WORLDBUILDING: A Whole New World

[Noteleks]

Lol, I'm so punny. But seriously- I am creating a whole new region, Zacre, from scratch. It's been a long and hard process but I think I've got it mostly figured out. Any thoughts, opinions, whatever will be greatly appreciated.

Alrighty, so here's a the Table of Contents, so to speak. I wrote this like it was an article on Bulbagarden.

Zacre

Etymology-

‘Zacre’ is derived from ‘Nacre’, pronounced [zay-ker]. But it’s not the only name. Zacre is the name of the island region as a whole but the region is divided into two halves both geographically and socially. Much like the United States, only the respective people believe themselves as ‘Iowans’, ‘Texans’ or ‘Californians’ or whatever first and foremost. The two ‘states’ are Novara and Avali.

Design Concept

The region is an island that is broken up by a wide river, splitting it up geographically into a southeastern part and a northwestern part. The shapes of the two islands are modeled after the yin-yang symbol as sort of play on words. Er… Not words… Um, Well. It’s a joke. The two parts really don’t get along. I based the basic culture off renaissance Italy/Victorian era and India respectively. The Italian part wears the more renaissance/Victorian clothes but there’s sort of a modern flair to it. They are a very advanced people but still lend back to the manual labor of older times. Kinda like a steam punk society, with lots of parties, balls, and social gatherings, which steam punk is mostly from the Victorian era. They are also very big on the arts, much like the Renaissance.

On the other hand, we have the Indian society. They aren’t barbarians, absolutely not. They have the same basic technology that their counterpart has, but the desert sand effects how it’s set up. Just differences engineering, not capability. Their clothing is obviously geared towards desert weather, not fashion. And they are a more serious culture that focuses on work and physical ability than trivial matters of dances and arts. Because of this, they are, generally speaking, better trainers and fighters. Not all the people live in cities. There are settlements of semi-grounded nomads around any decent oasis.

I am not trying to represent these ideas perfectly- just take some of the basics and fill in the gaps. Thus, the goal is to not offend anyone.

 

[Noteleks]

History - Note that this is my interpretation of Pokemon history, not meant to taken too seriously. Oh! And no copyright infringement intended.

Centuries ago, when the world was still ‘fresh’, their (Novarans and Avalians) respective ancestors lived on the mainland (Unova, Hoenn, Kanto, Johto, Sinnoh). Arceus, as Pokémon mythology goes, created the world, but he was not the only power. This is where I lean on the mythology of the Romans. Arceus had brothers and sisters, so to speak. They would be what Romans called the Titans. The ancient powers of the world before. They created the Elements: Time, space, fire, electricity, ice, grass, water, rock, steel… So on and so forth. These elements were brought in the form of their ‘children’, what we call Legendary Pokémon. Ditto play a part in this story of creation pretty easily: a ditto is the clay from which all Pokémon were made (My fan fic features a Ditto, doesn't mean much to you guys). Mew had the DNA and Ditto had the ability to become it. These two species eventually became so interlinked that once a Ditto had enough types of DNA secreted inside itself, it transformed into Mew as its new original form. But, once it becomes a Mew, it cannot change back into its old form ever again. Not even temporarily. To be considered a ‘pure’ Mew, it needs to carry all the DNA, however. Arceus can take care of that.

For a while, the Leviathan and the Elements were able to coexist. But, as Roman myth will tell you, it did not last forever. Eventually, the Elements wanted full control of the world. And they were powerful enough to do it. A tidbit of this is in Rayquaza’s words (fan fic), “It was as we wanted, but it ended as we feared.” Once Arceus collapsed into slumber, the Elements took their opportunity, knowing that Arceus would be too much a challenge for them. Leviathans were sorely outnumbered and eventually, the tide was against them. But, two of the ancient tribes battled with them, like trainers. They supported them and held back the Elements as best as they could. Not only that, but they were safe guarding two of the Elements that had not been completed. Each needed a special stone to awaken, but it was strictly forbidden for this to happen. These Elements were volatile, dangerous, apocalyptic in power. So, the stones to awaken them were hidden in the depths of the earth. Never to be found. But, back to the raging war- eventually, the Leviathan dropped down to Arceus (asleep), Rayquaza, Giratina, Mew, Regigigas, Craykon (the kraken-beast), Drakian, Zeran, and Tal’veth.

Forced to either surrender, retreat, or leave forever, the remaining Leviathan decide to simply retreat to where they are safest… Arceus was sleep in his temple on the island that is known as Zacre. To protect Arceus while he was asleep, they moved the two tribes that had served so well there with him as well as the tombs of the two Elements (Velenorse and Sinhahela) to the forest and the mountains, respectively. Afterwards, they went their separate ways. Rayquaza, a strong fighter amongst them, calmed the fight between Kyorge and Groudon, who were too busy fighting each other to join in the struggle of their brethren and then retired to ozone layer, where he was safe. Giratina hid in the distortion world, where Palkia and Dialga couldn’t follow because there isn’t any time or space for them to control. The Mew were left alone, for the most part. They died off from the lack of food available to them. Regigigas and his golems, all remained loyal to him, went to their temples and stayed there, safe guarded by the ancient technology of the two ancient tribes. Craykon was and still is too big for any Element to take on, but it never sought an active role in the war. It is a happy-go-lucky creature that means well, even if it does wrong. To make it mad would be far worse than anyone could even imagine. It could destroy the Earth in a matter of an hour in rage. Drakian, Zeran, and Tal’veth sleep within the depths of Zacre's land, they are the final guardians who ensure that nothing harms Arceus.

The island was then sealed away with the help of their most trusted creations, golurk. Oh yes! Dragon Spiral tower incorporates the same architectural style that I’m using in Novara (Italy). So, it was built by the Novarans back when they lived on the mainland and golurk were guardians of the highest power, the king (of course). The golurk from the tower came with them and they were given a third evolution known as ‘golark’. It is a giant, herculean pokémon and (since a gulurk can, in fact, be taught protect) they created and hold a protective shield over the island, much like in the animated movie, Atlantis. While this shield, that not only protects the island, but hides it from view with the mirage-like quality it creates, it keeps the Elements out, and keeps everything and everyone that is inside, inside it. So people who live there and those that are taken there, can’t just leave if they want to. Craykon guards sea access (happy-go-lucky wanted to help somehow) and he takes people there and, every five years, takes those who want to leave back.

Much like Leviathan and Elements, the ancient Novarans and the Avalians got along very well for a long time. The regions they inhabited were as close to their old homes as possible. They had different resources, different materials, different technology, culture, art, and foods. They traded with each other, relied on each other and intermingled freely. Then, one ruler in Novara got greedy. He, Laurence Piazzi, wanted to take over both regions. Laurence defeated all other rulers in Novara and gained supreme power there. That was only enough for a while before he moved on to trying to take Avali. He treated them as inferior peoples, but he never showed that to the Novarans. The people of Avali were able to stave off take-over with their stronger fighters, and the struggled ended with his death. But it left a bitter wound that, even with time, didn’t heal. The two regions closed the gates to one another and, for a while, tried to be self-reliant. But they need each other. Trade recommenced. But the gates into the regions were closed to each other. Trade is a very professional deal now and goes through only one city in each region to the other before being shipped through out the rest of the region.

One other thing came from this: a league of strong fighters from both regions dedicated to preventing war again called Wardens (Elite Four), governed themselves by the Champion (the Champion, of course).

Novara and Avali both sport four major cities that are ruled Viscounts (Gym Leaders). There is also a Duke in Novara and a Sultan in Avali. Novara has a ton of nobles who hold tidbits of political power. However, Avali also has a ‘shaman’ of sorts or a ‘wise woman’. She has no political power, but her words/advice/wisdom carries great weight among the people so it’s wise that the Sultan listens to her. Long ago, the first of the shaman’s created the Halyne, a giant palace carved into the mountains. The Halyne is decorated with statues, tapestries, and paintings of things that were and things yet to come. Every shaman adds a prophecy to the Halyne in some form. In the Halyne is a passage known as the Hall of Champion. It is a corridor that leads into different grand halls and great rooms decorated the whole way with statues. The doors leading into these rooms divide the Hall into three sections. The first stretch is for what will be known as the Seven Great Ancients. I don’t mean that as in what I will call them, but what the later future will look back and call them. Each statue is of a Champion that has either passed or has yet to come.

In contemporary history, they are still in the Age of the Ancients and waiting for the seventh, and last, to come along. The Duke of Novara and the Sultan of Avali are at ends with each other and are trying to conquer the opposing region. This has been going on for a while and they battle constantly. Most people are sick of it all and just want the fighting to stop. The regions are war-torn and weary. They are hoping for anyone who can turn it all around. The Wardens and the Champion have disappeared and refuse to return and deal with the disaster at hand. So it’s looking like a total shit storm.