Heart Gold Kingslocke: Episode 8

Introduction/rules here.

At the back of the Cianwood Gym, examining a large machine. A chute runs down the middle of the building and dumps water on the head of the gym leader. Game Text: There is a large winch. Will you turn it?

Turning the winch. The waterfall chute rises up, the water stops flowing, and the waterfall over Chuck's head stops.

Chuck only has two Pokémon. They’re both much higher levels than mine – 29 and 31 – but they are also both open to manipulation, because Chuck’s signature move in this game is Focus Punch, which can be disrupted by attack damage. Only two of my Pokémon should be in danger of being petrified here, Paradise from Rock Slide and Killgore from Focus Punch, and in theory that shouldn’t be a problem for Killgore as long as he just keeps attacking. Even if we lose one or both of them, I’ll get one back if I can win the battle.

"VS" screen with a close-up of Chuck, a shirtless middle-aged man with bushy eyebrows and muttonchops, wearing white arm-wraps.

Well, here goes nothing.

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Heart Gold Kingslocke: Episode 7

Introduction/rules here.

We stand at a crossroads.

On route 38: a dirt road with white picket fences, flowers and trees on either side.

Outside Ecruteak City: a dirt path, trees all around, a signpost, a cave entrance to the east.

With Morty defeated and the Fog Badge in hand, I can continue west from Ecruteak City, towards Olivine City, or turn and head east, towards Mahogany Town.

Johto’s mid-game is pretty open; you can do the next three gyms in almost any order. Whichever way I go, I’ll need Surf, either to investigate Lake of Rage or to cross the sea to Cianwood Island – but not immediately. I don’t have any Pokémon accessible at the moment who can use Surf, but the Kingslocke rules do make exceptions when you need an HM to move forward in the story; if it becomes necessary, I’ll be able to defy the Eight of Wands and withdraw Abazigal the Dratini to handle that. Still, it would be better if I didn’t have to… and I think my odds are best if I head to Olivine City first.

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