The Champions of Iridon (2024)

"Oh boy! We finally get to beat the final boss of the campaign today!" Bonnie cries as she hurries into the room with a small box of cereal. After putting on the winged tiara, she prepares her cereal as Ash and Serena--wearing the white bathrobe--arrive in the room.

"We still have a ways to go before them, but assuming we don't take too long with an adventure, we will get to finish the campaign today." Clemont assures Bonnie as Ash puts on the red mage's hat.

"All ready for another day of adventuring!" Misty grins as she ties on the blue towel serving as her knight's cape.

"Considering we'll be here for two weeks, we can easily fit one or two more campaigns if we wanted to." Brock notes, savoring Bonnie's huge smile when she sees that he has arrived in full minstrel costume.

"Everyone's here--so shall we get started?" Clemont smiles to cheers as he gets the book "Riddle of the Gnome Lords" and sets up the first set of encounters.

One all is ready, he reads the introduction to the adventure. "The normally peaceful gnomes of the mountains have been pillaging the countryside with unheard of ferocity. The Gnomish High Council implores you to find out who or what could be motivating the gnomes to kill, and why."

In the fantasy world, we join the party as they approach a monolithic door leading into a gnomish hall. "After carefully following the directions given to you in the High Council's letter, you reach the gates of the ancient underground gnome halls." Clemont narrates via voiceover. "You boldly call out to the occupants..."

"We're here!" Wizard Ash calls to no one in particular.

"...and the doors creak open." Clemont continues as the giant doors do this. "To your dismay, the gnomes that emerge are frothing with berserk fury and they attack your party with unnatural vigor!"

Knight Misty notices one of the crazed gnomes is urging the others on with dark magic. "If we kill the shaman first, maybe the others will flee!"

"Hah!" Valkyrie Bonnie decides to defend Minstrel Brock from one of the berserkers. But what she doesn't know is that the shaman is charging a ball of dark magic.

"Obey the sky's will, slow time down!" the shaman commands as the dark ball flies at Minstrel Brock.

Seios, higarima laisido... Minstrel Brock sings, the light ball and the dark ball canceling each other out in the center of the room.

"That's one way to get rid of a dark spell..." Knight Misty notes as she fires a Corona Blade into the center of the room, killing some of the berserkers.

"Shining light, shield from all directions!" Priest Serena commands, creating the familiar green aura to shield the group from the sharp gnomish blades. Valkyrie Bonnie dispatches another berserker, and Knight Misty freezes three more with Winter Blade.

"Haven't played this old favorite in a while..." Minstrel Brock grins as he waves Satakieli away and summons his lute, beginning the Fight Song as Knight Misty grapples with a berserker.

"Layer upon layer make your mark now...Haste!" Priest Serena commands, speeding up the group enough to make some berserkers crash into a wall. Knight Misty dispatches one and Wizard Ash kills another with a Lightning Arrow. Valkyrie Bonnie knocks the gnome shaman backwards with a Spark Blade, while Minstrel Brock scrambles to get away from a berserker.

"Don't appreciate fine music, do you?" Minstrel Brock grins as he segues into the Song of Echoes.

This angers the shaman. "Know the world of silence!" But Minstrel Brock evades the silent magic, still singing and playing all the while. His last round of echoes is enough for Valkyrie Bonnie to speed in and deliver the final blow...

"The crazed gnomes lie dead before you." Clemont reads. "You feel a great sorrow as you empty their pockets, enough for 100 gold pieces per person. What terrible force could have perverted these peace-loving folk? The answer surely lies within."

"Those poor gnomes..." Bonnie sighs as Clemont sets up the next set of encounters.

---------

In the fantasy world, Wizard Ash squints as he looks down a hallway in the gnomish hall. "You peer into the murky darkness of the once great abode of this diminutive people." Clemont narrates via voiceover as Wizard Ash motions for the others to follow him. "The shadows conceal disrepair and otherworldly guttural screams echo from the hall’s depths."

Just then, Valkyrie Bonnie draws Mailbreaker as more crazed gnomes and another shaman arrive. "The patter of tiny, murderous feet heralds the arrival of a crazed contingent of gnomish guardsmen. You must defend yourselves!"

"Let's do this!" Knight Misty takes the first shot, firing a Storm Blade into the horde of gnomes, lighting up the hall like it is daytime.

A snap followed by a lute playing the opening chords of the Fight Song gives Misty confidence to charge into the horde These guys may operate on raw power, but they forget that sometimes the best offense is a good defense!

"Mindless, spiritless, hear the immutable beat...Paralyze!" the gnomish shaman calls, firing a rain of thunderbolts at Minstrel Brock. However, Minstrel Brock is fully aware of the paralysis spell, and stops playing his lute for a moment to hum a familiar melody, stomping and clapping on the stone floor to give himself percussion as the berserker's axes and the shaman's staff go flying.

"Is that 'So, Let it Rip'? The real Bonnie instantly recognizes the song.

"That's been quite the chart topper for Lisia..." the real Brock smiles as the gnomes cover their ears to tune out Minstrel Brock's humming, stomping and clapping. "I think I'll use that for the Fight Song for these encounters."

With that, Minstrel Brock starts singing So you're sitting here alone,
Wonderin' how you could've known
That so many things, could go so wrong? The song makes Wizard Ash's arrow gain an otherworldly glow as Valkyrie Bonnie joins in, humming a fifth above Brock.

But suddenly you realize
This doesn't have to be your demise
Life is worth living,
That's cause for a smile... Minstrel Brock continues, making Knight Misty's Storm Blade arc into a beautiful but deadly flower of lightning.

He then unleashes the iconic chorus, making the hall explode in a rainbow of magic. So, let it rip!
Let it all out!
There's dancin' in the streets tonight,
And from the rooftop we will shout!
Let it rip!
Just let it go!
Watch the clouds give way to sunshine
And the night is all aglow!

The gnomes scramble to flee as Minstrel Brock starts a long and mostly improvised solo. Wizard Ash's arrows now have a rainbow aura around them, and Knight Misty's sword beams now are rainbow colored, and have the power of all the elements, and Mailbreaker has a rainbow glow around it. A gnome leaps to scratch Knight Misty, but the group's humming, clapping and stomping knocks him backwards.

So you come out of that lonely room,
It doesn't feel right to assume
That one time of sadness, will keep you down... Minstrel Brock sings again.

Just accept yourself just as you are
If you believe, you'll go that far
Better days are coming... Wizard Ash and Knight Misty sing backup.

You can do this! Minstrel Brock sings alone.

Sooooooooooo let it rip!
Let it all out!
There's magic in the air tonight,
Gotta let the world know!
Let it rip!
Just let it go!
There's color everywhere right now,
This joy I've gotta show!

Who-o-oa!

Who-o-oa!

Who-o-o-oa!

Who-o-oa!

Who-o-oa!

Who-o-o-oa!

Hm...Hm...Hm-m-m-m...

Hm...Hm...Hm-m-m-m...

Hm...Hm...Hm-m-m-m...

Hm...Hm...Hm-m-m-m...

Wizard Ash wails away on a whistle solo as Minstrel Brock continues So, let it rip!
Let it all out!
There's dancin' in the streets tonight,
And from the rooftop we will shout!
Let it rip!
Just let it go!
Watch the clouds give way to sunshine
And the night is all aglow!

Let it rip!

By now, all the gnomes have been slain by the rainbow magic, so the group continues dancing to the music as the magic swirls around them...

In the real world, the group is dancing and singing as the radio blares the song into the room. Even Clemont is having the time of his life dancing to the song.

"And that was 'So, Let it Rip' here on KLOS..." the DJ announces as Meyer turns the radio down.

"That was fun!" Bonnie wheezes as she plops back in her chair, her valkyrie tiara sitting askew on her head.

"I know how much you like that song, so I turned it up for you." Meyer smiles.

"Using a whistle for the trumpet solo at the end was pretty clever..." Misty notes, trying oh so hard not to laugh at Brock still humming the song's main motif.

"Well, the song is in G, so the trumpet solo is still playable on a D whistle." Ash explains, fingering his whistle as the group calms down from their impromptu dance party.

"Okay..." Clemont reads the aftermath of the battle. "Few things in Iridon can match the horror of a horde of crazed gnomes. The gnomes attacked you without rhyme or reason and without any regard for their own personal safety. Despite your pleas for sanity, they threw themselves against you and you were forced to slay them."

"Slaying them via dance party was pretty fun..." Misty smiles as Clemont turns to the next set of encounters.

---------

"You press on into the depths of the gnome stronghold." Clemont narrates via voiceover as we join the party in the fantasy world. "You pass the bodies of slaughtered innocents, evidence that terrible crimes have been committed here." Knight Misty notices one such body and gives a salute in memorial to the person as Valkyrie Bonnie brushes away a tear.

Clanks and clanging snap the group to attention. "Before you have time to ponder this, you see some feverish gnomes up ahead trying to lock down the passageway. If allowed to complete their task, the door may never open again. You must take the exit before it is too late!

"Come on!" Wizard Ash takes the first shot, firing a volley of fire arrows at some gnomes. Knight Misty helps by firing a Storm Blade, paralyzing a few gnomes.

"Time, rest and give your kindness to the worthy!" a voice calls, alerting Knight Misty that a shaman is present. She rolls out of the way, making the orb of evil energy explode against a wall.

"Get the shaman first!" Valkyrie Bonnie calls as she engages a gnome.

"Where is he?" Knight Misty calls as she jumps to avoid more evil magic.

"Enduring light, shield from roaring magic!" Priest Serena calls, surrounding the group in gold light. "That should protect you from the shaman's evil spells." she assures Knight Misty.

Wizard Ash picks off a gnome trying to reach him, but sees no sign of the shaman. "Where's Brock's song of seeing when we need it?"

Seilei colfin ar kadram tro... Minstrel Brock sings, revealing the gnomish shaman hiding behind a large rock near Wizard Ash's position.

"Whoa!" Priest Serena ducks to avoid a gnome's axe, then whacks him on the head with Aurora. "Please sing a fight song for your next number!" she calls to Minstrel Brock as she hurries to find a safer position.

"You got it!" Minstrel Brock snaps to summon his lute, starting the Fight Song as Valkyrie Bonnie deflects a ball of evil energy from the shaman.

"Layer upon layer make your mark now...Haste!" Priest Serena commands, speeding the group enough to evade the gnomes and regroup near where Minstrel Brock is performing. Valkyrie Bonnie tracks down the shaman and elects to engage him as the gnomes charge up the slope.

"Curses from all directions!" Valkyrie Bonnie commands as Mailbreaker cuts the shaman's robes.

"Ancient light, rise and revive!" Priest Serena calls, forming a wall around the group, blocking any attacks from the sides and behind, but allowing the group to engage the gnomes from the front. The shaman fires a blast of dark magic, but Valkyrie Bonnie evades it by jumping on a rock.

"Anyone need help?" Priest Serena asks. When she sees that no one is seriously wounded, she takes a position overlooking the Wall spell she made, just in case. Knight Misty manages to stun an entire row of gnomes with a Storm Blade just as Minstrel Brock evades an axe, seguing into the Song of Echoes all the while. The echoes batter the shaman, allowing Valkyrie Bonnie to dispatch him as Knight Misty and Wizard Ash mop up what is left of the horde...

"You breathe a sigh of relief and hammer in some iron spikes to keep the door open." Clemont reads, prompting Bonnie to whack the table a few times for effect.

He tries oh-so-hard not to laugh at his sister's impromptu sound effect as he continues "You will require additional provisions to go further into the halls, but at least the way will be clear upon your return."

"I wonder what caused the gnomes to act like this?" Ash wonders as Clemont sets up the fourth part of the adventure.

"We'll see soon enough." Misty assures him as she readjusts the blue towel she is wearing as a cape.

---------

"Who or what has driven the gnomes insane? You return to the great hall a week later, in hopes that what lies beneath the thrones of the Gnome Lords is the key to solving this deadly riddle." Clemont narrates via voiceover as in the fantasy world, the group ventures further into the gnomish halls.

"Cold moist air greets you as you return to the gnome hall and travel back down to its lowest depths." Clemont continues as Knight Misty leads the way into another large chamber, but then, Wizard Ash rears back at a disgusting smell. "A once great chamber lies shattered by some kind of primitive excavation, the stink of which is even stronger than before. The now-familiar bone-chilling howl of incensed gnome warriors splits the gloom. You must take the breach before reinforcements arrive!" he instructs as gnomish spearmen and berserkers ambush the group yet again.

Wizard Ash makes the first shot with a volley of Ice Arrows, which freezes most of the gnomish horde in place. Minstrel Brock, meanwhile, snaps to summon his lute and begins the Fight Song, evading gnomish spears all the while. Knight Misty notices the evasive dance Minstrel Brock is doing, and picks off his assailants one by one with Storm Blade.

"Hah!" Valkyrie Bonnie fires a Corona Blade, charring an entire row of gnomes. Priest Serena evades a stray spear, than whacks its owner with Aurora.

"Heavenly bolts, bring holy justice! Thundaga!" Wizard Ash commands, sending thunderbolts raining down on the horde. Valkyrie Bonnie jumps to avoid a berserker's axe, then cuts the axe in half, thanks to Weapon Break.

"Shining light, shield from all directions!" Priest Serena calls, bolstering Minstrel Brock's Fight Song even more. Knight Misty fires a Winter Blade at the floor, turning the floor to ice. One berserker tries to slice Valkyrie Bonnie, but she gravely wounds him as he slides by. Just as Minstrel Brock segues into the Song of Echoes, the echoes send the slipping gnomes flying, making them easy targets for Knight Misty to freeze them, and Wizard Ash to shatter the frozen gnomes with arrows.

As Wizard Ash's first target dies in an icy explosion, he can't help but smile as he readies his next shot. I just LOVE double damage! he thinks as he sends his next shot flying...

"As you collect valuables--a variety of Legendary jewelry--the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end." Clemont reads the aftermath of the battle. "You are clearly approaching the source of the corruption and pray to Arceus for protection against evil."

Te lei zei cra riou te ze.... Serena sings, to some giggles as she draws a nonsense symbol in the air with her finger.

Even Ash is still giggling as he leads off the reports. "Aldaron finds a Ruby Ring of Wisdomflame--the fires of knowledge in this gem will protect him from sword and spell alike."

"Meri finds a Sapphire Ring of Resolve." Misty reports. "It glows with a holy light that gives her the strength for the battles ahead."

"Larkin finds an Emerald Ring of Skysong." Brock reports. "The song of dryads in this gem will boost his physical and magical defense a little."

"Ramina finds a Diamond Ring of Purity." Serena reports. "It glows with the holy light of Arceus."

"Sanja finds a Tourmaline Ring of Bravery." Bonnie reports. "A pink one, too!" she adds as Clemont sets up the adventure's finale.

---------

"The musty stench is at its strongest in this deep cavern." Clemont narrates as the group arrives in the cavern.

Just then, Priest Serena balks at something. "Is that..."

The camera pans over to reveal a large mushroom Pokemon with Poke Ball like caps gibbering to the gnomes, its red spores causing them to go berserk. "The source of the foul miasma can be seen in the distance, gibbering to its gnomish thralls – a vile Amoonguss, tumescent with mind-controlling spores!"

Just then, the Amoonguss spots the plume on Wizard Ash's hat and the wings of Valkyrie Bonnie's tiara, and points its arm-caps at the rock the group is hidden behind, screaming an attack cry that echoes off the cave walls. "He signals to his psychotic minions and a great rumbling is heard. You must dispatch this abomination quickly before the cave collapses and traps you forever!"

Wizard Ash snaps, and an apparition of a girl in red and gold robes appears before him. "What do you know about Amoonguss?" he asks.

"Amoonguss, the mushroom Pokemon. It lures prey close by dancing and waving its arm caps, which resemble Poké Balls, in a swaying motion." the oracle apparition replies before disappearing in a flash of red light.

"That's actually a clever way to bring the Pokedex into a fantasy world." the real Misty comments as Minstrel Brock snaps to summon his lute, beginning the Fight Song as Wizard Ash shoots down a berserker from a high rock. Knight Misty helps by freezing the horde on the ground, allowing Wizard Ash to shatter their icy prisons with his next shot.

"Shining light, shield from all directions!" Priest Serena commands, forming a protective gold aura around the group.

Knight Misty freezes when she sees the Amoonguss spray a bluish powder into the room. "Sleep Powder!" is the only thing she manages to say before slumping to the cave floor, asleep. She jolts from a spear poking her, but doesn't wake up.

"Hah!" Valkyrie Bonnie fights off some gnomes surrounding Knight Misty, jumping away from axes and spears all the while. Minstrel Brock helps by segueing into the Song of Echoes, which keep the horde a safe distance away from Knight Misty.

"Yipe!" Wizard Ash scrambles to get away from a cloud of yellow Stun Spores. Once sure Minstrel Brock can control the horde, Valkyrie Bonnie scrambles to help Wizard Ash.

Priest Serena ducks to avoid a spear as she hurries to wake Knight Misty up. "Heavenly wind, carry Misty to the fountain of power! Purge!"

"Ah...that was a nice nap." Knight Misty yawns as Priest Serena heals her wounds. She dashes off to help Minstrel Brock as Valkyrie Bonnie dispatches some of the horde, allowing Wizard Ash to wound the Amoonguss with a Fire Arrow.

"That's a good idea!" Valkyrie Bonnie smiles as she paralyzes a gnome with Spark Blade.

"Well, since Charizard isn't here, I figured a Fire Arrow was the next best thing!" Wizard Ash grins as he fires another shot.

"Charizard is a valid late game summon, actually." Clemont tells the real Ash as Priest Serena dodges an axe. Valkyrie Bonnie dispatches another gnome.

Knight Misty gasps as she sees the Amoongus glow red. "It's using Bide...so we need to hit hard or use the Swanna Song soon before it can pay back the damage!"

Gatrandis favel, secret, edena... Minstrel Brock begins.
Emusto ronzen fine el balaziis...
Katoradis favel siicletu edena... The Amoonguss gasps as Minstrel Brock appears to conjure what looks like a large whorl of rainbow fire.
Emusto koron zen fine, si...

"Did Brock just use Fire Blast?" Wizard Ash asks before shielding his eyes from the multicolored explosion...

"With the Pokemon infiltrator exposed and judged via the Swanna Song, the vile fungal infection has been expunged and the gnomes are now safe!" Clemont reads. "The Gnome Lords are deeply grateful and reward you with an ancient chest filled with riches--one appropriate Legendary armor set per person, or an appropriate spell book or skill scroll."

He adds "In addition, you have also grown to level 16, so which would you rather do? Armor or have your level up skill count as the reward?"

"Let's just have our level up skill count as the reward." Misty suggests.

"Yeah, it's easier that way." Brock agrees.

Ash then leads off the reports. "Aldaron learns Wind Arrow."

"Meri learns Rose Blade." Misty reports.

"Larkin learns Ambient Drone." Brock reports.

"Ramina finds a summon scroll and makes a contract with Charizard." Serena reports, grinning at Ash before announcing the incantation. "Holy flames, entrust your power to us! Charizard!"

"Sanja learns Corona Blade." Bonnie reports as her brother sets up the next adventure....