There is one if we manage to get all 8 badges.
Trails of Tera Steel (Kiseki-inspired Pokemon Academy Quest)
- Thread starter ArvisPresley
- Start date
KnownParadox
Not a sphere
- Location
- Canada
Well, besides that one, dummy.
Pokemon, no matter which timeline, version, or adaptation you look at, always has pokemon tournaments be a part of things, and those tournaments come with prizes, fame, and fortune. I bet the bigger ones offer big rewards.
Also, speaking of money, and the spending thereof...
Didn't even notice that exploring will lead to more options for stuff to buy. Wonder if we should hold off on a spending spree until we explore some more.
Personally, this interests me. So far we've got 6,000 points, and depending on how official things get next update maybe we'll get some more, perhaps up to a neat round 10,000? I think finding a tutor to up our own stats could be good. Maybe find a public speaker to train under for our CHRM, or a wandering master to up our PROW, or a trainer trainer to up our SKLL? Although I question whether or not if it'd be more efficient to stick with ADVANCED Battle and spend our normal money.
Although above all that I think we should go here and buy the metals our Drilbur needs to evolve first before anything.
Last edited:
SolarGemX
The Crystalized Sun
- Location
- Somewhere in the Cosmos
- Pronouns
- He/Him
A lot of good points here.... hmm obiously were spending at least one point on Renne, but im down on using a bunch of AP on exploring a lot of Mezagoza, more shop options, locals, plot points and game mechanics are always usefull. Also huh, league points can buy other stuff? Neat!
SolarGemX
The Crystalized Sun
- Location
- Somewhere in the Cosmos
- Pronouns
- He/Him
.....and i think she can learn Stealth rocks.... *looks at pointy floating rocks above and electric mines (name pending) below*
Ps. Also if we make a electric mine move/ trap/ entry hazard i vote for naming it pulse mines or shock traps (My inner MH geek enjoys this)
- Location
- Plato's Cave
Yeah it'd be really great for Mariana's self-esteem to get second-place to Nemona in a tournament.
KnownParadox
Not a sphere
- Location
- Canada
As far as action economy goes, not that I want to go down the path of insanity that one Trails quest on SB did, but we should also consider getting Roland to 3rd Badge level - and maybe Drilbur too if we can manage it - so that we're strong enough to get our second gym badge before FE2. We aren't Nemona, but I want to keep the pace up and try and stay within sight at least.
Looking at the current A-Battle action it'll take 3 of them to push him over, but we know the amount of money on offer alters the amount we get if I recall correctly, and since we're stronger now we can challenge stronger trainers. Which means A-Battle might offer more experience than before, maybe 600-800 xp, or even up to 1000. That'd make it two (maybe three) actions for Roland, and actually possible for Drilbur, maybe one To Train Them action to shore it up.
But yeah, I'd support perhaps a mass exploration turn, or just keep doing it one at a time over the weeks. The Cathedral, the Knights, and the Positive Pokemon Den all seem very interesting. That last one especially, we'll need a fourth member for our fourth badge. Maybe even our third if Renne still isn't feeling up to it by FE2.
For all her talent Nemona can't be in two places at once! I'm sure there are more tournaments than Nemona can possibly challenge, if only due to sheer causality.
Not that it'll stop me from voting to enter tournaments that she's also in, mind you. If we lose that's still experience, if we win that's sheer exhilaration. Nemona isn't invincible, just very very strong.
- Location
- Australia
I'd actually say that Elise performed the best out of everyone, funnily enough.I mean, our and Nemona's performances still have a pretty large power gap with the rest of our class.
Well, it's a bit more complicated. Objectively, her performance with Murkrow was really bad; she only managed to get a single command and hit in with Murkrow before it went down, and otherwise it wilfully disobeyed her publicly and got completely picked apart by Anorith.
But Elise's Honedge put on the best performance out of any Pokemon we saw in Class VII's battles, full stop. Only Drilbur came close, facing down two Pokemon and only requiring a little bit of effort from Dreepy to finish off Rellor; but Drilbur wasn't facing down a Pokemon designed to hard-counter it as much as possible, she was just facing down a Pokemon designed to test the Dig strategy.
Elise's Honedge, on the other hand, faced down an Anorith that had already set itself up in the arena's pond (Anorith is an aquatic hunter that's at home underwater, remember), and then faced down a Sizzlipede Katy sent out specifically to counter Honedge as much as a Bug-type Pokemon can counter a Honedge. Honedge managed to pull out a win against both of these Pokemon, and only fainted right at the end.
My personal ranking is that Elise's Honedge is actually probably Class VII's second strongest Pokemon, behind Nemona's Monferno and in front of Mary's Drilbur and Dreepy. (Espurr isn't counted in this equation.) Honedge is both strong and skilled, and it really showcased how effective its skillset is in that battle.
- Pronouns
- She/They
And that is, I think, stylistically where Elise currently falls in the spectrum of the Class VII top battlers - she's hyperfocused on training with Rin to the exclusion of being able to understand other Pokémon, and says as much herself in her POV section. Honestly given that this setting seems to hew very close to the game mechanics of Pokémon Ranger when it comes to Rangers, it also kind of makes sense from that standpoint, since those mechanics are "you've got one specific partner and then make temporary contracts with wild Pokémon otherwise". Elise doesn't have the same cultural background as a Pokémon Trainer specifically that most of Class VII has (even people who never held a Pokéball before last summer like Mariana or Unfortunate Circumstances like Ostia), so she's coming at this from the perspective of a swordswoman first, Ranger second, and Trainer...she's got a lot of fundamentals to work on there, but Rin is an exceptional Pokémon, and Elise's Bond with her is second to none. It's just that being a one-mon pony is not a fantastic idea in a Gym battle.
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Will close vote in 24 hours
Moon Door I: King's Knight Opening
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Aw, c'mon little guy, don't be a grouch. Meet your new partner, they're a Slako—
"Check." Spidops titters, her mandibles writhing in delight. He looks down on the board, with its mismatched pieces where those missing were replaced by what coins, rocks or whatever else Spidops could weave together. He waits, thinking of his next move.
He still does not understand how Spidops gained a fondness for a human game, but it's a decent way to spend time while waiting for reports. They're playing on a chessboard that she stole from one of the human farmers. It's Spidops' most prized possession.
Surrounding them, watching their game are the lieutenants. Mostly Tarountulas and Nymbles now, with only a handful of Ninacadas. Ninjask's little stunt with the berries has cost him a wing and the confidence of his swarm.
The plan had been to see him captured by the humans, but what transpired was also in their favor. Even with the berries, he will not survive the night. Not if Spidops has anything to say about it.
He looks up and she appears even more excited as if it was possible. Their little Triad will be a Duo soon enough. Ninjask would've never agreed to commit to what followed after all.
Well, if everything goes as he wants it tomorrow, it'll just be Spidops. He doubts she'll be able to keep Shedinja from wandering off after Ninjask is gone.
He makes his move, despite how pointless it might be. He has only ever won against her once, when they first met.
One of the threads hanging overhead, their way of communication with their scouts in the forest and the heights, is suddenly pulled taut. Finally a report.
He stands, pushing aside the crate he was sitting on, nearly toppling over the board causing Spidops to curse in at him. This night's base was in one of the abandoned human barns, many of the lieutenants are unhappy but they know it's better than being in the forests right now.
Not while the humans are crawling all over it.
At the entrance was the messenger, a Yanma. One of the few still free of the Thieves, their loyalty bought with the promise of freeing their kin. Riding on them was a Nymble and a Tarountula.
"Report." Lokix says.
"The humans have found and attacked one of the lesser Thieves' lair at the heights. They have found little of those taken. Some of the Thieves escaped, through them this one has found the main den.' Yanma reports, which is then confirmed by the Nymble with them.
"You are certain of this?" Spidops asks as she cleans and puts away the chessboard. She was winning anyways so she's not as irate as she could be at the interruption.
Yanma nods. "The one described by Lokix was seen by this one. They were the one with the claws and tail and the black wings. They had met with the fleeing Thieves and guided them to a cliffside near the Old Settlement where the ground opened up."
Gliscor. The earth was shaking, swallowing her up. Tears in her eyes.
It roils off him, uncontrollable, seeping through the crystalline sheen of Dark Terastalization. All the Pokemon within the barn, except for Spidops, recoils in fear of his weakness. Of his malady.
He clenches his fist, closing it tight, then opening it, then closing it again. He does this until it resides. Until he can see the Yanma in front of him, quivering in fear.
When he had come to following Marida's…death, he had been changed by the Thieves. He could not think clearly, he could not feel pain, he could do nothing but be angry and hate. Lashing out at everyone and everything he could find.
He thought it grief, but he knows better now. The wise man said it was an evil technique wrought by cruel humans to shut the hearts of Pokemon. To turn them into weapons. It was incomplete for him, he could still think after all.
He turns to look behind, there he sees Spidops stanced, web already formed on her limbs. Of his new 'companions' only she knows his malady. Had he fully lost control, she would string him up by the neck and limbs until he either calmed or died, whichever came first.
"Apologies." Spidops waits a few moments before scoffing, releasing her web. The tension bleeds as the news of the threat of him subsides and news of the Thieves spreads. A cacophony of nearly dozens of Pokemon discussing and talking about what is to be done.
He steps back, letting Spidops receive the rest of the reports, confirmations, and additional information of the movement of the humans. She delivers the orders, the summons and requests to those willing to help.
His and Spidops' followers numbered little over three hundred Pokemon, all sorts of bugs from across the east and west of Cortondo, from the human farms, to the forests and cliffs. Scattered by the Thieves, who've been infesting the province for nearly a half a year now.
Many were unwilling to attack humans for food, things were simply not dire enough.
But Thieves are not humans, they are not people, so that is different.
With a word from Spidops, the lieutenants scatter to gather their lesser swarms for tomorrow's assault. Like clouds of limbs crawling on the ground, hopping, swinging, they leave.
"You need not leave after tomorrow." Spidops suddenly says as only the two of them remain. He peers outside, the moon approaches its peak. It will be a few hours still before they will be ready.
"I believe we had an agreement." He does not understand what brought this on. The two of them had used one another for their own purposes. She had used him to get stronger and force the Bugs of Cortondo into line. And he had used her to gather a force for his aims. Once he finds Vigoroth he will leave Cortondo and they will never see one another again. What they are planning could be the foundation of a Domain, Spidops' Domain.
There's an irritated clicking from Spidops mandibles "Fine, be that way."
Spidops crawls out of the barn to prepare for tomorrow, leaving him alone.
It's better this way.
He goes to collect his—Marida's—belongings, a small sling bag containing an old Pokedex. It's solar-powered so he never worried about it running dry. Operating it is difficult, he only vaguely remembers how his trainer sometimes used it. He pulls up the entry for Gliscor and reads despite the cracked screen.
He puts to memory every single detail, wingspan, average flight length, average claw and stinger length, typical moves, ways to detect them despite their soundless flight and anything that could give him the edge. He lost once, he will not lose again.
He reads and once he is tired he rests. He hugs the bag tight and sleeps a dreamless sleep.
As Lokix sleeps, the wild stirs like a nest put to action. Missives and signals planned for are put to motion, the night humming with the noise of buzzing wings of the Nincadas.
A Wild Hunt gathers.
In a church at the very edges of human settlement, a pair of Lurantis say farewell to their child, entrusted to the care of the little one's Munchlax friend. The Normal-Type promises to share his food with her every day, a very serious oath from his species. The two are some of the few in any shape to leave, but still, they are not alone, for they march out at the head of a small band of Pokemon.
Woobats exiled from the larger colony, those who had not been suborned. Two Applins, the oldest of Appletuns sons. A trope of Squawkabilly's with accompanying Tandemaus riding on their backs. A Tranquil leading a flight of Wattrels, Rookidees and Fletchlings. An old man watches them, he whisper a prayer for their safety and success.
They head northwards towards the desecrated ruins of yesteryear. A procession of those expelled from their homes by the Thieves tearing through the province.
In a forest guarded by a Pokemon millenia old, the earth shifts and a handful of Ursarings march out carrying with them the Pokemon of their home, they are followed by dozens of Sawsbucks and Deerlings, a gathering numbering in the hundreds.
These few Ursarings are the best of their Mother's children at tearing and controlling stone. They will be needed to assault the den of Thieves, who have stolen their young and their neighbors, those who make mockery of their home. Each Ursaring carries on their back Pinecos and Foongus, brimming with power and poison alike.
They march northwards meeting a detachment of the Triad's swarm. The Bug Pokemon carry with them food, berries and the healing liquids of the humans. Payment and tribute alike. Some of the Bugs split off to carry the bounty back to the forest. The rest continue north.
The ruins are quiet.
All that emerges from the heights are a scattering of Pawniard Divisions, numbering a few dozen at most. They had been gathered under a scion of a now lost Bisharp, her armor and shell blue rather than red. A daughter desperate to find her father. The rest are too shaken by the Intruder from earlier within the week to even emerge from the caves and depths, they will let the Hunt pass by them.
In an alcove a number of Tinkatinks whisper amongst themselves, their new guildmaster scoffing at the events unfolding. The child's guardian has the matter in hand, so she sees no reason to take on more work. A whisper in the wind from her teammate carries the moniker lazy to her ear. She responds by calling him a tryhard knowing that he will hear her.
Reports fly from the League forces operating in the area of the brewing Wild Hunt, RMP units stationed across the province are put on high alert. A suggestion to cancel tomorrow's Gym Battles is made and accepted. Friday is declared a working holiday. A settlement braces itself for impact. But they are not the target, they never were.
In the south west of Cortondo, within the venerable manors of the nobility; calls are being sent out, documents, hard drives and records burned and an escape plan to Cascaraffa is being hatched.
A Capo teleports in, past the Dark and Ghost Type nets and barriers established by the League to prevent escape, and discreetly begins extraction. Only of the truly important assets though. The operation has been left to its fate. His erstwhile apprentice need not know that.
Last night, a Charcadet had managed to break into the perimeter of Thieves' hideout and had escaped before it could be neutralized. Extraction of captured specimens of that species are now being prioritized.
Morning light reveals a teeming mass of flesh, chitin, steel, wood and bark. A gathering of Pokemon near half a thousand strong. It cannot compare to the Great Wild Hunts, those that numbered in the tens and hundreds of thousands.
But it is a Wild Hunt nonetheless. The first skirmish of a wider conflict, none but a handful could truly see.
"Check." Spidops titters, her mandibles writhing in delight. He looks down on the board, with its mismatched pieces where those missing were replaced by what coins, rocks or whatever else Spidops could weave together. He waits, thinking of his next move.
He still does not understand how Spidops gained a fondness for a human game, but it's a decent way to spend time while waiting for reports. They're playing on a chessboard that she stole from one of the human farmers. It's Spidops' most prized possession.
Surrounding them, watching their game are the lieutenants. Mostly Tarountulas and Nymbles now, with only a handful of Ninacadas. Ninjask's little stunt with the berries has cost him a wing and the confidence of his swarm.
The plan had been to see him captured by the humans, but what transpired was also in their favor. Even with the berries, he will not survive the night. Not if Spidops has anything to say about it.
He looks up and she appears even more excited as if it was possible. Their little Triad will be a Duo soon enough. Ninjask would've never agreed to commit to what followed after all.
Well, if everything goes as he wants it tomorrow, it'll just be Spidops. He doubts she'll be able to keep Shedinja from wandering off after Ninjask is gone.
He makes his move, despite how pointless it might be. He has only ever won against her once, when they first met.
One of the threads hanging overhead, their way of communication with their scouts in the forest and the heights, is suddenly pulled taut. Finally a report.
He stands, pushing aside the crate he was sitting on, nearly toppling over the board causing Spidops to curse in at him. This night's base was in one of the abandoned human barns, many of the lieutenants are unhappy but they know it's better than being in the forests right now.
Not while the humans are crawling all over it.
At the entrance was the messenger, a Yanma. One of the few still free of the Thieves, their loyalty bought with the promise of freeing their kin. Riding on them was a Nymble and a Tarountula.
"Report." Lokix says.
"The humans have found and attacked one of the lesser Thieves' lair at the heights. They have found little of those taken. Some of the Thieves escaped, through them this one has found the main den.' Yanma reports, which is then confirmed by the Nymble with them.
"You are certain of this?" Spidops asks as she cleans and puts away the chessboard. She was winning anyways so she's not as irate as she could be at the interruption.
Yanma nods. "The one described by Lokix was seen by this one. They were the one with the claws and tail and the black wings. They had met with the fleeing Thieves and guided them to a cliffside near the Old Settlement where the ground opened up."
Gliscor. The earth was shaking, swallowing her up. Tears in her eyes.
It roils off him, uncontrollable, seeping through the crystalline sheen of Dark Terastalization. All the Pokemon within the barn, except for Spidops, recoils in fear of his weakness. Of his malady.
He clenches his fist, closing it tight, then opening it, then closing it again. He does this until it resides. Until he can see the Yanma in front of him, quivering in fear.
When he had come to following Marida's…death, he had been changed by the Thieves. He could not think clearly, he could not feel pain, he could do nothing but be angry and hate. Lashing out at everyone and everything he could find.
He thought it grief, but he knows better now. The wise man said it was an evil technique wrought by cruel humans to shut the hearts of Pokemon. To turn them into weapons. It was incomplete for him, he could still think after all.
He turns to look behind, there he sees Spidops stanced, web already formed on her limbs. Of his new 'companions' only she knows his malady. Had he fully lost control, she would string him up by the neck and limbs until he either calmed or died, whichever came first.
"Apologies." Spidops waits a few moments before scoffing, releasing her web. The tension bleeds as the news of the threat of him subsides and news of the Thieves spreads. A cacophony of nearly dozens of Pokemon discussing and talking about what is to be done.
He steps back, letting Spidops receive the rest of the reports, confirmations, and additional information of the movement of the humans. She delivers the orders, the summons and requests to those willing to help.
His and Spidops' followers numbered little over three hundred Pokemon, all sorts of bugs from across the east and west of Cortondo, from the human farms, to the forests and cliffs. Scattered by the Thieves, who've been infesting the province for nearly a half a year now.
Many were unwilling to attack humans for food, things were simply not dire enough.
But Thieves are not humans, they are not people, so that is different.
With a word from Spidops, the lieutenants scatter to gather their lesser swarms for tomorrow's assault. Like clouds of limbs crawling on the ground, hopping, swinging, they leave.
"You need not leave after tomorrow." Spidops suddenly says as only the two of them remain. He peers outside, the moon approaches its peak. It will be a few hours still before they will be ready.
"I believe we had an agreement." He does not understand what brought this on. The two of them had used one another for their own purposes. She had used him to get stronger and force the Bugs of Cortondo into line. And he had used her to gather a force for his aims. Once he finds Vigoroth he will leave Cortondo and they will never see one another again. What they are planning could be the foundation of a Domain, Spidops' Domain.
There's an irritated clicking from Spidops mandibles "Fine, be that way."
Spidops crawls out of the barn to prepare for tomorrow, leaving him alone.
It's better this way.
He goes to collect his—Marida's—belongings, a small sling bag containing an old Pokedex. It's solar-powered so he never worried about it running dry. Operating it is difficult, he only vaguely remembers how his trainer sometimes used it. He pulls up the entry for Gliscor and reads despite the cracked screen.
He puts to memory every single detail, wingspan, average flight length, average claw and stinger length, typical moves, ways to detect them despite their soundless flight and anything that could give him the edge. He lost once, he will not lose again.
He reads and once he is tired he rests. He hugs the bag tight and sleeps a dreamless sleep.
As Lokix sleeps, the wild stirs like a nest put to action. Missives and signals planned for are put to motion, the night humming with the noise of buzzing wings of the Nincadas.
A Wild Hunt gathers.
In a church at the very edges of human settlement, a pair of Lurantis say farewell to their child, entrusted to the care of the little one's Munchlax friend. The Normal-Type promises to share his food with her every day, a very serious oath from his species. The two are some of the few in any shape to leave, but still, they are not alone, for they march out at the head of a small band of Pokemon.
Woobats exiled from the larger colony, those who had not been suborned. Two Applins, the oldest of Appletuns sons. A trope of Squawkabilly's with accompanying Tandemaus riding on their backs. A Tranquil leading a flight of Wattrels, Rookidees and Fletchlings. An old man watches them, he whisper a prayer for their safety and success.
They head northwards towards the desecrated ruins of yesteryear. A procession of those expelled from their homes by the Thieves tearing through the province.
In a forest guarded by a Pokemon millenia old, the earth shifts and a handful of Ursarings march out carrying with them the Pokemon of their home, they are followed by dozens of Sawsbucks and Deerlings, a gathering numbering in the hundreds.
These few Ursarings are the best of their Mother's children at tearing and controlling stone. They will be needed to assault the den of Thieves, who have stolen their young and their neighbors, those who make mockery of their home. Each Ursaring carries on their back Pinecos and Foongus, brimming with power and poison alike.
They march northwards meeting a detachment of the Triad's swarm. The Bug Pokemon carry with them food, berries and the healing liquids of the humans. Payment and tribute alike. Some of the Bugs split off to carry the bounty back to the forest. The rest continue north.
The ruins are quiet.
All that emerges from the heights are a scattering of Pawniard Divisions, numbering a few dozen at most. They had been gathered under a scion of a now lost Bisharp, her armor and shell blue rather than red. A daughter desperate to find her father. The rest are too shaken by the Intruder from earlier within the week to even emerge from the caves and depths, they will let the Hunt pass by them.
In an alcove a number of Tinkatinks whisper amongst themselves, their new guildmaster scoffing at the events unfolding. The child's guardian has the matter in hand, so she sees no reason to take on more work. A whisper in the wind from her teammate carries the moniker lazy to her ear. She responds by calling him a tryhard knowing that he will hear her.
Reports fly from the League forces operating in the area of the brewing Wild Hunt, RMP units stationed across the province are put on high alert. A suggestion to cancel tomorrow's Gym Battles is made and accepted. Friday is declared a working holiday. A settlement braces itself for impact. But they are not the target, they never were.
In the south west of Cortondo, within the venerable manors of the nobility; calls are being sent out, documents, hard drives and records burned and an escape plan to Cascaraffa is being hatched.
A Capo teleports in, past the Dark and Ghost Type nets and barriers established by the League to prevent escape, and discreetly begins extraction. Only of the truly important assets though. The operation has been left to its fate. His erstwhile apprentice need not know that.
Last night, a Charcadet had managed to break into the perimeter of Thieves' hideout and had escaped before it could be neutralized. Extraction of captured specimens of that species are now being prioritized.
Morning light reveals a teeming mass of flesh, chitin, steel, wood and bark. A gathering of Pokemon near half a thousand strong. It cannot compare to the Great Wild Hunts, those that numbered in the tens and hundreds of thousands.
But it is a Wild Hunt nonetheless. The first skirmish of a wider conflict, none but a handful could truly see.
Last edited:
- Pronouns
- She/They
MooGoesCow21
Just Listen to me....
- Location
- US Washington
[X] Millium
- Location
- Florida
Oof, competent villains. We are in for the long haul. Not that I really expected otherwise in a trails quest.
- Pronouns
- She/They
Standard operating procedure: have a nesting doll of shell conspiracies surrounding the real one and sacrifice one layer per chapter until the heroes realize they've completely failed to stop your main goal in order to set up a cliffhanger for Trails of Tera Steel 2.
It looks like Bragg and the poachers are the sacrificial patsies for step 1, fronting for a conspiracy involving both Rocketoids and the local nobility (who were probably Group 2's problem off-camera). It also looks like they're turning the captured Pokémon into Shadow Pokémon rather than simply trafficking them, so...yikes.
- Location
- Florida
As someone who's never played the games and only consumed fanfics of Cold Steel specifically, that was definitely an aggravating thing for me lol. I appreciate competent enemies, but damn do the good guys in Cold Steel tend to come off as super complacent about it.
- Location
- Wisconsin
Unfortunately, when all the villains have the ability to Teleport, it's hard to actually do anything permanent to them worth out resorting to Murder.
- Location
- Florida
I'm not saying Mariana should throw any villain she captures to the angry vengeance seeking pokemon, but maybe we can just leave the tied up unconscious villain unwatched while we take an hour long picnic. Surely the Wild Hunt couldn't possibly be hidden nearby to enact jungle law.
- Location
- Wherever I feel like being
- Pronouns
- He/Him
... FUCK!!! Shadow Pokemon. Cypher are in the mix along with Dimsun. This just got a lot worse. And it sounds like the Nobility are in it up to their eyebrows. I think we're looking at a potential region-wide civil war. My best take given this limited data we have so far is that there are certain factions within the Nobility that want to be wholly in control of the Region again, and are willing to do anything to attain that control.
- Location
- Wherever I feel like being
- Pronouns
- He/Him
No, the wrecked machine was the pokemon control unit that Dimsun used.
KnownParadox
Not a sphere
- Location
- Canada
True, but they were described as "Neo-Cipherists" in ideology, combined with how they actually functioned and their main gimmick in the games, I don't think Shadow Pokemon are that unexpected really.
Plus side to this Wild Hunt thing is that I bet most of the mooks will be distracted, letting us deal with a few of the bigger threats, while Poppy, Leaf, and whoever else deals with the biggest threats that are entirely out of our league.
TimEd
Meteor maker
I thought it was less control and merely a more widespread uncontrollable version of turning a pokemon into a Shadow version? I've always thought that was the case, but maybe that's just my headcanon.