The Archives of Theory

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.

Sorcerer Theory

Summary: The true monsters are sorcerers, all other monsters originate from them one way or another.

Detailed Explanation

Witches summon Spelldreads, Wizards summon Evil Towers and Necromancers summon Zombies and Ghouls. 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

Fractured Theory

Summary: HE caused the monsters on Year 0

Detailed Explanation

Every civilisation speaks whispers of the events on that day, maybe the entity(s) responsible who struck down our ancestors is the same one responsible for the terrors that strike us down today. Some scholars reject this as due to the lack of explicit connection in any world religion.

Initial interface belief rank: 3/5

Internal Evil Theory

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.

Detailed Explanation

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

Elite Agenda Theory

Summary: Society's elite create monsters to uphold the status quo.

Detailed Explanation

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

Otherworld Theory

Summary: Monsters are creatures or energies from other worlds interacting with ours.

Detailed Explanation

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

Divine Punishment theory

Summary: Humans are being punished by a higher power with monsters.

Detailed Explanation

After 0 AF, both religion and society radically changed. Perhaps we changed for the worse?

Initial interface belief rank: 3/5

Natural Equilibrium Theory

Summary: Monsters are nature's way of reducing the human population back to a natural number.

Detailed Explanation

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

Ancient War Theory

Summary: Monsters were originally weapons of our ancestors that got out of control.

Detailed Explanation

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

Primeval co-existence theory

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.

Detailed Explanation

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

Dark Conquest Theory

Summary: All monsters originate from a singular hostile entity, using them as an advanced form of warfare.

Detailed Explanation

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

Evolution Theory

Summary: Monsters are designed to replace humans in the natural order, and are naturally generated in the same way animals and plants are.

Detailed Explanation

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

Adaptation Theory

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.

Detailed Explanation

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

Soul Abuse Theory

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.

Detailed Explanation

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

Unity Theory

Summary: Monsters were created by a higher power purely to unite the human race. Once all nations become one, monsters will cease to exist.

Detailed Explanation

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

Reincarnation Theory

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.

Detailed Explanation

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

Worship Theory

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

Detailed Explanation

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

Static Anchor Theory

Summary: Monsters are tied to geographical locations. Killing a monster is only temporary as it will "reform" at that geographical location.

Detailed Explanation

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

Corrupted Underground Theory

Summary: Monsters are "generated" underground and are brought to the surface. The planet itself is corrupted with monsters.

Detailed Explanation

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

Contract Theory

Summary: All monsters were once people who made contracts with higher beings.

Detailed Explanation

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

Epidemic Theory

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).

Detailed Explanation

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

Religious Theory

Summary: Various religions and cults associate the existence of monsters to their deity(s) and believe following their way will solve the monster problem.

Detailed Explanation

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

Magic Beasts Theory

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

Detailed Explanation

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

Shattered Idols Theory

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.

Detailed Explanation

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

Darkness Incarnate Theory

Summary: The absence of light creates monsters. To stop monsters from appearing bathe the lands in light.

Detailed Explanation

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

Emotion Theory

Summary: Emotions create monsters, particularly the emotions felt during one's death

Detailed Explanation

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

Parasite Theory

Summary: Monsters are an unneeded aspect of creation, their removal can only be good like the removal of a parasite

Detailed Explanation

A parasite is a creature that extracts resources form the host, while providing no benefit. This is the traditional Draga view of monsters ; they destroy the earth and it's inhabitants while providing no benefits to them. They must be exterminated from all corners of the planet if we are ever to return to the glory of our prehistoric ancestors!

Initial interface belief rank: 3/5

Suffering Theory

Summary: Each monster instance directly represents a specific act of suffering that a natural creature endured.

Detailed Explanation

Monsters mirror nature, yet are not natural - what a strange relationship. This theory states that the abuse of any natural creature creates a dark 'footprint', the creatures suffering, incarnating as a aggressive monster. Every injury spanws a trapjaw, every depression manifests a whispnado, every stubbed toe becomes a ghost ant. Although the specifc mappings can be debated, it is an intresting proposition nonetheless.

Initial interface belief rank: 3/5

Lost Religion Theory

Summary: The true religion is lost to time, humanity is doomed from monsters unless it is revived

Detailed Explanation

A specific version of Religious theory. So much from the past was lost, maybe the true nature of the divine was aomng them, putting us at a permanant imbalance with the greater powers. The offical Draga government strongly objects to this theory, although it still nontheless suggested among scholary circles. It must be obvious to you higher ones, I can only hope to imagine your wisdom on these affairs.

Initial interface belief rank: 3/5

Nature's Cradle Theory

Summary: Nature creates monsters and is not to be respected. Rebuild the world in man's noble vision.

Detailed Explanation

Monsters seem inherently tied to nature and the enviroment, mirrroring animals, plants or natural processes. If the Planet itself wants us gone why should we respect it? Our population is higher than ever before due to our artificial cities replacing dangerous forests. It's certainly in our human nature to terraform the world for our comfort and perhaps that is something to be celebrated and encouraged. Maybe this is the puprose the divine created us?
This theory remains unpopular among most Draga scholars, although not completly abandoned in certain intellectual circles.

Initial interface belief rank: 3/5

Divine Hierarchry Theory

Summary: Monsters originate from worlds, 'higher' or 'lower' than our own.

Detailed Explanation

The existence of 'higher' or 'lower' worlds was proposed by ancient shamanists long before first contact. Despite knowing about your world great highers, we are ignorant of a world(s) lower than ours. Is there a world where we are the great highers? If not do monsters come from YOU?

Initial interface belief rank: 3/5