Liber Monstrorum
Introduction
The Liber Monstrorum is a late seventh-or early eighth-century Anglo-Latin catalogue of marvellous creatures, which may be connected with the Anglo-Saxon scholar Aldhelm. It is transmitted in several manuscripts from the ninth and tenth centuries, but is often studied in connection with the more well known text Beowulf, since the Liber also mentions King Hygelac of the Geats and that he was renowned for his large size. The book contains extraordinary people, like Hygelac, some clearly historical reports of actual people, like the Ethiopians, and some obviously mythological reports, as in the cyclops and centaurs.
The Stuff of Legends
Mythological creatures. Legendary animals. Flights of fancy. Abominations. Monsters. The greater beasts, the animals and creatures of the fabled past and present, are all of these things and more. They are living creatures that have faded almost completely from the world, or are complete fiction dreamed up by over-imaginative tale-tellers — or both.
Humanity has sought to identify and understand the animal kingdom throughout history. Our imaginative interpretations, exaggerations and unflinching lies about nature's creatures have created legends of all sorts of amazing and impossible animals and demons. Yet what is the truth about a beast when assumptions about it are believed? If manticores are the products of human sins unchecked, or the seas are alive with races similar to humankind, who can claim these legends are false when no proof exists to say so?
The medieval and mythic ages are rife with tales of monsters and magical creatures. Legend and tale holds that these creatures are real, and whether anyone has ever actu- ally seen one doesn't matter. To the common citizen or peasant whose life is confined by four walls or four fields, who's to say what lurks in the wilds or over the next hill? Monsters and great beasts are just as plausible as God, angels and the Devil — because so many people believe in them.
Even in the modern information age, communication, data and reports do not necessarily convey truth or insight. Information can be shared about only what we know, what we've discovered and what we theorize. Unless we have categorical proof that unicorns do not exist, how can we truly say they do not? We haven't discovered the Pegasus, but not long ago, we hadn't discovered atomic energy, either. Before that discovery, how would expecting to harness the building blocks of reality have been any different from expecting to find a winged horse? And as for theories, modern man can insist that Gryphons are not real, but that claim is no more valid than our conviction centuries ago that gryphons did indeed soar the skies.
So where did the great beasts come from? They all have their origins and backgrounds. Ultimately, where they came from is less important than that we have believed in them and, in some cases, still do. As long as people have faith in the krakens, dragons and hippocampi of the world, those creatures originate from us and we can find them anywhere we look closely enough.
As characters, great beasts are much like normal hu- mans. Many of them are intelligent, creative, caring, vengeful and insightful — or more so than any person could ever hope to be. These fantastic creatures offer a chance to explore roleplaying realms that normal characters simply cannot tread. What does time mean to a centuries-old drake? What is wealth to a unicorn who seeks only peace? What is love to a manticore who seeks seclusion and a full belly?
Imagine the character conflicts that arise when a sea bishop has to choose whether to save a drowning man or the hippocampus that the man sought to capture. The sea- horse's freedom may mean much more to the bishop than any landlubber's life, even if that human is another player's character. Playing an inhuman character, therefore, forces you to ask questions of your character that playing a human never would.
Great beasts also allow you to throw off human trappings and bring new insights to the stories you tell. Whereas humans might pursue a goal to attain power, a hippogryph might scoff at that agenda when revenge is to be had. What then, is more important in life — self-glorification or self- fulfillment? Is there even any difference? These questions and more will take your roleplaying to new heights as you question human values through bestial eyes.
Remember that the beasts presented here are simply representative of their kind. Not all gryphons seek respect through accomplishments and names. Not all harpies are women who have hidden their sins. Feel free to alter these creatures' powers and natures for your own purposes, as long as the Storyteller approves. Perhaps a gryphon would deign to cooperate with humans in order to help them understand their hubris. Perhaps the grand names that he would nor- mally take might encourage pride rather than teach humility. Maybe a harpy was not a murderer but was grief-stricken in human life, and her despair drove her mad and caused her to assume her monstrous form. Her predation of humanity might therefore be directed against those who would harm innocents, rather than against any living thing.
Ultimately, a great beast should be as fully developed and fulfilled as any human character. After all, these creatures are the stuff of legends.
A Legion of Monsters
- Angelus Lacrimarum
- Animals
- Cockatrice
- Cults
- Demons
- Divine Host
- Djinn
- Doppelgänger
- Draconians
- Dragons
- Fae
- Familiars
- Feng-Huang
- Fomori
- Gallû
- Ghosts
- Gods
- Gryphon
- Gypsies
- Hellhounds
- Hunters
- Infernalists
- Kuei-jin -- Kuei-jin are the vampires of Asia presented in Kindred of the East. Other terms are Wan Kuei, Wan Xian, Gui Ren or simply the Hungry Dead.
- Mummies
- Necromantic Animations
- Nightwalker
- Oneiroi
- Plasmics -- Elementals of the Underworld.
- Psychic Vampire -- Emotion draining Beings.
- Revenants
- Risen
- Secret Societies
- Sin-eater
- Strotires
- The Changing Breeds
- Vampire Abomination
- Vampiric Proteges (ghouls)
- Verbek
- Werewolves
- Wizards & Witches
