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[truthdecided]

[It's the middle of the day, not long after quests go up that Akechi greets the Grumpearls with a serious expression.]

Greetings. This is Akechi. To anyone newly arrived, I'm a member of the Oran Berries, and I was also among the group exploring the Northern Forest.

[Images accompany of his words of meandering, overgrown plantlife, strange, glowing vines, and luminous mushrooms eerily aglow.]

As there are multiple quests related to the recent fungal infestation as well as further requests to explore to the north, I'd like to give you all my personal insights.

First...

[He raises a wing, feathers folded in such a way to approximate a hand holding up one finger.]

The spores cause heightened aggression. I highly recommend obtaining some form of facial covering to minimize their effects. While I cannot say how effective it will be, reducing how many spores you inhale will likely serve you well in the long run.

Second...

[He raises another feather.]

Be extra careful when removing the mushrooms. If you can dig around them, that will be ideal, but mushrooms have complex root systems called mycelium, so if you want to be extra cautious, it may be worth digging especially deep. The fruiting bodies are their primary means of reproduction, however, so simply removing and eliminating as many as possible while minimizing contact with the spores would be ideal.

[He tries to convey this with little images of the mushroom caps and the roots spreading far, far beneath the soil.]

Ren and I will return to the northern forest to rectify our... mistake. I also fully intend on gathering and eliminating as many of the mushrooms as possible.

Be smart, expect the worst, and we may be able to overcome this unfortunate infestation.

Comments

voice;

[truthdecided]

The Pokémon were incredibly hostile, no doubt influenced by the spores. You'll want to stay on guard and proceed with utmost caution.

A larger team may increase the odds of your success.

[Then again, Emmet is fully evolved. That does give him a certain edge...]

[outbounds]

Oh. You are talking about other kinds of Pokémon. That is a problem, yes. But what I meant was more like Amoongus. Or maybe Parasect. Hang on.

[ Emmet's mental 'voice' recedes for a bit, replaced by the stylized image... top down diagram? Slideshow of sorts he sends instead, of first an oversized mushroom with very distinct patterning standing next to a large bird in a field. Opposite them are a roughly sketched out pair of blob opponents that might or might not look like something vaguely akin to Shoka's (and the Ring Spirit's) disguise, though one is in blue and the other in red.

the red one sends a bolt of lightning the bird's way, the blue one clapping its paws together excitedly. the bird develops Xes for eyes, flopping over dramatically. 'rewind', the image goes back a slide, and instead the mushroom waves its shroom arms, sending a cloud of powder at the mouse blobs, who develop exaggerated cartoon anger tics and unhappy faces before aiming the lightning at the mushroom instead. That last image lingers, an arrow pointing at the Amoongus and question marks around it as Emmet's 'voice' returns: ]

So! My question. Was it just normal mushrooms you saw, or were there Pokémon like this one too?

[truthdecided]

Ah, yes. There were also Breloom present. On the whole, I've found that grass, dark, and ghost types are fairly prevalent on the whole, along with bug types.

[He projects images of Nuzleaf, Phantump, and Spinarak as a few examples.]

Given the aggression of certain forest Pokémon of late, I suspect the mushrooms are to blame.

[outbounds]

Not as familiar with Breloom as Amoongus. But all of them were also affected? They were not responsible for the rapid growth of the mushrooms, you think.

[ Lots of grass types in the forest makes sense, hmm ... and Akechi's hypothesis, well. ]

You think they are why the Swoobat were attacking before. Or why some of the other rescue requests happened. Yup. It would make sense.

[ Hmmmm. ]

Which is why it would be annoying if we kept traveling the same tracks. Because the mushrooms keep regrowing. Amoongus' spores can sprout into mushrooms pretty quickly, is why I brought them up. But if you think the reason for the infestation lies elsewhere, we don't have to worry.

[truthdecided]

It did seem like grass types were more resilient, at least. Ren wasn't as affected as he could have been, though I took caution and blew the spores away, which may have resulted in our current predicament.

[He heaves a heavy sigh, but nods all the same.]

I'm almost positive the Swoobats were victims of the spores, along with the Pokémon who attacked Smoochum. However, the entire northern forest was full of strange, overgrown foliage even beyond the mushrooms.

[outbounds]

Some grass types are can nurture growth in plants. If they are confused or finding it hard to control themselves because of the spores it could be related.

Orrrrr, maybe the northern forest is just naturally full of weird plants and fungi. Could be either. Who knows.

[ definitely not them, who basically only just showed up in this world. who knows what's normal here. ]

What do you mean by strange, though? Just overgrown or something else?

[truthdecided]

Not merely overgrown, but often glowing, and the terrain of the forest felt as though it was... breathing, for lack of a better word.

[He tries projecting some images from the forest, complete with oddly glistening flora, along with vines that grab and snatch anything nearby.]

It was treacherous terrain, made worse by the spores and hostile enemies.

[outbounds]

[ Oh. That's a forest that looks like it will eat you. Straight out of the books, video games, and b-movies. That amount of growth looks like all of it either would have been there for a long time, or just grew really, really fast. ]

... Huh. [ Huh! ] But these are recent developments, aren't they? Their arrival to this station is new. Yes?

[ unless this— the confused, disoriented Pokémon, the swarms of unreasonably aggressive ones, the various oddities that crop up in some of its inhabitants— is the kind of thing the bay's always been dealing with, and they're only really getting into it now since they haven't been here that long?

if it's recent, though ... ]

Guess the Guild Leaders must also be trying to find out the source.

[truthdecided]

I believe these next missions may bring us closer to the truth.

[But as for whether or not it's recent... hmm...

An image ripples through of a female Yungoos, trapped in delusions, despite Akechi's best attempts to calm her d own.]

But the fog is concerning. The way it meddles with your mind, to say nothing of the illness... The timing is unsettling.

1/2

[outbounds]

[ The issues predated their new arrivals, to be sure, but the fact that they arrived through the forest, as well as the timing of it... ]

Think I liked the storm better. [ 'said' plainly. There's a flicker of a hazier, harder to grasp thought layered below it, an echoed "Are we who we think we are?" with no distinct voice, lurking, lingering, clinging much like the fog in the south and middle forests as he continues. ] Getting dropped into the ocean? Fine. Straightforward, mostly! Memories, illusions, illness, the rest of what the forest does— a lot more complicated.

2/2

[outbounds]

[ Akechi's mood is catching over the telepathic link of the Grumpearls, though ... so probably, in return the next track change and topic shift might almost feel like real, physical things for how insistently they're done. ]

Aaaaanyway. Gossiping about me in public, where anyone can hear? Woooooow. I didn't expect that of you, Detective.

But maaaaaybe. You should keep your strategy meetings where you discuss ideas on how to beat me secret. At least from me.

[truthdecided]

[Emmet... Emmet, that is an insanely obvious segue, and there's this slight spark of bafflement before Akechi responds.]

Does it even count as a strategy meeting if we're speaking broadly about normal types? You just happened to be an interesting example.

[outbounds]

[ It was not intended to be subtle. ]

It was a joke. I am teasing. I know you understand those.

Besides, you did seem pretty interested in why I'd be both.

[truthdecided]

What can I say? Type combinations are fascinating, particularly in how they correspond to a species' appearance and anatomy.

[A little type chart materializes with his thoughts, with observations he's made thus far. It's surprisingly meticulous, or perhaps not so surprising, given Akechi's general demeanor.]

[outbounds]

Decent approach too. Rather than memorize hundreds and hundreds of different species, easier to first learn common tells and traits. Make educated guesses from there if you ever come across something unfamiliar. Cannot always expect that you'll have studied it first.

[ identifying the potential typings of unfamiliar species on sight might become pretty relevant for the newcomers here, honestly, at least the ones without prior familiarity with Pokémon. ]

Hmmm. Don't suppose you want to be quizzed?

[truthdecided]

Why not? It'd be an excellent opportunity to test my knowledge, and you are a professional.

[If anyone ought to know all the ins and outs, it's Emmet... or Ingo and Akari, perhaps. Still, Emmet being from a more modern era certainly gives him an edge.]

[outbounds]

Hmm. Okay. We'll start out simple. If it goes well then full speed ahead.

[ Three still images of different Pokémon, one at a time, one, two, three. He'll let them each linger a bit before moving to the next. ]

What types do you think these three Pokémon have? Why do you think that? If you are uncertain, what would your second one be, or how would you test to find out?

[truthdecided]

[Hmmm...

Akechi brushes beneath his beak with his left wing, thinking over the projected images.]

At a glance, I'd assume the first was a dark type due to the coloration. However, the faint purple around the face also evokes the feeling of a psychic type...

[That second one is fascinating, too. The posture, the build...]

The second's stance evokes the feeling of a fast but frail fighting type, although I suppose the coloration does somewhat lean into the purple and gold hues I've seen on psychic types...

[But that third one. Oh, that almost seems like a trick, really. An aquatic animal, and yet...]

Lastly, I would almost consider it a candidate for a water type, but the coloration feels so much more decayed than the lush coloration of the water types I've seen in passing. It gives the feeling of rotting kelp... Perhaps a poison type? Either a hybrid with water, pure poison, or perhaps, if we're to suspend our disbelief, a dragon?

[outbounds]

You are correct on Mienshao being a fighting type at least. Fast, frail— maybe so. They can be pretty quick to recover, though. Have to keep them under pressure else Regenerator might have them back up in no time.

As for the last. Correct, actually! Poison primarily, secondary of water. Your last guess is interesting because Skrelp loses the water type in favor of dragon after it evolves. [ a brief flash of a larger, 'leafier' seadragon. ] Good prediction.

So if you had to pick. Is your answer for the first one dark, psychic, or both?

[truthdecided]

[Hmm... It all comes down to this. He needs to assess his options, weigh the odds.

Dark color still suits dark type... Could it not be a dual type? But then, this could be a trick question. Emmet may be trying to pick something to throw him off.

Quite the conundrum...]

It being a dual type would certainly solve the dilemma, but that almost feels too easy.

[No, if it were a dark type even, that would be much too simple, wouldn't it?

So... time to take a chance.]

Let's just go with psychic.

[outbounds]

Dark and Psychic dual types are pretty rare. Actually, it is just the one known evolutionary line. And possibly a mythical. Don't usually mix very well. Kind of like how you don't often see Fire and Water dual types.

So yes, Gothorita is Psychic. Three for three so far.

[ more or less, a little prompting or narrowing down required, but they got there! okay. let's see. up a notch, maybe. ]

Switch tracks a little. One, two, three. What types of moves would be best against these? If you had to battle them, how would you approach it? Running and letting a more suitable teammate handle it is an acceptable answer if you explain why the teammate would be better.

[truthdecided]

[Hmmm...

Akechi narrows his eyes, focusing on the projected images. Some seem easier than others, certainly.]

The first certainly resembles a grass type, but that almost seems too easy. The second looks like a ground type, based on its muddy coloration... Possibly a dual type? Water would fit the amphibian appearance, and as for the third... The yellow coloration strikes me as electric. A water dual type, perhaps? Electric eels do set a precedent...

[outbounds]

That is not quite the question I asked, this time. Related, yes! Build on it.

[ Congratulations, you've reached the short answer part of the quiz and not just the matching portion, Akechi. There's a general buzz of anticipation as Emmet awaits his answers, but no spoilers on whether Akechi's guesses on typings might have been correct or not. ]

You do not always have the opportunity to second guess in the middle of a battle. Is it grass, or is it not? Do you aim for the weaknesses that grass has, but that a different type might be resistant to? Or do you play it safe with a move that will not be as strong as a super effective hit, but will at least probably hit for neutral damage if it isn't a grass type?

[truthdecided]

Oh, I know. I was just musing aloud, trying to assess how to answer the question.

[Still, back to the initial point... How would he strategize in such cases, especially with that ambiguity? He's merely a flying type, and one without amazing coverage.]

I suppose a more evasive strategy to start. Assess the opponent, prioritize weakening them with moves like Scary Face and Leer. For the eel, I'd likely let a teammate take charge, simply because I lack the proper means to contend with such a threat.

The probable ground type presents less of an immediate risk, and judging by its size and short limbs, I'd likely have a speed advantage. Even so, I'd rather hinder its mobility as much as possible in order to ensure I have the upper hand, to say nothing of the possible rock type moves it may wield...

Which brings me to the tree. A distant Air Slash could help me assess its weakness to Flying type moves. From there, I'd adjust my tactics depending on its defenses and its own abilities.

[outbounds]

Knowing when the matchup is a poor one is a good skill to have. [ Knowing how to pick your battles, how to back off and switch tracks. ] If you could pick any teammate at all, who or what would be preferable for the eel?

[ His thoughts kind of stick a little on the address, a brief stutter skip like he's about to, accustomed to saying something more, but it's hardly worth note. The strategy for the probable-ground-type gets a general feeling of acknowledgment, acceptance; sound enough, maybe, if a bit conservative, risk-averse— not a bad thing, of course. Not when faced with unfamiliar Pokemon but absolutely the kind of pattern that can be taken advantage of in the competitive circuit if it remains predictable...

Derailing. Okay, back to the actual subject here. ]

Anyway. You want to test it, huh? Then adjust? Okay. You use Air Slash on the tree.

It does not appear to be particularly hampered by the move. It does appear to be winding up some sort of move, or getting ready to charge at you. What do you do now, Detective?