In a world far removed from our own, humanity and its related peoples fight alongside wondrous beings known as Pokémon, each protecting the other from the depredations of the nightmarish Grimm. As legends and myths vie for power with ancient evils, only one power in the world can save everything from the brink of destruction: an adolescent girl with one parent, a battle-happy pet, and an absolutely bonkers social circle. What else were you expecting from this crossover?
Hello there. Welcome to the World of Remnant. My name is Professor Ozpin. Most people call me...well, Professor Ozpin. But the course of study I teach in this world is one that I think that I believe you'll find very interesting.
You see, I study Pokémon as a profession.
I dare say there's few people in the world who haven't heard of Pokémon. Some people keep them as pets, others train them to cultivate power in battle. There are hundreds of different species, and infinite unique and beautiful individuals, representing all manner of wondrous and wonderful things.
However, in the world of Remnant, it's not just Pokémon with whom we share the world. Humans, our cousins the Faunus, and Pokémon all sometimes bicker, and sometimes cooperate, but all of us must unite together against another form of creature, the Grimm. While Pokémon are living things, creatures of the natural world, Grimm are mysterious and malign creations, neither alive nor dead, that attack all of the people and Pokémon of the world indiscriminately. Thus, in Remnant, the profession of Pokémon Trainer is not a mere sportsman or student of nature, but a bonded warrior who stands on the front line to protect all living things from the dangers of Grimm.
That's why you're here, isn't it? To become a Pokémon Trainer, to go on a journey and defend this world? Of course you are. Now, let's see here...
First, are you a boy or a...oh, I see. It seems all my interviews today are with young ladies. At least according to the paperwork. If you'd like me to address you as something else, of course, these days there's so many opt--no? Very well then. So, when we met earlier, you said your name was...
[X] Ruby Rose
Miss Rose. I do believe that you have quite the resumé even at your young age, don't you? I can see it in your eyes. The drive to be the very best. I've seen the same eyes before...
So tell me, Miss Rose...who is your first Pokémon partner?
[ ] Rookidee, the Tiny Bird Pokémon
- [ ] Nickname: [Write-in]
Type: Flying
Ability: Keen Eye
A gift from your uncle when you declared your intention to become a Pokémon Master. He may or may not have been humoring you, but your little Rookidee has been nothing but supportive, and zooming through the forests near your home at top speed has occupied much of your childhood. Sometimes your uncle wishes he'd given you something more sedate and sensible, like a Murkrow. Or a highly-explosive Voltorb.
Rookidee, and Ruby, are high-speed, high-aggression fighters who overwhelm opponents with repeated attacks. They're likely to grow a tough shell as they get older, if only to keep surviving.
[ ] Roselia, the Thorn Pokémon
- [ ] Nickname: [Write-in]
Type: Grass/Poison
Ability: Natural Cure
Originally a Budew, carefully raised and tended in your father's garden, and his gift to you with the admonition that both you and she deserved to get out and see the world. Then he went off into some poetry you didn't understand and started tearing up, but your intuition (and your family's love of literal metaphor) tells you this Pokémon is related to your late mother somehow, perhaps descended from a member of her team. Your loving bond with the bud (and the rural necessity of picking fights with wild Pokémon and Grimm) saw it quickly blossom into a beautiful young Roselia.
Roselia, and Ruby, are tenacious and determined, as well as skilled tactical fighters with a specialty in outlasting the enemy. Some people think Poison is dishonorable, but you recognize that it's a legitimate strategy, and more importantly, protecting others is more important than adhering to some made-up rules.
[ ] Rockruff, the Puppy Pokémon
- [ ] Nickname: [Write-in]
Type: Rock
Ability: Own Tempo
You were too young to know better when you and your sister ran off into the forest, only to be accosted by a pack of hungry, desperate Pokémon. When your uncle saved you, he drove most of them off, but one of them, injured before the pack had even attacked, was left behind by its brethren, and even as a small child, you recognized that it needed to be protected. Also look at those big ol' eyes, who could hate a Pokémon like that? At any rate, the Rockruff bonded with its one-time would-be meal and after years as a pet and junior pack member of the continent's most terrifying Lillipup, is now accompanying you on your journey.
Balanced between the other two choices, Rockruff is both stubborn and skilled, but held back by the timidity of past regret and trauma. Definitely not like anyone Ruby knows. More importantly, though, they're an example of how yesterday's enemies can become tomorrow's friends, if you just keep at it.
There's a lot of great, epic, thoughtful Pokémon quests going around right now, so I thought I'd contrast that with a much lower effort one that's been done at least half a dozen times before according to the search feature. That said, I think we can have fun here, and despite the date, the joke here is that I'm actually serious.
This Quest will be lifting its mechanics from the Pokeymanz Tabletop RPG (don't click that at work, it's not dirty it just has a banner with bad words in it), with additions and editions made for the sake of the quest format. More details on that later, for now please vote on birb, flower, or puppy.
Master of the Styles: The trainer gets in close, flinging themselves into danger right alongside their Pokémon to execute special maneuvers called "Styles". They gain an effect from one of their two Styles at a time this way. Ruby knows the Strong and Agile Styles.
Hypercompetitive (Minor): The trainer has immense trouble turning down any kind of challenge, especially one related to their Calling. They might even have to make a roll to resist or be dragged away by their companions from a challenge. Reckless (Minor): Throwing themselves into fraught situations, a Reckless trainer is likely to drag their team both their human companions and their Pokémon into trouble frequently, and get in over their heads time and time again.
The user stabs the target with a poison stinger. On a critical hit, this poisons the target.
Bullet Seed
Grass
d6
The user forcibly shoots a barrage of seeds at the target. On a critical hit, +1 Wound to same or different target. Egg move.
Leech Seed
Grass
d4
A seed is planted on the target. It steals a Wound from the target every other turn.
Synthesis
Grass
d4
On a successful roll, the user restores its own Wound (2 on a critical success). +1 to roll during the day, +1 in Sunny Weather, -1 in other heavy weather. These modifers stack.
EXP Expenditures
Cost
None
0
Total
0
Weiss Schnee
Weiss Schnee
Calling
Future Schnee Co. CEO
Heart
d6
Fitness
d4
Research
d8
Tactics
d6
Toughness
2
Edges
Hindrances
Trump Card (Dynamax): Once per episode, spend a Mastery to grant a Pokémon +1 Toughness, +1 Wound, and the ability to use a Max or G-Max move (d12, d12, automatic special effect)
Mean (Minor): The trainer tends to act poorly towards others, at least superficially, facing appropriate Heart penalties. Mean characters can have people they are kinder to, but they act boorish frequently enough for it to cause problems. Bad Rep (Minor): The character has a terrible reputation with a specific group in the setting - in this case, everyone with a negative opinion of Schnee Co. - taking -2 to social rolls that involve trust and cooperation with those outside the party that are aware of their reputation.
The user attacks with a chilling gust of powdery snow. On a critical hit, damage two targets, or freeze one. +1 during appeal round of Contests.
Ice Shard
Ice
d6
The user flash-freezes chunks of ice and hurls them at the target. Priority.
Confuse Ray
Ghost
d4
The target is exposed to a sinister ray that triggers confusion.
Moonblast
Fairy
d4
Borrowing the power of the moon, the user attacks the target. On a critical hit, lowers target's offensive move rolls until switched out. Egg move.
EXP Expenditures
Cost
None
0
Total
0
Blake Belladonna
Blake Belladonna
Calling
A Liberator
Heart
d4
Fitness
d6
Research
d6
Tactics
d6
Profession: Operative
d8
Toughness
3
Edges
Hindrances
Professional (Operative): Blake gains a 5th Attribute, representing specialized training outside the scope of normal Pokémon Training. The Operative profession covers stealth, infiltration, breaking and entering, and ambushing intelligent opponents Trump Card (Z-Move): Once per Episode, use a Mastery to allow a Pokémon to use a Z-Move (d12, d12, automatic special effect) and alter the battle's terrain massively to their advantage.
Wanted (Major): Someone or something dangerous is after this trainer. Phobia (Minor): Blake has a phobia of dog-like Pokémon, and takes a -2 to all rolls when they are present Always Broke (Minor): Lacking in resources due to her circumstances, Blake has trouble coming up with money for more than the bare essentials.
The user drains the target's blood. On a critical hit, restore 1 Wound to user.
Mud Slap
Ground
d4
The user hurls mud in the target's face to inflict damage and lower its accuracy. On a critical hit, the target takes -1 to all damaging moves.
Fury Swipes
Normal
d4
The target is raked with sharp claws or scythes quickly two to five times in a row. On a critical hit, +1 Wound to same or different target.
Mind Reader
Normal
d4
Subsequent moves ignore all terrain, positioning, and move effects that block attacks or reduce move rolls, except Protect.
EXP Expenditures
Cost
None
0
Total
0
Yang Xiao Long
Yang Xiao Long
Calling
Seeker of the past
Type
Fire
Heart
d6
Fitness
d8
Research
d4
Tactics
d6
Toughness
6
Edges
Hindrances
Martial Artist (Fire): The trainer is trained in martial arts, either in the use of traditional hand-to-hand, weaponry, or in more esoteric or ki-based arts. They gain a type as if they were a Pokemon (in Yang's case Fire), and become able to attack and defend as that type using Fitness. Additionally, gain +2 Toughness.
Reckless (Minor): Throwing themselves into fraught situations, a Reckless trainer is likely to drag their team both their human companions and their Pokémon into trouble frequently, and get in over their heads time and time again. Petty (Minor): The character holds a grudge like nobody's business. This trainer will remember being wronged and actively seek little revenges against those who have dealt them a perceived injustice.
The user sticks out its head and attacks by charging straight into the target. On a critical hit, opponent flinches.
Work Up
Normal
d4
The user is roused. On a success, +1 to all damaging move rolls until switch.
Dragon Tail
Dragon
d6
On a critical hit, the target is removed from the battle (default) or forced to switch (Trainer Battle). Switch effect converted to a regular critical hit against large targets.
Counter
Fighting
d4+2
A retaliation move that counters any physical attack. Increased power, but can only be used as a Called Action against "This Pokémon is attacked at close range". Egg move.
Remnant's shattered moon hung high and massive in the sky, and you felt the thrill of danger.
It was just a trivial walk, really. A quick jaunt through the forest, snow crunching under your boots, to pay your respects to Mom before heading into the city tomorrow. That was always something of an awkward experience. Your mother died before you were old enough to really remember her, but from your sister's constant talk about her, and your father's constant not talking about her, you felt like you knew her. You look like her. Have the same eyes. The same drive. The same love for your Pokémon partner and talent for battling. Supposedly. Talking to her grave is always a confusing experience because it feels like you're talking to...
You shook your head to clear out your brain's attempt to dwell on it. You'd come here to do this alone so it would be less awkward and confusing.
Honestly, despite knowing the dangers of woods and tall grass, you'd only even brought your Pokéball out of habit, figuring any hungry Pokémon in the area would ignore an (admittedly a bit stringy) teenager. At least since that time with Yang. And that other time with Yang. Okay, going into the forest with Yang is an outlier that should not be counted. The point is, you'd made the ten minute walk from your house with the expectation that it would be uneventful, and indeed, the walk to the cliff was. It was the way back that became a problem.
>Ruby's Reckless
The first clue that something was wrong was a startled Murkrow, flying up and out of the trees instead of diving for some hidden rodent in the bushes. That put you on guard enough to keep your hand on Crescent's Pokéball. It was when you reached a meadow ahead, tall grass flattened by unbroken snowfall, that you could see the cause of the alarm. Grimm...not just one, but a whole Horde of them. The canine type with threatening, almost human-shaped forelimbs, twisted reflections of the Lycanroc that led local packs, swarming in a pack like their living equivalent, and moving to surround you and destroy the light of life within you. Deathly frightening to a little girl...
>Ruby's Hypercompetitive
But a challenge you and your Pokémon could deal with no problem. You took a moment to assess the Grimm, and then...
"Go, Crescent!"
The well-loved and polished Pokéball flew from your hand and released your Roselia companion, already assessing the battlefield herself and reaching out to the forest around her for energy. She was almost comically small compared to the Grimm or even yourself, only coming up to your knees and shaped like an anthropomorphic bouquet of actual roses, but you knew for a fact the sheer power packed into that tiny form, and the Grimm, whether they were capable of knowing things or not, could sense the flow of energy from the world to the tiny battler and back again.
Of course, unlike many more formally-educated (or sensible) Trainers, you weren't far behind Crescent, dashing in behind her to support her and run interference with the Grimm, techniques passed down to you from your family.
>Ruby's Master of the Styles: Agile Style
>All of Ruby's Pokémon's Moves have +1 Priority until her Stance changes or Ruby retreats from melee. However, Ruby also takes damage when her Pokémon does under the same conditions.
Crescent took the support with a grateful chirrup and began firing: not her lethal Bullet Seeds yet, but instead she scattered Leech Seeds amongst the swarming Grimm, seeds that dug into the shadowy morass that makes up their substance and sapped whatever animating essence made these monsters able to move around. Whatever it was, it was perfectly healthy for a growing Pokémon to absorb it, and Crescent drank deeply as her seeds' roots spread through the pure black forms of her Grimm opponents.
The Grimm Horde itself lined up in a rough circle to surround Crescent and, thanks to your aggressiveness, you as well; if they managed to overcome Crescent's defenses, you would have to retreat or take the hit yourself, and you couldn't rely on the vital power of Grass TE to keep you healthy. However, despite your risk-taking, the initial charge of the Grimm was clumsy, single-axis, and dodged as easily as dancing. Not that you'd dance in these boots, or know any steps, but you and Crescent form your own ad hoc tango as you both duck and weave around the charging enemies, steps in sync, the Roselia pushing the Grim off-balance with petals, and your presence baiting them into overextending.
GRIMM: Lesser Beowulf Horde appeared!
Terrain: Snowy Meadow (no Move effects)
Weather: Light snowfall (no Move effects)
Ruby HP: == Status: OK
Crescent HP: === Status: OK
Lesser Beowulf Horde HP: ==== Status: OK
Lesser Beowulf Horde Initiative (d6): 3
Ruby Rose Initiative (d8): 3
Tie goes to player (and also all her moves are priority anyway, but this is a tutorial, so I'm spelling things out).
Ruby moved into Style range and activated Agile Style
Lesser Beowulf Horde surrounded Ruby and Crescent
Crescent used Leech Seed (d8, d4) vs. Lesser Beowulf Horde's Toughness 4: [2, 4] Hit
Lesser Beowulf Horde was Seeded.
Lesser Beowulf Horde used Tackle (d4, d4) vs. Crescent's Toughness 4: [1,1] Ekans Eyes
Lesser Beowulf Horde gained Off-balance: -1 Toughness next round
With the foes off-balance, it was time for your real attack. With a nod to each other, you braced for defense while Crescent lined up her beautiful red and blue blooms to launch a barrage of attacks at the enemy, seeds flying out like ammunition from an automatic rifle to slam into the Grimm one after another, dispersing their weak but numerous forms in sprays of black smoke and red light. Grimm never howl or show pain, but these ones did growl in frustration as their numbers were nearly halved by Crescent dancing through their midst and emptying seed after seed into their heads and bodies, easy destruction denied by a skilled opponent.
Crescent's spree of destruction came at a cost, however; she was overextended as yet more Grimm charged in from the sides, slashed by claws of shadow, while you had to rely on a practiced acrobatic leap backwards to get out, separating yourself from Crescent to remove yourself from the path of destruction incarnate (and a potential awkward conversation with your father and sister later about coming home lacerated). Safely outside the circle, thanks to the Grimm focusing on the more powerful threat of a Pokémon, you felt frustrated about not being able to stand on even footing with your partner like Yang did, but at the same time, you knew that Crescent could handle herself. She turned to you and gave you the kind of smug acknowledgement that only certain Grass types can manage as her Leech Seeds transformed yet more Grimm into a black, smoky haze, and let her fibrous body start to knit itself back together around her scratches.
Terrain: Snowy Meadow (no Move effects)
Weather: Light snowfall (no Move effects)
Ruby and Crescent reserved movement
Lesser Beowulf Horde stood their ground
Crescent used Bullet Seed (d8, d6) vs. Lesser Beowulf Horde's Toughness 3: [3, 6+4=10] Critical Hit
Lesser Beowulf Horde took 2 Wounds.
Lesser Beowulf Horde used Scratch (d4, d4) vs. Crescent's Toughness 4: [4, 2] Hit
Crescent took 1 Wound
Ruby Disengaged to avoid Wound; Style no longer applies.
Leech Seed dealt 1 Wound to Lesser Beowulf Horde, and healed 1 Wound to Crescent
With most of the Grimm gone, you could tell they were getting desperate, and you and Crescent shared another wordless, practiced communication. Grimm, or at least young, inexperienced Grimm like this who had never survived a battle, never retreated or surrendered, and had no fear of destruction. Instead, a cornered or dying Grimm would try to take as many living things down with it as it could, and these were no exceptions. As you charged back in to your place by Crescent's side through the gaps in the Grimm line her seeds had made, you nodded to her, and she nodded to you - Grimm predictability would be your victory.
>Ruby's Master of the Styles: Strong Style
>The duo can initiate Beam Struggles without spending Mastery, and they can spend a Mastery to intercept and Beam Struggle anyone springing a Called Action or Priority Move on an ally, until her Stance changes or Ruby retreats from melee. However, Ruby also takes damage when her Pokémon does under the same conditions.
Indeed, as you and Crescent put your backs to each other, the Beowulves rushed to attack you in her blind spot. Training coming to the fore, your Roselia whipped around and met their attack with a counterstrike of her own, firing off venomous thorns directly into the charging Grimm and mowing them down one after another after another. The barrage of poisonous stakes dispersed the forms all of the remaining Grimm save the last one who struggled, stumbled, and then faded to ash in the snow as poison overcame whatever these nightmare creatures had instead of a metabolism.
Sweeping the clearing with two pairs of eyes, you and Crescent turned to each other and bumped fist-to-blossom as the petals launched in her barrage of attacks drifted slowly down to the snow. Then you turned to walk home without recalling her to her Pokéball. It was a nice evening, temperature aside, and Crescent could use a cooldown after that workout.
Terrain: Snowy Meadow (no Move effects)
Weather: Light snowfall (no Move effects)
Ruby: == Status: OK
Crescent: === Status: OK
Lesser Beowulf Horde: =--- Status: Seeded
Lesser Beowulf Horde stood their ground
Ruby moved into Style Range and activated Strong Style
Ruby Called Action: "a foe will attack me"
Lesser Beowulf Horde used Bite (d4, d4) vs. Ruby's Toughness 3: [4, 3]
Ruby's Called Action!
Ruby used Strong Style to force a Beam Struggle
Escalation: Crescent's Poison Sting (d8, d6) vs. Lesser Beowulf Horde's Bite (d4, d4): [7, 4] vs. [2, 1] Crescent's Critical Hit due to Escalation
Lesser Beowulf Horde took 1 Wound and was Poisoned
Lesser Beowulf Horde was destroyed!
Ruby won the battle!
Gained 1 Pokémon EXP
......
And your n--ah, I see you need no introduction. I must say, while we aren't strangers to exchange students, it's an honor to have you in particular here at our academy. Your grandfather's name speaks for itself,
[X] Weiss Schnee
I know you're a busy woman, Miss Schnee, and someone who likes to get to the point, so let me just ask you a very quick question: what Pokémon partner are you bringing with you to our fair institution?
[ ] Kuo Koanan (Alolan) Vulpix, the Fox Pokémon
- [ ] Nickname: [Write-in]
Type: Ice
Ability: Snow Warning
A rare beast, the product of generations of breeding and perfection to become the best she can possibly be. Vulpix is like a second sister to you, honestly, and that's before getting into the fact that she's cute and fluffy and you love her so m--ahem. She is a partner, not a pet, even if she IS a very good girl. Her icy fur was ironically one of the warmest places in your childhood home, and (like you) she's more than capable of holding her own in combat as well.
Weiss and Vulpix are focused on bending the battlefield to their whims using all the tools available. This works much better in a Pokémon Battle than a social situation, as Weiss will soon find out, but be that as it may, a protective blanket of Snow solves a lot of problems anyway.
[ ] Charcadet, the Fire Child Pokémon
- [ ] Nickname: [Write-in]
Type: Fire
Ability: Flash Fire
A violent but honorable little coal who came into being far below your family estate in the charcoal-burning slums of Mantle, Charcadet joined you in your ad hoc proving ground trial for their own reasons, and quickly found themselves pursuing knighthood in the castle in the sky. Upon helping you to victory, it has sworn its undying loyalty and respect, and became the very first member of your own personal team. Like you, they're caught between two worlds and two options but, unlike other people in your life, they'll follow you wherever you go.
Weiss and Charcadet are offensive powerhouses who overwhelm their enemy with a well-prepared assault. Being perfect isn't easy, but it makes the rest of life go so much smoother...if you can manage it.
[ ] Ralts, the Feeling Pokémon
- [ ] Nickname: [Write-in]
Type: Psychic/Fairy
Ability: Trace
It's rare, if not unheard of, for someone of your station to go catching Pokémon or hunting Grimm in the mountains of the Solitas region, but having a sister in the military can lead to some fun excursions. Less fun is nearly dying in a sudden mountain blizzard, but by sheer happenstance, or maybe a force you don't understand, you survived thanks to the aid of a wild Pokémon, who survived thanks to your aid as well. Little Ralts and you formed a sympathetic bond immediately, and they've pledged to aid you on your journey just as you've pledged to aid them in becoming a mighty mystical spellcaster. Or mystical knight. You're not sure which way they want to go yet, but then again, neither are you.
Ralts, and Weiss, have a lot of choices they haven't decided upon yet, but what they do know is that knowing yourself and your enemy is more than half the battle, and will fight accordingly, with a focus on future knowledge and exploiting weaknesses with well-considered strategies.
Late rally from the doggo. Haha, definitely didn't have this whole thing written before those last few votes and then get nervous at 11 pm last night.
Anyway, a tutorial battle for me, a tutorial battle for you. This is roughly how the system works, and how Ruby fights: like a lunatic from Hisui. I believe I've more or less got the rules down (and made stuff up to make a swarm of cannon fodder into one entity for gameplay purposes), although I reserve the right to rebalance things as I go. I did nerf Leech Seed as I was writing this.
Also I'm not rolling in thread that's too much of a hassle. You'll just have to trust me that this tabletop RPG I'm playing against myself isn't rigged. I will tell you I'm using rolladie.net since it's the easiest dice roller I've found to do arbitrary dice combos and change them up every time.
I might do a formal battle rules post summarizing the parts of Pokeymanz I'm stealing, but probably not till after we're done with starter selection/trailers.
Ladies and Gentlemen. The Schnee Company is proud to present...Weiss Schnee, and Aurora.
Here she is. A beautiful distraction from the nastiness that clings to her name like poison. She wonders if anyone is going to see anything from the alleged charity of this performance. Or if it would help their reputation any.
>Weiss's Bad Rep (enemies of Schnee Co.)
The girl on the stage closed her eyes and focused. This was just another performance. She would do her best, which would be perfect, and then she could move on to other things. Her partner, standing beside her, mimicked her actions, letting practiced routine guide her paws in a circular, measured dance as the crystals of snowflakes began to swirl around the pair. The girl's voice rang out, high and melancholy, her Heart displayed as a glittering, distant jewel before the audience, while her partner silently crafted the floating crystals into an intricate storm, weaving ephemeral murals in the air around that core of diamond.
The audience loved it. Of course they did. It was beautiful, and perfect, and a cold reflection of someone else's pain. The girl's contempt for them adds an edge to the lyrics.
>Weiss's Mean (even if they deserve it)
Exhibition Contest: No contested rolls, difficulty 4.
Terrain: Stage (No Move effects)
Weather: Heavy Snow (+1 to Ice type Moves)
Weiss Status: OK
Aurora Status: OK
Aurora used Powder Snow (d6, d6, +2) vs. Difficulty 4: [5+2, 3=7] Hit
Aurora Gains 2 Appeal Points (1 base + 1 from hit)
The girl's mind was not on the performance. It didn't need to be, even if it could. Your mind was on your battle, the one days before.
He was giving you a chance to do as you willed. He would deign to allow you your Journey...as long as you could prove yourself against an opponent of his choosing.
You had accepted. You were the very best. Your partner was the very best, and you trusted her with your life. Both bred, raised, and trained to be the ultimate expression of your families' pride.
Your confidence wasn't shaken when you, a small girl with a small fox who had each only sparred with professionally trained combatants, looked up at a 15 meter tall mass of flying steel. A family Corviknight, fully evolved and in possession of the Gigantamax Factor, a young bird who would one day be a captain of the guard amongst Pokémon, and a being who, by all rights, should have been protecting his rightful lady from harm, and not gazing down at you like an incipient meal.
Two tiny beings should not be able to face this monster in a battle.
You did anyway, Pokéball flying from your left hand.
"Go, Aurora!"
As trainer and Pokémon split up to divide the solo Pokémon's attention, and Aurora's natural connection to the storm began freezing the water out of the air, you took stock of the situation. You knew this Corviknight, knew he was recently evolved - even your father wasn't insane enough to make you fight a veteran. The fact that he was being left alone with instructions to fight "as a Wild Pokémon" also meant that you wouldn't have to out-think a human trainer. On the other hand, Gigantamax would make it much tougher than a normal Pokémon, and the metal insulating its feathers meant that none of Aurora's attacks would be as effective as they would be against one of the younger members of its line...then again, no armor is perfect.
"Aurora! Powder Snow, aim for the wing joints!"
Yipping acknowledgement to your order, Aurora brought herself to a stop on top of a rapidly forming snow drift and focused the snowstorm that her mere presence could summon, the icy crystals focusing on the massive Corviknight's wings as it hovers further into the air. Even from the ground you could see stress starting to form in the gunship-sized Pokémon's wing armor from the raw temperature drop, but it was not enough to freeze it properly or arrest its movement. Which was really unfortunate, because as soon as it neared the upper bounds of the massive, roofless dueling arena you were fighting in (designed to accomodate even the largest Gigantamaxes, being built over a Power Spot for Company-sponsored exhibitions), it dove down from the unnatural snow clouds occluding the shattered moon. In a dive-bomb, it launched a flurry of feathers at you and Aurora, an attack imitated often by the Grimm that mocked its form. Fortunately, its aim was casual, and the shrapnel attack grazed Aurora but missed you entirely. So, that was how it was going to fight. Neither showing you proper consideration as an opponent nor the deference Pokémon usually gave to the humans who involved themselves in their fights. Cocky and rude. You could use that.
You are challenged by Schnee Co.'s G-Max Corviknight
Note: G-Max Corviknight is being left to its own devices. Uses Wild Die (d6) in place of Trainer Attribute.
Terrain: Battle Arena (no Move effects)
Weather: Heavy Snow (all Ice types +1 Toughness)
Weiss HP: == Status: OK
Aurora HP: === Status: OK
G-Max Corviknight HP: ==== Status: Gigantamax
>Trump Card: Gigantamax or Dynamax
>Pokémon gains +1 Toughness, +1 Wound Box, and may spend a Mastery to use one Max or G-Max Move (d20, d20, automatic special effect).
>Pokémon can act on a much larger scale than normal
>Once per Episode
Weiss and Aurora split up.
G-Max Corviknight caused an updraft to gain altitude.
Aurora used Powder Snow (d8, d6) vs. G-Max Corviknight's Toughness 5+1: [6, 5] Hit
G-Max Corviknight took 1 Wound
G-Max Corviknight used Fury Attack (d6, d6) vs. Aurora's Toughness 4+1: [1, 5] Hit
Aurora took 1 Wound
As the snowstorm of Aurora's being swirls harder, you note her injuries as she dashes across the snow for a better position, and then you note the Corviknight's lazy circling with trepidation - both parties were already wounded, but while the Corviknight could easily endure even harder hits, Aurora was vulnerable. You see the move coming as soon as the Corviknight locks the steel joints of its wings, crushing the lingering frost from Aurora's last attack. It was going for the knockout now.
Light feet and practiced movements let you practically glide across the snow, the artificial weather second nature to you for as long as you've known Aurora - and it has been a long time. A partner, a companion, your only...well, your only consistent friend. Someone you've raised to be strong, and beautiful, and just, and kinder than you, and she's about to be knocked into next year by a super-effective Steel Wing attack.
"Ice Shard on my mark!" you shouted over the swirling snow and the jet-engine sound of the Corviknight lining up for its attack run. "Then break left!"
"Mark!"
You declared the orders and were obeyed instantly, the sudden head-on chunk of hail doing just enough damage to put a crack in the Corviknight's head armor and make it blink. Not even flinch, blink. But it was enough for you to bring yourself next to Aurora and practically punt her out of the way of the oncoming ferrously-bladed wing, turning a certain knockout into a surprised yip and searing pain across your own face as you're clipped by the avian equivalent of a freight train flying through the air.
You lost track of what happened next.
Weiss HP: == Status: OK
Aurora HP: ==- Status: OK
G-Max Corviknight HP: ===- Status: Gigantamax
Weiss moves to support Aurora
G-Max Corviknight swoops into melee
Aurora used Ice Shard (d8, d6) vs. G-Max Corviknight's Toughness 5+1: [7, 1] Hit
G-Max Corviknight took 1 Wound
G-Max Corviknight used Steel Wing (d6, d8, +2) vs. Aurora's Toughness 4+1: [4, 8+2 +2] It's Super-Effective!Critical Hit
Weiss shoved Aurora out of harm's way!
Aurora held on so Weiss wouldn't feel sad!
Aurora took 1 Wound
Weiss took 1 Wound
The next thing you remembered was lying on the ground as Aurora rounded on you to come lick your new facial wound. It couldn't have been more than a few seconds, as the Corviknight hadn't attacked your tiny, battered partner again, but was instead lining itself up on the opposite end of the arena, beating up winds with its wings. Ah, you realized. It thinks it's won, so it's going to end this flashily. Big enough to fly passenger service to Vale, and it's still a cocky little boy.
You smirked, and reached into a pocket. Realizing you were alright, and anticipating your plan, Aurora yipped, and turned to place herself between you and the oncoming storm.
Gaining your feet, you take out your trump card - the Wishing Star, the symbol of your family's mastery over matter and energy, and a Pokémon's mastery over space, and then load it into the bracelet on your right wrist. With a spin of the device, you invoke the ancient skills of your family.
"Aurora, Dynamax!"
The tiny fox, whose bushy tail barely arced above your own waist when she was curious or angry, grew - not to the visible extent of a true Gigantamax Pokémon, but you sensed the flow of the wind cease as the G-Max move from the Corviknight was blocked by a Pokémon far larger and more massive than it appeared, the spatial compression of Dynamax saving you the humiliation of being slammed into the arena wall by gale force winds. Aurora would get so many treats later. As it was, the enhanced vitality that came with Dynamaxing was enough to let the frosty fox hold on, claws digging into the arena floor as she resisted, and then, as the Corviknight's power was spent, her aquamarine eyes gleamed.
"Our turn."
>Weiss's Trump Card: Dynamax
>Increases the health and toughness of one Pokémon for a set number of turns, and can spend a Mastery to use a Max Move (or G-Max move for a Pokémon with the Gigantamax Factor)
Only a trained eye could see what happened next, as Aurora poised herself for an attack one instant, and then an instant later was on the other side of the arena, behind the Corviknight and contemptuously licking at a cut on her paw. In between those two moments, however, the massive, near-transparent silhouette of the fox, far larger than she appeared, made an almost instantaneous transit between her starting and ending points, as Max Phantasm crashed through the Corviknight with no resistance. Armored plates fell from the bird as its wings gave out, and it crashed to the floor with the cacopheny of a bull in a blacksmith's shop. The knightly raven, unable to even turn and see the Pokémon who had defeated it, blinked once at you in awe, and then bowed its head in acknowledgement of defeat before it was automatically recalled to its Pokéball.
Weiss HP: =- Status: Wounded (-1 all rolls)
Aurora HP: =-- Status: OK
G-Max Corviknight HP: ==-- Status: Gigantamax
Weiss spends Mastery! Aurora is Dynamaxed (+1 Toughness, +1 Wound)
G-Max Corviknight flies to the side of the arena
G-Max Corviknight used G-Max Wind Rage (d20, d20) vs. Aurora's Toughness 4+2: [5, 11] Hit
Aurora takes 1 Wound
G-Max Wind Rage clears Weather and barrier effects
Aurora used Max Phantasm (d20, d20, -1) vs. G-Max Corviknight's Toughness 5+1: [12, 20+17 -1] Critical Hit
G-Max Corviknight takes 2 Wounds
G-Max Corviknight gains Spooked (-1 Toughness until switch)
G-Max Corviknight Fainted
Weiss won the Battle!
Gained 1 Pokémon EXP
The girl on the stage came to the end of her song. That fight came close to putting her and Aurora in the hospital. As it was, she'd had to fight her stylists tooth and nail not to put far too much concealer on the scar over her eye. The scar was a badge that she - you - could wear with pride.
You and Aurora were more than pretty curiosities, to be put on some pedestal in a museum.
You were warriors.
Who also happened to be pretty good performers, you admit, as you and she make a coordinated curtsy to the thunderous applause at the end of your piece.
Exhibition Contest: No contested rolls, difficulty 4.
Terrain: Stage (No Move effects)
Weather: Heavy Snow (+1 to Ice type Moves)
Weiss Status: OK
Aurora Status: OK
Weiss spends an Appeal to remove Stale Move Penalty
Aurora used Powder Snow (d6, d6, +2) vs. Difficulty 4: [1, 6+2+2=10] Critical Hit
[X] Blake Belladonna
Miss Belladonna, I see.
Hm? No, I don't have any questions. I'm sure there are lots of Belladonnas out there with paper trails that end at a bookstore in Vale City two weeks ago. After all, if you were someone suspicious or well-known, you'd be using an alias anyway, right?
Anyway, I see you have a Pokémon with you. May I ask what kind?
[ ] Froakie, the Bubble Frog Pokémon
- [ ] Nickname: [Write-In]
Type: Water
Ability: Torrent
Froakie's been with you as long as you can remember, a tiny little helper in the halls and libraries of your youth, as well as a protector and watcher in the beautiful and deadly lands around your home. They're a good kid, and at first when they followed you as you fled your home, you thought they were trying to persuade you back, or report back to your parents. Then you realized they were serious about joining you underground and felt even worse. Nonetheless, they took to the job of freedom fighting with the aplomb of a theater kid, and you're even more confused now that they're following you in your latest running-away-from-your-problems escapade.
Froakie is a complement to Blake in a more cheerful facade, but in battle they're both equally deadly, moving faster than the eye can see and leaving decoys and distractions to confound the opponent. Froakie can destroy you without ever getting close enough that you know they were there, and Blake prefers it that way.
[ ] Pawniard, the Sharp Blade Pokémon
- [ ] Nickname: [Write-In]
Type: Dark/Steel
Ability: Inner Focus
Loyalty. Duty. Commitment to the cause. You and Pawniard shared all of these traits, along with allegiance to Team White Fang, and your respective mentors. Dutiful soldiers who would accept whatever sacrifice was demanded of you, you made an ideal team of infiltrator and enforcer...until you didn't. You've left the chessboard, run away and abandoned your duties, and you honestly can't understand why your partner followed you. Not unless they were tired of being a pawn as well.
Blake and Pawniard are an efficient pair, pinning down enemies with relentless pressure and flanking maneuvers until there's no escape. Neither rogue chess piece is open enough with their feelings to understand why they've shirked their loyalty, however...not without a lengthy trip to the other side of the board.
[ ] Nincada, the Trainee Pokémon
- [ ] Nickname: [Write-In]
Type: Bug/Ground
Ability: Run Away
Nincada was a partnership forged in desperation and empathy, a hungry scavenger meeting a potential meal who, rather than simply chase it off, offered some of her own near-nonexistent stockpile of food. Both Pokémon and faunus coming together at their lowest to lift each other up gave both some hope in the continued power of partnership, even if both are currently more than a little fragile.
Nincada and Blake are both fast, and never where you expect them to be until they're in your face and stoically holding a blade. Speed and ambushses are the order of the day with both, as are being where the problems aren't, for better or worse.
I'm making rules up as I go with regards to "Trump Cards", so things might get buffed or nerfed with regards to Dynamax/Gigantamax. But I rather like the bonus "health" style transformation.
I had a very hard time narrowing down Blake's starter choices and you might notice I abandoned all the potential bits about using Evil Team commons. Would you believe the last debate was over Froakie vs. Rowlet and not any kind of cat (or Nickit)? Anyway.
[X] Nincada, the Trainee Pokémon
- [X] Nickname: Shroud
You were a Knight-class automaton.
You were standing guard aboard a Schnee Co.-owned train, northbound toward Vale City, currently passing through Forever Fall, one of Remnant's largest natural forests.
You were guarding a large shipment of Tera Crystals, a vital component of Vale's economy whose extraction and distribution was largely monopolized by Schnee Co., thanks to successful leveraged buyouts and the adaptation of capital and techniques originally meant for extracting Dynamax Energy from the Schnees' native Atlas.
You were purchased as surplus from the Altesian Armed Forces because while humans and Pokémon could be trusted to mine Tera Crystals, they apparently could not be trusted to guard the finished product in transit.
You had no opinion on this, because you were a robot.
A flash of movement from the shadows tripped your sensors as the Tera-powered energy weapon at your side was neatly lifted from its place and, in one smooth motion, pressed under the metallic facsimile of a "face" that you were built with, and its trigger pulled, sending a lance of Normal-type energy piercing through your central processing unit and terminating your functions.
You had no opinion on this, because you were now dead.
"Clear," you said over the radio, even as you softly lowered the fried robot, and its now-useless sidearm, to the floor of the train car. Getting aboard a moving train undetected would normally be impossible, but your training and Adam's planning had served you well. A chittering beside you reminded you that you have another partner to thank, and you nod to the mercenary little rodent who came with your team from Menagerie. You hadn't exactly bonded with Rattata, but you appreciated each other's skill, in particular the plump little rodent's ability to chew through electronic locks, and you tossed him a berry that was devoured instantly as a reward for him getting you in the door.
>Blake's Professional (Operative)
>Blake possesses a fifth Trainer Attribute, representing skills she's developed as an agent of Team White Fang
>The Operative profession covers stealth, infiltration, breaking and entering, and ambushing intelligent opponents
Speaking of Pokémon chewing through things, the door to the car rearward on the train was quickly rent through by gnashing fangs as your partner joined you from his own, less subtle insertion point. Adam Taurus, masked and cloaked in his near-new Admin uniform, followed on the heels of that...mutt that he brought along for this mission, a heavy case of mission gear in-hand.
"Did you really have to bring a Poochyena?" you asked, while walking silently toward the door to the next car up. Should have been the Tera Crystal storage. In and out neatly.
"He had the skills needed for this op. Did you really want me to bring the bull on a train?" Adam asked, mocking banter creeping into his mission-ready authority. "Besides, he's technically closer to a cat than a dog."
"Don't care."
>Blake's Phobia >-2 to rolls when the source of her phobia (canine Pokémon) are present
>Hyenas are technically felinoid
>She doesn't care
Blake infiltrates the train, supported by Rattata (d8, d6, -2) vs. DC 4: [8+7-2, 4] Critical Success
Adam forces his way onto the train, supported by Poochyena (d10, d6) vs. DC 4: [5, 4] Success
You silently ordered Rattata to disable the lock leading to the next car, which he did with aplomb, letting you and Adam creep forward into what should have been one of the cargo cars.
Should have been.
Instead it was full of a pack of those robots like the one you just dispatched, active, alert, and weapons ready.
You and Adam nod to each other. Just because something wasn't going as planned was no reason to get excited. You and your Pokémon moved to the center of the cramped car while the androids were running through their target assessment protocols (3...2...1...) and leaped into action before they could. Rattata responded to a gestured order and zipped through the air impossibly fast to kick one of the 'Knights' in the faceplate and begin chewing on the exposed wiring of another, knocking the cheap surplus security over before it could even act, despite their nominally Steel-enhanced defenses. Adam lightly dropped his equipment case, and gestured to his sidekick to flank the next robot to cycle up its weapons, and the Poochyena flanked the android while Adam attacked directly, channeling Dark energy and drawing his blade in a single to slice his target in half while it was off-balance trying to adjust to Poochyena.
No one ever programs these things to account for trainers who can invoke the same energies as Pokémon.
The remaining robots opened fire even as their encircling position was rapidly being cut to ribbons, with one of them firing off machine guns meant to be a match for Pokémon at point blank to try and pin Adam. Your senior in the White Fang dodged easily, the cramped quarters and scanner-obscuring flow of his coat serving as cover to absorb bullets as he never stopped moving long enough for the machine to draw a bead. You, Rattata, and Poochyena similarly scattered among the miscellaneous spare parts and charging stations in the security car, although the small rat took an unlucky hit from one of the remaining robots' bladed arms.
Atlesian Knight x4 initiated a battle!
Terrain: Train Car (restricted movement, cover)
Weather: Clear (no Move effects)
Blake and Adam moved back to back
Atlesian Knights surrounded Blake, Adam, and their Pokémon
Rattata used Quick Attack (d6, d6) vs. Toughness 4: [4, 6+2, -4] Hit It's not very effective....
Atlesian Knight A destroyed!
Adam used Martial Arts [Dark] (d8, d6) vs. Toughness 4: [2, 5] Hit
Atlesian Knight B destroyed!
Atlesian Knight C used Slash (d4, d4) vs. Rattata's Toughness 4: [1, 4+2] Hit
Atlesian Knight D used Barrage (d4, d4) vs. Adam's Toughness 6: [1, 3] Miss
That doesn't stop Rattata from ducking through the cramped quarters and making another prodigious leap to tear out the vulnerable hydraulics on a Knight's "neck" before it can follow through and strike the rodent again. Adam, meanwhile, finishes dismembering the remaining android, one slash of his weapon removing the Knight's hands, and another separating its head and CPU from the rest of the body, then a final fluid motion sheathing the sword.
Terrain: Train Car (restricted movement, cover)
Weather: Clear (no Move effects)
Blake and Adam weave in and out of cover
Atlesian Knights cannot move in the restricted quarters
Rattata used Bite (d6, d6) vs. Toughness 4: [2, 6+1, -2] Hit Atlesian Knight C destroyed!
Adam used Martial Arts [Dark] (d8, d6) vs. Toughness 4: [7, 1] Hit
Atlesian Knight B destroyed!
Blake and Adam won the battle!
It turns out that the next car was what you had been looking for, you and Adam entering a treasure trove of Tera Crystals neatly packed in blast-proof cases, the light of their miraculous energy sealed tightly for transport. Schnee Co. must have added an extra security car at the station last minute.
"You secure the goods," Adam ordered. And then, almost flippantly, he added, "I'll set the charges."
"...what charges?" you asked, stupidly. "This was a requisition."
"Plans changed. We're killing two birds with one Rock. Sending a message while we're here."
"What about the crew? The Pokémon? The civilians at the end of the line?"
"What about them?"
You didn't want to think about those words. Didn't want to address them. Didn't want to see the pattern that started long before Adam made Admin. Before even the start of his meteoric rise in the Team. Did the boss give him these orders, or......
Thankfully, your need to respond to that was interrupted by something trying to kill you - another undocumented addition to the security detail. A flash of Steel-type energy ripped off the roof of the car you were in, and you, Adam, and your Pokémon reflexively fled forward before the assailant followed up and overloaded any of the Tera Crystals. Once you'd sprinted out onto the next car, a flatbed, you saw your attacker turning to follow you - a huge arachnoid robot, bristling with machine guns and Tera-charged weapons.
"Keep it pinned, I'll take care of it in a second!" Adam ordered, sprinting further along the car. You just rolled your eyes. He was going to do something flashy and idiotic.
That said, you realized that "flashy" might be called for here, checking your left wrist to ensure your Normalium-Z is properly braced into the Z-ring on your wrist. You nodded to Rattata. You were both Menagerie natives, you knew the deal. Taking the time to move in close while the huge robot clumsily clambered down to your level to engage with its pointy limbs, you stood behind your Pokémon and the pair of you made the ritual motions to invoke the Z-Crystal's power - arms braced, arms to the size, then the symbolic "Z" in two parts, imparting Rattata with the power of deities that predated history. Just as the machine began lining up its guns again, Rattata leaped forward and crashed into it with exponentially increased power, striking the machine off-balance.
Still, it was a huge robot made of metal. It's not very effective, indeed. You did have time to get under cover from the incoming barrage of energy, but Adam's Poochyena wasn't so...no, wait. He did this on purpose, you realize, letting the (ugh) dog take a minor attack on the chin to retaliate even harder with Assurance, the spite-based Dark energy lashing back into the robot and doing nearly as much damage as your trump card had...but with the robot still clinging stubbornly to the surface of the train, pinning you between it and the next, locked, railcar.
Atlesian Spider Droid initiated a battle!
Terrain: Flatbed Car (restricted movement, cover)
Weather: Clear (no Move effects)
Adam delayed his action
Blake engaged Atlesian Spider Droid
Atlesian Spider Droid climbed down to the flatbed
Blake used a Mastery to initiate a Z-Move
Rattata used Breakneck Blitz (d12, d12) vs. Toughness 5: [9, 11, -4] Hit
It's not very effective...
All terrain effects cleared!
Atlesian Spider Droid took 1 Wound
Atlesian Spider Droid used Barrage (d6, d6) vs. Poochyena's Toughness 4: [1, 4] Hit
Poochyena took 1 Wound
Poochyena used Assurance (d6, d6, +2) vs. Toughness 5: [5+2, 3] Hit
Atlesian Spider Droid took 1 Wound
"Adam, if you're going to do something, do it quick," you shouted, gesturing to your Pokémon to get under cover as the robot drew in Steel-type energy for another shot of its main cannnon.
He just smirked.
What an asshole, you thought.
The robot guardian's Flash Cannon fires down the middle of the train car, scorching but not knocking out Adam's Dark-type partner, but its need to pause to fire apparently gave your 'mentor' the opening he needed to invoke his Darkinium-Z and charge up the now bloodied and angry Poochyena. Adam and the canine (it's definitely not felinoid, you don't care what taxononmy says) mutually mimed out the feral, threatening-animal, definitely ridiculous-looking on a humanoid frame ritual for Black Hole Eclipse, the car behind you becoming engulfed in a massive vortex of Dark-type energy, crushing the body of the spider drone into unrecognizable shards as you kept...running.
Atlesian Spider Droid initiated a battle!
Terrain: Flatbed Car (restricted movement)
Weather: Clear (no Move effects)
Blake and Rattata disengaged
Adam and Poochyena braced themselves
Atlesian Spider Droid used Flash Cannon (d10, d6) vs. Poochyena's Toughness 4: [6, 3] Hit
Poochyena took 1 Wound
Adam used a Mastery to initiate a Z-Move
Poochyena used Black Hole Eclipse (d12, d12) vs. Toughness 5: [12+5, 1] Critical Hit
The terrain became obscured
Atlesian Spider Droid took 2 Wounds
Atlesian Spider Droid was destroyed!
Blake and Adam won the battle!
Blake gained 1 Pokémon EXP
You found yourself one car ahead, standing in front of the locked door to the next train car. You looked back to Adam, to the badly wounded Pokémon he had as a partner on this mission, to the suspicious briefcase in his hands you now realized was full of bombs. You looked back to the little Rattata saboteur you'd brought along without ever getting to know it. You looked at Adam's mask, and you made a decision.
"Goodbye."
You lobbed the rodent's empty Poké ball back, and pulled the emergency release.
>Blake's Wanted
>Adam will remember this
>The White Fang will remember this.
>Blake's Always Broke
>You have a way out in Vale City. That's about all you have.
You wandered for a while. Riding the train all the way in wasn't an option, and you had to go slow without a Pokémon, which meant nearly a week to get from where you were to Vale City.
Maybe you should have recalled that Rattata, explained the situation, but...no. Pokémon believed in the cause as much as faunus did. That was what made you different from them. There was no way some soldier you had no bond with would just accept your decision to...run away.
The Grimm, fortunately, didn't find you. You never were particularly good at hiding yourself from them, compared to things with real eyes, but you were good at dipping in and out of the cleared paths through this forest. Scavenging edible food that wasn't some random Bug-type's prized honey was a problem, though. And what little you managed to scrounge attracted the attention of...
It crawled up from under the ground. It must have been hiding there. Or...hibernating? You remembered reading about Nincadas. You definitely remembered that it was weird for one to be all alone and not part of a cacaphonic swarm. But here was a muddy little bug vaguely waving its claws in your direction. Even without a Pokémon or being able to channel energy, you could probably beat--
--no, there was no reason to fight it. It wasn't a threat. You could have fled and ignored it, but--
Where would it get food, anyway?
You shared some of the less person-edible-looking fruit you had with it and it seemed to agree with the little bug. That was good. Hopefully it would find whatever horrible swarm of bugs it came from...and now it's following you.
Well. You had this coming, feeding a wild Pokémon like that. You guessed you could make sure it got somewhere safe when you got to the city. It would probably want to leave when it found a good spot. Maybe another place to burrow.
It didn't.
And finally,
[X] Yang Xiao Long
Hm? Your name and gender? That's alright, I've got that down, thank you, if there's no changes. I just need you to sign a few insurance waivers. Oh, and which Pokémon you brought with you, of course.
I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about. I make every student sign these forms, and I'm sure you wouldn't want to incriminate yourself in anything by suggesting otherwise.
[ ] Jangmo-o, the Scaly Pokémon
- [ ] Nickname: [Write-in]
Type: Dragon
Ability: Bulletproof
Once upon a time, your father's family belonged to a storied Dragon Clan from far off Mistral. The Xiao Long Clan has long since been scattered to the winds by violence, but some of the old ways are alive, including the knowledge of where to find and tame the strongest of all Pokémon types. You introduced yourself to Jangmo-o under your father's supervision as a young girl, and after the expected ritual combat, they became your partner. While they're surprisingly the level-headed half of your partnership, you value them as family just as much as Dad or your sister.
Yang and Jangmo-o endure. No matter how many times they get knocked down, they get up again, ain't never gonna keep them down. Persistance pays off, or at least pays something. Whether the returns on that tenacity are good or bad, they'll keep moving forward.
[ ] Torchic, the Chick Pokémon
- [ ] Nickname: [Write-in]
Type: Fire
Ability: Blaze
Some people value Torchic for being an energetic but empathetic Pokémon that makes a good partner for young trainers. While that's true for this particular Torchic as well, Yang also values them for their proclivity to run screaming toward an enemy and beat the hell out of them. Fiery, passionate, and above all dedicated to protecting the weak from the crude, Torchic was an obvious partner for Yang when she began her journey and education.
[This blurb closed for repairs after Yang and Torchic burnt it down in the pursuit of truth and justice.]
[ ] Pancham, the Playful Pokémon
- [ ] Nickname: [Write-in]
Type: Fighting
Ability: Iron Fist
You've highly trained yourself in martial arts from a young age, seeking a means to make your way in the world by the skill of your arm alone. You often sparred with your sister in the woods, but realized you may have overdone it one day when young Pokémon started challenging you to prove their own skill. Most of them were pests, but a young Pancham quickly became a favored sparring partner of yours, eventually earning enough mutual respect that he allowed you to put him in a Pokéball in the hopes that you'll help him achieve...something. Neither of you is sure of where your journey is taking you, save that you're going to get there by the fist.
Yang and Pancham are here to perfect the art of combat, fist-to-fist. They each have their own reasons, but they're happy to dance through life until they discover them, and in the meantime, understanding the world through the simple art of punching it very, very hard.
I'll have you know I picked Yang's starters before I started writing this, and the fact that two options are the Pokémon she gets in Boldores and Boomsticks are just proof that I am a genius with good ideas. But also consider: Punchbear.
Also as a mechanical note, rolling d20s for the Max moves in the previous update was an error. The standards in the system I'm using are d12s, and I'm going to keep it that way for Max Moves and similar nonsense (Z-Moves in this update).
Some part of you was sad that your plan was working as well as it was. Or, well, angry, really. A tactically-unzipped riding jacket and a killer figure shouldn't really get you free ID-less entry into a nightclub, but men are the way they are, and it was working out for you, so you're not going to complain.
You took note of the goons wearing suits and shades like a uniform scattered around the club, watching the dance floor like it was a stage about to have a show. You sashayed across it anyway, reasoning that, even if they were mobsters, they were definitely underestimating you. The fact that you might have been underestimating them came across your mind, and then left as soon as it entered.
>Yang's Reckless
Also the DJ had a head-covering Bewear mask. You like clubs, but you're never going to understand DJs.
You got straight to the point, sitting down at the bar and ordering the girliest thing you could think of, right next to the guy whose bearded mug and unpleasant managerial scowl marked him as the man you were looking for - the club's owner. Unlike certain bouncers, he seemed to be trying to run a proper establishment, mafia facilitator or no.
"Aren't you a little young to be in this club, blondie?" he asked.
"Aren't you a little old to still be going by 'Junior'?" you retorted.
"Alright, you know who I am. You got a name, Sweetheart?"
You logged that 'Sweetheart' in the List you were already building against this guy. "I've got a few. I've also got a picture."
You tapped the Rotomscroll at your side, and your little ghost buddy (for 19 lien a month, mercenary little gremlin) helpfully popped up and projected the picture you'd saved in hands-free mode.
"Have you seen this woman?" you asked.
"Never seen her before in my life. Listen, babe--"
He loomed over you. You weren't exactly short, and a combination of having the gods' gift to natural waves on your head and motorcycle boots on your feet helped your presence a lot, but Junior was a big Ursaring of a man. His physical presence, as much as his sense of mastery over his place of business, gave him a sense of unquestioned authority.
It also made a sucker move to his crotch absurdly simple, and you were gripping the mafia goon by his vulnerables before you really think about it. Not your proudest moment, but the look on the dismissive man's face was well worth it. So far.
"How about instead of sweetheart or babe, we go with 'sir'," you suggested brightly. "I'm asking you again: have you seen this woman?"
"I--I wasn't lying!" Junior replied, eyes wide and voice higher pitched as he anticipates your next move. "I don't know her! I swear!"
You cocked your eyebrow and tightened your grip just slightly.
"I swear, sir!"
This was about as far as you'd expected to get into the conversation before the sunglasses goons started collecting around you, making to surround the bar and with their hands on their (heh) Pokéballs. "Boy, this must be kind of embarrassing for you, huh?" you asked your victim.
"If you want to make it out of this club alive, you should really let me go," Junior suggested. To perhaps his surprise, you obliged, letting him go and stepping back from the bar as he brushed himself off.
"You're going to pay for th--"
And that's when you hit him with a right straight hard enough to knock him out of the circle of goons and into a wall.
The shocked reactions of his minions lasted exactly long enough for you to grab the slightly discolored Pokéball out of a belt pouch and throw out your partner in crime. Yin the Jangmo-o appears in a flash of light, disdainfully gazing at an assortment of Rattata, Yungoos, and a couple of Wurmple, of all things. He took the time to look askance at you, wondering how exactly you'd managed to get yourself into this situation while he was napping, but nonetheless turned to face the horde.
"Aw, look at the baby dwagon," one of the goons commented, which sealed his fate. Yin fixed him, and the presumably not-top-percentage rodent he was facing Yin with, with disdain, and charged.
You hung back and pointed Yin to targets, but he honestly hasn't needed much guidance in a brawl like this for a while now, the jangling scales of the young dragon clanging as he bounced off first one enemy, then another. The sheer momentum of his ridged skull knocked down a Yungoos, then his tail smacked a sneak-attacking Rattata into a decorative glass pillar, shattering it and throwing off the whole vibe of the light show. It was over in a matter of seconds, with the bulk of the goons retreating and recalling their Pokémon once most are knocked out, and the last remaining Wurmple was smacked across the room to collide with the DJ. Lucky that wasn't an actual Bewear or you might have been in trouble.
Chain Battle: Vale Mafia!
Terrain: Dance Floor ("Dance" moves gain +1)
Weather: Clear
Yang HP: ==
Yin HP: ===
Target number: 4
Successes to win: 5
Floor cleared of goons, you notice that not all of the clubgoers had vacated once the brawl started. A pair of girls in flashy dance costumes were looking at you appraisingly...and holding Pokéballs. You wondered if they were part of Junior's organization, or just trainers upset you'd ruined their night out.
"Who is this girl, Miltia?" one asked.
"I dunno, Melanie, but let's teach her a lesson," the other answered. In retrospect, you don't remember which one was which, but you put a mental pin on their color-coordinated outfits for when Ruby was old enough to go clubbing. Or you were, for reasons other than bothering information brokers.
The twins (or incredibly makeup-coordinated associates) each tossed out a Pokéball, facing Yin down with a pair of large bugs. You'd have been impressed by randos with fully evolved Pokémon if "fully-evolved Bug-type" was impressive. That said...
"Hey, two on one isn't really sporting," you observed, Yin having just trashed like five Pokémon in twenty seconds. At the very least, you would give these girls the respect of 'their mons are probably actually trained to fight properly'.
"If you've got another one, feel free to send it out," the teal one said.
You shrugged, rolled your shoulders, and stepped forward, nodding to Yin as you lift your fists...and they were engulfed in flame.
>Yang's Martial Artist
>Through dedication to the art of battle, even humans can cultivate Tera Energy, making their bodies or weapons able to challenge Pokémon (and Grimm) on equal footing. While Moves are beyond all but the most powerful practitioners, any martial artist can use their Fitness stat to attack and defend.
>Humans still can't sustain injury as well, however, so the goal remains not to get hit.
They looked at each other, shrugged to say 'your funeral', and order their Ariados and Ledian to attack.
The arachnid Pokémon squared up against you, dodging and weaving with a nervous look at your fiery fists, and working its defenses into an energy-wrapping dance to power itself up. Honestly, the thing had impressive rhythm, and you felt yourself stepping into the flow of the still-playing EDM as you sent a barrage of punches its way. It did a good job of averting your initial onslaught of fiery attacks, but was eventually forced to block with its forelegs and hopped back off-balance as it was singed. You pressed the advantage, giving the Ariados a solid hook to the mandible now that it was reared up on its back legs and at an easier punching height.
Yin takes a different strategy against the Ledian, figuring it for a more aggressive style and aiming to use that against it. True to form, the punchy ladybug zoomed forward at maximum possible speed and clocked Yin with an overhead Mach Punch, slamming the shorter dragon into the dance floor hard enough to crack it. Your partner just looked up ferally, his family technique activated as he rose from the floor in a powerful Counter, smacking the Ledian up into the air with all the force his scaly body could muster.
You are challenged by Twins Melanie and Miltia
Melanie sent out Ariados!
Miltia sent out Ledian!
Yang sent out Yin!
Yang sent out herself!
This isn't going to be how things work after the prologue, probably.
Terrain: Dance Floor ("Dance" moves gain +1)
Weather: Clear
Yang HP: == Status: OK
Yin HP: ===Status: OK
Ariados HP: ===Status: OK
Ledian HP: ===Status: OK
Yang moves in to close combat
Yin Calls Action: "I will be attacked at close range"
Ariados and Ledian try a pincer maneuver
Ledian used Mach Punch (d4, d6) vs. Yin's Toughness 4: [4+1, 2] Hit
Yin took 1 Wound
Yin's Called Action!
Yin used Counter (d4, d6, +2) vs. Ledian's Toughness 4: [4, 6+2, +2] Critical Hit
Ledian took 2 Wounds
Ariados used Swords Dance (d4, d6, +1) vs. difficulty 4: [1, 3, +1] Success
Ariados gained Sword Dance (+2 to damaging moves until switch)
Yang used Martial Arts [Fire] (d8, d6, +2) vs. Ariados's Toughness 4: [8+1, 4, +2] Critical Hit
It's Super Effective!
Ariados took 2 Wounds
With his opponent not even landed from his previous uppercut, Yin completed his motion with a single fluid snap of his tail to bash the airborne ladybug out of the dance floor and into the abandoned shelf of liquor behind the bar. The shelf, and much of its contents, shattered, and his unconscious opponent dropped into the bartender's former position before it changed back into a beam of light to return to its fleeing trainer. At the same time, you kept up your unrelenting assault on the Ariados befoer it too was forced to retreat back to its Pokéball, its enhanced offense having not accomplished much with your pressure keeping it on the defense.
Terrain: Dance Floor ("Dance" moves gain +1)
Weather: Clear
Yang HP: == Status: OK
Yin HP: ==-Status: OK
Ariados HP: =--Status: OK, Sword Dance
Ledian HP: =--Status: OK
Yin used Dragon Tail (d6, d6) vs. Ledian's Toughness 4: [4, 2] Hit
Lediantook 1 Wound
Ledian Fainted!
Yang used Martial Arts [Fire] (d8, d6, +2) vs. Ariados's Toughness 4: [6, 1, +2] Hit
It's Super Effective!
Ariados took 1 Wound
Ariados Fainted!
A growl from behind you was your only warning that you were under attack again - you dove forward and rolled, coming up to face a once-again-conscious Junior and the presumable reason for his DJ's mascot attire - a for-real, seven-foot-tall nightmare of a Bewear.
"You're gonna pay for all this!" Junior snarled as he ordered his Pokémon enforcer to attack.
It was fast, and dangerous, and ready to clock you into next week, but Yin was ready for it. As the Bewear wound up a swipe that would blast recklessly through both of you, Yin leapt into action, his much smaller size negated as he leapt up to smack the Bewear's snout with his skull and forcing the arm swipe to miss your own head by inches. The Pokémon battle devolved into a desperate melee, Yin clambering over the bigger Pokémon, inside the reach of its long arms, with the Bewear trying its best to bring its brute strength to bear against the relatively tiny reptile. In the end, Yin's greater agility brought him out on top, his opponent sent reeling without landing a clean hit.
You are challenged by Vale Mafia's Junior
Junior sent out Bewear!
Yang sent out Yin!
Terrain: Dance Floor ("Dance" moves gain +1)
Weather: Clear
Yang HP: == Status: OK
Yin HP: ==-Status: OK
Bewear HP: ===Status: OK
Junior Initiative (d6): 3
Yang Initiative (d6): 2
Yang took center stage
Yin moved to cover Yang
Bewear charged
Yin called Action: "Bewear will attack Yang"
Bewear used Brutal Swing againt Yang and Yin
Yang uses a Mastery to initiate a Beam Struggle.
Bewear's Brutal Swing (d6, d6) vs. Yin's Headbutt (d6, d4): [5, 4] vs. [5, 3] Tie
Escalation! Neither side backs down!
Escalation: Bewear's Brutal Swing (d6, d6) vs. Yin's Headbutt (d6, d4): [4, 4] vs. [3, 4+1] Yin Wins!Escalated Critical Hit!
Bewear took two Wounds and Flinched!
"Great job, buddy!" you called out to your partner before noticing the drifting strands of gold in front of you. The claws of the Bewear had gotten close enough to your head to cut some of your hair.
That was not allowed.
>Yang's Petty
>Do not touch the hair. She will hold a grudge.
Your anger flared into your ki, making you burn bright with fire, but your first instinct of punching the bear's lights out yourself was quickly eclipsed by a more fun idea.
"Yin? Window."
With gusto, Yin charged one more time, and with force belying the laws of momentum, the two-foot-tall dragon spun his tail to smack the seven-foot-tall bear directly into his six-and-a-half-foot-tall trainer, sending both careening out the window and into the street.
Terrain: Dance Floor ("Dance" moves gain +1)
Weather: Clear
Yang HP: == Status: OK
Yin HP: ==-Status: OK
Bewear HP: =--Status: OK
Junior Initiative: 1
Yang Initiative: 4
Everybody on the dance floor!
Yin used Dragon Tail (d6, d6) vs. Bewear's Toughness 4: [1, 5] Hit
Bewear took 1 Wound
Bewear Fainted!
Yang won the battle!
Yang gained 1 Pokémon EXP
...they'll be fine. You even called Yin back and then jumped out the window yourself to prove it was perfectly safe. In any case, Junior landed on top of his fluffy bodyguard, so no permanent injuries. Probably.
Oh, and that was when Ruby found you. You didn't even know she was in the city. That was an awkward conversation, held far away from the scene of what you have to admit was probably several crimes you just committed. Eh. Mobsters wouldn't call the cops when they got beat up by a random girl. Hopefully.
It came to my attention as I was writing this that I just don't really like the Yellow trailer. It's the second thing with an actual plot in RWBY and it's very much an early demonstration of writing things on the fly without taking into account consistent characterization or characters living in a setting where consequences exist. I did decide to mostly keep it intact since the point is showing Yang's characterization as reckless and cocky and it does succeed in that, but I had to think about it and do a small bit of editorializing, hence the delay. I did keep in the trailer music remix gimmick for the BGM because that was the coolest part and Youtube conveniently had everything appropriately clipped.
In the future, I plan to foist the choice of how closely we stick to the show on you guys, but at this point I'd committed to the bit of doing the trailers as example battles and I couldn't really back down.
In the first draft of this post, Junior had a Grapploct for an Octazooka gag reference to the original trailer, but in the end, I had to follow through on the Bewear foreshadowing. And the Bewear had Klutz instead of Fluffy so I didn't have to refigure all the damage rolls. Relatedly, I also fucked up on the effectiveness of that Counter since I got the Fighting vs. Bug type effectiveness reversed in my head, but I'm not gonna redo the fight after it took this long to do it already.
