Realm of Monsters

Home of many legends, and many teeth.

The Realm is a vast stretch of land connecting the north and south of Oxum and is the location of The Gate of Monsters where the events of The Breach occurred at year 0. Currently, it is a strange land of beings from other worlds, parodies of life that was once natural here but twisted into strange and alien forms. Many monsters (named Gate-Beings ) that live here have reached the status of infamy or even legends, which attracts some of the only visitors who dare to delve deep into the realm, which consists of mostly big game hunters and poachers who seek fame by killing these beings, or seek to sell their skins for a hefty sum of golds. The only forms of settlements are built around the rim of the lands, mostly hunting camps or the odd scientific hut of those who seek knowledge here instead of fame and wealth. It is highly discouraged to venture into these lands without hefty amounts of protection as only a madman would attempt to undertake such a venture. But even so, some still seek to reach the Gate, either to gather more knowledge to prevent another Breach from happening, or to cause another.

Geography

Given the sheer size of the realm, the geography varies depending on the region you visit. Due to the Realm's otherworldly origins, it sports biomes that might not makes sense given its location on Oxum, or just have features that make no sense either way. Though, the closer one moves towards The Gate of Monsters the more strange and hostile the environment gets.

Ecosystem

As the name implies, most of the fauna and flora in the ecosystem are monstrous in nature and originate either directly from different planes of existence or due to its influence on the land. Very few creatures that live here have been documented in detail by those that venture out into the Realm, making descriptions of creatures vary wildly depending on the situation they were observed in or by whom the observation was made. Due to this fact, the Realm is where the best monster hunters venture to in search of fame and glory, as very few locations in Oxum provide them with bigger and more dangerous game to hunt than this alien wasteland. However, many overestimate their own capabilities and either return with missing limbs, or not at all.

"Take it from me, young fellow, there are things in those woods that make even the hardiest dwarf rethink their career choice." _{-Sir Charles, Veteran Monster Hunter.}

The composition of the ecosystem depends on the proximity to the Gate as well as the surrounding lands to a degree. A general rule is that the closer one gets to the middle of the realm, the more dangerous the fauna and flora gets.
Border Regions The borders of the Realm consist of dense woods and jungles, depending on the bordering lands. Creatures that live in these lands mostly consist of smaller aberrations, mutated wildlife and poisonous flora. Though this is considered the least deadly area of the Realms, venturing out here can still end in death to those who come unprepared.
Eldritch Jungles Past the borders, one enters the Eldritch Jungles, a dense and warped jungle of mutated fauna, flora and otherworldly being. Here one has to assume every plant, animal, insect and sound is out to get you, as most beings that live here do so by preying on those below them on the food chain. Many creatures here are heavily mutated or not from this plane entirely and highly dangerous. Most hunters' expeditions are directed to sections of this region, as most of their quarries tend to live here, and going further is far too dangerous.
Warping Lands Past the jungles, one may find themselves in the strange alien Warping Lands. These lands bear no resemblance of what they once were before the breach as alien soil and flora cover the ground, sometimes shifting in composition in front of your eyes. Though this place is less dense than the jungles, it is occupied by far more dangerous beings. Enormous beings stomp the lands to devour those who stray too far from their hiding places, whilst giant flora lure in victims with hypnotic spores or psionic pulses. Very few have ventured through this land, as navigation is difficulty to the rapidly-changing terrain and magnetic interference on compasses, and those that did venture far and lived to tell the tale, refuse to ever go back.
Ground Zero The very center of the Realm, called Ground Zero, is where the infamous Gate of Monsters caused the Breach Cataclysm. These lands are filled with jagged rocks and a lack of life, where tears in the fabric of time and space pop in and out at random. Here, the largest and mightiest creatures make their homes, nesting in the deep caverns or canyons as they hibernate for years until their stored food runs out and are forced to go on a hunting spree. Not even the beings of other regions dare to tread this place if they do not have to, as any mistake risks awakening one of these slumbering titans.

Expedition Transcript

After the construction of the Sentinel Wall, the precursor of the Great Goliath Barrier , expeditions into the Realm were conducted regularly by Council members or privately funded expeditions. Numerous expeditions never returned, or fewer in number, shocked by what they found deep into the realm.
Below are recovered documents, transcripts and logs of expeditions conducted into the Realm.

Kounélian-Foxtonian Expedition log, written by Dr. Endymion, 19 A.B.

Personal expedition log of Doctor Endymion, scholar of the University of Dohkterius, of all notable events during the first joint expedition between Kounélios and the Kingdom of Foxtonia into the central Oxum isthmus, locally known as the "Realm of Monsters". First, i wish to address the members of the university council and thank them for the opportunity to further my studies into extra-planar entities by allowing me to partake in this expedition. Although i am not experienced in field-work, i shall do my best and document as much as i am able to. What follows are the day-to-day logs of all occurrences, big or small, encountered by our expedition. Day 1, Town of Stillmarsh, Late-afternoon : After many a day's travel, our wagon arrived at the border town of Stillmarsh, one of the few hovels who prosper by banking on the wealth of passing explorers, adventurers and hunters trying to make a fortune in the wasteland. Perhaps it is wrong to make a living exploiting the unabashed, although it is fair compensation for the risk store-owners take living here, in my opinion. My fellow scholar Aella and i arrive at our meeting point, a well-traveled inn aptly named the "Point of No Return". It is a fair structure, clearly earns plenty of coin serving those looking for a warm bed or flagon of ale before venturing out in what locals have termed "The manifestation of a mad poet's nightmares". This statement does not fill me with much confidence regarding our chances of survival, but i am willing to take the risk. I meet up with the other six souls who will be in my company the coming days, local Foxtonian adventurers with experience out in the realm. Their expressions are far less lively than the young glory-seekers i see around me and i do not doubt it is without reason. However, it still does not succeed in dampening my own excitement. I was soon greeted by our guide, a monster hunter named Anne Pritchard. She welcomed us with a smile, introducing us to her band of adventurers. She was more nonchalant about the situation, an aire of professionalism around her as she offered us an ale to ease the nerves. I respectfully declined as i do not enjoy the effect of alcohol, though my colleague did agree to help still her nerves. Anne explained the rules we are to follow during the journey for my colleague and i. No venturing off the path. Don't touch anything. Do not talk aloud. Don't stray further than a few feet away from her companions. I understand why these rules are in place, but it will not keep me from collecting samples along the way. We will venture to the Sentinel Wall at dawn and venture out into the jungle behind. I am both excited and terrified of what we may encounter, although the former outweighs the latter. For now i will rest my eyes as i will need the energy for the journey ahead. This might be the last time i lay my head in a comfortable bed for a good while. Day 2, Border Wilderness, Noon : The first half of our first day already had me enraptured by this "Realm's" truly mystifying ecosystem! Once we passed through the gatehouse of the Sentinel Wall, Ms. Pritchard guided us along the main path into the jungles ahead. Most flora seemed to be natural so far, though it did not take long before this started to change! Aella, who studied exotic flora, pointed out abnormalities in local species of flowers once we had walked about an hour into the jungle. It were minor changes at first, flowers with colours they should not possess or hybrids between two floral families. Yet the farther we walked, the more exotic they became! The scenery started to shift from a jungle's typical green hues to shades of blue, purple, indigo and other rare shades on the spectrum with Aella swiftly identifying that some might have bio-luminescent properties! Our Foxtonian compatriots were slightly displeased with my colleague's constant attempts to collect samples for her studies, though she managed to pilfer a few out of sight. I do not expect them to understand the importance of our studies here so i am aware some of our research might have to occur outside of their field of view. I am currently seated in a small clearing as we pause for lunch. Aella is writing down her findings and cataloging her samples by their floral strains. I myself am more interested in any fauna we might encounter. Ms. Pritchard has assured me we will encounter plenty along the way, and i do not doubt her. The songs and calls i hear are familiar yet alien at the same time, as if they were made by creatures warped by the cataclysm's energies. The other adventurers confirmed this hypothesis, they had seen plenty of hybrids of familiar beings during their travels here, regular wildlife but twisted into strange forms. Similar enough to see what it once was but warped enough to be a completely different entity. How truly fascinating! I do not seem to share my enthusiasm to spectate these hybrids in their natural habitats with the others, but their apparent distaste for these creatures will not dissuade me from my work! Initial Extra-Planar Jungle, Evening : Despite the many cries we heard along the way to our first camp, we unfortunately did not encounter any of the hybrids i was hoping to see today. Although i did not get to study anything in my field of science, Aella had a very productive day of work behind her. I am assisting her with organizing her notes and samples inside our tent while the others gather up wood to create a fire. The animals here have the same fear of fire as their natural counterparts, although this does not count for beings found further inside the Realm, Ms. Pritchard told me. The area we have set up camp is filled with an alien sort of beauty. Trees and flowers brighten the otherwise dark gloomy jungles with their luminescent features, which paired with the calls of the nocturnal species makes one feel like they have entered an entirely new world! It is slightly unnerving too, but mostly exciting. Two of the Foxtonians will be on the lookout throughout the night in case any beings come too close. I wish i could be able to observe the beings if such a thing would occur, but i believe our companions are more the "shoot first, ask later" type. No matter, i could still learn much from a deceased speciment. Day 3, Extra-Planar Jungles, Early-Afternoon : Our journey continued into the damp wilds of the jungle, becoming more and more otherworldly the further we tread. I was finally able to encounter some of the wildlife the adventurers described to me and, despite the elaborate stories adventurers tell of ferocious predators and nothing but hostility the further you go in, i found myself being able to get up close to several of the hybrids we encountered this day! Though hesitant, Ms. Pritchard allowed me to study some of the tree-dwelling reptiles from a few feet away, allowing me to take in their beauty with the naked eye. Marvelous beings they were, amalgamations of familiar reptilian species combined with biology not of this world! An eight-legged gecko that shifted between all the colours of the visible spectrum, giant tree frogs that had completely translucent skin, even a serpent that could manifest fake illusions of itself to confuse predators! These beings are beyond my wildest imaginations, fauna that would even be considered exotic to residents of the Fey! Imagine what things we could learn from these fascinating things? What advancements we could make in medicine, biology and planar-studies? Oh how i long to bring these creatures home to our university, to display them to our student and let them marvel at the wonders of nature! But alas, Ms. Pritchard informs me that doing so would be a dangerous undertaking as we are unsure what a certain hybrid is truly capable of. That, and we lack the proper equipment to trap and cage these animals. I will try to illustrate their looks to the best of my ability within my notebook, if only to give the members of our institute a glimpse into the wonders of this place. Encampment, Night : I woke to the sound of one of our guards loosing a musket round towards a creature approaching our camp. I was unable to get a glimpse of the creature, but it seemed not frightened by the fire of our camp. Anne Pritchard informed me that if fire would not deter the local fauna, we would have to relocate sooner rather than later. I suggested we would travel just before dawn as I would prefer to at least get a decent amount of rest before setting out on the trail. It took some convincing and a reminder of who is funding the expedition before Pritchard let us be. For now I shall go back to sleep, we will continue our journey early. Day 4, Encampment, Before Dawn : My sleep was interrupted once more, but this time, it was not by a member of our troupe! I was roused by the sound of tearing fabric and a feminine yell coming from my colleague Aella, who was awake at the time as she was frightened from earlier this night. A strange creature, about a man's size, had torn through the side of our tent. I got to observe it from mere feet away, and do I wish I could have observed it a while longer! If i were to compare it with some known species, i would describe it as a bipedal ursine with a boar's tusks, vibrant glowing eyes like a goat and long fur coloured like the alien vegetation outside. The creature

Localized Phenomena

Extra-Planar Tears 
Due to the fabric between the planes of existence being severely weakened due to the Breach, random tears or portals to other planes may open at random intervals anywhere within the realm. Though these occur far more often near the inner regions, they have been documented to occur close to the outer borders, albeit very rarely. These Tears spew out essence from different planes, sometimes materials that mutate the surrounding life forms or sometimes allowing visitors to walk through from the other side
Wild Magic Geysers/Pools
Mostly located in the Jungles and Warping Lands, these sources of raw, unstable magic coagulate into pools of pure wild magic. Siphoned from the traveling planes, such as the Ethereal Plane, the weakened barrier in the Realms allow for these springs to be created and harvested. Many businesses have sprung up over the years to harvest and refine these pools of wild magic, converting it into the many magical potions sold all over Oxum. While the harvesting itself isn't very harmful with the proper equipment, keeping the locals at bay is where the true danger lies.

Alternative Name(s)

The Realm

Type

Isthmus

Included Locations

• The Gate of Monsters

Inhabiting Species

• Doomwyrm
• Gate-Beings