[Developing] Pokémon: Phoenix Rising

*image removed*​

Hey there. I'm a typical kind of guy working on this fan game in my spare time. I work on it with some very talented people, including my friends and girlfriend when I get the chance. This game started out as a hack of Fire Red about 3 years ago, and has since moved onto RMXP. It has been on this engine for about a year now and we're progressing smoothly. I am very happy with this project so far and I hope to make a very entertaining and visually appealing game with lots of depth and fun included. I have little else to say, so enjoy what you see below.

[a id]story[/a id]
Split into two main parts, The War of Hawthorne and the Main Storyline, the latter is what you will mostly be playing through in the game.

The War of Hawthorne



A war estimated to be over 500 years old, had inflicted itself upon the region of Hawthorne. Upon the discovery of the all powerful Pokémon; Arceus -a mere myth until this point-, the Sinnoh region suddenly came under a great deal of controversy. Reason being is that jealousy spread across other regions ultimately, as they were disheartened by the fact that the God Pokémon had not graced their land. There was a young boy from Celestic Town in which discovered an instrument in the ruins, before the cave paintings of the three legendary Pokémon: Azelf, Mesprit and Uxie. In ancient folklore, the flute was said to be an "answer to many questions." He kept his findings a secret however, knowing that a boy of his age would not be allowed keep such a valuable artifact to himself. As written in his diary which held recollections of his childhood -it was apparent by the language that this was a revisited entry, thus written at an older age-, "The elders, they have searched for something so key to their beliefs... I know that I would not be able to maintain this item but all they ever do is bicker! I felt such a connection with the flute... I think it was my calling to find out what it was for. I knew from the moment I saw it, that it was fate." And so the boy took it upon himself to find out the mystery of this item. In extremity, the boy would visit the newly opened Canalave Library, in which held many myths, both true and untrue, though the biggest challenge to the scholars and philosophers of the time was being able to assume which was which.

Many years later, the boy grew to become a man, the man matured into an elder. No one knows for sure when this epiphany occurred, but in the Elder's later years, the mystery had been solved. The flute was said to be that of Azure; the flute of God. And so, the elder followed myths that corresponded to his situation, the most likely place that Arceus would appear. He traveled to the peak of Mt. Coronet, the mountain in which divides Sinnoh in two. He played the flute and "a staircase descended from the ongoing sky above", opening a plateau on top, simply known as "The Hall of Origin". The more the elder shared his story (now being one of the respected scholars he had hid this from many years ago), the more it had been passed on, and so word spread quickly. The emperor of the Sinnoh, who held himself in what is now Snowpoint Temple, heard of this news and demanded that he and his most trusted men be taken to the Hall with the elder and the Azure Flute. That same staircase descended, and that same plateau appeared, but Arceus, was not as courteous upon its accession, in fact, the God seemed enraged. The emperor and his minions were shunned, and the Elder was never seen again. The condition of the flute and its whereabouts were not revealed to the public -non-intentional however- until some years later. The emperor ordered for the flute to be removed, to be sent to the region of Hawthorne, a place abashed by the larger, more powerful regions and which had been strongly ignored, an opportune place to dump what seemed to be quite a powerful responsibility, the reasons for this however, are unclear, however, the entire story of what had happened on the return to Mt. Coronet was never released, and is said to be the sole reason for the actions of sovereign leader. Not even those who retold their story of defending the ruler could not recollect what had happened in entirety, or so they say. And so, the Azure Flute was plummeted into the deepest lake in Hawthorne and has been irretrievable since.

This, is what led to conflict in the region of Hawthorne. The region did not need much of an excuse to be pushed over the edge however. The area had been extremely pressed upon in a diminishing light for many years. The various districts of Hawthorne; the Serene Lake district, the Peaks district, the Wilderness district, the Autumn district and the Sea district; felt too controlled by the King of Hawthorne, they felt that his power was over-rated and his army had been administrating their districts for too long. Tension had been growing thicker and thicker over years of hardship plummeted upon the people of Hawthorne. The King and his followers lived in a very secluded part of Hawthorne. A place once riveting with exquisite nature, beautiful gardens, a beautiful castle, surrounded by lush tress on top of a slowly climbing peak. However, with the onslaught of the rebellion, this wasn't going to be the case for much longer.

Each district took upon their own army and formations, not affiliating with one another, but all maintaining the same goal of overthrowing the King of Hawthorne. And so, a war was justified and the districts marched forward and battled upon a long strip of land between Aputuray town and the King's realm. This was a battled of thousands of extremely powerful Pokémon and their trainers which eventually led to total destruction of that which was once a beautiful dominion. The King was overthrown and he nor any of his officials survived the attacks. The districts no longer maintained much organization and Hawthorne split and became a much more divided yet free region. No longer were there districts in the political sense, but towns and cities grew. The strip of land where the battle took place is now commemorated by a building which hosts the Pokémon League of Hawthorne whereas the King's realm lays ultimately untouched.

The Flute of Azure was forgotten about, despite many efforts to be retrieved, it was never found and has been seldom spoken about since. The region of Hawthorne was never cursed with conflict ever again, until now... History is attempting to repeat itself.

Main Storyline

After the War in Hawthorne, the land was left with the despairing aftermath any war would sanction. The people of the region were left elated knowing they were rid of a ruler who was riddled with greed and inconsiderate motives. But the relieved people and their Pokémon began to see how the land suffered from lack of prosperity, their crops were struggling to grow, and hope of a renewed Hawthorne began to trickle away like a tear falling from an eye.

Just as the area had began to fall completely, there came a sighting of the legendary Pokémon known as Ho-oh. In history, it was said that its feathers were thought to bring joy. All who were to see this Pokémon were to be eternally happy. Ho-oh travelled across the land, gracing it with its powers, and hope and happiness quickly began to grow in Hawthorne once more. From this moment on, the people of Hawthorne began to worship Ho-oh, not as a God, but as a bringer of good fortune and joy.

However, it was written that once Ho-oh had travelled throughout the land that it took its peace in the region where the King had once lived. This region was once a beautiful, serene paradise, which was abashed by the onslaught of war. Ho-oh spread its wings, and its entire body began to disperse into flakes of ash. As a phoenix, Ho-oh is believed to live for hundreds of years, and once that time has been spent it ignites fiercely and is reduced to ashes, from which a new, young phoenix rises, reborn anew to live again. Ho-oh did not appear from the ashes this time.

A myth known as "The Phoenix Rising" tells of Ho-oh, and a vague history of its rebirth. It is said that Ho-oh is to present itself to a remarkable trainer or to bear testimony to the greatness of a ruler, but only if they possess a certain item. The great stones of old, nine believed to be stones of evolutionary power; Fire, Water, Grass, Thunder, Sun, Bright, Dusk, Dawn and Moon. One, known to be much more rare. With a single purpose; to raise a Pokemon from the very ashes it crumbled into, known as the Stone of Rebirth. These stones are to be of unlimited value in Hawthorne, but are seldom held by ordinary people.

A menacing group of individuals known as "Team Chance" have been spotted in Hawthorne, asking questions about Ho-oh, and have been seeking more knowledge of The Phoenix Rising. Team Chance is led by "King", claiming to be a descendant of the old King of Hawthorne who led the people of the region to rebel and knock him from his throne. Now, the supposed heir of the monarch takes pride in being known simply as "King", and wishes to take the empty throne once more. He believes that with the Stone of Rebirth he will cause Ho-oh to bear testimony to him, and see his greatness and show the region that he is the great ruler that they deserve.

However, every journey needs a path; the path our hero is going to take is that of unknown adventure. To travel the region of Hawthorne, one must grow more and more powerful. What stands before a trainer is 8 Guardians, and 5 Oracles. To ensure that they would gain the title of the most powerful trainer in Hawthorne, one must defeat each of them. But perhaps our hero will find more than a desire to travel anywhere in Hawthorne with this title, will they find another motive to take on this challenge? A visit to the Professor of Pokémon Philosophy, located in Nocturne Town, our hero will receive their first Pokémon. A gift from Professor Signomi. With the hero's father away at work, and Nocturne Town becoming but a speck in the eye of our aspiring adventurer, where will their Pokémon take them?

8 Guardians & The Council of the Five Oracles

The 8 Guardians are strong trainers who overlook the on-goings of the Hawthorne region. They each hold a badge representing the type of Pokémon they hold. This was a system set up by the Oracles in hope that they will find the remarkable trainer. To obtain the chance to face the Oracles, the trainer must present these 8 badges to display the evidence of their courage.

The Council of the Five Oracles is a division of the most powerful trainers in the whole region of Hawthorne. Should any trainer wish to test themselves and defeat the five, they would be known as the most powerful trainer in the region. However, since the council has been set up hundreds of years ago, no-one has ever defeated them. The oracles come from five different families, and have done so since its beginning. Led by the High Oracle Anastasia, they are the source of wise council in Hawthorne. The council are also said to hold the most knowledgeable source of information on the location of The Stone of Rebirth, and it was their ancestors who wrote the myth of The Phoenix Rising.

[a id]characters[/a id]
Meet Alto*image removed*
Alto is the male hero in Forever Lost. He is a determined, fighting and collected teenager. Alto grew up in Nocturne Town in the *link removed* region with both his parents. When his father went on official business due to work, Alto became the male presence in the house and began to look after his mother. Alto and his best friend Gavin were always known to be up to mischief in the town, which led to their popularity amongst the inhabitants. Only because the town is so quiet that somebody needs to keep it lively!

Meet Aria*image removed*
If you choose to play as Aria, she is the pretty, happy go-lucky girl from Nocturne Town. Aria grew up at home with her parents, and was particularly fond of hearing stories from her parents. She and Gavin had been friends from a young age, they had both been very interested in leaving home some day, and knew that once they did, they could never agree to go in the same direction! They never could agree on one thing. But Aria and Gavin were best friends nonetheless. The towns people always found their banter humorous.

Meet Gavin*image removed*
Gavin is the hot headed, introspective and philosophical young adult who hails from Nocturne Town. He enjoys exploring the wilderness around him and writing music. Although he is quite intelligent, he tends to allow some of his more negative qualities be more evident. However he is a good friend of your chosen hero, and simply wishes to find his way in this world. He claims to get recurring nightmares from a boy named Luke.

Meet Carmen*image removed*
Carmen is from Tranquillo Town. She helps out with the farm her parents own from time to time, but she dreams of living in the city. She is a stylish and metropolitan go-getter who's dream is to be famous in the region of Hawthorne for her evident sharp and persuasive characteristics. Watch out for her! She may not seem like she's strong willed by how kind she is, but she fights for what she believes in!

Meet Professor Signomi
Professor Signomi is a rather cheery professor, a very wise young woman who has always been ahead of her years. She rarely sets a foot wrong and has always been admired for her knowledge on Pokémon philosophy and indeed, how the nature of Pokémon works. She plays a major part in the hero's life and is currently aiming to research all she can on the war of Hawthorne and indeed, on the legends passed on through generations. She is also keen on learning more about Pokémon by having our hero attempt to contribute by filling a Pokédex for her. She also likes to battle, but very seldom has she ever been seen doing so. She once used to battle with the father of the hero on a regular basis, but ever since his disappearance, she's been reluctant to do so again. She is extremely intelligent and a fantastic battler. She works hard with the Guardians in Hawthorne to preserve peace and aid her quest for knowledge.

Guardians & Oracles

Holder of the Bio Badge
1. Hazel (from haze), who specializes in poison types. She's an assistant to the local professor, learning about the ecology of the world and specifically the dangers of pollution.


Holder of the Synthesis Badge
2. Sylvie (sylvan), who specializes in grass types. She works to preserve nature and plants.


Holder of the Focus Badge
3. Regan (regular), who specializes in normal types. An athlete with a forceful personality.


Holder of the Trick Badge
4. Jack (blackjack, or jack as in jacking a car), who specializes in dark types.


Holder of the Thriller Badge
5. Bonnie (bone, or obon, the spirits of the dead festival), who specializes in ghost types. She's someone who stays up late watching scary movies.


Holder of the Drive Badge
6. Chadwick (wick, and starts with cha- like char), who specializes in fire types. He's a hot-shot who's a little full of himself. He's a little bit of a Speed Racer flair and likes to race cars.


Holder of the Trail Badge
7. Arthur (earth), who specializes in ground types. A modern police investigator who likes collecting clues from the ground. He's a no-nonsense, by the book kind of guy though, and not a crazy Sherlock type.


Holder of the Purification Badge
8. Abigail (gale), who specializes in Water types. Spends most of her time in a clock tower.

High Oracle Anastasia

The elegant and talented artist and musician. Her beauty and fierce attitude also comes across on the battling stage. Her power is amongst the greatest in the world. Her quest for peace and eternal euphoric tranquility in Hawthorne has been ongoing her entire life, she became champion so that she could ensure Hawthorne will always be safe. But this is not even her biggest task, some day, she will have to face the strongest trainer she will ever battle; you.

Team Chance
Beware of storyline spoilers

Team chance is led by King. A descendent of the old King of Hawthorne who led the people of the region to uprise and overthrow him. Now, the descendent of the monarch prides himself in being known as King, and wishes to take the empty throne once more. So he intends to make the phoenix Ho-oh rise before him and bow to his greatness so that the region may do the same. King, is trying to recreate history and restore the existence of an evil ruler. To do this he has taken the help of some of his followers top stop anyone that gets in his way. The hierarchy is as follows;

King - The leader of Team Chance
*link removed* & Jacks - The Administrators, they have ruling over the Heartsand Spades
♥*link removed* - The female grunts from Team Chance
♠Spades - The male grunts from Team Chance


Some music relating to the team.



Choose a Pokémon
Note that their stats will be increased so that they are strong like usual starters.

The starters you may choose from are Growlithe the Fire type, Petilil the Grass type and Staryu the Water type.

[a id]screens[/a id]

Previous screen size
Note that some of these are out-dated and have been improved since. Screenshots listed from oldest to newest.

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Updated screen size

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[a id]pokestrap[/a id]



This is the PokéStrap in use within the game. The animated screenshot isn't perfect so excuse me on that one. However this is the basic idea for now. On the right column you will see the concept for the PokéStrap, I plan on making the game resemble that a bit more. The PokéStrap will always be at the bottom of your screen, except for when in menu's and so on. It does not act as your main screen but as a source of information. To activate it you must press tab, and you may scroll through your Pokémon and check their health and level. You may also still go to your Pokémon summary screen from your menu or by pressing enter when you are going through your Pokémon with the left and right arrows. Don't worry, this is not a touch/mouse based system. As a side note, the first still screen is from revamped Route 2, and the other is from Nocturne Town. The bottom screen is from Route 1, which displays the menu.


This is the updated battle system. As you can see, I have erased the "Pokemon" option, in favour of being able to simply once again press tab and scroll through your Pokemon. This makes the battle system a lot more streamlined and easy to use. No more flicking through menus to see what your other Pokemon's health is. At all times you can see your party, their health as well as being able to choose their summary and send them into battle. The screens above show how that system works, simply with the arrow keys and enter to scroll through and select.

[a id]music[/a id]
Some of the custom music you'll see in the game by our fantastic composers. Some of this work is due to be updated and improved.
Title theme


Battle! Vs Guardian!



Battle! Vs Pokemon Trainer!



Battle! Vs Team Chance (Spade/Heart)



Battle! Vs. Wild!










[a id]tc[/a id]

Leading Team

Abnegation - Eventing, Scripting, Mapping, Spriting, Writing, Leading.
Scarf - Pixel Artist
TyranitarDark - Pixel Artist
Litera-sure - Pixel Artist

Primary Team

lllWaysToEpica -Composer
LogiedanT-T - Pixel Artist
Elaynii - Artist
Cilerba - GUI's & Misc
Dasgust - Composing
TheGuitahHeroe - Composing

Part-time Team

OmeGaGa - Artist
xnyk - Mapper
innocentdrive - Artist
rezfan - Artist
hellopeopleoftheUS - Pixel Artist
44tim44 - Pixel Artist
Rafael-animal - Scripter

Credits

Not here? Let me know!