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Pombon meets Barong! 🇮🇩

https://t.co/y0PDzaD4ZT

Some sketches base on the Garuda/Barong/Naga theory

and tbh! i don't mind if i'm completely off and this doesn't mean anything bc really, I'm just happy to share knowledge of local mythology with people!

btw the indo tourism twt account liked my tweets and there's speculation that gen 10 is a collab between them and TPC so. i just want you guys to know that i think at least one of my starter theories might prove to be right but we'll see

Addendum because I had an alternate theory about Gecqua as well, based on its hand gesture and how the markings look like makeup!

2. Going Apsara wrecks chances of Poison as a dual typing, because they traditionally are thought of as beings of purity. Doesn't mean it CAN'T happen though, they just need to do a little spin the idea 3. Male Apsara also exist! They're the Gandharvas and they mostly play music!

Three things of note: 1. Water/Dragon IS STILL on the table especially if they go komodo dragon, as some Apsara dancers are depicted with Nagas to symbolize royalty (a lot of SEA royal dynasties claim descent from the Naga!) and both creatures are linked as water guardian spirits

An alternate idea I had: Gecqua could be based on the Apsaras, feminine water spirits in Hindu mythology whose dance is considered an artform in a wide variety of Southeast Asian cultures. Types would be water/psychic, water/fairy, or monotype water!

Pombon Barong final evo 😛 #PokemonWindsWaves

just to add to op’s thread how crazy pokemon has been in indonesia recently, here are a few collabs from *only* the last year - the national football team - point coffee, huge local coffee and minimarket chain - pokeani op by famous singer isyana sarasvati - jkt48 videos

ppl that don't know that steel and fairy are currently best types in the game commenting on my thread like: "they can't make a starter dragon type it's too strong-" well :)

final post, slightly unrelated you cannot believe how much cultural merchandising pokemon has done in indonesia for the last few years. I told all my friends look if they're not gonna open a pokemart here THEY'RE GONNA MAKE A POKEMON REGION HERE AND THEY DID.

also all the irl statue pictures I used in the OP are from the island of Bali, where all three creatures are present and whose Balinese culture I think gamefreak took the most inspiration from since it's the most touristey place in Indonesia. like Parisian culture for Kalos

Interesting thing to note, the King of Nagas, Vasuki, stands as eternal archnemesis to Garuda, Lord of the Winds. This is probably where the "Winds and Waves" name for the new Pokemon games come from!

and finally: Naga! Also will be familiar to most of Southeast Asia, the Naga is a protective water spirit that appears in the form of a dragon. We also refer to the largest lizard species as naga komodo (the dragon of komodo) here, so... I decree water/dragon or water/poison!

Barong, Lord Protector and the chief spirit of goodness in Balinese mythology Appears as a large, lionlike creature who is destined to fight and destroy Rangda, its evil counterpart for all of eternity. I gave it, and by extension Pombon, the Fire/Fairy typing to reflect this~

Let's start with Garuda! a Hindu bird god that will instantly be familiar to most cultures of mainland and maritime Southeast Asia. In most depictions it appears as the personification of courage and vigilance, which is why I gave Browt either Grass/Flying or Grass/Steel~

quick SEA mythology crash course and speculation on the new starters by an Indonesian! (thread below)

YOU HAVE TO SEE THE VISION