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Dragon
“Y’know, they’re not that bad. They’re probably the most sentient monsters we’ve ever heard about…”
“Ya should be daft ‘tween the ears if ya think those oversized cocks once ruled o’er humans… I mean, how long ago would’da been?”
“Sturdy beasts, extremely hard to defeat... that is, until we came into the picture.”

The Dragons here in Fiore share a lot with those I’m familiar with back in Midi; first of all, they’re usually gigantic and reptilian, fly around the skies that is their kingdom, possess immense magical prowess and overall harbingers of abomination and symbols of dominance over the regions. However, unlike the serpentine fellows I often meet harboring every body of water back home, the Dragons here are far more ferocious and hostile towards humans and other creatures… which is terrible. They don’t often wield sleek, snake-like bodies; they have large limbs and a bear-like torso with scales, no signs of beards on their lizard-like jaws, and their fangs are so much longer and larger than their Midian cousins. I’ve met rare examples of Dragons who differ too much from their race to be put in any category, but this is roughly my estimated description of a Fiorian tatsu… yeah, we call them that in Midi. Tatsus. Or Wani, if they live their whole lives underwater. Midian Dragons love water, but most Dragons are attuned to one element.

Some documents state that they used to be numerous here in Fiore, and if that was the case, then why is the country still standing? The answer may lie in the birth of ‘Dragon Slayers’ - wizards wielding the arcane prowess of a Dragon itself, channeling that prowess through magic originally to beat them back. That’s one way to try and gain the upper hand should you face them in battle - however, if you don’t wield Dragon Slayer Magic, then pray that your agility and finishing power can deal decisive blows to their joint areas on wings and arms. Avoid their magic, too, for they are unpredictable in type yet devastating in nature, embodiments of the world and its laws and atmospheres.

Dragon Slayers and their actions in the past pushed Dragons’ numbers down by a lot, but that was eons ago. It’s not really a thing to do today as many Dragon Slayers of the present have been fostered and raised by Dragons themselves, including Althea, Arcadia, Ibara and many others. I’d say that’s a sweet circumstance.


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Ox Ogre
"Ogres, yeah, they're more common than what I deem acceptable, but I would've laughed at your face if you told me that there existed such a thing as an 'Ox Ogre'… until our local beach got closed due to sightings of one. Yeah, fuck that. I'd rather have shark problems." - A resident's comments after a recent beach incident.

Ox Ogres - or Ushi Oni - are large, bovine monstrosities that often find their homes along the shores of small islands. I’ve met only one before… the only oxen trait that I could recognize on it was its arched, smooth horns akin to an actual ox. Everything else, though, screamed demon and ogre; its legs were long, thin and spider-like with long, sharp claws in replacement of a normal ox’s hooves. Its breath was poisonous, and whaddya know, it was ridiculously hostile and territorial as well. It often lies underwater in wait of unaware prey, trapping them with its tentacle-like limbs and swallowing it whole. Why there existed such wild, deadly demons resembling cattle remains a mystery - just like the logic behind its anatomy. While battling it, which was a necessity, I did notice that it grew fatigued on its own when moved further away from the water. Perhaps it’s physically bound to the sea, so try that if you ever happen to face one on your path. It’s also a good idea to avoid inhaling any of its poisonous breaths; I had to have Kyuken fling my body around for a brief moment due to the temporary paralysis from it. Its poison wasn’t magical, so I figured that an antidote against it is possible to brew, should you be able to get away with a sample.


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Dream Eaters
"I've never had a single nightmare in my whole life, thanks to the Baku that guards our village! Nothing wrong with those helpful deities!" - A thankful villager living in a village harboring a Baku.

Much like dragons and phoenixes, these beasts often bring fortune and good times to villagers. Because of this, they're revered as sacred deities and beloved by all; the Dream Eater is no exception. Imagine an elephant's snout stuck onto a hinoceros' head hanging on a bear's body with a tiger's paws and claws and a lion's mane and tail… trust me, such a creature exists.

Despite its ominous name - or at least, the common translation for its Midian name 'Baku' - the Dream Eater long ago consisted of no nightmarish entity that thrives on siphoning your life forces via eating your dreams. In fact, the reason why many villagers in a long time loved and worshipped it was because of its habit of exclusively eating bad dreams. Like a psychological vacuum cleaner, its long, elephant-like snout sniffs out bad dreams from sleeping men's heads, allowing it to devour them like wolfing down a cake - all while coated in an aura of secrecy, so none would even be able to see it in action, which basically mean that they have a habit of staying invisible for 75% of their lifetimes. A helpful, shy fellow for people who suffer from terrors in their slumber.

However, in late times they've been losing devotion due to a new offspring of Bakus that, unfortunately, have gotten a taste of good dreams and are now fattening themselves with them until their victims can no longer make any images in their heads. These kinds of rare Bakus ooze with mana from their victims, have grown to about twice the size of a normal Baku (so from a few feet to ten meters in length), and are gluttonous to a fault. Should you ever face a Baku of that description and be aware of its presence, it will be best to get rid of it as quickly as possible. They do not fight back like other monsters; they do not aim to harm you physically, but all your thoughts and images in your mind are fuel for them, and they will continuously fill their bellies with them. You can take that as a freebie for an opening to strike or as a detriment.


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Phoenixes
"An emperor once demanded to have a Phoenix for a meal to make himself immortal, but he couldn't tell the difference from that and a common pheasant. I'd love to see the look on his face now…" - Comments from an advisor in the Forbidden City.

Phoenixes are a breed of pure, blessed birds - pheasant-like in anatomy if you ask me - of remarkable size, both in their bodies and in the spans of their wings and feathers, which reflect all the colors of the rainbow. They are often referred to as ‘birds of fire’ here in Fiore, although they have been reported to control many other elements of nature besides the destructive faction of flames; metal, wood, earth and even water are under their control, just like an Onmyōji. It is also said that they are messengers of deities that bring good tidings and prosperity to lands with their mere presence, but most famous of all their traits is their ability at regeneration and overall immortality. An old saying goes that a phoenix's tears can heal any injury, and a phoenix's blood can make you immortal.

So why would I ever write about them here? Well, at Phoenix Mountains, I was once attacked by a flock of them - they appeared to be awfully territorial and wouldn’t allow me to reach the top without some kind of ceremonial fight. Whether if I was a special case or not is unclear to me, but I managed to exploit the fact that they can’t mix elements in their magic and that they can only use one element at a time, unlike many mages who have far more varied affinities with magic. These phoenixes, despite their multicoloured wings, are comedically linear in their approach of you.


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Ogres
"My grandfather once told me that he met an ogre under a bridge on his way home... he's been using a wheelchair ever since. - A young girl from Clover.

Ogres, hags, kijo, oni, they are terms that I know that describe 'demons' as it's called in other countries - eldritch beings that have had quite an infamous reputation and history through not only Midi, but in all of Earthland.

...

Ogres, often stereotyped as the most common depiction of 'demons', can come in many sizes - a single identifier being the possession of sharp, dark horns. Unlike the male counterpart, hags or Kijo don’t usually grow that large. They are insanely fast on the contrary, however, and can force their palms through your skull with ease. I should know, for I’ve faced them quite a few times back when I was studying under the Onmyōryō.


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Werewolves (Jinrou)
"Howls echoing through the night are common in plains and dense forests, for wild wolves make them their homes. My torch is often enough to scare them off, but gods forbid I ever face a larger wolf… let alone one that stands on its hind legs." - An old father warning his son.


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Invokers (Itsumade)
"Avoid the ruins atop the hill, for a grave tragedy occurred there many years ago. Demons, hags and wraiths haunt the remaining walls, and invokers echo straight into the minds of people and drive them mad…" - A warning from a villager living nearby the cursed ruins.

I’ve only fought one Invoker in my whole life, but they’re not rare nor harmless to those around them. As their name implies, they invoke words loudly around their areas - most likely the phrase ‘Until when? Until when?’ which has given them the name ‘Itsumade’ in Midi. They come to life when tragedy strikes a land or settlement and nothing has been done to alleviate the after-effects or put the fallen spirits to rest. This neglection of their pain angers the spirits, and these roars begging for attention and compensation give birth to these auric creatures. A famous quote goes: “Until when will our blood be scented and our bodies buried?”

They often take forms of land creatures with wings sprouting out of their backs, but they keep the original looks of their heads and faces. It’s a grotesque look, honestly, but one can’t help but feel compassionate for them… unless if they literally drive men insane with their continuous invokes. In rare cases, some have even reported getting physically assaulted by Invokers who’ve grown tired of asking with their voices.

Despite looking like huge monsters, they’re semi-auric and can phase through solid objects like spirits. Their beaks and claws are razor-sharp, so this combination makes them extremely deadly to those who aggravate them. And yet, it’s honestly difficult to end these creatures, for as harmful as they can be, their whole existences are tragic and rooted in a terrible fate that befell them long ago… one will feel heavy on the heart for taking one out, albeit it being necessary.


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Zombies (Shikachibito)


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Fox Spirit
"Ever heard the term 'sly as a fox spirit'...? What? You just say 'fox'?"


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Otter Spirits (Kawauso)


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River Children (Kappa)


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Dog Spirit


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Vengeful Spirit
"Knowing how these kinds of spirits come to life, I'm starting to treat everyone nicely... even those who bully me."


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Living Spirit
"Sleep is not the same as being dead, right? Honestly, I can't really tell… b-but that's just silly, for you can't just return to the living after dying! How is this even a thing?!" - A confused villager's thoughts spoken in an inn.


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Honored Spirit (Goryō)
"I promised my little sister that I'd find her a suitable husband. I won't rest until I've done that…" - From an interview with the ghost of a ronin.


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