>>5778607
>Sis
Lets go sister bros

>>5778607
We'll mostly use d100, best of 3. Occasionally I may call for other rolls as well. Do (optionally) roll one in your answer, I've decided I will use the highest as a tiebreaker if necessary.

>>5778607
>Sis or mom
Let's fuck them

Rolled 31 (1d100)

>>5778607
>>5778624
>Sis

Generally speaking we will usually have several updates in a day if audience participation justifies it. But we will occasionally also go several days before an update, as I work two jobs and neither of them boasts a fixed schedule.

>>5778623
>>5778626
>>5778640
I choose to read this as three votes for Sis so far. Excuse me being wordy, please, I am trying to compensate for what amounts to stagefright. Generally votes will be on for about one to three hours, as I am not (unlike, I wager, the majority of you) American but would still like to make the most out of our time together.

>Sis takes it

Clearing the stairway and subsequent hallway in stride, you make your way into the kitchen, being greeted there by a "GOOD MORNING, LOSER!" and your leading cause of headaches both literal and figurative: Three years your senior and entirely too happy to remind you of it, Sis occupies what is usually your chair with her arms behind her head. "Way to blow your life's dream the day of," she adds, raising one pale be-combat-booted leg off of the polka-dot cloth she is not supposed to rest it on and indicating, with said leg, a stack of what appear to be wrapped sandwiches atop the counter. "Old folks want me to tell you that they expect you back here for dinner after you've picked your 'mon, and -I- want you to know some of my friends pitched bets on which one you will choose. You choose wrong and it's coming out your Swinub bank, you got that?"

>Retort (a partial write-in, as you must write a retort)
>Joke's on her, there's nothing in the Swinub (this will net you some spending money)
>Ignore her, gotta hurry (onward to the pokeymans!)
>"Got it"
>Make-your-own-prompt (I will generally go with anything you write in if there seems to be support for it, but keep in mind )

>>5778770
Shit
>... keep in mind *you're in a rush)

>>5778770
>Retort
"What, like YOU'RE one to talk about picking the right 'mon? How's YOUR Pokémon journey? Or are you just lazing around here picking on kids because you're already champ, and got board of defending the title?"
>Write-in
Kick the chair leg out from under her, run off before she can get us back.

>>5778770
>Joke's on her, there's nothing in the Swinub (this will net you some spending money)

>>5778770
>Thank you for teaching me so much about Pokemon (What not to do), see you later

>>5778783
This + grab her boobs while she's on the ground

>>5778833
I, for the record, vote firmly against fucking our sister.

>>5778854
Not even a little fucking? :(

>>5778770
>Joke's on her, there's nothing in the Swinub (this will net you some spending money)

>>5778770
>Joke's on her, there's nothing in the Swinub (this will net you some spending money)

>>5778770
>Retort
Lisa will win. She's the one who actually cares about me.

File: no (7).gif (1.99 MB, 480x360)

1.99 MB GIF

>>5778861

>>5778783
+1
>>5778833
>>5778861
First of all, this is a no incest household, second of all, i'm pretty sure she is far from worth it.

>>5778607
>non-mom-assisted-combat
wait, we're taking mom with us?

>>5778783
>>5778833
>>5778912
3 say write-in,
>>5778791
>>5778822
>>5778888
3 say Swinub Empty.
May I trouble one gent from each camp to roll a 1d100?

>>5778934
You appear to have misread. It's "mon" as in short for "Pokemon", so basically fights in which you personally lay some punk-ass out.

Rolled 35 (1d100)

>>5778952
For write-in.

>>5778952
Chippin in!

Rolled 7 (1d100)

>>5778958
oops

Rolled 29 (1d100)

>>5778953
right. i almost went the wrong door

also, "got it", genki smile with the light reflecting my the smile, wink, thumbs up

35 for write-in, so far none for Swinup bank. I'm going to cook some tea, it'll be write-up if no roll comes up in fifteen minutes.

>Write-in takes it
Alright. I am tired now, but will update tomorrow.

>>5779026
Thanks for running, OP. I'll keep an eye on this quest.

>>5779026
man, i got to work on sundays

>>5778770
"What, like YOU'RE one to talk about picking the right 'mon?" The way her brows crease tells you've struck a nerve. You've occasionally (-occasionally-) taken this kind of abuse from her, but today she messed with the wrong dawdler - and you barely have to think for the words to form: "How's YOUR Pokemon journey?" Come to think of it, you do seem to remember that she used to really, really want one, but it then never got started and you never really asked about it - not after the first time, anyway, as that had only earned you a kick to the shin and a face-full of cereal. "Or are you just lazing around here picking on kids because you're already champ, and got bored of defending the title?"

She is now clearly livid, so much so that she finds herself at a loss for words - but that won't last long, so you seize the opportunity even in turning away from her, hook your sneaker behind the precariously-balanced last ground-contacting leg of he- YOUR chair and...

>Everyone roll 1d100, DC 20 (reduced from 30 because you chose Sis - wonder how she'll feel about that now), best of the first three.

>>5779029
Thank you, hope you will continue to enjoy this.

>>5779059
And sorry to hear that, but we'll basically have several updates every day for at least the next week unless there's some emergency, so you should still have plenty of opportunities to keep playing.

Rolled 43 (1d100)

>>5779775

Rolled 25 (1d100)

>>5779775

Rolled 65 (1d100)

>>5779775
I woke up and found that you came through, thank you OP.
anons why did you guys choose the incest route the fuck?

>>5779835
they all were incest routes anyway

>>5779835
>65: More than thrice the DC, a resounding success! (Hope she at least bet on Bulbasaur, am I right guys?)

... are treated not only to the sight of her failing to catch herself, but also to the sound of the chair falling, a shrill "You little dw-EEP" and the realisation that in falling down, she brought her heavy boot down onto the kitchen table, which promptly topples over. As you swipe the sandwiches into your backpack at a running pace (a skill you've honed in years of almost missing school buses) and bolt toward the front door, you enjoy a chance glance at a flailing heap of limbs and polka dots struggling to right itself under a litany of curses even you've not heard before, and as you round the front lawn corner and charge on down toward Main Street, you find yourself feeling an exhilaration that can't yet be runner's high.

All things considered, a worthy start.

The PokeLab here in your little town isn't far away, merely a couple blocks over, and while you understand that it's a small one, primarily preoccupied with monitoring the migration patterns of Goldeen and Tentacool that hatch along the local beach, you weren't really all that surprised to learn that they will be the ones to hold your Junior Trainer examination and set you up with your, yes, your very own starter Pokemon. You have already made your mind up; you want Bulbasaur! Inwardly, you can already see yourself triumphantly astride the broad head of a Venusaur, holding aloft a small case full of badges, cheers and confetti filling the air around you, and it speeds you on toward the wide open gates of the laboratory grounds -

only to see a young man in a white labcoat just about to lock them from the inside. Hearing your breakneck approach, he looks up from the keyring he'd been sifting through, puzzledly inclines his neck to the side, and waits for you to slow down, a look of disapproval shining through his glasses: "One of the new kids, eh? You're late, you know that? Candidates were to show up an hour ago. Name?"

>What is the first and last name of our protagonist? Choose freely, but remember you'll be stuck with it.

>>5779835
I'm not all that surprised, given where we are. But I don't really think most players are in fact on board with that kind of thing as is, and if that changes I don't really see Sis reciprocating after this one anyway

>>5779876
Max Power

>>5779876
>>5779883
Supporting.
Yeah on second thought that might be the case. I remember there was a siscon sailing quest some time ago and the anons weren't that into it after the first few updates.

>>5779883
Supporting
Fun fact : one guy that lost a president election in France a long time ago was called Alain Poher, pronounced quite like Power because french

>>5779876
Maximilian 'Max' Power. He has the name you'd love to touch -- bu you mustn't touch.
Especially if you're his sister.

>>5779883
>>5779933
"Max Power!" you declare, the mildly disdainful expression of the labcoat brightening somewhat. "Very well, Mr Power. Understand that I'd be well within my rights to bar you from entry, given exactly how late you are, but I remember my own first day, and luckily for you, there's been a bit of a delay with today's proceedings anyway. This way, please." As he leads you into the lab proper (a featureless yet somehow foreboding building in that modern style that noone ever likes, but everybody builds in), he refuses to elaborate as to the nature of the said delay, in fact, makes no more conversation whatsoever.

Eventually you are led to what could, with much goodwill, be called a lobby (being more accurately an unmanned desk and a number of folding chairs in a large, white and slightly dusty room), where you come across two other children your age.

One, a lanky ginger boy in an expensive-looking coat, reclines against a wall, his arms crossed and apparently too deeply lost in thought to even notice you, whereas the other, a smallish, girl with hair dyed an obnoxious shade of blue, albeit so well that it somehow even looks natural, immediately jumps from the chair she had been sitting in as soon as your steps approach, looking you up and down as if she had been waiting for this moment all her life. Which you suppose she may have, given Labcoat wastes no time declaring: "These two are here for the same reason as yourself. Here's where you wait. Professor Kirsch will see you shortly, then you will be asked to answer a few questions, and with only a little luck you will be leaving with your Pokemon within the hour. Now, if you'll excuse me. I have hydrocultures left to monitor."

>"Actually, I had a question..." (write-in)
>Excuse him and talk to blue-hair girl
>Excuse him and talk to ginger guy
>Excuse him and wait by yourself
>Unsupervised teen in a big scary science lab time!
>Other (write-in)

>>5779977
>>5780001
Anonymous unanimous, you know I love to see it.

>>5780014
>>Unsupervised teen in a big scary science lab time!
Check for secret research obviously linked with the region's dark and troubled past, current project on the verge of toppling world balance as we know it

>>5780014
>Excuse him and talk to blue-hair girl
She seems friendly. Maybe we can take her on
>Unsupervised teen in a big scary science lab time!

>>5780014
>Unsupervised teen in a big scary science lab time!

>>5780054
Supporting

>>5780062
We are already going to correct our bitchy sister, there is no time to stick it in crazy blue haired girls

>>5780014
>Excuse him and talk to blue-hair girl

Another half hour until I call the vote.

>>5780014
>Unsupervised teen in a big scary science lab time!

>>5780062
+1

>>5780054
>>5780082
>>5780129
>>5780163
Exploration
>>5780130
Blue-hair girl
>>5780062
>>5780169
Both

It is decided. Writing!

Finding nothing in particular to pick the Labcoat's brain about, you let him take his leave. He's barely out of one of the doors in the lobby when you make your way to another one. The strangely foreboding first impression this building left you with (and not for the first time either, though you've never been inside before) is stirring your imagination; who is to say what these rooms might contain?

A sorry little sigh momentarily gives you pause: The blue-haired girl, it seems, is not of the most patient persuasion, for while she has sat back down, she's squirming this way and that in her seat: "More waiting. Greeeat. What a drag. I hope that the professor hurries up, don't you?" While it is clear that she's talking to you, it is the ginger guy that responds before you can, having apparently at last been startled from his musings: "He only just came in. If you weren't so busy complaining you'd have a shorter while off the wait yourself, you know?" From his voice and bearing you get the impression that she's been making it hard for him to hear himself think for quite some time now.

Paying the two little mind for now, you stroll about the room, trying to decide upon a door to open.

A grey one, the sign next to it reading "Maintainance", does not interest you.

A polished black one labeled "Accounting" even less so.

And obviously the glass door through which you just came in just leads back out into the hallway, where by the sound of things people are currently busy in multiple adjoining rooms and you logically wouldn't be unobserved for very long.

Leaving a large double door that seems to lead deeper into the building and the one Labcoat just left through, a stairwell by the look of things, for on the sign adjacent you find several numbers and arrows informing the onlooker about what is where (sure enough, 3rd story contains a "hydroculture wing", next to a "biochemical collection" and, perhaps a little more interesting, the "preserve collection").

2nd story seems to mostly contain computer rooms and personal offices, while here on the ground floor, there are "behavioral studies", the "lobby" (Ha!), accounting, maintainance and - "live storage", the last of which you surmise lies behind the double door. It would then seem that there are Pokemon beyond it, possibly including yours.

"Jeez, Yuri, I'm just trying to make conversation. We're all nervous, and he would have even been late if not for whatever's been taking so long today" - "I most assuredly am -not- nervous, and the only thing that is taking too long is your incessant blath- HEY! You! Where do you think you're going?" Great. Now the two of them have their eyes peeled firmly onto you.

>To live storage
>Up some stairs (where?)
>Back through the glass doors

>Also feel free to reply in-character if you like

>>5780236
Oh also, 3rd and 2nd story should of course be 2nd and 1st, respectively. I keep getting that wrong.

>>5780236
>The Preserve Collection
Spooky!

>>5780236
>>5780277
+1
Halloween time? Probably just a few fossils and skellies.

Fell asleep yesterday, feel free to keep voting till I get off work (should only be some hours).

>The Preserve Collection

>>5780236
>The Preserve Collection
Look at him blankly and reply "Exploring" then run.

Twelve hours. Twelve fucking hours. I'll get to writing in a bit, but I am pretty tuckered out, so tonight might be a short round.

>>5781138
Hey no worries QM. Take the time you need. Most quests only update once a day.

>>5780277
>>5780315
>>5780762
>>5780954
>The Preserve Collection
It doesn't exactly take long for you to make your mind up here: You will leave with an actual live Pokemon, you promised yourself this much ages ago. But upstairs there is something you might never have a chance to see, and that you'd hate to miss while here. Sparing the guy, Yuri apparently, only the blankest glance you respond "Exploring" and are through the door, something beginning with "And what if you end up-" trailing after you as you allow it to fall shut.

No sight of Labcoat anywhere. Curious, maybe, given he didn't have a whole lot of time to move, but also quite beneficial to your endeavor. Taking care to move as quietly as possible, you clear the first story and make your way up to the second, ears perked for hints of passers-by, albeit finding none. Slipping out of the stairwell and into a surprisingly long corridor that has no truly distinguishing features beyond a series of ominous dark stains mottling the carpet floor (some kind of chemical, if you had to guess, as it smells positively vile and yet not really like anything you've smelt in nature), you find the door labelled "Preserve Collection" readily enough, and the fact that the trail of stains ends right in front of it, of course, does little to stifle your curiosity whatsoever.

The distant and now-familiar sound of the stairwell door resounds from somewhere underneath, and for a moment you could swear you hear footsteps approaching.

It's now, or never.

>Roll me a 1d100. No DC as this will "merely" determine which of a number of possible events come to pass

Rolled 34 (1d100)

>>5781186

Rolled 82 (1d100)

>>5781186
Sneaky Snake time

>>5781196
Heh. Hehehehehe. Eeeexcellent. Update soon to follow!

>>5781206
Ominous...

Once you're inside, the first word that comes to mind to describe the scene that presents itself to you would most likely have to be "eerie". Given the ceiling lights are shot except for one, which frequently flickers, the room is dark, its walls painted a gloomy shade of gray, and crowded with large glass containers, some resembling terraria, but most being simply enormous upright tubes about half as wide as you are tall. And inside each lies Death: Bones, scales, hides, even full-on taxidermied mounts of what you can most often only imagine are rare, exotic and/or extinct Pokemon. The soft, bizarrely bloated "shell" of a large Tentacool floats creepily inside a tube full of green liquid that seems to all but glow, the empty sockets where its eyes and nodules would have been mere pits resembling those on a human skull in ways too close for comfort. Next to that, an actual skull, though flat, triangular and certainly not human sits inside a glass box, between what you imagine to be the oversized blades of one extremely unfortunate Scyther from long ago. Again next to that, a large fish-like thing apparently composed of Rhyhorn scales floats in its own vat of the green solution, and as if to top it all of the largest of the containers, right in the middle of the room, is missing any semblance of contents entirely: rather, the side of the tube seems to have been shattered, with the odd chemical stench being at its most intense around it, as if whatever had once occupied this fixture had one day awoken, burst out of its prison and seen fit to leave a trail of glass shards and the chemical.

Torn between regret that you have seldom joined your Mom at her museum and the resolve to keep not ever doing that, you find yourself idly wondering just what sort of incident might have caused Labcoat and the Professor their "delay" today - and it is right in the middle of this that something touches your shoulder from behind!

>Going to call it a night here. Let me know, if you would, how you imagine sights like these affect our Maximilian (and, obviously, how he would react to that last bit); theorise as to what might be going on while you're at it, too (if you like to) and also tell me if I'm doing a good job so far - is there anything I could do better/differently?
>I will be back at some time tomorrow to present you with another post and some more concrete prompts.

>>5781279
>A sudden sense of mortality of Pokémon - they can get seriously hurt, and utmost care should be taken in the journey

Good for me so far. Personally I like quest including pics in updates, but that require more work.

>>5781279
I'd like I'd Max was a bit of a weirdo and just thinks this is rad. He's fallen down many an internet rabbit hole in macabre topics such as body prepping for funerals and/or other stuff that typically leaves others unsettled. Man's got morbid curiosity on steroids. As for what's going on I'm guessing something was stolen from here. I think you're doing a great job boss man. Got my attention more than most on the board these days.

>>5781313
Seconded. Let's be a weird little goth!

>>5781279
I'm enjoying it quite a bit so far, QM. Keep it up! No notes yet, but it's early in the adventure.

>>5781288
Gonna support this one!

>>5781279
Your doing good so far qm also
>supporting
>>5781313

Weirdo Goth it is. I'll be delayed another hour and then write to you.

I would also, at this point, like to express my gratitude for all your feedback - thanks, anons.

>>5781313
>>5781371
>>5781872
Honestly, it's not as if this scares you. Gloomy, yes, but gloomy as your own, rarely admitted, tastes: Perhaps it is your youth that takes the sting off of Death's shadow, or perhaps it is the superfluity of videos you really should not have seen (but did), yet in this dark and dreary place you find a strange contentment, yes, excitement even: What might that fish-thing be, inside its basin; and who knew that even Tenta- could look this cool with the lighting right? Drinking the startling sights in with two eager eyes, you are transfixed as you have seldom been, a sense of all things' passing and mortality stirring your heart toward a sickening satisfaction - sickening, that is, to others.

And so it is that you are not (no, sir, not even one least bit) remotely startled by the sudden touch, and as you wheel around your face shows readiness, not fear, as you lock eyes with-

Blue-hair girl.

"Sorry. Hope I didn't frighten you. I suppose I just got bored down there and figured I might join you in exploring. Should have seen Yuri's face just now. Way redder than his hair~" Her own visage has recolored a shade of pink that neatly contrasts with her favored color (you knowing this to be the case by how, upon a closer look, the whole of her wardrobe seems to neatly match with how she dyed her hair). "I'm Shelly, by the way. You're Max, right? Someone said we were still waiting for a Max before we could begin. Uh-" Pink turns toward purple. "Doesn't this place scare you?" - "No. I think it's exciting." - "Really? I think it's eerie. What do you think happened here?" - "Well, I imagine-"

>Somebody broke in
>This place is haunted, whoohoohoo
>That an intern knocked a preserve over
>Write-in

>>5781973
>Somebody broke in
Makes the most sense with the delay.

>>5781973
>That an intern knocked a preserve over
Let's be boring.

>>5781288
I suppose I could use pictures, actually. I will start setting up a folder in time for next thread. Tried to edit up a version of skullmode-Tentacool, but couldn't really get it done to satisfaction.

>>5781973
>Somebody broke in

>>5781973
>This place is haunted, whoohoohoo
Let's be fun.

>>5781973
>>Somebody broke in
It would explain the sudden delay without any warning!

Writing!

>>5781979
>>5782023
>>5782073
"- somebody broke in, really." There are, of course, multiple possible explanations, from a simple workplace accident to something crazy like an unruly Ghost type, but something tells you to go with the one most sensible. Shelly shudders where she stands, somewhat too close to you for you to not make note of it, and for a moment she seems unsure whether she could get even closer in her unease. "I mean, think about it: That would explain the delay they had earlier." - "And you think they would keep us downstairs while a dangerous criminal is in the house?" She looks left, right and even behind as the idea connects, her voice dimming to a nervous whisper that you can barely make out without in turn leaning closer toward her. "Say, you don't think whoever did that is still here, do you?" - "I doubt it." Your unlowered pitch has her whincing a little, coming to look up at you with bright-blue eyes (natch) wide from alarm and what almost seems to be admiration. "Where would they hide? They probably just smashed the glass, grabbed what they wanted and ran for it." - "And what is it you think they wanted?" By this point you're halfway to huddling. A strange, unfamiliar sensation, but as some pulse in the back of your mind insists, not entirely unpleasant.

>Except it is and she's WAY too close (tell her to back off, essentially)
>"Maybe we can find out from the Professor?" (as A, but nicer)
>"Probably a fossil" (let's be boring -now-)
>"Probably a fossil" (teasingly)
>Write-in

>>5782191
>"Maybe we can find out from the Professor?" (as A, but nicer)
I don't know I didn't steal it

>>5782191
>>5782243
Supporting this.

>>5782191
>Except it is and she's WAY too close (tell her to back off, essentially)

Vote closes in half an hour.

>>5782191
>>"Maybe we can find out from the Professor?" (as A, but nicer)

>>5782243
>>5782248
>>5782367
No love for crazy blue-haired girls. Writing!

>>5782407
Teasing would have been my first choice, but I wanted a strategic one that is "less losing" on my side.

>>5782407
Eh my mental math was more: Girl+Closeness= Nice, Stranger+Closeness=Annoying, therefore Strange Girl+Closeness=Slightly uncomfortable

What are you thinking? You should be outraged. Here you go to check out a reserve collection by yourself, and along comes this weirdo chick, completely unbidden, as if she couldn't have done this herself the entire last hour. The nerve of some people! "I don't know," you state, reclining from immediate proximity, "I'm not the one who stole it!"

You keep your calm, of course, but she is visibly taken aback, a blend of feelings all the way from mere surprise to sincere hurt, struggling on her face at your response. "I didn't mean-" she starts, apologetically, "I mean, I know that. You just seemed to have this figured out, is all, and I-" Then she basically chokes up. Deigning it wiser not to have an incident in here at this point, you decide upon a diplomatic option: "Look, it's fine. I figured that's not what you meant. But if we're going to find out, we're likely going to find out from the Professor."

This does the trick: Composing herself somewhat, Shelly seems for all the world to have entirely forgotten about that up until now. "The Professor! What are we doing? He has probably shown up by now."

And as the moment has been ruined anyway (one, it would seem, for each of you), you find yourself joining her, at some distance, onto the way downstairs.

The two of you find Yuri as he was, still even leaning onto the exact same spot of wall, except now glaring daggers at you (and that means you, Max, in particular). What's different is that he has been joined by an old man whose features remind you of the Kantolese and Johtonese, right down to the white beard and topknot the old masters wear in martial arts movies from there. "There you are! Miss Weedler, Mister Power; I apologise for your long wait. A situation in one of our collection rooms, you see, but nothing that needs to concern you." He gives you an apologetic smile and shrug. "That is, not any more than I suppose it has already. Mister Benzhegamov here already informed me that you two had to step out briefly, but for reference, the guest restrooms are on the hallway you passed coming here. I am Professor Kirsch, and I shall have the pleasure of seeing you all off on your journey. Will there be any questions before we begin?"

>Yes (Write-in)
>No (finally onward to the pokeymans)
>About that collection room... (Another write-in, though he might not take too kindly to you telling him you went up there)

>>5782421
>reserve collection
*Preserve collection

>>5782411
>>5782420
ITT: We are a fourteen-year-old boy.

Also I apologise for just taking that write-in with no vote. It seemed somehow appropriate but then I couldn't really write the scene much nicer than the one we got now. Rest assured, Miss Weedler fans: You did not, repeat not, completely blow it.

>>5782421
>No
Let's get our planty boy!
>>5782428
No worries, I did support it but I did read it more sarcastic than anything.

>>5782421
>Yes
>What is the Air-Speed Velocity of an Unladen Swellow?

47 minutes until the vote closes

Okay, for simplicity's sake I'll combine the question and our advance toward planty boy.

I hope to see you guys tomorrow, when you tune in once again, for "A boy and his Bulbasaur". Good night!

>>5782421
>>No (finally onward to the pokeymans)
I want some pocket monsters in my pocket monster quest

Rolled 83, 22, 29, 59, 12, 25 = 230 (6d100)

>>5782437
>>5782452
(>>5782893 - could have really left the vote open just there I reckon)
"You mean Hoennian or Sinnohan?" retorts the Prof, having clearly seen the movie, while Shelly draws a blank as to the reference and Yuri gives a groan of raw annoyance: "Like Air-Speed Velocity even means anything. Can we hurry this along already?" Something tells you this guys hates to be kept waiting, and though you're pretty sure that the old man did not hear his complaint, it quickly becomes evident "we" can.

As you had guessed, the double doors, once parted, reveal the Live Storage section: Row upon row of shelf upon shelf, holding Pokeballs of various designs and makes, some seven or eight white-clad figures you surmise are lab assistants rushing back and forth between the storage halls side doors or busying themselves at work stations and computer screens. Beaming with the pride of one who sees young people laying eyes upon their life's work for the first time, Dr Kirsch tours you along under a great many dramatic gestures: "Each of these Pokeballs contains a Pokemon caught by a trainer, predominantly from the surrounding area, but with some coming in daily from around the world. You are, of course, familiar with the computerised storage system now commonly used in practically every country on the globe, but facilities like ours are equipped to hold them physically, allowing for the observation of peculiar patterns in a specimen's behavior, the scientific registration of newly-discovered species and, in the rare and tragic case of a caught Pokemon being left trainerless or otherwise unaccounted for, the preparations that are necessary for it to be re-adopted or released into the wild. There comes a transfer now."

He directs you toward a machine that resembles a cross of a coffeemaker and an overhead projector, a small tank of some clear liquid slowly spinning and then bubbling wildly as a flash of reddish light sees a standard Pokeball materialise under the "projector head" and rolling down a shiny metal tray, all while the 3D hologram of a Seel appears in the liquid. One of the lab assistants immediately mans the machine, rapidly filling a form on a clipboard as he quietly reads off a number of symbols and letters surrounding the hologram and then moves away, ball in hand. "But luckily," the Prof continues, "this is not any kind of tragic case, or we'd have been told about it just now. Probably just a misplaced Ball with a Trainer ID registered somewhere here in town. Which, obviously, brings us to the Junior Trainer Exam proper. Dr Cosgrove?"

A lady with glasses too large for her face emerges from behind a shelf, gives a stiff nod in place of a greeting, and ushers the three of you into a sideroom, where three chairs stand before three PCs that all face away from each other. "JUNIOR TRAINER EXAMINATION PAPER" is the heading on display across each screen - and luckily, you have prepared for this.

>Roll me 3d100 each

Rolled 38, 10, 12 = 60 (3d100)

>>5783109
Do you mean a 3d100 or a 1d100 for each anon?

This roll is current until we have six sets of rolls, with those of you who have already rolled being allowed to roll again if an hour has passed since your last set. Note you can't technically fail, but the better you do, the easier I will make certain rolls in the future.

>>5783117
3d100 each, as you have done.

Rolled 86, 65, 38 = 189 (3d100)

>>5783109
Big brain time

Rolled 17, 63, 5 = 85 (3d100)

>>5783109

Come on guys, we have three out of six 3d100 sets, we need three more.

Rolled 56, 34, 94 = 184 (3d100)

>>5783187
Oooh

Rolled 16, 93, 46 = 155 (3d100)

>>5783187
Oh should we roll again?

>>5783195
>>5783119
Your hour's not up yet, but I'll take this promising roll if we can't get the other three "legally".

>>5783200
Also it turns out I need to go take care of something just now, so I'll be back in an hour to (hopefully) evaluate and write.

>>5783200
Maybe on the futuŕe you could ask for 3 6d100, so we could move along faster? The bulk of anons will come at 17~19, anyways

>>5783206
I suppose I could but the rating system I have devised for this works better when I have 6 x 3d100 as opposed to 3 x 6d100, and there are after all 25 people who at least view this quest right now. It is also one of the fastest-moving ones aboard as is and I did not think speed is of the essence when opposed to largest possible chance to participate for all users.

2 more anons roll me 3d100 each, I will otherwise wait out the last 15 minutes, roll 6d100 and proceed with the results.

>>5783206
Also what time is it for you, actually? I am German and it's well past 9PM here now.

Rolled 26, 90, 69, 55, 49, 69 = 358 (6d100)

Moving on. I will be writing after this.

>>5783260
1st Section: Technological Basics
>DC 83 - Total of >>5783117 : 60
You never really understood the inner workings of a Pokeball and can admit this. You seem to recall the inventor of the aforementioned computerised Pokemon storage system was named Will... Something, from... Pewter City, right? And what the so-called Xanapi Engine inside the heal machine at the Pokemon Center does is heal Pokemon, obviously.

2nd Section: Historical Basics
>DC: 22 - Total of >>5783134 : 189 - Big Brain indeed
This is your jam right here though: Breezing through the domestification of the Apricorn, the advent of the International Conventions on the Use of Pokemon in War and the oldest known depiction of a Pokemon in human art, you find the time to weave all three ideas together into what is practically an essay hinting at poignant truths about the Trainer, and human, condition. (Bonus points!)

3rd Section: Biological Basics
>DC: 29 - Total of >>5783153 : 85
They aren't plants. They aren't animals. Humans do not descend from them.

4th Section: Ethical Considerations
>DC; 59 - Total of >>5783195 : 184 (you lucky fuck)
The human, and Trainer, condition, rather. (Bonus points!)

5th section: Practical considerations
>DC: 12 - Total of >>5783199 : 155
Cover, food, shelter, opportunities to mate and to eliminate. Where there is that, you hunt them. (Bonus points!)

6th Section: Other Considerations
>DC: 25 - Total of >>5783260 - 1: 185
Unova, Galar, Kanto, Johto, Hoenn. Then there are international waters. It is customary to bet money on a Pokemon duel. And of course you can name the eight badges. (Bonus points!)

You opt to fill out three of three bonus questions to shore up Section 1 and hit "Submit".
>86 vs 55, 93 vs 49, 94 vs 69
Needless to say, you aced it! Congratulations!
>You have passed the JTE with a B+
>Printing ID 5778607 for POWER, MAXIMILIAN

>I will continue shortly.

What follows are mostly formalities: You sit to have your picture taken, accept a small card and have the former stamped onto the latter with a specific 3D profile (which you find rather brings out your eyes) by yet another inexplicable machine under the oversight of Doctor Cosgrove and Professor Kirsch, the latter of whom wipes away a reluctant tear as he reads through a number of your answers. Test results are, of course, confidential and will not leave the lab's closed network. Shelly, Yuri and you are presented with a Pokedex each, yours an intriguing shade of green. And it is then, at long last, that you are escorted to another room, wherein three Pokeballs sit on small, fancy pillows on a table underneath three lamps.

The moment has come. Within seconds, you will encounter your very own starting Pokemon.

In reverse alphabetical order, you three step forth.

Shelly nervously accepts the ball to the far left, releasing a Squirtle which, initially, seems uneasy, but allows itself to be picked up (only to find itself in a hug right around its armored midsection, which it returns most awkwardly).

And then it is your turn at last.

>I would like another roll of 1d100, then we're finally out of chargen. Call in two hours.

Rolled 77 (1d100)

>>5783334

Rolled 55 (1d100)

>>5783334
Big money!

Rolled 43 (1d100)

>>5783334

Rolled 54 (1d100)

>>5783334

Oh wow, that's three already. A 77 (being that 3-in-a-houndred chance of dubs over 75) means Bulbs and you hit it off majestically: An excellent first impression. I may need some time to write this up satisfactorily. In the meantime, you may want to discuss if you' d like to nickname the planty boy (who will, in fact, be a male) or not, and what the nickname should be if so. Sometime tonight or tomorrow I'll give you a lore dump about the setting, the badges, the species, etc. It's been rapidly coming together.

>>5783396
It's a bad nickname but my brain keeps going to BB or Double B (for Best Boy and BulbaBuddy respectively).

>>5783396
Bulbmin

>>5783396
I support BestBoy.

>>5781371 is me. I'm on mobile.

>>5783396
>>5783520
+1

>>5783520
Bulbmin is nice.
Can we launch it to battle like a Pikmin?

>>5783520
>>5783540
>>5783828
Approaching the ball in the middle, your anticipation knows no bounds. The weight and cool feel of the Pokeball in your hand, your index finger easily finding its way to the release. The soft hiss of its seal and the click of its joint, and a burst of red light right before you.

Then: "Buuu-?"

Awkwardly balancing on his haunches and with one eye closed as if half-asleep, a small green critter with a bulb upon his back cranes back his chubby head to look up at you, seems to very slow wink and is then quite awake. Having adopted a relaxed forward squad so as to not seem too imposing for your first impression (this was even one of the test's bonus questions, so it must be right!), you have to briefly steady yourself as Bulbasaur stampedes toward you, circles once at his (admittedly impressive) top speed and promptly buries that broad little head of his in your left trouser leg, cheering: "SAAAUUUR! Basaur-basaur-basaur!"

You feel like calling him Bulbmin. So absorbed are you in smiling down on his seeming attempt at toppling you that you barely register a third flash of red going off to your right.

>Bulbmin joins your team!
>Lv 5 Male Bulbasaur
>Knows Growl and Tackle
>Seems to generally have a JOLLY disposition

>Pet Bulbmin
>Say something (Write-in)
>Sneak that boy some sammich from your pack
>Try to pick Bulbmin up
>Plenty of time for play later; we should get moving
>Other

>>5783884
>squad
*squat, damn it. And I forgot to put my trip on too.

>>5783884
>>Try to pick Bulbmin up

>>5783884
>>Try to pick Bulbmin up
>>Say something
"Want to go on a adventure, buddy?"

>>5783884
>>5783899
This but we're hugging the fuck out of our little guy

>>5783901
I like that

>>5783898
>>5783899
>>5783901
>>5783942
Righting your position, you take the hand on which you caught yourself as this assault began and place it down near your new ally. He, for his part, readily presses his right flank up against your arm and gives a reassuring growl of "Aaauurrr..." as you stroke his belly.

"Want to go on an adventure, buddy?" You ask, Bulbmin all but climbs up your arm as you pick him up, grabbing hold behind the forelimbs and beneath the rump, to be rewarded with a pair of ear nubs rubbing pushily up against your chin while the growl dims to a grumble like from a satisfied miniature boat engine. Your nose briefly registers a scent like from freshly-turned earth as you squeeze him more firmly, taking care to avoid pressuring the bulb - yet only and just before you can stand up like that, a spirited "Bulba!" signals for the hug to end. The little guy squirms a little bit, getting snug in the crook of your left arm and nevertheless glowing with enthusiasm. ("Saur!")

It is then that you hear someone clear their throat: it's Professor Kirsch. "Ahem, excuse me please." He smiles with unabashed warmth at the three new teams before him, but after all there are schedules to keep. "You are now fully licensed Junior Trainers, with the right to keep and catch Pokemon at your own discretion. Upon your journey, you will find your every strength and motivation tested. The life of the Pokemon Trainer is often demanding, frequently dangerous and certainly -" Dramatic pause. "- never boring. But as you grow together as a team, your starter and you will come to surmount ever greater challenges, individually and together. Allow me to present you each with a map of our region, an electronic version of which is also found on every official Pokedex such as yours, and my blessing: On the behalf of my staff, the town of Beechburgh and the Vendra Regional Pokemon League, it is my pleasure to bid you three Welcome - to the calling... of a lifetime!" And not long after that little speech, three congratulatory handshakes and a "Good Luck!" each from the otherwise taciturn Dr Cosgrove, Shelly with her Squirtle, Yuri with his Charmander (which seems to be quite energetic, but more guarded than your favorite Plant type is with you), Bulbmin and you find yourselves led back into the lobby. Professor Kirsch is immediately adressed by an aide accompanied by a young policewoman, whom he proceeds to lead out to the stairwell (and presumably to the Preserve Collection)

You are expected home in time for dinner, which still gives you several hours. It seems the other two fledgling trainers are in no particular rush either, now that they have what they came here for.

What will you do?
>Make your way home to celebrate!
>Leave town for some exploring!
>Talk to Shelly first!
>Talk to Yuri first!
>Write-in

Also state your pref:
>Walk Bulbmin
>Carry Bulbmin on you
>Carry Bulbmin in his Pokeball

>>5783963
>Leave town for some exploring!
>Walk with him but switch to carrying if he gets tired.
Let's go show him our favorite spots outside of town.

>>5783963
>Leave town for some exploring!
Do we have Pokeballs?

>>5784020
>Walk with him on our head like a cool bulbyhat

>>5783979
This

>>5784020
You do not.

File: Untitled 1 (24).png (397 KB, 500x700)

397 KB PNG

>>5784021
And try this

>>5784021
+1

So I just learned I will work both tomorrow and Saturday. This means I'll call it a night after next update and hopefully, but not assuredly, be back tomorrow at slightly later than now. The update will come in about an hour, perhaps and-a-half, until then you can, of course, still vote.

>>5783963
Support

Rolled 68 (1d100)

>>5784104
See you then QM, good luck

>>5784159
Oops I meant
>>5783979
>>5783963
Support

Wishing the other two trainers goodbye, you are met with a "Good luck!" and a "Be seeing you!" as one unlocks her bicycle and the other starts dialing on his phone, beginning to talk to someone in a foreign language. Its sound is the last thing you hear as you set off along quiet streets, only the rare distant car or television disturbing the all-enveloping silence. A pleasant day in late autumn, alleys and gardens glow red and gold, abandoned as most of the populace are off to one of the neighboring towns for work or entirely away on their fall holiday vacation with the kids.

And then, there's Bulbmin: Plowing over green spaces, more than one lawn and several public flower beds like the world's cheeriest lawnmower, he sniffs on this and ruffles up that, having by all appearances the time of his life and not even minding when, after one too many yawns, you unceremoniously lift him up and drape him atop your head. Understanding your meaning immediately, he holds on, blunt little paws scraping for purchase in a less than completely comfortable fashion, but eventually you sort of make it work, your eager little Bulbyhat crowing its name from above you irregularly and scanning its environs from this staggering new height, clearly to its tremendous satisfaction.

Opting to give the guy the tour, you figure you could begin with your favorite spot:

>Lookout Hill - more a wave in the ground than a hill, it nonetheless provides a scenic view of your hometown of Beechburg (namely, you're looking down on it). A hangout favored by older teens, it is known to attract many Bug and Ghost types also
>Bleedham Park - Named for some famous former mayor, it is predominantly composed of well-cultivated woodland and offers many comfy spots of relative seclusion. Park boundaries cross city limits, so various strays and ferals can be found here by the night.
>The Beechburg Beach: An enchanting strip of white sand before briny waters, it attracts all sorts of swimmers and divers, not all of them human. Beyond it lies a small island.
>Yeoman Road: A cross of gametrail and wadable brook, it is certainly only a "road" in name, but leads to the next town over (which -is- half a day away though), where there's a PokeMart and PokeCenter. Beware of Spearow and Ekans here!
>The Abandoned Coal Mine; Previously the lifeblood of the town, it's now a perilous breeding grounds for who-knows-what.
>Some other place you think feels cool (Write-in, say a graveyard or town hall)

Also
>Roll 1d100 each for random encounters

>>5784243
>Damn it. Well, this is it for now, see you tomorrow, the vote is on. Feel free to ask questions about this region of Vendra, but know now that it has a blend of species from the first three generations - and may occasionally have more recent ones if many of you request a chance to see/catch one and I can somehow make it work. Or if it's cool or I like its design or whatever.
>The regions of the other games exist in-verse, but are scaled up to be actual foreign nations, Unova being not!USA and so on. They will not usually feature in the quest.
>I'll let you know that which Max would know
>What did you guys think about the Test? How are you guys enjoying our quest?

Rolled 41 (1d100)

>>5784243
>Lookout Hill - more a wave in the ground than a hill, it nonetheless provides a scenic view of your hometown of Beechburg (namely, you're looking down on it). A hangout favored by older teens, it is known to attract many Bug and Ghost types also
I wanna spooky ghost fren or a creepy crawlie for our goth dude.

Rolled 33 (1d100)

>>5784243
>>Bleedham Park - Named for some famous former mayor, it is predominantly composed of well-cultivated woodland and offers many comfy spots of relative seclusion. Park boundaries cross city limits, so various strays and ferals can be found here by the night.
Best for Bulby himself

The way the result mashed were weird, and I would have appreciated the questions in addition to the answers, but this was a nice idea

>>5784243
>The Abandoned Coal Mine; Previously the lifeblood of the town, it's now a perilous breeding grounds for who-knows-what.
I would kill for the chance to get a Larvatar. Literally my favorite mon since I was a kid. Plus weirdo goth kid would definitely be going to either the creepy abandoned mine or the ghost hill.

File: 0304Aron.png (137 KB, 570x570)

137 KB PNG

>>5784243
>>The Abandoned Coal Mine; Previously the lifeblood of the town, it's now a perilous breeding grounds for who-knows-what.

I want a Aron, he can be the hat of our Bulbmin

>>5784265
I will eventually compile a formal char-sheet with the (thus far hidden) traits you wound up developing throughout our little prologue here. I would have set up a formal questionnaire for the JTE as well, but I figured there wasn't much fun to be had in having you guys quote endless greentexts from Bulbapedia. So I kind of improvised and use the bonus questions as in-game justifications for outstanding success when you anons roll one (see what body language to adopt the first time you meet a Pokemon earlier), while abstracting from your category results what kind of thing you'll even need rolls for. All shall become clear when I have time to sit down and formalise this.

Rolled 34 (1d100)

Oh I forget to roll

Right guys, please don't forget der Rolling (and that you ain't got balls). Remember, you have the whole next 22 hours to discuss. I will make note of stated preferences for what mon to meet, but this is of course only Startertown.

With this, I'm signing off for now. Good night!

Rolled 93 (1d100)

>>5784266
>>5784304
Ah right. Rolling!

>>5784304
Oh yea do we actually have any money to get some pokeballs? Would be nice to grab a couple on the way if possible.

>>5784403
Or maybe just do it the old way, with love and petting

>>5784405
Oh that's definitely the approach but we need the ball to seal the deal.

Rolled 17 (1d100)

>>5784243
>>Bleedham Park - Named for some famous former mayor, it is predominantly composed of well-cultivated woodland and offers many comfy spots of relative seclusion. Park boundaries cross city limits, so various strays and ferals can be found here by the night.

Rolled 53 (1d100)

>>5784243
>The Abandoned Coal Mine; Previously the lifeblood of the town, it's now a perilous breeding grounds for who-knows-what.
We ARE a weird little goth and history nerd.

Sorry that I missed my deadline. Work got weird. This quest will formally update again on Sunday.

It seems the Coal Mine wins. Which of these do you think is best:
>The highest roll associated with the winning vote wins
>The highest roll out of the first three rolls wins
>I average results by winning "team"
>Or the first three rolls

>>5785943
>>The highest roll out of the first three rolls wins
I feel this is rasonable if you aim for random encounters and happenings

>>The highest roll associated with the winning vote wins
And this feel rasonable because we anons want the best for us, and seeing how a +70 roll go wasted is quite painful

I think it wound be better if we made the choose first, and then come the rolls, be for your hand or ours, be three or just one, depending on the situation we are dealing.

>>5785943
>The highest roll out of the first three rolls wins
Sounds like the most fair.

>>5785943
>>The highest roll out of the first three rolls wins

>>5785950
>>5786271
>>5786939
>41
Is your roll. In the future we will vote first and roll after. Writing now.

>>5787709
>3rd vote but forgot to roll
>94 roll isn't in the first 3 rolls
Pain

In as far as you can be said to have one, the Old Mine at the outskirts of town is surely your favorite place: Not only is its expansive network of tunnels intriguing, the derelict buildings on the company grounds offer an ideal personal retreat. Nobody ever really comes down here nowadays, and since you were little and first learned about this place you found the allure of, ahem, post-industrial aesthetics inescapable. Bulbmin, for his part, seems less enthused, narrowing his bright red eyes and tensing up as the old metal gate draws near before you.

There are other Pokemon here, of course. You've seen Rattata, Raticate, Meowth, Pidgey - and once you have overheard one of your sister's friends claiming he had encountered an Aron here, but nobody else seems to since have seen one (and you never saw that guy here). Zubat are known to nest in the crumbling attics, and the call of a Hoothoot, perhaps startled awake by some nightmare, pierces the calm of the day as you slip through the gates and find yourself in a wide yard, its stone and concrete overgrown and cracked in places. However, as you look up at the sound, you yourself draw the attention of a different local; emerging from some shrubbery under a broken window as soon as the gate falls shut behind you, a wild Sandshrew squares off before you, the aggression in its eyes quite unlike anything you've seen in Pokemon. Bulbmin puffs himself up dramatically in response, but seems uncertain about what to do.

>Encounter Sandshrew
>Lv 3

What will you do?
>Sandshrew rugby (attack personally; can cause Pokemon to flee without risking your own in battle)
>Pokemon battle (duh)
>Run
>Item

Your inventory:
>Sandwiches
>Bulbmin's ball
>A map
>Pokedex

>We'll be at an update or two a day for the near future.

File: 23da7d70c92b2824202bbf1af(...).jpg (53 KB, 735x690)

53 KB JPG

Bro, like half our IP are green or brown.

>Plant Mind

>>5787764
>Scan it with the Pokedex
>Pokemon battle

File: download-6.jpg (17 KB, 224x224)

17 KB JPG

>>5787764
>Try to pet

>Offer food

A sand dog!

>>5787764
>Scan it with the Pokedex
>Pokemon battle

>>5787764
>>5787768
+1

Rolled 95 (1d100)

>>5788357
>>5787823
>>5787768
Scan with Pokedex and battle wins.

Please give the usual 1d100, best of 3 - it needs to also beat Sandshrew's initiative though.

Rolled 28 (1d100)

>>5789007
Jesus, Sandshrew is on the ball.

Rolled 35 (1d100)

>>5789007

Rolled 4 (1d100)

>>5789007
Fastest sandshrew in the west gotdam

Oh dear.

Ahem. Well, Growl or Tackle?

>>5789256
>Growl

>>5789256
>Growl

>>5789256
>Growl

And so at last begins your very first real-life Pokemon battle, by a triumphant squeal of "shreeeeew" and a response of "Buuu", a familiar small green shape leaping off its luxurious perch to answer the enemy's challenge. Even before you have fully conceptualised the situation, the first blow is struck: Raking its shining little claws across Bulbmin's face, Sandshrew seems to only grow more confident as the Bulbasaur gives a high-pitched whine.

But it is then that you register Bulbmin's pain: As off a short while ago, you're responsible for his well-being, and it might well have been your rage that wound up steeling his resolve somehow - your little friend, at any rate, falls back a little, looking first back at you and then at his victory-dancing opponent, and unleashes an impressively guttural iteration of "SAUUUUUR!" that actually seems to shake the Ground-type up a little.

Its next attack, though just as swift, appears a lot more clumsy.

>Sandshrew (33/33 HP) used Scratch!
>Bulbmin lost 4 HP
>Bulbmin (41/45 HP) used Growl!
>Sandshrew's attack strength was reduced

>Use Tackle (1d100)
>Use an Item
>Run (1d20)
>Write-in

>>5790735
>Use Tackle (1d100)
Weaken and maybe catch it on another turn?

>>5790735
>Use Tackle (1d100)

>>5790814
We have no spare Pokeballs.

>>5790822
Huh you're right. I thought we got one from the prof.

>>5790735
>>Use Tackle (1d100)
We can just catch it by hand, right?

>>5790814
>>5790822
>>5791420
You could try to beat it into submission and capture it as one does a hostage, but as it is hostile, has initiated hostilities and associates you with trouble, you'd face fairly steep modifiers trying to actually win it over until you can "formalise" the catch via a Pokeball. You'd basically have a feral on your ass trying to regain its liberty at every turn and behaving in combat as if overleveled or confused.

As Tackle wins, roll me 1d100, bo3.

Rolled 38 (1d100)

>>5791633

Rolled 82 (1d100)

>>5791633

Rolled 74 (1d100)

>>5791633

Rolled 93 (1d100)

>>5791635
>>5791735
>>5791787
Great. I'll roll for Sandshrew and then be writing (this will include the Pokedex scan which I simply forgot about last time).

>>5791791
Sandshrew too op

>>5791791
Again, the hostile's claws commence about their bloody work. Again, that awful whine from behind Bulbmin's bulb. But now you get into the swing of things: Commanding your Pokemon to "TACKLE!" with a booming voice, you are treated to the sight of him shaking off his trepidation, catching his breath and charging forward, eagerly pouncing onto Sandshrew.

>Sandshrew (27/33 HP) used Scratch!
>Bulbmin lost 3 HP
>Bulbmin (38/45 HP) used Tackle!
>Sandshrew lost 6 HP

It is at this point that you produce your Pokedex, aiming the lense on its backside at Sandshrew and activating the "Scan" function. Quickly, a robotic voice rings out: "Sandshrew. A Mouse Pokemon. It is averse to moisture and will curl up in a ball to shield itself from strong attackers. It is of the Ground type." Meaning its vulnerable to Plant moves, of which Bulbmin doesn't have any just yet. That might explain why it refuses to curl up, opting to fight, and fighting bravely: Stumbling backward like a drunk and flailing with its arms for balance, Sandshrew soon closes in again.

>Use Tackle (1d100, DC to hit reveiled: 40)
>Use Growl (works automatically)
>Use an Item
>Run (1d20)
>Write-in

>>5791820
>>Use Tackle (1d100, DC to hit reveiled: 40)
If we do this enough times we'll get it eventually!

>>5791843
Actually, a houndred or dubs over the to-hit-DC on the actual attack roll will result in a critical hit, which in this case could do up to five times their regular damage and end this battle.

Also, once reduced beneath (33 / 2 =) 17 HP, there will be a chance every turn for Sandshrew to try fleeing, which would count as a win for Bulbmin and you but score less experience than a true K.O. (or successful capture using a Pokeball, for that matter).

>>5791820
>Use Tackle (1d100, DC to hit reveiled: 40)

>>5791820
>Use Tackle (1d100, DC to hit revealed: 40)

>>5791820
>>Use Tackle (1d100, DC to hit reveiled: 40)

>>5791843
>>5792036
>>5792429
>>5792551
Tackle wins. 1d100, bo3.

PS there will likely not be any updates tomorrow.

Rolled 10 (1d100)

>>5792589

Rolled 99 (1d100)

>>5792589

Rolled 67 (1d100)

>>5792589
will unlikely surpass (You)>>5792593

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811 KB JPG

>>5792593
>Sandshrew POV

Rolled 5 (1d100)

Okay. Rolling one last hurrah for Sandshrew and writing.

Sorry this took so long, by the way. There was a series of major complications on my end.

>>5791820
>>5792590
>>5792593
>>5792619
And closing in is all it gets to do: By now, the sight of those raking claws is as familiar to Bulbmin as it is to you, and it seems he is completely out of whines to give. As the scaly yellow paw of his antagonist descends once more, the little green critter crouches low, tensing as if to catch an inevitable third strike - only for the blow to go hilariously wide as Bulbmin rapidly leaps aside.

For a moment, your eyes meet the Mouse Pokemon's, which grow wide with fear as it flails and hobbles for steady footing: For all the force it previously put into its moves, it had clearly never expected one to miss, much less for a foe it struck several times to grow stronger.

They then come to rest on Bulbmin as he circles his opponent much as he circled you earlier, except with far less mirth and far greater velocity, and -his- eyes mean only business now: A piercing glint of red from around four long, yet shallow scratches, a look of defeat across Sandshrew's face, and then a howl of "SAUUUR!" as green hits yellow, the armored Ground-type flying forward to the earth, face first.

And it is victory.

>Sandshrew (00/33 HP) used Scratch!
>It missed
>Bulbmin (38/45 HP) used Tackle
>A critical hit!
>Sandshrew lost 30 HP

>You gain 40 XP for defeating Sandshrew
>Plus 20 XP for needing less than five hits
>Doubled to 120 XP for this being your first fight
>Gain total XP: 120/100

>Bulbmin reached Lv 6 (Lv 7: 020/120 XP)
>And...

As the limp form of the Sandshrew collapses, your jolly little planty boy luxuriates in his triumph, "AAAUUURRR"-ing at max volume while a strange gleam of vitality seems to pass over him, starting at the feet and crawling up unto the bulb's brim as if it were nutrients flowing up-root, until at last a small cloud of brownish dust pops up from the latter, accompanied by a howl-ending sound not unlike a sneeze.

>Bulbmin learned Leech Seed

What will you do? This one's a write-in; anything you want to do to celebrate your Pokemon Journey's very first victory, tell us here before you

>Leave the Mine grounds and go elsewhere (where?)
>Explore further (1d100 for random encounters)

You have about five hours left before you must be home for dinner.

>>5796405
Do we have any money that we could pick up some pokeballs with?

That concludes the 200th post of "A boy and his Bulbasaur". We appear to be in autosage also. This, I believe, begs the question: How did you lot enjoy the ride so far? Should we archive this and continue?

>>5796405
>Explore further

>>5796425
>How did you lot enjoy the ride so far?
So far, so good! I could see battles dragging on a bit if they're this granular, though I guess at a fast enough update speed it wouldn't matter. Everything else is great!

>Should we archive this and continue?
No need to start a new thread. Threads tend to last about 30 days on this board, and most people organize the catalogue by Last Reply.

>>5796425
At home in your Swinub bank, there is some money. The next Pokemart is, however, a half day's travel far away. The random encounter tables I've whipped up for this contain events where you find items instead of Pokemon or other trainers though. Here at the Mine you actually stand a three-percent chance of finding an intact Pokeball with the "Explore further" option, and a four percent chance of finding someone who'd trade you one for some food. You may also chance across a Zigzagoon (about two percent) and have the opportunity to loot its carried item after victory (this is however never guaranteed to be a Pokeball).

>>5796435
I wanted to keep as much of the Gameboy feel as I could with the battles, figuring that type-specific weaknesses and strengths would eventually guarantee you ending them within a round or so. But I see your point; maybe I'll check out some other quests involving Pokemon and see if I can't find a way to streamline things a little.

Rolled 23 (1d100)

>>5796405
>>5796439
>Explore further (1d100 for random encounters)
In that case let's keep going!

>>5796475
It's a recent rule-change I'll admit, but usually der Rolling only starts after we have the vote through. So feel free to roll again, as

>Explore further

takes this one.

>Everyone else reading, 1d100. This is an encounter roll so the first one after this post wins.

>>5796566
>first one
DAMN IT. -Best- one after this one. As in the best of 3.

Rolled 36 (1d100)

>>5796566

Rolled 31 (1d100)

>>5796566

Rolled 16 (1d100)

>>5796566

>>5796572
>>5796659
>>5796744
>You rolled 36. Believe it or not, that's another Sandshrew. Would you like to re-roll or fight on?

>>5796776
If reroll do include your roll while posting "Reroll"

>>5796776
I'm fine with grinding Sandshrews if we speedrun the fight, but otherwise a reroll for narrative sake makes sense.

>>5796776
It's fine by me either way.

>>5796782
Do please explain what "speedrunning" entails.

>>5796840
Like, for repeated fights with identical enemies and no change in circumstances, maybe just do a single roll to determine how combat goes? Like an auto-battle?

>>5796844
No, I don't think I'll do that. I grew up on DnD 3.5 just as much as Pokemon, there will be no taking 10 on combat rolls.

>>5796906
No offense qm but if we have to do every combat and there's a level system that we'll have to do a lot of fighting for then this will take forever. We won't be out of the starting area until the new year. Quests and tabletop, especially super crunchy ones like 3.5, do not mix well.

>>5796977
None taken. I do get that. I really do. But this is far less crunchy than 3.5 (at least for players), and if we hit a combat we are playing it; hence why I gave you the re-roll option.

Rolled 96 (1d100)

>>5797004
Then I vote re-roll.

Rolled 34 (1d100)

Here you go.

Going with the 96 and writing.

Amidst Bulbmin's (and your) basking in the glow of victory (including the literal one of the Bulbasaur earlier), Sandshrew must have awoken. Where it fell, a few flecks of its drool remain, but its formerly unconscious form has disappeared. But, alas, it would have been a nightmare to manage until caught properly, anyway.

Riding a rush of high confidence, it occurs to you to go look around for stray items such as a chance explorer might have dropped - perhaps even some trainer or other, starting out just like you now? From Steadcliff, the nearest big town perhaps, where they've a Pokemart and the Drill Badge gym? Why, you might find yourself some Pokeballs around here - an optimistic wager, surely, but not hopeless.

And so it comes to pass. An hour's worth of searching the exterior already pays off well: Finding a 500 Pokedollar note in the shriveled remains of a potted fern and a late crop of four harvestable rawstberries next to a wooden storehouse gate so large, old and long-undisturbed now that there is moss growing on its western surface, you go undisturbed by the local Pokemon for a good while, but eventually some disturbance causes Bulbmin to twitch in alarm (which feels weird on your head). It is then that you hear someone mumbling, no, cursing "quietly" through the shattered window of some office room. "Damn it. No good either. Like I need any more of those." Your nose registers a noticeable stench of mold and - maybe vinegar? Vinegar. A noticeable stench of mold and vinegar out of the same direction.

>Investigate
>Call out
>Run
>Other (Write-in)

>Gained 500 Pokedollar
>Gained 4 x Rawstberry

>>5797894
>Investigate

>>5797894
>>Investigate

>>5797894
>Investigate

>>5798058
>>5798123
>>5798128
Inching closer with a caution even Bulbmin shares, you make your way toward the window. The unseen man continues to grumble under his breath, but this time around you can't make out his words.

Finally, you chance a glance in through the window: As you suspected, an office room. Several desks crowd the place, damaged in places and commonly worm-bittten, and near what appears to be a makeshift fireplace of several smashed chairs amid a ring of bricks cowers an otherwise towering figure: Maybe your father's age and a good bit taller, the stranger seems to be busy rifling through a large travel bag, which appears to contain mostly women's clothing. A massive, torn and tattered cloak frames his shoulders, and you can see he wears another underneath; their colors distinct, if just barely for all the grime and mud that cling to all. Next to him upon a length of cut-up carpeting lie several objects, pill bottles for the most part, but also a box of cigarettes, an empty thermos with its cap missing and - two Pokeballs.

"Come on, come on. A man can't live off of Calcium pills." The stranger speaks louder now, but apparently has not noticed you.

>Attempt to steal the Pokeballs (1d100 Stealth roll)
>Get his attention (1d100 Social roll)
>Leave unseen
>Other (Write-in)

>>5798148
>Get his attention (1d100 Social roll)
Maybe we can trade him some food for a pokeball?

>>5798148
>Continue watching quietly

>>5798148
>Get his attention (1d100 Social roll)
"HEY. WHATCHA' DOING THERE, BUDDY?"

>>5798148
>Get his attention (1d100 Social roll)
Supporting this fine lad >>5798160

>>5798160
>>5798231
>>5798628
Alright, 1d100, DC 60, bo3.

Rolled 54 (1d100)

>>5798778

Rolled 43 (1d100)

>>5798778

Rolled 88 (1d100)

Next roll makes or breaks it but no pressure though. Also rolling one of my own for... reasons.

Rolled 3 (1d100)

>>5798778
Let's go!

>>5798786
>>5798804
>>5798819
>Ah well, can't all be winners right?

You decide on an open approach: Rapping your knuckles against the windowpane, you seek the stranger's attention and clear your throat - but you get alarm: In an instant, the big man floors it and hugs the ground (or rather, flattens a bundle of dresses beneath his midsection) before rolling aside to seek cover behind a desk, trailing vintage finery. "HEY. WHAT-" - "WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU?" He is now leaning partially around the corner of his desk to get a look at you, and so you can also gaze onto him: A long and unkempt beard so messy you might find new species in it frames a harsh, weather-beaten face optically split in two by a bright, gruesome, curving scar across the nose and forehead. One grey eye glares at you balefully, while the other lies concealed behind an eyepatch.

Almost as an afterthought, you notice the tip of a fancy blue tie protruding from beneath the beard, and this at least looks -almost- pristine.

>"The name's Power. I come to do business!"
>"I'm Max. How 'bout some lunch?"
>"Ahem, as I was -saying-: HEY WHATCHA DOING THERE, BUDDY?"
>Rush his ass (1d100 Combat roll)
>Have Bulbmin attack him (roll Initiative)
>Other (Write-in; he's not terribly receptive to you presence, as you startled him, but he's also not immediately hostile)

>>5798837
>"I'm Max. How 'bout some lunch?"

>>5798837
>"Ahem, as I was -saying-: HEY WHATCHA DOING THERE, BUDDY?"
Match his volume for the funnies.

>>5798849
>"I'm Max. How 'bout some lunch?"

>>5798837
>"Ahem, as I was -saying-: HEY WHATCHA DOING THERE, BUDDY?"

Bad news: I will sadly not be able to update tonight or the next two days. We will meet again on Friday, feel free to hang out and discuss, and also I'll continue to accept votes until my return.

>>5798837
>>5798849
I'll switch my vote to
>"Ahem, as I was -saying-: HEY WHATCHA DOING THERE, BUDDY?"
Just to keep things moving.

>>5799201
Thanks for telling us boss.

>>5799201
Duly noted!

>>5798880
>>5799172
>>5799352
People can be so very inconsiderate. Clearly, you had been in the process of starting a conversation here, and he goes and -interrupts- you. The nerve, as it were, the nerve. But as you were saying: "WHATCHA DOING THERE, BUDDY?" The scarred face continues to glower at you, only briefly pausing to flinch at your sheer volume, but it somehow seems he is less nervous than before, and certainly less than he could be, given the awkwardness of the entire situation. A tense moment of silence follows as the stranger seems to mull something over, then he cracks a grin of rotting yellow teeth: "Don't worry, chap. Nothing bad. Just found this travel bag here by the side of the road and was hoping there might be a bite for lunch in it. No such luck though." It occurs to you that when he isn't yelling, this guy can be surprisingly chill. You had half expected some sort of shouting match to follow. But considering that he was rifling through some stranger's things at an abandoned coal mine (and looking like this wasn't really unusual for him), he likely had his reasons to avoid a ruckus. "Say, kid... are you aware there's a Pokemon on your head?" (- "Bulba?")

"Yeah. I can't seem to get it off, so how about I trade you all these sandwiches for those Pokeballs?" There, now you've said it. If Bulbmin understands what you say, he does at leasst not seem to mind. The other guy, for his part, immediately grows suspicious again: "Come again? You know how much those go for at the right place? I could just sell them up in Steadcliff and-" - "Walk half a day while hungry already?"

The ensuing staredown is as brief as it is intense, ending only (albeit quickly) with the big man's stomach growling loudly enough for you to hear it all the way over here. "Wait the whole night as well, until they open in the morning?"

Another growl, then finally: "Alright, kid. Fine. Let's see 'em."

And as you hold out the various bread creations, unmistakably your father's work, the one-eyed one makes his counteroffer past a mouth already watering despite his best efforts: "Tell you what - one Pokeball for those."

>Accept (Trade sandwiches for one Pokeball)
>Insist on both balls (another Social roll, no particularly hard one though)
>"Actually, forget it." (fake walking away)
>"Tell -you- what..." (try to threaten him for the balls)
>Other (Write-in)

>>5802477
>>Insist on both balls (another Social roll, no particularly hard one though)

>>5802477
>>Insist on both balls (another Social roll, no particularly hard one though)

So I fell asleep again. Sorry about that.

>Roll 1d100 (DC 45)

Rolled 33 (1d100)

>>5803073

Rolled 99 (1d100)

>>5803073
No worries boss! Don't push yourself if your don't have to.

Rolled 98 (1d100)

>>5803073

>>5803088
>>5803122
>Insane double crit roll

So... Does the ball contain eggs of other region starters?

>>5803088
>>5803122
>>5803127
I'd give anything for there to be a Larvitar, egg or otherwise, in one. Or at least an Aron to make that other anon happy.

>>5803075
>>5803088 (Dayum)
>>5803122
Yeah, you got this. Two balls for you.

>>5803127
>>5803141
You will not usually just be given living Pokemon other than Bulbmin; the anatomy of a social encounter you begin in ABAHB is
1) First impression - Can notably alter DCs for subsequent interactions
2) The conversation - where we either cement or alter the first impression from what sounds logical
3) Any transactions - which are rolled separately. Your DC of 45 means any 55, 66, 77, 88, 99 or 100 make a crit-success (The higher the dubs, the better the benefit), and was generated by default DC of 50, +10 for a negative first impression, -10 for your Sis-mod on rolls involving assertiveness, +5 for wanting something the other person has, -10 for having something the other person wants.

Note in social encounters you don't initiate (such as with Shelly in the Preserve Collection or when Sis adressed you at the beginning), there is no separate first impression roll. Rather, the speaking NPCs interests and motivations determine how difficult or easy any interaction rolls will get (so you're mechanically unlikely to get out of a trainer fight you have been challenged to, as in the games, but absolutely can back down from one you started and may get lucky)

Writing now.

>>5803172
"No can do, buddy." You're not going to go out with any less than what you came for here; just the money you just found could easily buy you a Pokeball once you yourself make your way to Steadcliff. You may not be as diplomatic as your Pa would like, but your ability to self-assert did after all come up under his daughter, and something in the looks of you tells the one-eyed man that you will not be trifled with; he quickly steers it back with a small sigh. "Alright, kid. Fine. Two of 'em then. You know, just a sec ago I thought you're, you know..." He circles his hand to the side of his head in the universal, well, short-hand for crazy in the noggin as he gets up from behind the desk. "Figured, you know, here's some special boy and I'd see you off easily enough. But fuggit, turns out you're that other kind of special person. Here!" He tosses you the two Pokeballs, one of which shows strange protrusions on one half that are too regular to be plain old dents and too small for you to have seen them earlier. "I think one of them is a Superball, which I believe means it's easier to catch Pokemon with it? Reckon the previous owner thought if he dyed it red up top it would be less attractive to thieves. Funny how that works."

You aren't completely sure you agree. More of a blackmail guy, you. But a deal's a deal, and after all a Superball (which you believe is called a Great Ball outside of Vendra) means you really -will- be able to catch one Pokemon more easily. Your strange business partner puts words to what you're already thinking: "I wouldn't" he begins as you fork your bread over "waste that on any old Sandshrew or Meowth 'round here if I were you. Go hunt yourself something rarer; I've heard there's Arons here. You don't see those often in Vendra. Could just fit the bill."

Aron -would- be interesting, though you are pretty sure it's mixture of types leaves it fairly impervious to Bulbmin's entire (tiny) moveset. There is another cave-dwelling species you have always wanted though, and it seems the guy is willing to play ball now that your trade is made, so it can't hurt to ask: "What about Larvitar? You know where I might find me one of those?" - "Galeport. They've had layoffs at the gold mine there, supposedly because of a Ground-type invasion. And a friend of mine who used to work there says that he saw a Tyranitar, but between you and me he's known to see ghosts and aliens, too. Now I'd suggest you skedaddle; this lunch is costlier than it should be, and I don't exactly feel like sharing it."

Great. Galeport is perhaps the northernmost city in all of Vendra, almost a month's worth of foot travel to the north of Steadcliff, and you know it to be mostly composed of medieval fortifications dug directly into the coastal cliffs. The Chisel Badge can be won there, so you'd have to go at some point, but a search in that sprawl of underground tunnels would surely take weeks.

Ah well. (cont.)

>>5803235
Now, you have about three-and-a-half hours before you are expected home, the "and-a-half" being how long you'll need to get there. What will you do?

>Continue your conversation whether he likes it or not (Write-in what to talk about)
>End the conversation and get back to exploring the Mine grounds
>Leave the Mine grounds and go elsewhere (where?)
>Other (write-in)

Slow evening I reckon. See you guys tomorrow!

>>5803239
>End the conversation and get back to exploring the Mine grounds

>>5803239
>End the conversation and get back to exploring the Mine grounds
Just got back from my first in person dnd game since covid and it was so much fun! Shame that we probably won't get my favorite mon, at least not anytime soon.

>>5803532
Pardon, I can't see your ID in the mon requests. Which is your favorite?

>>5803564
Ah I'm on mobile so my ID changes. Larvitar is my favorite.