Visiting Quercus the Quirky [Liridon's Starter - Complete]

[Liridon Cedar]

It was a temperate midmorning on a July Sunday - the twenty-sixth, to be precise - and the azure skies were threaded with cirrus. Gazing briefly up at these trails of sky adornment on his way along a very special path in Port City was a young man by the name of Liridon Cedar. This particular fellow was lanky and ponytailed, his purple hair blown lightly around by the breeze as he resumed his walk. Some strands of hair found themselves blown into his face, but he paid them little mind - today was the day. This particular walk was so very special, and this day so significant, for the simple reason that the path Liridon now trod led up to the Laboratory of Professor Quercus Oak - the place he would meet the Pokemon he would venture into the great beyond alongside. Oh, and get some new stuff too, couldn't forget that. Hopefully, there would be a map. It simply wouldn't do to try setting off in completely the wrong direction. Although, even if there weren't, he supposed he could find one some other way.

The great grey dome of the Laboratory beckoned, and Liridon trod onto the first of the stone steps with a fluttering kind of feeling inside him. He'd wanted to set out with one of the Pokemon that he'd grown up with, but his parents had advised against it. Firstly, because there was such a high demand for the bred Domestics they provided - secondly, because nobody else starting out got to have the advantage of bringing along a Pokemon they had already bonded with, and this tradition was one of the cultural relics of the World Left Behind - thirdly, they had assured him that the thrill of it, and the process of forging a new bond with his first Pokemon would be rewarding enough to make up for the absence of the familiar 'mon he'd be leaving behind. He hadn't been too sure, but he was starting to see what they had meant.

Reaching the door, and feeling as though he was on the brink of something momentous - despite the fact that it was really only a door - Liridon reached for the handle and opened it. Stepping inside into the still air of the Laboratory, he made his way towards the desk. It's very grey in here - I think it could do with a bit more colour... I wonder what kind of stain would have the best effect? Maybe I should try smearing some plant juices on rocks if I get bored... He mused, his mind latching onto the first thing he noticed, while all the while his anticipation thrummed. "Excuse me, but do you think you could direct me to Professor Oak? I believe I am expected." He requested, his even tone belying his underlying emotions. What will he call me, I wonder? Should I call him something silly in response? Perhaps Quirky in place of Quercus? Ah, but I don't think I'm on first name terms with him yet - better not this time... He wondered, Oh, I hope I look alright - it wouldn't do to have a bit of messiness come between me and a good impression on a fellow science enthusiast - particularly this one. Perhaps he was fretting in vain, but he wanted to make a good impression on Oak. After all, he was a respected scientist, and one who was to be Liridon's mentor. Ahh, good - nothing's amiss. Not even a speck of Poiup Juice.

(580 words)

[Rex]

Yawning, the woman looked up at Liridon and blinked.
"My apologies, it's been a long morning. Let's see here...." she mumbled, reading over the appointment book.
"Yes! You are expected and Professor just finished with his previous engagement. You can go on in," she said, pointing to the double doors behind her.

When Liridon followed the directions and walked into the door, he would likely flinch back as a brown blur flew past him, chirping in a mixture of laughter and warning.

"Watch your head!" a voice called out, and if Liridon followed the sound, he would see Oak, half ducking behind his desk.
"Welcome, welcome. Liridaze, it's so nice to see you. Welcome to Port City, glad you made it. Now, I had anticipated your arrival and picked out some Pokemon that I think would fit you well. Come, come, let's get you a partner," he said with a smile.

When Liridon looked around, he would notice five Pokemon roaming around, outside of their Poke balls, and with a bit of distance, he would see that the brown blur was actually a young Pidgey.



"Now, just in case, I go over the Pokemon presented to you, so if you know about one or two, just ignore me. First up, our little dive bomber over there. Pidgey are fairly common Pokemon, but their eyesight is rivaled by few Pokemon. With such keen eyes, they are perfect lookouts and spotters, especially when they evolve." he said, pointing up.

"Next, we have Machop," Oak said, stopping by a small muscular Pokemon who was punching and sparring with a small chair.
"Machop are fierce fighting type Pokemon that are always working out and trying to become stronger. Machop is a perfect bodyguard type partner for a researcher. When it grows up, not even bandits would dare bother you,"

"Next, this little guy is called an Elygem," he said, pointing to a Pokemon who was working on a puzzle.
"Very, very intelligent, but also quite mysterious. It would probably be quite a help with organizing data and research findings,"

"Over there napping is Lilipup. Energetic and friendly, Lilipup are excellent trackers. If you find evidence of a Pokemon and want to follow it to learn more, these guys will find the Pokemon lickity split. Now...where is the fifth Pokemon?" he said outloud, though he probably didn't mean too.

The air around Liridon would drop a few degrees as a Gastly appeared next to him.
"Ah, there we go. Gastly, a ghost type Pokemon. Great for spying and taking notes, its ability to phase and go invisible is invaluable. Be careful though, as they grow up they become a bit mischievous. Sp, those are my choices for you. You may also pick one of the standard fire/water/grass types from old Earth. The decision is yours, but weigh your options carefully and make a good decision. I'll be right here." he said with a smile, nodding the trainer forward to look at or interact with the Pokemon.

[Liridon Cedar]

"Oh, that's quite alright, thank you." Liridon responded, feeling far too - well, too much about his impending meeting and resultant important decisions to be put out by the desk attendant's drowsiness. Just as soon as the lady in question pointed out the direction in which he was meant to be heading, and stated that the Professor was now available, he strode quickly towards the doors and opened them, his footfalls echoing his anticipation-heightened heartbeat as he walked. "Gah!" He exclaimed abruptly, startled, as something brown zipped past all too close to his face and hair. Of all the welcomes he might have expected, this was certainly not among them. Then again, it was good to know that at least one of his starter candidates had spirit to them. After all, what else could this be? He hadn't seen enough details of the creature to know what it was at that point, but why else would there be a loose little creature around where and when he was expected? At least it hadn't gotten caught in his hair or smacked into his face...

"Good morning, Professor, it's good to see you as well." Liridon responded, a lopsided half-smile spreading across his features as he heard what moniker the slightly dotty fellow had bestowed upon him. Liridaze, hmm? That's actually not bad... He mused, seeking to calm his nerves by contemplating the nickname. Oh, to be able to get away with an eccentricity like that and still be acknowledged as a respectable scientist... "Very kind of you." He murmured, reflecting on what a disaster it could have potentially become if Pokemon who didn't fit him at all were involved. Certainly, he'd likely have found somemon to be his partner nonetheless, but it would likely have been more of a chore than the delight it was meant to be. Approaching and gazing around at his surroundings, Liridon saw the small array of creatures available for his selection - and was rather pleased to see that he had been correct about the little brown blur. Before he could become too smug about that, though, the Professor began introducing the Pokemon to him.

The point Oak made about Pidgey's eyesight was a good one, and Liridon could very easily imagine himself riding atop the back of the creature's final evolutionary form – one of the things that drew him to Flying Pokemon. It was an attractive thought, and this particular Pidgey seemed to possess an adventuresome spirit already. Looking closer, he could see that the woody-feathered avian had a well-groomed and healthy-looking plumage, and bright, eager eyes. Definitely a contender, though not one he would be unlikely to see again. This one was in fine condition, though.

As the Professor continued talking, Liridon's eyes were drawn to the child-sized Fighting type currently showing a hapless chair who was boss. The Machop, like the Pidgey before, seemed to be at peak health, from the fluidity of movement, the brightness of eyes and the tone of the skin – nothing was flaky or dull. This one certainly seemed strong, and the Researcher could understand the value of having somemon like this on-side – but didn't the final form of this one require one to at least temporarily relinquish the Pokemon to another? If he chose this one, he'd have to find someone he trusted before thinking of that final evolution.

The next contender was also diminutive, and with an impressively large cranium. Liridon could well imagine this otherworldly little puzzler being of intellectual use, and a great source of potentially-likeminded companionship. The little one seemed to be Psychic, too – one of the types he felt most drawn to. Would this sweet-looking braniac be interested in Seeking after New Things too, or more concerned with idle thought? For that matter, could the Elgyem read? If the Pokemon was so intelligent, and so potentially useful in organising findings, it would be a definite point in the Psychic's favour. If not, well, he supposed he could try to teach the tyke.

Next up, his gaze fell upon the slumbering canine, taking in the well-groomed sheen of healthy fur, the oh-so-useful little nose, and the absently flicking ears of the scrappy little dreamer. He didn't want to disturb the napping creature, but he wanted a closer look, seeing as the puppy wasn't moving. Walking carefully closer, Liridon peered down at the Lilipup. This one was quite endearing to see, and Oak had said that they were amiable creatures – and he could use a friend out in the unknown, but was this the one for him? He wasn't certain.

Liridon's smile became a little more fixed when the Professor as much as admitted to having lost track of the final choice, but he swiftly became intrigued when the temperature around him started to drop. As the change in temperature started to make his skin prickle and the hairs on his arms start to stand on end, Liridon looked around himself to see if he could spot what was causing it. A floating ball of darkness suspended in purple fog, while puckishly amused eyes gazed back at him. It was clear that this was a Ghost type, a variety whose mischievous nature and ability to become intangible had long intrigued and amused him. He'd heard of Ghastly before, and he knew that this choice would also require him to find someone trustworthy in order to unlock the Pokemon's full potential. His smile became more natural and more crooked when espionage and taking notes was mentioned, but wait – how would Ghastly tell him what the creature had found out? The only option for holding a writing implement was that fanged mouth. Perhaps Ghastly could learn to talk? He decided to think more about that later.

“I must confess to being somewhat torn, Professor – they are all rather excellent.” Liridon admitted aloud, feeling somewhat on-the-spot. What if he couldn't choose? He did notice that some of the Pokemon puffed up a little when he called them excellent – that was amusing enough to calm some of his nerves. “Tell me, how likely is it that I might encounter on my journeys – for example, another Ghastly or Machop?” He asked, mentally reviewing what he knew of the frequency of the Pokemon being offered to him. He knew Pidgey to be common, though another in such good condition might be hard to find in the wild, and he wasn't certain about Lilipup. Elgyem, though, struck him as a rather unlikely find.

Letting the Professor mull over his question, he refocused entirely on the Pokemon – including the Lilipup, who seemed to have been roused by Ghastly's chill and was blinking curiously at him. Crouching down, so as to put himself at a similar height to those of them that couldn't fly, he began to speak. “My name is Liridon, and I'm sure you're all aware that I'm here to find my first partner – that much is somewhat obvious.” He began, looking from face to face to assess their reactions. “What might not be so apparent, however, is my path. I am a Researcher, a Seeker of New Things, and I am looking for somemon who can help me to discover all that I can about the Pokemon living in this world – not to forget the plants, but I'm more focused on Pokemon. Whichever of you I choose must be ready to venture forth into the unknown – to take chances, make and learn from mistakes, get messy, and do science! We may encounter all manner of obstacles, we may get lost, but above all – we will learn! I need somemon who isn't afraid to take a leap of faith and do something different, or venture off the beaten track. Being able to read would help, but it is not a requirement. I dearly wish that I could choose more than one of you, but I am certain that you will all go on to do great things with whichever partner you find – I assure you that I cast no aspersions on those I do not select, but I must choose.”

The Pokemon stared at him in mild stupefaction – perhaps he had gone a little overboard? At least they seemed interested in what he had to say. So what if he was waxing a little rhapsodical – this was who he was. “Whichever of you I bring with me, I will credit your findings alongside my own, and pay heed when you have something to tell me – however you end up doing that – and treat you as a companion should. This is my promise to you.” He continued, feeling as though his mouth was running away with him – probably the nerves and all those cheesy adventure stories he liked to read. At least there were worse things to gabble on about.

Taking a moment to think things over, Liridon straightened up, trying to come to some kind of decision. Try as he might, though, he found he couldn't eliminate more than three – it was down to Elgyem or Ghastly. What to do, what to do... He searched their features, their expressions and posture, looking for some kind of clue, but it was nearly impossible to tell which of them would suit him best. He wanted them both! Pinching the bridge of his nose, the frustrated Researcher reached into one of his pockets, feeling around for something. After a moment, he withdrew a single coin and, taking a breath, flicked it into the air. Multiple pairs of eyes followed the shining coin on its path through the air and down to the floor – where it landed with a 'clink' – though not all of those watching understood the significance.

When it was still, Liridon peered down at it to see the result, feeling again as though his stomach was playing host to pygmy Venomoth. Winking up at him was the side of the coin commonly termed 'heads' – that had a very obvious meaning, at least to Liridon. Elgyem's cranium, as opposed to Ghastly's spectral tail. Decision made, Liridon bent down and scooped up both coin and Pokemon, holding the little puzzler close to him. “This one, please.” He murmured, addressing the Professor, before turning to face the Pokemon he had not chosen one last time. As he had not stated much of his reasoning aloud, they likely had no way of knowing who among them had come closest to being in Elgyem's place - he thought this was probably for the best. "I could have seen myself setting out with any one of you." He told them softly, with a faintly wistful expression, before readying himself to hear whatever else the Professor had to say. Oh, he really hoped that he'd have another chance to recruit a Ghastly, but he felt that this little one suited him quite well.
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(1800 words)
Liridon chose Elgyem!

[Rex]

"Excellent choice! Elgyem is quite a special little Pokemon and I am sure that you will be able to bring out its full potential." Oak said, clearly proud of himself for providing such a good starter.

Snapping his fingers as if he just remembered something, Oak flipped Liridon the psychic type's poke ball before he returned the four other Pokemon to their capsules as well.

"Now that you have your starter, let's take care of your items and inventory. Come!" he said quickly, before bounding away to a different part of the lab. Staring at a series of shelves that were packed with items, he essentially scooped everything up and brought it to his desk.

"Let's see here....Ah yes! First up, is your standard issue X-Gear. This acts as a combination phone, computer and poke dex. My number is already pre-set in it, so I'm available to you at all times. You automatically get a Data Log, a Mortar and Pestal, some poke balls, and the choice between a Dex Chip or a Photo Chip. Choose wisely, as both will help you," he said, arranging the items.

"In addition to the free stuff, you have the opportunity to get a few more items to help you along. You may choose two items from the Trainer item category with a value of under 35, and two items from the Survival category, with a value of under 35. Again, choose wisely, as these items will dictate how your first week will go," Oak said, adjusting the glasses on his face.

Stepping back, he gave Liridon some room to think and when the new researcher was finished, Oak spoke again.
"I will contact you from time to time about research leads and ideas for new discoveries. At the moment though, we need everyone to head right to New Pallet to help with some Spinarak swarm problems. If you have no other questions, the GoGoat carts are waiting to take you to New Pallet," he said, sitting in his chair.

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Please choose Elygem’s egg move, gender, and ability.
Please choose between a Dex or Photo chip
Please choose 2 Survival items which can be found at the Global Market for under 35₪
Please choose 2 Trainer Items which can be found at the Global Market for under 35

[Liridon Cedar]

It seemed as though he was just going to have to find out for himself about the occurrence of certain other Pokemon, Liridon reflected as he listened to the Professor extolling the virtues of the little creature in his arms. Thinking of the Elgyem, he decided to get a closer look at the lightweight Psychic in his arms. He had to look up quickly in order to catch and pocket the Pokeball that the Professor flipped in his direction, but that was to be expected. His new partner had skin that looked almost as though it should be metallic from a distance, but it was actually a soft blue - and didn't feel cold or rigid. Pale green eyes that Liridon could not be entirely certain were not glowing peered up at him inquisitively as he performed a quick check his Breeder parents had made sure he knew - it looked like this one was male. That certainly narrowed down his potential name choices. After a moment's thought, he decided which of the names he'd been considering would fit the best. "I think I'll call you Alwyn - it means 'wise friend'." He murmured to the Pokemon in his arms, who shifted and blinked in response, apparently processing this new information.

Oak, it seemed, had plenty of energy. When the older fellow bounced away, Liridon was about to follow him, but he returned too soon to make that practical. With apparent enthusiasm, the Professor piled a whole bunch of stuff onto the desk at once. Ah, an X-Gear - such a useful multi-purpose item. If he was recalling correctly, the thing could also function as a short-range torch if necessary. "Hmm..." He murmured, considering the benefits of each chip. On the one hand, it would be useful to be able to take pictures of anything new he encountered, but on the other hand, he could always save up for it and substitute sketches and samples for a while. After all, he was likely to encounter all sorts of Pokemon, and he couldn't afford to assume that he'd always remember the pertinent details about all of them. That kind of thing was relevant to his continued health, as remembering that a particular Pokemon could - for example - be poisonous was rather important, while being able to take a picture of the creature's mug wasn't that helpful until one had dragged oneself to a medic and needed to show them what had inflicted poison. "Thank you kindly, I would like the Dex Chip, please." He responded, feeling confident in his reasoning as he gently placed Alwyn on the ground in order to reach out and politely take the items in question, fitting the Chip to the X-Gear and the latter to his wrist.

Four budgeted items, two Survival and two Trainer? Hmm, now what were those again? Liridon mused, when the Professor moved on with his spiel. Well, I definitely want a Potion - those things are way too useful to ignore - but do I want an Antidote or a Giant Raw Corka to go with it? Hmm... I'll think about the Survival items and get back to that one. Running his mind over those options, he summarily dismissed the Compass, SuperWood and Torch - he could buy the really cheap things later, and the world was full of wood. While the Compass would usually point him North, it'd be less useful without a map, as he had a tendency to forget just what was where in relation to North. He wasn't interested in the Bite Trap, though he was tempted by the Basket trap and the nets... Upon consideration, he decided that he definitely wanted a Tent, but would likely be alright without a Bedroll immediately - he'd fallen asleep among his parents' Pokemon plenty enough times to feel that it wasn't important. That made the issue primarily between a Water Filter and a Canteen or Waterskin. Since he could more easily buy a Canteen than the alternative, he decided on the Water Filter. That left the choice of Antidote or Giant Raw Corka... Well, there's no guarantee we'll run into Poison, but it's a certainty that we'll need to eat, so I might as well take the Corka.

"May I have a Potion, a Giant Raw Corka, a Tent and a Water Filter please?" Liridon asked of the Professor, having made his choices, before taking careful note of what else the fellow had to say while he retrieved and stowed the relevant items. "A Spinarak swarm? Is there time for me to pick up some additional items from the Global Market first, or should I head straight to the Gogoat Carts?" He inquired, eyes widening behind his clear specs as he considered the possibilities. Alwyn seemed anxious at the news, and grabbed at Liridon's leg for reassurance. It wasn't that he was afraid, he was just, well, a bit nervous. After all, he didn't want to disappoint his new partner... Liridon, on the other hand, was enthused - there was so much potential for research in Swarm Pokemon, and he personally thought that spiders were kind of endearing - this would be a great first mission! However, he wanted to be as prepared as he could before taking them on. After all, he didn't know what they were capable of - and his Pokemon was so new - he wanted to be able to back Alwyn up in case of emergency, and that might require a weapon. Or, perhaps, something that could produce fire. At the very least, he wanted to buy a Canteen or Waterskin in addition to the freebie provisions so that he could carry around the water he filtered. Obviously, he couldn't expect the Professor to baby him by providing everything he'd need, but there were still things he wanted. He hoped that'd be within reason.
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Liridon named the male Elgyem Alwyn!
Alwyn's Egg Move is Barrier!
Alwyn's Ability is Synchronize!

Liridon chose the Dex Chip!
Liridon chose the Tent and Water Filter!
Liridon chose the Potion and Giant Raw Corka!
Liridon wants to know if he can buy more stuff before leaving the city!

[Olive]

With a spin in his chair, Oak released an energetic, "Sure!" He paused immediately after and pounced back to his feet. "But! We need to get as much information on the subjects as we can. So do your best to get there as fast as possible alright?"

Oak gave a stretch before making his way towards the front room, tapping the new trainer on the shoulder as he passed to indict he wanted him to follow. The man peered out the window that faced the Global Market, "I'm not sure how much money you have, but you should definitely look into getting a weapon some more trainer items." He pointed to the respective kiosk and building so Liridon would know which to try first.

"It would also be wise to start making friends, particularly of Mercenaries. They'll be able to protect you out in the wild where all of the new discoveries are to be made. But one can never have too many friends in their own field. Who knows, perhaps another Researcher can help you fill in the blanks of your log and visa versa." A thoughtful shrug interrupted his speech before he continued. 

"It's a scary world out there Lillith. If you ever need me I'll call you." Oak gave no indication that he phrased that last sentence wrong. Maybe he was just really that tired. Or perhaps he was some sort of psychic who knew when his mentees needed him. 

"Good luck. Let me know as soon as you find out any information about the swarm." With a wink, Oak pet the man's head and sprung back in the direction of his laboratory.

[Liridon Cedar]

"I promise you that I will do my utmost to acquire as much information about them as possible." Liridon responded, his signature crooked grin straightening out a little as his expression took on a slightly more serious bent. This was, after all, his first mission - his first chance to get out there and make his mark on the scientific world of Mi-aro. "I'll head there as soon as I can, once I've picked up a few things to help me." He agreed, turning to follow the Professor-in-motion when he felt a touch on his shoulder. He wasn't sure what was going on at first, until he realised that Oak was giving him directions. Gazing through the window, he easily spotted the optimistically named Global Market. Technically, he thought, it wasn't nearly global just yet, but given time... Well, maybe it was called that because it was the biggest and most professional market currently on the globe? Reigning in his train of thought, Liridon nodded in acknowledgement of what Quercus had to say. "A weapon would be useful indeed - or something that can be used as one, depending on price and compatibility. Ah, but you don't need me blathering on about it." He concluded, leaning down briefly to check on the Elgyem still holding onto his leg.

Friends? He mused, vaguely startled by the new turn in the conversation. He'd had a little trouble making non-Pokemon friends when he was younger, in part due to his habit of immersing himself in books - in part because he was more used to young Pokemon than young humans. Still, he knew he could do it, he was certain. Particularly seeing as Oak actually had a pretty good point about making friends who could watch his back or collaborate with him... "You make a good point - I'll be sure to try and make some connections along my journey." He decided aloud, while wondering vaguely why The Quirky was now calling him by a name belonging to the opposite gender. Was it the hair, perhaps? Hard to say, really. "I certainly will." He responded, nodding, before blinking in startled confusion when Oak's hand touched his head. Where had that come from? Well, it wasn't as though he was likely to get a comprehensible answer if he asked, and the Good Professor was always a little odd, so he decided not to think too hard about it. Instead, he shrugged, before scooping Alwyn back up into his arms and striding out towards the Global Market. "Are you ready, Alwyn? First supplies, then SCIENCE!" He exclaimed eagerly, while the little Psychic type gazed up at him with an unfathomable expression, before moving purposefully towards the GM.
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Liridon has accepted the Spinarak Mission!
Liridon's starter thread is now ready to be deemed complete!