Warmup doodles from yesterday, not meant to be particularly refined. These guys are the three starters of a Pokemon region concept based on Israel, which occasionally flashes to mind and will probably never be developed because Miato requires most of my attention on the fanmon front - But I wanted to doodle the concepts, so I did.
Pomegrunt, the Infantry Pokémon, live in packs with a strict hierarchy and hunt together as a military unit. Pomegrunts hatch with no markings on their arms, but as they mature and rise through the ranks of their pack, their stripe patterns change to reflect this. The branches they hold serve as makeshift combat knives, and they always keep their edges razor-sharp.
It is a Grass-type based on the Canaan dog, pomegranates (both as the fruit is one associated with Israel, and because, as in French, the Hebrew word for ‘pomegranate’ and ‘grenade’ are the same word) and military soldiers.
Serpyre, the Black Snake Pokémon, spends most of the time in underground burrows and emerges at night to hunt. When inactive, its body appears completely black - but when it is roused, lines along its body emit a fierce glow and almost wing-like plumes of flame emit from its head and tail. In spite of these impressive pyrotechnics, Serpyre’s weapon of choice is actually its deadly venom fangs.
It is a Fire/Poison type loosely based on the Israeli Burrowing Asp, (Atractaspis engaddensis), known in Hebrew as ‘Saraf Ein Gedi’ - in case you’re wondering, yes, same etymology as ‘Seraph’, both deriving from the Hebrew root meaning ‘to burn’.
Halcyan, the Kingfisher Pokémon, is especially adapted for hunting in streams and rivers, diving at a sharp angle from a perch overlooking the water and using its large beak to capture fish Pokémon. Its bright, iridescent plumes make it a rather dazzling sight in flight. They are fiercely territorial, and should prominent displays not deter an invader, they will attack, attempting to grab the invader with their beaks and hold it underwater.
It is a Water/Flying type based on the common kingfisher. Israel is not exactly known for aquatic fauna, but it is rather famous for having quite a few migratory birds, many of which are waterfowl.
