About Decona

[ZOM]

The Decona region and its inhabitants were, for much of the region's history, dedicated to agriculture and trade, and the region's island location made it very accessible by ship. As a result, Decona thrived, although old superstitions prevented much region-wide technological advancement and modernization until very recently. Although some attempts were made to import new technologies from other regions of the world, it was not until the government funded the construction and staffing of a lab on Pumice Rock that Decona began to make a name for itself based on its medical and technological contributions.

The creation of the Pokemorph injection was a huge development for Decona. It would make humans into something super-human: not only were Pokemorphs more long-lived as a whole due to stronger immune systems and improved stamina and general sturdiness, but they gained all the strengths of the Pokemon they had once fought alongside. Why own a Charizard when you could breathe fire and fly on your own wings? The injection was still somewhat experimental for several years, and any doctor would give plenty of warnings before agreeing to give it, but so far the only widely-reported side effects have been chronic and sometimes crippling pain for a week or so after the injection while new features grow and develop. This might sound like a suitable deterrant, but it's a small price to pay for incredible strength and ability beyond what any human could boast.

The monetary cost, on the other hand, was and is more lofty than most folks could even consider for a procedure that is primarily cosmetic. Certain Deconians, however, saw the price tag as no issue at all. Much of Midocian City is now populated by Pokemorphs, whereas smaller towns with lower average income have very few Pokemorphs. This invention, more than any others, widened the class divide to an extreme by providing an obvious marker of who has wealth and class and who does not. Unrest has been growing steadily between humans and Pokemorphs, the wealthy and the middle- to lower-class. Those without access to the injection have expressed concern that Pokemorphism results in a loss of humanity, and that Pokemon training will fall out of favor if humans are able to do everything that Pokemon can do. As if in response to this concern, a very young branch of the Pokemon League sprung up in Decona, and new trainers began to flock to the region to try their hand at defeating the League.

By boat and by plane, these trainers have been arriving in droves to experience Deconian life, and they have come in the midst of a cultural shift for Decona. Who knows where things will lead from here?