Annihilape (Primeape, Mankey)

  Plenaira insulam

  Overview

  Ghost-types have been linked to death for millennia. European philosophers and early scientists had long suspected, but been unable to prove, that at least some ghost-types were previously living humans or pokémon, and not just creatures drawn to graveyards or the sites of recent catastrophes. Chinese, Korean, and Japanese natural philosophers had been able to prove this for years. Annihilape are ghost-types that evolve upon death.

  Despite the incredibly morbid evolution method, this does not appear to result in significant psychological distress or health problems. If anything, annihilape are far better tempered than they were before their deaths. Primate pokémon are some of the hardest to train. This is because humans have similar anatomy but often radically different mindsets than most other primates. Simple human behaviors such as eye contact and smiling can convince primeape that they are facing a challenger to their mates, food, or territory. Because primeape are strong enough to break steel in a few hits, these are not fights the trainer can win.

  The line are not recommended for beginners. Experienced pokémon trainers with an abundance of patience, an authoritative or gentle presence, and at least one other pokémon strong enough to shut down challenges might be interested in training one.

  Physiology

  Mankey and primeape are classified as pure fighting-types. Annihilape are classified as dual fighting- and ghost-types. Ordinarily type changes between evolutions are disfavored. It is strongly justified in this case and essentially uncontested.

  Mankey have very thick fur that hides the general shape of their body and makes them appear substantially larger than they are. The fur on their paws and at the tip of their tail tends to be slightly darker than that on the rest of their body. Mankey have long and powerful limbs. Both their hands and feet have long digits that can be moved independently of each other. Mankey’s long tails are prehensile. Like primeape, mankey have large and prominent ears and pink noses that extend out of their fur.

  In most ways primeape resemble a larger mankey. There are even scientists who argue that they should be merged into a single evolutionary stage. However, primeape have two notable external differences. First, primeape have pads over their buttocks referred to as sex glands. These are typically filled with blood and appear to be red. When a female ovulates, her pads swell to signal her willingness to mate. Second, primeape’s tails are proportionally much shorter than those of mankey.

  Primeape are built to be flushed with adrenaline for long periods of time without serious damage. Their muscles repair themselves quickly, they have powerful hearts and lungs, and blood can be diverted from their brain towards their muscles without many consequences as a fight wears on. This allows primeape to continue fights or pursue intruders for far longer than any other primate pokémon species can. Primape’s brains are almost uniquely capable of operating with minimal blood flow for extended periods of time.

  Annihilape typically have thinner limbs and a larger torso than primeape. Their fur is dark grey on the main body with long light-grey fur on their back. This fur tends to blow freely even in the absence of wind and dissolves into mist or smoke along the edges. Annihilape have blood red eyes. This is not because of actual blood. Older annihilape are almost entirely incorporeal. Even newly evolved specimens lack a functioning heart. Because their bodies are incorporeal, annihilape can change the relative size and shape of body parts on a whim. The exact degree of control they have depends on the strength of the pokémon.

  Contrary to popular depictions, all stages are usually quadrupedal unless climbing or trying to make themselves appear bigger to intimidate opponents.

  Male primeape can grow up to four feet long from their nose to the end of their tail. They can weigh up to sixty pounds. Females seldom reach forty pounds. Annihilape weigh considerably less but are about the same size. Primeape can live for forty years in the wild or sixty in captivity. Annihilape lifespans fluctuate wildly, but most specimens seem to fade in less than three centuries.

  Behavior

  Primeape live in strictly patriarchal troops. One male holds absolute authority and sires almost all children. The other males and females are kept in line. Non-dominant males in the troop behave much like females and assist in the childrearing of the troop’s children (see Breeding).

  Unsuccessful challenges to a troop’s dominant male end in the challenger’s humiliation and exile. Successful challengers kill the dominant male but do not kill his children to help maintain the loyalty of the new troop. Unsuccessful challengers will head out to find a bachelor troop or, rarely, a human trainer, and train in hopes of future conquest.

  Genetic diversity in troops is maintained by “raids.” These occur when all male primeape in a troop attack another troop at night and drag female mankey back to their camp. In a rare display of female social power these mankey have the right to visit their old troop so long as they return to their new one by sundown. Mankey approaching evolution will sometimes steal the troop’s infants away for the day in mock raids. If the baby is killed or seriously injured during the course of the practice raid, the offender will be publicly executed.

  Despite their aggressive reputation, primeape are almost entirely herbivorous. All troop members forage for grains, vegetables, and fruit during the day. Most of the meat they consume is insects and small non-pokémon animals. These hunts appear to be more for sport than nutrition. In times of extreme scarcity, the males may band together to hunt larger pokémon. Because food is abundant in Alola this has never been observed in the archipelago.

  Unlike the other primates in Alola, primeape do not make their homes in the trees. Instead, they live on cliffs, either inland or by the coast, and use their long limbs and prehensile tails to climb up and down the rockworks. Because they do not eat eggs the coastal birds usually leave them alone. A few larger predators will pick on a weakened primeape or a solitary mankey. Only salamence will regularly take on entire troops.

  Like most primates, primeape engage in social grooming to build bonds and maintain cleanliness.

  Annihilape are relatively rare in the wild. Newly evolved specimens tend to stay near their troop for a few years or decades before gradually adopting a more solitary, nomadic lifestyle. They are interested in fighting worthy opponents. One specimen in Poni Gauntlet routinely challenges trainers passing by. Outside of this area annihilape will usually only fight trainers who challenge them directly or demonstrate their prowess in battle. These challenges can be intimidating as a large, powerful ghost will run up, roaring, and begin attacking whatever pokémon is out of their ball. Wild annihilape rarely kill pokémon. They are only interested in the thrill of the fight itself, not defending their territory or hunting. There are very few recorded cases of annihilape killing humans.

  Husbandry

  The difficult process of bonding with a mankey or primeape is detailed in the Acquisition section. This section deals exclusively with caring for a pokémon that is already relatively docile.

  Captive mankey and primeape should be fed a mix of nuts, berries, tubers, vegetables, and grain. Fresh food is best but dried or canned food can work when on the trail for less than a week. Primate biscuits are relatively expensive but make for good treats. Peanut butter, honey, and commercially available cereals also make for good treats. Treats are best administered in puzzles, such as PVC pipe systems that must be manipulated in certain ways to get the treat out or by placing the treat in a frozen block of ice.

  Annihilape do not strictly need to eat. They will happily accept sweet treats such as fruit and honey. Scientists are still unsure what exactly annihilape feed upon. They do not appear to be aminovores. Ambient fear, anger, pain, and satisfaction do little to satisfy them. Annihilape are also almost entirely immune to conventional aminovore illnesses. They may draw sustenance in a way from injuries inflicted upon other pokémon, but they are not particularly cruel in battle.

  Natural philosophers in annihilape’s home range believe that they are internally powered by their own satisfaction with life. When they grow bored or lack a purpose, they slowly grow more and more incorporeal until they eventually fade away completely. Studies on caged specimens in the 1970s appeared to verify this hypothesis. These experiments cannot be repeated due to modern ethical restrictions. Their experimental design has also been called into question. Regardless, if annihilape are powered by their own emotions it would make them almost unique among ghost-types.

  Primeape and mankey should be groomed at least once a day every day to keep them relatively docile. The pokémon will occasionally attempt to groom their trainer’s back and should be allowed to do so. Annihilape will also sometimes groom trusted humans or pokémon but are extremely difficult to groom due to their partially incorporeal fur. All stages are surprisingly fond of small cute pokémon and will frequently play with them. This also helps keep them calm. Mirrors and very durable toys can work as enrichment objects. Rubber and metal playsets can also work so long as the pokémon is monitored to keep them from trying to eat inedible components. Very friendly primeape and mankey can be played with using laser pointers. Curiously, wind chimes have a very strong calming effect on primape.

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  Annihilape enrichment is strange. They seem to enjoy combat above all else and should frequently be given intense battles. Sparring with powerful teammates can satisfy them for a few days, but they will regularly need to be taken to amateur tournaments or some other place where they can burn off steam. The remainder of their enrichment comes from caring for young pokémon, humans, or dolls. They will usually ignore toys and puzzles.

  The biggest difficulty in caring for the line, and primeape in particular, is avoiding accidental displays of aggression. Primeape communicate friendly intentions through grunts and tongue clicking. These should be done often around them. Screams, barks, eyebrow raising, staring, eye contact, teeth baring, yawning, and hitting the ground signal aggression. Because barking is an aggressive signal it is best to not raise primeape and particularly exciteable canines on the same team. More withdrawn canines such as umbreon, and manectric can work as partners. Pokémon with a penchant for staring, such as mime sr., are incompatible with primeape. Annihilape are happy with almost any teammate that can give them a challenge.

  Primeape and annihilape are relatively intelligent and considerate pokémon when they like their trainer. They are easily housebroken and will sometimes attempt to help with housework. While they can be trusted to babysit children and young pokémon, other help should be politely declined as primeape have a tendency to accidentally break objects.

  Illness

  Sick primeape and mankey often show similar symptoms to sick humans. Mild respiratory illnesses are best treated through humidity and Vitamin C. Anything more severe should be handled by a veterinarian as sick primeape can be incredibly temperamental.

  The alpine primeape’s population has been sharply reduced over the last thirty years by an infectious venereal disease. Any male primeape that becomes infected with the bacteria will at minimum become sterile and will typically die slowly and painfully over the course of the next month. The governments of Nepal, China, and Tibet have prohibited the exportation or capture of alpine primeape since 1995 and have culled or removed most lowland primeape in the area to prevent the illness from spreading. The quarantine procedures have been successful, if controversial, as of press time.

  Annihilape are resistant to most conventional spectral illnesses. They need time to recuperate after particularly serious battles but will heal from almost anything in a matter of days. Limbs can be regrown in weeks. Repeated hits after the pokémon stops fighting back, especially from ghost and fairy moves, have been known to result in permanent fading. Other than extreme battle injuries, it isn’t known how or why annihilape die. The few times it has been observed in wild specimens, the annihilape steadily exhibited less activity over the course of weeks or months before eventually sitting still in a secluded place for several days. The density of their spectral fog decreased until they were reduced to a cloud of mist.

  Evolution

  Mankey typically evolve around their second birthday. Unlike most species frequent battle does not result in faster growth rates. The formal demarcation of evolution is the first swelling of the sex glands.

  Annihilape literally die during their evolution. This only occurs during particularly intense battles with very high personal stakes. In the wild it has been documented when fighting salamence, many trained pokémon being used to clear their territory for development, legendary pokémon, and incredibly powerful primeape challenging their dominance. The evolving primeape is usually male and almost always unusually powerful for the species.

  Captive specimens evolve far more than wild ones. Evolution is most common during long, drawn out fights against powerful opponents. High personal stakes for the trainer and pokémon are also important. Fights against long-time rivals, sitting champions, and ranked trainers are common triggers. Weaker opponents can also trigger evolution if emotions are running high.

  Primeape’s body is built to withstand incredibly amounts of adrenaline for long periods of time. Sometimes this is not enough. Eventually, their heart will fail. This usually triggers evolution. Imperial Japan attempted to mass produce annihilape through drug cocktails that induced heart failure during a battle. These efforts rarely resulted in evolution and the program was discontinued after only a few months.

  Newly evolved annihilape typically stay near their troop for a time, either as an active member or a distant protector against major threats. They are still almost entirely corporeal during this time, even if their organs have failed. As they grow older and the world they knew in life fades further away, annihliape’s physical body slowly dissolves into spectral fog. The process cannot be reversed. Body parts lost due to injury can return in corporeal form after a few months. It is believed that annihilape fade when none of their physical body remains.

  Battle

  Primeape are ferocious battlers with very strong attacks. Outside of China they are still relatively unpopular choices due to the difficulty in training them. Other fighting-types such as machamp and hariyama can hit even harder and tank more hits. Primeape’s agility is impressive, but hawlucha are stronger and faster than primeape and have the ability to take to the air. Furthermore, even well-trained primeape are known to ignore orders during the heat of battle.

  The only reason primeape see use in professional circuits is that trainers are often working towards their evolution. Annihilape are incredibly powerful, quite fast, and really durable. It’s hard to meaningfully damage something that is dead and does not fear serious bodily harm. They are most known for slowly setting up against a weaker opponent with moves like bulk up and rage fist while relying on drain punch to keep them healthy. Drain punch seems unusually effective at restoring their vitality, probably because it can simply charge or regenerate spectral fog rather than having to grow new cells.

  Sublimape are far more popular in China but slightly less common on the global circuits (see Relatives). They are faster and stronger than annihilape at the cost of durability. Sublimape also have much better coverage options. On balance, they rarely take fights seriously and have been known to show off in battle rather than finishing things as soon as they can. Annihilape do not have this problem.

  Any trainer who can command a primeape or annihilape is unlikely to need it until the last trials of the island challenge. There primeape work best as fast, aggressive attackers that never give their opponent time to rest. Annihilape can either quickly end a fight or steadily set up, depending on how much threat their current opponent poses.

  Mankey also function best when they hit hard and fast and never give the opponent a moment to rest. More complicated strategies are generally inadvisable because the pokémon may ignore critical orders. Doing anything other than attacking gives opponents a chance to exploit the pokémon’s relative frailty. Training should focus on power, jumping, and coverage moves.

  Acquisition

  Primeape are most commonly found on the coastal cliffs of Melemele and Poni. During the day they can be found in plains and forests near their home base. There are two approaches to capturing one. Recently evolved male primeape and male mankey close to evolution will sometimes challenge a nearby trainer to test their strength. If the trainer is successful, the pokémon will agree to come along with relatively little fuss. As male primeape are larger than females and this approach involves less resistance, it is the better path when possible. Unfortunately, it requires relying on a primeape or mankey to make a given decision.

  Proactive primeape hunting must target females. This approach, as well as the first, works better for male trainers. If a female primeape is found hunting alone she can be ambushed. After a few attacks land, capture can be attempted. This simulates a raid and makes the female more inclined to trust their trainer than they might otherwise be. However, if the trainer plans to frequently leave the primeape’s home range they will break the implicit promise of social visits that underpin raids in the wild. This will cause the female to become extremely rebellious for several months or even years.

  Calming primeape down requires acting in a dominant role. Many trainers mistake dominance for cruelty, which it is not. Trainers should set clear boundaries and enforce them through mild punishments. A stronger pokémon than the primeape should be kept on hand for at least the first few weeks in order to quash challenges. Rewards and attempted bonding should be more common than punishments. Eventually the primeape will give in and start accepting treats and grooming.

  There are only two known wild annihlape in Alola. One is elderly and spends most of her time meditating in Vast Poni Canyon, only emerging for periodic fights with kommo-o or the kahuna. The second lives in Poni Gauntlet. Neither has shown any interest in being captured. It would be highly inadvisable to capture them without their permission. When their trainer dies or is no longer able to care for them, captive specimens usually seek out a new trainer or go to live in the wild. They are allowed to choose their own fate due to the limited risk they pose to the public and ecosystem.

  Mankey can be captured with a Class IV license or adopted or purchased with a Class III. Primeape can be licensed, adopted, or purchased with a Class IV license.

  Breeding

  Female primeape in heat will approach the dominant male and display her sex glands. Occasionally another male will elope with a female in secret. This is one of the few times that primeape engage in deceptive behavior.

  Pregnancy typically lasts ten to twelve weeks at which point a single mankey will be born. All members of the troop collectively care for the children. Even the males are very fond of infants and will let the baby crawl all over them. Zoo populations have been known to treat small pokémon that enter their enclosure as beloved pets. Trainer-owned primeape often help raise smaller or younger pokémon and are even competent at caring for human infants.

  Captive breeding is not recommended outside of zoos. Males that lead a troop tend to behave very aggressively towards all humans, including formerly trusted trainers.

  Annihilape have not been known to reproduce. It is highly unlikely they are capable of it.

  Relatives

  Buddhist monks brought Japanese primeape to Alola in the early Nineteenth Century. These primeape are native to the central regions of Japan. Unlike the Alolan population they tend to live on the walls of canyons and in the rocky cliffs near glacial highlands. The species can be found throughout Korea, Japan, northeast China, and small portions of Russia.

  Alpine primeape (P. calidaqua) are native to the mountains of the Himalayas. They are well known for their fluffy white fur and fondness for bathing in hot springs. Far and away the calmest species, alpine primeape routinely venture into small settlements in Tibet. They are a tourist attraction due to their fearlessness. Locals are very tolerant of the pokémon and they have historically protected each other from threats. Evolution into annihlape is almost never documented. The few that have evolved were likely hybrids.

  Chinese primeape (P. simiarex) are the largest and most famous species due to their prominent role in Chinese folklore and ability to evolve into sublimape. Buddhist monks in particular have a long history of raising primeape. It is said that primeape evolve when they master their rage. Empirical evidence is lacking. The belief did lead many monks to see evolving one as a worthy goal. Conveniently, the primeape also made powerful allies in eras where Buddhism was disfavored.

  Chinese primeape and sublimape are classified as dual fighting- and fairy-types due to the variety of strange tricks they can wield, such as distorting the size of objects. Magic, while a nebulous concept in and of itself, is often associated with sublimape. They are said to have been the guardians of heaven and the peaks. Chinese primeape are one of the few pokémon known to practice agriculture and have selectively bred peaches for millennia.