The Powers That Be (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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synodiporia_ooc2017-02-04 04:56 pm
powersthatbe) wrote in synodiporia_ooc2017-02-04 04:56 pm
Entry tags:
Pogémon!
Phase Three, Jaunt Two
February 15th-March 27th
Two years ago, a hot new game took the human world by storm--Pogemon, Pog Monsters, was the hit of every schoolyard and even a few business boardrooms as the game's incredible appeal spread like wildfire. But soon, the monsters on the actual pogs started coming to life, causing all sorts of havoc. The monsters actually existed in another world, and the forces behind Pogemon were seeking to bring the worlds together. What these mysterious forces didn't count on was lone Pogemon bonding with human players of the game, the Slammers, and standing against them in order to save both worlds. The worlds were saved, and a gateway between the two was left open and maintained, carefully guarded over, so that Pogemon could continue to come to the human world in order to train and become stronger.
But now, just when it seems like all the danger is long in the past, new threats are starting to emerge. The mysterious Delta Factor is starting to manifest in some of the Pogemon, causing them to evolve in strange and dangerous new ways. The government is starting to take a stronger interest into the activity of the monsters, threatening the human world and the monster world's coexistence. And there are still other, far more shadowy threats to take into account...
POGEMON INFORMATION
Animal: Pretty much just what it sounds like. Flesh-and-blood Pogemon. Strong against Vegetable-types, weak to Mineral-types. For example, a sharkman that shoots lasers.
Vegetable: Pogemon that take their cues from plants and fungi. Strong against Mineral-types, weak to Animal-types. For example, a gigantic venus flytrap that stuns its victims with toxic pollen.
Mineral: Pogemon that are made from stone or crystal or metal. Strong against Animal-types, weak to Vegetable-types. For example, a rock golem that attacks enemies with a giant hammer.
Note that in all cases, the Rock/Paper/Scissors nature of the Pogemon typing is more of a guideline than anything. It can make a fight easier than it would be otherwise, true, but it is entirely possible for, say, an Animal Pogemon to triumph over a Mineral Pogemon.
The three types usually get along quite well, and the Pogemon Council believes it important to have equal representation. Each member of the triad has their own ties to other Pogemon of the same type, and they've got systems in place to allow for local governments. This varies from Pogemon to Pogemon, and while some have adopted a monarchy, others hold democratic elections or have everyone take a turn at being in charge. Generally speaking, Pogemon are an optimistic lot--when they discovered a new world filled with strange new creatures that could make Pogemon vastly more powerful by exposure, their first impulse was to make friends, not to go conquering. Pogemon tend to be playful, and most of them enjoy the new game that is fighting alongside Slammers. Some have gone for it more grudgingly, willing to do whatever it takes to get a taste of the unusual power the humans could provide, while others refuse to participate entirely. Refusal to participate is fine as far as the Council is concerned, so long as no one gets hurt over it. The willingness to hurt people over it is part of what caused a massive schism in the Council in the events of one year ago, when one of the triad went rogue and tried to conquer (or destroy, they weren't too clear) both of the worlds. The fact that a Slammer and a Pogemon working together stopped this and saved both worlds is all the proof the Council needs to keep going. The Council has yet to contact any of the governing bodies of the Earth; they like the sense of mystery these "randomly" appearing Pogemon create in the human world, and they fear the often divided nature of the human governments of the world.
In order to bond with a human, Pogemon usually first decide that yes, they would like a human of their very own. They then do one of two things--they start watching people play the Pogemon Pog Game, or they portal through to the human world at Slammer HQ and request an audience with prospective Slammers. The former way is more unpredictable and results in friendly Pogemon appearing unexpectedly in all sorts of places; the energy in the game pogs is enough both to let them watch and to cross over between worlds. (Sadly, the humans generally don't seem to realize this, and it's always some mysterious surprise the Pogemon play dumb to.) The latter doesn't get the humans as riled up, but it cuts down on the element of surprise, and occasionally a Pogemon will give up if they don't like any of the humans vying to be their partner...or grab some other random human bystander that never asked for this if said bystander meets their standards (which is usually the mark of a very young, inexperienced Pogemon). These same methods are sometimes used by bad Pogemon crossing over into the human world in order to cause trouble, though those incidents have tapered off since the rogue member of the Pogemon Council was defeated one year ago.
The structure of a typical, officially-sanctioned Slammer's Organization Pogemon battle typically follows the following pattern:
1. The Slammers face each other at the opposite ends of the arena. Action does not start until the referee gives the traditional and very serious Pogemon battle opening cry of, "It's time to slam and jam!"
2. Participating Slammers traditionally yell some variation on "Go, [Pogemon name]” and slam their partners' Pogs down into the Arena, releasing them to fight.
3. The Pogemon begin battling, with Slammers yelling out instructions or suggestions. It's considered a slight and a breach of honor for a Pogemon to outright refuse a Slammer's orders in this scenario--that's not how the competition works. Pogemon are free to communicate with their Slammer, saying what will and won't work, though there are no time outs and there is no chance of a secret communication unless some code has been agreed upon beforehand. There is a lot of yelling in some cases.
4. Slammers may augment their Pogemon with various Pogs. Item Pogs bestow a temporary weapon on the Pogemon, while Effect Pogs enhance some attribute or another.
5. Pogemon battle until one has been rendered unable to fight. Killing the opponent's Pogemon is expressly forbidden, as is going overboard on the damage. Keep it clean, people.
The Pogemon Pog Game, the game that this all sprang from, takes on a similar bent, albeit with each Slammer having multiple Pogemon Pogs, and the battle process is repeated until one player has won three out of five matches. In some cases, holographic battles with multiple Pogemon serve as tournament qualifiers and assessment exams for prospective Slammers. The Pogemon used here are just representations and are not actual Pogemon partners. This game is the one invented and marketed by the Pogemon Council in order to introduce themselves and their world to the humans, and it is still a valued method of scouting out worthy partners.
The Pogemon have recently become afflicted with the Delta Factor. Researchers are not yet sure if it is some kind of microbe or some kind of mutagenic force, but there is no denying the Delta Factor's effects on Pogemon physiology. Pogemon infected with the Delta Factor will become stronger in unpredictable ways while it is manifesting, but they cannot just turn it on and off at will. Bonding with a human means they'll get all of the benefits without the drawback of running wild as a mindless rampaging monster.