ALOLA SCOUTING CATCH-ALL

[fortuneglass]

Who: The Nightrunning Crew!
When: Day 73
Where: ALOLA
What: Scouts doing SCOUTS STUFF and Mercs ALSO DOING SCOUTS STUFF maybe catching pokemon maybe getting clothes WHO KNOWS
WARNINGS: People being Dumb

Alola, the scouts will notice initially, is fairly warm-but fairly diverse all the same. Everyone is equipped with their handy-dandy radio, which is good considering the chances that everyone arrived on separate islands.

Those landing at Poni Island find it largely uninhabited, aside from one lonely property and a dock filled with houseboats. The pokemon here are wild and untamed, and among some of the strongest in the region-and scouts will find massive canyons and equally large trees, that some can even walk on.

Mele-Mele Island on the other hand, while small, has more sizable a population. There's one city, and plenty to do, and the scouts becoming familiar with pokemon will observe that those in the wild here are good for anyone 'starting out'-the labs here as well might supply tourists with pokedexes even just as a temporary measure, so that's handy.

The third of the four islands meanwhile, Ula'Ula, is home to the highest peak in the entire region...as well as a desert. There's a lot more people living here, though scouts venturing far enough north are going to come across the town that Team Skull took over, which might be a good idea to warn others of. It's one thing to dismiss Team Skull as a threat, it's another to just waltz into their home base. There's also a local bus that will take visitors up to the Hokulani Observatory, up on Mt. Hokulani.

Lastly, the most populous of the four islands, Akala Island has hotels, a natural park, an impressive mall...scouts can probably take at least a brief moment to get themselves to blend in more with some local clothing while here, especially while in one of the two cities. Konikoni in particular seems to be selling numerous items relating to pokemon in one way or another, so it's a must-see!

Though really, scouts should probably try to focus on what's relevant to the Carnival, right..?

[[OOC - This is a mingle log; players of scouts can assume they can be anywhere among the islands given how easy it is to travel between them, or just radio out-and beyond that everyone is free to come up with their own ridiculous scouting scenario! Just try not to alola yourself out, we still have the main event after all.]]

Comments

CLOSED | LAMBERT

[fortuneglass]

[They needed a Ride. Not a ride pokemon, as some of the locals of Paniola Town were suggesting-the idea of paging in some other animal was apparently just not working well here. No, they needed a Proper Ride, something that would be theirs-or at least Lambert's, for that matter.

The locals had shrugged, scratched their head, and said something about catching Tauros, Miltank, and Mudbray in the grass around the ranch nearby-but at this point? Aside from a number of puppies, well...]

BRAAAAAAYYY!!

Y-You need to calm him down first, he's really scared of you I think!!

[Catching pokemon is harder than it looks.]

[whattaprick]

[ Lambert has survived being made a witcher, more drowners and nekkers than he can count, and going to hell and back. He's not about to be bested by some pipsqueak of a donkey now.

Although he has serious doubts as to how this thing could carry anyone anywhere, much less two of them. Lambert hasn't yet had a chance to dress in an appropriately Alolan outfit and it's doubtful this one is going to be fit to wear anywhere after this, because the witcher? Is in the field, covered in mud, trying to advance on the huffing and puffing beast. In any case, he doesn't take the backseat driving well. ]

I would, if it would stop--! [ Bam, slapped with mud right across the mouth. ] Eurgh--

[insidescoop]

[MUDBRAY USED MUD SPORT....

Well this isn't really helping here. At all.] You have to show that you're really serious about this..! If you just get angry, then it won't calm down!

[whattaprick]

[ Lambert spits out mud, wiping his mouth off on the back of his hand (at least he remembered to take his gloves off first; he'd be even more pissed if he dirtied up those). Just in time, too, to dodge a sharp kick aimed at his stomach. The ground shudders underfoot and all right, fuck this. ]

Enough! Calm down! [ He flings the spell out with a wave of his hand, willing the damn thing to stop throwing a tantrum. What's got it so worked up, anyway? ]

[insidescoop]

Hey!! What did I just say..!!

[Well, that said, the Mudbray does seem to stagger a bit, moaning a little dizzily. It sways on its feet, before steadying itself, eyeing the others warily.]

...You couldn't do that without magic at all?

[whattaprick]

I could, if I wanted to spend all day wrestling with it in the dirt. But we've got a job to do.

[ Lambert, frowns, leaning in. Hey, now that he's gotten a closer look at it and it's actually standing still instead of splashing around ... ]

I don't think we want this one anyway. Looks like it hurt its foot.

[insidescoop]

WRESTLE?! That's not going to work either..!!

[And more than that-] You do all of that and now you're going to let him go back out there with an injury?!

[Nope. Nope. She has HAD IT. Carly storms right over to the Mudbray and starts digging around in her purchased purse for something.] That's just cruel, at least treat them...

open!

[kingsroads]

[ Official nightrunner report from Strange? This world is really fricken weird. After an eternal party dimension, the Matrix, and Atlantis, it seems to be this world that's the hardest for the magician to accept. There are bugs that are a foot tall, cats that breathe fire, sentient rocks, and mice that generate electricity, this world makes no goddamn sense.

Thankfully, he's changed clothes to loose trousers, a short-sleeved shirt, and a giant floppy hat. Unfortunately, he hasn't applied sunscreen at all. This will definitely bite him in the ass later, but right now he's far too distracted by Alolan Exeggutor which really, is the straw that's breaking the camel's back with regards to Strange accepting this world's nonsense.

Fun fact: the stats for Alolan Exeggutor are absolutely terrifying. So you bet Strange is downright confused as he looks up at this thirty-five foot tall thing which seems to be paying Strange absolutely no mind as it eats some leaves and just goes about it's business. Sorry fellow Nightrunner, you're the one who gets to deal with Strange's confusion as he asks, with 100% seriousness, ]

But how come it's not falling over?

[perverses]

[ Actual scout Renzo Shima checking in and he's just about as confused by the Exeggutor as Strange is. He does at least fit into Alola pretty well, even with the pink hair. Cargo shorts and sneakers and an excuse to wear a tank-top? Heck yeah, he's going for it. ]

It looks like a possessed palm tree... [ Is the useful addition Shima has to make. ] Maybe the tail counterbalances it? I mean, it does walk kinda doofy-like, so it isn't even doing that well.

[kingsroads]

[ Between these two, the notes are just going to be 'bigass palm tree' and that's about it. Because Strange isn't going closer to that thing. It's a thirty five foot tall sentient tree, he may be mad but he's not stupid, that thing has the potential to smush him flat in an instant. ]

The tail would have to be ridiculously heavy for that to work, [ he muses with a frown. At least, he thinks it's have to be heavy, Strange knows absolutely nothing about animal biology, a fact which is becoming more and more apparent the longer he stares at Exeggutor. ] Wouldn't it drag the ground or something like that?

[perverses]

Could be it's super strong and the tail is really that heavy. [ It's a giant walking tree with a bunch of heads, he isn't going to count anything out right now. ] I wonder if it's even noticed us.

[ He's weirded out but also— ]

Think it'd care if I got closer?

[ Curious as hell. Just look at that thing! It looks freaky but that's kind of cool! ]

[kingsroads]

[ It looks freaky and that's kind of freaky. As for the question, Strange just shrugs. Hell if he knows. ]

I don't think it would mind if you simply walked closer. We probably don't matter that much to this thing to begin with.

[ After all, would a tree be bothered by a human? Not really, unless the human did something dumb. And Strange at least has enough confidence in Shima that he won't do something totally dumb with regards to the sentient death tree. Just don't mind him as he still keeps a good six or so feet away from this weird thing ]

[perverses]

And it looks so goofy, I bet it isn't even actually dangerous.

[ Yeah, Strange, surely he won't do anything totally dumb. What could possibly go wrong? Anyway, here he goes,
strolling up towards the tree monster nice and slowly, though not particularly with great care. It's like he's just meandering up to a friendly dog or something, only the dog is thirty-something feet tall and a plant.

As expected, the top heads don't look at him, but the fruit hanging from the tail? That suddenly gives a twitch and tuuuurns
slowly, as much as it can with its limited range of motion and— ]

Ah... [ Shima slows down to a stop, blinking at it. And. It. Blinks back. ] It has... a... butt head?

[kingsroads]

[ The foot tall rats made more sense than this. Strange just stares at the butt head, equally confused as to why this thing exists to begin with. It's got a fourth head. And that head is on it's tail. And this is supposed to make sense to the people in this world? ]

See if that head has teeth!

[ Strange is still a good distance away from the weird tree and it's weird head. So it's all on you Shima, go get bitten by the butt head for the good of getting information or something like that.

Someone'll probably wonder why the grown-ass man kept on egging the teenager on to do all the dumb things but eh, that's something they can deal with later. ]

[whattaprick]

We could cut it open and find out.

[ Why is that your answer to everything, Lambert. Like Strange, he's embraced the Alolan aesthetic, but maybe a little too much so, looking entirely comfortable in the tacky floral shorts and skull-patterned tank top he's wearing. Off to the side, the Mudbray he's acquired to help him get around the place is looking discontent. It's funny, because with the glamors on, it occurs to him it's really the first time he's seen Strange as he probably looked like before coming to the Carnival. ]

[kingsroads]

Be my guest, [ Strange dryly responds as he takes a step away from Exeggutor. He knows Lambert is probably suggesting cutting it open just to be a shit. But there is no way on God's green earth he's going to attempt to cut open the GIANT THIRTY FIVE FOOT TALL DEATH TREE, you're on your own with that one, buddy. ]

I'll distract the creature when it inevitably tries to stomp on you.

[whattaprick]

[ Given he doesn't even have his sword on him right now, at least not visibly (where would he even hide it with how little he's wearing, honestly) Lambert is very much being a shit. He does, however, have the Atlantean dagger tucked for easy access into the waistband of his shorts, just in case... though it's been mostly used for clearing vines and the like when he's pointedly ignoring the CLEARLY MARKED PATHS through the jungle, because fuck the road travelled and all that. ]

I think Pig could handle it. [ Pig being: the Mudbray that's starting to paw at the soft ground, looking like it'd quite like to start another mud puddle to roll in. Also, Lambert is dead fucking wrong because he didn't study his Pokedex and knows ass-all about type weaknesses, so it's a good thing they're not accidentally provoking the thing or they'd be in for a bad time. ]

[kingsroads]

[ Strange turns around to look back at Pig. The fact that Lambert seems to have adopted a donkey will be a conversation for another time, one that will probably involve teasing because look at that doofy looking donkey. Strange, who also knows fuck-all about type weaknesses, is giving the fight to Exeggutor based on the fact that have we mentioned how huge it is yet, it's pretty huge, Strange is still having trouble grasping the 'really fricken huge' concept. ]

I doubt it cares that much about your donkey. Look at how high up it's eyes are! Unless Pig attacked it, I don't think it would even notice us in the first place.

[ he might not know about type weaknesses, but Strange has bugged enough people to grasp the concept of Pokemon battles. Fantasy cockfighting with donkeys and trees, can they go back to Atlantis now please? ]

[whattaprick]

[ Pig is the derpiest looking animal Lambert has ever seen, but at least in this case he has a solid basis for his confidence in its abilities. He's got the bruises under his shirt to prove it. In any case, Strange is wrong about at least one thing. ]

Those aren't the only eyes its got.

[ He points. And sure enough, on the tail, a slightly more immature fruit(???) than its fellows is staring avidly at Strange and Lambert. It's not doing much of anything or displaying much reaction to their presence, but even as the beast stomps around and sends the tail waving, it seems to track where they are ...

Stare. Staaare. ( ❛ ε ❛✿) ]

OPEN LATE

[stillwinningthehardway]

DRESS TO DECOMPRESS

[Scout came back to the Carnival in an outfit suited for cool weather and plantlife equipped with long thorns. Can she get other outfits there? Oh, sure, but hush, she's taking this excuse to try out the kinds of things the locals are wearing. They're very light, and as long as they don't hamper her, it seems like a welcome change.

Scout comes out of the booth in a floral skirt, tank top, giant beach hat, and sandals. The glamour doesn't entirely hide her brass finger- and toenails, but they do look more like nail polish. She scrutinizes herself in the mirror. This is more skin than she usually shows, but hey, if anyone asks about the burn scars on her arms and legs, some of them on the recent side, she has a reason.]

Hm. I don't know, maybe the short pants were better.

BERRY IT

[Scout has gathered a dozen freely-growing fruits - the locals call them all "Berries", despite some being fairly large - to test on a picnic table overlooking the ocean. Sure, she's asked and been told that they're all edible, but it's worth seeing for herself, in case the people here don't have quite the same biochemistry. You never know.

Nothing hurt her skin or her lips or reacted oddly in her mouth, so this is now just Tasting Interesting Tropical Fruits Time, And Feeding Them To Togepi. She hasn't named the little hatchling animal yet.]

This one's really sour. You're sure you want it? Yeah? All right, don't say I didn't warn you. ...of course you like it anyway. Why am I surprised?

BERRIES FOREVER

[whattaprick]

[ At this point, Lambert's survived his first day of the harrowing Alola adventure, and he's just wandering. Mudbray, for now, has been stuffed into a Pokeball, so his hands are stuffed into his (currently very floral) pockets. Yeah, it's been less than twenty-four hours, and Lambert already looks right at home. He's even wearing sunglasses on his head. With the glamour active, his horns and even his cat-eyes are concealed from sight, becoming a very unremarkable brown. ]

Doesn't seem like there's a lot they won't eat. [ He interjects, popping up near her from who even knows where. ]

What is that? [ It's an ... egg??? Not as freaky as the tall trees from before, for sure, but it's still plainly weird. ]

Re: BERRIES FOREVER

[stillwinningthehardway]

[Scout's wariness can't be entirely soothed by these charming surroundings. She knew he was coming, and just smiles.]

Hello, Lambert! Aren't we the perfect holo of tourists? [She has a great huge sunhat and is wearing bright warm colors and sandals. Scout's skin is naturally golden brown, but in this light she's freckling too. ...she's a tourist with a lightsaber, admittedly, but it's on a cord around her neck like a big necklace.]

This is called a togepi. I think it looks kind of like a baby bird? [The hatchling trills. Absently she wipes fruit juice off its face.] If I spoil it enough it'll fledge, apparently.

oops i misread the setting info post and glamors can be seen through by other carnies so ...!

[whattaprick]

A perfect what? [ Lambert has zero idea what a holo is, but Scout probably already knew that. Lambert tends to have anything that is above a middle-ages level of technology explained to him in small words, unless it's got a conceivable magical analogue in his world. Then he can at least understand its purpose, if not how it works.

In any case, he looks at Togepi, head tilted. Well, it is in an egg, but ... ]

If that's a bird, it's definitely one of the weirder ones I've seen. [ Is what he'll offer, taking a seat across from her at the table. ] Should it be eating that?

[ He has a vague idea baby birds shouldn't be eating solids. ]

[stillwinningthehardway]

[Scout wasn't sure if she expected it or not, but she's used to people in the Carnival not getting that kind of thing.] We blend in really well with the on-world tourists. They're from at least five countries, so hopefully no one's too curious about where we're from.

Nah, its previous owner talked about this. Nothing too hard or crunchy, wet soft stuff is good, everything here likes fruit. You should watch the floating gear creatures eat sometime, it's just bizarre.

[Scout raises her eyebrows.] Nice horns. They come in all at once? These [She taps the slender, pointed ones on her brow. They're pale, but slight stains on them suggest that she's learned to maximize the effect of a headbutt.] took a week.

[whattaprick]

If I ever run into one, I'll try to remember to throw food at it. [ All dryness. He'll touch a hand to his horns when she comments on them, snorting softly. ]

They were starting to come out right when the vampires attacked. [ A parting gift from the Celebration. Thanks a fucking lot, Host. ] Hope they're done by now. They get in the way.

[ It's what happens when you have to reach over your back for a weapon ... In turn, though, he'll indicate the lightsaber around her neck. ]

What is that, anyway? Came in handy back there.