JUNE 2025 EVENT LOG

[bayhelpers]

⋆✩ THE BOTTLECAP RAFTING FESTIVAL ✩⋆

May Showers long gone, the sun that greets the month of June seems to intensify its brilliance to make up for absence. It’s only the start of the season of Summer, but the heat is already rising by the passing of the day.

For the residents of Bottlecap Bay, this is just another part of life. Once the threats of strange Pokemon and the enraged Dondozo are resolved there’s nothing stopping them from preparing for the end of the month. Banners are being strung across the streets. Signs are being posted at every business door.

But just what is the Dragafloat Festival anyway?

i. PRE-EMPTIVE CELEBRATIONS

PREPARE FOR A FEAST

Though life in Bottlecap Bay still proceeds with relative normalcy, the air of celebration is impossible to miss after the mid-month passes by. Not content with simply displaying festive banners and flyers for the incoming event, plenty of stores and even small eateries are pulling out all the stops. This holiday celebrates the very first arrival to Bottlecap Bay — but more than that, the timing of their newfound peace can’t be ignored! It’s the kind of chance experience that puts spirits into the highest of moods.

With street foods of all kinds on display, it’s no surprise that Pokemon will see things that weren’t there before. In fact, some shops might even be taking a page from the books of their newly accepted friends, giving their very best attempt at dishes and treats as described to them by these strange foreigners from worlds afar.

The celebratory air isn’t restricted to the daylight hours either. With the battles in the various parts of the woods, the Fog that so afflicted the bay has now receded; only partly, but enough to encourage bolder acts into the night. Local Ghost Pokemon are far more friendly (though no less mischievous) without local suspicions turning their way, and happily dance along great bonfires being erected upon the beach.

As June 20th draws closer, even the Guild Leaders can be seen joining in on the fun. Was that Ribombee with a mug of mead? Did Polteageist just offer to tell a story by the bonfire? It’s said that similar fires were used as signals for other Pokemon to make their way to the shores, but in his very own words, that’s not quite what these blazing towers are for this time. What are they for, in that case?

"Well, that’s just something you’ll have to see for yourselves!"

WINE AND DINE

⟡ Players are encouraged to come up with their own foods present at the festivals as they proceed throughout the latter end of June. Examples can be found here, but real world examples of street foods and drinks are also allowed within reason.

⟡ For characters over the age of 21, there are alcoholic beverages. The fermentation process means plenty of options to go around - feel free to assume they are made from berries, fruit or vegetables, at whatever ABV you'd like.

⟡ While the festival itself isn’t officially until the 20th of June, festivities will nonetheless fill the streets leading up to that day — and even after. They will die down significantly after a few days of cleaning and sobering up however.

⟡ The Guild Leaders are available for threads once again! Players may comment for such threads here, keeping in mind that threads will not exceed more than 5 comments from Leaders.

ii. THE ANNUAL DRAGAFLOAT RACE

ARTISTIC PRIDE

On the morning of the festival, many Pokemon rise much earlier than they normally would. The lone exception belongs to those who were early birds and nocturnal sorts to begin with — in which case they’re not only out and about already, but in some cases staying awake as long as they possibly can. It’s the Dragafloat Race, and for some aspiring extreme artists that means it’s time to show off their Pokemon spirit.

What better way to do that, than express themselves? The Pokemon preparing their paints don’t intend to do that on just any canvas though. They’re here to paint each other, and will happily encourage others to do it as well. Eager to show their skill or teach a new budding artist, it’s time to get creative and try something new.

And preferably, something bright!

IT’S TO DYE FOR

⟡ The paints being used by Pokemon vary. Some Smeargle and Grafaiai use their natural power. Others, such as Ink creating Pokemon, blend their inks with natural pigments for various painters to make use of.

⟡ All paints are safe for Pokemon skin, but are NOT water soluble. Pokemon will be warned of this in advance, but the hope is that these painted designs last through the float race — which is difficult if the water washes it away. It takes about 2 days to fade away naturally.

⟡ Characters participating in the races themselves will be encouraged to paint with colors matching a team theme! See the following prompt for further details.

ON YOUR MARK…

In the days leading up to the 20th, sign-up sheets will have been seen near to the Quest Board’s typical postings. These sheets require Pokemon to sign up for any one of two roles: Tow, or Passenger. Apparently, the sheets explain, random pair-ups will occur at the start of the race for full fairness.

But what about the race itself? When the day finally arrives, the morning is dedicated to preparation. Uniquely colored rafts are prepared for each team, and various body-painters offer their services to help each team match their float. In the true spirit of the race’s origin, each team is encouraged to choose one of the first Pokemon of Bottlecap to theme their ride around. Samurott perhaps? Maybe Gastrodon? The right to pick the coveted Dragapult is one many fight over, so it may be best to choose one of the less popular ones! Bottlecap wasn’t made by one alone after all.

The race starts in the bay, and ends in the bay; it takes Pokemon far, far out to sea before turning them around as Passengers cheer and support their Tow partner through the entire event. It’s up to the Passenger to protect their partner so that the Tow can focus on swimming. It’s a group effort, and one that takes hours of work to boot!

But with the end of the race in sight by way of massive bonfires sitting in the Bay’s evening light, it’s work that will be well worth it. Do your best, Pokemon of Bottlecap!

...GO!

⟡ The race will take only one day, but Sign-Ups are available as a fun bonus for players to participate in. No threads will be required, and a random draw will be performed on June 30th to determine a winner from among a pool of NPC Pokemon.

⟡ Unless otherwise requested, pair-ups for the race are completely random. In fact, players may find themselves ‘partnered’ to an NPC! If two players wish above all else to form a team, please indicate this when signing up.

⟡ Despite the nature of the race, Sign-Ups do not require particular typing for the roles of Tow and Passenger. Instead, there is a disclaimer and a warning encouraging any and all Pokemon weak to Water against the role of Tow.

⟡ Festivities noted in earlier prompts will reach their peak energy during the afterhours of the race, carrying on through the entire night.

✩ OOC NOTES.

⟡ CWS: Water/ocean related risks, potential alcohol use, references to prior heavy quests (Pokemon death, Pokemon eating other Pokemon)

⟡ While all Heavy Quests will ICly have completed by June 15th, 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 24th! We understand that there's been a few months now where this wasn't expected, so we don't want you to forget.

⟡ Have any questions related to the event? Ask them here! If your question is more general for the game, please make sure to direct it to the FAQ page instead. Thank you, and happy threading!

FULL NAVIGATION

Comments

[hundredeyesoni]

Of course nooot. The berry's so I can tie these bandages nice and tight the first time.

[Something that's soon very apparent, as he begins to wrap the Morpeko's arm so thoroughly that the sight of it could be mistaken for a cast. And along with that,]

Okay! Treatment's complete.

It didn't feel broken, but you're pretty small, so I'd like you to keep it still for a while anyway. [As if there's any choice.] A biting move may have had more force than the cat's usual jaw strength. A few days should be enough if it's not hurting. Pokemon recover super fast.

It seems a lot of us are meant to be capable of moves we haven't learnt yet. Before that fun adventure we went on, I wouldn't have known I could put anyone to sleep without anaesthetics. If you can't copy that attack right now, it may just be a matter of time and practice.

[wolfcut]

[ Okay, that's tighter than he expected, and enough of a surprise to get an involuntary squeak out of him. ] —hey, watch it. [ He pulls back the moment Akira lets go, scowling down at his work. ] Seriously? This is just overkill. All I needed was a bandage.

[ Not exactly the best way to say thank you. For a bit, he's only half paying attention until the cat comes up again. Quickly, he interjects: ] The bear dealt worse, and I survived fine. [ A pause. ] Not that I'd call that fun either, but yeah. Learned a lot. Sure. [ Like how many hits he can actually take now, but speaking of anesthetics. ] How's that Ursaluna doing anyway? Heard it made it back to the clinic when everyone was done with it.

[hundredeyesoni]

Hm? It is a bandage. [Really, he'd have used even more, if resources weren't so limited compared to back home. Choosing to be thorough has never steered him wrong yet.]

The recovery seems to be going well. I'm a bit jealous that I couldn't be the one providing treatment, though. The other clinic staff kept saying I'm "too involved", even though I haven't been at all! Isn't that the funniest thing?

[It's just not the sort of phrase he really gets. How could he be expected to clue in that the multiple fights and immediate bombardment of questions once he got the chance to visit might have been a bit much in succession?

As it is... Well, at least he can hazard a guess that asking again won't change anyone's mind.]

Do you think we'll get to bring even more Pokemon back into the city like that? It would sure make it easier to explore once everyone out there is on our side. [Or at least hospitalized. Whichever.]

[wolfcut]

Feels like a damn cast to me, but fine. Whatever you say. [ At this point, he's already planning to take most of it off. Just, not while in front of the doctor.

Akira's comment does get a sympathetic snicker, at least. Bigby can at least read between those lines and speak to it for him. ] Maybe they're just trying to save the bear some unneeded trauma. You did technically go after it twice. [ For medical reasons, sure, but a bounty is a bounty. ]

Anyway, do I think there'll be more to bring in? Sure. Do I think most of them will cooperate? Not at all. There's only so much we know about all the Pokémon out there.

[hundredeyesoni]

Is that traumatic!? [It sounds like a genuine question, somehow.] I guess Pokemon are similar enough to animals that it's natural they'd fear doctors...

[That's the reason he's settling on, not quite recognizing that no one else shares his problem.]

I was actually pretty good at restraining those kinds of patients! If I were still as strong as I used to be, we could just make them all cooperate. Maybe that's what the moves we haven't learnt yet are incentive for?