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WORLDBUILDING: Hoenn Reloaded: A Guide to the People and Mythos of Champion Game

Misheard Whisper

Misheard Whisper

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Warning: This post contains spoilers from Chapters Three, Five and Six. As these chapters are now all posted, this post is no longer in spoiler tags. Read at your own risk.

The Nature of the World of Dreams​

What is the difference between Nintendo's Hoenn and mine? Well, very little, to be honest. The main difference is the addition of a second world – a world of dreams, of nightmares and revelations.

This second world has its own name in the tongue of its residents, but to the few humans who are aware of its existence, it is known as the world of dreams. (Note: This is not to be confused with Generation V's Dream World. Dammit, Nintendo.) The world of dreams is a world with no physical location, access, or means of discovery through regular means. The only known way that a human may enter the greater part of this world is by possessing the Dreamlight.

The world of dreams is divided into three 'rings'. This does not mean that the world is circular, but it is generally helpful to imagine it as a series of three concentric circles, with the 'human world' surrounding the whole dimension. Each of the circles is a barrier of sorts, separating one part of the world from another.

When a human being falls asleep and dreams, they enter the first ring. This world may take any form and be occupied by facsimiles of any human being, Pokemon or structure that exists in the human world. This is the deepest level of immersion in the dream world that most people will experience. There may or may not be lucidity involved, but in either case, people tend not to realise they are actually visiting another world.

As a side note, some famous psychics, such as Sabrina of the Saffron City Gym in Kanto, have claimed to experience premonitions while in the first ring. This has never been proved, nor is there any discernible link between psychics and the world of dreams. Psychic-type Pokemon such as Hypno, however, are capable of entering a sleeping human's dream and manipulating it at their whim.

While in the first ring of the world of dreams, humans will not encounter other humans, even if they happen to be dreaming at the same time. While asleep, each individual human finds himself in a small section of the ring from which he cannot leave.

The second ring of the world of dreams is the one that very few humans have ever accessed. This area can only be accessed by sleeping with the Dreamlight next to one's heart. The Dreamlight is an ancient artifact of unknown origin that is passed from bearer to bearer when the current holder feels it necessary. (More on this in Passing The Torch: The Dreamlight Tradition)

When a human bearing the Dreamlight enters the first ring, there will be a small hole apparent somewhere within their dream. Sometimes it is obvious, and sometimes it is hidden, but when they find it and touch it with even one finger, they are transported to the second ring.

The second ring is a much more dangerous and unstable realm than the first, fluctuating and prone to damage or even disintegration if not kept under tight control by one with high spiritual power (or yehkti). When unoccupied, however, the second ring remains stable; it is only when the Dreamlight's bearer (known as yehktira) enters it from the first ring that it begins to waver. At the exact moment when the yehktira passes through the portal between the two rings, the boundary between the second and third (innermost) rings weakens drastically. In the few seconds of this window of opportunity, passage between the two inner rings is made much easier.

It is beneficial for the yehktira to have a chaperone of sorts to hold the second ring steady while any Iehkti'na (see Indigenous Races of the Third Ring) that slip through the breach are dealt with, especially if he is not experienced enough to control the chaotic power of the second ring by himself. Once the second ring is clear of enemies, one is able to pass into the third ring.

Passage into the third ring is possible only through a special portal created by a top-level spirit (again, see Indigenous Races of the Third Ring), but it is important that the second ring is clear of enemies first. If not, the Iehkti'na, or nightmares, can pass through into the first ring and potentially out into the human world to cause havoc.

The third ring is the deepest level of dream. This is a world that, on the surface, seems much like Hoenn. It has rivers, forests, fields and plains, and it is host to two forms of sentient life whose eternal purpose seems to be to clash against each other. One race is the Iehkti'na urum'na dar'sni-laku, which loosely translates to 'the empty ones without yehkti that travel between worlds'. They are, at a fundamental level, bodies without souls. They are commonly referred to by humans as 'nightmares', though they have little to do with bad dreams experienced in the First Ring.

Their opposites are the spirits who dwell in the Glade of Shifting Light, deep within the forest that covers a good quarter of the third ring. Just as the Iehkti'na are souls without bodies, the spirits are bodies without souls. While they do have corporeal, tangible form, these spirits do not truly have 'bodies' in the sense that humans would understand. They are essentially immortal, and will not die unless they are killed, which is notoriously difficult.

Both races desire to stamp out the other, though the spirits are more concerned with suppression and avoidance than outright destruction. For more on the two races and their history, see Indigenous Races of the Third Ring and The Everlasting War.
 
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Note: This post contains spoilers from Chapter Fourteen. As this chapter is now posted, this post is no longer in spoiler tags. Read at your own risk.

The Everlasting War​

Over six hundred years ago, the world of dreams emerged from the void. Brought into existence by a man of whom we know very little, we were not born like humans, hatched like Pokemon or grown like plants. We simply were. And so, as we were, were the Iehkti'na. As we came to be in the third ring, so they came to be in the first.

In those first years of turmoil, the Iehkti'na preyed upon the dreams of the humans as they slept in the first ring. Many escaped to the human world and caused great chaos. Although we did not wish to endanger ourselves for the sake of the humans, we felt obligated to them, for it was certainly thanks to one of their number that we came to be – though how, we know not. Also, we knew not of the significance of the humans' role in the maintenance of the Soul Bonds at this time. So it was that we, headstrong and drunk on our own power, waged war against the Iehkti'na.

It was a long and bloody conflict, but in the end, we triumphed. While strong and many, the Iehkti'na were fuelled by anger and hatred of all that was good. While few, we knew we fought to save our creator. We defeated the Iehkti'na, but could not destroy them. So instead, we brought them to the third ring and sealed them away so they could bother the humans – and us – no more.

We thought that was the end of it. But before long, the Iehkti'na broke their bonds and once again attacked us. We beat them back, but were unable to seal them again. Again and again they came, and they were stronger each time. Eventually, tired from endless war and fatigued from beating them back, we set about creating the Spirit Wall, which we set around the Glade of Shifting Light. This wall not only prevents any of evil intent from entering, but also disguises our presence. We are hidden deep within the forest, and the Iehkti'na know this, but they know not where, for the woods are vast, and we beat them back every time they come near the edge.

So the cycle goes on. Eventually, Drayden came to us, and then his son, and his son's son, and his son's son's son. Throughout history, nothing significant has changed, and we carry on with the same security as we always have. Now and then, the drums of war are sounded, and we stand forth to fight back the evil. Always, we are triumphant. No men have fallen in battle since the great wars of the early days. While the Iehkti'na, who are soulless bodies, fall like corn before the scythe, our bodiless souls are incredibly resilient. We do not age, we do not grow sick. We do not die, unless we are killed.

And so the cycle goes on.

Taken directly from Chapter Fourteen and placed here for reference.
 
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Note: This post contains spoilers from Chapter Fourteen. As this chapter is now posted, this post is no longer in spoiler tags. Read at your own risk.

The Deterioration of the Soul Bonds​

The nature of the Soul Bonds is an enigmatic one. While it is certain that they came into being at the same time as we – and our world – did, about seven hundred years past. The Soul Bonds are integral in the stability of both our worlds, for if they are allowed to dissolve, the worlds will drift apart, with disastrous consequences. It is almost certain that the Bonds were crafted by the same person – or persons – who brought our world into existence, for they bear identical magical signatures.

The first time it became evident that the Soul Bonds were collapsing, we sought a means to prevent our destruction. I had ascertained that a great amount of yehkti was necessary to re-cast the Soul Bonds, yet not of the kind that is found within this world. It is thus that the need for a yehktira came about. Through a concerted and risky effort, eleven of our strongest spellcasters journeyed through the second ring and into the first, using all of their combined power to create the Dreamlight, the artefact that allows a mortal to pass between the rings as we do. They bestowed this powerful item on a man known as Drayden, who then became the first yehktira. They brought him into the third ring, and his yehkti healed the Soul Bonds.

Drayden was never needed again, for the Soul Bonds remained stable. Before he died, he passed the Dreamlight on to his son, a man with a far greater measure of yehkti than his father. He also was needed only once in his lifetime. This went on for more than five centuries, until Drayden's line died out. His last descendant handed the Dreamlight on to a woman who would go on to found the contest known as the Pokemon League. Her name was Martha Birch. With my aid, Martha discovered some form of link between those who have great amounts of yehkti and those who perform the most admirably in the tests called Pokemon battles. As a result, she agreed to hand the Dreamlight on to whoever could defeat her in battle, and the tradition of the Dreamlight that lives on today began.

Twice in her lifetime, Martha was required to enter the third ring and stabilise the Soul Bonds. We saw no real need for consternation at this stage, however, for the Soul Bonds remained relatively stable.

Over the next hundred years, however, as the Dreamlight was passed from hand to hand, the frequency with which the yehktira was forced to enter the third ring increased dramatically. As of the year 685 (which the humans call 1985), it was necessary to renew the Soul Bonds twice annually.

It was also around this time that the Iehkti'na began to show an interest in the yehktira and their world. Slowly at first, the smallest of the beasts were able to slip through into the second ring and harass the bearer of the Dreamlight. In these early days, a few small Iehkti'na found their way through to the first ring, though they are all believed to have been trapped there, haunting the nightmares of humans and Pokemon, as they are not strong enough to push through into the humans' world. It soon became customary for a powerful spirit to act as the yehktira's escort during these times, and the attacks were dealt with swiftly.

Now, the Soul Bonds are deteriorating faster than ever. They reach a critical level within a day and a half of being renewed, so the yehktira must navigate the rings nightly to refresh and recover them. The attacks of the Iehkti'na are growing bolder, stronger and more frequent, and it appears it will soon reach the point where the yehktira's escort will not be able to guard against them.

The current yehktira and Champion of the Pokemon League, Steven Stone, is giving his best effort to work towards a solution in his world, as am I in ours, but I fear our efforts will be in vain. The only one who can truly bring the Soul Bonds back to full strength is the one who cast them in the first place, and the knowledge of who that could be is lost in the sands of time, as is, surely, the man himself.

Taken directly from Chapter Fourteen and placed here for reference.
 
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Character Profiles: Ren Goodwin

This post contains only minor spoilers, and as such is not hidden. Information will be kept up-to-date as of the current chapter and more categories will be added as time goes on.

Character Profiles: Ren Goodwin​
Name: Ren Jeremiah Goodwin
Age: 14
Parents: Jeremiah 'Jeremy' Carrol and Thalia Goodwin (amicably divorced)
Siblings: None
Hometown: Slateport
Height: 5 feet 6 inches
Hair: Brown
Starter: Zangoose (gift from father for 10th birthday)
Other Pokemon: Camerupt, Manectric, Solrock, Yanmega and Braviary
Badges: Hoenn League (all), Johto League (Zephyr, Mineral), Unova League (Basic, Trio, Bolt)
Titles: Hoenn League Champion (incumbent), yehktira (incumbent)
Special Skill: Observation and analysis
Win/Loss: 2/0
Battle Record: 1v1 v Roxanne (won), 2v2 vs Cole (won)
 
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