As we have already covered in previous chapters, flying Pokemon were almost revered for their agility and diversity, making them dangerous enemies and incredible assets to earth-bound humans. Attack was occasionally used by bird-based tribes, such as the tribes located near where Violet city is today (the role of a flying-type gym leader there was based on the old legends of birds being more powerful in that area) and defence might be a last resort or an opening ploy. The most common use, however, was in lightning-quick raids.
Bird Pokemon are built for speed. They have aerodynamic bodies, wings that make flight possible, and often can use rushes of adrenalin to become extremely fast for a couple of minutes at most. Raiding would often include stealing food or supplies, or taking the baby Pokemon that hadn't been raised to serve only their tribe yet. Bird Pokemon usually had talons to carry things away and could escape into the sky. Only electric Pokemon could be trusted to defeat the birds in this kind of fight, as they are renowned for extreme speed and can shock their foes at enormous distances.
The most commonly used bird Pokemon for raids was pidgeot; it was faster than any other known flying Pokemon at that stage, and was strong enough to carry enormous loads at these speeds. skarmory, though capable of flight, was still slowed by its load of steel feathers, making it an unlikely choice for lightning-raids. Fearow was too slow for raids, but could carry even larger loads than pidgeot. Any other bird Pokemon had their uses as raiders, and no raiding party at that time was considered a full team unless aided by two or three bird Pokemon.
Before every raid, the tribe would dance and celebrate their bravery for going out into terrible danger (as Pokemon had not been completely tamed at this point, and even venturing near a weedle or pidgey had its dangers). Each Pokemon involved would be crowned with flowers and showered with feathers collected over weeks or months, and every human would be painted in the tribe's traditional colours. The tribe leader would give a lengthy speech on courage, ability and the fate of deserters, and then the tribe members would dress in costumes designed on the fastest and sneakiest legendary Pokemon of their region. Dances and rites would continue long after the raiders left, and would end when news returned of their success or failure.
Now, without cheating, please send in your answers to this surprise quiz; if you find it far too easy, find a guide to ancient history more suitable to your level.
Q1. What is 'Feathered Swarm'?
Q2. Which Pokemon was the best defensive flyer commonly used?
Q3. Which legendary Pokemon influenced and controlled primitive humans the most in the Johto and Kanto regions?
Q4. What speech would a tribal elder give before a raid?
Q5. List alphabetically every Johto legendary Pokemon you can remember.
Please remember that this is a 'Beginner's Guide to Ancient Warfare'. Any complaints may be forwarded to Dodectron directly through Private Message. Answers to this surprise quiz must be answered through Private Message, to avoid cheating.