Warning: Satirical allusions to drugs and paedophile rings
Continuing on from last post, I'm replaying Pokemon Crystal. At the end of the last chapter, we'd just left our character's hometown under our dodgy neighbour's orders to 'visit' an acquaintance of his.
After an uneventful journey through the plains near your hometown, where in this instance no fewer than 6 animals attacked you with only a small pet to defend you, you reach the next town. A strange old man hovers by the town boundary, as if waiting for you. You can choose to ignore him completely. If you do talk to him, however, he suggests that he 'teach' you a few things...
This time you do have a choice. Agreeing to be 'taught', he'll briefly show you around the town, and then lead you to his house. Maybe he's just a friendly tour guide. Or maybe he's trying to lure you to his house without attention from the townsfolk.
If you say no, his disappointment is obvious, leaving little doubt as to what he'd hoped to 'teach' you:
You can talk to one of the passersby in the town, who'll tell you that your neighbour's acquaintance lives nearby. After you leave the town, another wanderer says that the acquaintance's house isn't far away. Why is this man that well-known in the area? Is he known for his misdeeds, or more likely does he have such a position in society that he can hide behind if accusations are made?
Unfortunately your only option is to carry on to his house, as the other route is blocked.
On arrival, it's clear that the acquaintance has been waiting for you and is delighted that you've arrived. Your neighbour must have passed on your details to him.
After a brief discussion, he gives you a strange object to take back to your neighbour. Unsure what it is even himself, he claims that he got it from a couple who live a few towns away. Are they involved in this network as well? Are they the masterminds, or do they just give the rewards to their 'employees'?
Without giving you the chance to refuse the object or to ask questions, the acquaintance invites his 'old friend' to meet you.
Yet another strange man wanting to meet you, this time without warning? Knowing that a young child travelling alone would be there to 'visit' his friend, sent by the 'colleague' they contact through email, he decided to wait for you... Like your neighbour, he asks if you can do him a 'favour', without giving you the option of saying no.
He gives you a machine, and asks you to record all of the animals that you see on it. So now instead of trying to manage your way past the monsters that attack you, now he wants you to seek them, knowing full well how vulnerable you are? Twisted much. Maybe he hopes to keep you in a constant state of fear, to keep you under his control, to make sure that you won't try again to tell anyone about your situation. Given your character's mum's reaction to the news though, this isn't necessary since you know that nobody will help you.
Once the friend leaves to give his radio show - allusions to public figures hiding a shady life, perhaps - you are left alone with the acquaintance. Without giving you any chance to escape, claiming that your pet needs to 'rest', the screen goes black.
Dark.
Finally you can leave, but not before he plays on your emotions:
Before you rush off, your curiosity is piqued by the strange coins from where the other man stood.
Are these men part of a global network? How many other 'trainers' have been brought into this depraved situation across the globe? Is this 'egg' meant to be a reward for good 'work', or could it be a warning or a threat? You can't ask questions, only do as you're told and pass on the egg. You're getting the idea of how things work now.
As you leave, your neighbour phones you. A quick look at the clock shows that it's now 11.30pm. He needs you right away. He won't say why, you can't ask why, you can't refuse.
With no choice but to do as he says, you head back towards your hometown.
Continuing on from last post, I'm replaying Pokemon Crystal. At the end of the last chapter, we'd just left our character's hometown under our dodgy neighbour's orders to 'visit' an acquaintance of his.
After an uneventful journey through the plains near your hometown, where in this instance no fewer than 6 animals attacked you with only a small pet to defend you, you reach the next town. A strange old man hovers by the town boundary, as if waiting for you. You can choose to ignore him completely. If you do talk to him, however, he suggests that he 'teach' you a few things...
This time you do have a choice. Agreeing to be 'taught', he'll briefly show you around the town, and then lead you to his house. Maybe he's just a friendly tour guide. Or maybe he's trying to lure you to his house without attention from the townsfolk.
If you say no, his disappointment is obvious, leaving little doubt as to what he'd hoped to 'teach' you:
You can talk to one of the passersby in the town, who'll tell you that your neighbour's acquaintance lives nearby. After you leave the town, another wanderer says that the acquaintance's house isn't far away. Why is this man that well-known in the area? Is he known for his misdeeds, or more likely does he have such a position in society that he can hide behind if accusations are made?
Unfortunately your only option is to carry on to his house, as the other route is blocked.
On arrival, it's clear that the acquaintance has been waiting for you and is delighted that you've arrived. Your neighbour must have passed on your details to him.
Yet another strange man wanting to meet you, this time without warning? Knowing that a young child travelling alone would be there to 'visit' his friend, sent by the 'colleague' they contact through email, he decided to wait for you... Like your neighbour, he asks if you can do him a 'favour', without giving you the option of saying no.
Once the friend leaves to give his radio show - allusions to public figures hiding a shady life, perhaps - you are left alone with the acquaintance. Without giving you any chance to escape, claiming that your pet needs to 'rest', the screen goes black.
Dark.
Finally you can leave, but not before he plays on your emotions:
As you leave, your neighbour phones you. A quick look at the clock shows that it's now 11.30pm. He needs you right away. He won't say why, you can't ask why, you can't refuse.
With no choice but to do as he says, you head back towards your hometown.
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