Brave New World

The people of Union have had an odd week. While it was nice to cap things off with the knowledge that Gigas is not going to try and invade them again (for now), the population has had to deal with a different sort of intruder. Namely, Abra. Abra teleporting anywhere and everywhere. Abra teleporting places to try and hide.

Absolutely terrified Abra. To say nothing of the dreams the city's Psychic-types have discussed.

And now, as a new week dawns...the nightmares spread to everyone. Without exception. Perhaps you're fortunate and things that go bump in the night don't frighten you, but sleeping brings a sense of dread, and a hazy vision of a world in ruins. Night after night after night. The first one is horrifying for shock value. The next few are horrifying because they won't stop.

How will you deal? Where will you go, in the middle of the night, if you're the sort who tries to clear their heads? Will you share what you've been experiencing or keep it to yourself?

No matter what you do, the nightmares continue. And the Abra continue to shiver.

[[ This is a catch-all post/mingle for people wanting to react to their weird nightmares! As mentioned here, they have now spread to the entire population. Players are welcome to continue making their own posts addressing the nightmares if they prefer. ]]

After weeks of waiting uneasily in the aftermath of the chaotic infiltration of Gigas to right a terrible wrong, the Council finally decided that it’s time to make a move. It's wasn't a decision that they made lightly, but the events in the distant city has proven a point that they had all seen coming:

The time where they could stay in the safety of Union's walls was no more, not when the Gods themselves were far from the infallible beings that they had believed for generations. It was time for Humans to once again take their stand. Joined by their allies from Caldera, Sanctuary, and the other surrounding cities, the people of Union Alliance gathered their supplies and set out west-- toward Gigas. The distant city had not remained silent either, rumors spreading of mobilization, and the fires of war loom as large as the four imprisoned titans over all the land.

The Gods had saved humanity countless times before. It was time that humanity returned the favor.

[OOC: Event Sign Ups are now open! We encourage all players to participate in this pivotal event. You can pick your teams of five yourselves, or you can request to be placed in a randomized pool that will be determined at the end of the sign up period, on 7/15.

An OOC post will be made explaining the next stage in more detail. Please use this post as a catch-all for your IC needs.]

The City of Gigas is unlike anything the people of Union have ever seen before. The city is immense, a sprawling metropolis that covers the land as far as the eye can see. Built up primarily around enormous centralized towers, unlike Union these towers are dark concrete buildings, covered in glass windows. The buildings seem to serve any number of functions, and have a startling variety in construction, style, and even size, creating a unique skyline that is breathtaking to behold. The city is connected with roads of asphalt, upon which whiz smoke-belching steel carriages at frightful speeds, the engines (and piercing, constant horns) creating an ever-present din that engulfs the city in loud, chaotic sound.

“Downtown,” as the Gigans know it, is a huge collection of stores, apartments, and businesses. Apparently, the larger homes are built in Calderan-style but tend to be further from the main commotion of the downtown areas, of which Gigas citizens assure Union citizens that there are several, each with their own district name and culture. The technology is quite advanced as well, full color televisions are standard in every home and built in devices so slim and with such sharp images that they seem decades ahead of Union’s own technology. Pokemon are still quite present in Gigas, many people riding flying types and the buildings having huge perches to accommodate them. As with the vehicles below, however, Gigas seems to regulate air traffic to individual lanes and the birds seem well-trained as they convey their trainers to and fro.

Humans are just that, here, Human. No unusual shapes and sizes like the Enlightened and Earthkin of the Union Alliance, and those displaying unusual traits receive odd looks. Like many civilizations to the east, Battling is a common sport though in this place it’s more like the combat arenas of old. Several stadiums dot the cityscape, the sounds of Pokemon Battles and cheering crowds echoing for blocks all around, and it’s a stadium where humans are not welcome. Unless, of course, they want to make a show and spar against a Pokemon, of course.

This is Gigas, the City of Reclamation. Union civilians have free rein to explore this grand city as councillors are invited into the massive capitol building to negotiate with the Gigan leaders. Gigas civilians, for their part, are polite, friendly even. While many of them are caught in the bustle of their daily lives they regard Union citizens with interest and curiosity, willing to talk about their city, extolling its virtues while complaining about the noise, the crowds, the lines, and the expense all the while. One thing is clear though, the people of Gigas are proud of their city and their accomplishments. This is their home, and they are eager to show it off to the world.

Proposal Day is upon us! A day of romance and affection - whether you want to put up with that or not! After the attack, the people of Union are eager to get back to normal life, and the holiday presents the perfect opportunity to at least make the attempt. For couples, it’s a day of dates, romantic outings, and elaborate proposals. For non-couples, well, there’s always single’s night at Teeters, or staying home eating Citadel food and watching TV. You know, whatever.

This is an open mingle post for those looking to celebrate (or try to avoid) Proposal Day festivities. We’ve also provided a few prompts for your convenience!

1. A ring is the most sacred symbol of marriage and a time-honored proposal tradition. As such, jewelers are out in force, offering both rings and other fine jewelry, typically exorbitantly priced, at major discounts, making them slightly less exorbitantly priced! It’s everywhere, are YOU ready to buy a ring for that special someone?
2. The parks, restaurants, and shopping plazas are absolutely full of couples today. With so many people out and about it’s crowded and difficult to get anywhere. Whether you’re partaking in the festivities or just trying to get somewhere, you’ll probably be waiting for a bit. Once you get there though, the decorations are quite festive, as are the many street vendors with delicious smelling food tempting you to try some!
3. The Chansey Cafe is baking up some special Cheer-Up Cupcakes, which are being sold in sets of two. Those who are helping with the relief effort in Union will receive a discount.
4. Street Performers are out in force and music is filling the streets and walkways of Union. Mostly romantic songs, of course, but there are a few counter-culture Street Performers that are playing that new, scandalous “Blues” music everyone’s been talking about.
5. It’s Single’s Night at Teeters! Union’s most notorious dive bar is open to everyone trying to get away from all this Proposal Day nonsense. The beer is overpriced and watered down, the atmosphere is terrible, and it’s full of people who are almost certainly going to do something they’ll regret in the morning! What could possibly go wrong?
6. They’re running a marathon of The Lone Pikachu on TV. Better than nothing?
7. Wildcard! Come up with your own prompt.

The dust hardly settled on the destruction wrought in the streets of Union before the emergency signal hummed to life, a familiar voice beginning to cut through the static.

“...you hear me? This is General Ironborn. We detected an interference with the warp band’s signal. We’re sending a team there to investigate.”

Then another, her voice commanding over the noise.

“Matriarch Frea. Our scouts noticed a disturbance during one of their routine missions in your area. I’m sending a group of Valkyries to investigate.”

Quickly, more voices began flooding the signal, each one nearly running off into each other.

“This is Clement, from Sanctuary. Our oracles noticed a disturbing aura around your city. We’re sending anyone and everyone we can to help.”

“Captain Ingrid from Glacier, reporting. We noticed unusual activity in your direction and are on our way to grant aid. We have a debt to repay the people of Union, after all.”

Soon, voices from all over began to cascade over one another, giving orders, requesting further assistance to the city, inquiring about Union’s safety and sending words of goodwill. It became nearly impossible to discern one voice over the other, and their words ran into one another. But one thing was certain: In their time of need, Union had help on the way.

Frea’s Valkyries were the first to make it into the city, followed quickly thereafter by Ingrid’s troops. The Steel Battalion, led by Ironborn himself, strode through the gates by midday, and by evening aid from those individuals and settlements impacted by Union’s steadfast goodwill flooded the gates. Food, medical supplies, and, most importantly, a much-needed morale boost. Many stayed outside of the city’s gates, both out of necessity, as well as an added assurance that the city would not see another attack; they would watch the back of the city that had done the same for them.

Over the next few weeks, Union will see a surge of aid coming from all directions of the known world, as the city does its best to rebuild. Faces old and new will come together to help ensure that the people of Union will be well taken care of, their homes rebuilt and their lives hopefully put back on track. This was their way, after all, and Union always was the city to lead by example.


[[OOC: This post acts as the final post for the event. Players are encouraged to thread out parts of the rebuilding process, as well as interact with a few familiar faces that they might find within their city.]]

An unsettling calm hung over the streets of Union, a chilly, early morning fog settling in. The words of their newest visitors were unwelcome, and when word spread that the two would be leaving at sunrise, the people were grateful, if not a bit apprehensive. The Elite Four, their Champion, and the whole of Ever Grande—their radical ideologies were not only off-putting, but their methodology was more than a bit off-putting. They would need to be watched, closely.

In the early hours of the morning, warp bands around Union buzzed with life, a gentle light spilling from the devices. “Hello again, friends.”

It was her.

Her voice rang clear, and while her face wasn’t present, one could hear the smile in her voice. “I hope I didn’t wake any of you up. I wanted to thank you all for being so hospitable to Alina and myself, at least initially. But talk about the Union chill. Normally I like a little cold, but this is a bit much.

“When we first heard about Union, we were excited. Finally, we had found a worthy ally for our cause. So you can imagine our... disappointment, when we saw your true colors. You’re nothing but cowards! And here I thought, a city championing for peace, who were blessed by the Gods themselves, willing to live alongside pokémon without subjugating them to your will, would be able to understand the world that we wish to create. Instead, you hide behind your wall, hide behind others, and assume that by ‘defending yourself’ or those you deem unable or unfit to fight that you’ve somehow absolved yourself from guilt.”

Her voice grew cold, turning deep; “People like that make me sick.”

“Divinity is wasted on you, to be quite honest.” Her voice bounced again, chipper and clear. “If you can’t walk alongside us, then you’ll only serve as stepping stones toward a peaceful tomorrow. Union, like Glacier and so many other settlements before it, will serve as an example to those who wish to defy the will of the Gods. The pit of humanity needs to learn its place, crawling on its belly in fear from the true inheritors of the earth. We lay ourselves prostrate to their glory!

“Union believes that they’re able to decide what is right and what is just, but I disagree. I bring to you, the divine word of the Gods themselves! Listen well, people of Union, and all others! This is the world we seek to create, our perfect vision of peace! Hear me, O Great One, and come to my aid. Strike down these heretics where they stand!”

BMG: Gates to Infinity: Clash with Kyurem!

Answering Sveta’s call, a great dragon bearing the frost of the deepest winter appeared in the center of the city. With a roar of power, it’s unearthly presence sent waves of fear in the souls of even the bravest citizens of Union. Opening it’s vicious maw, it unleashed an enormous roar, a battle cry of deafening proportions, a Hyper Voice attack! While the sound was ear splitting to all who dwelt within Union, its power was focused. The great Signal Tower, a beacon of Union technology and innovation, began to crack heavily. Jagged scars appeared as chunks of stone fell unbidden from the tower. It still stood—but against such an assault, not for much longer. The force of the blast sent cracks sprawling through nearby towers as panicked shrieks began to echo throughout the city, a chorus of terror at the power of the god before them.

But in that moment, the humans were not alone. Two high-pitched cries met the titanic roar as twin dragons flew to Union’s aid, spiraling around the mighty ice dragon and attacking with twin Dragon Breath attacks. Once again, the great hounds and birds, as well as the Lady of the Moon and the Lord of Nightmares, Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres, Entei, Raikou, Suicune, Cresselia and Darkrai stood at Union’s side, unleashing their own attacks. The people of Union felt the blessings of the gods with them. Here they would have to stand and fight—drive back the invaders and save their fair city!

[OOC: With the damage to the signal tower, Warp Band communication is offline and Pokemon cannot be summoned - thankfully the habitat is close and your Pokemon allies will come to your aid as the logs begin]