bottlecaplogs | FLIGHT AND FREEZE

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FLIGHT AND FREEZE

Who: Kris, Umemiya, Archnemon, Shoka, Bigby, Siffrin (SA), Kinger, Sanji, Need, Ren, Akechi, Anasui, Emporio, Ingo, Emmet... and Noelle!!
What: Move over Team Intimidate, there's a cooler Pokemon that needs saving.
When: Early October
Where: All over
Warnings: Will update as needed!!

Noelle has vanished while recovering at the clinic and nobody can find her! She may have run away while having a mental health crisis. Please, bring her back safely!

Mightyena doesn't know where Noelle went, just that she was still in recovery when she vanished. She thought Noelle couldn't have gone far in her condition... but if that's the case, why hasn't she been found yet?

[ QUEST START ]

After a tense day of discussion, organizing and planning, Kris and Ingo gather the volunteers at the outskirts of Bottlecap Bay. Supplies are handed out, groups are chosen, and everyone is given a quick debriefing on the plan: start close to home, then work their way further out as they narrow down her location. Some groups should hang back, ready to set out once a fresh lead is established—the pearls are perfect for this, so everyone should keep their own handy. Spreading out too wide will only make things difficult once they find her trail, so it's important that everyone stays on task.

Once everyone's roles have been assigned, it's time to set out. It's going to be a long, long day.

BEFORE THE SEARCH
TEAM A | TEAM B
TEAM C | TEAM D
TEAM E

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[for all your pre-quest mingle needs. last minute questions? got a tip or good luck charm for your buddy on another team? will Sanji share some of the good snacks??]

Team A (Kris, Umemiya, Archnemon) is first to depart. Kris leads the group following the river toward the sea, where the small boats carrying spirit flames departed in the final week of September. After learning about Noelle's near-drowning incident, the possibility had been raised that maybe she would try to see her departed loved one again. As they continue, Umemiya and Archnemon's ability to sense aura and emotional distress picks up a great disturbance that may feel overwhelming to them both.

Soon, they find a large gang of Corphish and Crawdaunt in various states of injury and distress, along with sharp fallen leaves that don't seem to belong. The group will discover that the gang confronted a Deerling matching Noelle's description, but she used a powerful Leaf Storm attack to defeat them. This level of strength and violence doesn't sound like Noelle at all, but who else could have done this?

The Corphish and Crawdaunt are injured, but may be volatile and need to be calmed down or fully defeated in a fight in order to receive more information from them. Once dealt with, they reveal that Noelle was last seen heading north through the woods.

Team B (Shoka, Bigby, Siffrin) follows this lead into the woods. There, they find a Winter Deerling... a whole group of them, in fact, with Sawsbuck leading them in migration! All of them seem to be revering a figure they just encountered who they're referring to as their 'angel'.

Apparently, a Deerling much like them- but who wasn't part of their migratory group- passed through and froze a cruel Vileplume who was giving them trouble. Not only that, but the 'angel' used some type of healing ability to patch up those who were injured by Vileplume! Since Deerling can't normally use ice or healing moves, they believe this must have been a magical occurrence.

Anyone who tries to claim that this strange Deerling wasn't an angel draws the group's ire. Either by playing along or forcing information out of the group, Sawsbuck will reveal that the strange Deerling seemed to be heading into the mountains.

Edited 2025-10-06 21:03 (UTC)

Team C (Kinger, Sanji, Need) are following Sanji's 'damsel in distress' sense, which just so happens to lead them into a mountainous region. The air soon grows cold, and it begins to snow a bit early in the season. Kinger, who is a Grass-type, may struggle to acclimate.

Soon, the group follows the trail to its conclusion: a Jynx who got stuck under a toppled tree! It seems like a Deerling cut a path through here and she was caught in the crossfire. Fortunately, she isn't injured, and she tries to reward Sanji with a big fat Lovely Kiss!

... Wait, that would leave Sanji unconscious in the snow? Oops!

Team D (Akechi, Ren, Anasui) search up high and down low using their unique suite of skills. The route Noelle took becomes obvious due to the trail of destruction she's left. Several Pokemon report that not only did she use a powerful Leaf Storm attack on anyone in her way, but also Double Kick and Frustration attacks that cleared a path straight to Icefall Lake. Following up with the other groups will only confirm this information. It seems that Noelle wanted to find Froslass and would stop at nothing to follow her.

Unfortunately, going to Icefall Lake would prove extremely dangerous for this group. A new opportunity presents itself, instead: some of the wild Pokemon they encountered who fought Noelle will need healing, whether from berries, abilities the team may use, or even an escort to the clinic.

Team E (Emporio, Ingo, Emmet) are well-suited due to Ingo's search and rescue and mountain expertise. Unfortunately, the ice proves challenging for Emporio in particular.

After a dangerous trek through a heavy snowstorm, the group finally finds Noelle completely frozen solid. A tall, strong, and very aggravated Abomasnow seems to be the cause! It will not listen to reason and is very likely to lash out with powerful attacks like Wood Hammer and Blizzard.

The astute team may notice the cause of its aggression: it seems to be protecting a bunch of young Snover who are hiding from the battle. It seems like Froslass is truly gone for the season and cannot be reached. Abomasnow knows nothing about any of this and was merely attempting to defend its family.

[ Ingo's here, as he would be for any such case! Fortunately, it all seems well-managed enough that he need not take charge. He'd have done so, but he's a lot more confident about it on his own home ground. Now...

He does remember Noelle's story about her bout of amnesia. Is this related...? Maybe she's prone to such things, and he should have paid more attention from the start. ]

I'm afraid that I do not know Miss Holiday very well personally...if there anything we might be able to say in particular, to help her calm down?

[ He's probably directing this to like, Shoka or someone. RIP he has no idea who Kris is. ]

Sneak up behind her and scream really loud

♥︎

Send mice at her

[... y'know what, maybe it's for the best that he asks someone other than Kris.]

[Since the moment they learned Noelle had gone missing, Kris has been locked in. It's easy to lose themselves in the drive to simply act, to do anything and everything to accomplish the goal set in front of them. As much as they dislike how their body acts on its own, their mouth forming words without their input, plans and commands and strategy that they never would've thought of on their own... it's times like these, where their goals line up perfectly, that they can't help but appreciate how useful their Soul can be.

Because if it were just Kris, they'd be... they are scared. Learning the details of what lead up to this only makes everything worse. She almost drowned, chasing a ghost. They know exactly who that ghost is. They might've thought to do the same, once. They can't blame her for trying.

They should've done more when they found her at the outpost. They should've tried harder to help instead of just scaring her even more. They should've kept her closer, been there when she needed them, been a better friend...

... but their will is an overwhelming force. Today, they let it take the lead without complaint, stamping down their own fears and anxieties like stubborn embers. Now is not the time for doubts.

All of that to say—their vibes aren't exactly great, but they're keeping them under control. The Deino leads in silence as they approach the edge of the beach, keeping the pace brisk.]

[ The ability to sense the emotions of others is something of a curse. A weakness, if it becomes too debilitating, but the best direction seems to be to utilize it in a constructive way...

Her familiarity with Noelle is really only a handful of encounters, mostly mirrored encouragement when seeing the deerling struggle to find her 'footing' with adjusting. The girl misses too much, underestimates herself too much, thoroughly a teen in every way... Archnemon can probably even "thank" her creator for how she can recognize the loneliness and desperation for recognition in every person...

... just. Actually sensing it on a level is not ideal. That is to say. She's familiar enough with learning the individual signatures of others. From explanations of the previous events that might have led to the deerling being pushed over a certain edge-- well, she certainly could recall feeling some recoil from those events too. The trail itself might be cooler now, but... echoes do remain.

Focusing on those and trying not to get disbalanced by other potential jarring vibes is the other challenge, but... one step at a time here. The feeling of getting closer to the water's edge is... also not great. Too many emotions had passed through here. Ugh. For the moment she's quiet, focusing, relying on the others to make a pathway.

Even if she's not too familiar with either of her current companions, at this juncture, only having explained just enough for them to have been made aware of her 'weakness' just beforehand during the earlier discussion of planning, but... the priority was Noelle, currently. ]

[Kinger learned from his brisk autumnal stroll with Flowey that even as a Pokémon, it pays to wear warm clothes.

Unfortunately, the only clothing Kinger owns is the maid dress from the Froslass incident which (in addition to being barely effective as the mountain grows colder) may be confusing to Sanji's chivalry senses.]

I wish I still had my cape right now.

[Kinger looks at the pair of swords and very warm looking fox next to him.]

You two seem a bit better built for this.

Can't go wrong with a good compliment or two, for a lovely lady such as miss Noelle~! She's such a cute little deer, perhaps you can shower her in compliments about her antlers? Unless she's hurt, then tend to her and destroy whoever dared to lay a finger on her or-

[He's. This vulpix is not stopping is he. The legitimacy of this "advice" is particularly dubious since Sanji had never interacted with Noelle in person. In. Pokemon. But at least he's being sort of helpful doling out some snacks for those who don't have any packed! Trail mix and pastries loaded with nuts and berries, nothing super fancy...]

[Some time before perhaps, Sanji WILL get in contact with Kris with a very important question. Probably just walks right on up to Kris to ask.]

Hey. Does Miss Noelle have any favorites as far as food goes? The poor girl might be having a rough time of it out there, I wanna see if I can throw somethin' together that might...help?

[Being teleported to god knows where in Blue-damned unfamiliar bodies, can't hurt to eat something even a little familiar...]

Then why didn't you bring one, idiot?! [Between the pink and purple, and the ruffles and bows, Sanji did initially think Kinger was a lady in need of aid. Perhaps this is how he ended up teaming up with him. But Sanji ALSO wore a dress for much of the Frosslass happenings, so he knows it's not always the case that whoever's wearing it is female. ~~Perhaps a good thing to learn some nuanced gender expression early COUGH~~ For Need, he's still having trouble figuring them out...her?? But do swords get cold...

Anyway. Freezing mushroom. They need this mushroom guy. Sanji sighs, dramatically petulant.] One of you, hold my bags. They have food, and I'd rather not risk the snow making it all soggy. Now here. [Sanji turns his head to bite at the hem of his coat (it's more of a cloak with pleats that look like arm holes) then yanks it off. Clasps pop before the garment slips off his person, and he brandishes it at Kinger.] Can't have ya freezing, you'll slow us down and how will we help miss Noelle then!!

[Please ignore how his own fur is already puffing up to keep himself warm.]

[When psychic powers are in play Need is Very Obviously female. With them not, well, she lived a long life involving a lot of shouting and inhaling smoke, so her voice is low and gravelly. It seems to come from the general vicinity of her wall crest with its crossed scabbards rather from one sword or the other. Both are sheathed at the moment, though one's turned and slightly drawn so the eye in the hilt can see behind her.]

"One of you" meaning me, since I'm the one with hands.

[She's also going to be the one to carry the mushroom if it... if he gets tired hopping, she's sure. Tiresome. It's so much better to be unseen. Resigned, Need dips lower and finds a way to hang the bags off of the wall crest such that she's not unbalanced and doesn't have to keep a fabric 'hand' occupied.

If she's cold or thinks anything about the coat situation, she's not saying anything about it. Between being almost three feet long? tall? and levitating, she looms over the both of them.]

You should call me Need, youngsters. Are we ready?

Edited 2025-10-08 05:25 (UTC)

[Kinger awkwardly drapes the wildly oversized coat around himself with his mycellium leg tendrils, settling on poking two of his mushrooms through the arm holes.]

My cape is back in the circus with my hands. I don't remember how I got this dress... Anyway, I'm Kinger!

[Having clearly and completely answered any questions, Kinger started to scuttle ahead along the trail.]

Edited (misread sanji's post as him ripping off a small part of the coat instead of the whole coat) 2025-10-09 06:46 (UTC)

It's cold.

Dangerously so, and maybe Emporio should have anticipated this given the clues toward just where Noelle went, but even so, he gathered his notes from Anasui and looked expectantly at Emmet while asking for a ride.

Please sir, his tiny little ground type feet.

Upsides, up in Emmet's mane it's quite warm actually. He can peer out with relative safety and ease, keeping watch for anything the other two might miss.

Which, sure, might not be a lot, but still.

...

There probably won't be any missing Abomasnow.

"Uhhh..."

Uh oh.

Wow it sure is convenient to have all this thick, dense fur considering the weather conditions they're going into. Considering the passenger riding along in his mane, Emmet has half a mind to throw caution to the wind and just bring to life and then maintain the circling blue-white foxfire of Will-o-Wisp.

As it is, the Hisuian Zoroark blends in greatly with the swirling snow of the storm. Soft-footed as he makes his way across the snow and ice, he has to wonder how far the Deerling could have even gone in this... Regardless of any personal preference or odd ability to use the ice type, she is still a grass-type without a secondary typing to give her any extra resistance to ice. Being the winter morph of Deerling can only do so much under these extreme conditions.

It is going to be difficult enough to spot her in blizzard visibility, and the funny thing about winter morph Deerling specifically is that they have very little scent to track. She's been gone long enough for the storm to likely cover any tracks, so while Emmet's ears are pressed flat to try to conserve body heat, considering the rest of the destruction she's left for the other teams to find he is still trying to keep an ear out for any commotion.

Or, apparently, little Cubones in his mane suddenly sounding verrrry apprehensive as they crest a particularly tall snowdrift.

"Yes? Is there something you want to say?"

[Umemiya is, unfortunately, very aware that he might have been part of pushing Noelle too far. He remembers fighting with her while she was under Froslass's control, not holding back nearly as much as he does during sparring. He was trying to break Froslass's control, and he did, but only for a moment. Still, he feels guilty for letting Noelle see the brutal side of him that he works so hard to hide.

He senses the same tangle of emotions that Hatenna does, glancing over at the little psychic hat with a bit of a sympathetic grimace.]

Something definitely happened over this way. Don't know if Noelle was involved for sure, but we should probably look into it, in case.

[Hopefully, even with that grim iron will that Kris is demonstrating, they'll listen to the suggestion. If not...well, Umemiya's following their lead. That look on their face is really intense.

(If it were Tsubaki or one of his kouhai, he'd be just as intense. He understands, even if it's sort of scary to see from the outside.)]

[ WELL THIS HAS DERAILED IMMEDIATELY ]

I apologize, but I don't believe we have met...?

[ whomst the fuck ]

[The moment the quest went up, Ren signed himself up, determined to save his new friend. He knew Noelle wasn't doing good- she didn't look good when he visited her in the clinic, either, and he wishes he'd stayed around a little longer. That he'd kept an eye on her.

It's a relief there's so many of them to help find her, at least. He's going to give it his all.

After he, Akechi, and Anasui set out, tracking the trail with a combination of detective skills and pathfinding, it quickly becomes obvious things were worse than they thought; the trail of destruction starts suddenly and heavily. It looks like a demon came through. Ren sniffs the air...]

I can smell her scent, [he says, worried,] Noelle's been through here.

And it seems she's made quite a mess of the place.

[He turns his attention to a nearby Snover, whimpering and from an unfortunate Double Kick.

With a quiet huff, Akechi flutters over, ready to dig into his satchel.]

[They tilt their head towards Umemiya when he speaks. It's hard to read their expression under normal circumstances, so right now... it's kind of a lost cause. But despite the intensity of their shadowed stare, when they turn their head forward again they adjust to the direction he'd pointed out.

... aren't Deino supposed to be blind? Well, anyway.]

What kind of something? [They can't sense emotions or aura like their partners, so "something definitely happened" doesn't tell them much about what to expect. The aftermath of something? A fight? An accident? Are there still people there? How much can they even tell...?]

[Kris stares blankly. At first, they hardly seem like they're even listening... then they turn to him, clamp their jaws shut, and try to say something with their mouth closed, which is probably a lot weirder than spacing out. Only after they've gotten whatever that was out of their system do they lower their head, suddenly seeming a lot more tired than before.]

... salad's fine. Vegetarian. [half-mumbled, in stark contrast to all the confidence and volume they had when going over the plan earlier.]

Ingo's thick fur and natural Fire-type body temperature protect him from the worst of the blizzard. He's quite familiar with being caught in this weather, though. He's familiar with what happens to you. Nearly freezing to death is one of his very earliest memories.

He hasn't said anything, of course! Ingo's never the first to speak up, when search efforts take too long and hopes grow dim. Maybe it's a weakness in him as Warden; he really just hasn't the heart. Still, he's been quieter than usual as they walk, and he lifts his head to look up at Emporio as well without comment. His flames are burning low and hot about his neck, more for warmth than visibility for once. Fire or no fire, nobody's going to be seeing very far out here.

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FLIGHT AND FREEZE

BEFORE THE SEARCH

TEAM A: Kris, Umemiya, Archnemon

TEAM B: Shoka, Bigby, Siffrin

TEAM C: Kinger, Sanji, Need

TEAM D: Akechi, Ren, Anasui

TEAM E: Emporio, Ingo, Emmet

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sorry about him

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im laughing so hard that summary is IDEAL turnout hELP. sorry team at least he's small

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