Ishmael Montagna

When battling: adapt or lose, that is the law we’ve lived under for millenia.

Ishmael Montagna is the second son of the Montagna family. He has degrees in archaeology and paleontology, and became a cutthroat researcher in both fields. Currently, he is being funded by the Plasma Corporation to find fossils of Legendary Pokémon. To him, it's just a stepping stone to getting the funding for his true goal: to end the concept of extinction worldwide, no matter the cost.

## Personality

Despite being relatively young, Ishmael's age has left him cynical. In short, he's a snake: cold-blooded and always on edge to strike. He is very hesitant to reveal his actual motives, because he only trusts himself to fulfill them. Should he reveal intentions to someone, it's an enormous sign of respect.

He refuses to budge on his ideals, fueled by his studies of natural selection. He believes that eventually, the strongest rise to the very top, and are only ever toppled by the stronger. Strength to Ishmael isn't about physicality or cunning, but the tenacity needed to overcome the apex. Even a Pidgey could topple a Tyranitar, in Ishmael's eyes. The difference maker is to him is that too many supposedly do not have the will to become the new apexes of the world.

Ishmael gravitates towards two types of people: individuals he deems "weak", or individuals he finds useful. The useful are self-explanatory: they fulfill a niche that Ishmael cannot at that moment. The "weak" offer intrigue to Ishmael, that he could mold them into the newest apex with enough time. One individual to get this special treatment from Ishmael is Benji Bonito, who Ishmael saw as pathetic enough to be worth salvaging into a dominant individual. Should Ishmael succeed, it would bolster the validity of his ideas.

Ishmael isn't sticking around for friendships or some fun, child-like adventure. He's around for work, results, and his own self-interest. But, should someone get past his crusty exterior, they'll find a stoic but secretly incredibly impassioned partner.

## History

### **Pre-Day 1**

#### Cinnabar Island

After a bumpy trip from Unova, Ishmael found himself...not quite yet in Kanto. And he couldn't exactly go to mainland, since no boats were stationed on dock dye to an oncoming storm. However, Cinnabar Island, as it did host great strides in fossil research, was still a great place for Ishmael to be. After renting out a pricey room

Ishmael calls his employer, Colress, and reports his arrival to the island. Colress mentions this was a perfect opportunity to visit Professor Cadabi, the leading kantonian fossil researcher. Ishmael agrees, but first, tries to hassle Colress into getting him some "extra tools" in the form of a Rampardos fossil he could possibly add to his team. Colress says he'll "do what he can". Ishmael, content with that, sets off to meet Cadabi.

#### Cinnabar Research Lab

Once at the lab, Ishmael begins asking around for Cadabi. He struggles a bit, as it seemed the professor was rather busy. However, once lunch break at a dinosaur-themed restaurant later, Ishmael finally found a meeting with the esteemed professor. After introductions, Ishmael asked Cadabi about fossils, specifically those pertaining to mythical Pokemon. Cadabi ponders for a bit and remembers the apperance of a Celebi fossil in a Johto expedition a year prior. However, he says the finding was "inconclusive" at best. Ishmael changes the topic and asks about interesting discoveries in the field. Cadabi comes up with a file. It was a study about the recent position of Tirtouga and Carracosta fossils discoveries, which seemed to suggest they are actually more frequently found in the Kanto-Johto Complex, possibly suggestion their actual origin is Kanto. Ishmael asks for a copy and Cadabi obliges. Cadabi, however, mentions that Professor Oak of Pallet Town might be able to lead him in the right direction. Ishmael, a bit empty handed, thanks Cadabi for his help and decides its time to move onto mainland and take his research there.

#### Route 21

With a new destination in mind, Ishmael sets off to Pallet Town via Ride-Center. The center provides him a Feraligatr, which Ishmael uses to cross pass Route 21 in a flash, or you know, kind of a flash. He arrived in Pallet by the afternoon.

#### Route 1

He rides feraligatr to route 21. Goes to Pallet to ask Oak about fossil. Sees blue instead. Is very dissapointed. blue refers him to mt moon and tells him that pewter festival is soon. Ishmael dont care and moves on. Fought javi in pallet. Fought a bunch of Pidgeys and caught one. Goes to sleep snoring emoji.

### **Pre-Day 2**

#### Bejewled Way

Go to Viridian Forest. bite of 87. The trees were used for glide training. Goes to pewter for hospital. Fake phone call to cain to preten to be colress. Free healthcare. Go to route 2, meet hunter hoss. Goes back to pewter, then route 3 to teach archen how to screech. Attarcts benji. Instant friendship. Ishmael calls him an incel in his head. Something happened. benji uses dowsing machine, theres something in the walls. Ishmael takes off his shirt. They find moon stone. They notice all the zubat and dont like it. They concoct a plan with torkoal and Archen. Goes wrong, but snatches a zubat. benji gotta fight so they go and see post-die. They go both go in. Ishmael ask where the fossil at and brock say mt moon but get fire in bejeweled way. Ishmael go okay. bejeweled way. He mines the rocks to make money (star pieces). Fucked up a geodude. And then he fought Natu and won and it was epic. He gets cranidos fossil. It was gettting late. Sleepy time.

### **Pre-Day 3**

#### Bejewled Way

So you go frame 1 to museum with benji. Cranido go crazy in route 3. Edgardo meets up with them and he fight rick. Route 2, beat up a paras together. Gain friendship. Then we go back to pewter city, he meets benji they fight vasil and daryl and win! Wanna dig up dead people in lavander? And benji says maybee. They split. Nico go to bejewled way to train. They find Kang. Nico get swept hard.

## Pokemon Party

Ishmael's Pokemon don't necessarily follow any themes, but you could describe his team as either archaic, or with incredibly future potential. Here are the Pokemon currently in rotation:

## Extras

### Theme Songs

Encounter Theme - New Discoveries

Battle Theme - Apex

Ringtone - Driftveil Mutters