video | june 18th

[pokexplorer]

[The video feed opens up to the image of a man with a weird coat and an even weirder hairstyle. It'd be weird enough without the translucence provided by his Iris Moonblessing, honestly. He is located somewhere in one of Greatmoon Groves' parks from the looks of things in the background, and he seems very excited to speak with the network.]

Greetings! I've yet to make a post to the network, so I would like to introduce myself first and foremost. I am Colress, a scientist working for the Lunar Scientia and a fellow Moonblessed!

I am addressing the network today with an inquiry! But before I get to that, I would like to make just a few more introductions. This will be related to my inquiry.

[Colress then pans the camera to five creatures whom he introduces as Klinklang, Beheeyem, Magneton, Rotom and Porygon-Z. Klinklang and Rotom seem particularly interested in crowding around the communication band to get their time to shine, while Beheeyem and Magneton hang out as far off-screen as possible. Porygon-Z looks like it has no idea what's going on, honestly.

Colress manages to settle them all down before returning his attention to the feed.]

These are my Pokemon! I have been here for about two months, and have taken notice to the fact that everyone I've spoken to has had no idea what Pokemon are. Allow me to provide a brief description: Pokemon are creatures in my world with unique abilities and affinities to various elements. There are hundreds of species, and they have had a long-standing symbiotic relationship with humans. Pokemon are a cornerstone of my world's culture and my primary subject of study, so you can imagine my surprise when I discovered that I seem to be the only one with knowledge of them here!

However, I have met several individuals with similar companions. This brings me to my inquiry: Are there others present in Lunatia that arrived with pets or companions similar to Pokemon? I would love to compare and contrast our experiences, and learn more about the creatures of your worlds!

[As Colress goes on, the upside-down head of Porygon-Z can be seen peering in from the top left corner of the feed.]

Of course, I am also happy to elaborate on the subject of Pokemon as well, if anyone found interest in my description.

Thank you for your time!

Comments

[video]

[bloodisthicker]

You know, I still want to actually visit your world if we actually find a way to do that so I can see more of those things.

[it's weird that all these creatures are so charming despite being so fucking weird. but anyway.]

You know, though, I was thinking about it, and while it never came up directly, it does remind me a bit of a cultural figure we have known as the Avatar. They're kind of complicated to explain, but they're both the only person who can bend all four elements along with being the only person who can actually remember and contact their past lives. This makes them kind of a unifying figure, and historically they've usually traveled around with an animal companion of sorts.

[pokexplorer]

Hello, Tarrlok! [He gets a cheerful greeting with a smile, because. Y'know.] Actually... Have you heard about the Amphoria Room that the Lunar Scientia has been inviting Moonblessed to experience? I would not be opposed to making use of that if you would like a preview.

[Colress listens to Tarrlok's description with rapt attention, his eyebrows raising with curiosity with every new detail.]

My, they sound amazing! The concept of bending is fascinating enough, but to be able to wield all elements... [He can only think of one Pokemon that would be able to be all elemental types, and that's...essentially God, really.] I can certainly imagine that they would be a major figure in your world. Is there something special that determines who becomes the Avatar?

[bloodisthicker]

[Aw hell, that thing. The offer’s really tempting, but...]

Honestly, I don’t want to be the sort of person who distrusts technology, but the idea of uploading my memories to some sort of database makes me a bit uncomfortable. If you’re fine with it and I don’t have to upload mine, though, it sounds like it could be a good time.

[...like, on the one hand, Tarrlok has things to hide. On the other hand, it still seems potentially invasive and creepy even if you don’t.]

But yes, they definitely are a major figure. Basically, well, it’s something of a cycle, really... you don’t really become the Avatar as much as you’re born the Avatar. The last Avatar was an Air Nomad, so when he died, a girl from the Water Tribe was born as the new Avatar. When she dies, it’ll be a child from the Earth Kingdom, then a child from the Fire Nation, and then it’ll cycle back to an Air Nomad.

[pokexplorer]

[Colress seems a little disappointed by Tarrlok's apprehension, but he also understands the concern.]

From my understanding, it is not so much uploading your memories into a database as it is using the machine as a channel for your memories to flow into and translate into simulated reality. The Prismals may record our sessions, but I don't believe they would be able to pore over memories that are not shared.

But that is only my particular understanding. At the very least, I have given consent to the project as I too am interested in finding correlations between Moonblessed. So yes, if you would like to accompany me, it would only be my own memories uploaded.

[As for the topic of the Avatar,]

I see. And each Avatar has the ability to speak with previous Avatars... I assume this has to do with your world's spiritual connections?

[bloodisthicker]

It’s still the sort of thing I would like to opt out of, unfortunately. I think it would be pretty enjoyable to show off my world, but... well, maybe I’ll see how it goes with you first. That should be enough to sell me or make it clear it’s not something I want to try.

And yes, that’s basically it. The Avatar is the link between the human nations, but they’re also intended to serve as the link between humans and spirits. Of course, they’re still people, so they have to master their abilities for themselves instead of automatically knowing everything.

[pokexplorer]

Of course. I won't force it on you, so please do not feel pressured even after we're finished with mine.

[Still, he has visibly perked up with a slight spark of hope...]

As for what you said about the Avatar, that is understandable, yes! That would be an overwhelming amount of power for a child to have if it was all there to begin with. Would you say that they end up going on a journey of their own to master their abilities?

[bloodisthicker]

Oh, of course. I'm at least excited to see how it works with somebody else who's consented to it ahead of time, I suppose.

And... well, normally they do. I know that historically they've traveled to the four nations to learn the different bending styles from masters of the four elements, but our current Avatar is a bit different for a few reasons, for... better or worse.

[pokexplorer]

I will comb through my memories for scenery that I believe you will find most enjoyable.

[He already has a very good one in mind, actually...]

I see. That makes the most sense, I'd say. But why have the circumstances changed this time, if you don't mind my asking?

[bloodisthicker]

I’m interested in seeing what you pick, then.

[he hopes there are a lot of cute Pokémon..........]

Well, the world is peaceful enough that any bending instructor could come to her instead of her going to them, but I don’t really blame people for being concerned enough for her safety to keep her in one place. Our last Avatar went missing around the outbreak of a hundred year long war and was stuck in an iceberg all that time, so I can’t really blame the various peacekeeping bodies for wanting to make sure she’s somewhere stable to avoid a repeat of that bit of chaos.

[pokexplorer]

[There will be so many cute Pokémon. ...and not Colress' definition of cute.

Also um. Holy Magikarp, that's quite the story.]

Oh my... That is absolutely understandable! It is a very good thing that she has others to aid her. Have you ever met her yourself? Republic City seems like it would be a rather stable place, all things considered.

[bloodisthicker]

Ah, yes. She recently relocated to Republic City to complete her airbending training, since the only adult, trained airbender in the world is one of my fellow council members and he couldn’t exactly leave to spend however long at the South Pole to train her.

We actually are facing more unrest than we’d like in Republic City at present, so it’s been something of a trial by fire for her. It also doesn’t help that she’s... difficult.

[pokexplorer]

[Colress nods along as Tarrlok explains. He seems surprised to hear about the unrest, though. Tarrlok hadn't mentioned that before.]

Is that so... Is everything going to be all right? Ah, as in, is it something you were on the road to being able to quell?

[bloodisthicker]

Well, I was getting to the point where everything would be under control. I don’t know how well things are doing in my absence, if that’s even something I have to worry about.

[pokexplorer]

[Well yikes, that sounds like a bit of a mess.]

Goodness, just you? Was the rest of the council not pulling their weight?

[bloodisthicker]

You could say that, to a certain extent. I think most of the members are a bit unwilling to exert their authority, and the one member with the strongest opinions aside from myself prefers a more passive approach that I don’t think is what’s going to work in these troubled times.

[pokexplorer]

I see. I assume this ties into what you told me before about some of the nations not wanting to wanting overstep their bounds. If it really is as you say, I would think that now would be a good time to set those concerns aside to find a solution...

What is going on, exactly?

[bloodisthicker]

Well, a fringe movement known as the Equalists that likes to blame benders for all the ills facing society stopped being fringe and started gaining far too much traction when a new leader arose who could basically remove people’s ability to bend. Now, the previous Avatar was able to do this as well, but he was effectively the only person in history who could and he only reserved it for the most dangerous possible cases, like the warmongering former ruler of the Fire Nation and a violent criminal whose unique bending ability would render him impossible to imprison otherwise.

The Equalists’ leader, Amon, basically declared war on all benders and has set out to sever everyone’s connection to the elements regardless of their moral standing or their place in society. He believes that the ability to bend in and of itself results in benders oppressing those who can’t bend, even if actually opening your eyes and looking at the state of Republic City would tell you that isn’t the case. Logic doesn’t actually have that much of a place in this kind of thing, though, especially when you’ve got some kind of charismatic cult leader heading things who can actually produce tangible results.

[pokexplorer]

[The more Tarrlok explains, the more visibly unimpressed Colress gets. Even the name "Equalists" puts a sour taste in his mouth.]

This may or may not come as a surprise to you, but the Unova region—the region that I am from—went through a similar struggle a few years ago with a group known as Team Plasma. Its leader, Ghetsis, attempted to convince the people to release their Pokemon as an act of liberation, explaining his belief that humans were abusing their Pokemon's unique abilities and doing more harm to them than good. Effectively, he put guilt into the mind of Trainers and actually did manage to convince many of them to give up their companions for the sake of equality.

Of course, he never actually believed in what he preached. He simply wanted to be the only person with Pokemon at his command so he could rule over the region. He was a very despicable man who used Pokemon and people alike as tools to further his goals.

[He moves on to his point about all of this after he finishes his own explanation.]

It is difficult to bring people like him to reason, and I imagine this Amon is the same way. What sort of solution were you working on to quash his movement?

[bloodisthicker]

You know, I’m not surprised to hear that at all. It’s kind of disappointing to hear that my world’s not the only one with that kind of problem, but people will use any excuse to grab whatever power they can get.

[says the pot of all the kettles...]

I really have no idea if Amon is taking all his followers for a ride or if he actually believes his own message. It doesn’t change the fact that he’s a lunatic that needs to be put down, though. I’ve been trying to keep the pressure up. They’re fairly good at guerrilla tactics and it recently turned out that one of the city’s wealthiest industrialists is a member, so it’s a matter of getting the ability to apply that pressure, as well as cutting off access to new recruits.

[pokexplorer]

[Uh... "Put down" seems a bit harsh? Colress purses his lips at that wording, but chooses not to say anything for the time being.

He mulls over everything Tarrlok has explained thus far...]

And what has the Avatar made of all of this? Was she able to see your side of things?

[bloodisthicker]

Well, like I said, she’s... unpredictable. I thought we had a reasonably good thing going, but she struck out on her own, nearly got her bending taken, and then spent a few months being distracted by sports until the arena was attacked by Equalists, at which point she decided to strike out on her own rather than cooperating. She got some results, I suppose, but it’d really be better if we coordinated our efforts, given that her little excursions got in the way of official police business at some points.

[pokexplorer]

[lol what's a proper police force

"Unpredictable" is right, though... This seems borderline reckless too, if she's still inexperienced as Tarrlok implied.]

Indeed, this seems like the sort of situation that coordination would benefit. The results could be been bigger, for instance. Do you have an idea of why she broke off from her partnership with you?

[bloodisthicker]

I think it’s just stubbornness and bad influences, honestly, with a touch of wanting the credit for herself. I mean, I do understand that she probably feels like she has something to prove given that she’s only managed to master three of the four elements so far and the previous Avatar accomplished a great deal more at a younger age, but this really isn’t the best way to go about it.

[Also Tarrlok’s fucking shady but he like, isn’t gonna say that.....]

[pokexplorer]

[And without that vital piece of the puzzle...]

Indeed. While Republic City is certainly facing a threat, the circumstances sound very different from the previous Avatar's as well. Comparing herself to them at this time could seems inappropriate... Everyone grows at their own pace- even those with skill. But I imagine that she feels like she has the weight of the people on her shoulders, which can't help.

[He could certainly see the expectations placed upon her and the need to immediately meet those expectations as a bad influence.]

[bloodisthicker]

Oh, I’m sure. It’s not really an enviable position at all, but it would really serve her well to seek guidance from those of us with more real world experience to help her navigate this difficult situation.