It's Pronounced Pâté

// Region Ideas

Elpers, Region of Friendship (aka networking + nepotism)

» Core Themes;; eldritch weirdness, unown weirdness, networking + collaboration. 'When life touches another, something new will be born.' Let's be real, the unown motto goes hard.

» Not modern, thinking more of Early 20th Century Occult New England vibes?? Touches of art deco/nouveau and 20s inspiration, inspired being the key word. This is not historical!! Anachronistic!!

// Player Character

» Designs not final, but it's mostly the hair I want to play with more. Clothes are solid, and I love both their designs on that front~ They're older than the 'typical' player character, but not absurdly so. More like a young adult? You've been helping out your Aunt for the last five years in Dead Leaves, hoping it would lead you to your dream of joining the Pokemon League Challenge. And it has finally paid off!!

Originally, the Player Character is from Aloevera Town and their twin lives there still. You two haven't seen each other since the PC left to help out Auntie, though you write each other often.

» Name Ideas;; Lavender + Chamomile (teas + repels pests)? Lucerne + Ivy? Tara and Offy?? Lavender and Chamomile are my favorites though.

// Professor + Starters

» Professor Aspen. They seem a bit absent-minded but it's an act, lol. They don't give the Player and Graveole the typical starters of the region, because it grand-baby + likes to throw curve balls at them. Graveole will frown, like 'stop babying me. >:c' but the Professor wants to give the pair a challenge, thinking they'll be up to it.

Or so Aspen says. In actuality, it's just too easy to offload silly research shit to the Challengers~ They're all so eager to please~ ;)

» ??? + ???. Both starters here are Ghost types (given ghosts are super-effective against each other). I like the idea of them hiding in shadows, which is why they're recently discovered? o: Must think of this though.

// Companions + Rivals

» Graveole, the Professor's granddaughter. Typical rival. Protective of Aspen because wanna-be hopefuls looooooove cozing up to him at a chance to join the League Challenge. She does not like you because of this, and is going to do her best to kick your ass back to Aloevera. >:(! She also doesn't like getting special treatment due to being the Professor's granddaughter. Graveole is a bit of a hypocrite, lol. Named after Apium Graveolens, aka celery.

» Lace, a former League Challenge Hopeful. Having gotten his ass firmly kicked, he quickly became disillusioned by the system in Elpers, he turned to Team BAM for a purpose. His family runs the Daycare Center near Aniseed Town, which is how Lace got his recommendation letter for the League Challenge. Very much enjoys looking after Pokemon, and that's often his job in Team BAM. Named after Queen Anne's Lace.

» A.V., Champion's younger sibling. They were disowned by family a few years back. Not a trainer, doesn't like fighting and has no skill for it. Refuses to join the League Challenge, Graveole and Player can have some feelings about this as it's weird in Elpers. Feels a bit too much like Lillie from this description, lol? Very monotone and apathetic. Likes contests, but Pokemon aren't great at it. Doesn't matter, just wants to make them happy. Named after Androvanda Vesicula. What does A.V. actually stand for? Who knows.

- Your Twin, the other player model. They're living back in Aloevera Town.

// Gym Leaders

» Rile, Electric. 1st Gym. Like the player character, Rile is an every-person who was lucky enough to join the League Challenge but there is no comradery found here. They caught Dion's eye and were uplifted to be a Gym Leader, and they are dedicated to upholding the standards of the Elpers League. Unlike Folly (see below), they're quite cocky and egotistical. I think the gym should be something of a power-plant, hydroelectric type place, though Rile probably works for Pennyroyal Port Authority. After their defeat, they're super >:l!! They refuse to directly acknowledge the Player Character's win, but you'll get the badge and be given an item to deliver to Papavera Town since Rile has to rest of their pokemon now. Thanks. >:l!! Named after the Pennyroyal too, lol. Pennyrile is another name for it, and Rile gets riled up often.

» Lavicola, Fighting. 2nd Gym. To contrast Rile, Lavicola is a elite-born gym leader. She is very lazy and nonchalant, preferring to listen to her radio shows while relaxing on the beach. She chases trends like a motherfucker, constantly recycling her team as new interests come to her. Her current interest is yoga, hence her new fighting line-up. She's a huge fan of Teasel too. You'll meet her in Papavera Town, as she's begrudgingly wondering why she had to come out to this podunk little town for Rile. The item isn't plot important, most likely something Teasel-related. But giving it to Lavicola will open up her gym (it's a beach). Named after Nepenthes Lavicola.

» Genlise, Water. 3rd Gym. Another elite-born gym leader, Genlise is a sight to behold. She lives up to the aesthetic that Stars-Over-Anise has, dressing herself in the latest fashion and decking herself out in a night sky motif. Despite this, she is a not dark or psychic type trainer, but a water one. She loves her little beasts of the deeps dearly and refuses to part with them even if they've keeping her from advancing in the League. She enjoys her spot in Stars-Over-Anise, and has no ambition to reach higher than she is. Content, Genlise is very content. This should juxtapose with Aniseed Town a bit, a town struggling to just exist anymore. The Player Character can mention a strange pokemon that's rumored to lurk around the waters of Aniseed Town, helping out the town a bit little as Genlise would be interested in learning about them. Would have an Starmie, possibly the regional-variant of spoink too. Named after the Genlisea genus.

» Folly, Rock. 4th Gym. From Slouester (by the Silver Streams). Another uplifted gym leader, but unlike Rile, Folly has a panicky determined nature about him. Slouester has been left out of the Elpers region, due to its location in the far north and the strait running between it and Rose Dore. Because of this, Folly is a massive point of pride for the little town and Folly is incredibly aware of this. Hence his panicked determined nature. He's very much a die-hard Dion loyalist too, feeling a bit indebted to the Champion. He also deeply admires Anemone though, maybe even more so. Folly loves his town more than anything, and the thought of staying behind in its ruins is very romantic and aspirational to Folly. Anemone's devotion to Hyssop is #lifegoals. His lead pokemon is the rock column beast that lives in the nearby by ruins, and he's a sculptor too. I didn't write down where Folly came from, and I don't remember now. u_u; Cephalotus follicularis? Maybe??

» Anemone, Ghost. 5th Gym Leader. A once-rising star of the League. After his impressive League journey back when he was a young teen, Dion uplifted him to the status of Gym Leader. However, Anemone is a perceptive soul and started to noticed things felt ...off with the League. His loyalty towards Dion kept him from ever investigating or looking too deeply. But after the destruction of his hometown, Anemone's rose-colored glasses were shattered beyond repair. He gives no fucks nowadays, and is almost daring Dion to kick him out of the League. He wouldn't care, but he's something of an idealistic sob story to Elpers populace, given he refuses to leave his destroyed hometown. Dion knows this and hasn't retaliated against him as much as he wants to. And due to Anemone's new friendship with Digit, he absolutely knows what's up with Dion and his Unown obsession. Believes in being as malicious competence as possible. Gym is basically an graveyard. Named after the Anemone flower.

» Teasel, Normal. 6th Gym. In her public day life, Teasel is a very popular singer and celebrity. She graces magazines and stages shows and always appears on radio shows. She is the height of fashion and chipper cheer. In her secretive gym life, it's a 180. Teasel does her best work when resting. Her gym and her gym attire is pure comfy sleepwear, letting her hair down both figuratively and metaphorically. Most people have not pieced together Teasel the Singer and Teasel the Gym Leader are the same person, lol. Very Clark Kent vibes. Her team abuses sleeping movements (sing and rest), and sleep talk especially. Named after the Teasel plant.

» Alicie, Fairy. 7th Gym. Genki girl, majorly. Like the scary cute girl who will happily bath in your blood without another thought. Dion keeps her on a tight leash. She used to be apart of the Elite Four, but due to a mistake, Dion demoted her to Gym Leader. She's become even more unhinged since her demotion, hoping to prove her love once again and ascend back into the Elite. She refuses to recognize Digit as a gym leader too, pretending she is a final challenge before the Elite. She's based on the Green Fairy of Absinthe lore too, lol. Named after Drosera Aliciae.

» Digit, Poison. 8th Gym. Digit, oh, Digit. Pierrot vibes, lives a tourist trap town. They are Not a Nice Person, but currently has all their vitriol turned towards Dion and his crew. They hate Dion more than anything in this world, but they do it with a smile. :) Digit is not Elite-born, and they grew up in Coriander Hills, but they've always been a chameleon and a pot-stirrer. While sneaking into an Elite party, they crossed paths with the newly-appointed Champion Dion, and they ended up in an extremely toxic relationship. During one of Dion's Unown expedition, Digit got ending up being scarred and losing an eye, which was the catalyst that ended their relationship. Digit now hides said missing eye and scar behind a mask. They are weird little friends with Anemone, and love to antagonize everyone they met, including the Player Character~ But they do promise that they're on their side, so long as that side is taking down Dion. :) Their loyal Sinishine always follows them about, and it's probably the one thing Digit could admit to loving. Named after Digitalis Purpurea, aka Foxglove.

// Elpers Champion

» Dion, old noble family. A bit obsessed with Unown, to say the least. Believes they are pieces of an ancient god, and is trying to bring them together to reform that. Very controlling, the main reason the League Challenge has gotten so …elitist? Guarded? Secret Big Bad of the Story, because Champions have had it too good for too long. Named after the Dionaea Muscipula.

Had a previous and highly toxic relationship with Digit. He's still very drawn to Digit, much to everyone's eternal disapproval.

// Elite Four

» Sarra, Ice. She's an ice queen, lol. Dion's most loyal follower and right hand, she'll do anything to help bring his vision to life. Except tolerate Digit. >:l!!! Named after Sarracenia genus of plants.

» Cato, Dark. Cato appears to be Dion's left hand, working in junction with Sarra to help bring Dion's vision to light. However, he's a wolf in sheep's clothes for Dion. He's been working from the inside, trying to take down Dion and the whole league too. Might be the secret leader of Team BAM?? Named after Catopsis Berteroniana.

» Darlington, XXX. Younger brother of Sarra. Named after Darlingtonia Californica.

» ???, XXX. I have no ideas. :'l Maybe dating Teasel? I feel like they were the former Wormwood Falls leader before Alicie got demoted. They probably don't enjoy that. They miss Wormwood Falls a lot, and Teasel. The Elite Four sucks, lol. Probably elite-born too then.

// Team BAM (by any means, not the actual name)

Given the League is super controlling and restrictive, they're the illegal Pokemon trainers basically. There is levels of Team BAM, the low tier which are there to help slip items to illegal trainers, setting up makeshift pokecenters and marts, helping sure people are battling as safe as possible. There's the mid-tier level, the more outwardly criminal. They steal supplies, causes disruptions with the Gyms and especially the Elite Four. The top-tier consists of people who are trusted with Dion's plans, and are actively planning how to take down the Champion and his loyalists. Maybe Cato secretly runs it?? I don't think they're ultimately good and honorable, more sneaky and anti-heroic but they do have the greater good in mind? Kinda??

// CITIES + TOWNS

(in roughly the order of when you can visit them).

» Dead Leaves - The starter town of the Player Character, and their home for the last five years. Professor Aspen and Graveole live here too, as well as the PC's aunt and cousin. Small town, not much to do.

» Coriander Hills (8th) - Tourist Town. It's located right by an old set of ruins that the town hocks like nothing else. They need tourism to survive, so tourists they will do their best to lure in. The local gym helps too, though Digit is not the best Gym Leader. They are a little weirdo, and the whole town knows it and tries to ignore it. Coriander Hills is actually Digit's hometown originally, so they do know them best, lol.

» Port Pennyroyal (1st) - Major Port City. First big city you'll see. If you want the Big City Life without needing to deal with Fennele City's overcrowded industrial stacking, Port Pennyroyal is the city for you. It's home of the first gym the PC will encounter, and it's a no holds-bar slugfest. Dion entrusted the Port Pennyroyal Gym to Rile, and Rile will not allow subpar trainers to pass through.

» Papavera Town - The sleepy ferry junction town that connects Port Pennyroyal to Lemonella City and Aniseed Town. It's a small low-key town, the newly constructed Radio Tower being its biggest highlight. Most people just pass through it though on their way to more interesting places.

» Lemonella City (2nd) - Beach Resort City. Located by some old historical ruins, so it's a nice vacation place for the whole family. Lovely beaches, lots of shops and hotels, and scenic trails leading off to the Mountain Resort on the next door island.

» Aniseed Town - The dying town, Aniseed used to be a fairly populous town, living off the tourists coming and going to Lemonella City and Aloevera Town. It was a simple life, but very solid. But since the completion of the train-road tracks that span the whole region, Aniseed has been suffering and suffering hard. I think Lace should be from around here, and it should be a good place to start learning more about Team BAM. It should be possible to help out the town too. There's rumors of a rare Pokemon living off the coast. If the player learns this and informs Genlise of this, she will send money and resources to the town to help protect the local legend.

» Stars-Over-Anise (3rd) - One of the twin Entertainment Cities. This is one is more night-themed. Movies, premieres, nightlight and clubs. It lives for the night. The 3rd gym is located here, run by the Illustrious Genlise. It houses one of the now three Main Radio Towers that help connect the region.

» Aloevera Town - a small but popular coastal tourist town on the edge of Elpers. It's very close to Fleur de Lis so lots of people take day trips over to Aloevera. The player character is originally from here, and their twin still lives there with your parents (they run a flower shop). You'll be able to revisit home after the 3rd gym.

» Fleur de Lis - Connecting City. Not technically apart of the region, it's the main city that connects Elpers to the next closest region. A typical port city, lively and industrial.

» Fennele City (6th) - Most Populous City. Major Industrial Hub. Capital City vibes. It has a big hustle culture, and you'll find the businesses and offices. Manhattan vibes? It helps to supply and trade with the other towns of the region. Gym Leader Teasel lives and works here, but she is very busy. She has a ticket system for trainers. Take a ticket, and she'll call you when she's available and you're up next in the queue. Be quick or you'll lose your place!

» Wormwood Falls (7th) - The another twin entertainment city. This one is more day-themed. Writing and coffee houses, garden parties and fantastic food. Has two fake falls of green water that house the City Gym. Alicie lives here.

» Rose Doré - Fleur de Lis' bff. One of the smaller cities on the region, due to geographical location. They mostly help supply Fennele City with Fleur de Lis' imports. Very self-righteous and haughty.

» Slouester (By the Silver Streams) (4th) - It's pronounced 'Sauce -> Slauce + t = Slouest-ta', or like Glouster. Slouester feels wholly left out by the region, being so far north and disconnected by a strait. The radio tower transmissions barely reach it, and it's not uncommon to see people hitting their radios to try and get a better sound. It's a more rural industrial town, big of lumber and mining. It has a bit a Dewford vibe, but more bitter. They have a fierce one-sided rivalry with Rose Doré, the closest town to them. The one note of Pride is their gym leader, Folly. They're one of the lucky few elected to join the League, and Folly will not fail their town.

» Hyssop Ruins (5th) - Hyssop Ruins is a ghost town, plain and simple. The town was destroyed a few years back in a semi-natural disaster. Elpers had been trying to mine the mountain side and create a new path through it. This triggered a landslide that all but buried 75% of the town and destroyed its old Radio Tower. The gym leader Anemone thought the League would help the town recover, but Dion didn't care at all outside of the Radio Tower being destroyed. When the reality finally set it, it broke Anemone of his rose-colored glasses towards the Champion and the League. He refuses to abandon the ghost of his old hometown, no matter how Dion reminds him he can and will demoted if he doesn't pick a new location soon. Anemone is daring him to do so, as most of the Region feel he's very romantic for staying.

» Port of Dittany - Elite and exclusive. It's the villa town that house the Elite Four and the Elites of Elpers in general. You are not allowed in without an invitation, via a letter or having the eight badges of Elpers.

Other Place Name Ideas;;

» Old Lace Hotel, an ruined hotel resting at the end of the Mountains. Something happened to it, like a Pokemon attack but no Pokemon that exists matches the survivors' description and size. It's a mysterious place, and only the strangest visitors to the Elpers Region would go out of their way to see it.

» Blue Moon Resort, the Mountain Resort Town. It's more lively in the winter years, but it does have a little bustling community year around. They had petitioned to have a Gym built up in the Mountains to draw in more tourism, but Slouester won that bid instead. Blue Moon Resort is a touch miffled still, lol.