Yuku free message boards

((My mistake with the map - but, since I've been traveling a year through the wilderness after the fight with Cain, I'd like to think I accidently traveled through Grandis Forest without striking the path and ended up in the icy wastes where I was trapped by the storm. When I woke in the cave after a blizzard, I traveled to the nearest town, then I will find out I skipped through Grandis and return for some exploring after I finish somewhat in Askorun. Is that a good plan? If not, we'll go with the first one, cuz a year in Grandis would be a great team-building opportunity. Either way, I'll end up there again. Just was it before or after Askorun? ^^))

((Traveling with them would be great, I'll take you up on that)) Anthony shivered as another gale blistered his raw skin. Ice began to crystal on his eyelashes, and his lips chapped and bled. ((Pretty good description for only seeing snow once in my life )) He was not used to the cold, nor dressed for it, wearing a black tank top with a picture of a surfer on his back, and thin jeans, but that's why he had ventured from the safety of the inn in the first place. He had refused to take a jacket from the inn, regardless of their insistence, instead hoping to buy one himself. He turned toward the direction of the shops, and nodded at a passing man dressed in furs, briefly asking for some directions. Again he crossed the small pond, and found himself in the shopping district. He hurried to the location of the shop and entered. It was dimly lit by a cheery fire, but it still felt bright and open as he stepped inside. There were rows and rows of cloth used to create the clothes and a small fitting room behind the counter. A young woman sat behind the counter and looked up at him as he approached. "Could I help you?" "Um... Yes, I would like a jacket made. Price is not a problem... Maybe some gloves as well." She stood up and grabbed a measuring tape, a strip of cloth and a pair of scissors. At Anthony's permission, she began to take lengths of his arms, his torso and neck. She also asked him about colour, style, and preferences. He answered and a jacket began to take form out of the cloth and pattern she had expertly marked. She then asked him to wait in the store while she finished up. Two hours later, she came out with a sleek, black polyester jacket lined with shed Seleo fur and a hood. It was held together with a high-necked zipper, and had a white lower torso and under arm. Curious, Anthony asked why the design. "In Askorun, usually a design is just a style, not big deal. However, you look like you travel a lot. When you travel in colder climates, you want to stay warm, but not overheat. A mostly white fabric reflects sunlight, and will keep you relatively cool. The black on the top is a bit more conventional in slightly rocky climates. Around here it's not much use since the ice and snow make everything white, but a mountainous area has dark patches among the snow, and the black may keep you better camouflaged from airborne pokemon or pokemon in higher places. Now here's your gloves." ------------------------------------------------ Now warm and dressed, Anthony left the shop and headed for a nearby coffee shop. Drinking his coffee slowly and relishing the warmth, he began to unwind. He listened to the talk around him and one conversation perked his interest. "I hear the HM Master has returned from his trip, let's visit his house soon!" "Man, I can't wait to be able to SNOWBOARD on my Blastoise! It'll be so much fun!" Making a mental note, he decided to look for the HM Master. Unsure where to start, he headed to the pokemon center for more information. ------------------------------------------------- Outside the Center was a vendor. He held up what looked like CDs. Anthony went to investigate. They were TMs. "What do you have?" He inquired. "Icy moves to chill your opponents, BLIZZARD and ICE BEAM." The man smiled and showed the two different discs. Anthony looked at the prices and groaned. The BLIZZARD TM was quite expensive and he barely could buy one. He resisted the urge but did buy an ICE BEAM. He debated, and decided to teach Myrath, then headed inside. I wonder where this HM Master could be...

((AUGH! I'm being scolded for skipping ahead! *hides* Decku ish sorry. Wow, random five-year old moment xp))

"Ah- er... Mind if I sit by you sir?" Anthony asked cautiously. He was interested in the Ramfrio as well as found the man somewhat of a curiosity. He was careful though as some do not enjoy being pried at.

((Nice to see you back ShinE... Btw; did you get that email I sent or did my email provider screw up again?))

"Um, a curiosity I suppose. I love sketching and your Ramfrio and yourself I think would make a great test of my abilities. Besides, I'm kind of stuck here in Askorun until I find a certain HM tutor... Hey, would you happen to know about that?" he stooped down to grab a sketchpad, some charcoals, and a pencil from his weatherworn bag. Realizing the charcoals were slightly water-damaged from the snow, he set them by the window to dry. Pencil to paper, two faces slowly took form, a man and a pokemon. He paused and waited, seeking permission to continue both the drawing and his inquiry.

Anthony looked at his pokedex in surprise and reread the message a few dozen times... He was a bit speechless. Considering his options, he weighed his choices. Agunni was a fire type - and he lacked one of small stature; Tyrantorch was unsuitable for small spaces. Especially considering the icy snow of Askorun, he could be in dire need of the fire/ghost pokemon. It would also balance his dire weakness to the grass type. On the other hand, a big weakness in his team was fire, he had Myrath to take care of fire types, as well as Diglett but Stalker, Livops, Ledior and the Mosslus he had caught wouldn't shape up well. A wind/water type like Cherripo would be a highly convenient choice in the later on future. Finally there was Nutreed. Unlike the other two, there was no dire or abundant need for the grass starter, especially considering the Mosstrous and Stalker pokemon he had readily on hand, however, the starter pokemon had great potential in the Special move area - unlike his primarily physical team. It's eventual evolution into a psychic type made it a wise choice as well. Obviously, the pokemon could not be excluded from his calculations.

Now somewhat ignorant of his surroundings, he began sketching on the paper he had been about to use on the strange man and the Ramfrio. Complex diagrams began to take shape and the formula's for Chance and dependent variables frequently could be seen. In his head, consistently ran the thoughts: Nutreed, Agunni, Cherripo... Nutreed, Agunni, Cherripo. and although it took him only minutes to make his decision, he had thoroughly sketched out most of Bombur region and several very detailed worst-case scenarios. He picked up his phone, and read from his pokedex the number Aaron had sent. The message he texted went like this:

Hello Aaron,
Thanks for the help you gave me back in Bastion. I am currently in Askorun Town so I've made considerable headway on my journey. Anyway, I just got your message and would be delighted to take you up on that offer. In fact, I am highly excited by the thought. After deliberation, I have decided that Nutreed would be a well accepted member of my team.

In all ways and thanks - Anthony

"A-ah!" Anthony looked back to his drawing and hastily erased some of the sketched notes in the corner and immediately continued the drawing of Ramfrio. The horns and head soon came into detail, the eyes reflections tirelessly sketched in black and white, and then came the form of the body, and then the man, each detailed with many different values of pencil markings. What was most interesting was the speed at which the boy drew. He'd occasionally retrace lines, but overall was very confident and quick with the pen. He finally presented the completed work. In the picture was the strange man, patting Ramfrio's head with the frosted window and the wooden cabin wall behind them. Even the old wooden table and a few lopsided chairs were included. The boy looked up and smiled:
"This is why I love to draw. The memory and feelings can just be captured on paper without fail. Camera's are okay too, but you don't get the same thrill as making it line by line. Do you want it? I keep the memory in my head." He smiled, then thought about it and wondered if that really made sense, so he corrected himself.
"What I mean is, I'd rather give the drawing to you so you and Ramfrio can share the memory. All the fun and effort has already been etched into my brain because of drawing it in the first place. D- does that even make sense?" He sneezed in the cold and shook his head.

Anthony was shocked by the question, but he couldn't turn a deaf ear to a crisis. He quickly assessed his finances and inventory before coming to his decision.
"I'll help, of course, but... um, I'll need more information. Is there anything you can tell me that might help me? General location in the forest or particular group preferences I can use to locate them?