Skidoo Line
Morphs [Oak Catalogue #]
- Skiddo [672] – Pseudois herbadfectus
- Gogoat [673] – P. virentiadfectus
Physical Description
The members of the Skiddo line are a pair of Caprid Pokémon whom share a Grass typing.
The juvenile form of the line Skiddo measures in at between 85 and 105cm tall and can weigh between 25 and 40kg. Skiddo is a quadruped and its body is covered in shaggy, brown fur that thins on its legs. Each leg has white stockings from the ankle to the knee and ends in a brownish- orange cloven hoof.
Its face is covered in white fur except for a brown blaze running down the centre of its muzzle to its nose. A pair of short black horns that extend in opposite directions out to the side. Skiddo also possesses a leafy green mane around its neck and extending down its back to its tail. Despite the leaf like appearance tis mane is actually made out of modified hairs containing chloroplasts.
Upon evolution into Gogoat it has nearly doubled in size and now measures at between 1.6 and 1.85m and weigh between 85 and 100kg. Like its pre-evolved form Gogoat’s body is covered in shaggy brown fur, dark brown along its back and lighter at the sides and on its belly. The white stockings on its legs now only cover its ankles and its hooves remain the same brownish-orange.
Gogoat’s face retains its white face with a brown blaze down its muzzle however most of the blaze is hidden by the base of the two long, black curving horns that extend over their back. Its face now also possesses black markings around its red eyes. The leafy mane around their necks and down their backs is even thicker and ends at a now slightly larger tail.
As with all species of Pokémon the Skiddo line has members that exhibit a rare phenotype that alters their colouring. As a Skiddo these members have yellowish horns and noses while their normally brown fur is now a very light tan and their leaf-like mane is a very light green while their hooves a pinkish in colour.
As Gogoat these members have yellow horns and eyes and a light green mane. The normally light brown fur is greyish while the darker brown fur is instead black and their hooves are now red in colour. Members with this phenotype are highly sought after by collectors.
Notable Biology
One of the most notable features of the Skiddo line is their ability to detect the feelings of a person touching their horns. This is accomplished through a weak form of telepathy centred in their horns. In Gogoat this ability has heightened to the point of being able to act as if it and its rider were a single being surpassing even some Psychic types in this respect.
Another notable feature is their leafy green manes. These manes despite appearing to be made of leaves are actually made up of modified hairs, each of which contain large numbers of chloroplasts allowing the members of the Skiddo line to perform photosynthesis.
As Grass type Pokémon both Skiddo and Gogoat have the expected abilities such as releasing a storm of leaves, though in this case it’s their modified hairs from their mane, and strike at foes with vines that extend from within their mane.
The members of this line are also able to naturally release a shot of seeds to either drain health from foes or as an explosive assault. The members of this line are also among only five Pokémon not of the Ground type able to naturally learn how to cause localised seismic events to flatten the terrain and slow their opponent with Gogoat also able to create more powerful seismic events.
The two members of the Skiddo line also possess structures within their horns similar to the Haustorial roots possessed by parasitic plants which end in a small needle-like structure that can be extended out the tip of the horn allowing Skiddo or Gogoat to drain energy from their foes using them. This ability had previously been thought unique to the Unova regions Sawsbuck before being discovered in a number of Pokémon found within Kalos.
Through special tutoring and instruction the Skiddo line can learn a number of other techniques, among them using the chloroplasts within their mane to form a miniature pseudo-sun using a form of reverse photosynthesis, to use their hooves or horns to deliver a devastating blow to the foe that is also able to shatter energy constructs designed to dampen blows.
They can also learn to use their weak telepathic structures in their horns to project a psychic field around their heads while head-butting the foe or even learn to summon miniature tsunamis on the field.
There are two distinct sub-groups of these Pokémon. The first sub-group possess within their fur similar structures to those they possess within their horn allowing Skiddo and Gogoat to absorb the energy infused within Grass type attacks and redirect it towards their muscles giving a temporary boost to their physical prowess. Along with the Deerling line, Bouffalant and the Goomy line, the Skiddo line is one of the only lines with this ‘Sap Sipper’ ability as it is known amongst trainers as a common ability rather than a ‘Hidden Ability’.
The second and rarest sub-group possess an ability that is so far unique to the line; the ‘Grass Pelt’ ability. The members of this sub-group possess a unique reaction to the energy given off by the environment within the effect of the move Grassy Terrain. This reaction causes the muscles of the Skiddo or Gogoat to compact and become denser increasing their resilience to physical blows. Members with this ability are a focus of study by researchers since neither Skiddo nor Gogoat are able to learn Grassy Terrain by any known means indicating a reliance on other Pokémon to gain a benefit from this ability.
Habitat
Skiddo are found in plains and fields most often around the base of mountains, the slopes of which Gogoat make their home. The only known location where wild Skiddo can reliably be encountered is Kalos’ Route 5 aka Versant Road though a population of Gogoat has been introduced to an attraction at Kiloude City in south-east Kalos.
Diet
Both members are almost completely herbivorous eating grass, leaves and other vegetation though they will happily accept specially made Pokémon food from their trainers. Due to the chloroplasts within their mane both members of this line are able to gain energy through photosynthesis.
Hazards
There are few hazards in regard to Skiddo and Gogoat as both members have very mild and calm personalities rarely becoming aggressive. The members will usually only become aggressive when their young or a member of the herd is harmed or endangered. It should be noted that due to their placid personality wild Skiddo and Gogoat will consider any Pokémon smaller or weaker than itself under its protection and thus part of the herd and worthy of protection. In domesticated members this extends to other animals on the farm or other members of their trainer’s Pokémon team along with any children they have close contact with.
In the event that a Skiddo or Gogoat does attack it will use its powerful hind legs to strike with its rock hard hooves or will charge with its horns to either gore the threat with their sharp tip or to use their powerful neck muscles to toss the threat away. Due to the most common locations Gogoat can be found, namely steep mountain slopes, these tosses are often fatal or at least severely debilitating while goring can likewise be fatal or cause severe damage to internal organs.
Social Structure
Skiddo and Gogoat live in herds of around 6-18 individuals though herds of up to 30 have been found. The leader of the herd is decided by a clashing of horns with the victor taking command. The herd will usually consist mostly of females with only 1 or 2 adult males besides the herd leader.
Courting
While both members of the line are capable of reproducing, in the wild it is usually only Gogoat that do so. Members of this line are sexually mature at 1-2 years of age though males usually won’t mate until they reach peak size at 7 years of age.
Rutting season begins in late November and lasts until mid-January during which males will rub their horns on trees and shrubs, fight horn to horn, wallow in mud and dirt, smear themselves with secretions designed to attract females and herd estrus females together. Once the breeding ritual has completed the female will give birth in late June and July.
Once born the Skiddo are protected by the herd, remaining close to their mother until they reach around a year of age when they will depart to the base of the mountain, only returning to the slopes upon evolution or to breed if numbers in the area reach a low enough level.
Though giving birth to live young in the wild, the added safety and security of captivity often leads to the birthing of less developed young contained within an egg.
In Human Society
Skiddo and Gogoat have an extremely long history with human society. Along with Miltank and the various canine Pokémon lines like Growlithe and Lillipup, they are among the first species of Pokémon to be domesticated.
The easy and relaxed temperament of the Skiddo lines has made them invaluable to humans over the millennia they’ve been used. Gogoat fills most of the roles within Kalos that the Ponyta and Blitzle lines filled in other regions. Their powerful bodies made them invaluable for carrying heavy loads over long distances and their gentle nature made them the most useful mounts when speed wasn’t an issue.
Their milk and products derived from them were used when Miltank products were unavailable and are still used today as a slightly healthier alternative or in some cases as an alternative for those with mild intolerance or allergies to proteins within Miltank dairy products, though medical expertise should be sought before using products as most of the proteins found in Miltank milk are found in Gogoat milk and so can cause the same problems depending on the type and severity of the allergy/intolerance.
Due to their long relationship with humans it should be unsurprising that Skiddo and Gogoat have numerous depictions in various media over the thousands of years particularly in various mythologies. They appear in one mythology as pulling the thunder gods chariot and being slaughtered each night for his meal before reviving none the worse for wear during the night.
In another mythology the god of the wild has the horns and lower body of a Gogoat and possesses a fear inducing scream (and thus is the origin of the word panic) and is usually depicted chasing nymphs. The same god is also credited with the creation of the first reed flute. A mythical creature from the same mythology is depicted as having the head of a Gogoat along with the head of a Pyroar and a tail ending in a Seviper’s head.
Gogoat is also depicted as one of the signs in both the Western and the Eastern zodiacs. It is also common to compare a person with great balance and a steady stance to a Gogoat due to the Pokémon’s ease at navigating treacherous terrain in the mountains.
In an example of a more modern depiction of the Skiddo line there is a children's fairytale where a Skiddo, newly evolved Gogoat and an older Gogoat must cross over a bridge over a river to get to a meadow of greener grass with the first two being stopped by a troll and tricking the troll into waiting for the eldest brother to come and eat him. When the eldest Gogoat arrives he's easily able to toss the troll into the river below.
There is also a computer game where players control a Gogoat through a city causing mayhem. The numerous bugs, glitches and ridiculous game physics have made the game a smash hit and have become the game and sequels' main selling point.
Written by Shadow6666
