The beautiful, idyllic countryside of Collines Verdes is known for many things. Verdant flower fields, deep and ancient woodlands, bucolic farms and villages, rocky plateaus and clear, mirror-like lakes all make the landscape a fascinating tableau of almost antiquated beauty. However, what truly comes to the mind of visitors to the pleasant country is the abundance of sprawling ruins that can be found all across the wilderness.

Ancient keeps, crumbling towers, vine-shrouded castles and entire time-lost villages can be found if one knows where to look, and when one finds ruins they're bound to find Pokémon. Not just the common breeds of Pokémon found in other regions, either, but various native Pokémon that fill their own unique roles.

One of the more common species is the Rock/Flying type known as Portcuddlis. Roughly the size of a medium dog, Portcuddlis is a shy Pokémon that prefers to hide in caves, abandoned towers and ruined castles, living in small groups in the rafters and high arches of their moldering homes. They can easily be identified by their shining emerald eyes, and the creaking of their bronzed wings as they climb and flit from place to place.

Due both to their weight and the holes in their wings they aren't the best at prolonged flight, but their powerful legs and claws allow for them to leap and grab onto nearly any surface with relative ease. They're curious by nature, and if a trainer can capture one before it flees they're unerringly loyal and affectionate. Their favorite thing to do is to actually climb their trainer and hang onto them for comfort, being fond of cuddling with what they perceive as a member of their family whenever possible.

Their attitude changes significantly if one finds a Bronze Relic, a piece of mysterious metal that can be found in some ruins that will trigger a sudden change in Portcuddlis when held close as it reaches a new level. The evolved form, Knockturne, is a large, dour-look entity that is less affectionate and more intimidating. Though shown here in the closed form, it can best be described as an intimidating stone gargoyle banded with bronze, with wings resembling massive doors. It stands taller than average human male height, and uses its size as both a means of intimidation and a hunting tactic.

Knockturne hunts in flocks with their smaller kin, with the Portcuddlis herding Bug-type and Plant-type prey into the hallways and passages of their ruin homes, where the larger Pokemon use their wings to fill doorways and openings. Once properly herded, the Portcuddlis will feed on fruit and nectar from the Plant-types, while Knockturne will eat Bug-types whole.

Knockturne resembles an enormous bat or gargoyle behind its wings, and has powerful clawed feet for kicking, scratching and climbing, while simultaneously gaining a pair of dexterous, three-fingered hands for grasping. It also has large bronze fangs and a single glowing emerald set into its chest, which it can use to dazzle prey before sweeping in for an attack. It is a favorite of local trainers, if only because the official color scheme of Collines Verdes is green and bronze, as seen on the regional flag.

Knockturne has one unique attribute that it uses with great expertise: The ability to leap into a fight between other Pokémon and use its wings to block an incoming attack entirely. It does it rarely, and only when it feels like it, but the stronger the bond it forms with the other Pokémon and its trainer, the more likely Knockturne is to use this special ability, called Interrompe. They have also been known to use this ability to protect their trainers, including enclosing them in the embrace of their wings to shield them from harm.

An important note: Both Knockturne and Portcuddlis are social Pokémon, and require the presence of a "family unit". They should not be kept as single Pokémon, and should be socialized with their Trainer's other Pokémon for the sake of their own happiness, as well as to build a proper bond to encourage the use of Interrompe. Especially useful in the Oshu-region three-man, six Pokemon team battles, as per standard. A Trainer never knows when a sudden Interrompe could turn the tide of battle!

Portcuddlis, the Affectionate Bat Pokemon. No. 017 in the Collines Verdes regional Pokédex.
Knockturne, the Ancient Barricade Pokemon. No. 018 in the Collines Verdes regional Pokédex.

Art by my friend  Horrified for my Homebrew Pokemon tabletop set in an original European-inspired region called Oshu. More Homebrews to come!