PMDU: Team Inferno Official Written App

EXPLORERS GUILD: Team Inferno
Date Joined: 9/20/13
Current Funds: 6 St

Merits: 1
Strikes: 0

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Alexis
Species: Growlithe 
Nature: Quirky
-Characteristic: Impetuous and silly
Gender: Female                    Age: 15
Ability: Flash Fire

Strength: 3                  Agility: 3
Intelligence: 2              Charisma: 2+2

Total Points Left: 0/10
Type Bonus: Fire -> Charisma

Move 1: Flame Wheel
Move 2: Take Down
Move 3: Retaliate
Move 4: Agility

Inventory:

-Tiger Vest
----Description: A red-orange vest with a black stripe on the back.

-Luke Plush
----Description: “A plush toy made in Luke’s image for promotional purposes. Not quite as cuddly as the real thing, but makes a fine pillow.”

-Body Paint
----Description: “Allows the use of an additional color to one of a team's Pokemon in the form of markings.”

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Daniel
Species: Vulpix *
Nature: Timid
-Characteristic: Quick to flee
Gender: Male                    Age: 13
Ability: Flash Fire

Strength: 2                  Agility: 4
Intelligence: 3              Charisma: 1+2

Total Points Left: 0/10
Type Bonus: Fire -> Charisma

Move 1: Safeguard
Move 2: Roar
Move 3: Dig
Move 4: Flamethrower

Inventory:

-Musketeer Hat
----Description: An olive green hat with a yellow band and two feather-like ornaments that look like Shiny Vulpix tails.

-Apricorn Necklace
----Description: “A bead necklace made from apricorn husks. The seeds inside make a soft rattling sound when shaken, but it’s also just a little eerie.”

-Item 3
----Description: 

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Kuro (黒)
Species: Poochyena
Nature: Serious
-Characteristic: Sturdy body
Gender: Male                    Age: 20
Ability: Quick Feet

Strength: 4                  Agility: 3
Intelligence: 2+2              Charisma: 1

Total Points Left: 0/10
Type Bonus: Dark -> Intelligence

Move 1: Fire Fang
Move 2: Rest
Move 3: Swagger
Move 4: Crunch

========== WRITTEN TEST ==========



A single streak of blue sky between the dense clouds above Andalusst City marks the start of an unpredictable morning, and it seems like rain or shine could develop at a whim. The assorted traders and pedestrians mulling about seem to be a little wary, trying to park their stalls and carts in shaded areas or making efforts to keep their dry produce hidden away for now.

Alexis the Growlithe looked up at the sky as she and her partner, Daniel the Shiny Vulpix walked along the streets.

"Ooh~! Looks like it's gonna rain soon!" Alexis said.

"Oh, not now," Daniel complained. "I just had my fur brushed, and if it starts raining, it's probably gonna start thundering, too! I hate thunder!"

"We better hurry and get to the Hall, and fast!" Alexis said before she dashed off. "Hurry up, Danny!"

"H-hey! W-wait up, Alexis!!" Daniel cried as he followed.

While the Explorers Guild Hall isn't exactly the most eye-catching building, it still has a somewhat homely feel to it, even though the duo has only just finished registering. The Explorers seem to have a certain unmistakable aura to them, though one in particular happens to meet their gaze.

"Huh?" Alexis muttered. "Who's that?"

"Who's who?" Daniel asked.

The Servine leaning against a nearby wall inclines her narrow snout toward the two Fire-types and gives a little nod, her bright eyes briefly visible under the shadow of her hat.

"Hey... New, are you?" She speaks with a hint of caution, but her tone is otherwise welcoming. "Hmm, stupid question. 'Course you are, I saw you sign in. Admittedly I'm not great with this meet and greet stuff, so how about exchanging names to start things off? You first."

"I'm Alexis!" Alexis greeted, grinning toothily while wagging her tail.

"I-I'm Daniel," Daniel stuttered, slightly with a hint of nervousness, as expected from his timid nature.

Upon receiving this response, she relaxes a little, folding her small arms across her chest. "Ahh, that's great. Yeah, when you said your name just then, it had that... that "zing". It means you're serious about this, yeah? As for me, my name's Teresa. I'm what you'd call a Guild Assistant, which makes me your Serperior."

A slight pause...but then Alexis began to break into a guffaw that caught nearly everyone's attention.

"Our 'Serperior'!" the Fire-type laughed. "I get it! Serperior! Superior! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!"

Daniel groaned as he slapped his paw over his eyes in embarrassment.

She stares at Alexis with a blank face for a moment, then giggles quietly. "You know, you don't have to be so polite. I don't really care about rank and file, but I do care about honesty. If I tell a joke and it sucks, feel free to roll your eyes."

She extends one of her thin, green vines and nods, expecting a handshake even though she keeps her arms folded. "So what brings you here, anyway? You from out of town, or...?"

"Oh, we're from WAY outta town!" Alexis answered, vigorously shaking the vine with her paw. "We came here through that crazy mist after we got separated from our families when we were kids and got chased by a monster!"

"Which nearly ate us alive if we hadn't have gotten out of there," Daniel pointed out as he also shook the vine in his paw, although less eager than his partner.

Satisfied with your answer, Teresa nods and withdraws her vine. "Cool, cool... Well, whatever the case, you've got a name in mind for your group, right? I didn't get a chance to check your papers, but I do want to get more familiar with our rookie members when I have the time. I'm kinda new to this whole assistant thing, honestly."

"We're Team Inferno!" Alexis said, puffing her chest out proudly. "Soon to be one of the greatest Explorers of all time!"

"Nobody likes a bragger," Daniel pointed out.

A smile creeps over her narrow features when she hears the given name of this team, though it's ambiguous as to whether she found it inspiring or amusing for other reasons. "There's that "zing" again. Feels good to know we've got Pokémon like you joining our Guild. I guess Cassidy wasn't exaggerating when he said the standouts just keep pouring in. Just don't get cocky - confidence is good, but overconfidence in a dungeon is a quick way to get yourself in trouble, along with everyone else in your party." She taps the side of her snout, then clicks her tiny fingers as another question enters her mind. "Oh right, this is very important - why did you want to become an Explorer, hm? Just curious..."

"I wanna live a life of thrills and awesome adventures!" Alexis exclaimed, doing dynamic poses, "and with my best friend Danny at my side, there's nothing we can't accomplish!"

"I didn't really wanna join," Daniel added, "but...our guardian, Regis, talked me into going with Alexis. Besides, I do wanna write an autobiography, and I guess it might be a little exciting if I write about our adventures together."

She listens patiently to the explanation, but as soon as Alexis and Daniel are done with the tale, she immediately begins speaking again, her words leaving her mouth more rapidly and urgently than before. "...Because ultimately, the people come first, yeah? There's lots of food in the dungeons, and materials for clothing and medicine! When we go out and find that stuff, it means everyone here gets to have dinner. I mean, you know that, obviously, but just don't forget!"

"Oh, I won't forget!" Daniel reassured. "Alexis on the other hand...?"

The Growlithe in question is scratching her ear with her right hind foot.

"...Well...I guess she'll do her best," the Shiny Vulpix muttered.

Teresa sways her leaf-adorned tail from side to side and taps her foot, momentarily distracted by her own thoughts, a wanting grin plastered across her face. When she snaps back to reality, she lifts her snout into the air and clears her throat. "N-not to sound standoffish, but what exactly do you do, anyway? What skills or talents do you have to offer the Guild? Everyone's good at something, I think."

"I'm good at fighting!" Alexis said. "Just leave any battles to me, and I'll be there to lend a hand!"

"And me?" Daniel asked. "Well...I am good at strategy, I guess you could say...and making quick getaways when the situation calls for it. Hehehe...?"

Even before the two have finished properly answering, Teresa clicks her fingers and purses her lips, as if hearing that mythical zing yet again. "I can just feel it, you do what you do and do it with everything you've got. 'Cause in this guild, when a giver gives, then the giver gets... gotten... gets give-- eh, well you get what you give, or something. Whatever, it's written down on that big plaque in the hall. Just do your best and come see me if you need any help."

"You got it!" Alexis said, grinning confidently.

Daniel just sighed.

"Well...at least we have a few helping hands," he muttered.

Sounding much more cheerful than when she'd first approached, she gives them a little wave and turns to immediately engage another group of recruits nearby, no doubt asking them similar questions. The life of a Guild Assistant must be a busy one.

---

The recruitment slip Team Inferno received from the Explorers wasn't the most professional-looking bit of paperwork, but it was definitely the most charming. It was just a piece of scrap parchment, unevenly stamped with the guild logo and blanks for names, but the ink used had a strange iridescence, changing from purple to blue to dark green. The back also featured a hand-lettered note in cheerful cursive, reminding its new member to "drop by the Guild Barracks and sign the roster, or send in this slip and we'll paste your name in. Welcome aboard!" So Alexis did it for Kuro, and figured that was that.

Some weeks later, Alexis received a postcard addressed to her team. There's no guild insignia, but it's covered front and back in the same cursive handwriting, in the same strange, shimmering ink. She wondered who back at base would send her a personal message, but the first line makes it clear:

"Greetings,

It's Teresa, from the guild. I hope this gets to you okay. I've been busy here in Andalusst working on our Basalt haul (from the Basalt Halls). We ended up with a couple tons of mixed meatroots and fleshcaps, and going through them all felt like it took years. We've distributed most of them, but I've been trying out some stuff with the leftovers. Like this ink - I made it from some odd-colored meatroot skins. We might be able to sell it to raise money. Do you think it's too hard to read? There's a couple other formulas I- [The line is scratched out mid-sentence]"

"What was that about?" asked Kuro, scratching his ear.

"I dunno," Alexis answered. "I'll just keep readin'."

"Uh, sorry, I got carried away and realized I was running out of space. Anyway. I'm writing cause saw that you have a new recruit, and I got that "zing!" again just hearing about it. I thought it would be nice to get to know more about your new teammate - or you, if you're reading this (hi there!). There's so many questions I could ask you, but I'll stick to the ones I asked your friends when I met them. One, why'd you decide to join the Explorers? And two, what do you think will be your most useful skills as an Explorer? Don't mean to put you on the spot, I'm just always curious about this kind of thing."

"The only reason I joined was because you wouldn't leave me alone," Kuro said in an irritated.

"Aren't ya glad, though?" Alexis asked with a grin, while Kuro only shook his head.

"Ma takkun..." he grumbled before looking at the letter again. "My most useful skill, huh? I guess it would have to be my ability to think on my feet."

"There you go!" Daniel said. "You're contributing already!"

"I guess the other thing to ask is what you all aim to do next. I think you definitely know by now how important helping and connecting with other pokemon is to our guild - you made a new teammate, after all! But being an Explorer also means having your eye on the future. Are there any places you've heard about that you'd like to go? Or any other pokemon you've met who you want to get to know better? Totally understand if you don't want to share, of course."

"...You know, Kuro, you never really talk about this kind of stuff," Alexis said. "Is there any kind of goal you've got in mind, now that you're with us?"

The Poochyena didn't answer her. He only turned and loped off towards the tent.

"Uhh...Kuro?" Alexis asked. "Huh...okay, I guess you don't wanna talk about it. That's cool! You can always talk later!"

"Okay, that's just about all I can fit onto this card. I can't wait to hear from you, and good luck!
-Your Serperior, Teresa 

[Scribbled, in the tiniest handwriting] (I'm still actually a Servine. Guess that joke doesn't really work for letters.)"