Saffron Midnight Parade 2024

Welcome, foolish mortals. Stay tuned... 🎃👻

[saffronmidnightparade]

As the sun sets...

Clean up from the previous nights events is short work with everyone chipping in, and most festival goers returned home for a well earned rest. The next day was the final day of the festival, the games and food stalls were open for a tiny bit longer, and soon the festival goers were called to the big stage in the center for the closing ceremonies...

The Organizers take the stage: Rika, Janine, Matsuba, Looker, and the head Ghost themself, DJ Nightshade!

"This was a massive undertaking, and despite the hiccups and bumps in the road, this event went off with flying colors. We set out just to throw a party and celebrate the season, but it seemed the universe had other plans. I want to thank each and every one of our organizers for their tireless work, for without them this event literally would not have happened. We're already planning events, and hope to bring you an even bigger and badder festival next year! That said, from the bottom of our hearts- Thank you for joining us, and may you have safe travels home!"

----

A quick OOC word from our organizers:

"I cannot thank you lot enough for your enthusiasm and unbridled excitement for this event. The scale for this quickly ballooned from humble beginnings because of everyone around me, and I cannot thank them enough for all their incredible work. We sought to bring silly halloween fun to the dash, and I like to think we succeeded. We hope you'll join us next year! Thank you so much!" - Shiro (@monterraverde) , MC and combat scenario lead.

"This program was made possible by viewers like you. Thank you." - Syd (@soul-badge and @earth-master) Banner artist, Festival games and Costume contest lead.

"Happy Halloween, stay scary and have fun!" - Vlad (@cursedmystic), Haunted house creator/lead and Parade designer.

"Thanks for coming along for the ride and stay spooky my friends." - Allie (@specialagent836), Scavenger hunt lead, wellspring of ideas.

"Thanks for partying! 😁🥳" - Cas (@redlegend and @prestochange), Rave lead and DJ.

"Happy Halloween & Feliz Día de los Muertos!" - Ro (@poison-patriarch / @rosemallow-labs) Google Docs and Idea Support.

And once more a great big thank you to @bluesthebest for that wonderful art of the Gourgeist, thank you for allowing me to take inspiration from your art like that and make a whole battle out of it <3

Once more, thank you all for joining us, we hope to see you next year!

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Spooky-looking signs dot around the city center and outskirts of Saffron, especially on the path from Lavender Town.

In sketchy, poorly written letters, it simply reads...

"See you soon..."

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@vixletserenity / @skullkxd / @greenxprof / @mirroredranger / @silentchamp

And the winner of the Halloween Costume Contest is...

Valerie!

"Well done! Once again, these were difficult choices to make- but our Grand Prize Winner is Valerie!"

"For our finalists, each of you will receive a medal for Best in Category, and your choice of engraving on a commemorative brick that will be on display for our Walk of Fame at the Pal Park!"

Janine turns to Valerie, "But in addition to that, you- our Grand Prize Winner will be receiving a special portrait to commemorate your well-earned victory, paid for in full by the event runners."

She returns her gaze to the other finalists, "Think carefully what you want your brick to say, or who to dedicate it to. It'll be for all people and pokemon to see at the Pal Park. Thank you once again for your enthusiasm and participation. Until next year- Happy Halloween!"

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Costume Contest Final Round!

Who among the Contestants is Best Overall?

Celeste (@vixletserenity)

Ree (@skullkxd)

Green (@greenxprof)

Valerie (@mirroredranger)

Red (@silentchamp)

Voting ended onOct 22, 2023

Reference:

Celeste's Costume

Ree's Costume

Green's Costume

Valerie's Costume

Red's Costume

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THE FINAL STRIKE

LETS HEAR YOUR WAR CRY!!

With everyones combined efforts, all attacks collide around the same time, the Gourgeist screeching so loud it echoes across the city, explosions seeming to rock its body as the Dynamax form collapses, and the Gourgeist is reduced to its original- Extra tiny state, clutching what is obviously a wishing star in its hands.

A mass of pokeballs fly out of the blue, but only one actually connects, that belonging to Caben (@blind-as-a-noibat)! The ball clatters to the ground and rocks- Once, twice, three times...

Click!

Gourgeist was caught! It's Highly curious, with a Timid nature!

The sky clears, returning the brilliant night sky to its original glory. Congratulations trainers! You managed to keep the collateral damage to a minimum, and the event can continue right on schedule! (After a bit of cleanup)

CONGRATULATIONS, TRAINERS!

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Alright, enough fun. Time for something a little more serious.

Ditto use Thunder!

[1]

The Not-Persian digs their feet into the ground and hisses as static electricity rolls over their body, and then calls down a mighty Thunder from the sky! ...Only for it to miss completely- At least for its original target. The bolt striks several pumpkaboo which are sent flying and then collide with unsuspecting trainers standing around the combat zone.

BONK!!

[9/10]

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This battle is lasting more than Green would like it to. Spectrier neighs, impatient, and he knows it’s time to pick up the pace.

He found a prop sword left behind by someone, and decides to pick it up. Illogically, something in his spirit seems to tremble in unison with his horse.

“Spectrier! Let’s get a little closer. Foul Play!!” he points his newly acquired sword at their enemy, shouting like a general in all its glory!

[6]

The Gourgeist is ANGRY, and while Greens attack is poised to strike true, it's interrupted as Spectrier is smacked from the air by the ghosts giant hand, knocking rider from saddle.

Before Green can hit the ground, though, he's saved by the self same horse running underneath him and catching him before he collides with the dirt- What a wonderful bond!

[9/10]

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Tobias just barely dodges Laika’s huge body flying back at him from the Gourgeist’s attack. He’s about to call out one of his Ice type Pokémon to take advantage of the ice field, but Laika is mad—she doesn’t want to be bested so easily! This time she creates the illusion of a rustling sound from behind the Gourgeist—only to slip right in front of it and aim a Night Daze directly at the center of its face!

[20]

ITS A CRITICAL HIT!! Laikas anger translates into pure power, the Gourgeist distracted by the sound behind it, only to be met with the strange Zoroark dead on in front of its face, knocking it back like a gigantic punching bag.

It weebles, and wobbles, but it doesnt fall down just yet, an intense keening noise heard as it thrashed about at everything any anything it could.

A crit counts for two hits! It's almost down! Keep at it!

[9/10]

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"Styler!" Ugh, she'll call her partner back later. But now it's for her big boy. Valerie calls out her oversized hydreigon. "Sven, take out that gourgeist!" With a flourish of her cape, she points at the pokemon. "Dark Pulse!"

[13]

This is NO SWEAT for the Dark type, joining the others in launching more inky black blobs at the rampaging ghost, one that strikes true through the near wall of swaying trees.

The Gourgeist roars in pain, the storm above its head roiling with an intense anger- It's on the back foot! Keep pushing!

[7/10]

[saffronmidnightparade]

THE INBOX IS OPEN FOR ROUND 2

You may send in another ask now!

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Just when Morgan was thinking of getting on her bike and forcing her way through the ghostly barricade, a giant Gourgeist appeared! It’s scaring attendees, and other Trainers are stepping in to deal with the situation. No way is Morgan sitting this one out. She sends out her Togekiss and is ready to play healer to the others. But her first move had to be direct. She instructs her Togekiss to use Air Slash!

[18]

Air slash, for how inaccurate it is, Hits! and hits HARD! it causes the Gourgeist to flinch and screech at its attacker, swatting its giant arms, trying to pick up a tree and hurl it at the Togekiss. Thankfully it finds this too difficult and gives up, but progress is being made!

Snow turns left: 0 [6/10]

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Hm... This is not a good omen.

"Alakazam-"

Her partner stepped into existence.

"Psycho Cut."

[3]

This creature is not of Black Fog, thankfully, but its immense size caused by the Dynamax energy seems to shake off the Psycho cut as hardly more then a mosquito bite.

A valiant effort!

Snow turns left: 1 [5/10]

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The earth erupts, and Clair digs her heels in, fingers dancing over her arsenal of capsuled dragons as she stares up at this great pumpkin. Which one to pick?

Unfortunately, the tamer doesn't get to choose. Her little adopted Duskull, Kokusho, lets out a warcry-esque squeal before rocketing his little skull frame directly towards the entity who was at least one hundred times larger.

"No, wait--!" Clair shouts helplessly, but Kokusho seems to be as hardheaded as his trainer already, eye focused as he blinks behind the thrumming gargantuan-gourd and...

Kokusho used Shadow Sneak!

[1]

O death, you are brave and true but your heart dwarfs your body, Kokusho gets about half way to the Gourgeist before its unceremoniously slapped out of the air and right back into Clairs arms.

A valiant effort, but wholly unsuccessful.

Snow turns left: 2 [5/10]

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Blue dashes to the scene, her Ceruledge Nova hot on her tail. They have to do something to protect all these people...

As soon as they find themselves within range, Nova unleashes a Shadow Claw!

[11]

Nova strikes true, their fiery blades emanating ghostly energy as they claw right into the Gourgeists hide, a powerful scream erupting from the creature.

The forest sways oddly, as if the trees themselves were threatening to swat down at any unsuspecting attackers- Be careful!

Snow turns left: 3 [5/10]

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Just the look of this Pokémon alone screamed Ghost Type. Celeste could use her Dragapult or Meowscarada for this battle, but Dipippy’s Ghost typing was an issue. “Cilantro use Dark Pulse!”

[15!]

"MROW!!" The magical cat is all too eager to rush in and slam the inky black blot of darkness into the Gourgeists hide- AND IT CONNECTS!

Take a bow, Cilantro! Well done!

Snow turns left: 4 [4/10]

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"I KNEW IT!" It's the first thing that comes from Ashe's mouth as she stares up at the large Gourgeist. Leon looks exasperated and Kianga just sighs, keeping himself calm. The various grounds are being destroyed and people are at risk of being hurt. Deciding to split up for now and have their pokemon help them out, Grusha takes it upon himself to go forward and battle the Dynamax pokemon. Choosing Togo, his Mightyena, Grusha throws out his arm with commands; "Snowscape and then use Ice Beam!" The canine bolts off with the use of Quick Attack to propel himself sky high and cast Snowscape with a mighty howl followed by the beam of ice which is only magnified more by picking up the falling snow in its wake. (grusha / kokorowoutsu)

[6]

Togo barks and calls the snow, a soft flurry starting to fall around the area. The other Ice type pokemon seem to enjoy this greatly!

The Ice beam unfortunately misses, but ICE TYPE MOVES NOW ROLL WITH ADVANTAGE BECAUSE OF THE SNOW.

Snow turns left: 5 [3/10]

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Looker looks down at ditto and has a light chuckle. This move set wasn't one he was used to, but what was a festival for if not fun. Might as well make this look less threatening for the kids.

"Use Payday."

[9]

Ditto yowls and bounds forward, trying to blast the Gourgeist with a myriad of coins... which pass right through the creature. Silly Looker, Ghosts are immune to normal type moves!

But now THE FLOOR IS COVERED IN MONEY.

See if you can grab some amidst the chaos!

[3/10]