Kei

[color=darkblue][size=1]I apologize to everyone about not being a very good host with this. As a result of everything going on presently on my end, I've not thad the time to devote to this that I originally thought I would. For that reason, I'm going to say that this is officially on hiatus. I don't want it to die, seeing as though a lot of people were really interested when this started and still apparently want to keep going, but since I can't really provide the appropriate amount of guidance, I feel it isn't fair to everyone involved. So, I'll let you guys know when I plan on starting again. Whether or not you will still want to take part at that time is up to you.[/color][/size]

[quote name='Gavin'][SIZE="1"]Guess they'll head for Kisame now, as he's their last link to Akatsuki in the area.[/SIZE][/QUOTE] [color=darkblue][size=1]Assuming that he hasn't taken off already. Kisame had been Itachi's partner for a while, so he probably got a sense of when Itachi bit it. Unless Suigetsu is giving him one hell of a run for his money, he's liable to scamper off on his own and leave the kids behind since there's nothing to tie him to the fight anymore. I do have to say that I'm noticing the slow pace now as well. I mean, I can understand where it would stem from as a writer, but there are some points where slow plot progression can hurt more than it helps. This would be the case in this situation. In my opinion, Kishi is doing this largely so that the reader can get a full picture of what's happening on the most important sides (as obviously, we have not seen what's going on with Suigetsu vs. Kisame). One would assume since he made the announcement that this year will focus primarily on Sasuke that it's not a stall tactic for planning time. But with such slow going and so many things on the cusp of being revealed that fans have wanted to know for months (if not longer), Kishi's setting the bar quite high for himself to deliver satisfactory results. And what with the ways that some of the series' most important/well-liked characters have died in recent chapters, I'm starting to wonder if he can really pull it off.[/color][/size]

[color=darkblue][size=1]Yes, Tobi has always been a bit of a clown in his actions and speech. Madara, on the other hand... Truth be told, I'm more concerned about finding out more about Tobidara. I mean, he's potentially one of the most interesting characters in the series, but we really haven't learned that much about him yet, other than the fact that he's an Uchiha and (of course) he now has a vested interest in Sasuke. I wants a Gaiden chapter too, yo. :/[/color][/size]

[color=darkblue][size=1]I would take anything on Wikipedia with a grain of salt, especially something along the lines of popular information like Naruto stats. People tend to get a little happy and creative with their additions to the page, so it sometimes leads to misinformation (such as Naruto being a "4-Tailed Fox;" Naruto is merely the host for the Kyuubi, or "9-Tailed Fox," at present). As far as being the strongest of the Akatsuki, I would venture to say that he may be up there in terms of relative power-level, but he's not necessarily the strongest, unless he's been holding back some kind of hard all this time. Then again, it is possible with Kishi. However, we have not seen the full extent of the powers of all the Aktasuki, so technically, a debate would be a moot event at this point.[/color][/size]

[color=darkblue][size=1]That was indeed an excellent analysis of the chapter. Thanks for the link, Gavin. In all honesty, I feel that every point the author made was correct. There were many things leading up to Sasuke's eventual defeat. Hate is indeed the only thing that really drove Sasuke to leave Konohagakure. For that, he threw away his relationships and bonds that he felt was holding him back and went down the path he thought would take him where he wanted to go the fastest. However, the only thing that did was create a rift between himself and his village, a place (as the author said) he never really had to leave in the first place. Konohagakure is a village of family. If one member of the village falls, the rest will come for revenge. If someone comes to claim one of them, all will rise to defend. Sasuke forgot that when he got blinded by ambition. He forgot that he wasn't alone. He could have turned to anyone in the village for help, but because of his stubborness and resolve to see Itachi dead for what he's done (allegedly), he ended up making a deal with the Devil and now he's back to square one: Lost, confused and scared just like he was when the clan was killed all those years ago. What can he do now? Just as the author said, he can't go after Madara. He's apparently lost his cursed seal powers, so there's no point even in thinking about taking him on. Really, the only thing I can imaging him doing is traveling alone to think about all that's happen and eventually his feet are going to lead him where he needs to be: Konoha. Not everyone will be waiting for him with open arms, but there will be enough people there happy to see him back for him to start rebuilding his bonds and making up for all those years he spent living in his brother's wake as a lone survivor. Then again, there is also the possibility that Itachi isn't dead. What if he still is living? What will Sasuke do then? Just keep running? And what about Orochimaru? [i]Was[/i] that snake we saw a piece of himself escaping? Does Kabuto have enough of Orochimaru grafted onto him for Orochimaru's psyche to begin to take over, thus giving birth to him again? Will his actual form that was trapped in Totsuka be able to escape now Itachi is dead/incapacitated? There are a lot of angles of this story still left to cover. I can now understand why Kishi said that there will be a primary focus on Sasuke this year. We have to watch as we see who comes out of the woodwork for him and what he decides to do from now on.[/color][/size]

[color=darkblue][size=1]...You know, Gavin, I had that same thought. At this point, I really wouldn't put it past Kishi that that's the actual case. Though when you think about it, if that's the case, wouldn't that only serve to drive Sasuke even more unstable than he already is? I mean, he's dedicated his life defeating and killing his brother. To find out that wasn't the case at all... That'd be enough to bring me to some point of mental crisis. And we've just seen that Sasuke isn't all steel and badassery as he tried to make himself out to be. During the last half of that chapter, we saw the old Sasuke, that scared naïve kid who just doesn't know what to do. That's proof enough that he's not exactly in the best mindset right now. And I have a strong inclination that Itachi has just enough strength to tell Sasuke the truth (providing the Madara theory is true). Next chapter will definitely be good times.[/color][/size]

[color=darkblue][size=1]Morty sighed, both in relief and in anxiety. Help had finally arrived. But the enemy was strong, he knew that. Already, the fresh forces had taken casualties merely attempting a pincer movement to help fortify the base. Still, the new group had taken out some of the more problematic forces, so that was a plus. "I'm glad you're here. We really appreciate the help," he said running a hand through his short hair. "It's been rough." "Yeah, I can see why. It's horrible..." said Colbert. "Yes... But such is war. Anyway, now that we have reinforcements, we may be able to battle them back. We're planning a surprise strike on their supply base, which should force them to at least pull back long enough to get ourselves back in some sort of fighting shape." "What will that include?" "Most of my specialists risking their lives. The ghosts are going to be the primary strike force, but some of our bigger forces are going to need to protect them while they work in case things go wrong." "Hm." "Well, it's the best strategy we've got. I'll be in a conference with the captains planning the operation. You all go conduct the troops and help the injured," Morty said rising. "Good luck."[/color][/size]

[SIZE="1"][color=darkblue][b]Ecruteak City 4-11 1321 hrs[/b] It was a masterpiece, really. The number of troops wiped out in one fell swoop. The devastation he was able to bring upon Ecruteak in only a matter of days. It was beautiful, in its own horribly grotesque way. Bugsy admitted it: he was proud of his work. But he would never say it aloud. He wasn't that kind of person. No, he would keep his thoughts to himself: he found that relations went a lot easier that way when all was said and done. Many times in the past, a slip of the tongue had earned him the ire of more than a few of his comrades, but his quick wit had easily smoothed it over. It was amazing what idiots would believe. But he wasn't so much focused on the thoughts of his fellow Federation Leaders at the moment. He was more concerned about his current objective: the complete destruction of Ecruteak and the capture of Morty. His original mission handed down from the Elite had nothing written about catching the alleged Leader of the Coalition forces, but Bugsy felt compelled to. He turned over the possibility for it many times. Was it because Morty was once his friend and a mentor to him when he was younger, before this horrible war began? Or was it because he needed a trophy, something to show off what he'd done to the quiet little city? No, Bugsy thought with a slight smirk. It was just because he could. He stood over his grid of the battlefield, a perfect representation of what was left of Ecruteak. Every station was marked with little figures representing his forces. They had already taken over 90% of the city. The only things left now were the Towers and the Gym itself. The Towers were to be left untouched by orders: Bugsy figured they would likely be searched for clues as to where the new rebel headquarters had been established after the siege was complete. But taking the Gym was proving to be somewhat of a challenge. The small area in comparison to the city itself was far more easy to defend. Morty apparently had enough troops in reserve to have all possible entryways covered. His troops had been able to thin his ranks slightly, but those that were left were skilled. Spiritombs and Mismagi lined the main and rear entrances, formidable new Pokémon imported from the Sinnoh region that Bugsy had little experience going up against. They battled hard and had managed to injure quite a few of Busgy's men, but none had yet to die. Bugsy attributed that to Morty's bleeding heart tactic of not killing enemies. But that wasn't important. Bugsy needed a plan, the sooner the better. His desire to see Morty in shackles was growing stronger by the day. [CENTER]***[/CENTER] Morty looked out over the expanse of the small battlefield that had been created in front of the Gym through one of the small windows in front. Pokémon corpses were strewn about everywhere: it had been a vicious battle. Morty only counted himself lucky that troops sent to the Sinnoh region had been able to send back these new Pokémon. Without them, the battle would have been lost a long time ago. Haunter came through the wall from the battlefield looking the worse for wear, but still able to float around. He looked back somewhat mournfully at the battlefield, knowing that while he would gain some new brothers and sisters soon, had hoped it wouldn't have been quite that many. "It's rough out there, Morty. Most of us are dropping like flies. Even with those new guys, I don't know how much longer we can hold out." "Do you honestly think I don't know that?!" Haunter looked slightly taken aback at the inflection in Morty's voice. In most of the time they've spent together, Morty had never really raised his voice at him. He knew that it was primarily from the stress of the situation, but still... "Look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap," Morty said, a look of sincere regret in his eyes. "But I do realize the position we're in. The enemy is strong. But we have to have faith that help will come." "What if they don't?" "...Then we fight with honor to the grave." A large crash and the sound of shattering glass next to the both of them sent them scrambling for cover. Fully expecting a Voltorb bomb to greet them, Morty was shocked to see a bloodied Wingull picking itself up off the floor. "G... Get this window boarded up, ASAP!" Morty yelled. Back-up troops scrambled to comply as Morty crawled closer to the bird, still somewhat confused. "Is this thing crazy?! It could have killed itself coming through a window like that!" Haunter said, attempting to poke at the tiny feathered mess. It attempted to peck back, but it only led to a silly-looking match between the two. "Would you both cut that out!" Morty finally said, frustrated at the show that would be amusing in any other circumstance. Both Pokémon immediately stopped and the Wingull looked as though it had just recognized Morty's existence. Staring at him as if to check over something in its mind, it casually hopped over to Morty and spat something at his feet. It then hopped around him, ate a small Berry it had tied around its neck that seemingly staunched the bleeding, took wing and sped off the way it had come, startling the trainers that had started repairing the window. "That was...odd..." Haunter said, looking after the strange bird. "Yes..." Morty picked up the item that the bird had dropped: An ocean-print mail. A small mile played over his face. Only one person would communicate using something so cutesy. "Misty." Morty quickly ripped open the note and poured over its content, a serious look coming over his face as he read. Haunter tried to get into a good position to read for himself, but the manner in which Morty held it made it somewhat impossible. "Well? What's it say?" He turned to his friend with a look of hope and newfound fire. "Help is on the way."[/color][/SIZE]

[color=darkblue][size=1]To be honest, I would like more Hinata development. I was happy when we actually got to see her come into her own a little more (though that was primarily during the epic-length filler arc in the anime). Honestly, I can see Hinata eventually becoming the head of the clan with Neji as her second. We've seen her grow over the course of the story somewhat relative to Naruto's. As long as he keeps developing, so will she. Though with the way things are going now, that won't be for a while... As far as characters go, I'm still quite inclined toward Naruto myself. There's just something about his drive and attitude that draws me. But that's from the main characters. As far as secondary characters go, Iruka wins forever. The way he grew and fit into Naruto's life like a father figure has always touched a soft spot with me. He's also pretty amazing as a shinobi, so he's definitely got me in his corner, heh.[/color][/size]

[color=darkblue][size=1]I'm personally a fan of character-driven and collaborated RPGs. I realize that's a mesh of two worlds, but it can be done. I think there was lot of that going on in my old Sonic RPG. It just creates a great atmosphere that gives everyone an amazing sense of accomplishment and is a lot of fun. That's not to say that I don't like a free-flowing environment, though. It does have its merits and it lets people be a bit more creative, since they don't have to adhere to exactly what everyone else is doing. (It can be more interesting to see what people do with that in some cases, too.) So, I suppose that as long as what everyone does makes sense, I can enjoy myself RPing (though it's been quite a while since I've been in/hosted one, excluding my current one). ^^;[/color][/size]

[color=darkblue][size=1]Welcome to OB, Samedi. It's nice of you to join us. I notice that you do have some spoilers in your post for this series. I think you might want to use some spoiler tags to cover those up, since we usually encourage it for most threads (the Naruto thread is an exception, as a no-spoiler format is preferrable in that situation). If you're unfamiliar on how to use spoiler tags, please look at the following example: [ spoiler] *text goes here* { /spoiler] (Be sure to take out the spaces in the tags!) If you need help, let me know and I'll do it for you. Other than that... There are some grammar issues throughout, but what you've got here is readable. Work on it a little more. :)[/color][/size]

[color=darkblue][size=1][CENTER][B]Welcome to the Rebellion.[/B][/CENTER] This thread is the location for all questions regarding The Great Rebellion. You'll also need to come here for updates in the story, mainly status of the world. They'll all be organized here so you won't have to go slothing through the thread trying to figure out what's happening. Presently, the RPG is in free-for-all format. There is really no need for an introductory post, so please feel free to dive in once you get an idea for what you want to do. For everyone's convenience, here is a rundown of the current state of the Kanto and Johto Regions (this area will be updated as the RPG continues): [CENTER][B] KANTO[/B][/CENTER] [B]Pallet Town:[/B] Presently a completely civilian town, heavily allied toward the Coalition. A known safe haven for all Coalition forces. Heavy patrols by Coalition forces have stopped all attempts by the Federation to destroy the town. [B]Pewter City: [/B]Currently not suffering from casualties. Pokémon Research Lab in Pewter Museum is fully operational. [I]Diglett's Cave:[/I] Currently sealed off by Coalition forces for unknown purposes. [B]Viridian City: [/B]Presently uninhabited due to unstrategic advantage on both sides. All civilians were ordered to clear out by the former leader of the Viridian Gym, Blue, before his departure to look for Red. His whereabouts are currently unknown. [B]Cerulean City: [/B]Currently not suffering from casualties. Construction of a medical hospital in the city is currently in development. [B]Vermillion City: [/B]Presently recovering from a small air strike on the port three days ago. Heavy damage was suffered on the main pier, meaning supplies have to be brought in by lifeboat while boats are anchored slightly out to sea. Approximately 150 troops are working full-time to repair the damage. Repairs are presently 52% complete. [B]Lavender Town: [/B]Neutral Zone. [B]Celadon City:[/B] Presently not suffering from damage. [B] Saffron City:[/B] Presently not suffering from damage. All Silph Co. operations are continuing on schedule. [B]Fuschia City: [/B]Destroyed in an all-out assault approximately one year ago by Federation Leaders Faulkner and Surge. The former leader of the Fuschia Gym, Janine, was confirmed dead at the site. Constant Federation patrols of the site have prevented re-establishment of the site by the Coalition. [B]Cinnabar Island:[/B] Pokémon Research Lab currently recovering from sabotage by Coalition forces. All research data was corrupted and is presently trying to be restored via back-up. Restoration process is currently 21% complete. [B][CENTER]JOHTO[/CENTER][/B] [B]New Bark Town: [/B]Presently a completely civilian town, slightly allied toward the Coalition. [B]Violet City: [/B]Presently not suffering from any casualties or damage. [B]Azalea Town:[/B] Presently not suffering from any casualties or damage. A new group of recruits is set to graduate from the Azalea Academy in two weeks. [B]Goldenrod City:[/B] Presently occupied by Federation forces. The whereabouts of the Goldenrod Gym Leader, Whitney, are unknown. All programming from the Goldenrod Radio Station is running under approval-basis and is heavily geared toward Federation recruitment. Three weeks ago, a raid was launched on the Radio Tower, but was thwarted by Federation forces. It is believed that Coalition forces were responsible for the attack, but all knowledge of the attack has been denied from Coalition officials. [B]Ecruteak City: [/B]Presently suffering from heavy casualties and damage from a full-frontal assault from Bugsy. Almost 75% of the city has been destroyed thus far. One of the few remaining buildings includes the Gym, where Morty is currently holding position and waiting for back-up. [B] Olivine City: [/B]Presently not suffering from damage or casualties. [B]Cianwood City: [/B]Presently not suffering from damage or casualties. [B]Mahogany Town:[/B] Status unknown. [B]Blackthorn City:[/B] Presently not suffering from damage or casualties. [B][CENTER]----[/CENTER][/B] That's that. For those of you that are under a commander, you will receive missions in the coming days via PM. Should you have questions, feel free to ask. A few of you have already asked when the RPG itself is starting. The scheduled launch date is either [b]tomorrow, Wednesday[/b] or [b]early Thursday.[/b] It's really not that easy to put something like this together by yourself, heh. If anyone has any general questions, please post them in this thread or hit me up through PM/IM. Have fun, everyone.[/color][/size]

[color=darkblue][size=1]With his "Life Hack" no jutsu powers, you really can't say that you didn't see it coming eventually. I knew from the start that Sasuke was going to be someone that would eventually be powerful beyond belief, but I didn't think Kishi would take it that far. I'm also sure that Kishi is in some ways tailoring things toward the fans, as well as himself. Sasuke's got plenty of drones in his fanperson army, so it's likely there'd be a revolt if something happened to him outside of getting somewhat injured. Like Gavin, I'm really more interested in seeing Naruto's powers develop more. I was so happy to see Naruto find new uses for his Kage Bunshin way back before all this retconning and crap started happening. I want to go back to that. D:[/color][/size]

[color=darkblue][size=1]Two words: LOGIC ERROR. Anyway, what may have happened was that Sasuke's actually been in Stage 2 all this time. I believe in one string of events, which may or may not have been what really happened, he actually did go Stage 2, therefore, Itachi may have then been able to put him in an master-level genjutsu and thus we get where we are currently, as confusing as that sounds. Pretty off-the-wall (like this entire friggin' fight), but that's all I got.[/color][/size]

[color=darkblue][size=1]391: All hail the Brothers Uchiha, Lords of all things retcon and godmodding. Seriously, as if it weren't enough that Sasuke can now apparently control lightning (REAL LIGHTNING!), Itachi actually BLOCKED IT. And isn't blind in one eye to boot! This has really gone past the level of ridiculous and created its own layer of craziness. I honestly don't know what else to say.[/color][/size]

[color=darkblue][size=1]It's not that he's incapable, he's probably just not good at it. In order for one to be a genjutsu user, one must have the capabilities to keep a firm head in battle and plan several moves ahead. Analytical skills are also a large part of a genjutsu user's necessary repetoire. As you may have noticed, these are all Naruto's weak points. His nickname isn't "Konoha's No. 1 Noisy Ninja" for nothing, lol. While it would be interesting to see him develop those skills, it is highly unlikely due to Naruto's inherent fighting style. He's very much an in-your-face pressure fighter as opposed to a "Make sure you're not getting in over your head" fighter as other characters are (or were at one point portrayed to be). So, in short, I think it ain't happenin', lol. However, I am convinced that Kakashi will be coming back into Naruto's training regime. There was a lot of time lost between he and Naruto when he was training Sasuke. And being that Kakashi is the Copy Ninja, there's likely some Wind-based jutsu he can teach the kid that he can use fairly well.[/color][/size]

[color=darkblue][size=1]Like most, I'm getting pretty tired of Sasuke and his Godmodding powers. He's breaking all the conventions that have been set up for the past...five years, I think Naruto's been running? I am not a happy kitty. I do admit, the artwork is stellar (from both a fan and artist's perspective), but this is starting to get beyond ridiculous. I'm really hoping that it is the case that this again is not actually the real Itachi, but some advanced bunshin or body-snatch technique that Itachi is using. Otherwise.... Sheesh. And a full year of Sasuke? Jesus. Not gonna lie, when I first started reading Naruto, I would have been thrilled at the prospect of such things. Now I'm really hoping that Kishi focuses more on Kakashi than Sasuke, just because of all that's happened. And Kakashi kicks seven types of butt and he hasn't gotten any freaking page space lately. D:[/color][/size]

[color=darkblue][size=1]As I've said before in the opening post, it is not required to post Pokémon levels. However, you should keep the levels in mind for techniques that your Pokémon know. Please use [url=http://www.serebii.net/pokedex-rs/]this site[/url] to determine what moves your Pokémon know (and thus, their corresponding level). Also, I will again state that the use of Legendary Pokémon is [b][i]prohibited[/b][/i] under any circumstance. In this universe, no Trainer, Leader or any other person has come across those Pokémon. They are figures of legend at this point in time and nothing more. All potential players that have listed Legendaries in their roster are kindly asked to replace them.[/color][/size]

[color=darkblue][size=1]Morty looked over the expanse of his hometown, or rather, what remained of it. The coalition of Leaders that had sided with the corrupted Elite had taken up a campaign of absolute devastation against those bold enough to express their differentiating opinions openly, and Morty, having been the loudest of them, was the easiest target. He watched now as the latest legion of trainers marched on the decimated walls of the city: a clean-up battalion to sweep the town as the main front made ready to launch a full assault on his position. "What are we going to do, Morty? It won't be long now before he decides to take the base." He looked at Haunter, one of the first Pokémon he had ever befriended. They had had many battles together in the past and seen many victories, but now, the both of them held doubts about their immediate futures. The siege they were currently in had been going on for the better part of a week. Both morale and troops were low, and the arrival of this new force was doing little to help them. Despite the odds that they faced, Morty couldn't help but laugh. "I really don't see anything funny about this. We're in a bad way here," Haunter said, his overly large hands placed not so squarely on his nonexistent hips. "There's a very real chance that we won't survive this." He let the chuckle faded gradually as he continued watching as Beedrills and Scizors checked every possible outlet for rebel soldiers, their owners not far behind. A seemingly younger trainer bolted from behind a building, spooked by their approach. Then he stopped suddenly. Too suddenly. Morty couldn't hear the screams of fear as the two Ariados that had spun the invisible web closed in on their latest catch—something he found himself glad of. "Forgive me. I was just thinking about how it was dear little Bugsy from Azaela Town that orchestrated all this. He's come a long way from the kid I used to know." "Well, there's a reason they call him a prodigy. He was at an obvious disadvantage when he came here and now look at us. Forced to hole up with our tails between our legs and prayers that our message for back-up got out." Morty sighed heavily, the truth of Haunter's words forcing him to consider the fact that their current situation may indeed be the end. They had been at the forefront of the rebellion for the past two years and for all that to be coming to a close now... "They'll come. I know they will. We just have to hold out until then." Morty turned on his heel, making for the doorway leading downstairs. He would fight with the other 75 or so troops that had survived the onslaught so far. He knew that the fight would be hard and bloody, but he had to have faith that help would arrive. "Ho-oh protect us," he whispered as he heard the first sounds of battle erupt in front of him. [CENTER]***[/CENTER] The nations of Kanto and Johto are embroiled in war. Both are ruled by the Federation, a collection of the most powerful and influential Pokémon trainers in their small part of the world. Since its inception, the Champion of the region, along with the Elite, have ruled over the area, creating a fairly stable and prosperous government. However, since the disappearance of the current Champion, Red, the Elite have taken it upon themselves to take complete control of the Federation, resulting in a twisted take on a once honorable institution. In partnership with the more tyrannous members of the regional Leaders, they have established an iron rule over the countries, kept in place through fear and harsh capital punishment against those that would speak out against them. But there are those that have decided to take a stand. Other Leaders in Kanto and Johto, outraged by what the Elite and their fellow Leaders have done, have formed a coalition in an attempt to overthrow the Elite. With their own troops of trainers, they now attempt to set their world right with what has been dubbed The Great Rebellion. [center]----[/center] In this RPG, you will play as a trainer in one of the Leader armies. You may choose whether you wish to play on the side of the Federation or the Coalition. You may also choose your rank within your chosen army, but you must explain how you attained it in your sign-up (see sheet for explanation). To help you in choosing who you wish to side with, here is a brief rundown of the Leaders: [CENTER][B]The Federation[/B][/CENTER] [B]Name:[/B] Lt. Surge [B]Base of Operations: [/B]Vermillion City, Kanto [B]Preferred Type: [/B]Electric [B]Signature Pokémon: [/B]Raichu Lt. Surge was one of the first to side with the Federation when the Elite took over the government. He has gone on record as stating that he believes the way of the Elite is a far better way to rule, especially since the disappearance of the Champion four years ago. Never afraid to take on an opponent, his army excels in both offensive and defensive combat and he has been deemed to be one of the best generals in the Federation by many. His base city, Vermillion, is home to the port where supplies for most of the troops in the Kanto region are received from other areas of the world, namely The Orange Archipelago. [B]Name:[/B] Sabrina [B]Base of Operations:[/B] Saffron City, Kanto [B]Preferred Type:[/B] Psychic [B]Signature Pokémon:[/B] Alakazam Sabrina is one of the more mysterious members of the Federation's forces. Never speaking unless she deems it absolutely necessary, she and her troops have never actually seen true combat. This is because she and her troops have erected a barrier around Saffron City, only weakened temporarily in areas to receive deliveries or accept soldiers that have been reassigned to the city. Saffron is home to Silph Co., famed for creating the Master Ball, among other items, that trainers use on an everyday basis. The company is currently backing the Federation both technologically and financially and provides them with most of their healing items and other necessities for troops in other cities. Saffron also serves as a base for technological research for Pokémon enhancement. [B]Name:[/B] Blaine [B]Base of Operations: [/B]Cinnabar Island, Kanto [B]Preferred Type:[/B] Fire [B]Signature Pokémon: [/B]Magmar Blaine is one of the more...outspoken members of the Federation's forces. Some have even dared to call him insane. He is always the first to offer a raze on a city that has shown disloyalty to the Federation. His troops are known to possess the same lust for battle and fire, earning them the nickname of "The Mad Bombers" around the regions. Cinnabar Island serves as a back-up laboratory and research facility to Saffron City on the main continent. They specialize in fossil reanimation and Pokémon enhancement. [B]Name: [/B]Falkner [B]Base of Operations: [/B]Violet City, Johto [B]Preferred Type:[/B] Flying [B]Signature Pokémon: [/B]Pidgeot Falkner has been described as one of the more cruel members of the Federation, seemingly taking great pleasure in the destruction of cities and individuals that have been named as threats. As the Federation's lone aerial unit, his is also one of the most feared, as there are few people that can stand against him. However, he has also been known to have one of the bigger egos in the Federation, gaining him more than a bit of enmity among the other Federation Leaders. Violet City does not presently house any major operation base. [B]Name: [/B]Bugsy [B]Base of Operations: [/B]Azaela Town, Johto [B]Preferred Type:[/B] Bug [B]Signature Pokémon:[/B] Ariados Bugsy is one of the more prominent members of the Federation and also one of the newest. Known as the "Prodigal Tactician," his renown grows daily for bringing in victory after victory for the Federation. Despite his growing fame, he is also known for being one of the more humble Leaders and one of the few that shows mercy during his battles…by taking prisoners. Azaela Town hosts the main training facility for Federation forces. The base currently hosts 7,500 troops-in-training. [B]Name:[/B] Jasmine [B]Base of Operations:[/B] Olivine City, Johto [B]Preferred Type:[/B] Steel [B]Signature Pokémon:[/B] Steelix Among the troops of the Federation, Jasmine has long been in contention with Blaine for the title of most insane. Known for being completely demure one moment and savagely violent the next, most of Jasmine's troops live in the fear of not knowing whether they'll be killed in battle or during one of her rages. She has rarely seen battle, but the fights she has been part of have seen heavy casualties on both sides. Olivine City hosts Olivine Port, the intake source for supplies for troops in the Johto Region from outside areas, namely the Hoenn Region. [B]Name:[/B] Chuck [B]Base of Operations:[/B] Cianwood City, Johto [B]Preferred Type: [/B]Fighting [B]Signature Pokémon: [/B]Poliwrath Many of Chuck's followers would look to Chuck as someone to be admired. The rest, along with all other members of the Federation, would look at him as he really is: a liability. The few occasions where Chuck has seen battle have been fiascoes at best. Despite this, Chuck considers himself a fine leader and has an open "rivalry" with Vermillion's Surge. Cianwood City does not presently house any major operations base. [B][CENTER]The Coalition[/CENTER][/B] [B]Name: [/B]Flint [B]Base of Operations: [/B]Pewter City, Kanto [B]Preferred Type:[/B] Rock [B]Signature Pokémon:[/B] Golem Flint, as one of the older members of the Coalition, often serves in the position of adviser for the group. He has proven himself to be quite formidable in battle and has shown a steadfast resolve to defeat the Federation, odds be damned. Pewter City currently hosts the Pewter City War Museum, which houses the Wall of Heroes, an obsidian wall where the names of those Coalition soldiers that have died in battle are carved for remembrance. It also hosts a small laboratory specializing in fossil excavation and revival. [B]Name: [/B]Misty [B]Base of Operations:[/B] Cerulean City, Kanto [B]Preferred Type:[/B] Water [B]Signature Pokémon:[/B] Starmie Misty's reputation doesn't come from her victories on the battlefield: it mostly stems from her time as a stage performer with her sisters, better known as The Waterflowers. However, she is still quite the force to be reckoned with, as many who have underestimated her have found out first hand. She acts as a major financial backer to the Coalition. Cerulean City does not presently house any major operations base. [B]Name: [/B]Morty [B]Base of Operations: [/B]Ecruteak City, Johto [B]Preferred Type:[/B] Ghost [B]Signature Pokémon:[/B] Haunter Morty is the most forefront member of the Coalition, overseeing the various operations from his base in Ecruteak. Having a strong sense of justice, he was the first to openly stand against the Federation when they announced their takeover of the government and, thusly, was the first to have a target placed on his back. Despite the brutal onslaughts his city has faced, Morty's steadfast resolve has enabled him to survive all of them, though his personal numbers have dwindled heavily as a result. He is currently under siege by Azaela's Bugsy and is waiting for reinforcements. Ecruteak is the home of the Tri-Towers: the Burned Tower, the Tin Tower and the Sprout Tower, all of which functioned together as the home base of the Coalition until two years ago, when the base was secretly moved to an undisclosed location. It currently houses no major operations base. [B]Name: [/B]Claire [B]Base of Operations: [/B]Blackthorn City, Johto [B]Preferred Type: [/B]Dragon [B]Signature Pokémon: [/B]Kingdra Claire is the leader of the lone aerial/tactical strike unit of the Coalition, and, it consisting mainly of Dragons and Dragon-subtypes, boasts the most attack power. She has a take no prisoners attitude and settles for nothing less than complete achievement of her missions. She is steadfast to the cause of the Coalition, though some have said there are ulterior motives behind this. Blackthorn City currently houses the main training facilities of the Coalition, due to its naturally protected positions in the mountains of Johto. Presently, there are 5,000 Coalition troops-in-training at the city. [B][CENTER]Neutral Parties[/CENTER][/B] [B]Name: [/B]Erika [B]Location: [/B]Celadon City, Kanto [B]Preferred Type:[/B] Grass [B]Signature Pokémon: [/B]Vileplume Celadon City's Erika was the first Leader to take a stance of neutrality once the Federation initiated their plans to take over the government. She has gone on record as stating that Celadon will stay a neutral zone and will not take part in the war. She has, however, allowed Coalition forces to use the city as an R&R area for injured and vacationing troops. Celadon City is home to the world-famous Celadon Department Store and the Game Corner. Both of these are well-visited by troops and civilians alike for obvious reasons. [B]Name: [/B]Pryce [B]Base of Operations:[/B] Mahogany Town, Johto [B]Preferred Type:[/B] Ice [B]Signature Pokémon:[/B] Piloswine Pryce is the lone Leader in Johto that has not taken a side in the battle. He has given no reason for his stationary stance, but has consistently refused advances by both sides to recruit him. He has made it very clear that any troops caught wandering in Mahogany Town for any reason will be expelled with prejudice. Mahogany Town hosts no major landmark of note. [CENTER]---[/CENTER] Please use the following sheet for sign-ups. [B]Name: Age: Gender: Description: Faction: Commander: Biography:[/B] (Please include rank and explanation of rank acquisition if higher than Private) [B]List of Service Pokémon:[/B] That should be all. There will be a Backstage thread posted shortly after sign-ups have closed for all questions and updates. Feel free to PM until then. Have fun and see you on the battlefield. [b]Note:[/b] It is not required for people to post levels with their Pokémon, but it is good to keep in mind to determine known moves. Please use [url=http://www.serebii.net/pokedex-rs/]this site[/url] for determination of level and moveset (though moveset also need not be posted). Additionally, for the purposes of this RPG, the use of Legendary Pokémon is prohibited, as they are figures of mythology and have not been encountered in the world as of yet.[/color][/size]

[color=darkblue][size=1]Indeed, if you're only 11-13 hours in, you really haven't gotten into the fun stuff yet. Then again, as a hardcore ToS fan (being someone who has replayed the game eight times and gotten to her party average to Lv. 164), I can't really say my opinion of where the fun starts is not biased, heh. I agree with Aceburner that some one the more humourous moments in the game come from the Z-Skits, but there are a lot of funny things that happen later on. The plot may seem a bit convoluted when you eventually get to the end, but it really is a solid game, though it is lacking in a few departments (namely voice-acting, with the obvious exceptions of Tara Strong and Crispin Freeman). EDIT: On the subject of Kratos, he is one of the slower swordsmen in the game, however, he boasts slightly more power (arguably) than certain other characters met later in the game. You'll be able to make the comparison for yourself eventually.[/color][/size]

[color=darkblue][size=1]I'm pretty sure that if Pein didn't use the whole six-way view technique, Itachi would likely be able to drop him. However, since Pein has those eyes of his and that technique, it's pretty damn hard to get him pinned down in any sort of genjutsu well, as we saw in his fight against Jiraiya (Powers That Be rest his soul). Should he be able to aquire the power he wants and gain even more from Madara (or his embodiment, however you want to view it), it's likely that there would be a throwdown between the two where Pein gets the short end of the stick. Anyway, what I'm wondering about now is just how much Sasuke was able to train mentally now. Genjutsu is all about the mind and we've already seen that Itachi is one of the foremost genjutsu masters in the Naruto world. However, Sasuke was able to beat his second-strongest technique. Should things go as predicted (not saying they will, since it's Kishi), he'll be able to beat his strongest. When all's said and done, one could be able to say that Sasuke is one of the strongest genjustu users in the world. But you also have to take into account that Itachi is going blind and that might have weakened what he's able to do. My question is this: Where does Sasuke actually stand and how did he get that way? Other than some things at the very beginning of the time skip, we've never seen Sasuke's training over those two and a half years. Anything could have happened, but I'm starting to wonder what exactly went down during that time. Anyone else feel this way?[/color][/size]

[color=darkblue][size=1]DAMN YOU, KISHI. I was really not expecting that whole thing to have taken place in a Tsukuyomi. Seriously. I was also not expecting Sasuke to be able to break out of it. Interesting things are happening. We also get to see Amaterasu from Itachi for the first time next week. All I can say is finally. That is all until I can get over the slight mindtrip.[/color][/size]

[color=darkblue][size=1]I find myself agreeing with TC on this one in some regard. The fact that a lot of people's styles reflect their teacher so heavily is likely due to teaching method. However, you do have to take into account that each of those students could have just as easily taken what they learned and went their own path with it. Sakura is a fairly good example of a variant on Tsunade's style: she's monstrously powerful, but she still incorporates a lot of herself into her moves. True, we haven't seen her fight a lot since the Sasori battle and she had Chiyo's help then, but you get my meaning. With that said, Sasuke is an odd case. He's taken a lot from the teachers he's had in the past and their moves are all pretty staple in his fights. However, we have seen a few new techiniques out of him in a few ways (the Chidori variant comes to mind). One also has to think that he has essentially created his own style out of all the ones he's learned. I'm sure not many people can combine taijutsu, ninjutsu and genjutsu as well as he can. Most people specialize in one (as we've seen in various characters already), so one can argue that he isn't being all that stale in that regard. You also have to consider the fact that Orochimaru was probably always on him drilling his techniques into his body so the muscle memory would be there when he took over. Unfortunately for Snakes, Sasuke had his own plans. Such is life. That said, he likely didn't have that much time to himself to develop new jutsu over those two years, between drills and setting up Orochimaru's incapcitation. I suppose this was a whole "lay off Sasuke" thing, but I really didn't intend it to be. I'm pretty on the fence about him now, heh.[/color][/size]

[color=darkblue][size=1]So. 'Bout that Uchiha fight. Obviously, either one of two things happened: Itachi got Sasuke or vice-versa. There could also be the off chance that someone else came in unexpectedly, since with Kishimoto, you never really know what's going to turn up next. ¬_¬ I suppose it's the sign of a good writer, but damn if it isn't annoying sometimes. Anyway, the logical portion of my brain is telling me that Itachi managed to get him, what with the evidence we saw briefly presented prior to the whole assumed eye-jacking. However, the irrational Kisihi sector of my brain is telling me that considering the fact that Sasuke's pretty much on the cusp of becoming a genjutsu master, I wouldn't be surprised if that's not the true case. I suppose it will have to pan out next week somehow, though I'm really wondering how crazy the resolution is going to turn out. (By the way, did anyone else get the sound of King of Fighter's Kim going "ATATATATAH!" during the shuriken battle in their heads, or was that just me?)[/color][/size]

[color=darkblue][size=1]Feels a bit weird posting in the Arcade... Oh, well. A gamer does what a gamer must to socialize, lol. [b]Pokémon Diamond FC:[/b] Kei - 2105 7808 7578 [b]World of Warcraft[/b] [b]Character:[/b] Xelhania [b]Faction:[/b] Alliance [b]Race:[/b] Draenei [b]Class:[/b] Hunter [b]Server:[/b] Sen'Jin[/color][/size]