You Could Use some Imagination
Still working on the Aether article. I'm thinking I should just drop the whole video schtick and describe the Aether Incident normally.
"Hope for our world, tragedy for another."
Alright, here it is. Feedback and criticism are always welcome: if anyone has any suggestions on how this could be improved, please feel free to share them.
Dratini Line
Morphs [Oak Catalog #]
- Dratini [#147] Draco parvus
- Dragonair [#148] Draco grandis
- Dragonite [#149] Draco validus
Physical Description
Dratini is an amphibious serpentine Pokémon with blue scales, a white underbelly which stops just short of the chin, large violet eyes, and webbed white ears. It has an oblong white snout with no visible mouth, and its forehead sports a round white nub the size of a large marble. Its body is very sleek and streamlined. Though its common and scientific names both mean “small dragon”, Dratini is actually quite large: even freshly-hatched specimens measure 1.8 metres in length, and they grow continuously throughout their lives. They are very light despite their size, weighing 3.3 kilograms on average.
The adult stage, Dragonair, is effectively a longer, sleeker and more elegant Dratini. Its forehead nub grows into a conical horn several inches long, its ears now resemble feathery wings, and its snout turns the same shade of blue as the rest of its face. The most striking difference between Dratini and Dragonair is the growth of three crystalline blue orbs, one beneath the serpent’s chin with the other two near the end of its tail, like beads on a string. The average specimen measures 4 metres in length, and weighs 16.5 kilograms.
The final stage, Dragonite, brings radical changes to the Pokémon’s anatomy. Its slender, serpentine form balloons as it grows cudgel-like arms, thickset legs, and a pair of small leathery wings, becoming a bipedal reptile similar to other fully-evolved draconic Pokémon. Its scales turn light orange, its underbelly becomes cream-coloured and gains visible striations, and its wing membranes are teal. Its wing-like ears and crystalline orbs disappear, while its horn migrates to the crown of its skull and grown slightly larger. It has three claws on each foot and hand. Two yellow antennae sprout from its forehead several inches above the eye sockets, while the irises turn grey and the sclera become visible. Dragonite’s snout sports small nostrils and a visible mouth. Their additional limbs and girth make Dragonite far heavier than Dragonair: the average specimen weighs 210 kilograms and stands 2.2 metres tall. A Dragonite’s tail is as long as the rest of its body, making these creatures just as long as Dragonair if not longer.
On rare occasions, Dratini are born with scales that are pastel pink rather than blue. These pink Dratini evolve into pink Dragonair with orange orbs, and then into dark green Dragonite with purple wing membranes. Such “shiny” specimens are highly prized by collectors due to their incredible rarity.
Notable Biology
A Dratini’s skin may look smooth at a glance, but its scales are actually rough. It can shed its skin quite easily and does so many times throughout its life, moulting on an almost daily basis. It grows slightly larger with every moult, and wild Dratini can easily reach two metres in length. This repeated moulting and constant growth is attributed to an abundance of “life energy” which supposedly builds within the Pokémon’s body, threatening to tear Dratini apart unless it vents this energy through growth or battle: this same energy is also thought to fuel its elemental and draconic abilities. They moult significantly less often in the Dragonair stage, and seldom do so as Dragonite.
Though a cursory glance might suggest otherwise, Dratini and Dragonair do possess mouths. They are hard to see both because the mouth is small, and because their lips press together seamlessly when closed, preventing parasites and other unwanted materials from entering the orifice. The mouth becomes much wider and more obvious in the Dragonite stage.
Dratini’s ears are fascinating organs which serve multiple purposes throughout its life cycle. In its base form they function as ears, pectoral fins, and as external gills not unlike those of a Wooper. They retain these functions when it evolves into Dragonair, while also helping the Pokémon to maneuver as it flies through the air. These secondary functions are made redundant by Dragonite’s wings, limbs, and internal gill slits, and so the ears are absorbed back into the Pokémon’s body when it reaches its final stage, leaving subtle openings for the ear canal in their place.
Many folktales claim that members of the Dratini line, particularly Dragonair, are able to control the weather. There is some truth to these claims, as all three stages of the line possess aerokinetic abilities. The humble Dratini can conjure small but powerful twisters for self-defence, Dragonair can use their aerokinetic powers to fly, and Dragonite can whip up hurricane-force winds simply by flapping their wings. While Dragonair does not naturally learn weather-altering techniques like Hail, Rain Dance or Sunny Day, it can be taught such moves through the use of Technical Machines. Some zoologists have theorized that Dragonair may have possessed such meteorological abilities centuries ago, only to lose them over subsequent generations.
In ancient times it was widely believed that a Dragonair’s three crystalline orbs are the source of its power, as they have been observed to glow faintly when the Pokémon flies or makes use of its aerokinetic abilities. Scientific studies have shown this belief to be accurate, as these orbs are external omni-sacs not unlike the “bell” of a Torracat’s flame sac. As with its ears, these omni-sacs are absorbed back into the Pokémon’s body once it evolves into Dragonite.
All three stages of the Dratini line possess potent draconic abilities. They can conjure twisters, convert their rage into pulses of energy, perform a vigorous dance which temporarily enhances their strength and speed, and surround their bodies with a menacing aura that empowers their attacks and instils fear in their foes: when concentrated around the tail, this aura is so potent that any Pokémon struck by it will flee in terror. Additionally, they can paralyze foes with a mild electric shock, envelop their tails in a watery sheath for increased bludgeoning power, and channel all their power into a devastating beam of pure energy.
Dragonite’s small wings and bulky frame belie a swift and graceful flier, capable of reaching supersonic airspeeds which rival those of Garchomp and Salamence. Its robust build allows Dragonite to ride out the toughest ocean storms, and its antennae can detect minute shifts in the surrounding air currents, allowing it to avoid crosswinds and lightning strikes. Numerous anecdotes claim that it can circumnavigate the globe in sixteen hours, and while these claims have never been put to the test, Dragonite certainly has the speed and stamina to make such a feat seem plausible.
There are two distinct variants of the Dratini line, each of which has a defensive adaptation whose nature remains constant in the first two stages but changes upon evolving into Dragonite. The more common variant can instinctively moult in response to harmful stimuli, an act which purges toxins and burnt or frozen skin from the body and which can snap the Pokémon out of forced sleep or paralysis. When a Dragonair of this variant evolves into Dragonite, it loses this defensive shedding ability and instead gains a core of inner resolve which prevents the Pokémon from flinching in the face of pain or surprise.
The rarer variant’s defensive adaptation relates to its scales, and is also an instinctive response to harmful stimuli. When a Dratini of this type is burnt, frozen, paralyzed, poisoned or put into a forced sleep, its muscles clench in such a way that its scales lock tightly together, leaving no gaps between them and making the Pokémon more resistant to physical harm. When such a Dratini evolves into a Dragonite, it grows multiple layers of redundant scales which function like ablative armour, significantly blunting the force of an enemy’s first attack.
Habitat
The Dratini line, as an amphibious species, spends much of its time in or near the water. As Dratini, they dwell on the bottoms of lakes, rivers, bays, and other bodies of water, only leaving the water to moult. Though they can be found throughout the world, their populations are small and confined to specific areas in any given region: wild specimens can be found in the Dragon’s Den near Johto’s Blackthorn City, Mt. Coronet in Sinnoh, in the waters outside Unova’s Dragonspiral Tower, and on Kalos’s Route 21. A transplanted Dratini colony resides in Kanto’s Safari Zone. In the Alola region, Dratini can be found in the northeastern parts of Poni Island, specifically Poni Gauntlet and Poni Meadow; they previously inhabited Vast Poni Canyon as well, before the arrival of an aggressive Basculin population forced them out.
Dragonair are less common than Dratini. While some specimens continue to live in the locations listed above, most of them quit the pools where they were born and swim out to sea: the few that remain act as self-appointed guardians for their colonies (see Social Structure, below).
Dragonite is extremely rare and seldom seen, as these nomadic creatures spend much of their time flying or swimming out at sea. Dragonspiral Tower is one of the few places where wild specimens can be encountered with any sort of reliability. It is thought that colonies of Dragonite might dwell on small uncharted islands, but this has never been proven.
Diet
All stages of the Dratini line are carnivorous. Dratini itself is a bottom feeder, slowly swimming along the lake- and riverbeds that it calls home until it encounters suitable prey. When it does so, it shocks the victim into paralysis before coiling around them and crushing them to death. Dratini typically preys on piscine or crustacean Pokémon like Magikarp or Krabby, though it will also go after aquatic mammals like Buizel if it gets the chance. They will also feed on morsels that drift down from the surface, and will gladly accept the generosity of humans that try to feed them.
The Dratini stage is not without its own predators. A Gyarados would make an easy meal of a Dratini, and Basculin are strong, fast, and aggressive enough to prey on Dratini despite the latter’s resistance to Basculin’s Water-type attacks. They are also vulnerable to terrestrial predators, such as the Beartic and Druddigon which inhabit Dragonspiral Tower, whenever they come ashore to moult. A Dratini’s only defense against such powerful creatures is to try and paralyze them or force them to flee with Dragon Tail. Failure to escape is certain death.
The Dragonair stage preys on larger creatures than Dratini does, and its ability to fly gives it a wider array of dietary options. They feed on Poliwhirl, Lombre, Spinda, Seaking, and will target species which are arguably more powerful than themselves—like Floatzel, Sawsbuck, Unfezant or Whiscash—if they can take these Pokémon by surprise. Many of its predator-prey dynamics have shifted in Dragonair’s favour. While Beartic and Druddigon remain a threat due to their types and immense physical strength, a Dragonair’s ability to fly gives it an edge over these earthbound adversaries, and its increased power and speed help level the playing field. Dragonair have even been known to kill Druddigon by dragging them underwater and constricting them until they drown. Of Dratini’s previous predators, only Gyarados remains threatening enough for Dragonair to avoid confrontation outright, while encounters with Basculin have an equal chance of ending in Dragonair’s victory or defeat.
Dragonite is an apex predator capable of trouncing most adversaries, though their diet is mostly piscivorous. Apart from Beartic, Gyarados, and various Fairy-types, many of the creatures which previously preyed on its younger forms are now potential meals, and those Dragonite native to Unova, Kalos and Alola seem to prefer the taste of Basculin above most other fish. Such is a Dragonite’s newfound power that it can fight a Gyarados to a standstill, and territorial disputes between these Pokémon could end with either one of them victorious.
Hazards
Members of the Dratini line are considered cute by many people, and their dispositions are placid. Many people thus assume that they are not as dangerous as other Dragon-type Pokémon because they look less menacing and don’t act as aggressively. These people are mistaken: cute or not, placid or not, Dratini and its evolutions are still dragons, and they can be quite dangerous when provoked.
A Dratini’s non-threatening appearance belies surprising physical strength. Even the humble Dratini is as strong as a Charmeleon, and it can easily knock a person over with a playful slap of its tail. Dragonair’s strength is on par with a Charizard’s, and it exerts only slightly less pressure than Arbok while constricting its prey. Dragonite is a powerhouse whose strength matches or exceeds that of other so-called “pseudo-legendary Pokémon” like Tyranitar or Garchomp, and when its ire is roused it can be just as destructive as a Salamence, laying waste to everything in sight until its fury is spent.
Fortunately, a hostile member of the Dratini line has several weaknesses common to all Dragon-type Pokémon. All stages are vulnerable to extreme cold, Fairy magic, and the draconic auras of other dragons. Dragonite’s secondary Flying type makes it doubly weak against the cold and gives it an additional weakness to Rock-type attacks, though its robust defenses help to offset these disadvantages. Do not use Fire-, Water-, Grass- or Electric-type Pokémon against a Dratini, as they resist all of these types, with Dragonite also resisting Bug- and Fighting-type attacks. A Fairy-type Pokémon is the safest option, as they are completely immune to draconic techniques.
Courting and Childrearing
Though all stages of the Dratini line are capable of sexual reproduction, only the Dragonair stage engages in courtship and childrearing in the wild. Every ten years, these majestic serpents return to the pools where they were born in search of a mate. It is typically the male which initiates courting, and he does so by gently nudging a female on the back of the head with his snout to indicate his interest. Following this overture, the female will carefully inspect her potential partner for signs of illness or lasting injury, and she pays particular attention to his crystals to make sure that they aren’t cracked or dull.
Should he meet her standards, the female will invite him to join her in a mating dance wherein the two Dragonair swim, then fly, through a graceful circuit of the spawning pools, spiralling around each other in a double helix throughout. If the partners remain in sync, the dance will conclude with them hovering above the water’s surface in a caduceus formation, their crystals glowing softly as they nuzzle and touch the tips of their horns together. They will then dive into the water and swim off to a secluded part of the pool, where the female will soon lay a single egg.
A Dratini egg takes four months to hatch, and it must be carefully monitored throughout this period. The parents take it in turns to brood the egg, gently moving it around to ensure it maintains an optimal temperature. Once the egg hatches, the parents will spend the next four weeks caring for their child, feeding it, teaching it to swim and protecting it from predators. After that, the parents leave their offspring in the care of the other Dratini residing in the pool and the family unit dissolves as both Dragonair go their separate ways.
Dragonair are monogamous creatures. They take a single mate during their decennial breeding season, and prefer to mate with the same partner every season whenever possible. They will only seek out a new mate if their preferred partner fails to appear that season.
Social Structure
In the initial stage of their life cycle, Dratini are quite sociable creatures. They live together in colonies whose numbers can range from eight to forty, depending on a number of factors including available space, amount and accessibility of food, and the presence of predators. While they do not hunt or feed together, they will sleep in a group for safety and come to one another’s aid if threatened by predators. Dragonair and Dragonite are more solitary creatures and usually live apart from their younger kin with the exception of the decennial breeding period, so as not to strain the resources available to the colony.
With that said, there are exceptions to this rule. In places like Dragonspiral Tower and Poni Meadow, where Basculin populations have begun intruding into Dratini spawning grounds, small numbers of Dragonair—usually one for every six Dratini in the colony—will take up semi-permanent residence to act as guardians for their immature kin. These sentinels might be recently-evolved, or they may be individuals who were rejected during the previous mating season and have decided to remain in the hopes that their bravery will attract a partner next season. On rare occasions, a solitary Dragonite might also return to its birth colony and stand watch over its kin.
In Alola, nomadic Dragonair and Dragonite are known to respond to the distress calls of local Dratini, swooping down from the sky or bursting out of the water to intercede on their behalf. This behaviour is not specific to the Dratini line and has been observed in many species which inhabit the region, but even so Dragonite is one of the few fully-evolved draconic Pokémon in Alola to exhibit this behaviour, the others being Salamence and Kommo-o.
In Human Culture
For much of human history the Dratini line was considered a myth. Their limited numbers and choice of habitat meant that these creatures were scarcely encountered, to the point that sightings of these Pokémon were written off as mirages, hallucinations or outright fabrications. This changed in the early Twentieth Century when a Kanto fisherman managed to land a Dratini after a gruelling ten-hour struggle, conclusively proving its existence to the scientific community.
Zoologists were unsure how to classify Dratini when it was first discovered. While its amphibious nature and choice of habitat suggested a Water-type Pokémon, its resistances and vulnerabilities did not match any of the fourteen types which were known to exist at that time. This confusion would lead to the establishment of a fifteenth type, the Dragon-type, of which Dratini is considered the quintessential example: a reptilian Pokémon, usually possessing great physical strength or elemental power, with an innate resistance to heat, water, electricity and plant- or sunlight-based attacks, and a corresponding vulnerability to extreme cold.
Even before its official discovery, the Dratini line enjoyed a positive reputation. The farmers of ancient Kanto and Johto revered Dragonair as a benevolent river spirit whose control over the rain brought good fortune and bountiful harvests. The rivers and lakes where these Pokémon were thought to live became holy sites where pilgrims would leave offerings of food and personal belongings to Dragonair, a practice which continues to this day in the more rustic parts of the two regions. It was also thought that one would be blessed with good health all year round if one caught a glimpse of a flying Dragonair in the first days of the new year. Finally, various legends claimed that burying a Dragonair’s orbs in the fields would make the soil perpetually fertile and cause plants to regenerate within a day of being harvested, and that a person who swallowed a Dragonair’s orb would transform into a Dragonair.
In more recent times, the actions of Dragonite have contributed to the line’s positive reputation. These oceanic dragons are known to rescue people trapped at sea, leading ships and lifeboats to shore and personally carrying drowning people to dry land. Many sailors respect Dragonite for this behaviour and for its ability to fly through the roughest storms unhindered, and consider the sight of a Dragonite flying alongside their vessels to be a good omen. Various airlines, shipping concerns and coastguard organizations make use of Dragonair or Dragonite in their corporate iconography.
Dragonite frequently appear as stock characters in media aimed at young children, where they are typically depicted as gentle, bumbling, but strong. The juxtaposition of their great power and helpful nature is perfectly encapsulated in the folksong Duff the Magic Dragon, which chronicles the adventures of a wild Dragonite—the titular Duff—and a young boy who befriended him. Magical Dragonair orbs are a common plot device in fantasy fiction, where they are ascribed such powers as resurrecting the dead, summoning legendary Dragon-type Pokémon, and granting wishes.
Trainer’s Notes
It is often assumed that a Dratini’s placid nature lends itself well to being trained. This is true to an extent, but as with any Pokémon there are certain factors that one should take into account before taking a Dratini as a pet or competitive battler.
As previously noted, Dratini is quite strong, and it can easily hurt someone even while being affectionate. Stray tail flicks could also knock over furniture, or launch fragile objects off tables and desktops. The risk of injury and property damage is only compounded as the Dratini matures into larger and stronger forms, so Trainers must teach their Dratini to curb their enthusiasm and be careful around the house. Dragonite should be left outside on account of their bulk.
Never forget that Dratini is an amphibian. While it can breathe air and survive outside the water, too much time in the sun will make its skin dry out and leave it uncomfortable. They should be allowed to swim in a non-chlorinated body of water for at least three hours a day to ensure proper hydration and exercise. If this is not an option, passable alternatives include hosing the Dratini down, giving it a sponge bath, or soaking it in wet shirts and rags. Dragonair and Dragonite require less hydration and are able to fly off in search of it by themselves, so this presents less of an issue at those stages.
The final issue is Dratini’s frequent moulting. Its discarded skins will add up quickly, particularly if it is of the common “Shed Skin” variant and regularly takes part in Pokémon battles. Trainers must be ready to clean up after Dratini at a moment’s notice. Additionally, not every moult is a clean one: sometimes large patches of dead skin will cling to the Pokémon’s body, irritating the new skin beneath. A warm bath and a pumice stone will help to sooth the Dratini, as will a belly rub. While grooming your Dratini or Dragonair, be careful not to touch the end of its tail, or the wings in Dragonite’s case: these spots are particularly sensitive.
Article and revision by Sullen Frog
Edited by SullenFrog on Sep 7th 2018 at 9:16:31 AM
The Danse Macabre Codex
It's pretty good. My main gripe is that you aren't supposed to pluralise Pokémon by adding an s to the end of their names, though that's pretty minor.
Edited by AgentParadox on Sep 7th 2018 at 12:06:28 PM
For every pioneer on every new frontier: Be brave. Be bold. And stay wiggly.
Yeah, I meant to get rid of all of the pluralized Dratinis, Dragonairs and Dragonites, but a few slipped past me during the editing.
EDIT: Removed the errant s plurals.
Edited by SullenFrog on Sep 7th 2018 at 7:13:21 AM
The Danse Macabre Codex
Another error (that granted slipped by me too) is that the beginning of the trainer's notes section has "Dratin's" instead of "Dratini's"
For every pioneer on every new frontier: Be brave. Be bold. And stay wiggly.
Tagg how's the Noibat line article coming?
@ Agent Paradox: Thanks for pointing that out. I'll get right on that.
The Danse Macabre Codex
Meanwhile, my own article
is lacking in certain areas; namely, the diet section (the only clue I get is from Magmortar's Ultra Moon entry, which says it hunts prey), plus the Magmortar description which I find to be a bit weirdly worded, yet have not much clue on how to remedy that. I'll also have to fix the inconsistencies in reference of the social structure, and there's also the matter of where the passage describing the possible Electabuzz co-evolution fits and in which section.
Edited by AgentParadox on Sep 8th 2018 at 12:57:53 PM
For every pioneer on every new frontier: Be brave. Be bold. And stay wiggly.
It doesn't come from Zelda.
Uh, wow, this place kinda spiked in activity when last I saw it.
Still interested in doing the Cosmog line and Necrozma, so if no-one objects I'd like to reclaim dibs on them? I'm probably going to have the Necrozma incident being some Broad Strokes hybrid of its S/M and US/UM appearances, as opposed to one replacing the other.
Um... er... wait one moment, 'll be back in a sec...
You Could Use some Imagination
Maybe I should have done Nihilego after you had done those articles.
To be fair, I didn't know about that.
"Hope for our world, tragedy for another."
Oh well, you can still make changes once they've done the Cosmog article, so it's no big deal, really.
For every pioneer on every new frontier: Be brave. Be bold. And stay wiggly.
I have updated my article now, and actually managed to fill the diet section. The article still needs a bit of work though. What do you think?
I'm not sure what species the Magmar line would be likely to eat.
Published an improved version anyway.
Edited by AgentParadox on Sep 13th 2018 at 9:07:38 AM
For every pioneer on every new frontier: Be brave. Be bold. And stay wiggly.
You Could Use some Imagination
I'm gonna hold off on doing the Aether foundation till spinataxx is finished with his articles. I'll start working on the Inter Pol article soon.
"Hope for our world, tragedy for another."
Just out of curiosity, anyone called dibs on the Froakie line? I think someone requested it sometime last month, but I'm not too sure.
EDIT: Looks like it's false memory coming into play. Nobody's called dibs on it as far as I can see.
Edited by AgentParadox on Sep 14th 2018 at 9:39:27 AM
For every pioneer on every new frontier: Be brave. Be bold. And stay wiggly.
Here's one pop culture item you can put in the Froakie line article:
That's a thing I shall keep in mind for the future.
Okay, I'd like to lay dibs on both the Froakie line and the Deerling line, then.
For every pioneer on every new frontier: Be brave. Be bold. And stay wiggly.
(Additional note: What do you mean by "pop standards"?)
Edited by AgentParadox on Sep 17th 2018 at 6:24:09 PM
For every pioneer on every new frontier: Be brave. Be bold. And stay wiggly.
You Could Use some Imagination
Still haven't started on my InterPol article because my fanfic distracted me.
"Hope for our world, tragedy for another."
Meanwhile, I've made a start on my Deerling article and will post a draft once I have completed one.
Edited by AgentParadox on Sep 18th 2018 at 6:12:40 PM
For every pioneer on every new frontier: Be brave. Be bold. And stay wiggly.
Here is the Deerling draft:
Deerling Line
Morphs [Oak Catalog #]/[Old/New Juniper Catalog #]
- Deerling [#585]/[#091/#159]
- Sawsbuck [#586]/[#092/#160]
Physical Description
The Deerling Line are a pair of quadrupedal, dual Normal- and Grass-typed, cervine Pokémon whose coats change with the passing of each season.Deerling is the child stage, and is a small Pokémon that measures 60cm tall at the head and weighs roughly 19 kilograms on average. It has big black eyes, a small black nose, and a short muzzle on its peach-coloured face. Its four legs, which are cream, each end in a grey hoof, and its underside is also cream, whereas the upper side of its body contains a 'coat' pattern that covers the top and back of its head, its tail and the outsides of its tapering ears. This pattern changes colour with the passing of each season, but always possesses three yellow spots near the bottom of the coat, yellow insides to its ears and a large yellow floral tuft between its ears, as well as a thin yellow trimming separating the two halves of its coloration. The coat itself is pink during spring, green during the summer, orange during autumn and brown during the winter.
Sawsbuck is the adult stage which is usually reached between 12-14 months after birth. It measures 190 centimeters tall at the head on average and usually weighs 90-100 kilograms. Each of its four legs is tipped with a brown hoof. It has a brown nose, rhomboid ears with darker brown colouration inside, and a pair of antler-like structures on its head, which are roughly 35-50 centimeters long, tipped with cream colouring and are brown for most of the year. It has this same cream colouration on either side of the snout and on its underside for most of the year, as well as sporting a large tuft of fur on its chest during autumn, winter and spring. Its eyes are black, usually semicircular and are each surrounded by a yellow marking which tapers off at the jawline, and it has the same yellow trimming as a Deerling; the trimming which separates its underbelly and chest from its back and neck. Its upper body is now a constant brown colour all year round, unlike the coat of Deerling changing each season. It also has three oval-shaped spots on its back which change colour with the season.
Sawsbuck undergo a different change each season that doesn't affect their younger kin. During the spring, its antlers are adorned with several five-petaled pink flowers with yellow centers and the spots on its back are pink. Its lower legs are also the same cream colour as its underbelly and face. During the summer, its fur shortens and it loses the large patch on its chest, allowing a full view of its yellow trimming. It instead sports a ragged mane of fur running down the back of its head, and the spots on its back turn dark green. Its legs are fully brown and its short tail is always seen pointing up during this season only. Its antlers are adorned with thick green foliage during this time. In the autumn, its calves return to their cream colour from the spring, and the ruff of fur on its chest grows back. It loses the summer mane, the spots on its back become red, and the foliage on its antlers becomes less compact, turns red and brown, and droops down. During the winter, the cream areas on its body and the spots on its back turn white, and the ruff on its chest grows much longer and touches its shoulders. Its antlers are no longer adorned with foliage, and turn white. Each lower leg is surrounded by a cuff of thick white fur.
Notable Biology
As dual Normal- and Grass-type Pokémon the members of the Deerling line are unique in possessing both the earthly nature-wielding abilities typical of Grass-types but also the unique adaptability of a Normal type Pokémon and are the only two Pokémon currently known to possess this specific combination of types.The flower on a Deerling's head is surprisingly effective at allowing some form of photosynthesis and enabling a Deerling to use its energy to increase its agility. It also serves as a conduit for many of its moves. The antler-like structures on a Sawsbuck's head are a little more complicated than normal antlers and typically do not fall off, only being broken after a particularly nasty fight or other injury. Small grooves are etched into its antlers, which allow it to draw nutrients from a potential attacker in a technique known as a 'Horn Leech'. Although once thought by Unovans to be a secret technique only Sawsbuck had the capability to utilise, it is now known that the Skiddo and Phantump lines can possess it too.
Deerling and Sawsbuck both possess an omni-sac which allow them some slight control of electricity in the form of weak, paralyzing jolts or a strong electrically-charged tackle in the 'Thunder Wave' and 'Wild Charge' techniques, along with allowing them to seep venom in the form of the 'Toxic' technique, usually emitted from a Deerling's flower and the antlers of Sawsbuck. The exterior of the omni-sac contains a small amount of umbrite, which also allows them to draw dark energy in the form of a shadowy blob named the 'Shadow Ball' or a vicious tackle with perfect accuracy, labeled the 'Feint Attack'. However, they seem to lack the capability of other similarly shady techniques.
Sawsbuck are quite swift and graceful, and can hit rather hard with their physical techniques. They have the ability to utilise a number of ranged techniques, but these seem to be nowhere near as powerful. There are three known phenotypical subgroups of Deerling and Sawsbuck, with differently increased methods of self-defense. The first sub-group has a cell composition in the floral areas of their bodies (Deerling's flower and Sawsbuck's antlers) which increases their chlorophyll intake and metabolism, thus increasing their top running speed and reflexes. The responsible gene is dubbed the 'Chlorophyll' gene. The second phenotype, colloquially known as 'Sap Sipper', is caused by unusual growth of algae within Deerling's and Sawsbuck’s now-thickened fur. These algae exhibit a symbiotic relationship with Deerling and Sawsbuck, obtaining a substrate on which to grow. With rapidly-metabolised sunlight, this gives Deerling and Sawsbuck an immunity to the techniques of other Grass-types and an apparent boost in physical strength when struck by these techniques. The third subgroup is the rarest. An increased analytical skill gives the third subgroup the ability to more effectively use techniques and increase the chance of side effects. However, due to learning very few techniques that are affected by this, and none of them able to be used very effectively, interest in maintaining this subgroup has been very low, so it is now on the verge of going extinct and is rare even by the standards of rarest subgroups. This subgroup is called the 'Serene Grace' subgroup.
(WIP(?))
Habitat
Deerling and Sawsbuck live in sparsely-populated grasslands and forests far away from urban areas and human activity, though sometimes they travel to marshlands. Populations will also migrate, depending on the season.Unova is the region where they are most often seen, along the Route 6 and Route 7 areas. Sawsbuck are usually seen alone around Dragonspiral Tower nowadays, with Deerling sightings around that area becoming rare.
They are rather uncommon in regions outside of Unova, while being completely absent from Alola, as its island climate lacks the stability needed to sustain picky species such as Deerling and Sawsbuck. In Hoenn, sightings of Sawsbuck are extremely rare. Following the attempts to awaken the super ancient Pokémon, Deerling have been occasionally spotted along Hoenn's Route 117, though the stability of the population is debated, as sightings have remained sparse. The Safari zone in Kiloude City is the only place in Kalos where Deerling can be found. Additionally, Deerling and Sawsbuck are never encountered outside of spring in Hoenn or Kalos, though the reason for this is currently unknown.
Diet
Deerling and Sawsbuck are ruminant, herbivorous and feed entirely on grasses and small aquatic plants, though a captive Deerling or Sawsbuck will still eat man-made forms of Pokémon food, such as Poké Puffs. Plant matter is still required for these specimens, however.Hazards
Deerling are typically timid Pokémon and rather than choosing to fight back, they will hide in tall grass if they sense hostility. That is not to say that a cornered Deerling is harmless, however, especially older Deerling which are in areas where hiding places are few or absent. The fight-or-flight response can occasionally tip in favour of the former, and a sudden headbutt or swift kick can send an attacker reeling long enough for the Deerling to make its escape.The more immediate threat is Sawsbuck. Sawsbuck are territorial, male and female both, and will protect their Deerling young fiercely. Humans are not likely to elicit the flight half of the fight-or-flight response, and are in danger of being kicked by the front legs or gored by the antlers. While a kick is rather painful and can result in broken bones and bruises, internal bleeding is possible, though rare. Bleeding can also occur from being stabbed by the antlers, and if lucky, this can be fixed with a visit to the hospital provided the individual does not decide to drain nutrients from the unfortunate person on the receiving end of an attack.
Tranquill and Unfezant can pose a danger to young Deerling. Beartic
and Druddigon will prey on both Deerling and Sawsbuck, although Sawsbuck is more able to defend itself, especially within a herd. Particularly dangerous predators can ellicit the flight half of the response, but otherwise they will fight back. (WIP(?))
Courting and Childrearing
Male and female Sawsbuck live separately until breeding season, which occurs during June and July. Competition between males will involve antler fights, which is usually the reason they stay apart from the females until breeding season. A male Sawsbuck will usually maintain a harem of females, and it is often the Sawsbuck with the largest and most impressive antlers and foliage that ends up with a harem. Repeated mating attempts with a harem member will occur until one is successful, at which point he will shift his focus to another harem member.A roughly 40-day pregnancy occurs in females, after which point they will give birth to one or two Deerling, though the latter is a rare occurence. Females will raise their young alone, though any biological fathers hanging around will also protect both the females and young; however, this is almost unheard of, since males maintain a herd of their own until the breeding season. Vocalisations will keep the mother and child(ren) close, and larger nurseries of Deerling often have ongoing chatter throughout much of the day. Deerling are born with atrophied limbs. Roughly 2 days after birth, they are fit and running alongside their mothers, and can join the herd. They are nursed for around 2 months, and are then weaned off and able to graze.
Sawsbuck are among the few Pokémon to display homosexual behaviours, though this is usually to build up experience for less experienced stags, and is an otherwise rare occurrence.
(WIP(?))
Social Structure
Deerling and Sawsbuck live in herds with roughly 50 females and their young, and sometimes one or two males. Males often live nomadically in small herds of their own until the breeding season occurs, at which point they will commingle with the females.(WIP(?))
In Human Culture
In human society, Sawsbuck are reared for their milk as an alternative to Miltank milk. Sawsbuck milk reportedly has a minty, herbal taste without the associated heat from eating a mint.Deerling and Sawsbuck have been an integral part of fables and other literary works since the inception of writing. Many a fable is told where Sawsbuck are personified in order to teach moral lessons, such as 'The Sick Sawsbuck', 'The One-eyed Sawsbuck' and 'The Sawsbuck and the Pyroar'. For example, 'The Sick Sawsbuck' teaches that uncaring friends can do more harm than good.
Many a work in the media has also been dedicated to these Pokémon. For example, a 1923 novel and its 1942 film adaptation chronicle the life of a young Deerling from birth to adulthood.. Along the way, he meets and befriends a Buneary and a Stunky, his mother is killed in an iconic death scene and he ends up in a rivalry with another smug Deerling named Ronno. In the midquel released 64 years after the original film it is shown that the heroic Deerling ends up being looked after by his aloof father after his mother dies, and the character of Ronno is further fleshed out, where he gets even worse as an adult.
(WIP. More pop culture appearances.)
Written by AgentParadox. If you have any ideas for revisions or edits, send me a PM. If I don't respond... Consult the thread.
Edited by AgentParadox on Sep 19th 2018 at 6:13:43 PM
For every pioneer on every new frontier: Be brave. Be bold. And stay wiggly.
You should mention that Sawsbuck milk is sometimes consumed by humans who cannot drink Miltank milk since in real life, people do drink deer and moose milk. I'll add that reference to my Mammalian Pokemon Milk article now.
Back Set, when you get back to writing the Aether Foundation article, mention how during the 1970s and early 1980s, the Foundation was funded by Intercontinental Telecommunications (ICTC) Corporation (the Pokemon world equivalent of ITT Corporation).
You Could Use some Imagination
May I inquire as to why?
"Hope for our world, tragedy for another."
The Dratini revision is almost finished. If all goes well, it should be up by the end of today: I'm in the process of proofreading it.
The Danse Macabre Codex