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Brock and the gang return for a fourteenth season!
@Chimchar98; @The Jingster; @Tophat Dragoneye; @Soulmaster;
Week 347: The Legend of Brennan
(real tale: Brabo and the Giant)
Cheers fill the Fireside's majestic auditorium as Brock arrives onstage to begin the show's fourteenth season of tales. "Thank you..." Brock acknowledges the applause. "You hear it every year before the League begins, and I've even sang it in Indigo Stadium a few times, but what you may not know is our League anthem tells, in song, about an epic battle from folklore--what's sung before events at stadiums across Kanto is actually the last verse."
"Oh"s go up at this. "Want me to tell you about what inspired our League anthem?" Brock offers.
"Yeah"s and cheers go up in reply. "Long ago, when giants walked the earth, one of the biggest ones of all was named Argus." Brock begins before catching himself. "Well, that wasn't his original name, but someone had once told him of a fearsome giant that had a hundred eyes that bore this name; so he took it as his own."
Gasps fill the air as the crowd pictures what Argus' namesake may have looked like. "Argus was well known for being mean and cruel." Brock continues, walking around the stage as he speaks. "His castle stood by a great river, where what was then called the Aiiro City now stands. Many ships came from far and wide down this river; loaded with timber, flax, iron, cheese, fish, bread, linen, and all kinds of other things. Many merchants grew rich, and their families were well provided for. The river was grand, deep, and wide. Many a captain liked to sail on it, because there was no danger from rocks, and the scenery around it was beautiful. So every day, one could see hundreds of ships moving towards the sea, or coming in from the ocean. Kids came down to the banks in droves to see the ships coming and going. The ships brought sugar, wine, Oran Berries, Nomel Berries, olives and other good things, and wool to make clothes. Often craftsmen came from the countries to the south to tell of the beautiful cities there, and help build fine houses, beautiful shrines to Arceus, and town halls. So all the people of what is today Kanto were happy."
Brock comes to a stop at center stage and intones "But one day, the evil giant Argus built a strong castle on the river banks, with four sides and high walls, and deep down in the earth were dark, damp dungeons. One had to light a candle to find his way down there. The people wondered who lived in the foreboding castle, but they soon found out. Argus, with a big knotted club made out of an oak tree, strode through the town, and told all the people to assemble in the great town square."
Using a deep gravelly voice--his go-to "giant" voice--Brock announces “From this day forth, no ship, whether up or down the river, can pass by this place, without my permission. Every captain must pay me tribute, in money or goods. Whoever refuses or cannot pay will give his life in exchange."
Boos race through the crowd as Brock goes on as himself "As a show of his might and power, Argus proceeded to smash a merchant's cart to smithereens."
Yelps and "oh no"s waft through the crowd as Brock continues describing the terrifying events. "So every day, when the ships came, they were hailed from the giant’s castle and made to pay heavy tribute. Rich and poor alike had to hand over their money and goods. If anyone flat out refused to pay the tribute, they were brought ashore and made to kneel on a block, where they were squished flat just like the cart Argus had crushed."
The whispers turn angry at this. "If a captain had no tribute to give, he was thrown into a dungeon, until his friends bailed him out." Brock intones. "Before long, the horror stories spread far and wide, and no one dared sail to Kanto. The merchants grew poorer every day, through no fault of their own. So some of them slipped out of the city and tried to get the ships to sail at night, when they figured Argus would be asleep. But the giant’s lookouts were awake and alert as always, and every last one--man, woman, child, and Pokemon--was killed."
"Did anyone try to stop the giant?" a girl gasps, horrified at the thought of kids and Pokemon dying.
"The region was in ruins, for the foreign merchants were afraid to send their ships into Kanto." Brock intones. "The reputation of the region grew worse as well. It was nicknamed 'the land colored with tears' in Johto, while in Kalos it got the nickname 'la terre qui pleure'.--that means 'the crying land' if you don't speak French."
Nervous giggles go up as Brock continues "Eventually, the Pokemon Master of that time--Lance's distant ancestor--came to Argus' fortress and begged him to stop, for he knew full well that the giant could even destroy a whole army if he wanted to. But Argus just laughed at him. He made his castle still stronger and kept on forcing ships to pay tributes, throwing some of the crews into dungeons and killing the captains, until the Murkrows evolved into Honchkrows overnight."
He smiles, as if to assure his jittery audience that a hero was coming. "Now there was a brave young man named Brennan, who lived in what is today Pallet Town. He was proud of his homeland and her flag of red, blue, and yellow bold, and was loyal to his lord. He studied the castle well and saw a window, where he could climb up into the giant’s room."
"And then?" A boy's eyes sparkle with excitement.
"Going to the Pokemon Master, Brennan promised if his lord’s soldiers would storm the gates of the giant’s castle, that he would seek out and fight the monster one on one." Brock explains. "While they battered down the gates, he would climb the walls."
“He’s nothing but a bully and a boaster, so we should call him that, instead of Argus.” he suggests in a mimic of Ash for Brennan.
As himself, he continues "The Pokemon Master agreed. On a dark night, a thousand of his best soldiers marched with their banners, but with no drums, no trumpets, no anything that could make a noise and alert the scouts. Reaching a forest near the castle, they waited until after midnight. All the Growlithes within five miles were put into barns, so as not to bark and wake the giant up. They were given plenty to eat, so that they quickly fell asleep and were perfectly quiet.
He then narrates the play by play of the battle. "At the given signal, hundreds of men holding battering rams marched against the gates. It took a heroic effort, but they eventually smashed the iron-bound timbers and rushed in. After overcoming the garrison, they lit candles, and unlocking the dungeons, went down and set the captives free. About the same time, the barn doors where the Growlithes had been kept, were thrown open. With a mighty war howl, Growlithe and Arcanine alike charged for the castle, as if they knew what was going on and wanted in on the fun."
"But where was the giant?" a man asks
"Well, none of the captains could find him, and none of the prisoners or the garrison could tell where he had gotten to." Brock replies. "But Brennan knew that Argus was not as brave as he claimed, but actually a bully and a coward; so Brennan was not afraid. Some of his comrades outside helped him set a ladder against the wall. Then, with all the soldiers occupied defending the gates, Brennan climbed into the castle through a slit in the thick wall."
He explains "This had been cut out, like a window, for the archers, and was usually occupied by a scout."
"Oh"s go up as Brock continues "Sword in hand, Brennan made for Argus' room. Glaring at the young man before him, Argus grabbed his club and brought it down with such force that it went clear through the floor. Brennan dodged the blow and delivered a great slash with his sword. Cutting off the giant’s head, he threw it out the window, avenging the millions that had fallen by the giant's hand."
Wild cheers go up at Argus' demise. "By the time dawn broke, word spread of Brennan's valor like wildfire." Brock continues. "In a moment, every house in Kanto had candles lit, and the region was illuminated in a million points of light. From the gates of the Aiiro City came a company of maidens in white, but their leader was clothed in red, blue, and yellow, the colors of the Kanto League flag. All across Kanto, people sang the praises of Brennan their hero--which we still sing today as our League anthem, 'Red, Blue, and Yellow Bold'."
Applause and cheers go up as Brock takes a bow...
@Chimchar98; @The Jingster; @Tophat Dragoneye; @Soulmaster;
Week 347: The Legend of Brennan
(real tale: Brabo and the Giant)
Cheers fill the Fireside's majestic auditorium as Brock arrives onstage to begin the show's fourteenth season of tales. "Thank you..." Brock acknowledges the applause. "You hear it every year before the League begins, and I've even sang it in Indigo Stadium a few times, but what you may not know is our League anthem tells, in song, about an epic battle from folklore--what's sung before events at stadiums across Kanto is actually the last verse."
"Oh"s go up at this. "Want me to tell you about what inspired our League anthem?" Brock offers.
"Yeah"s and cheers go up in reply. "Long ago, when giants walked the earth, one of the biggest ones of all was named Argus." Brock begins before catching himself. "Well, that wasn't his original name, but someone had once told him of a fearsome giant that had a hundred eyes that bore this name; so he took it as his own."
Gasps fill the air as the crowd pictures what Argus' namesake may have looked like. "Argus was well known for being mean and cruel." Brock continues, walking around the stage as he speaks. "His castle stood by a great river, where what was then called the Aiiro City now stands. Many ships came from far and wide down this river; loaded with timber, flax, iron, cheese, fish, bread, linen, and all kinds of other things. Many merchants grew rich, and their families were well provided for. The river was grand, deep, and wide. Many a captain liked to sail on it, because there was no danger from rocks, and the scenery around it was beautiful. So every day, one could see hundreds of ships moving towards the sea, or coming in from the ocean. Kids came down to the banks in droves to see the ships coming and going. The ships brought sugar, wine, Oran Berries, Nomel Berries, olives and other good things, and wool to make clothes. Often craftsmen came from the countries to the south to tell of the beautiful cities there, and help build fine houses, beautiful shrines to Arceus, and town halls. So all the people of what is today Kanto were happy."
Brock comes to a stop at center stage and intones "But one day, the evil giant Argus built a strong castle on the river banks, with four sides and high walls, and deep down in the earth were dark, damp dungeons. One had to light a candle to find his way down there. The people wondered who lived in the foreboding castle, but they soon found out. Argus, with a big knotted club made out of an oak tree, strode through the town, and told all the people to assemble in the great town square."
Using a deep gravelly voice--his go-to "giant" voice--Brock announces “From this day forth, no ship, whether up or down the river, can pass by this place, without my permission. Every captain must pay me tribute, in money or goods. Whoever refuses or cannot pay will give his life in exchange."
Boos race through the crowd as Brock goes on as himself "As a show of his might and power, Argus proceeded to smash a merchant's cart to smithereens."
Yelps and "oh no"s waft through the crowd as Brock continues describing the terrifying events. "So every day, when the ships came, they were hailed from the giant’s castle and made to pay heavy tribute. Rich and poor alike had to hand over their money and goods. If anyone flat out refused to pay the tribute, they were brought ashore and made to kneel on a block, where they were squished flat just like the cart Argus had crushed."
The whispers turn angry at this. "If a captain had no tribute to give, he was thrown into a dungeon, until his friends bailed him out." Brock intones. "Before long, the horror stories spread far and wide, and no one dared sail to Kanto. The merchants grew poorer every day, through no fault of their own. So some of them slipped out of the city and tried to get the ships to sail at night, when they figured Argus would be asleep. But the giant’s lookouts were awake and alert as always, and every last one--man, woman, child, and Pokemon--was killed."
"Did anyone try to stop the giant?" a girl gasps, horrified at the thought of kids and Pokemon dying.
"The region was in ruins, for the foreign merchants were afraid to send their ships into Kanto." Brock intones. "The reputation of the region grew worse as well. It was nicknamed 'the land colored with tears' in Johto, while in Kalos it got the nickname 'la terre qui pleure'.--that means 'the crying land' if you don't speak French."
Nervous giggles go up as Brock continues "Eventually, the Pokemon Master of that time--Lance's distant ancestor--came to Argus' fortress and begged him to stop, for he knew full well that the giant could even destroy a whole army if he wanted to. But Argus just laughed at him. He made his castle still stronger and kept on forcing ships to pay tributes, throwing some of the crews into dungeons and killing the captains, until the Murkrows evolved into Honchkrows overnight."
He smiles, as if to assure his jittery audience that a hero was coming. "Now there was a brave young man named Brennan, who lived in what is today Pallet Town. He was proud of his homeland and her flag of red, blue, and yellow bold, and was loyal to his lord. He studied the castle well and saw a window, where he could climb up into the giant’s room."
"And then?" A boy's eyes sparkle with excitement.
"Going to the Pokemon Master, Brennan promised if his lord’s soldiers would storm the gates of the giant’s castle, that he would seek out and fight the monster one on one." Brock explains. "While they battered down the gates, he would climb the walls."
“He’s nothing but a bully and a boaster, so we should call him that, instead of Argus.” he suggests in a mimic of Ash for Brennan.
As himself, he continues "The Pokemon Master agreed. On a dark night, a thousand of his best soldiers marched with their banners, but with no drums, no trumpets, no anything that could make a noise and alert the scouts. Reaching a forest near the castle, they waited until after midnight. All the Growlithes within five miles were put into barns, so as not to bark and wake the giant up. They were given plenty to eat, so that they quickly fell asleep and were perfectly quiet.
He then narrates the play by play of the battle. "At the given signal, hundreds of men holding battering rams marched against the gates. It took a heroic effort, but they eventually smashed the iron-bound timbers and rushed in. After overcoming the garrison, they lit candles, and unlocking the dungeons, went down and set the captives free. About the same time, the barn doors where the Growlithes had been kept, were thrown open. With a mighty war howl, Growlithe and Arcanine alike charged for the castle, as if they knew what was going on and wanted in on the fun."
"But where was the giant?" a man asks
"Well, none of the captains could find him, and none of the prisoners or the garrison could tell where he had gotten to." Brock replies. "But Brennan knew that Argus was not as brave as he claimed, but actually a bully and a coward; so Brennan was not afraid. Some of his comrades outside helped him set a ladder against the wall. Then, with all the soldiers occupied defending the gates, Brennan climbed into the castle through a slit in the thick wall."
He explains "This had been cut out, like a window, for the archers, and was usually occupied by a scout."
"Oh"s go up as Brock continues "Sword in hand, Brennan made for Argus' room. Glaring at the young man before him, Argus grabbed his club and brought it down with such force that it went clear through the floor. Brennan dodged the blow and delivered a great slash with his sword. Cutting off the giant’s head, he threw it out the window, avenging the millions that had fallen by the giant's hand."
Wild cheers go up at Argus' demise. "By the time dawn broke, word spread of Brennan's valor like wildfire." Brock continues. "In a moment, every house in Kanto had candles lit, and the region was illuminated in a million points of light. From the gates of the Aiiro City came a company of maidens in white, but their leader was clothed in red, blue, and yellow, the colors of the Kanto League flag. All across Kanto, people sang the praises of Brennan their hero--which we still sing today as our League anthem, 'Red, Blue, and Yellow Bold'."
Applause and cheers go up as Brock takes a bow...