Name: Jake Dragomir

Are You A Boy, Or A Girl? (Or Neither) Male

Age: 18

Hometown: Ecruteak City

Height: 6’2

Bio: Jake became an apprentice researcher at RaiCorp right out of high school, on account of his cousin, RaiCorp’s owner; giving him a chance. Despite never commanding Pokemon as a trainer, Jake grew up around Pokemon and they always fascinated him. Hoping RaiCorp would give him a window to one day become a fully fledged Pokemon researcher in his own right, he sought to research the needs of people and Pokemon to help develop RaiCorp’s products.

RaiCorp however, is a company whose target demographic has always been trainers. While it would expand to begin accommodating trainers who had settled down and started familes of their own, their holographic tech and the HoloWatch — a multi-use holographic communication device — that led to their success, had always been designed with trainers in mind. Something that Jake had no experience in. He couldn’t understand the needs of trainers on the field and what would help them and their Pokemon in their daily lives.

In the end, his cousin suggested he go on a journey of his own. And the coming Duel League in his home region of Johto was the perfect opportunity to not only become a proper trainer, but to learn how to work better with other people as well as Pokemon.

To that end, he made an offer. RaiCorp would offer a sponsorship to any team that he joined for the Duel League, and he would call in a favor with Professor Elm to hook him up with a starter Pokemon. But the rest would be up to him. Jake would be put to the test in finding a team, and rising to the top as a trainer.

Jake wouldn’t have it any other way.

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Name: Ryder Ash
Are You A Boy or A Girl: Male
Age: 16
Hometown: Nacrene City
Bio: Ryder Ash loves Pokemon. He eats, sleeps, and lives for Pokemon. Little cute guys with the power beyond normal comprehension? Sign him up! Getting his first partner from the Unova professor was the best day for the 10-year-old, and he and his trusted Tepig took on the Gym Challenge by storm, battling through tough challenges, making new Pokemon companions,and eventually conquering the 8 Gyms of Unova. The Pokemon League, and the title of Champion, called for him to take it on, and Ryder-

Just... Didn't.

No one save the young man himself knew why the now 11-year-old talent would not pursue the highest challenge in Unova, but after defeating the final gym of his home region, Ryder suddenly halted. His Pokemon weren't weak, his strategies were sound and he seemed to have luck on his side, yet something outside his control led him to return to Nacrene City and take an apprenticeship under the Gym Leader, an old family friend. Many questioned the situation, calling him a tease as well as burnt out or scared, but the Gym Leader defended him in every situation, and he seemed to fit in well.

In truth, Ryder's mother had passed away the morning after his final Gym Match and supporting his deadbeat drunk of a father and his 4 siblings meant he needed a real job. Apprenticing as a Gym Trainer mean his Champion Team got to enjoy an early retirement, and his first partner Emboar eventually settled to become a father to a litter of Tepigs. Still, acting as a minor roadblock for novice trainers for 6 years slowly but surely wore down Ryder's spirit. The cheerful, excited and prideful boy became a less cheerful, less excited and far more humble young man.

Eventually, the Gym Leader, seeing his enthusiasm for his clear talent fade, offered him an
out; as a "paid work experience", she could send out one of the Gym's trainers to another region for an "indeterminate period of time". It just so happened that Johto was gearing up for a large-scale tournament known as the Duel Cup, and to get intel on the region for a year would be a great boon. Ryder, feeling something ignite in his soul he hadn't felt burning in years, accepted immediately, and nearly left without a parting gift from his mentor; a Mienfoo, odd for the Normal Type Gym Leader, young and inexperienced and perfect for raising.

Ryder and Mienfoo have been in Johto for the last 8 months; the money they've earned has been split, with 75% directly sent to his family, and the remainder used for supplies and living. He hasn't found a team yet... But that's OK! He's still got time.

Pokemon:
Chi the Mienfoo: Hatched before their trip to Johto, Mienfoo has only known his mother, Nacrene City, and little else before he became Ryder's new "first partner". Displaying an air of seriousness and meditation, Chi finds himself enamored by new experiences and places, especially new foods. His youthful excitement is rubbing off on his trainer too!

Name: Penelope-Ann Friese
Are You A Boy Or A Girl: Girl
Age: 18
Hometown: Unova Region, Countryside
Bio: A kind-faced sweetheart from the backcountry of Unova, raised by a strong-limbed, heaven-fearin' family of bakers, Penelope-Ann is the ambitious oddball of the bunch. She is the youngest of six daughters, with a natural sweet tooth and talent for training Pokémon for battle.

Penelope cultivated this talent within her region, and made a name for herself among the gym leaders in Unova, completing her gym circuit. However, she did not quite continue her pursuit of the championship due to the oldest and strongest of her Pokémon suddenly becoming debilitated by an unusual sickness, one that had swiftly stolen away its vitality, incurable even by modern medicine.

As such, Penelope stepped away from the league and took her elder Pokémon back home where it was born and raised, to let it live out the rest of its days in peace and quiet. A few years passed before Penelope would return to challenge the league, as time needed to heal the wound of parting. Despite her hiatus, she continued training Pokémon to keep herself fresh, though a strong sense of doubt kept her from pursuing the championship, ultimately stagnating her resolve.

But one day, in the midst of a shift at her parent's bakery, Penelope received a special invitational letter inviting her to partake in an international championship in the Johto region. Almost instantaneously, a fire reignited the girl's heart, and she made preparations to fly to the region.

Penny would start fresh. A new team, a new circuit, and a promise to bring back a new recipe of the rumored Johto milk bread.

Pokemon:
Fifi, the Fidough
A fresh-faced recruit, recently hatched. Fifi's mentality is that of a feisty lapdog, and is rather protective of her mistress. One may find the doughy pup to be a natural presence during any cooking process, especially if the need for yeast appears.

Name: Hilda Wyatt

Are You A Boy or A Girl: Girl

Age: 18

Hometown: Goldenrod City, Johto

Appearance: She is a trainer that stands at 5'4 and has curly, brunette hair held back ay a black headband. She wears a purple hoodie with black shorts and black running shoes. She carries a brown backpack on her back.

Bio: Hilda is a trainer who wants to gain more knowledge about Pokemon husbandry; she has experience working with Pokemon breeders and nurses throughout her volunteer work in the Johto region where she was born and raised. She opted to begin her journey later than many people due to a speech disorder that causes her to have syllable repetition plus long pauses, opting to address and work on these before taking off. She enjoys cooking treats and tending to Pokemon's needs to help them become the best of the best.

Hearing from other trainers about a Duel Cup Championship, this was an opportunity that several people encouraged the girl to pursue to begin her journey, seeing as she can use her experience to build the best team for this challenge.

Pokemon:
Finn the Cyndaquil
She received him as a starter Pokemon from Professor Elm. He has purple flames and has a timid nature.

Name: Cassandra (Casey) Oppea
Gender: Female
Age: 28
Hometown: Maile City, Alola

History: Casey is a budding Pokemon Scientist studying rumors and unexplained phenomena. To think that they've discovered all the Pokemon that currently exist in the world is a foolish thought, and she dreams of one day discovering a new species of Pokemon. Everything can be explained, one way or another.

Growing up in Malie City on Ula'ula Island of the Alola Region, she's spent almost her entire life sleeping anywhere and everywhere. Always exhausted, she's struggled to stay awake for long periods of time, despite her research and studies. Inconvenient narcolepsy, that never actually recharged her. And as such, many never really took her seriously sleeping on the job, and working under the shadow of more successful scientists who had their studies actually have tangible results weighed on her had her motivation quickly began to decay.

It wasn't until one fateful day when she was napping on Starfall Hill, escaping from the city to clear her thoughts, and think about her life, that everything changed. A shooting star had actually fell from the heavens, landing right by her side and tossing her flying. A Minior had landed next to her, and she quickly befriended it. It's entire life cycle was fascinating and the fallen star was nothing but sweet to her.

The little guy worked with her, her first Pokemon, like the sweetest lab assistant. And yet, living under the shadow of the Kantonian Gym in Maile City had slowly given her dreams of greatness. Perhaps after she beat the gym, people wouldn't view her as such a lazy scientist. They might be more willing to talk with her, to get to know her before judging her.

Only for her to fail spectacularly. She lost to the very first gym trainer. And despite a brief feeling of total failure, she saw an opportunity presented. There were signs all across the gym, advertising the League for the Johto region and she once again leaped at the chance.

To explore a new region, to discover how to battle, to make actual friends, to bond with her Pokemon, and hopefully discover something new. She felt that call to become a trainer herself, and she just couldn't refuse.

Maybe one day, she'll return and beat the gym. But maybe after a nap or two first.


Pokemon: Mini the Minior. He landed out of the skies at her feet on Starfall Hill and seemingly decided to stick by her ever since. A sweetheart, who seems to put up with Casey's constant and inconvenient naps.