Giftmas!

[indigo_league]

With Christmas scooting ever closer, it's time to start thinking about the real reason for the season and that is gifts. Yes, yes, joy to all, peace on earth etc etc, but deep down what we all want to do is tear some wrapping paper off boxes and be dazzled by the contents.

In order to keep things a bit organised, we'll be putting this up as a central gift-giving post, and it will feature three things.

★★ Arceus' gift As many of you long term players might already know, Arceus tends to drop a few gifts on the people he has brought here on Christmas day. And this year is no different! These gifts will be revealed on December the 25th, so please check back then to see what your character will be receiving. And yes, these gifts will go out to all. Arceus doesn't judge. Maybe he should, but he doesn't. ★★ Secret Santa Though these gifts won't officially be delivered until the 25th, this post will also feature a thread where you can post up the gifts your character has gotten their Secret Santa recipient. Feel free to start posting these up as soon as this post goes up (we are not going to make you wait) ★★ Your gifts And finally, your gifts! If your character is the kind to get their friends a bunch of things, feel free to use this post to distribute the offerings. Much easier than hitting up a bunch of inboxes! If you would rather distribute your characters' gifts individually in various inboxes, feel free to do so! This post is merely an option for people who'd like to keep things in one central location.

Now with that all out of the way, let us take a moment to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and for those that don't celebrate, just kind of a Cool Weekend.

As mods, we'd like to thank you all for all your effort and joy, for every badge you've submitted, every prom that was ruined, and just all the various crimes committed by our dedicated (and some not so) rockets. A new year approaches, and with it, new opportunities, new plots and CR, but hopefully still and forever, the same amount of fun!

Once more, A Happy Christmas, a delightful Saturday, and a wonderful 2022.

Seriously, 2022, the bar is super low here, don't disappoint us.

Comments

Gifts from Sion - if you've had a noteworthy interaction with him this year you're probably on here!

[dreamsofahero]

Armin

Several things:

- A beautiful, large vase from some artisan in Ecruteak, painted with assorted water-type Pokémon
- Several towels featuring the Johto legendary Pokémon that are so fluffy and the designs so fancy they're almost too nice to use
- A number of books that appear to have been imported from various other regions
- A handwritten letter:

Armin,

I cannot possibly apologize enough, nor sufficiently express my gratitude, for the trouble I put you through and the patience you showed me just a few months ago. If there is anything I can do for you in return, please do not hesitate to ask.

I hope that your gym prosper in the coming year; I've included a few things I thought might be useful or fit in there.

- Sion



Cecil

A few things:

- A set of a very large variety of spices, many of them likely imported from other regions, to use in his baking adventures
- A glass Cresselia figurine
- A handwritten letter:

Cecil,

I appreciate your willingness to speak with me on personal matters over the past few months more than I can say. I still don't know quite what to think on a great number of things, but perhaps Ryner was right, that speaking with someone eases some of the burden.

And while I'm aware that it was none of my own doing, I still regret that you had to go through so much in experiencing that memory of mine, and I hope that you have not been too troubled by it since.

But such troubling topics aside, perhaps sometime you should come visit us at the Collegiate Gym. You are certainly perfectly welcome at any time.

- Sion



Claude

A fancy gift basket with a nice assortment of edible goodies--both sweet and savory--along with a couple bottles of wine selected to pair with the foods.

Also, a handwritten letter:

Claude,

Though we haven't spoken much or at length, I've certainly enjoyed when we did, and would not mind doing so again. But until then, hopefully you will enjoy these. And perhaps next time I will have to buy you a drink.

- Sion

In the blank space at the bottom of the letter there's a small but very accurately and well-drawn Dreepy.



Dimitri

A few bottles of sparkling, nonalcoholic beverages, wrapped up in cozy-looking woven blanket featuring a pattern of stylized Eevees and the evolutions thereof, plus a large package of deluxe Pokémon treats.

There's also a handwritten letter:

Dimitri,

We've already spoken on a number of occasions, yet I find myself looking forward to the next opportunity to do so. You seem to be a very keen and capable person; moreso even than you recognize yourself, if I do not miss my guess. I hope you will have an opportunity to stop by the gym sometime, whether as a challenger or simply to visit. In the mean time, here's something for you and your team to enjoy.

- Sion

In the blank space at the bottom of the letter there's a small but very accurately and well-drawn Dreepy.



Felix

A few things:

- A traditional-style hanging scroll painting featuring Aegislash, from some artisan in Ecruteak
- A somewhat less fancy, but still quite nice two-panel miniature folding screen, featuring Zacian and Zamazenta that Sion specifically commissioned after managing to track down some books imported from the Galar region
- A handwritten letter:

Felix,

I know that no apology can suffice for the manner in which I behaved when you came to visit the gym. Nor will I try to offer any excuse. That you took the time to try to speak with me anyway is something I cannot thank you enough for, either. If there should ever be any way in which I can assist you in the future, you need only ask.

Also, I do still owe you a proper battle, don't I?

- Sion



Jaskier

A pair of books: the first is a collection of various legends, myths, and stories from the continent of Menoris, as collected by Sion and Ryner. Though both of them are credited for contributing, it's probably clear from the consistent writing style that only one actually penned the final draft. There's also a number of illustrations, all finely drawn and quite detailed, if rather lacking in any true artistic sense.

The second book is a brief and self-admittedly incomplete history of the Roland Empire, written by Sion. The writing style is the same as the other book, so it's pretty obvious who did most of the work writing them both. The book covers bits and pieces from the founding of Roland up to a recent uprising, led by one Rahel Miller, that successfully overthrew the old king and placed his commoner-born son Sion Astal on the throne instead. This book also has a few illustrations, mostly things like maps, a drawing of the royal crest, and other such practical things. Poke me directly if you want more details on either book because this post is getting long enough as it is whoops.

Accompanying these is a handwritten letter:

Jaskier,

I do not know whether or not you took offense to any of it, but I feel I must apologize for the manner in which I spoke to some months ago on the topic of a custom from your world. Thinking back on it, I believe I was needlessly rude in my manner, which I regret. If it was of no consequence to you, then I suppose there's no need to dwell on it further, but if I did offend even in a small degree, you may consider this a written apology.

That aside, since you expressed such interest in them, I've enclosed copies of two of the books Ryner and I have put together regarding the world we come from. Apparently, even having a fairly small number printed still results in far more than we need for our purposes. Hopefully they live up to your expectations.

- Sion



Jolyne (and Carly)

Several bottles of various alcoholic beverages--mostly wine, but there's a few others as well--that boast of being a specialty of Ecruteak and the surrounding area. All of them are quite good if you like those kind of drinks.

Additionally, there's a handwritten letter:

Jolyne,

I admit that, with as many new Aurora League gyms opening lately as there have been, I've become rather remiss in properly welcoming everyone. Perhaps this will begin to make up for the oversight. I wish the two of you and your gym success, at any rate.

- Sion

In the blank space at the bottom of the letter there's a small but very accurately and well-drawn Dreepy.



Ryner

After spending some time digging through old, old messages to obtain a few good stills from the videos to use as references, Sion found a painter willing to take a very particular commission. Specifically, doing a photo-quality painting based on those still, which could then be further used to obtain some prints.

Which is why Ryner will find, upon opening the relatively small parcel, a handful of prints in assorted sizes (along with the original painting, naturally) of Ferris.

They may not be actual photographs, but it's the closest Sion could manage, considering it never occurred to any of the three of them to take photos when she was still here in Johto...