snores. He sure wasn’t kidding about that. It’s not that you’re that bothered by snoring on principle. After all, Laki can sometimes have one. But this one is so distinct and piercing.

Well, there’s always meditation. You sit up, giving Gobble a quick pet to assure him he can go back to sleep. Good ol’ Gobble.

Your eyes close. Even if this place is a home, there’s something uniquely spiritual about it. All the trinkets and items here seem to give off a certain ambience.

Woom. You feel yourself sink into the other plane very quickly. It reminds you of when you were at the Grass temple with Jane. This time was so easy though. You aren’t sure if it’s because you’re getting better at it, or just being so worn out made you drop your inhibitions for now.

The energy here is so different from what you’re used to. It’s like there’s a shield or something around this place, putting you at ease and making you feel safe.

You can sense different presences, way off in the distance. It seems like venturing out too far might be a bad idea though. At least, an unexplored idea. You aren’t sure if you’d just naturally find your way back or get lost. This place always has what you can only describe as a strong, colourful wind, obscuring anything not in front of you.

>Reach out to the great protector (???)
>Look inwards (Trivial)
>Try to reach out to someone you know (very hard but would provide excellent experience)
>Just explore close by (easy-ish)
>Just breath and focus until you can fall asleep. Practicing the fundamentals never hurts
>Something else

>>2345785
>>Just breath and focus until you can fall asleep. Practicing the fundamentals never hurts

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>>2345785
>Try to reach out to someone you know (very hard but would provide excellent experience)
Kiera.

>>2345785
>Try to reach out to someone you know (very hard but would provide excellent experience)
>Kera, make sure sh's okay.

>>2345785
>Just breath and focus until you can fall asleep. Practicing the fundamentals never hurt

Get some rest Herb. You'll need it.

>>2345785
>>Reach out to the great protector (???)
Let's get dangerous

>>2345785
>>Try to reach out to someone you know (very hard but would provide excellent experience)

>>2345785
>Try to reach out to someone you know
Our sister, its been a while since we have had any contact with her and we did it before so it might not be as hard as someone else?

>>2345785
>>Try to reach out to someone you know (very hard but would provide excellent experience)

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You decide to try to reach out to somebody. You can sense tiny little threads on you that go off in all sorts of directions. Instinctively, you know they go out to those you have a connection with. Some are thicker, some are thinner, some are different colours or have strange knots in them. They all form a connection with you as a hub.

Some of the threads seem much stronger than others. Some look weaker, but seem like they'd still be easier to follow thanks to their unique properties. How easy or hard it is seems to depend on the spiritual focus of the person combined with how well you know them.

You focus your energies and reach out to...

>Keira
>Polu
>Valerie
>Mom
>Dad
>Your sister
>Someone else

>>2345886
>Polu
This is his people's temple, should have a connection with him, right? Right?

>>2345886
>Your sister

huzza, got me a party hat pikachu in pokemon go, should I digivolve it to party hat raichu?

>>2345886
>>Your sister

>>2345886
>>Your sister

>>2345886
Keira

>>2345886
>>Polu

>>2345886
>Keira

>inb4 she's masturbating

>>2345886
>Keira

>>2345886
>>Keira

>>2345886
>>Keira

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[Roll it!]

Rolled 37 (1d100)

>>2345922

>>2345922

Rolled 51 (1d100)

>>2345922
Come on, lady luck!

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Don't worry guys, I'm not going to roll this time.

Rolled 2 (1d100)

>>2345922

Rolled 27 (1d100)

>>2345922

>>2345932
Oh boy, that was close.

Rolled 95 (1d100)

>>2345922

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>>2345932

>>2345922
Who has our crystal?
A:Herb
B: The girls
C: Posiedon

>>2345932
Oof.

>>2345931
>>2345944
You okay? You're scaring me a little. You can roll if you want. It's alright.

>>2345948
No. I swore. No more 1s from me, ever again.

>>2345959
But if you hadn't rolled that 1, how long would we have waited to learn about the normal temple, or to tell Laki that we love her?

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>>2345959
[But those are the most fun.]

>>2345962
No, that's the Hex Maniac talking!

>>2345962
Bad gobble, BAD. Who's the bad turkey, that's right, you!

Rolled 20 (1d100)

>>2345962

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Rolled 72 (1d100)

>>2345962
>>2345961
Fine. We'll let the dice decide if I start rolling again. DC 70

>>2345974
The dicegods demand more pain, let it be theirs.

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>>2345974
It knows, I swear to God.

>>2345974
Yeah! Turn that frown upside-down!

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>>2345974

But really though, even though my roll was the best it was low enough that I hope we got to use our crystal, though I do doubt it.

I think we're going with "you didn't lose your stuff but you don't have it right now either."

Also, our Pokedex is so fucked, we should see about taking it in to a shop once we get money in from mom.

>>2345991
At this point its probably better to consider a replacement. It's been trashed, fried, and it's missing parts outright.

>>2346017
Whichever's cheaper's fine by me.

>>2346017
I actually like how fucked up it is, it has character, I would rather get it repaired. Also herb comes from a family were money problems were a thing so cooking and fashion were skills he partially picked up to stretch his dollars and help his family out (as well as enjoying those hobbies), so I get the feeling Herb is the type of guy to get something repaired rather than whole sale buying something new.

But if repair is as expensive as buying a new Dex then i could see us getting a new one.

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You feel the thread to Keira. That’s perfect! You already miss her, and you’ve been worried. Keira’s always been a ray of sunshine in the group and someone you feel like you’ve been able to connect with easier, because of the cultural differences, than harder. It’s like the gap between your ways of life forced you two to find a different sort of connection. One that runs deep.

Despite a little fear and hesitation, you head into the wind and fog. The swirling darkness itself isn’t scary, but the increasing distance and the unknown is. The thread is your guide though, and as long as you hold it you know you’ll be fine. You push forward into the timeless twilight.

“I’m looking for a sign. Anything.” You hear her voice in the distance.

That’s her! You want to push, but you feel like you’re losing control. You relax a bit and slowly guide yourself closer to avoid making any mistakes.

“Where do I go? What do I believe in?” Her voice echoes

There’s something else here. Something approaching from another direction. It’s familiar. Snake-like. She isn’t aware of it.

“Keira.” You gently, carefully call out to her. Daylight breaks and she’s coated in sunlight. The other presence vanishes.

“Herb?” She asks just as gently, in total shock. You think so, anyway, her face is entirely hidden. Like some sort of blur effect. You can still sense her emotions, though. “Herb!”

You reach out to her, but find your strength fading. And suddenly you’re out like a light.


You wake up the next morning to Gobble gently shoving you. “Htmrph? What time is it?”

“Time for a quick breakfast and then for you to get going.” The man comes in with another plate of pancakes. “I didn’t know what you wanted, but I know you don’t hate these.”

“Thanks.” You say, still sort of waking up. “Guess you’ve got plans.”

“Guests. Worshipers, actually. Might as well tell you now. My home works as a sort of temple. Or gathering place, at least. I didn’t mean to be rude, it’s just that worship time is quiet, and there are no electronics for the hour. Figure that’s not for you if you’ve got two girls waiting for you. Probably a lot of upkeep there.”

You scarf down the food. These really hit the spot. Despite the huge meal last night you were still starving this morning.

>You’d love to stay and observe, if that’s alright
>Thanks for breakfast and having me. Goodbye!
>Can you teach me how you make your pancakes?
>You’re in his debt. You’ll repay him someday
>Something else

>>2346038
>Can you teach me how you make your pancakes?
>

Evil snake didn't get Jane so it's going after Keira?

>>2346038
>>Can you teach me how you make your pancakes?

>>2346038
>>Can you teach me how you make your pancakes?

>>2346038
>Can you teach me how you make your pancakes?
>Something else
Say a quick prayer at his shrine, thanking the man and this place for it's hospitality.
>You’re in his debt. You’ll repay him someday

>>2346038
>Thank him with a bow for his hospitality and wisdom.

>You won't forget his help.

>>2346038
>>Can you teach me how you make your pancakes?

wouldn't be Herb if we didn't ask.

You know, if pancakes are some sort of Normal temple religious iconography it really recolors those times people were surprised by our making pancakes.

Like Rayquaza, or the island elders who were passing judgement on our moral fibre.

Also, I guess this counts as the forbidden recipe in learning one recipe from every temple.

>>2346038
>Thanks for breakfast and having me. Goodbye!
>Can you teach me how you make your pancakes?
Part of me wants to stay and watch, but Normal shrine is taboo and we don't want to harsh the regulars mellow by interrupting.

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“Thank you so much for your hospitality.” You bow. “I hate to ask, but I’d never forgive myself if I didn’t.”

“Oh?”

“Well, can you teach me how to make those pancakes?”

He hesitates for a moment, unsure if he heard you right. “You....want me to teach you how to make pancakes?”

“No no. I can make pancakes.” You try not to sound too cocky when you say that. “But what you made was just...just magical.”

“It’s just store bought.” He says.

“Then, can I see the package?”

The expression on his face assures you that he thinks you’re crazy, but he gestures for you to follow him into the kitchen. He fetches a box and hands it to you. Something about the way Gobble looks at it makes him decide to make another quick batch. “I can’t stand to see hungry Normal types.” He confesses.

“Thanks.” You say, watching him closely. He seems a little off-put, and you hate to be an annoyance, but you’ve just got to know.

You watch him mix the bowl, pour it onto a pan, and make them just like normal. And again, they come out tasting amazing.

“I don't get it. I’ve had this brand before and it never tasted this good.’

“I think you were just hungry.” He passes you a glass of milk.

You take a sip, then stare at the glass. “What...what is this?”

He raises an eyebrow. “Moomoo milk. There’s a ranch close by where I get it.”

That’s it! You’ve had plenty of Moomoo milk, but never fresh stuff from the source. “That’s it. That’s the ingredient.” You say. Even if it’s no big deal to him, tasting the difference is huge to you.

He smiles. “Well, tell him I sent ya and I’m sure he’ll give you a good deal. It’s just up the road.

“Thanks. And thanks for taking me in.” You stretch. Weird as it is, you feel surprisingly refreshed after your stay here. Tired, sure, but still refreshed. Like you just got over a cold or something.

“Don’t worry about it. There’s something else you should worry about instead, though.”

You stop in your tracks by the door. “W-what do you mean?”

“I get the impression you float around a lot, from one thing to the other. That you just sort of go along with whatever everyone else wants, not making enemies or taking any controversial stances. You don’t have any big dreams you’re working towards. Am I right?”

“Well, I don’t know if that’s entirely-”

“So I’m right. Just take my advice. Build something with your life. Work towards it every day. A family, or a championship, or carving a statue or something. Just make yourself a legacy before you go to the world beyond. Make an impact. Be in the world, not just of it.”


>Don’t commit to anything. Just bow and leave
>You will build a legacy. It’s an oath
>He sounds lonely. Volunteer to visit again
>Go meet the girls at the ranch
>Go meet the girls on the beach somewhere close
>Something else

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[That's it for tonight! We'll be picking up again on Saturday for real this time. I'll try to get some progress on bins done. Lots of things I want to do there!

As always, don't be shy with criticisms, questions, etc.]

>>2346118
>>He sounds lonely. Volunteer to visit again
>>Go meet the girls at the ranch

Gobble using every avenue to tell herb to have a goal

>>2346123
Keep evil snake away from my island waifu you monster! I see what you're doing

>>2346123
I like this Normal Temple guy. He was a fun character. I like how people often aren't what they appear to be in this setting. Keeps us on our toes!

>>2346118
>He sounds lonely. Volunteer to visit again
>Go meet the girls at the ranch

>>2346126
Give her another snake

>>2346118
>You will build a legacy. It’s an oath
Then flash back to all the girls hankering for some (lewd)Herbal supplements and get supper bashful and make a hurried exit

>Go meet the girls at the ranch
Gots to get them ingredi- We don't have a pan anymore! how are we supposed to cook!

>he seems lonely, we'll visit again
> bow and leave
>visit girls at ranch (hehe)
> make sure we spirit talk to kiera again before she becomes psycho nega priestess with fug.

>>2346118
>You will build a legacy. It’s an oath
>Go meet the girls at the ranch

>>2346118
>Yeah. I've been focusing on figuring out who I am first though.

>I've got some ideas about what to do. I can cook. I can heal. I want kids.


>Go meet the girls at the ranch

Oh, this I have to see.

>>2346118
>>He sounds lonely. Volunteer to visit again
>Go meet the girls at the ranch

people never seem to get Herbs shtick, he's not trying to be anything he doesn't have to. He already is a thing, a floating point of good in the world brightening up everything in it's wake. At least that is the aesthetic anons seem to be driving towards, he doesn't need to become anything he is already exactly what he should be

>>2346123
thanks for running Gobble..

I don't know if a big overarching goal is very herb. All the mini stories and chapter goals are super comfy.

Maybe we can make a temple of our own? Or capture raquaza? Or ascend to become dark herb and take over the entire island, having a massive harem and proving all those who fear the mainland right all along.

I really like the Idea of Herb setting up a restaurant and coffee shop with our signature worry seed coffee

>>2346135
I think we bumped that one down the road a bit, but now I'm worried she might try and start the church of Herb.

>>2346141
Herb is just a sunny day in human form

>>2346141
Yeah, Herb's parent's and friends are the only ones that seem to get him.

>>2346141
I mean, yeah. He's certainly had a lasting impact on his friends and pokemon (some more than others admittedly) as well as, y'know, all those shards and people who he's impressed.

I mean, fuck, remember how word of Gobble was that seeing Herb's earnest youth has the electric gym leader planning for a new kid and that nice prostitute thinking about her future?

I see Herb's big "project" being him becoming an elder. A source of wisdom and encouragement to everyone in the area. But that comes about by Herb just focusing as hard as he can on being a good person.

>>2346149
exactly take the shards for example, some people collect them, try to do good deeds to gain them for reasons. That is not how Herb got any of his shards, he's honored sure but he never really went after them. He just goes about his life doing what is natural to him and people basically give him the things like cheap cigars.

>>2346126
Herb has a goal. It's "explore the islands".

He hasn't even visited them all yet.

He also has a whole lot of medium-term goals along the way, such as training paths for his pokemon, a rematch with Polu that's overdue, and using his superpowers to develop cool new techniques including sexual supermoves.

He's also well on his way to collecting all the shards, entering the pokemon league, and learning a recipe from every temple.

But that's all because he's just living his life to the fullest as it comes.
(I would like to see Herb get Dark Fug to calm the fuck down and bring honor back to the normal temple though.)

And oh right, Goodnight Gobble!

>>2346118
>>You will build a legacy. It’s an oath
>>Go meet the girls at the ranch

>>2346157
We havn't even realy legit battled any of our pokemon.

Gobble - Bribed with food
Mace - appealed to his inner protector(also food bribe)
Bella - Egg
Dice - Val didn't think he was wild and caught him by accident while he was eating her panties
Sorbet is the only one we got in a battle but that was a clusterfuck and was really Gobble that tried to catch her.

we are the non-standardest trainer ever. and part of me wants us to leave slot 6 open for when we use the tooth to make a baby-qyaza

Also, we do have at least one enemy, but he thinks we're a girl, so it probably won't come up again.

R-right? I mean, we were with Hana so he might try to get to us through her...

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I want to build a legacy with Laki Hana and Keira

>>2346175
Keira is for platonic best-friending.

Also, somehow I feel Herb is mostly normal-type in his aura.

Adaptable, but also stable and supportive.

>>2346179
Hana can't have a legacy.

>>2346182
Nah, she just needs someone to use as a surrogate womb.

Hana gets periods so she must therefore have eggs in the bank.

>>2346179
Wherever doth the seed be planted thus shall it grow.

Except hes Fairy Grass, although that might open up the discussion as to why Humans are no longer pokemon in the first place and if it is related to their interaction with aura.

>>2346171
You mean catch baby deoxys

Herb's pet name for Laki should be Latka.

>>2346179
Keira is for best friending and then pulling into the cuddle pile for fertility rites.
>>2346118
>You will build a legacy. It’s an oath
Restaurant and I REALLY want to push for Herb to become a real battler and at least try for the league seriously. As well as his aura training.
>He sounds lonely. Volunteer to visit again
>Go meet the girls at the ranch

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>>2346915
I don't really care what Herb ends up doing. He could start a restaurant, go for the league, become some kinda spiritual leader, or be a medic. As long as he never stops believing in the best of people and paying it forward. Basically pic related.

>>2347375
here here

>>2347375
could Herb pick up Thors hammer?

>>2347699
If no one told him what it was ahead of time, probably.

>>2347699
Odin’s standards of what makes someone a worthy person may differ from our own.

He might do it to fuck with Thor though.

>>2347699
What do you think the pan was?

>>2347778
He might also do it cause herb is so likeable.

On the topic of bins, it’d be cool to see this mini-arc (from just before the accident to meeting back up with Herb at the ranch) from the others’s perspective. Not only do we get Hana/Laki relationship development, but especially with that “I love you” we get to see their perspective on Herb now that he’s gotten to the point where he’s really conquered a lot of his issues and come into his own.

>>2348585
Kiera is more important atm.

>>2346141
Everyone tells him that he needs to put in more effort, while he's already got his wei wu wei thing going. He's practically a Taoist hermit, chi-powers and all.

>>2348671
But he does need to put in more effort, look at how much tail hes surrounded by and he only has two girlfriends. Hes falling down on the job.

Maybe now that Herb's Pokedex is crumbling he'll be forced to learn how to astral project to anyone he needs to talk to.

>>2346308
why..?

>>2350569
Because it kinda sounds like her name but also refers to a potato pancake. Sweet, but also hearty. Also, brown and delicious and really a big softy on the inside.

>>2350570
And for Hana there’s Harcha, a Moroccan pancake.

Has anyone given thought to where Herb is from on the mainland, compared to where Abigail is from?

I've been assuming that he's not!american and Abigail is not!celtic of some sort.

>>2350986
I brought up the thought that Herb is from not!England, and the anonmind seemed to accept that. The fact that Loanah thinks of the rest of the world as "the mainland" means that even though the British Isles are another set of islands they're still "the mainland". Loanans seem to have trouble understanding just how big the world is.

>>2351076
Nah, Herb can't be from not!England because he hasn't said anything like "'Ello 'ello, moi name's Herb roight 'innit?"

>>2351076
>Loanans seem to have trouble understanding just how big the world is.
[I'm really glad that's coming across. I had some small write-ups on that and other things like the different architecture to hint towards the general tone and theme of the islands and base island culture I was planning on dropping and just kept forgetting.

The world being so massive is still sort of setting in. Kids and adults in the region have had vastly different lives and views about the world. The islands consider themselves all under the same umbrella but have varying degrees of seeing each island as separate. Some view other islands as the same as provinces or states in North America. Others see it as a looser ancient Greece type of deal, but those are a smaller number. More to the extreme are the ones that see the islands as basically European nations within the EU (as it is right now) but those views are almost a unicorn.

Way back in the earliest stories about the great protector, it was protecting 'the world' instead of 'the region', because they thought the island chain was the whole world. If there were other islands then they didn't have people, or at least civilization.]

>>2351525
Heh. And then Herb's from Albion, an island so big you could fit all the Loanan islands on it with space to spare, and is still considered an island compared to the size of a continent.

>>2351525
I think what really did it for me was when somebody saw a non-naitive pokemon and basically said:
"Herb, you're from the mainland, what is that?"
as though the mainland was, like one island the size of Loanah. Like the whole rest of the world is all one place. Some of our chats with Abby hinted at it too.

I've been gunning for an arc where Herb brings friends to visit his homeland for a while, just so Keira can ride a train through the countryside and experience "Holy fuck there's all this SPACE out here!"

I'd be really interested to hear about Laki's thoughts when she left Loanah for the first time. Hana probably doesn't really remember too much of her first time leaving the islands, I assume.

Also I wonder if their picture of mainlanders is white, and what the reaction might be to the Brocks and Irises of the mainland would be.

Keira and Polu would be the most fun to bring along, but showing Hana and Laki where we grew up would be cool too.

I just wanted to remind you Gobble that you said an arc where we go back to the mainland for a reading of our grandfather's will would be cool.

>>2351525
I seem to remember a line (might have been during the general chats and not in the story) where some anon asked if someone from Loanah asking about the outside world would basically be like someone asking an Australian what zebras were like.

I kinda wish we had been able to talk to the racist gym leader afterward, maybe send him on a quest to travel the world and write back to his followers on how to adapt their teachings and resources to try and embed Loanah culture in the mainland. It'd have been a tall order, but hopefully the journey would have helped him realize how *small* they were to the rest of the world and that isolation was a truly losing proposition. Change can't be prevented, but it can be directed, and Loanah needs to get better about that.

>>2352045
that guy struck me as one of those types who grew up connected to the world, collage educated at some prestigious collage someplace else and then returned to the islands much later and felt that the islands problems were caused by external influence, which in part they were.

Ghandi was like this, he grew up wealthy went to the best English schools and then returned to India and found it to be a shithole in comparison, that coupled with now being treated by his British peers like some sort of subhuman he started his movement to become most Indian, doing shit that Indians hadn't been doing for a long ass time, Homespun clothing, gathering sea salt, etc. After succeeding he discovered quite abruptly that people are kind of shit no matter where they come from and his attempt to focus on the seed of goodness in everyone led to an appearance that he had inability to magically fix everything and led to his assassination.

So the Gym leader struck me as someone similar in context, he came home and felt like his home was struggling and that his culture was being strangled and replaced by outsiders so he got deep into the conservative elements of Loana that all hearken back to the factory explosion and how it was all outsiders fault, and the best fix is to just do what the ancient loanans did. Because nothing was ever hard back then right?

The flip side of his coin looks like the people like Polu, where outside influence is a problem, but the root of that problem is an inherent imbalance and that's why they can't go back to the old ways because then they would just go back to fighting each other like when the Normal type cult was snuffed out. the result of which would be to have their culture swept away entirely and forgotten. We don't have a lot of in depth info on what they actually think since A)Herbs an outsider and B) he was super close to a Ghost Priestess till this point. so thats something I'm realy interested in following up on when we meet up with Polu.

>>2352157
I'm super into the normal temple, out of all the temples I felt like it most closely matched how Herb views the world. What I mean is that real meaning in life comes in doing something and in Herb's case helping others and trying to make the world a better place. It feels more secular than the other temples and that's probably why they were destroyed. It makes sense that the normal temple have items that actually destroyed spirits since they don't value spiritualism.

>>2352182
That and nothing comes easy if at all, but the struggle is worth something in itself. As opposed to the ghost temple which just gives you the afterlife no fuss required.

>>2352189
Well ghost temple has some fuss. If you don't go to the afterlife you go crazy and hurt people.

>>2352548
Not necessarily. Heracross was only attacking because his grave was defaced.

>>2353108
Heracross attacked the Marowak to protect Herb. Marisa’s is the one who attacked because it’s grave was desecrated.

>>2353220
Marowak not Marisa what the shit.

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>>2353108
That the ghost temple insists you get in the hole or you are going to go crazy and hurt people doesn't mean they are telling the truth. The whole grave yard scene was confusing for Keira because it goes against everything she was taught.