Laws of Monsters and Unnatural Anomalies 1512
Both the Kingdom and Holy Empire of Oren has long been plagued by beasts of all different creations. Feral animals and magical beasts have been the cause of many innocent lives lost. Yet the Realm has little knowledge of these creatures, and so they must be properly classified and codified as an addition to the Ashford Lexicon. The Laws of Monsters and Unnatural Anomalies supersede all lower Ducal and Provincial Laws, both for the ease of the Kingdom’s bounty boards and for a safer Realm.
Classification of a Monster
A monster is officially classified as:
- Any creature, humanoid or otherwise, that has an instinctive malicious intent.
- Any creature, humanoid or otherwise, that is defiant to the natural order of the World.
- Any creature, humanoid or otherwise, that is abnormally grotesque or physically unnatural.
- Any creature, humanoid or otherwise, that is created from magic with malicious intent.
- Any creature, magical in origin, that mimics sentience to disguise blind obedience.
The Codified Laws
- Licenses are needed to any man to track, hunt, and kill Monsters. Licenses may be bought from the Royal Administration.
- Only the licensed may harvest and sell parts of Monsters.
- Only the licensed may own parts of Monsters for their own collection.
- All hunts must be premeditated.
- Sentient monsters (ex: Trolls) are first required to be reasoned with, and then determined by the hunter if the monster is deserving of death.
- Any failed monster hunt is to be reported to the Office of the Marked Men.
- Any monster attacks are to be reported to the local nobility and guard force.
- Rogue hunters and unlicensed hunters are to be treated as monsters.
- The hunter is to be paid, and provide the head (or other significant limb) of the monster as evidence of his deed.
- If a man harbors or defends a monster in any capacity, the man will be treated as a monster.
- If a community worships a monster in any capacity, the community will be treated as a monster den and set to torch.
- If a man lay with another man, they are both monsters. This applies to all races.
- If a man lay with a Kharajyr or Orc, they are a monster and all offspring produced are monsters.
- If a man has an unnatural skin color or additional abnormal limbs, they will be treated as a monster.
Monsters Defined by the Crown
- Necroid
A Necroid is a monster that typically feeds on the corpses of Mankind. They are often undead themselves, and congregate wherever bodies are found (battlefields, graveyards). The most common Necroid are ghouls and vodniks.
- Specters
Specters are ghostly figures, dead individuals stuck in the world of the living by a means of cosmic binding. They are almost entirely distrustful, and are exceptionally dangerous when they are allowed to roam freely. The most common Specters are wraiths and haunts.
- Feral Beasts
Feral Beasts are primarily woodland animals that have become overly aggressive and hostile. They are extremely territorial and have an instinctive ferocity. The most common Feral Beasts are wolves and (in times of war) wild dogs.
- Cursed
Cursed are those who have been affected by dark magic and as a result have been hexed into a curse. Oftentimes, the curse itself can be lifted, but only under very specific circumstances. The most common Cursed are wolfmen.
- Hybrids
A Hybrid is a monster that has many similarities with our world’s common creatures, yet their forms are mutated and corrupted and dangerous in nature. More often as winged creatures, hybrids prefer to create nests and act extremely territorial. The most common Hybrids are harpies and griffins.
- Insectoids
Insectoids are monsters with a likeness to common insects. They are, in contrast to normal insects, much larger and have a deadlier mindset. Like Hybrids, most Insectoids prefer to create a nest and settle down in a permanent home. The most common Insectoids are arachnids.
- Elementa
Elementa are almost exclusively magical in creation. Often created by mages, elementa are often regarded as simple performing servants or unrelenting sentinels. The most common Elementa are golems.
- Relics
Relics are monsters descended from a long forgotten age. They are the most rare of monsters, and are perhaps the most dangerous due to very little academic study and practical application. There is no common Relic.
- Ogres
Ogres are large humanoid creatures more often capable of the most basic intelligence. They are sentient beings and have a simple understanding of the world around them. The most common Ogres are trolls.
- Draconids
Draconids are winged beasts and perhaps the most largest monsters recorded. Their skin comprises of surprisingly resistant scales and are very difficult to kill. Very few draconid species remain, with drakes and dragons becoming nearly extinct. The most common Draconids are chimeras and forktails.
- Witches
Witches are monsters that have an affinity towards dark magic. Often regarded as instinctively deceitful and devious, witches utilize their magical attunements to manipulate the world around them. Some witches operate alone, while others work in groups called covens.
- Bryophytes
Bryophytes are the result of an unnatural binding between Mankind and nature. They are corrupted individuals whose minds have been plagued by parasitic spores, leading to eventual madness.
Any information regarding the identification of Monsters can be found among the Marked Men or the Lord Justiciar.
