Post by Endy on Dec 3, 2012 2:45:28 GMT -7
Here you will find a detailed guide on all of the exotic wild beasts (often referred to as Monsters) that currently call Setsuwa home. This list is ever-growing as new species are discovered frequently in Setsuwa. This first post includes a variety of details regarding the information on this page, as well as details on Genetics.If you would like to simply skip down to the list of creatures themselves, refer to the second post (Ctrl+F "Monster Tables").Please note, however, that while you may know all of this information, that does not necessarily mean your character will also know of such information.
Every creature has a variety of unique information about them, which will be listed here. Do always remember to be reasonable when establishing what your character would and would not know about aspects of the Setsuwan World, including the creatures that inhabit it.Important Monster InformationName: The first thing you'll see at the top left corner of the info box is the creature's name.
Image: A general image of the creature, with varying accuracy due to artistic renderings.
Description: A detailed description of the creature, detailing some physical and behavioral information about it.
Classification: This identifies which Element the creature is classified under, which denotes which Demi God/Deity is believed to preside over it. Note that this is not the same as Genetic Class (explained below).
Notable Abilities: A list of exceptional traits you are likely to see when encountering this creature, as well as typically what you might watch out for if battling it.
Notable Weaknesses: If you intend to fight (or avoid a fight) with this creature, this area lists tips for doing so.
Natural Habitat: This denotes what kinds of areas one will typically find the creature in. Of course, domestication and/or other extenuating circumstances can cause exceptions to this.
Genetics: This details the creature's genetic classification. More on this later.Taming Level
The taming level indicates how difficult a wild creature will be to tame. Diamonds display the taming level, which reaches a maximum of six, and a minimum of one. Here is what they all mean:
◊ - Denotes a creature that is essentially tame already. They are pliable and are often sold in pet shops due to the ease of their nature.
◊ ◊ - Denotes a creature that is vaguely tame already. They are rather malleable to sentient suggestion and make good house pets, but may require a bit of house-breaking.
◊ ◊ ◊ - Denotes a creature that is not tame, but can be tamed rather easily. These creatures will resist a rope to the end, though once captured and trained, they can become good pets. A decent trainer is necessary for training these creatures.
◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ - Denotes a creature that is resistant to being domesticated. These creatures will try their hardest not to be captured, and once captured an owner must put in a good amount of time and effort to get the creature to begin to trust them. If this can be done, these creatures will make good pets. A good trainer is necessary for training these creatures, as is a great deal of trust.
◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ - Denotes a creature that is dangerous to try and capture. These monsters are tamable, but they will be extremely resistant and are likely to have violent outbreaks at their new Masters until they become accustomed to being a pet. Until such a time, it is seldom a good idea to have other people around them. A skilled trainer is necessary for training these creatures.
◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ - Denotes a creature that is extremely dangerous to try and capture. These beasts may be tamable, but they will not go easily. They will fight the whole way and only the most skilled of trainers will be able to make it into a decent pet. Beasts of this nature will typically need very stern training to develop habits, and can sometimes continue to be dangerous even after being tamed. They are not ever the sorts of creatures to keep around smaller animals or children.Intelligence
Much like Taming Level, this field uses diamonds to indicate the level of intelligence possessed by the creature. In fact, the combination of Taming Level and Intelligence will often be a big indicator in the overall taming process of the creature. For example, a creature with a high Taming Level and Low Intelligence would, in all likelihood, be very hard to tame due to its wild and feral nature, and lesser learning ability. The different ranks of intelligence are:
◊ - Creatures driven purely by instinct. They have no concept of Self-Awareness, and only their instincts tell them how to breed and how to form social groups (if they even do so).
◊ ◊ - Creatures that are dominated mostly by instincts, but possess advanced capacity for social functions. They are capable of living with other creatures outside of their species fairly evenly, and with little trouble. They are also capable of basic learning skills, and possess higher-degree capacity for hunting skills.
◊ ◊ ◊ - The highest level of intelligence typically seen in feral animals. They possess a mild sense of self-awareness, but are more aware of others. These creatures are typically social animals that form groups due to their high-functioning social skills. They also possess the capacity for fairly strong thought patterns, are very capable of learning, and possess a decent affinity for forming hunting plans. However, they are still heavily instinctual and such instincts will rule the better part of their actions.
◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ - Creatures of this level of intelligence surpass the level of common animals, and are capable of higher thought processes. They are typically able to easily understand speech, possess a high capacity for learning and remembering, and are fully self-aware. However, a notable part of them is still governed by instinct, and so they may sometimes behave in potentially irrational manners.
◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ - These creatures will typically possess intelligence equivalent to the average level of intelligence seen among the peoples of Setsuwa (with some variation). Most of these creatures are capable of speech, and can be found to employ advanced social constructs among their own kind fairly often. For all their intelligence, though, even they are not free from instinctual pull, and it can occasionally cloud their better judgment, and is the primary cause for their still being identified as beasts. There are very few wild creatures in Setsuwa with this level of intelligence.The Fascinating World of Genetics
Below is an explanation on the Genetics of the Creatures in Setsuwa. Note that by no means is this necessary for you to read, and is a tad lengthy. But, it does offer some extra, fun information for better understanding them!
Every creature is classified into four distinct groups, also known as its Genetic Key in the Scientific World, and is then given a distinct species name to differentiate itself from any other creatures that would otherwise share its Genetic Key.
The four distinct Groups are Type, Class, Kind, and Family.Type denotes the overall form of life that represents the creature, the essential building block from which the rest of the creature's genetic structure is formed.
Elementum - Creatures that are identified as being Elemental in nature; essentially a creature that represents a Deific Element in some manner or another.
Magia - Creatures that are identified as being magical in nature; these creatures tend to have distinct magical properties to them that goes beyond simply being in tune with an element.
Mysticum - Creatures that are identified as being mystical in nature; not to be confused with Magia, these creatures tend to have properties that are more in line with Spiritual aspects, and sometimes otherworldly phenomenon.
Natura - Creatures that are identified as being natural beings with no especially extraordinary properties; these creatures will typically rely solely on their physical genetic aspects, and also tend to be gifted physically.Class (not to be confused with Classification) indicates the primary medium by which the creature was brought into existence. Oftentimes, the Genetic Class of a creature is directly correspondent to its Classification, but there are occasional situations where a creature is born of one element, but is represented by another, hence its Classification and Genetic Class being different.
Pyrofora - Fire
Cryofora - Ice
Aquafora - Water
Fulgafora - Electricity
Ventofora - Wind
Terrafora - Earth
Florafora - Nature
Petrafora - Minerals
Lumofora - Light
Umbrafora - Darkness
Vidafora - Life
Mortefora - Death
Astrafora - Celestial Bodies
Vanufora - Illusions
Carofora - FleshKind indicates the form that the creature maintains as a living being, and thus characterizes the manner in which they live and common characteristics they will share with other animals of their Kind. Thus far, the known Kinds are:
Mamalia - Mammals, typically possessing fur and giving birth to live young. Warm-blooded creatures, often omnivorous to varying extents, and frequently possessing highly developed brains.
Reptilia - Lizards and other Reptiles, Typically possessing scales, fangs, and laying Eggs. Internal body temperatures will typically be in accordance with ideal environment, and most of these creatures are quadrupedal.
Alatia - Winged Non-Mammals, This Kind is typically dominated by Birds, but other winged creatures that lack similar Kinds are also classed here. Offspring are typically produced via eggs, though there is variation among some Types.
Insecta - Insects and Dominantly Insect-like creatures, Animals that typically possess exoskeletons and progress through multiple life stages. Offspring are produced via eggs.
Piscia - Fish, Water-living creatures with fins and other appendages, typically in possession of Gills or some other means of filtering Oxygen through water. Offspring are produced via eggs in most cases, though the larger kinds may birth them live.
Daemonium - An interesting Kind that contains creatures regarded as Demonic or Otherworldly, Containing even creatures said to dwell in the Afterlife; Sometimes regarded as a superstitious, non-authentic Kind by some. Reproduction is entirely speculation.
Aliecorpum - Creatures that have strange forms, often with foreign appendages or physical makeup, and a generally bizarre biology; Octopi and Squid are commonly grouped here as well. Reproduction varies.
Amphibia - Creatures that split their lives between living in land and in water, Progressing through multiple life cycles and often having a means of filtering Oxygen from water. Offspring are birthed in eggs.
Silva - Creatures that are botanic in nature, but in possession of sentience and biological functions which distinguish them from common plant-life. Reproduces typically via pollination.
Huma - Creatures that assume a humanoid shape or form, but with exaggerated features and sometimes qualities that are inconsistent with mammals. Method of Birth varies.The Family is a specific group of creatures which are genetically similar to one another, and more often than not, genetically compatible in regards to mating (where applicable), though there is not always a guarantee of producing fertile offspring when two different species mate with one another. However, while retaining similarities, different species will of course possess intrinsic differences that, more often than not, are the deciding factors in setting them apart as separate species.
The Families currently known in Setsuwa are:
- Equus - Varying kinds of Horses and Horse-likes
- Bovus - Large animals with horns and hooves
- Canis - Varying kinds of Dogs, Wolves, and Dog-likes
- Felis - Varying kinds of Cats, Wildcats, and Cat-likes:
- Felinum - Small cats, typically domestic
Lynx - Mid-sized wildcats
Panthera - Large, feral wilcats
- Cunimalias - Shrews, Moles, Hedghogs, and other small, burrowing mammals
- Anguis - Snakes and Serpents
- Avilutus - Scavenging Birds, often lacking cranial feathers
- Iuncturas - Chimerical animals that are otherwise undefinable
- Pixius - Pixies and Pixie-like creatures
- Magnicorpus - Golems
- Rodentias - Mice, Rats, Squirrels, and other rodents: mammals with continuously growing incisors
- Raptorius - Exclusively Predatory Birds
- Avicantus - Birds with exceptional magical qualities
- Draconus - Dragons
- Draconium - Fully-limbed, long-necked, long-tailed, fanged Dragons, almost always with wings, usually somewhat stocky and in possession of fiery breath (or some variation)
Draceous - Serpentine, slim-bodied Dragons, usually wingless, with more cone-like teeth, usually horns, sometimes limbless
Parvadraco - Miniature dragons, sometimes still somewhat large, sometimes tiny, usually with uniquely developed biological functions
- Effigius - Creatures that assume a false, often human form, while possessing a true form that is used in predation
Understanding Genetics can be an exciting venture, and opens the door to new possibilities in understanding the Fauna of Setsuwa!Lastly, while this directory details the many exotic creatures living in Setsuwa, it must be noted that many other, more mundane creatures also call Setsuwa home. Common animals known to be found in Setsuwa are:
All manner of Fish
Bears
Cats
Cattle
Crocodilians
Deer
Dogs
Elephants
Horses
Insects of nearly all Kinds
Lizards
Many varieties of Bird, including:Mice, Shrews, Squirrels, Rabbits, and other small mammals.
- Bluebirds
Robins
Canaries
Eagles
Vultures
Hawks
Quail
Ducks
Geese
Turkey
Pheasant
Ostrich
Penguins
Gulls
Oxen
Pigs
Reindeer
Seals, Dugongs, Walruses, and Otters
Sharks
Snakes
Whales
Wildcats
Wolves
And in all likelihood many, many more.
If you have any questions about the information provided here, or a question about wildlife in general, feel free to send a personal message to a Member of Staff! Also, if you would like to create your own monster, or have an idea for one that would fit in well in the world of Setsuwa, please visit the Suggestions and Polls board and let us know!
