[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Iron]

Creshire Museum Part 2

Hidden Machines

"Unlike TMs, which are researched and constructed in an ongoing process continuing right up to modern times, we have no knowledge about the creation of the Hidden Machines. We don't know who built them, how they were built, or more than the basics of how they work. We don't even know when the first one appeared in the world, but we do know the Creshirean HMs predate those of every other region internationally."

"The wondrous technology and energy within a Hidden Machine far exceeds most normal moves, and without any of the drawbacks that normally accompany moves of such power. They have been compared to a Hyper Beam in strength, coming up just short in clashes between Hyper Beam users. Untrained young Rattata with the ability to crush boulders were once a common part of every team, until the League had to restrict their use in League matches. Currently, the only matches which allow unadulterated HM moves are most Gym Leaders, the Elite Four, the Champion, the Little Cup, and the Safari Cup."

"The knowledge of even copying an HM has been lost. The most recent attempt, in 1991, resulted in the irreversible destruction of the last known copy of the once-common Rock Smash HM. It was once possible to create indefinite copies, though extremely resource intensive. Sarimanok, the wealthiest man in recent memory, had but two copies of most HMs. International statutes outlaw the sale of even ordinary HMs, and the Creshire Cultural Preservation Law of 1901 adds extra strictures."

"Unlike TMs, they do not require a computer of any kind to teach a Pokemon the move contained within. A much wider variety of Pokemon can learn an HM move, compared to the limited applicability of a TM move."

The exhibit now shows a (fake) Hidden Machine. It's a semi-transparent cylinder, equal to a TM in diameter but as thick as a roll of duct tape. Inside the cylinder is a pint of water, sloshing back and forth with the motion of the servomotor under it (that part, of course, is the Museum's attempt to replicate the real thing).
Wires protrude from it, attached to little nodes. There are also resizable metal straps, wired with parallel wires of various materials.

Ralts STARES long and hard at that.

"There are eleven known Hidden Machines."

1. Surf - Possessed by the League and given to worthy trainers who have thoroughly proven themselves.
2. Rock Smash - Once possessed by the League; now lost to them. Occasionally a copy will surface.
3. Cut - Unknown
4. Fly - Unknown. A trainer demonstrated it as recently as 2012.
5. Strength - League copy was stolen by Team Rocket shortly before they disbanded.
6. Flash - Studied at Telperion University and thought to be the least useful of HMs.
7. Whirlpool - Lost at Sea, 1985
8. Waterfall - Unknown
9. Dive - Unknown
10. Rock Climb - Unknown
11. Defog - Unknown.

"A Pokemon who learned a Hidden Machine will sometimes pass a weaker version of the move to its children. Wild populations are sometimes found with remnants of HM bloodlines. Naturally, these are highly desired by breeders."
Nathan brings up Carvanha here, and Furret looks uncomfortable.
Slowking looks covetous. He must know something about the true power of a Hidden Machine.

Meteor Exhibit
http://hubblesite.org/reference_desk/faq...olarsystem

"Creshire receives more meteorite impacts than any other region in the southeastern hemisphere. Most are small meteorites only the size of a Pokeball, but even these can damage property and cause impact craters the size of a Wailord. Meteors are also frequently visible in the night sky during events called meteor showers."

"Every thousand years or so, give or take about 50 years, the planet enters an unusual field of stellar debris called the Millennium Comet. At this time, large meteorite strikes are more common, with the power to cause continent-wide dustclouds or blinding flashes of light. These cyclical meteor impacts can be extinction-level events. Yet in the cataclysm, sometimes new life is formed - the comet contributes new chemical reactions, conditions, or extremophiles."

"Meteor craters. If a meteor lands in a bed of silicaceous mineral, a permanent meteor crater is formed. Sandy particles are infused with the heavy stellar metals of the meteoroids, mineralized, and turned to a glasslike substance by extreme heat. This material is a meteoric superconductor or MS. It is very useful in modern technology, including Bill's PC system, trainer cards, gym badges, Pokedexes, and Pokeball capture nets."

"A rare species of flower grows only on meteor impact sites, the Deyo flower. It's useful in medicinal and other technology. The Deyo flower, shown here, absorbs MS through its roots and is germinated only by high heat."

Ralts makes sure Nathan is reading carefully.

"The effects of the Deyo flower vary. It is thought that perhaps the location of the planet relative to the rest of the galaxy has some kind of impact, as no intra-planetary factors seem to be at play. Grass Pokemon enjoy the scent. Pokemon like Staryu and Clefairy enjoying the scent has led to rumors that these Pokemon may have originated in outer space."

"Fertilizer with MS will eventually yield growths of Long Grass after many centuries."