About the Region

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About the Region!
Welcome to Ardor!

• Ardor Itself
  
• The Pokemon League
  
• Wanted List
  
• Law Enforcement
  
• Myths and Legends
  

The following posts aren't rules and therefore you don't necessarily need to read them. However, doing so will give you a better understanding of the region itself, and may help you later on.
Trainers will need to read about the League, however!

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Ardor Itself

Ardor is a mainly peaceful island, comparatively small in size. It has a variety of climates despite this, though, and since it retains no native Pokémon species, the island provides a versatile haven for pocket-monsters from all regions.

It is mainly ruled by a monarchy, situated within Abilon's walls, although the Rangers do play a big part in communicating the needs of the citizens. There was some trouble several years ago with a large, antagonist group, but they have since disbanded, leaving the majority of the people to pursue their own ambitions rather than having to protect their towns. As such, contests and league challenges have become increasingly popular!

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The Pokemon League

Here at Ardor, the Pokemon League as you may know it is a little different. Being a relatively small region so far as population is concerned, Ardor is only home to six gyms.

Of course, there are more than six towns in Ardor, but not all of them have residents who wish to take on the responsibility of a gym. If additional gyms arise later, the league setup will have to be altered slightly.

Once a trainer has the six badges, it's time to face the Elite Four! Or so you think! In fact, before you get to challenge Ardor's finest, you get to meet our Champion~ She will set a challenger two tasks of varying difficulty, which you must complete before she will tell you where the first of the Elite Four is hiding. And don't even think of cheating! The Champion has many eyes and ears throughout Ardor, and will be able to tell if the effort has not been put in to a task.

Once a challenger completes their two tasks?

Well, then they get to face Ardor's finest! The Elite Four eagerly await the battling skill of new trainers in their floating provinces.

Oh, didn't we mention that? You'll have to find them! Or rather, you'll have to find the portal to them. You will see once you reach that point, but here's a hint - the Elites are scattered around the region. Each one will give the successful challenger a little wisdom to help you find the next one. Find and defeat them all, and you will have your ticket to the Champion battle!

Complicated?

Well if wouldn't be fun if it was easy!

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Wanted List

Ardor, for the most part, is a fairly peaceful region. Of course, there are a few squabbles and mishaps here and there, but these are usually resolved quickly. The main cause for concern right now is Orcus.

This gang of thugs and criminals were formerly just a nuisance - a rag-tag bunch of crooks left idly causing aggravation after Team Chaos disbanded seven years ago. However, more recently Orcus' moves have been much different. Instead of random, sometimes predictable outbreaks, their recent targets have been planned and their attacks organised and efficient. It is clear that Orcus has undergone some radical change in the past year or so.

Although the leaders of this group have not yet been identified, the Rangers are working tirelessly both to try and anticipate Orcus' next moves and to track down their main base of operations. News reporters across the region are also highly interested in Orcus, and have been documenting the events and placements of each crime as they occur.

Whoever is leading this group appears to be fairly smart. The gang have made some very unexpected moves in the past, seemingly to lessen the risk of detection. In Renovo City, Orcus grabbed various pieces of cutting edge technology while a power outage covered the city in darkness - they then apparently needed powerful electro-magnetic traps, which could have easily been swiped from Renovo, but instead they opted to steal from the less likely Osmose City Gym. Extensive planning appears to have gone into this former gang of scoundrels, turning them into a real threat.

Please follow the news reports to receive more information as the facts develop. The Rangers are encouraging members of the public not to panic, but also to try and apprehend these vigilantes if they can.

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Law Enforcement

Law Enforcement in Ardor is carried out by the Rangers.

These Rangers are not like those from Fiore, Almia and Oblivia. They are an elite group with highly levelled and very well trained Pokemon. You do not join them; you are invited.

Rangers do not have a uniform and like to keep themsleves incognito - after all, a criminal is hardly going to commit an offense whilst the police are standing ten feet away. Instead, they have a specialised badge somewhere on their person to prove their identity and authority. This can be voice-activated to issue arrests and official warnings that will go on record back at Ranger HQ. However, not everyone comes quietly, so a Ranger must be strong enough to hold authority over criminals and even irate members of the public

Anyone found to be a member of Orcus will be detained immediately at Ardor's main prison, the location of which is hidden.

HQ for the Rangers is a large, futuristic-looking building in Abilon, where various clerks busy themselves with paperwork and updating criminal records. Nearby is the NeoGen Laboratory Inc. where much of the new technology used by Rangers is created. Rangers will often be called back to the lab to pick up new beta items, so it is necessary for a Ranger to have either a flying or fast-running Pokemon for swift travel.

All Rangers are sworn to protect the people of Ardor, and are currently fighting the Orcus gang. However, they do encourage people to take their own stands and try to help the people protect themselves, as Rangers are very few in number.

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Myths and Legends

This is a shortened version of the full story

Long ago, Ardor was a very different place. Although still peaceful, there was not a human footprint upon its soil. The island was a Pokemon paradise - a safe haven for all those who reached its shores - untouched by humanity. The few structures littering the land were constructed entirely by the Pokemon themselves, built out of teamwork which brought the community closer together. The land was watched over by a single Legendary Pokemon - Celebi - protected from sight by his powers.

This peacefulness was disturbed, however, when the humans set their boots on Ardor's shore. Celebi was not there to protect or guide the Pokemon, so they attacked the intruders who so clearly disregarded their island's delicate nature. The Legendary Pokemon returned to the scene, however, distraught at the sight of the region torn in two. In order to save the island, Celebi asked for the help of a small girl - a daughter of one of the explorers - to calm both sides. He gave her a Time Flute, asking her to stand between the two warring parties and play its melody. When she did so, the Legendary Pokemon appeared before them all, pretending to be called out by the song. Seeing him appear, the humans and the Pokemon paused in their fight to listen to his words.

Slowly, Celebi began to reach both sides. He explained how the humans did not realise what they were destroying, and that the Pokemon were only protecting their homes. When the two parties were finally calm, Celebi flew back to the girl who had helped him, telling her that if the humans ever needed his help, they could play the flute and he would appear. To the Pokemon, he promised that if the humans ever went back on their word to respect their homes and ways of life, he would return and banish the humans from the island. A truce was called, and Celebi left.

The Time Flute has since been placed in within the Pokemon Shrine, a simple wooden structure located by Springbell Lake. Although both Pokemon and humans have endured many hardships since Celebi left the region, the inhabitants of Ardor have always managed to band together and solve the problems themselves. As such, it has never been played since. But they say that Celebi still watches the island, in case his help is ever needed.

SPOILER: Click to show

Each region has at least one legend that is solely their own, and Ardor is no different. There is a tale passed down through the generations - some celebrate it with festivals, others simply take heart from the story, but all those born here know it.

It is said that long ago, the landmass now known as Ardor was completely uninhabited by humans. In fact, it was a haven for all kinds of Pokemon from other surrounding regions. The Pokemon lived in relative harmony, save for a few disagreements here and there, and were protected by a powerful force from outsider intrusions. This force was Celebi. The small legendary Pokemon not only protected the others, but helped them resolve their problems and build a small paradise for themselves. It is even said that Fleurvale was built entirely by the Pokemon from this time. Of course, many humans passed Ardor as they sailed towards other regions, but none ever saw it - to protect the island, Celebi moved it a second out of sync with the rest of the world, thus deeming the place 'invisible'. This was not only protection from humans, though; whilst the other legendary Pokemon were warring, Celebi would keep the island out of sync in order for it to remain unharmed by their catastrophic powers. It took a lot of energy, and after some time, Celebi began to appear less and less in the daily lives of the other Pokemon. They still remained grateful for the help he gave them though, so in return they built a small shrine for him.

However, this peacefulness was not to last. One day when the humans came, Celebi was not there to protect them. The island remained visible, and the humans quickly noticed the new landmass not on their maps. They sailed for the island, and within an hour they had landed and begun claiming the area as their own. The Pokemon, scared and misguided, began fighting the humans, and the whole affair escalated into outright war. When Celebi finally returned, he was devastated. His beautiful forests were torn apart, the Pokemon laying in unkempt heaps. Not only that but the humans had started building their own contraptions and camps, throwing care to the wind as they trampled shrines and places the others held dear. In fury, Celebi headed out towards the human encampment, ready to send them away or burn the land clean. He was stopped, however, when he noticed a weeping figure by the riverside. Curious, he watched the shadowy thing until eventually he realised it was a human girl. She was young, though, so instead of fighting her, he flew over. She seemed shocked to see him, but dried her eyes and stared in wonder. Celebi himself felt a little calmer - the girl posed no threat to him, at least not yet. Slowly, he asked her a few things; who she was, why she was here and not with the others? The language barrier posed a difficulty but eventually she understood. The girl explained how she had sailed here with her father - an explorer - in search of a better home. She told Celebi about the trials of the land she came from, and how it seemed like the Pokemon here hated them - about how they had been attacked. Hearing things from her point of view calmed Celebi's raging spirit. He sat and listened to all she had to say, then decided what he had to do. The girl listened intently as he gave her a special mission to do. In order to save both the Pokemon and the humans now living on the island, they would need to be brought together to live in peace once more. They came up with a plan, and he gave her a special item as well. Then he flew away to prepare himself for what might come next.

The girl took on her new mission with a racing heart, but Celebi was watching carefully from a distance. He watched as the girl rallied the humans, then led them to the lake he'd pointed out. He watched as the human readied their guns on the approaching Pokemon across the body of water, and hoped by Arceus they wouldn't fire yet. But as instructed, the girl put herself between the humans and the Pokemon, forcing them to cease and simply listen. She relayed what Celebi had asked her to - explaining how they were both in the wrong and how they should be working together. Of course, the two sides were skeptical. The Pokemon suspected a trap, and the humans believed she was just being a soft-hearted child. But then she did something they could not have expected. She took the item Celebi had given her - a Time Flute, no less - and played its sweet melody. In a flash of blue light, the time Pokemon appeared before them, seemingly called by the song. Both Pokemon and human stared in awe at the sight as Celebi turned and spoke to each side. He asked them both to calm themselves, and both to think. He asked them to lay down their rage and work together to keep this place safe and bring harmony once more. Overwhelmed by the presence of this so very rare Pokemon, both sides paid close attention to Celebi's words. When he was finished, the men lay down their guns and the Pokemon sheathed their claws. Satisfied, Celebi flew back over to the girl and smiled. He let her keep the flute, and told her that if she ever needed his help again, she should play that melody and he would appear. Since he left Ardor under the charge of the girl, the humans and Pokemon rebuilt the island, and the flute was passed down through her family. They say he still watches over Ardor, however, keeping his distance until he is really needed.