Background:
Far away from civilization, basking in isolation in the middle of the Atlantic, sits an archipelago of eighteen islands. Long untouched by the scourges brought by mankind, these islands remained untarnished paradises for centuries. It wasn't until thirty-five years ago that these islands were discovered. At first they simply remained a point of study, scientists and archaeologists seeking to unveil the secrets hidden beneath the waves of these lost islands. Within five years of their discovery, people began to migrate to the archipelago. As of yet. no singular country had laid claim upon the islands. So, taking advantage of the opportunity, the International Pokémon League Confederation, or IPLC, moved in. Thanks to this, the newly dubbed "Lost Islands" became a neutral territory, welcoming all and refusing no one.
For the next five years, the IPLC encouraged the inhabitation of the islands, drawing in an influx of immigrants from across the globe. By 1995, the islands had grown immensely, boasting a total population of nearly six million individuals. At this time, the IPLC unveiled their new gem: The Lost Tournament.
The Lost Tournament was to be a grande competition, welcoming trainers from all across the planet. It was to be an entire league consisting of seventeen Arenas, each featuring a different pokémon type and its own unique Arena Medal. The tournament would host five hundred elite trainers that would be handpicked by tournament officials. Of course, they still had to pass the preliminary tests. Lastly, this tournament was to be held every five years.
Present Day:
The year is 2020 and preparations for the sixth Lost Tournament are coming to a close. Five hundred trainers have been picked and have passed the preliminary testing and are finally making their ways to the legendary Lost Islands. Bags are being packed, pokémon are being prepared, and the inhabitants of the Lost Islands are getting geared up to welcome a fresh batch of trainers.
Even the islands are not without their flaws, however. Anything can go wrong just as easily as in any other location. There's also the fact that there's been a recent rise in attacks and robberies all across the islands. People and pokémon have even turned up missing, and no one has yet been able to identify the culprits. It is assumed that the attacks are linked, although no solid evidence has been reported to prove this to be true. It is known, however, that the culprits are dangerous, organized, and cunning enough to get away with it all unnoticed.
As well as the disasters caused by man, there has also been an interesting increase in natural phenomena around the islands. Pokémon have become more agitated, defending their territories more vigorously and attacking people more often. Certain species have also shown abnormal behaviors throughout the archipelago, baffling the scientists and pokémon professors.
Citizens have also noticed that the various shrines of the archipelago, which predate any known human existence on the islands, appear to have been disturbed. No one is sure what to make of it, but it is possible that these disturbances are what have created the upset among the pokémon. Some of the more superstitious inhabitants have taken it as a sign to cancel the tournament and keep outsiders at bay.
Crazy, right? Well, the festivities must go on!