Aaaand we're back! Sorry for the extended delay. It almost seems a bit silly to continue given the demo's been out for over a month now, but I gotta see what's at the end of the road... hopefully before we get into October!

Most of this post has been sitting in my drafts for a while, so I'm just gonna wrap it up and get it out there, then do a bit of training before coming back for the next part.

(Also finally got around to getting a new screenshot program. Hopefully this one won't do that baffling selective-washing-out thing!)

 

Ethereal Gates Demo 1.0 Screenshot

Avocet City is on the other side of some big logs. City full of lumberjacks indeed.

Ethereal Gates Demo 1.0 Screenshot

Excuse me? There's no need to be rude, kid...

Ethereal Gates Demo 1.0 Screenshot

...unless you're handing out free stuff, that is! (It's rest, as usual.)

Ethereal Gates Demo 1.0 Screenshot

Whoa. Tree trunks right through the middle of the house, huh?

Ethereal Gates Demo 1.0 Screenshot

Dang, really?

Ethereal Gates Demo 1.0 Screenshot

Oh, boy. You'd better not be missing a daughter, dude, I just went through this and I am dog tired.

Ethereal Gates Demo 1.0 Screenshot

no no no i'm not helping you with anything noooo—

Ethereal Gates Demo 1.0 Screenshot

—aaaand then he leads me over here anyway. No, that's cool, just ignore me.

"...entrance to the forest!"

Look, dude, you're the lumberjack here. Shouldn't you know how to deal with fallen trees?

Ethereal Gates Demo 1.0 Screenshot

A broken machine? Oh, hey, buddy, there's a mechanic just out on Route 4! Why don't you go talk to him, let him take care of everything and let me be on my merry way?

Ethereal Gates Demo 1.0 Screenshot

"...down on Route 4?"

And you can't go do this yourself because...?

Ethereal Gates Demo 1.0 Screenshot

*sigh*

Fine, I'll go, since your legs are selectively broken or something, but on my own time, got it? I'm checking the rest of this place out first!

Ethereal Gates Demo 1.0 Screenshot

See? Would I have gotten this free sitrus berry if I'd been out doing your job for you? Well... yes, probably eventually, but this way I get the berry now. Free stuff is always best served immediately.

(You don't seem to be able to buy any berries here, at least not for now.)

Ethereal Gates Demo 1.0 Screenshot

You don't say. Are you accepting donations? I've got two naughty, poké ball–wasting/command-ignoring polbee that could contribute to your hives...

Ethereal Gates Demo 1.0 Screenshot

#DidYouActuallyJustSay"Hashtag"OutLoud? Forget this, I'm not giving my polbee away to someone who literally prepends "hashtag" to his casual conversation, or whatever you just did. Nerd.

Ethereal Gates Demo 1.0 Screenshot

The gym is the only other place of interest for now, and since I'm feeling a little gun-shy after the Regina incident I think I'll be coming back to meet Beckett later. I guess the walk back to the mechanic's cabin will be good for some more training, at least. I still don't have gear grind yet.

Ethereal Gates Demo 1.0 Screenshot

Never mind, one battle was enough, this errand is pointless again.

Ethereal Gates Demo 1.0 Screenshot

*siiiiiiigh*

Ethereal Gates Demo 1.0 Screenshot

Just make sure they pay you themselves, because I sure ain't coming back for 'em.

Also, he seems to stop healing your party after giving you the machine part. I suppose it's not a big loss considering Avocet is right there, but still, awww. :(

Ethereal Gates Demo 1.0 Screenshot

Yeah, yeah, it's right here. You're gonna pay me now, right? Free HM? Fishing rod? Make this worth my time, lumberjerk.

Ethereal Gates Demo 1.0 Screenshot

Whooo! All is forgiven in the presence of free stuff!

Ethereal Gates Demo 1.0 Screenshot

Wait, this doesn't remove the obstacle immediately? I mean, sure, logically it wouldn't be immediate, but... but... training... One of my pokémon is only level 13... please don't make me go into the gym oh god—

Ethereal Gates Demo 1.0 Screenshot

no no no no no nononononoNO—

Ethereal Gates Demo 1.0 Screenshot

No you aren't! You're all just standing there, doing nothing but facing the street and lying to distraught children!

sigh Whatever, lumberjerk. Gonna have to head back out to Route 4 and train at least a little more, then. At a minimum catch everyone I can up to 16–17. I've got no idea what Beckett's got waiting for me, but I don't intend to go in quite so woefully unprepared this time!