98th moon [video]

[paladinlost]

I know it is considered uncouth to make requests before one's birthday, but I am in need of information.

[Cecil takes a small sip from the glass of juice he's holding before continuing. He's been putting this off for far too long, and his own procrastination bothers him, but that's no reason to look anything less than composed.]

Firstly, I wish to know where I could catch - not buy - any species with the ability Damp. Species recommendations and tales of personal experience with the ability would also be appreciated.

[He sets the glass down, taps it absentmindedly with his right hand. He should have done this months ago, truly.]

Secondly, I am also interested in catching species such as Goldeen, Finneon and Roselia. For those, purchasing or trading for an egg is also an option, if you can offer particularly interesting egg moves. The price is no issue, and neither is acquiring an egg from any of my own Pokémon in return.

[He'll use Gogo, if he has to. Not that he'll publicly admit that.]

Lastly, I would be most thankful if someone was willing to share a recipe for coffee cake... or willing to taste my first few attempt.s I intend to do some baking this week, and I'd rather not see it go to waste. Thank you.

[Asking about Damp species: done. Inquiring about potential future team members: done. Covertly inviting people to visit him for his birthday: done. With any luck, this'll be a productive evening.]

Comments

[fourwayconnection]

I know recipes for coffee cake! Sending you some is the least I could do for how you've helped me out.

Do you just want one, or should I send you a couple different ones for you to try out?

[paladinlost]

That would be very kind of you, thank you. Do you happen to have a favorite? Difficulty and ingredients are no issue, but I'd still like to bake the best dessert possible.

[fourwayconnection]

I have a couple, yeah... You allergic to nuts?

[paladinlost]

I'm not, luckily for me. Neither are any of my Pokémon, luckily for them.

[fourwayconnection]

Then there's no problem with any of my favorites! I'll send you a few different ones, and you can figure out whichever is easiest or more delicious.

Just coffee cake is the only preference, right?

[paladinlost]

I greatly appreciate that. You see, I tried the coffee cake they offered in Kalos during our visit, but I've never tried to prepare it before. I'd like for my first attempt to be at least half as good as my first taste, if that's possible.

[fourwayconnection]

Oh man... I'd love to know their recipes for that...

I'll tell you the ones I do know, and they should still be pretty good!

[paladinlost]

If only I'd had the time to convince them to share, or even bribe them...

[How unpaladinlike.]

I've no doubt they will be, as long as I keep any would-be assistants out of the kitchen. Too many cooks set the soup on fire, as they say.

[fourwayconnection]

You mean your Pokemon or other people?

[Video]

[friendyousohard]

I know a few Pokemon that can have the Damp ability. Woopers, Psyducks, Poliwags, and their evolved forms can all possess it. What do you need it for? Trying to keep one of your Pokemon from Exploding?

[Video]

[paladinlost]

Not one of mine, no.

[Last December had been a strong reminder that explosions are an all too common threat, in this world.]

All Water-types, then; I'm hardly surprised, considering the ability's name. Do you have a favorite, among the three?

[Video]

[friendyousohard]

A friend's? Or just something you encounter in the wild often? Well, I can understand either way.

[There's nothing like walking down a nice, calm path and sudden having a Graveller jump out and blow themselves up in one's face.]

I've never actually used one, but my mind immediately jumps to Wooper. They're part ground, which eliminates their weakness to electricity, though admittedly it does make grass-types even more effective against them. Plus, I'm pretty sure they can learn Earthquake, and that's always handy.

[Video]

[paladinlost]

Angry Cryogonals falling from the skies while tied to Combees and Shapedos with tinsel, actually. Though I've no doubt it'd be useful in any cave.

[One of the main advantages of being sedentary is not dealing with exploding Gravellers, he's found.]

As it happens, Earthquake is one of my reusable TMs. That would ensure it'd know a strong attack immediately... Unless it needs to evolve first, but that's a minor issue. Besides, they surely can learn Ice Beam; that would handily counter most Grass-types.

[Video]

[friendyousohard]

[She takes a brief moment to allow that mental image to settle into her mind.]

Sir Cecil, you have the strangest stories sometimes, and I'm pretty certain I need to hear the rest of this.

But anyway, yes, I do believe they can learn Ice Beam, so really they're quite an excellent choice for any team. That said, I suppose I should mention positive traits about the other options for comparison's sake. I do know that Chuck's Poliwrath is certainly very strong, and Politoed are, if nothing else, extremely rare. I've never actually seen one outside of the Pokedex. Offensively those are probably both better options than a Quagsire. As for Psyduck...

[She pauses a few moments. Psyducks creep her out.] Errrr, Golduck seems quite versatile?

[Video]

[paladinlost]

You've not heard about it yet? It was last December, and certain parts of Celadon were quite damaged by the attack. I suspect Team Rocket's involvement, of course, but as far as I know no one claimed responsibility for that one.

[Such a shame, too. He would have to loved to bill some madman for all those repairs for his yard.]

I do remember my team having to give their all to defeat that Poliwrath. Making such strength part of my team could be a great boon during difficult battles... Then again, potential versatility is also appreciated. And I have so few birds...

[Video]

[friendyousohard]

Somehow I completely missed that whole thing. How strange.

[Then again, she wasn't in a well-populated city at the time. Still, one would think there would have been mentions of it over the network.]

Well, at any rate, those are the options available, as far as I'm aware. They all have their advantages, but I still think I'd take Wooper, all things considered.

[Video]

[paladinlost]

That madness was over relatively quickly, and only Celadon was affected. That could explain it.

[So could the fact that only a handful of trainers were present, and none of them spoke up.]

I'll look up Wooper's natural habitat, then; it's been some time since I last saw one, but they should be easy to find.

[video]

[ortion]

[It's like Dist is practically summoned at the mention of his favorite Pokemon species. Hi Cecil.]

After a Roselia, are you? Going by our last conversation I'm surprised you don't have one already!

Well, if you're so intent on catching one yourself, you can easily find wild Roselia in the National Park or Ilex Forest.

[video]

[paladinlost]

[Ah, a known Roselia expert. Excellent.]

I've been considering catching one for some time, but the last half-year has distracted me from that idea. Do you happen to recall where they were most common? Find one will be a thrill, but training it quickly will be an even greater one.

[video]

[ortion]

Is that so? That must have been quite a distraction to keep you from pursuing such a magnificent species.

[Really, Roselia-acquiring should be top priority!]

They're fairly rare in both locations, actually. There is a good chance you might not happen across one on your first trip. However, I imagine sunny days would yield the best chances of locating one.

[video]

[paladinlost]

A dozen new Pokémon to train at once would be a distraction for anyone, I've no doubt.

[Plus all that... madness for Halloween.]

That's likely, yes. And who would I be, to refuse an excuse to take a stroll among the grass and flowers on a sunny day?

[video]

[ortion]

My, that's quite a lot. Should I assume that the September swarms played a role in that?

[Why else would someone want to take on that many Pokemon at once? Good lord.]

Ha, who indeed. I can't imagine anyone who would refuse to be a pleasant person. And I can assure you that finding a Roselia will only add to the experience. They're such a lovely species.

[video]

[paladinlost]

Let us simply say that it was a very productive month, and that no man can have too many swords.

[If anything, three Honedges is not nearly enough.]

That they are. Though I must say I am mainly hoping that their appearance is a sign of talent for caring for rosebushes. My garden is in great need of flowers.

[video]

[ortion]

[...Should he ask about the swords.

Maybe not...

Besides, gardening is a much more exciting subject!]

Oh, they are most certainly talented at that! Most flower-based Pokemon are, as I've learned from experience.

[He's not going to talk about his Vileplume ok.]

The majority of my flowers are kept indoors, but my flower-based Pokemon have greatly improved the longevity of them despite the lack of direct sunlight.

[video]

[paladinlost]

I'm glad to hear it. Cosmos and Sunleth already do excellent work with my plants, of course, but I've no doubt that roses tended by one of their own who is sentient would bear exceptional blossoms. Surely such results would please her greatly.

[She is the reason he loves roses so much, after all.]