Kaskade

The **Kaskade** region (Japanese: **カスケード地方** *Cascade region*) is a region of the Pokémon world. It was inspired by the video series by Lockstin & Gnoggin and introduced in the game Swirling Seasons.

It is broken into four major quadrants, bisected by a vast vertical mountain range and a large river that runs east to west, out into the sea. Each quadrant is varied in it's landscape, giving each it's own identity. The forest quadrant to the southwest, the desert quadrant to the southeast, the farmland quadrant to the northeast, and the city quadrant to the northwest. Each quadrant is home to 2 gyms and multiple cities/towns. The city quadrant is the most varied in it's landscape, as it's home to swamplands, urban area, and snowy mountain tundra.

## Etymology and design concept

### Etymology

According to Lockstin, the name comes from the Cascade Mountain Range

### Design concept

Kaskade is based on the American Pacific Northwest. It draws heavy inspiration from the US States of Washington and Oregon, as well as some minimal inspirations from the US States of Idaho, California, and the Canadian Province of British Columbia.

### Ancient History

* c. 1,000,000,000 years prior to the events of Swirling Seasons,  Groudon and Regigigas create the Old World continents (Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, Kalos, Galar, etc.)
* After the Old World continents were completed, Primal Groudon and  Kyogre continue to fight, their scuffles head to the east, where Groudon is aided by The Great Thunderbird, who helps him avoid Kyogre and create the New World continents (Unova, Alola, Orre, etc.)
* As Groudon grows tired, he creates the final New World continent (Kaskade) under the guidance of The Great Thunderbird. A final battle between Groudon and Kyogre erupts, and even though The Great Thunderbird tries to help, Kyogre wins.
* Groudon and the Thunderbird part ways, each going to rest as life begins to flourish.
* c. 50,000,000 years prior to the events of Swirling Seasons, Manadza discovers the region and stakes it as it's home, creating an eternal summer. This heat wakes the Thunderbird, who begins to wander the world once more. Manadza falls into hibernation, ending the scorching heat, and allowing the region's temperature to go back to an equilibrium.
* c. 3,000,000 years prior to the events of Swirling Seasons, Arctikull discovers the region and stakes it as it's home, creating a blistering winter. This ice age forces all Pokémon living in the region to either flee or die to the sheer cold.
* c. 2,500,000 years prior to the events of Swirling Seasons, Kaskade's fossil Pokémon adapt to survive the climate, creating what we now know as Feafurr, Vaicear, Phisnooz, Telemac, Macedontus, and Crynorawst.
* c. 30,000 years prior to the events of Swirling Seasons, humans first arrive in the Kaskade region, settling down and quickly becoming an agricultural society. This change somehow wakes Manadza from it's hibernation, immediately heating it's quadrant of the region into a blazing summer. The rivalry between Manadza and Arctikull begins.
* c. 29,500 years prior to the events of Swirling Seasons, Manadza and Arctikull create Tamunk and Temunk as scouts shortly before encountering The Great Thunderbird for the first time, immediately recognizing it's authority over the region.
* c. 28,000 years prior to the events of Swirling Seasons, the Manadza and Arctikull rivalry explodes, causing a heat wave to sweep through Kaskade immediately followed by another great ice age. Devastation tears through the region, nearly destroying both the ecosystem and forcing humans to flee the region. This great devastation also causes the forested southeast quadrant to become a vast dead desert. This destruction is only halted from causing further death by the actions of the Great Thunderbird.
* c. 28,000 years prior to the events of Swirling Seasons, Wicoot summons all 4 of the legendaries and negotiates between them, helping them settle on a compromise; the 4 would rotate around the region nonstop, causing the seasons to shift quickly, but gradually.
* c. 28,000-8,000 years prior to the events of Swirling Seasons, Manadza and Arctikull still occasionally bump heads, making Wicoot and the Thunderbird step in. 20,000 years of dealing with Manadza and Arctikull exacts a physical toll on the Thunderbird, and it tries to rest. Sometime during this time period, humans move back into the region.
* c. 8,000 years prior to the events of Swirling Seasons, a great cataclysm occurs and a large portal opens above Mt. Spectoul, allowing mysterious beings from another world to come through and terrorize the surrounding villages. A great hero summons Wicoot using a flute, who in turn summons all 5 of the region's legendaries. Though, ultimately, due to it not being fully recovered from it's fight with Primal Kyogre, as well as it's various scuffles with Manadza and Arctikull, The Great Thunderbird falls in battle.
* c. 7,950 years prior to the events of Swirling Seasons, the humans build a temple to the fallen Thunderbird deep in the mountain. Out of it's remains, a Relic Key is fashioned.

### Modern history

Even after the invasion, Manadza and Arctikull still have minor conflicts. But Wicoot remains able to step in minimize the damage. During this interlude, the native human population grows steadily and villages expand in size.

* **1850s**
	+ Large groups of foreigners settle in the region. They drastically alter the landscape by building dams, huge cities, and taking part in large gold mining operations.
	+ The modern Kaskade region begins to take shape.

* **1980s**
	+ A young Tom Bezzle starts dating Menzie, a soon to be professor. He is also friends with upcoming professor, Fir, whom he attends Kaskade University with.

* **1990s**
	+ The widely popular search engine Goomaze is established.
	+ The widely successful and popular social media network Facedex is also established.
	+ After his falling out with Menzie, Tom Bezzle creates Amaze-All, a company focused on the delivery of goods. The company quickly expands to other regions.
	+ Sightings of the box legendaries are very rare now, prompting people to question their existence.

* **2000s**
	+ Wren is born.
	+ Lark is born.
	+ Robin is born.
	+ Amaze-All expands at an exponential rate, reaching most parts of the world. They acquire Starbyss, Mega, Rotomoto, Goomaze, and Facedex.
	+ Amaze-All create the Porywatch and Poryphone.

* **2010s**
	+ Towards the beginning of the 2010s, Orbtholod mysteriously start appearing in the region. This Lockémon is usually found in the hands of powerful trainers associated with Amaze-All such as Champion Yazin and Tom Bezzle.
	+ Amaze-All develops artificial Pokémon (Kaskadian Drifblim, Botnyack, Kaskadian Sudowoodo, and Vibat) to perform tasks like delivery and surveillance.
	+ Jay is born.

* **2020s**
	+ The unfriendly rival is hired by Amaze-All.
	+ The player character takes a job with Professor Fir.
	+ Professor Fir makes a breakthrough in his studies on Weathergy and develops  a Steel-type Castform.
	+ Amaze-All begins production of Amaze Balls.
	+ Porygon ω is engineered by Amaze-All.

**Spoilers end here.**

## Geography

Kaskade is divided into four quadrants by the Kaskade Mountain Range and the grand Gula'oro River.

#### The Tso-Lo Woodlands

The southwestern quadrant, given the name "Tso-Lo Woodlands," solely consists of forested areas. In it's north, the cherry blossom city of Chapinook rests on the river. South of that is Shayklind, a small rural town very proud of its theatre and beach. Even further south is the Quoia Forest, a dense redwood forest touched by seemingly eternal Autumn. Filling the rest of the quadrant is the Tso-Lo Forest, a wide open expanse of forest inhabited by a wide variety of Pokémon and home to the haunted mansion.

#### The Sand Flats

To the east of the Tso-Lo Woodlands lie the Sand Flats, an area consisting solely of desert. Here you can find the Desolate Dunes, which harbors the Obsidian Flow, a cooled lava flow seemingly stuck in eternal Summer. South of that lies the Cacti Desert, home to Bent Town and the Geyser Museum. At the northern edge of the quadrant is the Gorge, a large canyon created by the Gula'oro River. The Sand Flats as a quadrant is home to a large number of oddities and unnatural occurrences, so keep a sharp eye when exploring here.

#### The Kaskade Countryside

To the north of the Sand Flats is the Kaskade Countryside, a farmland basin surrounded by mountains. Here you can find Kaskade's very own Fairgrounds, as well as the five star Country Club, Daycare, and Ranch. Nearly all of the crops consumed throughout Kaskade and Unova is produced in this area, and the massive crop fields in this quadrant's north show that. To the northwest of the crop fields, a large Vinyard can be found stuck in eternal spring.

#### The Alki Marsh

To the west of the Kaskade Countryside is the Alki Marsh, an area known for it's wetlands and swamp. Here you can find Aberton Village, known for it's logging industry. To it's north is the Aberton Wetland, its namesake, a region of swamp stuck in perpetual rainfall. To the west of Aberton Wetland is the main portion of Alki Marsh itself, a large swampland area with massive lakes and muddy trails crisscrossing the area. On the coast you can find Port Alki, the Commerical and Industrial hub of the region and home to Amaze-All.

#### The Kaskade Mountain Range

The Kaskade Mountain Range (also sometimes simply called "The Sierra") varies in terrain almost as much as the quadrants around it. In the far south of the region, Mount Spectoul can be found. Known for it's massive crystals and psychic aura, Mount Spectoul is a major tourist attraction for religious and doomsdayer types. In the far north of the region, Mount Snowier can be found, a mountain seemingly stuck in eternal winter. There is some debate as to whether this area and the surrounding Aniyu Tundra can be considered part of the Mountain Range or part of the Alki Marsh area, but the prevailing opinion seems to say that it's part of the mountain range. In the center of the region and the mountain range lies Mount Anneal, the central point that Manadza and Arctikull rotate around. Inside this mountain, the remains of the thunderbird stay sealed in their tomb.

### Notable locations

Kaskade is home to 8 cities/towns, 4 large open wild-area styled locations, and many landmarks.

A proper table of these locations is coming soon.

## Kaskade League

Main article: Kaskade League
The Kaskade League is the regional Pokémon League of the Kaskade region. After obtaining the eight Badges of the region, a Trainer may battle the Elite Four and Champion in Port Alki at the Pokémon League.

## Trivia

* Kaskade is the only region in which Gym Leaders and the Elite Four do not use a specific type of Pokémon, they are instead themed.
* Kaskade is the only region that experiences Weathergy.
* Besides Unova, Kaskade is the only region that experiences Seasons.
* Besides Kalos, Kaskade is the only region to not have any cities, towns, or landmarks on an island in the ocean.
* The Kaskade region has the largest regional Pokédex of all regions, with Kalos close behind.
* The Kaskade region has the least cities/towns of any region, totaling only 8 proper cities/towns.
* The Kaskade region is the only region to have 2 gyms in the same town.
* The Demonym form of Kaskade is "Kaskadian".
* According to Lockstin, the region was originally going to be spelled as "Kascade", but after several misspells, the second "k" was kept in region's name.