A vibrant planet inhabited by an incredible range of xenoflora. Though the life here is carbon-based, the plants that make up the forests, jungles, plains, and steppes contain a number of strange substances and quirks, from active use of heavy metals in their structure to unusually high concentration of silicates or alkalis to tissues more commonly associated with animals or fungi. Many of them favor geometric shapes, especially in their leaves.
A society of humans has sprung up from two lost evacuation shuttles, namely, the Bell Tower Sunset and the Fuchsia Soul. Evacuees mostly from Kanto and Johto, they have put a great deal of effort into maintaining various bits of both classical and modern Japanese culture in order to preserve their ties to the homeworld. Communication specialists assigned to Ultra Forest must be either fluent or native speakers of Modern Japanese, and familiar with at least one Johto dialect.
Of note are the Kartenvoys, high-ranking elder practitioners of kendo and kenjutsu who hone their craft alongside the Kartana native to the forest. Other preserved traditions include origami, bonsai, ikebana, painting, woodblock prints, traditional musical instruments, calligraphy, zen gardens, traditional clothing, a variety of martial arts, rice farming and mochi, and the holidays of Obon, Tanabata, and Hanami. The Necrozma around whom the planet orbits has been nicknamed Orihime after the heavenly princess in the original Tanabata legend, and wish making is done in her honor. Obon expands its reverence of ancestors to include a celebration of all things Earth, and many rural inhabitants make pilgrimages to the landing site to partake in everything from karaoke and old recordings of pop songs to showings of cinema and television to sessions of the few preserved video games.
Those that live near the landing sites hold on to more modern traditions, such as street fashion and small fandom gatherings around media they still have access to, though clothing and media are typically passed down through generations instead of constantly produced as they were back on Earth. The only modern media industry preserved in Ultra Forest is manga, which is produced by artists eager to contribute to a society that typically focuses strictly on history and survival.
Regions of Ultra Forest have been successfully cultivated using Earthling plants and crops, providing a steady food source for the human evacuees. A number of animal Pokémon have also been discovered and used as sources of meat and are strikingly normal compared to the unusual plant life. Research into the development of Ultra Forest's society is ongoing and provides valuable insight into how other evacuees adapt to their new worlds. Alliances and cultural exchange are currently being considered.
Assigned Squad: The Kendoka
Akkesi, Senior Researcher and Historian
Egregia, Botanist and Mycologist
Ulvales, Combat and Communications Specialist