Unprecedented Times [A Pokemon Ranger Quest]

[aimlessPolymath]

Thorns And Roses: Historiography Of Roselia And Roserade In Sinnoh-Hoenn High Society
J. Oak, G.L. Erika, G.L. Gardenia, S. Elm, C. Shirona.​

Species Overview
Budew are bipedal, rose-bud-like Grass-Poison Pokemon, barely 8 inches tall. They are found in Eterna Forest in Sinnoh. They make use of poisoned thorns for defense, but are largely harmless and placid; it is safe to handle wild Budew. Budew are a conditional form, and may hatch from Roselia eggs in the presence of wild roses. They evolve during the day with a strong bond with a superior- usually, either a trainer or a Roselia.

Roselia are humanoid Grass-Poison Pokemon, roughly a foot tall. Rather than hands, they possess two roses of differing colors, possessing dexterous petals which they use in place of fingers. They make use of poisoned thorns protruding from their body, which they can either spit or conceal within their roses, and a contact poison which they secrete from their petals. They are found in the wild on Route 117 in Hoenn. They are moderately skittish, and may sting or strike if grabbed unexpectedly, but can be attracted by the prospect of food. The petals can be pruned safely without harm to the Roselia, but the roses cannot be removed safely. They evolve into Roserade through the activation of a Shiny Stone.

Roserade are humanoid Grass-Poison Pokemon, roughly three feet tall. Rather than hands, they possess two clusters of three rose blossoms, which they can manipulate either individually or as a group to grip things. Their petals have limited mobility and can aid their grip. They make use of petals as projectiles launched through phytokinesis, as well as a contact poison which they secrete from their petals. They are not safe to approach in the wild, as their poison is lethally dangerous in large quantities, and they will attack humans if startled. Give wild Roserade a wide berth unless invited to approach. Their petals and roses can be pruned safely.

Early History

Sinnoh
The tradition of "Aroma Ladies", grass-type trainers (almost entirely women) focused on raising Budew to Roselia or even Roserade, originates in the middle of the Wth century, alongside the development of glass greenhouses in Floraroma Town. In addition to allowing for year-round cultivation of vegetables, fruit, and other crops, this invention allowed for a new class of fashion to develop: Competitive raising of Grass-types. Budew were a popular option for children to raise due to their placid nature, presence in Eterna Forest nearby, and the the sweet scents and beautiful colors of Roselia and Roserade's flowers.

Upon evolving to Roselia, young girls would be introduced into high society. An evolution to Roserade, though much rarer, typically accompanied a major life change, such as marriage or a major promotion. Records of evolution in Eterna Town indicate that a significant fraction (Nearly 15%) of Roselia were able to evolve to Roserade- an indication that Budew ownership was largely limited to the wealthy who could afford both greenhouse space and a Shiny Stone.

[A black-and-white photograph of a young girl, clutching her Roselia to her chest. She is staring at the camera, eyes wide. ]
[Caption: A young girl about to be introduced to high society. This would have been one of the most important moments in a young girl's life.]

[A photograph of a journal entry, written in slightly messy script. There are blotches of water, and several sections are scratched out. The words 'mother is evil' are visible. Faded red-brown petals are pressed into the page. ]
[Caption: A journal entry depicts a rocky entry into high society.]

[A photograph of an Eterna Town evolution log. "Roselia" entries fill almost 40% of all entries, with "Roserade" present repeatedly.]

Roselia and Roserade are fully capable of regenerating petals; in fact, pruning is essential for proper Roselia health. As a result, Roselia petals, or more fashionably, the much larger Roserade petals, were a common decoration. A common gift to a suitor or fiance was a pair of petals, to be affixed to an outfit. Because Roserade evolution was so rare and expensive, high-class tailors frequently possessed a Roserade of their own from which to source petals; poorer tailors often entered into an agreement with a patron who could provide them with the desired source of material.

[Image: A book spread open. Displayed prominently is an illustration of a Roselia's petal, as well as captions pointing to multiple petals in varying states of health.]
[Caption: An early book regarding Roselia pruning and care.]

[Image: An ancient dress hung on a mannequin. Each sleeve is lined with small petals of a different color- red for the left, blue for the right. The left half of the dress is light colored, while the right half is dark colored. The collar contains much larger petals of the same color. ]

[Image: A portrait of a young man. He is smiling. Two petals, one yellow and one pink, are prominently pinned to his lapel.]
[Caption: A newly agreed fiancé.]

However, this fashion hid a darker side. Roselia's flowers possess a potent poison- one which grows even stronger when they evolve to Roserade. Internecine conflicts within eastern Sinnoh often ended with the loser being pricked by a thorn, falling ill, then collapsing into an unending slumber. With Pecha Berries difficult to cultivate in Sinnoh's cold winters, even in greenhouses, the only available cure for Poisoning was the Aromatherapy move possessed by Duchess Gardia's Roserade- a closely kept secret. As a result of this monopoly, Eterna Town's influence only grew over roughly sixty to eighty years of dominance, ending when the move was stolen by an unknown figure- most likely, a rebellious Aroma Lady. Even afterwards, adoption was slow, as those holding the power of this potent healing move were loath to share it.

[A photograph of an ancient letter. ]
[Caption: A landowner writes to his uncle, informing him that he is gathering a large offering for Duchess Gardia in exchange for a cure for his wife' illness.]

Hoenn
Roselia were first brought to Hoenn in the late Xth century, along with a wave of middle-class immigrants from Sinnoh. Shiny Stones are not endemic to Hoenn, and as a rare resource primarily owned by the rich, largely failed to make the same journey, leaving Roselia as the final stage in Hoenn. More startlingly, though, was the discovery that Budew, previously thought to be the first stage of the line, was revealed to be a situational juvenile form similar to Pichu. As Hoenn wildflowers do not include roses, the prerequisite for Budew, all eggs hatched in Hoenn resulted in Roselia. As a result, Hoenn's only member of the Budew line was Roselia.

Fashions quickly diverged between the two regions. Lacking Roserade's bouquets, Hoenn's fashion styles focused on Roselia's singular flowers placing a heavy emphasis on elegance and a subdued use of color, while Sinnovian styles reacted by continuing to emphasize large collections of flowers, with the addition of groups of trained Budew to demonstrate patriotism and class in comparison to Hoenn's 'false' Roselia.

[Picture, top-left: A painting of two young girls sitting and talking. Behind each of them, a Roselia is busily braiding their hair. One has a Roselia rose already braided into their hair; the other has a small crown of roses.]
[Picture, top-right: A portrait of a woman in a white dress. Her hair is done up in a tight bun, with a single Roselia rose sticking out.]
[Picture, bottom-left: A black-and-white photograph depicts a massive bouquet arranged behind a woman staring at the camera; it is reminiscent of a peacock's tail. By the woman's side, a Roserade stands calmly.]
[Picture, bottom-right: A painting depicting a parade of Budew following a finely dressed woman. Each Budew is carrying a rose.]
[Group caption: Top: Hoenn fashions, circa XX50-XX80. Bottom, Sinnovian fashion over the same period. Top right and bottom right: Typical wedding fashions of the time.]

Roselia poisons are far less deadly than Roserade. Ironically, this made these toxins far more commonly used in Hoenn than in Sinnoh- without the threat of death, and with Pecha berries much easier to grow in Hoenn's warm climate, Roselia toxins could be readily used for a variety of purposes, including but certainly not limited to social maneuvering. It was not considered uncommon for a major social event to include a 'fainting couch' and supply of Pecha Berries expressly for the purpose of recovering from an enemy's social maneuver. Fashions adapted to this trend, with white makeup derived from Beautifly powders used frequently to cover rashes caused by Roselia's contact poisons.

[Image: An oil painting of a well-dressed man carrying a woman in a dress. The woman is covering her face with one hand, while the other reaches down to grasp a Roselia's flower as it walks alongside. Thorns are visibly piercing the woman's thumb. The Roselia's expression is worried. ]
[Caption: A reluctant Roselia helps her trainer catch the attention of a suitor.]


The Zth Century

Hoenn
The most significant change to Hoenn fashion in the late Yth century and beginning of the Zth was, of course, mass production of Swablu-based fabrics. However, dye technology had not yet progressed to create water-fast dyes compatible with Swablu silk. In this market void, Roselia stepped in to provide color. By providing colored water to drink, Roselia's flowers become temporarily dyed in that same color- and those petals could then be pruned safely and used as lining, coloring, or a paste that could be rubbed into the silk to provide temporary color, then washed out when the color was no longer desired. Our records of color in these days are primarily thanks to paintings and portraits of the time- the colors have long since washed out.

[Image: A painting of a husband and wife dancing. The wife is wearing a bright blue dress. Next to them, a Roselia and Manectric are playing.]

This marked the beginnings of seasonal fabrics in Hoenn, driven by the ability to easily add and remove color from fabric. A standard rotation of four to five yearly colors became established- blues and purples in the winter, pink and red in the summer, yellow in the summer, and orange and purple in the fall. It was during this time that the tradition of "Black Roses" became popular in funerals- though it must be noted that this coloration is stressful for the Roselia to maintain over a long period.

[Image: Four pressed and dried Roselia flowers, in each of the four seasonal colors.]

[Image: A black-and-white photograph of a coffin. Two Roselia stand guard, bearing black roses.]]

Breaking from the previous traditions of elegance and simplicity, it also became fashionable to own an assortment of three to six Roselia at once, wearing them on shoulders or in pockets as decoration. This provided a further distinguishing mark compared to Sinnoh fashions, as Roserade are simply too large for such an arrangement to be comfortable. This trend is closely tied to the increased adoption of mass-market Pokeballs during this period, making multiple Pokemon much easier to handle by a non-specialist.

[Image: A picture of a letter. The words 'imitation Roserade' are prominently visible. ]
[Caption: In a letter to her tailor, a Sinnovian fashionista mocks the latest Hoenn fashion trend.]

[Image: A grainy brown photograph of a Hoenn accountant as she looks up at the camera. Three Roselia sit on top of her hat's brim, looking down at the paper in front of her, and one sits on her shoulder with its legs dangling down, idly fidgeting with a spare pen.]

Overall, early Zth century fashion in Hoenn was marked by an increase in color and extravagance, driven by vastly eased access to color. In contrast to other nations, it never quite found the same footing in terms of extravagant color or complex patterns, but its vibrant pastel colors and innovation with seasonal fashions and unusual use of living Pokemon set it apart from any other.

Sinnoh
Active assassination began to settle down in the Zth century, as access to Aromatherapy spread. Poisoning became seen as almost passé- with the prospect of eliminating a rival or hated foe growing less likely by the day, those vicious poisoners turned their backs on the weapons of yesterday, declaring a once-deadly threat to be positively rude.

[A woodcut cartoon. An ugly man shouts to the room: "My wife has been poisoned! Help! Help!". Two women in the foreground mutter to each other. The caption reads: "With a husband like that, I'd poison myself, too!"]
[Caption: Cartoon, artist unknown. Poisoning is seen as more of a joke than a threat. ]

Instead, attention turned back to the most important matter of the day: Fashion. With dyed Roselia fashion spreading in Hoenn, tailors, dyers, and gardeners searched for a solution that could preserve Sinnoh supremacy in the international rivalry. They found it in Roserade. While they could not easily match Hoenn's massive advantage in raw Pokemon numbers, they were able to leverage Roserade's much superior ability to produce large petals en masse or even shed entire roses safely, producing extravagant fashions where flowers made up the primary material- not just supporting color.

[Image: A dress on a mannequin. The dress is covered in dozens of Roserade petals, forming a gradual gradient in brilliant color from head to tail. Look up Andy Goldsworthy for vibes. Seriously, look him up. There are also whole blossoms acting as accents on the shoulders and collar. ]

Sinnoh fashions had limited adoption among other countries due to their emphasis on Shiny-Stone based Roserade, but records of visits to other countries show that they made a strong impression whenever they met, with an indulgent use of massive roses that no other country could match.

[Image: A grainy brown photograph of a Sinnoh celebrity stepping off a boat onto Slateport Town. His suit is lined with eight whole roses on his shoulders. Onlookers form a large crowd, and more cameras are visible in the shot.]

Kalos
It is also at this point that Kalos enters the picture. While minor imports of Roserade had been present up until this time, Kalos largely disdained the foreign flower for their native flower-based Pokemon, Flabébé. In particular, their final evolution, Florges, which also evolves through a Shiny Stone. The comparisons were easy to make, and a rivalry was inevitable.

Florges burst onto the scene in the ZZ10s with a vervent explosion of color. Their flowers were not individually large, but they were incredibly numerous thanks to Florges' ability to grow external gardens, rather than relying on harvesting directly from the Pokemon. Additionally, flowers grown by Florges are exceptionally uniform in color, matching the five classical colors of Florges (Red, Yellow, Green, Blue, White). This produced a stunning fashion in which selected petals from multiple colors of Florges were used in combination, producing mosaic-like geometric patterns and striking contrasts between neighboring shades.

[Image: A suit with a sharp yellow-black diagonal pattern.]

This also formed the origin of the popular pointillism movement in paintings; in fact, Paul Ginsac's early paintings made heavy use of sliced and laminated Florges petals.

[Image: https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-6202464]

As this style of fashion grew alongside developments in pointillism, the two movements took inspiration from each other, with Florges fashion making use of the shading techniques pioneered by pointillists, and pointillists taking inspiration from tailors' understanding of color combinations and layering to create the precise colors they wished.

[Image: Google dithering. It's cool!]

While late to the party, Kalos fashion quickly became a strong contender, with elements of their focus on primary colors and sharp contrasts becoming quickly adopted in Sinnoh.They found slightly less adoption in Hoenn, where their sharp and clear colors appeared garish among the bright pastels that Swablu silk so easily took on- perhaps a jump too far for the understated fashions Hoenn had preferred in the past.

Conclusions:
The history of Hoenn-Sinnoh flower fashion is heavily shaped by the economics of both countries. Sinnoh fashion was heavily shaped by the rich who could afford both a greenhouse and a Shiny Stone, while Hoenn was shaped by access to Roselia for all, lacking Sinnoh's intensity. Despite this, both had their own merits, and there was significant conversation between the two styles, particularly as flower Pokemon became used more and more as a component of fashion in the Zth century.

In contrast, Kalos' contribution to flower fashion comes much later to the picture, perhaps due to their previous focus on the fabrics and aromas derived from that region's native Fairy-types. As a result, their flower fashion existed in a relationship with their other art movements, most notably pointillism- a highly distinct line of descent that took them down a completely different path of fashion technology.

A/N: Yes, Cynthia was one of the contributors to this paper. It's Sinnoh history! Of course she's involved!

 

[aimlessPolymath]

Debunking The "Traditional Starters"
S. Oak, J. Rowan, S. Elm, B. Birch, J. Sonia

Introduction:​

A common mnemonic told to schoolchildren as they learn geography is to remember regions by their "Traditional Starters"- a group of three-stage families; one Water-type, one Grass-type, and one Fire-type, which are used to uniquely identify regions such as Kanto, Sinnoh, and Galar. Setting aside the falsity of identifying these Pokemon as common starting Pokemon in these regions- consider how many Hoenn children trapped their first Wurmple by baiting flypaper with a bowl of sugar water, or coaxed a Tailow close enough to touch through an offering of seeds and Berries- this menmoric belies a deeper lie. The idea that there must be three-stage Water, Fire, and Grass-types, each endemic to a different geographic region and an ideal match for any prospective trainer, is obviously implausible upon even the slightest consideration.

Why, then, does this myth persist? And why would so many Pokemon Professors give out these particular Pokemon if there is no truth to the label? To some extent, it has become self-sustaining, anchored in tradition and nationalism- as no region wishes to be seen as lacking in this regard- as well as common children's stories and games such as The Travelers, or the Mystery Dungeon series.

We can begin to unravel this mystery by considering the alternatives. Why is it that these particular Pokemon became known as the traditional starters? Consider Kanto. Both Charizard and Magmortar are powerful three-stage Fire-types attractive to anyone looking for raw firepower. Charizard is the region's defining Fire-type, despite Charizard fossils in Galar and Kalos that date back far before the earliest records of Charizard in Kanto. We might imagine that in a hypothetical world, the cultural icon of Fire was Magby, drawing inspiration from how Magmortar's explosive, extreme-ranged blasts made Kanto a dominant sea power throughout the Xth and Yth century.

What, then, is the difference between this hypothetical situation and reality? The first answer lies in their juvenile stage. Magby is a solitary, highly independent Pokemon, able to ward off any casual observer with their potent fire blasts. In contrast, Charmander are remarkably fragile Fire-types, reliant on their tail flame or a friendly Charmeleon to maintain normal body temperature during colder months, and so are quite willing to approach a stranger's campfire during chilly nights. Small wonder that Charmander was domesticated so much earlier!

Furthermore, Magmortar evolution requires very particular conditions- they must journey to a volcano and drink its magma, or else purchase the modern equivalent- industrial furnaces that provide molten rock for an appropriate fee. For those with insufficient funds, journeying to the Cinnabar Volcano requires at least a week of planned travel- in past decades, this could take up to a month, or force trainers to wait a season for winter's monstrous storms to subside. In contrast, Charizard's evolution merely requires them to grow by dominating a sufficient quantity of rivals- a perfect match for Kanto's aggressive Pokemon battling tradition.

Indeed, there is a glimmering needle at the heart of this haystack of myth. Of the Pokemon labeled as "Traditional Starters", nearly all of them exhibit a strong family hierarchy and predisposition towards social activity that makes them remarkably easy to train, but also possess significant growth potential and evolutionary preferences that tend to align remarkably well with a trainer's journey. To put it simply, they are ideal matches for a trainer's journey.

This may seem to be a happy accident at first. However, upon further broadening our perspective, we recognize that a three-stage stone-independent evolutionary pattern is one that naturally lends itself to a social structure commanded by powerful individuals that act as leaders, guardians, and mentors- a pattern which is true (at least in part) of the majority of traditional starters. This leadership structure should ring true to most trainers upon observing the group dynamics of their own team, as it closely mirrors common training practices.


[...]

Chapter 23: Sobble, Drizzile, and Inteleon​

The Sobble line is the Water-type Traditional Starter associated with Galar. All forms of Sobble are blue-green raniform humanoids with gills, webbed feet and hands, and slimy skin similar to a frog's. All forms are amphibious, and they are commonly found in riverine and wetland environments in Galar, alongside Wooper and Lotad. Their primary diet is non-Pokemon insects and fish, the Blipbug line, fully evolved Butterfree, and the Grubbin line. Despite a reputation as cowards, they are generally bold and curious Pokemon.

Sobble
Sobble, the first form, measure 60-70 centimeters from head to foot when fully extended, but usually sit crouched, moving by crawling around or jumping short distances. They are largely incapable of personal combat, and rarely hunt; they are reliant on Drizzile to provide the majority of their food outside non-Pokemon insects and fish. Their primary defense is their prodigious tears; when emotionally distressed, they rapidly devolve into a crying fit, manifesting large quantities of mildly toxic water from their eyes while making noises similar in pitch to a crying human baby- a behavior which has led many trainers to anthropomorphize them as a 'crybaby'.

This serves three primary purposes. First, this sound rapidly attracts Drizzile and Inteleon in the area. While most predators are easily able to dispatch Sobble, it is far more difficult to deal with their evolved forms. Second, the produced tears possess mildly toxic qualities that cause eye irritation in predators. Finally, the crying acts as a medium for Sobble to project Fake Tears, distracting and weakening the predator in preparation for a Drizzile ambush.

Sobble do not possess the telepathic camouflage of their evolved forms. Instead, their minds possess a sort of telepathic tripwire- even a hint of telepathic attention directed towards Sobble can trigger emotional turmoil, leading to a crying fit. The resulting strong emotions are instinctively broadcast far and wide, forcing the prospective spying mind to withdraw or risk emotional overload. In the wild, this protects Sobble nests from the prying senses of Orbeetle. Domesticated Sobble are frequently kept near Galarian courthouses and government facilities, where they naturally ward off telepathic interference.

Drizzile
Sobble evolve to Drizzile upon reaching a sufficient degree of experience, typically gathered through play and exploration around the nest. Drizzile are roughly the same size as Sobble, but stand upright. Their skin is darker, and an elongated sac filled with neural matter sprouts from the top of their head and hangs down in front of their face. They also sprout a curled tail, which can be used to hang from branches. Their water manifestation abilities from the Sobble stage are stabilized, letting them create water as needed, but throughput drops significantly. Typically, they manifest a thin shell of modified water over their body, producing a camouflaging effect by bending light around their body. In combat, they make heavy use of prepared 'water balloons', filled with manifested water and sealed with an excreted slime , which they use to limit their prey's movements and forcibly discharge Grubbin and Charjabug.

Unlike Sobble, they possess a telepathic camouflage ability, mediated by their neural sac. By offloading their emotions into their secondary nervous system, they become telepathically neutral, augmenting their stealth during hunting raids and allowing them to hunt telepathically sensitive Pokemon such as Blipbug and Dottler. While returning to the nest, these stored emotions are released all at once, leading Drizzile to undergo mood swings, play pranks, and play-fight for dominance. Similarly to Sobble, this behavior is frequently anthropomorphized as 'teenage drama'.

Inteleon
Drizzile evolve to Inteleon with sufficient experience, usually acquired through a mentorship under an existing Inteleon, and catalyzed through a solo mission. Inteleon are roughly two and a half times as large as Drizzile, and continue to stand upright. Their neural sac inflates and forms a ridge that acts as a full secondary brain. Additionally, they may develop a variety of secondary mutations, dependent on the needs experienced during catalysis- examples have included concealed blades or claws, a collapsible membrane that allows for limited gliding, chromatophores for improved camouflage, adhesive secretions deposited to act as traps, and so on. Their water manifestation abilities regain the output they possessed as a Sobble, and are augmented by the increased focus granted by their secondary brain, letting them calculate angles and gravity precisely to fire pressurized shots of water at extremely long range. In this stage, they frequently accompany Drizzile hunting teams, but rarely reveal their presence or participate in the hunt.

During raids, Inteleon's primary role is as a deterrent against Orbeetle intervention. Under ordinary circumstances, an Orbeetle would respond to a raid into its territory by subordinating swarms of Bug-types and directing them to surround, corner, and defeat the intruders. However, an Inteleon's telepathic stealth is powerful and reliable enough to conceal them from Orbeetle's senses for extended periods of time. Should Orbeetle direct its subordinates to capture a Drizzile raid protected by Inteleon, the effort would exhaust it rapidly, leaving it vulnerable to an Inteleon assassination afterwards- if, that is, an Inteleon is actually present. Orbeetle, notorious for its caution, will inevitably accept the Drizzile's raid as 'acceptable attrition' rather than risking true defeat or death.

Family Dynamic
Life begins with Sobble. Sobble are born and raised in a shallow pond or river, watched over by nest-guard Drizzile. They rarely hunt, instead subsisting off non-Pokemon fish as well as Bug Pokemon brought back by hunting Drizzile. As they grow, they begin to explore the environment around the pond, traveling up to fifty meters away. They generally remain unsupervised- a Sobble who has gotten itself lost or into trouble is easily able to attract the attention of a nest Drizzile by crying, and is quickly rescued.

After evolution into Drizzile, they remain in the nest for several months honing their newfound control over water, watching over the Sobble, and practicing emotional suppression. This training is aided by the Sobble- a Drizzile able to remain calm and emotionless while calming a tantrum is easily able to remain calm during a hunt. During this phase, aggression and independence gradually increases, and the Drizzile begins to roam further and further from the nest. This is the stage of greatest risk- without the protection of large numbers or a watchful Inteleon, many Drizzile wander into trouble they cannot get themselves out of. However, just as many get themselves out of trouble, developing skills that will serve them well later in life.

After a few months, a Drizzile will display its skills in front of the family's Inteleon. If accepted, it will begin to join the other hunters in squads of four to eight, traveling out up to three miles from the nest to hunt Bug-type Pokemon and bring them back to the nest. During the return to the nest, their emotional suppression wanes, leading them to express any emotions generated during the raid through play-fighting, pranks, displays of affection, and dominance games.

This stage can last for a Drizzile's entire life. Many never earn the approval of an Inteleon, and so never are never given the chance to evolve. In order to demonstrate their potential, Drizzile attempt to push themselves into ever-more risky and spectacular stunts, as well as to sabotage their rival's own attempts at showing off.

If an Inteleon approves, they will approach a Drizzile between raids. After a period of mentorship lasting up to six months, they will assign them an solo extended mission, far from the nest. Frequently, this involves stealing from, spying on, or sabotaging a powerful Pokemon over an extended period of time. During the course of this mission, the inability to vent emotions causes the Drizzile's neural sac to expand and inflate, eventually forming the signature crest of an Inteleon. Final evolution is catalyzed by completion of the mission.

Once evolved, Inteleon will spend much of their time simply waiting and watching. In addition to shadowing Drizzile raids and acting as a deterrent to Orbeetle organized attacks, they also travel up to ten miles away from the nest on extended missions. These include spying on nearby trainers, tracking and sabotaging powerful Pokemon, and communicating with neighboring Inteleon to deliver news.

Domestication
What made Sobble uniquely easy to domesticate? In this case, two main factors eased the path to Sobble domestication. First, Sobble and Drizzile tantrum-behaviors have similarities to human adolescence, giving trainers a background set of cultural assumptions which served them well when dealing with tantruming Sobble or Drizzile. This is a case of using the wrong method but getting the right answer- trainers offering small snacks to crying Sobble unintentionally signal to the Sobble that the perceived threat had passed, letting them relax, and Pokemon battles substitute for the normal play-fights that would help calm an emotionally discharging Drizzile.

In fact, the role of the trainer in commanding their Pokemon closely aligns with a role in Sobble family hierarchy- that of an Inteleon field commander (directing Drizzile in battle) and mentor (teaching Drizzile valuable skills, including combat). With this relationship established, Drizzile are naturally easy to train, as trainers will find their Drizzile eager to prove itself worthy of training and responsibility. On evolution, this relationship shifts, as the Inteleon will begin to act with greater independence and autonomy, but they will continue to see the trainer as a valued strategist to obey.

Second, and equally important: Unlike most fully evolved guardians, Inteleon tacitly allow humans to enter their territory. One Galarian fairy tale describes a trainer finding a lone, 'abandoned' Sobble in the wild and taking it home to raise as their own child. Once the Sobble evolved, a dark stranger, most likely an Inteleon, would inevitably steal the Drizzile back, acting as the moral to this cautionary tale. In another tale, crying children left unattended were spirited away by dark figures, then returned to their home a week later.

Journals of early trainers describe stories of finding Sobble nurseries in the wild, helping nesting Drizzile handle and feed unruly Sobble, and being invited by Drizzile to have their Pokemon spar. It is assumed that either Inteleon perceived these trainers as slightly odd-looking Inteleon or Drizzile, or they were confident in their ability to interject should these interactions cross a line. Regardless, this shocking display of trust meant that aspiring trainers were easily able to peacefully interact with Sobble and Drizzile, with many Sobble choosing to follow their human playmate out of the lake and into a Pokeball once they evolved.

Sobble and Drizzile were common sights in Wedgehurst as early as XX60, but Inteleon took much longer to be used domestically. This is primarily due to the specificity of its evolution catalysis; for almost a century, the third stage was considered a myth due to the difficulty of finding and recording Inteleon in the wild. The evolution requirement was first publicly identified in YYYY during the Second Galarian Civil War. Trainers sending their Drizzile on sabotage missions against enemy factories were startled to find that their returning Pokemon had evolved to Inteleon. Even then, though, it was still not considered Galar's traditional starter.

Instead, for hundreds of years, Lotad had been seen as Galar's preeminent Water-type. Despite the requirement for a Water Stone to reach its final form, Lotad was propped up by its broad regional distribution (found in lakes, ponds, and pools everywhere in Galar), and the placid demeanor of its first two stages. Even after Inteleon's evolution was discovered, Sobble's ascension to the status of Traditional Starter was heavily disputed for over a hundred years, with critics suggesting that its association with guerilla warfare and the emotional fragility of its first stage made it an unpatriotic and dishonorable Pokemon to represent Galar. Its modern status came about by royal edict, issued by King Bowyard in ZZ23 as a favor to his retainer, Sir Jaime Gold, for meritorious service. Within a scant few decades, Lotad's prestigious status was forgotten.

Conclusions
In the face of this history, treating Sobble as though it were comparable to Squirtle or Piplup seems absurd. Its first stage is virtually comparable to a baby Pokemon such as Togepi and highly unwilling to battle competitively; its third stage was not positively identified for almost a hundred years. Despite this, dozens of Sobble every year are given out to prospective trainers. This produces an unfortunately common pattern- the prospective trainer attempts to train their Sobble's skills through sparring with wild Pokemon, becomes frustrated with its emotional outbursts when it is forced to battle, and surrenders the Sobble to a care center before it has the chance to evolve. Those Drizzile who do evolve suffer an above-average incidence of 'missing' and 'escaped' reports. If they do not flee, it can take weeks or months to rebuild trust with their trainer, setting back young trainers by up to a full badge.

[...]

Afterword, by S. Oak:
Every Pokemon is unique, and categorizing Pokemon- particularly such highly divergent types as Fire, Grass, and Water- under the single label of 'Traditional Starters' creates a meaningless stereotype that does more to hurt than it does to help. Educating trainers about the individual quirks of their Pokemon can do nothing but help strengthen their bonds. If, as some complain, remembering the regions is an exercise in frustration, then perhaps it is time to return to the mnemonics of my youth. Kebia Juice Helps Stop Unpleasant Knockouts And Great Pain!

 

[frigidScholar]

How Cursola differentiated from Corsola got mentioned at some point so I got inspiration to put together this:

Excerpt from "Galarian Corsola, a Sign of Coral Reef Degradation?"
Originally published in the Konrin Maritime Journal
by Profs. C. Fir, I. Kukui, S. Magnolia, K. Stern, et al.​

[. . .] but perhaps most damning proof of mismanagement of a coral reef ecosystem is the apparent presence of Galarian Corsola. It would seem obvious, a variant Corsola that is thought to come about through the death of its normal kin is an obvious sign of the ecosystem being degraded. Though, is this true?

Ghost types have long been proven to not be spirits of the deceased and Galarian Corsola are no different. While they share a common ancestor with the more common variant, they are not the actual disembodied spirit of a normal Corsola, returned from the dead to haunt those who caused the destruction of their home.

But then how do these variant Corsola make it to reefs all over the world? Galar's cold seas are far away from the coral reefs of the warmer regions of Konrin. And the once pristine reefs of Alola are even farther away, yet they still seem to have the occasional sighting of Galarian Corsola.

So how are Galarian Corsola apparently ending up in these far-flung places? They can't be a result of illegal releases. Registered pokémon are carefully tracked and Galarian Corsola populations are carefully monitored given their small habitat range, so that even captures without a pokéball would be noticed. And all Corsola are sensitive to their environment, even the Galarian form. Despite being a Ghost type, it has adapted to the cold seas it calls home. It would no more thrive in a coral reef in warm, shallow seas than a normal Corsola would survive in its cousin's deepwater frequently icy home.

With so many contradictions, these individuals cannot be Galarian Corsola. Natural selection does not occur this quickly and large transport of Galarian Corsola to separate habitats would be very noticeable. We have also found physical proof of this, after capturing several individuals and marking normal Corsola that were later found to have the typical white coloring of a Galarian Corsola. These sightings of 'Galarian' Corsola are in fact normal Corsola that have lost the pigment that gives them their characteristic pink color.

Of course, this sudden change in coloration in many Corsola in many different locations raises many questions. Does this color difference mean anything? Does it mean that these Corsola are diseased? Is it the first steps among the path that led toward the differentiation of Galarian Corsola? The answer to these questions lies in the biology of this species. Corsola live solely in coral reefs not because they use coral as camouflage, but because coral is their source of sustenance. But Corsola don't eat coral, they instead utilize coral's biology in a way to sustain themselves.

Many people assume coral is a plant or some sort of rocky outgrowth, but it is actually a colony of tiny invertebrates, which produce an exoskeleton that slowly builds and builds on top of each other over generations of these organisms into the structures we know as coral. Typical coral obtains sustenance through symbiosis with single celled microbes that are able to perform photosynthesis. These microbes are provided a safe place to reside close to the sun as well as the carbon necessary to undergo photosynthesis in return for providing the coral with excess sugars and other photosynthetic byproducts. This form of symbiosis can provide a coral with up to 90% of its metabolic needs.

Wild-type Corsola are a symbiotic species themselves, assisting reef building by utilizing their terrakinetic abilities to adjust coral positions to better catch sunlight as well as physically discouraging other pokémon from eating or disturbing corals that are already damaged. In return for this benefit, Corsola use a weak energy siphoning ability on the coral they cultivate, which stimulates them to secrete some of these photosynthetic microbes to allow the Corsola to uptake them. This gives the Corsola the same method as the coral it cultivates to continue their metabolic processes, supply these microbes with nutrients, then use the surplus sugars to power their own cells.

Galarian Corsola however have a completely different method of obtaining sustenance. Like many Ghost and Grass types, they drain vitality from other pokémon to keep themselves living. They typically inhabit cold water coral reefs in the depths of the seas around Galar. These deep water reefs are made of corals that do not photosynthesize and correspondingly are largely white in color. Galarian Corsola act as an ambush predator, camouflaging themselves among the coral and absorbing the life force from any creature that gets too close.

But how does a symbiotic reef builder become a life draining ambush predator? Fossil records show that Galarian Corsola differentiated remarkably fast on an evolutionary standpoint. It is believed that a worldwide extinction event forced this rapid change. Though, whether it was caused by the near simultaneous eruption on a geological scale of Mt. Chimney and Reversal Mountain or the meteorite strikes behind the formation of the Veilstone Crater Field is a question still up for debate. What is known is the result of one of these events. An intense world-wide cooling event occurred, strong enough to cause temperatures to steadily drop in the seas around Galar enough to slowly decimate the coral reefs that once rested along its coastlines.

The corals that were once colorful became white as the pigments used for photosynthesis degraded, the microbes that produced them dying off along with the coral itself. With the whole coral reef ecosystem steadily dying, there was nowhere for the Corsola to go. The Corsola in this condition were forced to find some other way of gaining sustenance or perish. Perhaps ironically, the tool it used for its symbiosis with the coral is thought to have been in salvation, quickly adapting and growing in strength so that the Corsola may use it to drain the life force out of any surviving pokémon in the area in a predatory fashion rather than in a symbiotic one with the coral it formerly coexisted with. Having mostly gained pigment from the microbes they obtained from the coral and having no reason to produce their own pigments any longer, their coloring shifted to the white characteristic of a Galarian Corsola. Their vitality draining ability became important above all else, developing further as their other abilities atrophied. As their terrakinetic abilities were no longer needed to shift stones to adjust coral positions, they lost their Rock typing. And it is believed they gained a Ghost typing in order to enhance their life draining capabilities as well as gain an advantage over their most common prey, the fellow sea floor dweller and slow moving Pincurchin, whose Electric typing would otherwise dissuade the formerly Water type Corsola.

Could this evolutionary pathway explain why wild-type Corsola are being found with coloration typical of Galarian Corsola? Yes and no. The full answer rises from another issue, one often mentioned in this journal. Rising sea temperatures effects the photosynthetic processes of the microbes in coral, causing them to produce volatile compounds that result in oxidative damage to their hosts. This forces the coral to eject these microbes from themselves, leaving the Corsola with nothing to siphon off of the coral to sustain itself. This largely leads to an exodus of Corsola to healthier portions of a coral reef, but some individuals remain in the same area, seeming to continue to cultivate the coral in an attempt to have it recover. Without these microbes, however, the coral as well as these Corsola lose the photosynthetic capabilities they possess to be able to sustain themselves, as well as much of the ability to generate pigments to assist in this. Corsola that remain in these areas often become bleached much like the coral around them, giving them an appearance very similar to Galarian Corsola.

Corsola in this condition often quickly sicken and die. So what leads to the persistent presence of these bleached Corsola in these coral reefs? Our observational studies of these bleached individuals have revealed that these surviving bleached Corsola seem to have resorted to a similar process as their Galarian kin's ancestors. Individuals with stronger siphoning abilities turn them on nearby pokémon to sustain themselves, their bleached status ironically allowing them to hide among the bleached coral they reside in as they once did when it was healthier.

While these Corsola have not changed typing or other abilities, it may be more solid proof of the path that Galarian Corsola were forced to take to survive. First adapting to the dead, bleached coral as a result of natural disasters, then moving into an ecosystem that seemed ready made for them; the deep, cold water corals present further down in the depths.

Are these bleached Corsola still a sign of coral reef degradation despite not being Galarian Corsola? Yes, they are. This adaptation would not be needed in a healthy coral reef, only necessitated due to the lack of its typical food source. While they provide a window into convergent evolution processes, their presence is still clear evidence of ailing sections of a coral reef. And while not the vengeful spirits of deceased wild-type Corsola and definitely not to blame for the decline of many reefs around the world, they are still a dire sign that their ecosystem is in grave danger. Now, more than ever, it is crucial to ensure coral reefs are protected and actions are taken to ensure these rise in sea temperatures are mitigated as much as possible if we wish to maintain these fragile and greatly biodiverse habitats.

 

[aimlessPolymath]

Why Sprout Tower Is Interesting

By Emma Gardner, Age 11​

Sprout Tower is a very interesting building. One reason that it is interesting is that it is made out of a very big Bellsprout that died a long time ago. Also, lots of Bellsprout still live there, and theres a bunch of monks that take care of the Bellsprout and the people nearby. On holidays, they ring the bell and people can here it from miles away.
T/N: Needs to start with a hook (the last sentence would be very good for this!), but otherwise looks good! Some spelling errors (marked)

The monks that live in the tower say that it was made out of a very old Bellsprout. According to them, a long time ago, there was a Bellsprout that was taller than the trees. One day, there was a big storm that lasted a hundred years, and the Bellsprout let all the people into its mouth to hide from the storm. A lot of people were scared of it, but one old guy went in first to show it was safe, and then everyone else went in too. Then the Bellsprout died from the storm. Because of this, everyone gives thanks to the Bellsprout on holidays.
T/N: Good! Some grammar errors (marked).

Another reason that Sprout Tower is important is because there are lots of Bellsprout there. I got my Bellsprout there. His name is Goopy. The monks say there are lots of Bellsprout there because they respect the big Bellsprout that died. They say they don't evolve because Sprout Tower didn't want to. Some people from Galar want to measure the Bellsprout and take pieces of Sprout Tower to look for a Gignactimax Gene. The monks got really mad and said no. I think they're dumb. Nurse Joy took some of Goopy's leaves to see if he was OK and that was fine so I think its fine to take a piece of the tower.
T/N: Good start, but gets off track fast. If Sprout Tower is important, why let people take pieces of it?

Another reason that Sprout Tower is important is because of all the monks live there. People go there to have parties when they get married or when they graduate from school. Other times they go there for advice like when they're going on a trip or having problems. If Sprout Tower wasn't there then all the monks would be homeless and people wouldn't be able to get married. Everyone needs the monks to help them out.
T/N: Very good reasoning! Some grammar errors (marked).

In conclusion, Sprout Tower is important because it is very old and because of all the Bellsprout there. Lots of people need Sprout Tower to get their first Pokemon or to get help from the monks. Because of this, we should give respect to the Bellsprout and the monks to thank them for helping us in our life.
T/N: A little rushed and short.

Teacher's Notes: B+, 88/100. Emma is a very bright girl, but has some trouble with homophones and losing the thread of the argument. She clearly has some good ideas and reasoning, but could benefit from a second draft to get her thoughts in order.

Author's Note: Time to resurrect the horror of my childhood- the five-paragraph essay. The teacher may be slightly biased in some of her comments.

 

[aimlessPolymath]

Route Report: Route 28

=====ALERT======​

Trainers are advised to be on the lookout for Sneasel, as a pack has been reported in the area. A reward has been posted for captured Sneasel with their capture geolocated to Route 28. Trainers are advised to be cautious; these Sneasel have migrated from Mt. Silver's peak.

Background:
Kanto Route 28 is an isolated path leading to the south entrance of the Mt. Silver cave system. It is relatively flat and warm, making it a common rest stop and resupply point for those braving the mountain. Due to its relative safety, general isolation, and proximity to Mt. Silver's peaks, the route has been used to film several popular movies. Pokemon here are significantly stronger than comparable populations in Kanto or Johto, but still weaker than the Pokemon in Mt. Silver proper. By and large, they appear to be immune to the infamous 'Call of Mt. Silver', content to live out their lives in relative peace and ease.

Geography
Route 28 is approximately 3.6 miles long. It winds around the base of Mt Silver, roughly spanning the south-southeast octant of the mountain. It is covered by patchy Rawst and Leppa berries interspersed with grassy fields and rocky faces. Short, stubby trees dot the landscape. Much steeper rocky slopes are present immediately to the north, east, and south; the soil contains a high proportion of volcanic ash and it is believed the route is built on top of a side vent of Mt. Silver. A large river runs through the route, fed by Mt. Silver snowpack.

The west end of the route ends in a entrance to the Mt. Silver cave network. A Pokemon center is present nearby, acting as a rest point for trainers braving the mountain. The east entrance of the route leads to the Kanto-Johto border office.

Most Pokemon on Route 28 are considered to be under low threat; despite the immensely strong Pokemon that live nearby, most prefer to ignore these Pokemon and follow the 'Call of Mt. Silver' towards the peak. They generally suffer low pressure from trainers.

Species Statuses:
Ponyta: Low Concern
Population: Four herds, each of 30-60 individuals.
Ponyta are the route's primary grazer. Their primary attack method (flame cloaks and extreme speed) are used to flee predators; unlike most equine Pokemon, they are skilled climbers even at a gallop, and unlike Doduo, are able to weather Mt. Silver's colder climes thanks to their Fire type. A Ponyta stable is kept by the local Pokemon Center to assist rescue services. They are also found in routes 26 and 27.

Tangela: No Concern
Population: 80-100.
Tangela are somewhat rare sights on the route due to their similar appearance to a bush. Their primary attack method(prehensile vine tendrils) is used to distract herbivorous Pokemon while the Tangela retreats. During winter, their shed tendrils are a secondary food source for Ponyta, Doduo, and Donphan. They have a symbiotic relationship with Arbok, which nest inside the Tangela, nesting inside the Tangela for warmth and ambushing Pokemon that come to feed on Tangela's tendril. Trainers are advised not to approach wild Tangela without having a Pokemon first check for an Arbok. Small numbers of Tangrowth evolutions have been recorded, but invariably migrate towards the peak upon evolution.

Donphan: Low concern.
Population: Migratory, one herd of 32/two herds of 10-20.
Donphan are an uncommon grazer Pokemon. Their primary attack method (physical strength and the ability to roll) are used to threaten predators away and retreat from losing fights. Trainers are advised not to approach wild Phanpy even if a parent is not visible, as a Donphan is likely standing sentinel somewhere uphill. They are also present in the Mt. Silver cave network.

Ursaring: Low concern, tracked via radio bands.
Population: 5-6. Two cubs (from different parents) has been recorded.
Ursaring are the route's apex predator. Their primary attack method (physical strength, as well as increased power/speed when afflicted) is used to threaten opposing Pokemon away from berry bushes and take down prey. They have been observed hunting Ponyta and Arbok by deliberately igniting themselves to increase their speed, then rubbing Rawst berries on the burns once the hunt is complete. As they are more migratory than their cave-dwelling counterparts, these Ursaring are tracked by radio by Rangers and relocated back to the route when necessary. Ursaring are also present in the Mt. Silver cave network.

Doduo: No concern
Population: Three to four flocks of 8-15 members, migratory
Doduo are a grazer and primary predator species on the route as well as surrounding areas. Their primary attack method (rapid beak strikes and high speed/agility) are used to hunt non-Pokemon prey as well as Magikarp and Poliwag, and evade predators by alternating between straight dashes and rapid zigzagging movements. They are the most common captures by trainers due to their above-average strength and speed for the species, as well as their rarity in Mt. Silver proper. They are also found in routes 26 and 27.

Natu: High risk.
Population: Two flocks of 20-30. Roughly 30% of each flock is Xatu.
Natu are an uncommon grazer on the route. Their primary attack methods (Abstract 'trading' of strength and defense with an opponent, as well as limited psychic abilities) are used on occasion to match predators and drive them off, but their primary defense is the flock's Xatu sentries. Due to Xatu's precognitive vision, flocks are able to avoid predators in advance; flocks have been observed retreating up to an hour before an Ursaring or Arbok would have breached their perimeter. They are considered high risk due to their low birth rate.
ALERT: See Sneasel, below.

Arbok: Low concern.
Population: 4 individuals identified.
Arbok are a secondary predator on the route. Their primary attack method (Poisoned fangs and a gaze delivering a paralytic effect) are used to strike from stealth, weaken prey, and then retreat for a second strike once the prey weakens. They hunt almost all Pokemon within the route, with the exception of Tangela (which is a grass-type), Ursaring and Heracross(due to their aggressive response to poison) and Natu (due to their precognitive capabilities). They have a symbiotic relationship with Tangela, nesting inside the Tangela for warmth and ambushing Pokemon that come to feed on Tangela's tendrils. They are also present in the Mt. Silver cave network, as well as in Routes 26 and 27.

Poliwag: Low concern.
Population: 60-80 Poliwag, 15-20 Poliwhirl
Poliwag are a grazer and filter feeder species within and around the river. Their primary attack method (hypnotic waves and projectile blasts of water) are used to disorient predators while retreating into the water.

Magikarp: No concern
Population: 120+.
Magikarp are a filter feeder within the river. They are a prey species by the majority of the predators nearby. While they are unusually strong due to their proximity to Mt. Silver, even ignoring their species, they are not aggressive and are safe to approach. A wild Magikarp taken from Route 28 is several standard deviations stronger than average, physically capable of defeating two- or three-badge teams. Fortunately, the river is not large enough to support an evolution to Gyarados. As such, Magikarp is one of the few Pokemon which trainers are known to seek out when visiting the route, and is a common motivation for sport fishers to visit the route.

Aipom: Low concern
Population: 30-40 Aipom, 6 Ambipom.
Aipom are a scavenger species on the route. Their primary attack method (sudden, rapid strikes with the tail) are used to stun predators momentarily while the Aipom escapes to a nearby tree. They are primarily preyed upon by Arbok. They appear to be accepted by the Donphan herds; Aipom have been observed playing with Phanpy, removing (and eating) ticks and other parasites from Donphan, and even running atop rolling Donphan.

Heracross: Medium concern
Population: 12
Heracross are a grazer species on the route, primarily consuming tree bark. Their primary attack methods (strikes with the horn, empowered strength when afflicted) are used to ward off predators and scrape bark away from trees. Individuals have been observed attempting dominance games against male Donphan or Ursaring, with mixed results. Unlike most wild Pokemon on the route, these Heracross appear to be partially affected by the Call, repeatedly attempting to enter the cave networks or scale the mountain, but finding themselves rebuffed by the stronger Pokemon already present.

Non-Native Species:
Sneasel are an established species near the peak of Mt. Silver, but rarely come lower. On XXXX/07/15, a group of three Sneasel was spotted on the upper slopes of Rt. 28 by a hiker. On XXXX/07/19, a Bird Keeper Jordan reported watching five Sneasel bypass Xatu sentries, presumably bypassing their precognition thanks to the Dark Type. On XXXX/07/20, six Natu were found slain. Natu is considered to be a High Risk Species due to its low birthrate, and ranger support has been requested to temporarily relocate the Natu and remove the Sneasel. Sneasel is currently considered a high priority.

A Zigzagoon family, including one Linoone, is present in the southeast corner of the route. They have been reported stealing picnics from trainers, but are not otherwise considered significant. They have been flagged for relocation but are considered low priority.

A small colony of Whismur are present in a small cairn to the southeast of the Mt. Silver cave entrance. It is presumed that they were driven out of the caves due to their relative weakness. Signs have been posted nearby asking trainers not to disturb them. They have been flagged for relocation but are considered low priority.

Four Bidoof have been spotted in the river. A crude dam was reported constructed just downstream of the bridge on XXXX/06/02, but was gone, presumed destroyed, when investigated on XXXX/06/05. The Bidoof are suspected to be under high stress due to the presence of Ursaring and Donphan. They have been flagged for relocation and are considered medium priority.

One Buizel has been spotted in the river. While it is a predatory species, Magikarp and Poliwag are fairly common in the river and are significantly stronger than the average for their species. Buizel has been flagged for relocation and is considered a medium priority.


A/N: "Low pressure from trainers" is a diplomatic way of saying 'They're not popular enough to catch for battle, too strong to raise as pets, and there's no point sparring when Mt. Silver is next door'. Also, Mt. Silver has all the strongest Pokemon and nobody knows why.

 

[aimlessPolymath]

Ancestral Forms of Rotom
C. Seymour, J. Ironwood​

Abstract
In this paper, we theorize a prehistoric form of Rotom, code-named Spirit Tool. We draw on early folktales, myths, and burial records to define and describe a hypothesized Pokemon that is an ancestral form of Rotom.

Background
To many, Rotom is synonymous with the Computer Age. Rotom's technological prowess is the ultimate interface between man and machine, a paradox that defeats the common refrain that the youth pays more attention to their phones than their Pokemon. Like many electrical Pokemon, modern life has been good to Rotom- the availability of electricity has given them a place to live wherever humans are. However, this leaves a major hole in our understanding of Rotom- where did they live before humans were around?

Unlike similar electrovores such as Magnemite or Joltik, Rotom cannot subsist in the wild off electrically charged metal ores, thunderstorms, or bioelectricity. It intrinsically requires electronics to inhabit and drain- a Rotom without a host is a fragile shell of its usual self. Prior to the industrial revolution, and, indeed, even as recently as 100 years ago, Rotom were virtually unknown. Where did they live, then? Did they subsist on the Kalosian hand-assembled electronics, made from parts scavenged from wild Beldum? Or are Rotom a truly modern Pokemon, similar to Porygon and Ditto?

Hypothesis
In this paper, we set out a hypothesis that Rotom is a modern adaptation of an ancient Pokemon, code-named Spirit Tool. Similar to Bulbent, a lightbulb-oriented relative of Lampent seen in some large cities, Rotom's transformation can be identified as an adaptation to a changing human civilization.

We believe that Spirit Tool functioned by inhabiting prized or commonly used tools and objects, and was dependent in some way on the age of the object.

Methods:
Both Rotom and its hypothesized ancestor leave no physical evidence upon death. Instead, we are forced to infer its existence from stories and records. To gather evidence, we examine early Unovan folktales and burial practices, records of Unovan and Galarian heroes who used tools and weapons that do not correspond to members of the Honedge line, and modern feeding behaviors of object-related Ghost-types such as Rotom and Aegislash.


Results:
Tsumogami
Early Unovan folktales describe the concept of a Tsukumogami- a superstition in which hundred-year-old objects abruptly transform into a Pokemon.

Rituals for dealing with Tsukumogami fell into two main categories: Methods of handling a transformed object, and methods of preventing an object from becoming transformed. The former methods included:
-Asking for permission before starting to use the object, and thanking it afterwards.
-When not in use, the object must be respectfully placed in a high place.
-While using the object, humming, chanting, or singing in rhythm, with each verse corresponding to a different action.

The latter methods included dealing deliberate damage to the object, rendering it 'imperfect'; shutting away objects in a closet when not in use; storing old objects with each other; and anointing the objects or their storage space with various herbs and oils. In some traditions, the transformation could be reversed by presenting the Tsukumogami with an even older object to 'scare it off'.

Burial Practices
A common early burial practice across Unova, Galar, and Sinnoh is the practice of burial objects. Important figures are buried with prized possessions, favored tools, or large sums of wealth, with the belief that they will ease passage to the afterlife. In many cases, wooden or pottery models of a trainer's Pokemon were buried alongside them, so that they could find each other again in their next life.

One burial custom that has gone unexamined is the position of the favored object- a weapon, tool, or favored object that is placed in a prize position, where a Pokemon might go. In the past, this has been viewed as a symbol of the deceased's role in society- a smith might take his hammer; a farmer, his scythe; or a warrior, his spear. This has caused some confusion when, in some cases, someone is buried with two favored objects, or with an incongruous favored object such as a wooden pitcher, a storybook, or (in one case) the actual door of a house.

Early Heroes
Two early stories from early Galar and Unova depict heroes highly divergent from typical myth.

In Galar, there is Gable, the Knight of the Tavern, a crude member of King Archer's Knights of the Long Table who wields an old earthenware mug as his favored weapon. Like many of the Knights, he is a larger-than-life figure, capable of great supernatural feats. He is typically described as being 'able to heal his wounds in a single swig from his cup', and by looking into his cup, can see faraway events.

The first feat might be explained by use of Oran Juice, and indeed, he is frequently depicted with a Shuckle on his hip- but the latter is somewhat more bizarre. Some have suggested a hypothesized Sinistea variant whose abilities would explain this, but there is little contemporary evidence to suggest Great Mugs existed.

In Unova, the early hero known as the Rebel King (nameless, like many of Unova's other early heroes) was distinguished by his weapon- his father's pitchfork which he used to duel knights wielding Honedge Duoblade. This is typically seen as an exaggeration; it is commonly assumed that he fought his foes by commanding Pokemon, as was common at the time, but early records describing the legend have a tendency to ascribe powerful feats specifically to the pitchfork- the Rebel King throws it with such force as to break a wall in two, it is used as a flag to rally an army, and illustrated manuscripts depict him wielding it as a scepter.

Psivore Behaviors
Rotom is commonly seen as a pure electrovore. Studies on Rotom form preferences have generally shown a tendency to prefer highly charged electronics, followed by high complexity devices. However, a recent study by the University of Opelucid showed a third tendency- a preference towards highly prized objects. When given a choice between two near-identical Nintendo Switch models, the majority of Rotom preferred the one which had been more recently played with; this tendency diminished on repeated trials with the same pair. The conclusion of this study was that in addition to feeding off electricity, Rotom also consumes the traces of aura left behind on an emotionally significant object.

Honedge, a similar object-inhabiting Ghost-type, is a known auravore which absorbs life force from those it cuts, or, in a starvation state, its wielder. It is known to prefer to inhabit weapons that are used frequently, but also exhibits a strong preference for higher ranked wielders. Wielders have commonly expressed that their Duoblade or Aegislash dislikes being left in a Pokeball, and prefers to be either carried on the person or displayed in the home in a place of significance.


Conclusions:
The strongest evidence for the existence of an ancestral form of Rotom is the Tsukumogami myth. Like belief that Ghost-types arise from the dead, the idea that ordinary objects could suddenly transform into Pokemon is obviously untrue. However, like that same belief, we can assume that this superstition had useful traits that were beneficial for the culture it existed in.

The rituals surrounding handling Tsukumogami have significant similarities to modern battle-training practices. Similarly to how trainers use verbal orders to command their Pokemon to use specific moves, ritualized chants or songs are used to signify each distinct act of usage. If these behaviors were complete superstition, we would see significant drift and variation in the types and kinds of rituals used over time- but they are remarkably stable over time and space, suggesting some practical basis.

This myth is augmented by the examples of legendary heroes in Galar and Unova. Both Gable and the Rebel King wielded highly unconventional weapons that Honedge would be physically unable to inhabit, but displayed feats comparable to classical blademaster trainers- in particular, Gable is ascribed as having performed highly unusual feats that cannot be replicated except by specially trained and bred Honedge. While these myths may be complete fabrication, they lend some credence to the existence of Spirit Tool.

Similarly, early burial practices in Sinnoh, Galar, and Unova strongly suggest the existence of a previously unknown object-associated Pokemon- the presence of highly improbable objects in a position of great importance indicates that the tradition of 'favored objects' cannot fully explain the observed evidence.

When we consider the intersection of Tsukumogami rituals and modern Rotom's auravore behavior, we suggest that Spirit Tool was a Ghost-type of some kind that inhabited aged objects of emotional significance. Tsukumogami superstition focused on age suggests that early people were able to identify which objects were and weren't at risk of being inhabited.

Additionally, the requirement that Spirit Tool must inhabit an aged object adds explanatory power when understanding Spirit Tool's transition to Rotom. During the beginning of the industrial revolution, new replacements to old objects became more and more common; in XXXX, the Great Irricus Fire in Unova eliminated hundreds of acres of old homes at once, annihilating massive swathes of the ancient mementos that Spirit Tool would have required. At the same time, industrialization was accelerating rapidly, with as many as ten factories created in one year. With its previous homes rapidly vanishing, and the cultural eye rapidly moving away from the old and towards the new, a few brave Spirit Tools would have made the jump to the next big trend: Technology.

Further Work
Two further questions remain as to the nature and existence of Spirit Tool. First, it is unclear what Spirit Tool would have fed on. Rotom is incapable of subsisting as a pure auravore, and the psychic traces it consumes during the process of possession are miniscule in comparison to its energy requirements. It is unclear how Spirit Tool could have fed using inhabited objects, given indications that it inhabited everything from wooden pitchers to actual wooden doors. One speculative theory is that it fed on attention given to the object, which fits with the requirement that Tsukumogami be placed in positions of reverence and has some similarity to Honedge's desire for respect and attention; however, the only modern auravores capable of absorbing aura purely through sustained attention are Jynx and Mr. Mime, who are cladistically unrelated.

Second, the recent historical evidence for Spirit Tool is slim. The historical evidence for extinct Ghost-types is frequently limited, but a Pokemon that could have existed up to the industrial revolution should leave some explicit record, if only of a trainer. Professor Laventon's journal, written some X00 years ago and far prior to the industrial revolution, makes no note of Spirit Tool, only mentioning Rotom as a 'will-o'-the-wisp powered by electricity' inhabiting 'mysterious contraptions'- presumably, handmade electronics in the Kalos style. Where is Spirit Tool?

A/N: Spirit Tool's proper name, if it existed, would have been Polteirloom (poltergeist + heirloom).

 

[aimlessPolymath]

The First Programmers: Kalosian Cybernetic Art
J. Dumas, D. Bardot.​

The date is July 12, XX92- the middle of the Kalosian Renaissance. A strange new composition by the reclusive artist Marie Jacquard has been put on display for the first time in the Lumiose City Art Museum. Composed of flat plates connected by wire loops, it draws acclaim for the intricate metal lines and oddly colored cylinders and bulbs that crisscrossed the plates. However, the greatest is yet to come- when the proud artist's Dedenne jumps up and shocks the sculpture, it comes alive, moving by itself as lights flash, speakers beep, and motors buzz in a cacophony of noise. The Lumiose Times describes the marvel: "I thought that I was seeing a Pokemon... it was as though for a moment the unliving became living." Experts applaud Jacquard's incredible engineering, but denounce her for refusing to share her secrets.

Imitators soon arrive on the scene, quickly attempting and equally-quickly failing to replicate Jacquard's art. Many accuse Jacquard of faking her art's animation through the aid of Pokemon- and, in fact, many find limited success through the use of trained Klink or Klang. After being refused a position in the Laverre Art Gallery due to these accusations of Pokemon-assisted art, Jacquard announces a seminar in which she would explain her methods and denounce her critics. On February 9, XX94, her lecture would rock Kalos, eventually spurring the development of true computers during the Industrial Revolution nearly two centuries later.

Jacquard: An Engineer Without Engineering
Jacquard's secret, as she revealed in her lecture, was in her materials. The odd plates she used were in fact sheddings from her Metagross. Through an overseas friendship with Nathaniel Stone, she had been gifted a pair of Beldum, which had eventually evolved into Metagross. As adult Metagross, they would continually refine more and more efficient and complex circuitboards- while Jacquard would gather the inefficient, discarded pieces to strip for parts.

Jacquard was not the only artist to use Pokemon sheddings, or even body parts, in art- six years earlier, Madame Dubois had received acclaim for her work Portrait of a Jungle, incorporating a variety of Grass-type leaves and flowers. However, she was the first to truly recognize Metagross's circuits as something with functional use, rather than just aesthetic appeal. By experimentation with her Dedenne over several years, she successfully identified the concept of a circuit, as well as the rough function of motors, simple timers, capacitors, diode and triode vacuum tubes, and 'glowing coils' (her description of the modern lightbulb).

Using components pried from Metagross's circuits, and using Dedenne's whiskers as wiring, Jacquard constructed a variety of computerized mobile sculptures of increasing size and scale. Her notebooks are filled with diagrams and notes showing her process of trial and error- increasing power as required to power varying components, and splitting excess power between multiple components (most commonly, decorative lights or noisemakers) when an excess of power melted a key piece. Her work paints a picture of a determined expert building simple yet massive circuits using intuition developed through trial and error. She claimed in a later memoir that "After a decade of work, I no longer needed my notes; I simply knew upon conceiving a piece how much power was needed. I have not melted a circuit in six years."


Computing Without Computers
The next major innovation was released a mere five years later. James Tussard, a weaver of some limited fame, perceived a deep frustration within the artist community. Jacquard's innovation with Metagross components had opened a deep well of desire. Sculptors, carpenters, and architects alike wished to add motion to their creations, but the reliance on such a rare Pokemon meant that aspiring creators would need to import components from overseas, hope for an apprenticeship at Jacquard's workshop, or purchase the needed components from Kalosian Metagross trainers at heavily inflated prices.
Drawing on his experience with Electric-types, and in cooperation with his wife, a chemist in the Lumiose Royal Alchemical Society, Tussard began experimenting with other Pokemon. From Dedenne, he harvested hyper-conductive wire whiskers. From Mareep wool, he spun capacitive and resistive yarns, and from their discarded horns, he cut crude diodes and simple lights. And rather than tying together solid components through wire and solder, he used the skills of his own specialty- weaving wire into fabric to create circuits of cloth, using colored strands to mark circuit pathways and creating circuit diagrams that functioned as circuits.

Tussard's first public piece, Le tissu vivant(The Living Fabric), in YY00, took the form of a simple circuit embedded within woven fabric, pressed between two glass plates to prevent it from catching fire under high voltage. Woodcut images of the piece in action (which survives, though its light-emitting components have since burned out) show it producing a four-frame animation of a man dancing as Tussard's helpful Pikachu switches between powering four separate circuits.

Tussard's journals, along with his wife's, were filled with complex circuit diagrams- many beyond his ability to create. His notes suggest a creator harried by his own ambition- he described a method by which he could automatically record all trade records for an entire city, but in the same sentence admits that creating it would take 'ten times as much time... as it would save by its operation." In his circuit diagrams and scrawled notes we can see the beginning of modern computer science- and, indeed, Tussard's symbols for AND and OR gates are still used today.

Tussard's following work built on this foundation. His most ambitious piece, Esprit électrique(Electric Mind), produced in YY13, was composed of four separate hand-woven fabric layers, connected through layered woven 'wires' that transmitted signals from one level to another. When completed and powered by three of his Pikachu working simultaneously, it could be used to perform simple addition, using ten different finely-differentiated levels of voltage to add two single-digit numbers together. Data input was performed by pulling two tassels out to specified lengths, and results were displayed using a six-segment display. Esprit électrique took Tussard almost twelve months to complete, and remained on display for more than a century before it abruptly burst into flames in ZZ54. A replica remains on display today in Lumiose City.

Mechanisms WIthout Machines
At the same time as Tussard was beginning to construct the basic logic of computing, another innovation was underway. Richard Gauthier, a woodworker, had acquired a commission for a self-moving front door, to be accomplished using Jacquard's 'wonderous moving electricity'. Unfortunately, while he was able to purchase a Metagross-sourced motor, Gauthier found that a single component had far too little power to move an object as large as the massive double doors his client wished to move- an attempt at overcharging his single motor with the aid of his Dedenne caused it to melt.

Like Tussard, Gauthier sought out an alternative source of materials. Unlike Tussard, he lacked the specialized knowledge regarding electric Pokemon that could be used to produce motion, and besides would need a far more durable construction material. Instead, he found his answer in records of the Unovan Chargestone Caves, overseas. These caves were incredibly rich in Thunderite, the mineral form of Thunder Stones, to the point where rocks would literally float as they were repelled from the surrounding surfaces. Seeking to harness this energy, Gauthier purchased a collection of impure Thunder Stones from the local jeweler, and began to experiment.

Within a few days, Gauthier had found the unique magnetic property of Thunder Stones- that a moving current tangential to the Stone would be either attracted or repelled from the stone, depending on its orientation. Within a few months, he had developed a method to harness it. By pouring metal into sand molds, and then taking those same molds, wires still inside, and placing them inside a wooden case, he was able to create a contained electric current that would repel or attract a nearby Thunder Stone.

From there, he drew upon records of Klinklang gearboxes, the first of which had been discovered almost fifty years previous. By attaching a vertical gear rack to a Thunder Stone and connecting it to a wooden cog, an electric current would cause the the rack to lift and turn the cog by the application of an electric current; when the current was removed or the current was reversed, gravity would pull the rack back down and pull the cog in the opposite direction.

Through an extensive series of cogs and gears, Gauthier developed a complex mechanism that would open and shut a door when charge was applied, completing his commission in YY02. Unfortunately, his success did not last. Thunder Stone chips were easily available, and Gauthier's cogs were easily replicable by amateur woodworkers. Imitators quickly arose, and Gauthier found himself only one creator among many.

An Idea Before Its Time
With Tussard's and Gauthier's work spreading through the public consciousness, many envisioned a future without labor. "In the future," Francis Diderot, a popular philosopher of the time, said, "we will build machines for labor just as we raise Pokemon. A child might begin building their first machine when they are six, and when they are sixteen it will be ready to serve them for the rest of their life."

Unfortunately, the reality was not so rosy. All mechanisms required the support of an Electric-type Pokemon to power them (or at least charge their capacitors), and few could survive the intense charge of any evolved Pokemon. At the same time, Thunder Stone-based mechanisms frequently demanded high voltage, often delivered over an extended period of usage that no single Pokemon could handle singlehanded. Electric-type ownership skyrocketed, to the point that some began importing them from overseas.

In truth, though, power was not the limiting factor- labor was. For those unable to afford Metagross components, other Pokemon components were difficult to work with, fragile, or both, demanding extended labor in knitting yarn and spinning wires, bathing horns in chemical baths or holding them over open flames for precise periods. A single device could take between two and four weeks to complete, and once completed, often required care, as even moderate jostling over an extended period could cause contacts to slip or wires to wear out.

It should be said that these issues did not dissuade artists- many succeeded in spite of these limitations, producing fabulous works of dynamic art. But the true labor-saving potential of these machines was still almost a century and a half away. Attempts to create automatic looms or powered carpentry saws were made (many of which can be seen in a modern museum), but in the end, they simply offloaded the work to a new type of Pokemon. There was little that a Pikachu-powered device could do that a trained Machoke would not do just as well- in the end, this was simply a new configuration of using Pokemon for labor.

The dreams of these creators would only be fulfilled long after their death. When the first watermill was assembled, its design aped those of hopeful artists from a hundred fifty years previous. When computer engineers gather today to develop the next Holo Caster, their circuit diagrams use the same symbols Tussard wrote back and forth in letters with his wife. Perhaps Diderot's dream of a machine for every child has not been replicated to the letter- but the dreams of these early innovators have certainly been fulfilled far beyond their wildest imagination.

A/N: Delving into pop science. Envision this as an excerpt of a history book aimed roughly at age 10-14. Other sections include things like 'the invention of the lightbulb' or 'the invention of the elevator'.

 

[aimlessPolymath]

Aposematism and Voltorb: Red-and-white Warnings
J. Smith, S. Baldwin, T. Volt
Funded by the Macro Cosmos Foundation For Pokemon Science​

Abstract
In this paper, we attempt to test the dual theories that Voltorb markings act as a warning display, and that traditional Pokeball coloration deliberately emulated this marking in order to increase effectiveness. We found that 1) the majority of Pokemon in the routes tested reacted to Voltorb-coloration objects by fleeing or cowering rather than attacking; 2) Pokemon reacted similarly to painted rocks and actual Voltorb, but mimicking Voltorb pigment patterns increased the efficacy of this effect; and 3) Voltorb-pattern Pokeballs had a moderate improvement in accuracy when thrown due to failed evasion on the target; on a failed capture, they significantly reduced the rate of retaliatory attacks against the trainer.

Background
Voltorb is a semiorganic spherical Pokemon with a distinctive coloration of briht red and white hemispheres. Its principal defense mechanism is an internal dynamo that lets it freely convert the electricity stored in its metal shell to kinetic energy and back again, letting it stop or start moving almost instantaneously, accumulate large static charges by spinning in place, or exhaust itself to deliver a single massive blast after a short windup period. This last technique acts as its primary deterrent against predators. Due to its coloration, it is occasionally mistaken as a lost Pokeball when resting, causing trouble when trainers pick it up and receive a figurative and literal shock. In fact, a common folk story is that the first Voltorb came about when a Pokeball was brought to life.

Modern electronic red-and-white Pokeballs have been in use for almost X00 years. However, Silph Co popularized this design, but did not originate it. Records and recovered artifacts suggest that red-white balls made of wood, fabric, or clay have been used in ball games across the globe for more than three millennia. Red-white painted stones have even been found in prehistoric mesounovan ruins, and red-white semicircles have been found painted on early Galarian city walls.

We theorize that Voltorb's bright coloration is for the purpose of aposematism- that these colors act as a warning to predator Pokemon that Voltorb would be extremely unprofitable to attack, without requiring Voltorb to actually engage in battle. Unlike a typical elemental display such as Charmander's tail flame or Parasect's spore bursts, this lets Voltorb scare off foes without needing to expend its own energy. We believe that Pokeballs deliberately mimic a Voltorb's coloration, providing an advantage to trainers by scaring off dangerous Pokemon on a failed capture, even if a trainer has no Pokemon- an advantage for trainers catching their first Pokemon.

Methods
We performed two experiments.

In the first experiment, we exposed wild Pokemon to five Voltorb-like objects: unpainted rocks, a deactivated Pokeball, rocks painted with mottled red-white patterns, actual Voltorb (instructed to avoid exploding, but ward off attacks with static jolts), and the same Voltorb disguised via a combination of blue paint and stickers. We exposed Pokemon in two ways- by gently rolling the Voltorb-like object towards them, and by leaving the Voltorb-like object in place and allowing Pokemon to come across it. For each test, we observed 20 Pokemon, across a total of three different routes (Johto Routes 32, 33, and 34).

In the second experiment, we performed a catch-and-release study after securing Ranger permission. We compared the performance of standard SilphCo Basic Pokeballs to the same Pokeballs, but painted completely blue, in a hue similar to Great Balls. We threw these Pokeballs 20 times each, a maximum of once per encounter with wild Pokemon. Misses were not counted. The Pokemon were not weakened before initiating a throw, but a guard Pokemon (Wooper) was prepared to exit its Pokeball and intercept attacks on the experimenter.

To eliminate Pokemon-based behavioral bias, we selected only encounters or catch attempts involving wild Rattata. A total of six Voltorb were used.

Results
During our first trial, we observed four primary categories of observing reactions to Voltorb-like objects.
Ignore: The Pokemon ignored the object.
Attack: The Pokemon attempted to attack the object. In cases where an actual Voltorb was present, we immediately intervened.
Examine: The Pokemon attempted to nonviolently investigate the object, such as sniffing it, touching it with a paw, or nibbling on it. In cases where an actual Voltorb was present, we immediately intervened.
Flee: The Pokemon immediately retreated a significant distance (>15m) or fled completely. Due to the presence of foliage, it was difficult to determine whether the Pokemon actually fled or was simply observing from a greater distance.
Guard: The Pokemon treated it as an attack or behaved as though attack were imminent; attempting to dodge backwards, taking a defensive stance, or hiding in cover. After a short period, they either investigated or fled.

Rolled Object​
	Rock	Pokeball	Mottled rock	Voltorb	Painted Voltorb
Ignore	7	2	4	0	1
Attack	5	3	7	3	11
Examine	5	4	3	2	1
Flee	2	6	2	9	3
Guard	1	5	4	6	4

Discovered Object​
	Rock	Pokeball	Mottled rock	Voltorb	Painted Voltorb
Ignore	14	3	12	2	6
Attack	0	5	0	3	6
Examine	6	2	7	1	3
Flee	0	4	0	4	0
Guard	0	6	1	10	5

During the second experiment, we observed four primary reactions to throwing a Pokeball.
Capture: The Pokemon was captured by the Pokeball.
Attack(Human): The Pokemon attempted to strike the experimenter, treating the thrown object as an attack.
Attack(Pokeball): The Pokemon attempted to strike the thrown Pokeball, treating the thrown object as a Pokemon.
Flee: The Pokemon fled.

	Pokeball	Blue-painted Pokeball
Capture	8	7
Attack(Human)	2	9
Attack(Pokeball)	4	0
Flee	6	4

While the effect on capture was minimal, anecdotally, participants observed an increased rate of accuracy with unpainted Pokeballs, describing the experimental Pokemon as 'freezing up' when a Pokeball was thrown at them. Experimental observation showed that thrown Pokeballs had moderately greater accuracy (73%, n=11) compared to blue-painted Pokeballs (54%, n=13).

Conclusions
We found that Pokemon uniformly react to objects similar in appearance to Voltorb with alarm. Both rolled and discovered Voltorb-colored objects- Pokeballs and Voltorb- received a defensive reaction (flight or guard reactions) >50% of the time. Objects with similar coloration but less strong patterning (mottled rocks) were not statistically different from ordinary rocks. Additionally, Pokemon showed limited ability to recognize rolled repainted Voltorb compared to discovered repainted Voltorb, possibly suggesting that they erred on the side of caution when encountering a spherical Pokemon by surprise.

Unpainted Pokeballs did not have any significant impact on capture chance, but on failed captures, the defending Pokemon was more likely to flee, and unlike with the blue-painted Pokeball, would often attack the Pokeball itself. This suggests a possible function of painted stones or balls as a primitive distraction- when accosted by a wild Pokemon, a person could throw a pre-painted ball at the Pokemon, providing an opportunity to break off while the Pokemon is busy attacking the ball- a function similar to the modern Poke Dolls that trainers pack when going into the wild, with much less risk of emotional attachment to the thrown distraction.

Furthermore, targets of these balls frequently freeze up momentarily, providing an unintentional accuracy boost to these balls. While it is likely that more combat-experienced Pokemon are less likely to freeze up, this is an unmistakable benefit to these balls, providing a competitive benefit secured purely through branding. This casts a shadow over Silph Co's advertisements, which typically suggest a competitive advantage through technological supremacy, and suggests a market niche for companies looking to compete with Silph Co in the early-trainer market.

Additionally, in an unexpected result, we found that the experimenter's Voltorbs strongly enjoy being 'decorated' with paint and stickers in bright colors. This effect was particularly strong on hot days; we hypothesize that wet paint provides a comfortable cooling sensation as it dries.

A/N: I'm never putting real tables in a Results section again.

[X] Plan: Friends through Food

 

[aimlessPolymath]

The Tinkaton Times
Hammerlocke's Largest Newspaper
A Macro Cosmos Subsidiary

HEADLINE: IMPS DIP IN, RIP BINS, SLIP RANGERS' GRIP: TOP TIPS TO STOP WITHIN​

A band of Impidimp led by a quartet of Mogrem were spotted Monday night outside a house on 3rd St in Hammerlocke. Since then, the Pokemon, which can consume both ordinary food and the negative emotions produced by their pranks, have gone on a pranking spree. Trash bins have been knocked over and their contents spread onto doorsteps, pet Pokemon have disappeared before being found stranded in trees, and laundry has been stolen from lines. The local Ranger patrol have been informed and are preparing to hunt and relocate the pranksters in question. Three members of the pack were detained in a fracas at 11 PM on Tuesday, but the remainder escaped and remain at large.

When asked for comment, the local head Ranger had this to say:
"While we are short-staffed due to the ongoing Hoenn relief efforts, our team is doing its best and we have the utmost confidence that this will be wrapped up by Friday. In the meantime, there are some simple things individuals can do to keep themselves safe. When possible, travel in groups with visible Pokemon. If it is absolutely necessary to travel alone, please leave Pokemon in the Pokeball. If you suspect you are being followed by an Impidimp or Mogrem, they can be repelled by loud noises and strong shows of positive emotions such as playing loud music from your Pokedex and doing a silly dance. They have shown no interest so far in cruelty, and it is important to avoid escalating this spree in a violent direction. Do not approach them even if they appear injured, as feigning False Surrender is a common tactic."

Residents are advised to secure trash bins; bring Pokemon inside before dark; and take sincere appreciation in small acts of kindness, both given and received. A group sing-along followed by a fireworks display is planned on Thursday Night, supported by Hammerlocke's gym leader Raihan.

Opal, the Ballonlea City Gym Leader, provided some advice regarding the Impidimp line: "They can sense emotions, and respect cleverness and fair play more than strength. Battling them in defense can invite them to gang up on you, but simple traps such as rope traps or rigged Repel cans are likely to cause them to back off for fear of humiliation."

This isn't Hammerlocke's first encounter with the Impidimp line. Small bands of Impidimp have been known to harass travelers and steal shipments meant for Hammerlocke's shops. Two years ago, a Grimmsnarl made its way to the Hammerlocke Gym's Power Spot before Gigantamaxing, leading to the temporary evacuation of the area nearby while it was brought down over the course of twenty minutes. Residents are frustrated.

"I'd say they hit maybe one in eight deliveries," reports local grocer John Palmerson. "They get in through the window or the door, and eat maybe a third of a head of lettuce each, and then leave. I've seen a shipment of fruit where about fifteen peaches all have a single bite taken out of them, and then I have to throw them all out. It's a disaster. The city should do something."

Similarly, starting Trainers often find Impidimp harassment to be the first of their challenges when starting out from Hammerlocke. "I couldn't get a wink of sleep my first three nights," Steve Carrey, a two-badge trainer recounts. "They would get up close to my tent and yell. Anything I left outside got stolen."

City officials have indicated that they currently have no plans to deal with the wild Impidimp population, stating that preserving the natural state of the Wild Area remains a priority... Cont. on Page A2

OPINION: RANGERS NEED LOCAL ASSISTANCE
With the ongoing disaster in Hoenn, the Rangers need more support. Hundreds of trainers hail from Hammerlocke- why not have the city hire a dozen three- or four-badge trainers to assist? Give each Ranger two or three people as backup and they can search the city ten times as quickly. Alternatively, setting up a hotline to call in tips could give them ten times as much information to search with- I can certainly tell them if I hear someone outside!

FROM: Junior Pidgey Scout on Revavroom Drive​

OPINION: GYM LEADERS SHOULD HAVE STEPPED UP
In other regions, we would have a strong core of local Trainers to call on when Pokemon get into town. The local Gym Leader would have trained up a team of local, reliable trainers to help out in the community when necessary. Instead, Galar's government is heavy on bureaucrats and councils, but light on actually doing things. The regional League has been in need of reform for years, and this is just a symptom. I will be voting in favor of Measure 12 this coming election season, and I hope you will too.

FROM: Concerned on Dratini Lane​

 

[SeekerofDreams]

Evolution in Action: The Basculin Subspecies
Holly Hargrave​

Evolution, in the Daugo language, is defined as the process by which one species transforms into another. In relation to Pokemon, there are two phenomena this word is frequently used to reference. The first, and most commonly discussed, is the kind of evolution that occur over the course of an individual's lifespan- Turtwig to Grotle, or Ponyta to Rapidash.

The second, less-used definition refers to the process of speciation- the divergence of the ancestors of Luvdisc and Alomomola, or the hypothetical process where the speculated Winged King would have become the modern Cyclizar.

How to precisely delineate when speciation has occurred is a hotly debated topic in the scientific community. There are three main criteria used in an attempt to determine this, though not everyone gives all of them equal weight.

The first, and the one most generally agreed upon, is vocalization. If two Pokemon speak different names, they are considered to be different species. What is in contention is if that is the only way to tell separate species apart.

The second is type. Type-variant subspecies are a well documented phenomenon, but some show more variance than others. "Is the Meowth that becomes Perrserker truly the same species as either kind that becomes Persian?" Multiple conventions have been left rioting after this question was asked. The askers have not been invited back.

The third, and least considered, is socialization. Most Pokemon that have been bred in captivity have been recorded as successfully mating outside their own species, so long as certain biological similarities are present. However, when provided the option of a compatible outside-species mate or an own-species mate, ninety-three times out of one hundred the Pokemon would choose the mate from their own species. This occurrence, while recognized, is not generally tested for, as a suitable experiment would require a larger captive population than most facilities would have the budget to feed.

The difficulty of establishing proper criteria for speciation makes it difficult to recognize how it might be happening in the modern day. However, some species are being examined closely as their various subspecies become less similar. Perhaps the most commonly scrutinized of these is Basculin.



Basculin is a Water Type fish Pokemon with majority green scales, as well as some black patterning. They have white fins, with their dorsal fins shaped distinctly like a crown. They can live in both fresh and saltwater, though it is only in fresh water that they will reproduce. These statements are true for all known Basculin, and where their universal traits end.

There are three recognized Basculin subspecies, each named by the distinctive stripes on their backs. The red- and blue- striped variants are found in most parts of the western world, while the white-striped variant is found mainly in the frigid waters of Sinnoh and northern Kitakami. Red and blue have long been recorded battling each other over territory, a natural rivalry that prevents interbreeding, and neither variation has natural contact with white-striped Basculin.

Are their differences enough to define them as separate species? This is, in specialist circles, a divisive question. However, it is generally agreed that any Trainer seeking to own a Basculin decide on a specific stripe to seek out ahead of time, in order to more easily research their habits and care requirements. After all, while they look less different than the fire and ice forms of Vulpix, they still have their own habitat preferences and eating habits.



The red-striped Basulin's pectoral, anal, and adipose fins all have the same spiky appearance as the dorsal fin. It is the largest of the Basculin subspecies, averaging about fiftenn percent more fat content that the white-striped variant, and twenty percent more than the blue-striped.

Owing to the form of its fins, this Basculin cannot move as quickly as its brethren, and the bright red of its stripe makes it more noticeable to passing birds. This is both a blessing and a curse- a curse, in that it is more noticeable to predators. A blessing, because most bird Pokemon are an easy target for Head Smash, and the flight of other Pokemon from the area means few challengers will arrive to steal their kill. This strategy fails almost as often as it succeeds, but a given bird can only snatch one Basculin, and a felled Braviary can feed an entire school.

This hunting method is supplemented by preying on the young of other aquatic Pokemon, but Basculin's quick reproductive speed can lead to the depletion of that environment if they fail to attract enough aerial prey. If a red-striped Basculin is seen in a body of water with no outlet, the local Pokemon Rangers should be contacted immediately. The last known pondlocked population of Basculin devoured nearly the entirety of Oldale Town's Surskit population before being contained.


The blue-striped Basculin has smooth pectoral, anal, and adipose fins. The stripe it is named for tends to be thinner on its body than other types of Basculin, similar to how they have the smallest bodies. This subspecies lives close to the riverbed, hiding in the gaps between rocks that its red-striped counterpart can't access. Their eyes have also adapted to a lower light level, and they have been found in the ocean at much further depths than is expected of anadromous species.

In these depths, Basculin are ambush predators. The sleek shape of their fins allows them to quickly strike from a hiding place, and when one strikes, the rest of the school will follow. They must devour their prey quickly, as their small size means they can be easily driven away by opportunists, or attacked by their own predators- Crawdaunt in freshwater, and Jellicent or Sharpedo in the open ocean.

Many express surprise when they hear about the blue-striped Basculin's feeding habits, because the constant territorial disputes between it and its red-striped counterpart led them to believe they were in more direct competition over food. However, that is not the only reason for them not to mingle. A blue-striped Basculin is more than willing to pick off a red-striped one if it sees the opportunity- while they will not cannibalize those of their own stripe, their ancient enemy is the largest prey a singular Basculin can bring down reliably. The red-striped Basculin are aware of this, and try to drive the blue-striped Basculin out of their habitat. Often, they too will consume the spoils of victory.

Part of the speciation debate is the argument that these two forms of Basculin consuming each other is not truly cannibalism. If it were, perhaps the world would bear witness to a creature of greater proportions and worse temperament. However, red and blue-striped Basculin have never been recorded evolving even under the worst amounts of stress, so those fears are so far unfounded.


The white-striped Basculin possesses a spiky adipose fin, but smooth pectoral and anal fins. They also have differently-shaped jaws from other Basculin, with individual teeth for tearing at meat rather than a single strong jaw. This is necessary for them to eat quickly, itself necessary because white-striped Basculin do not kill their own prey. Instead, they scavenge or steal their food from other Pokemon.

Most of the time, white-striped Basculin are peaceful creatures. However, if a large Pokemon like Mantine or Quagsire has died, they will attempt to chase other carnivores from the area in order to feed on it themselves. Those who fed more recently will focus on this task, leaving the hungriest members of the school to eat their fill. Once their meal has concluded, they will disperse back to their hiding places- these Basculin are incredibly timid unless food is involved.

Not all of the distracting party escapes with their lives, of course. But if any of their corpses are not taken by the victor, that is just another victory for the school. While they evolve from stress more often than not, there is another way to gain that power. The Hisuian people believed that Basculegion was created by the union of a living Basculin with the spirits of the dead, and as far as superstitions about Ghost Pokemon go, it is one of the closest to the truth. In the wild, the nutrients required for a white-striped Basculin to naturally evolve can only be found within the bodies of other Basculin, and these Pokemon are fully aware of that. While they will not consume their living schoolmates, the dead are fair game.

After evolving, Basculegion's stripe expands to cover most of its body. The stripe also begins changing color in accordance with this Pokemon's mood- the redder the coloration, the more aggressive the Basculegion. With its newfound size, it begins to hunt for itself, sharing its kills with the rest of the school, who now look to it as their leader. Due to the increased safety of living under one resulting in fewer deaths, a school will almost never have more than one Basculegion. If a second Basculin does evolve, it will often break away to form a school of its own.

It is theorized that red and blue-striped Basculin are the descendants of Basculegion whose new schools made a particularly long journey.


Are red and blue-striped Basculin separate species? Even if not, are they still the same species as the juvenile Basculegion? While current opinions on the matter vary, the general consensus is that, if they aren't yet, they will be one day. Some owners of white-striped Basculin have even claimed their partner made an 'ee' sound, though their timidity makes it hard to acquire a proper recording, and so it can't be taken as evidence.

Until that day comes, marine biologists will observe that evolution as closely as these creatures will let us.

---

"Its ecology is starkly different from that of other Basculin, so theories that it's a totally different species have gained traction in recent years." -Pokemon Violet