Finally, it seems you're in the facility proper. Though, it does make you wonder why this place would even need three whole doors? Isn't this entire world just one big sprawling power plant? What's so special about this particular facility that it would need such airtight security? The more you think about it, the less sense it makes.

So, you don't bother. There's no point in theorising this early, right? Eventually, if you travel far enough in, the mysteries of this place will naturally reveal themselves. Right now, you've just got to get there, and that involves solving the much simpler mystery of "how do we find a way forward?". In this particular instance, the three of you are trying to get down into the ravine, and that means you're looking for a path downward. So, just keep an eye out for any hatches, ladders, or chutes. Simple enough.

So, you begin to walk about, looking for any kind of signage about. You're not so naive as to hope for an annotated map, but at the very least, you can hope for some big block text saying "EXIT" with an arrow pointing where you need to go.

...Assuming that it hasn't been blocked by all the wires, anyhow.

"Fuck's sake..." You grumble, reaching into your pockets. Luckily, you've planned for this. After fumbling around for a bit, you pull out a pair of cheap rubber gloves, quickly putting them on before you plunge your hands into the wires on the walls, beginning to push and pull them apart in search of the path ahead. "These Ultraspacians really couldn't keep their shit steady, could they? Didn't they have any of those cable ties, or tape, or glue, or fucking anything? Why is this place in such rough shape?"

---

howard slayte Grigori Sokolov

By the time you've been dragged out of the sludge, the group is already on the move, so you aren't left much choice but to scurry after them, Chester in tow and mudstained pennies in your pocket. After all, if you want any shot at getting your fantastic franchising plan, then you'll have to take the lead when it comes to Bloodmoon Beast hunt. You won't get anywhere if you slack off and loiter around the back. You need to be front and centre, or else when the time comes, you won't be able to take all the credit, and then you won't get all the rewards.

Along the way, you quickly get up to speed on all the discovered clues. Something something, weird camera, something something, bad music, something something... Damn, you kind of don't care? You're hunting a monster, not a vigilante. You don't need to figure out the Bloodmoon Beast's secret identity. You just need to kick his ass.

And wouldn't you know it, there he is.

It's a strange looking creature. One of those Ursa-somethings that you've heard so much about, though you can't say you really "get it", so to speak. It isn't a pretty face, sure, but it doesn't carry itself in a way that's particularly "cool", either. More than anything else, the vibe you're getting from it is "completely miserable", which makes sense: If you were a big bear, and you lived in a swamp as shitty as this one, you wouldn't be very happy either. You'd much prefer to live in a big and bountiful forest, with plenty of beehives full of honey, and flowing rivers you could eat fresh fish from, too. In fact, a musty old bog like this was probably the last place you'd want to be a bear. Not that you are a bear, mind, so you're hardly an expert on these kinds of things...

Y'know what? This probably isn't the best thing you could be doing with your time right now. Especially when the Ursabloodmoon (Name Pending, but you totally think it'll catch on) is making a break for it! Your first instinct is to chase after it, but you're quickly dissuaded by the presence of yet more mud. At the very least, this muck isn't poisonous, but it's also far deeper. Too deep to move in effectively. If you wade through it normally, there's no way you'll ever catch up to that beast.

"Chester, make us a path!"

"Righto, chap!"

With a swoosh of his hands, your Gholdengo summons forth a Reflect directly above the mud... Or, is it a Light Screen? You don't really know the difference, and honestly, you were kind of just expecting him to build a bridge out of gold, but you aren't going to look a wealth ghost in the mouth here. What matters is that as long as Chester keeps setting up these screens, you can forge a path ahead, and since you're the one who's making it, that means you're all but guaranteed to get there first!

Course, the logistics of maintaining however many screens means that you're only going to be able to keep up a few at a time, which means you'll have to start dismissing the older ones, which means this'll be a one-way trip, so...

"Well, I'm off to bag that bear." You slightly-too-cheerfully decree, dashing off after the Bloodmoon Beast with Gholdengo hurriedly jaunting after you, doing all the hard work. Shame about leaving Grigori Sokolov behind, but hey, you're sure he'll forgive you once you're rich off your hit new reality show, Hoenn's Deadliest Hunts with Shred Zeppelin, trademark pending. "LATER, FUCKERS!"

And so, you charge off in the direction of the Bloodmoon Beast.

...Yeah, this can only go well for you.

---

AREA 1, TL;DR - Shred Zeppelin, five dollars richer than before, recklessly abandons the rest of his group so he can rush ahead and be the first person to get his shit pushed in by this nightmare bear. Gholdengo spams Light Screen and/or Reflect above the mud so that he and Shred have a path upon which they can run atop, towards their impending deaths (there may also be a little spare room upon the Chester C. Coins premium pathway if one or two other people from Area 1 want to fasttrack their way into getting mauled by a bear 👉👈)
BBHhWGbH

"You've certainly still got 'it'." You dryly comment, stepping through the open door and inside the strange complex. "Arceus knows 'it' isn't much, but at least you've still got it."

It's your third time in the Ultra Plant, and you have to say, it's really started to lose its luster. Venturing into this alternate dimension has just become another part of your work schedule, no different than working in the smuggling rings or doing your rounds in the protection racket. The novelty has worn off, and now, instead of some grand explorer of the lost and the unknown, you're a glorified electrician. Actually, are you getting hazard pay for this? You have had multiple near-death experiences in this place. You should chase that up when you get out of here, see if you can't finagle that.

...Fuck, man, you're in a strange other realm solving the mysteries of a forgotten civilisation, and you're thinking about paychecks right now. This shit sucks, and you hate it. Shaking your head, you push those thoughts aside and forge on ahead, managing to walk a good few feet before you're immediately faced with another door. Grand.

"Turtonator, get out here." You grumble, calling forth the strange dragon turtle beast and pointing it in the direction of the second door. "And melt that door down, on the double."

"That doesn't seem very kind..."

"It's fine. All the skeletons and wires and bricks won't mind."

"Well, if you say so... BLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEURGH!!!"

Out from his strange snout, a blast of burning fire shot outward, coating the metal door in flame and burning it down until all that remained was ash and soot and chunks of blackened metal. Easy, simple, and free. You couldn't complain, even if you wanted to. With a nod of appreciation, you return Turtonator to his Pokeball, before peering down the path ahead and--

"--Fuck me in the ASS, is that another fucking door?!"

---

howard slayte Grigori Sokolov

EXPEDITION TEAM

FAREWELL, MY FREE ADVENTURERS!

CHARACTERS: Shred howard slayte Grigori Sokolov
EXPEDITION #: third time for all involved
SELECTED PROMPT #s:
03 involve the status condition, "paralysis" in a meaningful way.
23 encounter electrical phenomena (e.g. lightning, exposed wiring, etc.) that reactivates/resurrects deactivated ultra beasts or "dead" pokemon.
30 hear haunting human-like or pokemon-like screams within the electrical currents of this world.
31 involve a segment where some or all of the party must swiftly or dexterously bypass an obstacle (animate or inanimate) that is electrified or unelectrified depending on the timing.
TREASURES BROUGHT: N/A
NOTES: Everyone has Mega Stones, Shred still has Paradox Elephant and Bug, Howard has Phione.

DISPLAY ALL:
Well-Grounded, 50PD (GOLURK, GREAT TUSK, QUAGSIRE, GLIGAR, CLAYDOL)
Haunted, 50PD (SKELEDIRGE, GOLURK, BASCULEGION, GHOLDENGO, LITWICK)
Shine Thief, 10PD (SHINY LOKIX)
Treasure Hunter, 75PD (SKELEDIRGE, SLITHER WING, GREAT TUSK, LOKIX, GHOLDENGO)
Three Houses, 25PD (HOWARD | J. | SLAYTE)
Chance Encounter, 10PD (ZACIAN, SEEN IN GOODBYE GALAR: RUSTED SWORD)

Link to PC Here: pkmn-hoenn.boards.net/thread/33076/shreds-pc

ULTRA PLANT: SHG

shred's curry entry

[break]
thread summary: Shred, howard slayte, and Grigori Sokolov venture into the Ultra Plant for the first time. The group studies the ruins, encounters the local flora and fauna, and has several avoidable brushes with death. Starting with a zipline over a ravine, turning into exploration of an alien yet familiar facility, before a battle against a colossal Regieleki, with everything ending in a chaotic escape from the alien world. It's got comedy, it's got action, it's got vaguely deep introspection. It's fun for the whole family, like a Marvel movie, but it has a Strong Powerful Elephant in it![break]

why is it important?: While not as grand or important as some of the other threads presented, there's a certain simplicity in the premise to ULTRA PLANT: SHG that makes it a solid introduction to Shred, Howard, and Grigori as characters. No prior understanding of backstory or motivation is required, and while there are further Ultra Plant threads with the same characters (Shoutout to ULTRA PLANT: SHG #2), the thread is mostly self-contained. It's a fun little glimpse into a group of characters who'll assuredly get involved in bigger and better things later on, even if right now they're spending two rounds of posts struggling to get a vent open.

Also it has a funny Xurkitree who is Mildly Irritated, and mark my WORDS, he will prove INTEGRAL to the fate of Hoenn.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

Suddenly, the ship rocks to the side as something hits it hard in the hull. An icicle, to be specific, and a sharp one, too. It's managed to pierce through the thick metal and rip into the innards of the ship. It's not a problem right now, but that's only because the giant hole it created is being blocked by the same frigid dagger used to make it, just like a real knife wound. Except instead of keeping the blood from rushing out, it's keeping the water from rushing in.

That's a problem, because even now, the ice is beginning to melt from the natural heat. Droplets are already beginning to form from its glassy surface, trickling down and dripping back into the sea below. It won't be long before it breaks apart, and when it does, the entire ship will begin to sink twice as fast and twice as unsteady.

That might not be a problem, if a certain Pokemon wasn't intent on making it a problem.

"ARC! TO! ZOLT!"

The long-extinct menace hops aboard the deck, a shivering staticky mess of mismatched parts. As it looks around those gathered on the ship, its eyes eventually settle upon the Cradily, and that's all it needs to see. With a garbled howl, the prehistoric fauna charges at the prehistoric flora, and electricity begins to overflow from its mouth as it aims a Bolt Beak at its fossilized foe.

---

Hyakkaryōran Tsubaki
60MP, 50 for participation, 10 for x1 post.

"OW, fuck!"

You're not sure how, but it seems being dropped directly on your head by Talonflame managed to unclog your pain receptors, or your adrenaline pipes, or some shit like that. You don't know, man, you're not a biologist, you're just a man. The point is, the shock of the impact has caused you to feel both a lot more and a lot less terrible all at once. With a groan, you scramble up to your feet, rubbing the freshly forming lump on your head as you glance back to June, who in spite of everything, is making you grab the rocks. Does she just have no empathy whatsoever? Or is she taking pleasure in your suffering? What a total Howard Slayte move. You'd shake your head, but given how today is going, you don't want to accidentally snap your own neck in the process.

"Fine, fine!" You grumble, stumbling over to the middle of the tower, where circles upon circles of rocks and stones decorate the floor with intricate weaving patterns. "I'm getting the damn rocks..."

Which rocks did he want again? You narrow your eyes as you look at the many, many pebbles. Some of them are different shapes, some of them are different shades, and none of them really stand out. You try and remember exactly what Howard was looking for, but, Arceus, he really talks so much, doesn't he? Especially about his damn archaeology. Just goes on and on and on and on. You tuned most of it out. You HAD to. It was the only way to get through that conversation with your brain cells intact. You're already running pretty low on brainspace, and you can't risk anything getting overwritten by rocks.

Fuck it. Crouching down, you sweep up as many stones as your arms can carry before returning back to June.

"Done. Now let's get the fuck out of here."

---

june sleigh

The Urshifu stops the assault before it can go any further, though that doesn't seem like it's going to stop Grimmsnarl. Given the chance, he'd probably try and take on the entire gym singlehandedly. That would be bad for the both of you: For him because he'd almost assuredly die in the process, and for you because you don't want to suffer the consequences for that attempted massacre. The battle's been fun, but you've already won, so it's time to pump the brakes.

With two quick taps, both Grimmsnarl and Lokix are returned to their Pokeballs. Immediately, you can tell it's not a popular decision. You can practically feel the malice radiating from the ogre's Pokeball, but you ignore that tricky little detail for now. After all, you've just won yourself the first of (hopefully) many gym badges. Might as well celebrate while the good times last, because Arceus knows they won't.

You catch the badge, and take a moment to admire it. Or, are you just admiring yourself in its reflection? Hard to say.

"Bitchin'."

The attempted murder you witnessed wasn't particularly bitchin', actually, but that's a matter for a different day. You turn to leave the way you come, before you're stopped by a weighty question. You take a moment to ponder it. What sage advice would you give to the next trainer who came through those doors? What would you say to them? What would you tell them to change their life?

You don't have to think about it long. After all, the answer's obvious:

DON'T LISTEN TO THE NEW WORLD ORDER // LEGENDARY POKEMON AREN'T REAL THEY'RE JUST NORMAL POKEMON // WAKE UP MAREEPLE

Perfect.

---

Navy
Gym Badge Victorized.

"...Gregory, do we know this guy?"

You address this accomplice with a whisper, partly because you don't want Ambrose Hendrix to hear you, and partly because... No, actually, there's no other reason. You just really don't want this guy to hear you, because right now, he's giving off major murderer energy. Honestly, the two of you should probably just jump his ass right here. Even if he didn't do the killings, it's probably just better not having him around. Despite that, you don't, because there's something about him that tickles the back of your brain, as though you should remember him from somewhere. That, and Grigori Sokolov probably wouldn't agree to mugging strangers over bad vibes. Alas.

...It probably isn't a good look if you just murmur to each other in front of him, is it? Shit. Quick, make some small talk. It might dissuade him from putting a knife in your ribs if you build some sort of emotional connection based on small talk.

"I wouldn't say fresh." You comment, looking at the swamp around you. Nothing is fresh here, not even the air. You'd lean more towards "stale" for that. "Definitely wet, though. Definitely wet..."

Holy SHIT, this SUCKS. You need to get out of here before this conversation carries on for a second longer. Glancing around, a helpful little wisp of fire offers you an exit strategy, and you decide to take it without a second thought. What's the worst that can happen here? You get your soul stolen by a ghost? That's probably an upgrade from staying in the current conversation.

So, you move swiftly along, ignoring the motorcycle accident that happens just next to you, because let's be honest, that's not really any of your business, is it? Unless the Bloodmoon Beast is driving a car and running people off the road, then you couldn't care less about people's vehicular incompetence. So, pretending that didn't happen as hard as you can, you finally arrive at the camp proper, where all the other volunteers are waiting, no doubt planning their next move--

SLURCH!

...You've stepped in a muddy puddle. A deep one, too. It's up to your knees and sizzling your shins, but luckily, you seem to have been spared the worst of it. Unluckily, your legs seem to be stuck, more so than if you'd just stepped in regular mud. Fuck, man, this sucks! Why couldn't somebody else have stepped in the shitty fucking quicksand toxic gunk? And you've got this fucking Jumpluff hovering around you now. What the hell does it think it's going to do? Drag you out? With those shitty little pompoms? Unbelievable. Letting out a weary sigh, you grab a Pokeball from your belt, and release your Gholdengo to assist you.

"Chester, get me out of this shit, please."

"GADZOOKS! That's quite the foul sludge you've stepped in, old sport." The coin man muses aloud, stroking his golden chin as he looks down at the sticky poison. "If I were you, I wouldn't go traipsing around in strange substances. It'll scuff your boots and stain your socks! Though, if you need a new pair, I can get you a discount. See, I made a deal back in '09 with a Leavanny, and for a fair price, she'll--"

"--Ghoghogho ghogho gho gho gholden gho ghoghogho ghogho ghoghogholden gho--"

"Yeah, bud, it's been a few seconds, just checking in, got a quick question for you: Why am I still in the mud?"

"Alright, alright! Don't get your wallet in a twist, now! I'm working on it, but you have to be careful with this sort of work. Nobody wants a sticky penny in their purse, see? Now, give me a moment, and let me..."

And so, slowly but surely, Chester C. Coins takes on the arduous task of pulling you out of the slime, all while you enjoy the even more arduous task of having to be witnessed as you're dragged out of the slime in front of no less than a dozen people. There's nothing in this world that you hate more than what's going on right now. You're certain it can't get much worst than this. But, if there's a way that it can, Arceus knows you'll find it.

---

>Joining the rest of the group, following Hyakkaryōran Tsubaki 's Will-o-Wisps and ignoring Dirk Evans 's potential severe car crash injuries.
>Immediately steps in the muck, figuring out that it is, in fact, poisonous and sticky. Summons Gholdengo to pull him out.
>Curses Arceus, the Bloodmoon Beast, and HOENN Moderator SHIV for his misfortune.

aLrkZFHQ

We're not really paying attention to what the others are saying. It's not really part of the headliner's responsibility to care about stagehands and techs, y'know? Too busy rocking out, occasionally with our cock out, all that kind of rockstar shit. Still, they do good work, and we appreciate how good they make us look. That’s almost the same as caring about their opinions, innit?

And it’s time for time to start doing that good work, because our work here? It’s done. The crowd’s all gone home, and nobody’s left clamouring for another encore. All that’s left to do is hit the showers, do a line, fuck some groupies, hit the showers again, and go home.

And there’s no coke and no whores here, so there’s only one place to be going, and that’s literally anywhere else.

”We’ll be in our trailer.” We announce, roughing up our already rough hair as we speak. All the while, our other half meanders over, rubbing its hands together as the spare energy of the electricity disperses through its claws. ”If you need us, call someone else, because we’ll be busy. Smell you later, Feraligatr’s.”

And just like that, we make our very cool and very stylish exit, walking away from what remains of the camp. That coolness lasts for about a minute, until the Mega Evolution wears off, and we both hit the ground unconscious. We can’t really justify this one in any way that’s cool or hip, but we’re still going to try… Something something, half as long, twice as bright?

Yeah, that works. Now, off to sleep. Honk, mimimimimimi…

---

howard slayte Grigori Sokolov
RDvEYx_o

Yeah, no, those gestures don't mean shit. Or maybe they do, and you're just too far away to pick up on their subtle meaning, but you really doubt it. It's far more likely that this shadow demon is trying to scramble your mind with it's incomprehensible dance, that it might trap you in this place forever. Plus, there's no way this place has a pizzeria, is there? You couldn't get good cheese out here. There wouldn't be enough grass for any Miltank to graze on, to say nothing of growing tomatoes or creating a mill to make the dough. And man, you're not even going to START on how screwed the pepperoni processes would be...

Oh, hang on. That's a Fearow. You can tell, because of its long beak and the distinctive crest on its head. Why would a shadow demon have a Fearow? You figured they'd prefer their bird Pokemon more like Honchkrow and Mandibuzz, but hey, who are you to judge? It's not a bad Pokemon. Not a particularly good one, either, but that's hardly your problem.

You watch from a distance as the Fearow carried the shadow demon off the edge of their island and towards yours. It doesn't seem like a good idea to stick around, does it? Nothing good can be gained from interacting with a shadow demon. And yet, you stick around, because hey, it's a shadow demon with a Fearow. How scary could it really be? Worst comes to worst, you'll beat the shit out of it, run its pockets, and then make it tell you where they keep the exits around here. Simple.

So, you wait, wait, wait, wait, and wait a little longer, until THUMPH! The pair came crashing down right in front of you, landing in a pile on the dirt. It's a little awkward just standing around and watching it unfold, but it does answer some pressing questions.

"Hang on... You aren't a shadow demon at all." You squint, your tone of voice betraying your strange sense of disappointment. Drat. This Hell's stock just keeps getting lower and lower with every passing second, doesn't it? No cool Pokemon, no pizzerias, and they don't even have shadow demons. "Actually, who the fuck even are you? You're just a normal guy. What are you even doing here?"

---

John Sullivan

And thus, the trap is sprung.

As Kingdra rushes forth, the many tendrils of Grimmsnarl shoot back. They wrap around the limp body of Lokix, who's still laying limp at your feet. He hasn't stirred from unconsciousness once since the Draco Meteor hit him, but it seems his part to play in the battle isn't quite over yet. The hairs drag him back into the fray, and right into the hands of the ogre.

You're not quite sure what happens yet. Frankly, you're not quite sure you want to know. But you hear a sickening crunch, and suddenly, the twin saws upon Lokix's back flick forward and roar to life. Dozens of teeth whirl round and round, turning the previously inert body into a deadly and destructive weapon in the hands of a deadly and destructive individual. Had this been the plan all along? To let the insect go down as an elaborate feint, only to use his body to turn the tables at the last possible moment?

Your eyes narrow. No. Even if he's smart, he's not that smart. It just so happened that this time, his short-sighted malice paid off.

VRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRM!!!

Paid off in a BIG way. Now armed and dangerous, Grimmsnarl swings the living saw straight into the path of the rushing Kingdra. All the while, he screams out a mad cackle, as if he's having the most fun of his life.

...Yeah, you really don't think this guy is "all there".

---

Navy