the_plateau | Giftmas!

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Giftmas!

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 delivered December the 25th, but we won't make you wait any longer. Your characters may need to a bit more patience, but not for you players! 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. Please try to remember to put the recipients name in the post title, so everybody can easily find what they are getting.

★★ 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, that's fine too! 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.

Finally, as mods we'd like to thank you all for another great and fun year, in which we messed with time, got Arceus kind of upset at us, had a cool battle tournament and chased so many swarming pokemon off our doorsteps with brooms. Now we travel onward to 2023, which will hopefully be a year filled with many more badges, cool new pokemon, friendship and such, and at least one ruined prom.

(you know it is gonna be ruined, lets all be real here)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Remember to put your recipient's name in the title line!

Hermoine will be receiving a scarf and gloves, knitted black and gold, as well as an Egg Cozy in the same colors. (Naeva figured black goes well with everything.)

There is a rather nice Moon Ball-themed brooch inside a silken red bag. Alongside some candies (just regular ones!), and some calming (?) Luck Incense.

There is a book enclosed on how to write properly and how to make your writing legiable. Yes, she does think that's your handwriting. But hey, also a set of nice pens.

Kimmuriel has begrudgingly wrapped a plain cardboard box in wrapping paper with dancing Delibirds, in the Spirit of the Season™. He has, equally begrudgingly, tied it neatly with a ribbon and neatly written the recipient's name on a label.

It contains a bag of high-quality coffee beans, a journal, and several quills sharpened from shed Corviknight feathers as well as a bottle of ink.

Cloud will receive a delivery with a few parcels: a sleeping bag mat for insulation off the ground while traveling, a TM with the move Charm, and a greeting card holding a gift card that can be used at Goldenrod or Celadon's department stores. The card will simply be signed "Your Secret Santa."

Since Angel doesn't really know him from Arceus, she defaults to the thing that everyone loves — cookies! Not just any cookies, though. She's done her network research at least, and ordered ones that are specially made to match his team! There's an Empoleon, a Pigeot, a Glaceon, a Blissey and a Granbull! And while the themed cookies are custom ordered, Angel also includes a handbaked batch of her own chocolate chip cookies!

Since Angel's research seems to show that he's somewhat new, she also sends along a scarf (in colors that match Empoleon!) and earmuffs as well, just to be sure. For that same reason, there's a collection of various battle items. Namely a pack of 10 potions, 5 pokeballs, and a selection of berries!

Finally, a note is also attached!

Hi, Falco!
I was not entirely sure what you might need, so I think I went a bit overboard. If you ever need anything, please do not hesitate to ask!
-Angel

Since Zack seemed pretty excited about the Delibird, Aymeric is going to use that as a jumping off point! Which is why Zack gets a knitted Delibird hat and mittens to match! Wrapped within the mittens is a number of different teas from both Johto and Kanto, as well as a few imported variants from other regions. And if Zack finds himself traveling a lot? No worries at all — Aymeric has included a camp kettle that'll let him enjoy his tea wherever ne needs!

Angel will receive a Choice Scarf! There wasn't much to go on, but a scarf is a good Secret Santa bet, right? He admittedly didn't really think much about the effects of it - he's from the 1980s and calling a scarf "choice" isn't too weird, but in battle it will boost a Pokémon's speed (and in exchange you can only use one move over and over).

It arrives in a little red bag, with a card that just says "Merry Christmas from your Secret Santa Ryan! ଘ(੭˃ᴗ˂)੭"

Edited (changed my mind, he's signing his name :V) 2022-12-23 17:02 (UTC)

Allura will receive a white basket adorned with lavender, blue, and silver ribbons.

Inside she'll find a bag of various cinnamon spiced cookies and floral teas from the markets around Olivine, some dried berries for the Pokémon, a mystery novel starring Mimikyu based on local lore, and if she looks closely...there's a red ribbon tied to the front of the basket, thicker and sturdier than the others. It's a Focus Sash.

A note sits on top. It reads:

Allura,

Looks like I'm your secret Santa, so I wanted to take the opportunity to thank you for all the help you've given me this year. This is all for you and your team to enjoy. Maybe we were supposed to keep this secret, but if you need returns or exchanges:

-Santa Kaiba?

Please let it be known that Ryan’s message left on his secret Santa card was less than helpful! An emoticon wearing sunglasses? What’s Riz supposed to do with that?

Well... This.

Ryan is going to receive a good-sized box. If he shakes it, he’ll hear many things moving inside. Once opened, he’ll find a box full of those styrofoam packing pellets and…. Sunglasses! So many pairs of sunglasses! Because Riz is still Riz, none of the pairs are anything close to risqué, but beyond that, Ryan will find more novelty sunglasses than he could ever need — ones shaped like pineapples, ones with sharpedos on them, ones that look like those pixelated meme sunglasses, neon sparkly flower once and heart-shaped ones, of course.

At the bottom of the box is a picture of Riz wearing a set of ridiculous crab sunglasses, giving a peace sign. The crab sunglasses are not in the box. He kept those.

Doppio is getting a simple black onyx and red jasper bead bracelet and a wooden Nickit ornament Harry got from the Goldenrod Christmas Markets. They are kept inside a small box wrapped in Snom pattern gift wrapping paper and it has a wintery greeting card that has ‘From Your Secret Santa’ written on it.

As far as Louie is concerned, "something cool" has got to be something that can help you get money. Gabi's gift is an Amulet Coin, along with a note:

I'd let a Pokemon who knows payday hold this to really boost your profits. I think this stuff means the local economy must be broken here, but then you might as well be the one breaking it, right?

Your Secret Santa,
Louie Duck

P.S. Hey, if you need help obtaining a Pokemon that knows payday, you can hire me as a breeder! Just saying.

An anonymous gift shows up. It's a blade care kit for Aegislash. The note reads:

These guys need sharpening sometimes. They actually kind of like it.

A small package, containing a classic scarf.

Everyone at least needs to keep warm this time of year. Have a wonderful holiday!

Edited 2022-12-23 17:34 (UTC)

Kimmuriel requested for nothing ridiculous, but unfortunately, Varian has a very skewed idea of what qualifies as ridiculous. He's also been really entranced with flashlights since coming here, and what could be more practical - thus, less ridiculous - than gloves that allow you to use flashlights hands-free? A note is included that simply reads "From, Varian"

Shrike receives a gift bag containing an illustrated field guide to berries and other medicinal and edible plants of the Johto and Kanto regions, a book of local legends of Johto, and a bag of hard candies shaped like different kinds of berries.

There's a very brief note tucked inside the front cover of the book about plants:
I hope you find these useful.
-Vierna Do'Urden

A Goomy themed water bottle to prevent Goomy from drying out (it has a misting spray top for ease of use). A polishing kit for Yamask to care for its mask. And two Luxury balls for them to be kept in for comfort. A scarf for the trainer!

I hope your Pokémon find these useful. 😊 Please keep warm during this cold season! ☃ Happy Christmas. 🎄

[Posted on behalf of Gabi Braun]

Gabi does not know the difference between donkeys and horses, so with the horned donkeys and the rainbow she gets Luisa a....

Large Galarian Ponyta plush.

...Except it's not actually a plush. It's got a bag of sand in it's body, it's a weighted doorstop.

Luckily Jarlaxle has met Solus/Emet in passing and so has an idea of his size and general color preferences. To this end he sends the man a heavy black velvet cloak with white (faux???) fur trim on the hood and dark red spidersilk lining inside. It looks like it was handmade, mostly because it was.

There's a note with it that reads: No time to do any embroidery unfortunately—indeed, without these marvelous sewing machines I might not have finished at all—but I dyed the lining myself! The silk is from my Ariados, Orbb. Best wishes, J.

As well as the cloak, there's also three bottles of some very nice wine he found in Olivine.

Harry will receive a neatly wrapped package and a letter.

Inside of the package, he'll a statue of a... why, that's a Niffler! The statue looks like it was carved from dark driftwood with little flecks of seaglass for eyes. The hands are positioned in such a way that you could rest a small object inside, like a watch, maybe. It is hollow inside with a small hidden latch on the bottom to grant access. It looks like one could put small valuables inside or money! In fact, Harry will already find one (1) Amulet coin inside.

The letter that comes with it reads

Hello Harry,

Merry Christmas.

I hope your gift looks at least a little familiar to you. You see, several years ago, a man named Newt Scamander stayed in this world for a while. He taught me a lot about the world you are from and the magical animals within it. I even had the opportunity once to meet some of his incredible animals, including a Niffler.

(A really fascinating little creature, even if he did steal my pen)

Honestly, your world always sounded incredible to me, so I thought you might have wanted a little reminder of it. I hope you'll find many precious things here to fill him up with, and maybe the Amulet Coin can help you with that.

Kind regards,
Armin Arlet

Cloud has no idea who Rei is and her message was...not very helpful, so he defaults to the things he knows are important in the winter, having grown up in the cold, mountainous north: a Swablu hat, a pair of Pikachu gloves, and a matching Pikachu scarf.

There is a note with the package that says:

Winter can be rough, especially if you're traveling a lot, so stay warm.
- Cloud Strife

Narancia will receive 1 Skarmory egg (Egg Moves: Sand Attack, Agility, Wing Attack, Fly, Roost, Air Slash, Aerial Ace) and a model kit airplane that looks similar to Aerosmith, complete with various model paints and brushes.

He can't really knock the guy's drawings because his artistic skills aren't any better.

Sandalphon's gift is simple: a small bag of coffee beans, an Eevee-themed mug and a thermos.

"So you can have some good coffee while you travel -- Your Secret Santa," reads the note that comes with the gift.

Radley has a gift bag for Lucius decorated with bells and holly. Inside is a Falinks ornament and the Rock Tomb TM.

Happy Holidays! I hope these will bring you and your Pokemon cheer.

Radley

Edited 2022-12-23 21:41 (UTC)

Secret Santa gifts

Hermoine Granger

@ Valerie "Val" Trout Castillo

@ Geddoe

Riz Gukgak

Cloud Strife

FALCO GRICE

ZACK FAIR

Angel

Allura

Ryan Akagi

Vinegar Doppio

Gabi Braun

Aymeric

Sion Astal

Kimmuriel Oblodra

Shrike

Marik Ishtar

Luisa

Emet-Selch

Harry Potter

Rei Ayanami

Narancia Ghirga

SANDALPHON

Lucius Modestus