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bottlecaplogs2025-10-15 10:01 am
bayhelpers) wrote in bottlecaplogs2025-10-15 10:01 am
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OCTOBER 2025 EVENT LOG
⋆✩ 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.
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.
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.
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!
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!
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 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!
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!
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!
✩ 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!
⟡ 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!
Firoza Istus | Final Fantasy XIV (OC) | OTA [in Bottlecap Bay]
[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
Excuse me, are you the Nidoran who led me back to Skull Town?
no subject
Oh-
[Immediately she turns around to...bow? Lower herself to the ground? Grovel sort of?]
Oh gods, I am so sorry about that! I wasn't myself at all! Leading you back to Froslass was irresponsible...!
no subject
It's fine. She was possessing people.
no subject
[That's an antethesis to her whole being! Her heart...ow...]
no subject
Okay.
no subject
Is there anything I can do to make it up to you? Anything at all?
B
So, here he is, watching and learning as well. Since he recognises her, Anasui sidles up to the Warrior of Light and watches carefully. He gives a small grunt.]
Yeah, you need so much so the sugar can absorb the water, and there tends to be a lot in fresh produce. [Anasui looks at the Nidoran to talk more about fruit preservation when he sees her hesitation. He pauses before he tries to nonchalantly look aside.] ... It's remarkably difficult to fuck up, you know.
[An attempt to comfort has been made. He's doing his best.]
no subject
...I suppose. But, I am not going to assume I can do it right on the first try.
no subject
Fair. But similarly, you shouldn't assume it'll be awful until you actually try it. [Anasui leans over and nudges her with his beak, trying to push her forward to 'volunteer'.] If you mess it up, so be it. There are plenty of people who have no standards. It won't be wasted.
no subject
[She's not sure if that's encouraging or not, but the fact that she's scooted forward catches the presenter's attention. Oho, miss, did you want to volunteer?]
Um...sure? Yes - why not.
[Anasui do you wanna sit back and watch how this goes down.]
no subject
In any case, Anasui smirks and gets comfortable where he's sitting. He absolutely wants to watch how this goes down. He has full faith in you, Firoza, legitimately!]
no subject
The jar she produces at the end of it is...well it looks okay? Might be a little too much sugar in there, and the berries used might not be cut right, all uneven, but it'll all taste the same regardless. And the instructor says she can keep it for herself!
Oh my gods, oh my gods. She has a jar of stuff. Aaaaaaah! Let's gently carry it by the twine tied around the top and put it on the table where she was before so Anasui can look at it.]
Ah, it isn't as hard as I thought...!
no subject
Not wanting to be too disruptive during Firoza's lesson, he ends up taking out an origami puzzle Polteageist gave him and begins disassembling it to calm himself down When Firoza returns, he's still trying to unfold it without ripping it, but he puts it down as he's shown what she's made.]
Told you. And you were worried. I didn't think the big hero got nervous over little things like this.
no subject
[The most important thing to remember was that bravery was not the absence of fear, but the choice to act regardless of it. Though, some people would also call that stupidity.
Bravery, stupidity. Very similar.]
But we cannot eat it for some time. It needs to set, apparently.
no subject
[Anasui would absolutely call it that. Then again, he does admire those with the determination to see things through to their end, despite their fear, so maybe he's also pretty stupid.]
Fair enough. It's not like we're lacking food, given the harvest. Plenty of other fruits and sweets to eat.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
Sorry for the delay. We cool to wrap up?
No worries, we're cool to wrap it up
wildcard
... Hey, Firoza. [ He's whispering right beside her, as if this is a serious matter indeed. ] Is it true? What you said about making anything into soup?
no subject
Aye, of course it's true. Is something the matter?
[Is. Is there a soup problem?]
no subject
[ He smiles sheepishly. ]
I think I might have harvested too many pumpkins, so. [ This is very embarassing, Firoza. ] Now I don't know what to do with them all.
[ Please send help before they start rotting. ]
no subject
Oho...well, I do think pumpkin soup is easily crafted. If we have some salt and pepper, water, something like onions, plenty of Miltank milk and some kind of butter, maybe even eggs if it's available and not too taboo...mhm, that would be delightful. I'm assuming this is an obscene amount of pumpkins?
[Do we have enough to feed all of Bottlecap Bay?
Also we're not using cloves but I have this recipe in mind. :3 ]
no subject
[ His eyes light up. Firoza's already got the gears turning for a recipe already! ]
Maybe they'll let us have some extra ingredients if we promise to share! The milk and butter definitely shouldn't be a problem. [ He's been helping plenty with that, after all. ] The pumpkins... there's definitely enough for the whole guild, at least. Is that... is that still going to work?
[ Digging them all up was too fun. ]
no subject
It should! We don't need every single thing, but it will be very pumpkin-heavy in taste...which isn't a bad thing. But hopefully it's liked as it is.
no subject
Well, at least it's the season for those sorts of flavors, isn't it? Hopefully that won't be too much of a problem. [ His tail wags, relieved to know Firoza can help save the day. ] Luckily pumpkin is pretty tasty, but I might be a little biased. I always have a lot of it around my birthday...
no subject
A lot of pumpkin around your birthday, eh...? Does that mean...its date happens to be in this season?
no subject
That's right! It'll be... late next month, I think? It's funny how fast the year's been going. I almost forgot.