003 Eldspar

The Elder Pokémon

Eldspar is often quiet and reserved, but no less social because of it, instead simply being patient, and finding pleasure in the time it spends alone. It spends long periods of time deep in thought, and is well-renowned for wisdom.
Eldspar is one of the longest-lived conventional species of Pokémon, and particularly old Eldspar are looked to for wisdom and advice by communities of wild Pokémon, with which it forms a deep bond lasting generations. Similarly, those trainers fortunate enough to catch and bond with an Eldspar will often pass them on to their children, for whom they become a source of emotional stability, compassion, and wisdom.

— Arvent Regional Pokédex #003

Basic Information

Anatomy

Eldspar is of both the Grass and Rock Type. It is weak to the Bug, Fighting, Steel, and Ice Types. It is resistant to the Electric and Normal Types. It most commonly possesses the ability Overgrow, which increases the strength of Grass-Type moves in a pinch, but may on rare occasions possess the ability Chlorophyll, which increases Speed in sunny weather.
Eldspar is very fast, and very makes very powerful physical attacks. It also possesses considerable physical offensive capabilities, as well as precision. Its defenses, though potentially problematic of less developed or otherwise weak Pokémon, are not particularly impressive.
Eldspar's body is made chiefly from a particularly flexible variety of wood, layered over in a number of tactically advantageous locations with plates of stone and dull crystal. The largest and most prominent of these covers the top and sides of its head. It moves primarily through limbless locomotion, most commonly referred to as slithering, and it highly agile, even with its inflexible and somewhat heavy plates. It can climb trees by wrapping its body around it, and methodically slither upwards. Its nose and the tip of its tail are both pointed, and can be used to inflict harm with some effort on Eldspar's part, but their normal function is to dig for plant roots to eat.

Genetics and Reproduction

Being incredibly long-lived, Eldspar do not possess as absolute a drive to produce offspring as many other species of Pokémon. However, when they do form a mating pair with another Pokémon—usually, but not always, another Eldspar—they mate for life, and will only ever bond with a single mate. This makes Eldspar incredibly difficult to breed in captivity.
Eldspar is in the Grass and Dragon egg groups. The eggs laid by Eldspar mothers hatch into young Sproudyll.

Growth Rate & Stages

Eldspar is the evolved form of Shalent, making it the final form of Sproudyll. Evolution from a Shalent into an Eldspar requires no special steps or mechanisms, only the standard growth, development, and training of most Pokémon species. In addition to the obvious physical changes, Eldspar experience a change in brain chemistry which helps to calm the anxiety they experienced as a Shalent.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Eldspar is omnivorous, but universally possess a strong preference for vegetation. They happily eat berries, and the many treats humans make from them, as all Pokémon do, and dig in the ground to eat the roots of plants. It particularly likes root vegetables, like carrots, beats, shallots, turnips, and so on.
Biologically speaking, Eldspar is capabale of eating meat, and can hunt for its food. However, it will only ever do so in times of desperation, if at all. Eating once-living creatures, even particularly unintelligent ones, is known to cause Eldspar considerable emotional distress, and there is at least one documented case of an Eldspar choosing to starve rather than to hunt.
Note: In the above-mentioned case, said Eldspar was found alive, and nursed back to health with a diet of ginger and rutabagas, before being reintroduced into the wild. The Eldspar would go on to have a long-standing friendship with its rescuer.

Conservation Status

Though incredibly rare, this is primarily due to specimens living far from captivity, and being incredibly difficult to breed in captivity. It is not currently believed that the populations of Eldspar, or any of its prior evolutionary forms, are in any way threatened or in danger of extinction.

Average Weight

21 - 28 kg (46.90 - 61.73 lbs.)

Average Length

220 - 280 cm (86.61 - 110.24 in.)