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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!
Flowey | Undertale | Sunkern
[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
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
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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. ]
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Anyway! Golly, it's great to see you again! I sure am glad Froslass didn't hurt you!
[His plan to overthrow Froslass never came to fruition. ... Maybe he would've been a bad mayor. Oh, well.]
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[ she's looking around the room to try and survey the stable points, etcetera, before she starts setting up as she talks. ] That whole ordeal was weird -- didn't think it was possible to do all of that with people's brains for real.
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If she looks close, Parvati might see small pieces of confetti lodged into the wood. Looks like there was a party here recently?]
You seemed really confused last time we spoke, even besides all that Froslass stuff! Was the place you came from really that different?
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And me, of course. You don't have spaceships, for one.
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[There's almost a childish excitement. He carefully tries to compose himself.]
Did you fly a spaceship? What was it like? Did you shoot people with lasers?
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[ a very commandeered piracy vessel, as well, but that's neither here nor there. ] We had laser guns, though! But my friend Nyoka is better with those -- it's her whole thing. I'm just the engineer.
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[He's never met anyone from space. Very interesting.] Okay, new question. Do you only eat space food? Is that why you acted like you've never eaten a berry before?
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[ she pauses at the second question. ] Did, yeah. Used to work at a cannery where we canned mashed up alien bits. Don't have a lot of fresh stuff where I'm from, especially not if you're like me. I've only eaten that kind of stuff in ice cream or wine.
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[A beat.] ... or so I've heard. Anyway!!! Alien bits? Like the blood and bones of little green men with big bug eyes?
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A-ha! [ she finally pulls out a ruler. ] Food here's nicer, somewhat. [ she taps it against her hand, looking around again. ] Thank Law I'm not doing this myself, lotta work to do.
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Meanwhile, Flowey is notably not helping at all. There's not much he can do. Instead, he has an idea.]
Hmm... here! Try this!
[He rustles around in his bag and pulls out a little bread roll. He's been inundated with these things ever since people who can bake and/or have regular access to the bakery decided they're "worried about him". He mostly photosynthesizes, so he can't eat them all, anyway.]
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I Don't Choose You!
You know, I'm pretty surprise it wasn't a battle either given what we understand so far here.
[Thanks Dolly, good going encouraging Flowey there.]
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[Well less pick a leader and more like figure out which one was predetermined from the start. Its the same thing, right?]
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He was sure that some of the other monsters could have worked hard enough to kill Asgore, Boss Monster or not, if they had wanted to. But... they hadn't.]
Tournaments... now THAT sounds like a fun idea! Are you familiar with them?
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[Sure, Dolly is a Queen, but even then, the others had thousands of years on her, one of them being close to becoming an eon old. Queens are scary, that's a lesson well drilled in after that tournament.]
I am, that's how we used to do things back home to figure out a generation's Queen if the secondary ability isn't noticeable.
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Hmm... Queens, huh? Very interesting. You seem very familiar with all this.
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[Carefully listening though, that was a very on point observation from Flowey, Dolly was definitely impressed.] It was hard not to, it was something all my siblings and others were brought up in. We all had to train and be prepared for the tournament if none of us were displaying an obvious secondary ability.
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So you were a Queen? Or going to be one?
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That would be correct, I ended up being the Queen for my generation, though never coronated.
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[He knows it's rude to pry... but Dolly is just so unique that he can't help himself.]
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I organized my entire generation and siblings before escaping our birth island all together before coronation. It was easily one of the hardest things I had to do back then, we had all grown up together on it, but it was needed.
[Deep breath..good and stay calm, this was the hardest part to talk about, not after the last conversation Dolly had with her birth island not too long ago.]
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Wow. Your entire generation? That must've been a lot!
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Well less snark and more 'Right? super weird but it works' in a good natured way