Part 52: An Eventful Day
--Today's Swarm!--
They appear at the valley windworks.
Electrike
Electrike runs faster than the human eye can follow. The friction from running is converted into electricity, which is then stored in this Pokémon's fur. This Pokémon stimulates its leg muscles with electric charges. These jolts of power give its legs explosive acceleration performance. Electrike can also generate electricity using friction from the atmosphere. In seasons with especially arid air, its entire body blazes with violent showers of sparks.
Choro Notes: I guess they're dogs? I don't even know what they're supposed to be. Either way they're a common electric type without those weird cheek pouches so whatever!
Zorak Notes: it's an electric dog, which is cool I guess???
HulkaMatt Notes: I think Electrike are pretty cool. I just kind of look at it as an electric dog (that isn't a legendary). I raised one. WHAT OF IT? Also: they have an obscenely long animation when you find a wild one.
Ideally, you're never using that. C'mon guys, soda or whatever on me.
. . . something's different.
Uhhhhh.
"Oh also I was supposed to give you this."
. . . What the hell is this drawn on?
. . . What the hell is this drawn with?
Seriously. Who sent this? Are you sure it wasn't some weirdo who was all "SEND THIS TO A LADY. THEN SHE WILL LIKE ME." Because this has occurred before.
Choro Notes: The Secret Key
The Secret Key is another wonderful Wi-Fi event that Nintendo decided to grace us with. It can not normally be obtained in the game. Miss the event? Too bad!
I only know of two buildings with spikes on them like that and I only know one town with a girl who wears stupid pants like that. Henceforth, er go.
. . . oh right hahaha. Man I creamed this place good.
:I
Really?
OH BOY! APPLIANCES. Thanks a lot mystery writer gift giver thing.
How. . . oddly specific.
I smell unpublished research~~~!
Uh. Ok. Sure whatever floats your boat.
Choro Notes: Rotom's Forms
So this room? It allows you to switch Rotom's form! How wonderful. Each Rotom has a particular move that it learns (and forgets) when it transforms.
Heat Rotom - Overheat
Wash Rotom - Hydro Pump
Frost Rotom - Blizzard
Fan Rotom - Air Slash
Mow Rotom - Leaf Storm
The forms are slightly different in Gen5, rather than keeping Rotom's Electric/Ghost-typing they change to Electric/The-Appropriate-Type. Again you can't do this without the secret key in Platinum, however in HG/SS you just need to take it to Silph Co!
Oh! Prof. Rowan. I was ju— Wait what, in the hell are you doing here in this secret room I just discovered?
"I, too, check appliances for possible Pokémon. Also evolution. Because that's what I study."
Oh. Prof. Oak. Right.
Yeah, there are giant predatory birds out there. I'd wear a hat. Yo you know anything about this monstrosity I just created out of a Pokémon and a toaster?
. . . . Wait, so then I discovered something new? OK, check it. I want the scientific name to be Fulmenanimo ladyownsis.
Uh huh.
Yes it should and you should name it that thing I said.
Ahem.
Yeah. Popped into the oven. Now it can burn toast.
It can REALLY burn toast. Like, black.
Yeah or it could be a poltergeist.
Yeah, didn't think of that, did you?
Yes, number of things named after me: 1.
"Have fun with your appliances!"
quote:
Our encounter was a sudden one. It was when I found my toy robot, one that I had earlier misplaced. At that instant, a Pokémon startlingly emerged from the lawn mower's motor! Clutching my robot, I stared, transfixed by the peculiar Pokémon.
The Pokémon hovered in the air, held aloft by a power unseen. As if curious and unafraid of my presence, it floated toward me. Crackling sounds accompanied it, as if from static electricity in the air. Remarkably, it seemed the Pokémon was the source of this power! In alarm, I flinched, certain that my face would be subjected to a shock. Much to my surprise, the Pokémon seemed to favor me with a smile.
quote:
Finally, I came to realize that the Pokémon only wished to be friends. I have decided to name this most wondrous Pokémon 'Rotom.' Simple though it may be, Rotom emerged to me from the motor of a lawn mower. Motor and Rotom... Surely the link is obvious?"
quote:
Rotom is a Pokémon that is simply sensational. The fact that it can turn invisible is simply the beginning. What makes Rotom unique is its ability to enter and operate machinery!
Rotom and I became fast friends. We were perpetual companions. The electricity from its body forbade contact, however. We could not touch, let alone hug or hold hands, but we cared not. For we were bonded on a much deeper incorporeal level.
A feeling of mischief got the better of me one day. Seeing Rotom hovering, I decided to startle it—normally I would not. Perhaps frightened, Rotom discharged power beyond its usual range. I fell, stunned, into the arms of unconsciousness...
When I came to, to my horror I realized that Rotom had disappeared. I searched high and low for my friend in dismay and desperation. "Don't chastise yourself. The fault is mine. No harm done. Let us play as we always have." Though my words poured out, my friend could not be found to hear them...
My search for Rotom carried me far from home. It was in the town's rubbish heap that I again found my old toy robot. Curiously, our eyes met, then the robot waved a hand as if in greeting. I knew then that I had found my lost friend. I ran to and hugged Rotom tight, talking on and on.
The robot's eyes lit up happily as I held it. I'm certain that, within it, Rotom was emitting lots electricity. Somehow, I felt I could understand Rotom's thoughts better than before. Also, I realized that we would remain friends throughout our lives...
Oh. There's another drawing here.
Well huh. What are your thoughts, Franklin?
. . . . you know. Let's—let's get you home.
So I guess I just. . . look around here?
Is this it?
Staryu
Staryu's center section has an organ called the core that shines bright red. If you go to a beach toward the end of summer, the glowing cores of these Pokémon look like the stars in the sky. Staryu apparently communicates with the stars in the night sky by flashing this core. At night, the center of its body slowly flickers with the same rhythm as a human heartbeat. Even if its body is torn, it can regenerate as long as the glowing central core remains intact.
Choro Notes: My opinion on the staryu line hasn't changed since Emerald. WHY ARE THEY SO FAST? ASGFAHGAHGAHGAHG.
Zorak Notes: in my dreams i am the staryu. it's me
HulkaMatt Notes: HYA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Staryu is a water pokémon that I have and have been ready to train for well over a year now but I still haven't gotten around to doing it. Apparently really is one of the absolute best water pokémon you could ever raise. He got spunk as well (or she.) THEY GOT SPUNK.
Cheapsteaks named this
Hey is there a thing in— OF COURSE.
What's with the junk you're sending me, Lucian?
All I found were some ratty old notebooks with a long but heartwarming story about a ghost.
Uhhhhh
The end will also be without humans."
. . . ok I don't think Lucian is behind this.
I— Oh c'mon.
Yes. We met earlier tonight.
. . . Yeah hey an inn pass. That. Makes sense and isn't creepy at all.
Oh. .
That is VERY unsettling.
Did you not like, look into WHY?
Oh jeez, c'mon I stayed here a few nights. Why is this thing not on the information booklets?
. . . Hey you haven't seen a guy leaving bad cartoon drawings here, have you?
For the chil'ren sir. For the chil'ren.
Anchors aweigh, sailor. Anchors aweigh. B(
Man, I dunno. This island's not that big.
Oh.
Choro Notes: Look I'll be frank. I'm probably never going to see these wandering legendaries again. So here's Cresselia's data!
Cresselia
Cresselia is said to represent the crescent moon. Shiny particles are released from its wings like a veil. On nights around the quarter moon, the aurora from its tail extends and undulates beautifully. Those who sleep holding Cresselia's feather are assured of joyful dreams.
Choro Notes: Cresselia are OBNOXIOUSLY defensive. Their defense and HP stats are both pretty awesome and they can totally heal themselves. Cresselia's signature move is Lunar Dance. Cresselia sacrifices itself to fully restore the next monster sent out. "Oh that sounds like Healing Wish!" Not quite! Lunar Dance also heals the monster's PP.
HulkaMatt Notes: It's like fuckin— I don't know what the fuck it is it's like some bird with two rings of Saturn around it or three. I forget. Cresselia got a long face. I really dunno man.
Bingo
SAILOR ELDRITCH, I FOUND THE THING IT WAS BLATANTLY IN THE OPEN. (Maybe you're bad at looking.)
Check it out it's like something you'd see on the cover of a stupid album from the 70s.
QUICK MAN, TO THE LADY SHIP.
Score.
Oh well good, I don't have to backflip out the window to get you to remember me then.
Sure I guess. I've been to both islands you sail to though.
. . . Well I've got that lunar wing and 6 badasses with me, I assume nothing can happen if I stay the night.
Choro Notes: Member's Card
The Member's Card is another WiFi event item. This one allows you to enter the inn here in Canalave. Otherwise it remains locked.
Hey. I'm leaving now.
. . .
This isn't. . . ?
Wait, what. This island wasn't even here.
Music: Darkrai's Theme - The Rise of Darkrai OST
Mess with my dreams will you? Gonna wreck you so hard.
WRONG MOVE.
>:I
Choro Notes: Darkrai's entry despite/because his noncapture!
Darkrai
Darkrai can lull people to sleep and make them dream. It is active during nights of the new moon. It chases people and Pokémon from its territory by causing them to experience deep, nightmarish slumbers. It does this to protect itself; it means no harm.
Choro Notes: Darkrai you'd think are completely malevolent, but nope. They're aware of what they do and try to hide far away from everyone because of it. Darkrai's signature move is Dark Void, it's a fairly accurate move that will put both opponents to sleep in double battles.
Zorak Notes: GO AWAY!!!
HulkaMatt Notes: A large ghost that tries to rival haunter on the terrifying scale. Puts CHILDREN in deep comas because it thinks it's FUN.
terrible nightmares. . . 
Who?
That was. . . hey let's get the hell out of Canalave.
--Later!--
. . . . OH COME ON.
SERIOUSLY, WHO IS SENDING THESE?
Oh. Oh I actually signed up for that program. My bad.
Choro Notes: Manaphy's Egg
A weird sort of event, to get Manaphy's egg they both did a WiFi distribution, as well as the ability to do an event in the Pokémon Ranger series to get the egg transferred from that.
Always try to help out the rangers, I guess. Let's go for a walk, I guess.
Why am I even coming in here? I hate this place.
Choro Notes: Once you get the national dex, more monsters will appear in the Great Marsh. . .
. . . however this is the only one I could find.
Egg babies.
Exeggcute
This Pokémon consists of six eggs that form a closely knit cluster. Using telepathy only they can employ, they always form a cluster of six Exeggcute. The six eggs attract each other and spin around. When cracks increasingly appear on the eggs, Exeggcute is close to evolution. If even one is separated from the group, the energy bond between the six will make them rejoin instantly. The shell is very durable. Even if it cracks, it can survive without spilling the contents. Even though it appears to be eggs, it's really more like plant seeds.
Choro Notes: Exeggcute have so many goddamn weaknesses it's not even funny. Fire, Flying, Poison, Dark, Ghost, Ice, Bug. ALL super effective on it. Jesus christ it's like they're some sort of super fragile thing.
Zorak Notes: Basically Pokemon legion. Probably very tasty!
HulkaMatt Notes: ANOTHER POKEMON THAT I HAVE BUT STILL HAVEN'T RAISED. This entire LP update is here to mock me. I LIKE EXEGGCUTE THEY LOOK GREAT. Remember when the egg in the middle used to be gigantic? What happened to that?
What the hell? That's a terrible name. Who named this?
Ok you I know not to put my goddamn hands near. Had an uncle lose a bunch of fingers that way.
Carvanha
Living in tropical rivers, Carvanha's strongly developed jaws and its sharply pointed fangs pack the destructive power to rip out boat hulls. Many boats have been attacked and sunk by this Pokémon. If anything invades Carvanha's territory, it will swarm and tear at the intruder with its pointed fangs. Although it is said to be a very vicious Pokémon, it timidly flees as soon as it finds itself alone.
Choro Notes: Ravenous, jackass fish. Fish own.
Zorak Notes: I'm not sure why a big ol' Piranha evolves into a shark but you know what? That's ok. They're both pretty awesome and great.
HulkaMatt Notes: It's a gigantic mother fucking piranha that scares the ever living shit out of me.
--Later still! At the Pokémon Mansion!--
Yo anybody got a thing I can do while I hatch this rare and mystical egg?!
I'm feigning interest as hard as I can, is it working?
Uh huh, yes.
Mmhmm
You're the greatest, yes.
Yes, Rapidash. So warm, uh huh.
"WHO CAN I FIRE FOR THIS."
Please tell me you just did what I think you did.
There is no way you are that rich.
Oh my god you crazy bastard.
Choro Notes: Trophy Garden
Post National Dex, go talk to him each day. And he'll illegally import and release a random "cute" monster into his garden. They don't just flee at the end of the day either, they just stick around for a while. This is how you get Plusle and Jigglypuff, for two. Eevee and Porygon for another two!
Plusle
Plusle always acts as a cheerleader for its partners. Whenever a teammate puts out a good effort in battle, this Pokémon shorts out its body to create the crackling noises of sparks to show its joy. If its partner loses, this Pokémon cries loudly. It climbs telephone poles to absorb electricity.
Choro Notes: It's apparently a relative of Pikachu but. . .
Zorak Notes: One of those Pokes only really useful in double battles, and this one is focused particularly on working with other things with the Plus/ Minus abilities where they get major special attack boosts. Limited it to working with Minun until Gen V, where its options have really expanded.
HulkaMatt Notes: [00:42] HulkaMatt: The only thing anybody here needs to know about plusle is that it's blue.
[00:42] HulkaMatt: It's blue, right?
[00:42] Chorocojo: no
[00:42] Chorocojo: no it is not
[00:42] HulkaMatt: The only thing anybody here needs to know about plusle is that it's red.
This egg is so sticky.
Oh. That's. . . kind of gross. I can see through its head. Eew that's gross.
Manaphy
Born on a cold seafloor, it will swim great distances to return to its birthplace. It starts its life with a wondrous power that permits it to bond with any kind of Pokémon.
Choro Notes: I've seen Manaphy exactly one time in Smash Bros. What the fuck, Sakurai? That's neither here nor there though. Manaphy is the only monster that's not Volbeat with the ability to use Tail Glow. This is insane considering it got a boost in Gen5. Manaphy's signature move is Heart Swap. It switches the stat boosts between Manaphy and its targets. This is apparently supposed to be Manaphy switching souls with shit which. . . isn't quite the same.
Zorak Notes: Neat in that it's the only legendary you can breed (with a ditto), after which you get a slightly worse Manaphy variant called Phione. Kind of neat! Manaphy is pretty darn powerful.
HulkaMatt Notes: I don't even know what a manaphy is.
HulkaMatt & Zorak named this jointlyWait a minute. Puzzles. A ghost and a Dark entity of nightmares. See through head. I know who's behind this whole stupid, stupid thing.
--Later!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!--
Music: FireRed/LeafGreen - Pokémon Tower
Choro Notes: Turnback Cave
I fucking hate Turnback cave.
There are doors to each side of a room. But where they go is randomized.
Your goal is to hit 3 pillars before you hit 30 rooms.
The entire way you're fighting off wild Dusclops, Haunter, Golbat and Bronzong.
Also: There's fog.
I'm sure there's a trick to it, but nobody can actually agree on where or what to do to make the pillars more likely to occur.
"hurf durf, riding a bike helps!" I really don't think it does!
Oh hey, I'm at 28. I think. GOOD LUCK LADY.
. . . It smells like a grave in here.
C'mon I know you're in here.
. . . WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
. . . OH.
Music: Platinum - Vs. Giratina
Choro Notes: Giratina
You might notice Giratina looks different from how it did in the Distortion World. The reason for this is that when Giratina enters this world it takes on this form. It's kind of strange, really! The two forms have different stats and even different abilities. The only way to face Giratina here in Platinum is to defeat him at the Distortion World.
LOOK. I KNOW YOU'RE SENDING THOSE PUZZLES. STOP IT.
Your horrible ichor-written notes are disgusting.
Wh—
Choro Notes: Shadow Force
Shadow Force is Giratina's signature move. The first turn he planeswalks his ass back into the Distortion World then strikes on the next with 120 base power, the strongest of any Ghost-type move. It has the added annoyance of making catching him slightly obnoxious—you can't throw a ball if he's disappeared.
-Skipping ahead!-
Uh.
Giratina
This Pokémon is said to live in a world on the reverse side of ours, where common knowledge is distorted and strange. It was banished for its violence. It silently gazed upon the old world from the Distortion World. It sometimes appears within an ancient cemetery.
Choro Notes: I don't really have anything to say about Giratina that hasn't before! Just look at the SIZE of the fucker.
Zorak Notes: NO WE DON'T ANY MORE PUZZLES STOP MAILING US STUFF AAAAAAAAAGH
HulkaMatt Notes: I dunno, I've been lead to believe it's an asshole so I guess it's an asshole!
Total Balls used:
Dusk Ball x6
That went a lot smoother than I'd expected.
Oh no.
Oh great, I'm in the netherworld. GREAT.
I really. REALLY. Do not want to.
Music: Platinum - Distortion World
Lady: Well great, the stupid plants are still there. Same stupid disappearing rocks. Same backwards everything.
This is still the most awkward control parts in the series, sideways walking when the camera decides not to let you know which way is left/up, etc.
Lady: Better not run into Cyrus in here.
Lady: Oh.
The Griseous Orb is Giratina's hold item. It boosts his Dragon and Ghost-type moves. It also has the additional effect of transforming him to his Origin Form in the regular world.
Oh thank god.
Lady: YES. YES. LET ME IN.
Doug Dinsdale posted:
Lunar Wing should have been Lunar Feather, but it didn't fit. (Unless it was an abomination.)
"Wing" and "feather" are the same word in Japanese, so I just hoped like hell the graphic for the item wasn't a feather. I think I lost.
Also, that whole Darkrai event, I think there was a tiny followup that added a touch of spookiness to it. I may be wrong, though.