Monsters

"**Monsters**" are various creatures in folklore that are considered dangerous, ugly, or harmful. Generally, those who do not fit the standard of a human being are a "monster".

## In the Rabydosverse

Many monsters are either animals or from other categories of lifeform. They can also be from plants, energy beings, spirits, and even related to sapient beings.

See alien creatures and alien species for many examples.

## Novantirnas

While Novantirna mythology has its own monsters and beasts, the Malendors themselves boast that they are also "monsters". They are "monsters" in the sense that they can be frightening and destructive to their enemies and the wicked, but to the innocent and weak they are protective.

It also represents their supreme god, Odin, being also the god of outcasts. Just as He supposedly has armies of monsters under His rule, so do the Malendors take in the repentant and desperate under their protection, and raise them to greatness.

For that, devout Novantirnas proudly claim themselves as "Odin's army of monsters". They claim to embody their god's dual aspects: destruction and frenzy; and inspiration and advancement, both for the good of all. A sword to slay the wicked, and a hammer to mould the Galaxy into a paradise.

## Kuelgons

The Kuelgons, being an exiled race of shapeshifting mutants, were also proud of being "monsters". But unlike their noble Novantirna enemies, they were more brutal and sadistic, going as far as practice cannibalism.

Fortunately, the Konjor supercorporate authorities stopped them from becoming a murderous horde.

## Porasonids

Ages later, the Porasonids made fun of their enemies' depiction of themselves as monsters. In their devotion to the Slavic gods of nearby human nations, they instead depicted themselves as fairies: monstrous in appearance and descent, yet virtuous and helpful to humans.

The invasion by Emperor Thandizo also led to the Porasonids practicing the Dharma for several reasons:

* Lord Shiva, the Supreme Being, took in outcasts as His students, and was attended by an army of ghosts, the ganas. For that reason, He is known as Bhutanath.
* Kali Ma, the just Goddess of Eternity, was also accompanied by the ferocious dakinis and yakshinis as among Her divine warriors. She also raised many students as Her countless instruments of justice.
* Ravana, a great student of Lord Shiva, was a monstrous asura, but before he became a tyrant, he was a great writer and a musician. The asuras building several civilisations, such as Lanka, made them more admirable to the non-human Porasonids.
* Vibhishana, Ravana's righteous brother, became a folk hero to the Porasonids for refusing to accept his brother's corruption and tyranny. As a virtuous asura, he became an uplifting example to the Porasonids, showing that even a monster can choose to be good, and follow the will of the Gods who loved him as Their child.
* The yakshas and yakshinis, horrific spirits of the wilds, were loved for their majestic depictions in classical art, and their association with forests. So they also depicted themselves as beautiful yakshas.

In short, the Porasonids saw themselves in the teachings of the Dharma, and gladly accepted them.

Their depiction of themselves as asuras, rakshasas, yakshas, leshi, and other supernatural creatures would turn their enemies' mockery into motivation, turning themselves from vile beasts into beautiful, gifted demigods, a gift from the Heavens!

## Bujan

When Bujan was first established by King Koschei, the Slavic inhabitants were compared to a race of monsters known as "orcs" for their partial Darroskei descent. As the Bujanid Slavs disowned and renounced their ties with Darros, they also mocked their "orc" stereotype by comparing themselves to asuras. The Bujanids also celebrated Vibhishana to instruct themselves to be righteous and resist evil.

Their depiction of themselves as beautiful, righteous monsters made their successors, the Zvestarids, popular among the Porasonids. Zvestarid exiles who lived in Porashon wore armour designed like asuras when they returned to liberate Bujan, and many Ontemazei and other slaves took up arms to join their revolution.

As much as the Ontemazei are sometimes mocked for their doll-like appearance and their obsession with trees and beauty, they are pitied because they were subjected to the worst tortures during Wannaenid rule, even for crimes their ancestors had committed. Out of awareness of how the Terrans were unfairly treated and collectively punished, this may be why the Ontemazei are fiercely loyal to Bujan, yet going as far as intervene to protect repentant Terrans against the murders of Black July. Later, the same Ontemazei also taught the Terrans to adapt themselves to Bujanski society, allowing them to win the trust of the other Bujanski and undo their people's sins.

## Trivia

* The author is fond of the trope where a child refuses to follow an evil family, but instead chooses to do good.
	+ Several other monster-related tropes he loved included: Bad Powers, Good People; My Species Doth Protest Too Much; Creepy Awesome and Creepy Good, and Horrifying Hero.
* The Malendors, being based on Mattel as a rival against Hasbro, were also influenced by Monster High.

## See also

* Wights - in the Rabydosverse, "wight" is not an undead spirit, but a catch-all term for all nature spirits and lesser gods, especially good-aligned ones.
* Orcs
* Aliens