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Post by ZOM on Feb 2, 2013 15:05:47 GMT -5
Pumice Rock was the result of multiple volcanic eruptions from the now-inactive Mount Icarus. Though the island flourished as it was lapped by the waters of Umbil Lake and bathed in Deconian sun, and plants grew on its surface and Pokemon began to live there and prosper, the volcano and the island both were steeped in superstition, and mainlanders had no interest in colonizing Pumice Rock. They believed the area was cursed, and a number of myths and legends are told to this day about the dangers of Pumice Rock. “There are things there,” the storytellers said. “There are things that hide amidst the ash and in the bubbling lava within Icarus’ mouth. Horrible, ancient things.”
Over 30 years ago, a group of government-funded scientists turned up their noses to the superstitious warnings. They traveled to the island, which was but a short boat ride away, and began building a massive research facility. They issued a public statement explaining that they believed it was time to look past old wives’ tales and rumors; they wanted to study the Pokemon living there, and study the volcano, and have a scientific hub within the Decona region. “What better place for it?” they said. “It’s in a central location, it’s untouched and ripe for observation, and there’s plenty of space for a facility. It’s perfect.”
The research building was built tall aboveground and built deep belowground, into the lake. Many natives disapproved of the construction, for both environmental and superstitious reasons, but the work went on with the government’s approval. “It will make jobs,” insisted government officials. “And it will help to propel Decona into the future. We’re falling behind, scientifically and technologically. This will get us back on track.”
And so they built, and built, and when at last the construction was done, hundreds of individuals were hired by the government to work in the facility. The public did not get much information about the work that went on there, but new trainers were able to visit the facility to get a Pokemon, since the lab bred Pokemon for research purposes and often had an excess. Occasionally, a statement would be issued about a new cure for a disease, or a new robotic invention that was being worked on, or a new molecule that had been discovered. The scientist at the head of the facility, Professor Willow, would usually be the one to deliver the news to the public, although he was almost always holed up in the lab and near impossible to reach unless he wanted to be.
Then, something big was finally announced. The scientists had made a miraculous new concoction, a gene-altering creation, which could empower humans like never before. They could give humans the strength of Pokemon. Just an injection, some testing, nothing big – and then, voila, you were able to lift three times your weight or breathe fire or do truly, really incredible things that had previously been possible only for Pokemon. It became a new craze, a fashionable and modern thing, to buy the formula for yourself and become a “Pokemorph.” It was expensive, but more and more the people of Decona saw being human as not quite good enough.
Today, Pokemorphs are becoming more and more frequent in Decona. The rich are almost all Pokemorphs, and the lower-class who can’t afford it look at Pokemorph models and celebrities with envy and longing. The lab staff takes great pride in their concoction, and even young trainers who visit to get a Pokemon will be fed advertisements and plugs for the injection.
Despite all the hype surrounding the injection, the primary service offered to the public at this facility is the giveaway of Pokemon to wannabe-trainers. Secondarily, a trainer can help the facility staff by catching Pokemon and giving them to the facility for a cash reward, or can loan a Pokemon to the lab to be bred and get a Pokemon for their troubles. Other odd jobs might be available to a trainer looking to help or get some brownie points with the scientists.
OTHER TIDBITS:
- Though many wild Pokemon live on the island, much of the wilderness has been fenced off from the public by a high wall. This can only be accessed by scientists and government officials affiliated with the research facility. As a result, there isn’t a whole lot of wildlife for civilians to see on Pumice Rock. Birds, bugs, and rodents are relatively common outside the wall, but they’re nothing special and certainly not enough to keep most eager young trainers cooped up there on the Rock.
- Civilians have access to only the first floor of the facility unless given explicit permission by a governmental authority or high-ranking scientist within the facility. Specifically, most civilians only see the lobby, which of course the front entrance leads into, and perhaps some of the lab rooms where basic tests are performed on Pokemon. The lobby is a very sterile, large room with tall white walls and a chandelier hanging from the high ceiling. At the far back of it is a pair of elevators, which provide access to the upper and lower floors of the facility. In the center are a number of black and white couches and chairs, as well as some coffee tables, so that waiting civilians may make themselves comfortable. The walls are decorated by rather inoffensive, uninteresting paintings, as well as some charts with health facts and tips and some posters advertising the injection that everyone is buzzing about. Near the front entrance is a help desk, always manned by a secretary. Above the elevators is a large television screen which displays a list of jobs that need doing at the moment, or opportunities currently available to those interested. The list is concluded with “Inquire at front desk!” The floor is a clean, shiny white tile, but the sitting area in the middle is padded by a massive, ornate, blue-and-yellow rug. The front door which opens into the lobby is automatic-opening, and is locked past 8 PM at night, although knocking on them may get a response from a staff member inside – if they’re feeling nice that night.
- Professor Raleigh Willow is a very mysterious but famous Deconian figure. He is credited with all sorts of incredible medical and technological advancements, although he will be the first to claim that he couldn't have done any of it without the assistance of his staff at the Pumice Rock lab. Most prominently, he is credited with the creation of the Pokemorph injection. Despite his great contributions he rarely shows his face to the press, unless he has something new to announce, and he is almost never seen in person except by the scientists he works with in his lab. On rare occasion he may introduce himself to a civilian in the lab, but this is typically on accident or if he feels a civilian has enough potential to garner his attention. Those who have met him say he is soft-spoken, not charismatic as he seems during press releases, but still has a distinct air of distraction and self-importance as though there is someplace he would rather be.
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