#monster creation

The following notes are recorded in a lizard-skin bound journal always kept on the person of Rebecca, the co-leader of the Recovery Colony, for the purpose of documenting and sharing the details and record of events of the Mold infestation. 

These notes include illustrations and details regarding the Molded, creatures of our world that have been infected and/or created by the Mold. It should be noted that all creatures listed are very dangerous and should be avoided at all costs to lessen the spread of the Mold. If interaction is unavoidable, these notes will also detail how to keep oneself from getting infected - if it’s possible. 

The creatures on this page are those that reside, or have resided, in the air. 

Batflies

Batflies, once the smallest and most harmless entities within the Regions - and our main food source, now a threat to our survival

Batflies that have undergone a Molded transformation have grown exponentially in size, ranging from grappling worms to full grown Slugcats

They, like most other Molded, have also become much more hostile, attacking any uninflected individual on sight

They travel in swarms and infest dark, dank areas. A good way to tell if you are approaching a Batfly nest is to listen - the sound of flapping wings, gnashing teeth, and gargled squeaks usually signify that a swarm is inhabiting an area

The Batflies are blind and rely on hearing to detect prey. If you must travel through a Batfly nest, you must do so absolutely silently

If Batflies detect prey, they will swarm it like piranhas and strip them to their bones. Escaping from a swarm has two possible outcomes: bleeding out due to the number and deepness of bites, or becoming infected through the mold in their saliva

One way to tell that something has been infected by a Batfly is through the signature circular bite marks decorating their body

Vultures

Vultures’ hostile attitudes remain through their infection - as do most other already hostile creatures - though they will persist in attacks even if injured, whereas uninfected counterparts will flee

Vultures that have been infected slowly lose their ability to fly as heavy Mold drip growths cover their body, eventually becoming completely flightless

They reside in trees and other high places, laying in wait for prey to walk beneath them. Once they do, they will either drop down or ensnare them in vine drips. Afterwards, their mold-covered bodies will engulf the prey completely 

A good way to tell you are approaching a Molded Vulture’s territory is to check the vine drips to see if they are attached to trees or to something in the trees

If you see a grounded Vulture, avoid it, especially if it has bone-like spines growing from its back, mold drips, and a cracked mask

Noodleflies

Infected Noodleflies are wildly different from their uninfected counterparts

For one, they travel alone. No baby Noodleflies to be found. Some suspect that infected Noodlefly adults devour babies first chance they get

For another, their colors have dulled, and their eyes are empty and hollow and clouded with black 

The most obvious mutation, however, is that their bodies are covered in thin bone-like spines from their noses to the tips of their tails. Some of these spines are detachable and can be launched like projectiles. The ones on the lower half of their bodies can also serve as legs 

Noodleflies main method of attack are the aforementioned projectiles, but they can also constrict, which leads to tearing thanks to their sharp spines

Noodleflies have not been seen eating any prey that they’ve caught, only killing, impaling to carry, and flying away. It is believed that they carry anything they’ve caught back to home colonies to feed the Mold growth 

Distinct buzzing sounds herald the approach/proximity of a Noodlefly. If you get caught, your best bet of escape is to bite or slash through their bodies between their spines. Be careful to not swallow or hold the blood in your mouth for too long or the Mold will take root

Samca

Samca were the second instance of hybrids to be observed, the first being Varcolacs 

Through observation, it seems that these creatures are hybrids between Scavengers and Vultures, looking more like the former than the latter

The theory of how these hybrids form is not proven, but it is believed that they are formed when two separate species are caught in the same Mold trap. They’re bodies are broken down before being fused together and reanimated into these new creatures

Though their wings seem inadequate, they are adept flyers and replace grounded Vultures as top sky predators

They ambush from the air and carry prey off to either be devoured by Samcas or integrated into Mold systems

Samca’s have a distinct, high-pitched cry that can be heard for miles. Their wingbeats are also very pronounced, the flapping sounding like leather

Their talons are sharp and pierce deep, struggling makes it worse. If one is captured, it may take the help of others to free them before they are taken away

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

Part Four

Part Five 

Part Six

Part Seven

Part Eight

have I shown off Emperor yet? idk.

HERE THEY ARE MY FAVOURITE BUGGY BOI! BASK IN THEIR AWE INSPIRING PRESENCE!!!!

-Full emperor design under the cut-

This little spirit resembles a metallic horsefly just under an inch long. While the zipfly appears harmless, its mode of reproduction is dangerous in the extreme. 

The zipfly seeks out unattended surfaces and implants them with little metal teeth resembling a zipper. This zipper can be built on almost anything - wood, stone, metal, porcelain, even flesh, although the zipfly prefers smooth surfaces to rough ones. The length of the zipper only depends on the commitment of the zipfly. Most are mere inches long, but in secluded places winding zippers over a mile long have been discovered.

The zipfly completes its work by undergoing a metamorphosis, and installing itself as a non-descript metallic tab at the zipper’s end. If you encounter a zipper you think may be left by a zipfly DO NOT OPEN IT. Not only will this leave a deep and permanent pocket in the zippered object, it will also release a new brood of zipflies. If the zipper is on a person’s body, opening it can be fatal.