Easter Capture Contest: Taither

@Taither

You go towards Mt. Deckbi while ash gently falls around you. There are hardly any plants around. Mostly nondescript boulders litter the expanse of land in front of you. A tiny, blinking red light on one of the boulders alerts you to one of the cameras which will be monitoring your actions as you go through the park. You see that many people have recently gone through this area, judging by the footprints on the ground. However, most of the footprints seem to lead into one cave or another. The path straight up the mountain has been relatively untouched. You have the choice between going up the mountain and entering the nearest cave.

-----------------
Trainer Statistics:
Name: Taither Aranhar
Location: Mt. Deckbi
Area Effects: 5 Encounters Remaining | No Pokemon Encountered | No Captured Pokemon
Items: 3 Park Balls; 2 Super Balls; 1 Hyper Ball; 2 Lava Cookies, 2 Energy Powders, 1 PokeDoll

Pokemon: Quirky Male Gallade @Steadfast
TM Aerial Ace, TM Earthquake, TM Substitute, TM X-Scissor, TM Rock Slide, TM Taunt, TM Light Screen, TM Bulk Up, BM Encore, MT Ice Punch, MT Thunder Punch, MT Fire Punch, MT Magic Coat, BM Shadow Sneak

 

@Sky Lark

Taither walks up the winding path of the great Mount Deckbi, a relatively active volcano that is located near the center of the National Park. The crag towers high above even the tallest of trees, pumping out a thick cloud of volcanic ash that falls like snow across the pathway leading up the side of the hill. Faint footprints are noticeable winding up the mountain, entering numerous caves seen in the side of the giant rock. Peering down any of them looks as if you're looking into a bottomless abyss, like if you fall in you will just fall for the remainder of your life. Upon reaching the first choice in pathways, I look around for any sign of my trainer. Besides the blinking lights of the cameras that are set up around the park to capture any would-be poachers who enter the park illegally, there was no sign of life in the immediate area. Shrugging, I continue up the path, ignoring the caves where the footprints end at, deciding that if I were to follow anothers footsteps, I'd only find their own unwanted encounters. The pathway got steep quickly, forcing me to slow my pace. My Gallade, who was quietly following behind me, finally decided to telekinetic-ally communicate.

<This Ranger doesn't seem to be here yet, shouldn't we wait? I really don't want to get closer to that ashtray of a mountain. It's starting to annoy me.> He said, mimicking a tone of utter annoyance in his thought-speak. In response, I just pull images of the rare and interesting Pokemon we might meet into my mind. At that point, he went back to quietly sulking as he followed me up the path.

 

@Taither

You head for the mountain, thinking you'll find better pokemon there. As you go along the steep path, a Togekiss flies overhead and drops a tiny brown envelope near your feet. You pick up the envelope and start reading the note inside. Hastily scribbled, the note informs you that a ranger won't be accompanying you for this event and that you are to explore the park on your own. However, a reminder in large, bold letters reminds you that the park staff will be watching. Once you are finished, you and your pokemon continue making your way on the path which is getting more difficult to traverse. You keep going, waiting for your first encounter when you notice a Hippopotas amble by. It's a bit drowsy, but a battle will awaken its senses.

-----------------
Trainer Statistics:
Name: Taither Aranhar
Location: Mt. Deckbi
Area Effects: 4 Encounters Remaining | Hippopotas Encountered | No Captured Pokemon
MCR:1,583/15,000
Items: 3 Park Balls; 2 Super Balls; 1 Hyper Ball; 2 Lava Cookies, 2 Energy Powders, 1 PokeDoll

Pokemon: Quirky Male Gallade @Steadfast
TM Aerial Ace, TM Earthquake, TM Substitute, TM X-Scissor, TM Rock Slide, TM Taunt, TM Light Screen, TM Bulk Up, BM Encore, MT Ice Punch, MT Thunder Punch, MT Fire Punch, MT Magic Coat, BM Shadow Sneak

 

@Sky Lark

Not too far up the path I chose, a lumbering brown mass starts moving across the path. There wasn't any fallen debris, so it must be a Pokemon. As I near it, I notice the shape and size of the creature; it's a Hippopotas. Watching it while keeping my distance, I notice that it doesn't seem to notice us, actually looking quite sleepy at the moment. It's not necessarily a Pokemon I would think to catch for this contest, so I'll let it be. Turning around, I give a quick nod to my Gallade, who returns the nod. Obviously he can read my mind, within limitations we have set up long ago. With that fast decision, we work to walk around the backside of the awkwardly large Pokemon, making sure as to not alert it to our presence and continue on to find a more exciting encounter.

 

@Taither

You try to avoid attracting the Hippopotas' attention by nimbly stepping away, but a sudden gust of wind knocks you to your side, straight into the Hippopotas. Annoyed, the Hippopotas starts spewing sand from its body, causing a miniature sandstorm to form. It aggresively opens its mouth and roars, practically daring you to attempt to ignore it. It's a good thing the Ranger Alliance gave you protective eyewear in your entry package. You instinctively cover your eyes with one hand as you dig for the eyewear in your pack with the other. The weather distrubance hasn't grown to the extent that it'll inflict damage on your pokemon, but a few moments is all the time needed for it to become a full-fledged sandstorm.

-----------------
Trainer Statistics:
Name: Taither Aranhar
Location: Mt. Deckbi
Area Effects: 4 Encounters Remaining | Hippopotas Encountered | No Captured Pokemon
MCR:2,361/15,000
Items: 3 Park Balls; 2 Super Balls; 1 Hyper Ball; 2 Lava Cookies, 2 Energy Powders, 1 PokeDoll

Pokemon: Quirky Male Gallade @Steadfast
TM Aerial Ace, TM Earthquake, TM Substitute, TM X-Scissor, TM Rock Slide, TM Taunt, TM Light Screen, TM Bulk Up, BM Encore, MT Ice Punch, MT Thunder Punch, MT Fire Punch, MT Magic Coat, BM Shadow Sneak

 

@Sky Lark

Despite the attempts to not be noticed, a freak rush of wind through the small crevasse the pathway sits in causes my footing to disappear, sending my body into the side of the Hippopotas. It immediately notices us, somewhat perturbed by the sudden hipcheck. It gives a loud roar before sucking in air. With its' exhale, sand starts to spew from its' large nostrils, the force starting to whip up a sandstorm in the immediate area. Hurrying, I grab my goggles from my bag to prevent any sand blurring my vision. Sliding them over my eyes, my hand raises to signal to my Gallade to follow me as we attempt to escape once again under the veil of the sandstorm while the large Pokemon is preoccupied.

 

@Taither

You and Gallade try stealthily walking away, but the Hippopotas isn't easy to fool. It quickly spots you and roars in anger. With its nostrils flaring, an obscenely large amount of sand starts pouring out of the various crevices in its body, creating a full-blown sandstorm. The Hippopotas then runs towards your Gallade at maximum speed and slams itself into your pokemon. Your pokemon gets knocked off its feet by the attack, but it quickly recovers its footing. To your dismay, specks of sand start getting in your pokemon’s eyes, causing it a considerable amount of discomfort.

-----------------
Hippopotas (used Body Slam) 100.00% l Gallade 87.55%

Trainer Statistics:
Name: Taither Aranhar
Location: Mt. Deckbi
Area Effects: 4 Encounters Remaining | Hippopotas Encountered | No Captured Pokemon l A sandstorm is raging
MCR: 3,059/15,000
Items: 3 Park Balls; 2 Super Balls; 1 Hyper Ball; 2 Lava Cookies, 2 Energy Powders, 1 PokeDoll


Pokemon: Quirky Male Gallade @Steadfast
TM Aerial Ace, TM Earthquake, TM Substitute, TM X-Scissor, TM Rock Slide, TM Taunt, TM Light Screen, TM Bulk Up, BM Encore, MT Ice Punch, MT Thunder Punch, MT Fire Punch, MT Magic Coat, BM Shadow Sneak