A static text mirror of the theories concerning the origin of monsters. This version exposes each theory's summary and detailed explanation directly in the page HTML.
Summary: The true monsters are sorcerers, all other monsters originate from them one way or another.
Witches summon Spelldreads, Wizards summon Spirit Dragons and Necromancers summon Zombies and Flesh Golems. It took us more than a thousand years to make these connections maybe a thousand years from now we'll have connected all monsters to a sorcerer?
Initial interface belief rank: 3/5
Summary: HE caused the monsters on 0 AF.
An attractive theory at first, a common thread of every human civilisation : monsters and HIM. However do keep in mind out of all the worlds religions not a single one directly blames him. Coincidence? Who knows?
Initial interface belief rank: 3/5
Summary: Monsters are a reflection of humans' own internal evil. Therefore the problem of monsters can be resolved via moral (societal) reform, rather than violence.
Our approach to the monster problem has consistently been outward violence for thousands of years, yet the problem is worse than ever before. To some this is indicative of an incorrect approach, that the answer is not out there in the cold night but inside our own minds and spirits.
Initial interface belief rank: 3/5
Summary: Society's elite create monsters to uphold the status quo.
As absurd as it sounds, the sentiment is becoming increasingly popular in rural areas. More than a thousand years of fighting and dying, yet the threat is stronger than ever before, and the kings protection is needed more than ever before.
Initial interface belief rank: 3/5
Summary: Monsters are creatures or energies from other worlds interacting with ours.
The prevailing theory is that magic originates from other worlds. Is it unreasonable to suggest that monsters may share the same origin?
Initial interface belief rank: 3/5
Summary: Humans are being punished by a higher power with monsters.
After 0 AF, both religion and society radically changed. Perhaps we changed for the worse?
Initial interface belief rank: 3/5
Summary: Monsters are nature's way of reducing the human population back to a natural number.
As the human population increases so does the monster population. It is as if a natural balance keeps both populations in check.
Initial interface belief rank: 3/5
Summary: Monsters were originally weapons of our ancestors that got out of control.
The history before 0 AF is an enigma of mystery. Monsters are designed to kill only humans, and in a world without monsters who would kill humans?
Initial interface belief rank: 3/5
Summary: Monsters have always existed and are simply part of the natural world. Humans must accept monsters will always exist the same way birds and trees will always exist.
Perhaps our ancestors did suffer from monsters the way we did, but saw them as another of God's gifts as opposed to vermin to be wiped out.
Initial interface belief rank: 3/5
Summary: All monsters originate from a singular hostile entity, using them as an advanced form of warfare.
Monsters are designed to kill humans yet leave each other alone for the most part. Does this hint at a common source?
Initial interface belief rank: 3/5
Summary: Monsters are designed to replace humans in the natural order, and are naturally generated in the same way animals and plants are.
They are bigger, faster and stronger than we are. Certain Classes also share our advanced intellect. Are they the upgrade to humanity?
Initial interface belief rank: 3/5
Summary: Monsters get more dangerous and more adapted over time due to hunters consistently killing off weaker monsters (Survival of the fittest). Hence why our ancestors did not suffer as much compared to modern people.
The Draga creed promises to wipe out all monsters, it would be an ironic twist of fate if that very creed is making the enemy stronger.
Initial interface belief rank: 3/5
Summary: Monsters originate from people experimenting with their soul energy. Soulless monsters are accidentally animated via soul energy, while twisted soul monsters are people twisting their own soul for power.
The nature of a 'soul' is poorly understood even today. Maybe we find monsters wherever we go, because we create them with our very souls?
Initial interface belief rank: 3/5
Summary: Monsters were created by a higher power purely to unite the human race. Once all nations become one, monsters will cease to exist.
If monsters were designed to wipe us out why does our population continue to increase? It's been proposed maybe we misjudged their purpose, and monsters are a gift, to give all nations a singular enemy as opposed to each other.
Initial interface belief rank: 3/5
Summary: Monsters are reincarnations of evil people stuck in an endless cycle. As time passes the amount of "dead people" increases hence the rise in monster populations.
Many cultures preach about balance, day and night, life and death, humans and monsters. Part of the proposed cycles is the concept of reincarnation - that an evil soul lives another life in a lower form, while the good soul ascends. Would that make you higher ones the greatest of all souls then?
Initial interface belief rank: 3/5
Summary: Monsters appear due to religions and cults worshipping (knowingly or unknowingly) extra dimensional beings. A destruction of all forms of religions would cause monsters to cease to exist
So many religions, all contradicting and squabbling each other, breaking into sects and quarrelling some more. Meanwhile monsters increase in complexity breaking into Classes and Subclasses, Perhaps the 2 mirror each other by design? Alternatively we must ask 'what makes those being worthy of worship?'
Initial interface belief rank: 3/5
Summary: Monsters are tied to geographical locations. Killing a monster is only temporary as it will "reform" at that geographical location.
Although this does not explain how they first manifest, its a plausible explanation for why their numbers refuse to stay down. A family can spend generations clearing the same farm, yet can never declare it safe. According to followers of this theory monsters do not reform when people are looking otherwise cities would not be as safe as they currently are.
Initial interface belief rank: 3/5
Summary: Monsters are "generated" underground and are brought to the surface. The planet itself is corrupted with monsters.
Many monsters are associated with the ground or dirt. Trapjaws are first found buried in the soil, sea spiders in the sand and zombies in the graves. A common origin of all monsters?
Initial interface belief rank: 3/5
Summary: All monsters were once people who made contracts with higher beings.
We know so little about contract magic but also about the process of becoming a monster. Could the 2 be related?
Initial interface belief rank: 3/5
Summary: Every monster is a creature (non-monster) infected with a disease. Becoming a monster can be avoided in the same way one avoids a disease (Hygiene, Isolation etc).
There are many diseases with many symptoms and causes. They infect in different ways, modify appearances and behaviours, and can kill mercilessly just like a monster. We don't even understand how and where diseases come from, another glaring similarity to monsters.
Initial interface belief rank: 3/5
Summary: Various religions and cults associate the existence of monsters to their deity(s) and believe following their way will solve the monster problem.
To pick a correct religion is a gargantuan predicament, when so many exist contradicting each other. Is that enough evidence to say they are all false? Could they all be partially true, or true to different degrees? Maybe the similar themes and warnings reflect an underlying truth within them all? Or maybe the divine want us to make a correct choice?
Initial interface belief rank: 3/5
Summary: An abused or killed magic beast becomes a monster. Additionally humans are a type of magic beast, thus moral reform is sufficient to reduce monster populations
A very specific theory taken from the religions of the South of the continent. Magical beasts don't fit cleanly in any classification, they have souls like any natural creature yet share many attributes with monsters such as impossible biology and magical abilities. Due to their rarity they are often hunted for artifacts and materials, giving sufficient motivation for violence is the next life
Initial interface belief rank: 3/5
Summary: Monsters are gods in the most literal sense possible. When the HE was shattered, the gods of old were also split apart forming monsters.
The events at 0 AF changed the world for the worse. The ways of old were gone and a sudden emergence of new powerful creatures arises from every corner of the Planet. Can we prove these are the same ancient deities? If so were they ever gods to begin with?
Initial interface belief rank: 3/5
Summary: The absence of light creates monsters. To stop monsters from appearing bathe the lands in light.
This theory hinges on the relationship between monsters and the dark. In the light monsters are significantly weaker with some outright perishing from the sun's rays. According to believers of the theory, this is because monsters literally are darkness given physical forms and by defnition the absence of light cannot co-exist with light. To stop the monster infestation, cover the land with as much light as possible opening up the darkest corners of the Planet into the pure light.
Initial interface belief rank: 3/5
Summary: Emotions create monsters, particularly the emotions felt during one's death
It's almost a known fact whispnado's form from human emotions, so there is already an established link between emotions and monsters. Perhaps emotions are strong enough to animate dead flesh or even a beings own soul, in the same way they can power screaming winds.
Initial interface belief rank: 3/5