pokemon notes #2: biology, battling, misc.

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This is where my inner science geek comes out, and yes, there are scattered biology and chemistry textbooks lying around to inspire me.


Evolution
All Pokemon are genetically unstable and susceptible to viruses (as viruses inject their own DNA to reproduce). Those living in caves, volcanoes or other confined areas are more stable due to proximity to constant radiation. [ie, fire type living in a volcano is more genetically stable and thus harder to evolve than a fire type living in an abandoned house]

Evolution is essentially biological radioactive decay: dropping through isotopes into a final, (more) stable product. Therefore, Charizard is the most stable form of the evolution and Charmander is the most instable. (chem term: decay series)

Stones (fire/leaf/etc) are strong sources of radiation (alpha or gamma particles, most likely--need to read more up on this) and can push over a strong type. Strong types are fire, water, grass, some normal, and electric (fire stones, water, leaf, moon, and thunder). Weak types are everything else. Strong and weak are relative terms.

Prolonged or intense exposure to strong types and/or stones can leave inheritable effects on humans (exposure to radiation --> birth defects in future generations). This is how some people seem to be "born" trainers or can't for the life of them control or cohabitate with some types (like my fire-affected MC can't get along with water types). This can also affect heat tolerance, resistance to static electricity, pollen allergies, and the skin's reaction to water (easily pruny or not). A child with two active trainer types that aren't type trainers may well have a more broad Pokemon affinity than a first generation child.

Before a Pokemon evolves, there's a period of general irritation and aggressiveness accompanied by growth spurts and some secondary characteristics (ie the beginnings of Ivysaur's bud on Bulbasaur). It's basically puberty.


Battling
mortality
Pokemon instinctively avoid vital places due to an inherent honor code (there are of course sociopath Pokemon...). That said, they can still die. Physical changes (melting, severe burns, frostbite, neurological damage from electricity, too much poison) are distinctly possible and any trainer pushing past what a Ice Heal could fix risks severe punishment. There are mortal injuries (slashed throat, broken back) and also species-specific quirks that I mostly make up for fun. If the flames on a fire type go out, if Squirtle loses its shell, if something happens to Venusaur's plant (Venusaur relies heavily on photosynthesis for energy, fun arbitrary fact), etc, they can die of shock.

attacks
Fire is fire. A little isn't bad, but a lot can be critical. Bigger and tougher Pokemon can withstand more than smaller babies. Water is water. Ice is ice. Moving on.

machines
HMs and TMs are instruction manuals. HMs are just a little more practical. Logic applies; no one is going to ride a Magikarp across Sea Foam even if it does know Surf and no one is going to squeeze down a baby Diglett's Dig and trying to ride a young Spearow recently taught Fly is futile. Given that the Pokemon is large enough, HMs provide conditioning tips, not a magic strength or size increase.

The nice thing to do when a TM/HM is found is to either take it, learn it, and leave it for someone else, or to donate it to a Poke Center. The point is that it's a gift that keeps on giving. You don't hoard them. It's not kosher.

Also, Flash is temporary.


Misc
numerical statistics
Numerical averages collected by brilliant scientists compiled through random sampling. Updated every seven years.

legendary and fossil
Dratini/Dragonaire/Dragonite are all caught and nearly extinct. Lance pretty much owns them all. Mewtwo was a terminated disaster of Rocket's and an urban legend now. Mew is MIA. Zapdos/Moltres/Articuno are Kanto's version of the Loch Ness Monster and Bigfoot--strongly suspected but not verified.

Fossils are owned strictly by Rocket and there is some Jurassic Park going on in regard to DNA resurrection, mostly on Cinnabar where Blaine is in charge (canon: Rocket scientist). Lance is one such benefactor, implying that yes indeedy there is some level of cooperation between Rocket and the League.


Rings
[this is a plot device for my story]
For masters. Made of gold with 1-3 stones (apprentice = 1 small stone, and so on). Worn on right ring finger. True Masters (Gym Leaders) have doubled banded rings. Training masters have four stones from the four types they defeated to get that mastery (ice, rock, ghost, dragon) and type get three of the same.

Normal: andalusite
Water: sapphire
Fire: ruby
Grass: emerald
Electric: citrine
Ice: aquamarine
Rock: alexandrite
Ghost: kunzite
Fighting: agate
Ground: jade
Poison: ammolite
Flying: covellite
Psychic: opal
Bug: peridot
Dragon: diamond

[all other shinies found here. why can't all research be so pretty?]


canonical ex-Rockets
Blaine--scientist
Surge--Elite
Koga--Elite
Sabrina--Elite
Giovanni--current boss