His attention was diverted, though, as Skorupi tugged on the bottom of his shorts. It pointed with its other claw behind them. A lone Bagon was walking around with its head down, absently looking for a meal. Ian motioned down at Skorupi with his finger over his lips, indicating silence. Skorupi waved a claw up and down, blinking, as if unsure of what to do.
He bent down to whisper as quietly as he could to his Pokemon. "Get in close and try and surprise it with Pin Missile - but wait for my command." It motioned with both claws and started moving forward behind a small mound of rocks, getting closer to it.
Ian waited until Skorupi had slowed down and stopped about five yards away from the Bagon before calling out to his Pokemon. "Now, Skorupi!"
Its tail twitched suddenly, launching a shower of tiny needles at Bagon.
The barrage of needles rained down all around the Bagon, inflicting some minor wounds, but most importantly getting its attention. With a mighty bellow (it was quite loud for its size), it charged in with its head lowered again. (Headbutt)
And the prey became the predator. Skorupi wasn't ready for the counterattack; its body flew into the air for several long moments. It recovered quickly, though, and dug its claws into the ground, pulling itself down and landing safely. It clicked angrily at Bagon.
Even Ian had taken a step back at the mighty bellow created by Bagon. 'He's gonna be a fierce one...' he thought to himself. 'I gotta get him weak and catch him.' He took a deep breath and yelled at Skorupi, who was staring down Bagon like a cowboy in a Western movie. "Skorupi, Poison Sting! Watch out for its head!"
Bagon again weathered the barrage, but this time the attack only seemed to fuel its rage at having been disrupted from finding a meal. Bagon charged in again.
The second charge wouldn't be nearly as effective as the first, now that they were expecting it. "Skorupi, dodge it and counter with Poison Sting again!"
Skorupi pushed off with its legs, shoving itself to the side as it raised its tail, striking with force as Bagon charged through where it was just standing.
As Bagon trundled right into a wall, it was hailed again with stingers. It was starting to look a little worse for wear, but that didn't stop it from spearing Skorupi with a ferocious leer. (hp green-yellow, poisioned)
Skorupi's eyes dropped to the ground as it backed up a little; against something that seemed as fierce as Bagon, it seemed to lose a lot of its courage.
Ian called out from behind it. "You can do it, Skorupi! Don't back down! Counter with Pin Missile!"
The encouragement seemed to work. With a slamming of its claws into the dirt, Skorupi clicked angrily at Bagon, summoning the courage to return Bagon's stare as his tail rose up. A flood of pin-shaped needles shot out at Bagon.
Bagon was showered for the fourth time with a storm of needles, and it was starting to affect it. A little slower on the charge, but still just as powerful, Bagon ran in with its head lowered. (Headbutt)
"Skorupi, block it with your claws!" The insect threw its claws up in front of its face as instructed, lowering its body as it did so. The Headbutt slammed into it full-force, sending it sliding backwards at a rapid pace. Skorupi threw its claws into the dirt as a last-ditch effort to help it stop, digging its feet into the dirt for all it was worth. Finally, it slowed to a stop.
It shook a bit as it struggled to rise up, one claw pushing it up off the ground. Ian knew it couldn't last much longer. "You need a rest, Skorupi?"
"Sko!" Its reply was confident, even though it was injured, as if it knew it would win. He thought about ignoring Skorupi and returning it anyway, but he had to have faith that Skorupi would pull through. He had to do his part, too.
He took a deep breath, and pointed at Bagon. "Skorupi, show it what you're made of! Give it your strongest Pin Missile!"
Ian hoped that this would be enough. He reached back and grabbed an empty Pokeball, knowing that if this didn't work, Skorupi wouldn't last another blow, and it was too weak to dodge effectively now. It was all or nothing.
The needles scattered around Bagon again. Its fighting spirit would not be laid to rest, as it half charged/half limped into a final headbutt attack. (hp red, poisoned)
The poison Pokemon had little trouble with that, almost laying down on the ground as the empty Pokeball flew over its head towards the Bagon to intercept it before it reached Skorupi.
Ian's muscles tensed in anticipation as the Gym Leader accepted his challenge. He nodded once out of respect, but averted his gaze afterwards; he didn't want to show how nervous he was. Running a hand through his dreadlocks, he absently tugged on one as he began to walk to the arena stage they'd be battling on.
Having never seen one before, he was amazed at the size of the battling ground - he hadn't expected it to be this big. For his strategy, though, it would only serve to give him an advantage.
He stood on his side of the arena, ignoring the way his heart seemed to skip a beat, and reached back to grab his first Pokemon. 'I can do this.' He pulled out his choice, tossing it out into the arena a little ways. "Come on out, Pidgey!" Bursting from its Pokeball, Pidgey flapped its wings, floating a good distance above the arena as he waited.
OOC: Moving to QBU. Also, not sure if I was supposed to bring out a Pokemon here or if I'm supposed to wait for the Gym Leader. Heh.
"Sandshrew, swift!" Ronin was not one for eloquence, and his short commands were enough to convey what he wanted to do; apparently he and his pokemon have worked closely for some time. Sandshrew ran toward the Pidgey, and soon a wash of stars came from it heading right for the flapping bird.
(OOC: I know you have it in the opening post, but it's easier for me to conduct battles when the cards are in the current post on the thread )
OOC: Haha. In every other case, I've done that; I have no clue why I neglected to do it here. Fail on my part!
"Counter it with Gust!" Ian kept his commands as brief as Ronin's, relying on his Pidgey to follow through. Pidgey flapped its wings downard in powerful strokes, sending gusts of air straight through the wave of stars. The sudden shift in wind direction caused the stars to go flying in all sorts of directions, leaving Pidgey unharmed.
"Now, Sand Attack!" With another flap of its wings, Pidgey swooped down a slight degree and pushed air at the ground, sending a wave of sand flying at Sandshrew.
"Rapid spin!" Sandshrew plowed through the dust, and went to grab Pidgey since it was so close to the ground, taking it on a whirlwind adventure directly around Sandshrew.
The grab caught Pidgey and Ian both by surprise, and the Flying Pokemon soon found itself spinning wildly in the air.
He had to think fast. "Pidgey, use Gust and try to break free!"
Pidgey flapped its wings down at Sandshrew in a flurry of dust and feathers. At such a close-range, Sandshrew would be pummeled by its wings as well as the gusts of wind.
"Swift, while it's in range!" As Sandshrew was buffeted by the wings, it unleashed a close range attack that was almost guaranteed to connect for some serious damage.
Pidgey cried out in pain, its body trembling for a moment as the Swift connected at full-power into its chest. It flapped its wings slightly, still trying to break free of the Sandshrew's grasp.
Ian gritted his teeth, and grabbed Pidgey's Pokeball in his hand. "Pidgey, return!" he shouted, calling it back into the red-and-white ball. The Pidgey disappeared in a flash of red light. He ran a hand through his hair, trying to think, adrenaline pumping through his system and compounded by worry.
Taking a deep breath, he pushed those thoughts from his mind, and grabbed his second choice. "Bagon, I'm counting on you!" He threw the Pokeball out in front of him, and Bagon almost leaped out onto the ground, its feet smashing into the arena floor with a small thud. It roared at Sandshrew, eager to battle.
"Charge at it with Headbutt, Bagon!"
The Dragon-type stopped its roar, crouched down for a moment, and leaped forward in a dead sprint at the Sandshrew.
"Curl up and absorb the blow!" Sandshrew curled up as tightly as it could, but Bagon's attack still knocked it backwards hard. Sandshrew was staggered as it uncurled itself, trying to find its feet. (hp yellow, flinched)
"Spin it!" As Sandshrew took the hit, allowing Bagon to get nice and close to it, Snadshrew grabbed its protected head and started to spin Bagon in fast circles. (Rapid Spin, hp red)
Ian saw his window of opportunity. Reaching for an empty Pokeball, he needed only a split second to aim before throwing it at the Hoppip.
MtG:RPG - Kai
The pokeball traps hoppip inside, and as it lands on the ground, it proceeds to do the traditional song and dance of its people . . . and then stops.
Congrats! You caught a Hoppip! Skorupi gains +2 experience
During the main story...
Battle #6: vs. (wild) Bagon
His attention was diverted, though, as Skorupi tugged on the bottom of his shorts. It pointed with its other claw behind them. A lone Bagon was walking around with its head down, absently looking for a meal. Ian motioned down at Skorupi with his finger over his lips, indicating silence. Skorupi waved a claw up and down, blinking, as if unsure of what to do.
He bent down to whisper as quietly as he could to his Pokemon. "Get in close and try and surprise it with Pin Missile - but wait for my command." It motioned with both claws and started moving forward behind a small mound of rocks, getting closer to it.
Ian waited until Skorupi had slowed down and stopped about five yards away from the Bagon before calling out to his Pokemon. "Now, Skorupi!"
Its tail twitched suddenly, launching a shower of tiny needles at Bagon.
MtG:RPG - Kai
Even Ian had taken a step back at the mighty bellow created by Bagon. 'He's gonna be a fierce one...' he thought to himself. 'I gotta get him weak and catch him.' He took a deep breath and yelled at Skorupi, who was staring down Bagon like a cowboy in a Western movie. "Skorupi, Poison Sting! Watch out for its head!"
MtG:RPG - Kai
Skorupi pushed off with its legs, shoving itself to the side as it raised its tail, striking with force as Bagon charged through where it was just standing.
MtG:RPG - Kai
Ian called out from behind it. "You can do it, Skorupi! Don't back down! Counter with Pin Missile!"
The encouragement seemed to work. With a slamming of its claws into the dirt, Skorupi clicked angrily at Bagon, summoning the courage to return Bagon's stare as his tail rose up. A flood of pin-shaped needles shot out at Bagon.
MtG:RPG - Kai
It shook a bit as it struggled to rise up, one claw pushing it up off the ground. Ian knew it couldn't last much longer. "You need a rest, Skorupi?"
"Sko!" Its reply was confident, even though it was injured, as if it knew it would win. He thought about ignoring Skorupi and returning it anyway, but he had to have faith that Skorupi would pull through. He had to do his part, too.
He took a deep breath, and pointed at Bagon. "Skorupi, show it what you're made of! Give it your strongest Pin Missile!"
Ian hoped that this would be enough. He reached back and grabbed an empty Pokeball, knowing that if this didn't work, Skorupi wouldn't last another blow, and it was too weak to dodge effectively now. It was all or nothing.
MtG:RPG - Kai
The poison Pokemon had little trouble with that, almost laying down on the ground as the empty Pokeball flew over its head towards the Bagon to intercept it before it reached Skorupi.
MtG:RPG - Kai
Congrats, you caught a Bagon! Skorupi receives +2 experience
Ian's muscles tensed in anticipation as the Gym Leader accepted his challenge. He nodded once out of respect, but averted his gaze afterwards; he didn't want to show how nervous he was. Running a hand through his dreadlocks, he absently tugged on one as he began to walk to the arena stage they'd be battling on.
Having never seen one before, he was amazed at the size of the battling ground - he hadn't expected it to be this big. For his strategy, though, it would only serve to give him an advantage.
He stood on his side of the arena, ignoring the way his heart seemed to skip a beat, and reached back to grab his first Pokemon. 'I can do this.' He pulled out his choice, tossing it out into the arena a little ways. "Come on out, Pidgey!" Bursting from its Pokeball, Pidgey flapped its wings, floating a good distance above the arena as he waited.
OOC: Moving to QBU. Also, not sure if I was supposed to bring out a Pokemon here or if I'm supposed to wait for the Gym Leader. Heh.
MtG:RPG - Kai
"Sandshrew, swift!" Ronin was not one for eloquence, and his short commands were enough to convey what he wanted to do; apparently he and his pokemon have worked closely for some time. Sandshrew ran toward the Pidgey, and soon a wash of stars came from it heading right for the flapping bird.
(OOC: I know you have it in the opening post, but it's easier for me to conduct battles when the cards are in the current post on the thread )
"Counter it with Gust!" Ian kept his commands as brief as Ronin's, relying on his Pidgey to follow through. Pidgey flapped its wings downard in powerful strokes, sending gusts of air straight through the wave of stars. The sudden shift in wind direction caused the stars to go flying in all sorts of directions, leaving Pidgey unharmed.
"Now, Sand Attack!" With another flap of its wings, Pidgey swooped down a slight degree and pushed air at the ground, sending a wave of sand flying at Sandshrew.
MtG:RPG - Kai
He had to think fast. "Pidgey, use Gust and try to break free!"
Pidgey flapped its wings down at Sandshrew in a flurry of dust and feathers. At such a close-range, Sandshrew would be pummeled by its wings as well as the gusts of wind.
MtG:RPG - Kai
Ian gritted his teeth, and grabbed Pidgey's Pokeball in his hand. "Pidgey, return!" he shouted, calling it back into the red-and-white ball. The Pidgey disappeared in a flash of red light. He ran a hand through his hair, trying to think, adrenaline pumping through his system and compounded by worry.
Taking a deep breath, he pushed those thoughts from his mind, and grabbed his second choice. "Bagon, I'm counting on you!" He threw the Pokeball out in front of him, and Bagon almost leaped out onto the ground, its feet smashing into the arena floor with a small thud. It roared at Sandshrew, eager to battle.
"Charge at it with Headbutt, Bagon!"
The Dragon-type stopped its roar, crouched down for a moment, and leaped forward in a dead sprint at the Sandshrew.
MtG:RPG - Kai
With a low growl, Bagon charged forward in a rush, its head lowering slowly as it ran.
MtG:RPG - Kai