Cryogonal
Morphs [Oak Catalog #]
- Cryogonal [#615]
Physical Description
The elusive Cryogonal has an external shell comprised of blue-white ice arranged in a series of hexagonal rings to form a hollow discus. A short wide v-shaped extension connects across each point of the two outermost ice rings, giving the pokemon a resemblence to a very basic snowflake in outline. On one side of the shell are two openings; the lower one bends around the nearest corner projection, resembling a worried frown, while the upper one carves across in an almost straight line, with only two peaked irregularities that give the appearance of eyelids. Two azure glowing spheres are encased behind these shapes, while smaller spheres drift out of the lower crack, with four remaining in the shell and any number between one and six hovering out of each corner in a simple limblike pattern. Some rare specimens of Cryogonal have reddish glowing spheres instead of blueish ones, with the resulting light causing their ice shell to look more white than blue; however there is no functional difference between the two breeds.
Notable Biology
An "individual" Cryogonal is, in fact, a small swarm of Regicite-based life forms, working together to survive. Each swarm consists of one mated pair of adults and ten to twenty-four budded off smaller forms, all of whom resemble an orb-like latticework of Regicite and other compounds that give off a constant glow. The orbs are all capable of levitation, working together to carry the external shell that the adults crafted, but they remain under the direct control of the mated pair unless they are separated from the main swarm.
While any individual Cryogonal orb is capable of directing their ice-based abilities, they must work in tangent to generate the cryonic power to use them. The exact reason for this isn't clear, but it does mean orbs that are separated from the main Cryogonal cannot survive for long; Cryogonal use their ice powers for everything, from defending themselves to eroding away at potential meals so that they can absorb nutrients directly into themselves. For this reason, lost orbs will wander around the tunnels of their home until they either find another orb or perish; these phantom lights have misled travelers more than once.
Habitat
Cryogonal are extremely rare, only occurring naturally in the caverns of Twist Mountain located in the Unova region. A small population has been transferred to the Frost Cavern of the Kalos region, but other attempts at relocating a breeding population have failed. It is assumed that the Cryogonal somehow requires the presence of an Ice Rock to form mated pairs, and a few have suggested moving a population to the recently discovered lower levels of the Shoal Cave; however there has been no actual attempt to do so due to both expense and legalities.
Diet
Cryogonal are indiscriminate eaters, willing to consume anything they can break apart and absorb directly. They will freeze rocks, plant matter, and small animals before whipping up a localized wind to break apart the ice and its contents into smaller pieces. Thankfully, while they may sometimes freeze larger creatures they are not inherently aggressive and will generally back off from more aggressive attackers.
Hazards
Cryogonal are generally passive and nonthreatening in personality, but that does not mean they aren't dangerous. Individual Cryogonal orbs generally have sub-zero temperatures, which means prolonged contact can result in frostbite and other cold-induced ailments. Provoked Cryogonals will also fill the area with mist, demonstrating no hesitation in generating chains of ice to whip and bind their attackers with; they will also spin their ice shell like a sawblade or use its reflective quality to deflect attacks and manipulate light into confusing rays and damaging beams. Still, they will retreat if their opponent is clearly too much for them.
Social Structure
Each swarm of Cryogonal orbs is a society unto itself; the mated pair direct the rest without question, budding off new individuals as the old ones die or are lost. Beyond that, there is almost no interaction between Cryogonal; two swarms passing each other may end up with each other's orbs out of confusion, but for the most part they will ignore each other. However, there have been occasions where many Cryogonal have gathered to rescue another swarm, immediately dispersing afterward; the change in behavior has yet to be properly explained. Lost Cryogonal orbs will join up with any other orbs they can find in order to survive and seek out the Ice Rock.
Courting
Whenever a Cryogonal swarm discovers an Ice Rock, they will melt their shells and the adult mated pair will perish. The children will wait for other Cryogonal orbs to arrive, either from another swarm or simply wandering individuals, and merge with them to form adult Cryogonal. They will then pair off and ascend into the clouds, gathering ice crystals to form a shell that falls back to the ground. Over the course of a few weeks, they will bud off more Cryogonal orbs, until they are a proper swarm, and enter the nearby caverns. This has given rise to the belief that they are literally born in snow clouds.
In Human Society
The miners of Twist Mountain regarded the Cryogonal as a spirit of the icy mountain, leading travelers down mysterious paths to find secrets both wondrous and terrifying, or simply just to get them lost. However, the Cryogonal entered more public view when several of them froze a dam in order to rescue a smaller swarm. Despite this being an exception to the rule, Cryogonal were seen as somewhat social as a result, and a number of small cartoons appeared in holiday cartoons singing carols. While the hype did eventually die down, one particular Cryogonal character became a public domain staple, where he is seen freezing fern-like patterns on windows during winter.
Written by Masterweaver
