Castellia- A Fantasy Setting (Sudowoodo! Sunflora! Donphan!)

Where in all of your character write ups will go.
Jabroniville
Posts: 24690
Joined: Fri Nov 04, 2016 8:05 pm

Laprasaurus

Post by Jabroniville »

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LAPRASAURUS
Role:
Large Underwater Creature, Aquatic Traveler
PL 8 (83)
STRENGTH
7 STAMINA 8 AGILITY 0
FIGHTING 7 DEXTERITY 0
INTELLIGENCE -3 AWARENESS 1 PRESENCE -3

Skills:
Expertise (Survival) 4 (+5)
Intimidation 11 (+11 Size)
Perception 5 (+6)
Stealth 10 (+5 Size)

Advantages:
Fast Grab, Improved Hold

Powers:
"Animal Senses" Senses 2 (Low-Light Vision, Acute Scent) [2]

"Underwater Physiology"
Swimming 4 (8 mph) [4]
Movement 1 (Environmental Adaptation- Aquatic) [2]
Immunity 2 (Drowning, Pressure) (Flaws: Limited to Half-Effect) [1]

"Seventy-Five Vertebrae"
Strength-Damage +1 (Feats: Reach 4) [5]

"Dino-Sized" Growth 5 (Str & Sta +5, +5 Mass, +2 Intimidation, -2 Dodge/Parry, -5 Stealth) -- (18 feet) (Feats: Innate) (Extras: Permanent +0) [11]
Strength-Damage +1 [1]
"Turtle-Like Shell" Protection 2 (Extras: Impervious 9) [11]

Offense:
Unarmed +6 (+7 Damage, DC 22)
Bite +7 (+9 Damage, DC 23)
Initiative +0

Defenses:
Dodge +4 (DC 14), Parry +6 (DC 16), Toughness +10, Fortitude +8, Will +5

Complications:
Disabled (Animal)- Plesiosaurs cannot speak to humans, nor use their paws to easily manipulate objects.
Weakness (Cold Climates)- The Age of Reptiles was a much hotter time period than our own. Creatures from that era will be more susceptible to Cold and Ice-based attacks.
Weakness (Aquatic)- Aquatic reptiles are heavily-dependent upon the water. If left outside of it, the creatures will be unable to move, and quickly dehydrate. Elasmosaurus will even be unable to support it's own head.

Total: Abilities: 14 / Skills: 30--15 / Advantages: 2 / Powers: 37 / Defenses: 15 (83)

-Laprasaurus is closely related to other Plesiosaurs, maintaining the same barrel-shaped body and long neck. However, it is much more "solid" and squat that its slender, aerodynamic (hydrodynamic?) relatives, and sports a heavy-duty shell, much like a turtle's. This enables them to be much more robust, comfortable mounts for those who can tame them and use them for aquatic travel. Travel over the open seas is often fraught with peril, given the sheer number of dangerous creatures out there, so having even a medium-sized aquatic beast as a mount can be rather helpful. Many people have made serious money training these creatures from hatchlings and offering rides across inland seas, rough waterways, or even on the open ocean- though in danger is in no way unavoidable in Castellian waters, it can at least reduce the risk to have such a creature as a mount, and their ability to carry cargo makes this an even more attractive option. Highly intelligent for aquatic reptiles, they are often so in tune with their trainers that the bond appears to be telepathic.

Jab's Notes: Lapras is a fairly iconic Pokemon to the early series, but not really FAMOUS or otherwise notable as anything beyond being the typically most-common "Mount". Ridden Pokemon are actually rather rare in the anime series, but Lapras was seen rather often carrying people about (such as Ash's Lapras), being our greatest example of the "Swim" move. This became a VERY important thing in the games, as a Pokemon equipped with Swim was necessary to complete numerous parts of the game- you pretty much HAD to have it in your group to have a hope of reaching the Final Four.

-VERY unusually for the Original 151, Lapras never received another creature in its Evolutionary chain- I believe only it, Tauros and the Legendaries currently have this honor. The name "Lapras" may either come from a French mathematician who wrote books on the sea and tides, or "la place", the French word for "seat". While it's obviously based off of a plesiosaur, the fluff gives it some whale-like properties, describing it as a singing, intelligent creature- even even seems to have telepathy!

-My "Laprasaurus" here is less mystical than the typical Pokemon, as I deliberately want to go more "mundane" with some of them, and this one REALLY fits. Dinosaurs (or, in this case, ancient aquatic reptiles) with armor aren't unheard of, as the Saltasaurus is a sauropod with armored scuts on its back, so I figured a plesiosaur with a really big turtle-like shell isn't completely beyond reason.
Spectrum
Posts: 3128
Joined: Fri Nov 04, 2016 8:08 pm

Re: Castellia- A Fantasy Setting (Voltorb! Magneton! Oni! Electabuzz! Seaking!)

Post by Spectrum »

I suspect that there is a Castellia story here:

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We rise from the ashes so that new legends can be born.
Jabroniville
Posts: 24690
Joined: Fri Nov 04, 2016 8:05 pm

Re: Castellia- A Fantasy Setting (Voltorb! Magneton! Oni! Electabuzz! Seaking!)

Post by Jabroniville »

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO- TOO MANY FEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Jabroniville
Posts: 24690
Joined: Fri Nov 04, 2016 8:05 pm

Tentacruel

Post by Jabroniville »

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TENTACRUEL- EARLY STAGE
Role:
Creepy Sea Pest, Poisoner
PL 5 (66)
STRENGTH
-3 STAMINA 2 AGILITY -2
FIGHTING 4 DEXTERITY 0
INTELLIGENCE -- AWARENESS 0 PRESENCE --

Skills:
Perception 4 (+4)

Advantages:
None

Powers:
Immunity 2 (Drowning, Pressure) [2]
"Gelatinous Body" Insubstantial 1 (Feats: Innate) [6]
"Rain Dash" Regeneration 2 (Flaws: Limited to During Rain) [1]

"Natural Size" Shrinking 8 (Feats: Innate) (Flaws: Permanent +0) [17]
(-2 Strength, Speed -1, +4 Defenses, +8 Stealth, -4 Intimidation)

"Venomous Tentacles" Both Powers Linked
Weaken Strength 6 (Extras: Progressive +2) [18]
"Painful Sting" Affliction 6 (Fort; Fatigued & Impaired/Stunned & Disabled/Incapacitated) (Extras: Extra Condition, Cumulative, Progressive +2) [30]

Offense:
Unarmed +4 (-3 Damage, DC 12)
Venom +4 (+6 Weaken & Affliction, DC 16 & 16)
Initiative -2

Defenses:
Dodge +4 (DC 14), Parry +8 (DC 18), Toughness +2, Fortitude +2, Will +2

Complications:
Disabled (Animal)- Jellyfish cannot speak to humans, nor use their tentacles to easily manipulate objects.
Power Loss- The Painful sting of a Jellyfish can be reversed by applying vinegar to the wounds.

Total: Abilities: -14 / Skills: 4--2 / Advantages: 0 / Powers: 74 / Defenses: 4 (66)

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TENTACRUEL- MIDDLE FORM
Role:
Creepy Sea Pest, Poisoner
PL 6 (86)
STRENGTH
-3 STAMINA 4 AGILITY -2
FIGHTING 4 DEXTERITY 0
INTELLIGENCE -- AWARENESS 0 PRESENCE --

Skills:
Perception 4 (+4)

Advantages:
Close Attack 2

Powers:
Immunity 2 (Drowning, Pressure) [2]
"Gelatinous Body" Insubstantial 1 (Feats: Innate) [6]
"Rain Dash" Regeneration 2 (Flaws: Limited to During Rain) [1]
Extra Limbs 10 [10]

"Natural Size" Shrinking 8 (Feats: Innate) (Flaws: Permanent +0) [17]
(-2 Strength, Speed -1, +4 Defenses, +8 Stealth, -4 Intimidation)

"Venomous Tentacles" Weaken Strength 6 (Extras: Progressive +2) Linked to "Painful Sting" Affliction 6 (Fort; Fatigued & Impaired/Stunned & Disabled/Incapacitated) (Extras: Extra Condition, Cumulative, Progressive +2) (48) -- [51]
  • AE: "Pincers" Damage 4 (Feats: Accurate) (Extras: Penetrating 4) (9)
  • AE: "Acid Spray" Blast 5 (Feats: Accurate 3) (Extras: Secondary Effect) (Diminished Range -2) Linked to Weaken Toughness 5 (Extras: Ranged, Affects Objects) (Dim. Range -2) (29)
  • AE: "Supersonic" Affliction 8 (Will; Dazed/Stunned/Transformed to Confused State) (Feats: Accurate 2) (Extras: Ranged, Continuous +3) (42)
Offense:
Unarmed +6 (-3 Damage, DC 12)
Venom +6 (+6 Weaken & Affliction, DC 16 & 16)
Pincers +6 (+4 Damage, DC 19)
Confuse Ray +4 (+8 Ranged Affliction, DC 18)
Acid Spray +6 (+5 Ranged Damage & Weaken, DC 20 & 15)
Initiative -2

Defenses:
Dodge +4 (DC 14), Parry +8 (DC 18), Toughness +4, Fortitude +4, Will +2

Complications:
Disabled (Animal)- Jellyfish cannot speak to humans, nor use their tentacles to easily manipulate objects.
Power Loss- The Painful sting of a Jellyfish can be reversed by applying vinegar to the wounds.

Total: Abilities: -8 / Skills: 4--2 / Advantages: 2 / Powers: 86 / Defenses: 4 (86)

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TENTACRUEL- GIGANTIC FORM
Role:
Creepy Sea Pest, Poisoner
PL 11 (175)
STRENGTH
16 STAMINA 16 AGILITY -2
FIGHTING 6 DEXTERITY 0
INTELLIGENCE -- AWARENESS 0 PRESENCE --

Skills:
Perception 4 (+4)

Advantages:
None

Powers:
Immunity 2 (Drowning, Pressure) [2]
"Gelatinous Body" Insubstantial 1 (Feats: Innate) [6]
"Rain Dash" Regeneration 2 (Flaws: Limited to During Rain) [1]
Extra Limbs 10 [10]

"Natural Size" Growth 17 (Str & Sta +17, +17 Mass, +8 Intimidation, -8 Dodge/Parry, +2 Speed, -17 Stealth) -- (120 feet) (Feats: Innate) (Extras: Permanent +0) [35]

"Venomous Tentacles" Weaken Strength 14 (Extras: Progressive +2) Linked to "Painful Sting" Affliction 14 (Fort; Fatigued & Impaired/Stunned & Disabled/Incapacitated) (Extras: Extra Condition, Cumulative, Progressive +2) (112) -- [115]
  • AE: "Giant-Sized Smash" Damage 11 (Extras: Area- 30ft. Line) [1]
  • AE: "Acid Spray" Damage 11 (Extras: Secondary Effect, Extras: Area- 60ft. Cone) Linked to Weaken Toughness 11 (Extras: Affects Objects, Area- 60ft. Cone) (66)
  • AE: "Supersonic" Affliction 11 (Will; Dazed/Stunned/Transformed to Confused State) (Extras: Area- 120ft. Cone +2, Continuous +3) (66)
Offense:
Unarmed +6 (+16 Damage, DC 31)
Venom +6 (+14 Weaken & Affliction, DC 24 & 24)
Giant-Sized Smash +11 Area (+11 Damage, DC 26)
Confuse Ray +11 Area (+11 Affliction, DC 21)
Acid Spray +11 Area (+11 Damage & Weaken, DC 26 & 21)
Initiative -2

Defenses:
Dodge +2 (DC 12), Parry +4 (DC 14), Toughness +2, Fortitude +16, Will +2

Complications:
Disabled (Animal)- Jellyfish cannot speak to humans, nor use their tentacles to easily manipulate objects.
Power Loss- The Painful sting of a Jellyfish can be reversed by applying vinegar to the wounds.

Total: Abilities: -16 / Skills: 4--2 / Advantages: 0 / Powers: 169 / Defenses: 20 (175)

-Seemingly related to Jellyfish, but being a different Order entirely (what are typically called "jellyfish" actually make up hundreds of barely-related creatures, some of which are from different Phylums entirely- a Phylum is a classification so broad that every vertebrate in the world is classified under the same one), Tentacruels look similar, but only have two tentacles instead of hundreds. They are unsual for the type in that they have two eyes on their front, and large gem-like sections of their skull, which eventually develop into solar absorbers that allow for a Supersonic Pulse attack.. Tentacruel Venom is fairly potent, leaving the plentiful creatures to be treated as legendary pests, though they are not quite as dangerous as True Jellies and some other venomous underwater creatures.

-The creatures begin life as tiny polyps, and soon develop into the regularly-seen creatures. A later stage witnesses large "pincers" develop at the front and back of the creature.

-Very few have seen the final stage of these life-forms, and most who do assume that it's some form of Kraken. Unknown to most, these creatures will band together in a massive school at the end of the life cycle, and their bodies soon metamorphose into various structures to make up the titanic form of a monstrous, single Tentacruel- some become the rods and cones of eyes, others become sensory organs, others coalesce into tentacle matter. In the end, hundreds (or even thousands) of Tentacruel combine together to form a gigantic being, which then devours everything in sight for months until it dies- at which point its body decomposes into millions of miniature "polyps" that attach themselves to undersea structures, which then mature into regular-sized Tentacruels again.

Jab's Notes: Tentacools are basically "Sea Zubats" in Pokemon games, as they occupy the same general "tier"- they are numerous, constantly-attacking, low-level creatures that will not only waste your time with stupid Random Battles, but they will ALSO give you Status-Affecting maladies that will result in EVERY SINGLE TURN having something like "_____ is Poisoned! ______ takes damage from the Poison!" stuff interrupting the battle. This rapidly becomes a huge nuisance. They are notable in the anime for only a single episode which featured them- it's one of the first indications of the differences between the game and the anime, as a Tentacool evolves into a MONSTROUS Tentacruel, hundreds of times the size of the creature seen in the game.

-I took the "Giant Size" thing from the anime episode, and the "Combined Form" thing from the fact that many "jellies", such as the Portugese Man-O-War, are actually comprised of thousands of SMALLER creatures, each of which takes on a particular role in the behavior of a single living colony that moves as one.
Jabroniville
Posts: 24690
Joined: Fri Nov 04, 2016 8:05 pm

Cloyster

Post by Jabroniville »

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CLOYSTER
Role:
Ice Clam
PL 7 (82)
STRENGTH
3 STAMINA 4 AGILITY 0
FIGHTING 4 DEXTERITY 0
INTELLIGENCE -4 AWARENESS 0 PRESENCE -3

Skills:
Expertise (Survival) 5 (+5)
Perception 5 (+5)
Ranged Combat (Ice Powers) 8 (+8)
Stealth 4 (+4)

Advantages:
Improved Critical (Spine Shot), Favored Environment (Water), Withstand Damage (Trade Defenses For Toughness)

Powers:
"Animal Senses" Senses 3 (Acute & Extended Scent, Low-Light Vision) [3]
"Diamond-Hard Shell" Protection 4 (Extras: Impervious 9) [13]

"Sea Creature"
Swimming 1 [1]
Immunity 2 (Cold, Drowning) (Flaws: Limited to Half-Effect) [1]
Movement 1 (Environmental Adaptation- Arctic) [2]

"Ice Type" Immunity 10 (Ice Effects) (Flaws: Limited to Half-Effect) [5]

"Icy Wind" Blast 6 Linked to Affliction 6 (Fort; Hindered/Exhausted) (Extras: Ranged, Cumulative) (Flaws: Limited Degree) (24) -- [28]
  • AE: "Hail" Environment 2 (60 feet) (Impede Movement, Visibility, Cold 2) Linked to Damage 4 (Extras: Area- 30ft. Burst) (16)
  • AE: "Water Control" Move Object 5 (Extras: Perception-Ranged) (Flaws: Limited to Water) (10)
  • AE: "Spine Shot" Blast 6 (Extras: Multiattack) (18)
  • AE: "Central Horn" Strength-Damage +3 (Feats: Improved Critical, Penetrating 4) (8)
Offense:
Unarmed +4 (+3 Damage, DC 18)
Bite +2 (+2 Damage, DC 17)
In Water +4 (+1-2 Damage, DC 16-17)
Icy Wind +8 (+6 Ranged Damage & Affliction, DC 21 & 16)
Hail +4 Area (+4 Damage, DC 19)
Spine Shot +8 (+6 Ranged Damage, DC 21)
Initiative +0

Defenses:
Dodge +3 (DC 13), Parry +6 (DC 16), Toughness +8 (+5 Impervious), Fortitude +6, Will +4

Complications:
Disabled (Animal)- Shellfish cannot speak to humans, nor do they have any limbs with which to easily manipulate objects.
Vulnerable (Electricity)- Lightning-based powers do extra damage to ice-based aquatic creatures.

Total: Abilities: 4 / Skills: 22--11 / Advantages: 2 / Powers: 54 / Defenses: 11 (82)

-Cloysters are magically-powered shellfish that metamorphose from simple, clam-like creatures into beings with diamond-hard shells and elemental power over water and ice. The nature of their magic is somewhat unknown, but it's assumed that underwater Ley Lines are responsible for transforming simple shellfish into this more powerful form. Their armor is considered highly-prized in many cultures, and so they are a popular target of trophy-hunters- they are deadly enough adversaries to only increase the cost of such trinkets (a man-sized diamond-hard shell is phenomenally pricey, and only the richest of people would have access to one).

-Cloysters may move the water itself, fire out beams of ice, or even blast out spines from within its own shell, making them very versatile and dangerous, though they are poor, slow swimmers. An unexpected tactic is for them to attempt to ram nearby threats, using a rhinoceros-like central horn to pierce through the foe. They are capable of enclosing them within their shell so powerfully that even super-strong foes cannot force them open.

-The early form of Cloyster has a bizarre trait, in that they may parasitically attach to the slow-witted Psionic creatures known as Slowpokes, biting their tails and uniting the two creatures into one, much more powerful, body. This alters them from a clamshell-like appearance into one with a conical, spiral shell.

Jab's Notes: Consider Cloyster one of my dark-horse favorites in Pokemon, oddly. I think it's part because he was one of the only Ice-Type Pokemon you get early-ish on in the game, and so he was able to become rather powerful quite quickly. As I've mentioned before, Ice-Types were rare and typically only seen late, making them seem rather powerful considering you could get a Shellder by the third Pokemon Gym Battle, and evolve it once you got your Water Stone. I mean, if you weren't getting a Vaporeon, these things were a solid deal.

-Cloyster himself is occasionally seen in the show, typically as a rival's Pokemon, as it doesn't have much character (it's a black sphere with a face on it, stuck in a big shell), but is respectable enough as an enemy. Shellders are a very common background site, either as part of a Slowpoke or Slowking, or as "Background Animals", much like Goldeen and Magikarp typically appear to be.

-Shellder has the bizarre trait of evolving ANOTHER Pokemon, as biting the tail of a Slowbro turns it into the more powerful Slowpoke. This is the only Pokemon in the First 151 like this, though it has no in-game comparison- it's just something that happens in the anime, and is explained in the game.
Jabroniville
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Kingler

Post by Jabroniville »

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KINGLER
Role:
Giant Crab
PL 6 (54)
STRENGTH
3 STAMINA 4 AGILITY 0
FIGHTING 4 DEXTERITY 0
INTELLIGENCE -4 AWARENESS 0 PRESENCE -3

Skills:
Expertise (Survival) 5 (+5)
Perception 5 (+5)
Ranged Combat (Ice Powers) 8 (+8)
Stealth 4 (+4)

Advantages:
Fast Grab, Favored Environment (Water), Improved Hold, Improved Grab

Powers:
"Animal Senses" Senses 3 (Acute & Extended Scent, Low-Light Vision) [3]
"Hard Shell" Protection 2 (Extras: Impervious 3) [5]

"Sea Creature"
Swimming 1 [1]
Immunity 7 (Cold, Drowning, Fire Damage) (Flaws: Limited to Half-Effect) [4]
Movement 1 (Environmental Adaptation- Arctic) [2]

"Giant Claw" Strength-Damage +3 (Feats: Improved Critical) (Extras: Penetrating 5) [9]

Offense:
Unarmed +4 (+3 Damage, DC 18)
Claw +4 (+6 Damage, DC 21)
Initiative +0

Defenses:
Dodge +3 (DC 13), Parry +6 (DC 16), Toughness +6 (+3 Impervious), Fortitude +6, Will +4

Complications:
Disabled (Animal)- Shellfish cannot speak to humans, nor do they have any limbs with which to easily manipulate objects.
Vulnerable (Electricity)- Lightning-based powers do extra damage to ice-based aquatic creatures.

Total: Abilities: 4 / Skills: 22--11 / Advantages: 4 / Powers: 24 / Defenses: 11 (54)

-Crabs and other shellfish are classed more appropriately among the arthropods such as insects and arachnids- betrayed by their chitinous exoskeletons and soft insides. Most are rather small in scale, but, as is usual on Castellia, giant versions exist. The Kingler is the only man-sized crustacean known (though Titanic versions exist, as with almost any other animal), though they start off as infants of such a similar scale to regular crabs that they are frequently mistaken for them. A fully-grown Kingler is about five feet tall, with asymmetrical claws- one is almost as large as its entire body. The claw is a powerful, but unwieldly, weapon, typically used for surprise attacks or defense. The creature's strong carapace is notoriously difficult to damage, and is particularly resistant to fire, making the creature's shells popular implements in magical devices nad armors based around combating such things. Because of this, Fire Dragons are known to offer bounties on dead Kinglers in regions in which they inhabit, often altering the local ecosystems.

Jab's Notes: Krabby & Kingler are among the classic "Regular Animal" Pokemon in the first generation, having so little thought put into them that the design is essentially "Cartoon Crab" and left at that (Ruby/Sapphire would introduce the Corphish/Crawdaunt line, which occupy the same role but are much more inventive-looking). Ash caught one in a random episode and promptly never used it until the "Tournament Arc", where of course it fought well despite a lack of training. Its standard reaction to everything was to squirt Ash with water- a running gag that matched some of his other disobedient Pokemon (like Charizard). As Ash typically used Squirtle for all things water, and Misty was a Water-Type trainer, there was little use for him in the series.

-As Water-Types, Krabby/Kingler have unusually-small assortments of Water attacks to use- most of their attacks are Normal-Type, based around the pincer.
Spectrum
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Re: Castellia- A Fantasy Setting (Dewgong! Lapras! Tentacruel! Cloyster!)

Post by Spectrum »

This makes my brain hurt in so many different directions.. Ryan Reynolds as pikachu, Tedding it up in a buddy cop story.
We rise from the ashes so that new legends can be born.
Jabroniville
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Joined: Fri Nov 04, 2016 8:05 pm

Re: Castellia- A Fantasy Setting (Dewgong! Lapras! Tentacruel! Cloyster!)

Post by Jabroniville »

Spectrum wrote: Tue Nov 13, 2018 1:34 pm This makes my brain hurt in so many different directions.. Ryan Reynolds as pikachu, Tedding it up in a buddy cop story.
Hey, at least they're playing it up as absurd as it really should be. That could make the whole thing.
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Re: Castellia- A Fantasy Setting (Dewgong! Lapras! Tentacruel! Cloyster!)

Post by Woodclaw »

Jabroniville wrote: Wed Nov 14, 2018 7:39 am
Spectrum wrote: Tue Nov 13, 2018 1:34 pm This makes my brain hurt in so many different directions.. Ryan Reynolds as pikachu, Tedding it up in a buddy cop story.
Hey, at least they're playing it up as absurd as it really should be. That could make the whole thing.
A friend of mine wrote a Pokemon Noir setting for Fate RPG years ago... to be honest I thought it was a terrible idea.
"You're right. Sorry. Holy shit," I breathed, "heckhounds.”

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Jabroniville
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Slowpoke

Post by Jabroniville »

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SLOWPOKE (Slender Hippopotamus)
Role:
Psionic Oddball Monster
PL 8 (95)
STRENGTH
1 STAMINA 4 AGILITY 1
FIGHTING 4 DEXTERITY 0
INTELLIGENCE -4 AWARENESS 1 PRESENCE -3

Skills:
Athletics 7 (+6)
Expertise (Survival) 6 (+7)
Perception 5 (+6)
Ranged Combat (Psionics) 8 (+8)
Stealth 2 (+3)

Advantages:
Close Attack

Powers:
"Animal Senses" Senses 3 (Low-Light Vision, Acute & Extended Scent) [3]
"Aquatic Creature" Movement 1 (Environmental Adaptation- Aquatic) [2]
Swimming 3 (4 mph) [3]
"Thick Second Layer of Skin" Impervious Toughness 3 [3]
"Natural Weapons- Claws & Teeth" Strength-Damage +1 [1]

"Psionic Might"
"Psychic-Type Magical Creature" Immunity 10 (Psychic Effects) (Flaws: Limited to Half-Effect) [5]
Mind Reading 4 [8]
Immunity 2 (Pain Effects) (Flaws: Limited to First Five Minutes) [1]

"Psychic" Mental Blast 7 (28) -- [35]
  • AE: "Psy-Beam" Blast 8 Linked to Affliction 8 (Will; Dazed/Compelled/Transformed to Confused) (Extras: Ranged) (Flaws: Unreliable) (24)
  • AE: "Confuse Ray" Affliction 8 (Will; Dazed/Compelled/Transformed to Confused) (Extras: Perception Range +2) (24)
  • AE: "Hold Monster" Affliction 8 (Will; Dazed/Stunned/Paralyzed) (Extras: Perception Range +2) (24)
  • AE: "Psychokinesis" Move Object 6 (Extras: Perception Range) (Flaws: Rank 6 Limited to Water) (16)
  • AE: "Recover" Healing 6 (Extras: Restorative, Energizing) (Flaws: Limited to Self) (18)
  • AE: "Disable" Affliction 7 (Will; Impaired Move/Disabled Move/Transformed to Powerless) (Extras: Perception Range +2) (Flaws: Limited to one Random Move) (14)
  • AE: "Water Gun" Blast 6 (Flaws: Requires Water) (6)
Offense:
Unarmed +4 (+1 Damage, DC 16)
Psychic +8 (+7 Ranged Damage, DC 22)
Confuse Ray & Hold Monster -- (+8 Perception-Ranged Affliction, DC 18)
Disable -- (+7 Perception-Ranged Affliction, DC 17)
Water Gun +8 (+6 Ranged Damage, DC 21)
Psy-Beam +8 (+8 Ranged Damage & Affliction, DC 23 & 18)
Initiative +1

Defenses:
Dodge +5 (DC 15), Parry +4 (DC 14), Toughness +4 (+2 Impervious), Fortitude +5, Will +6

Complications:
Disabled (Animal)- Slowpokes cannot speak to humans, nor use their paws to easily manipulate objects.
Disabled (Aquatic)- Slowpokes are ungainly on land.
Vulernable (Bug & Dark Attacks)- As a psionic creature, Slowpokes are more vulnerable to the attacks of insectoid or darkness-possessed creatures.

Total: Abilities: 8 / Skills: 28--14 / Advantages: 1 / Powers: 59 / Defenses: 13 (95)

-Slowpokes (more properly called the "Slender Hippopotamus") are a peculiar animal, distantly related to the hippopotamus. Unusually, they are bright pink (hippos are typically only capable of a pink "sheen" owing to their sweat glands), and much smaller, with a body type conforming more to sea otters, being more sinuous and sporting a fairly long tail. Simple-looking, they are fast swimmers but slow walkers, and seem to ignore pain completely for several minutes after being struck, giving the impression that they are ponderous, unintelligent beasts. In reality, they are no stupider or smarter than any other ungulates.

-The most unusual thing about Slowpokes is their oddly symbiotic relationship with the Cloyster's early form. The simple shelled creature is capable of biting into many things, but when they do such to a Slowpoke, a bizarre transformation occurs. The Slowpoke appears to accept its not tag-along, and never attempts to remove it. And so the Cloyster's shell merges with the flesh of the Slowpoke's tail, potentially moving up to the creature's head (this version is called a "Slowking", owing to the crown-like spiral shell atop its head, and tends to be a more powerful psionic). The Cloyster appears to be feeding off of latent Violet Magic in a manner that is extremely mysterious- the process eventually turns the Slowpoke into a psionic powerhouse. This is seemingly a benefit to both creatures (the Cloyster will eat scraps the Slowpoke gives off), though it is unknown exactly which creature is in charge- Cloysters are typically unemotional shellfish, while Slowpokes are famously hard to observe with emotions- either one could be more prominent than the other.

-Slowpokes are among the more durable psionic creatures, which tend not to be very tough. Even so, they are far more powerful offensively than they are defensively. If the Cloyster is removed (typically via extraction of the tail), the Slowpoke will lose its psionic powers almost immediately.

Jab's Notes: Slowbro & Slowpoke are some of the odder Pokemon in the original game- their species is more vague in origin than most (they resemble tiny pink cartoon hippos, but have long tails and claws), and they have the most bizarre evolution- they evolve only when a Shellder is clamped onto their tail, transforming them into a more powerful Water/Psychic-Type creature (though in the game, they simply evolve normally at Level 37). As a kid, their dopey appearance (they are literally called "Dopey Pokemon" in the American game) didn't impress me, and I never really considered them. It doesn't help that while they're a frequent sight in the anime, they've never once been seen using an attack- they're simply dopey-looking backgrounders.

-Unusually, it was given an alternate evolution in a later game- instead of Slowpoke becoming Slowbro, it could also become a Slowking, which is shown speaking and understanding human languages in the anime- one of the only Pokemon to do so! Even later, a game introduced "Mega Evolutions", giving Slowbro a new form.

-The mish-mash appearance of the creatures has led to a lot of speculation. They resemble otter-shaped hippos, but have regenerating tails like salamanders, cone-shaped things on their tails (or heads), and are named for Hermit Crabs in Japan. They are believed in part to be based off of a Japanese monster called a sazae-oni- a Turban Shell Demon, for lack of a better term- the "turban shell" snail, or sazae, is a delicacy in Japan, and so of course they made monsters in the design. Humorously, one such tail of the monster is that they're born from promiscuous women thrown into the sea, and they make off with the testicles of sailors and pirates alike.
Jabroniville
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Talking Cat

Post by Jabroniville »

ImageImage

TALKING CAT- DOMESTIC VARIETY
Role:
Intelligent Cat
PL 3 (63)
STRENGTH
-3 STAMINA -2 AGILITY 3
FIGHTING 4 DEXTERITY 0
INTELLIGENCE 0 AWARENESS 1 PRESENCE 0

Skills:
Acrobatics 7 (+9)
Athletics 10 (+7)
Close Combat (Unarmed) 4 (+8)
Expertise (Survival) 5 (+6)
Insight 1 (+2)
Intimidation 4 (+0)
Perception 4 (+5)

Advantages:
Attractive (to those who like Cute things), Close Attack, Evasion, Fast Grab, Grab Finesse, Improved Initiative, Prone Fighting, Seize Initiative, Uncanny Dodge

Powers:
"Animal Senses" Senses 5 (Low-Light Vision, Acute & Extended Scent, Extended & Ultra-Hearing) [5]
Speed 2 (4 mph) [2]

"Cat Agility"
"Righting Reflex" Immunity 5 (Falling Damage) (Flaws: Limited to Half-Effect) [2.5]
Leaping 1 (15 feet) [1]

"Tiny Size" Shrinking 8 (Feats: Innate) (Extras: Permanent +0) -- (1 foot) [17]
(-2 Strength, +4 Defenses, +8 Stealth, -4 Intimidation, -1 Speed)

Offense:
Unarmed +8 (-3 Damage, DC 12)
Initiative +7

Defenses:
Dodge +7 (DC 17), Parry +8 (DC 18), Toughness -2, Fortitude +0, Will +4

Complications:
Disabled (Animal)- Cats cannot use their paws to easily manipulate objects.
Reputation (Jerk)- Cats can be very mean, and often take a while to warm up to an individual. Most strongly prefer the gender of their owner.

Total: Abilities: 10 / Skills: 35--17.5 / Advantages: 9 / Powers: 27.5 / Defenses: 5 (63)

-The fact that some creatures can talk and others simply cannot is well-known and little-understood throughout Castellia. Why Pegasi, dinosaurs, Chimerae and elephants cannot speak; but Dragons, Sphinxes, and other creatures can, is a mystery to most. The fact is, it seems rather arbitrary, and it depends on which gods were a part of which creation- most naturally-evolving creatures never learned the ability to speak. This is why the Talking Cats are so unusual- it seems that every once in a while, a cat is born with the ability to talk in humanoid languages. Sentient creatures, they may speak, comprehend or write as well as any other sentient being. Exactly how is not known, but is believed to be Violet Magic, innate to the area, allowing cats a sympatico understanding of the local language, along with greater intelligence. The children of Talking Cats tend to also be able to speak.

-What helps the mystery of these creatures is the fact that many of them live in secrecy, never revealing their gifts, even to people who seemingly own them (as much as anyone may "own" a cat). It's been made clear by many that though they are perfectly capable of speaking to their keepers, they simply choose not to. This is a great mystery to many biologists, but comes as no surprise to anyone who has ever owned a cat.

Jab's Notes: Meowth, peculiarly, is one of the most-recurring Pokemon of all time, and actually #2 next to Pikachu, given his huge role in the anime as Team Rocket's inexplicable, talking cat sidekick. A sarcastic, smart-assed character who always shouts "MEE-OWTH! That's right!" and gets blasted off along with his teammates, it's never really explained just WHY he can talk, even when others of his race (like Giovanni's Persian) cannot, until he gets an episode of focus on his backstory, which indicates that he painstakingly learned human language... to impress a female Meowth. Well yeah, that about explains why guys do ANYTHING.

-Visually, Meowth is not that impressive, and just looks like a cartoon cat with a coin on its head. I never hear about people playing them much, which is odd, considering its importance in the show. As a longtime original, it was given an "Alolan Variation" in the recent generations, appearing dark-colored and with a rather "sissified" pose and droopy eyes. Persian, the later evolution, also got a cartoonishly weird head.

-Meowth is based upon the famous Japanese legend of the "Maneki Neko", the beckoning cat who saved a lord's life by "beckoning" him away from the spot where a lightning bolt struck. And so, from that day forward, all Japanese agreed that every tacky Japanese restaurant would have a cat statue with a permanently "beckoning" arm (which in Japan, is done with an overhand motion), as a symbol of good luck.

-Regarding their Castellian nature, I find the idea of cats who can speak, but usually choose to ignore humans, to be very hilarious, and utterly cat-like.
Spectrum
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Re: Castellia- A Fantasy Setting (Tentacruel! Cloyster! Kingler! Slowpoke!)

Post by Spectrum »

I wonder if this short, Kitten Witch, is also about one of the talking cats? D'aaaaaw warning?

More on the lucky Japanese cat statues:
Wikipedia wrote:To some Westerners (Italians and Spaniards are notable exceptions) it may seem as if the maneki-neko is waving rather than beckoning.[1][2] This is due to the difference in gestures and body language recognized by some Westerners and the Japanese. The Japanese beckoning gesture is made by holding up the hand, palm down, and repeatedly folding the fingers down and back, thus the cat's appearance. Some maneki-neko made specifically for some Western markets will have the cat's paw facing upwards, in a beckoning gesture that is more familiar to most Westerners.[3]

Maneki-neko can be found with either the right or left paw raised (and sometimes both). The significance of the right and left raised paw differs with time and place.[4] According to a general rule of thumb, statue with the left paw raised is meant to be displayed in drinking establishments, while the one with the right paw for all other places of business; another interpretation is that right is for home and left for business.[4]

Some maneki-neko feature battery- or solar-powered moving arms endlessly engaged in the beckoning gesture.
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Woodclaw
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Re: Talking Cat

Post by Woodclaw »

Jabroniville wrote: Sat Nov 17, 2018 8:43 am Jab's Notes: Meowth, peculiarly, is one of the most-recurring Pokemon of all time, and actually #2 next to Pikachu, given his huge role in the anime as Team Rocket's inexplicable, talking cat sidekick. A sarcastic, smart-assed character who always shouts "MEE-OWTH! That's right!" and gets blasted off along with his teammates, it's never really explained just WHY he can talk, even when others of his race (like Giovanni's Persian) cannot, until he gets an episode of focus on his backstory, which indicates that he painstakingly learned human language... to impress a female Meowth. Well yeah, that about explains why guys do ANYTHING.
Actually, that's one of the few details about Pokemon that was specifically addressed in the cartoon (and one of the few episodes I've seen). Meowth himself actually explained that he is a "mutant" pokemon that lost all his combat powers (and the ability to evolve), but gained human-like intelligence and the ability to speech in return.
"You're right. Sorry. Holy shit," I breathed, "heckhounds.”

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Jabroniville
Posts: 24690
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Talking Puma

Post by Jabroniville »

Image

TALKING PUMA
Role:
Talking Cat
PL 7 (105)
STRENGTH
4 STAMINA 4 AGILITY 5
FIGHTING 8 DEXTERITY 0
INTELLIGENCE 0 AWARENESS 1 PRESENCE 2

Skills:
Acrobatics 5 (+10)
Athletics 6 (+12)
Expertise (Survival) 8 (+9)
Intimidation 7 (+5)
Perception 9 (+10)
Persuasion 4 (+6)
Stealth 9 (+14)

Advantages:
Accurate Attack, Chokehold, Fast Grab, Improved Critical (Natural Weapons), Improved Hold, Improved Initiative, Prone Fighting, Seize Initiative, Uncanny Dodge

Powers:
"Animal Senses" Senses 5 (Low-Light Vision, Acute & Extended Scent, Extended & Ultra-Hearing) [5]
Speed 3 (16 mph) [3]
"Natural Weapons- Claws & Teeth" Strength-Damage +2 [2]

"Cat Agility"
"Climbing Skills" Enhanced Skills 4: Athletics 4 (+16) (Flaws: Limited to Climbing) [1]
Leaping 2 (30 feet) [2]

Offense:
Unarmed +8 (+4 Damage, DC 19)
Claws & Teeth +8 (+6 Damage, DC 21)
Initiative +9

Defenses:
Dodge +8 (DC 18), Parry +8 (DC 18), Toughness +4, Fortitude +6, Will +7

Complications:
Disabled (Animal)- Talking Pumas cannot their paws to easily manipulate objects.

Total: Abilities: 48 / Skills: 48--24 / Advantages: 9 / Powers: 13 / Defenses: 11 (105)

-Though far more rare than even Talking Cats, Talking Pumas (or Cougars, or Mountain Lions, or any other of names, depending on the locale) are known to exist. As intelligent creatures, they tend to live near cities, or make themselves known to wealthy individuals, who keep them as pets. Why they would prefer captivity is unknown to some, but really- what intelligent creature would CHOOSE a life of drudgery in the great outdoors, when they could live a life of luxury in some great king's home? After all, they'll be treated like Gods, and no cat anywhere would tolerate being given orders, so it's hardly the slavery known to most domesticated species. As such, having a Talking Puma at one's side is seen as the ultimate in luxury, taste, and status- something Talking Pumas use to great effect. In many cases, they end up living lives more fantastically than their owners!

Jab's Notes: Persians are almost never seen in Pokemon, despite Meowth being such a big name. Much like Raichu, they suffer from being the final evolution of a recurring major character who never evolves, and so we typically never see the evolution, lest some uncomfortable questions get asked, such as "why are they such low-level?". However, Giovanni, the leader of Team Rocket, has a Persian at his side constantly, and a few other Persians have been seen. Rarely are they ever seen battling, however. Whereas Meowth is more distinctively based around Japanese legend and looks like a typical cat, Persian is pretty much identical to a mountain lion, albeit keeping Meowth's old-timey Japanese coin on its forehead.

-The actual Pokemon is about the size of a bobcat, but it LOOKS like a mountain lion, so I went with that version.
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Joined: Fri Nov 04, 2016 8:05 pm

Re: Talking Cat

Post by Jabroniville »

Woodclaw wrote: Sat Nov 17, 2018 5:45 pm
Jabroniville wrote: Sat Nov 17, 2018 8:43 am Jab's Notes: Meowth, peculiarly, is one of the most-recurring Pokemon of all time, and actually #2 next to Pikachu, given his huge role in the anime as Team Rocket's inexplicable, talking cat sidekick. A sarcastic, smart-assed character who always shouts "MEE-OWTH! That's right!" and gets blasted off along with his teammates, it's never really explained just WHY he can talk, even when others of his race (like Giovanni's Persian) cannot, until he gets an episode of focus on his backstory, which indicates that he painstakingly learned human language... to impress a female Meowth. Well yeah, that about explains why guys do ANYTHING.
Actually, that's one of the few details about Pokemon that was specifically addressed in the cartoon (and one of the few episodes I've seen). Meowth himself actually explained that he is a "mutant" pokemon that lost all his combat powers (and the ability to evolve), but gained human-like intelligence and the ability to speech in return.
Weird- I just read the summation of the character that indicates he learned to walk and talk to impress a female Meowth- a later episode reveals that he doesn't know the signature Meowth move, Pay Day, because he spent that move-slot learning to talk!
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