#akkadios

Name: Summer Richards

Hometown: New Bark Town (Johto)

Specialist Type: N/A

Summer's the kinda gal who's always thrown herself into situations, and learn from her mistakes afterwards. Sure, it's got her a few bumps and bruises, and seen her having to be rescued by her parents from wild Pokémon. But if she hadn't, she wouldn't have met her partner Pokémon, Riolu, and likely also served as an inspiration for her younger sister Ruby.

Since then, Summer's built a team by exploring across as many regions from possible, enjoying the thrill of exploring and discovering new places. She met her Cyndaquil after getting lost trying to claim Mount Silver, before seeing it evolve into a mighty Typhlosion, while her Lopunny was met as a Buneary, rescued from a forest fire. Though initially timid, it has grown more brave and bolder, now serving as a powerhouse on her team, able to Mega Evolve to unleashes its inner potential.

Summer's Riolu has also grown, now being a powerful Lucario. Add to that her Slither Wing, encountered deep within Area Zero when it tried to strike them, only to become a valued team member, and her Heliolisk, met in the baking heat of the desert, not to mention her Hisuian Lilligant, found in a hidden grove within Eterna Forest, and you've got a mighty team that has Summer's back.

Name: Fira Shoutu

Hometown: Pallet Town (Kanto)

Specialist Type: Fire

A hotblooded trainer on both the competitive circuit, as well as Pokéthlon events, Fira was always eager to impress her friends and family, as well as show up her little brother. She spent a few years climbing the ranks in the Battle Tower of Hoenn, but immediately came home upon seeing her little brother somehow becoming the champion of the Kanto Region. How did the little squirt manage that so quickly?

Growing up, Fira adored her starter Pokémon Cyndaquil, always flaunting her to her little brother before he got his Charmander. Becoming a mainstay of her team as a Typhlosion, it was soon joined by her Litten, a Pokémon with a massive ego that's reckons it can take a whole horde of Pokémon at once. which is probably true when it enters its Gigantamax Form. Both Pokémon serve as powerhouses for Fira's specialist team, though despite the sibling rivalry of Fira and her little brother, the two Fire-types get on really well with Houtaru's Charizard.

As for the rest of her Specialist team, her Scovillain is more of a menace, often spraying nearby trainers Pokémon with its spicy spray, while her Cylizard joins the fire-type focus with its terastallization, and is also a mainstay of her side hustle as a Pokéthlon star. Her orange-flamed Chandelure is a eery phantom, unleashing phantasmal flames to tear through the competition, and her Turtonator will unleash explosive force on any Pokémon that comes too close.

As for her freeform team, her Empoleon was always prideful, even as a Piplup, always puffing up his chest to imprint its importance, and has a one-sided rivalry with Houtaru's Sceptile. Similarly, her Drapion has a rivalry with Houtaru's Lokix, though in this case, Houtaru's Lokix see's Drapion as the villain to its heroic masked rider. And then falls to Fira's Grimtaceous to end the conflict between the two sibling's teams... and often the two siblings themselves. Fira's Haxorus is an aggressive striker, slashing opponents with its axe-like tusks, while her elegant Togekiss bombards opponents with Aura Spheres and Moonblasts. And her Aerodactyl is a violent Pokémon, only listening to Fira herself. Must've been a hell of a job, since she somehow developed a bond strong enough with it to allow it to Mega Evolve.

Name: The Sound Wave

Hometown: &8%$&£)%&- (£*"£()

Specialist Type: }8$-

Have you seen this individual? This mysterious man, identified only as The Sound Wave, has been seen tampering with equipment all across the region, including security feeds, audio equipment, and even screens. If you have any information on this man, please report him to your local International Investigative Branch.

While his badge identifies him as having a connection to Team Decept, we cannot figure out how, as his M.O.'s seem to greatly differ from any other member, seeming to be up to more sinister machinations rather than simple larping.

Those attempting to confront him should be warned. His Meowth, aliased "Ravage". has no qualms with attacking any individual that might intervene with The Sound Wave's machination, while his Talonflame, referred to as "Laserbeak", will use its high intensity Flamethrower to attack any equipment, whether it be melting the tires of pursuing vehicles or welding shut doorways... or just warding off anyone trying to stop them. While his Magnemite, known as "Frenzy", is not likely to attack directly, be warned, this Pokemon has likely been instructed to use its magnetic abilities to wipe any and all data units that may contain evidence of the tampering. If we are to recover this evidence, please be on the look out for these Pokemon.

While we are looking for whatever information we can on this individual, please refrain from trying to stop him yourself, as they are considered incredibly dangerous.

Name: Stafford Saban

Hometown: Hammerlocke (Galar)

Specialist Type: Steel

A fierce yet disciplined trainer, Stafford Saban is the latest in the Saban lineage, current Frontier Brain, or more official, Palace Knight of the Battle Palace in Hammerlocke, and custodian of the Crowned Sword and Shield. While one might thing he was in a position to show his strength, Stafford has always strived to exceed his limits, and so has come to the Pokémon World Tournament to seek a new challenge.

His position was not earned lightly, however, like his forebearers before him, Stafford took on the challenge of finding and earning the fealty of the Four Swords of Justice, so that he might be worthy of caring for the sacred relics of Zacian and Zamazenta, should they be needed again since the Darkest Day. And proved that he did, having tracked and earned the trust and aid of Cobalion, Virizion, Terrakion and Keldeo in the cold wilds of the Crown Tundra.

But Swords of Justice aren't really allowed for the Pokémon World Tournament, though Stafford believes his freeform team are more than ready for the challenge. Whether it be his stoic Aegislash or his steadfast Samurott, all are as trained as Stafford in the blade. His Ceruledge is a fierce fighter with no time for nonsense, his Kabutops is a savage attacker, and his Sceptile loves nothing more than to attack swiftly with powerful Leaf Blades, Mega Evolving for added impact. And when all have fallen before him, Stafford's Kingambit will use their honour and spirit to grow stronger, defeating all foes in the name of his team and trainer.

As for his specialist team, they are as strong as the steel of Stafford's own blade. His Alolan Sandslash slashes with claws as sharp as any edge, his Escavalier charges into battle with powerful punching lances, and his Scizor Mega Evolves to cleave through anything standing in its way. Stafford's Empoleon is also an impressive fighting, striking like a powerful trident, but also being able to provide a defensive wall. His Skarmory descend upon foes with its razor-sharp claws, and Stafford's team is once more rounded out by his Kingambit, flaunting its Supreme Overlord ability.

Name: Lia Britt

Hometown: Ecruteak City (Johto)

Specialist Type: N/A

When your father happens to be one of the Admins for a once prominent evil organisation, it can be hard to pull yourself out of that shadow, yet somehow Lia pulled herself out and has been shining bright ever since. Travelling across the region, she fought hard against gym after gym until she eventually went up against the Indigo League and claimed her title as champion... a title that lasted a few weeks until some guy from Pallet Town called "Hot Shot" came and defeated her, taking the title himself.

Seeking a new challenge to sink her teeth into, when news of the Pokémon World Tournament in the Akkadios regions crossed her path, she jumped at the opportunity, as did her loyal and dedicated team. And when she heard that the trainer that usurped her reign as champion would be competing, she was excited the opportunity to meet him on the battleground against. Maybe then she can get him out of her head.

Like No-One Ever Was

Name: Ash Ketchum

Hometown: Pallet Town (Kanto)

Specialist Type: N/A

Five years ago, he went on a quest to be the best there ever was. To catch them was his real test, but to train them was his cause. He went through several regions, searching far and wide, with the goal to understand the power that's inside. Now, as the Pokémon Champion of Alola, Winner of the Kanto Battle Frontier, and the Monarch of the Masters Eight 2022, Ash Ketchum takes to the stage once more alongside his longtime partner Pikachu and a team of some of his strongest allies.

While Ash has had many Pokémon pals both caught and befriended, for this world championship he's opted for a single team of six. The frontrunner of this team is his first Pokémon friend, a Pikachu who has seen countless battles with many great opponents, who embodies the same plucky determination his trainer possesses. Through thick and thin they've stood together, and used the power of Gigantamax and Z-Moves to fight even further.

The second is a Lucario born from Ash's gritty determination with some spunk of his own and gifted with the power of a Mega Stone. The third is a Greninja who not only has the skills to rival some of the best trainers, but has unlocked a unique battle form roughly equivalent to that of a Mega Stage, empowered by the strong bond between the two. A more recent rotation into Ash's competitive team, fourth is a Gabite who, while hardly as powerful as the various Garchomps that have come to the tournament, is more than willing to bare his fangs and fire off a Draco Meteor or two... though oddly the few misfires it's had always hit some poor Piplup. Fifth is a Gengar who Ash befriended after it was abandoned, and who is gifted with the power of the Gigantamax power to become a true nightmare. Though a Ghost-Type, it spent much time training under Ash's Infernape and other fire Pokémon to massive immense fire-type moves, changing up its strategies on a dime. And the sixth is a Feraligatr who has evolved specifically for this tournament, even taking some fashion cues from a Krookodile that joined Ash the last time he was at the world championship, as well as to bolster it's dark-type moves.

Name: Tina Myuti

Hometown: Mesagoza (Paldea)

Specialist Type: Fairy

Tina Myuti seems to be yet another enigma to add onto the list of competitors in the Pokemon World Tournament. While she is recorded as coming from Mesagoza in the Paldea region, she claims to actually have found her way there from the Great Crater of Paldea, not being sure why she was there, but somehow getting enrolled in the local Academy anyway. And stranger still was the company she brought with her.

When Tina first arrived in Mesagoza, it's said that she was accompanied by two very different Pokémon believe to have appeared from deep within Area Zero - the primordial Walking Wake, and the mechanical Iron Leaves. While both are very protective of their trainer, they strangely seem to have a rivalry between each other, often coming to blows in Tina's absence. Naturally, since she trained at Mesagoza's academy, Tina has mastered the art of the Terastallizing with this pair, her Walking Wake transforming into a pure Dragon-type, while her Iron Leaves transforms into a Fighting-Type.

It may surprise people to know, but Tina only completed her freeform team upon arriving to Akkadios for the World Tournament. Upon arriving and getting lost, Tina came across an Akkadian Golisopod. However, instead of attacking her as she would've expected, it instead escorted her back, and now keeps an eye on her, turning her around if she gets lost again. As for the rest of her team, her Boltund is incredibly playful, often catching Pokéballs when she attempts to catch a Pokémon, her Musharna not only sends her foes to sleep, but also provides her teammates pleasant dreams, and her Cleffable is a magical powerhouse, dominating the field, especially when Mega Evolved.

As for her specialist team, as well as her Cleffable, her Haterenne and Ninetale play the field with a variety of moves such as Safeguard and Aurora Veil, while her Ribombee disrupts her foes with a range of status effects. Tina also uses a Scream Tail she caught while trying to investigate how she got to the Great Crater, specialising in deafening her foes with volume. As for her Sylveon, while strong, it is notorious being for being a massive flirt, toying with any Pokémon that takes her fancy.