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bottlecaplogs2025-12-15 10:02 am
bayhelpers) wrote in bottlecaplogs2025-12-15 10:02 am
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DECEMBER 2025 EVENT LOG
⋆✩ A HOLLY, JOLLY… ✩⋆
The snow is constant, but gentle now. It drifts more than it falls, gently gathering on the boughs of trees and the rooftops of houses. As the days pass, with the sight of the sun rarer and rarer, one could be forgiven for feeling morose - even lonely - in these coming winter days. Yet the energy of the Pokemon in both Bottlecap Bay and Skull Town convey something else; a sense of quiet excitement, and even camaraderie.
Pokemon are beginning to gather at each other’s homes for quiet visits with hot drinks. They’re having snowball fights in the lingering hours of light, and warm moments inside near a fire.
It feels like, despite the cold, things will be just fine.
YOU BETTER NOT CRY
It begins with a rumble. For a brief moment, a few Pokemon ask themselves if that avalanche from a week or so ago might not have been a warning of more to come. If maybe all the work to clear that snow is going to be undone. As the rumble increases however, it becomes clear that it isn’t the same as a collapse of snow. It sounds like something else. Like feet. Like…
”WE ARE HERE!”
Pokemon feet!
Despite sounding akin to an army of Pokemon, a total of only five soon make themselves known in the main square at Bottlecap Bay. They come charging with a practiced display, each one lining up proudly as they strike a pose - Scolipede, stamping the ground and throwing their horns. Incineroar, belching flames as they flex. Noivern, spreading great wide wings…
And tossed onto the shoulder of their companion, the teensy tiny Treecko, on Obstagoon’s shoulders!
“S!” “I!” “N!” “T!” “O!”
“SINTO IS HERE!!”
Proudly displaying themselves for all of Bottlecap, everyone quickly realizes that what’s most amazing about this oddball team isn’t just their noise level, but something even more interesting entirely; all of them are strange combinations of red, green, and white! It seems the team responsible for the mysterious request at the start of December has finally revealed itself…but why? As soon as anyone asks, the Obstagoon happily steps forward to answer.
“Why? It’s our mission of course! We’re here to deliver presents!!”
”WE ARE HERE!”
Pokemon feet!
Despite sounding akin to an army of Pokemon, a total of only five soon make themselves known in the main square at Bottlecap Bay. They come charging with a practiced display, each one lining up proudly as they strike a pose - Scolipede, stamping the ground and throwing their horns. Incineroar, belching flames as they flex. Noivern, spreading great wide wings…
And tossed onto the shoulder of their companion, the teensy tiny Treecko, on Obstagoon’s shoulders!
“S!” “I!” “N!” “T!” “O!”
“SINTO IS HERE!!”
Proudly displaying themselves for all of Bottlecap, everyone quickly realizes that what’s most amazing about this oddball team isn’t just their noise level, but something even more interesting entirely; all of them are strange combinations of red, green, and white! It seems the team responsible for the mysterious request at the start of December has finally revealed itself…but why? As soon as anyone asks, the Obstagoon happily steps forward to answer.
“Why? It’s our mission of course! We’re here to deliver presents!!”
LONGEST NIGHT
Some Bottlecap Bay Pokemon may have already started on preparation for the holiday early, but after the guilds get involved with quests is when it truly kicks into high gear. Glittering decorations start appearing everywhere! Pokemon native to this world seem to favor decorations to do with the moon, sun, snow, and ice, but - with the exception of a few real traditionalists - they’re intrigued and enthusiastic about anything the transformed Pokemon contribute. As long as you’re matching the spirit of the season by participating, can any decorations truly be wrong?
What is the spirit of the season, you ask? Local Pokemon are happy to explain, though it’s more of a fairytale than proper history. Longest Night is coming up! The story goes that many, many years ago, perhaps so long ago that humans didn’t exist yet, it was just the longest night of the year. In the dead of winter, with no sunlight, it was also the worst night of the year for all but a rare few Pokemon who enjoyed both the cold and dark. Everyone else would hide away and wait for daylight, and even those Pokemon quickly grew to hate the night out of loneliness.
So, finally, one of those Pokemon - what Pokemon it was changes between each storyteller - proposed something. To make Longest Night less lonely, all of the ice- and darkness-loving Pokemon would swear not to hunt on that specific night… and would protect anyone who emerged from being preyed upon. As time passed, more Pokemon began -
“But if you’re still hungry for meat,” Veluza interjects out of nowhere, busting in on the story, “I have you covered! I can Fillet Away as much as you’d like -”
Veluza is quickly shooed away by Mightyena, who is insistent that this isn’t in the spirit of the night! And besides, even native Pokemon who are otherwise entirely unconcerned about the cycle of nature seem a little weirded out by Veluza’s enthusiasm.
(Unfortunately, the story keeps getting interrupted by Veluza before anyone can ask where the gifts come into it…)
What is the spirit of the season, you ask? Local Pokemon are happy to explain, though it’s more of a fairytale than proper history. Longest Night is coming up! The story goes that many, many years ago, perhaps so long ago that humans didn’t exist yet, it was just the longest night of the year. In the dead of winter, with no sunlight, it was also the worst night of the year for all but a rare few Pokemon who enjoyed both the cold and dark. Everyone else would hide away and wait for daylight, and even those Pokemon quickly grew to hate the night out of loneliness.
So, finally, one of those Pokemon - what Pokemon it was changes between each storyteller - proposed something. To make Longest Night less lonely, all of the ice- and darkness-loving Pokemon would swear not to hunt on that specific night… and would protect anyone who emerged from being preyed upon. As time passed, more Pokemon began -
“But if you’re still hungry for meat,” Veluza interjects out of nowhere, busting in on the story, “I have you covered! I can Fillet Away as much as you’d like -”
Veluza is quickly shooed away by Mightyena, who is insistent that this isn’t in the spirit of the night! And besides, even native Pokemon who are otherwise entirely unconcerned about the cycle of nature seem a little weirded out by Veluza’s enthusiasm.
(Unfortunately, the story keeps getting interrupted by Veluza before anyone can ask where the gifts come into it…)
ENJOY THE FEASTIVITIES
As the dawn sun rises after the longest night, so comes the Shortest Day. While more accurately, the day prior was probably the shortest day…the celebrations lean heavily toward after the longest night, and it doesn’t take long to understand why.
The Shortest Day is celebrated with a feast, after all. It’s a feast that much of the day is spent putting together, and one hosted to everyone within the Bay at that - though Skull Town, it seems, is hosting their own meal for the sake of travel considerations. Not everyone is a cook though, and for that matter not everyone needs to work. It’s still a holiday, you know!
And that apparently means pre-meal gifts. Pokemon all over the Bay begin handing one another wrapped gifts they’ve spent days, even weeks preparing. Small things like winter clothes, or toys for little Pokemon to play with indoors. Gifts filled with meaning, and love - and some of them are even for their newfound companions from other worlds.
By the time gifts have all been exchanged, everyone is called toward the Archives for the promised meal. The final tradition, as many scholars will share if asked, comes from what followed those Longest Nights of the old past. Winter is a harsh season; for many Pokemon, even one evening to abstain from hunting could take its toll. The frigid conditions made it difficult for even the herbivorous of their number as well, and it soon became a tradition to do more than simply huddle close in those long hours.
It became tradition to look after each other in the short hours of daylight that followed.
As folklore holds that it was the kindhearted Blissey who began this tradition of delivering the gift of well cooked eggs to tide over the Pokemon of the bay, the feast that is prepared for everyone reflects this. A fully meat-less affair, there are salads carefully arranged with lush greens and sliced vegetables; massive servings of eggs, some hard-boiled with their insides churned into a seasoned mash, still others steaming and warm in the shell. Freshly baked breads fill numerous baskets, and countless jams, ready to spread, sit waiting. The feast is here - and from what can be heard, it’ll last well beyond the start of the second longest night, too!
“This is amazing,” an old Purrugly comments. “My compliments to the chefs.”
“This is better than I’ve ever seen it!” says yet another Pokemon, the Electrode in question bouncing up and down.
“Hey, is Treecko…glowing?”
With wide eyes, all Pokemon at the feast turn to the red-tailed Treecko from team SINTO. Hands still buried in the bread basket, the little one pauses to look themselves over as the glow increases. It covers their whole body, until it becomes too much to look at - until gleaming, rainbow lights stream out and around. For an instant, no one can see…but then!
“Oh!!”
“Treecko, you…”
While others stare, Obstagoon throws a much larger Pokemon than was there before into the air. “YOU FINALLY EVOLVED!!”
It’s a Shortest Day Miracle!
The Shortest Day is celebrated with a feast, after all. It’s a feast that much of the day is spent putting together, and one hosted to everyone within the Bay at that - though Skull Town, it seems, is hosting their own meal for the sake of travel considerations. Not everyone is a cook though, and for that matter not everyone needs to work. It’s still a holiday, you know!
And that apparently means pre-meal gifts. Pokemon all over the Bay begin handing one another wrapped gifts they’ve spent days, even weeks preparing. Small things like winter clothes, or toys for little Pokemon to play with indoors. Gifts filled with meaning, and love - and some of them are even for their newfound companions from other worlds.
By the time gifts have all been exchanged, everyone is called toward the Archives for the promised meal. The final tradition, as many scholars will share if asked, comes from what followed those Longest Nights of the old past. Winter is a harsh season; for many Pokemon, even one evening to abstain from hunting could take its toll. The frigid conditions made it difficult for even the herbivorous of their number as well, and it soon became a tradition to do more than simply huddle close in those long hours.
It became tradition to look after each other in the short hours of daylight that followed.
As folklore holds that it was the kindhearted Blissey who began this tradition of delivering the gift of well cooked eggs to tide over the Pokemon of the bay, the feast that is prepared for everyone reflects this. A fully meat-less affair, there are salads carefully arranged with lush greens and sliced vegetables; massive servings of eggs, some hard-boiled with their insides churned into a seasoned mash, still others steaming and warm in the shell. Freshly baked breads fill numerous baskets, and countless jams, ready to spread, sit waiting. The feast is here - and from what can be heard, it’ll last well beyond the start of the second longest night, too!
“This is amazing,” an old Purrugly comments. “My compliments to the chefs.”
“This is better than I’ve ever seen it!” says yet another Pokemon, the Electrode in question bouncing up and down.
“Hey, is Treecko…glowing?”
With wide eyes, all Pokemon at the feast turn to the red-tailed Treecko from team SINTO. Hands still buried in the bread basket, the little one pauses to look themselves over as the glow increases. It covers their whole body, until it becomes too much to look at - until gleaming, rainbow lights stream out and around. For an instant, no one can see…but then!
“Oh!!”
“Treecko, you…”
While others stare, Obstagoon throws a much larger Pokemon than was there before into the air. “YOU FINALLY EVOLVED!!”
It’s a Shortest Day Miracle!
iii. TO ANOTHER FINE YEAR…
A FINAL DASH OF HOLIDAY
At the end of the feast, the members of SINTO (or… or are they SINGO now?) do one final round to bestow every participant in their quest with an extra helping of especially sparkly festive glitter - and an announcement to each of those Pokemon that they’ve proven themselves worthy of the “power of Longest Night”. While they seem to intend this just for those that helped them out… in fact, enough Pokemon did that the glitter just ends up everywhere. If you were in the room at all, expect glitter on your paws for at least a couple of days.
Then the team vanishes as abruptly as they arrived, with Obstagoon leading the charge off into the night.
But after all that food, is anyone really in a state to worry about this? Some Pokemon may linger for a while longer, for quieter socializing and hot drinks. For most, though, it’s time to head back to their rooms and get some much-anticipated rest - perhaps wrapped in a cozy new gift!
At dawn the following morning, Pokemon will notice sleigh tracks cutting through the center of both Bottlecap Bay and Skull Town. Did Scolipede really have a sleigh all along? In addition, several Pokemon in Skull Town remark that they heard bells during the quietest hour of the night, muffled by snow. Opinions differ on whether they sounded cheery or welcoming, but nobody who will admit to making the sounds can be found…
Then the team vanishes as abruptly as they arrived, with Obstagoon leading the charge off into the night.
But after all that food, is anyone really in a state to worry about this? Some Pokemon may linger for a while longer, for quieter socializing and hot drinks. For most, though, it’s time to head back to their rooms and get some much-anticipated rest - perhaps wrapped in a cozy new gift!
At dawn the following morning, Pokemon will notice sleigh tracks cutting through the center of both Bottlecap Bay and Skull Town. Did Scolipede really have a sleigh all along? In addition, several Pokemon in Skull Town remark that they heard bells during the quietest hour of the night, muffled by snow. Opinions differ on whether they sounded cheery or welcoming, but nobody who will admit to making the sounds can be found…
✩ OOC NOTES.
⟡ CWS: Aside from Veluza, there are no CWs!
⟡ As always, while all Quests must be submitted by the 30th of the month, Players may submit their own Player Quests at any time before that point! (Though we recommend saving Player Quests for the next month if it is after the 25th)
⟡ For those who participated in the Secret Santa this month, don't forget to submit your presents 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!
⟡ As always, while all Quests must be submitted by the 30th of the month, Players may submit their own Player Quests at any time before that point! (Though we recommend saving Player Quests for the next month if it is after the 25th)
⟡ For those who participated in the Secret Santa this month, don't forget to submit your presents 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!
Mayaka | Hyouka | Hisuian Sneasel | OTA !
In the early morning after the Longest Night, one might spot a little Sneasel staggering up the path towards the Archives. She's carrying a basket of food, with wooden bento boxes piled up ambitiously on top of it, so high that she can't see what's in front of her.
Mayaka had assured herself before leaving the house that she's made the trip between the Archives and her room enough times to be able to do this blindfolded. She's aiming to get to the venue early so that she can give out all this food she's prepared for her new friends before they get started on the actual feast.
What she's failed to account for in her home-to-Archives route planning is that the celebrations from the night before have left party items, glitter, and other random knickknacks littering the streets. Despite her best efforts, Mayaka inadvertently steps onto a pile of tinsel and it's too late when she realises it's gotten all tangled up in her feet.
"Uwah!!" She grips tightly onto her basket as she feels herself slip...!
2. Pre-Feast Gifts!
Mayaka stands near the entrance to the feast with her basket of food (all still intact and presentable, phew), scanning the Pokemon that come and go for familiar faces.
She realises that it might not be a good idea, giving out such simple fare before a grand feast, but this was all she could think to scrape together given her lack of resources and the limited items in the market. The Sneasel is wearing a pair of brand new gloves that she received earlier from Courier Six, making her less anxious about being close to others and also the reason why she could assemble and cook the food to begin with.
(Mayaka has prepared not only food for her friends, but extra in case she meets new faces as well! Whether you've given her a present in the days before, or are planning to give her a present now, she'll be ready to reciprocate with something yummy.)
1 because I need that cute bento box in my life
Of course, on his way over, he manages to spy the familiar Sneasel. What was about to start as a friendly hello quickly turns into wide-eyed panic when he sees all those unsteady bento boxes about to topple over. Acting quickly—perhaps a little too quickly—Aegiomon dashes over and uses his larger body to help steady her. His vines extend upward like elongated arms to catch any stray boxes before they hit the ground.
"Woah! A-Are you okay?!" his voice is rattled with concern as he holds onto a few of the boxes, unsure if he should add them back to that imposing stack. "Do...do you need any help carrying all of these? I know I wouldn't wanna clean up the mess these would make if they really did fall to the ground."
(´・ω・)っ由
"Gio-chan! You're a lifesaver!" She grins at the Skiddo as she places her basket of food down on the ground.
The Sneasel is still tangled up in a rope of tinsel, and hops on one leg in an attempt to free her feet from its clutches as she continues speaking: "I'd feel bad asking you to help me carry these gifts when one of them is yours. Actually, it's the box you have there."
She points at the vine that's holding onto a box with a very simple doodle of the Skiddo scrawled on the cover, to help her differentiate between bentos.