Understand the secrets and have some fun

[these_balls]

APPLICATIONS!
Currently: Closed!
Route 29 has closed as of May 30th. For the continuation of the game, please visit victory_road!

Applications will be normally checked during the weekend following the first and third Sunday of each month unless otherwise stated, and we will allow one application per person during one application cycle. Remember, the most characters one player can have at a time is currently set at five.

Applications received after 11:59 PM EST on Saturday of the first and third weekend of each month will be checked the following app weekend unless otherwise stated.

We now ask that potential applicants post their application in comments rather than linking. If their application contains explicit references to 'hard' spoilers (character death, unforeseen plot twists, big reveals, he was evil all along etc), players should put the application in their own journal or their character's journal and link it, making sure to mention the presence of spoilers within. For further clarification on our spoilers policy and whether or not your application needs to be linked, please check this page. Thank you for your cooperation!

The comment character limit on dreamwidth is 16,000 characters so apps no longer need to be split into multiple comments; however this is at players' discretion.

Please use the form below and post your application in comments rather than linking if you can. If you have any questions, feel free to ask either of the mods. You can reach us through emails, IMs, or PMs.

A reminder for those waiting to hear back, please don't be worried if we skip yours while going through them. It only means we needed a little more time to research!

Helpful links!
Taken: 1|2|3 / Reserves
Please do not app a character from either of these unless you reserved them!
Starter Pokémon!
A compiled list of the starter pokémon to choose from offered in Route 29!
Word Count Tool!
Word count! It has other pointless stats too.
Navigation


<u><b>Player</u></b> <b>Name:</b> <b>Personal Journal:</b> <user name=""> <b>E-mail:</b> <b>AIM/Plurk/Etc.:</b> <b>Timezone:</b> <b>Current Characters in Route:</b> <b><u>Character</u></b> <b>Name:</b> <b>Series:</b> <b>Timeline:</b> <b>Canon Resource Links:</b> Here we would have the links to wikis and other information sites. If none of those seem to provide enough information, feel free to add more about the character here. However, please do not use this section as a full history section unless your canon is ridiculously obscure. General rule of thumb: if there are a good amount of descriptive resources, please just link them and use this section to add in what may have been left out, as opposed to writing an entire history section. <b>Personality:</b> Give us at minimum 2-3 full paragraphs of how you understand your character's personality. Talk about basic characteristics, any major developments over the course of their canon, their motives, their social behavior, and anything else you can think of that shows off your knowledge of this character. <b>Strengths/Weaknesses:</b> Try to cover the good points of what they can do, their life skills (not necessarily powers, but things they're just good at). Go into their biggest fears and what they just can’t do. <b><u>Pokémon Information</u></b> <b>Affiliation:</b> What career path will your character be taking? Breeder, Trainer? Or maybe even down the dark path of becoming a member of Team Rocket? Note: All Rocket members start as grunts. (For right now, only those three positions are available, whether your character chooses to follow their assigned path or not.) <b>Starter:</b> What starter pokémon do you want your character to have? Please use the list linked above to choose from. Certain pokémon have an orange star next to their names; if you choose one of these starters (Deino, Zorua, Litwick, Pikachu, Scyther, Dratini, Bagon, Gible, Axew, Ralts, Riolu, Beldum, Larvitar, Eevee, or Beldum) you must provide reasoning. You do not need to explain your reasoning for pokémon other than those listed above. <b>Password:</b> This is where you'll put the passwords from the Rules and the F.A.Q. There are two words, to assure you've read both. <b><u>Samples</u></b> <b>First Person Sample:</b> The sample must take place in Route_29's setting. Eight sentences is the minimum. This is a PokéConnect post--one that will be on the character's journal, broadcast to the network. Although it is short, it needs to show how your character would communicate with others, as well as be descriptive enough to express the character's voice without sounding too generic. <b>Third Person Sample:</b> The sample must take place in Route_29's setting. The minimum is 300 words. Please note that what we are looking for is an inner working into the character’s thoughts and actions, and how the character responds to the setting, not something that could be taken as an excerpt fanfic. You may use other characters to bounce your characters actions off of, but everything should still be mostly from their point of view.

Comments

Zuko | Avatar: The Last Airbender | reserved Pt 2/3

[scalded]

Personality:

When we’re first introduced to Zuko, he’s shown as the main villain on a hopeless and what seems like a never-ending search for the Avatar. Like his father and sister, it seems that being an antagonist runs in the family. From a very young age Zuko was arrogant and hot-headed, but he proved later on that there was much more to him than explosive outbursts and being a brat. He was the heir to the throne of the Fire Nation up until he was banished by his own father shortly after the man permanently scarred the left side of his face for speaking out in a war meeting. Zuko disagreeing only went to show that while his father and the rest of the war assembly were all for sacrificing those men; Zuko cared for their well-being, and he would not stand to see their lives forfeited in such a way. What’s most ironic about Zuko’s personality and situation—he was never really the bad guy. His sister and father were to credit for that position; they got the job done, and without so much as batting an eye. No, where Zuko was concerned, his affliction had nothing to do with the world around him [the war] but more so his stripped birthright and banishment, the loss of his mother. His mental state of mind.

It's because of such hardship from a young age, such emotional turmoil, that Zuko’s unable to begin proper training in creating and manipulating lightning. He has to learn to let go of all his past hardships and shame before attempting to master such a deadly ability, which he later does accomplish.

With his family split into two halves and his mother nowhere to be found for years to come – himself with his uncle Iroh opposed to his father and sister – Zuko’s only concern and wish was to capture the Avatar so that he could retake his place at his father’s side. So he could regain his father’s love and respect including his title and right to the throne. The determination to get himself back into his father’s good graces is what compels Zuko to do the things that he does. It’s the desperation that makes him out to be the bad guy in the beginning. And yet he has no malicious intent like any of the others of the Fire Nation. For the longest while Zuko went on believing that he had the worst luck, that he was unlucky and that the world had a personal vendetta against him. Because Iroh is all the family he has left, given the situation between father and son, it’s Iroh who offers words of wisdom and advice, and/or even criticizes Zuko on the bad traits he possesses/shows. Iroh later admits that Zuko has always been like a son to him and in turn, Zuko sees his uncle as a father figure.

In the years they spent together in Zuko’s expulsion, Iroh proved himself to be the father Ozai had failed to be for the boy, always there to guide and teach him, praising him, and gently (and at times firmly) scolding him. Iroh is one of the better and major influences in Zuko’s life.

Like any other born into royalty, Zuko shows some dislike towards the idea of having to work with those who are inferior to him. Or so he believes them to be. And yet it goes against the disagreeing tone he’d taken up against his father and the war assembly in the beginning. As mediocre as someone might be, Zuko refuses to simply sacrifice them for ‘tactics’ or anything at all. The lives of human beings are not expendable; he rebuffs the thought and the views of others who might see them as such. One example would be when the Avatar was spotted during a storm and Zuko’s crew continued to set course to capture him, as planned. But Zuko had the well-being of his men in mind first and foremost and put them above his need to detain Aang. Such consideration carries on throughout the series when he chooses to save those closest to him over pursuing Aang; Uncle Iroh whenever the man lands himself captured is a prime example.

In the beginning of the second book (or rather the second season), Zuko is struggling with Iroh in the Earth Kingdom as a fugitive. They’re broke which is the complete opposite of what they’d both been born into; luxury, wealth, servants tending to their every need. While Iroh makes the best of it with the practice of both patience and wisdom, even going as far as to crack a joke or two, all of it frustrates Zuko who was born with those servants and the silver spoon. Now that that spoon is rusted and carries no more worth, Zuko finds it all the harder to accept. On top of this all, Zuko’s become prey for his sister, Azula (which is nothing really new). Throughout the second book we begin to see a change in him, a change for the better; while he had resorted to stealing for his survival prior, Zuko will absolutely not steal from those who have shown compassion towards him or those who are as deprived as he.

Patience and tolerance, kindness, cunning, and precision. These are the newer traits we begin to see in Zuko in comparison to the demanding, arrogant and hot-headed attitudes shown earlier. He even goes as far as to free the Avatar’s pet bison, Appa, from imprisonment. Something he would not have done during his pursuit for the Avatar; Zuko would have instead taken Appa into his custody to provoke and draw out the Avatar in hopes of capturing him. After Zuko falls ill and experiences dreams and hallucinations due to the dangerous fever his body runs, his outlook on life takes another surprising turn. He’s walking the positive path of life, not so much negativity anymore. But as he ends up captured and locked in a cell with one of his enemies from the Team Avatar, Katara, he finds himself gradually opening up to her about his scar and part of his past. He apologizes for what had happened, all the pain and suffering the Fire Nation had caused her in taking away her mother. It almost seems like capturing the Avatar is the farthest thing from his mind at the prospect of healing his scar, but with his scar, Zuko's at a lose/lose situation. If Katara had successfully healed his scar, each day of looking in the mirror would only show him his father's face. And if the scar wasn't successfully healed, Zuko would forever live with the reminder of his abusive father, of what had been taken from him. In the end none of that matters, as both Iroh and Aang break into their prison to free them together.

It’s during that battle where he takes up sides with his sister, Azula, to battle the Avatar and Katara. And betrays his uncle. All because of Azula’s ability to manipulate people, including him, as she used his need for his father’s approval against him.

Once his side is chosen and he returns home, Zuko finds himself conflicted by the choices he made. The emotions later make themselves known, but betraying Iroh was one of the worst things he could have ever done. In some sense Zuko could be seen as no better than his father, forsaking the members of his family for a position of power. For selfish, petty reasons. And he’s left confused and angry, for the victory he finally achieved isn’t as sweet as he had hoped it would be. Instead it’s nothing but bittersweet. Sour. It leaves a sordid taste to his tongue. The conflict within returns, brews, and this time it lashes out, unrestrained. There’s good and evil battling for dominance within him. He’s unsure of what’s right from wrong anymore. Zuko begins to steadily lose himself. He speaks to Mai [his love interest at that time] and confides that he’s unhappy. All he ever wished for was that his father treated him like the perfect son and not a disappointment and embarrassment. Zuko felt that in order to please his father he wasn’t truly being himself. It was something he couldn’t accept despite it being everything that he wanted.

The only real moment Zuko truly finds peace with himself and those around him is when he makes the decision to join Team Avatar in stopping his father and the war. He leaves behind Mai and his family, the Fire Nation, even gives up his title as Prince for the cause. Zuko was willing to give up what was most important to him for the greater good of the world. The same determination and enthusiasm we saw in him at the beginning returns but this time for the better. He comes to regret the decisions he made in the past along with his negative, insolent and callous attitude.

Zuko ends up proving that there is in fact much good in him, that he’s human and makes mistakes and shows that he's learned from them and works to right his wrongs, making the necessary sacrifices, even if in some cases he can be a bit socially awkward in doing so.

Strengths/Weaknesses:

☄ Honorable
☄ Determined
☄ Loyal
☄ Master firebender
☄ Good tracking skills
☄ Stealthy
☄ Skilled with Dao blades (dual wielding)
☄ Capable of surviving on his own/fending for himself

⛅ Inability to express/control anger (or rather simply hot tempered, particularly in season 1)
⛅ Bad at being good
⛅ Horrible at telling jokes
⛅ Horrible at making up metaphors/proverbs
⛅ Misdirected at times (his determination and pride end up being a downfall in some cases, not just a strength)

Zuko | Avatar: The Last Airbender | reserved Pt 3/3

[scalded]

Pokémon Information
Affiliation: Breeder
Starter: FIRE PIG-- I mean Tepig
Password: Scrambled Eggs

Samples
First Person Sample:

[ There's a of dragging over the microphone of the device that had been tucked in the little backpack only to be pulled out and played with. It might come off as annoying. Super annoying. And then there's a voice that speaks up, but really it only utters a frustrated oath. Seconds later that frustration only seems to grow.

What is he supposed to do with this?! They really expect him to figure this out? He doesn't have the time for that. ]

--can anyone hear me? Uh- hello?

[ More dragging follows, almost like this person is running their fingers over the mouthpiece. ]

Why did they have to make this thing so difficult!? Hghn--

[ A video appears then, following the sound of frustration. Dark red and gold shoes are half-cropped, baggy pants that tuck into the knee-high shoes. The video twists and more is shown, charred and ragged lapels, forearms marked in soot with streaks of perspiration.

The feed cuts out into audio again, and again his fingers cover the microphone, his next words muffled. ]

Maybe if I try...

... Katara? Katara, if you—

[ Whoops. Zuko's accidentally hit a button that immediately cuts the feed completely. ]

Third Person Sample:

Deciding that maybe it was a good time to actually sit down and go through the backpack hanging from his hand, Zuko crouched down to his haunches and placed the backpack in front of him. There was obviously no way he was getting back in time for finishing what he had started with Azula, not unless maybe he worked at getting up there and finding a way home. Somehow. Thinking about home and his sister only brought up the feelings of guilt and anxiety--how could he have left Katara alone to face off with Azula? It wasn't her fight, it shouldn't have been left to her. Annoyed with himself and this place, Zuko leaned over the backpace as he pulled it open, tilting the bag to peer within. How is any of this going to be of any use to me? How am I expected to get home by using any of this?

A Guide to Pokemon Breeding was pulled free.

"Breeding?" The pages were flipped through; it seemed like a lot to take in, his fingers pausing on a certain page when something large and colorful caught his eye.

"... no way. Absolutely not."

The book was snapped shut and dropped away immediately. Augh.

How was a book on breeding animals going to get him back home?!

One by one the other items and articles of clothing were pulled out and placed on the ground next to him after some initial hand shuffling. Not knowing what exactly some of these things did, the firebender leaned back to frown down at them. His eyes then drifted to look at the round ball of white and red. Without thinking much of it he reached for it, thumb pressing against the button. The sound that came from the ball took him by surprise, so much that Zuko dropped it and, with eyes wide, watched as it bounced off once to roll and then pop open.

"What--?"

Zuko half expected the ball to throw itself at him in some form of attack. He was ready for it while falling back onto his bottom, hands coming up. The light was red and flashing as some thing materialized right before his eyes.

"Tepig!"

"A hybrid pig?" At least that was what Zuko thought it was from the way it made its sound. "Uh- picken?"

"Tepig..!"

ACCEPTED!

[these_balls]

Welcome to the Wonderful World of Pokemon!
Congratulations, you have a fun and exciting adventure awaiting you.

Now that you've been accepted...
[○] Respond to this with your character's journal. This is a must!
[○] Comment in the Taken Characters post, alphabetized by series: # thru G, H thru O, or P thru Z.
[○] Comment to the Friend Add/Remove, and update your friends list.
[○] Join the following communities: route_29, route_006, route_1065, pokedaycare. Only Team Rocket personnel should join rocket_hq, but we ask that all Route members subscribe to it.
Note! You will not be accepted to the main or logs community until you've commented in the aforementioned places.
[○] If you're still on the reserved list, please let us know that they've been accepted.
[○] Please make sure to check out the Calendar for the weather and upcoming plots and swarms!
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We'd also like to take this moment to inform you of the Eastern Kanto Ferry! For only P2000, you can take a three day, all-inclusive ferry ride from New Bark Town to Pallet Town and begin a new pokémon journey in the Kanto region! Otherwise, feel free to start in Johto!

Thank you! See you in the Pokémon world!

[scalded]

Hello! o/