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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!
Umemiya Hajime - Wind Breaker - Lucario
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
3.
There's a good chance Umemiya may have not actually been asking Flowey, given their previous conversation went so poorly, but he responded anyway.
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He's speaking with his own leadership experience, as the head of Bofurin.
"Sure, you can be less than completely ready for the role you're stepping into, and still do a good job. But without any actual stance to work from beyond his past record, I'm not confident in his capacity."
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"Haven't you ever heard that story about the warrior who didn't want to be king, but the current king told him, 'that's why you must be king'? It's an old fable about how those who want power are most likely to be corrupted by it."
A little ironic coming from him, since he wanted to be mayor and knew he would misuse his power. But only for stuff that was funny!
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Which isn't entirely relevant to the situation here, but.
"Need told me the other day that I sound like I want to take charge here, but I know there's a risk to thinking like that. Especially as someone who isn't native to this world, you know?
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The part about a princess giving up her royal title for some reason elicits a weird reaction from him. Flowey looks away, hiding his face. "What a moron. Once THAT relationship fizzles out, she's left everything behind and got nothing left." His voice is quiet.
He tries to quickly change the subject. "We might be from a different world, but haven't we proven ourselves yet? We've been chasing down outlaws and exploring dangerous dungeons since we got here."
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"Okay, and what part of that means we're ready to establish infrastructure and determine the needs of the locals on a broad scale?"
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Nobody ever beat Asgore, though. (Well, not except a certain human.)
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At least, he was the one acknowledged as top. No one who could claim to be physically stronger ever beat him in an actual challenge.
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1
Granted, Parvati knows that he's not doing this out of typical worker ant schools of thought like she's been, but. She finds it a bit funny regardless. Her hammer is nowhere to be seen, arms instead crossed over her chest. She's looking Umemiya over -- as much as a Tinkaton half his height can, anyway.
"You're running round like a headless Raptidon."
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"I wish I could slow down, honestly I do, but everyone else is stressed and I'm picking it up like a radar." Do they have radar when she's from? Hopefully it'll translate well enough.
He gestures at the four tendrils hanging back behind his head, usually held back with a scarf, but loose today. "The type of Pokemon I am, a Lucario, has a sixth sense, Aura Sense, that allows me to sense things like emotions at a distance. Right now, I'm feeling everyone else's instincts about preparing for the winter turned up to eleven."
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"Well, you can take a break. You know that." She tilts her head to the side, her "hair" swaying with it. She needs to find a better way to style this than a ponytail... "I'm sure everyone's real grateful for your work, but you've gotta eat at least."
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Which, like, he's not judging her in the least for eating Magikarps, they're kinda dumb little Pokemon.
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Parvati feels the nagging urge to be a bit more assertive before immediately giving up, but. "Why's she doing that? Is that what you do before a... winter?"
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His ears perk and his attention latches onto Pavarti, which makes it a lot easier to ignore everyone else's emotions.
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She blinks. Wait that actually worked, without being assertive--
"...I didn't know what snow was until a couple of hours ago, so."
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...priorities.
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1
"When was the last time you sat down?" he asks, sounding more like he's interrogating the Lucario than actually talking. "It feels like I only seen you helping others and rushing about? Do you actually eat?"
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"I eat. I had some scrambled eggs and a croissant this morning." It's now close to three in the afternoon.
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Anasui feels antsy, for some reason, and now that Ume is closer, the Lucario may be able to pick up that Anasui feels like a distressed parent trying to find their hectic child. It's a general feeling that's not particularly directed at Umemiya but it's a low undertone to Anasui's usual grumpiness.
"Ugh... If it's even possible, you've been working more than usual. Which means your body requires more energy and a break. You should try at least sit, or have a snack, or whatever."
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So rather than fighting back, arguing, he allows himself to be herded by the parental ostrich. He's just a teenager, maybe he can insinuate himself into those instincts.
"Yeah? I think...you're probably right. Maybe...come with me to get a snack?"
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"Of course, I'm right. But I'm not interested in going all the way back to any of the Guilds. So if we're getting a snack, let's go out to eat. I'll even pay or whatever." Even though Anasui does have a logical head, he's always been ruled by his emotions and his heart. In his eyes, kid needs to eat so even if he won't admit it, he'll provide.
Anasui doesn't particularly where they go or what they eat. Ume's choice, and thanks to the harvest there's plenty to choose from!
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He begins to walk in that direction, clearly set on something baked for snack.
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Unfortunately, Anasui isn't the type for small talk and he's completely quiet as he walks. He does, however, protectively hover near Umemiya, ready to chase off threats like people wanting Umemiya's help.
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But eventually they get to the bakery, and Umemiya orders before looking up at his ostrich friend. "Have you eaten yet, yourself?"
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