PrinceOfFacade
Ghost-Type Master
Since I'm bidding goodbye to my character Salem, who I've played as in Pokémon games since 2013, I figured I'd share his story with you all. I'm not really asking for reviews or opinions, but feel free to leave your thoughts. You can view the 3D render of Salem here.
(The following depicts Salem as of Pokémon Legends Arceus)
Short Version
Salem fell through the Time-Space Distortion shortly after winning the Galarian Star Tournament. It is of no surprise to him, however, despite it being so sudden. Salem has a debt that must be paid. In exchange for the funding that allowed him to visit Kalos and Galar - and become Champion in both - he must retrieve five Pokémon near and dear to his benefactor... Pokémon long lost to history. Not only must Salem seek out these ancient creatures and capture them, he must return to the present and bring them all directly to his benefactor, in the region colored in scarlet and violet.
Long Version
Age: 32
Birthplace: Nacrene City, Unova
Champion Titles: 6
First Title: Hoenn League, Age 11
Gym: Lilycove City (inactive)
Dubbed the “Ghost Whisperer,” Salem is considered the strongest Ghost-type specialist in the world. However, his success did not come easily. Born in Unova, he moved with his parents to Hoenn at the age of 5, where he would claim his first title of Champion in his first eligible year as a League Trainer. Salem wanted pursue more Championship titles, but his parents couldn’t afford to send him to other regions, so instead they paid to register him as gym leader of Lilycove, since the city's gym was vacant. For the next six years, Salem served as Lilycove City's gym leader, and quickly grew bored from the constant hollow victories he’d claim. Hundreds of challengers would flock to Lilycove take him on, and one by one they’d all be slaughtered by his Aegislash. The Hoenn League Board requested that Salem omit Aegislash from his team, citing "The Pokémon is too powerful for normal trainers." Salem sent the Board a response letter with only a single sentence: "Send better trainers."
Out of the 700+ challengers Salem faced during his tenure as gym leader, only 32 managed to defeat him. Of that 32, only one succeeded in sweeping Salem's entire team: Steven Stone. Steven would later become known as Hoenn’s greatest Champion, and Salem's closest friend.
At the age of 18, dissatisfied with his gym career - and tired of the Hoenn League Board telling him what to do - Salem abandoned his post as gym leader and took a job as a touring guitarist for the Unovan band Koffing and the Toxics, who was touring in Hoenn at the time. Serendipitously, this allowed Salem to finally travel to other regions. At age 21, while touring in Paldea, a region just south of Kalos, Salem met a wealthy man by the name of Benedictus, who remembered Salem from his unprecedented Hoenn Championship win years ago. Benedictus claimed to be veteran trainer himself, a former Champion of Paldea, and also spoke of his love for history and ancient things. Benedictus considered himself an avid collector of “long forgotten Pokémon,” but confessed he was now too old to do any collecting himself. After Salem explained his desire to take on leagues all over the world, but didn’t have enough money to do it, Benedictus proposed a deal: “I will give you all the money you need to become the greatest Champion in the world, but when the time comes, you must pay your debt.”
Salem quickly agreed and took his loan of ¥10 million, left his band and set off. Over the next 11 years Salem would go on to claim the Champion titles of Kalos, Alola, Galar, Sinnoh, and even his own region of Unova. At the age of 32, Salem attended the newly inaugurated Galarian Star Tournament. With his pupil and fellow gym leader Allister as his partner, the two became the first winners of the tournament. It was the first time Allister took off his mask in front of others, as he ran to Salem and hugged him. However, it was at this moment Salem was immediately transported by Benedictus back to Paldea. “It is time to pay your debt,” the old veteran declared. Salem, now incredibly wealthy from a decade of Championship winnings, was eager to hand over the ¥10 million and leave, but Benedictus didn’t want money. He wanted Pokémon. With that, Salem was sent 160 years into the past, with a sole directive: Capture the Noble Pokémon. A historian in his own right, Salem knew exactly what the old veteran was referring to, and he headed straight for Hisui, the long-forgotten Jade Region.
(The following depicts Salem as of Pokémon Legends Arceus)
Short Version
Salem fell through the Time-Space Distortion shortly after winning the Galarian Star Tournament. It is of no surprise to him, however, despite it being so sudden. Salem has a debt that must be paid. In exchange for the funding that allowed him to visit Kalos and Galar - and become Champion in both - he must retrieve five Pokémon near and dear to his benefactor... Pokémon long lost to history. Not only must Salem seek out these ancient creatures and capture them, he must return to the present and bring them all directly to his benefactor, in the region colored in scarlet and violet.
Long Version
Age: 32
Birthplace: Nacrene City, Unova
Champion Titles: 6
First Title: Hoenn League, Age 11
Gym: Lilycove City (inactive)
Dubbed the “Ghost Whisperer,” Salem is considered the strongest Ghost-type specialist in the world. However, his success did not come easily. Born in Unova, he moved with his parents to Hoenn at the age of 5, where he would claim his first title of Champion in his first eligible year as a League Trainer. Salem wanted pursue more Championship titles, but his parents couldn’t afford to send him to other regions, so instead they paid to register him as gym leader of Lilycove, since the city's gym was vacant. For the next six years, Salem served as Lilycove City's gym leader, and quickly grew bored from the constant hollow victories he’d claim. Hundreds of challengers would flock to Lilycove take him on, and one by one they’d all be slaughtered by his Aegislash. The Hoenn League Board requested that Salem omit Aegislash from his team, citing "The Pokémon is too powerful for normal trainers." Salem sent the Board a response letter with only a single sentence: "Send better trainers."
Out of the 700+ challengers Salem faced during his tenure as gym leader, only 32 managed to defeat him. Of that 32, only one succeeded in sweeping Salem's entire team: Steven Stone. Steven would later become known as Hoenn’s greatest Champion, and Salem's closest friend.
At the age of 18, dissatisfied with his gym career - and tired of the Hoenn League Board telling him what to do - Salem abandoned his post as gym leader and took a job as a touring guitarist for the Unovan band Koffing and the Toxics, who was touring in Hoenn at the time. Serendipitously, this allowed Salem to finally travel to other regions. At age 21, while touring in Paldea, a region just south of Kalos, Salem met a wealthy man by the name of Benedictus, who remembered Salem from his unprecedented Hoenn Championship win years ago. Benedictus claimed to be veteran trainer himself, a former Champion of Paldea, and also spoke of his love for history and ancient things. Benedictus considered himself an avid collector of “long forgotten Pokémon,” but confessed he was now too old to do any collecting himself. After Salem explained his desire to take on leagues all over the world, but didn’t have enough money to do it, Benedictus proposed a deal: “I will give you all the money you need to become the greatest Champion in the world, but when the time comes, you must pay your debt.”
Salem quickly agreed and took his loan of ¥10 million, left his band and set off. Over the next 11 years Salem would go on to claim the Champion titles of Kalos, Alola, Galar, Sinnoh, and even his own region of Unova. At the age of 32, Salem attended the newly inaugurated Galarian Star Tournament. With his pupil and fellow gym leader Allister as his partner, the two became the first winners of the tournament. It was the first time Allister took off his mask in front of others, as he ran to Salem and hugged him. However, it was at this moment Salem was immediately transported by Benedictus back to Paldea. “It is time to pay your debt,” the old veteran declared. Salem, now incredibly wealthy from a decade of Championship winnings, was eager to hand over the ¥10 million and leave, but Benedictus didn’t want money. He wanted Pokémon. With that, Salem was sent 160 years into the past, with a sole directive: Capture the Noble Pokémon. A historian in his own right, Salem knew exactly what the old veteran was referring to, and he headed straight for Hisui, the long-forgotten Jade Region.
After a rough two months, Salem succeeded in capturing all 10 descendants of the Hisuian Hero (or good enough substitutes) and fought his way through the Space-Time Rift back to the present time. Returning to Benedictus in Paldea, Salem literally threw the PokéBalls at him, exclaiming, "There. Your f***ing debt his paid. Don't ever contact me again." Salem was weary after his time in Hisui. He didn't want to battle anymore; he didn't want to look at another Ball ever again. He was tired. Salem declared his days as a trainer were done. Since he never actually got to spend any real time in Paldea, Salem rented a house and decided to stay for a while. However, Salem would never leave. He eventually met Ọnwa, a Pokémon professor and former Psychic-type enthusiast, who would later become his wife. Salem and Ọnwa would soon have a son named Jalid.
Shortly after Jalid's 3rd birthday, Salem is diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer. Despite the greatest efforts, not even a Blissey could cure it. Salem is forced to accept his own mortality, but refuses to give up living. On Jalid's 5th birthday, Salem, realizing his son's affinity for Ice Pokémon, gifts him with a female Snorunt. "Female Snorunt are special," Salem tells him, "for while they begin as Ice, they become Ghosts as they evolve." At the time, Jalid sees it as just a cool birthday gift, but now, at the age of 11, six years after his father's passing, he is now realizing the true meaning of the gift: through Froslass, Jalid and his father will always be together.
Ice and Ghost, forever intertwined.
Shortly after Jalid's 3rd birthday, Salem is diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer. Despite the greatest efforts, not even a Blissey could cure it. Salem is forced to accept his own mortality, but refuses to give up living. On Jalid's 5th birthday, Salem, realizing his son's affinity for Ice Pokémon, gifts him with a female Snorunt. "Female Snorunt are special," Salem tells him, "for while they begin as Ice, they become Ghosts as they evolve." At the time, Jalid sees it as just a cool birthday gift, but now, at the age of 11, six years after his father's passing, he is now realizing the true meaning of the gift: through Froslass, Jalid and his father will always be together.
Ice and Ghost, forever intertwined.
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