“Have you ever wondered, my dear explorer, why it is we look so alike and so different from these feral animals that we share the underground with? Some do, but for the most part it is simply a passing ephemeral question, such as what is one’s nature to one’s abilities. No one thinks too hard about it. Perhaps… we are not meant to know, even though we should…” —Senior Explorer Hydlein, Guild Researcher
Pokemorph. What is a pokemorph? Let’s start with the absolute nuts and bolts: The descendant of an artificially created species that merged human and pokemon characteristics, created long ago on the mythical surface, using unimaginable technologies to fulfill some unknown instrumentality, oddly well-adapted to a life in the underground.
Few ‘morphs have time to ponder their ancient origin, however, they’re too busy with living life to worry about that.
All pokemorphs can speak language! There is a common language that is widely known and generally used, it is represented by English in the narrative.
Appearances #
Pokemorphs look like pokemon given human traits, in a “furry,” anthropomorphic style rather than a kemonomimi style. A lycanroc pokemorph, for example, would land somewhere between a classic werewolf as you might find in Hellsing and Legosi from Beastars. If all of this made sense to you, you’re in the right place.
Heights range from 4’ to 9’ (122cm to 275cm), with the average landing around 5'5" (165cm). Weights run from tiny to huge as well. While the type of pokemon a ‘morph is based on will inform their size, you do see 6'6" braixen ‘morphs and 5’ dragonair ‘morphs running around.
Details of appearance vary somewhat between ‘morphs based on the same pokemon as well. One big point of difference is hair. Some ‘morphs, even those with skin, leaves, chitin, or some other covering, have human-like hair on their heads that can be styled as you expect. Others that do not. In general, a pokemorph will have physical characteristics that match their basis species, but these vary a bit from ‘morph to ‘morph as well.
A ‘morph will generally follow the coloration of their basis species, though on occasion they’ll pick up the colors from a parent they do not otherwise match. Many decide to change their looks with tattoos, bleach, fur dye, or body paint. A wide range of long-lasting dyes and inks are available for such, including iridescent and bioluminescent options, allowing for a rainbow of expression for the low cost of occasional maintenance or some up-front pain. Piercings and other basic body modifications are also common.
The one exception to much of this are shinies. A shiny will always follow the appropriate shiny coloration, and given the rarity of the shiny mutation it’s usually a point of pride to stay au natural in most regards.
There are few limits to player imagination when it comes to pokemorph creation.
Biology #
As pokemorphs were created with intent rather than by natural evolution, and as such have some unexpected characteristics as a result of the genetic tinkering that went into them. They are stronger and heartier than their human lineage would suggest.
All pokemorphs are warm-blooded mammalians on the inside regardless of what kind of skin, scale, fur, or plating they may have, or indeed whether they have visible mammaries at all. Except ghosts. We’ll get to them.
Pokemorphs all have a little bit of low-light vision, and very rarely suffer from poor eyesight. Their hearing also tends to be sharper with a wider audible frequency range than a human’s. Some may even have senses that expand beyond the usual, based on their type.
Pokemorphs are all fully capable omnivores and are able to sustain themselves without meat in their diet. Oddly, their digestive systems do seem to be incredibly efficient at pulling nutrition from the underground fungus. Generally their bodies are a little more capable at manufacturing nutrients not always found in their food than humans.
Regardless of basis species, any pokemorph can be male, female, intersex, or neuter. The ratios of the basis species do not apply in any way. This has made gender expression more about cultural and personal decisions in the underground, with a focus on decoration.
Pokemorph breeding is not limited by basis species, egg group, or anything but whether bodies are compatible for it. Only shinies breed true. Other ‘morphs will usually but not always be the same basis species as one or the other of their parents, and it’s possible for siblings to be very little like each other. Sometimes this leads to nasty rumors.
Some pokemorphs are born live like their ancient human predecessors. Others are hatched from eggs like their pokemon ancestors. The reasons for one or the other are not understood. It’s rare, but one mother can even bear children both ways in their lifetime.
Evolution #
Pokemorphs evolve like pokemon: a flash of light as their personal energy is unleashed to suddenly change their body into something else. A pokemorph will usually evolve only when there is a yearning to do so inside them, which means that personal desires, societal expectations, and family traditions are far more important than age or arbitrary “level.”.
Most evolution stones can be located with enough digging, and everstones are a popular fashion accessory as an uncontrolled evolution is uncomfortable to the point of being traumatic on top of the embarrassment of likely having your clothes shredded in public.
Under enough stress an evolution can be triggered suddenly regardless of mental state. It’s a defensive bodily reaction. A situation that this can occur in is probably already traumatic in itself, so it’s not a good experience to go through by all accounts.
Types and Their Effects #
Pokemorphs have types, like their feral kin, determined by their basis species. Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages that can be leveraged for interesting narrative effects.
Flying #
Flying types usually come with wings. Whether they look the part or not, they function for flying. Without the move Fly it’s a struggle to gain altitude and draining to even hover. Gliding from a high place works best for them. With Fly, they can zip around the air in the large caverns of the underground.
Ground #
Ground types can always dig through dirt and rock. If they know Dig, they can dig faster and through harder rock and stone, but even without that it’s a very useful living in an underground cave network, especially when areas need to be expanded, cleared, or explored.
Rock #
Rock types can’t dig, rather, they can finely manipulate the structure of rocks themselves. Some use this for art, but its true power is in etching small, barely detectable patterns in certain silicon materials that cause interesting effects when electricity is applied. A small, trusted enclave of rock types work inside Canal City’s nobles’ library where these esoteric patterns are recorded, where they are a highly protected source for the more advanced components that power the electric mopeds and other more anachronistic equipment found in the underground.
Fire #
Generally warmer to the touch than other types, fire types are incredibly heat-resistant, to the degree that they can stand near open lava rivers or run into a burning building. Some can even swim in lava! They can’t be careless, though—no one can pull you out if you start drowning in lava except for another fire type, and the lack of oxygen in a burning building is going to cause you trouble…
Fire types are also often channel a little energy into their fire moves for light in the darkness of the underground, and with a little practice they can regulate their output temperature for cooking.
Water #
Water types can always breathe water and swim well. With the move Swim, they can do so at great speed and manage hazardous currents with ease along the surface, and Dive allows the same while submerged as well as allowing them to manage the rare watery depths of the underground.
They can tap into any water-based move to create perfectly serviceable drinking water nearly on demand. They also tend to be colder to the touch than others, outside of ice types.
Water types do not have trouble breathing air.
Grass #
Grass types have adapted somewhat to the darkness of the underground. Those able to bathe in the light of Sunstones (or artificial full-spectrum light) may retain their original coloration and long periods needing nothing else but water to survive. This is often a sign of significant wealth.
Those without that light tend to shift to “fall colors” after some time, which can vary from a light pink to a brilliant red to a sickly brown depending on the ‘morph. A grass type in this state must eat like any other pokemorph, but they’re not harmed by the situation.
Electric #
Electric types can channel a little bit of their energy through an electric move to let them produce small blue electric arcs that cast light to substitute for a fire type’s flame, though they can also just power a moonstone to emit light that way. This gives them a limited ability to find their way in the absolute darkness of the underground. Their arcs can also light fires or act as a basic spark-gap transmitter. If they put a lot of power into it, they create a bright enough spark to dazzle those used to the darkness, as the light is much harsher than fire’s.
Their electrical systems also render them more resistant to They are more resistant to ill effects on the electromagnetic spectrum, including radiation, then most.
Ghost #
… We don’t really want to talk too much about Ghost Types. But, here we go. Ghost Types are technically considered undead. They do not reproduce (though they may still have “equipment.”) They are not born, but rather they “evolve” from a dying ‘morph who refuses to rest. Pure Ghost types have the ability to travel through obstacles not made of blacksteel or blacksteel powder, making them incredibly good at scouting and escape. Being “phased” like this does also mean that they are insubstantial to their clothes and equipment, though.
Ghost types can go for a year without food, but will still get hunger pains and start to feel lethargic after a while. They can, however, consume ghostweed, which is a rare pink-white plant that acts as a superfood for them… and a stomach-curdling mild poison to others. They can eat regular food as well.
They do not age naturally, rather they appear at whatever age they feel they are. Once a ghost type feels that they have achieved the goal keeping them in the underground, they begin to slowly fade from existence, leaving no body behind.
Psychic #
One of the most desired types in the ancient pokemorph experiment. There are several abilities that all psychic types share. They are capable of mild telekinesis, splitting roughly a quarter of their physical strength across as many detectable objects they choose at one time. They can preform a psychic “ping” to sense other minds nearby—however, dark types do not register with this, and the range is fairly limited.
If they do have the move Psychic, they can boost these effects at the expense of personal energy, can also use this energy to send telepathic messages. Whispering at very close range is easy enough, but long range use is generally left for emergencies as the energy drain involved runs the risk of fainting the user.
Dragon #
Dragons are cool. You want more than that? Fine. Dragons are generally resistant to a lot of environmental effects, although not as much as an elemental type would be. They can withstand a lot of heat, but cannot bathe in lava like a fire type; they can withstand some level of electricity, but not high voltage or EM radiation like an electric type; they float well in water, but they can’t breathe it. They are vulnerable to cold, and often wear multi-layered outfits or stick to warmer areas because of this.
Dragons tend to have a more commanding presence than other types, and value freedom and independence. Because of this, there is an unusually high number of dragon types that live in smaller communities, and if they’re not building a group from the ground up they’re trying to work themselves into an existing leadership position.
These behavior patterns mean they come into conflict with their primary weakness fairly often: other dragons.
Ice #
Nature’s refrigerators, ice types are capable of lowering the temperature around them to within a few degrees of the freezing point of water just by focusing on it over time. They are immune to natural cold. Even if frozen solid they simply enter a hibernation-like torpor state until thawed.
Of course, they are not fond at all of hot places, and will rapidly begin to overheat in them. Temperatures above 115°F (46°C), while miserable to most but fire types, will send ice types into levels of heat exhaustion that can physically hurt them.
Poison #
Some caverns are just naturally full of poisons. Some (e.g. Basalt City) are unnaturally filled with poisons. To a poison type, these places are just as fine to be in as anywhere else. Their immunity shields them from natural and unnatural toxins, carcinogenic pollution, most drugs, and all alcohols. This makes them difficult to assassinate via poison, but also unable to become inebriated or chemically stimulated.
They are still vulnerable to disease and other forms of biological attacks, as well as the radiation that an electric type can ignore.
Steel #
Steel types are near immune to cutting or piercing damage except at certain critical points like their eyes and the inside of their orifices. This also renders them immune to poison without hitting one of those points or using a gas. Their limbs, especially, work as natural shields, and have an uncanny ability to deflect blades and other human-style weapons if the need arises.
These features do make it very hard to operate on them medically without special techniques.
Bug #
“Grass types hate Bug types. They’re icky and gross.” —Atalanta
Bug types have reduced food needs, and their bodies will accept a wider range of things as food. What some pokemorphs may not be able to digest, a bug type might… although it can be a faux pas to do so in polite company.
Bug types are also able to climb any surface up to a straight vertical wall. They can go beyond this limit to climb overhangs with special tools or special training, or the use of move Rock Climb (which will also give anyone else that can learn it the climbing skill that any Bug type has naturally).
Dark #
“Dark ty—? I mea’ lotta people say th’creepy ‘r th’scary. They’re supp’s’ta be n’farious ‘r m’licious even. An’ maybe th’ som’n to som’that. They sem’a like’a disappear on ‘ya f’sure. Y’never know wha’ they’r gon’a do, is th’thing. An tha’s th’big thing, really. They’re…. quiet. I’n be… relaxing.” —Hina, Guild Trainee
Dark types are immune to psychic abilities of all types. They are a void to any psychic senses. They are also able to navigate and sense freely in complete darkness without any light, making them incredibly good at navigating tunnels and caves.
A dark type is no more inherently sinister than any other ‘morph, but there is something of a correlation with mischievous attitudes and crafty minds.
Fairy #
When you see a fairy type that you don’t know, you’re likely to feel something. If you’re a dragon, fighting, or dark type that will likely be a sense of unease; others tend to find that they radiate an aspect of calm. Familiarity tends to lessen these effects, especially the unease. Dragons struggle the most with this for some reason.
Fairy types do tend to be a bit weird, eccentric, or extra, but in the underground, who’s going to notice more of that.
Fighting #
Fighting types excel at body control, able to make deliberate, precise movements with ease. This makes them incredibly gifted when it comes to precision strikes and adept dodges. While not as effective at resisting damage as Steel types are, their body hardening techniques provide a little resistance against most weaponry.
Most fighting types will hone their martial arts abilities over their lifetimes, often growing into an over-the-top wuxia-like style of their own.
Normal #
Normal types are, well, the baseline. Their biggest advantage is an absolute immunity to Ghost types—to the point that normals and pure ghosts cannot even perceive each other. Otherwise, normal types enjoy quite possibly the best that normalcy has to offer: nothing specific to be shoe-horned into, and nothing that acts as a definite bane to their existence. Though fighting moves do hurt a lot…
They still live in the same world of magic and wonder as the rest of us, they’re nothing like mundane.
Legendary Pokemorphs #
Some rare pokemorphs hearken back to the legends that once lived on the mythic surface. While legendary and mythical status means nothing in the underworld, the capabilities and potential of the few ‘morphs that inherit these patterns of old show that there’s something special going on.
Unlike pokemorphs of most basis species, legendary pokemorphs are generally not born but rather awakened due to a (likely traumatic) event in their lives. After this transition they may retain some of their old colors, or other visual callback to their original kind, but their capabilities and nature are undoubtedly true to their new species.