indigo_league | Non-Player Characters

The world of Victory Road has as many different kinds of people in it as it does species of Pokemon-- and that’s not limited to the player characters who are experiencing it for the first time! While player characters will naturally interact with each other first and foremost, this is no isolated town or building that they're trapped in with only each other for company. There's a whole world out there-- a world of people with hopes, dreams, and, yes, sometimes obnoxious conversational habits. They're your neighbors, they're your employers, they're that weird kid on Route 30 who keeps calling you up at 3 AM to brag about his Rattata. Whether your character is a social butterfly or a disgruntled loner, it's a given that they'll be interacting with the locals just as much as with their fellow otherworlders.

We encourage everyone to have fun with this-- there's no need to ask permission before having your character work at a cafe where the manager is a tyrannical little bald dude with a really ugly Arbok tattoo, or assuming that the friendly Magikarp-toting Fishermen who frequent your character's favorite picnicking spot by the river wind up getting to know them on a first-name basis.

Of course, there are also specific NPCs who your characters will become familiar with over the course of their time in Victory Road, so it's time to get acquainted!

RIGHT OFF THE BAT

These are characters who will likely be household names to you and the crew, whether it's through your characters meeting them face to face shortly after arriving, or just seeing them around town on the regular.

MOM:
Who doesn't love Mom?? She's Mom! This kindly woman and her humble house are the first thing most characters see when they arrive in the game. Which, depending on how they feel about being suddenly adopted by a total stranger, can either be reassuring or a little alarming. But Mom is harmless, if a bit of a local eccentric. Nobody knows exactly why she's so bent on insisting that every single newcomer is literally her child, but her motherly enthusiasm (and her delicious cooking) remains unrivaled. Nobody is more excited for your character to go become a Pokemon Master than she is! Rumors that she once lost a real son or daughter could explain why the New Bark locals are so protective of her, but whether there's any truth to that or not, she loves you so be nice to her and send her a letter every now and then!

PROFESSOR ELM:
Professor Elm is the first professor met when one arrives in New Bark Town, right nextdoor to Mom's house. He's in his mid-forties and rather skittish, but a very kind man-- he doesn't usually have much time to greet newcomers, but if one catches him, he's always happy to spend a couple minutes helping someone get the hang of their PokeGear or show them how to let their starter out of the Pokeball. His office is often messy, which is why his assistants are always necessary in terms of keeping things organized for him. He tends to be the first one on the scene when things go haywire in Johto, and often the first one to reassure people to remain calm... even when he himself is on the verge of panic. Don't be surprised when he goes missing for days behind a locked lab door, though; sometimes he's just caught up in work. Or damage control.

PROFESSOR OAK:
Professor Oak is the main professor of the Kanto region, though he travels between the many regions almost consistently to gather more information on the overwhelming world. Newcomers probably won't meet him in New Bark as they did Professor Elm, but it's hard to read or watch anything about Pokemon without his name being cited. As an older fellow, he's seen his fair share of chaos, and while the past few years have been the newest and most rapid in terms of changes, he tends to respond to chaotic situations with ease. There's a reason he's probably the most well-known of all the Pokemon Professors-- he's been through it all!

THE JOYS:
Every town has a Pokemon Center, and every Pokemon Center is run by a Nurse Joy. No, they're not all the same person-- though most of them are used to being mistaken for their sister/cousin/some other relative by now. The Joy family was responsible for building the very first Pokemon Centers generations ago, and needless to say, they continue to work as hard as ever to provide excellent Pokemon healthcare. In keeping with their long-held family values, your typical Nurse Joy is kind, earnest, and honest, and will not allow any Pokemon to be mistreated or left in peril if she can help it. It's a hard job, taking care of every trainer and Pokemon to cross through those doors, but somebody's gotta do it. Fortunately, in the Johto and Kanto regions, most will have a Chansey alongside them as a direct assistant and coworker. Some even have Blissey!

THE JENNIES:
The police force of the Pokemon would would not be nearly as pervasive without the aid of an Officer Jenny-- in fact, the name is so common among officers, people even colloquially refer to the police as "Jennies" whether the cop in question is related to them or not! Part of another incredibly large family, this time specializing in Law Enforcement, your local Officer Jenny works with a Pokemon partner (traditionally a Growlithe) to ensure that cities and towns are safe from criminals, delinquents, and overall ne’er-do-wells...though their actual effectiveness is often called into question. Still, no one can deny their bravery, determination, and dedication-- and besides, they do their best against all the nonsense this world throws at them!

EV NEWS:
The number one source in Johto and Kanto for the latest breaking news! Coming to you live via Poke’Gear broadcast, the men, women, and Pokemon of EV News strive to deliver the events of both regions in an unbiased, truthful fashion. Their primary goal is to make sure everyone everywhere is informed of what’s going on, when it happens. Whether your character keeps up with the news on their own or not, changes are they'll be seeing these guys on the screen pretty frequently!

GYM LEADERS

While there are many ways to go about your Pokemon journey, the most well-known and most-sought path for aspiring trainers is to take on the Indigo League challenge, traveling from town to town in search of Pokemon Gyms: accredited facilities that dedicate themselves to testing trainers' worthiness through battle! There are eight gyms in each region, and each one has a powerful leader whose job it is to accept challenges and pass out official League badges to winners.

JOHTO GYM LEADERS:

FALKNER, a devotee of the Flying type, carries himself in such a way that every Bird Keeper for miles around would do anything for the chance to study under him.
BUGSY is a young Bug type genius whose persistence and wit won’t let you simply squash him down!
WHITNEY is a perky and bubbly Normal type trainer who's legendary for her team's devastating strength (and also for her ridiculous post-battle crying fits when she loses).
MORTY is a man reverent of tradition and in tune with spirits and his Ghost type Pokemon to a positively frightening degree.
CHUCK may seem like he has a slab of meat for brains, but the brawn he and his Fighting type Pokemon display should never be underestimated.
JASMINE is soft-spoken and compassionate, yet as resilient as her Steel types in the face of a challenge.
PRYCE is your elder and he knows it, his Ice type Pokemon doling out as much wisdom as they do frostbite.
CLAIR is a haughty and poised Dragon master who expects nothing but the best out of herself, her team, and her opponents, not satisfied with just one test of mettle. She'll also do anything for the spotlight and Arceus help anybody who gets in her way.

KANTO GYM LEADERS:

BROCK, who specializes in Rock type Pokemon, is as tough as his type implies but has a major soft spot for his giant family.
MISTY has a surprisingly-fiery disposition for a Water-type expert, and won’t take it easy on any challenger.
LT. SURGE and his Electric type Pokemon are more than used to battle after fighting as comrades in arms in war.
ERIKA is a demure florist with a hidden edge of strength, and her Grass type Pokemon share that very same attitude of silk hiding steel.
JANINE is a young ninja following in the example of her father Koga, and her Poison type Pokemon are just as well trained in trickery and deception as she.
SABRINA is an accomplished psychic who, with her Psychic type Pokemon, will truly make you appreciate the old saying of "knowledge is power"!
BLAINE delights in puzzles and quizzes before putting you through your paces with his Fire type Pokemon!
BLUE is a somewhat cocky young man who was once the Champion for like... five seconds. Nonetheless, he's now a respected Gym Leader who can offer you a bit of advice about how you seek your glory with his mixed-type Pokemon team.

THE ELITE FOUR

Or more to be more accurate, the Elite Five. After a trainer performs the considerable feat of getting all sixteen Indigo League badges, they can travel up to the Indigo Plateau and take on the best of the best! These five individuals, the Elite and the stand-in Champion (why a stand-in? Well...) are leaders, ambassadors, and, of course, some of the most powerful trainers in the world.

1. WILL:
Will is the first member of the Elite Four that trainers will meet and battle at the Indigo Plateau. A master of Psychic type Pokemon, Will holds himself with the poise of a performer, but don’t be fooled; he is a well-traveled trainer always in search of ways to make himself stronger. After Lance, he is the person most likely to serve as a public face for the Elite Four and handle the press.

2. KOGA:
A former Kanto Gym Leader, Koga is a stoic man whose ninja techniques and expertise with Poison type Pokemon reflect a family tradition spanning generations. Though he’s a bit behind the times on how most newfangled technologies work, that doesn’t stop him from continuing his reign as a terrifying force in the Indigo League. He can sometimes be seen in Fuchsia City checking in on his daughter Janine and the state of the gym.

3. BRUNO:
As a long-standing member of the Elite Four, Bruno is a trainer whom many have fought and fallen to in their quest to be the best. He lives and trains rigorously alongside his Fighting type Pokemon, and is always happy to challenge the strongest trainers who come his way. Otherwise, he is a remarkably private person, and his stone-faced expressions and intimidating air have become somewhat memetic amongst native trainers.

4. KAREN:
This mistress of Dark-type Pokemon is not one to be crossed with. Karen is striking, ruthless, and a perfect match for her tough and wild team. Currently the only woman in the Elite Four, she follows in the footsteps of Lorelei and Agatha before her as a woman of incomparable skill and a sharp tongue towards anyone who steps out of line. Still, she is firm in her philosophy that anyone can win with any kind of Pokemon, so long as they are a person’s favorite.

5. LANCE:
Reigning stand-in 'Champion' of the Elite Four, and the final test of every trainer’s mettle - this is who Lance the Dragon Master is. Cousin to the Gym Leader Clair of Blackthorn City, he seeks to be a positive example of everything a trainer should be, not just strong but kind as well, and always eager to lend a hand and help in crises. He serves as the primary public face for the Elite Four as a whole and has an enormous fan following...but is, privately, kind of a huge dork about Dragons.

THE CHAMPION

Remember how Lance's title is technically "stand-in Champion"? Well... that's because the true champion is RED.

The first trainer in many, many years to have defeated the Elite Four, the young Red declined the offer to serve as the final test for trainers at the Indigo Plateau in favor of training atop Mt. Silver, an area inaccessible to anyone who does not hold eight gym badges. Despite his incredible strength, Red is a man of few words. In fact, he's pretty notorious for his tendency to disappear completely and go radio silent for months on end, which makes his reluctance to take on a job that requires a lot of media presence and speaking skills kind of understandable.

Only a few people seem to stay in close contact with Red: his good friend/childhood rival, Viridian Gym Leader Blue, and their neighbor, the prevalent and enthusiastic senior trainer Green.

MOST WANTED: TEAM ROCKET

Can't have light without dark-- the Pokemon World is also home to a widespread criminal organization named Team Rocket. They've been responsible for all kinds of disasters over the years, and despite the Jennies' best efforts, no amount of quashing ever seems to stamp them out entirely. The truth is, they control a whole lot more than most people realize... but the ones you're most likely to meet are:

AUNTIE APRICORN:
If you smell sweet spring flowers in the dead of winter, take warning. Auntie Apricorn is near and she is listening. The second Team Rocket Administrator and twin sister to Uncle Haban is a towering woman with a voice like honey and methods like vinegar. Auntie is clearly the brawn to Haban's brains and believes in swift and thorough punishment. She often threatens those who step out of line with something called The Pokey Chokey but nobody has seen it. Or at least nobody who's been sent there has lived to tell about it.

UNCLE HABAN:
Uncle Haban, as he prefers to be called, is a Team Rocket Administrator and twin brother to Auntie Apricorn. He looks gruff and tough, but favors a more diplomatic and even-handed approach to discipline. To him, every squeaky wheel can be reasoned with. His signature Pokemon is a disgruntled Spritzee. Haban also has a distinct disdain for Dragon-type Pokemon... not to mention certain stand-in Champions who are famous for using them.

OUT IN THE WORLD...

You don't have to be a professor, a celebrity trainer, or even a criminal to be noteworthy! Some folks manage to get their name out through other means...

THE LEGEND SEEKERS:
A group of Pokemon enthusiasts, The Legend Seekers are a group of trainers who make incredibly bombastic efforts to find and document the existence of various Legendary Pokemon throughout Johto and Kanto. Their leaders, three young men named Trent, Greg, and Jackson are known for being loud, excitable, and for using trendy memetic fads in their appearances and promotional materials. '#Confirmed' is their primary tag on many social media outlets. And yes, they say the 'hashtag' part out loud. Anyone with an interest in grainy photos of what may or may not be a Deoxys can join by mail, and get a monthly newsletter and a members pin. Though not considered to be anything more than a fringe group by most, by gosh, they try their hardest. Even when it means getting kicked off of Mt. Moon for standing at the top with a megaphone and yelling "TAKE US WITH YOU!!" at the sky.

THE PROFESSORS

Oak and Elm aren't the only esteemed Pokemon professors out there! In fact, there's pretty much one in every major region-- of course, most other regions aren't nearly as close to each other as Johto and Kanto are, so their opportunities to come visiting are few and far between. Nonetheless, these fellows are hard at work making sense of the wild world of Pokemon.

PROFESSOR BIRCH:
The resident professor of the Hoenn region. He's a family man and likes to get physically into his work, usually on field-exploration or on-site study trips; he's rarely home, and his wife has the rest of the professors on her contacts list when playing the "Where's my husband this week?" game. Birch tends to discover more things by accident when looking for something completely unrelated, and prefers going straight to the source when looking for answers instead of trying books first.

PROFESSOR ROWAN:
The savviest elder professor you could dare to meet. He is a very old friend of Professor Oak; rumor has it Oak studied under him in the Sinnoh region when they were younger, though neither will confirm this. He's filled to the brim with knowledge, from Pokemon evolution (his main specialty) to oak tables. He's also got a sweet tooth the size of Mt. Mortar.

PROFESSOR JUNIPER:
The leading professor of the Unova region, following in the footsteps of her father Cedric Juniper. Cheerful and enthusiastic, Professor Juniper specializes in the study of the origins of Pokemon, mixing her time between field and laboratory study. It's a well known fact that she's in tune with the challenges Pokemon journeys entail because of her youth as a Backpacker. She is always encouraging young trainers to make their own way in the world with their Pokemon companions, whether that be in pursuing Gym challenges or professorship and everything in between.

PROFESSOR SYCAMORE:
Another absent-minded but very kind Professor from the distant land of Kalos, Professor Sycamore specializes in the study of change in Pokemon and the mysterious circumstances behind Mega Evolution. He adores the idea of Pokemon finding their way and expanding their horizons. He tends to have many roaming about his office, and he prefers to observe them adapting to their habitat than try to maintain any major control. He's also got a terrible fashion sense (don't ever forget his loafers, which are his best pair of shoes, mind you) and a heavy accent.

PROFESSOR KUKUI:
From the far-off island region of Alola, Professor Kukui studies the various moves of Pokemon with such zeal, he regularly encourages his subjects to use their attacks on him! A very chill and informal kind of man, he has huge dreams for his home region, having established the first Pokemon League in the tradition-heavy Alola fairly recently. It is hotly speculated that he participates as a masked fighter in the region's popular four-way Battle Royales.

EVENT-EXCLUSIVE NPCs

Teams Valor, Mystic, and Instinct: First appearing during the Halloween 2016 Event, the leaders of Teams Valor, Mystic, and Instinct (Candela, Blanche, and Spark respectfully) are organizations specializing in helping with wide-scale events and troubles. Each team focuses on a central ideology - Valor on one’s courage (and on battling), Mystic on one’s intelligence (and evolution and science), and Instinct on the concept of YOLO (and Pokemon breeding).

Green: A senior trainer and close friend to Champion Red and Gym Leader Blue, Green is a spunky young lady who seems to have her nose in the business of a lot of influential folks in the Pokemon World. Is it because of the boys she knows, or because of her own strength? Let’s be honest, it’s probably the latter.

「 NAVIGATION 」