Ah, I see I'm not the only one that does the story thing too. lol
Quilava and Flaafy?! High-Five. I got Typhlosion and Ampharos. Did you nickname yours? I like your entry. Mine's is a page back if you want to check it out. lol
OOC: Thank you. I enjoyed your entry as well. As for nicknames, not at this moment in time- the way I am playing Trainer Shane is a rather neutral kid who is still struggling with whether to view Pokemon as tools of war, companions, slaves to his will, equals, or as animals. He does love his Pokemon in a way, but the sort of love that he can not define at this time. As such, he has no nicknames for his Pokemon at this time, though over time two or three will have grown close enough to him to be viewed as companions and friends.
I will edit this post later tonight with the next entry. Only a few things have happened- need to have a few more for it to be journal entry worthy.
TLDR VERSION;
In game: Raised Noctowl, Sudowoodo, Eevee, and Flaaffy to lvl. 25, saved inside the Pokecenter in the city.
Trainer Shane's Electronic Journal- July 11th, 2010
Today was a rough day. Got up at around eight and after we ate and woke up, we broke camp. It took us six hours to wander all the way around that thicket of trees. I swear that there has to be a better way to travel. Maybe the stories that the vicious Pokemon live in those thickets is true and maybe it isn't, but we added five hours to what could have been a simple walk on over.
It was nice though to see some people, though I find it somewhat sad that so many of them are so broke that they can't leave their camping positions. It makes me really conscious of the fact that I have less than a third of what I started this trip with. Training takes a lot out the Pokemon physically and takes a lot of endurance by the trainer, but the hidden killer is cash. Spend all your money on lodging and food and bam, you can't buy pokeballs or potions and before you know it, you can't afford anything ever again.
We set up camp next to the road sign. Because we'll be here a few days, I took the time to make sure our tent was sturdy. Heard a rumor on the Pokenet about a storm about to pass through. By three PM, we were finished. We ventured somewhat sheepishly into the tall grass and started training Eevee. He turned out to be a lot tougher than he was just a few days ago, fighting tooth and nail for every victory he earned. By the end of the day, he even stood up to a Stantler! I am so proud of him. He seems to be happier as well, which is good because that means he could evolve soon.
After a long, bloody day of training, we went back to camp where Bellsprout and Noctowl had been keeping watch. It is about ten o'clock now and I must say today was a huge success. I still had to use a few potions and those stocks are dwindling, but it was a successful day. Shocked at how well Eevee responded.
The Stantlers were acting very strange today, however. We encountered clumps, not singles. That troubles me. Is there a large group around here? Are Stantlers organized into tribes of some sort and there is a 'war' about to break out? I have no clue. Could just be mating season. Not sure what would be worse.
Trainer Shane's Electronic Journal- July 12th
Last night was a disaster. The storm did come and it was vicious. It kept us awake throughout the night and send Noctowl flying into the tent to escape the winds. I could hear the cries and whimpers of the wild Pokemon as they sought cover.
That was bad and the mess inside the tent was bad too, food, papers, and gear everywhere. We had that all picked up relatively early, but the problem was Eevee. He was like stone, completely immobile and petrified. Poor thing was scared to death of the storm. I knew he wouldn't be able to train so I allowed him to stay back at camp and calm down with Quilava there to keep watch.
I decided to train Flaaffy- damn fine Pokemon and a trickster, always poking around my bag. He almost destroyed a potion. Regardless, he came in handy today. The Stantlers were out in force today, you could hear them everywhere. We were running into so many that at times it felt like if we got in trouble it might be over. Flaaffy, however, fought hard and well. I like to think that I was able to keep my cool and help that way, but truth be told, I was terrified. We were all tired and now there dozens of Stantlers, maybe hundreds. I regretted not bringing Quilava.
By two PM, we had taken out our fair share but we were starting to get battered. We tried to make it back to camp, but what should have been a twenty minute walk turned into a three hour slog through Stantler after Stantler. What made it worse was that as we approached camp, we could see fire- Quilava was making short work of any stray Stantlers using Flame Wheel and Fire Blast. Meanwhile, Flaaffy was starting to run out of steam but he wouldn't quit. We finally broke through to camp. The Stantler herd then moved a little bit aways and we were spared any more incidents.
We must have, between Quilava, Flaaffy, and Noctowl, taken out forty or fifty Stantlers. It didn't even make a dent. I need to study these creatures at some point and see if they are here to mate or if something else
Poor Eevee was still shaking like a leaf. I had to feed him before he went to bed. Everyone is exhausted and we're all done for the night. I was going to map out the future moveset for Espeon, but I need to sleep.
Trainer Shane's Electronic Journal- July 13th
Today has been highly, highly productive. Last night there was a little storm weather but nothing too bad, though I decided that Eevee was still too shaken up to be effective. I took Noctowl, Sudowoodo, and Flaaffy out with me to train.
Noctowl was easy as we only had a little to do and we were done by noon. He isn't as flashy as Flaaffy nor as powerful as Quilava, but he is a solid and dependable Pokemon. I was then going to go back to camp and spend some time working on that moveset, but Sudowoodo brought itself out of the ball!
Impudent little rock-tree thing. Still though, I admire the spirit it has. So I started to train with it and I now feel bad for the local Pokemon. Sudowoodo is slow but nothing could harm it and it was doing just oodles of damage. It's training is done for now, but man, once it knows Wood Hammer it will be very, very valuable. Before we left, we ran into a stray Stantler. I decided that this would be the one I capture and I used Noctowl to do so. Despite being knocked down and basically powerless- and despite being asleep- she still resisted three Pokeballs and I was forced to use a good ball. Tough creature, though I felt bad for catching it- used to be free and is now restricted in that ball. How often will I even let it out since I'm so focused on my goal? I've gotta stop beating myself up after every capture.
Eevee ate normally and seems back up to his regular shenanigans, running around with Bellsprout and Flaaffy. That's a good sign. It's happy and healthy, so tomorrow will be a training day. Still don't know what to expect from the night though and we haven't eaten, but man, what a great day.
Trainer Shane's Electronic Journal- July 14th
The morning was absolutely gorgeous and went smoothly. No bad weather, we all slept well, and we all felt great. I should have known that meant that the day itself would be brutal, and it was. Eevee finally went out again to train and it was harder than I thought. Stantler after Stantler and Hypnosis after Hypnosis- I sit here hours later with absolutely no potions left because I saw poor Eevee get stomped on all day. But the tough, cute little beast fought back hard and got where I needed it to get.
I am worried, though. I need Eevee to evolve because I have no use for the dear normally as it doesn't fit into the plan. If I find a better suited Pokemon, I will use that one. I don't want to do this. Eevee is adorable, playful, and has potential. But I don't want to end up like these other failed trainers, living in tents of projects within cities because they can't pay for anything. I need to win every time I battle other trainers. I need every cent. I need that for training and living. If I have a weak spot and it is exploited because Eevee has not evolved, I fear I may grow to hate him.
Please, Eevee. Just evolve.
But still, tomorrow should be a good day. Going to the city, which means I can get something real to eat for myself, stock up on Pokemon food and items for my next trip, and get some lodging for a while. That should be tough- I don't have much. The bottom-feeder scenario is I sleep at the Pokecenter, but I've done that before.
Trainer Shane's Electronic Journal- July 15th
We ate, packed up camp, and started north to Ecruteak City. Nothing new here for me as I have had to come here about four times for supplies during the training regime, but so nice to see civilization. Not that I did much that made me any different from any of the thousands of trainers that come there everyday. I went to the Pokemart, the Pokefood store(the prices are insane and I almost unleashed Quilava on the owner), and a small, cheap eatery that catered to traveling trainers. It felt so good to eat something hot for once.
I spoke to a few local trainers there who offered to let me crash at their places until I left town. No way. The projects for down on their luck trainers is a cesspool. So many young people so desperate for money with no real hope makes for a situation where good people suddenly get sticky fingers with other people's Pokemon.
Of course, that did highlight a serious issue. I have basically no money left, none at all. This upcoming Gym battle will more or less decide my fate as a trainer and, if I'm unlucky enough, will decide my life. If I fail and lose everything but my Pokemon, I can at least find SOME way back home. If I lose and get jumped on the way to the Pokemon center and they take my Pokemon, I may be forced to spend the rest of my life in this city. Failure is not an option.
After I ate, I went to the laundry mat and did my laundry with the free washes afforded to traveling trainers. I now feel so much better, though I still need to find a shower. I then went over to the Pokemon center and promptly collapsed after handing my Pokemon in. That was at around six PM. It is now nine and I woke up randomly. These seats are actually quite comfortable- guess they thought it likely that poor trainers may sleep there. I love Pokemon Centers. They didn't just heal actual injuries- they cleaned your Pokemon, got all those annoying ticks and fleas off. Your Pokemon never look as good as they do right after they come back from the Pokemon Center.
But I digress. I will challenge the Gym leader first thing tomorrow morning. Not my style per se, but I need the money. Then I'll spend a few days in town, getting to unwind before I head out towards Mt, Mortar.
Side Note: A few weeks ago, Quilava torched a Yanma. I can see that EXACT SAME YANMA being healed here by some bug trainer. Coincidences are awesome.
