Luther Hartmann
May 26, 2019 12:09:41 GMT -8
Post by pandafox on May 26, 2019 12:09:41 GMT -8
Trainer Profile
Character Name: Luther Hartmann
Gender: Male
Age: 26
Trainer Class: Backpacker
Height: 6' 3” (190.5cm)
Weight: 175 lbs (79.38kg)
Hair Color & Style: His hair is so blonde its practically white. It's a short shaggy, greasy, mess that tends to fall in front of his eyes, and looks like the closest it gets to a comb is his fingers raking through it on occasion.
Eyes: Large, expressive, greenish blue eyes which are often underscored by dark shadows from little sleep and a frequent scowl. His eyebrows match his hair color, and are rather thin, not that they are often noticeable beneath his messy hair, except when he has pushed his hair out of the way if only so one can see the skeptical quirk of a raised eyebrow, or better suffer the effect of his glare.
Clothing/Accessories:
Luther dresses for the outdoors, where he spends most of his time. It shows in the wear and tear on his clothing.
Most commonly he is dressed in well-worn denim jeans usually rumpled and covered with dust from the road at least. Held securely in place by a sturdy braided belt, these jeans have plenty of pockets for holding all sorts of things. In the harshest of heats, some of his dingiest jeans have been cut into shorts to prolong their life and his, however this is only the case in harsh tropics and blazing deserts.
His upper body is clad in an equally dingy shirt, long or short sleeved depending on the climate. None of them bear logos or designs, simple functional shirts that are wrinkled enough to tell you they are probably just stuffed in a bag and cycled through rather than properly folded. As the need arises sometimes these shirts are layered with others for extra insulation.
Overtop of his pants and shirts, Luther sports his longtime and weary companion, a long brown coat. Water resistant, with many pockets, and a good lining (he has had replaced more than once) this sturdy all-weather jacket seems as much a part of the dusty traveler who wears it as their skin. Its pockets serve as a frequent home for the traveler’s hands, and the smell of smoke from campfires, tobacco, and herbal cigarettes cling to it as much as to the wearer.
On his feet he generally wears heavy full-grain leather mountaineering boots. Of any article of clothing, these seem to be the most taken care of and the least worn out, as he actually bothers to replace them from time to time. That’s not to say they seem shiny and new (unless they are at the time), these are generally caked in mud and dust like the rest of his attire tends to be.
A constant traveler, Luther is almost never seen without his large and sturdy backpack. It carries all his essentials that do not fit in his pockets. The backpack is stuffed full of things like spare clothes, a wok, rope, a tent, scarfs, bandannas, swimtrunks, clothespins, rain pants, a poncho, bug netting, emergency flares, rations, a collapsible shovel, pokémon food, first aid kit, and other outdoor survival necessities. His bedroll is usually rolled up nicely and either tied to the top or slung under the bottom. Basically it is the most important possession he owns, because it holds almost everything he owns.
Hung from a sturdy line around his neck, tucked under his shirt, is a small gold ring, set with a pearl.
General Appearance:
Luther is on the taller side of average male height; but without his coat and backpack to help distort his silhouette, he lacks the kind of bulk that would make him a particularly imposing figure. Prone to skipping meals (sometimes by necessity), Luther is skinny not sculpted. His wiry musculature comes from the exercise he gets trekking all across Godai.
Luther tends to walk with a slouch, the overall bearing and posture of someone who barely managed to get out of bed. He doesn’t stroll so much as trudge from point A to point B, with a gaze that is frequently downcast. When he travels down a street he rarely adjusts his path to avoid others; but instead seems to challenge them to get out of his way through either indifference or aggression. Often has his hands stuffed in his jacket pockets if they aren’t occupied by his, near constant, smoking habit.
Long, bony, fingers are usually holding an herbal cigarette, but the tobacco stains of the real thing still linger faintly, and sometimes he backslides. When he smokes it more often looks like a force of unconscious habit than an act that causes pleasure or enjoyment.
Generally tired, there are often dark circles or bags under his eyes, and his pale skin that refuses to tan is often dirty from sweat and travel, thus giving many the impression of a homeless vagrant than a traveling pokémon trainer.
In cities and urban areas Luther’s brow tends to be knit more into a scowl most of the time, and he has the air of someone being stuck somewhere they very much do not wish to be. Tension is held up in his neck and shoulders as if expecting danger. However in less densely urban regions, and especially in the wilderness he seems to relax more, and on a really good day, a smile might even break through his generally blank expression.
Hometown: Tiensee Town, South Godai
Birthday: April 21, 175AG
Atrological Signs: Cirristeir the Bouffaland, Year of the Munchlax.
{Personality}
Personality:
On the surface, Luther is either a quiet, distant, guy who likes to be left alone and keeps to himself. Alternatively he’s a rude jerk who smokes and doesn’t apologize for bumping in to people on the sidewalk. Allegations of possible homelessness come from both angles. He wasn’t always like this; in fact he used to be a pretty upbeat and optimistic individual. But this isn’t about the past, that’s what History is for.
Generally, Luther is a quiet guy who prefers to keep to himself. He is not particularly fond of large crowds or noisy places, as such he tends to avoid them whenever possible. Of course, his aversion to noisy places seems to only account for noises of the human variety. He has no problem admiring an active volcano or the basin of a cascading waterfall. Luther is simply much more at home around nature than around people. The latter set him on edge, which tends to spin him towards the role of a short tempered and irritable loner, with a grudge against the world.
A lot of this surly demeanor stems from a much stronger underlying condition. Luther is depressed. While he is better now than he has been for the last 2 years, some times things can send him spiraling back to the depths. When this happens he can become lethargic and self-destructive. He smokes more heavily, drinks, and gets in to fights. Depression isn't something anyone can just “get over” or “snap out of” though how he acts in his depression could be controlled better; but it would take a great effort of will power. Eventually he generally returns to a more functional state of mind; but it takes time.
It has been touched on twice already; but let's talk about Luther's most obvious habit. Smoking was something he picked up during the darker days of his depression. When he got rid of most of those bad habits, this one seemed to cling harder than the others. The addiction having stuck beyond the self destructive tendencies. Luther has since attempted to quit several times, but finds he is less irritable when smoking. He's cut back on tobacco quite a lot generally using herbal cigarettes instead; but he hasn't thrown out every last pack of his old unfiltered favorite brand. On a particularly bad day, they will find his way back in to his hands “just to take the edge off”. That said, he never throws cigarette butts anywhere but in a proper disposal receptacle. He may have little regard for his own health, but the wilderness doesn't need to suffer for his bad habit!
Bad habits not withstanding, Luther is actually a clever individual. Luther has always been a quick thinker. Weather it was scheming to find a new way to show off his Pokémon know how, or figuring out how to get a good shot of some exclusive contests he was always the kid with the plan that wouldn’t miss. When he got older, his quick wit helped him to entertain his fans and attract new ones as a vlogger. Nowadays, where his knowledge leaves off, his mind picks up, helping him work his way out of dangerous situations. A combination of being well informed and fast thinking are as great a tool as anything he could carry in his bag. This talent would no doubt carry over into Pokémon battles where fast and tactical decisions must constantly be made.
A quick wit will only get someone so far, however. To back up intellectual swiftness, Luther wields a heft bank of information. Knowledge is power. Luther has always been aware of this fact, to some extent. When he first discovered his love of pokémon and knew he wanted to dedicate his life to them in some way, he studied through observation. As he grew older, Luther would read books and articles on these subjects of interest. He tries to stay aware of the latest in pokémon theory and news. Having studied more than the short version pokédex blurb that the average trainer can gets at a glance has helped him to get by in the wild, and used to help him to color his vlog entries with more interesting facts and informed assumptions.
Even the smartest individuals have flaws, this is no less true for Luther than anyone else. For all his love of silence, Luther can’t seem to keep his mouth shut. His internal bitterness and defiance seems to sneak out both where safe and not. He’ll insult people who make “stupid mistakes”, back-talk authority figures, and even speak his mind about large and surly individuals… to their faces. This trait does not help him make friends very often, and is very good at getting him in trouble if not endangering his life. When the quippy-ness of a former vlogger turns to aggravated snark, it is far less amusing and far more annoying, particularly when the speaker refuses to back down or apologize.
If nothing else, that particular bad habbit helped enforce one of Luther's strengths. He's tough. Luther went through a dark stretch of time in a haze of depression, lashing out at himself and others for his pain. He spent a lot of time getting thrown out of a fair number of bars, and so learned how do slug his way through a brawl or two. His mouth has helped him stay in shape by practicing how many times he can bounce his face off someone's fist. Picking fights is only part of it though, as he's learned to endure a lot of physical challenges by spending most of his time in the wild. High temperatures in arid lands, freezing mountain tops, humid jungles, and forests filled with dangers have been no stranger to him in recent years. As such, Luther could be considered tougher than your average Joe. Not that fake-macho tough you often see on tv and commercials either.
Despite the grizzled and sour exterior, the soft person he used to be is still in there. It shows itself in Luther's artistic side. When Luther was young he liked to draw. As he got older his work got better but it was mostly a private affair. As he got into his v-log his artistic side instead found outlet in finding the perfect shot for his camera to record from. It also showed in how he chose to describe pokemon battles and contests. He has a keen eye for aesthetics though now he tends to only look for them in nature. He has recently begun sketching again.
Of course all Artistic types come with a certain set of stereotypes to which Luther is not immune. To put it bluntly, Luther is a mess. While he has his knowledge and skills at his disposal, you'd never expect it coming from someone as disheveled as he is; but this is more than just an appearance issue. A good wilderness guide knows the importance of keeping things prepared and organized so you can get to what you need to, when you need to. Luther barely remembers to fold his tent properly before cramming it in his bag, and often has to spend several minuets to find anything he needs inside it. He puts little to no stock in his appearance so can sometimes be mistaken for a bum, and his thoughts are often as tangled up as his socks. He has always had an inclination towards disorder; but his friends and family used to help keep him sorted out and straightened up. Now that he spends more time alone he encounters problems like trying to figure out which map he should be using, before realizing he forgot the one he needs back home.
Fortunately for Luther, problems like that last one can be minimized thanks to his somewhat recently acquired set of skills. Until 2 years ago, camping was something Luther loved to do. It was part of why he made many of the choices he did with his education and planning for his future. Having attended secondary school and GSUC on course for becoming a pokémon ranger. When he went over the edge he seemed to forget about that part of himself. However more recently, through the help of friends, he has re-discovered a fondness and affinity for the great outdoors. Luther knows many useful survival tips and tricks which helps him to travel safely through even the most rugged environments, and makes him more skilled in seeking out the things that live in the wild. He has a reverence and respect for nature, and the pokémon that inhabit it. It is out in the wilderness that he feels more at ease and at peace, able to separate himself from all the thoughts that urban life reminds him of. Focusing on survival more than any other thought.
At heart, Luther is a passionate person, locking intensely with things, people, and ideas he feels he has an affinity with. This passion used to come out the most in his vlog, but it also helped him to push himself tin his classes, to chase his dreams, and make the risky decisions that would often result in great rewards. However this passion can be taken too far and shift into obsession, as his current quest is in a dangerous position to become. His passion was turned against himself when he suffered a great loss and it almost drove him to oblivion. It is probably why he is still struggling with letting go and healing. Call it passion or call it temper, sometimes he gets so riled up by things he has problems with (or things he chooses to take issue with to avoid the real source), that he will lash out at them, screaming at traffic or looking to teach some thugs a lesson. However he can also get frustrated with the smaller annoyances and stresses of life, or over internal dilemmas, and lash out at things and people he cares about which will fill him with regret which makes him angrier with himself, driving his emotions even deeper into negativity, which he has difficulty coming back from.
The things that Luther does care about are few and precious. As he bonds with pokémon, he will likely be very concerned over them to the point that he isn’t able to make riskier moves on the off chance that they might be seriously hurt, not wanting to risk their safety. This could inhibit his ability to be an effective trainer. This overprotective nature would likely extend to anyone he bonds with as a person as well. Not wanting to ask for their help with anything dangerous, and constantly overextending himself or smothering them to make sure they aren’t at risk.
Beyond his walls, and negativity, there is still a real Luther that isn’t just the shell he puts forward. On the whole he is a difficult person to get to know on more than a surface level; but if one manages it they might find a wellspring of hurt, hope, and determination. He can be a fiercely loyal and devoted friend who will help his friends reach for their goals, often times temporarily putting aside his own.
Luther has always believed in following your heart rather than just what you think is the smart thing to do, and letting your brain figure out how to safely do that. In the end though, he feels the heart should always win out over the smart thing if the two paths are opposed. He believes in old legends and magic, feeling that for all his knowledge there is more to the world than what the sciences teach. He can see and appreciate beauty and art in both the big and the small, enjoying the simple wonders that can be found in nature, and in people.
He may be a dreamer, but he reaches for those dreams with a determination many would find admirable. While the loss and the wounds he suffered because of it may have blocked out his optimism and made him more cautious than before, it is no doubt still waiting, beneath the hurt, to show the world the person he can be. Even in the haze he has entered, and perhaps under a different goal, Luther is chasing a dream he had pushed aside for a long time, and there is little but himself standing in his way now.
Personality:
On the surface, Luther is either a quiet, distant, guy who likes to be left alone and keeps to himself. Alternatively he’s a rude jerk who smokes and doesn’t apologize for bumping in to people on the sidewalk. Allegations of possible homelessness come from both angles. He wasn’t always like this; in fact he used to be a pretty upbeat and optimistic individual. But this isn’t about the past, that’s what History is for.
Generally, Luther is a quiet guy who prefers to keep to himself. He is not particularly fond of large crowds or noisy places, as such he tends to avoid them whenever possible. Of course, his aversion to noisy places seems to only account for noises of the human variety. He has no problem admiring an active volcano or the basin of a cascading waterfall. Luther is simply much more at home around nature than around people. The latter set him on edge, which tends to spin him towards the role of a short tempered and irritable loner, with a grudge against the world.
A lot of this surly demeanor stems from a much stronger underlying condition. Luther is depressed. While he is better now than he has been for the last 2 years, some times things can send him spiraling back to the depths. When this happens he can become lethargic and self-destructive. He smokes more heavily, drinks, and gets in to fights. Depression isn't something anyone can just “get over” or “snap out of” though how he acts in his depression could be controlled better; but it would take a great effort of will power. Eventually he generally returns to a more functional state of mind; but it takes time.
It has been touched on twice already; but let's talk about Luther's most obvious habit. Smoking was something he picked up during the darker days of his depression. When he got rid of most of those bad habits, this one seemed to cling harder than the others. The addiction having stuck beyond the self destructive tendencies. Luther has since attempted to quit several times, but finds he is less irritable when smoking. He's cut back on tobacco quite a lot generally using herbal cigarettes instead; but he hasn't thrown out every last pack of his old unfiltered favorite brand. On a particularly bad day, they will find his way back in to his hands “just to take the edge off”. That said, he never throws cigarette butts anywhere but in a proper disposal receptacle. He may have little regard for his own health, but the wilderness doesn't need to suffer for his bad habit!
Bad habits not withstanding, Luther is actually a clever individual. Luther has always been a quick thinker. Weather it was scheming to find a new way to show off his Pokémon know how, or figuring out how to get a good shot of some exclusive contests he was always the kid with the plan that wouldn’t miss. When he got older, his quick wit helped him to entertain his fans and attract new ones as a vlogger. Nowadays, where his knowledge leaves off, his mind picks up, helping him work his way out of dangerous situations. A combination of being well informed and fast thinking are as great a tool as anything he could carry in his bag. This talent would no doubt carry over into Pokémon battles where fast and tactical decisions must constantly be made.
A quick wit will only get someone so far, however. To back up intellectual swiftness, Luther wields a heft bank of information. Knowledge is power. Luther has always been aware of this fact, to some extent. When he first discovered his love of pokémon and knew he wanted to dedicate his life to them in some way, he studied through observation. As he grew older, Luther would read books and articles on these subjects of interest. He tries to stay aware of the latest in pokémon theory and news. Having studied more than the short version pokédex blurb that the average trainer can gets at a glance has helped him to get by in the wild, and used to help him to color his vlog entries with more interesting facts and informed assumptions.
Even the smartest individuals have flaws, this is no less true for Luther than anyone else. For all his love of silence, Luther can’t seem to keep his mouth shut. His internal bitterness and defiance seems to sneak out both where safe and not. He’ll insult people who make “stupid mistakes”, back-talk authority figures, and even speak his mind about large and surly individuals… to their faces. This trait does not help him make friends very often, and is very good at getting him in trouble if not endangering his life. When the quippy-ness of a former vlogger turns to aggravated snark, it is far less amusing and far more annoying, particularly when the speaker refuses to back down or apologize.
If nothing else, that particular bad habbit helped enforce one of Luther's strengths. He's tough. Luther went through a dark stretch of time in a haze of depression, lashing out at himself and others for his pain. He spent a lot of time getting thrown out of a fair number of bars, and so learned how do slug his way through a brawl or two. His mouth has helped him stay in shape by practicing how many times he can bounce his face off someone's fist. Picking fights is only part of it though, as he's learned to endure a lot of physical challenges by spending most of his time in the wild. High temperatures in arid lands, freezing mountain tops, humid jungles, and forests filled with dangers have been no stranger to him in recent years. As such, Luther could be considered tougher than your average Joe. Not that fake-macho tough you often see on tv and commercials either.
Despite the grizzled and sour exterior, the soft person he used to be is still in there. It shows itself in Luther's artistic side. When Luther was young he liked to draw. As he got older his work got better but it was mostly a private affair. As he got into his v-log his artistic side instead found outlet in finding the perfect shot for his camera to record from. It also showed in how he chose to describe pokemon battles and contests. He has a keen eye for aesthetics though now he tends to only look for them in nature. He has recently begun sketching again.
Of course all Artistic types come with a certain set of stereotypes to which Luther is not immune. To put it bluntly, Luther is a mess. While he has his knowledge and skills at his disposal, you'd never expect it coming from someone as disheveled as he is; but this is more than just an appearance issue. A good wilderness guide knows the importance of keeping things prepared and organized so you can get to what you need to, when you need to. Luther barely remembers to fold his tent properly before cramming it in his bag, and often has to spend several minuets to find anything he needs inside it. He puts little to no stock in his appearance so can sometimes be mistaken for a bum, and his thoughts are often as tangled up as his socks. He has always had an inclination towards disorder; but his friends and family used to help keep him sorted out and straightened up. Now that he spends more time alone he encounters problems like trying to figure out which map he should be using, before realizing he forgot the one he needs back home.
Fortunately for Luther, problems like that last one can be minimized thanks to his somewhat recently acquired set of skills. Until 2 years ago, camping was something Luther loved to do. It was part of why he made many of the choices he did with his education and planning for his future. Having attended secondary school and GSUC on course for becoming a pokémon ranger. When he went over the edge he seemed to forget about that part of himself. However more recently, through the help of friends, he has re-discovered a fondness and affinity for the great outdoors. Luther knows many useful survival tips and tricks which helps him to travel safely through even the most rugged environments, and makes him more skilled in seeking out the things that live in the wild. He has a reverence and respect for nature, and the pokémon that inhabit it. It is out in the wilderness that he feels more at ease and at peace, able to separate himself from all the thoughts that urban life reminds him of. Focusing on survival more than any other thought.
At heart, Luther is a passionate person, locking intensely with things, people, and ideas he feels he has an affinity with. This passion used to come out the most in his vlog, but it also helped him to push himself tin his classes, to chase his dreams, and make the risky decisions that would often result in great rewards. However this passion can be taken too far and shift into obsession, as his current quest is in a dangerous position to become. His passion was turned against himself when he suffered a great loss and it almost drove him to oblivion. It is probably why he is still struggling with letting go and healing. Call it passion or call it temper, sometimes he gets so riled up by things he has problems with (or things he chooses to take issue with to avoid the real source), that he will lash out at them, screaming at traffic or looking to teach some thugs a lesson. However he can also get frustrated with the smaller annoyances and stresses of life, or over internal dilemmas, and lash out at things and people he cares about which will fill him with regret which makes him angrier with himself, driving his emotions even deeper into negativity, which he has difficulty coming back from.
The things that Luther does care about are few and precious. As he bonds with pokémon, he will likely be very concerned over them to the point that he isn’t able to make riskier moves on the off chance that they might be seriously hurt, not wanting to risk their safety. This could inhibit his ability to be an effective trainer. This overprotective nature would likely extend to anyone he bonds with as a person as well. Not wanting to ask for their help with anything dangerous, and constantly overextending himself or smothering them to make sure they aren’t at risk.
Beyond his walls, and negativity, there is still a real Luther that isn’t just the shell he puts forward. On the whole he is a difficult person to get to know on more than a surface level; but if one manages it they might find a wellspring of hurt, hope, and determination. He can be a fiercely loyal and devoted friend who will help his friends reach for their goals, often times temporarily putting aside his own.
Luther has always believed in following your heart rather than just what you think is the smart thing to do, and letting your brain figure out how to safely do that. In the end though, he feels the heart should always win out over the smart thing if the two paths are opposed. He believes in old legends and magic, feeling that for all his knowledge there is more to the world than what the sciences teach. He can see and appreciate beauty and art in both the big and the small, enjoying the simple wonders that can be found in nature, and in people.
He may be a dreamer, but he reaches for those dreams with a determination many would find admirable. While the loss and the wounds he suffered because of it may have blocked out his optimism and made him more cautious than before, it is no doubt still waiting, beneath the hurt, to show the world the person he can be. Even in the haze he has entered, and perhaps under a different goal, Luther is chasing a dream he had pushed aside for a long time, and there is little but himself standing in his way now.
{History}
History:
Luther was born in North Godai, in Cascadia city, to Randell and Valerie Hartmann. He was primarily looked after by his mother for the first year of his life. Valerie was also a professional Pokémon Coordinator, who had made a name for herself in the Master Class circuit, after retiring from the TIS after only 2 badges. Luther's father worked as the manager of a pokémart.
Form a very young age Luther was surrounded by pokémon, being at contests and battles. He was fascinated by them from his earliest days and knew he would want to spend the rest of his life doing something with pokémon. Eventually his family moved from Cascadia to Tiensee Town, because there were better work opportunities there for Luther's Father, which was important since they had another baby on the way. Luther’s dad had been given a promotion that required a transfer and his mother had decided she wanted to dedicate more time to her children and family, so was going to step back from the faster paced life of a professional coordinator.
Luther, age seven, wasn’t sure how he felt about the new city, the new school, or the new baby. He wrote several letters back to his friend, Skylar, in Cascadia City, complaining about everything. However, his attitude changed when he attended his new school, and met another kid, new to town, by the name of Delilah. Delilah and Luther became best friends and boon companions from the day they met. The two found they had many common interests, and tastes. As they grew up together they shared everything from toys and snacks to hopes and dreams.
While they were still young, Luther and Delilah would go to the local Pokémon Center, Park, and Contest Hall regularly to watch pokémon trainers interact with their pokémon, train and battle. They would go together, and often along with Luther's brother Alberic. A few years after moving to Tiensee, they were joined by Luther's cousins Layla, Bailey, and Momoka whose families also moved to the city. Delilah had no cousins or siblings her own age; but quickly adopted Luther’s family as if they were her own and the 6 were a tight knit pack of their own accord.
All through primary school these children were an inseparable team that would spend time together at the park, school, and even the library playing and growing together as a tight knit group. They shared dreams, ideas, and ambitions with one another, and overcoming the struggles of young life. When Momoka and Layla started attending Secondary school, the group began to drift a little apart; their interests beginning to lie more in less common places; but they still shared a bond and a love for one another that remained as a lasting friendship.
When Luther started in secondary school his long time, long distance friend Skylar and his family, moved from Cascadia to Tiensee Town as well and the two found that they made just as good friends in person as they had as kids and as pen pals. They both shared a dream of becoming pokémon trainers someday and had planned to be rivals in the field. Though Skylar focused his studies more towards the TIS while Luther chose classes that favored a future as a Pokemon Ranger.
It didn't take Luther long to realize Skylar had a crush on Luther's cousin, the slightly older Layla. Skylar had been about to share his feelings when she and her mother moved back to Cascadia City to be closer to their familiar contest halls. Luther urged Skylar to tell her how he felt before she got away, and it turned out that Layla liked him too. While the two were too young for long distance love to really last, things did not end on bad terms either, so they were all still able to remain friends.
As he got older Luther continued to focus on his goal of being a pokémon trainer, and studying hard in classes that would help him become a pokémon ranger. Luther was eager to do his part to help the natural habitats of pokémon and knew that rangerdom was a long way off so he looked for a way to do his part in the meantime. Luther started his vlog at 16 as a way to educate younger or less informed kids on what it meant to be a pokémon trainer, and about pokémon themselves. His creative and informative commentary, as well as the honest and friendly way he presented himself made it mildly successful, moreso when he began filming local pokémon battles and amateur contests, in addition to interviewing real trainers. Luther knew he was well past the earliest one could set out on a journey as part of the TIS but his family, himself, and Delilah all thought it would be better for them to finish school first.
The motivation to stay where home and family was, only became stronger when Luther and Delilah's long time friendship evolved into a romantic relationship. This change was only surprising to them, it seemed, because both their families had seen it coming for a long time. As they continued to attend school together, Luther and Delilah also planned for their futures together, knowing the road ahead wouldn't be easy; but something they both wanted to try for.
Luther’s brother, Alberic, was more academically and research minded than the rest of the group of friends and so went on to college to work towards a degree in pokémon research and technology, finding the science around pokémon far more fascinating than the act of training and battling them alone. He got accepted into an early admittance program at GSUC; but was too frightened to take the risk until Luther talked him in to chasing after his dream as well. Luther helped his younger brother break the news to their parents, who were happy for their son but afraid for him leaving home so soon, especially to move as far away as Central. Still they could not argue with the scholarships he had earned or all the work he had done to get them, and they let him go.
Still at home, Luther and Delilah got engaged just after graduation, knowing they would have to wait many years before getting married, because they both wanted to finish their degrees first. Delilah planned to earn her degree in pokémon medicine, while Luther was going to get a degree structured more towards becoming a pokémon ranger. Their plan was to get married after graduating college and spend a year together trying their hands at the TIS, before deciding what steps to take next. As fall approached, Delilah got accepted to GSUC in Central with partial scholarship, while Luther's application was rejected. Knowing this might happen, the two chose to continue their relationship long-distance while Luther stayed at home to get his generals and try again in a year, while Delilah moved to Central.
Luther's friend Sklar, on the other hand, was not going to wait for the lovebirds and had no intention of going to college. He promised Luther to “show them the ropes” when they became trainers and set off on his journey in the TIS alone. Luther would add segments to his vlog called “Letters from Skylar” on occasion and continued to appease his fanbase while attending a smaller university.
After a year, Luther got accepted in to GSUC when he applied again, and he and Delilah were excited that they would be able to see eachother again. However, their plans changed when Luther was offered to take part in a special class/internship for a semester learning from a ranger in the field, at the station near Boilsport Power Plant. It was an opportunity too good to pass up. While it wasn't an easy decision for either of them, Luther and Delilah agreed it was for the best that he take this chance.
The following semester, Luther finally moved to Central, and the relationship that had been strained by the distance became revitalized. Luther and Delilah were still busy hitting the books and studying; but being in the same city made it much easier to spend their sparse free time together rather than writing letters and pining at a x-transceiver screen. Luther's change of venue also helped his v-log immensely as the scene in Central was much more abuzz than it had been back in Southern Godai. His upload pace was slower due to schoolwork, but the return of his co-host had also helped offset that.
This blissful year that likely saved their relationship proved to be the hearvest before a long winter. Once again the couple's individual dreams put them on a course that would force them to be apart. Delilah was offered an internship at a teaching hospital in Kotoba which was more hands on than her current opportunities at Central (where she was secretly beginning to struggle to match the pace of GSUC). The tables had turned around and this time it was Delilah who had an opportunity she could not turn down. It was only supposed to be for a semester, Luther and Delilah again agreed to keep the relationship, despite the distance, and she moved away.
After the semester had ended, Delilah had been offered a longer-term arrangement if she transferred over too the university there. It was a very difficult decision; but eventually it was a choice she had to make. Luther understood when she told him how she was struggling at GSUC and supported her decision to make the switch despite the fact that it would keep them apart for much longer.
Manwhile, Luther was doing exceptionally well in his classes, and with more time to himself he kept busy with his v-log. The income helped to offset tuition costs as well as cover the occasional ticket to go see Delilah. Over the next year, aside from the long distance relationship, things in his life seemed to be going well. Graduation soon loomed on the horizon.
The distance had been hard on their relationship. Luther and Delilah found themselves getting into arguments over small things, and finding it more difficult to spend time together as finals approached. It became clear to them both that their relationship was at a crucial point, and the two made time to have a sincere and open discussion about where they were headed. Getting married right after graduation no longer seemed like the ideal plan; but neither of them wanted to break up. It turned out that this was still something they both wanted to fight for. With the strain of distance and school out of the way, they hoped that things would get better and they would find themselves as happy as they had been before Delilah moved away. Luther and Delilah agreed that after graduation they would get their official trainer licenses, and try their hand at the TIS for a year like they had planned. Hoping this would save their troubled relationship. Luther could not go to Delilah's graduation as her school schedule had it right in the middle of when GSUC was having final exams. However, Delilah was going to make it to Luther's to show that she still cared for him as strongly as ever, and so they could start their adventure together as soon as possible.
As final exams drew to a close, a sleep deprived; but exuberant Luther posted a late night V-log entry about his pre-graduation jitters. He was excited to learn he had passed all his classes, not with honors; but not by a slim margin either. The aspiring trainer promised his viewers an entry with Delilah “in two days” taking his fans along for the ride as they began the process of getting their licenses and applying for the TIS. Something they were both sure would be significantly easier than graduating college.
That was the last entry for Luther's long lasting vlog.
At graduation, the whole day seemed like a blur. It was such a surreal experience to finally be crossing that stage, and to realize all his study was at an end. Luther accepted his diploma and looked to see all his family and friends smiling proudly back at him. Well, everyone except Delilah.
After the ceremony, Luther had tried to call her, hoping that perhaps her train had gotten delayed. He was worried that perhaps she had decided to back out at the last moment and end the relationship. Still it seemed so unlike her to not tell him so to his face. He did not hear from her at all that day, even calling to find out where she was, only to have un-returned messages and unanswered calls.
The mystery was explained the following day when he received a phonecall in the early morning hours. However, it wasn't from Delilah. It was from the Central City Pollice Department. In an experience that felt more surreal than graudation, Luther leanred that Delilah's train had been delayed; but she had still made it to Central on time. She had been hurrying through the streets to make it to his graduation when, according to witness reports, Delilah had turned to cut through an alley, only to back out followed by a group of shady looking individuals. According to reports, they began to verbally harass her and follow Delilah up the street. Frightened, Delilah attempted to cross the street to get away from them, when a speeding car rounded the corner and hit her. Delilah was killed instantly.
Some people take serious loss in stride, becoming a symbol of strength during their grief. Some people press onward in admirable ways despite tragedy. Others, shatter like a glass sculpture. With great effort they might be glued together again; but they will never be the same. Luther shattered.
Luther did not record new episodes of his vlog, he did not sign up for his trainers license, he did not answer any letters from the Pokémon Rangers or any other opportunities. He almost didn't show up for the funeral if it had not been for careful words and insistence from Skylar and Alberic, who all but dragged him there. Luther had been unwilling to face the reality of what had transpired.
After Delilah was laid to rest, Luther became unhinged. He went around to bars with the sole intention of getting thrown out. He took up smoking heavily, and hating the world in equal measure, and his new favorite pastime was seeing how long he could just lay in bed and wait for death. It seemed obvious where the depths of his grief were taking him, if it had not been for Skylar. Luther's childhood friend decided to stick close to Tiensee Town (where Luther had more or less moved back to, since he no longer lived on campus). Skylar left Luther to his own devices more or less; but kept an eye on him and would talk to him some when his friend was receptive to visitors, and is likely what kept the bereaved from taking a long walk off a short ledge.
After more than a year of this, Skylar, with the help of Luther's younger brother and cousins, got Luther out of the house and forced him to get away from everything that he was using to destroy his life. In an attempt to remind him of the things he once lived for, outside of Delilah, they took him camping.
Out in nature, Luther managed to find a shred of peace, and a little clarity. His friends made him realize that Delilah wouldn't want him to live like he had been, or die. Luther gained the will to clean himself up a bit after that trip.
Still, the tourist city of Tiensee town made him agitated. Luther couldn't bring himself to move on with his life knowing he would now be doing so without Delilah. That had always been the most important part of the dream, following his goals alongside her. His friends had saved him from oblivion; but they couldn't convince him to move forward. Still, they were glad that he was getting out of the house for reasons other than booze, cigarettes, and getting beat up.
Luther began to take an interest in camping again. The outdoors seemed to give him a lot of peace. After a while if his family or friends could not spare the time to go with him, he would go alone for a few days at a time. This seemed to be a therapy in its own right because eventually Luther decided he needed to be pulling his own weight again, and looked for work as a wilderness guide. Of course without pokémon he couldn't do much on his own. Still, there was a place for him at the Journeyman Travel Assistance Agency ™.
JTAA provided travelers, especially younger pokémon trainers, with a database of affiliated survival experts and outdoor guides, to make travel between cities, or to more remote locations, safer. Clients could see guides credentials and select someone local to help them reach their next location, or for the added fee of their travel expense, could have someone whose credentials they liked, come to them. The service let their associated professionals set their own rates. The company basically made a tidy profit by charging a fee to be listed in their books, and taking a flat percentage rate from all their guide's fees, as well as charging a flat “finders fee” like normal travel agencies to the client. Clients themselves left ratings and reviews of the guides they picked, and all JTAA paid for was website maintenance, and a scattering of small offices in every major city.
Initially, Luther did not get a lot of work. Without a pokémon trainer's license, or any pokémon of his own, he was not exactly in demand, unless a few of the other associated guides convinced a client to hire him on too, as additional help. Luther's name became known in the circles of JTAA's associated guides for two reasons. The first, was that Luther was the surliest, sourest, least client friendly individual they ever had the displeasure of working with. The second was that he was an expert at what he did and you couldn't ask for a better set of hands to help in a tight spot, or difficult trek.
As a few positive ratings began to offset the negatives, from some clients that were better at dealing with Luther's particular personality, he occasionally got solo work helping guide more experienced trainers that were better suited at handling pokémon threats than they were at traversing wild terrain.
It was on one particular trek in the wilderness, to bring some stargazers up a mountain for a meteor shower, that Luther was given the answer he was quietly searching for. The stargazers talked about Jirachi, the wish pokémon. It was this simple spark that got some more of the old Luther to wake up.
After the assignment, he began to research the legend as a casual hobby between clients, and the hobby soon grew into a passion bordering on obsession. Jirachi was considered by most to be a myth. There were stories claiming he only granted a wish once every thousand years, while others said he appeared before a pure-hearted song, or worthy trainers. Like all so-called legendary pokémon, Jirachi's very existance was skeptical at best and most assumed the pokémon to be a fairy tale more than fact. Still, there were those that believed in the legendary pokémon. It was among their online communities and in their theories that Luther found hope. This was the answer to the misery he had been buried under.
If Luther could complete the impossible task of finding Jirachi, he could get the pokémon to grant his wish, and bring Delilah back. Luther had read enough cautionary tales to know that it was possible he might only get a few fleeting moments to talk to her again, and that if he was not careful his wish could be horridly distorted. Still, Luther was more than willing to dedicate everything for a reward that slim and treacherous. It was a long shot, but it was the only chance he had.
Jirachi wasn't just going to reveal itself to him if Luther kept sticking around the safe places and easy routes, let alone being surrounded by other people. Luther was aware that he might even have to figure out how to capture the legendary pokémon in order to get his wish, something he would not want to compete with other people over. Even if that was not the case, Delilah shouldn’t have to come back to a wreck who was still sitting at home pining for her. There was only one thing to be done. Luther had to chase his old dream and become a real pokémon trainer. Not only that, he would have to become a strong one, just like he’d always told her he would. Luther needed to capture, raise, and train pokémon that would show everyone, even himself, that he was still alive, and worthy to have his wish granted.
Finding Jirachi was the dream he needed to give him the strength to reach out of the well of despair and self pity Luther had into. It was as if the old Luther had found a way to rationalize with his grief by finding a goal that would pull him out of the rut, and put him back on course for his long abandoned dreams.
Luther's friends and family were so happy to hear that he was finally moving forward, that he did not tell them about his secret ulterior goal. He told his friends and family that he had decided to chase his dream of training pokémon, like he and Delilah had always said he would. Luther didn't want them trying to dissuade him, think he was crazy, or lecture him on an “unhealthy motivation”. Luther had caused those that were close to him enough strain and grief. They were all supportive and glad to see him beginning to move on with his life. There was no need to put a damper on that.
Skylar helped Luther clean himself up enough to get his Trainer's License. He even helped Luther review for the TIS exams. Luther needed a better excuse to travel, and access to more funding than what he managed to scrape out of being a guide for JTAA. Luther did not remove himself from JTAA's services as a little occasional side income couldn't hurt, especially when he would soon add Pokémon Trainer, to his resume. After all it wasn't exactly close to full-time work. When Luther passed his battle exam, Skylar decided it was time to part ways, and let his friend start out on his journey alone. He promised to keep an eye out for Luther on the road, promising him a battle when they met again, as real trainers.
Luther had decided to get his fresh start someplace far from home and his memories, so Set out for Cascadia City, to get his starter Pokemon. His friends and family all chipped in, as a parting gift, for the train fare to Cascadia, where his Aunt would put him up until he met with his professor.
With a starter in tow, and a goal in mind, Luther's first destination was Djenganti Monastery. And so our story begins...
History:
Luther was born in North Godai, in Cascadia city, to Randell and Valerie Hartmann. He was primarily looked after by his mother for the first year of his life. Valerie was also a professional Pokémon Coordinator, who had made a name for herself in the Master Class circuit, after retiring from the TIS after only 2 badges. Luther's father worked as the manager of a pokémart.
Form a very young age Luther was surrounded by pokémon, being at contests and battles. He was fascinated by them from his earliest days and knew he would want to spend the rest of his life doing something with pokémon. Eventually his family moved from Cascadia to Tiensee Town, because there were better work opportunities there for Luther's Father, which was important since they had another baby on the way. Luther’s dad had been given a promotion that required a transfer and his mother had decided she wanted to dedicate more time to her children and family, so was going to step back from the faster paced life of a professional coordinator.
Luther, age seven, wasn’t sure how he felt about the new city, the new school, or the new baby. He wrote several letters back to his friend, Skylar, in Cascadia City, complaining about everything. However, his attitude changed when he attended his new school, and met another kid, new to town, by the name of Delilah. Delilah and Luther became best friends and boon companions from the day they met. The two found they had many common interests, and tastes. As they grew up together they shared everything from toys and snacks to hopes and dreams.
While they were still young, Luther and Delilah would go to the local Pokémon Center, Park, and Contest Hall regularly to watch pokémon trainers interact with their pokémon, train and battle. They would go together, and often along with Luther's brother Alberic. A few years after moving to Tiensee, they were joined by Luther's cousins Layla, Bailey, and Momoka whose families also moved to the city. Delilah had no cousins or siblings her own age; but quickly adopted Luther’s family as if they were her own and the 6 were a tight knit pack of their own accord.
All through primary school these children were an inseparable team that would spend time together at the park, school, and even the library playing and growing together as a tight knit group. They shared dreams, ideas, and ambitions with one another, and overcoming the struggles of young life. When Momoka and Layla started attending Secondary school, the group began to drift a little apart; their interests beginning to lie more in less common places; but they still shared a bond and a love for one another that remained as a lasting friendship.
When Luther started in secondary school his long time, long distance friend Skylar and his family, moved from Cascadia to Tiensee Town as well and the two found that they made just as good friends in person as they had as kids and as pen pals. They both shared a dream of becoming pokémon trainers someday and had planned to be rivals in the field. Though Skylar focused his studies more towards the TIS while Luther chose classes that favored a future as a Pokemon Ranger.
It didn't take Luther long to realize Skylar had a crush on Luther's cousin, the slightly older Layla. Skylar had been about to share his feelings when she and her mother moved back to Cascadia City to be closer to their familiar contest halls. Luther urged Skylar to tell her how he felt before she got away, and it turned out that Layla liked him too. While the two were too young for long distance love to really last, things did not end on bad terms either, so they were all still able to remain friends.
As he got older Luther continued to focus on his goal of being a pokémon trainer, and studying hard in classes that would help him become a pokémon ranger. Luther was eager to do his part to help the natural habitats of pokémon and knew that rangerdom was a long way off so he looked for a way to do his part in the meantime. Luther started his vlog at 16 as a way to educate younger or less informed kids on what it meant to be a pokémon trainer, and about pokémon themselves. His creative and informative commentary, as well as the honest and friendly way he presented himself made it mildly successful, moreso when he began filming local pokémon battles and amateur contests, in addition to interviewing real trainers. Luther knew he was well past the earliest one could set out on a journey as part of the TIS but his family, himself, and Delilah all thought it would be better for them to finish school first.
The motivation to stay where home and family was, only became stronger when Luther and Delilah's long time friendship evolved into a romantic relationship. This change was only surprising to them, it seemed, because both their families had seen it coming for a long time. As they continued to attend school together, Luther and Delilah also planned for their futures together, knowing the road ahead wouldn't be easy; but something they both wanted to try for.
Luther’s brother, Alberic, was more academically and research minded than the rest of the group of friends and so went on to college to work towards a degree in pokémon research and technology, finding the science around pokémon far more fascinating than the act of training and battling them alone. He got accepted into an early admittance program at GSUC; but was too frightened to take the risk until Luther talked him in to chasing after his dream as well. Luther helped his younger brother break the news to their parents, who were happy for their son but afraid for him leaving home so soon, especially to move as far away as Central. Still they could not argue with the scholarships he had earned or all the work he had done to get them, and they let him go.
Still at home, Luther and Delilah got engaged just after graduation, knowing they would have to wait many years before getting married, because they both wanted to finish their degrees first. Delilah planned to earn her degree in pokémon medicine, while Luther was going to get a degree structured more towards becoming a pokémon ranger. Their plan was to get married after graduating college and spend a year together trying their hands at the TIS, before deciding what steps to take next. As fall approached, Delilah got accepted to GSUC in Central with partial scholarship, while Luther's application was rejected. Knowing this might happen, the two chose to continue their relationship long-distance while Luther stayed at home to get his generals and try again in a year, while Delilah moved to Central.
Luther's friend Sklar, on the other hand, was not going to wait for the lovebirds and had no intention of going to college. He promised Luther to “show them the ropes” when they became trainers and set off on his journey in the TIS alone. Luther would add segments to his vlog called “Letters from Skylar” on occasion and continued to appease his fanbase while attending a smaller university.
After a year, Luther got accepted in to GSUC when he applied again, and he and Delilah were excited that they would be able to see eachother again. However, their plans changed when Luther was offered to take part in a special class/internship for a semester learning from a ranger in the field, at the station near Boilsport Power Plant. It was an opportunity too good to pass up. While it wasn't an easy decision for either of them, Luther and Delilah agreed it was for the best that he take this chance.
The following semester, Luther finally moved to Central, and the relationship that had been strained by the distance became revitalized. Luther and Delilah were still busy hitting the books and studying; but being in the same city made it much easier to spend their sparse free time together rather than writing letters and pining at a x-transceiver screen. Luther's change of venue also helped his v-log immensely as the scene in Central was much more abuzz than it had been back in Southern Godai. His upload pace was slower due to schoolwork, but the return of his co-host had also helped offset that.
This blissful year that likely saved their relationship proved to be the hearvest before a long winter. Once again the couple's individual dreams put them on a course that would force them to be apart. Delilah was offered an internship at a teaching hospital in Kotoba which was more hands on than her current opportunities at Central (where she was secretly beginning to struggle to match the pace of GSUC). The tables had turned around and this time it was Delilah who had an opportunity she could not turn down. It was only supposed to be for a semester, Luther and Delilah again agreed to keep the relationship, despite the distance, and she moved away.
After the semester had ended, Delilah had been offered a longer-term arrangement if she transferred over too the university there. It was a very difficult decision; but eventually it was a choice she had to make. Luther understood when she told him how she was struggling at GSUC and supported her decision to make the switch despite the fact that it would keep them apart for much longer.
Manwhile, Luther was doing exceptionally well in his classes, and with more time to himself he kept busy with his v-log. The income helped to offset tuition costs as well as cover the occasional ticket to go see Delilah. Over the next year, aside from the long distance relationship, things in his life seemed to be going well. Graduation soon loomed on the horizon.
The distance had been hard on their relationship. Luther and Delilah found themselves getting into arguments over small things, and finding it more difficult to spend time together as finals approached. It became clear to them both that their relationship was at a crucial point, and the two made time to have a sincere and open discussion about where they were headed. Getting married right after graduation no longer seemed like the ideal plan; but neither of them wanted to break up. It turned out that this was still something they both wanted to fight for. With the strain of distance and school out of the way, they hoped that things would get better and they would find themselves as happy as they had been before Delilah moved away. Luther and Delilah agreed that after graduation they would get their official trainer licenses, and try their hand at the TIS for a year like they had planned. Hoping this would save their troubled relationship. Luther could not go to Delilah's graduation as her school schedule had it right in the middle of when GSUC was having final exams. However, Delilah was going to make it to Luther's to show that she still cared for him as strongly as ever, and so they could start their adventure together as soon as possible.
As final exams drew to a close, a sleep deprived; but exuberant Luther posted a late night V-log entry about his pre-graduation jitters. He was excited to learn he had passed all his classes, not with honors; but not by a slim margin either. The aspiring trainer promised his viewers an entry with Delilah “in two days” taking his fans along for the ride as they began the process of getting their licenses and applying for the TIS. Something they were both sure would be significantly easier than graduating college.
That was the last entry for Luther's long lasting vlog.
At graduation, the whole day seemed like a blur. It was such a surreal experience to finally be crossing that stage, and to realize all his study was at an end. Luther accepted his diploma and looked to see all his family and friends smiling proudly back at him. Well, everyone except Delilah.
After the ceremony, Luther had tried to call her, hoping that perhaps her train had gotten delayed. He was worried that perhaps she had decided to back out at the last moment and end the relationship. Still it seemed so unlike her to not tell him so to his face. He did not hear from her at all that day, even calling to find out where she was, only to have un-returned messages and unanswered calls.
The mystery was explained the following day when he received a phonecall in the early morning hours. However, it wasn't from Delilah. It was from the Central City Pollice Department. In an experience that felt more surreal than graudation, Luther leanred that Delilah's train had been delayed; but she had still made it to Central on time. She had been hurrying through the streets to make it to his graduation when, according to witness reports, Delilah had turned to cut through an alley, only to back out followed by a group of shady looking individuals. According to reports, they began to verbally harass her and follow Delilah up the street. Frightened, Delilah attempted to cross the street to get away from them, when a speeding car rounded the corner and hit her. Delilah was killed instantly.
Some people take serious loss in stride, becoming a symbol of strength during their grief. Some people press onward in admirable ways despite tragedy. Others, shatter like a glass sculpture. With great effort they might be glued together again; but they will never be the same. Luther shattered.
Luther did not record new episodes of his vlog, he did not sign up for his trainers license, he did not answer any letters from the Pokémon Rangers or any other opportunities. He almost didn't show up for the funeral if it had not been for careful words and insistence from Skylar and Alberic, who all but dragged him there. Luther had been unwilling to face the reality of what had transpired.
After Delilah was laid to rest, Luther became unhinged. He went around to bars with the sole intention of getting thrown out. He took up smoking heavily, and hating the world in equal measure, and his new favorite pastime was seeing how long he could just lay in bed and wait for death. It seemed obvious where the depths of his grief were taking him, if it had not been for Skylar. Luther's childhood friend decided to stick close to Tiensee Town (where Luther had more or less moved back to, since he no longer lived on campus). Skylar left Luther to his own devices more or less; but kept an eye on him and would talk to him some when his friend was receptive to visitors, and is likely what kept the bereaved from taking a long walk off a short ledge.
After more than a year of this, Skylar, with the help of Luther's younger brother and cousins, got Luther out of the house and forced him to get away from everything that he was using to destroy his life. In an attempt to remind him of the things he once lived for, outside of Delilah, they took him camping.
Out in nature, Luther managed to find a shred of peace, and a little clarity. His friends made him realize that Delilah wouldn't want him to live like he had been, or die. Luther gained the will to clean himself up a bit after that trip.
Still, the tourist city of Tiensee town made him agitated. Luther couldn't bring himself to move on with his life knowing he would now be doing so without Delilah. That had always been the most important part of the dream, following his goals alongside her. His friends had saved him from oblivion; but they couldn't convince him to move forward. Still, they were glad that he was getting out of the house for reasons other than booze, cigarettes, and getting beat up.
Luther began to take an interest in camping again. The outdoors seemed to give him a lot of peace. After a while if his family or friends could not spare the time to go with him, he would go alone for a few days at a time. This seemed to be a therapy in its own right because eventually Luther decided he needed to be pulling his own weight again, and looked for work as a wilderness guide. Of course without pokémon he couldn't do much on his own. Still, there was a place for him at the Journeyman Travel Assistance Agency ™.
JTAA provided travelers, especially younger pokémon trainers, with a database of affiliated survival experts and outdoor guides, to make travel between cities, or to more remote locations, safer. Clients could see guides credentials and select someone local to help them reach their next location, or for the added fee of their travel expense, could have someone whose credentials they liked, come to them. The service let their associated professionals set their own rates. The company basically made a tidy profit by charging a fee to be listed in their books, and taking a flat percentage rate from all their guide's fees, as well as charging a flat “finders fee” like normal travel agencies to the client. Clients themselves left ratings and reviews of the guides they picked, and all JTAA paid for was website maintenance, and a scattering of small offices in every major city.
Initially, Luther did not get a lot of work. Without a pokémon trainer's license, or any pokémon of his own, he was not exactly in demand, unless a few of the other associated guides convinced a client to hire him on too, as additional help. Luther's name became known in the circles of JTAA's associated guides for two reasons. The first, was that Luther was the surliest, sourest, least client friendly individual they ever had the displeasure of working with. The second was that he was an expert at what he did and you couldn't ask for a better set of hands to help in a tight spot, or difficult trek.
As a few positive ratings began to offset the negatives, from some clients that were better at dealing with Luther's particular personality, he occasionally got solo work helping guide more experienced trainers that were better suited at handling pokémon threats than they were at traversing wild terrain.
It was on one particular trek in the wilderness, to bring some stargazers up a mountain for a meteor shower, that Luther was given the answer he was quietly searching for. The stargazers talked about Jirachi, the wish pokémon. It was this simple spark that got some more of the old Luther to wake up.
After the assignment, he began to research the legend as a casual hobby between clients, and the hobby soon grew into a passion bordering on obsession. Jirachi was considered by most to be a myth. There were stories claiming he only granted a wish once every thousand years, while others said he appeared before a pure-hearted song, or worthy trainers. Like all so-called legendary pokémon, Jirachi's very existance was skeptical at best and most assumed the pokémon to be a fairy tale more than fact. Still, there were those that believed in the legendary pokémon. It was among their online communities and in their theories that Luther found hope. This was the answer to the misery he had been buried under.
If Luther could complete the impossible task of finding Jirachi, he could get the pokémon to grant his wish, and bring Delilah back. Luther had read enough cautionary tales to know that it was possible he might only get a few fleeting moments to talk to her again, and that if he was not careful his wish could be horridly distorted. Still, Luther was more than willing to dedicate everything for a reward that slim and treacherous. It was a long shot, but it was the only chance he had.
Jirachi wasn't just going to reveal itself to him if Luther kept sticking around the safe places and easy routes, let alone being surrounded by other people. Luther was aware that he might even have to figure out how to capture the legendary pokémon in order to get his wish, something he would not want to compete with other people over. Even if that was not the case, Delilah shouldn’t have to come back to a wreck who was still sitting at home pining for her. There was only one thing to be done. Luther had to chase his old dream and become a real pokémon trainer. Not only that, he would have to become a strong one, just like he’d always told her he would. Luther needed to capture, raise, and train pokémon that would show everyone, even himself, that he was still alive, and worthy to have his wish granted.
Finding Jirachi was the dream he needed to give him the strength to reach out of the well of despair and self pity Luther had into. It was as if the old Luther had found a way to rationalize with his grief by finding a goal that would pull him out of the rut, and put him back on course for his long abandoned dreams.
Luther's friends and family were so happy to hear that he was finally moving forward, that he did not tell them about his secret ulterior goal. He told his friends and family that he had decided to chase his dream of training pokémon, like he and Delilah had always said he would. Luther didn't want them trying to dissuade him, think he was crazy, or lecture him on an “unhealthy motivation”. Luther had caused those that were close to him enough strain and grief. They were all supportive and glad to see him beginning to move on with his life. There was no need to put a damper on that.
Skylar helped Luther clean himself up enough to get his Trainer's License. He even helped Luther review for the TIS exams. Luther needed a better excuse to travel, and access to more funding than what he managed to scrape out of being a guide for JTAA. Luther did not remove himself from JTAA's services as a little occasional side income couldn't hurt, especially when he would soon add Pokémon Trainer, to his resume. After all it wasn't exactly close to full-time work. When Luther passed his battle exam, Skylar decided it was time to part ways, and let his friend start out on his journey alone. He promised to keep an eye out for Luther on the road, promising him a battle when they met again, as real trainers.
Luther had decided to get his fresh start someplace far from home and his memories, so Set out for Cascadia City, to get his starter Pokemon. His friends and family all chipped in, as a parting gift, for the train fare to Cascadia, where his Aunt would put him up until he met with his professor.
With a starter in tow, and a goal in mind, Luther's first destination was Djenganti Monastery. And so our story begins...
15,509
1x Pokéball
4x Great Ball
1x Ultra Ball
1x Net Ball
2x Dusk Ball
3x Potions
2x Revive
3x Super Potion
1x Ice Heal
2x Burn Heal
3x Antidote
2x Parlyz Heal
1x Tasty EXP Cookie 
1x Metal Coat 
1x TM008 Bulk Up
1x TM053 Energy Ball
1x TM 026 Earthquake
1x TM 010 Hidden Power
PokéDex
Journal
Old Rod
Holocaster
Pokérus 10%
Lucky Incense 
Blue Scarf 
1,714, 13AP, -2 Pokéballs.
4,478
