Mt. Moon Search and Rescue

The current rules: Pokémon World v0.27b

Pokémon World is a very social, back-and-forth kind of RPG that doesn't lend itself well to separate IC and OOC threads, so we'll use one thread for the entire thing. Put OOC comments, questions, and dice rolling in italics. Feel free to banter and move out of turn, even if I don't specifically mention you.

If you see some roleplaying that you particularly enjoy, point it out so that I can give out Star Pieces.

Since we're playing in a single online session with no discernible beginning or end, I'll call "end of session" to mark Bonds and character growth whenever your characters get some downtime.

Jet (Garren_Windspear)


Altimis (altimis)


Lucas (Mown)


Shuuji Kurosu (imadinosaur)


Kanto Rangers' Oath
We, the Pokémon Rangers of Kanto, swear our service to all people and Pokémon regardless of distinction or creed. We pledge to safeguard the sanctity of nature, to protect the innocent, to aid those in need, and to uphold the everlasting trust between people and Pokémon.

Equipment

Ranger Pokégear: A customizable PDA from Silph Co. that has been getting popular among trainers recently. It can function as a digital clock, a mobile phone, a radio transceiver, a compass, a regional map, and even a Pokédex. This particular model was specially manufactured for the Kanto Rangers' Union to withstand the intense conditions of Ranger missions.

Industrial Flashlight: Specially requisitioned for Rangers who patrol in caves and forests, this flashlight straps to your helmet and illuminates a 30-meter cone.

First Aid Kit: A sturdy box that comes stocked with bandages, painkillers, and medicinal sprays for Pokémon. A trained Ranger can use it to patch up a wounded human or Pokémon until they can receive proper medical attention.

Poké Balls: These ubiquitous capsules are used to capture and transport Pokémon. They come in a wide variety of brands, each claiming to offer a "higher catch rate" than the last.

Repel Spray: A cocktail of strong-smelling pheromones that keeps away pests like Zubat and Paras. Because of seasonal variation in Pokémon activity, it doesn't always work perfectly.

Escape Rope: A heavy-duty rope that comes with measurement markings, LEDs, and a set of climbing equipment. It's useful for getting in and out of difficult areas.

Rations: Enough Berries, Poffins, granola bars, and water to last you and your Pokémon for a long journey.

Pewter City
1136 hours
Friday, November 21, 1999

This wasn't how things were supposed to happen.

It's a quiet weekday afternoon in the outskirts of Pewter City. The sun is bright on the buildings, casting doubled shadows on the hills and painting the cliffs the color of frothy coffee. Over it all, the serene silhouette of Mt. Moon. The mother of all mountains. The picture of a lazy afternoon patrol.

No one knows more about the rugged mountains of Metropolitan Pewter than you. You've been on Ranger Team Pidgey for some time now, overseeing the austere rocky wilderness that stretches across the northwest of Kanto and beyond. Over that tenure, you've seen your fair share of Ranger missions. The Graveler that knocked down a power line. The Team Rocket sting on Route 2. The Wigglytuff Incident. (Best not to think about that one.) But none of them were quite as bad as this.

"Ranger Team Pidgey, come in. Ranger Team Pidgey, do you copy? We have a code 152, I repeat, a code 152 report in your area..."

And none of them could have come at a worse time.

Tell me, Rangers. What were you doing when the call came?

Altimis and Sombra were lounging in the (not tall) grass, admiring the clouds as they drifted by, and feeling the sun warm the land.

Altimis was busy trying to find clouds that formed into recent captures, but Sombra interrupted this practice by growling softly. It wasn't a growl more than a moan or a whimper. Altimis knew what this meant, a warning, but decided to ignore it for the time being, but Sombra wouldn't hear anything of it. She nudged Altimis and growled some more. Altimis laughed and pushed himself off the ground; that was when the call came.

"Never wrong, are you?" Sombra beamed as they walked to catch up to the others.

Shuuji was in the wild with Fuunsaiki. The elder was meditating, trying to focus on himself and relax his core. Suddenly, Fuunsaiki nudged him it was as if the young Ponyta was trying to tell him something.The man got up upon this. "Is it time to return to town?" Fuunsaiki nodded. "Let's go, then." The Elder walked alongside Ponyta to Pewter.

What, specifically, is Code 152? Is it "lost person", "lost child", specifically "lost child in Mt. Moon", "Mt. Moon problems", just a generic "oh god something bad"?
Additionally, how do trainers operate in this world? Do I have to legitimately fight everyone I achieve eye contact with? Am I considered a trainer?

Lucas was spending his day free going on his weekly charity trip, which included picking up litter, doing minor requests for the regulars, noting down notable events in the surroundings, and stopping Fluffy from provoking every trainer within visible range. Upon hearing the call in the midst of a conversation, Lucas directed Miss Elsie to an acquaintance in another troop, before excusing himself and running off. "Sorry, I have to fly." He and Fluffy grinned at each other; that terrible pun never grew old. Picking up the pace to compensate for a little detour, he scanned the rest of the route on his way back. He would probably have to wait for the rest of the crew regardless.

In the center of Pewter city is probably not the best place for an Onix to be resting - not that that has ever stopped it happening before. Tiny lays coiled in the middle of the street oblivious to the passersby and their complaints, the air around him reverberating with the low roar of his snoring. Laying on the ground in front of the Onix, producing somewhat less impressive snores, Jet slumbers, letting the warmth of the day wash over him. At his side lay his supplies, momentarily discarded, and among them a now wildly bleating radio.

@Mown, altimis, imadinosaur: Anyone with a Pokémon to their name is considered a trainer, but you can't legally battle someone without their permission. You most definitely don't have to battle anyone you come into eye contact with. That would be silly.


As Altimis, Lucas, and Shuuji make their way into the heart of Pewter City, a strange feeling of foreboding washes over them. Even here something's wrong, though you can't put your finger on what. Is it in the air? Something about the way people are acting? You try to smile it off - but your Ranger sense is tingling, and it's telling you nothing good.

"...the location is Mt. Moon, I repeat, Mt. Moon. Rendezvous at the Pokémon Center. We are broadcasting on all frequencies, requesting multiple Ranger Teams in position..."

Code 152. The four syllables issuing from your tinny Pokégear speaker are a code every Ranger dreads to hear. They call it the Missingno - it means one or more missing persons, situation critical and potentially life-threatening. Until today, you've only heard the code in drills and worst-case scenario preparations... and TV reports of the Cinnabar Island disaster three years ago. You never thought another would come so soon.

You follow your Pokégear map to the other three members of Ranger Team Pidgey, meeting on the intersection of 52nd Avenue and Meteor Street in front of the Poké Mart.

Oh. So that's why Jet's dot wasn't moving.

Altimis, Lucas, and Shuuji: There's no way you can let Jet get away with this. The obstruction of pedestrian traffic on a weekday? Tsubaki would chew your head off. You have to get him off this intersection somehow... but how?

Jet: Ugh. Bright lights. Loud noises. You're trying to get some good rest here, but all this ruckus is making it impossible to catch some shuteye. Just what is going on around here? What's a bleary-eyed Kanto Ranger gotta do?

I look for Jet around his behemoth of a pokemon. Assuming I find him, I try to wake him. If he resists, I have Sombra try and sneak into his berry pouch. Not to eat them, but take them for our own personal collection.

Altimis knows that Jet, the root of the problem, is somewhere near this behemoth. He sighs. (Even with the Snorlax under control, we still have traffic issues.)
Altimis looks around and finds Jet lying next to Tiny.

"Uh, Jet, you gonna wake up, bud?" Not yet hearing a response from the bleary-eyed figure, Altimis and Sombra look at each other, then they smile and nod at each other.

Sombra slinks over to Jet's pile of supplies to scavenge for a few berries. She'll get some Cheri berries for herself, and some Pecha berries for Altimis. (If possible.)

(This is becoming far too common an occurance. Something has to be done.)

As Shuuji sees the giant Rock snake out and about, he knows that Jet is close and rather than search the polite way, he does things the best way he knows how to. "ANSWER ME, JET!"

Remind me why I called you reliable again.

Lucas and Fluffy can see in eachother that they both know how to appraoch the problem. The little cotton ball snuggles up to the rock snake, looking forward to brighten up his day, his entire body sparkling with enthusiasm. Fluffy used Flash!

I walk forward towards Jet, preparing myself to assist him in getting up, with or without his consent. We need to get going.
"Altimis, thievery is both a crime and a poor trust-building exercise. Contain that girl of yours better, or I'll have to file a report. I don't want Whimsicott gaining any new relevations."

Altimis looks casually over his shoulder at Lucas.

"Blocking pedestrian traffic during the busiest time of day is a crime in itself. He's got to learn sometime. Plus, he should be awake to stop her himself anyways." Altimis smiles, but knows he's not going to get anywhere. He sighs. "If she grabs some for Fluffy, would you reconsider?"

(Any normal person would laugh at that, but not Lucas. He'll probably get more upset that I offered to include Fluffy in my prank.)


EDIT: pedestrian

"You can't always fight fire with fire you know. Or were you the guy that brought the Growlithe to the Viridian incident a good while ago? You know I can't bother dealing with the inevitable diversion of 'find the culprit' after Jet wakes up, he is delaying us enough as it is."
Lucas' expression changes from bothered to almost hostile as he finishes speaking.
"By the way. I don't remember giving you the permission to adress my companion so casually."

"BOTH OF YOU, SILENCE!" Shuuji glared in their direction. "Are you both ignorant to the fact that bickering about nonsense gets us nowhere?!

"It isn't impending us in any fashion either. I can keep my mouth shut when she's reaching your for pockets next though, if you'd like." I say, as my arms are approaching Jet's waist, about to pull him up.
"On the topic of silence, could you adjust your volume a little? The citizens are giving us weird looks because of all your shouting."