Viridian City
History
One of Kanto’s oldest cities, Viridian was born out of necessity, cut from the forest that shares its namesake to serve as a launching point for the arduous hike through the gate‘s Kanto‘s Victory Road and the Indigo Plateau . As such, the city is an all but mandatory stop both for new and experienced trainers alike on their journey to participate in the Indigo League. In recent years, the notoriety of its gym and the gym's administration has eclipsed even its proximity to the gates of the Indigo League as a reason for trainers and tourists alike to visit the city.
Industry
Viridian has always enjoyed a lucrative tourism industry due to its proximity to the Indigo League, but only very recently has this become the city's primary income, due in large part to its new gym leader. Viridian's lumber industry was once the foremost in the Kanto region, but over logging of the Viridian Forest and increased pressure from environmentalists and Pokémon enthusiasts alike has slowed the logging exports to a virtual standstill in recent years.
Since Blue Oak's time as gym leader, the Trainer House has gained notoriety for attracting trainers from abroad who intend to participate in the Pokemon League, and talent scouts, paparazzi, more reputable media teams, and even the odd visiting gym leader are known to visit the city to take in matches there, alone. See Points of Interest below for more information.
Geography
Viridian City is a landlocked town sitting atop a small hill overlooking the coastal community of Pallet Town to the south. In the north, lies Viridian Forest, where many bug catchers are present capturing Caterpies and Weedles. The hilly city is known for its small lake to the southwest, where savvy trainers have been known to fish for trump cards in their gym challenges.
Points of Interest:
Viridian Gym:
In the past, Giovanni Terremoto served as the leader of Viridian Gym, specializing in Ground type Pokémon. He was something of a reclusive individual notorious for exercising his right to frequent leaves habitually, but for years no one suspected that he or the gym he ran was in anyway suspicious.
Things came to a head when the gym was exposed as a front for the criminal organization Team Rocket by than up and coming prodigious trainer Red (surname omitted). Evidence tying Terremoto to the occupation of the Silph Company's headquarters a few weeks prior in addition to a facility beneath the gym similar to the one established beneath the Celadon City Game Corner all but confirmed the gym's association with Team Rocket. According to a police report filed by a detective skilled enough to track Red down shortly after his victory over Terremoto, the gym leader, apparently moved by Red's mastery of the Pokémon at his command, renounced his criminal ways and disbanded his organization on the spot before fleeing the gym and Viridian City . While Terremoto's whereabouts are unknown to this very day, the organization's attempt to contact their former leader several years later during the Goldenrod City Radio Tower occupation in the Johto region have lead authorities to believe that the man is no longer directly involved with Team Rocket. Following his escape from the city, The gym was immediately closed for investigation and would remain so for a year.
After a thorough police investigation of the Viridian Gym and its underground facilities, the trainers who worked in it, and several meetings among the citizens and veteran trainers of the gym found to be free of Team Rocket's influence, plans were drawn up to re-open the gym to the public with a new leader.
Blue Oak, former Indigo Champion, boyhood rival of the aforementioned trainer responsible for the dissolution of Team Rocket, and grandson of the world renowned Pokémon researcher Professor Samuel Oak, agreed to fill the position of Viridian Gym Leader only on a number of very demanding conditions, the most dramatic being the abandoning of the gym's Ground type focus. His second most infamous demand, that no gym trainers studying and training under his administration be allowed to battle challengers within the gym itself, has since been relaxed, though the screening process necessary to become a trainer representative of Viridian Gym is among the most strenuous and selective throughout the world, with fewer than two dozen trainers successfully passing the test since its inception.
Trainer House:
The Trainer House is popular meeting spot for experienced trainers, in particular those awaiting a chance to battle the town's elusive gym leader. Matches are held in multiple underground chambers and broadcast on monitors set throughout the ground floor for spectators to enjoy. Rumor has it that battles held here that impress Blue Oak often move him to accept challengers more readily than usual.
Lake Viridian:
A far cry from any of the Kanto region's larger, more well known bodies of water, Lake Viridian is significantly more popular as a local getaway than an attraction worthy of note for visitors. Local anglers often land Goldeen and Poliwag for the children of Viridian who cannot or will not make the trek to Pallet for one of Oak's rare starters. Admission to the lake and the small park surrounding it, a popular camping and picnicking site, is free, but strict regulations are enforced on visitors with regards to what they can or cannot permanently fish up from the lake.
Some degree of caution should be exercised while visiting the lake. While extremely rare, it is not unheard of for especially hardy, long lived Magikarp to evolve, a fact that has necessitated a 24 hour ranger station be manned within the park. The very same station ensures that overfishing and other illicit activities in the area are properly policed.
Pokemon commonly found in the Lake Viridian area:
Trainer Tips
It is not recommended that trainers from Pallet Town or neighboring Kanto cities visit Viridian for an early badge , as Blue Oak prefers not to battle trainers that have yet to distinguish themselves in some way. First hand accounts from the handful of trainers able to secure a match with Oak despite lacking at least seven badges have unanimously ended in humbling failure for each challenger. Despite this, fledgling trainers venturing from the south should at least pass through to restock depleted supplies, rest, and plan their next course of action.
Connecting Routes:
To the south lies Route 1 and a hike of several hours towards Pallet Town, well known as a common starting point for trainers in the Kanto region and its resident researcher, Professor Samuel Oak, grandfather of the current Viridian City gym leader.
Pokémon commonly found on Route 1:
At its western terminus lies Route 22, a well kept, mostly paved pathway that ends at the first of the gates to Victory Road. Caution should be exercised by new trainers here, as Nidoran are among the first poisonous Pokémon a young trainer will encounter.
Pokémon commonly found on Route 22:
The road to the north stretches on to Route 2 and the Viridian Forest, home to numerous bug Pokemon and the elusive but extraordinarily popular electric type Pikachu. As on Route 22, caution should be exercised around the poisonous Pokémon Weedle, and either gender of Nidoran.
Pokémon commonly found on Route 2:
Written by Hashil. See more articles here.
