Wallace Cup 2021

hi i'm tian it's 3:06 am and i'm still hype

[wallace-cup]

oh? what’s this? a letter of parchment, carried in by a wingull riding on a salty sea breeze…but you’re nowhere near the ocean. how did it get here, and who is writing to you? all you know as you open up the message is that it must be someone special… 

Dear Friend,

      Congratulations! As per your interest in this year’s event, you are cordially invited as a representative of your region to participate in the Wallace Cup’s CELEBRATION OF NATIONS. This year’s Cup will be a time where people all around the world can come together, express what makes their regions special, and delight in the bounty of experiences that the rest of the world has to offer. Make your mark by showing us what you believe sets your region apart!

      The first round is a feature never before seen in any previous Contest: The Pavilion round! You get to design a Pavilion containing food, activities and facts that represent your region best. And since this is a Contest, you’ll be following it up with a Performance--an Appeal that shows off what the spirit of your region is all about! Of course, we’re not just going to be letting in people from the world’s eight most prominent nations--Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, Kalos, Alola and Galar. We welcome anyone from any country who wants their region to shine.

      We hope to see you all in Kouralion City, from the subregion of Abyssio in the realm of Unima. The underwater dome amidst a vibrant coral reef will be the perfect backdrop to the shining colors of everyone’s passion! Swim amongst our many regional variants of Corsola and frolic on the beach before the performance begins. Then it’s showtime beneath the waves, to the light of the moon and the setting sun.

      To enter, please submit your application to wallace-cup.com. We can’t wait to see what you have to share!

      Sincerely,

             The Judges              Wallace Kassai, River Marina, Wula Feiyun and Weiss Schnee

what a dream! what a chance! all that’s left is whether you’re bold enough to pack your bags. only one thing makes you think as you start to dream of the possibilities.

how did they know you were interested…?

~~~

yes you read that right, tian’s wallace cup is BACK for ANOTHER YEAR, BABY! to be honest, given that i was worried people wouldn’t have time to submit their entries, i opened this event a leeeeeetle early on discord--but the fact that we now already have fifteen people means that this contest is more than good to go! click here to enter our discord and have a peek around. we promise you, it’s gonna be great!

RULES | SCORING & PRIZES | JUDGES’ CORNER

To see what regions are taken or available, click here!

promo banner by the wonderful @writtenbykaichu 

[wallace-cup]

THE GREATEST SHOW.

It has come to my attention that I never posted this masterpiece that I wrote with @cacturnefortheworse from the Wallace Cup 2020 on this blog. To remedy this two years later, here it is!

[wallace-cup]

FIRST PLACE: Spirit and Leon / @fallenxspirit​ with 335 points, representing the region of GALAR!

SECOND PLACE: Molly and Margourette / @croesow​ + The Pirate Who Controls the Sea / @blue-orb​ with 334 points, representing the regions of ADREFFE and HOENN!

THIRD PLACE: Ghetsis Harmonia / @idanikou​ with 330 points, representing the region of UNOVA!

HONORABLE MENTION: Snagger Wes / @orreheart​ with 324 points, representing the region of ORRE!

And a big, big thank you to……

Fifth place! Anna Rosewood / @diamontha‘s Discord-only OC + Valerie / @mirroredranger​ and Lunick / @bemuseing​ with 310 points, representing the regions of TRELANT and FIORE!

Sixth place! Iset Lawson / @rebornchampion​ with 261 points, representing the region of AEVIUM!

Colress / @akuromatico​ and Grimsley / @highrollingheir​ for turning in their Pavilion though dropping out, with 184 points, representing the region of UNOVA!

Finally, let’s give a round of applause for everyone who was interested, even if they didn’t finish all the way through!

@cosmacy​ @captain-tearex​ @thelittlestdemon​ @yellraiser​ @aquaviolent​ @goingtopulsera​​ @landilizandra​ @kokorowoutsu​​ @timebranded​ @writtenbykaichu​ @kotoyin​ @a-hell-of-a-lot-of-muses​ @sylveonnesmuses​ 

This year’s Wallace Cup will be the last in a long time--but it was certainly the best. You all came together to make a truly unforgettable experience, to create the sorts of memories that will always keep the Cup alive in our hearts. This Contest, and all my other Contests, wouldn’t be what they are without your hard work and dedication. 

Make no mistake about it, though, this will not be your last opportunity to shine in an IC competition--especially not one of mine. I’m always game to make more, I’m always game to see you make your own, and with the Wallace Cup hiatused, there will always be more doors open to explore something fresh. With that, I bid you adieu. I hope to see you again wherever the road takes us!

[wallace-cup]

@fallenxspirit [Appeal]

      “Spirit, Leon, what a wondrous display of Galarian history--particularly gay Galarian history--that you have shown us. I think you two really showed us the meaning of having a champion time.” He smiles. “Let’s get to the scoring, now, shall we? Aesthetically, I would like to give you a 7/10, because while the Appeal was marvelous to look at, some of the fight scenes did come off as too strong for the backing track that you used. From a technical standpoint, I’d like to give you a 9/10, however, because while it’s true that perhaps your fight technique could have used more nuance, it’s incredibly impressive to me that Charizard stays standing for so long. And as for your representation of your region? Easily a 10/10. You showed us the depth of what the Galarian Heroes’ story meant for both Galar and for them as well. Galar couldn’t have asked for anyone better to tell the tale you set forth for us today. This brings your total from me to 26 points!”

      "I think you did marvelously as well,” River says. “Your Aesthetic earns from me a 7/10, because while the illusions were gorgeous, you could have used the different aspects of your moves to bring out their natural properties more often--and what’s more, sometimes it felt too fast-paced compared with the pace of the lyrics. For your Technical Mastery, though, I would like to award you a 10/10--it’s no easy feat for your Pokémon to put on such a long show, especially combined with multiple instances of safe uses of Legendary moves. And for your Thematic Mastery? Another 10/10, that’s for sure. This brings your total from me to 27 points!”

      “I’m crying. I’m actually crying,” Feiyun says, wiping the tears from her eyes and blowing her nose. “That story…The way you told it, how much feeling you put into it, everything was beautiful. I think the backing track was actually perfect for the fight scenes, especially at the end. I think the less music actually makes the fight scenes more heartfelt and realistic! The constant fighting in the backdrop and the way that contrasted with the two lovers set things apart. The way you showed how your Pokémon were trying to make things right in the end made me feel feelings I didn’t know I had. And the suspense you built with Eternatus was wonderful--even though I already knew how the story would end, I was still on the edge of my seat! So, from me, you’ve earned a perfect score! Congratulations!”

      "Well, what do you know. Battle Appeals usually put me to sleep because of how often they’re done, but I actually liked this one,” Weiss says. “I do think you’ve only earned a 6/10 on the Aesthetic because sometimes the way you rendered the battle scenes felt…repetitive? It felt a bit like I was watching the same thing over and over again and I would have liked to see you vary up your visuals somewhat more. For technique, though, you’ve earned an 8/10 for your choreography of such a long Appeal--and the fact that you took basically the same risks as your Pokémon on the field. And for your representation of your region? Another 10/10. I can really appreciate the fact that Eternatus had bonded with you to the point it would portray a negative aspect of its history for your show. This means from me you earn 24 points!”

      “Now for your bonuses. You earn +15 for that stunt at the end with the Eternabeam firing on your Protect, and +15 for using iconic Galarian Pokémon. This brings your total to…”

TOTAL: 137 POINTS

GRAND TOTAL: 335 POINTS

[wallace-cup]

@bemuseing​ and @mirroredranger​ [Appeal]

      “Oho! Now that’s quite an interesting Appeal--drawing on Pokémon native to Unima for your performance!” He claps his hands. “While I have to say the beginning of your Appeal was a little more on the basic end, I also applaud you for the intricate stunts and the more dazzling visuals that you had toward the end. For this, I give you a 7/10 in Aesthetic Mastery. Unfortunately, you’ll have to make do with a 6/10 in Technical Mastery, for that big, big accident there with the Gabite and the Minun--Valerie, you did quite a good job saving your partner, but I’ll have to admit, that moment jarred me out of the Appeal completely. However, for your Thematic Mastery, I want to give you an 8/10. I would have preferred more of a…story? A story to be told, but the way you synthesized something as grand as Legendary symbolism at the end with such an upbeat soundtrack is quite admirable. Your total from me is 21 points!”

      “Lunick, I for one don’t think your fall was an accident,” he says. “While that moment was indeed rather jarring to see next to the expert care you put into the rest of the Appeal, I wish to award you with a 9/10 in Technical Mastery. Your ability to train Pokémon whom you barely know to perform such feats is truly second to none--a mark of true Rangers. As for your Aesthetic Mastery, I’d like to give you another 8/10. You synthesized perfectly with the music, though I would have perhaps used the colors and contrasts of your moves a little more cleverly in the beginning. Still, though, you deserve to be given credit for the way in which you utilized moves that were unfamiliar to you. Finally, for your Thematic Mastery, I would like to award you a 10/10 for showing us the different aspects of the potential that your region carries--from Legendary exploits to simply having fun with your Pokémon. This brings your total from me to 27 points!”

      “He’s absolutely right that your Appeal was so fun to watch!” Feiyun says, fist-pumping with excitement. “Your Aesthetic? 7/10, easy. I felt you got more complex with your visuals toward the end, but you still did a great job with the first half! The only thing I didn’t like about it was…well. The scenes of your Pokémon fighting. I felt like the staged fights took away from the overall upbeatness of your Appeal. Your Technical Mastery, I’d like to give a 10/10 for the way you put everything together. Valerie, your one-handed handstand on top of Arcanine’s back was just astounding to me, as is the fact you’ve managed to bond so fast with new Pokémon. Especially a Leviathoar--the Great Leviathans of Unima don’t give themselves to just anyone like that, so you must be really special! And for your Thematic Mastery? 9/10! Only a single point taken off because I didn’t understand that your Pokémon were supposed to represent the Legendary Dogs at first. From me, you’ve earned your 26 points!”

Oh, what a nice score these two are getting. ‘Twould be a shame if something……

Happened to it.

      “Well, at least they liked it,” she says sassily. “But let me tell you something: I didn’t. The beginning, apart from the handstands? It positively bored me. I almost stopped paying attention as soon as I saw you made your Arcanine jump through hoops, and everything that happened afterward didn’t really make up for it. Only at the end did I truly see something that caught my attention, and even then, it was disappointingly short. For your Aesthetic Mastery, I’m giving you a 4/10.

      “That’s to say nothing of the obvious accident that happened in the middle with your Garchomp and Minun. I have to say, the rest of your technique showed you all clearly had skill, but I’m going to have to echo Wallace in giving you a 6/10 for your technique due to that slip-up. And as for your representation of your region? 5/10. I do love a good show that features bonding with Pokémon, but at the same time, I had no idea you were talking about the Legendary Dogs Suicune, Entei and Raikou until the other judges started explaining it to me, and even then, I didn’t see any sort of story about their connection to your region--or really, any story at all. This brings your total from me to 15 points.”

      “You’re on thin ice,” Wallace says disapprovingly. “Let’s hope your comments on the last Appeal are kinder. Now, onto bonuses. You receive +15 for soaking the audience and +15 for performing that stunt with the handstand. This brings your total to…”

TOTAL: 119 POINTS

GRAND TOTAL: 310 POINTS

[wallace-cup]

@blue-orb [Appeal]

      “Masterful! Absolutely masterful!” he cries. And absolutely reminiscent of a certain Coordinator he knows whose name starts with “Archie” and ends with an “Aogiri,” but he’s not going to bring that up.

      “I may not have heard of you before this Appeal, Mr. Pirate Who Controls the Sea.” (He’s going to fix that though after the Contest is over, and tell Archie he knew who he was the whole time.) “But after seeing your Pavilion and your Appeal, I can’t think of a single person other than myself who can represent Hoenn in any way better. The way you combined land and sea. The image of Kyogre, perfectly crafted from the water and your Ludicolo’s leaves. The music--oh, it may have got some laughs, but other than that, it was a wonderful backdrop! The only points I have to deduct are two from Aesthetic Mastery. One for the laughter that your Appeal garnered, as I’m not sure if that’s the effect you were going for, and one because I would have loved to see a mock Groudon beside your mock Kyogre. This brings your total from me to a 28.”

      "Well, I’d like to give you a 10/10 in Aesthetic Mastery,” says River. “You gave us the perfect image of Hoenn through the lens of its elements. The way you manipulated the water and the way Kyogre at the end passing through the audience--what flawless control, without the use of any Psychic moves! It’s rare to find a Pokémon who is capable of such feats. Have another 10/10 from me. And your Thematic Mastery? Such a beautiful image of Hoenn’s struggle between land and sea. Ah--it seems as though you’ve earned my second perfect score!”

      “As a member of the Hoennese diaspora, I want to thank you for representing my ancestral region so well.” She places a hand on her heart, truly moved. “I don’t know what to say that hasn’t already been said. It’s clear your Pokémon have the same passion for Hoenn as you do. It hardly even matters to me that at one point I saw one of your Pokémon struggling a little to keep up with the dance--what matters more is that they did it anyway. And I have some major respect for anyone who wears clothes of the opposite gender, too! You make me so proud to be Draconid…The only thing I would have wished for is that you included the Draconids in your Appeal. So, I will be giving you a perfect score except for deducting two points from Aesthetic Mastery. This means I will be giving you a 28!”

      "Hm. Well. The aesthetic really wasn’t my speed, I have to say. I prefer Appeals that make more usage of lighting, particularly with ice and prisms. And yours was more…Earthy? Although I do have to give you credit for the incredibly clever use of rainbow lighting at the end.” What she’s saying is, she really likes sparkles. “But you made me like it, so for that I’m giving you a 7/10 in Aesthetic. Your Technical Mastery earns a 9/10 from me, with only a single point taken off because of how your Swampert couldn’t fully keep up with some of the dancing. I would have taken off more, but the fact that your Sharpedo can perform so well in both human and Mega Evolved form stands out quite a bit to me--not to mention, you worked wonders with the earth. And as for your Thematic Mastery? Well, you made the two Hoennese on the panel extremely happy, and that’s all anyone can really ask for. 10/10. This brings your total from me to a 26!”

      “Now let’s get to your bonuses! You receive a +15 for soaking the audience, and +15 for using iconic Hoennese Pokémon. This brings your total to…

TOTAL: 142 POINTS

GRAND TOTAL: 334 POINTS

[wallace-cup]

@croesow​ [Appeal - read here on the archived blog]

      “My oh my, what a delight you’ve prepared for us today……With an extra pinch of improvised spice~” He winks. He is a sucker for that gay, gay shit!

      “How wonderful and how moving in its simplicity your performance was, Molly and Margourette. I do have to say, it took a while to get to the main point of your Appeal--but oh, the love in the air and the vision you crafted for us made it all worth it! For me, your Aesthetic Mastery receives an 8/10. And your technique--goodness, it must have taken so much practice not to get those ice ducks to shatter. Maybe I would have liked to see the other things your Pokémon could do a little more, but overall, watching the creation of the Duckletts was quite satisfying. 9/10. As for your exemplification of your region? An easy 10/10! It’s quite touching to see you bring to life what you described in the Pavilion. This brings your total from me to 27 points!”

       “Gosh, I’m just…Completely blown away,” River says. “What a dazzling display of the elements you’ve given for us today, you two. Perhaps it wasn’t the flashiest Appeal, but in its beautiful subtlety, it was certainly quite effective. I was especially impressed by the fact you managed to put that Mystical Fire inside the ice Ducklett, and also by the way you took advantage of your moves’ color to make the ice shine even more--particularly at the end! And the fact that your Pokémon’s moves all represent each of the seventeen types--the amount of thought and care you put into this can’t be overstated. Not to mention, Molly, the way you dared to try something new even though you weren’t an expert in it? You pulled it off just as flawlessly as that Outerworld TV show, Dancing with the Stars. For all of this, you have my first perfect score of the night!”

      "I’d love to say yes to everything that’s already been said, and to also give you a perfect score,” Feiyun says breathlessly. “Molly, I also want to say I appreciate you for dancing and choreographing even if it was new to you. You valued the spirit of your region over winning, and that’s very admirable. I could tell at times that you and your Pokémon were new to choreography and dance, but I’m not the person to judge someone with such a wonderful spirit. And the beauty of the visuals you showed us, both while you danced and while you created those sculptures……Magnificent! You’ve definitely earned two perfect thirties!”

      “Well, I wasn’t quite sure what the point of your dancing was in your narrative, but you lit up those Duckletts exquisitely. I feel as though maybe your Appeal could have been improved without you two in it, but I’m a Pokémon, so maybe I’m biased toward them. Have a 7/10 for Aesthetic Mastery. Some of the technique I will say was rather amateurish, and if you want my honest opinion, you should have rehearsed this enough so that the cold from that Blizzard at the end didn’t bother you. But the way your Pokémon carried off the creation of the Duckletts makes up for that. Another 7/10. For the last category, Thematic Mastery, what can I say? Take another 10/10. This brings your total from me to 24 points!”

      “Now for your bonuses. You receive a +15 for improvisation, and +15 for soaking the audience. This brings your total to…”

TOTAL: 141 POINTS

GRAND TOTAL: 334 POINTS

[cosmoscourge-a]

@rebornchampion​ [Appeal]

Wallace has barely opened his mouth to speak when Weiss comes charging out of the gates.

      “You call that one-minute snoozefest an Appeal?” she huffs. “How do you manage to make something as profound and personal as a Trainer journey seem so lazy and boring? The illusions were a clever touch, I will admit. But I was expecting a lot more effort in your choreography and also in the way your Pokémon used their moves. And the length of the song–look, I get it, sometimes you just need a short span of time to get your point across. But this wasn’t one of those times, and even if it was, you didn’t pull it off well. Your aesthetic mastery gets a 3/10. Your technical mastery gets a 6/10, if only because you did do a pretty good rendition of Arceus’ Judgment. And your thematic mastery…” She lets out a sigh. 

      “Well, for starters, I’m taking points off because clearly you didn’t make something your region would be proud of. But also. Do you realize how in fucking bad taste it is to come to Unima where everybody has a REASON to hate Arceus, and to show an Appeal that paints him in a positive light?!” Holy shit, she got so mad she swore. “This sort of diplomatic faux pas is something that I as a political representative of Glacialis cannot forgive. So in terms of representing your region to the world, I’ll give you a 1. That’s right. A 1. And even then, I think that’s being too generous. This brings your total from me to 10 points.”

      “Don’t be so rude, Weiss,” Wallace huffs. “If you keep this up, I’m going to have to force you not to give comments!”

      “It’s not like you were any better in previous years,” she snarks.

      “But I am doing better this year, and that’s what matters. Besides, I was never this bad.” He folds his arms. “Now, onto my score. Unfortunately, I do believe I’ll also have to take points off your Appeal for its–rather short length. A one-minute song doesn’t give us the full scope of what you and your Pokémon can do. That being said. For what you did show us, I feel as though you at least had great potential in rendering an epic battle for the ages. So for your aesthetic mastery, I would like to award you a 6/10.

      “Technique-wise, I was a little disappointed by the unfulfilled potential in your fight scene, and to be perfectly fair to Ghetsis the stunt with your Garchomp didn’t seem safe–but I did enjoy the Judgment that you had at the end. For this, I will give you a 5/10. As for your representation of your region? 8/10. I believe that telling a beautiful story about your fight for Aevium is enough to do it proud. This brings your total from me to 19 points.”

      “Aw, I think you guys are being too harsh,” Feiyun says. “I really liked the images you gave for us, Iset! I think there was a lot more thought that went into the illusions than these other two are crediting you for. For this, you get an 8/10 in aesthetic mastery. The technique, I have to say, was kind of basic–but you did really impress me with your stunt with the Garchomp and with your Arceus’ Judgment. I’m not going to get into the whole debate about Arceus here, so I’ll give you a 7/10 on technique. And as for your representation of your region…Have another 8/10. This brings your total from me to 23 points!”

      “I believe I’m last this time,” says River. “I think your aesthetic was quite pleasing and your technique showed a level of expertise in battle, but I feel as though you didn’t take advantage of all the opportunities that your Pokémon’s potential set forth from you. Your Ditto and. your Garchomp were the stars of the show, but I would have liked to see some more unique regional flavor from the region-specific Pokémon that you used. From me, you earn a 7/10 in all categories, bringing your total to 21 points.”

      “Now for the bonuses. You receive +10 for using two Pokémon specific to Aevium–your Zoroark and Roserade variants. And…” What the heck, he should just give this next one to her–it’s not like it’ll make much of a difference to her score. “I suppose, you ought to get another +15 for the stunt bonus–while I can hardly say I approve, at least all things ended well. This brings your total to…”

TOTAL: 98 POINTS

GRAND TOTAL: 261 POINTS

[wallace-cup]

@diamontha​ [Appeal; Discord-only muse]

      “It’s always a joy to see the young make their debuts on the international stage,” Wallace says, “and you today have encapsulated that joy. What a gorgeous display of light and color that you have for us today--and what passion as well! Thank you for daring to show us a side of your region that we would not otherwise see. For your Aesthetic Mastery, I would like to award you a 9/10.

       “On the technical aspect of things, you’re also clearly quite advanced--not just for your age, but in general. The Trick Room you created inside that Weather Ball was ingenious; it’s a wonder it didn’t burst with the force of it! The coordination of the flashing lights, and the way you fired off moves in the dark the way you did--you’ve earned another 9/10. As for your Thematic Mastery. I did get the point of the Appeal--but if you brought in the history of your region at the end, I would have liked to see more of your Appeal being about the history. 7/10. This brings your total from me to 25 points!”

      “For your aesthetic, I’d love to award you a perfect 10/10,” River says. “The way your Pokémon synthesized with each other onstage, the way you coordinated the colors and elements of your moves was just--well, it was second to none! While your technique got more complex toward the end, earning you an 8/10 from me, I can tell that you have both a good foundation and a good sense of how to build on it. And as for how well you encapsulated your region--I’d like to give you a 10/10 because you showed us both a strong spirit and the history of Trelant. This brings your total from me to a 28. Keep going, my dear. You clearly have a future in this field.”

      “Gosh, what a beautiful Appeal!” Feiyun says. “It reminds me of some of the Appeals I used to see when I was your age. I love the uniqueness of having a more…punk? Is that the word? Yes, punk--a more punk sort of song along with the flower images. And the images of your region’s history shaped with the Waterfalls at the end? It absolutely took my breath away! My goodness, I want to give you a perfect on everything…Except for two points taken off the Aesthetic Mastery, because a kid your age shouldn’t perform to a song with swears in it. That means your total from me is 28 points!”

      “I do have to say. You did a lot better than you did in the Pavilion round,” Weiss says, grinning. “Maybe it’s not the most technically complex Appeal I’ve ever seen--you have a 7/10 from me in that department--but I loved seeing you perform alongside your Pokémon in the way that you did. Aesthetically, take another 7/10--I’ve seen a lot of Appeals in my life and yours didn’t particularly stand out, but it did have a few memorable moments. As for your Thematic Mastery…I’ll have to echo Wallace in his comments, and I’d like to add--if you’re playing with a stereotype of your region, you should include a few hints of what your region is actually like to show a contrast. So for Thematic Mastery, a 6/10. This brings your total from me to 20 points.”

      “Now for your bonuses. You receive +15 for using all six moves on all Pokémon on the field, and another +15 for soaking the audience with water. This brings your total to…”

TOTAL: 131 POINTS

GRAND TOTAL: 310 POINTS

[fallenxspirit]

Wallace Cup Appeal 2021: The King and His Lionheart

Their pavilion score had gone over incredibly well, it had netted them second place so far. As Spirit adjusted Leon’s breast plate, Leon grinned as he leaned forward and pressed a kiss to Spirit’s forehead. The Fairy King blinked in surprise, glancing up at him with a raised eyebrow and a blush dusting his cheeks..

“You looked nervous!” Leon chuckled, causing Spirit to lightly smack his chest plate.

“Please you look more nervous than me,” he replied. “You’ve only done a full appeal at the GSS, I’ve done two before this one!” Leon only shakes his head with a teasing smile, drawing Spirit into his arms. He leans down, ready to place a kiss onto his lips before the speakers above them crackle to life.

“The next performance that will take place will have depictions of war, violence, and child death. Please leave the auditorium if any of these are a trigger to you. An assistant will let you back in once the appeal is over.”

“That’s our cue Leo, come on,” Spirit weasels his way out of Leon’s arms and towards the stage. Leon follows after him, trailing Spirit’s heels like a lost puppy.

{Read the rest of the appeal here!}

[cosmoscourge-a]

@idanikou​ [Appeal]

      “Well done. Beyond well done. You’ve given a performance that only His Majesty the King of Unova can give,” Wallace says. “I wish, I wish, I wish I could give you a 10 out of 10 on aesthetic! However, you’ve still earned a very respectable 9/10 from me–namely because I felt that at times, the visuals were too strong for the gentleness of the music. And oh, how I wish I could give you a 10/10 on Technical Mastery, but alas, you have a 7/10–mainly due to my safety concerns at several points throughout your Appeal.” He’s still smarting over Ghetsis’ admonishments about safety at the last Wallace Cup. “The way you represented your region, however, is an undisputed 10/10. You took us so beautifully and lovingly through Unova’s thousands-of-years-long history that it moved me almost to tears. This brings your total from me to 26 points!”

      “Well, you’ve got a 10/10 on the Technical Mastery from me,” River says. “I for one believed that in the end, things would be all right. For the Aesthetic Mastery, I’d like to give you another 9/10. You blew us all away–and yes, I’m sure even Weiss was impressed–with the depth and the complexity of your visuals, how you synthesized the multiple elements that your Pokémon used in their moves, the thought you put into your symbolism and the detail on each of the castles you built…I just wish sometimes there was more of a synthesis of how your Pokémon acted onstage, more coordination of how all six of them could have shared the spotlight. And for Thematic Mastery, another undisputed 10/10. This brings your total from me to 29 points!”

      “You have another near-perfect from me as well!” Feiyun trills happily. “Everything about your Appeal was just–gorgeously laid out and–oh gosh, it reminds me of Tobias when he performs! I can’t even begin to express how amazing it was to see all of that. To see your Pokémon literally playing the music that they were performing to. I felt like the divine just reached out for my hand and offered me to take it. My only deduction is honestly two points from Thematic Mastery. I loved the message you had to send a lot, but sometimes it felt really–overwhelming. I would have wished for something a little…softer. A little–easier to take in. This brings your total from me to 28 points!”

      “I can’t say you did a bad job,” says Weiss. “I can appreciate the fact that you did candidly discuss what happened with Touko and Rosa, otherwise I’d be scoring you a lot lower. I guess maybe you didn’t come here to just pretend to the world like nothing bad ever happened, although I still have my doubts.” She crosses her arms. “Anyway, for Aesthetic Mastery, you’ve actually got a 5/10 from me. It was indeed nice to look at, which is why I haven’t scored you lower, but it felt a lot like you were just going ‘look at me, I’m a god and so are my Pokémon, give me an insta-win,’ and I refuse to be that easily impressed. Your technical mastery I can’t deny also receives a 10/10. As for your Thematic Mastery…” She thinks for a little. “Okay. I’ll be nice. I’ll give you an 8/10 and also ten points back for your Pavilion score, because you’ve sort of convinced me that you might be sincere. This brings your total from me to 23 points.”

      “Thank you, Weiss. And if you want to give the other ten points back, you’re free to do so at any time. Now, onto bonuses. You get +15 for using six moves for all Pokémon on the field, and another +15 for three of the Unovan Pokémon that you used to max out your bonuses. This brings your total to…”

TOTAL: 136 POINTS

GRAND TOTAL: 330 POINTS

[wallace-cup]

@orreheart​ [Appeal]

      “You used a meme song?!” The shocked look on her face lasts for just a few moments, before Feiyun bursts into gales of laughter.

      “You used a meme song!” she cackles. “Oh my gods, that was beautiful--I doubt I’ll see anything more beautiful--!”

      “Can you not?” Weiss grumbles. “Wallace always judges first.”

      “No, no, nono, I have to go first this time,” Feiyun insists. “Wes, that was such a beautiful Appeal you gave to us today. The wooden Ho-oh and the show with the meteors and the teamwork all just touched my heart! And the cowboy screaming you did--I think it’s underappreciated how much that shows you’re a good singer. I actually didn’t even know the cowboy scream meme was from this song until you showed me!” She’s still laughing. “Well, I think I really ought to give you a perfect score, 30 out of 30 for this. You showed the purity of your region’s spirit while also managing to have a laugh along the way.”

      “Well, it certainly is a bold choice for you to be using that song,” Wallace says. “I can also appreciate the fact that the Appeal’s aesthetic was the same as your Pavilion--perhaps not the most polished, but with its unique and wonderful charm. I’ll give you a 7 out of 10 for Aesthetic Mastery, as at the beginning I did feel as though you had a touch too much sand. For your technical mastery? I applaud you for your usage of a wooden statue rather than illusions--well, I’ve definitely paved the way for illusions onstage to become more advanced, but it’s nice to see such a well-done Appeal that’s more in line with the old school. However, I can’t find myself giving you higher than 7 out of 10 because I did say in my previous Wallace Cup that I wished you used more of your specialized combo moves--and I was rather disappointed to see you only use one. As for how you represented the spirit of the region? An easy 10 out of 10. This brings your total from me to 24 points!”

      “Oh, I do think that technical judging is rather harsh,” River says. “Personally, I was impressed by the many techniques you used. First, there was the onstage crafting of the wooden sculpture. Then there was your ability to separate the fire from the wood. Then there was the use of Heal Bell to cancel out Perish Song, and then also your confidence in sending out a younger Pokémon to take part alongside your most experienced ones. For this, I want to award your technical mastery a 9 out of 10.

      “I would, however, like to echo Wallace’s scores of 7 out of 10 for aesthetic and 10 out of 10 for Thematic Mastery--your representation of your region. This brings my total for you to 26 points. I feel as though you could have used the sand in cleverer ways than simply blanketing the whole stage with it at the beginning--it felt rather like an unused Chekhov’s gun. But I must say, the visuals you created later were very nice. Meanwhile, for how you represented your region. From what I’ve learned, this is exactly the kind of image that Orre needs in the world. I think I speak for everyone when I say you’ve definitely done Orre very proud with your work.”

      “Well, you don’t really speak for me,” Weiss huffs. “I’d actually like to give your Thematic Mastery a 5/10, because of how you had everybody fighting Ho-oh. It made Ho-oh seem like the villain, which is definitely not what you wanted to get across. I would have scored lower, but at least you got the point of teamwork with your Pokémon across…

      “Aesthetic-wise, it was okay. It definitely felt kind of thrown together, like your Pavilion, except unlike your Pavilion, it wasn’t as charming. I’ll give you a 6/10. As for your technical mastery…While I have to admit I’ve seen things that were more impressive, I also have to give you credit for what you did do--at least you have the basics of being a performer mastered, and your non-fully-evolved Eevee definitely held their own with your more experienced Pokémon, despite some signs of struggle. 8/10. This brings your total from me to 19 points.”

      “Now that brings us to bonuses,” Wallace says. “You get +15 for your use of six moves per Pokémon on the field. You also get +5 each for using your Umbreon and Espeon, whom you have made iconic in Orre. This brings your total to…”

TOTAL: 124 POINTS

GRAND TOTAL: 324 POINTS

[wallace-cup]

@akuromatico​ @highrollingheir​ 

      “First of all, I want to thank you both for being here. It’s an absolute shame you couldn’t stay until the second round--I would have been interested to see what you came up with in your Appeals. I found the interior of your Pavilion to be very well done, and I quite enjoyed myself at each of the stations explaining your facts--I found them very unique, so for your facts, I would like to give you a splendid 10/10! However, for your architecture--I found the integration of technology and nature to be rather…awkward, to say the least. For inspiration on how to handle this next time, I would suggest looking at some of the nature-tech integrations put forth by Sootopolitan and Draconid futurism. Your architecture receives a 6/10.

      “I must say, though, the food is excellent. Mystique felt the flavors were rather over-the-top, but I’d have to disagree with her there--I’m more appreciative of different types of tastes. 8/10. As for your activities…I did find them to be a little--passive? I felt as though besides the Ferris Wheel, most of the Pavilion consisted of interacting with the information panels, and I would have preferred more, well, activity. 5/10. This brings your total from me to 29 points.”

      “I’d also like to add to Wallace’s comments about your architecture,” River says. “I felt as though the outside could have done a better job integrating the natural elements of the outside with the technological ones. But the inside was a masterpiece of aesthetic--the lighting, the sweet Village Bridge song, the tone of the electronic guiding voice combined with the futuristic scenes…Everything came together so perfectly! 7/10. Your food was also second to none--while it is rather much for my tastes as a merperson, I thank you for the chance to give me something new. Another 7/10. For your Activities, I would like to give a third 7/10--while it was quite simple, I felt the interaction with your panels also be very relaxing. And for your facts? So much detail, about the food, the culture, the everything--an unmitigated 10/10. This brings your total from me to 31 points!”

      “Oh, gosh, every single Pavilion has been just great to me, and yours is no exception!” She clasps her hands together. “I for one thought the architecture was very well done and very unique. 10/10. Your food? Xiaoyang and I couldn’t get enough of it. 10/10. Your facts are easily another 10/10, for all the research and knowledge you put into them--and what effort it must have taken to present them. The only thing I could really criticize was your activities, in which I’d like to echo what all of my fellow judges have said--but I also do have to say, the way in which you presented your information was unique compared with everyone else. 7/10. This brings your total from me to 37 points!”

      “Well, that’s her opinion. Now you get to hear mine,” Weiss huffs. “Look, you two, I’m going to be a little nicer because you had to leave early, but long story short, it wasn’t my favorite. The architecture was actually pretty tacky, so for that I’m giving you a 4/10. The food was rather lacking in nuanced flavor--Leialoha and I agree, it had that fast-food feel that I get from eating Unovan food in general. 6/10, because you at least had the decency to use good base ingredients. The Ferris Wheel I suppose was fun, so for that you get a 7/10. And, well, your facts gave me nothing to complain about, but they didn’t particularly stand out to me--so you’ve got a 7/10 there. This brings your total from me to 24 points.”

      “Oh, come on, that wasn’t ‘a little nicer’ at all!” Feiyun huffs. “I’ll bet the audience has something better to say. Let’s see what they’ve got!”

oh my god OH MY GOD OH MY GOD!!! YOU GUYS WENT /HARD/ WITH THE SCIFI AES!!!! This is the coolest shit I’ve ever seen! 40/40

Your Pavilion is designed like what I think all of Unova should be like: sleek, cool, futuristic. I’d give you a full 40/40 if the Razz Berry cheesecakes weren’t so rich they made me sick. 34/40

I could never afford to visit Unova. Being able to see and ride the Ferris Wheel here was an absolute treat. 40/40

This place should have come with an epilepsy warning. 0/10

      “Now for your bonuses. You receive +15 for including activities that humans and Pokémon can do together. You also receive +15 for facts that tie into other aspects of the Pavilion. This brings your total to…”

TOTAL: 184 POINTS

[mirroredranger]

Valerie and Lunick’s Appeal for the Wallace Cup!

@bemuseing 

[cosmoscourge-a]

[wallace-cup]

cosmoscourge​:

@bemuseing​ & @mirroredranger​

     “An excellent job on your Pavilion representing Fiore!” Wallace says, clasping his hands. “You rival Galar’s and Hoenn’s Pavilions in your dedication. Well done! For the rich symbolism and painstaking effort to recreate entire ecosystems that went into your architecture, you deserve nothing less than a 10/10. For the food, I loved the taste immensely–though I would wish for representation of the Hoennese cultures inside Fiore as well as the European ones. 7/10. For your activities, you truly embody the Fiorian spirit of working with Pokémon–though perhaps the two ‘ranger for a day’ stations were a tad redundant. 7/10. And as for your facts…A good introduction to the region. Another 7/10! Your total from me is a 31.”

      “I would like to second Wallace’s enthusiasm toward your architecture, for which you’ve earned from me another solid 10/10. Your integration of the natural elements corresponding to each season was absolutely sublime, and the fact you played on ‘Fiore’ meaning ‘flower’ was also quite clever. As for your food, it was another 10/10 from me, as it reminded me of the fine foods available to me in my own subregion of Abyssio. We are said to have the best food in all of Unima, so my compliments to your chef. The activities–you showed off the spirit of your region’s bond with Pokémon in a both safe and effective manner, but I shall deduct a single point for your failure to include an activity in one of the four Pavilion sections. 9/10. As for the facts, while they weren’t standout, I did appreciate what I got to know. 7/10. This brings your total from me to a 36!”

      “Oh, gosh, what do I even add to all this? The architecture? A perfect encapsulation of what it means to be at one with nature. 10/10. The food? Obviously the best food item choices cooked by who must be the best cook in Fiore! Another 10/10. The activities? That’s a third 10/10 for me because of the way you encourage Trainers to try a new style of Training–and donation to charity is always great to me! And as for your facts? I learned so much from your placards, and I wished only to know more. 9/10. This means your total from me is a 39!”

But Weiss? Weiss laughs on the inside as she’s about to embark on her scoring. If Valerie were to win this Contest, she’d be one step closer to returning home from the clutches of Weiss’s friend Flosshilde…and so of course, giving a good score to Valerie is out of the question!

    “Unlike the other three, I am not so easily impressed,” she huffs. “You put a lot of thought into your Pavilion, but guess what? Everyone put a lot of thought into their Pavilion. Except for maybe Iset, but she’s another story. I did appreciate the way your Pavilion is designed to be a transition toward the elements of the four seasons. But like. Your region is called ‘flower’ and you make your Pavilion a flower? Way to go for the low-hanging fruit. 7/10. As for your food? Leialoha neither liked it nor disliked it–” The other fox winks at Weiss; she’s in on it too!–“but in spite of how refined it appeared on your menu, I found that the actual execution of the flavors to be…well. Let’s just say it wasn’t gourmet. 6/10. Then there are your activities. I found nothing to complain about other than the fact that Summerland didn’t have any activity, and I do love the part of the Pavilion that allows you to take part in the Ranger experience–so I suppose I can’t avoid giving you an 8/10. But your facts? 6/10. How could you make a region so interesting sound so boring?! This brings your total from me to 27 points.”

     “Oh, come on, Weiss, you don’t have to be such a…” What’sthewordwhat’sthewordwhat’stheword–“A grouch! Anyways. Let’s get to the audience comments.”

Uhhhhh the Pokémon didn’t listen to me when I wanted them to and the attendant at the station basically made it seem like it was my fault :\ 10/40

Everything was so pretty, but I was so allergic to all the flowers! Can there be like a hypoallergenic version of this Pavilion please? 🥺 15/40

I loved the place. I spent the most time here out of anywhere in Pavilion Square. The only thing is, there should be more than one guy cooking the food. The lines went all the way out of the building and I heard you guys ran out a couple times. 28/40

Wintown thanks you and the spectators of this year’s Wallace Cup for your generous donations toward the restoration of our Temple. 40/40

      “Now it’s time for your bonuses. You have +10 for more than the minimum number of dishes, activities and facts–and for doing it all quite well. You have +15 for activities that humans and Pokémon can do together. To hit your bonus limit, you also have +5 from the +10 bonus for cleverly incorporating water into your design. Your total is…”

TOTAL: 191 POINTS

[wallace-cup]

WELCOME TO UNOVA

Colress / @akuromatico / Silba and Grimsley / @highrollingheir / Nitro’s Pavilion is here!

Silba and Nitro have dropped from the Contest due to IRL. However, I will still honor their hard work with a judging and the inclusion of their muses in Wallace Cup canon as well. Thank you so much for your participation and I hope to see you back again next year!

[wallace-cup]

@blue-orb​ 

      “The Pirate Who Controls the Sea. You must be a Cetanid, for only one of Hoenn’s three great peoples could have created such a beautifully soulful tribute to their home region. Your architecture encapsulates the beauty and grandeur of our traditions, while also being true to who we are. Your food is authentic, well-made, and tastes of all the flavors of home. Your activity gives others a look into our traditions without commercializing it or changing it from what it originally was. And your facts? These are some of the things that the world needs to hear about us. You have done well in honoring your birthplace and your heritage. And for that, I wish to award you a PERFECT SCORE.”

      “I can see the reason for Wallace’s enthusiasm,” River says. “The pavilion is quite unique, though because each one of Hoenn’s peoples is highly connected to an element, I would have liked to see you incorporate those elements as well. 7/10. Your food is simple, yet effective, and both Typhlosion and I greatly enjoyed its simplicity. 9/10. Your activity was fun and relaxing, though as a Coordinator, perhaps I would have liked to see something about coordinating as well. Another 7/10. And as for your facts…While they were an overview rather than an in-depth dive into your region, they were very comprehensive. 8/10. This brings your total from me to 31 points!”

      “Ohhhhhhh I was so happy to see this from you, Mr. Pirate!” Feiyun jumps a little in her seat as she speaks. “I’m a Chikyinur Draconid from Europe, but all of our ancestry started in Hoenn and it is close to all of our hearts. You did such beautiful work representing Indigenous peoples, I was--what’s the word--overjoyed! Your architecture gets a 10/10. Your food, an 8/10--it was good, but I would have liked a non-alcoholic drink. Your activity--well, I would’ve liked to see something about Contests too, so that’s another 8/10. And your facts? Maybe a bit more detail would have been nice, but I’m giving you another 8/10! Thank you so much for talking honestly about the things we’ve lost in history. This means your total from me is 34!”

      “Well, of course you’re doing well with two Hoennese judges on the panel,” Weiss teases. (Though she’s not quite sure if the Pavilion really deserved a perfect from Wallace of all people. “In all seriousness, though, I’m not opposed to you getting such good scores from then even though they may be……A bit biased.” A little chuckle. “Your architecture--it had the same energy as Wes’s, and like him I commend you for going with what’s authentic instead of what you think will impress us most. 10/10. While I must say that I’d wished for more food items, Leialoha was quite partial toward your food, as it reminded her of home in a way--she said it has the same spirit as the food she ate while she lived among Native Alolans. 8/10. Your activity was a simple yet effective way to pass the time, and I appreciate the effort you take to return the completed pottery to each participant. 7/10. And your facts? I agree with Feiyun. 7/10. This brings your total from me to a 32!”

      “All right. Let’s look at some audience comments!”

The pavilion is nice and all but where’s the Contest stuff?? We don’t get to play dressup and put on performances here?? 25/40

I liked the food, but I found myself wanting more. I would have really liked to see more courses from each of Hoenn’s different tribes. 28/40

Reconnecting Terranid here! I’m not an expert on my culture by any means but I can say you NAILED the Oran Berry kippan and the rock art in the architecture! I’m so glad you’re here because this helps me feel proud of my culture. Only thing is, you guys kinda ran out of alcohol so I had to come back to get some. 35/40.

As a Cetanid who never misses one of Wallace’s Cups, thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. This Pavilion and how much people love it makes me feel seen. 40/40

      “And now for your bonuses! You get +15 for every single judge Pokémon liking your Pavilion’s food, and +15 for an activity that humans and Pokémon can do together. This brings your total to…”

TOTAL: 192 POINTS