The Monarchs of Baephios

Mention any talk of a "Monarch" in Baephios and no one will think you are talking about the Kings/Queens of the nations. In old Baephios legends were told of magical creatures known as The Monarchs of Baephios. Myths of the land that came alive for a purpose. Most of these stories were told to young children to keep them out of trouble. "Don't go too far in the swamp or Rotbody will get ya!" "Watch your step in the snow or Haagu with trap you in the cold for eternity!" Those type of things.
But, as you know Baephios is a magical place where there are no myths. There are no legends, only facts. Once spoken eventually the land will respond. That's exactly what happened to the Monarchs. These children stories, these myths, became real. They were formed from the land and embued with magic.
Monarchs are not divine beings and have no right to the celestial plane. They are mearly enhanced versions of what they are. To the point where they ahve garnerd such power and praise that some are treated like gods. Monarchs do have the ability to bestow their mark onto a vessel. These chosen few either go on to do amazing things and become some of the strongest beings in the land, or they become just another poor unfortunate soul to be fed to the land.
Monarchs aren't all powerful and can be killed by mortal hands. THIS TASK HOWEVER IS VERY DIFFICULT AND SHOULD NOT BE ATTEMPTED AT ALL. THE KILLING OF A MONARCH IS SAID TO FORCE THE STRONGEST VESSEL TO BECOME THE NEW MONARCH.
The life of a Monarch is not one that anyone should want. In the old Baephios days the Monarchs were hunted and sold for their magical parts. While it took whole armies to take down some Monarchs, the payout was worth it. A single horn from Rotbody, Swamp Monarch could sale from anywhere of 100,000gp-600,000gp easily.
Nowadays Monarchs are seen as ancient legends that no longer exist. Their presence has been lost for sometime now. Only a few old individuals in Baephios would remember when the stories were not just legends, but real.

Summary

Currently there are 15 Monarchs that have stories.
Assault, Demon Monarch
Baba'oon, Beast Monarch
Bahamut, Dragon Monarch
Blaster, Fire Monarch
Charles, Death Monarch
Dad, Combat Monarch
Frosuga, Sea Monarch
Haagu, Frost Monarch
Jangels, Earth Monarch
No'mani, Insect Monarch
Rotbody, Swamp Monarch
Sandar, Shadow Monarch
Scorn, Blood Monarch
Sullivan, Undead Monarch
Tonkamunka, Sky Monarch

Historical Basis

These Myths are real, but happened some odd 1500 years ago. Pre Assimilation of the world. Before the Elder gods took hold of Baltharos. The stories got passed down generation to generation. Some of the stories have been altered or changed, but the skeleton of the story holds true.

Spread

Monarchs are commonly known everywhere. There have been several children's books that depict the Monarchs as goofy, silly "monsters" that come out only at night. Very few people believe in them to be real anymore.

Variations & Mutation

In the current day and age the thought of a Monarch being real is a ridiculous idea.

Cultural Reception

In the Noclon Confederation the Monarchs are seen as highly unlikely to exist, but that doesn't mean there aren't some people that try and track them down. In Zochakha most Moanrchs are not really seen as important, except for Rotbody, Swamp Monarch and Baba'oon, Beast Monarch. These are seen as still living in Zochakha. In the Viridium Empire no one believes they exist and deny the possibility. (Kind of like athiests). The people of the Vaera Kingdom are a bit more open to the possibility of the Monarchs existing, but act more like agnostics.

In Literature

It is very common to find a children's story book with some of the stories of the different Monarchs. No significant changes though.

In Art

Often big powerful monsters that are painted or drawn are often in reference to some of the Monarchs, a giant Yeti would refer to Haagu, Frost Monarch. And a black wolf would refer to Sandar, Shadow Monarch.