Species: Basculegion (Diamond Clan Noble)
Location: n/a
What I know: Water/ghost type. Evolves from Basculin, but when I asked Iscan to clarify how, I simply couldn’t understand the finer details of what he said. Abilities are yet unknown. Male and female Basculegion are different colors, but their stats are also affected. The specifics of how, exactly, were also lost in the language barrier.
Notes: Both Iscan and Lord Basculegion were kind enough to help me across the river to survey the island in the southern Mirelands, and from what I understand, this is quite similar to one of their duties in the Cobalt Coastlands. I’ve… never actually ridden a water type Pokemon, so this will be a learning experience for me.
Species: Petilil
Location: Holm of Trials, Crimson Mirelands
What I know: Grass type. The Unovan variant evolves into Lilligant when exposed to a sun stone, and their most common abilities are Chlorophyll and Own Tempo. These Pokemon are always female. Since Petilil are quite picky about their soil, anywhere they congregate will be well suited to growing plants. The leaves on their head shed and regrow quickly, and are refreshingly bitter; in Unova, these leaves are often dried and blended into a medicinal tea used to treat fatigue. I was previously unaware that they were also native to Sinnoh.
Notes: After being alerted to Lady Lilligant’s presence in Hisui, I wasn’t entirely surprised to find Petilil here in the Crimson Mirelands. As a matter of fact, I had thought I’d seen one while passing on the other side of the river, but couldn’t be sure as they’re rather reclusive and like to hide in the tall grass. It seems that much doesn’t ever change.
Species: Goomy & Sliggoo (Alpha)
Location: Holm of Trials, Crimson Mirelands
What I know: Dragon type. Goomy evolves into Sliggoo with training, which then evolves into Goodra during precipitation. Goomy is, rather unkindly, said to be the weakest dragon type Pokemon, in spite of empirical evidence to the contrary. It’s imperative that this Pokemon remain moisturized, otherwise it will be unable to breathe. Its layer of dermatological slime helps keeps it damp and acts as a defense mechanism, allowing attacks to slide right off of it. Abilities are usually Sap Sipper or Hydration. I’m unsure how much of this remains consistent in the Hisuian variety of Sliggoo.
Notes: Modern Sliggoo have a small, vestigial shell on their backs which they use to protect their vital organs, but the alpha I watched possessed a much larger, sturdier shell. It was able to fit the entirety of its body inside; once withdrawn, it was able to roll around at high speeds. The alpha goes without saying, but the Goomy were also aggressive, using Water Pulse to attack when unable to keep up. I’m unsure whether they would behave like this if they hadn’t been part of a pack.
Species: Torterra (Alpha)
Location: Holm of Trials, Crimson Mirelands
What I know: Grass/ground type. Its base form is Turtwig, which evolves into Grotle and then Torterra with training. Some cultures share tales wherein the world exists on the back of a massive Torterra, and it’s easy to see where that imagery may have originated. It’s not uncommon for small flying type Pokemon to roost in the branches of their trees, or even attempt to build nests there. These Pokemon tend to be quite patient with younger Pokemon, and will even encourage them to ride around on their backs. Unless it has a hidden ability, it will have Overgrow. The males of the species are far more common than the females.
Notes: I’m not sure if it actually is surprising to see a Torterra here, but I am surprised to see one, if that makes any sense. So-called ‘starter’ Pokemon are uncommon to begin with, and oftentimes bred in captivity rather than captured from their habitats; to see a wild Torterra like this is actually breathtaking.
Species: Kadabra
Location: n/a
What I know: Psychic type. They evolve from Abra with enough training, and then into Alakazam if traded to another trainer. There’s a great deal of misinformation surrounding Kadabra as a species, the most famous of which is the cautionary tale of a boy who supposedly turned into a Kadabra. Unsubstantiated claims aside, these Pokemon have incredibly potent psychic abilities, but need to use the spoon they carry as a mental focus to use them to their fullest. They’ve been known to cause minor mischief without provocation, like causing clocks to turn backwards or making screens play static… neither of which are observations that will mean much here. Their most common abilities are Synchronize and Inner Focus. Upon evolving, they will innately begin to learn moves, unlike the base form, which can only learn Teleport unless tutored.
Notes: The Croagunk and Toxacroak in the Holm of Trials are unrelenting, but served as a wonderful opportunity to work with Kadabra, ne Abra. I’m glad to see him evolve this far, even if we’re unable to take him to his next state. Perhaps that will change if he comes with me.
---
It’s possible that I misunderstood Adaman when we spoke this morning, but I think he said that the Diamond Clan would gladly take me if the Pearls couldn’t appreciate my commitment to staying timely.
I recognize that it was a comment made halfway in jest, and I certainly appreciate the sentiment, but I won’t be here long enough to be worth their trouble. It’s not even as though the Pearl Clan wanted to be rid of me; only that my presence was distracting one of their sacred Pokemon. I voluntarily put space between myself and Sneasler because I won’t remain in Hisui indefinitely.
It wasn’t what I was meant to take away from it, but our conversation made me realize that, once I’m back home, all of these people will be long gone.
---
When the camera starts up, the night vision filter immediately snaps on, and is manually turned off a moment later as the frame is angled toward a brightly-lit work station. While it’s dim where the cameraman stands, a lantern shines over a well-loved cutting board laden with various plants.
The hands that prepare the vegetation are relatively small and weathered, but absolutely unhesitating in their work, reaching for leeks to strip and chop without a hitch in their flow. The two people speak over this process, and while a new viewer would be utterly lost, one who’d taken the time to follow the device’s owner as he stumbled through the process of learning Hisuian might be able to follow in some parts.
“Make sure you wash them after they’re sliced. The dirt gets between the layers and won’t do a wound any good.” Says the woman chopping one such vegetable down its length. Once it’s split into four wedges, she begins slicing it finely in the opposite direction. “It takes practice to cut them this thin without scoring yourself, as well. Don’t rush, else you’ll need to use the final product on yourself instead of your Pokemon.”
The cameraman chuckles and in low, halting Hisuian says, “No need to worry; I will take my time," It’s followed by a more familiar, “Safety first.”
She hums, but offers no further comment where the leeks are concerned. She glosses over the process of disassembling an oran berry and rendering its juices free of seeds and pulp; it seems they’ve already covered this much. When she reaches a bundle of flowers, she slows again and meaningfully holds it up for him, emphasizing certain words and not proceeding until he echoes them back to her.
“Pep up-- ‘pep up’, have you got that? Good. Pep up are more potent than you would assume. The flowers can be dried, but the pods should be rendered fresh and their sap collected for later use. Cut like this,” She says, and demonstrates on the thick pod under her hands, “And let it soak in boiled water. Let me emphasize that once more: water which has been boiled. Not fresh water. Not currently boiling water. If you have no other choice but to use dried pods, make a similar cut and then give them the night to steep, and if you absolutely have to, you can crush the flowers and use them for an inferior product.”
The pod is promptly deposited in a waiting bowl and the rest of the plant set to the side off screen; without being asked, the cameraman hands her something yellow and pale blue.
“Good.” She says, and immediately starts stripping it of its prickly leaves, “You’ve picked a mature one. In younger plants, you’ll also use the choke, but it’s too fibrous in this. We want the heart.”
Without fanfare, she angles her knife to cut along the base, and when she’s separated it from the leaves, holds the remaining plant up to demonstrate. The knife taps at the fuzzy layer covering it.
“This is the choke. It’s of no use to us like this. Cut it away.” And she moves back to do exactly that. Once she’s rid of it, she turns the plant over and cuts off the stem she’d been using as a handhold. The final product is a flat, circular piece of vegetation with pale flesh. As with the leek, she quarters and then slices it into nearly-sheer pieces. Once empty-handed, she reaches for an herb.
“This is king’s leaf. No-- say it back to me so I know you understand. King's leaf. If you’re using dried leaves, grind it with a mortar and pestle. Otherwise, fold the leaves like this and slice them into ribbons.” It’s followed with a demonstration as she plucks deep-gold leaves from a stem, stacks them atop one another and then rolls them together, rocking the knife back and forth to create even slivers of the herb. These are then set aside to tackle an oblong yellow berry.
The process of refining the sitrus is near identical to the oran, and her hands work on a practiced autopilot.
As she’s finished separating it from its pith, she sighs and says, “You passed through Coronet on your way here.”
“It is on the way, yes.” Says the man behind the camera, a note of guilt buried in his voice.
“I imagine Ohnyula found you, then. Was Sadorn there as well?”
There’s a hesitation. “No, she was not.”
“She said she would be.” Says the woman, who then goes silent.
“Has… has she vanished as well?” The man asks, “Kandrake still has not been found…”
“I’m aware.” Comes the response, an even statement of fact without any heat.
“Warden… Melli is the only warden on the mountain? It cannot be possible for one man to search all of it. I could help; Gligar can see from above, and Kadabra might be able to find her um… how do I say…? Ah. Because it’s a psychic type.”
“No. It’s my belief that she left of her own free will. Gachiguma followed her path from the Icelands due south, toward the village. There was no indication that she ever arrived in the Highlands; I was just curious if you had seen otherwise.”
“She left?” The man echoes softly.
“Ohnyula has been no more responsive than before, even without you there to distract her. I suspect Sadorn gave up.”
There’s a short silence as deft hands slice the fruit, wrap it a loose cloth, and wring it free of its juices.
“That is terrible. I am very sorry.”
The woman snorts and then reaches for the second cloth, clean, but with stains set in from this precise task. She uses it to strain any remaining matter out of the sitrus juice, and then dumps the king’s leaf ribbons into the clear liquid.
“Don’t be. You already have Ohnyula’s favor; if you’re not careful, you’ll reap the consequences of Sadorn’s actions.”
A quiet Unovan “What?” sounds, but the woman doesn’t respond to it. She reaches for the initial mixture of leeks and oran juice, and then pulls the pep up sap closer as well.
“Now watch carefully. If you add these ingredients out of order, the entire brew will be ruined. You can stop after any one of these steps and have a usable product, but it’s at its most potent in this form.”
While the air of confusion lingers, the focus shifts toward the process of mixing the potion: first the pep up sap, then the vivichoke slices, then the sitrus-king’s leaf solution.
“Like this, it can be used immediately or kept in reserve. If you’re not planning to use it at once, I recommend letting it sit for an afternoon and then straining it once more; less solid matter means less chance at inviting rot.”
“I see. Thank you very much, Warden Calaba. This is important information.”
The woman makes a huffing sound, but there’s a laugh underneath it, “I know. Would you like to hear what else I find important?”
There’s a curious hum.
“Knowing that this lesson might keep you out of my tent for four consecutive nights. Take this one and go practice; I don’t want to find you with an infection because you forgot to rinse the leeks.”
Behind the camera, the man sputters and clicks it off before he can suffer any greater indignity.
---
That same evening, a picture is added to Miscellaneous. It’s of a piece of paper covered in written instructions for a number of potions.
There are four sections: one for the basic oran and leek potion, another for how to add pep up sap, another for rendering the vivichoke usable, and then the process of slicing king’s leaf and adding it to sitrus juice. None of this is terribly interesting, and is only remarkable for the fact that it’s been written twice over.
First, the instructions are spelled out in plain Unovan, and below each step it’s rendered again in Hisuian. The second set is full of corrections and wobbly characters, but it’s clear to see that an honest effort is being made.
---
The Charm Lost in the Swamp: Yojiro wants you to find his charm that he lost while being chased by an alpha Hippowdon. COMPLETE
Orans, Pep Up and Sitrus Make…: The last portion of the Mirelands to comb lays on the other side of the river. Accessing this area means you’ll have to approach from Lake Valor to the north, and that help will be in short supply. You should prepare for the trip by learning how to make topical healing potions. COMPLETE
At the Heart of Valor: You’ve recorded a conspicuous cavern in the very center of Lake Valor. It’s inaccessible by land, so if you want to investigate, you’re going to need to befriend a water type alpha Pokemon.
Diamond in a Rough Spot: A Diamond Clan woman called Kandrake and Lady Sneasler’s ex-warden-in-training Sadorn have both vanished, unable to be tracked down even by Lord Ursaluna. Could these disappearances be connected?