Well here's what Tangent has to say on the subject:

So if you want to have an IHC section, that's fine. If you don't want to have one, that's fine too, but they're not going anywhere so any arguments to get rid of them will go nowhere.

As for the Amaura Line article, I was thinking that perhaps the largest amount of Amaura evolutions in arctic regions would be during the winter due to the polar night.

Don,Venia,Hasill, and others have noted that. Some on the same page you mad that comment.

Okay, yes, Donald was against it too and I realized I made that mistake afterwards. The others aren't, if you'd go back and actually read what they said. I was going to go into more detail here but I'm just done with this.

Evening everyone. Loving what's been put up here so far.

I do have a question regarding the pokedex as a whole. We have pretty much every detail possible for the biology and social interaction pieces of the pokedex, which is good. But what about suggestions for ownership? And I don't mean for trainers, I mean for those who would keep these creatures as pets? Surely experts have something to say about giving these creatures a place to stay inside a human home.

Would that be a little too extreme to add into a pokedex?

A section about creating a friendly environment for Your Pokemon At Home?

I can easily see that. A short blurb for regular homeowners who want to own a Pokemon but not actually battle with them! Hell, we could make that an entirely different thread! Plus we could include a list of Pokemon who are NOT ideal for housepets with a few having a short explanation if it isn't obvious. XD

Could also have information as for Pokemon At Work, like Slugma helping to keep the forge hot, or various pokemon helping out in the kitchen or with other things.

That's actually something that would make a lot of sense to put within an IHC section. Since although putting in series-specific nods is fun and a tool for illustrating examples how modern media would deal with Pokemon, more practical applications are also important for understanding how Pokemon fit in to a human society and why certain values / antipathies towards different Pokemon would exist, especially in lower-tech times (i.e. utilizing Fire-Types for smelting and glassblowing due to lack of industrial equipment to do it for you).

In fact, I figure that would be a good bit for In Human Culture and deal with the recent issues.

Woah was that a ninja

edited 15th Jan '14 11:15:27 PM by HyperAlbion

Hey guys. Some of you might already know me, some of you might not - just swinging by to say hello to all the people. Figured I might as well help out with some details, even if I never get around to making a page myself.

Also, I can totally see Electric Pokémon like Elekid and its evolutions be used as living emergency generators, as well as there being a Rapidash/Zebstrika racing subculture with interspecies rivalry.

Hello everyone, it's been a while since I've added something to the project, but I've managed to become a tad active in the lull right before school resuming.

Helioptile Line

Morphs [Oak Catalog #]

• Helioptile [#694]
• Heliolisk [#695]

Physical Description

Helioptile and Heliolisk are reptilian creatures that undergo dramatic changes in bodyplan and locomotion during their life cycle that are distinguished by electrogenic capabilities, adaptations to survival in arid regions, and a unique biology that supports multiple modes of sustenance including photosynthetic and directly ergovorous feeding patterns.

Helioptile, the initial form, is a reptilian facultative biped that stands roughly 50 centimeters tall in a neutral pose on its hind legs and averages around 6 kilograms in weight. Unlike most reptilian creatures, male Helioptile generally bias above this average and trend larger than their female counterparts. Helioptile have a bodyplan that is characterized by a tailed narrow and lanky body with four limbs that are oriented in a vaguely splayed manner. Each limb terminates in a set of three small claws, with more developed hind limbs facilitating bipedal movement. Helioptile possess a distinctive head structure with a small, compact snout with nostrils located above its jaws, two large forward-facing eyes, and a pair of manipulable folds of skin which at rest vaguely resembles a pair of pendant ears which fully unfurled reveal a interconnected trio of vaguely rhombal-shaped folds. Helioptile possesses a distinct appearance dominated by patterns of black scales and yellow scales, with the former covering Helioptile's claws, the tip of its tail, all but the tips of its rhombal head folds, and most of the top of its head while the latter dominates the other regions of its body.

The second, and presumed final form, Heliolisk, is a strictly bipedal creature that generally stands roughly a meter tall and usually weighs just over 20 kilograms, if subject to the same individual variances possessed by Helioptile. Heliolisk's limb structure changes significantly along with its change in body plan. While it maintains its general paradigm of more developed hind limbs and lankier forelimbs, it develops lower limbs that are directly oriented under the bulk of its body weight better supporting rapid linear movement, and longer and more dexterous digits with the musculature to support more refined grasping and manipulation of objects with its forelimb claws. Heliolisk's head structure also changes dramatically, in favor of a head with a vaguely triangular snout, laterally-facing eyes located under protruding crests. Like its smaller counterpart, Heliolisk possesses manipulable folds of skin, which consist of a radially-arrayed series of folds tipped with occasional vaguely-triangular spikes that begin at the base of the skull and protrudes down to Heliolisk's shoulders. Heliolisk's hide appears similar to that of its younger counterpart, if distinguished with the addition of orange scales in some regions. The tip of Heliolisk's tail, its neck frill, its claws, and the entirety of its head barring its lower jaw are covered in black scales, the "spikes" on its frill, a region on its lower tail, and two "bands" on its upper legs are covered in orange scales, while the remainder of its body is covered in the same yellow scales that predominate the hide of Helioptile.

It should be noted that due to a particular characteristic of these creatures' biology noted later in this article, their appearances may possess variances in tinges based upon their diets. In rare cases, individuals will carry a mutant phenotype which supports the formation of red scales, which for Helioptile affects all the normally yellow-scaled regions of its body barring those on its frill and a small region of its forehead, as Heliolisk this phenotype affects all yellow regions below the head, leaving only the patch of yellow scales under its jaw untouched. Carriers of this phenotype are particularly sought after in some training circles.

Notable Biology

One of the defining features of Helioptile and Heliolisk are their electrogenic and electromanipulative properties. Helioptile and Heliolisk possess electrogenic cells throughout their body, and utilize their "frills" as conduits when unfurled with which to release large amounts of electrical charge at once. These creatures have been known to exercise formidable control over local electric charges, which makes them capable of controlling the rate of release of their charges from their bodies, which can range from small currents continuously supplied over extended periods of time, to massive currents for fractions of a second comparable to those drawn by high-rise buildings from electrical grids. These creatures also appear to be capable of manipulating localized charge distributions in their surrounding environment, which allows them to better direct and amplify battle techniques incorporating releases of static electricity.

Another significant characteristic of Helioptile and its evolution is the manner in which its evolution occurs. Helioptile is one of a number of Pokémon that do not naturally evolve with age progression, but rather through an outside stimulus. In Helioptile's case, it appears that evolution into Heliolisk is only possible when exposed to the combination of chemical and radioactive triggers provided by the absorption of a Sun Stone. In wild contexts, such evolutions generally occur via gradual accretion from trace amounts of Sun Stones carried in airborne dust, though in captive settings, this evolution can easily be triggered by providing a suitably-sized Sun Stone for a Helioptile to be exposed to. It should be noted that such exposure appears to cause exponentially accelerated radiochemical decay in the Sun Stone.

Along with this evolution comes a significant alteration in locomotion. Although the early days after evolution are often awkward for Heliolisk to adjust to, upon acclimation, they appear to develop abilities to manipulate muscle contractions and movements through small electric charges. One of the most spectacular examples of this behavior is in Heliolisk's ability to run in short bursts at speeds approaching 65 kilometers per hour thanks to manipulation of the muscles in its legs via this method, which enables it to outspeed most prey and foes. A fascinating side effect of this running ability is that due to the structure of Heliolisk's feet and the presence of scaly fringes along its toes, individuals are often capable of fording small bodies of water by exploiting forward momentum and generating pockets of air by the fringes flattening out and forcing air into the water below its feet.

These Pokémon are also defined by possessing a unique metabolism that appears to be very water-efficient, allowing for some individuals to survive entirely off of moisture garnered from consumed food. The metabolism of Helioptile and Heliolisk appears to exhibit a good deal of systemic redundancy. Creatures from this line also appear to be capable of limited ergovorism, which enables them to absorb electric energy from sources such as the ambient energy around substations and high-voltage wires and to directly store this energy and utilize it in conjunction with ingested water and salts in the formation of coenzymes critical to cell function and life such as adenosine triphosphate.

One particularly peculiar facet of this metabolism is their ability to acquire photosynthetic properties via kleptoplasty, in which plastoids from algae consumed directly or in water along with those of some plant matter consumed for food are sequestered intact subcutaneously to assist in providing energy for their host. This property is also capable of affecting the coloration of these creatures, one of the most common occurrences of this phenomenon being the development of a green tinge to these creatures' scales through consumption of chlorophyll-rich algae and substances. Other colored tinges have been recorded under studies of creatures fed foods rich in other plastoids such as caratenoids.

Among Helioptile and Heliolisk, there are three presently known submorphs that distinguish individuals through variances in physical traits. One of the most common of these consists of individuals whose abilities are known as "Dry Skin", which appears to coincide with individuals with particularly refined kleptoplastic abilities, which as a result makes said individuals more vulnerable to desiccation and in need of more hydration than most of their peers. Such individuals also appear to have bodily enzymes which cause regenerative effects in the event of hydration, though it remains unclear whether these enzymes are inherently tied to sequestered plastoids or not. Another exceedingly common submorph among these Pokémon consist of individuals whose abilities are typically referred to as "Sand Veil". These individuals appear to generally have slightly thicker scales, keener senses, and more developed leg muscles at the expense of their kleptoplastic abilities, which allow the creatures to more easily move about under conditions consistent with desert sandstorms. The last, and rarest of the presently documented submorphs consists of individuals that appear to be capable of "overtaxing" their metabolisms under conditions of strong sunlight, at the expense of eventual fatigue. These individuals appear to be characterized by kleptoplastic abilities that sequester and replace plastoids more rapidly than other individuals, though appear to have a less dense distribution of sequestered plastoids on average than individuals in the "Dry Skin" submorph.

Habitat

Although Helioptile and Heliolisk are predominantly associated with desert environments; the two creatures have been documented also living in mountainous regions, arid plains, and in a few isolated cases, in tropical environments.

In their host environments, Helioptile and Heliolisk will maintain nests in coarse-grained sandy soil surrounded by sparse plant and/or leaf litter, with the nest either being open-air or in a burrow depending on surrounding environmental conditions. In environments where naturally occurring sites for such nests are sparse, it is not unheard of for these Pokémon to gather appropriate soil for the purpose of constructing a suitable nest.

Diet

Although creatures from this line are theoretically capable of surviving with little or no food for extended periods of time, in practice, such a non-diet is generally insufficient to support all but the lowest-energy of lifestyles. These creatures in their natural settings generally use photosynthesis and ergovorism as a supplement along with plant matter to a otherwise primarily carnivorous diet, generally favoring arthropod-like prey or organisms with high concentrations of plastoids in their bodies.

The primary methods of obtaining sustenance for these creatures also generally varies with the form they possess. As Helioptile, consumption of prey is generally done via scavenging or ambush hunting, with individuals often teaming together to ambush and share large but weakened prey. As Heliolisk, individuals generally shift towards a more active hunting regimen and often engage in limited pursuit hunting patterns. It should be noted that group hunting is also significantly less common of an occurrence among Heliolisk than among their smaller brethren.

Hazards

Despite their generally innocuous appearances and often playful temperaments, it should go without saying that as with most other Pokémon, trifling with Pokémon from the Helioptile line is an exercise in stupidity.

Both creatures from this line are capable of releasing powerful shocks either through via techniques such as "Spark" and "Thunderbolt". While encounters of this nature with solitary Helioptile are unlikely to be particularly threatening, it should be noted that the more powerful Heliolisk, a sufficiently group of Helioptile, or simply an individual that has manipulated environmental static charges through techniques such as "Electric Terrain" can be significantly more damaging and life-threatening. One particularly hazardous technique appears to involve draining electric charges from victims to metabolize through rapid ergovorism. Effects of prolonged or repeated exposure to this technique in short intervals of time appear to be capable of disrupting vital cell and organ functions dependent upon the transmission of electric charges such as inter-neuron communication. Some creatures from this line appear to be capable of causing localized tremors which can knock foes down, and impede their movement to escape through uprooting the local terrain. Both creatures also utilize tackling techniques, which although mostly unthreatening as Helioptile, can lead to broken bones and internal bleeding if struck by the much swifter and heavier Heliolisk.

Other less health-related hazards stemming from the training of Helioptile and its evolution include the standard risks associated with undertraining and evolving before a trainer is sufficiently capable of handling a larger and more powerful organism, which has lead to many a trainer having paid an unplanned visit to an emergency room. Under no circumstances should one attempt to pry open the "frill" of one of these Pokemon from its "inert" position, as there is the potential for serious electric shock if the Helioptile or Heliolisk is disturbed. Last, but not least, these creatures are also known be capable of inadvertently damaging electronic equipment either from accidental discharge or through careless manipulation of environmental static electricity, which should be kept in mind during early training.

Courting

While courtship among Helioptile and Heliolisk is fairly uncomplicated relative to those of some other Pokémon, the rite of courtship still plays a pivotal role in the choice of mates by females. Such courtship generally consists of fanning out "frills" on behalf of the female and giving displays of one's command over electric abilities. Competition for mates can be fierce, and it is not unheard of for suitor Pokémon from this line to get into brutal brawls with each other over mates. Upon mate selection, a male and female individual from this line will mate, and then separate, leaving the mother to lay and brood over her eggs alone. Mating pairs generally do not last beyond this encounter in the wild, though exceptions are occasionally documented.

Both Helioptile and Heliolisk are capable of reproducing, and have been reliably documented doing so in the wild. Individuals reproduce via oviparous means, Helioptile generally laying 1-2 eggs and Heliolisk laying clutches of 4-5 eggs in wild settings. Both creatures are also known to be capable of mating with Pokémon from outside their immediate line, though this is a behavior that is seldom recorded outside of captivity.

Social Structure

Pokémon from the Helioptile line are known to generally be socially aloof from their peers and generally not maintain particularly tight bonds with each other when not mating. Young Helioptile generally receive minimal care from their parents after the first month of their life and will often immediately transition from this stage of life by living in a small, loose group along with its siblings. These groups, often of 3-5 individuals, generally evolve on the basis of pragmatism for food and shelter, and it is rare for an initial group of siblings to last unchanged for more than 6 months. It is not uncommon for groups to dissolve abruptly, causes ranging from there simply no longer being sufficient food or shelter, to challenges of dominance within the group, to territorial squabbling.

Upon evolution, Heliolisk will generally lead a solitary life, and is known to generally be significantly more territorial than its smaller counterpart. The primary subversions to this behavior are during mating season, or in environments where populations are very large relative to available claimable territory, in which case, it is not unheard of for Heliolisk to maintain organization in small, mostly socially aloof groups of peers.

In Human Society

Historically, Helioptile and Heliolisk have seen primarily niche applications with their handlers in human societies near their habitats. The creatures were known to be particularly helpful for gilding via electroplating, with Kalos maintaining a particularly long-lived tradition of using these creatures in the craft. Heliolisk also saw some specialized use within military contexts, one of the more interesting of which was its employment for infiltrating and assaulting opposing ships and their often primarily "Water-type" defenders at close quarters.

In contemporary culture, Helioptile and Heliolisk have enjoyed a surge of popularity and general awareness among the public, with the two becoming increasingly commonplace as pets for young trainers. This is perhaps due in no small part to the rise of the prevailing depiction of these creatures in media as hyperactive and playful creatures, which is generally seen as endearing among young trainers. A popular practice among some Helioptile trainers is to allow their Pokémon to perch on top of their heads on account of its relatively low weight and compactness, a trend which in some regions has become reflected in more specialized circles, including within some segments of the Kalos' fashion world.

Any thoughts, opinions, and/or commentaries are deeply appreciated, and I'm glad to see that PEFE continues to operate under fresh and creative authors.

edited 9th Feb '14 4:40:48 PM by TracerBullet

I like quite a bit. Can't think of any problems.

Knocked it out of the park in my opinon. Good on you.

It would be good to add a warning about Helioptile and Heliolisk's signature move, Parabolic Charge (electrical, lifedrain).

edited 1st Feb '14 1:27:28 AM by AceOfScarabs

Here's my Meditite line article.

Morphs [Oak Catalogue #]

Meditite [307] – Pongo meditus

Medicham [308] – Pongo yogus

Physical Description

The members of the Meditite line are a pair of bipedal, primate dual Fighting and Psychic type Pokémon. Meditite stands at around 60cm tall and can weigh anywhere between 8 and 14kg though members that are either larger or smaller exist. For accuracy and for consistency through this encyclopaedia Meditite’s height is measured from head to toe despite it spending a great deal of its time meditating. Meditite’s body is mostly blue with white/grey wristband like bands on its wrists, white feet and a white nappy like section below its stomach. Its head, which is shaped similar to an onion, is also white/grey with ovular pink markings on its cheeks and round swirled ears on the side. These ears are higher up on male Meditite than on females.

Upon evolution into Medicham it more than doubles in height becoming around 1.3m tall and can weigh between 29and 34kg. Medicham has a grey/white body, arms, feet and head while the headpiece atop of its head is red with a bulb like protrusion on top with two smaller bulbs hang down over its temples. The bulb atop Medicham’s head is noticeably smaller on females. Medicham’s legs have the appearance of being clothed in puffy red pants that have a yellow waistband. It was recently discovered that Medicham was one of the select Pokémon capable of undergoing the process dubbed Mega-Evolution. As Mega Medicham its basic appearance does not change; retaining the same height and weight as well as the same basic colouration. Changes that have occurred however is a widening of the “waistband” of its “pants” with it also now possessing a number of blue teardrop shaped decorations hanging from the lowest waistband. Mega Medicham possesses a golden ring on each wrist and its headpiece now resembling a white turban with the top red protrusion of its regular form visible through the top. The turban possesses a yellow stone in the centre and five white protrusions; three from the stone and two from either side. Mega Medicham uses its enhanced focus and willpower to create four ghostly white “hands” of psychic energy and aura. It has been noted that the stronger and more highly trained its spirit the more dextrous these hands are with the oldest and most highly trained able to use them as if they were their real hands.

Some researchers have theorised that Mega Medicham is the form Medicham took at one point in the past before taking on its current less ornate form or that the Mega form is a result to Medicham achieving true nirvana and the ability has simply been lost as the world has become more industrialised interfering with Medicham’s ability to reach this stage. However these are just theories and have no known proof behind them.

Notable Biology

As dual Fighting and Psychic Pokémon the members of the Meditite line are almost unique in possessing both the powerful muscles of a Fighting type Pokémon but also the powerful mental abilities and keen intellect of a Psychic type; Gallade, Mega Mewtwo X and Pirouette form Meloetta being the only other Pokémon to combine ‘brains’ and ‘brawn’. Both members of this line are also two of the few Pokémon able to manipulate Aura.

Due to this combination the members of the Meditite line are able to naturally learn a number of martial arts moves such as a jumping knee strike and an Aura infused palm strike as well as a large number of psychokinetic abilities such as a psychokinetic head-butt and the ability to clear their mind so as to increase its strength with non-physical moves and it defences against such. Upon evolving into Medicham these Pokémon gain small pyro-chemical, electro-chemical and cryo-chemical cells in their hands allowing them to infuse their punches with these energies. With dedication and training the members of this line are capable of not only greatly increasing their repertoire of both Fighting and Psychic type moves with moves such as Brick Break and Psychic but with a wide variety of moves from other types such as a focused ball of umbrate, a poison coated strike or the ability to enhance the ambient sunlight of an area or to call a localised rain storm.

Due to their meditation and fasting the members of this line have developed a sixth sense which it uses to assist the use of its psychokinetic powers and to avoid attacks.

There are two distinct sub-groups of these Pokémon. The most common subgroup of these Pokémon use their meditation and training to redirect some of their psychokinetic energy into their muscles and combining Aura into their strikes to greatly increase their physical strength an ability known to trainers as “Pure Power”.

The second much rarer sub-group uses their psychic powers to boost their “sixth-sense” beyond the normal limits allowing them to avoid any attacks used by allied Pokémon that may be headed their way. This ability has been dubbed “Telepathy” by trainers for obvious reasons. As Mega Medicham regardless of which sub-group a member of this species belongs it will possess the Pure Power ability while in its Mega Evolved state.

As with all Pokémon the Meditite line has members that exhibit a rare phenotype that alters their colouring. These members as Meditite simply swap their normal blue colouring for red while the normally white/grey areas are tinged with pink. Upon evolution to Medicham members with this phenotype have a golden colour to their skin while their “pants” and headpiece are blue. As Mega Medicham members with this phenotype keep the same colouration as before they Mega evolved while their ghostly “hands” take on the same colouration as their body and the stone on their turban is orange instead of yellow.

Habitat

Both forms make their home in fields and mountains where they can use their psychic powers to hide themselves from others. They prefer isolated areas where they can meditate and train in peace.

Meditite are relatively common Pokémon, most likely due to a desire to test themselves against other Pokémon particularly those trained by humans, and are commonly found on Mount Pyre and in Victory road in Hoenn, Routes 208, 210, 211, 216,217, the Acuity Lakefront and in Mt Coronet in Sinnoh and Connecting Cave in Kalos. There have also been reports of them appearing within Sprout, Bell/Tin and Burned/Brass Towers in the Johto region if they hear music reminding them of the Sinnoh region.

Meditite are much more uncommon but have been found in Victory Road in both Hoenn and Sinnoh as well as Route 217, Acuity Lakefront and Mt Coronet in Sinnoh. There have also been reports of them appearing in secret difficult to find Grottos within Unova’s Pinwheel Forrest though the frequency of these occurrences seems be differ in each report for unexplained reasons with some trainers reporting a high frequency while others have reported having to spend days trying to find one.

Diet

Meditite and Medicham are purely herbivorous with both of them subsisting on a single berry a month as part of their training. This factor makes them highly prized by some trainers as easy to care for Pokémon with very low maintenance costs, though it should be noted that their feeding needs will increase if they are entered into large numbers of battles that exceed the amount of energy use they would experience in the wild.

Hazards

For the most part both members of the line are largely pacifists only engaging in combat with opponents they feel are worthy and have even been known to come to the aid of trainers in peril however like with any Pokémon they will attack if provoked. As stated they are capable of not only powerful physical strikes but also powerful psychic and telekinetic strikes. Their preferred tactic is to use their psychic powers to cause an attacker to flee though this will fail on those with strong minds and wills. If this fails they will strike quickly and powerfully in order to disable the attacker rather than to explicitly injure or kill. Once the foe has been disabled they will either take the attacker away to someplace vaguely inhabited and leave them to wake up or simply disappear into the surroundings depending on the aggressiveness of the attacker or the potential danger to an unconscious soul.

Social Structure

Due to their meditative nature both Meditite and Medicham live largely solitary lives in relatively large areas known as ranges though they seem to have ranges that overlap with the areas of a number of females, usually 9, which usually appear to be immediate relatives, being encompassed by that of a males. Despite this the members of this species have only minor social interactions with the overlapping ranges appearing to be solely for convenience when breeding. Despite this when members do meet interactions are almost always friendly with only rare examples of true violence, as opposed to sparing, being observed. Due to these factors researchers tend to describe the social structure of the Meditite line as social but solitary.

Courting

While both members of this line are capable of breeding in captivity in the wild it is usually only Medicham who breed. Female Medicham when ready to breed will head to a select area of their range where they are met by the male whose range encompasses theirs. Medicham have a nine month gestation period after which the female gives birth to a single live young. The child stays with its mother for around two years after which they will start to spend less time with their mothers and begin to be weaned at four years of age. Once they have been weaned the child Meditite will leave in search of its own range. After giving birth female Medicham have an eight year interval before they breed again. Researchers have observed that the breeding in a group appears to be staggered such that the male breeds with only one female a year and spends the eight year interval before a particular female is ready to breed again breeding with each of the other females within its range one at a time such that the male breeds every year with a different female. Researchers continue to marvel at the apparent organisation of the breeding cycle and the male’s apparent ability to know which female is ready to breed each year.

In Human Society

The members of the Meditite line are one of the most common Pokémon to appear in media due to their human-like appearance most often in the role of martial artists or ancient wise men who a sought out to learn the secrets of the universe/a secret technique etc. A good example is a Medicham playing a wise old man in a trilogy of the most successful Sci-fi movies ever and a Meditite playing a younger version of the character in the first of a later prequel trilogy before being replaced by a Medicham in the second two movies of the trilogy. Another example is in a children’s cartoon where a wise old Medicham teaches the main character to release his chakra so as to gain control of his super powered state.

Comments etc welcome.

Looks nice to me. Formattings a bit off. Like this:

Physical description

Other than that looks great.

Re: Meditite

It seems very solid as a start. There are a few things that seem like they could be more fleshed out though. Off the top of my head:

• Is the "one berry per day" diet artificially enforced as part of training, or is it made possible through biology (i.e. hyperefficient metabolisms)?
• What other mons do Meditite and Medicham interact with outside of the stock prey/predator lens in their environment, if any?
• Would techniques and practices have influenced human attitudes and practices involving martial arts and meditation in the regions where they encounter each other?
• Were there any historical applications for Meditite and Medicham in bygone human societies?

As for me, I've decided to finally dust off something that I've been sitting on with Dragara and punt it out before my semester becomes any more of a time devourer.

Snubbull Line

Morphs [Oak Catalog #]

• Snubbull [#209]
• Granbull [#210]

Physical Description

The Pokémon of the Snubbull line are digitigrade bipedal canids that are defined by brightly colored pelts, a "short" muzzle structure that is unconventional among its peers, and for being one of a handful of creatures to demonstrate traits that has lead it to be included in a recently-created "Fairy" typing designation for Pokémon.

The initial morph, Snubbull, typically stands around 60 centimeters (roughly 2 feet) tall and weighs in at approximately 8 kilograms (just over 17 pounds). Snubbull possess a pair of distinct "split" pendant ears with black banding along their lower contours that have an appearance not wholly unlike the appendages that grow from the head of Lucario. Snubbull are characterized by "flat" faces, in which the eyes are only mildly set back from a short and rounded snout. Snubbull also possess a jaw structure with a mild "underbite" that exposes 2 small fangs from its lower jaw when closed. Snubbull pelts have a distinct pattern of growth with a "skirt" of long fur encircling its lower body that sometimes obfuscates a small nub-like tail and separates regions of shorter fur along its legs and feet from another that encompasses its upper torso and head. This pelt also carries a distinctive "collar" of longer fur around its neck, which shares the same coloration as a number of fur "dots" that ring Snubbull's body towards the end of its "skirt".

The second, and presently presumed final morph is Granbull, an imposing creature that possesses a typical height of 140 centimeters (approximately 4'7") and weight just shy of 50 kilograms (around 110 pounds). A number of physical features change dramatically upon a Snubbull's evolution into Granbull, some of the most prominent being centered around Granbull's head. Granbull develops a skull structure with a more pronounced muzzle, with its eyes set further back from its snout, which now incorporates a pair of jaws characterized by a lower jaw with an "underbite" and two prominent bone spurs that serve to function as "fangs" with typical lengths that range from 20 to 25 centimeters. Unlike its earlier form, Granbull's ears "fuse" into a more conventional pendant structure that no longer display banding. Granbull's pelt also changes dramatically, being composed entirely of a layer of short fur that more visibly displays the creature's musculture and exposes a small tail that has grown proportionally longer than that of its younger brethren. The patterns on this pelt also change dramatically, characterized by solid regions covering the body barring a series of black bands around the wrists, and one forming a "collar" around Granbull's neck with two small dots located on opposite sides of its throat.

Pokémon from this line are known to possess a number of distinct phenotypes which primarily affect pelt structure and coloration. Snubbull typically possess a pelt that is primarily pink or peach with "dots" and a "collar" of varying light blue colorations. Among some populations, including those from Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh, a Snubbull's "skirt" begins below its tail, which exposes its structure. By contrast other populations such as those in Unova possess Snubbull with pelt structures such that the "skirt" begins above and envelops the creature's tail, making it not immediately visible to an observer. Granbull phenotype variances generally affect the color of its primary pelt regions and the color of its "dots", which usually range between varying shades of violet and pink and white to gray respectively.

In rare cases, carriers of mutant phenotypes among Snubbull and Granbull have been recorded. Among Snubbull, pelts' primary regions are light shades of gray or lavender punctuated by pink or peach "collars" and "dots" along with magenta bands on its ears. When such individuals evolve into Granbull, their pelts become like their more common brethren's, with the very visible exception of their primary regions, which have been documented to become varying shades of tan. These phenotype carriers are known to be particularly sought after in some breeding circles and collectors will sometimes pay large sums for such creatures.

Notable Biology

In spite of their fairly straightforward appearances, Snubbull and Granbull have long proven to be deceptively surprising creatures to the study of Pokémon.

Snubbull and Granbull are distinct from most of their canid peers in that their features and behaviors appear to bear the mark of historical human influence upon a presently unknown precursor. As canids, Snubbull and its evolution have been noted to display less prominent pack behaviors and regularly attempt to engage in "guarding" behaviors towards other entities in return for food and physical care. It should be noted that this behavior appears not to be terribly altruistic in nature, as guarding Snubbull line Pokémon have been noted to often abandon guarding roles for other Pokémon in the face of particularly imposing foes. This guarding behavior is noted to be dramatically less pragmatic among entities seen as kin, a behavioral association which is key for trainers seeking to use these creatures in battle effectively to develop, and one that has provided models which were later utilized for experimental training methods for Pokémon from the Archen line.

It is believed that the effects of this anthropogenic development may be responsible for a number of health ailments that Snubbull line Pokémon are known to occasionally suffer from in the later stages of life. Such ailments are known to include heightened vulnerabilities to cancer, arthritis, and bloating. Another physical trait that is suspected to be a byproduct of this development is the necessity for Snubbull and Granbull to have their muzzles regularly cleaned to avoid bacterial infections, which is generally done by other Pokémon in symbiotic relationships in the wild.

For many years, Snubbull and Granbull's responses to various battle techniques have stymied researchers. Although categorized under the "Normal" group along with Pokémon such as Tauros and Linoone, these Pokémon seemed to lack the characteristic series of resistances and weaknesses as their peers within the group. Originally, it was assumed that Snubbull and Granbull's resistance signature was due to species-specific biology, until it became noted that their resistance signature appeared to be more in-line with a group Pokémon displaying a command over strange paranormal phenomena, which lead to Snubbull and Granbull being reclassified as being members of the recently-categorized "Fairy" group.

Creatures from this line also appear to have a limited command over a handful of fire, ice, and electric-based techniques, which is facilitated by the possession of a typically-dormant organ present in some other Pokémon known as an "omnisac". Contents from this sac appear to be disgorged around the oral cavity not wholly unlike observed behaviors among Gligar and its evolution, which allows the incorporation of such techniques into bites.

Three known submorphs of this line are presently known to exist, defined by slight variances in physical and psychological traits. One of the most common submorphs is characterized by displaying heightened evasive behaviors during battle. As Snubbull, these creatures appear to possess a general ability to move faster than their peers in short sprints, which are typically used to flee unwanted confrontations, an ability which is commonly referred to as "Run Away". As Granbull individuals from this submorph appear to develop a behavior often known to as "Quick Feet" in which their bodily metabolisms can be accelerated if afflicted with one of a small number of harmful conditions. Another of the most common submorphs is characterized by physical features that trend more visually imposing than those of their peers, and are known to display heightened aggression in battle in what is colloquially known as "Intimidate". This particular submorph appears to maintain relatively constant physical and psychological traits even after evolution. A third, and fairly rare submorph consists of individuals that display a modified series of evasive behaviors referred to as "Rattled", which were initially confused with those of their more common brethren. Individuals from this submorph appear to instinctively accelerate their metabolisms in the event of being attacked with a small number of techniques that appear to unsettle such individuals both as Snubbull and Granbull. It is presently unknown whether this behavior is a generalized response or not, as it only appears to be reliably observable when an individual from this submorph is attacked with a technique presently classified under the "Bug", "Dark", or "Ghost" groups.

Habitat

In wild settings Pokémon from the Snubbull line as of present have been documented living primarily in woodlands, fields, as well as in highland areas. In these settings, Snubbull line Pokémon will generally live under naturally occurring or otherwise assembled shelters composed of tree limbs, rock, and other coverings, with construction among assembled structures noted by some researchers to resemble general practices in building lean-tos in human societies.

Snubbull populations in at least some areas are known to engage in migratory behaviors, which often seem to gravitate towards fringes of human settlement, a behavior that has been suggested as evidence of potential anthropogenic origins. This phenomenon can be most dramatically seen in the Johto region, where the commonality of reported encounters with Snubbull line Pokémon is known to wildly fluctuate between extreme commonality and rarity in different years. Known locations to readily encounter such creatures include Kanto Routes 5-8, Johto Routes 34-35 and 38-39, and Kalos Route 10, with occasional sightings being documented in the treeline along Unova's Route 2.

Diet

Snubbull and their brethren possess omnivorous diets that display a significant degree of variance depending upon the environment they live in. A typical diet will generally incorporate smaller creatures or eggs, supplemented with berries, fruits, and grasses. It has been noted that among Snubbull and its evolution, plant matter appears to play a larger component of its diet than among other more conventional Pokémon of its nature. As with most other canid Pokémon, a number of relatively common chemical substances in some foods, including caffeine, are toxic to Snubbull and its evolution's metabolism.

Unlike most canid Pokémon, Snubbull generally do not engage in pursuit hunting, but rather typically engage in nest raiding, ambush predation on weakened individuals, or scavenging for sustenance. Along the outskirts of human settlements, these creatures can often be seen scavenging through rubbish bins for food. Part of the general lack of documented pursuit hunting among Snubbull line Pokémon is likely attributable to the commonality of symbiotic relationships between these Pokémon and others. Food is also often sourced by Snubbull from Pokémon align themselves with, which is often offered up in return for defensive assistance.

Hazards

Although its popular depiction as a timid creature behind a gruff exterior is perhaps not completely without reason, it should go without saying that to presume that a Snubbull or a Granbull is "all bark but no bite" is a terminally foolish exercise.

Creatures from this line are known to utilize techniques focusing on intimidation and psychological offense. Preferred tactics are to intimidate an opponent into fleeing through techniques such as "Roar", or alternately, to demoralize and inhibit their foes' ability to fight through techniques such as "Glare". In wild settings, such techniques are usually an initial practice used to better control opponents, and if discerned, provide an handy initial warning sign to give an individual space and retreat to safety.

Snubbull utilize biting attacks as the backbone of a number of techniques, which are easily capable of leaving puncture wounds potentially serious enough to require medical attention. For obvious reasons, bites from Granbull tend to be significantly more serious, and will both exert more force, and by virtue of jaw structure and teeth, penetrate more deeply than those from their younger counterparts. It should be noted that among both Pokémon, bites also carry the risk of bacterial infection if left untreated. Among some individuals, it is not unknown for biting attacks to incorporate pyrogenic, cryogenic, or electrogenic activity from an active omnisac, which can further exacerbate wounds from conventional biting.

Creatures from this line are noted to make extensive use of varying types of more mundane physical assaults, including full-body tackles and punches. Although such attacks are unlikely to leave more than minor to moderate bruising and lacerations as Snubbull, it should be noted that Granbull will typically weigh 6-7 times more and stand 2 and a half times taller than its younger peer, and accordingly be capable of far more life-threatening injuries. These individuals have also been known to enter uncontrolled frenzies when particularly aggravated, a state which often does not relent until physical fatigue forces an end. Among individuals of certain lineages, such individuals may also be capable of a range of attacks involving more refined use of their arms such as "Focus Punch" and "Close Combat".

Less existential hazards include the obvious dangers associated with undertraining and unintentional injury. It should be noted that as canid Pokémon, individuals that have dwelled in the wild may maintain behaviors that may prove to be a nuisance in captive settings such as territorial marking that will require training to suppress.

Courting

Both Snubbull and Granbull are theoretically capable of mating and bearing offspring, though in wild contexts, it is rare for reproduction to occur outside of Granbull. Courtship among these Pokémon appears to be fairly opportunistic, with ceremony, if not completely absent, generally consisting of a small gift exchange or display of strength.

After mating, the female will construct a nest for her eggs, which among Snubbull typically consist of solitary eggs, and litters of 4-5 for Granbull. The male generally will remain with the female after the hatching of the eggs for until around 2 months prior to the next mating cycle before moving on, though males that remain attached to a single mate indefinitely have also been documented, if more frequently in captive settings. Both Snubbull and Granbull are known to be capable of mating with Pokémon from outside their immediate line, though this behavior is rarely documented outside of captivity.

As with most other mammalian Pokémon, Snubbull and its evolution appear to be capable of having their eggs hatch both within their bodies and in external nests. Unlike most of their peers, even within wild settings, reproduction through oviparous methods remains the dominant method, and is noted for having significantly lowered incidences of maternal mortality. Offspring are noted to generally skew female over male, although gender distributions appear to vary heavily based on conditions surrounding their care. In captivity, breeders of Snubbull eggs generally observe 1-3 male to female ratios of individuals.

Social Structure

Snubbull and its evolution are distinguished from most other canid Pokemon in possessing a generally weak pack structure, which generally consists of small, fluid groups of 6-8 individuals bound by kinship, with more extreme cases known to consist of upwards of 20 individuals. In these groups, the dominant figure is typically a matriarch Granbull, with her peers in her group typically either being siblings, offspring, or other relations.

These groups generally undergo fission as offspring become sexually mature, evolve, and seek out mates, which in turn form the basis of new kinship groups around a matriarch. Males are known to generally have more mobility in these groups of kin, and will often move from group to group with his current mate. It has been noted that these kin groups also periodically demonstrate absorption of other individuals, typically consisting of elderly or invalid individuals along the lines of vertical or horizontal generational descent.

Snubbull line members in the wild are also distinguished by their interactions with "client" Pokémon, which provide food and care in return for aid defending against foes. Alliances with such Pokémon are generally picked on the basis of pragmatism, favoring those that can provide the most reliable aid in gathering shelter, sustenance, physical care, and a definable territory to mark and associate with. A particularly common form of such alignments will consist of Snubbull line groups allying with avian Pokemon, which help clean the creatures' jaws and muzzles in return for defense. These alliances are generally transitory, and generally run their course within 9-12 months as the group of Snubbull line Pokémon move on.

In Human Society

In the regions where Snubbull and Granbull are encountered, they are often among the first creatures with documented records of being trained by the local populace. Curiously, folkloric attitudes seem to vary wildly on the creatures. In some regions, Snubbull and Granbull are depicted as malevolent entities in folklore, which steal away people to force them to care for their pups. In others, and under the strain of folklore that undoubtedly has more influence on their present depictions in media, Snubbull and Granbull are depicted as loyal, if stubborn and fair-weathered allies, with children's aesops occasionally revolving around a creature from this line developing stiffer resolve as the result of kindness and intimacy with a trainer. Historically, these creatures appear to at times been selectively bred for traits heightening aggression, primarily for individuals intended for military applications, or more dubiously, the practice of "baiting" other Pokémon, particularly Pokémon such as Tauros and Bouffalant. In some regions, there is a long history in some regions of higher social classes training these creatures.

On the whole, Snubbull and Granbull are often seen as icons of "tough but feminine" creatures, making them popular among some female trainers. In some regions, Snubbull and Granbull have been employed as symbols of differing civil rights causes, including organizations aligned with feminist and LGBT movements.

In contemporary media, Snubbull and its evolution see a range of depictions with few constants other than stubbornness. Depending on the work, they may be tough or cowardly, dependable or unreliable, sympathetic or the complete antithesis thereof. Various works to feature characters from or otherwise derived from the Snubbull line include a series of cartoon shorts revolving around a feuding Rattata and Liepard duo with a Granbull and his Snubbull child occasionally appearing as minor characters and the use of Granbull-derived enemies in the earlier installments of a particularly prominent action adventure franchise. Creatures from this line are also commonly used as mascot Pokémon for establishments and various civic organizations.

Article by Dragara and Tracer Bullet.

Thoughts, critiques, commentary, and general feedback are deeply appreciated.

edited 6th Mar '14 10:36:28 PM by TracerBullet

Hey all, first post here. Regarding the previous entry, my only critique would be that perhaps Dedenne should be the new stand-in for Jerry of Tom and Jerry? It just seems to resemble him more, though perhaps there is a precedence in earlier entries that I've forgotten here.

I actually do have two additions to existing entries I'd like to propose adding if it meets the group's standards. Seemed simpler to post here than to PM both authors (one of whom doesn't seem to have a link to a email). Anyway:

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Inkay hazards addition (would be put right after the paragraph about Bug types)

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While this weakness to Bug type moves is very real, in other situations it should be noted that even if their psychic domination abilities should fail, Inkay and especially Malamar are far from helpless. In fact they are surprisingly far more adept at physical fighting techniques than they are at utilizing special attacks that don’t involve mental domination. This manifests in a variety of powerful slashing and binding moves utilizing their tentacles. Malamar in particular can dislocate the joints of their opponents with their sheer physical strength and even rend them limb from limb in extreme cases, and while they are not especially fast their ability to levitate and flexible bodies grant them extreme maneuverability, allowing them to attack equally well from virtually any angle. A common strategy for them is to flip upside down to strike low at an enemy’s legs, tripping them before flipping right side up and pummeling them with those same tentacles in a single smooth motion.

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Venipede sub group addition (right after the "Quick Feet" description) to note the new hidden ability the Venipede line got in XY.

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This third group has exhibited a fascinating and rapid mutation in recent years with individuals being born who are capable of activating the aforementioned immune response simply by the exertion caused by battling or hunting. The result is that the individual will become steadily faster the longer it exerts itself. This “Speed Boost” has an upper limit and will also eventually exhaust the pokemon, but normally the battle or hunt ends before this occurs.

edited 3rd Mar '14 6:04:29 PM by Perentie

Also, you can add to the Snubull article about how the line is very popular among the wealthy upper classes.

Added section on Speed Boost to the Venipede article and will be uploading the Meditite article soon.

Furfrou

Furfrou [Oak Catalog # 676]

Morphology and Notable Biology

Furfrou are a canid Pokemon not known to undergo dramatic metamorphosis throughout their lives. An average sized dog, adults average 1.2 meters by withers height and weigh approximately 28 kilograms. Their black flesh is protected by a naturally dense, well insulated white coat. While rare, off-white fleshed Furfrou with black coats have also been documented, and are coveted among Furfrou enthusiasts of all varieties.

A Furfrou's coat is thick enough to absorb much of the shock of blunt force trauma; bladed weapons, claws, and other sharp implements; and the crushing power of a predator or rival Furfrou's jaws – notably, vital areas like the chest, head, and limbs are especially overgrown with fur, suggesting this was an adaptation to protect the morph. The coat also serves to protect the Pokemon from exposure both to extreme weather and frigid water. Their tolerance for the cold has led to their popularity as hunting companions throughout history. (See In Human Culture for more details).

Their fur holds static electricity readily, and Furfrou trained for battle can be taught to manipulate electric currents to disable or directly harm foes.

Diet

Furfrou are carnivorous, like most canid Pokemon, eating fruit and grass only for their potential medicinal benefits. In the wild, they hunt small to medium sized prey in loose packs (see Social Structure for more details), ranging from Rattata, Bunnelby and Pidgey up to the odd Farfetch'd or Skiddo. This swift Pokemon is more than capable of running down most prey, though packs often ambush larger game to minimize injuries.

Habitat

Furfrou are relatively rare in the wild, and are often the result of released or escaped domestic Pokemon breeding with local wildlife populations bordering cities and popular travel routes. As such, they are most commonly found ranging plains or forests that humans frequent. As a naturally social species, a single pack of Furfrou may lay claim to several acres of territory.

In particular, at least 2 large populations are known to exist in and around the plains to the west Lumiose City, capital of the Kalos region and a major Furfrou enthusiast center, where they reign as the dominant predators.

Hazards

Wild Furfrou are extremely territorial, just barely tolerating humans traveling through their ranges. As they are especially prone to marking territory even in captivity, savvy trainers and especially locals can readily point out common areas Furfrou range. Their bite is deadly enough to tear and shatter limbs, and, while rare in the wild, some Furfrou possess a mastery of electricity sufficient to render prey and intruding humans alike paralyzed and unable to flee from attack.

Even in captivity one should be wary of strange Furfrou, as their territorial, protective natures may lead a poorly trained Furfrou to at least bite passerbies that get too close to themselves or their trainers.

Courting and Child Rearing

A relatively well groomed, thicker coat is the centerpiece of a Furfrou's courtship ritual. Males or females with lighter coats are regarded as less capable hunters and fighters by potential mates, owing to their lack of nutrition resulting in thinner coats. Still, a particularly skilled dog may still win a mate in a ritualistic battle or hunt.

Females birth live young in the wild in litters of about six pups. These newborn dogs are watched over and reared by the entire pack. Their coats - comparably short to an adult's but still plush at birth - grow considerably during their first few months of life, to such a severe degree that it actually interfere with their ability to see until the dogs begin to mature. It's a common belief that a Furfrou's nose is especially sensitive due to this unusual, if temporary, handicap.

Social Structure

Furfrou live in packs of 6 - 12 dogs led by one or two breeding pairs. Adult "helpers" stick with the pack and are equally responsible for the welfare of the pups born once a year. In their most commonly observed habitat on the plains of the Kalos Region's Route 5, these apex predators keep their packs relatively small, with excess adults breaking off to form their own packs.

In Human Culture

Furfrou are perhaps most famous as a status symbol among the social elite, particularly in the Kalos region and the surrounding territories. These popular canines are a mainstay in Contest circuits the world over, and often compete strictly amongst themselves in specialized Contests designed to highlight popular grooming trends and styles. The dog's thick coat lends itself to styling in increasingly elaborate ways, with groomers the world over pushing their creative and, in some critic's estimations, humane limitations to achieve unique and eye catching looks for their Furfrou. Much criticism has been directed at this practice, citing instances of the Pokemon being more susceptible to injury or illness due to their coats being trimmed short in key areas. Advocates commonly purchase clothing or use creative accessories during colder seasons, and claim that shorter coats benefit their Pokemon during warmer times.

The canid's involvement with humans extends far beyond its aesthetic appeal, however. Furfrou are very capable hunting dogs, and have been used to tree rodents, wear down and restrain big game, retrieve felled waterfowl with their respectable swimming ability, and even serve alongside other service Pokemon in warfare as delivery Pokemon or more direct combatants. Indeed, the earliest known records of the domestication of this Pokemon exist in the form of pictures and oral traditions stretching back to the early days of the Kalos Royal Family, at least 2000 years prior to this article's publication.

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Almost done, now. Just a bit of fine tuning and I'll be ready to publish it.

edited 31st Aug '15 5:51:09 PM by Hashil

@Human Culture section: Now THAT is how you write a Human Culture section!

Damn strait.

edited 7th Mar '14 12:25:11 PM by Umbramatic

FanonPokedex.Poochyena was made without any discussion.