Cortoza's Recorded History

[Food Guy]

Waterfall

Cyprus: After a long trip you have finally made it to the waterfall, the pristine water looking absolutely fabulous. You continue to walk, taking in the view around you. There are people lined up around the waterfall's banks, not a lot of people but still a decent amount. Several of the people have even got their pokemon out, several of the little monsters chasing after each other. Turning your attention over to the jungle around the banks, you hear the numerous calls of the inhabitants of the area.

"Excuse me mister?" calls a small voice.

You feel a tug on your pants and look down. There is a little girl holding onto your pants legs, her head only reaching halfway up your thigh. More importantly the girl looked lost and there was a panicked expression on her face. Seeing you looking down the little girl continues.

"Mister, I can't find my mummy or daddy!" she cried, tears forming in her eyes. "Can you please help me?"

What will you do?

[Treepandaone]

Rocket's Ship

Treepandaone: Taking a breath, you burst out of the basement. As you bolt down the corridor, the Rockets take notice of you and take chase. Realising that you are getting closer to the deck, you release Hera, holding her in you arms, and keep on running. You burst onto the deck, with the Rockets still following you and throw Hera over the railing. As the Feebas hits the water, she begins to glow white and her form changes. Her small roundish body elongates, and once the light dies down you see a beautiful Milotic. Deciding that it would probably be better to admire Hera's beauty later, you jump over the railing as well. Landing on your water type, you quickly open Ares and Sol's balls, the Togepi materialising in your lap and the Aerodactyl materialising in the air. Acting on the commands that you gave them earlier, Ares opens his mouth and fires out a Hyperbeam, while Sol waving his little arms, a Hyperbeam bursting from in front of the egg pokemon. The two beams of normal energy slammed into the ships side, leaving two giant holes in the side of the ship. As you return the two pokemon, you nod your head at Hera. The Milotic turns her back to the ship and swings her tail as hard as she can. This causes a giant wave to form, the force of the Surf causing the ship to capsize.

You let out a cheer of joy as you watch the boat sink before Hera takes you back to the island. Returning the Milotic, you quickly run back to the Lab, and pull out the missing part.

"You found it!" exclaims Professor Collins, "Now I can fix the machine!"

The prof takes the piece off you and hurries over to the machine, and with a bag of tools, starts to put the piece back into the machine. A little while later, Prof Collins calls you over.

"The machine is now complete, and ready for use," he says. "Now, I just need you to hand over your fossil, and I can get to work."

You pull the fossil out and hand it over to Prof Collins. The professor proceeds to open the top of the machine and places the fossil in the mostly hollow machine. Closing the top of the machine, he presses a button and it bursts into life. It starts to shake, and make loud whurring noises, noises that make you inch backwards a little bit. Soon the shaking and whurring noises die down, and the machine beeps.

"It's done," the prof tells you as he walks over to the machine. "So say hello to your brand new Cranidos."

Prof Collins opens the lid of the machine, and sitting where the fossil once was is a rock type pokemon that you had been waiting to get. Congratulations you have obtained a Lv 1 Male Cranidos As you look at Cranidos, there is a sudden explosion. Thrown to your feet, you manage to look up and see Team Rocket members surging through a newly opened hole in the lab's wall.

"There's that kid that destroyed the cargo ship!" yells a Rocket, pointing at you.

"How about a little payback?" sneers another Rocket.

Unable to stop the Rockets, they walk up to your prone body and effortlessly take your balls, and your pokedex. Seeing the distress in your eyes, the Rockets laugh before they leave the lab. As the last one leaves, you realise that the professor isn't with you anymore! Lifting your head up, you see that the only living things left in the lab are you and your Cranidos.

What will you do?

His feet hammered off the cold dark iron; the sound echoing across the hall. His head was spinning but light, his mission focused upon and organised. Matthew was several steps outside the door before he dared to breath again, having his plan go well was crucial to getting off the Rocket ship and getting back to civilization. Inside, he knew that his plan was dangerous, risking his life to sink one of the Rocket ships wasn't the greatest idea he had ever had but nor was it the bravest. Having a history with Team Rocket, Matthew despised the crime organisation for what they had done to Vermillion and to many people around the world.

As he bolted down said corridor, he was noticed by several Rockets who, after some shouting and kerfuffle, gave chase. Despite the sound, this was far from being bad as the time the grunts spent trying to figure out what he was doing, the more time he had to gain a substantial advantage. Before he knew it Matthew was close to the edge, portside, as the deck shrunk to reveal a cast of blue ocean in its wake. Grabbing a silver Pokéball from his belt, Matthew threw forward, hoping to time the evolution perfectly as the Feebas flew through the air, glowing an extreme white as its scales disappearing, its brown colouration turning to cream and the blue highlights becoming red. The fish changed, growing longer than before the shape of the evolutionary Milotic formed, setting the Pokémon into the water.

Jumping off the railing, he found Milotic far more capable than her prevolution, the serpent catching him as he fell to avoid getting too wet. Opening up two more shiny silver coloured Pokéballs, Matthew was joined by more Pokémon. Sól laden in his arms while Ares flew in the sky. At the same time, their mouths grew orange before an explosion of light protruded from their bodies as the Hyperbeam tore through the boat's underside, the holes causing water to flood the bottom. The plan was working marvellously, Matthew saw the Rockets chasing him wobble as the ship shook from side to side; Milotic taking advantage as a surf wave crashed into the side of it, sending it down into the depths of the sea, further than the Rocket's reach and out of their thieving way.

Cheering, he hastily returned to the island; setting foot on its sandy beaches. Feeling rather smug and arrogant, he set off for the laboratory, withdrawing Milotic into its Premier ball as he trekked back to the origin of his visit, missing part in hand. Withdrawing the piece to show the professor, he was taken about by his enthusiasm.

“You found it” he exclaimed “Now I can fix the machine!” Scrambling back to his machines, the professor called Matthew over. Matthew followed, noticing the prof working maniacally with tools, screwing bolts and hammering pieces back into place.

“The machine is now complete, and ready for use” he said, Matthew's smile growing with every word. “Now, all you need to do is hand over the fossil and I can get to work”.

Searching back into his bag, Matthew withdrew the heavy skull fossil; the weight feeling much better of his sholder, having carried it round for what seemed like forever. He recalled its origin as he remembered Odin's bravery and the team's hard working attitude saved the region from tyranny. Placing the fossil in the now open machine, Matthew stepped back from the hollow machinery, allowing the professor to pres a button.

The machine started off slow; causing a bit of noise before a crescendo started, pushing the machine into a state of mechanical frenzy; producing noises that made Matthew inch further and further away, more and more as it began to slow and stutter. Soon after the shaking, the whurring dieing down and the machine beeping.

“It's done. Say hello to your new Cranidos” the professor chimed, revealing the Jurassic skull-head Pokémon in its wake. Grinning, Matthew stepped forward to greet it before he felt something in his back. A shock wave. He knew his feeling all too well. It happened during his past but more-so in the realm of Fizzy Bubbles. That said, it didn't hurt less, but probably more. Thrown from his feet, Matthew fell on his back; laying in pain, squinting as he saw figures burst through the hole in the wall.

“That kid destroyed the cargo ship” “How about a little payback” they jeered. As they moved, he attempted to move but found himself unable, the strength from his body having left him. They walked towards him, removing the Pokéball from his bag and taking his Pokémon. As they left, he found himself without the presence of the professor. Lifting his head, Matthew found himself alone with the Cranidos he had previously resurected.

“Well it's just me and you then” Matthew said as he addressed the Cranidos as if it were already one of his own. He looked around before seeing the hole in the wall; sure to find his Pokémon and re-unite them with him. Walking out of the hole, he examined the ground, finding no clue s to where they could be. “Let's go North then shall we?”

[Food Guy]

Research Lab

Treepandaone: The stone dinosaur looks at you with curiosity, the world he was in a lot different from the world that he used to be in. Realising that he has sort of zoned out noticing what the world around him is like, Cranidos shakes his head and walks after you. You step out of the laboratory, and start heading north, the Rocket's starting to get really annoying. As you walk along a path that went off from the Lab, you are a little more cautious and nervous than you had been before, more likely that not due to the Rockets attacking and stealing all your pokemon and kidnapping the professor. Suddenly there is a a snap behind you, and you immediately turn around, ready to fight. Instead of seeing something akin to a Rocket, you see Cranidos munching on a twig that he had broken off a tree branch. The munching pokemon stares at you for a couple of seconds before he stops eating and innocently spits the twig out. As you continue to walk, you find the path diverting into a little sand path. It appears that you can either take this path, or you could continue along the road.

What will you do?

[Treepandaone]

Research Lab

Treepandaone: The stone dinosaur looks at you with curiosity, the world he was in a lot different from the world that he used to be in. Realising that he has sort of zoned out noticing what the world around him is like, Cranidos shakes his head and walks after you. You step out of the laboratory, and start heading north, the Rocket's starting to get really annoying. As you walk along a path that went off from the Lab, you are a little more cautious and nervous than you had been before, more likely that not due to the Rockets attacking and stealing all your pokemon and kidnapping the professor. Suddenly there is a a snap behind you, and you immediately turn around, ready to fight. Instead of seeing something akin to a Rocket, you see Cranidos munching on a twig that he had broken off a tree branch. The munching pokemon stares at you for a couple of seconds before he stops eating and innocently spits the twig out. As you continue to walk, you find the path diverting into a little sand path. It appears that you can either take this path, or you could continue along the road.

What will you do?

It had been a while since Matthew had revived a fossil back to the earth so he had forgotten about the transitional period while they get used to the time period. It was not an emotion that Matthew had forgotten, however, as his mind remembered the various emotions that some of his comrades had expressed he couldn't help but refresh the anger that Aerodactyl had expressed. Being the first of his fossil Pokémon Matthew decided to call him Ares after the Greek God of war following his anger. It had taken nearly all of his Pokémon at once to stop the Aerodactyl destroying his base and caused him to rebuilt much tree-top house.

Seeing the Cranidos shake back into life after zoning out, Matthew stepped out of the laboratory, brushing past the explosion hole and leaving the wreckage behind him. Opening his Pokédex he turned on the compass and map application, heading North to follow the path of the Rocket members. Cursing the Rocket gang as he went, Matthew began to move a little more cautiously, checking his corners like a SWAT members, keeping an eye out for any sudden movements. In his mind he knew it was stupid; if the Rocket members wanted to kill him they'd have done it at the laboratory but he wanted to be safe.

Suddenly Matthew heard a snap behind him. Turning round to face his assailant Matthew found himself face to face with Cranidos, the small Pachycephalosaurus chewing on a twig loudly. The dinosaur continued munching until it noticing that he was being stared at; spitting the twig out innocently like a cartoon character. Matthew face creased up as he tried to stay angry, unable at the hilarity of the Cranidos' innocence.

Matthew continued to the path, pondering where the Rockets could have taken his Pokémon and the professor. Looking around, Matthew noticed he had wandered too far and had found another path, sandy in nature, leading off from the main path he was following. Deciding that fate had obviously struck it's course he continued down the sandy path, worrying over the professor while Cranidos followed, blissfully unaware of any such problem.

[CyberBlastoise]

Cortoza
The Volcanic Island

Floating serenely in the middle of the ocean, Cortoza is a secluded land mass which was once a beautiful and highly populated tropical island. Two hundred years ago a powerful oceanic earthquake resulted in a chain reaction of death and destruction as Cortoza's active volcanic mountains erupted in a series of cataclysmic explosions that churned out a spectacular display of ash, rock, and molten lava, and finally ending with Mt Fumi's stupendous paroxysmal eruption. All of Cortoza's vegetation was destroyed, while humans and Pokémon not fast enough to flee perished in the resulting destruction as the western end of the island collapsed beneath the sea, generating a series of devastating pyroclastic flows and immense tsunamis that ravaged adjacent coastlines. The events of that day marked the last 24 hours on earth for over 50,000 people and 300,000 Pokémon, as the wave of destruction flowed across hundreds of coastal villages and towns. For the next hundred years nobody dared approach the island due to the constant seismic activity and mini eruptions, but for the past several decades all has been quiet. Pokémon have returned, and with very few people drawn to the volcanic island, wildlife has been given the chance to thrive. Although wary, people are also beginning to venture to Cortoza again, some of the more opportunistic seeing this land as their chance to strike it rich due to its fast-booming tourism industry. Most are curious though, as the island has shown amazing regenerative qualities, and many are eager to explore and to witness the miraculous regrowth for themselves. The tropical jungle is flourishing once more, Pokémon have returned, and as far as everyone is aware most of Cortoza's volcanoes have been laying dormant for almost one hundred years.

Mt. Pele

From afar, this mountain appears to resemble a woman whom the Cortozans believe to be the Goddess of fire, lightning, dance, volcanoes, and violence. Pele was, and still is, both revered and feared by the native inhabitants of Cortoza as they firmly believe the only way to avoid utter destruction of their land is to pay homage to her. With Mt. Pele having been the first to erupt two hundred years ago, many believe their Goddess was unhappy with her subjects, and that she had exacted her punishment upon them for having ignored their faith in her. Those who survived the initial destruction two centuries ago were sure to pass on the story of Pele to their children so that her legend was sure to live on. Today, the descendants of Cortoza's survivors hold daily rituals and monthly festivals to keep their Goddess happy in the hope she'll never destroy their homes again.

Areas:
Pele's Ruins: The ruins of a thousand year old temple built in Pele's honour. Descendants of Cortoza's survivors steer clear of these ruins as they believe they have been cursed by Pele herself, and have instead built another temple in which to worship their Goddess. The Ruins have become a popular tourist attraction for visitors to the island however, a fact which makes the natives rather uneasy.

Bill had traveled to these ruins that he had read about. Mt. Pele's description had appealed to him because of various things, perhaps the biggest was because of his recent adventure, but that was another story. Of course, he did not want to go straight to the new temple, as he felt that this would especially upset the natives of Cortoza, seeing that he did not have a sacrifice to give. Instead, he decided to go to the ruined temple that the Cortozans try to keep away, and it was a tourist attraction, too, so he might stop by the gift shop later. Upon arriving to the ruins, a small crowd was already there, but at least he could easily access the temple. He started to wonder if it was such a good idea to arrive there, but he still wanted to at least look around the temple, and something like this would definitely have a lot of mysterious passages and whatnot. That, or he had been watching too much Indiana Jones.

The trainer had approached the entrance of the ruins, ready to explore the ancient mysteries of the past, like how the ancients lived and worshipped back in the day. He thought about what and how the temple would be constructed to survive the cataclysm that happened in Cortoza, as he stepped through the doors, or rather the doorway.

[Stark]

Cortoza
The Volcanic Island

The Island

The constant heat seeping up through Cortoza's volcanic soil has given the island a distinct tropical feel, a vast and winding rainforest taking up a large percentage of the land's mass and surrounding each of Cortoza's mountains. The rainforest is humid and full of life, but also very dangerous. The ground is unstable in certain areas making hiking through the forest dangerous even for the most experienced of guides. Several patches of arid, rocky land dot the island, where no vegetation will grow, and it's there that some of the strongest and most fearsome Pokémon roam.

Crystal Resort: A comfortable and modern resort built on the edge of Lake Tyr for the tourists who are now frequenting Cortoza.

Cortoza. A tropical paradise. Or at least that's how Stark had interpreted the brochure. Short stops at creepy amusement park island and an even creepier castle in Riviera had created a longing for some nice relaxing sightseeing. Sure his time in Talos had been nice. He had even made some friends while there. Granted he had to rescue them from an out of control Gengar to do it, but in the end everything worked out. What Cortoza had in store for him, he had no idea. What he did know was that it was going to be fun. A chance for himself and his pokémon to get out and see the world of Fizzy Bubbles once more.

The trip to the island had been a long one, even by boat. He had spent his time looking over the various landmarks of the island. Specifically the four mountains that seemed to make up it's geography. Each mountain while sharing a similar origin had a unique culture spring up around it. From the religious beliefs of Mt. Pele to the falls of Mt. Infernus. There were many adventures waiting to be had upon the island. One just had to decide where they wanted to go.

The black sands of the beach were not exactly the welcome postcard moment he had hoped for, but he was here to sit on the beach. At least he hadn't planned on doing that. Or at least much of that. There was too much to see to waste time playing in the ocean and frolicking around in the sand all day.

With the help of his pokémon he had managed to not get lost and as evening drew closer he had finally reached Lake Tyr and his eventual destination. Crystal Resort. The modern buildings blending with the natural scenery in a strange inviting way. With a smile on his face, Stark made his way toward the main building taking time to let all the sights sink in. If nothing else, then to at least know where things were. Like how to get down to the lake or where to go to get a bite to eat. He had already begun to feel relaxed just being in the environment. There was something soothing about being at a resort like this. If he was lucky, he might even find someone local who had some ideas of what the places on the island were to visit.

Eventually, he managed to find the lobby of the resort and proceeded to the desk to check in. The sooner he found his room and settled in, the sooner he could release his pokémon and feed them. They had been cooped up far too much for his liking during their trip and like him, they could use a little rest and relaxation after the months of solitary training they had been going through. Stark stopped at the main desk and in a friendly demeanor said, "Hi. I'm looking to get a room for a night or more. I'm not exactly sure how long, I kind of want to do a lot of sightseeing, so really if you have any suggestions or know someone I could talk to that would be willing to guide me while I'm here, I'd appreciate it."

[Food Guy]

Cortoza
The Volcanic Island

Floating serenely in the middle of the ocean, Cortoza is a secluded land mass which was once a beautiful and highly populated tropical island. Two hundred years ago a powerful oceanic earthquake resulted in a chain reaction of death and destruction as Cortoza's active volcanic mountains erupted in a series of cataclysmic explosions that churned out a spectacular display of ash, rock, and molten lava, and finally ending with Mt Fumi's stupendous paroxysmal eruption. All of Cortoza's vegetation was destroyed, while humans and Pokémon not fast enough to flee perished in the resulting destruction as the western end of the island collapsed beneath the sea, generating a series of devastating pyroclastic flows and immense tsunamis that ravaged adjacent coastlines. The events of that day marked the last 24 hours on earth for over 50,000 people and 300,000 Pokémon, as the wave of destruction flowed across hundreds of coastal villages and towns. For the next hundred years nobody dared approach the island due to the constant seismic activity and mini eruptions, but for the past several decades all has been quiet. Pokémon have returned, and with very few people drawn to the volcanic island, wildlife has been given the chance to thrive. Although wary, people are also beginning to venture to Cortoza again, some of the more opportunistic seeing this land as their chance to strike it rich due to its fast-booming tourism industry. Most are curious though, as the island has shown amazing regenerative qualities, and many are eager to explore and to witness the miraculous regrowth for themselves. The tropical jungle is flourishing once more, Pokémon have returned, and as far as everyone is aware most of Cortoza's volcanoes have been laying dormant for almost one hundred years.

The Island

The constant heat seeping up through Cortoza's volcanic soil has given the island a distinct tropical feel, a vast and winding rainforest taking up a large percentage of the land's mass and surrounding each of Cortoza's mountains. The rainforest is humid and full of life, but also very dangerous. The ground is unstable in certain areas making hiking through the forest dangerous even for the most experienced of guides. Several patches of arid, rocky land dot the island, where no vegetation will grow, and it's there that some of the strongest and most fearsome Pokémon roam.

Areas:
Shale Beach: Shale Beach stretches around the outskirts of the island itself. Its sand is gritty and black, not at all the postcard picture you want to be sending home.

Ignatius River: Flowing from the base of Mt. Infernus and winding throughout the island before eventually flowing into the sea, the Ignatius River is a popular destination for travellers who wish to picnic by its banks, or take a dip after a long day of hiking. Many wild Pokémon can be found wandering around here, and most are rather friendly as they've become accustomed to seeing humans wandering along the shore.

Garland Basin: A large basin near Mt. Ceniza where many varieties of herbs grow. A large number of natural hot springs are found here, making it a popular tourist attraction. The effects of the herbs in the warm spring water can have various effects, some very soothing.

Lake Tyr: A freshwater lake situated roughly halfway between Mt. Pele and Mt. Fumi, Lake Tyr covers an area of about 2.4 square kilometres and is over 220 meters deep. The water is a beautiful, sapphire blue, and is always quite warm due to volcanic activity beneath the island. Many people are drawn here for the spectacular scenery, but also to take a refreshing dip after spending a long day trekking across the island. What most don't tend to realise is that Lake Tyr is sitting right on top of an active oceanic volcano.

Crystal Resort: A comfortable and modern resort built on the edge of Lake Tyr for the tourists who are now frequenting Cortoza.

Research Lab: A division of Volcanity Inc., this scientific team has set up equipment at several locations across the island in order to study the geological effects of past eruptions on the current environment, as well as to track any current seismic activity. Sometimes they can use some help, so if you offer your services you may be able to take on a job.

Mt. Pele

From afar, this mountain appears to resemble a woman whom the Cortozans believe to be the Goddess of fire, lightning, dance, volcanoes, and violence. Pele was, and still is, both revered and feared by the native inhabitants of Cortoza as they firmly believe the only way to avoid utter destruction of their land is to pay homage to her. With Mt. Pele having been the first to erupt two hundred years ago, many believe their Goddess was unhappy with her subjects, and that she had exacted her punishment upon them for having ignored their faith in her. Those who survived the initial destruction two centuries ago were sure to pass on the story of Pele to their children so that her legend was sure to live on. Today, the descendants of Cortoza's survivors hold daily rituals and monthly festivals to keep their Goddess happy in the hope she'll never destroy their homes again.

Areas:
Pele's Ruins: The ruins of a thousand year old temple built in Pele's honour. Descendants of Cortoza's survivors steer clear of these ruins as they believe they have been cursed by Pele herself, and have instead built another temple in which to worship their Goddess. The Ruins have become a popular tourist attraction for visitors to the island however, a fact which makes the natives rather uneasy.

Pele's Temple: Built by the descendants of Cortoza's survivors as a place of worship for their beloved Goddess, this pure white marble temple is a work of art. Etchings, paintings, and sculptures depict the Cortozan Goddess in all of her flaming beauty, and those who enter the temple are expected to leave an offering in order to keep Pele happy.

Pele's Shrine: Half-way up the mountainside is another monument built in Pele's honour, this sacred shrine's centrepiece none other than a sacrificial altar surrounded by flaming torches. Chanting can be heard at night, drifting across the island, but it's the blood-curdling screams that can be heard emanating from here under the light of a full moon that keep tourists and trainers away when the sun begins to set.

Pele's Cavern: About two-thirds of the way up the mountainside is an enormous cavern dedicated to Pele. Molten lava pits dot the floor, the humidity so intense that only the hardiest of fire types can withstand the extreme temperatures. Trainers will need plenty of water if they wish to enter as no human can stand the heat for more than a few minutes at a time. Cortozans believe that winning a battle here will impress their Goddess who will bestow them with good fortune after proving they are worthy of her faith, and will often challenge strong trainers to a battle.

Fire Pit: Believed to be the home of Pele, the crater's magma-filled centre is well protected. Cortozan natives are afraid that tourists and trainers will not show their deity the respect she deserves and will stop at nothing to ensure nobody reaches Mt. Pele's summit.

Mt. Fumi

The largest and most volatile of Cortoza's volcano's, Mt. Fumi tends to strike most who see it with feelings of awe and fear. Towering over the other mountains, Mt. Fumi is an impressive sight, but is also home to some of the most dangerous Pokémon who tend to dwell higher up on the mountainside in order to avoid the sudden influx of trainers who are frequenting the island. If you plan on taking a hike up this mountain, you'll want a powerful team by your side.

Areas:
Terraki Village: One of many villages destroyed by the eruption two hundred years ago. Recently, the descendants of those who once dwelt here have returned to lay claim to their ancestral land.

Fumi's Walk: A long and winding trail that twists around the volcano. If you think you have the stamina to make your way to Mt. Fumi's summit you can certainly give it a try, but beware, the trail is unstable and the Pokémon along here do not like intruders.

Open Plain: A wide plateau near the mountaintop. Many travellers like to picnic here and challenge each other to a friendly battle. The views are amazing, but sometimes wild Pokémon who don't like people trespassing upon their territory are prone to emerge from the caverns dotting the mountainside to attack and scare people off. Be prepared for more than a little sightseeing if you venture this far up the mountain.

Mt Fumi Peak: The hottest of all places, deadly fire Pokémon breach the edges of the volcano making the heat almost as intense as the lava inside. If you manage to make it to the top, bring a lot of water - you'll need it.

Volcanic Crater: Inside of Mt. Fumi is the volcano's crater. It is hot, steamy and full of lava. While the volcano has been dormant for almost one hundred years the island is occasionally racked with powerful tremors, an indication of the fact that this thing is preparing for another mind-blowing explosion. It is rumoured that immediately after one of these tremors, some of the strongest fire and lava Pokémon appear.
- Sub-Area:
- The Lava Pit: A battle arena suspended over the lava where Fire Pokémon battle each other in tournament-esque matches for a prize and the glory of being crowned the champion. Trainers with Fire Pokémon often find themselves here because of their Pokémon's lust for battle and eagerness to prove themselves against other fire types. Legend has it that the king of Fire Pokémon presents the prize and crowns each new champion personally...

Mt. Ceniza

Always grey, Mt. Ceniza is constantly coated in a thin layer of ash. An active volcano, she doesn't appear to be on the verge of eruption - not any time soon, anyway - but her constant rumbling can be felt by those who travel near. This mountain has become a tourist attraction, particularly for those interested in collecting ash, though the tremors felt do tend to keep the more nervous travellers away.

Areas:
Cinder Village: A small village at the base of Mt. Ceniza built around a murky hot spring. Its inhabitants believe the ash filled water will cure any ailment for human and Pokémon alike.

Caliente Trail: A path leading up the mountain that is always covered in ash. Not many Pokémon find the living conditions on Mt. Ceniza to be very pleasant, but those who do seem to enjoy their surroundings. Some are more friendly than others, so don't be too quick to befriend wild Pokémon seen along here or you may be in for more than you'd bargained for.

Granite Tunnel: A maze-like tunnel leading up through the inner mountain. Steps have been carved into the rocks so that people can make their way to several different locations of the mountainside in order to bypass the falling ash. A preferable choice for those who prefer to stay clean, but it can get quite warm in here so be sure to bring along a good supply of water. Falling rubble can pose a problem, however, during Mt. Ceniza's stronger tremors so you'll need your wits about you at all times.

Rest House: An old man living on the mountain is the only person to have returned to Cortoza decades before any other human dared to venture back to the island. He's a little strange after having lived so long on his own, but is a very friendly fellow indeed. He enjoys the company of trainers, and will open his home to anyone in need of food and a place to sleep. He makes remarkable glass sculptures from the ash he collects, and if you do him a favour you may just find yourself leaving with a unique souvenir.

Ceniza Summit: Definitely not the safest place to roam. The light stream of ash emitting from its crater is very hot upon emerging from the depths of the volcano, though it cools rapidly upon coming into contact with the air. If you're unfortunate enough to be wandering about here during one of Ceniza's 'bursts' of activity, you're going to need to take cover, and fast! The land up here is fairly barren, the trees long since dead, though the odd patches of hardy plant life scattered across the summit are a pleasant sight to behold. Most of the Pokémon who reside up here dwell in caves and aren't too friendly when approached, so if you do plan on travelling here you'll need to have the ability the think quickly and decisively when dangerous situations arise.

Mt. Infernus

The second largest of Cortoza's mountains, Mt. Infernus is now extinct. Many Pokémon have made their homes within the vast network of tunnels and caverns deep within the mountain, and aren't all that accustomed to seeing people. It's become the primary breeding ground for many of the rarer Pokémon who tend to shy away from humans, and due to the protective nature of the parent Pokémon, quite a hazardous area to traverse.

Areas:
Waterfall: A large waterfall cascading down the side of Mt. Infernus and into the Ignatius River before flowing out to sea. Many tourists and trainers love to bask in the sun by its banks which are much more pleasant to visit than the uninviting Shale Beach surrounding the island.

Scenic Walk: A long path comprised of slopes and stairs leading up and around the mountainside. With Mt. Infernus being an extinct volcano and Cortoza's second tallest mountain, most tourists feel more comfortable sightseeing from here. The views are spectacular, and there are several campsites manned my Cortozan natives who will provide food and shelter for weary travellers.

Totem Village: A tribal village situated upon a mesa on the mountainside which is surrounded by totem poles depicting various Cortozan Gods. The villagers are extremely friendly and always happy to engage in friendly battles with trainers looking to prove themselves upon any of the cleverly designed battle arenas created by the villagers.

Mountain Peak: A sanctuary for wild Pokémon who live amidst the lush trees found upon the mountaintop. Very few trainers have the stamina to make it all the way up here, so the Pokémon who dwell in the area have thrived in this environment. Many freshwater pools dot the landscape, but beware of the fast flowing river that leads to the edge of the waterfall cascading into the river below as no safety rails have been built to keep curious trainers and Pokémon away from the long drop over the mountainside.

The Rock Pool: Deep, deep, deep, within the bowels of Mt. Infernus there is rumoured to be a secluded water-filled chamber where extremely rare and ancient Pokémon dwell. Some even say that Pokémon have mutated over the centuries to create new breeds, never before seen in the land of Fizzy Bubbles. This has never been confirmed or denied, as those who have stumbled across this chamber have never been able to defeat the Pokémon they've encountered, let alone capture them. When told to bring proof of their existence, those who have tried to return to the chamber have never been able to find it again. Who knows? If you're lucky, you may just stumble across it...

[Food Guy]

Welcome one and all to my zone, where I have a few rules. Reply in size one and in Dark Red, please and thank you.

The following are in the zone (Cap of 5):

- Treepandaone
- Cyprus
- CyberBlastoise
- Stark

Expect replies up sometime in the near future.

[Food Guy]

Reposting for Cyprus
Waterfall

Cyprus: After a long trip you have finally made it to the waterfall, the pristine water looking absolutely fabulous. You continue to walk, taking in the view around you. There are people lined up around the waterfall's banks, not a lot of people but still a decent amount. Several of the people have even got their pokemon out, several of the little monsters chasing after each other. Turning your attention over to the jungle around the banks, you hear the numerous calls of the inhabitants of the area.

"Excuse me mister?" calls a small voice.

You feel a tug on your pants and look down. There is a little girl holding onto your pants legs, her head only reaching halfway up your thigh. More importantly the girl looked lost and there was a panicked expression on her face. Seeing you looking down the little girl continues.

"Mister, I can't find my mummy or daddy!" she cried, tears forming in her eyes. "Can you please help me?"

What will you do?

[atlantis_kid99]

The Island

The constant heat seeping up through Cortoza's volcanic soil has given the island a distinct tropical feel, a vast and winding rainforest taking up a large percentage of the land's mass and surrounding each of Cortoza's mountains. The rainforest is humid and full of life, but also very dangerous. The ground is unstable in certain areas making hiking through the forest dangerous even for the most experienced of guides. Several patches of arid, rocky land dot the island, where no vegetation will grow, and it's there that some of the strongest and most fearsome Pokémon roam.

Areas:
Lake Tyr: A freshwater lake situated roughly halfway between Mt. Pele and Mt. Fumi, Lake Tyr covers an area of about 2.4 square kilometres and is over 220 meters deep. The water is a beautiful, sapphire blue, and is always quite warm due to volcanic activity beneath the island. Many people are drawn here for the spectacular scenery, but also to take a refreshing dip after spending a long day trekking across the island. What most don't tend to realise is that Lake Tyr is sitting right on top of an active oceanic volcano.

Alicia wiped her sweaty hair out of her face, her irritation growing exponentially with the humidity of the jungle. Her plain top clung stubbornly to her skin, doing nothing to ease the irritation. Only her Ekans seemed unaffected by the tropical heat; the snake was currently coiled lazily around her right arm and winding himself around her neck.

"Stop it, Shade," the brunette trainer snapped half-heartedly. Said Ekans flicked out his forked tongue in apathy before resting his head (and fangs), quite deliberately, on her throat. He hadn't done anything truly malicious - yet - but he had a very sadistic streak and knew how to make his trainer uncomfortable.

She poked her Ekans away from her throat. "Alright, then. Just don't wrap yourself too tight."

Her steady footsteps continued, if slightly slower. The brunette trainer had been walking through the rainforest for at least an hour already with nothing to show for it. ...Where was she, anyway? She squinted at the dense, leafy canopy, but she couldn't see beyond it. A mosquito buzzed next to her ear. Alicia slapped it away, but it buzzed back towards her again, as if taunting her. The purple snake lay, like a dead weight, on both shoulders.

"That is it," she growled. "I am getting out of here and into the next hot spring I can find."

She whipped out her Pokédex and hit "search" for the nearest landmark. The Pokédex bleeped mechanically back at her. Lake Tyr, it read. ...Good enough. Checking the compass, Alicia set off again at a brisk pace.

[Food Guy]

Sandy Path

Treepandaone:Deciding that you would rather go on the sandy path than the road, you start to walk along it, your naive little dinosaur following you. As you continue to walk, you heard a car gunning down the road, and realise that you could have been hit by the vehicle if you had decided to stay on the paved road. Pushing the thought out of you mind, you continue to walk, determined to find the Rockets and get your pokemon back. Soon you have walked the length of the path and find yourself back at the beach, the same beach that the Rockets had been at before. Walking onto the beach, Cranidos lets out a cry and starts to run, which wouldn't really be a problem if it weren't for the fact that he was running away from you. You let out a sigh and run after him, the sand crunching under your feet. Cranidos suddenly stops running, something in front of him peaking his interest. Catching up to him, you soon see why he stopped his running. Laying on the ground was the professor! He was gagged and bound, and looked to be unconscious. You move forward and suddenly a Golbat swoops down from the sky and lands in front of the professor. Realising that the pokemon is a Rocket pokemon, you know that it must be beaten before you can get to the professor.

What will you do?

Pele's Ruins

CyberBlastoise: You step into the ruins, wondering what they were like back when they weren't dilapidated and ruined. You walk through the ruins, marveling at the parts of the structure that has stood the test of time and at how the structure was put in place. Continuing to wander around the ruins, your foot suddenly catches on something and you find yourself propelled forwards into the ground. Picking yourself up, you look to see what it was that tripped you over. Turning and looking, you see the corner of something luminous sticking up out of the ground. Looking at it curiously you dig around it a little bit, and it pops out of the ground with relative ease. It is a tablet, about the size of a medium sized book, and it is covered in strange hieroglyphs, and some of them do look a little like pokemon.

"Hey you!"

You turn around and see a middle aged man running up to you.

"What do you think you are doing with that?" he asked, glaring at you. "How dare you steal the sacred tablet of Pele! Go Pidgeotto, use Wing Attack."

What will you do?

Crystal Resort

Stark: "Ah okay then sir," says the attendant, "Just let me type up your details so that I can book you a room."

As he does that, you take a quick glance around the room, and a blur of white and blue darts across the room. Doing a double take, you rub your eyes in disbelief, and when you look again you can't see anything blue and white. Deciding that it must have been your imagination you turn back to the attendant who has finished registering you into the Resort's databank.

"Sir, unfortunately all our rooms are full at the moment, however if you come back in about two hours some of our visitors shall have signed out and then I can put you in a room," said the man, "So until then Julian over there will tell you everything you need and want to know about the Crystal Resort."

He points to a muscular man in the middle of the room.

What will you do?

Lake Tyr

Atlantis_kid99: Finally reaching your destination, you let out a breath of amazement, the lake being even more beautiful than you could have imagined. Another thing you notice is the multitude of people who are currently in the lake, your guess at the number of people being a high two digit number. Nevertheless you are happy to be here, though with your Ekans sitting like a heavy weight on your shoulders you do need to find a place to sit soon. Finding a shady spot near the lake, you are quick to dump the snake, no matter how much he wants to stay on your shoulders. Stretching your shoulder muscles, you take a look around to see what was happening at the lake. Apart from people swimming there is a small group of people who are having some fun battling. You could go for a swim, or perhaps the group would allow you to join in on some battling.

What will you do?

[atlantis_kid99]

Lake Tyr

Atlantis_kid99: Finally reaching your destination, you let out a breath of amazement, the lake being even more beautiful than you could have imagined. Another thing you notice is the multitude of people who are currently in the lake, your guess at the number of people being a high two digit number. Nevertheless you are happy to be here, though with your Ekans sitting like a heavy weight on your shoulders you do need to find a place to sit soon. Finding a shady spot near the lake, you are quick to dump the snake, no matter how much he wants to stay on your shoulders. Stretching your shoulder muscles, you take a look around to see what was happening at the lake. Apart from people swimming there is a small group of people who are having some fun battling. You could go for a swim, or perhaps the group would allow you to join in on some battling.

What will you do?

The second Alicia spotted the lake, she broke out into a wide grin. Finally, she could cool off and relax! She found a spot of shade near the lake and subsequently dumped the Ekans, all too happily, onto the ground (he was not pleased). The trainer kneaded her own shoulder muscles with a happy sigh before she walked to the water's edge and splashed water onto her sweaty face. The water was far warmer than she would have liked, but refreshing all the same.

Alicia returned to the spot of shade she'd reserved for herself. Shade had since slithered away and started sunbathing; at her return, he hissed angrily and pointedly looked away. "Fine, be that way," she muttered. It was childish of her but really, the Ekans was more trouble than he was worth (and that was saying a lot, considering how she felt about all her Pokémon).

She lay down and simply relaxed. The view was gorgeous and the atmosphere pleasant. Eventually, her eyes closed and she dozed lightly for a while.

Until Shade bit her.

"Ow!" screeched Alicia. Yellow eyes stared back at her; his head swayed as if in amusement. "And why, exactly, did you do that?"

His answer came in the form of a bobbed head and a flick of his forked tongue. "...Oh. Sure, why not. Shade, the next time you want to wake me up, just poke me or something. Biting is a big no." Nursing the shallow wound on her forearm, Alicia stood up and made her way over to a group of trainers who were conducting friendly Pokémon battles. Her Ekans slithered along behind her.

"Hey! Do you mind if I join in?"

[Treepandaone]

Sandy Path

Treepandaone:Deciding that you would rather go on the sandy path than the road, you start to walk along it, your naive little dinosaur following you. As you continue to walk, you heard a car gunning down the road, and realise that you could have been hit by the vehicle if you had decided to stay on the paved road. Pushing the thought out of you mind, you continue to walk, determined to find the Rockets and get your pokemon back. Soon you have walked the length of the path and find yourself back at the beach, the same beach that the Rockets had been at before. Walking onto the beach, Cranidos lets out a cry and starts to run, which wouldn't really be a problem if it weren't for the fact that he was running away from you. You let out a sigh and run after him, the sand crunching under your feet. Cranidos suddenly stops running, something in front of him peaking his interest. Catching up to him, you soon see why he stopped his running. Laying on the ground was the professor! He was gagged and bound, and looked to be unconscious. You move forward and suddenly a Golbat swoops down from the sky and lands in front of the professor. Realising that the pokemon is a Rocket pokemon, you know that it must be beaten before you can get to the professor.

What will you do?

Pebbles crunched underfoot as Matthew made his way onto the path; straying from the road to make haste in search of the Rocket gang which had stolen his Pokémon. Semi-oblivious dinosaur in tow, Matthew ushered the Crandios from the road as he decided to take the path back towards the sea, hoping inside for a breakthrough.

Moments after choosing his path, Matthew heard a loud noise as he turned, his eyes thankful as to his brain as he saw a car gunning down the road at a dangerous speed as he realized he could have been hit by the neglectful driver. His mind washed with thoughts of why the driver was going so fast; What was behind him to make him do that? Shaking it off, Matthew moved further down the path, recognizing the various trees and noticeable stones on the way that he had passed coming up the strip, re-tracing his steps in hoping to find something substantial.

Making his way onto the beach, Matthew sighed as he saw nothing in the vicinity, the lack of any real clues to where he should go troubling his mind as he looked around, hoping for a clue to something or anything. Crouching down to examine the grains of rock, Matthew's thought pattern was soon interrupted by the Cranidos at his side, letting out a cry as it began to run off in another direction.

“Hey come back!” he shouted, standing upright as he set off after the rock-types. Probably just seen a damn Krabby he thought to himself, his initial reaction to the dinosaur was one of patience, but with the elongated time without his Pokémon, it was running thin.

Cranidos' feet spread on the sand, the trio-clawed foot expanding on the soft material similar to a camel, giving it a distinct advantage to stay level and run faster than Matthew could. His feet slipped in the sand, pushing up grains and sending them flying behind him with some entering his shoes.

With the Craidos stopping, Matthew found himself almost sliding into the back of him, the lack of a grip on the soft sands meant he needed a fair space to come to a dead halt. Finally putting a hand on his dinosaur comrade to hold it still, Matthew noticed it looking at something, its interest peaked. Tilting his head, Matthew took a few moments before realizing that it was the professor, bound and gagged on the floor of the beach.

Moving forwards in hope of freeing the scientists, a shadow loomed overhead as it covered part of the sand, sending a chill down Matthew's spine. Realising that he wasn't the only one who wanted the professor, Matthew sneered at the Team Rocket Golbat, though his mind wondered where it's master was.

Matthew looked down to his new-found comrade and then back up to the Golbat. With no bag, Matthew found himself out of his comfort zone, the lack of technical machines on the Pokémon suggested that he was going to have to go back to basics in order to beat the Golbat. Tactical warfare was in place as he nodded to his Cranidos, sending him forth into the dinosaur's first battle since resurection.

“Leer it down into reach and then Headbutt it!” he called, issuing a finger to point to the evil bat “Then see if you can Headbutt it again.”

[CyberBlastoise]

Pele's Ruins

CyberBlastoise: You step into the ruins, wondering what they were like back when they weren't dilapidated and ruined. You walk through the ruins, marveling at the parts of the structure that has stood the test of time and at how the structure was put in place. Continuing to wander around the ruins, your foot suddenly catches on something and you find yourself propelled forwards into the ground. Picking yourself up, you look to see what it was that tripped you over. Turning and looking, you see the corner of something luminous sticking up out of the ground. Looking at it curiously you dig around it a little bit, and it pops out of the ground with relative ease. It is a tablet, about the size of a medium sized book, and it is covered in strange hieroglyphs, and some of them do look a little like pokemon.

"Hey you!"

You turn around and see a middle aged man running up to you.

"What do you think you are doing with that?" he asked, glaring at you. "How dare you steal the sacred tablet of Pele! Go Pidgeotto, use Wing Attack."

What will you do?

Bill entered into the ruins, admiring the architecture. The fact that this place survived that disaster all those years ago was a testament to how well it was built. The young trainer felt that the title "Ruins" was unfitting, but then again, he always did love archaeology and ancient things. However, his admiration was cut short when something grabbed his foot and tripped him.

"Ow, that could have gone better," said Bill as he looked to see what it was that tripped him. A shiny stone appeared where his foot was. Being the curious man that he was, he decided to unearth this stone and see if it had any relative importance to the ruins in general. As he pulled it out, it turned out to be a slab of stone with some ancient writing. "Good thing I'm on the 'Hooked on Hieroglyphics' program," he stated to himself. As he tried to decipher the meaning, he came to the conclusion that it was a lunch menu. Then he realized something, "I forgot...I was sick on the Ancient Cortozan Language day." He hoped that someone nearby would have the knowledge of the language that the Ancient Cortozans used.

However, he thoughts were cut short by a man yelling, "Hey you!" Turning around, Bill noticed a middle-aged man approaching him, he was definitely lipid.

"Yes sir?" asked Bill. Perhaps this man was a tour guide of some sort.

"What do you think you are doing with that?" asked the man, giving Bill a stare that would chill most.

Bill tried to explain, "I um tripped over this and..."

The man was obviously not listening to Bill. Instead he stated, "How dare you steal the sacred tablet of Pele! Go Pidgeotto, use Wing Attack."

This man was attacking Bill because he thought that the young trainer was a thief. Instinctively, Bill grabbed his Kabuto's Pokeball and called, "Shelly, intercept its attack with your Scratch!" He hoped the single attack would at least allow Bill to explain himself to the man before so many of the artifacts around them would be destroyed.

[Stark]

Sandy Path



Crystal Resort

[/I]Stark: "Ah okay then sir," says the attendant, "Just let me type up your details so that I can book you a room."

As he does that, you take a quick glance around the room, and a blur of white and blue darts across the room. Doing a double take, you rub your eyes in disbelief, and when you look again you can't see anything blue and white. Deciding that it must have been your imagination you turn back to the attendant who has finished registering you into the Resort's databank.

"Sir, unfortunately all our rooms are full at the moment, however if you come back in about two hours some of our visitors shall have signed out and then I can put you in a room," said the man, "So until then Julian over there will tell you everything you need and want to know about the Crystal Resort."

He points to a muscular man in the middle of the room.

[I]What will you do?

"Sounds like a plan," Stark said to the attendant in a far cheerier tone than was the truth. The truth was that he was a little disappointed that he had to wait. Although if he was to get right down to it, two hours of patience was not exactly going to kill him. After he got the lowdown about the resort from Julian he could always do a little training with his pokémon or go sit at the pool and watch the ladies. He was in a paradise. There was nothing at all to be disappointed about.

The strange blue and white blur was a little disconcerting, however. He could have sworn he saw something there. He just couldn't make it out. He hoped it wasn't ghost. He had been in a number of haunted places lately it seemed and while everything seemed to turn out for the best in the end, the journey to get to the end was often quite harrowing. More than once he wasn't sure if he would make it through with his wits intact. Still, he wasn't aware of any ghosts that were blue and white in color so it had to either be a figment of his imagination or some other kind of very fast pokémon. Most likely his imagination giving way to the humdrum of his long journey here.

Stark soon found himself approaching Julian and with a smile said, "Hello! Excuse me... Julian? My name is Stark and I was told by the desk attendant that you could maybe help help me with ummm... Well... ummm... with telling me about the resort. So, uhhh... can you help me?"

[Ariden]

Mt. Ceniza

Always grey, Mt. Ceniza is constantly coated in a thin layer of ash. An active volcano, she doesn't appear to be on the verge of eruption - not any time soon, anyway - but her constant rumbling can be felt by those who travel near. This mountain has become a tourist attraction, particularly for those interested in collecting ash, though the tremors felt do tend to keep the more nervous travellers away.

Rest House: An old man living on the mountain is the only person to have returned to Cortoza decades before any other human dared to venture back to the island. He's a little strange after having lived so long on his own, but is a very friendly fellow indeed. He enjoys the company of trainers, and will open his home to anyone in need of food and a place to sleep. He makes remarkable glass sculptures from the ash he collects, and if you do him a favour you may just find yourself leaving with a unique souvenir.

He got off the boat. A warm welcoming breeze easily moved on its own out into the ocean, as if congratulating the passengers on board, to just step down, and get ready for a bright day ahead on Cortoza. With people safely on the island, the ship set sail dutifully seawards, leaving the rest on land to roam around freely. Notwithstanding, a trainer, not so different from many, leaped ahead to the information board. This is Centin's story. "Out - Atriel and Hemy," and with that, out popped 2 of Centin's prized pokemon, an altaria, and a walrein. He could've sent another one out, but for some odd reason, not today. Centin likes the interaction between his pokemon, even for a short moment outside - you never know which 2 pokemon might get paired up together. It gives a sort of mingling time for his pokemon.

As he looked at the board, he planned just the perfect location for his next pit stop - the Rest House. Surely, a fit trainer like this should go to more exotic places, no? "That rest house seems cool~ chill~ laid back~ green~". Barely, but his pokemon pay no heed to their trainer. Hemy flopped around trying to catch altaria's tails, clouds and fluffs whatnots. "Come, Atriel and Hemy, to the rest house," and so the trainer slowly walked to the rest house, regularly looking back, to see if the 2 pokemon are really following him. Maybe his pokemon thought of him as flippant, but at least they get to rest, or play more once they get there.