NewMorphFAQ
From Pca Central
Contents |
The 'Official' Unofficial Pokemorph FAQ
Preface
Everything here is a compilation of thoughts on the state of the PCA worldsetting in terms of its primary denizens, the pokemorphs, gathered from the actual members themselves. While this is much like the Character Guidelines in that it's meant to be a basic guide for players to work with, it's much less 'solid' in terms of requesting adherence. To directly quite Rikmach's original: "Don't take it for gospel, they are merely the assumptions I'm operating under in my stories until the community at large overrides me -- if you like the ideas, by all means, please use them!"
I (dh01) reserve the right to poke people about their added data if it's just too clashing or out-there to work with the whole. The goal will be inclusion, not exclusion, although compromises and liberties may have to be take to make it work. There's also the possibility for 'this or that' additions!
We All Live In A Pokemorph World
- Pokemorphs are the dominant species...
... but pokemon do still exist. Instead of existing as fighting monsters as per the normal setting, they roughly fill the spots in the Real World that animals normally would -- as pets, wild animals, things to be found in zoos and on the dinner plate (as they're the only source of meat and animal by-products in the setting). Pokemorphs are generally omnivorous (with some obvious exceptions) and have roughly the same range of what's edible as humans would. While some species may find eating their feral counterpart disturbing, others don't seem to mind at all.
The usual terms to describe pokemon as a whole are either 'primals' or 'ferals'.
Pokemorph Physiology
The Basics
Pokemorphs are, in basic terms, pokemon with varying degrees of humanoid characteristics. The origins of the pokemorph are both ICly and OOCly mysteries to allow for speculation, (intentionally interesting) discussions and other bits of interesting interaction without stating the One True Way.
Healing and Recovery
For all the terrifying attacks morphs can unleash on one another, their own bodies are perhaps the greatest miracle. Naturally meant for battle, they are exceedingly tough, can withstand extreme amounts of injury and heal at a very rapid rate. Things that would wreck humans are minor to them, and actual injuries that would hospitalize a human for months may take a morph a week or so to rebound at the very worst. Regardless, even morphs have their limits, and extreme force and flukes can lead to serious injury or even death. For the most part, these sorts of injuries can take time to recover from, or may even leave permanent injuries in the most extreme of cases.
As an innate mechanism to avoid excessive injuries to incur on a pokemorph, their bodies are tuned to 'faint' after they've sustained enough damage. Similar to shock but nowhere near as dangerous, this instinctual reaction effectively shuts the morph down physically, imitating actual unconsciousness. When a morph is in a life-or-death matter, this reaction is totally suppressed -- it can also be fought off in non-lethal combat by those trying to push themselves as far as they can go, but such an act is considered progressively risky as it could lead to unnecessary harm the longer the morph resists. Additionally, those raised in extremely hostile settings learn to suppress fainting as a matter of survival.
Fitting the combative nature of morphs, medicine is simply the most advanced of the biological sciences. Chemical sprays and salves that work on pokemon work on morphs just as well, and are vital parts of first-aid kits and battle recovery packs. Considering how vast pokemorph biology is subject-wise, this makes things decidedly easier on doctors.
Evolution
Evolution is a hard thing to pin down, as it's as varied and unique as every single morph alive is. It can be a natural matter, a ritual, exposure to strange energies and objects, and even things as simple as a location or a certain time. Even emotion and desire can force evolution... or even suppress it if the morph can sense it approaching.
Evolution generally occurs quite rapidly, and some tend to call it 'turbo-puberty' as it often comes with a size increase at the very least. Such a rapid change can make for an awkward morph, but they quickly adjust to their new shape given time and experience. In some cases, evolution is instead a slow, gradual and methodical process -- perhaps even years-long.
Breeding
Such a touchy subject. Literally.
For the most part, breeding bears similarities to how it exists in the games, with some exceptions. The various 'egg groups' exist, and these species can readily and easily produce offspring. It is possible (although not a given and sometimes heartbreaking in the case of miscarriages) for 'incompatible' species to also have children if fortune favors them. The child of any union, regardless of compatibility, ends up as the species of either parent and can sometimes also bear some mild traits from the other.
Pokemorphs generally give birth to live, squalling children, although some species can lay eggs and some can even give birth in both ways given certain criteria. A few species also have unusual and unique birthing methods and practices fitting their natures.
A newborn is usually born in their 'starting' stage of evolution, but there are exceedingly rare instances where a child is either born in their first stage of evolution, or evolves shortly after being born. Regardless, there has never been (and according to all known studies cannot be) a child born who begins life in a second evolutionary stage if their species possesses one.
The Ditto
On the matter of breeding, Dittos exist in a very unique space in the social structure of the pokemorph world, mainly due to their ability to not only assume either gender, but procreate with any gendered species. Usually, though, this involves many Dittos taking on tasks that allow them to create, strengthen and save families without actively engaging in matters sexual.
They can also serve as a go-between for what has come to be a ritualized and time-honored process, allowing the incompatible and the barren to create families. Naturally, intimacy is required, and not just in regards to mere sex -- physical contact in and of itself gives as much genetic information to use towards procreation, if not more than actual coitus. Oftimes, Dittos who engage in this practice spend very long periods of time with the couple, even moreso if they themselves end up as the one carrying the child.
To many (especially the Dittos themselves) this service is seen as an important and gracious one for them to give. Naturally, some merely see Dittos are gender-flipping whores, and such comments are considered an insult at the very least. Dittos who actually adhere to the stereotype are another source of drama entirely.
Legendaries, Genderless and Breeding
Pokemorph species that 'start' as genderless do not have to stay that way, having the chance to experiment and settle on either (or no) gender at the onset of puberty. Once puberty ends, whatever gender they choose is permanent. Also, legendary morphs can breed, unlike their feral counterparts. Below is the original set of suggestions for what the likely egg groups could be. Note, this is NOT a list set in stone!
Nidoran Family - Ground/Monster Magnemite Family - Mineral Voltorb Family - Mineral Staryu Family - Water 3 Ditto - All Porygon - Mineral Articuno - Flying Zapdos - Flying Moltres - Flying Mewtwo - Humanshape Mew - All Unown - Indeterminate Raikou - Ground/Monster Entei - Ground/Monster Suicune - Ground/Monster Lugia - Water 1/Flying Ho-Oh - Flying Celebi - Plant/Fairy Shedinja - Bug/Mineral Lunatone - Mineral Solrock - Mineral Baltoy Family - Mineral Beldum Family - Mineral Regirock - Mineral Regice - Mineral Registeel - Mineral Latias - Dragon/Flying Latios - Dragon/Flying Kyogre - Monster/Water 2 Groudon - Monster/Dragon Rayquaza - Dragon Jirachi - Fairy Deoxys - Mineral/Humanshape Bronzor Family - Mineral Rotom - Indeterminate Uxie - Fairy Mesprit - Fairy Azelf - Fairy Dialga - Dragon Palkia - Dragon Regigigas - Mineral Giratina - Dragon Heatran - Mineral Phione - Water 1/Fairy Manaphy - Water 1/Fairy Cresselia - Indeterminate Darkrai - Indeterminate Shaymin - Plant/Fairy Arceus - All
Moves and Abilities
Pokemorph Societies
Pokemorphs are, for the most part, not very different from Real People in how they live and conduct themselves. Outside of the obvious desires and oddities their forms and powers present, they generally have jobs, homes, hobbies, lives and all the delicious emotions and issues that comes with the territory.
Naturally, exceptions to the norm exist, and will be explained in some detail below.
Ghost Societies
Ghost Towers
Fittingly enough, places that have either been the source of massive casualties or horrific natural disasters tend to draw Ghost-types (and are usually referred to as 'Ghost Towns' in a fitting homage to the ghost towns of yore) into surprisingly neighborly -- if slightly morbid -- societies. However, towers and tower-like structures tend to hold the most meaning for Ghost-types.
The vast majority of pokemorph mausoleums are the ubiquitous Towers, aptly named Ghost Towers because of the propensity for Ghost-types to emerge there. This has led to the seemingly-inevitable cornering of the funeral services market by Ghosts, allowing them to not only offer a Tower's services for rather cheap and high-quality burials and memorials (jazz funerals, for instance!), but also to let the same Tower later act as a safe place for new Ghosts integrating into unlife as well as a familiar and comfortable haven for experienced ghosts to life, love and enjoy themselves amongst their own kind. It also can act as a refuge for non-Ghosts whose tolerance of being around Ghost-types may have made them into outcasts amongst family and friends.
Simple in design and usually built on the outskirts of a city, Towers are sometimes as 'deep' as they are tall -- many house both burial chambers and homes within the above-ground sections, but recent moves to respect the dead have generally led to Ghost-type living quarters existing separate from the burial vaults, either above or below. The outer gardens of said towers usually are ringed by ghost-specific shops and offices for those who handle the Tower's 'business', and almost always has a communal shrine for visitors to make offerings to the dearly departed. This area also acts as a place where ghost and normal pokemorphs can meet and mingle on the ghosts' 'home turf'.
The Origins of Ghosts
Ghost-types have one very unique 'benefit' for their type -- they either age at such a dramatically slow rate that they seem immortal, or simply cannot die from natural causes. They also lack the need to perform the basic physical functions that a living morph must do, such as eat, sleep and breathe. While they may enjoy a pizza with friends, make use of the medicinal benefits of a berry, hold a conversation, and even sire or bear children, these are all optional. They do have certain 'needs', but these vary by their species -- for instance, Misdreavus pokemorphs feed on fearful emanations.
While they are indeed capable of normal breeding, Ghost-types are usually formed at points where many dead bodies are located -- the process requires a surprising amount of 'base material', to put it mildly. Given time, the ambient energies within the area coalesce into something new and spooky. Those 'born' this way are the vast majority of Ghost-types in the world and tend to remember little, if anything, about the passed lives that formed them. There are, of course, exceptions:
- In rare instances, a pokemorph who dies may have held such strong emotions about the reasons for their death or because of what they would leave behind that they promptly 'return' as a Ghost-type. One of the working terms for such Ghosts is 'revenant', as they often retain some degree of their previous memories and personality. Their genesis can make their new lives difficult, as such Ghost-types are usually caught between two cultures.
- A couple of species deserve special mention:
- Froslass pokemorphs, while debatably still alive, have evolved in such a manner than their beings are strongly infused with Ghost-type energies.
- Shedinja are even more hotly debated when it comes to the status of their being alive or dead -- while they have a solid form, there's much speculation as to 'what lays within them. Furthermore, as they retain the memories of their 'past life' up until their separation from their Ninjask 'twin', this can cause added issues and turmoil depending on how well the Shedinja takes the change. Legally, they are a separate entity for major matters, but are otherwise considered to be the (effectively) same person as their Ninjask twin for small affairs.
- An extremely rare option available to elder ghosts of immense power is the ability to reproduce by literally shaping a new ghost-type from a part of their own body.
The Safari Zone
Paras Circles
Due to the ongoing debate about whether or not the spread of the tochukaso fungus from parent to newborn child is a barbaric holdover from their feral roots or a necessary part of their physiological development, many Paras and Parasect pokemorphs tend to remain in closely-knit communities, keeping to themselves. While no other species seems compatible to the parasitic mushroom's spores aside from what irritation and illness they may cause, these little towns within towns tend to be built to minimize the spores' spread.
Not all paras are part of these communities, and it's believed that some have even avoided infection at birth. The effects this has on their physical states and how far they can potentially progress as pokemorphs are the subject of intense study.
Religion
Shadows
Contributors
If you add info to the FAQ or add someone else's info, please throw 'em on the list and state what they added!
- Darkheart One - 2.0 sprucing-up of RikMach's work, along with a few minor extras.
- RikMach - The basis of the entire FAQ. May his psychic kittiness be praised.
| Poke Combat Academy | |
|---|---|
| World: | General | Regions | World Characters | Character Creation Guide | PCA General FAQ |
| Academy: | The Board | Faculty | Student Body | School Layout |
| Battle: | The Basics of the Battle | The PCA Arena | Types of Battles |
| Students: | Freshman | Sophomore | Junior | Senior |
| Teams: | Team Name List | Team Basics | Freshman | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | Mixed |
| Community: | Forums | DeviantArt | FurAffinity | IRC | Player List | Useful Links | Template Info |
