What's a Pokemorph?

Pokemorphs on Vanishing Point

Basics

Pokemorphs on Vanishing Point MUCK are humans who have taken on the characteristics of Pokemon, creating a unique species of their own. The first Pokemorphs underwent their transformations about five years ago, after a major meteor shower on Mt. Moon; in the years since, the transformations have continued at a steady pace, and it has become clear that this new hybrid species is here to stay. As an emerging species, faced with an ambivalent human public, they are still finding their place in the world.

The Transformation

Little is yet understood about the process by which humans are transformed into Pokemorphs, but some basic facts are known. First, only humans are affected, usually adults and never anyone below the age of puberty; no Pokemon has ever transformed. Second, the process is not contagious and involves no known pathogen. While those communities closest to Mt. Moon have had the most people affected, there otherwise seems to be no common thread between those transformed, and contact with Pokemon or Pokemorphs does not increase the chances of undergoing transformation.

The transformation process begins with a one- to two-week period of flu-like symptoms: fatigue, aches, increased appetite, and generalized feelings of discomfort. After this period, the changing human will fall into a deep sleep, during which the actual physical changes of the transformation occur; depending on the degree of physical change, this can take anywhere from a few days to two weeks. At the end of this process, the new Pokemorph awakens fully changed, and for better or worse, their new life has begun.

For unknown reasons, newly-transformed Pokemorphs are always of their most basic adult forms (e.g., Pikachu as opposed to Pichu or Raichu); aside from that, they apparently can take on the characteristics of any non-Legendary species. The most common Pokemorph species are those closest to the human norm, particularly mammalian and avian species, and more divergent species often involve medical problems as a result of the transformation, but such individuals do exist.

Biology

In most regards, Pokemorphs are biologically equivalent to humans; they eat human food (although many now find Berries and Berry-based confections tastier than most humans do) and respond normally to human medications. Medicine formulated for Pokemon generally won't work on them, and Pokeballs are as inert to them as they are to humans. However, aside from their physical traits, Pokemorphs do show some biological connection to their elemental types, as detailed below in "Powers and Weaknesses."

Pokemorphs are a reproductively distinct species; while some have human children from before their transformation, they can no longer interbreed with humans (or Pokemon, for that matter). However, all breeds of Pokemorph can interbreed freely, producing Pokemorph children. These children will be the breed of one parent, although they may have small cosmetic features of the other parent's breed. Although naturally-born Pokemorph children are still quite young -- the oldest was born four years ago -- thus far they seem to develop at the same speed and on the same path as human children.

Pokemorph evolution is still largely a mystery; only one Pokemorph has evolved to date, a Milotic-Morph named Iphigenia, and she refuses to reveal the circumstances of her evolution. Certainly, evolution stones don't seem to work as they do on Pokemon. There are a thousand theories about what might -- everything from special potions brewed from Mt. Moon herbs to sheer force of will -- but nobody has yet managed to repeat Iphigenia's feat, let alone publicize how it's done.

Powers and Weaknesses

Derived from humans as they are, Pokemorphs on Vanishing Point MUCK are closer to humans than Pokemon, and as a result they do not gain the power of a Pokemon moveset. They simply aren't "Pokemon enough" for it. However, they do develop low-level supernatural powers associated with their elemental types. Those attuned to natural elements will usually gain a certain degree of ability to control and manipulate those elements. Flying-type Pokemorphs can often use their new wings to glide or fly clumsily over short distances; Fighting-type Pokemorphs tend to be quite a bit stronger than normal humans; Psychic-types usually have low-level psychic abilities, most often telepathy and telekinesis. While Pokemorphs' powers are still nowhere near the strength of true Pokemon, they're strong enough to make humans take notice.

However, along with these elemental powers come minor type weaknesses, along the lines of the normal base Pokemon. These are not truly dangerous or crippling, but they are irritating. (Fire-types, for example, tend to suffer rashes and skin irritation as the result of prolonged contact with water; if they take quick showers and don't swim often, though, they'll probably be fine.)

Pokemorphs in Society

In the five years since the transformation began, Pokemorphs have become visible at all levels of society, and transformations have occurred in numbers sufficient to make them a true minority population and not simply a curiosity. Transformations have occurred across all four Pokemon-raising regions, but are most common in Kanto and Johto.

For the most part, Pokemorphs live the same kinds of lives humans do; they work, play, live, and love as normal members of society. All the regions in which Pokemorphs have appeared recognize them as legally human, and while a recent law passed in Kanto (and soon copied by the other regions) prohibits Pokemorphs from serving in the military or holding public office, they otherwise have all the legal rights of any other human.

This isn't to say that Pokemorphs have blended seamlessly into society, however, or that they are universally accepted. Open prejudice against Pokemorphs is still unfortunately common, and many humans are uncomfortable with them -- particularly in Sinnoh, where the relatively low rate of transformation means that superstition and rumors about 'morphs generally run free. Kanto, as the site of the most transformations, tends to have the greatest level of societal acceptance of Pokemorphs, which has resulted in a high rate of immigration among the newly transformed; these new arrivals tend to flock to Pewter City and Cerulean City, which have become known as morphic Meccas. These two cities now boast remarkably large 'morph populations, at over 40% of their total (as opposed to roughly 20% in most of Kanto, 15% in Johto, and between 5% and 10% in Hoenn and Sinnoh).

Perhaps the most uncomfortable subject in human-'morph relations is the subject of romance. As transformed humans, many Pokemorphs have human spouses or romantic partners before their transformations, and most retain a romantic interest in humans; human opinion on this subject varies widely, from curiosity and acceptance to discomfort or outright disgust. Post-transformation breakups and divorces are quite common, although some relationships do stay together, and many Pokemorphs only date within their new species to avoid potential disaster. That said, there are interspecies couples who stay together or find new love, but they often have an uphill battle; while humans and Pokemorphs can legally marry, some clergypeople will refuse to do so, and interspecies couples who want children often face prejudice when trying to adopt.

Many Pokemorphs find their new lives filled with struggle: confusion or rejection from loved ones, medical problems that may arise from their new body, and a change in self-image that may be overwhelming. However, for every tale of despair, there are two of hope and opportunity -- of Pokemorphs and their allies creating new lives and a new world. Will your characters be adventurous, despairing, or somewhere in between?