[09] Kratos Aurion vs Involuntary Twitch

2vs2 Single
DQ: One Week
Damage Cap: 35%
Banned Moves: OHKO's, weather moves, defog. Direct healers limited to 1/pokémon and chills to 3/pokémon

Terrain: The Battle Pike

The Battle Pike's labyrinthine corridors are dim and quiet, partitioned by heavy red curtains and lined with golden statues. Only the bravest--and, of course, luckiest--trainers manage to wend their way through its treacherous depths to reach the final room, which is dominated by a large, marshy arena. Ordinarily, this is where they would face the might of Pike Queen Lucy in their battle for a Frontier Symbol.

Today, though, Lucy is off on vacation, and it is the TCoD ASB that has set up shop in the depths of the pike. The danger facing trainers is not one of the legendary Frontier Brains, but instead one of their fellow trainers and the swampy patch of ground that retains the Pike's fickle qualities despite the absence of its Brain.

The arena is composed of low islands of reed-edged land, surrounded by shallow (no more than a meter deep), brackish water. Dominating the center of the arena is one large island, about seven meters in diameter; it is here that the battlers will begin the match by default. Arrayed around this are many smaller patches of solid ground, most one to two meters wide and in a variety of shapes. There is also a margin of ground around the edge of the arena, although its width varies from no more than a narrow strip of land to large projections out towards the middle of the field. The ground is damp and covered in thick grass, plus a few wildflowers. Now and again dark shapes will glide beneath the water's surface or something will rustle in the tall reeds, but for the most part the arena is still and innocent-looking. Lucy has also left behind one of the Pike's aides, who would ordinarily provide guidance to trainers stumbling through the maze. Adept at reading the mood of the arena, she will make an observation at the end of each round that alludes to what is likely to happen in the near future. At the beginning of the next round a random effect will take place, based on which of the phrases, outlined below, the aide utters. There is an equal chance of her saying any one of the following:

1. "There is a sense of restlessness about this place..."

There is a 75% chance that a band of croagunk will rise out of the murky water and attack both pokémon, causing 10% damage to each.

There is a 25% chance of a few friendly yanma will take flight, carrying berries to both pokémon, which will be eaten immediately to restore each pokémon's health by 10%.

2. "I seem to have heard something... It may have been whispering..."

There is an 80% chance that nothing will happen.

There is a 20% chance that cricketot hidden in the long grass will begin to chirp a soothing melody, calming both pokémon to the point that they regain 10% energy.

3. "The distinct aroma of pokémon is wafting around the arena..."

There is a 75% chance that a few magikarp will leap pointlessly out of the water, but otherwise nothing will happen.

There is a 25% chance that happiny will emerge from the reeds and offer their eggs to both pokémon, which will be eaten immediately to restore each pokémon's health and energy by 10% each.

4. "Even the air feels like it's holding its breath..."

There is a 65% chance that the arena's built-in weather system will activate, artificially generating conditions of bright sunlight, rain, hail, sandstorm, or fog. There is an equal chance of each weather being selected, and whichever one is "turned on" will last indefinitely, up until the point that this effect triggers again and a new condition is picked.

There is a 35% chance that gastly will drift through the arena, casting a malicious spell on the combatants that steals 10% energy from each.

5. "A cold breeze is racing around the arena..."

There is a 45% chance that vileplume hidden among the grass will release noxious powders to inflict a random status effect on all battlers. Alternatively, duskull may rise up from the ground and use will-o-wisp or chilling ice to freeze or burn one of the pokémon on the field.

Each pokémon is targeted with a status condition according to the following list:

Poison: 35% chance
Freeze: 25% chance
Paralysis: 20% chance
Burn: 10% chance
Sleep: 10% chance

The status effect is determined independently for each pokémon, so one may become burned while the other is paralyzed, for example. If a pokémon is targeted by a status to which it is immune (e.g. the "poison" effect is rolled for a steel-type), then the effect fails and the pokémon escapes being statused. If the pokémon already has the status with which it is targeted, that status' severity will be increased.

There is a 55% chance that vileplume hidden among the grass will release an aromatherapy, removing all major status conditions from both battlers.

Additional Rules: If both pokémon would faint at the end of the last round such that a tie would occur, the winner will be determined as follows:

1. If the pokémon fainted due to perish song, the player whose pokémon used the attack loses. If the pokémon fainted due to a self-destruct move or destiny bond, the player whose pokémon used the attack loses.

2. If one pokémon knocked the other out, but then fainted due to recoil/energy loss/etc., its trainer is the winner.

3. If both pokémon succumb at the same time to some non-damage effect (e.g. both are damaged by hail, poison, whatever), each is restored to 20% health and energy. All terrain effects, status boosts, and status afflictions are cleared, and the pokémon again play until one is knocked out. Turn order proceeds as it ordinarily would have if the pokémon wouldn't have fainted in the "final round."

Click to expand...

Kratos Aurion's Squad said:

[Folie à Deux] Girafarig (M)
Ability: Early Bird
Held Item: Wise Glasses

Antares (M) Gligar
Ability: Sand Veil
Held Item: Razor Fang

[Die Hand die Verletzt] Shuckle (F)
Ability: Gluttony
Held Item: Leftovers

[Zelos Wilder] Blaziken (M)
Ability: Blaze
Held Item: Expert Belt

Car Insurance (F) Grovyle
Ability: Overgrow
Held Item: Lucky Egg
Move Mod: (AHBE) Grasswhistle

[Ghost in the Machine] Porygon-Z (X)
Ability: Download
Held Item: Enigma Berry

Geist (X) Rotom
Ability: Levitate
Held Item: Thunderstone

Qasvin (X) Phione
Ability: Hydration
Held Item: Damp Rock

Räsvelg (M) Osgrave
Ability: Torrent
Held Item: Razor Claw

[Indomitable] Rasqueon (F)
Ability: Anger Point
Held Item: Reaper Cloth

Click to expand...

Involuntary Twitch's Squad said:

[Ganteiana] Combusken (F)

[Teorpea] Tropius (F) <Chlorophyll>

[Waita] Spheal (M) <Thick Fat>

[Phanel] Alakazam (M) <Synchronize>
Signature Move: Tortured Souls of the Dragonslayer

[Sarae] Terrabbit (F)

[Danver] Rotom (X)
Signature Attribute: Phone Forme
Signature Move: Phone Call

Click to expand...

1. Involuntary Twitch sends out
2. Kratos Aurion sends out and attacks
3. Involuntary Twitch attacks

A highly luck-based battle. But the Twitchean Union doesn't believe in luck. We believe in strategy. We believe in victory. We believe in world domination.

Ana! Go forth and blaze a path for the Union!

(psst Negrek I mentioned this on Kutho already but you forgot my blaziken's expert belt)

Hm. Much as I dislike blatant type-matching, do want gliscor, and I'd rather not wait around for that spheal to make a potential appearance! Antares, you're up. It is with great sorrow that I must ask you to use earth power on Ana over there. Then mix it up with sludge bomb and end with another earth power. If she protects, set up a stealth rock the first time and get your swords dance on anytime after that; also use the non-damaging attack if she tries a double team and you can't spread your attack to hit as many clones as possible.

Earth Power/Stealth Rock ~ Sludge Bomb/Stealth Rock/Swords Dance ~ Earth Power/Stealth Rock/Swords Dance

Pff. Type disadvantages? We laugh in the face of type disadvantages, Ana. You're powerful enough to kick this oddly typed scorpion into its place. And by its place, we mean the ground.

Start things off with a will-o-wisp, then swords dance if you pulled it off successfully, or a rock tomb if you did not. After that, flare blitz if you Swords danced, else slash

Will-o-wisp ~ Swords dance/Rock tomb ~ Flare Blitz/Slash

The Battle Pike's inner sanctum is unusually crowded today, with temporary bleachers crammed against three of its walls, all groaning with the weight of spectators. Where ordinarily the room would be silent save for the quiet percolation of water through the reeds, today the air is filled with whoops and jovial chatter as the audience talks out its anticipation for the match to come. The Pike Queen herself is nowhere to be found, perhaps too outraged by the travesty of the rabble being allowed into a room that she ordinarily makes so difficult to reach, but one of the facility's attendants stands to the side of the battlefield. Next to her is the referee, who stands at attention, eyes on the doorway on the far wall, covered by a thick red curtain, through which the challengers will enter.

As the time creeps up to the scheduled beginning of the match, the crowd only grows more restive. As the first trainer shoves aside the curtain and stroes into the room, it erupts with applause and cheering. Involuntary Twitch smiles and waves briefly to the stands, but does not slow as she makes her way to one of the challenger's boxes at the edge of the marshy battlefield. It is Kratos Aurion--entering to another round of adulation--who takes up the other a few minutes later, looking confident and unruffled at the center of attention.

The referee calls for the release of the trainers' pokémon, and in twin flashes of light they appear: on Involuntary Twitch's side, Ganteiana the combusken lets out a braying crow and gets into a fighting stance; from Kratos Aurion's pokéball appears Antares the gligar, stretching his wings and observing all the water in the arena with some distaste. The pokémon eye one another and fidget a bit as the referee goes over the match's rules, then tense as, at last, their trainers begin to give their first commands of the match.


Involuntary Twitch (OO)

Ganteiana (F)
Health: 100%
Energy: 100%
Commands: Will-o-wisp ~ Swords dance/Rock tomb ~ Flare Blitz/Slash
- Barely able to contain her excitement.

Kratos Aurion (OO)

Antares (M) <Sand Veil>
Health: 100%
Energy: 100%
Commands: Earth Power/Stealth Rock ~ Sludge Bomb/Stealth Rock/Swords Dance ~ Earth Power/Stealth Rock/Swords Dance
- Leering at Ganteiana.

Antares is quickest to attack, gliding down to the ground and dealing it a solid smack with his tail. Ganteiana is thrown off her feet as the earth beneath her erupts in a blast of golden energy and a shower of mud and grass. While Antares climbs back to his normal altitude, Ganteiana slowly pulls herself back to her feet, shaking dirt out of her feathers and looking irritated already. Her first attack is a bit less direct; she blows out a small ball of hot blue flame that drifts over towards Antares. The gligar watches it uncertainly. It wavers and weaves from side to side as it travels through the air, and when the gligar tries to dodge it, it makes an abrupt turn and strikes him in the chest.

Antares hisses as the will-o-wisp scorches his armor, cracking it open and charring the skin beneath. The burn is no more than a minor setback, though; the gligar barely takes a moment to recover before turning his stinger on Ganteiana, thick poisonous fluid gathering at its tip. When the sludge bomb has grown to about the size of a grapefruit, Antares hurls it at Ganteiana, who throws up an arm to protect her face and tries to step aside. The gooey projectile strikes her side and splatters, coating her feathers in viscous ooze. Some seeps into one of the cuts acquired as a result of the earth power attack and is absorbed into her bloodstream.

Ganteiana takes no time trying to clean herself off, though. She instead launches into an exuberant warrior dance, spinning in place and performing daring acrobatics. Antares grows tired of watching the show and drifts downward again, once again sending a pulse of energy into the earth as he smacks his tail against it. Ganteiana's dancing throws off his aim a bit, however, and only the edge of the attack catches the combusken.

Nevertheless, the searing burst of ground-type energy is enough to throw off Ganteiana's groove. She manages to stay upright this time, but her swords dance grinds to an immediate halt. All is not lost, however; newfound strength flows through her body, and her confidence has skyrocketed. She may be a bit beaten up already, but Antares is about to get a taste of his own medicine. Unleashing the full power of her inner fire, Ganteiana coats herself in a veil of fire, poison bubbling and fizzing away to nothing and the dirt in her feathers giving off an awful smell as it chars. She bears down upon Antares and, with a dearing leap, bears him to the ground in an explosion of angry fire. Antares manages to struggle away and return to the air, but he is visibly shaken, not to mention a bit crispy about the edges.

Involuntary Twitch (OO)

Ganteiana (F)
Health: 62%
Energy: 86%
Used: Will-o-wisp ~ Swords dance ~ Flare Blitz
- Roughed up a bit and burning for payback. Poisoned (3%/round). +2 Attack

Kratos Aurion (OO)

Antares (M) <Sand Veil>
Health: 81%
Energy: 81%
Commands: Earth Power ~ Sludge Bomb ~ Earth Power
- Not looking forward to another of those flare blitzes. Burned (3%/round).

Terrain Notes
As the round comes to a close, the arena is still. The Pike attendant quietly observes, "Even the air feels like it's holding its breath..."

Final Notes
- Not proofread; enjoy.
- Antares' second earth power was a glancing strike.
- Involuntary Twitch attacks first next round.

Not looking forward to next round's effect, unless it's sunlight by some twist of fate, but then again, this -is- the battle pike, after all.

Start off with a rock tomb, if he dodges or protects then focus energy instead. Next, focus energy if you haven't yet, otherwise rock tomb if you can hit him or swords dance if you can't. Then slash, unless he dodges, in which case swords dance.

Rock Tomb/Focus energy ~ Focus energy/Rock tomb/Swords dance ~ Slash/Swords dance

(Just checking, but you are taking Antares's razor fang into account, right? You're not listing him as holding it in the summary, but you have included other people's items in their battles, so...)

Hm. Swords dance to offset some of that burn, first of all. Assuming rock tomb actually hits you (go go bad accuracy plus maybe sandstorm and sand veil), try and escape by digging and attacking. If you can't move enough to dig down, wait for her to finish her focus energy and then get out with faint attack--it's not a huge deal if you don't hit Ana as it'd be ineffective anyway, though of course a little damage is better than no damage so try and get her if you can. If rock tomb misses, earthquake. Finish up with another earthquake.

Swords Dance ~ Dig/Faint Attack/Earthquake ~ Earthquake

There is a low rumbling from the ceiling overhead, followed by a loud whoosh of air as intake fans whirr to life. Pokémon and battlers turn eyes upward as the Pike's weather-generation machinery rattles to life, waiting to see what it has in store for the arena. A couple of seconds later, Ganteiana lets out a surprised squawk and raises a hand to her head, rubbing at a sore spot. A glance down at the ground by her feet finds a large hailstone slowly melting into the earth. Soon both she and Antares are shielding themselves as a determined rain of hail pelts the arena.


Involuntary Twitch (OO)

Ganteiana (F)
Health: 62%
Energy: 86%
Commands: Rock Tomb/Focus energy ~ Focus energy/Rock tomb/Swords dance ~ Slash/Swords dance
- Roughed up a bit and burning for payback. Poisoned (3%/round). +2 Attack

Kratos Aurion (OO)

Antares (M) <Sand Veil> @ Razor Fang
Health: 81%
Energy: 81%
Commands: Swords Dance ~ Dig/Faint Attack/Earthquake ~ Earthquake
- Not looking forward to another of those flare blitzes. Burned (3%/round).

Trying to ignore the stinging hail, Antares swoops into a swords dance of his own, looping and twirling amidst falling ice. While the scorpion performs his acrobatics, Ganteiana kneels, placing her hands on the ground and grimacing as she splays her claws in the mud. Reaching down through the earth, Ganteiana channels energy into boulders lying trapped below the surface. At her command, they begin to claw their way towards the surface, shedding thousands of years of dirt as they rise. At last they burst into open air--and fly right past Antares as he spins to one side. The rock tomb collapses in a useless heap next to the gligar, who lets out a hissing cackle.

Once again Antares flies low to the ground and smacks the ground with his tail, though his burn makes him a bit less exuberant than he otherwise would be in performing the attack. This time, rather than a concentrated blast of earthen energy, the force of the gligar's blow unleashes a a ripple of seismic upheaval across the entire arena. The ground below Ganteiana's feet trembles, bucking more and more violently until the combusken is knocked to the ground. All around, water sloshes uneasily around the small islands of dirt and overflows the edges of the arena, encroaching on the challengers' boxes.

As the shaking subsides, Ganteiana lies on her side, covered in dirt and aching all over after being banged repeatedly against the ground. Trying to collect herself, she closes her eyes and focuses on clearing her mind, meditating to increase her battle focus.

Antares doesn't suspect what the combusken is up to and simply unleashes another earthquake on the arena, thinking his opponent already cowed by his barrage of ground type attacks. Once again Ganteiana is made to endure being bounced over the ground as an earthquake rips through the arena, crumbling the edges off some of the islands and spilling still more water over the trainers' shoes. When the attack dies away, though, Ganteiana is still able to get to her feet--a bit shaky, maybe, but not out of the fight yet. She lets out a crow as she leaps into the air, bringing her claws slicing down in a precise arc, prying between two of the armor plates on Antares' chest and forcing them asunder. The gligar gurgles and hisses, reeling back through the air as blood starts to well from the deep rend.

Meanwhile, the bombardment of hail and insidious workings of poison erode Ganteiana's control over her own firepower. A warm wave seems to spread through her body, and her feathers are outlined by a bright red glow as her inner fire rages high, blazing bright even as the combusken's body deteriorates.

Involuntary Twitch (OO)

Ganteiana (F)
Health: 32%
Energy: 76%
Commands: Rock Tomb ~ Focus Energy ~ Slash
- Weakening, but not ready to give up yet. Focused. Blaze activated. Poisoned (3%/round). +2 Attack

Kratos Aurion (OO)

Antares (M) <Sand Veil> @ Razor Fang
Health: 61%
Energy: 65%
Commands: Swords Dance ~ Earthquake ~ Earthquake
- Nursing a gash in across his chest. Burned (3%/round). +2 Attack

Terrain Notes
A steady hailfall pounds the arena, littering the ground with slippery patches of melting ice. The Pike Aide calmly says, "A cold breeze is racing around the arena..."

Final Notes
- Rock tomb missed.
- Slash was a critical hit.
- Yeah, I know the razor fang's there; just forgot to include it in the stat write-up.
- Kratos Aurion attacks first next round.

cold breeze no kidding it's hailing

Hm. Let's see. Aerial ace, aerial ace and then maybe another aerial ace for good measure. If Ana falls asleep, dream eater (why do you learn this) the whole round, for health, energy and health in that order, and go back to aerial ace if she wakes up. If you fall asleep, sleep talk until you wake up, then aerial ace or dream eater as appropriate.

Aerial Ace/Dream Eater/Sleep Talk x3

Start with a Counter against that Aerial Ace, then let's RIP TEAR KILL with an Flare Blitz, followed by a Facade unless the damage cap has been reached in which case bulk up.

Counter ~ Flare Blitz ~ Facade/Bulk Up

It takes a couple of moments, but the pokémon do soon notice the same chill breeze that the Pike aide had mentioned. It whispers through the tall grass and toys with the brackish water of the marsh; it makes Antares shiver a bit, reminding him a bit too much of icy wind for comfort, and leaves Ganteiana unmoved, wrapped as she is in the warmth of her blaze ability. What the vileplume lurking in the guise of large yet innocuous flowers release into the wind, however, is what has the greatest effect on the pokémon in battle.

Puffs of brightly-colored spores drift into the wind, glittering innocently as they are swept along. A cloud of golden dust is blown into Ganteiana, and at first the combusken doesn't recognize it for what it is, irritably moving to brush it from her feathers. It isn't until she inhales a bit and abruptly chokes, her airway seizing up as the stun spore settles into her lungs, that she recognizes the danger. Antares, meanwhile, does his best to avoid the bursts of deadly spores, darting here and there in the air as he tries to anticipate the drift of the insidious attacks. A cloud of purple dust envelops him from behind, however, and as the poisonpowder settles onto the gligar's exposed tongue, he abruptly begins to feel rather nauseous and out of sorts.


Involuntary Twitch (OO)

Ganteiana (F)
Health: 32%
Energy: 76%
Commands: Counter ~ Flare Blitz ~ Facade/Bulk Up
- Weakening, but not ready to give up yet. Focused. Blaze activated. Poisoned (3%/round). Paralyzed (severe). +2 Attack

Kratos Aurion (OO)

Antares (M) <Sand Veil> @ Razor Fang
Health: 61%
Energy: 65%
Commands: Aerial Ace/Dream Eater/Sleep Talk x3
- Nursing a gash in across his chest. Burned (3%/round). Poisoned (3%/round). +2 Attack

Shaking off both the early stages of poisoning and his irritation at being caught in the poison powder at all, Antares darts forward, swooping down on Ganteiana at a frightening speed. The combusken only just has time to brace herself for the impending attack before Antares strikes, one outstretched claw dragging a long gash from her shoulder and across her chest. The combusken doesn't even acknowledge her injury, reaching out lightning-fast to snag Antares' tail as he starts to zoom away. Pivoting on one foot, Ganteiana turns gligar's forward momentum into rotation and spins him a couple of times around her body, adding power to the coming blow. Ganteiana swings Antares, now struggling miserably with his tail trapped in the combusken's claws, up and then down into the earth with an audible "thud." The gligar actually sinks a couple of inches into the soft ground, and for a few seconds he doesn't move at all.

The gligar raises himself slowly, spitting out mud and fighting away the daze lingering after impact. Ganteiana's counter was ludicrously strong, but he can't stop now; the fire type is flagging, and he has to take her down quickly before she manages to pay him back for the earthquakes he's put her through. Pushing himself up from the earth the gligar takes to the air and swoops down on the combusken again, not even bothering to brush the mud from his armor before diving into his next aerial ace.

The blazing-fast attack leaves another stinging cut across Ganteiana's torso, but as before, she remains undaunted. The red aura around her body flares higher and higher, transforming into true flame as the combusken projects her fire energy in all directions. As Anatares comes to hover a couple of meters away, looking wary and still a little out of it after his collision with the ground, the combusken takes off. Her large feet pound deep indentations in the muddy earth as she hurtles forward, the sheet of fire encasing her only blazing more intensely as she rushes into the final stage of her attack. Antares sees it coming and does his best to dodge, but Ganteiana leaps into the air and manages to catch him, if not full on, then still with enough force to send him spinning away, flames dancing around his armor and mind reeling from the impact.

Ganteiana lands heavily, panting a bit, while Antares tries to sort himself out. The gligar beats the last of the fire away from his body, then makes another lightning-fast run on Ganteiana, hoping that he'll be able to knock the fire type out at last. The combusken staggers sideways as the aerial ace rakes across her side, and her blaze aura leaps still higher, but she isn't quite ready to fall. With her opponent sporting cracked, scorched armor and drifting undeniably lower in the air than he was before, Ganteiana decides that it's safe enough to spend a moment bolstering her stats. It's difficult to concentrate in her condition, which is undeniably critical, but the combusken does an admirable job nonetheless, channeling energy to her muscles and greatly increasing their tone in a matter of seconds. Unfortunately, though Ganteiana manages to keep herself together through the execution of the attack, the pounding of the hail is just too much; she blacks out in the end. Antares breathes a small sigh of relief as she is recalled into her pokéball; for a fire type, she certainly put up a troublesome fight.

Involuntary Twitch (XO)

Ganteiana (F)
Health: 0%
Energy: 55%
Used: Counter ~ Flare Blitz ~ Bulk Up
Knocked Out!

Kratos Aurion (OO)

Antares (M) <Sand Veil> @ Razor Fang
Health: 26% (capped)
Energy: 58%
Used: Aerial Ace x3
- Crushed by Ganteiana's counterattack. Burned (3%/round). Poisoned (3%/round). +2 Attack

Terrain Notes
A steady hailfall pounds the arena, littering the ground with slippery patches of melting ice. The Pike Aide's forecast remains the same: "A cold breeze is racing around the arena..."

Final Notes
- Flare blitz was a glancing blow.
- Ordinarily I don't have pokémon able to gauge whether they've hit the damage cap or taken their opponent to a particular health percentage; in this case, Ganteiana could infer by Antares' condition that he'd taken quite a bit of damage and she'd probably hit the cap, but you shouldn't rely on that always working out in your favor in the future.
- Involuntary Twitch sends out her last pokémon
- Kratos Aurion attacks
- Involuntary Twitch attacks

...It is unfortunate that you fell, Ganteiana, however your sacrifice will not be for nothing.

Phanel, let's not waste any more time. Much as we would like to give the other Union members experience, there's a time for everything and yours is now.

Doubt you'll be lasting much longer, but you're going to be a gliscor at the end of this no matter what; well done. Faint attack, aerial ace and faint attack, then. If Phanel is protecting/detecting/inaccessible aside from substitute, power trick if it's on the first action, stealth rock on the second and tailwind if it's on the third. If you're asleep, sleep talk until you wake up and then return to your other commands as appropriate.

Faint Attack/Power Trick/Sleep Talk ~ Aerial Ace/Stealth Rock/Sleep Talk ~ Faint Attack/Tailwind/Sleep Talk

DQ warning for Involuntary Twitch.

Defeat it before it can inflict any serious damage, Phanel. If you can't reach it, Calm Mind.

Ice Punch/Calm Mind ~ Ice Punch/Calm Mind ~ Ice Punch/Calm Mind

With Ganteiana eliminated, Involuntary Twitch decides it's time to bring out one of her big guns. The pokéball that she hurls into the arena releases Phanel the alakazam, the league's only example of the powerful species and a seasoned battler. The mustachioed pokémon doesn't look terribly impressed by the sorry state of his opponent, idly twirling his spoons in his long fingers and waiting indifferently for his commands.

Before they can be given, however, the arena decides that it ought to give the alakazam a fitting welcome. Antares lets out an irritated hiss as a familiar wind starts to blow across the arena; the gligar glances in all directions, trying to catch sight of any toxic powders that might be drifting his way. Phanel remains relaxed, more curious than anything, until the battlefield's hidden vileplume actually begin to release their spores. The alakazam's eyes narrow as the air is filled with choking spores. He searches for some route of escape, but whichever way he turns, a haze of glittering powder floats on the air; a cloud of golden spores settles over his body even as he prepares to teleport to some far edge of the arena, and the alakazam frowns, annoyed, as his atrophied muscles begin alternately locking and spasming. For a creature as focused on the mental as an alakazam, the paralysis is mostly just a nuisance, but it's hardly the best way to start a match. Meanwhile, somewhere out in the tall grass, an unsuspecting vileplume is surprised to find itself inexplicably paralyzed, Phanel's synchronize having done its work.

Antares, meanwhile, is riding the wind, trying to stay ahead of the clouds of powder that choke the air. Unfortunately, he isn't quite able to outrun a glittering patch of green powder; he's barely passed into it before he dips into a sudden nosedive, eyes fluttering weakly and his body drooping. The potent sleep powder is enough to put the gligar under before he hits the ground. Phanel smirks as Antares begins to snore gently. As though this battle wouldn't have been easy enough already.


Involuntary Twitch (XO)

Phanel (M) <Synchronize>
Health: 100%
Energy: 100%
Commands: Ice Punch/Calm Mind ~ Ice Punch/Calm Mind ~ Ice Punch/Calm Mind
- Confident and serene.

Kratos Aurion (OO)

Antares (M) <Sand Veil> @ Razor Fang
Health: 26% (capped)
Energy: 61%
Commands: Faint Attack/Power Trick/Sleep Talk ~ Aerial Ace/Stealth Rock/Sleep Talk ~ Faint Attack/Tailwind/Sleep Talk
- Crushed by Ganteiana's counterattack. Burned (3%/round). Poisoned (3%/round). +2 Attack

Unfortunately, the stun spore does clamp down a bit on the alakazam's reaction time, and even as he lifts off the ground and starts to drift towards Antares, not deigning to use his rather stiff limbs, the gligar begins hissing and growling in his sleep. Antares coughs a couple of times, a fine silver mist drifting from his mouth, then falls still again. The haze of energy he's hacked up sinks down into the earth, which promptly begins to gather itself into a vaguely gligar-like shape, tearing itself free of the surrounding ground as claws take form and its limbs gain proper definition.

Frost coats Phanel's right spoon as he charges ice energy in his fist; the punch that he brings swinging down is meant for Antares, but silver lights wink on in the substitute's eyes as its formation completes, and it jumps up to intercept the attack. The ice punch does more damage from simple cold than from physical force, but it's plenty for the little substitute; the iced-over bits of its body crumble away, leaving it teetering with a gaping hole in the left side of its body, the edges of which are still slowly crumbling away.

Antares is babbling again while Phanel rotates his wrist, trying to work some flexibility back into the paralyzed joint. As Antares tenses, claws digging deep into the earth to brace himself, the alakazam coats his fist with ice once more and tries to aim around the substitute with his next punch. Even considering its sorry state, the construct manages to get in his way, though; it is utterly destroyed by the punch, but Antares is again spared, his counterattack left unspent.

The gligar's next burst of sleep talk is a bit more aggressive, however. The ground type gets to his feet and then takes to the air, the membranes of his wings shimmering as steel energy suffuses them. He dives straight at Phanel, who is only then bringing an ice punch around to intercept. Fist collides with torso as wing slams into face; Antares is sent spinning away, bouncing to a halt in the grass, while Phanel staggers back, clutching his broad forehead. The gligar's wing cracked straight through his armor, leaving a painful breach from which blood is starting to well. For the first time, Phanel looks truly angry, ready to lash out at his opponent, but unfortunately he is to have no opportunity for revenge. His ice punch, combined with the status conditions racking Antares' body, are enough to drag the gligar into unconsciousness.

Involuntary Twitch (XO)

Phanel (M) <Synchronize>
Health: 86%
Energy: 88%
Commands: Ice Punch x3
- Actually angry now. Has a crack in the armor on his forehead. Paralyzed (severe). -1 Defense

Kratos Aurion (XO)

Antares (M) <Sand Veil> @ Razor Fang
Health: 0%
Energy: 48%
Commands: Sleep Talk (10% Substitute) ~ Sleep Talk (Counter) ~ Sleep Talk (Steel Wing)
Knocked Out!

Terrain Notes
A steady hailfall pounds the arena, littering the ground with slippery patches of melting ice. More toxic powders are not in the forecast, however: "There is a sense of restlessness about this place..."

Final Notes
- So I totally messed up the last round by forgetting about Antares' burn. I chose to go ahead and write this round in addition to revising that one, simply because the only thing really different at the end was that Antares used 3% energy, which I didn't expect would make much difference to this round's commands. However, Ganteiana did manages to make all three actions last round. I've posted the revised round above.
- Kratos Aurion sends out his last pokémon
- Involuntary Twitch attacks
- Kratos Aurion attacks

Hm. Think it's time for Räsvelg to strut his stuff, then.

It's no good being slower than your opponent, so Thunder Wave to bring him down to your level, then exploit some type matchups with a Shock Wave or two. If he dodges or protects against your Thunder Wave the first action, calm mind instead and thunderwave the next action.

Thunder wave/Calm mind ~ Shock wave/Thunder wave ~ Shock wave

And Phanel's ability is... ah, synchronize. Excellent. I would think that fake out circumvents those commands quite nicely--it's not dodging if you're all up in his grill, right?--so bum rush Mr. Mustache there and get your free move in. Two x-scissors should finish up quite nicely, though if he does successfully paralyze you then you should use facade instead.

Fake Out ~ X-Scissor/Facade ~ X-Scissor/Facade

Kratos Aurion recalls Antares without a word and spends a couple of moments sizing up Phanel. The alakazam is visibly fuming, muttering angry things into his mustache and doing his best to twirl his spoons despite stiffened fingers. Kratos Aurion nods slightly, mind made up, and hurls a new pokéball into the arena.

Räsvelg the osgrave materializes opposite Phanel, stretching his wings and sinking his powerful talons into the damp earth. The newly-evolved pokémon flexes his muscles, enjoying the power of his new body, though he can't shake the weird feeling that somewhere, right this moment, he's still stretching untried wings in the form of a pandive. Scraps of greenery flicker in the osgrave's vision and phantom pains twinge through his body, shivering him beak to tail-tip. Räsvelg snorts and shakes his head, driving the hallucinations away, then meets Phanel's glower with a confident smirk.

His assurance is somewhat tested when disconcerting ripples appear in the water around the battlers' island, low croaks and gurgles filling the air. Phanel, who's already had experience with the fickle moods of the arena, snaps to attention, bringing his spoons up and to the ready. Räsvelg shifts his weight towards his hind legs, preparing to take to the air at a moment's notice, though unfortunately that's less than he's afforded when the water erupts with croagunk.

The frog pokémon move with frightening speed, a cacaphony of ribbits filling the air as they descend on their targets. One lands heavily on Räsvelg's back even as he sweeps his wings open, startling the gryphon out of what he'd been intending to do; across the arena, Phanel's paralysis seems to have returned, and the alakazam is too distracted by his swarming opponents to try teleporting or levitating out of the fray. Räsvelg hisses and rears as croagunk get between his legs, attacking his underbelly and flanks. The osgrave's claws swat a few away, but there seem to be an endless number more, rushing in to replace their dazed comrades.

And then, as soon as they arrived, the croagunk are gone, slipping back beneath the water's surface with riotous splashes and delighted croaks. Räsvelg and Phanel abruptly find themselves alone again, rather bemused and sporting a colorful array of new bruises.


Involuntary Twitch (XO)

Phanel (M) <Synchronize>
Health: 76%
Energy: 88%
Commands: Thunder wave/Calm mind ~ Shock wave/Thunder wave ~ Shock wave
- Actually angry now. Has a crack in the armor on his forehead. Paralyzed (severe). -1 Defense

Kratos Aurion (XO)

Räsvelg (M) <Torrent> @ Razor Claw
Health: 90%
Energy: 100%
Commands: Fake Out ~ X-Scissor/Facade ~ X-Scissor/Facade
- Eager to try out his new power.

The referee has barely had the chance to announce the next round before Räsvelg takes action, surging forward into a high-speed lunge, wings tucked close against his body, beak open in a ripping scream, foretalons raised and splayed, ready to sink into Phanel's face. The alakazam can't help but be taken aback by the speed and ferocity of Räsvelg's attack, and he flinches away, face screwed up in an expression of discomfort and eyes closed. As it turns out, though, Räsvelg's leap takes him easily over the alakazam's head, rather than straight into him, and the osgrave does no more than kick out at the alakazam as he passes above, knocking Phanel sideways but doing relatively minor damage.

Surprised when no terrible blow comes, Phanel opens his eyes again to find Räsvelg landing behind him with a smirk across his beak. The osgrave has barely touched down, though, before he's pivoting around again, transforming the last of his momentum into a spin to face Phanel even as green energy blazes up around his talons. This time the osgrave's forward rush is in earnest, and he brings both arms down in a wide "X," tearing into Phanel's body with claws enhanced by bug energy. Perhaps Räsvelg's transition from one attack to another was just a bit too quick, though; his attack is a little off-center, and some of its power is lost on empty air.

This time, though, Phanel was prepared for the attack, and he's already bringing his spoons to bear, electricity popping and crackling around their blades. Electricity zings from one spoon to the other, then sizzles out towards Räsvelg, catching him in the chest. The osgrave's whole body jerks as the thunder wave rips through his nervous system, muscles seizing up in one great wave. Räsvelg hisses and raises a shaking claw, fighting against unreliable muscles in an attempt to reach his opponent.

Phanel is obviously pleased to see his opponent suffering from the same paralysis he does, and Räsvelg's anger only mounts as he senses the alakazam's mirth. With a roar of defiance, he leaps at Phanel in one rage-fueled lunge, claws and wings flailing as he vents all his fury on the alakazam. It is Phanel's own paralysis that saves him, however; even as he takes a startled step backwards, his muscles seize up unexpectedly and he topples backwards, landing unceremoniously on his rear while Räsvelg trips over him and goes stumbling on, clawing at earth and empty air as he tries to regain control of himself and turn around to actually attack his opponent.

Phanel is a bit humiliated, but he isn't about to let that get in the way of the opportunity he's been handed. Levitating himself into a sitting position, he charges electricity in his spoons again, this time releasing it in a chaotic tangle of crackling threads. Räsvelg's managed to get himself turned around by now, only to have the shock wave meet him head-on, sending him into a fit of twitching pain as it offends both his water and flying alignments. As the round ends, Phanel is in rough shape, but Räsvelg is hardly pleased with how the battle's going so far.

Involuntary Twitch (XO)

Phanel (M) <Synchronize>
Health: 50%
Energy: 82%
Used: Flinch ~ Thunder wave ~ Shock wave
- Sitting on the ground. Has a crack in the armor on his forehead. Paralyzed (severe). -1 Defense

Kratos Aurion (XO)

Räsvelg (M) <Torrent> @ Razor Claw
Health: 73%
Energy: 86%
Used: Fake Out ~ X-Scissor ~ Facade
- Furious. Paralyzed (severe).

Terrain Notes
A steady hailfall pounds the arena, littering the ground with slippery patches of melting ice. According to the Pike aide, "The distinct aroma of pokémon is wafting around the arena..."

Final Notes
- Räsvelg X-Scissor was a glancing blow, and his facade missed.
- Kratos Aurion attacks first next round.