Name: Opipoke

National Dex Number: #053

Flavour Text: Opipoke spends all its time inside caves where it scavenges on anything that crosses its path. The bodies of unfortunate campers whose bones have been picked clean by this Pokémon are a potent warning to trainers about the merits of being prepared for an emergency.

Species: Scavenger

Type: Bug/Dark

Height: 62cm (2,06ft)

Weight: 18kg (39.6lb)

Evolution: One Stage (EXP triggered)

Battle Mechanics

Ability: Inner Focus (This Pokémon’s intense focus prevents it from flinching)/Swarm (When below 1/3 health the Attack and Special Attack of this Pokémon is increased by 50%)

Hidden Ability: Overcast (This Pokémon summons a dark layer of cloud that blocks out the sun on entering a battle)

Egg Group: Bug

Signature Move(s): None

Base Stats

Characteristics

Appearance: Opipoke is a squat arachnid like Pokémon, with a pale brown shell with white bands running around its six walking legs, and the pair of modified claws it holds poised over its back ready to strike. These claws are tipped with a serrated edge, and when rubbed together create a grating sound that echoes around the caves Opipoke lives in. When striking prey, this Pokémon momentarily reveals the white skull like marking on its back, one that is rumoured to cause the death of any trainer unlucky enough to see it.

Opipoke’s face is relatively disgusting with a cluster of six creamy white eyes, set in two banks of three, spread across its head. While these eyes can detect the difference between light and dark, and tell if an object is moving, they are unable to distinguish anything else. Under the eyes are two markings that look like two skeletal human hands, with its protruding fangs in place of a downwards pointing thumb. It’s rumoured that these markings were bestowed on Opipoke after a great disaster from feasting too freely on the bodies of deceased humans that had been sheltering in this Pokémon’s cavernous homes.

Ecology: Opipoke is a cave dwelling Pokémon that rarely ventures out of its underground homes, and then only at night or in the dead of winter. This Pokémon once live outside, but its need for warmth drove it into underground spaces, where at least the temperature remains constant all year long. Due to the scarcity of food in its environment, Opipoke isn’t a fussy eater and will eat anything vaguely organic that crosses its path, and while known as the ‘Scavenger Pokémon’ it hunts more readily then realised.

One of their favourite summer time foods are Zubat pups, which Opipoke attacks when their mother is out of the roost. The pup’s internal organs are often liquidised, with Opipoke draining the vital fluids out of the body at a rapid rate, until only a hanging husk is left. It then waits for the mother Zubat to return, and as she stresses over not getting a response from her errant pup, Opipoke seizes her too and drains her life as well. Because of its slow metabolism, Opipoke eats only when hungry, but when it is it’ll happily tackle prey much larger than itself, as evidence by attacks on Druddigon after the rutting season, with weakened individuals sometimes being overcome by swarms of overconfident Opipoke.

Human beings who enter caves are no exception to Opipoke’s all-inclusive diet, and while most humans remain unmolested by this Pokémon, trainers who get lost or who run out of food often find themselves targeted by this Pokémon. As such it’s recommended by the Invictia Tourist Board that trainer’s keep some kind of powerful torch with them at all times, since Opipoke detests bright light with a passion. That said, there are many skeletons picked clean by this Pokémon, of trainers who failed to heed this warning scattered around the caverns of Invictia.

Trivia

Origin: Opipoke’s appearance and predatory nature is based on a number of arachnids such as cellar spiders and cave harvestmen. The markings on its face are based on the ‘thumbs down’ gesture used to show dissatisfaction.

Name Origin: Opipoke’s name comes from the words Opilones (the family name for a group of arachnids known colloquially as Harvestmen) and Poke