Mudbray Line
Morphs [Oak Catalogue #]
- Mudbray [749] – Equus lutumasinus
- Mudsdale [750] – Equus terramotuscaballus
Physical Description
The members of the Mudbray line are a pair of Equine Pokémon whom both share a Ground typing.
The juvenile form of the line Mudbray measures in at between 80 and 120cm tall and can weigh between 95 and 125kg. Mudbray’s body is covered in a dark brown coat with a cream-coloured underbelly and muzzle with a circular marking on each cheek the same cream colour. It has long stiff ears and black bangs that turn into a stiff mane with a short black tail. Its black hooves are surrounded by thick cream coloured mud and Mudbray become sad if this mud is ever missing.
Upon evolution into Mudsdale this line grows 2½ times taller to measure at between 2.2 and 2.8m tall and undergoes a massive increase in weight to weigh between 900 and 950kg. This makes Mudsdale the heaviest non-legendary and non-Mega Evolved Pokémon known from our dimension, the only Pokémon heavier being Mega Metagross, both forms of Groudon, Cosmoem and the Ultra Beast Celesteela (UB-04 Blaster).
Mudsdale’s coat is a dark brown and its mane is black with a red stripe along its spine. Its mane extends down on either side in three thick structures resembling dreadlocks the ends covered in red mud as is its black tail. Its hooves are likewise surrounded by a thick coat of this same mud.
Unlike most Equine species both members of the Mudbray line do not possess the usual black sclera of their eyes instead possessing the white sclera more commonly associated with humans. Other unusual features of this lines eyes are Mudbray’s horizontal pupils and, on first inspection, lack of eyelids while Mudsdale’s eyes are heavy lidded.
As with all species of Pokémon the Mudbray line has members that exhibit a rare phenotype that alters their colouring. As a Mudbray these members have an orangeish coloured coat with a blueish mane and tail.
As Mudsdale these members have identical changes with an orange coloured coat with a blue mane and tail.
Notable Biology
The most notable feature of the Mudbray line is the thick, dense muscle structure throughout their bodies making both members far greater strength than their size would suggest; Mudbray being able to easily drag or carry loads 50 times its own weight making it easily capable of dragging its own evolved forms immense weight while Mudsdale is even stronger being capable of dragging over 10 tonnes for 72 hours straight without tiring.
This muscle density and their extreme weight comes at a price. Where their evolutionary cousins the Ponyta and Blitzle lines are both built for speed and agility the Mudbray line is slow but possesses greater physical strength, resilience and stamina that those lines don’t possess.
Mudbray possess a species wide psychological need to play in mud from time to time, tests have shown similar brainwave reactions to those in humans that suffer some form of addiction, and will become stressed, depressed and disobedient if denied this pastime. Despite this need and their incredibly stubborn nature both Mudbray and Mudsdale can be incredibly focused workers and if they have a goal in mind will set about completing it with an almost single minded focus.
As Ground types both members of this line possess a natural form of terrakinesis allowing them to unleash a variety of powerful seismic attacks along with using the mud stuck to their legs to either; try and blind their opponent or to ground out electric attacks thus lowering the damage allies would take from those attacks. The members of this line are two of the only Pokémon capable of using the move ‘High Horsepower’ charging at their opponent and slamming their mud covered hooves into them.
The muscles in the legs of both members are the densest in their bodies giving them immense power in their legs especially when combined with the extra weight and force afforded by the thick mud attached to the legs which also helps to build up the strength in their legs. Due to this both members are also capable of utilising a number of moves that involve kicking or stomping. The steel like density of their muscles also allows them to perform a powerful body slam that is devastating to those lighter than it, the greater the difference in weights the greater the damage.
There are three distinct sub-groups of these Pokémon. The first sub-group possess a far greater drive and focus on tasks set than their fellows belonging to the other two sub-groups and will not allow anything to distract them from their goal, preventing them from becoming confused and disorientated even from their own moves.
The second subgroup possesses the seemingly unique ‘Stamina’ ability. Members of this sub-group possess a unique gene that causes their skin and muscle cells to produce a silica like compound that causes a colloid like reaction in the cell membranes under force.
This means when an attack strikes a member of this sub-group their skin and muscles harden slightly increasing their defensive abilities. Studies on this mechanism have led to the development and continuing improvement of ‘liquid body armour’ Kevlar vests for law enforcement organisations which operate under similar principles.
Due this lines naturally high resilience to physical blows, this sub-groups ability to further improve those abilities makes it highly popular.
The third and rarest sub-group possess a similar drive and focus to the first sub-group but instead focuses so intently on completing tasks, rather than what the task itself is, that they cannot be startled or stunned, more commonly known to trainers as ‘flinching’ while being capable of becoming distracted and confused as to what task they are supposed to be completing.
Habitat
Mudbray and Mudsdale make their home in fields, plains and sparse forests where rain and moisture can easily turn the ground muddy and marshy as they prefer though Mudbray is far more likely to be encountered due to their love of playing in mud.
Due to hunting to near extinction throughout the world the Alola region is the only known area where this line can reliably be found. Routes 4 and 6 and the Paniola Ranch on Akala Island and Route 12 and Blush Mountain on Ula’ula Island are the most common places for encountering Mudbray while Mudsdale can be found in the Poni Plains of Poni Island.
Diet
Both members of this line are herbivorous eating grasses, leaves and, when available, fruits and berries along with small amounts of mud and dirt. As with all Pokémon they will happily eat pre made Pokémon food.
Hazards
NEVER APPROCH THESE POKÉMON FROM BEHIND!! The biggest hazard involved with these Pokémon, like their cousins in the Ponyta and Blitzle lines, is their powerful hind legs and hard hooves. Even Mudbray can easily break bones which, if struck in the wrong place, can be fatal. As Mudsdale this strength combined with their titanic weight means almost any strike will be fatal, only blows to the arms and feet having the possibility of survival, even then the body part is likely to require amputation due to the damage.
Again like their cousins both members of this line have hard teeth and powerful jaws which can break or even sever fingers, it is thus important to keep your hands away from their mouths unless they are familiar and comfortable with you.
The greatest threat when encountering these Pokémon is their terrakinesis abilities which can cause devastation over a wide area. When travelling through areas known to be home to these Pokémon it is recommended to have a powerful Water or Grass type Pokémon whose moves will deal greater damage to either member of this line. If you intend to battle a member of this line a Flying type Pokémon is also useful due to being immune to this lines main form of attack.
Social Structure
Mudbray and Mudsdale live in groups known as harems which generally consist of one male Stallion with up to six adult female mares and their foals. Bachelor males either live alone or with a group of other bachelors until they are old enough to challenge a breeding male. Foals are always protected by their mothers the Stallion and any other mares in the harem. If attacked the mares will surround the foals to protect them while the stallion attempts to scare of the predator.
Courting
In the wild Mudbray are unlikely to breed with only the oldest doing so. Mudsdale however will breed in the early spring with the male breeding with every mare in his group. The average gestation period is 340 days after which the mare will give birth. The baby Mudbray will quickly learn to stand and walk. The foal will nurse from its mother for around 4-6 months before moving on to grasses.
Though live young are born in the wild, the safer more protected environment of captivity, along with the possibility of the father being of a different species, most births are of eggs containing less developed young and usually have a far shorter gestation period, though the hatching period usually makes up the difference.
In Human Society
The Mudbray line’s representation in human culture is long prosperous. Like their cousin lines Mudbray and especially Mudsdale were some of the first Pokémon domesticated by humans, being used for transport and as a barer of burdens. Mudsdale and their immense strength in particular were instrumental in Alola’s development throughout history, transporting building materials along with food and other goods.
As mentioned in the Habitat section above Mudbray is unfortunately one of the Pokémon that, like Lapras, was in recent history hunted to near extinction leading them to being found almost exclusively in the Alolan Islands where they were never hunted most likely due to their close ties to the people of the region in helping build the region to what it is today. Thankfully careful conservation and breeding programs are in progress with hopes to one day rebuild their populations throughout the world.
In modern times Mudsdale are still used commonly on farms around Alola as well as being one of the ‘Ride Pokémon’ trained and offered to travellers to assist in traversing difficult terrain. It should also be noted that due to their weight and the damage it can inadvertently cause, Mudsdale are prohibited from being loose on most roads throughout the world without express permission from government agencies which is rarely given.
Due to the stubborn nature of the species, particularly stubborn people are often compared to Mudbray by those that have become exasperated by their actions.
In modern media Mudbray and Mudsdale are often prominent in farm scenes, usually pulling heavy loads like ploughs or carriages. Perhaps their most prominent appearance is in a children's novel and its adaptations, the most famous and recognized being an animated movie created by Disney, about a wooden puppet brought to life by a Fairy type. In the story the puppet is tricked into going to an island with other young boys on the pretense of being able act as they wish without rules or authority. Once on the island however the boys start turning into Mudbray and sold into slave labor.
Written by Shadow6666
