Hey, guys. Doom Master here. I figured it'd be a good idea to provide some context before we got started. The human characters I'm using for this story were taken from an original novel I'm working on called Dragon of Grace. It's an extremely dark and sobering story about resilience in the face of apocalyptic obstacles. I've been playing a few Pokémon ROM hacks recently that inspired me to try something different with the franchise. Snakewood's the closest we've really gotten to a full-length horror mod, but the story's looser and more comedic than straight up horror-fantasy. I don't really use the horror tag much anymore because the formula I use mixes a lot of elements from action games and Japanese RPGs, so there's not really much risk of the protagonists dying off short of unforeseen circumstances and plot twists. In short, you guys will see a lot of ideas inspired by games like Resident Evil 4, Shadow Hearts, and Final Fantasy 7 as well as a heavy amount of realism and nostalgia. The characters and Pokémon will work together to stop evil forces from destroying the world. This will include combat scenarios and a tight, controlled narrative spanning across the globe. You'll see a variety of classic video game mechanics from buying weapons and armor to side-quests and upgrading skills and abilities. However, unlike many games, these mechanics tie directly into the plot instead of distracting from it. The story will be far more linear and streamlined than the official Pokémon canon, so I figured it'd be an interesting read for people looking for a contained experience focused on collective progression. With that out of the way, I hope you all enjoy what my world-crafting techniques have to offer, and if people like it enough, maybe we'll see a hack based on it someday. I'm sure it'll be just as much of an experience for me. With that being said, the dogs of chaos are howling, and the light is calling our names.
October 1st, 1997. It began in the small, sleepy town of Silver Falls. The remote village was located on the western continent, in the independent region of Omoiyari. Four houses spread across a square patch of land. The area was almost completely landlocked, save for a clearing leading north. In the first house, Maria Drake helped her family prepare for company. They'd invited their next-door neighbor Emily for a sleepover that evening. The two households had only known each other for a little over a year, but in that time, they'd become close. Emily viewed Maria as the big sister she never had. Being the only child in a family of five meant she often turned inward for a sense of wonder. While the world wasn't as new or exciting as infancy, it still had plenty to offer. She found camaraderie in their other neighbors as well. Directly south of her house lived a young loner named Zane, who had lost his mother the summer of that same year. Next to him lived Eric - a tall, muscular man of dark complexion. Each of these souls were bonded by a shared sense of loneliness, never feeling like they fit in. Their fascination with strength, fantasy, and alternative lifestyles set them apart from most. The town itself was so isolated their online network was impossible to trace. The world was oblivious to their existence. Inside, Maria finished cooking dinner. It wouldn't be long before Emily arrived. Between them and Maria's brother Brandon, the trio planned to watch movies, listen to music, and play video games upstairs. Brandon usually had time off work closer to the holidays. Maria felt something brush against her leg. She gazed down into her Pokémon's eyes. Hers were still concealed by the veil of her mane. She reached down, scratching dark type gently on its forehead.
"Hey, buddy. You gettin' hungry too?"
Maria lifted the feline into her arms. It was a breed removed from the Eevee line with ancestral roots dating back to the ice age. In the Omoiyari region, it was known as Kulutt, the consuming shadow. It was here another quirk came to light. While most people chose names based on type and breed, Maria preferred humanizing her Pokémon, making them aware they were part of the family. For Kulutt, she chose the name Ian. In truth, she wasn't sure why. It just sounded good at the time. A knock came from the other side of the front door. Maria carried Ian over, twisting the knob to release the barrier. Emily was escorted by her grandfather, George. In contrast to Maria, Emily preferred the security of canine companions. They were bigger and fluffier. It wasn't an issue since Ian and Honcho got along well.
"How are the others?" Maria questioned, making sure everyone was set for the evening.
"They're fine," George replied, "Just stickin' to themselves as usual."
"Would you like to join us? Dinner's almost ready."
"I'll pass. Stomach can't handle young people food like it used to."
"We've got plenty in the fridge. You're welcome to it."
"Well...What the hay. I guess it couldn't hurt."
"Come on. It's cold out there."
"You ain't kiddin'."
George followed Emily inside. He was greeted warmly by the Drakes' parents, Peter and Sarah.
"Would you like some coffee?" the latter asked.
"Sure," George replied graciously, "Straight black'll do."
"No cream or sugar. You're cray, ya know that?"
"Doesn't do nothin' for us old geezers. Black's all that keeps me awake these days."
"Gotcha."
Emily rested by the oven with Maria. They had plenty to eat during the night. Like most days, life in Silver Falls was slow. Each resident possessed a unique skillset which made daily tasks possible. While Sarah assumed the role of homemaker, Peter and George maintained construction. Zane provided electricity and technical support in the event their network failed. Brandon took the job of psychologist, as he was trained in the field by the hospital a town over. He and Maria also knew first-aid. Eric was the town artist. Whenever extra income came in, Maria would commission him for drawings and paintings to hang on the walls. He would occasionally help with groceries, hunting, and foraging when money was tight. While one might assume it was a constant struggle, everyone was quite content. By combining their resources, the group had made a sustainable life for everyone. Not only were they surviving, but they were thriving, unburdened by the constraints and expectations of broader civilization. Maria removed the pizzas from the oven while Emily made a large bowl of popcorn.
"We've got plenty if everyone's still hungry," Maria said casually, "We stocked up for the holidays."
"It's funny," George stated, "I always figured a life like this would be harder to maintain, but with everyone pitchin' in, it really ain't so bad."
"The beauty of communal living. Everybody's got each other's backs."
"Kids are smarter than we give ya credit for. Guess us old folk need to lighten up a bit every once in a while."
"Likewise. You question what you see and look for real solutions. Seems a lot harder to find these days."
"Well, I didn't get there without makin' mistakes. That's why we make 'em though, ain't it?"
"Pretty much. We're gonna go upstairs. You guys hang out here and chill for a bit. Should probably warm up before you head home."
"Don't worry 'bout me. I ain't so frail yet."
"Suit yourself."
George watched as the quintet vanished above the walls. He had come to respect Maria's insight a great deal. The mind of an elder in the body of teenager only came along once in a lifetime. Testing her limits and expanding them was an opportunity he couldn't afford to let slip through his fingers.
"She's a smart kid. Damn good heart, too."
"Wonder where she got it." Sarah teased. George chuckled.
Zane sat alone in his room, browsing online to kill time before bed. One of the ways he got around was by checking the news every so often. When he logged in to his messenger account, he noticed several disturbing articles. Reports of cannibalism and other violent incidents shot through the roof. The body count was accelerating at an unprecedented rate. Whatever was causing them seemed to be spreading. While true it was close to Halloween, it seemed a bit premature for a prank. The sheer volume of links was also unusual. Verifying the sources, he confirmed their stories. Videos showed footage of trainers and Pokémon attacking bystanders with no provocation. The amount of gore covering traffic lanes was nothing short of grotesque. Before he could warn the others, a loud bang echoed from outside.
"HELP! PLEASE, HELP! SOMEBODY, LET ME IN!"
Rushing over, Zane unlocked the door. For the moment, whoever was screaming still sounded human. A woman around his age sprinted inside, looking for somewhere to hide. Her gown and skin were swamped in blood. Something awful had happened close by.
"What's going on!? What happened!?"
"Oh, God! My husband, he's-"
"Listen. I need you to calm down. You're safe here."
The woman shook her head in terror. She was shaken to the point of hysteria. Zane checked her over for wounds. She had a few gashes, but nothing to warrant concern.
"My name's Zane. I've been reading about what's going on. I think I can help you."
"How!?"
"My friends and I have been training for this for a while. We knew something was up with the way the world's been lately. Everybody's been on edge the last few years. We just didn't know when or how it would happen."
"You have to help me! We need to get out of here!"
"We will. Just stay calm and try to keep your voice down. We might buy ourselves some time if we stay quiet."
The woman hesitated for a moment, but eventually agreed.
"What's your name?"
"Jessica," she sniffled, "Jessica Veroway."
"Follow me, okay? My buddy Eric's next door. There are two families in the houses above us. Once we get them we can evacuate."
Jessica nodded. The pair headed for Eric's.