Approved Monstrophist John Smith | Devon

Character Name
Monstrophist John Smith

What sort of authorization do you want?
Faction Relationship, Lore Information

Which faction would you like to be authorized to have an established relationship with?
Either The Crows or some obscure faction--

What lore information would you like to be authorized to know?
Just a quick authorization sub:

I love monsters, and the idea of my character taking on a title related to 'monster hunter' and/or 'monster buster' would be really neat.

I'm leaning towards the Abraham Van Helsing vibe, here: O.G. Professor Van Helsing wasn't a crossbow, cross-wielding Aragorn type, normally displayed in more modern adaptations. He was this, like, bookish mythology expert who also dabbled in potions relating to the 'ichors' talked about in ancient tales--the whole 'balance the spirit,' and 'the Vampyre is Satan incarnate, lest he embodies Lilith--cracking thy fucking spine into spider-form kind of monster-riffer. Either takes up bootlegged tools to solve local troubles, simply hangs out in his cabin--offering insights, or full-blown runs into the woods, and/or taking up stuff like those Red Eye lightbulbs to ward things.

Because John Smith is a pacifist-type, (possibly having never killed a Red Eye, if I can manage to explain that one away) I'd imagine he'd take up the tools similar to the Dogman event--finding ways to avoid harming these beings, but nonetheless attempting to 'banish' or 'herd' them safely away from Monroe--or even attempting to position them in any supposed woodland hovel, far off, where they might prefer to not eviscerate small towns.

I really like the title's 'Monstrophist' and 'Banisher.'

-----

The request:

Would it be possible for him to have adopted some know-how from the Crows? Or that, possibley, an offshoot of one of the more peaceful Crows sects actually created this, like, small group of Monstrophist / Banishers, who might've become, nigh' impossibly so, actually kind of good(?) at their job? Sort of like The Ghost Busters.

Any-who thank ya ahead of time for reading through these. Any sort of, like, faction-related credence would be super cool--even if unrelated to The Crows. Or, if not, totally coolio. Still might just say he's a 'self-declared' Monstrophist / Banisher who just believes in his own approach. Witcher without structure, kind of thing.

Hasta la pasta,

Devon

Devon said

Character Name
Monstrophist John Smith

What sort of authorization do you want?
Faction Relationship, Lore Information

Which faction would you like to be authorized to have an established relationship with?
Either The Crows or some obscure faction--

What lore information would you like to be authorized to know?
Just a quick authorization sub:

I love monsters, and the idea of my character taking on a title related to 'monster hunter' and/or 'monster buster' would be really neat.

I'm leaning towards the Abraham Van Helsing vibe, here: O.G. Professor Van Helsing wasn't a crossbow, cross-wielding Aragorn type, normally displayed in more modern adaptations. He was this, like, bookish mythology expert who also dabbled in potions relating to the 'ichors' talked about in ancient tales--the whole 'balance the spirit,' and 'the Vampyre is Satan incarnate, lest he embodies Lilith--cracking thy fucking spine into spider-form kind of monster-riffer. Either takes up bootlegged tools to solve local troubles, simply hangs out in his cabin--offering insights, or full-blown runs into the woods, and/or taking up stuff like those Red Eye lightbulbs to ward things.

Because John Smith is a pacifist-type, (possibly having never killed a Red Eye, if I can manage to explain that one away) I'd imagine he'd take up the tools similar to the Dogman event--finding ways to avoid harming these beings, but nonetheless attempting to 'banish' or 'herd' them safely away from Monroe--or even attempting to position them in any supposed woodland hovel, far off, where they might prefer to not eviscerate small towns.

I really like the title's 'Monstrophist' and 'Banisher.'

-----

The request:

Would it be possible for him to have adopted some know-how from the Crows? Or that, possibley, an offshoot of one of the more peaceful Crows sects actually created this, like, small group of Monstrophist / Banishers, who might've become, nigh' impossibly so, actually kind of good(?) at their job? Sort of like The Ghost Busters.

Any-who thank ya ahead of time for reading through these. Any sort of, like, faction-related credence would be super cool--even if unrelated to The Crows. Or, if not, totally coolio. Still might just say he's a 'self-declared' Monstrophist / Banisher who just believes in his own approach. Witcher without structure, kind of thing.

Hasta la pasta,

Devon

Click to expand...

This is all possible, yes.

The Crows do not have a dedicated fighting force -- or necessarily, even a flock responsible for this. But, as I mentioned in your other thread, Maude Ma's flock would have no doubt encountered them and probably determined unique methods of dealing and banishing each of them. Nobody in the world has come up with an actual, honest to god, dedicated bestiary and as time has gone on -- numerous creatures, unique in personality, behavior, and methods of hunting have surfaced. They are always shaped by the location they were infected and ultimately mutated in, some prefer the subterranean, some prefer hotter climates, some prefer colder climates. It is all dependent, I'll give you a slight glossary of some of the more commonly sighted creatures, as well as methods you could have gone about to handle them in. Though, I am willing to let you extend your creativity into these encounters, too, because as I mentioned over in the other thread: these creatures act closer to animals, as opposed to the bog-standard Red Eye.

(For clarification's sake, I know I type in circles sometimes -- you can absolutely say Maude Ma's flock worked with the titles of Monstrophists or Banishers. Even an off-shoot of her flock. The Crows are less of a faction in some regard and more of an ideal; given the way they choose to operate with numerous long-distance flocks and long periods of minimal communication. This has no doubt spiraled into numerous off-shoots unconnected to the main flock, and believers in the Kachina who have not even met The Crow Mother. It's an unusual group, yanno?)

As for other factions -- it is possible, given some individuals have persisted in setting up communities closer to The Deadlands, some even going as far as making homes within the mysterious green fog. There is little doubt some groups, or individuals have sparked out with ideas of hunting the creatures for money, fame, and so on. This would likely be more regionally focused, most of them operating closer to (Kentucky, Vermont, Ohio, and so on.) though, most of them would probably not follow a similar path to John -- given his uniqueness in pacifism -- and opt to kill them.



''Trullan''
These creatures primarily dwell in subterranean caves and mines but are sometimes spotted on the surface hunting. Locals have likened them to old the old Norse tales of trolls (a snub on the name given to them by regional communities; Trullan). Descriptions of the monsters range, some being told to stand taller than the oldest oaks, and some thought to tower over the biggest mountain ranges. They are old, stubborn, dumb, strong, hard-to-kill, and possess voracious appetites often sated by animals, other smaller mutations, and reckless explorers alike. Over the years, numerous varieties have been spotted spreading across the lands -- each accustomed to different environments and elements; none that you will likely need to worry about, aside from the variety native to Monroe County, New York: "The Stone Men". This particular variety is nasty -- and often downright sadistic to those captured for food, sometimes sitting on them for numerous days before finally putting them out of their misery. These are sensitive to sunlight, due to their theorized path of evolution after succumbing to Oculurubrus numerous years ago; long infected trapped beneath the Earth in old mineshafts and bunkers. Most of them are near blind and primarily rely on their unrivaled scent and hearing. Most hunters will seek to kill The Stone Men, though pacifists may opt for other paths; offerings. It's rumored that some wary souls have managed to make "allies" of The Stone Men by leaving them fresh game to quench their appetites, though most prefer the method of trapping them in their tombs, caving them in entrances to their burrows to subsist on mushrooms, imps and what else may lurk beneath the ground.

--
Average Height: 8.2 to 13 feet (2.5 to 4 meters)
Average Weight: 5,000 to 14,000 lbs. (2,268 to 6,350 kilograms)
Colorations: Gray, Blue, and Tan -- usually shades similar to that of stone or rock.
Diet: Omnivores
Species (Pre-Infection): Humanoid
--


''Jotun''
This creature (singular) has primarily been seen in the Kentucky and Ohio areas. Sightings of it have cropped up as far back as 2015, and the origins surrounding it are a complete unknown. Though, similarities between it and certain varieties of the Trullan have been noted by experienced banishers, beast hunters, and monstrophists. This particular entity is thought to stand as tall as the largest Trullan but experiences something unheard of in most beasts; intelligence. An encounter spoke of in recent times belongs to one long-retired hunter -- C.M. Sterling (operated in the Ohio/Pennsylvania border) -- where he encountered the creature in an old hovel deep in the wilderness. He mentioned that the beast hunted him for miles, with his only warning being long distant sobs. The deal of stealth and agility the beast exercised paired with its size long-boggled his mind, leading to the suggestion that the only reason he was able to escape was due to it not wanting to kill him. Given the uniqueness of the creature, a few have theorized it was one of the earliest byproducts of the mutations exhibited in modern times, some even giving way to the suggestion that an unknown element encouraged the evolutions, though, most of this remains just that -- theory-crafting.

--
Most details on the Jotun's appearance are unknown; C.M. Sterling noted the beast was big--similarly so to the Trullan. It was smaller but more agile. He mentioned it might have been between seven and eight feet tall. It was slick bald and apparently completely nude, showing no regard for exposure to the elements.
--


''Wormlings/Great Devourers''
These creatures are completely subterranean and often dwell in drier, arid areas for hunting. Locals to these areas have long-noted them for their voracious appetites (thus, pinning them with the always similar region-wide name -- Great Devourers, Feasters, and tastefully; Big Fucking Worms,). The descriptions of these worms vary; most of them are noted to primarily remain just underneath the surface, digging through dirt and concrete like nothing. Those who have seen them surface note the brown coloration -- massive mandibles spewing forth tendrils to drag prey -- and acidic blood, though some have mentioned different varieties in different climates; a common trend between most mutations. They often hunt and feed on unwary ranchers, their cattle and other farm animals, and the unexpecting explorer. Behaviors of "Great Devourers" are largely unstudied, but they are theorized to be a deeply isolated creature, straying away from the pack mentality of numerous other species. Some more skilled monstrophists have given way to the notion that most of these creatures reproduce by way of feed, eating until enough genetic material has been consumed, and then dying and giving way to several more worms (noted as Wormlings, smaller varieties -- babies, grow as they consume). This method of reproduction is unusual for most species stemming from Oculurubrus but has started to show up with certain non-human species. Handling Wormlings and Great Devourers is a dangerous (but sometimes simple) feat, given their method of travel and hunting. Though, most will use their weaknesses against them; these worms are blind and lack any sense of smell, only navigating through sound -- vibrations -- and sometimes taste. They are often lured by this manner and killing them with explosives (sometimes by strapping them to animals, sometimes by tossing them into the mouth of the beast when it surfaces), given their armor often leads to large amounts of ammo being wasted. Those who have adopted the path of pacifism are often left exposed and at substantial disadvantages when handling these creatures, though some have suggested increasingly foul -- sometimes poisonous -- tastes will lead to these beasts seeking new lands for food.

--
Average Height (Full Grown): 30 feet (9.1 m) long, and 6 feet wide (1.8 m)
Average Weight (Full Grown): 20,000 to 40,000 lbs. (9,071 to 18,143 kilograms)
Colorations: Browns (often looking similar to rock)
Diet: Carnivore
Species (Pre-Infection): Annelid? Worms?
--


''Leeches & The Leech Mother''
Both of these creatures are completely aquatic and native to Monroe County, New York. They have gone understudied, and little information is available on them past the theories of a few monstrophists. They are thought to stem from the old-world species of leech native to Lake Ontario (Haemopis Sanguisuga, or to laymen; the giant horse leech). The first documented sighting of these spans back to 2026 from a local fisherman, originally thought to be suffering from some delusions; he claimed that something beneath the water, as large as a great white brought his dog under and nearly drug him beneath the depths with tendrils (noted as being similar to The Great Devourers). The origin of these creatures past this is still relatively unknown, potentially due to the relative newness surrounding the evolution. They have been noted as ranging in sizes; some similar to Great Devourers, others comparable to wormlings, but one -- in particular -- has been spotted recently in the area of Monroe County, likely harkening back to the initial sighting in 2016, a monster being referred to by locals as "The Leech Mother" or "Mother of Leeches". Accurate details on the size of this entity are entirely flimsy at best, but a recent encounter has suggested it to be similar in size, or larger than an old-world semi-truck and while some may not be concerned due to leeches preferring to feast on blood -- some have suggested that the beast has adopted new appetites or new methods to feed more sustainably. These beasts are often left to their vices and are best avoided -- even by hunters determined to kill them. If one is determined enough to kill such a beast; they exercise similar tactics to those against The Great Devourers. Some communities have opted to offer farm animals in hope that the leeches will disperse to new grounds, leading to ever-increasing numbers.

--
Leeches
Average Height (Full Grown): 15cm
Average Weight (Full Grown): 80g
Colorations: Dark Green, Dark Blue
Diet: Hematophagy
Species (Pre-Infection): Clitellata

The Leech Mother (Speculation)
Average Height (Full Grown): 72 feet (21.9 m) long, and 8.5 feet wide (2.5 m)
Average Weight (Full Grown): 35,000 to 80,000 lbs. (15,876 to 36,287 kilograms)
Colorations: Greens, Blues
Diet: Hematophagy
Species (Pre-Infection): Clitellata

--


''Behemoth''
These creatures often dwell above-ground in a variety of regions and climates, but some have been noted for creating hoards of food -- similar to squirrels -- beneath the ground in preparation for less than ideal weather conditions. They have been mostly noted as a nuisance animal, at worst due to their foraging and damage to the lands they dwell in, and rarely pose as much of an issue to humanity, even with their considerable size. Descriptions of the beast are near-universally the same, with slight additions depending on the climate, as some have been noted to contain fur while some are completely hairless, leaving only massive walls of muscle. They lack any sort of intelligence past the inherent desire to gather, feed, and roam and are noted as being generally peaceful -- though, as of late, a few of these beasts have been noted as suffering from some sort of illness by locals, a madness of sorts leading to increased aggression toward everything, even members of their own pack. This has led to an increased effort to dispose of the beasts, even those not suffering from the madness, due to potential risk-elements. They lack any substantial armor and are often preyed on by larger (and sometimes smaller) monsters. These beasts are best handled with a rifle from afar -- but the pacifist may choose to feed them and move on, and some may even seek to tame such a creature as a companion, a growing trend among Fog Dwellers looking for beasts of burden. This had led to an increased spread of rumors regarding medicinal qualities surrounding Behemonth Milk; a rarity, given the seeming lack of females in amongst grazing herds.

--
Average Height (Full Grown): 9 feet (2.7 m)
Average Weight (Full Grown): 8,800 lbs (3,991 kilograms)
Colorations: Grays
Diet: Ominvore (Scavenger)
Species (Pre-Infection: Unknown; suspected bovine.
--

''Dogmen''
These creatures are nocturnal, and almost always dwell above-ground in forested regions. They are often spotted while hunting in packs and are extremely--if not unusually--aggressive when compared to other Red Eyes and evolutions. Tales have spoken of the Dogmen hunting prey for weeks on end, tormenting them with psychic, hallucinogenic visions. Locals have likened them to something similar to wolves (resulting in the name, Dogmen) even if their appearance starkly contrasts, being a grotesque mutation of dog, man, and insect. Descriptions of the beasts, however, vary from person-to-person with some similarities lying between; some have noted these monsters blending in with the night, having the ability to shift forms, and even possess psychic qualities to the extent of ''knowing'' the history surrounding certain locations while one of the most common trends between each sighting involves different smells, and an uneasy presence in the area -- stories from some who have survived such encounters recall an aggressive odor of fish, salt-water and the feeling of something stalking them, often hearing an unusual chittering in their head -- a by-product of psychic attacks. Communities (primarily Fog Dwellers) see them as an omen of things to come, given their theories surrounding Dogmen feeding off of negative energy surrounding certain locations. They are carnivores, and often hunt in packs of seven-or-eight exclusively at night-time, leading to monstrophists and hunters having to employ more aggressive tactics to deal with the creatures. They're often tracked back to their nests, and the nests destroyed -- if possible, without ever encountering one of them up close, while some of the pacifistic quality have realized the beasts have an uncanny fear for light, fire, and certain smells (Wolf's Bane). Though, new stories have risen as of late from Monroe County, New York in amongst members of The Crows and other communities; sightings of the beast have been tied to an unusual entity known as The Man in Red. Monstrophists and hunters in the area have noted that some of the visions offered over by unrealizing victims have been more sinister -- often taunting them with horrific events from their life, or visions of an unknown location.

The last interviewee described it as such; "It's hard to put together, I can ... remember being at my home, I started to develop a headache and I don't know. Everything around me changed, my home was gone, and I was in an old hallway -- one made of stone. I kept walking because something was behind me. I guess one of ''them''. I just kept going and going until the flor opened up beneath me, and I fell. I kept falling ... but around me, I saw them--hundreds of monsters, like nothing I've ever seen--crawling up the walls of this place. Going up, toward the surface. I don't know what it meant." This location and the history surrounding it is still unknown and the link between "The Man in Red" and the "Dogmen" remains unknown, potentially remaining chalked up to men and women rattled by the latter's spree of murder a few years prior.

--
Average Height (Full Grown): Roughly 7ft
Average Weight (Full Grown): Unknown
Colorations: Brown, Gray
Diet: Carnivore
Species (Pre-Infection): Humanoid, Canine, Insect?
--

"The Man in Red"
Little is known about this individual, entity, or creature. Locals of Monroe County, NY have reported seeing glimpses of a burnt man in their dreams -- someone disturbingly similar to an infamous figure from Valley Station, KY. Tales of his origins have spread between Fog Dwellers, alleging him to be a member of the Disciples of Lazarus, a group of religious fanatics in operation from 2015 to 2016 who preached on the manner of Oculurubrus being the next step in genetic evolution. The Man in Red (his real identity is largely unknown) was one of the few survivors after most of the Disciples were massacred by a group of refugees. After the massacre, numerous sightings were made after the group's demise by communities who started to see him as an omen (something shared with the Dogmen) and some started to have similar dreams as those reported in New York. Members of these groups thought the dreams foretold the future and left them with warnings of the unknown. These dreams (and how they were theorized to be infectious, sometimes spreading from person-to-persons) boggled most Monstrophists, who had little time to question the communities due to the uncanny end shared between all of them; an entire group of people mysteriously vanishing. It led credence to the theory that "The Man in Red" was an unusual evolution of the Red Eye infected, but several holes have since remained in that theory -- namely how some similar communities often ended up becoming victims of the very real individual behind the ghost story, or hordes of your bog-standard Red Eye. Approximately six years ago, The Man in Red vanished and disappeared from the minds of most who believed him to have finally succumbed to bounty-hunters, but with the sudden resurgence of dreams and sightings -- who knows?

There are many other entities, monsters sprawling across the United States. Not all of them have been documented, and there is plenty for you to discover -- research -- and so on for yourself. That's all I got for now though, the most "common" and the most infamous urban-legends. Let me know if you want to know anything else about anything I listed here, I'll do my best to go as in-detail as I can and answer what I imagine John would know.

Just real quick--gonna message later on + have a couple of very minor lore authorization requests I still need to whip up. But one of them is actually referenced in your reply, so just wanted to toss in:

---'Nobody in the world has come up with an actual, honest to god, dedicated bestiary and as time has gone on --

I was hoping to do just this, too, alongside some short, one-shot fiction tales covering some of his experiences. Currently, and ideally for any more of these projects, I'd sort of take a slipstream approach and/or lean heavily into the character's background, so as to not give away too much information.

So, here, I seek some guidance: I'm leaning towards simply having the dude carry books / notebooks which detail any of this stuff--such as imgur links to drawings of monsters, and such. Or something similar to the Miles arm draft--sort of like those Morrowind loading screens with small blurbs about these creatures. Just for reference


(resize didn't work on imgur--so massive pics lol)



Sort of like that stuff, from Api's bio. Post in bio, lore corner public forums, or keep bound in mech books? One needing to actually get their hands on the mechanical book, in-game, to learn anything deeper than, 'The Dogmen are fearsome foes, said to travel in packs along woodland tracks in Monroe.' does kind of sound cool. Plus, of course, the information economy--and I'm just guessing that players would likely just pass up info which is already available.

On the other hand, a media-rich forums compendium, similar to that newspaper post, recently, to sort of bring more slice-of-life snapshots into, like, public space? I'm like 50/50 at the moment. If I were to keep this in-game-based, I figure I could take a screencap of the mech notebook / book, titled 'Compendium of Rochester Morphologies', or something, and drop that into a small inventory blurb, in the profile. On the other hand--more media-rich stuff might also serve a cool purpose. I'd do both, dividing up topics, but I'm sort of feeling an 'all or nothing' approach to those representations, just to keep things succinct and established.

But aye, I can also ponder it and ask later on via messages or replies here.

---

Side note: still reading through the various creatures, but this is really damn dope

Edit: ''Jotun''

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!