Arrival

[bravenewmods]

They were noticed a half hour before they arrived.

The Guardsmen atop the city walls, their keen senses trained to observe anything out of the ordinary, had not failed to observe the flight of birds disturbed from their nests and the distant shuddering of trees. The pace was steady. Not of wild Pokémon meandering about, but of something with fixed, determined purpose.

News spread quickly, as it ought. The Council was aware of the situation in five minutes flat, and the guard on the walls surreptitiously tripled in the same amount of time. It didn't take much longer for idle citizens to realize something was amiss, and as the rumors propagated -- There are people coming through the forest! -- so, too, did the number of people thronging at the gate craning their necks to get a look.

They emerge from the forest, their pace brisk and their numbers thirty strong. Many wear attire that is hardy, made for traveling - leather boots, thick wool pants, and long jackets in shades of deep crimson and black. Others, clearly of some higher rank, are clad in suits or other formal wear; a few wear pristine white coats that must have only just been changed. As they approach, most stare coolly upwards at the assembly gathered before them atop the walls of the city.

At their lead stands a man with a mild smile and shaggy red hair. Two others stand close beside him: a young woman in a crisp, fur-lined white coat, sleek black hair pristine and perfectly in place and a gentle smile on her face and an aloof woman with brown hair wearing a sharp suit who appears extremely disinterested in the proceedings.

The company pauses. And there is a long, awkward silence before the man with the red hair takes a step forward. He speaks, and his words, though understandable, have a strange, foreign inflection.

"My name is Rory Donnachaidh. We have come on behalf of our people to serve as a diplomatic presence to your city."

...Another awkward pause.

"...I believe it is appropriate to say - take us to your leader."

He smiles more broadly, as if he's made a joke.

---------

We are Team Evolution.

We represent a group of people with a common purpose - to restore humanity to the peaks it once ascended and to raise up all Pokémon alongside us. We call ourselves Team Evolution for the only path forward for both human and Pokémon is to evolve. When we realized that our signals could be detected no longer, our scouts reported that the reason was human sabotage. Imagine our surprise to learn that a human civilization lay so close to those mountains... But what do I say? You, of course, must all have experienced surprise in equal measures, no?

We have come here for reasons twofold: to establish relations with this city and to retrieve the materials that you have been holding for us. It was a prototype, you see, and we would wish to have it returned.

Of course, we understand that you have little reason to trust us and great reason to drive us away. We will not attempt to enter your city if that is preferred - but we will camp outside, between the forest and the gates, for the space of 10 days, after which we will depart, with or without our materials. We hope you will be willing to speak with us during this time. We would also like to... hold a demonstration to explain our actions, if you and your Council are willing.

Please, come and speak with us if you have any questions. That is an offer extended to anyone in your fine city. I shall personally ensure that any visitors are treated with the greatest of courtesies...

((For approximately 10 IC days, the people of Team Evolution will be camped outside of Union. The next part of this event will require sign-ups. There is an accompanying OoC post to this post here. Please see that post for more details.

Please feel free to use this IC post to talk with the NPCs. All responses here will receive an NPC response.))

Comments

[bnw_sheepy_npcs]

Safety is our utmost concern, of course! It was not our intent to have such... cataclysmic results to be sure, and adjustments will be made to the frequency of our machines.

You mentioned that the Tyrantrums affected spoke? [She looks interested.]

[comparative_insanity]

Well, I should hope not. Science tends to get a bit messy when you have furniture collapsing on your head.

[He grins a bit.] And, well, they spoke to an Enlightened who knows their language, I imagine.

[bnw_sheepy_npcs]

Yes, that. We do apologize for the trouble we've caused, and do hope to help in any way that we can.

But please, [She pulls out a small, handheld device, pressing a button.] could you tell me more of these "Enlightened", as you call them?

[comparative_insanity]

Well, it's not likely to happen again now, so no worries~.

[He blinks at her a bit, and then at the device with obvious curiosity, but first things first.] Oh, of course you might not use the same words. [He still thinks this is a case of confused terminology, see.] 'Enlightened' is our word for people with certain attributes from the different kinds of pokémon.

[bnw_sheepy_npcs]

Attributes, such as?

[comparative_insanity]

Well, uh... [He looks surprised, confused even.] Well, physical attributes like this, for one thing. [He indicates the stone set in his forehead - admittedly easily taken for a fashion accessoir.] But also... well, the abilities. [The bag Crystal had been inspecting levitates off its stand, spinning gently in the air, and then returns.] Surely the same phenomenon exists among you as well?

[bnw_sheepy_npcs]

[That gets a reaction from her, the woman's eyes widening slightly as she watches the bag float. It takes her a few seconds before she makes the connection, turning toward Fai, the same bewildered look quickly changing to a childlike excitement.]

Not at all! That you could do such a thing--this is amazing!

[comparative_insanity]

Ah, really?

[Fai is just as amazed, and just as full of new questions, all queuing up all at once. These people who had lived separately from them... the Savior had perhaps not been the one to protect them. So was it true, then, that Enlightenment really was a gift bestowed through her, by the gods?]

Not all of us are Enlightened, but it is not at all a strange thing to come across here. [He can't help but grin at her excitement, understanding it so well.] It is believed by many that we are... a sort of link between humanity and pokémon, for greater understanding between our species.

[bnw_sheepy_npcs]

In that you both share very similar traits and abilities? You made mention of physical attributes as well, could you elaborate on that a bit?

[comparative_insanity]

Well, yes. And we have Types, just like they do. I'm Psychic/Flying, but there are all sorts of types of Enlightened.

[He certainly has no problems elaborating, since he's normally fairly talkative anyway, and... well, nerdy excitement is something he can empathize with.] And many of us are born with some physical attributes, and we often get more of them with time. As we evolve, just like pokémon do.

[bnw_sheepy_npcs]

Fascinating. Simply fascinating. Have "Enlightened" always existed in this city? When did they begin appearing, or have they simply always been within Union? And these evolutions that "Enlightened" go through, are they similar to Pokémon evolutions, or do they differ in some way?

[comparative_insanity]

[He laughs at the barrage of questions, but does his best to answer them.]

To our knowledge, the Enlightened have existed in this city since the time of the Saviour - that is to say, the Great Hero who saved this city all from the war. Many believe it was through her that we first got the gift. [He smiles, shrugging a bit.] And we aren't altered as much by evolving as pokémon usually are - we still stay looking mostly human. But we get stronger, and our appearance often changes.

[bnw_sheepy_npcs]

I see.

The Savior? Please, tell me more about her.

[comparative_insanity]

She was... [He falls silent for a moment, looking for words.]

When the Gods had reached out and our city was close to extinction, she alone came to stand before them and offer her life in exchange for ours. For her sacrifice, and for proving that mankind are capable of learning humility, we were spared.

[The words are spoken softly, and with real reverence. He is literally alight with it, the normal glow to his skin made stronger by some emotion.]

She was given the ability to understand pokémon, and many Enlightened today share it.

(Missed this one, sorry)

[bnw_sheepy_npcs]

[She nods.]

I see.

No worries <3

[comparative_insanity]

[Fai just smiles, shrugging.]

I suppose it makes sense for another city with a different history to not have Enlightened living there - just like you no doubt have different technology and a different culture. How does Union seem, compared to your home?

[bnw_sheepy_npcs]

Our origin story is much less spiritual. Gigas was protected by a great Pokémon during the war, and it is from that that was take our name.

[She nods with a smile, again pushing a few strands of hair behind her ear.]

In some ways, it is very different, but in others, we are quite similar. I get the impression that people here all work toward a greater good, and toward bettering both humans and Pokémon. We feel the same.

[comparative_insanity]

Oh, I see! [That is amazing in itself. After all, the pokémon had turned upon humanity during the war, hadn't they? But one had still protected Gigas.] That pokémon must have loved your city very much, then.

[He nods, bouncing a bit on his toes.] Definitely. We're trying to explore more of the world around us, learn more. The best way of repaying the mercy we were shown is by becoming better than we were before.

[bnw_sheepy_npcs]

I quite agree.

[comparative_insanity]

[A beat, then:]

But why were you trying to make pokémon evolve? I definitely see how the theory could be fascinating, but those machines must've cost a lot of time and money, so I'm sure there must've been a purpose.

[bnw_sheepy_npcs]

We seek evolution of both mind and body. An evolved Pokémon is one step closer to achieving this.

[comparative_insanity]

[That... sounds a little bit weird to him. And a little bit like elitist bullshit too. But he keeps smiling.]

An Evolved form is stronger, and finding out more about all pokémon forms of course vital, but... I'm not quite sure I understand. Pokémon can and do evolve on their own, after all, so is there any need to speed up the process?

[bnw_sheepy_npcs]

Natural evolution has its advantages, to be sure. However, to have control over it and not be controlled by it has its advantages as well.

[comparative_insanity]

I... see. [What he sees is that every kind of warning signal that he has in his head just stood up and screamed. His smile becomes if possible even brighter.] But to control the evolution of a pokémon means controlling a pokémon by extension, doesn't it? I'd hardly call that very courteous. Those Tyrantrums were rather frightened.

[bnw_sheepy_npcs]

Please don't misunderstand, we have no desire to control the Pokémon affected by accelerated evolution. We only wish to help them. I can only imagine that it might be terrifying, not knowing what is happening nor the intent for which it has happened. However, I am encouraged by the Enlightened here in this city. Hopefully we can work together to make it a much less frightening experience, help them understand that we do have their best interests in mind.