Desolate Lands: The Life and Times of the Dangerous Dune Rats [PG 15]
An AU RPG where Team Magma succeeds in screwing everything up. Welcome to the Desolate Lands.
Alternate title: Mad Maxie: Fury Route
It’s a whole new world we live in. And it sucks. After Team Magma awakened Groudon using the Blue Orb, a new era was ushered in. Groudon’s primal forme was unleashed, and soon Team Magma lost control. One valiant 10 year old faced off against the beast in hopes of calming it. However, they failed and were eaten. The extremely harsh sun that was summoned by Groudon began depleting the world of nearly all sources of water. Oceans evaporated (with rejoice from IGN), leaving behind desolate salt flats, deep depressions, and cavernous canyons. Without water, much of the land was turned to desert and wastelands. Many pokemon species died out, being unable to adapt to the new world. Water and Ice type pokemon reached the brink of extinction, and seeing one now was only slightly more likely than seeing a Mew. Society collapsed as famine and drought plagued the land. Governments were unable to handle the unrest and collapsed right along with it. Cities now lay in ruin, and many have begun to be swallowed by the ever expanding desert. In an effort to expand and develop civilization, Team Magma ended up dooming it.
That was many years ago, and now most people living in this barren world were born into it. People had to revert back to more primal ways of life. Many people had to become nomads, searching the scorched remains of the earth for food and water. Some people managed to create small communities that could support themselves. In some rare cases, city-states arose, powerful and often greedy. No matter if you were a tribal nomad or the ruler of a city-state, you had to fight for your own survival. This world was uncaring and unforgiving. If you don’t fight for what’s yours, it won’t be yours for very long.
Even in the bleakest of times, there still shines a glimmer of hope. Since the resurrection of Groudon, there have been tales of how to reverse it. The Blue Orb, the tool that failed to control Groudon, has been claimed to be what the world needs. No one has been able to locate it, though. It has been so long now that most people consider it a myth, akin to the Holy Grail. A relic lost to time, buried in the ruins of civilization. That doesn’t stop people from trying to get their hands on it, however. Everyone has their own motivations. Fame, power, glory; some even just out of the good of their hearts. If someone were to locate the Blue Orb again, they would be able to awaken and control Kyogre, bringing water back to the world.
You happen to be one of these people. What your motivations are are up to you. But you have found yourself in a gang of people with the same goal in mind: find the Blue Orb. The gang’s leader, Elara, is very open with her reasoning. She wants revenge. She wants to drown the emperors in the same resource that crowned them and return water to the people. And she will stop at nothing to reach that goal. Her ragtag group of outlaws and survivalists may not seem like a threat, but what she knows may be enough to bring an end to the Desolate Land.
Sign Ups (open)
Current Players:
Elara - Shampoo Thief
Bags - Shampoo Thief
Ander - Omegagoldfish
Whisper - Schade
Vern - Vern
Luna - Vern
Legna James Krad - Iegnak
Agatha “Bootstrap” Pridmore - Samayouru
The Desolate Lands are a world of dirt and death. A world built upon the ruins of what used to be, now merely a memory only held in the minds of the oldest survivors. Life itself has been pushed to the brink of existence. Everyday is a struggle for survival. Those who could not adapt to the desolation were consumed by it. The ones who did adapt became it: unforgiving, blood thirsty, desolate.
Along the craggy and mountainous paths between New Rustboro and Meteor Falls is a small group of travelers. Leading them is a woman. She is striking, but stoned faced. A red scarf covers her head and mouth. A few blonde curls spill out from under the covering. Far above her a Mandibuzz is circling. Close behind her is a dirty young man leading a Camerupt by a rope. On the back of the pokemon there are packs of supplies, tied down with mix matched ropes. The load was larger than normal, as two days earlier the group had stopped at a trading town and managed to purchase some supplies. This, combined with the rocky and uneven ground, was making the Camerupt walk at a slower pace.
To the East of the group mountains rise menacingly, tall and sharp. Craters blemish the ground, and they were getting more numerous the farther north the group went. In the distance Mt. Chimney can be seen, still spitting ash into the air. To the west, the rocky landscape meets what used to be the sea shore. What remains now is a slightly sloping, flat expanse that looks as if it reaches out forever. The ground out there is white and barren. When the oceans evaporated, only the salt from the water remained. There was nothing out there for travelers but certain death. Everyone knew that and everyone avoided them.
Elara looked back to the way from which they came, putting her hand to her forehead to shield her eyes from the sun. She was on edge because of the slower pace they had been keeping. There was smoke rising in a large column on the horizon. Her Mandibuzz has confirmed it was the town they had visited just two days before. The New Rustboro Army was gaining on them. There was no doubt in her mind that they were the cause of the smoke. If the group didn’t start moving faster, the army would be on them soon.
The New Rustboro Army was nearly as relentless as the Sun was. Since the day Elara fled the city, they have pursued her. She was too important to let go. She had escaped with her husband’s research on the Blue Orb. The information she held was invaluable. She may be Hoenn’s best chance at finding and using the Blue Orb. She could bring water back to the Sun baked world. She would die before giving what she knew to the Warlord that killed her husband. At this rate, that might be exactly what happens.
“Bags, get the Camerupt to pick up the pace,” Elara said to the boy leading the pokemon.
Bags spit a large, dark wad from his mouth. A tar-black liquid oozed from the gaps between his sharp teeth. “Lumps ain’t gonna go any faster’n this. We got too much shit on ‘im.”
Elara wasn’t satisfied with this. “Then you grab some bags and help it out. And don’t call it ‘Lumps.’”
Bags rolled his eyes but did as he was told. He continued talking as he unpacked some of the supplies. “Gotta call him something, he’s gotta have a name. Can't have a pokemon without a name, erryone knows that. And clearly you won’t be giving him one. Sides, Lumps is a great name I think.” Elara ignored him.
Bags tossed a large pack without warning to the green-haired boy walking a few paces behind him. “Here Cat Eyes, you take some too.”
Relieving some of the weight did help, and the Camerupt quickened. They could probably make it to Meteor Falls not too long after sundown. The route they were taking was forcing them to go very far out of their way, but there wasn’t much they could do about that. Unless they wanted to face the Rustboro soldiers head on, this is what they would have to do. She hoped that they would be able to lose them once they get through the falls.
“We will make camp when we reach the cave’s entrance.” She announced to the group. “Tomorrow we will go through the pass. It won’t be an easy trek, but hopefully that will work to our advantage.” She looked back once more, quicker this time. “No fire tonight.”
“You tryin to kill us, eh,” replied Bags. He knew she was right, they couldn’t have a fire with the NRA so close on their tail. They didn’t want to draw any extra attention to their position. Still, it got cold at night. They hadn’t been able to have a fire in days. All they had to look forward to tonight was a cold meal and a colder night’s sleep.
They may have more to look forward to, Elara thought. She hadn't shared her suspicions with anyone, but before the Desolation, Meteor Falls was home to a large waterfall that gave the cave it's name. Since the falls were protected from the sun, then maybe they were still there. Clear, drinkable water cascading down to them. She licked her parched lips. Enough water to swim in, how wonderful would that be. The thought excited her, but she tried to stay grounded. Most likely the falls have dried up with the rest of the world. And if they haven't, then you could bet someone else had found them first. If that were the case, they may be headed directly into trouble.
An AU RPG where Team Magma succeeds in screwing everything up. Welcome to the Desolate Lands.
Alternate title: Mad Maxie: Fury Route
It’s a whole new world we live in. And it sucks. After Team Magma awakened Groudon using the Blue Orb, a new era was ushered in. Groudon’s primal forme was unleashed, and soon Team Magma lost control. One valiant 10 year old faced off against the beast in hopes of calming it. However, they failed and were eaten. The extremely harsh sun that was summoned by Groudon began depleting the world of nearly all sources of water. Oceans evaporated (with rejoice from IGN), leaving behind desolate salt flats, deep depressions, and cavernous canyons. Without water, much of the land was turned to desert and wastelands. Many pokemon species died out, being unable to adapt to the new world. Water and Ice type pokemon reached the brink of extinction, and seeing one now was only slightly more likely than seeing a Mew. Society collapsed as famine and drought plagued the land. Governments were unable to handle the unrest and collapsed right along with it. Cities now lay in ruin, and many have begun to be swallowed by the ever expanding desert. In an effort to expand and develop civilization, Team Magma ended up dooming it.
That was many years ago, and now most people living in this barren world were born into it. People had to revert back to more primal ways of life. Many people had to become nomads, searching the scorched remains of the earth for food and water. Some people managed to create small communities that could support themselves. In some rare cases, city-states arose, powerful and often greedy. No matter if you were a tribal nomad or the ruler of a city-state, you had to fight for your own survival. This world was uncaring and unforgiving. If you don’t fight for what’s yours, it won’t be yours for very long.
Even in the bleakest of times, there still shines a glimmer of hope. Since the resurrection of Groudon, there have been tales of how to reverse it. The Blue Orb, the tool that failed to control Groudon, has been claimed to be what the world needs. No one has been able to locate it, though. It has been so long now that most people consider it a myth, akin to the Holy Grail. A relic lost to time, buried in the ruins of civilization. That doesn’t stop people from trying to get their hands on it, however. Everyone has their own motivations. Fame, power, glory; some even just out of the good of their hearts. If someone were to locate the Blue Orb again, they would be able to awaken and control Kyogre, bringing water back to the world.
You happen to be one of these people. What your motivations are are up to you. But you have found yourself in a gang of people with the same goal in mind: find the Blue Orb. The gang’s leader, Elara, is very open with her reasoning. She wants revenge. She wants to drown the emperors in the same resource that crowned them and return water to the people. And she will stop at nothing to reach that goal. Her ragtag group of outlaws and survivalists may not seem like a threat, but what she knows may be enough to bring an end to the Desolate Land.
* * *
Sign Ups (open)
Current Players:
Elara - Shampoo Thief
Bags - Shampoo Thief
Ander - Omegagoldfish
Whisper - Schade
Vern - Vern
Luna - Vern
Legna James Krad - Iegnak
Agatha “Bootstrap” Pridmore - Samayouru
* * *
The Desolate Lands are a world of dirt and death. A world built upon the ruins of what used to be, now merely a memory only held in the minds of the oldest survivors. Life itself has been pushed to the brink of existence. Everyday is a struggle for survival. Those who could not adapt to the desolation were consumed by it. The ones who did adapt became it: unforgiving, blood thirsty, desolate.
Along the craggy and mountainous paths between New Rustboro and Meteor Falls is a small group of travelers. Leading them is a woman. She is striking, but stoned faced. A red scarf covers her head and mouth. A few blonde curls spill out from under the covering. Far above her a Mandibuzz is circling. Close behind her is a dirty young man leading a Camerupt by a rope. On the back of the pokemon there are packs of supplies, tied down with mix matched ropes. The load was larger than normal, as two days earlier the group had stopped at a trading town and managed to purchase some supplies. This, combined with the rocky and uneven ground, was making the Camerupt walk at a slower pace.
To the East of the group mountains rise menacingly, tall and sharp. Craters blemish the ground, and they were getting more numerous the farther north the group went. In the distance Mt. Chimney can be seen, still spitting ash into the air. To the west, the rocky landscape meets what used to be the sea shore. What remains now is a slightly sloping, flat expanse that looks as if it reaches out forever. The ground out there is white and barren. When the oceans evaporated, only the salt from the water remained. There was nothing out there for travelers but certain death. Everyone knew that and everyone avoided them.
Elara looked back to the way from which they came, putting her hand to her forehead to shield her eyes from the sun. She was on edge because of the slower pace they had been keeping. There was smoke rising in a large column on the horizon. Her Mandibuzz has confirmed it was the town they had visited just two days before. The New Rustboro Army was gaining on them. There was no doubt in her mind that they were the cause of the smoke. If the group didn’t start moving faster, the army would be on them soon.
The New Rustboro Army was nearly as relentless as the Sun was. Since the day Elara fled the city, they have pursued her. She was too important to let go. She had escaped with her husband’s research on the Blue Orb. The information she held was invaluable. She may be Hoenn’s best chance at finding and using the Blue Orb. She could bring water back to the Sun baked world. She would die before giving what she knew to the Warlord that killed her husband. At this rate, that might be exactly what happens.
“Bags, get the Camerupt to pick up the pace,” Elara said to the boy leading the pokemon.
Bags spit a large, dark wad from his mouth. A tar-black liquid oozed from the gaps between his sharp teeth. “Lumps ain’t gonna go any faster’n this. We got too much shit on ‘im.”
Elara wasn’t satisfied with this. “Then you grab some bags and help it out. And don’t call it ‘Lumps.’”
Bags rolled his eyes but did as he was told. He continued talking as he unpacked some of the supplies. “Gotta call him something, he’s gotta have a name. Can't have a pokemon without a name, erryone knows that. And clearly you won’t be giving him one. Sides, Lumps is a great name I think.” Elara ignored him.
Bags tossed a large pack without warning to the green-haired boy walking a few paces behind him. “Here Cat Eyes, you take some too.”
Relieving some of the weight did help, and the Camerupt quickened. They could probably make it to Meteor Falls not too long after sundown. The route they were taking was forcing them to go very far out of their way, but there wasn’t much they could do about that. Unless they wanted to face the Rustboro soldiers head on, this is what they would have to do. She hoped that they would be able to lose them once they get through the falls.
“We will make camp when we reach the cave’s entrance.” She announced to the group. “Tomorrow we will go through the pass. It won’t be an easy trek, but hopefully that will work to our advantage.” She looked back once more, quicker this time. “No fire tonight.”
“You tryin to kill us, eh,” replied Bags. He knew she was right, they couldn’t have a fire with the NRA so close on their tail. They didn’t want to draw any extra attention to their position. Still, it got cold at night. They hadn’t been able to have a fire in days. All they had to look forward to tonight was a cold meal and a colder night’s sleep.
They may have more to look forward to, Elara thought. She hadn't shared her suspicions with anyone, but before the Desolation, Meteor Falls was home to a large waterfall that gave the cave it's name. Since the falls were protected from the sun, then maybe they were still there. Clear, drinkable water cascading down to them. She licked her parched lips. Enough water to swim in, how wonderful would that be. The thought excited her, but she tried to stay grounded. Most likely the falls have dried up with the rest of the world. And if they haven't, then you could bet someone else had found them first. If that were the case, they may be headed directly into trouble.