RedMageCole withdraws from society...I remember the day I withdrew from Goldsilver. It was not too long after my announcement to the fortress that I was going to try to do my best to stay with the fort. Be a better dwarf, so to say. I loved Pokémon and I loved most of the dwarves I was surrounded with in society. But as fate would have it, some miserable god took hold of me, screaming at me about things like my future, my expectations in society, and my failures to do what was right. I didn't understand any of it. It drove me mad as I tried to figure out what I was supposed to do. I pleaded with this god to let me go see everyone. To stop letting me live this life in fear.
It wasn't so merciful.
So I worked. And worked. To try to get this pressuring god off of my back. It was like a Hydreigon; cut one head off, three more grow in its place... was that even possible? Was that a thing? I don't know anymore. I could never get myself out of this tantrum spiral... and before I knew it, I was a hermit, essentially dead to the fortress.
I spent my time playing these little games with myself; I'd carve small characters on the walls, and come up with fake creatures that weren't Pokémon, kind of similar to that strange Badger we encountered back in Pocketball. It kept me entertained, and sane. But I had lost myself. I had forgotten who I was.
Before long, in my solitude, I saw a picture slipped under my door; the door I had kept boarded shut to the point I didn't even think there was a slot underneath to slip anything through it. I almost had forgotten anyone else was there. I looked at the picture... and there it was. Suddenly, I remembered who I was.
I was RedMageCole. Pokémon Scholar. And my favorite Pokémon was Mimikyu. And that favorite Pokémon of mine was staring me right in the face with a little wave, in an artstyle I fondly recalled from some of my favorite engravings on the wall.
I threw open the door, and the weight of my actions was apparent. I had heard of this plague... FPS Death. And no one was there to greet me.
But I knew I had to keep going. I had to find the ones I had abandoned and make amends with them. Then... we would start a new fortress. One stronger than the last. One that shone brighter than the last ruby in existence, and preserving an integrity greater than the first sapphire in the world.
With barely any supplies to my name, I set out... for Rubysapphire.
...
Ruby? Sapphire? Thinking about it, are those real words or did I just imagine them?... Eh, I'll just call it something similar. I think they're a red and blue gem respectively, so I'll call this... uh... Redgem the... Blue-Gem. Yep.
7th Granite, Early SpringAh-ha! I have found the spot we will embark on! It's... less than satisfactory, and it will undoubtedly contain more horrors similar to before... but that is why we will show the world what we are made of!... I'm honestly not even sure if this is the same continent we were on before, to be honest... but that doesn't matter! I will find all of my old friends, and we will conquer all of the Pokémon of this land!
12th Granite, Early SpringIt's... A miracle, to be honest. I didn't honestly expect to find any old faces... to be honest, I was being overly optimistic in my last entry. Internally, I thought I'd never see them again... and yet I did. The old friend who I knew drew that picture for me... he reintroduced himself to me as Opuntia. I respectfully called him by his new name, of course. And by him... MottledPetrel! I was so, very thankful to see two old faces again... and I knew we would find more. Somewhere. Somehow.
19th Granite, Early SpringOn the way to Redgem the Blue-Gem, we encountered four more dwarves that we convinced to join our cause. None from our old crew... but that was fine, we'll manage for now. On the way, we managed to catch some Pokémon. Opuntia caught a nearby Miltank, and I caught a Venusaur; it was no Mimikyu, but it'd do. Petrel wanted a Ninjask, but unfortunately I couldn't really find one... I did catch him a Galvantula, however; hopefully he'd be just as pleased with it, it's still a Bug-type.
Just in case, I caught a few rare Pokemon too; notably some of the starters. I caught a
Mudkip, Torchic, Treecko, Litten, Rowlet, and...
Froakie. I know it's supposed to be Popplio, but... couldn't find a Popplio for some reason.
Our supplies were meager, but decent. Now that we were all together and coming up on our destination, I need us to have a banner, something we can unite under...
...
I got about ten seconds into drawing the second Mimikyu when Petrel looked over me and asked if I could do something non-Mimikyu this time. I sighed and tried my best. I'm somewhat useless when it comes to physical labor, so I might as well try to do this right, damn it!
It was either I had at least one Mimikyu in the background or no Mimikyu at all. At least Groudon and Kyogre wielding swords is pretty badass, I think.
21st Granite, Early SpringWe've arrived.
Huh, I don't remember catching an Avalugg or a Mamoswine. Oh well, they fit well with this cold climate.
We embarked with three miners, so they immediately set off to do what they do best; mine. We want to get inside as quickly as possible so we have some warmth in the caves. At the same time, I designate our only woodcutter to cut wood. Me, Opuntia and Petrel just kind of... sit there, waiting, not having much to do.
Petrel eventually just goes and collects plants to set up some brewing later, a good call. I then remember I need to train my Venusaur, so I go do that. Miltanks are docile and not for war or hunting training, so Opuntia just gets assigned to... train. Petrel hopefully will get to his Galvantula later. The other Pokemon are all up for grabs, if anyone would like them; just let me know, I'm just sitting on this wagon.
27th Granite, Early SpringSuccess!
Now I can slack off and do nothing!
5th Slate, Mid Spring...One of the miners just tapped me on the back. Huh? Nobody's managing the farm? Well, someone's certainly got farming duty, right? Obviously!... What? Nobody does?
grumble grumbleI do manage to rope Petrel into joining me for farming however, as he is officially designated as a 'Farmer'. Don't worry, Petrel, we can eventually pass all this slave labor off to the new migrants when they come.
On the plus side, our main interior for now is complete! Miners are currently mining out the food supply chamber for later, too!
10th Slate, Mid SpringI was starting to complain about not having buckets to give water, so I took it upon myself to dabble in carpentry and make a carpenter's workshop near the entrance; it's shoddy, but I am a jack of all trades, I like to think.
The food supply chamber has also been finished, and connected to the farm for easy access.
21st Slate, Mid SpringThere are three buildings we need for Pokémon training; a Pokémon Center, an Evolution Chamber, and a Trimming Table. I get on the table for the Trimming Table, and I get one of the miners to take up masonry and make blocks for the Pokémon Center, while another learns mechanics.
Also, Petrel got around to training his Galvantula.
5th Felsite, Late SpringThat's... er... not a Galvantula.
I'm not sure what happened there; the textures must be borked, so now that Galvantula is... whatever the heck that is. Even though my Venusaur looks fine. Weird.
7th Felsite, Late SpringOh, that's a Galvantula!
I guess it must have just changed into whatever that was while standing on the farm plots. Not sure why, but at least it works? Somewhat?
Also, the Pokémon Center and Evolution Chambers are finished! Now I just have to figure out these new things I learned about called Poké Balls... they're supposed to be more efficient than cages, I think?
9th Felsite, Late SpringWhile I get on trying to figure out what to make Poké Balls out of, I set the miners to mining to try to find some metals, I have an inkling they may be made out of metals. I found out the launchers can be made in the forge, but... where the heck are the balls made?
15th Felsite, Late SpringFound 'em!
Now to find some copper or some iron, and we're in business!
...Or that works! We can make Premier Balls! Just someone's gonna have to fire up the forge...
...I start burning wood, Petrel fires up the furnace, and Opuntia prepares to start making the balls.
In the meantime, we've found Galena (50% chance of silver which we already have native silver for and lead, which makes Heavy Balls; works better on heavy Pokémon) and Sphalerite (zinc, makes no balls). We need copper or iron or something to make the ball launchers, so we're in a bit of trouble.
25th Felsite, Late SpringOr maybe not!
I look around. I see... what the hell is that?
Didn't the Evolution Chamber have something about Z-Power? That must be what Z-Power is. I want Z-Power.
...I haven't found any iron or copper-giving ores, though. Shit. This is not good and I am panicking and panicking is not good. Opuntia encourages me to try doing stonecrafting to see if that calms my nerves. I do that. Maybe we can trade them for balls. Maybe.