Mosh Pit Free-For-All Battle

After a brutal loss of interest, the field is looking far more sparse than before. With both Penicillin and Gorouna below the foam, one way or the other, the number of targets accessible to those on the surface is even smaller. Rachel has no intention of sticking around and being one of these, so the staryu quickly shimmies back down into the pit, its flat body allowing it to slip fairly easily through the space between blocks. Once safely under the foam, the staryu starts to move more horizontally, seeking out the tunnel Penicillin dug. As Rachel could tell its rough location during its brief stint on the surface, it doesn't take too long before the staryu has managed to find its way to the tunnel in question. It doesn't burst in to say hello just yet, though, instead lurking a couple of blocks away and peering at Penicillin through the cracks.

The meowth doesn't notice Rachel's presence. He's far too caught up in his own dilemma--namely, that he's supposed to be resting but can't. Indeed, every time he tries to enter that powerful healing trance that would erase all his current woes, a loud tone blares in his ears and he loses all concentration. The tormented meowth is clutching his head and whining as his attempts are repeatedly rebuffed--just when he thought things couldn't get worse. All the while Rachel is working, her psychic energy gently encircling Penicillin's body and picking apart his psyche, unlocking the secrets of his ability. Light flickers erratically in Rachel's core as it works until, finally, it feels it understands how Penicillin is able to add so much punch to his weakest attacks.

But Penicillin isn't the only pokémon having such problems. Acionyx failed to catch Rachel before it disappeared below the foam, so he has no target now. No problem; he doesn't mind taking a break. Except, of course, that he can't. Like Penicillin, every time he tries to relax, a loud noise rings in his ears and he's startled back to alertness, whirling from side to side in an attempt to find his tormentor. By the side of the arena, the referee is grimly fiddling with her remote.

However, Gorouna at last has found a way to block herself in without inciting the referee's ire. Now that Mole-estation!'s gone, she also has a bit of a chance to relax, though the water dripping into her tunnel is hardly comforting. She rips a hefty stone from the wall and raises it over her head, wedging it into the tunnel above. With a couple of hefty pounds, the stone is securely tamped in place, and Gorouna figures she doesn't have to worry about anyone entering her tunnel by that entrance.

Far above, Anmi is searching for that very entrance and not having much luck. She knows where Penicillin's hole is, and she inspects the rapidly-collapsing tunnel through which Tiamat emerged. Neither of these appear to lead down to Gorouna, however--at least, she can't see the geodude from here. The vulpix, now representing the sole fire-type in this fight, hisses to herself and sits fuming near Tiamat's hole, vowing terrible pain on the next pokémon she's set against that she actually has any way to hit.

Eevee is less bothered by his lack of target. After all, it means he finally gets to rid himself of this terrible cold, or whatever it is he's caught. He fashions a bell out of pure energy, then nudges it with his nose. It rings out at a frequency only he can hear, its clear, melodic notes resonating with his energy and driving out the foreign influence of the dolstultitis. Although relatively taxing, the attack leaves him feeling refreshed and ready to dive back into the fray (though unfortunately there's no real fray around here into which he might dive).

Once again Not a Creeper's tentacled head rises above the foam, his glowing yellow eyes taking in the fact that not a lot has gone on since he was last up here. So much the better for him, then. His tentacles work madly, scattering small, jagged rocks in a broad ring around his current location; they hang just above the foam, eerily suspended, as Not a Creeper withdraws from the surface again.

Crazy Linoone (O)

Not a Creeper (M) <Suction Cups> @ Big Root
Health: 80%
Energy: 67%
Used: Stealth Rock
- Still fine. 20% energy stockpiled. Has a substitute with 20% health. +2 Defense, +2 Special Defense

Griffin (O)

Anmi (F) <Flash Fire>
Health: 100%
Energy: 80%
Used: Nothing
- Enraged.

Karkat Vantas (O)

Penicillin (M) <Technician>
Health: 14%
Energy: 87%
Used: Nothing
- Tormented by further failure. Has Stage 3 Dolstultitis. -1 Defense, -2 Special Defense

Lucas755 (O)

Eevee (M) <Adaptability>
Health: 100%
Energy: 79%
Used: Nothing
- Suddenly better. +1 Attack, +3 Defense, -1 Speed

Pathos (O)

Rachel (X) <Technician>
Health: 100%
Energy: 76%
Use: Find Penicillin + Role Play
- Lurking near Penicillin's hole. +2 Defense, +2 Special Defense

Superbird (O)

Gorouna (F) <Sturdy>
Health: 100%
Energy: 87%
Used: Rock Throw (Plug Tunnel)
- Safe and secure. +4 Speed

Wargle (O)

Acionyx (M) <Pressure> @ Dusk Stone
Health: 100%
Energy: 82%
Used: Nothing
- Just furious. +2 Attack

Penicillin still doesn't realize he's being watched, although he's given up on resting and is looking now for something to slash. There's no one in his tunnel, though, and the pokémon on the surface seem to have lost interest in him for the time being. Rachel, just a short distance away, is wiggling backwards into the foam, and though its movements do dislodge a block on the inside of Penicillin's tunnel, causing him to jump and search desperately for what made it fall, he can't see the staryu. Looks like he's spending another action doing nothing, then.

Once it feels it's put a safe distance between itself and Penicillin, Rachel goes back to boosting itself. Multicolored lights whirl briefly in its core as it draws strength from the distant cosmos, eerie power lending its body new resilience. Above, Acionyx is working himself up to ever-greater fury, clawing uselessly at his own skull in an attempt to dislodge whatever makes the noise that blares through his brain whenever he tries to chill. Anmi, on the other hand, springs into action, glad to, at last, have a command she can actually carry out. It involves a little less roasting of opponents than she cares for, but at least it's better than nothing.

Bile rises in the back of the vulpix's throat as she gags up a foul mixture of potent toxins, then spits them at Eevee. The normal-type, who had been blissfully listening to the last echoes of the heal bell, lets out a cry of surprise, fur bristling as the slimy attack hits home. He rolls around on the foam in hopes of removing the poisonous fluid, but is forced to give up in the end, his fur still sticky with toxic gunk.

Eevee grits his teeth and flicks an ear in annoyance. Really? Really? He just got done with his heal bell, and now somebody poisons him? There doesn't appear to be anything he can do about it, though, so he does his best to calm down and focus on his next move. He closes his eyes and murmurs a ghastly rite, offering himself up to beings unknown in exchange for their power. Far below, Gorouna does likewise, and both pokémon are granted a sudden and unnatural boost to their strength.

Once more Not a Creeper pokes his head above the surface, wondering whether Rachel is still in reach. It seems the staryu has gone off somewhere, but Acionyx is not too far away, in quite a tizzy but certainly within range. Not a Creeper's tentacles work in the empty air, plucking invisible lines of power and drawing the skelitten's life energy in towards the lileep. As a connection is made between the two pokémon, the tentacles begin to glow green with the excess energy siphoned from Acionyx. The skelitten stops fussing immediately as an icy cold steals over his body, and in a panicked scramble manages to disrupt the connection enough that the attack is thrown off. The damage is done, though--Acionyx feels noticeably more weary, while Not a Creeper is refreshed.

Crazy Linoone (O)

Not a Creeper (M) <Suction Cups> @ Big Root
Health: 80%
Energy: 68%
Used: Giga Drain (Energy) @ Acionyx
- Mmm, tasty energy. 20% energy stockpiled. Has a substitute with 20% health. +2 Defense, +2 Special Defense

Griffin (O)

Anmi (F) <Flash Fire>
Health: 100%
Energy: 76%
Used: Toxic @ Eevee
- Feeling a little better.

Karkat Vantas (O)

Penicillin (M) <Technician>
Health: 14%
Energy: 86%
Used: Nothing
- Waiting nervously. Has Stage 3 Dolstultitis. -1 Defense, -2 Special Defense

Lucas755 (O)

Eevee (M) <Adaptability>
Health: 100%
Energy: 77%
Used: Curse
- Irritated. Badly poisoned (2% next round). +2 Attack, +4 Defense, -2 Speed

Pathos (O)

Rachel (X) <Technician>
Health: 100%
Energy: 74%
Use: Cosmic Power
- Pumped Up. +3 Defense, +3 Special Defense

Superbird (O)

Gorouna (F) <Sturdy>
Health: 100%
Energy: 85%
Used: Curse
- Snug in her hideout. +1 Attack, +1 Defense, +3 Speed

Wargle (O)

Acionyx (M) <Pressure> @ Dusk Stone
Health: 100%
Energy: 74%
Used: Nothing
- Weak-kneed and shivering. +2 Attack

Penicillin is once more left to sit and do nothing, but Acionyx at last has a command he can sink his teeth into--literally. The skelitten leaves off trying to chill and dashes over to Eevee, who is absorbed in his curse and doesn't even notice until Acionyx seizes him in his jaws. The thick layers of muscle laid down by Eevee's cursing provide robust protection against the attack, but he nonetheless squirms and squeals as Acionyx's teeth force dark energy into his body. When the skelitten drops his opponent and backs off, though, he's left spitting and gagging, his mouth burning. The toxic smearing Eevee's fur is now decorating the inside of Acionyx's mouth, and the skelitten is beginning to feel its effects.

Eevee takes a few seconds to calm down, then picks up his curse where he left off, muttering dark rites under his breath as power slowly flows into his body. Gorouna is doing the same, and the pokémon grow stronger in tandem as they continue their cursing. In the meantime, Anmi is trying something a bit sinister herself. She really wants nothing to do with Not a Creeper, but she tries to attract his attention nonetheless, sauntering over to a spot just outside the lileep's ring of stealth rocks. She comments on how sad it is that there has to be any sort of barrier between them; she doesn't know how much longer she can contain her undying love of the lileep. Not a Creeper is a bit guarded at first; mostly he likes little children, in a not-creepy way, and he can't really decide whether Anmi qualifies as a kid. Nevertheless, Anmi's attention is quite flattering, and as time goes on he has to admit at least a little affection for the vulpix.

Fortunately, that doesn't conflict with his commands at all. He's got nothing against taking aim at Acionyx again, and he tries to put thoughts of Anmi out of his mind as prepares another giga drain. The skelitten freezes in the middle of pawing at the inside of his mouth as the creeping discomfort of the giga drain steals over him, Not a Creeper's tentacles glowing green as he draws more energy off his opponent. When the attack ends, Acionyx is feeling more shaky than ever and certainly in a foul temper; it seems like nothing's gone his way this round.

Crazy Linoone (O)

Not a Creeper (M) <Suction Cups> @ Big Root
Health: 80%
Energy: 69%
Used: Giga Drain (Energy) @ Acionyx
- Having trouble keeping his thoughts off Anmi. 20% energy stockpiled. Has a substitute with 20% health. Attracted to Anmi (severe). +2 Defense, +2 Special Defense

Griffin (O)

Anmi (F) <Flash Fire>
Health: 100%
Energy: 76%
Used: Nothing
- Feeling a little better.

Karkat Vantas (O)

Penicillin (M) <Technician>
Health: 14%
Energy: 86%
Used: Nothing
- Still just waiting. Has Stage 4 Dolstultitis. -2 Defense, -2 Special Defense

Lucas755 (O)

Eevee (M) <Adaptability>
Health: 99%
Energy: 75%
Used: Curse
- Muttering ominously and still a bit slimy. Badly poisoned (2% next round). +3 Attack, +5 Defense, -3 Speed

Pathos (O)

Rachel (X) <Technician>
Health: 100%
Energy: 74%
Use: n/a
- Pumped Up. +3 Defense, +3 Special Defense

Superbird (O)

Gorouna (F) <Sturdy>
Health: 100%
Energy: 83%
Used: Curse
- Deep in a dark ritual. +2 Attack, +2 Defense, +2 Speed

Wargle (O)

Acionyx (M) <Pressure> @ Dusk Stone
Health: 99%
Energy: 64%
Used: Crunch
- Trying to get the awful taste out of her mouth. Badly poisoned (2% next round). +2 Attack

Terrain Notes
There is an area of scorched, melted foam around the area where Nyasha used to be. There is another, smaller such patch at the edge of Penicillin's hole. There are two holes in the liner of the pit, one significantly larger than the other, and the foam at the bottom of the pit is soaked. There is a large pool of water under the pit, as well as the tunnel in which Gorouna is lurking, which is now plugged by a rock. A field of stealth rocks has been set around where Not a Creeper is sunk into the foam.

Final Notes
- Rest and chill are both banned.
- The way that Inherent Dolstultitis interacts with healing moves isn't clear; I had it removed by heal bell even though that isn't specified as an attack that can heal it, since aromatherapy is supposed to be effective, and their effects are identical. (Then again, refresh apparently doesn't work, either). Additionally, it isn't clear whether healing removes the defense drops caused in previous rounds or simply prevents them from progressing further. I went with removing all effects, since it's specified that Penicillin's own healing can't do that. This attribute could use some cleaning up.

I think you forgot to modify Gorouna's stats after that last Curse.

Yup. There you go.

DQ warnings for Karkat Vantas and Lucas755.

If a certain battler gets DQ'ed, My commands arent worth crap...

Penicillin continues his waiting game, curled at the bottom of his tunnel. At this point, he halfway wishes some pokémon would just come along and put him out of his misery. His illness is steadily worsened, and his wounds ache constantly. As it is, he has nothing better to do than lie around feeling sorry for himself, constantly in suspense as to whether an opponent will appear and finish him off with a quick attack.

Little does he know that a pokémon not too far away has plans for him. Rachel's core glints, and the staryu bends its psychic powers towards stealing away Not a Creeper's substitute. Rachel may not be able to see her target, but the dark mass of foam between her and the lileep is no barrier to her mind. It sends its thoughts questing after Not a Creeper, and when it instead hits the haze of the substitute that stands between it and its target, it seizes the construct and starts to pull it towards itself. Dragging the glowing creature through foam is a strenuous task, but Rachel is tenacious, and slowly, slowly, the subsitute moves in its direction. Not a Creeper, currently daydreaming about Anmi, doesn't even notice its departure.

Anmi herself tosses Not a Creeper a mischievous smile, then turns tail and vanishes in a swirl of shadows. The lileep barely has the opportunity to worry before she reappears right next to a startled Acionyx. Anmi slams a dark-edged shoulder into the ghost pokémon's side and is rewarded with a hiss of pain as a black welt spreads out from the point of impact. Her triumph is short-lived, however; Acionyx twists around and seizes Anmi's leg in his jaws, biting down with all his might. It's the vulpix's turn to cry out as the crunch attack drives darkness deep into her body, and when she manages to pull herself from Acionyx's grasp and retreat, it is with a marked limp.

Not a creeper's glowing eyes widen in rage. He can't believe it--that disgusting ghost thinks he can treat Anmi like that and get away with it? Not on Not a Creeper's watch! The lileep waves his tentacles, reeling in still more of the skelitten's energy. Acionyx gasps as a chill passes over him, then slumps as it is followed by a blast of fatigue. Not a Creeper, on the other hand, is quite satisfied; not only did he rebuke his opponent, but he's even feeling a bit more energetic than before. The lileep doesn't contemplate retreat for more than a second; why sink into the foam? None has dared attack him yet, and besides, if he left the surface, he wouldn't be able to keep an eye on Anmi!

The final two pokémon are wrapped up in their own concerns, paying no attention to the unfolding drama of the battle. Far below, the walls of Gorouna's tunnel resound with her chanting, but the boulder she placed in the tunnel's mouth remains firmly in place, sealing her away from harm. On the other hand, the sound enrapturing Eevee is one only he can hear. Once again he's conjured up a heal bell to purge his body of poison, and he smiles to himself as its melodic chiming fills his ears and the sickening burn of the poison rapidly fades from his awareness.

Crazy Linoone (O)

Not a Creeper (M) <Suction Cups> @ Big Root
Health: 80%
Energy: 70%
Used: Giga Drain (Energy) @ Acionyx
- How dare you, sir?! 20% energy stockpiled. Attracted to Anmi (severe). Has a substitute with 20% health. +2 Defense, +2 Special Defense

Griffin (O)

Anmi (F) <Flash Fire>
Health: 87%
Energy: 69%
Used: Faint Attack @ Acionyx
- Sporting a wounded front leg.

Karkat Vantas (O)

Penicillin (M) <Technician>
Health: 14%
Energy: 84%
Used: Nothing
- Waiting nervously. Has Stage 4 Dolstultitis. -2 Defense, -2 Special Defense

Lucas755 (O)

Eevee (M) <Adaptability>
Health: 99%
Energy: 70%
Used: Heal Bell
- Feeling much better. +3 Attack, +5 Defense, -3 Speed

Pathos (O)

Rachel (X) <Technician>
Health: 100%
Energy: 69%
Used: Psychic @ Not a Creeper's substitute
- Working away diligently. +3 Defense, +3 Special Defense

Superbird (O)

Gorouna (F) <Sturdy>
Health: 100%
Energy: 81%
Used: Curse
- Deep in a dark ritual. +3 Attack, +3 Defense, +1 Speed

Wargle (O)

Acionyx (M) <Pressure> @ Dusk Stone
Health: 88%
Energy: 51%
Used: Crunch @ Anmi
- Stricken. Badly poisoned (2% this round). +2 Attack

Rachel redoubles its efforts to move Not a Creeper's substitute and is rewarded as it slides even farther into the foam. By now, the false lileep's about halfway to its destination, and Rachel redoubles its efforts to prod it along. Inch by inch, the substitute slides through the foam until, at last, it hits empty air as it emerges through the wall of Penicillin's tunnel. Released from the resistance of the foam, the substitute shoots forward and smacks Penicillin square in the face. The meowth yowls and flattens himself against the far wall of the tunnel, fur bristling in terror as he tries to figure out what on earth just hit him. The glowing lileep replica sits where it fell, tentacles working subtly but otherwise seeming unconcerned with Penicillin. The meowth unsheathes his claws and steps forward, uncertain whether the thing is really a threat--but it hurt him, didn't it? And honestly, he wants to be doing something at last. The meowth lashes out with a nasty slash, but to his surprise, his claws can barely cut the substitute's reinforced hide. His attack leaves no more than a piddling scratch down its front, and if it even noticed the attack, it gives no indication.

Up on the surface, Anmi is sniffing around in search of Rachel. The staryu is still below, however, shielded by a couple feet of foam and totally out of reach of an energy ball. Disappointed, the vulpix settles down to lick at the wound left by Acionyx's crunch, spitting out the black goo that leaks from it along with blood. Not a Creeper, meanwhile, is more than happy to suck off more of the skelitten's energy with another giga drain. Acionyx is struck by a moment of dizziness as more of his life is simply sucked right out of his body. This time he isn't just going to grin and bear it, though. The skelitten rushes at Not a Creeper's head, still just poking up above the level of the foam. He passes through the lileep's stealth rock barrier, heedless of the tiny cuts he garners from the sharp-edged stones, and seizes a mouthful of the lileep's tentacles. Acionyx bites down hard, grinding the sinewy tendrils between his teeth in an attempt to sever them completely. Pure instinct causes Not a Creeper to retract his neck, dragging himself free of Acionyx's grasp and vanishing completely into the foam. Acionyx is left spitting out slippery bits of tentacle, darkly pleased with himself. Meanwhile, Not a Creeper's substitute, far below, senses the threat to its master and begins trying to reach him. The lileep construct forces its way back into the foam, wiggling and shivering its way between the blocks as it works its way back to its creator. Never built for mobility and further hampered by having to move through the pit, the substitute has no chance of reaching Not a Creeper in time to divert Acionyx's attack, but it's on its way back nonetheless.

The boosting continues as Eevee psychs himself up to do some real damage. His tail swishes and his ears perk as he entertains visions of a glorious victory, of laying his opponents low and becoming the star of the whole battle. After all, somebody has to be the last mon standing--is there any reason at all why it shouldn't be him? The refreshing feeling of being healthy at last only adds to Eevee's enthusiasm, and in no time at all he's got himself worked up into a highly excited state, ready to deal some serious damage to his opponents. Meanwhile, Gorouna's séance continues, the geodude sacrificing ever more of her mobility for physical bulk.

Crazy Linoone (O)

Not a Creeper (M) <Suction Cups> @ Big Root
Health: 72%
Energy: 71%
Used: Giga Drain (Energy) @ Acionyx
- Hiding below the foam. Attracted to Anmi (severe). 20% energy stockpiled. Has a substitute with 17% health. +2 Defense, +2 Special Defense

Griffin (O)

Anmi (F) <Flash Fire>
Health: 87%
Energy: 68%
Used: Nothing
- Licking her wounds.

Karkat Vantas (O)

Penicillin (M) <Technician>
Health: 12%
Energy: 72%
Used: Nothing
- Totally freaked out. Has Stage 4 Dolstultitis. -2 Defense, -2 Special Defense

Lucas755 (O)

Eevee (M) <Adaptability>
Health: 99%
Energy: 68%
Used: Heal Bell
- Raring to go. +4 Attack, +5 Defense, +1 Special Attack, -3 Speed

Pathos (O)

Rachel (X) <Technician>
Health: 100%
Energy: 64%
Used: Psychic @ Not a Creeper's substitute
- Pleased with itself. +3 Defense, +3 Special Defense

Superbird (O)

Gorouna (F) <Sturdy>
Health: 100%
Energy: 79%
Used: Curse
- Deep in a dark ritual. +4 Attack, +4 Defense

Wargle (O)

Acionyx (M) <Pressure> @ Dusk Stone
Health: 88%
Energy: 39%
Used: Crunch @ Not a Creeper
- Vindicated. Badly poisoned (2% this round). +2 Attack

Penicillin watches the substitute disappear as mysteriously as it arrived, forcing its way back into the foam and rapidly vanishing from view. The meowth is perplexed; he sheathes his claws again and sits down with his back resting against the far wall of his tunnel. Well, that was weird. He's almost disappointed to see the substitute go; at least its bizarre arrival did something to break up the monotony of sitting around down here.

The meowth doesn't know it yet, but his life is about to get a lot more interesting. Anmi finishes cleaning her wound and limps off towards the meowth's tunnel. Across the arena, Acionyx, who is still woozy from the effects of the giga drain, looks up sharply as he sees the vulpix moving in that direction. Though he lets out a growl of irritation and bounds off in pursuit, he isn't quick enough to prevent the vulpix from leaning out over the edge of the pit and firing a small, explosive pellet of flame into its depths. Acionyx succeeds in seizing Anmi's flank in his jaws even as the flame burst explodes in the tunnel below, the blossom of flame it produces being relatively modest but, nevertheless, just enough to knock out the weakened meowth at the tunnel's bottom.

Karkat Vantas recalls his pokémon, disappointed but not greatly surprised. The battle rages on in the meantime, with a snarling Anmi succeeding in throwing Acionyx off even as Not a Creeper's eyes reappear above the surface of the foam. The lileep's face is splattered with residual dark energy as well as pale fluid from his ragged tentacles, but in truth his injuries look much more severe than they actually are. He resurfaces to find Acionyx harassing Anmi again, and with his grudge against the skelitten now grown even more personal, he doesn't hesitate to aim another giga drain the ghost type's way. Acionyx, who had been trying to distance himself from Anmi, stumbles and tries to shrug off another dizzy spell as the lileep saps still more of his energy. By now the skelitten is genuinely weak and woozy, panting and wishing desperately for a rest.

In his wrath, Not a Creeper doesn't notice Eevee taking careful aim and lowering his head; nor does he realize that his substitute is once more under attack, an irritated Rachel soaking it with a water pulse as it makes its slow way past the staryu's hiding place. Gorouna's chanting continues; no doubt the geodude will be quite a terror when she finally emerges from her tunnel and joins the battle in earnest. Eevee, on the other hand, has finally decided to put his boosts to use and go on the offensive. He launches himself at Anmi, slamming headfirst into the vulpix with such force that she is actually sent flying a short distance. She lands paws akimbo in a scattering of foam blocks, the breath knocked from her body and paralyzed with shock--what on earth just hit her?

Crazy Linoone (O)

Not a Creeper (M) <Suction Cups> @ Big Root
Health: 72%
Energy: 72%
Used: Giga Drain (Energy) @ Acionyx
- Hiding below the foam. Attracted to Anmi (moderate). 20% energy stockpiled. Has a substitute with 13% health. +2 Defense, +2 Special Defense

Griffin (O)

Anmi (F) <Flash Fire>
Health: 51%
Energy: 65%
Used: Flame Burst @ Penicillin
- Stunned.

Karkat Vantas (X)

Penicillin (M) <Technician>
Health: 0%
Energy: 71%
Used: Nothing
Knocked Out!

Lucas755 (O)

Eevee (M) <Adaptability>
Health: 99%
Energy: 63%
Used: Skull Bash @ Anmi
- Pleased with himself. +4 Attack, +6 Defense, +1 Special Attack, -3 Speed

Pathos (O)

Rachel (X) <Technician>
Health: 100%
Energy: 61%
Used: Water Pulse @ Not a Creeper's substitute
- Annoyed. +3 Defense, +3 Special Defense

Superbird (O)

Gorouna (F) <Sturdy>
Health: 100%
Energy: 77%
Used: Curse
- Deep in a dark ritual. +5 Attack, +5 Defense, -1 Speed

Wargle (O)

Acionyx (M) <Pressure> @ Dusk Stone
Health: 87%
Energy: 27%
Used: Crunch @ Anmi
- Rapidly growing exhausted. Badly poisoned (3% next round). +2 Attack

Terrain Notes
There is an area of scorched, melted foam around the area where Nyasha used to be. There is another, smaller such patch at the edge of Penicillin's hole. There are two holes in the liner of the pit, one significantly larger than the other, and the foam at the bottom of the pit is soaked. There is a large pool of water under the pit, as well as the tunnel in which Gorouna is lurking, which is now plugged by a rock. A field of stealth rocks has been set around where Not a Creeper is sunk into the foam, and the lileep's substitute is buried in the foam about a meter away from him, moving slowly in his direction.

DQ warning for Griffin.

All the other pokémon receive their orders, but Anmi finds herself left directionless. She rises up on her hind legs, looking out over the edge of the ball pit in hopes of spotting her trainer there, just taking a little while to contemplate her commands. Griffin is nowhere to be seen, though, and when the referee notices the vulpix's distress, she calls after the trainer to no avail. A brief and half-hearted search turns up nothing, and so another battler is pronounced disqualified--seduced, perhaps, by the call of the arcade games or a the opportunity to have a go at one of the other ball pits herself.

So Griffin is DQ'd. As per usual, you have three days to submit revised commands if Anmi's removal from battle is going to affect your original orders.

I'm a girl. >___> It says so right on my profile.

My apologies. I didn't bother to check.

After all the trouble she went to in wrangling it, Rachel is less than pleased to have Not a Creeper's substitute slipping away from it again. The construct has already disappeared into the foam behind it, but the staryu knows it can't have gone far. Taking its best guess at the construct's location, Rachel tries its best to feel the foam around it as a liquid, the balls and blocks that make it up the molecules, the pokémon suspended in it no more than stranded swimmers. The staryu bends the foam to its will, calling up currents and twisting them into a sucking spiral. Sluggishly, the foam responds, blocks jostling and tumbling against one another as a whirlpool takes shape, a spiraling, sucking column of unstable foam that threatens to swallow up Acionyx, who only just manages to scamper away from its edge. Unfortunately for Rachel, the whirlpool fails to encompass Not a Creeper's substitute, and it doens't even manage to trap one of the other battlers by accident.

The pokémon on the surface, including Not a Creeper himself, are surprised by the appearance of the whirlpool, but it is to be their only excitement in the near future. Acionyx is fated to be unable to calm down after his narrow escape from the attack; every time he's about to get comfortable, the referee blares a loud tone into his ears, and no matter how he snarls, she seems unintimidated. Eevee buffs himself up again, bouncing from paw to paw as he gets pumped for the action that must inevitably occur, after tedious rounds of stat boosting, while Not a Creeper conjures a resilient invisible barrier to surround him in a shell of protection with no more than a wistful moment of mourning for his now-vanished beloved. Gorouna remains oblivious to the goings-on in the rest of the battle, by now so lost in her dark dreams that it's possible she might not even notice any callers at the mouth of her tunnel--not that she's about to get any.

Crazy Linoone (O)

Not a Creeper (M) <Suction Cups> @ Big Root
Health: 72%
Energy: 69%
Used: Barrier
- Hiding below the foam. 20% energy stockpiled. Has a substitute with 13% health. +4 Defense, +2 Special Defense

Lucas755 (O)

Eevee (M) <Adaptability>
Health: 99%
Energy: 61%
Used: Work Up
- Excited, impatient. +5 Attack, +6 Defense, +2 Special Attack, -3 Speed

Pathos (O)

Rachel (X) <Technician>
Health: 100%
Energy: 59%
Used: Whirlpool @ Not a Creeper's substitute
- Still annoyed. +3 Defense, +3 Special Defense

Superbird (O)

Gorouna (F) <Sturdy>
Health: 100%
Energy: 75%
Used: Curse
- Deep in a dark ritual. +6 Attack, +6 Defense, -1 Speed

Wargle (O)

Acionyx (M) <Pressure> @ Dusk Stone
Health: 87%
Energy: 26%
Used: Chill
- Tired and angry. Badly poisoned (3% next round). +2 Attack

By the same mysterious powers that give it the ability to twist water to its will, Rachel can tell that its whirlpool trap has come up empty. By this point, it reasons, the substitute must have reached Not a Creeper, or if not, at least there's a chance the real lileep will be sucked into the vortex instead. The staryu does its best to remember where it last saw the lileep and determine where this might be in relation to where it now sits, ensconced in entombing foam, and sends another whirlpool thataway. As before, the blocks and balls start to tumble over one another, moving slowly at first and then ever faster as they respond to the staryu's command.

As luck would have it, Not a Creeper's substitute had managed to get close enough to its master for it to be satisfied, and it is now surprisingly swift to act, wrapping its tentacles around Not a Creeper's stem and, gently but firmly, lifting its master up and setting him down just a few inches away. Such precious little distance turns out to make a world of difference; the substitute is sucked down into a grinding, whirling column of foam, while Not a Creeper looks on, unharmed. He raises his head like a periscope to see if he can espy who might dare attack him, but none of the pokémon on the surface appear responsible; Acionyx is curled up in a despondent ball, muttering curses to himself, while Eevee is still bouncing around like a madmon, almost painfully cheerful and energetic-looking.

Suspicious but sensing no immediate danger, Not a Creeper lets his mind go blank, resolutely forgetting about his recent past, his heartbreak over Anmi, the strange whirlpool, and even, rather by accident, how to use curse.

Down below, the ground no longer rings with the low thrum of Gorouna's chanting. In fact, the geodude is sitting quietly at the bottom of her tunnel, brimming with power and yet, at the same time, feeling dull and drained. It seems she's to have no rest after all her sacrifices to ghostly powers; the referee is now alternating between shutting down her chills and Acionyx's.

Crazy Linoone (O)

Not a Creeper (M) <Suction Cups> @ Big Root
Health: 72%
Energy: 67%
Used: Amnesia
- A bit puzzled. 20% energy stockpiled. Curse forgotten. Has a substitute with 12% health. +4 Defense, +4 Special Defense

Lucas755 (O)

Eevee (M) <Adaptability>
Health: 99%
Energy: 59%
Used: Work Up
- Brimming with energy. +5 Attack, +6 Defense, +2 Special Attack, -3 Speed

Pathos (O)

Rachel (X) <Technician>
Health: 100%
Energy: 57%
Used: Whirlpool @ Not a Creeper's substitute
- Success! +3 Defense, +3 Special Defense

Superbird (O)

Gorouna (F) <Sturdy>
Health: 100%
Energy: 74%
Used: Chill
- Puzzled by her failure. +6 Attack, +6 Defense, -1 Speed

Wargle (O)

Acionyx (M) <Pressure> @ Dusk Stone
Health: 87%
Energy: 26%
Used: Chill
- Tired and angry. Badly poisoned (3% next round). +2 Attack

The round grinds on with even less action than previously. As before, it is only Rachel that shows any inclination to actual engage its opponents. The staryu wriggles its way back to the surface; there's simply no discreet way to figure out what's going on up above and get in a clear shot with thunder wave. Fortunately, once the staryu's gleaming core is raised above the level of the foam, it finds Not a Creeper exposed at the surface, just the top of the lileep's tentacled head and glowing eyes showing above the foam. Not a Creeper's expression is dull and distant, and he shows no sign of being worried as Rachel gathers charge to itself, setting small tendrils of lightning crawling along its arms. Perhaps the lileep has forgotten that his substitute, ordinarily quick to respond to such threats, is presently indisposed at the heart of Rachels whirlpool; indeed, as the construct strains towards its master, the swirling waters ensure that it will have no chance of actually intercepting the thunder wave.

Not a Creeper is shocked out of his trance of forgetting by a sharp burst of electricity, which rockets through his body, stiffening muscles and jangling nerve endings as it goes. The lileep instinctively tugs his head back beneath the foam, but is even slower about it than usual as he struggles against his unresponsive body. He doesn't think to wonder why his substitute didn't intercept the attack, having temporarily forgotten its existence, but at least is able to recall what he's supposed to do next. He draws his tentacles through the air in front of him, marking out a perimeter a few inches out from his body in all directions. A transparent shield of energy springs up to defend him, further bolstering his defenses against physical attack.

Other than that, however, nothing much goes on. Acionyx and Gorouna both go on trying, and failing, to chill, while Eevee, given the simple command to do nothing, is doing his best to contain his excitement. He sits down where he is and tries to stay still, but his tail twitches, and he can't help but drum his front paws on the foam in his impatience.

Crazy Linoone (O)

Not a Creeper (M) <Suction Cups> @ Big Root
Health: 72%
Energy: 65%
Used: Barrier
- Shocked. 20% energy stockpiled. Curse forgotten. Has a substitute with 11% health. Paralyzed (severe). +6 Defense, +2 Special Defense

Lucas755 (O)

Eevee (M) <Adaptability>
Health: 99%
Energy: 59%
Used: Nothing
- Waiting eagerly for a chance to attack. +5 Attack, +6 Defense, +2 Special Attack, -3 Speed

Pathos (O)

Rachel (X) <Technician>
Health: 100%
Energy: 52%
Used: Thunder Wave @ Not a Creeper
- Surveying the surface. +3 Defense, +3 Special Defense

Superbird (O)

Gorouna (F) <Sturdy>
Health: 100%
Energy: 74%
Used: Chill
- Growing frustrated. +6 Attack, +6 Defense, -1 Speed

Wargle (O)

Acionyx (M) <Pressure> @ Dusk Stone
Health: 87%
Energy: 25%
Used: Chill
- Tired and angry. Badly poisoned (3% next round). +2 Attack

Final Notes
- Chill: still banned

DQ warnings for Wargle, Superbird, and Lucas755.