AUGUST 2025 EVENT LOG

[bayhelpers]

⋆✩ THE FIRST TRUE EXPEDITION ✩⋆

The Guildleader’s announcement comes off the excitement of yet another round of mysterious new arrivals floundering their way into society. It comes not long after a fresh round of beach parties and campfires, announced simply by notices posted to the Quest Board concerning a vital announcement to be made at the Archive’s steps. Within the first week of the month, that announcement has been made.

It’s time to expand their borders. It’s time to break through the unknown.

It’s time, the Guilds agree, for an Expedition.

i. LET THE EXPEDITION BEGIN

PACK YOUR BAGS

Preparing for the Expedition is no simple task. After the announcement has been made, all three Guilds prepare personal sign-ups for the matter, extending invitations to Pokemon they feel will do particularly well. An expedition, each Leader explains, is not at all the same as any typical quest. It is an effort comparable to the very exodus that formed what Bottlecap Bay is today. It’s a collective of Pokemon all headed for one singular goal, supporting each other in the effort.

Pokemon are encouraged to invest in sacks and satchels in some cases, while others are simply handed worn packs for their own use. Lists of necessary supplies are passed around, ranging from simple foods like apples and chestnuts all the way to rare and valuable goods that could make or break any team lost in the woods. Seeds that explode when chewed upon, or even revive a Pokemon from unconsciousness are carefully divided among Expeditioners, and as the day fast approaches the nervousness becomes a tangible thing upon the air. Heavy, like a storm. Static, akin to electricity from a yet unseen lightning bolt.

Yet skies are clear - and they remain clear when the day comes for the trek as well.

WE’RE TAKING A ROAD TRIP

⟡ The Expedition begins ICly on the 1st of August - Players are free to handwave characters seeing notices leading up to this day beginning from the 25th of July.

⟡ When it comes to being allowed on the Expedition, even new Pokemon are invited to join! The Guild Leaders are anticipating they’ll have hidden strengths and unusual insights in dealing with the unexpected, compared to native Pokemon - what with the experiences they have coming from very different worlds.

⟡ All Pokemon on the Expedition will at minimum be equipped with some form of sack for personal belongings. While larger Pokemon will also be tasked with carrying extra loads intended for tents and shelters, smaller ones will be asked to tow rations (or other supplies that are easily split) for their immediate party.

⟡ Many stores in the town are eager to do their part to support Expeditioners! While this doesn’t mean any special discounts, it does mean that items and goods they exchange might be a little more personalized. It seems a Pokemon’s favorite snack just happens to have been set aside, while the last satchel available is in their favorite color. How fortuitous!

THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED

While all three are in agreement, it is only one Guild Leader who spearheads the charge. The Oran Berries of the Spire are left with a trusted deputy to handle any immediate matters as the Expedition Team sets off for the woods in early August, and where most teams are a mere two to four Pokemon strong it isn’t inaccurate to compare this one to an army. As a mass, these Pokemon move forward with their packs filled with supplies. Stone, lumber, and straw for larger sorts. Food and tools for others. And still more with nothing but the most vital necessities, first aid, and so on.

The three sections of forest that are known to Bottlecap Bay all border the sandy shore of the Bay’s lower crescent, with the ‘North’ in particular creeping along the Canopy. Through probing of the Forest’s boundaries and environs, thanks in large part to all of the explorations and quests of the past months, the Guilds have determined that the Forest eventually starts funneling together, the far end of each section growing narrower and narrower as the entire Forest is compressed between impassable terrain. This also means that whatever’s at the other end, any entrance to the Forest should exit in roughly the same place.

The Expedition intends to travel just through the North section - at this point they’ve had plenty of experience dealing with the primary hazard of spores! However, as the team carries on, they start to encounter discordant patches resembling the Middle and South in alternating moments of time. Some begin to voice concerns and questions - the Forest was never so strange before, even when the fog was at its thickest. Is this trip really worth it? How are they possibly going to make it through to the other side? The Forest seemed unending even when they were starting to get used to the conditions in each section individually!

As worries mount, Mightyena calls out encouragement, and hopeful whispers spread from the front of the Expedition. One of the Pokemon near Mightyena has a hunch, and says so in a shy voice. A feeling that just ahead, there might be something that isn’t just woods. Thanks to everyone’s efforts in recruitment, many wild Pokemon have agreed to assist over the last number of days - and the ones from the furthest corners of the Forest concur. The end is near, and this has been the forest’s final test. They just have to push on.

They can do that much, right?

ARE WE THERE YET?

⟡ While the threat levels over all within the forest have dropped down somewhat, navigation during the Expedition becomes even harder than it was before. The trip at minimum takes a full day - but notably, Pokemon who stray from the group quickly find themselves back in the pack, or back in Bottlecap depending on their intentions.

⟡ The Expedition only stops a few times during this trip, each time for a shared meal. There is always at least one Pokemon with their eyes directly ahead so that they don’t lose the path, and others in the group make certain to keep their fellows in sight at all times.

⟡ While they don’t ultimately set up tents in the woods, it’s clear from speaking with Mightyena that it was considered a possibility; in fact, finding a place for the Outpost within just a single day should have been impossible! She seems certain that at least one Pokemon move or ability was involved in this.

ii. BOTTLECAP OUTPOST, NAME TBD

CAMPING WITH EXTRA STEPS

After little more than a day of trekking, the journey comes to an end. The Expedition’s goal was to find a place suitable enough to create another settlement. To find a place beyond the woods that could be considered safe. A place that could eventually become another home.

Thanks to the cooperation of the Pokemon of the forest, they have managed just that.

The valley is a beautiful carpet of swaying grass, gently sloping hills, and tiny babbling brooks. Wildflowers sprout in colorful clumps or large swathes, and the air smells sweet and fresh; a breeze ruffles gently through Pokemon fur and feathers, chasing clouds through the sky. Scattered rocks and boulders make for perfect spots to lie down and sunbathe. One larger stream meanders through the center, its water clear enough to see straight through to the rocky bottom - at least except for the spots where rocks jut out above the surface, generating sprays of drops and foam. It's kind of hard to believe that this was just beyond the fog and gnarled undergrowth of the forest!

At the other end of the valley, the hills begin to grow steeper, and trees fill in again - in fact, it almost looks denser than the forest on the way back to the Bay, if that's even possible. Over near that end Mightyena is organizing expeditions, marking off three general directions to start exploring. It might be tempting to sneak out for a peek ahead of time, but Mightyena insists it's not safe to go solo and without supplies.

Off in the distance, beyond the dense woods, the hills stretch into an extensive mountain range. Dark clouds hang above many of them, caught on the peaks.

Closer to the center of the valley, on one side of the stream where the ground is flattest, the Outpost's boundaries are being marked out. It's time to start building!

NO REALLY DON’T GO IN THERE

⟡ Pokemon who haven’t been approved for Exploration Quests will be swiftly caught and carried back to the Outpost base. Done enough times, and they may even be sent back to Bottlecap Bay!

⟡ Curiously, Pokemon who return from their expeditions will note that even if they encounter mountains, none of the visible mountains match what they saw - no matter what direction teams explore in, the regions and sights are entirely incongruous with what can be seen from the valley.

⟡ Those remaining at the Outpost will have plenty of work to do. Regular travel routes must be established, as well as the placement of temporary shelters. Pokemon will be spending many days out here, which means lots of hunting and gathering work to be done as well. Players are invited to come up with their own unique tasks; a village has many requirements.

THE HEART OF DEVELOPMENT

So here’s the bad news: even with the wide number and variety of Pokemon present, and all the strange abilities and skills at everyone’s disposal, building an Outpost… just isn’t something that happens in a day. Everyone’s going to be here for a while! And there’s simply too much work for anyone to get away with slacking.

Any Expedition members who aren’t being sent out on an official exploration are going to have their paws, wings, and other assorted limbs full of construction tasks. Even those sent out on explorations will be expected to join in as soon as they’re back - assuming they’ve avoided injury, of course. And whenever Pokemon collapse for a well-earned rest… it’s going to have to be under tarps and temporary shelters. (At least it’s probably not much worse than what everyone’s already used to, for everyone but the Lum Berries?)

Still, the relief of making it through the Forest and the loveliness of the environs has the mood of the Expedition high! The overall feeling is like that of a barn raising, with cheers ringing out whenever a new building is framed, and again whenever it’s officially designated complete. Some massive fire pits are very nearly the first thing to get put together, and every sundown there’s bonfires for the Expedition members to congregate around and relax with their supper.

It won’t be long before the Outpost is complete, and this will all be worth it!

NEW PLACES

⟡ While the core of the Outpost won’t be finished until the final week of the month, other unique matters will slowly make themselves known as the 24th of August approaches. In particular, a uniquely shaped building with its own Questboard will finish its construction alongside a storehouse, a clinic, and a dwelling house.

⟡ The latter three buildings are quite basic; the Storehouse is used to maintain and preserve stock of all manner of necessary materials including food, and even has the beginnings of facilities meant to process these. There is talk of possibly creating a water wheel to help with this. The Clinic in turn is a far smaller version of its Bottlecap counterpart, meant for emergency treatment of Pokemon who cannot be brought directly to town.

⟡ By August 24th, Pokemon will be able to experience the finished Dwelling house on their own. While it’s constructed in the style of many of Bottlecap Bay’s buildings, it seems to follow the spirit of the Oran and Cheri guild’s dormitory systems. Pokemon share rooms with four simple beds, and the entire building makes use of a communal stove.

⟡ The final building is the most important; it’s a Post Office. The Quest Board outside of it is meant to host requests relevant to the regions too distant from Bottlecap to reasonably respond to, but for now something else is posted there. ICly posted on August 24th, these notices call for a vote on names for the Outpost and neighboring regions. Further details, and an IC Suggestion Poll, can be found Here.

✩ OOC NOTES.

⟡ CWS: Typical Pokemon violence - otherwise this is a fairly tame event!

⟡ As promised on the monthly plotting post, we are happy to announce that Activity Rewards are now available! You can find more information here.

⟡ While all Heavy Quests will ICly have completed by August 24th, sign-ups for these quests will remain open all month.

⟡ For those who participated in Heavy Quests this month, don't forget to submit your quest completion forms before the 30th!

⟡ Have any questions related to the event? Ask them here! If your question is more general for the game, please make sure to direct it to the FAQ page instead. Thank you, and happy threading!

FULL NAVIGATION

Comments

Bigby Wolf | TWAU

[wolfcut]

a. pack your bags (ota)

[ At this point, Bigby is enough of a fixture at the clinic to know his way around. Doesn't help that he would have rather been volunteered literally anywhere else, but this isn't about him. He's there to help gather whatever medical supplies people tell him to, whether he likes it or not. Good thing he's small enough to weave in and out of tight spots without much problem at all.

Run into him later in the day, and he'll be even less pleasant than when he started. While everyone continues to work around him, he resigns himself to hanging around outside the clinic, in desperate need of a smoke he doesn't have. All he can do is angrily bite down on his seeds, trying hard to distract himself from seeing the coma ward moments before.

He doesn't even bother to look up if someone else approaches. ]

What? I'm busy.

[ He's not. ]

b. home on arrange (anasui)

[ Five minutes. He couldn't have been gone any longer than five minutes, and yet somehow that was more than enough time to disassemble whatever the hell he had been working on all morning.

(Truth be told, it probably could've used some adjustments, but starting over just crosses a line he didn't even know he had.) ]

I'm going to kill that fucking bird. [ Fur bristling. Ears twitching. The culprit doesn't even have the decency to make himself readily available to answer for his crimes. He kicks aside a few of the pieces, immediately ruining whatever tidy order they were in just moments before.

Through grit teeth, he growls after his so-called building buddy: ] Anasui—!

[ Hammer in hand, he's just pushing past whoever happens to be between him and finding that Espathra. ]

They're the worst, I love it

[dripdrive]

[While the quest itself says that no help is useless in building, Anasui certainly disagrees. These were supposed to be vital facilities for the outpost. They couldn't half-ass any jobs. Even Abomasnow was correcting some other Pokemon to adjust a pillar for the third time! And... Look. The fact that he could dismantle it in five minutes is a testament to how shoddy it is.

Anasui just thought he was being helpful by dismantling the structure and saving Abomasnow their breath. He certainly did not think that his building buddy would mind.

Fucking hell...]

What is it? I'm busy! [Anasui yells back. He had just gone to the storehouse to get wood that's properly sized for the task. Surely, that stupid hamster can't have messed up something again, right?]

just look at them, having the most fun, being so chill

[wolfcut]

The fuck do you mean busy?

[ Something about his usual choice of words getting thrown back him is just too much. He pushes aside the poor Pokémon in his way toward Anasui, picking up one of the makeshift hammers as he does. As if that'll make him anymore threatening.

He points it up at the bird while he snaps back. ] You sure about that? 'Cause newsflash, asshole — breaking my shit wasn't part of the assignment.

this is enrichment for assholes :)

[dripdrive]

I'm getting supplies for fixing a bunch of dumb mistakes.

[Anasui puts down the bags he brought over, not at all threatened by Bigby or his new weapon. The Espathra only gives him a side-glance as he begins to sort out the nails they brought, calm as ever.]

I didn't break it. Breaking implies that was strain or a blow to the structure. I undid it because it was messy and unstable, and would have broken if any weight was applied to it. If you're going to do a job, do it properly.

the real reason abomasnow put them together lbr

[wolfcut]

Oh, clearly. [ He rolls his eyes, staking the hammer down on the ground to lean against it. Let's ignore the fact that it's nearly as tall as him. ]

Same shit, same result. Don't get technical when it's still in pieces either way. [ His nose scrunches up, eyes following the nails as they get put in place one by one. ] Lot of fixing that was. Maybe wait till the job's done first, then you can talk, huh?

so true

[dripdrive]

[It's objectively adorable to see the Morepeko against the hammer, even if Anasui doesn't see it that way. He rolls his eyes again but still doesn't grace Bigby a proper look.]

It would have broken if you finished it. I'm saving time and making sure you don't have to start all over again when it doesn't pass Abomasnow's standards. [His standards, more likely...] Just stick to gathering things and leave me to do the building.

[wolfcut]

[ What's done is done. They're starting over. He could just live with that and move on, but coming from Anasui? Absolutely not. ]

Are you even li — rrgh, that's not my point, Anasui. [ He kicks the hammer back up to lug over his shoulder. ] Abomasnow's standards. Like you're their second-in-command. [ Just growling to himself through grit teeth now. ] Fine. You want me to gather? I'll fucking gather.

[ Stomping closer to the bags Anasui brought, he snatches some of the sorted nails in his free paw in a very see-how-that-feels sort of way. Whoops, sorry about that organization. ] So helpful, isn't it?

[dripdrive]

[Of course he's listening. He just doesn't care. Anasui is more than happy to let Bigby rant to himself as he finishes up. He raises his head, feeling a lot better now that things were sorted, and was about to get back to work when Bigby haphazardly picks things up.]

Oy bastard! What do you think you're doing? [Anasui reaches over to snatch the nails off of Bigby with his teeth.] Stop messing things up!

[Children. Both of them.]

[wolfcut]

What's it look like, asshole? I'm getting supplies for actual builders.

[ Despite Anasui's efforts, Bigby manages to hold on to a few, enough to still play keep away. He turns his back to the other, nose scrunching when he finally realizes— ]

What the hell are you even organizing these for? They're all the same! [ To him, anyway. ]

Anasui you're gonna get electrocuted.......

[dripdrive]

I'm more of a builder than you, pipsqueak!

[Anasui's feathers puff up, hackles raised, at the Morepeko. He bends his long neck over to Bigby to try grab them again.] No they're not. Their density differs as does the metal quality. Don't you have eyes? I'm doing a head-count so I can figure out which nails are needed for which task and which ones are best for it.

[With that, Anasui will grab Bigby by the scruff like how he would any other Pokemon. He shakes the rodent, trying to free the nails from him.]

he's so lucky he's not actually a flying type....

[wolfcut]

Oh, fuck off, Big Bird. You've built even less than me. [ Because if he's at zero now, then his friend here must be in the negatives, considering all that deconstruction. Regardless, he's still playing keep away, even as Anasui manages to take back a few more of the nails. ]

What the hell are you even talking about? They're all nails, Anasui! They do the same thing! Stop wasting our fucking time. [ If they get the job done the same way, then why bother. Clearly, he is in all ways but physical still just a wolf, not a handyman. Though, getting yoinked himself now sure makes him question that first part. He lets the rest of the nails scatter as he tries to kick himself away. ]

I already said fuck off, and I don't like repeating myself.

[dripdrive]

[Anasui can't immediately respond because he has his mouth full of Bigby but as soon as he hears the nails ping against the floor, he drops his 'partner'.]

... Hmph. You probably don't know the difference between a casing nail and a ring nail. And the nails with a zinc coating are supposed to be used outside. They resist the weather better. Ugh! You're so frustrating! [He walks over to pick the nails. As he does, he grits his teeth.]

... Just go. I'll do this alone. You can tell whoever you participated or did the job or whatever. I don't care. I'll get this done eventually.

[It's not the same. He knows it's not the same. He can see it isn't, even if Bigby can't. And even though it may not be important to Bigby, it feels important to Anasui.]

[wolfcut]

[ Huh. Bigby’s getting the feeling he struck a nerve he didn’t think existed. He finally goes quiet, the scowl still ever present. ]

... Stop. You’ll just take forever with those fucking things.

[ Anasui’s talons, he means. Being smaller might actually give him a little more finesse with objects just as tiny as he is. He still can’t visually tell the difference on some of these, but the scent between what does and doesn’t have that coating is enough to start sorting best he can. Not that he particularly enjoys the smell of metal, the scrunch on his face evidence of that. ]

Don’t tell me what to do. Like hell am I gonna quit now ‘cause of you.

[ Not like he feels a little bad now or anything. ]

a

[telewarped]

[A familiar voice answers,] Yeesh... Okay, maybe I won't split this with you, then.

[It's Shoka, standing a small distance away with a shiny red apple held in her claws—an extra left over from her own supply run, apparently.]

[wolfcut]

—Shoka? [ His droopy ears perk all the way up. ] Well, look at that. Suddenly my schedule's all cleared up.

[ The apple catches his eyes almost immediately. It's hard for him to look away, even as he goes on. ]

Got you working food deliveries, huh? Tough break.

[telewarped]

Nice save. [With a chuckle, she shuffles her way over to him.] Food collection duty, actually. Guess I'm just too good at apple-picking and had a couple extra, so... Consider this delivery a self-imposed quest.

[If she were a more diligent and honorable worker, she might have added it to an emergency surplus of some kind... But she isn't, so she didn't. Besides, Pokémon still gotta eat before the expedition, too, right? She hands Bigby the apple.]

What about you? They got you on sulking duty, or what?

[wolfcut]

Gee. Wonder why I didn't get picked for that. [ He takes the apple with both paws before turning it over to examine. ] Fresh outta rewards though.

[ Despite his obvious interest, he's not actually taken a bite yet. ] I'm on my mandated break, actually. Not that this place knows anything about workplace violations. [ Bigby scoffs, though admittedly it sounds a bit more tired than usual. ]

... Clinic duty's just a bit much right now.

[telewarped]

Let's just say you owe me one.

[She's only teasing, of course; no reward necessary.

As he continues, her good humor fades. She thinks she knows exactly why clinic duty is a bit much, having spent plenty of time flitting in and out of the coma ward herself, checking in on friends that still showed no sign of waking and feeling that much more useless each time. It makes everything she's found in Bottlecap Bay feel precarious; any random day, Bigby could slip away, too, just like Firepaw and Dark Heart before him. Just like Ayano and Susukichi, and Rindo and the Wicked Twisters.

She can't just ask Bigby outright if that's what it is, or if he wants to talk about it. Instead, she attempts:]

... What've they got you working on in there?

[wolfcut]

I'll be sure to add it with the rest.

[ Like Shoka, the humor behind his words seems to be dwindling. He looks past her, back toward the clinic entrance, his ears slowly falling flat again. Even if she did ask, he probably couldn't even place why he's feeling the way he is. The grip on his apple just gets tighter. ]

Mostly supply runs for the big hike. Or just... making deliveries to patients. It's easy for me to squeeze around in there.

[ Bigby had already been aware about Dark Heart, being from the same guild, so seeing him in there wasn't much of a shock. He didn't really know him, not as well as Shoka probably did, but it's hard not to feel some sort of way over a kindred spirit gone silent. But Firepaw—

Bigby shouldn't be feeling anything over him, and yet here is with a pit in his stomach. Didn't help that the nurses who knew of him gave him the stink eye whenever he got too close to look. ] ... You make any visits lately?

[ He doubts he needs to tell Shoka. She seems pretty on top of things when it came to friends. But, he still has to make sure, in his own way. ]

[telewarped]

... Some. I mean, for all the good it does.

[Eyes averted, she withdraws in on herself, tucking her limbs and foot under her disguise. She wants to leave it at that, but after a moment, she forfeits her examples, trying to keep her tone light and unemotional.]

Dork Heart's lazy ass has been conked out there for months now. And Firepaw...

[Remembering Firepaw's fraught relationship with Bigby, she trails off before saying anything more. It's just as well; she's not sure how she'd finish that sentence without spiraling anyway.]

[wolfcut]

[ Watching Shoka shrink into herself almost makes him regret asking at all. Of course she would know. He's not good at this, and now he's struggling for what to say despite bringing it up in the first place. They're okay, they'll pull through — simple words of comfort, but coming from someone who doesn't fully believe it himself, they're empty.

When nothing else comes, he simply goes quiet with her, silence filling the air where comforting words should be. He rotates the apple in his hands as he tries to think. At some point, he just has to concede and call a spade a spade. ]

I shouldn't have brought it up. If it was hard for me to see, then... [ His brows furrow. It's all coming out so clumsily. He ends it there. ]

[telewarped]

I'm the one who asked what you were working on.

[Not his fault; she wanted to know, even if she doesn't know what to say either.]

It sucks, but... [But...? She gives a humorless snort.] Yeah. It pretty much just sucks. Don't blame you for being messed up about it. [She glances at the apple, still sitting uneaten in his paws.] Doesn't mean you have to go hungry though.

[wolfcut]

Really the only way to put it. [ A pause, and then quietly: ] But don't... don't blame yourself, either. [ He glances at her briefly before staring down again at the fruit in question. ]

I know. I'm just— [ How does he even begin to explain himself. Apples and comas. Of course he'd be thinking about Snow in between all of this, too. As if his thoughts didn't weigh heavy enough already. ] —it reminds me of someone. Back home. She got pretty sick from one of these once.

[ That said, he finally takes his first bite. ] Mm. Not down yet, though. Guess it's not the food causing problems. [ A tasteless joke. Even he seems to realize this with how dry his delivery is. It's just so much easier to slide back toward that direction rather than linger on complicated feelings. ]

[telewarped]

Didn't say that I do.

[Except of course she does. She blames herself for a lot of things.

But what he says after that is so baffling that she actually forgets to be upset for a moment.]

... Uh. From an apple?

[wolfcut]

[ He could press, if he really was in the mood for it, but he's not, and he already has enough to surmise where her head must be at. The deflection comes and goes, uncontested, with only a sigh from him to show for it. It's time to focus on the potential mess from what he thought was an innocuous comment, anyway. ]

... Yeah? It was from a bad batch. [ Surely an apple doesn't need to be poisoned to put someone under. He takes another, louder bite. ] She got better.