Welcome to Melka Village

[Godai]

Melka Village

As technology marches onwards, and leaves tradition in the dust, there remains one storehouse for the memories of the Golden Age. And that storehouse is Melka village. Originally a tribe known by the name 'The Sok'Atarans', the village sits at an elevation of about 7000 feet amongst what is known as the Laughing Summits. It's a tough climate, when the sun disappears, so does most of the heat. It can get very warm during the day, especially in summer where people are required to wear shorts. But when the sun dips past the mountains horizons, the temperature drops drastically. The people who chose to settle here surely were strong and stubborn to survive.

The name's reasoning has been lost to time, although there are no shortage of tales about the events surrounding everything that has happened on these peaks. For while interbreeding has decimated the purity of the Sok'Atarans, the descendants that populate Melka share their ancestor's love for telling stories.

Of course, it's all oral tradition, and there isn't a single written record that these tales are taken from, so there is much doubt about the truth inside the tales, but the older generation will hear no word of disbelief as they tell stories of how their ancient ancestors fought through trial and tribulation to settle in the cold mountains. How their fire pokemon sheltered them from the freezing wind, and their ice pokemon helped tame it as the tribe slowly accustomed themselves to the freezing cold. How they tried to spread further into the mountains and maybe over, but were driven back by increasing elevation, snowstorms and peaks that echoed with malevolent laughter.

How they then settled into cabins and eventually established Melka, a village full of people whose skin darkened as they climbed closer to the sun, but whose soul, and therefor eyes had turned to blue ice, but still had warmth beating beneath the frozen outer layer. And how foreigners slowly diluted the purity of their blood until it reached the level it is at the current day, where pure blooded Sok'Atarans are rare.

The newest generation is slowly breaking from the suspicious and wary teachings of their ancestors, though most of the village is still stuck in the tradition of being suspicious of any not born in Winterhart. There is a little conflict over this issue, but it can be put down to the more constricting a lifestyle, the more rebellious teenagers are.

While the cabins are still made with wood and still built in the same style that they were back in the olden days, there is no shortage of comfort within, and the village is no longer as rustic as it once was, as the inhabitants slowly adapt to the current lifestyle of the world.

Winterharts biggest income these days is tourism and furs. It being the least modern acclimatized village, many still come to live in the log cabins for a day. And while they're there, it never hurts to coerce them into purchasing a Walrein tooth or a blue-copper gemstone fashioned into the likeness of a Beartic. Nearly all their produce is easily noted for their symbolism etched into the work somewhere. Always a Pokemon rare in the other populated areas. Usually Beartic, Mamoswine or Walrein, there is the occasional rarer artwork done in the stylisation of a Froslass or a Cryogonal, or even something more unusual.

For those confused about the names, the village, in an attempt to foster a more traditional atmosphere, changed their name to Melka Village, as a homage to the old Sok'Ataran language.

The weather up deep north here is a dangerous place to be out in. With many snowstorms, blizzards, and other such freezing hazards, for about half the year, most families or households generally have at least one trainer with a well trained Ice or Fire type, merely to enable the family to exit after a stronger storm. For those without the necessary pokemon, other households are usually willing to aid. After all, in a community where everyone knows everyone, there is never no one that doesn't want to help if necessary.

Trainers here come in two distinct types. Locals and tourists. Tourists including those taking the harsh journey here to challenge the gym leader of Melka. Either way, they usually are toughened by the weather, and never going to be the kind to give in easily.