Round 2
This prompt is for those who wish to participate in our Spectator Tournament that runs adjacent to the central OCT! Remember you can't compete in both tournaments at the same time (those knocked out of the central tournament can join in on spectator prompts, though).
Prompt - “Twinkle Trove”
Early in the morning, before Merriweather’s announcement of round two - to the surprise of anyone conscious to see him - the blue-scarfed Espurr was already wide awake. He sat atop the counter of Gran’s kitchen, slurping his Chesto juice melancholically.
“What’s with the thousand-yard stare, Blue?” asked the Granbull as he prepared Nomel berries for the small feline’s breakfast. “Even further than usual, heh. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were lookin’ a pinch scared! Afraid o’ heights, are ya?”
Espurr shook his head.
Gran plated up Espurr’s breakfast - mashed sour berries, garnished with Belue leaves and accompanied by a tiny spoon. “Hm? No? Well, there’s gotta be somethin’ on your mind!”
“It’s not heights,” Espurr said, ignoring the spoon as he lifted the berry-mush directly into his open mouth with Psychic. He chewed for a moment, then continued - “just… Ya know. I heard Merri ‘n’ Hoopa talking about round three.”
“Ah. I see,” said the Granbull, “call me a Zigzagoon, I’m Pickin’ Up what yer puttin’ down! Heh. It’ll all be fine, though, I promise. You ‘n’ her are trained professionals, just like the rest of us. Nothin’ we can’t handle.” He patted the tiny Pokémon, ruffling the scruffy tuft on his head.
“Yeah…” Espurr pondered as he ate his berries, unbothered by the blindingly sour flavour. “Don’t tell the others, okay? I don’t want– YIP!”
Espurr dropped his berries in shock, Psychic redirecting to twist his little spoon's handle, as Hoopa’s pink ponytail swung down from behind Gran - seemingly out of nowhere. Its body soon followed, face sporting an unreadable grin in Espurr’s direction.
“Oh, Rattatas,” he breathed.
“HOOPA! There’s no good in eavesdroppin’! You’d better not go tellin’…” Gran trailed off as Hoopa opened a Hyperspace Hole to an unfamiliar dimension, gesturing for the others to look inside.
Espurr squinted as he looked at the placid coastline beyond, backed by a silhouette of jungle trees and a gorgeous mauve sunset. “What’s that glowy stuff..? Oh.”
After finishing his breakfast, Espurr (accompanied by Gran and Hoopa) slinked around Base Camp to find any willing spectators to go on a noble mission for him during round two.
“Could you head on through Hoopa’s portal there and find the brightest glowy thing you can?” he asked in a whisper - “they’ll be back for you after round two ends - it’ll be quick.”
“Brightest glowy thing wins a prize - choice of tonight’s menu for the whole camp!” boomed Gran.
“Shh!”
Spectators who are gathered while Round 2 of the Hyperspace Tournament occurs must pass through a portal to Signal Cove and seek out the brightest glowing object they can find. This could be a magic stone, bioluminescent mushroom / scale, or any inanimate object that emits light.
This description of events may be altered to suit your entry, so long as the prompt itself is consistent.
Dimension
Weather condition: none, harsh sunlight, rain.
Terrain: none, misty, psychic, or grassy (in the jungle).
Pokémon: most common are water in the sea; water, ground, rock, and electric on the beach; grass, dark, poison, and flying in the jungle. Notably, many light-producing species live here, including: Tentacruel, Staryu, Starmie, Chinchou, Lanturn, Mareep, Flaaffy, Ampharos, Umbreon, Volbeat, Huntail, Shinx, Luxio, Luxray, Finneon, Lumineon, Watchog, Elgyem, Beeheeyem, Cryogonal, Golett, Golurk, Inkay, Malamar, Heliolisk, Aurorus, Pumpkaboo, Gourgeist, Lycanroc (Midnight Form), Wishiwashi, Morelull, Shiinotic, Minior, Dottler, Orbeetle, Carkol, Coalossal, Sizzlipede, Centiskorch, Tadbulb, Bellibolt, and Rabsca. You may even spot a Manaphy!
Geography: there are three distinct areas to search - in the shallows of the ocean, on the beach, and in the dense jungle behind it. The details of these areas are up to you!
Inspirations:
Images from various Pokémon Mystery Dungeon games.
Rules
Show your character(s) seeking out and retrieving a bright glowing object! You can show additional context, such as them departing from and returning to Hoopa's pocket dimension, but finding something that glows is the base requirement.
Submit entries (after submitting your characters to be screened, as described on our Character Creation and How to Enter pages - the process is very similar for competitors and spectators) via email to HyperspaceOCT@gmail.com (it helps us if your subject line includes "Spectator Round 2 entry").
Please keep in mind our regulations for the spectator tournament:
Spectator entries don’t need to be as extensive as entries in the main tournament to be accepted, but they can be if you’d like! They may be as brief as one illustration or a few paragraphs, just make sure we can see what your characters are doing.
Don’t show characters who are competing in the main tournament taking part in spectator prompts. Spectator prompts happen at the same time as the main tournament and prepare the staff for the next round. You may show competitors in Hoopa’s pocket dimension.
One additional ticket will be granted for depicting your character(s) doing each of:
exploring multiple areas (two or more between: in the water, on the beach, in the jungle),
meeting a light-producing Pokémon* - see the species listed under "Dimension",
choosing the dinner menu for Gran after finding the brightest object!
*if you'd like to nominate a species you believe is light-producing, please do so via the #questions channel on our discord or in an email! Note that we are not including species whose light comes from visible flames (e.g. Charmander, Greavard), external electricity (e.g. Electabuzz, Toxtricity), electric lights (e.g. future Paradox Pokémon), or whose light is very situational such as when they use moves (e.g. Pachirisu, Espurr, Farigiraf) - and are including species which seem to be bioluminescent (e.g. Lumineon, Shiinotic) or produce fire or electric light internally via natural means (e.g. Golett, Pumpkaboo, Chinchou, Shinx).
For details on earning base tickets with your entry, see the Spectator Tournament page. Good luck!
Deadline
21st September 2023, 23:59BST.
Extensions will be discussed later (and fall in line with those given to the competitor tournament)!