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the_plateau2025-03-08 11:05 pm
indigo_league) wrote in the_plateau2025-03-08 11:05 pm
Entry tags:
March 2025 Contest Info!
It's been some time since the last contest, but hosts Riegfried and Soy are finally back! Through the first half of March, characters will be able to catch video and audio announcements advertising their next contest and encouraging all trainers to enter.
The duo are in particularly fine form this month, and are rotating their outfits and props for every single announcement. There’s only one commonality between all these switches - they’re clearly alternating between matching each other’s looks or having exact opposite vibes. Wonder what the theme could be this time…?
How do contests work in VR?
Once all submissions have been gathered, we will set up a poll, and all players can vote for who they feel is the best in show. Voting will be done similar to Eurovision, in which you can give 12 points to your favorite entry, then 10 points to your second favorite, 9 points to third place, etc etc all the way down to 1 point. Points will be tallied and the person with the highest score wins. As of this contest, the number of winning placements (i.e. whether there's just a single winning team, or if there's a 2nd or 3rd place) will depend on how many entries there are!
In addition: while there will be a secret additional category in this contest, like in previous ones, this time it will be awarded by Judges' Choice! More details on this in the OOC requirements section below.
If you'd like some examples of previous submissions, we encourage you to take a look at our contest tag for previous rounds.
So what's the theme this time around?
What does this mean? Well, most of it's up to you! But there's one important caveat - the entry requirements stipulate that you must team up with a second character to participate, and each character must participate with at least one Pokemon.
"At least one" Pokemon? How many Pokémon can we use in our entry?
If your character would like to borrow Pokemon for the contest, even from the other trainer they're participating with... this would be fine, but they're still expected to be the one preparing the Pokemon they're entering. The borrowed Pokemon should be looking to your character for their cues and coordinating with them for any props/assistance. Riegfried and Soy will be watching carefully!
Any other IC requirements?
Trainers may appear onstage to handle props/decors/backdrops, provide narration, and so on, but the focus should be on the Pokemon!
Any other OOC requirements? What's this Judges' Choice thing?
As for Judges' Choice... this time around, Riegfried and Soy will be personally awarding an additional prize based on a secret criteria. OOC, mods will be picking this entry, and to be eligible, you must link to a thread related to the contest, with at least two comments from each of the players participating (4 comments total). You may edit this link in after you submit, at any point before voting closes - so you have until March 30th!
You can wait until the IC log, or make your own log/do an inbox thread ahead of time; it can be a thread where characters are rehearsing or where one is trying to convince the other to enter, it can be the actual performance, or it can even be characters just hanging out around the contest area. As long as it's related to the contest in some way, it's all fine!
If you aren't throwing your hat in for Judges' Choice, we're not requiring any IC comments for this one! Just the contest submission.
Are there going to be prizes? What can we win?
Where will this contest be held?
What will the timeline be for this contest?
OOCly, we will open contest entries as of this post. You will be able to submit your contest entries in the appropriate comment below, and you will have until
A voting post will go up the following day, and voting will be open until
I have other questions!
Questions
Submissions
You may, however edit in a Judges' Choice thread link until 11:59 PM EST, March 30th.
no subject
Character 1's Pokemon: Daisy the Blue Flower Floette
Character 2: Calliope Macabre
Character 2's Pokemon: Truffles the Shiny Swinub
Moves used: Haze, Fairy Wind, Grassy Terrain, Icicle Crash, Magical Leaf, Freeze-Dry
Judges' Choice thread: Thread
Performance description:
Rui, dressed in an icy blue costume, and Cali in a spring green costume come out from opposite sides of the stage. They call their Pokemon out. Daisy, the blue flower Floette, twirls in the air as she’s released from her ball, and Truffles the shiny Swinub did a cute little bounce.
“Haze!” Cali called out.
A moment later, came Rui’s “Fairy Wind~”
Truffles calls out and releases a cloud of Haze over the stage. It’s immediately blown away by Daisy’s pink, sparkling Fairy Wind. The Swinub looked over to the Floette and cried out angrily. The Floette just shrugged.
“Grassy Terrain~”
“Aaand Icicle Crash!”
Daisy waved her flower in a wide arc, and grass and flowers started growing on the stage, turning it into a Grassy Terrain. Icicles Crashed down on the new terrain immediately, destroying the plants. This time, both Pokemon looked over at each other, before quickly meeting in the middle of the stage. The pair did a well choreographed faux fight as they moved back towards their corners, while the trainers looked on in fake dismay.
“Use Magical Leaf!” Rui called out, his Floette twirling her flower to make leaves with a magical rainbow shine shoot out towards the Swinub.
“Freeze-Dry! Now!” Cali ordered, Truffles sending out a blast of frozen air back.
The moves collided with each other, the leaves freezing in mid air and between the sheen of magic and ice, seemed to shine even brighter as they fell gently between them. The two Pokemon, and their trainers watched the effects of those two moves for a moment, before smiling. The Pokemon joined in the middle once more, this time to dance happily among the falling, frozen leaves.
The Pokemon posed as the trainers bowed to the audience.
no subject
Character 1's Pokemon: Min-un [Minun] & Rumba [Swinub]
Character 2: Min-Gi Park
Character 2's Pokemon: Ry [Plusle]
Moves used: Min-un: Electro Ball, Baton Pass, Thunder
Ry: Baton Pass & Thunder
Rumba: Rock Tomb
Judges' Choice thread: (optional)
Performance description:
ACT 1
The scene opens on two papier-mâché eggs. One is painted with red spots, the other blue. The music is gentle to start with, a soft melody played out by Ryan on his guitar and Min-Gi on his synth. The eggs begin to shake, and it doesn't take long for the shells to break. The red reveals a Plusle, while the blue egg holds a Minun, both dressed to resemble their respective counterpart in their youth. They lock eyes, immediately tumbling out of their shells to play. Soon the two Pokémon start up a game of Electro Ball, tossing back and forth the sphere between them. It doesn't take long for Ry to spot the audience, excitedly drawing Min-un's attention to them. Min-un, who has just created a fresh ball, suddenly looks nervous and clutches the ball close. Ry wants to make a performance of their game, but Min-un squeezes his eyes shut and shakes his head, reestablishing his grip on the ball before all but fleeing to the back of the stage.
The music remains soft, but there's a sadness to it now. Ry is left to perform alone, the stage darkening and his movement muted. In the background a clumsy blur hurries to use the cover of a darker stage to clear the remnants of the eggs before he can be seen.
The stage remains in darkness sans two spotlights; a red one for Ry, a blue one for Min-un. Ry tries to put on a show for the audience, but he can't seem to summon the energy for electric attacks, his attempt at pompoms fizzling out. His dances lack any joy or enthusiasm. Min-un tries to copy in the background, seemingly trying to remain unseen. Individually they make brief disappearances off stage, leaving the other to dance aimlessly on their own. When they each return they are wearing the same jackets as their adult namesakes.
Eventually the two stumble together, their individual spotlights merging and turning purple. The two Pokémon are happy to be reunited, the music hopeful, but when Ry offers his paw he finds himself snubbed. Instead of giving up, a smirk settles on Ry's face. The music becomes ominous as Ry snatches a couple of berries from Min-un. They might not technically be valuable (can't risk the babies actually fighting), but Min-un does a good job of selling the theft, bristling and demanding them back. Ry runs off to the back of the stage, Min-un in hot pursuit. A look is exchanged between the two of them. Ry is smug, while Min-un gives him a warning look and a firm head shake. Ry only takes it as prompting to toss the berries backstage. He dives after them quickly. Min-un sighs, reluctantly following as the stage is plunged into darkness.
ACT 2
The light returns, Min-un sparking as though he's the cause. It's yellow at first, then settles into blue. Both electric-types are shivering. They clutch their jackets close, trying to fend off at least some of the "cold". The music is slow and dreary with lots of wind effects from Min-Gi's synth. Min-un retrieves his berries, and the two bicker as they try to navigate the freezing landscape. Occasionally their arguments escalate to the point where Ry resorts to butting into Min-un who nudges him back to even the score. Not that they need to make things more difficult for themselves. Their fights are frequently interrupted by worsening weather in the form of windy sound effects from the synth.
In spite of their fighting they do manage to make it to the next area. The lighting here is orange, and the music is heavier. Something more reminiscent of rock. The reason for which is not subtle for long. Although the stage is initially empty it doesn't stay that way. The blur from earlier returns, frequent use of Rock Tomb leaving the stage littered with stacks of boulders. The blur hits one of them with a tiny grunt at one point, but quickly moves on. Rumba doesn't leave the stage when he's done, curling up at the base of the largest pile to draw as little attention as possible to himself.
Upon seeing the newly formed rock formations Ry immediately and clearly wants to climb them. He tugs at Min-un's paw, bouncing in place. Min-un shakes his head, scolding him and pulling his paw free. Ry brushes off his concerns, gearing up to jump from rock pile to rock pile. He gets more and more ambitious with his jumps, showing off. It's going well until he turns to stick his tongue out at Min-un, slipping right off the edge of an especially high stack. He finds his grip just in time, but Min-un is nowhere to be seen as he frantically calls out for help. The music is tense, Ry's claws slipping slowly but surely. Rumba, who is directly beneath, is vibrating as he tries and fails to resist peeking up. He's meant to be here as an unseen safety net, but is too worried about Ry actually falling to keep completely still. For a moment it looks like his fears might not be unfounded, then suddenly Min-un is there, pulling his friend to safety.
All is not forgiven, however. Min-un's paw is pulled free of Ry's, and he berates him, still angry. There's a short argument before the two come to an uneasy truce. Even if they don't agree, they do still need to get down from the rocks. They begin a slow descent, Baton Passing to switch places when one becomes stuck and can't find the next foothold. They pause to cheer each other as they pass each other, tiny static pompoms waving excitedly. By the time they reach the bottom they seem genuinely happy, bouncing and hugging each other. Ry points to the audience, wanting to perform to celebrate. Min-un hesitates, but this time agrees. Ry strikes a pose, waiting for Min-un to form Electro Ball so they can demonstrate their game from earlier. Min-un tries to create it, but his nerves get the better of him and as he looks over at the audience it peters out. That's all that's needed to send him running once again.
The lighting dims, changing to become a fractured red and blue. The accompanying music stops completely, leaving the stage in silence. Ry's expression is stormy, tiny sparks of electricity radiating from him as he stomps to the back of the stage to confront the other Pokémon. Min-un is curled up, looking up at Ry with sad eyes as he hears him approach. Ry softens at seeing his distress, helping him up. The two begin to dance at the back of the stage, gently waving the signature electrical pompoms of their species. The lighting remains dim, but the colours merge into a soft, calm purple as the music resumes.
Unfortunately the peace doesn't last for long. As the lighting brightens, both the music and shade of purple change, becoming more foreboding. Although the stage is much better lit the purple is a much darker shade now. It almost appears grey. The two stick together closely, exploring their new surroundings and jumping at each discordant note their trainers play. It doesn't take long for them to start stepping on each other's toes, and soon their frustration with each other returns. The two split again, though almost seem to have forgotten about finding their way out as a fog sets in from a machine off stage. At first it's thin and easy to avoid, but as it becomes thicker it takes over more of the stage and becomes harder to break free from. Ry succeeds. He manages to find the edge, and flops down in relief. Min-un is less lucky. Only a blue glow from his Electro Ball shows where he is, deep in the fog.
Alone outside the thick mist, Ry starts to panic. He runs around the perimeter, desperate to find a place where it's thinner. Alas, he is unsuccessful leaving him with only one option… Baton Pass. Min-un is left blinking, with no sign of Ry to be seen. Now it's Min-un's turn to panic. He cries out for Ry, doggedly inspecting the perimeter until he finds his way back in.
The mist is as thick as ever, both of them now lost to it as the stage is once again plunged into darkness. Could this be the end?
ACT 3
Then, a spark from dark. The entire stage is lit with a powerful Thunder. When the electricity fades the stage is left bathed in purple light, and the Plusle and Minun can be seen in the centre holding hands. A few stray sparks can still be seen coming off each of them, the attack having come from both Pokémon working together.
Ry points at the audience one final time, offering out his paw again. This time Min-un's nod is more eager, eyes fixed on Ry rather than the audience. Both their pompoms are bright and glowing as they treat the audience to one last dance along to an instrumental of Train to Nowhere.