OCTOBER 2025 EVENT LOG

[bayhelpers]

⋆✩ AUTUMN SKIES & PUMPKIN PIES ✩⋆

Where the summer heat seemed like it would never leave, autumn’s embrace is eager to prove minds wrong. Brisk and frigid, second only to the now absent Froslass, the winds bring a chill that cuts right to the bone. It is a signal to the world that it’s time to wind down - for the leaves to turn their colors and fall below, and for the spoils of harvest to ripen with what little time they have left. By the time the middle of the month has arrived, there’s no questioning it.

Fall is here.

i. Changing Of The Leaves

DEAR GOURD

With society as it is, it can be easy to forget that Pokemon are still animals in the sense of what they resemble. Since becoming these strange creatures, all manner of instincts have taken hold - some have learned to hunt, catching their meals and sharing the spoils so others don’t have to. Others of course have found themselves more protective, more social, more skittish, so on and so forth. Many of those who have been here long enough have come to master these new habits through practice, either commanding them through great willpower or simply accepting things as the new normal.

The encroaching winter, however, brings this back to the forefront. Winter is a season that looms like a shroud over many Pokemon in the region, and as the leaves begin to turn, so too do the bodies of such Pokemon turn against themselves. Pokemon with seasonal fur coats find themselves quickly growing thicker, fluffier fur while needing to shed and brush out the shorter summer hairs. Those who would typically migrate region to region in order to avoid such hassle are struck with wanderlust - which is unfortunate, given how difficult it is to get anywhere around here.

As for anyone who would typically hibernate? It’s probably a good thing so much food has been successfully harvested this year.

DRIVEN NUTS

⟡ Players are invited to come up with their own Pokemon Instincts for the incoming season, even beyond the examples above; habits are as varied as their abilities and appearances after all!

⟡ Being a town inhabited by Pokemon, many local citizens will already be preparing themselves for the coming cold - with some offering to help brush out coats, or otherwise gathering the fallen hair to be reused as yarn.

⟡ Pokemon at risk of hibernation will in particular find themselves surrounded by Fire types! Alternatively, they will simply be buried in blankets. It seems that staying warm helps to ward off the instinct to gather up reserves and nap the winter away.

⟡ Of course, Pokemon who want to go through with things the ‘natural way’ will be helped to find good places to cache food for later, or learn how to make weather proof dens - this will be particularly vital for the Cheri Guild, as members are encouraged to take initiative on such projects!

ii. THE HARVEST SEASON

APPLES TO APPLES

The harvest season has kicked into full gear! It's time for squash, and berries, and grains, and a bounty of practically anything you can think of. This month is busy, busy, busy, but after a few slow days where Pokemon recover from last month's escapades, everyone seems to be in high spirits. The harvest is much larger than anyone anticipated, and it feels like a good omen!

There's not a lot of time to relax this month, but Pokemon find ways to insert fun into the work wherever they can. Mudsdale and other larger Pokemon pull carts to and from the fields around Skull Town, and they make each trip into a fun hayride whenever there are passengers. Much of the harvest needs to be processed, such as turning excess berries into preserves, or pickling vegetables, or slicing up produce and setting it out to dry in the sun (or via fire moves). Very often this becomes a race or competition, with small prizes for the winners, and the same is true of harvesting in the first place!

There's so much food that not all of it is getting preserved. In town - both Bottlecap Bay and Skull Town - the smell of baked goods permeates the air. Fruits are pressed into ciders and juices. As activities slow down towards the end of the month, Pokemon have time to get a little silly. Someone suggests apple-bobbing rather than drawing lots over unwanted chores, and the novelty spreads like wildfire through all the guilds.

Also throughout the month, Pokemon set baskets outside their doors. Each basket contains various excess treats from their baking or preserving or other activities, seemingly up for grabs. The rule is: you're allowed to freely take whatever strikes your fancy, just as long as you swap something that you've made and leave it behind in the basket. It's a tradition that originated with the Bottlecap Bay villagers from overseas, but it's quickly adopted by the locals that have joined them since!

PUMPKIN SPICE UP YOUR LIFE

⟡ Those who participate in the race/competition portion of the prompt can handwave that their character won at least one race. They will be able to claim one of the following for themselves: a jar of sugared fruits, a harvest themed decoration for their room, or a simple accessory (such as a bow or scarf). If uncertain about whether a prize would be allowed, please ask below!

⟡ The Gourgeist and Pumpkaboo who began their trick-or-treating early this month are very much still around - and eager! Hay bale rides in particular are prone to their surprise antics.

⟡ Pokemon without any experience in preserving foods need not worry about being left out of such things - the Archives will be hosting small classes to maximize everyone’s ability to chip in.

THE CACTURNE WALKS AT MIDNIGHT

As the fields are harvested and the food stores dug, keen-eyed Pokemon begin to notice something odd. The fields, for starters, are not being harvested in straight lines. Instead it is as if each one cutting the stalks is an Applin within an apple, carving spirals and paths without rhyme or reason. The storage burrows located beyond the Canopy and set in part within the Gravebone Woods of the Middle Forest do similar - this time with the added confusion of moving up or down. And just what are those things being constructed within Skull Town?

It seems in the excitement of the Harvest, the Ghost population has begun to add their own flair to the fun and games. Corn mazes hide cackling Cacturne and Nuzleaf, while tunnel mazes contain the ground dwelling Durant and Pawmi. The ‘Haunted Houses’ that pop-up are far more variable than their natural counterparts, but the trade off is the limitation of construction - it doesn’t take long to find out just how many of these things are using the same template!

IT’S AMAZE-ING

⟡ Beyond what is offered at the end of each one, there are no additional prizes for succeeding in any of the above mazes; however, Pokemon who do so will feel far more invigorated and energetic for the next few days!

⟡ There are three types of ‘Escape Room’ to be found, and Pokemon participating must enter with at least one other. In all circumstances, they will enter with the goal of reaching the center of the maze - upon making it to this place, a Psychic Pokemon will teleport them back out.

⟡ The Corn Mazes are open for use at all hours of the day - while there are very few obstacles to be found, the Pokemon hiding here have made it their mission to either fight or misdirect participants for as long as possible! Make it to the center however, and they’ll be able to enjoy some fresh corn.

⟡ To avoid interfering with sleeping Pokemon, the Tunnel Mazes are only open in the day - this way, the Pokemon who actually intend to sleep here can do so! The maze occasionally shifts due to travelling Pokemon, but if participants can make their way to the storage room intended to hold various berries and goods during winter, they’ll be allowed to enjoy a sample on the spot. Yum!

⟡ Rather than house Pokemon to battle or walls that shift without warning, the Haunted Houses employ a variety of tricks to tire down the participants. Illusions cast by Pokemon, mirrors that hide doorways, and even a haze of smoke all block the path - to say nothing of the Pokemon eager to deliver a jump scare! Making it to the end earns one a well needed cup of tea with pastries, to be enjoyed with the others there.

iii. CITIZEN’S ELECT

I CHOOSE YOU!

Amidst all the bustle of harvesting, small poll boxes go up on street corners in Skull Town - and even a few in Bottlecap Bay! After all the complications of last month, the guild leaders agree that there needs to be an authority figure in Skull Town, able to make decisions without being a day's travel away. They can't have Mightyena (or any other leader) stationed there permanently, they're all needed in Bottlecap!

As such, five primary candidates for the title of (Death Blood Murder) Skull Town Mayor have emerged.

The first candidate is Grimpig, the older Grumpig brother. He's busy enough with the network that he isn't actually campaigning for himself, but the Grumpig brothers are well-respected enough that plenty of others have put forth their names. Realistically, electing one means electing both, but as the older brother is more outgoing, he's the official candidate. Regardless, though, considering how busy the Grumpigs already are... they're probably the most hands-off option. They'll only be there to make decisions in times of crisis!

The candidate from the Lum Berries is... hang on, that's our friend Malamar again! Out of the guild candidates, he's the only one who has a speech, and it's hard to claim that he doesn't care about Skull Town or the residents. But it's clear he values his own opinion most of all, and can he be trusted to respect peoples' boundaries? Regardless, in the short term he wants to prioritize getting more infrastructure set up in Skull Town: getting a secondary clinic built, and guild administrative buildings, and perhaps a research HQ.

The candidate from the Oran Berries is Umbreon, who isn't enthused about this situation! It sounds like not a lot of the high rank Oran Berries were interested in managing a new town, and in the end he got volunteered. When asked about his policies, Umbreon sticks to saying, "My record should speak for itself." Honestly, he seems to be hoping that the lack of transparency will keep him from getting elected. He just wants to go home to his cave…

The candidate from the Cheri Berries is Lurantis, who avoids crowds and speeches but makes a point of talking to many Pokemon one-on-one or in small groups. She seems to be the most consistently interested in hearing what people have to say, but she's very cautious about actually making wide, sweeping promises. The Cheri Berry gossip is that while she likes having a reputation for compromise, deep down she's actually Contrary; if something ever truly crosses her principles she digs her heels in hard. Regardless, in the short term she wants to prioritize the relationships between the Skull townies and the local Pokemon, as well as stocking up and hunkering down for winter.

The last candidate is Oricorio, campaigning on behalf of the Pokemon native to the forest and valley. His argument is that, while (many of) the local Pokemon have willingly joined up with Skull Town now, they were here first, and they should get the most say over what the town becomes! Which certainly seems convincing even to many guild members. However... he refuses to talk about what his actual priorities will be, and is openly uninterested in the opinions of anyone who isn't a Ghost Pokemon, local or otherwise. The local Ghosts respect him, but the other local Pokemon roll their eyes and talk about how they wish it were anyone else. (Still, none of them seem to be volunteering...)

There are, of course, more candidates who have put their names forth - a shiny Teddiursa who keeps heckling the others, a nervous Arcanine, a laid-back Mandibuzz, and perhaps even some of the transformed Pokemon from other worlds? However, the guild leaders have been up front: at least when it comes to candidates from the guilds, they're only considering Pokemon who have been high in rank for a while already. It's a lot of responsibility. So in practice, these five are the ones in the running!

VOTE NOW ON YOUR PHONES

⟡ While player characters are welcome to campaign, the guild leaders will not take any of them as Mayor at this time, so votes for them will not be counted!

⟡ If your character would vote ICly, please respond with their choice here! (You may also tell us if they would do anything else notable, like try to sneak in multiple votes…) The deadline is October 25th.

⟡ Malamar is actually not using his psychic powers to sway Pokemon this month! However, ICly, characters are entirely free to disbelieve this.

✩ OOC NOTES.

⟡ CWS: None expected this time!

⟡ A huge thanks to the players who have made Player Quests a rousing success. After some internal discussion, we’ve added a ‘Quest Complete’ form for Players who wish to make use of the format as well. We hope you continue to enjoy full use of the Player Quest Board!

⟡ While all Heavy Quests will ICly have completed by October 25th, 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

QUESTIONS

[bayhelpers]

[friendlyflower]

psst, I think you may have left a placeholder in the CWs?

[friendlyflower]

Sorry, another question! Are our characters allowed to participate in Haunted Houses as 'employees' for lack of a better term? Flowey wants to scare people.

EDIT: sorry again, yet another question. Flowey's going to want to build a roof as part of his Winter preparations, and he wants to help the other Cheri Berries who don't have a roof build them as well while he's at it. Could I submit this as a late player quest? And if so, since it's technically for the good of the town, could I get Ribombee's approval to offer berries or seeds from storage as a reward?

MAYOR POLLS

[bayhelpers]

In front of the Quest Board in both Bottlecap Bay and Skull Town is a ballot box for voting on the new mayor of Skull Town. ICly, characters are submitting their votes to this box and they are being anonymously counted before the guild leaders reach a decision.

OOCly, we ask that players comment here with the Pokemon their character believes in the most. This is also the right place to mention any shenanigans they might be up to, such as sneaking in multiple votes or campaigning themselves (although no player character will be chosen at this time). The polls for this vote will close on October 31st, with results announced in the November Plotting Post!

[firealone]

Fireheart offers his own name before promptly being told to sit down--

But he's actually voting for Lurantis! Partly for Cheri loyalty, partly because he agrees with stocking up and hunkering down for the winter.

[its_tv_time]

Tenna steps forward without hesitation, campaigning left and right... only to be gently told that he's not in the running. He's glooby about it for a few hours, before he bounces back and votes for Lurantis. She talked to him personally, and boy, did he like her! She seems nice.

[hundredeyesoni]

Who cares about things like intentions or the possible future consequences of ignoring them? Akira's voting for the clinic and research!

Or technically for Malamar. But unless he's stopped and forced to actually write a name, he seems more interested in writing up an entire roadmap for how to improve the outpost's clinic instead.

... It'll be fine. He's had a pet kraken as a kid. This thing can't be that much harder to rein in once it all inevitably goes wrong.



(From an OOC standpoint, it'd be funnier if the vote's considered null for all the extra rambling or the dex entry that nobody can understand anything Slowking says, but whatever happens happens)

[bladeofnymeia]

Firoza's seen a lot of leaders and potential leaders in her time...she can't say she's enthused with any of the choices, but everyone deserves the chance to prove themselves.

So, in solidarity with the Cheri Berries, she votes Lurantis.

[heartonachain]

A true leader is someone that everyone can trust and depend on, and who better to fill that role than everyone's best friend Malamar? He helped Kris when they were lost in the wilderness, so obviously he has their full support. Besides, the Soul thinks a little mind control is A-OK if it's for a good reason.

[seacub]

Between his low standards of behavior (which to be fair??? Seem to work out for him???), and Malamar's anti-froslass agenda back before, Emporio is voting for Malamar!

He might even offer to help campaign. Vote Malamar, the baby is Also Voting Malamar, see?

[0dchess]

Kinger's lean would be towards Oricorio at first, as an actually local representative seems like the better option, but with the tepid feelings of the non-ghost locals I think he would vote for Lurantis as the least compromised candidate, though he would probably try and talk to more locals and encourage them to run whenever the next election cycle is.

[edgewater]

Parvati, while initially torn for options, puts in a vote for Lurantis, because she believes that finding a way for the locals and the Bay Pokémon to work together will work well for the first while of the outpost's lifespan. This is a learned experience of hers.

Granted, she might hear the rumours about Lurantis' behaviour later and regret it a bit.

GUILD LEADER THREADS

[bayhelpers]

To thread with one of the guild leaders, reply to this comment with your guild in the subject and write a starter! As a reminder, we will reply a maximum of 5 times!

While Guild Leaders can be assumed to be in their Guild Base, or performing normal guild duties, they may also be found participating in any of the above prompts.

ORAN BERRIES

[edgewater]

[ parvati thinks she's done a pretty good job on this draft of the plan, and she just about feels comfortable enough to finally show it off to mightyena for both second thoughts and the actual permission she probably needs to build it.

she's been ever so diligent with getting this together so fast. ]

Hi! I've finished a rough draft of that thing you wanted me to do; I think I've worked out how to fix the flooding problem on the lower levels, anyway. [ she unrolls the schematic of a water pump system, used to filter water from mines back where she's from. it's not exactly a machine she's worked with directly, but she's worked with enough that she's pretty confident in her ability to get this all together. ]

Hopefully this should fix the problem long-term, anyway. The only issue is that it'd probably take a while to put together. But! If it works as intended it could also mean that we could desalinate the seawater for drinking further down the line. [ despite how pleased with herself she is, it is very abundantly clear that she is very nervous. sorry mightyena, she knows you don't bite, she just has anxiety. ]

Emporio Alniño | Cubone (zero helmet) | OTA

[seacub]

[DEAR GOURD]

[With the incoming chill, Emporio seems to exist as a strange little outlier among a number of the seasonally affected Pokemon. His helmet remains exactly where he keeps it (on his back), and over all-] ...I guess I could ask about a...shawl or something?

[Well over all, he's considering something to stay warm, but he doesn't seem to...Need it. Don't get him wrong, Ice and Water and the like are still absolutely terrible for his skin but.]

...Hmm. I guess Cubone aren't something that hibernates then, [He muses aloud, no doubt mid-conversation with someone else dealing with brand new instincts. Though, what he's been saying now might just provide the best distraction. After all, Emporio's clearly some kind of...Lizard. Thing, right?

...How on earth is he warm blooded!?]

[APPLES TO APPLES]

It's safe to ride on these right? We won't contaminate anything..?

[The time for asking that was probably before they started off, but in Emporio's defense, he was taken by the allure of Hay Bale Rides. Getting to sit on bundles of hay while they transport goods is fantastic- and, incidentally, the hay isn't the product being delivered right now. The product is actually some recently jarred goods that Skull Town will be lacking in.

Though they'll probably bring a bunch of grain back with them. On that thought actually, he looks up from where he's been enjoying the ride to face one of the others with him here.] ...Is it a trade route if we own both sides?

[Ohh, good question.]

[THE CACTURNE WALKS]

[It probably comes to no surprise that Emporio chose the burrow maze to work through. Aside from his own personal sleeping habits, it's the type of environment that he would presumably do best with. Probably?

Maybe? He seems to be doing well, at least. In any case as he climbs up through one tunnel, he finds himself looking back to his partner. Emporio, after all, is about a foot tall and finding this a piece of cake after having to climb a straight vertical brick wall to avoid falling to his doom. Climbing tunnel dirt? E-Z.

Whoever's with him, though...]

...Are you okay down there?

[I CHOOSE YOU!]

[Five candidates. Five options...Emporio listens to what information there even is that they can work with, and even finds himself in individual talks with Lurantis at least once. He tries to talk to the Oricorio...but he sort of squints at the cubone before just patting him on the shoulder and saying something about how he's too young to worry about those things.

Which, more than what any other non-ghosts get, so THAT was weird.

Ultimately though once he's figured out who the actual candidates are, Emporio finds himself musing aloud on the options.

Rather, one option.] You know... ...Malamar was doing their best to get people out of Froslass' influence last month...

[He thinks that's a good point!!]

[WILDCARD - Got other ideas for threads? Hit me up on plurk at usagisquared and we can hash something out!]

A - Ostrich dad has found you

[dripdrive]

[Anasui... seems like he got off easy with his instincts changing. His shedding was relatively quick and had only made him look shinier, thanks to the new feathers already having been formed underneath his old ones. He had complained about the mess but had added the feathers to his bed and then gone about his day.

But truthfully, he's incredibly irate and has been fiddling with the paper Polteageist got him. Emporio must have noticed and likely had started the conversation because of it. The conversation had been relatively fine until they got to the weather...]

I guess Cubones don't hibernate. But you still shouldn't be be so cavalier with the weather. Lizard or not, it is getting colder, kid. A shawl may not be enough. [Hells, why is he so annoyed right now? And why is looking at Emporio pissing him off?]

Agnes Montague | The Magnus Archives | Ninetails

[pyrodulia]

1. Dear Gourd, I hope you got the letter [CW: vague description of injuries]
Agnes is miserable on several levels, right now. Her old coat is shedding, the new is growing in, and she is itchy. Those who see her out in public may notice her turning her head to gnaw and the ruff of fur around her neck, letting out pitiful canine whining sounds. But despite her obvious distress, she doesn't ask anyone for help.

Part of it's not expecting anyone to be willing to help. But part of it is that she's not used to anyone else touching her. See, back home, even kissing someone on the cheek was enough to give them a third degree burn. She was used to keeping a physical distance between herself any everyone else. So asking someone to brush her out doesn't even occur to her.

Still, she needs something right now. The state she's in is awfully pathetic for an Avatar of the Desolation, destroying flame incarnate.


2. Apple Weather, Apple Leather
Agnes volunteers as a fire-type to help with dehydration and other preservation tasks, and is quickly taken as an assistant by a Carkoal who notices how fine her control of her flame is. He sets her to work helping with batches of fruit leather; when other Pokemon make juice or cider from berries or apples or other fruit, the mash is given over to this team to cook, puree and then dehydrate.

Perhaps you're bringing a batch of fruit over to the pair, or you're picking up a finished batch, cut and rolled for storage. Either way, Agnes almost seems sheepish about being perceived helping like this. It's not in her nature.


3. Wildcard
[Wildly open to other ideas, I just wanted to get this up before I go to work, so don't hesitate to reach out to me at darkersolstice or on Discord or by PM or by smoke signal to plot. Feel free to flip me to brackets if you have a strong preference.]

1.

[friendlyflower]

"Well, well, well. How the mighty have fallen!"

Poor Agnes. Shedding everywhere, too proud to ask for help. He knows what it's like in both senses.

"Stand still. You're just going to cause trouble for everyone if you don't get brushed out."

Framing it like that makes it seem less like this is optional, something to be powered through. Although Flowey still lacks hands, he's recently been learning how to use roots and vines to manipulate objects around him. In this case, he holds a brush that he stole found.

If Agnes doesn't stop him, he'll just start brushing her. Despite how rude he was sounding, he's surprisingly gentle with it. Almost like he's done this before.

Mr. (Ant) Tenna | Deltarune | OTA

[its_tv_time]

1. Dear Gourd

Despite himself, it seems Mr. Tenna's slowing down... he finds himself craving food more and more, and catches himself wanting to take a nap. A NAP! Him! He can't wrap his head around it, but he just feels... kind of languid and hungry.

It's so bad that he's found himself sneaking into the rewards for the races! Ohh, the sugared fruits are so tasty... he can't help it! It's too good!

He just hopes nobody catches him in this... shameful state.

2. The Cacturne Walks at Midnight

After that fiasco, Tenna tries to shake himself out of it with some games! Nothing better to chase off the sleepiness and cravings than Physical Challenges! Usually, he's the one organizing them, but sure, he can participate! A corn maze? A tunnel maze? A haunted house? Why not all of them!

Will you join him on one of these games? Oh dear, perhaps he talked you into it... he looks a little manic. This is... okay, right?

3. Wildcard

Want to do something else? Hit me up in my OOC inbox or on discord (cha0136)

1

[dripdrive]

Too bad, Tenna. You're going to get caught by one of the worst people you could be caught by. Since Anasui refused to enter any race, he had been kindly asked to look after the rewards so some of the Pokemon in charge of stalls could have a chance to participate. Anasui was looking forward to just sitting by himself, in the quiet, surrounded by the smell of sweets when he sees a familiar bug.

And oh boy Anasui immediately gets pissed. Not only is someone getting their grubby little hands into the food, but it was this guy. The guy who had slighted him when he had so generously helped out with making his dumb TV studio.

"You! Bastard! What the hell do you think you're doing?" Anasui yells as he storms over and he attempts to pull Tenna back by the wings.

Firoza Istus | Final Fantasy XIV (OC) | OTA [in Bottlecap Bay]

[bladeofnymeia]

A - Dear Gourd

[Nidoran, at least in appearance, seem to be primarily based on the pika - they are a species who do not hibernate, but they sure will stock up for winter and be active in the cooler weather. And combined with Firoza's natural affinity for the cold, she doesn't seem at all bothered by the instincts that kick into overdrive. After all, why wouldn't you want to make sure you had all the supplies you needed to shelter through the colder months? That's just common sense. She takes on not just quests to help stock up on things or collect materials to reinforce the Cheri Berry Guild against the coming cold, but regular odd jobs as well, making time to assist Pokemon in the Bay who may need some extra of this or that, not really expecting anything in return. Though...

Though for the furrier, woolier Pokemon...she does ask a favor.

This is why you're most likely to see Firoza brushing out other Pokemon to collect their shed summer coats as payment for any services rendered. Hell, she'll do that as a service if you want! You just gotta ask and she will brush you out nice and clean with her lil paw claws. You become comfortable, she gets more material to press into felt or spin into thread or just stuff into the cracks of the Cheri communal living spaces. Win-win.]

B - Apples to Apples

[Firoza can't cook.

Well, that's not entirely true. She can roast things over an open flame. She can smoke things to varying degrees of success. She can make anything into a soup. But something like, say, treats to swap in those cute baskets...she can't make those.

And she wants to, so bad.

Which is why you'll find her, when not helping out with harvests or making off with as much shed fur as possible, learning how to preserve fruit in the Archives. Watching...studying with her eyes and ears, because those are her best tools.]

Gods, you need a lot of sugar for some of this, don't you...

[Said as an aside while someone's showing how to make some kind of citrusy berry thing. It looks and smells like sunshine, and Firoza seems eager to give making it a try, but also...nervous.

Hey, the Warrior of Light is not perfect at everything.]

C - Wildcard

[Want to do something else autumn-related with Firoza, or just in general? Let's go for it!]

C Wildcard

[no_ufo_ending]

[ When he can catch Firoza taking a break from brushing out itchy Pokemon, Henry approaches her quietly with a small garland of leaves and acorn-bearing-twigs in his claws. ]

Excuse me, are you the Nidoran who led me back to Skull Town?

Flowey | Undertale | Sunkern

[friendlyflower]

1. Gourd Darn It

[Unlike all those other chumps 'molting' and 'shedding', Flowey is a plant. He doesn't have to worry about any of that stuff!

That does mean, however, he has to worry more about the rapidly approaching winter than those who are getting their winter coats. And so Flowey has one thing on his mind and one thing only: finally building a roof on his lodgings in the Canopy.

Unfortunately, this is not an easy task when you're a little seed with no arms. Since he can't fly, it's not easy for him to get materials up there, either. Begrudgingly, this means he has to ask for help.]

Oh, good, you're here. Ribombee bossed us aro-- I mean, gave us some helpful tips on where to start.

[He's very much hoping you'll start on his roof. He's too proud to admit it, but he's already cold without one. But he'll do what he can to help you build a roof for yourself if needed.]

[[OOC Note: You can respond to this prompt whether or not you're doing the "Don't Get Snowdin!" quest. Flowey posted the quest, so he will not be submitting for it. He will be around, though, because he wants to supervise.]]

2. Harvest Moon: Friends of Death Blood Murder Skull Town

[Flowey is wearing his new skull beanie that he got from Shoka for his birthday. He thinks he looks very cool and festive. Since he's been going between Bottlecap Bay & Skull Town (he's busy with his roof project, after all), he takes a hay ride or two.]

Hey, Mudsdale, speed up! Let's see how fast you can really go! Hee hee.

[Mudsdale is ignoring him. He satisfies himself with shooting a Bullet Seed or two at random things (not passersby, usually) along the way. Maybe you have an opinion on his heckling, or you want to play with him...? Or just use the opportunity to have a chat with your old pal, Flowey.)]

[[OOC note (again): Art is by Terry stocke. Thank you!]]

3. The Scum of the Poke-Earth

[The little jerk is at it again.

He tries to be stealthy, but he can't hide his wicked giggling as he hops from house to house. He eats his fill of treats from each basket and leaves without putting anything else in. He's truly disgusting. The scum of the Earth. (This is a reference to the Monster Candy bowl from Undertale, by the way.)

Maybe you catch him and admonish him...? Or maybe you join in his wicked ways?]

4. Five Nights at Flowey's

[Once he's done with his roof project, there's still jobs to go around. There's not a huge amount he can do, though... until he finds the haunted houses, that is.

Flowey might not be a ghost, but he's great at making scary faces, and he delights in horrifying people. Naturally, he signs up to work there. He jumps out at you, innocent haunted house goer, his face twisted into a mask of horror.]

BOO!

5. I Don't Choose You!

[For a while, he's grumpy that he can't be mayor. He would abuse his power, sure, but at least he'd be open about it! Everyone else is just going to do it behind their backs.

In the end, though, he gets over it. Being mayor would mean not getting to explore as much. Since he's still a Cheri Berry, that would also mean handing more power over to Ribombee. No, thanks.

That's why he decides to campaign against Lurantis, spreading mean rumors about her character and such. If you ask him who he's actually in support of, he doesn't really have an answer.]

What? Mud slinging is part of the political machine! [... At least, so he's heard. The only governance he's ever known was that people did whatever Asgore said because he was the strongest. Thaaaat's politics.

... Actually, that gives him a great idea.] Maybe they should battle to decide!

6. Wildcard

[Feel free to message me at friendlyflower, inbox me here, or just throw something at me!]

1

[edgewater]

[ parvati raises an eyebrow. ]

Do you find Ribombee that annoying? [ her hammer is swung over her shoulder, and she's carrying a small toolbox she's cobbled together in her other hand. don't question how she managed to get that all the way in here. ] Anyway. Over there?

[ she can get a headstart before anyone else shows up at any rate. ]

Umemiya Hajime - Wind Breaker - Lucario

[fromsprouts]

1. Working Overtime
Lucario are not known to hibernate, nor is he experiencing much shedding, but Umemiya finds his aura sense absolutely overwhelmed by the instincts of the Pokemon around him, driven to act on the cooling weather. Your friendly neighborhood Good Boy is going to make himself available to help others with their needs as the seasons shift.

Need someone to do a brushy-brushy? He's there. Need someone to use Rock Smash to widen a cave for hibernation? He's there. Need a jar of preserves and a loaf of bread? He's there. One might wonder when he's making time to eat and sleep, given how helpful he's trying to be for absolutely everyone, on top of continuing to maintain the Winter Garden in Skull Town.

One might wonder if he's making any time for his personal needs.


2. In a Pickle
A long time vegetable-lover, Umemiya finds himself in charge of a pickling operation, working to preserve the summer harvest of cucumbers, carrots, red onions, beets and even some green tomatoes that failed to ripen. Anyone looking for a way to chip in may be recruited to help, and he's happy to challenge people to chopping races.

Between mealtimes, he organizes an assembly line in the Spire's dining hall to work on this project. And as he supervises, hear him call out from time to time: "Save the carrot tops and the ends of the onions as you chop. We're going to be able to use them for vegetable stock, too!"


3. Electoral College
Umemiya, in the rare moments when he's not up to his elbows with Projects (rare, rare moments. Does he ever slow down?), seeks out the people who he knows to chew their brain on the election.

"Right, I know two things for sure: Grimpig is too busy to give Skull Town his full attention, and Umbreon doesn't want to be in charge of shit, not really. Beyond that, the other three candidates are who I'm considering. Where's your head at?"


4. Wildcard
3. Wildcard
[Wildly open to other ideas, so don't hesitate to reach out to me at darkersolstice or on Discord or by PM or by birdsong to plot. Feel free to flip me to brackets if you have a strong preference.]

3.

[friendlyflower]

"Umbreon. So what if he doesn't want to be in charge? That means he's the one who really should be, not a weirdo like Malamar. Plus, he's the strongest." This makes perfect sense to him.

There's a good chance Umemiya may have not actually been asking Flowey, given their previous conversation went so poorly, but he responded anyway.

Cedric | Sofia the First | Murkrow

[cedricthegreat]

Dear Gourd

[All things considered, Cedric is adjusting to his new life here... relatively well. He's made a couple of friends, he's contributing to the community, and moving around in his corvid form comes all but naturally now.

What continues to feel less natural is the ongoing case of molting he's had ever since his arrival. Why did he have to show up here in the fall anyway? And aren't Pokémon supposed to have powers? Why can't he have a move that will make him not feel like a walking pillow fight?

He has, however, utilized the situation. Anyone in the lower rank of the Oran guild will find that he's been collecting his feathers and amassing them in their sleeping quarters. Any time someone catches him with more, he wastes no time saying to them:]

Take as many as you like - for pillows, cushions, or whatever else you want. Anything to keep us warm at night without having to cluster together like shivering bats.

Apples to Apples

[Now he's not super versed in food preservation, but with the classes he gets along all right. He mostly sticks to harvesting, since flight makes this easier, but one time he braves a hayride on one of the carts, just to say he did it. Besides, it looks fun, and it reminds him of a story from his niece where her and Sofia took a hayride and were spooked by-

Just when all seems calm, Pumpkaboo and Gourgeist pop up from behind him, causing Cedric to jump in his seat and drop several feathers. Of course, as soon as he realises what happened, he's too incensed to stay and promptly flies off the cart.]

You two! How dare you show your faces again after what you did to Bigby!

[The two ghosts find his statement more amusing than threatening.]

Oh, so you want more? Go ahead and try, I have magic shouting now.

[And he proceeds to attempt Astonish at them. It's super effective, but he may still need some help.]

Wild Card

((OOC: Any other activities you want Cedric to participate in? Write up a prompt here, or poke me on Plurk at LilCosgrove!))

Dear Gourd

[fromsprouts]

That's very thoughtful of you.

...and that's a lot of feathers. Are you, like...okay?

[The Lucario isn't molting or shedding himself, but he's very in tune with the distress of others thanks to Aura Sense.]

Narciso Anasui | JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean | Espathra

[dripdrive]

I) The Gourdfather
[Anasui is in a bad mood. At first glance, the cause of his displeasure may be attributed to the change in seasons. Like many other Pokemon, Anasui's feathers are shedding but, perhaps annoyingly for those who are patchy and itching, Anasui's feathers fall out beautifully. The train-like feathers drop in layers without force, following the step-like cut of the tail, revealing already-grown shorter but no less immaculate feathers. A couple of Pokemon even gather the shed bright orange and white feathers for use in construction, which Anasui doesn't even notice.

You may find Anasui stalking through the town, a harsh look on his face. Every now and again, he'll look at his legs, scowl, and then start walking off again. It's almost like he's looking for something or someone...

If you don't look like a child, Anasui will stalk up to you and glare (probably down) at you. He only has one thing to say to you.]

Where is the kid?

[However, if you are small and/or childlike, Anasui may look at you differently. He'll come up to you unprompted and stare before asking you a simple question.]

Are you cold?

--------------------------
II) Harvest Season

[The harvest is bright and blooming and there's plenty of work to be done. The jarring, the apple washing, the basket arrangements... there's so much to do and so much fun to be had. However, despite the success of the season and the merriment in the air, Anasui is not having a good time.]

Ugh. I hate festivals. [It's not a festival-] Can't we just do the work and then move on?

[Anasui absolutely refuses to participate in most activities, like the haunted house or the corn maze. However, despite his distaste for social events, he is participating. Whenever you see Anasui, you'll see him hard at work preparing the foodstuffs. Most often, he's been put to clean the corn and it's not hard to see why. His work is immaculate. The corn silk in perfect rows in front of him while the husks themselves are neatly placed in a basket. The cobs themselves are stacked neatly and perfectly, and if you get too close, Anasui will immediately turn and glare at you, even if he wasn't looking in your direction.]

Touch the stack before it's done and I'll gut you.

[Huh. Sounds like someone is under a lot of stress. Maybe someone has picked up that Anasui dismantles a lot when he's stressed and food preparation is a another way to dismantle things... Though why he's like this? Who knows.]

--------------------------
III) Wildcard

[OOC: Anasui is stressed as hell due to his instincts and a couple of things going on... And you know what that means... He's dismantling things again. While he can be directed towards helping out, feel free to have him taking apart your hard work as a starter! Or throw something/anything else. Or plot with me by contacting usagisimaginaryfriend!]

I

[wolfcut]

Mm—?

[ Oh, that's right. His mouth is currently full of seeds thanks to his instincts going haywire. As much as Bigby wants to spit them all out, the urge to stock up at the Spire is all he can think about, to the point that the sudden question from Anasui of all people completely throws him off.

On all fours, he takes a defensive step away from the Espathra as he looks up. There's still some hesitation before he finally nods. Yeah, now that Anasui mentioned it, he is kind of fucking cold actually. ]

Ken Ichijouji | Lokix | OTA

[ourtomorrow]

[ driven nuts | it's a bug. ]

Ah....Thank you, but...

[ Ken didn't intend to pick up anything for the winter when he came into town today. In fact, once he saw that "prepare for hibernation" was a preoccupation in town, he looked around for any way a Lokix might be of use to others. He got a blanket down from a shelf for someone. He helped gather fur for someone else. And his efforts, let us say, have not gone unnoticed.

Put bluntly: Ken is covered in baby bugs.

There is a Caterpie on his head. There is a Burmy hanging from his folded-up Showdown Mode legs. There are no fewer than three Joltik looking for nice spots to stick themselves on his torso. All of them are gazing up (or down, or over) at him in starstruck awe. To think a fellow Bug-Type could be so cool, and yet, so kind...!

What's more, a Leavanny with their Sewaddle apprentices are brandishing a coat they've stitched together from leaves at him, an eager gleam in their beady eyes. ]

I'm probably too big for it, and I'd hate to split the seams....

[ The Leavanny approaches. The Sewaddle encroach.

SAVE HIM. ]

[ apples | genius bar ]

Hmmm....

[ Ken (who is wearing a scarf of String Shot silk. Don't ask) sizes up an apple tree. Takes a few steps back. Turns to anyone nearby. ]

Watch your head.

[ Lokix used, well, Low Kick! He's ramming into that trunk with a mighty hop!

And the apples cascade down. Hopefully he spotted and warned everyone in range. ]

Driven Nuts/Its a Bug!

[autumnrainrunaway]

[The moment Dolly's time being in ghost town was up after getting Trick or Treated, the winter fur didn't waste anytime to grow in. At the moment of arrival to Ken's sudden fashion show with Leavanny, Dolly pretty much has the Tinkerbell levels of fluff going on.]

Hey Ken! How've you been...wow that is a lot of baby Bug Pokemon on you.

Akira Takahashi | A Terrified Teacher at Ghoul School (Yohaji)

[hundredeyesoni]

[1] - The Harvest Season

(1a)
[With the latest activities offering the most exciting prize he's ever heard of for completion, there's no question that Akira's eager to experience everything right away. And so those who happen to near either the corn maze or tunnels may find the Slowking already there, soon calling them over for help with meeting the partner requirement.]

Try this one with me! I need to find out what teleportation feels liike! Pleaaase??


(1b)
[Of course, that's not to say he's any less interested in tackling the haunted houses as well. He just isn't quite as impatiently focused on the end of them when there's multiple variations to explore. There's an opportunity to learn from them, after all. Giving them his full attention and observing the choices in how they're arranged just might tell him all sorts of things about the Pokemon who put them together!

So as he turns to anyone who approaches, it's a rather calm greeting that he offers-- a bit more in line with his species for a change.]

Haunted houses are meant to be scary, right? I wonder if this one is!


[2] - Wildcard

[Want something else? I'm up for any prompt, and Akira's easy to run into pretty much anywhere!

Feel free to tag in with any scenario you'd like, or reach me via discord (goldbyakko), PM or numeiru for a custom starter!]

1b! >:3c

[autumnrainrunaway]

[Dolly gently looks up at her companion for the haunted house. To her, it was pretty much to learn what to expect for the more supernatural community here(okay maybe not supernatural given everyone here has super powers).]

Normally, though I've heard escape room style haunted houses were gaining popularity. I wonder what the haunts will be like here though?

[The Eevee sized Sylveon called 'Dolly' honestly never saw a Slowking before. So far, to Dolly, Slowking read as friend shaped.]

Dolly Mancer | OC | Sylveon

[autumnrainrunaway]

A. Dear Gourd

a1. For the first few days after going on the Geistly Behavior Quest, Dolly is seen floating about as a little ghost type. So far, she seems to be enjoying the levitation part that comes with it as well as seemingly avoiding the seasonal changes others seem to have been going through. Best Dolly could do is help out with grooming out the loose fur for those who are growing in their winter coats. Levitating and being ghostly clearly has its advantages!

"Come on over! I'll get those loose furs combed out boo-tifully!"

a2. Moment Dolly is back to being a pure fairy type...the floof had finally decided to start up. She's itchy from trying to get the loose fur off as the Tinkerbell levels of floof comes in with an overdue vengeance. You may see Dolly looking about for someone to help brush her out or anyone needing the baking spice scented fluff for who knows what..someone help her..


B. Apples to Apples

Either to take her mind off of certain behind the scenes things or because of just how adorable the basket tradition is, Dolly is currently scurrying about gathering ingredients to bake gingerbread cookies for the exchange as well as leaving a basket out of her own too to join in.

You may bump into Dolly while she's ingredients shopping or when she's dropping off an overfilled basket of gingerbread cookies with jam centers. Who knows, she may recruit you in to bake gingerbread cookies with her?

C. INTO THE MAIZE!

The siren song of getting corn to dry for popcorn making was a strong lure for Dolly as she entered the corn maze to harvest. It was massive, truly the most Midwestern corn maze to exist this, Dolly's thoughts of popcorn treats being a strong one as she goes to figure that way to the center. One thing Dolly didn't count on what so ever was there were others hiding in the corn maze, just waiting to pop out for a misdirection or a battle.

Dolly hears a crack of a stalk snapping, causing a soft eep like sound, forcing her to face where the sound came from.

"Whose there!?"

D. Wildcard!(Please feel free to side something else in, a combination of the prompts mentioned, or feel free to CR with me over on PM to my character journal/PP me on my Plurk of Dolly_Mancer!)

Seto Kaiba | Yu-Gi-Oh | Hakamo-o

[firstrateduelist]

I. Changing of the Leaves

a. These Claws Were Made For Digging (and that's just what they'll do)

Kaiba's never been particularly sensitive to the cold--in fact, generally he prefers it to the heat. However, when the weather starts to turn, he finds his scales aren't that great against the chill. Later, he'll find out it's a typing issue, but that doesn't help him with his present compulsion.

The colder he feels, the more he wants to find a good place outside and dig. At first, he fights the feeling, but within a few days...he can be found on the outskirts of the town, digging a hole big enough to fit himself into.

Hell, if you're so fortunate, you might come across him curling up in the damn thing and succumbing to the urge to nap.

If undisturbed, he'll probably nap for...a very long time. Days. Uh-oh. Someone's trying to hibernate. Best to wake him, perhaps.

b. Someone's Got the Munchies... [cw; hyperphagia, prey drive behavior]

When he's not trying to catch a months long nap, or maybe before he squirrels himself away to do it, Kaiba can be found just outside the town, either eating some poor Wild Pokemon he's hunted, or some food he's acquired elsewhere. He doesn't seem to care if any of his meals are raw, and appears to be acting on an instinct that he cannot be dissuaded from.

Case in point: if approached, he'll bare his fangs and his scales will keel up ever so slightly, like a pissed off feline.

"What do you want?" he asks curtly. "I'm busy!"

Busy being ravenous, more like.

II. Helping Isn't Teamwork: It's A Vehicle To Getting What One Wants

Kaiba isn't particular to sweets, but he's been in the Bay long enough

(not very long, but long enough)

to understand that the currency of the realm is trade. So, he puts his skills to use in as good a way as possible, while trying to use heat to keep himself awake now that he's figured out what helps with the hibernation thing.

He's still irate that he can't sleep and he's overbearingly peckish, but it's starting to calm, over time, with...activities.

Trading activities.

Fairly early in the morning, he heads down with several jars of what looks like preserves...or salsa? Something edible of some kind. He also has what appears to be a dish filled with macerated berries of several types.

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em, for now. That's what he's telling himself as he finds a spot in the shop area and lays the jars in front of him. There's no sign, just a grouchy Hakamo-o squatting behind a box of jars. If approached...

"You. Do you want some preserves?"

Oh, so it's not salsa. It's...hm. The preserves seem pretty thick. Perhaps Kaiba's calling is not in the culinary field. They do taste good, but it's hard to tell from the consistency. He doesn't care--the point is it tastes acceptable, looking pretty doesn't matter.

"If not, you can try some of this. It'll fortify you to the weather," he adds flatly, because of course Seto Kaiba sounds curt all the time, whether he's particularly hungry and tired or not. "I did research on specific Berry effects, and I've created an optimized blend. You have something to trade, right? Let's make a deal."

Somehow, it doesn't sound as if he'll readily take no for an answer.

I-a

[ourtomorrow]

[ ....Was there a hole here before?

Ken picks his way to the edge and peers in, careful not to intrude. Granted, he could probably hop out even if he fell, but -

Yes, it's. Occupied. By someone....curled up? Are they trying to sleep? Outside? When there's shelter in town? Do they have nowhere else to go? ]

Excuse me....?