#akkadios

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Name: Stafford Saban

Hometown: Hammerlocke (Galar)

Specialist Type: Steel

A fierce yet disciplined trainer, Stafford Saban is the latest in the Saban lineage, current Frontier Brain, or more official, Palace Knight of the Battle Palace in Hammerlocke, and custodian of the Crowned Sword and Shield. While one might thing he was in a position to show his strength, Stafford has always strived to exceed his limits, and so has come to the Pokémon World Tournament to seek a new challenge.

His position was not earned lightly, however, like his forebearers before him, Stafford took on the challenge of finding and earning the fealty of the Four Swords of Justice, so that he might be worthy of caring for the sacred relics of Zacian and Zamazenta, should they be needed again since the Darkest Day. And proved that he did, having tracked and earned the trust and aid of Cobalion, Virizion, Terrakion and Keldeo in the cold wilds of the Crown Tundra.

But Swords of Justice aren't really allowed for the Pokémon World Tournament, though Stafford believes his freeform team are more than ready for the challenge. Whether it be his stoic Aegislash or his steadfast Samurott, all are as trained as Stafford in the blade. His Ceruledge is a fierce fighter with no time for nonsense, his Kabutops is a savage attacker, and his Sceptile loves nothing more than to attack swiftly with powerful Leaf Blades, Mega Evolving for added impact. And when all have fallen before him, Stafford's Kingambit will use their honour and spirit to grow stronger, defeating all foes in the name of his team and trainer.

As for his specialist team, they are as strong as the steel of Stafford's own blade. His Alolan Sandslash slashes with claws as sharp as any edge, his Escavalier charges into battle with powerful punching lances, and his Scizor Mega Evolves to cleave through anything standing in its way. Stafford's Empoleon is also an impressive fighting, striking like a powerful trident, but also being able to provide a defensive wall. His Skarmory descend upon foes with its razor-sharp claws, and Stafford's team is once more rounded out by his Kingambit, flaunting its Supreme Overlord ability.

While Stafford has seen many foes in Akkadios he deems would be worthy of challenge him, he has also made sure to be ready sure should his friend and rival Lang Schott is placed against him. The pair have already sparred multiple times since arriving, and aren't likely to stop... well, aside from when he gets to brag about his Legendary Charges when fellow competitor Maxine Britt bombards him with questions for her research projects.

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Name: Lia Britt

Hometown: Ecruteak City (Johto)

Specialist Type: N/A

When your father happens to be one of the Admins for a once prominent evil organisation, it can be hard to pull yourself out of that shadow, yet somehow Lia pulled herself out and has been shining bright ever since. Travelling across the region, she fought hard against gym after gym until she eventually went up against the Indigo League and claimed her title as champion... a title that lasted a few weeks until some guy from Pallet Town called "Hot Shot" came and defeated her, taking the title himself.

Seeking a new challenge to sink her teeth into, when news of the Pokémon World Tournament in the Akkadios regions crossed her path, she jumped at the opportunity, as did her loyal and dedicated team. And when she heard that the trainer that usurped her reign as champion would be competing, she was excited the opportunity to meet him on the battleground against. Maybe then she can get him out of her head.

Leading a team of trained and disciplined Pokémon, her Gallade and Samurott are masters at the blade, while her Froslass can cast her eerie spells. Her most surprising teammates however are an unusual Braviary and Arcanine said to have inhabited the Sinnoh Region during ancient times. Her ace, however, is an Ampharos shining nearly as bright as its trainer, capable of mega evolving to show it has the heart of a dragon.

[legendsautoaca]

Like No-One Ever Was

Man, thirty years just flies by, doesn't it?

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Name: Ash Ketchum

Hometown: Pallet Town (Kanto)

Specialist Type: N/A

Five years ago, he went on a quest to be the best there ever was. To catch them was his real test, but to train them was his cause. He went through several regions, searching far and wide, with the goal to understand the power that's inside. Now, as the Pokémon Champion of Alola, Winner of the Kanto Battle Frontier, and the Monarch of the Masters Eight 2022, Ash Ketchum takes to the stage once more alongside his longtime partner Pikachu and a team of some of his strongest allies.

While Ash has had many Pokémon pals both caught and befriended, for this world championship he's opted for a single team of six. The frontrunner of this team is his first Pokémon friend, a Pikachu who has seen countless battles with many great opponents, who embodies the same plucky determination his trainer possesses. Through thick and thin they've stood together, and used the power of Gigantamax and Z-Moves to fight even further.

The second is a Lucario born from Ash's gritty determination with some spunk of his own and gifted with the power of a Mega Stone. The third is a Greninja who not only has the skills to rival some of the best trainers, but has unlocked a unique battle form roughly equivalent to that of a Mega Stage, empowered by the strong bond between the two. A more recent rotation into Ash's competitive team, fourth is a Gabite who, while hardly as powerful as the various Garchomps that have come to the tournament, is more than willing to bare his fangs and fire off a Draco Meteor or two... though oddly the few misfires it's had always hit some poor Piplup. Fifth is a Gengar who Ash befriended after it was abandoned, and who is gifted with the power of the Gigantamax power to become a true nightmare. Though a Ghost-Type, it spent much time training under Ash's Infernape and other fire Pokémon to massive immense fire-type moves, changing up its strategies on a dime. And the sixth is a Feraligatr who has evolved specifically for this tournament, even taking some fashion cues from a Krookodile that joined Ash the last time he was at the world championship, as well as to bolster it's dark-type moves.

Everyone's armed to the gills with their strongest Pokémon teams, and Ash has everyone ready to brawl, even with a differing team from the one that brought him to the championship last time. Still, some can't help but wonder, is he here to win or to have a good battle with the newer generations of champions (even those that are technically older than his 15-year-old butt)?

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Name: Tina Myuti

Hometown: Mesagoza (Paldea)

Specialist Type: Fairy

Tina Myuti seems to be yet another enigma to add onto the list of competitors in the Pokemon World Tournament. While she is recorded as coming from Mesagoza in the Paldea region, she claims to actually have found her way there from the Great Crater of Paldea, not being sure why she was there, but somehow getting enrolled in the local Academy anyway. And stranger still was the company she brought with her.

When Tina first arrived in Mesagoza, it's said that she was accompanied by two very different Pokémon believe to have appeared from deep within Area Zero - the primordial Walking Wake, and the mechanical Iron Leaves. While both are very protective of their trainer, they strangely seem to have a rivalry between each other, often coming to blows in Tina's absence. Naturally, since she trained at Mesagoza's academy, Tina has mastered the art of the Terastallizing with this pair, her Walking Wake transforming into a pure Dragon-type, while her Iron Leaves transforms into a Fighting-Type.

It may surprise people to know, but Tina only completed her freeform team upon arriving to Akkadios for the World Tournament. Upon arriving and getting lost, Tina came across an Akkadian Golisopod. However, instead of attacking her as she would've expected, it instead escorted her back, and now keeps an eye on her, turning her around if she gets lost again. As for the rest of her team, her Boltund is incredibly playful, often catching Pokéballs when she attempts to catch a Pokémon, her Musharna not only sends her foes to sleep, but also provides her teammates pleasant dreams, and her Cleffable is a magical powerhouse, dominating the field, especially when Mega Evolved.

As for her specialist team, as well as her Cleffable, her Haterenne and Ninetale play the field with a variety of moves such as Safeguard and Aurora Veil, while her Ribombee disrupts her foes with a range of status effects. Tina also uses a Scream Tail she caught while trying to investigate how she got to the Great Crater, specialising in deafening her foes with volume. As for her Sylveon, while strong, it is notorious being for being a massive flirt, toying with any Pokémon that takes her fancy.

After arriving to Akkadios and finally getting to the Grand Central Stadium in Icon City (after getting lost a few times), Tina took an interest in fellow competitor Randall Paige, being curious by his guarded personality... and the colony of Moistate following him around. Somehow Tina manage to break her way into his heart, and the pair haven't been seen apart since... unfortunately, what once simply a two-person rivalry between Walking Wake and Iron Leaves has now got a third rival in the form of Randall's Genesect. Yeah, trouble's a-brewing.

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Name: Starla Baker

Hometown: Mistralton City (Unova)

Specialist Type: Flying

Starla has always been a glory seeker. Having been trained at the Blueberry Academy, she formed her own little group known as the Devil Trio, and rose to the top of the Academy's own BB Pokemon League to become that year's champion. She even spent a bit of time with her posse in Kalos, getting really into the sky battle craze, and as anyone who met her during that time, she was really annoying about it.

Growing up in Mistratron really made Starla appreciate the flying type, so it's no wonder that it's her signature type. While her Minior and Ledian are good battlers, they're even better cheerleaders, championing their trainer. On the other hand, she boasts a number of powerhouses, including her Gliscor and Mega Evolving Staraptor, while her Bombirdier prefers to fight dirty. And that Gyarados is her pride and joy... just don't ask what it took to evolve it from a Magikarp.

On her free form team, it's very clear that Starla's team emphasises pure brute strength. You won't find a single status moves on her team, just pure damage. Ranging from the tanky bruisers like Nidoqueen and Garganacl, a Vikavolt that strikes it targets with powerful attacks from a distance, a Decidueye with a keen aim and powerful striking legs, as well as a Gengar that juggles a range of energy attacks. And if all else fails? She'll Mega Evolve her Dragonite and have it bulldoze through every Pokémon standing between her and victory.

Since arriving at Akkadios for the Pokémon world tournament, Starla has certainly made an impression... for better of worse. While she's tried her hand at network, she's already butted heads with fellow competitor Artemis, and now she's praying that she gets the chance to wipe that condescending look off her face. We kinda hope she remembers this tournament is supposed to be in good spirits.

[legendsautoaca]

So you guys know Holt Roderick? Gym Leader number eight of the Akkadios Pokémon League? Has quite the ego? So some of you have been watching him battle and people have been asking... why does his Blaziken look so strange when it Mega Evolves? Well, what if I told you that this isn't the Mega Evolution you're used to. This is Mega Blaziken A, a new Mega Evolution discovered right here on Akkadios!

BLAZIKEN, A-Mega Evolution Form - The Blaze Pokémon - A Fire and Fighting-Type Pokémon. Mega Evolution has ignited a fire in its soul, allowing it to bend flames to its whim. It's said that in extreme circumstances, it can ignite the feathers on its back, forming a pair of blazing wings.

*Zzzzt* Where as most Blaziken are a physical fighter, the Mega Blaziken A gains proficiency in special attacks. It's said that Holt discovered the Blazikenite A deep in the depths of Arois Caves! He's not the only one to do so! *Zzzt zzzt* And who knows what other Mega Stone lie buried beneath us!

[legendsautoaca]

Name: Assistant of Ceremonies Siren Starr

Hometown: Unknown, suspected to be Alola

Specialist Type: Water

Siren Starr, one time Water Gym Leader of the recently set up Alola league, is perhaps one of the loveliest showoffs you will ever see in the oceans, and her arrival on Akkadios is precedent of a great future for all water trainers everywhere! ...In her humble opinion.

In truth, her position as a Gym Leader is under debate, since the Gym never officially left the command of Trial Captain Lana Nalukai, and even the other trainers she supposedly was in command of had hardly any respect for her showboating attitude. But while such displaying is unbecoming of a Gym Trainer, it does suit the position of an announcer, and she's embraced this role with as much enthusiasm as anything else she's tackled in life.

Her team is made of Pokemon with just as much of an attention addiction, with her starter, Primarina, always singing for the crowd, and her Milotic leaping up every so often to show off. The most serious of the group is the Akkadian Garchomp she captured on arriving at Akkadios, and even he's been accused of "farming aura" as the kids call it these days. There are rumors of her having stronger water types under her belt, with some saying she has a Gyarados, but she's never shown them off so it's not exactly likely.

It's perhaps a bit of an open secret that she's hit it off with her co announcer Craig Stone, who has a similar love for the ostentatious. Some have even gone so far as to claim to have seen the two making out like the most desperate schoolchildren you've ever seen, and we're not gonna judge them for it at all- ARCEUS PRESERVE ME, THE TYRANTRUM IS BACK!