Ryslig's Expanded Monster Guide
Nov. 6th, 2022 01:17 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
waitingforplayer2The Expanded Guide is edited by Chiaki Nanami.
The Expanded Guide begins with a condensed & re-edited version of Spengler's Guide, written several years prior. This contains broad knowledge of the 23 monster types at the time, and largely features the information covered in Ryslig's bestiary.
The new content in the Guide consists entirely of individual monster testomonials.
Submissions to the Guide can be made by anyone at any time, in a drop-off box at the Insert Coin arcade. The form below can be used as a template for any monsters looking for inspiration or structure for their entries. Nanami copies out the entries longhand, and stores the information in several locations, so that the information is never lost.
A copy of the current manuscript may be requested for casual perusal at any time.
As of now, the Expanded Guide has not yet been officially published on the peninsula.
MONSTER ENTRY SUBMISSION TEMPLATE
The Expanded Guide begins with a condensed & re-edited version of Spengler's Guide, written several years prior. This contains broad knowledge of the 23 monster types at the time, and largely features the information covered in Ryslig's bestiary.
The new content in the Guide consists entirely of individual monster testomonials.
Submissions to the Guide can be made by anyone at any time, in a drop-off box at the Insert Coin arcade. The form below can be used as a template for any monsters looking for inspiration or structure for their entries. Nanami copies out the entries longhand, and stores the information in several locations, so that the information is never lost.
A copy of the current manuscript may be requested for casual perusal at any time.
As of now, the Expanded Guide has not yet been officially published on the peninsula.
POOKA
Date: 2022-11-06 06:23 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2022-11-11 11:47 pm (UTC)So many things. Being a rat was strangely familiar and comforting. Probably says a few things about me. But when I was a Pooka I was
well, I was comfortable. Even moreso than as a human. I felt healthier than I had in decades.
I got accustomed to being able to smell everything ever. It was pretty useful, really. So was being able to shrink down to the size of an ordinary rat. Some Pookas had to deal with folks underestimating them, calling them cute, but people as a whole don't really underestimate rats as much as they do, say, rabbits or squirrels.
I didn't mind all the sudden appetites for everything, either. Food, substances, sex, didn't matter. Not to get too much into depressing things, but after ten years of no contact, no sunlight, and very little food, being hungry for everything and not having the mental space to second-guess myself all the time was probably just what I needed. I couldn't hide and deprive myself of things like I would have, otherwise. My instincts just wouldn't let me be that shy.
What do you dislike about being this monster?
It did make clothes a bit difficult. My hips were at least three times as large as they were before and I had a very long tail, two things that made trousers an adventure. I'm not surprised that so many Pookas have difficulty with clothes. And I was even shorter than I usually am. I couldn't ever grow callouses on my feet, which made walking a bit painful until I figured out some kind of shoes to protect my toe beans. But those things were easily worked around.
There's a downside to folks being afraid of rats, though, and I had a few close shaves with people throwing things at me.
What is something unique to you about being this monster?
I don't know if there was anything uni
oh! I had fur colour markings that looked like my beard. It was kinda neat.
What types of creatures or beings influenced your monster form?
Rats. Which, I guess, makes sense, because I kept pet rats for years before I ended up here. It wasn't too much of a learning curve, except that seeing and being are two very different things.
What is it like to feed as this monster?
Pretty easy. Pookas consume blood and bone marrow, which are both very easy to get and also very easy to pretend are something else. I could have a kind of detachment from it.
What are some notable physical features you have as this monster, and what do you like or dislike about them?
I changed completely all at once, so a lot of features were notable. The ears and the nose and the whiskers took some getting used to. I got overwhelmed by all the sounds and smells and all the things whiskers sense. Learning how to balance myself on my toes and with a long tail took a while, too, and I fell over a lot. A lot. I lisped around the teeth and my fur felt
weird.
I can't describe it, just for a while it felt weird. So did the whiskers. Like making me want to crawl out of my own skin kind of weird. Like some ancient part of my brain screaming "that doesn't belong there!" That went away after a little while, though.
I also have a very vivid memory of how badly everything below the waist hurt before I took off what was left of my trousers. I wasn't expecting the transformation so, silly me, I was still fully clothed. If you have male bits, maybe consider investing in really baggy trousers.
What are some notable psychological changes you have as this monster, and what do you like or dislike about them?
I couldn't handle being alone. I'd get twitchy if I spent too long by myself, and sometimes that got a bit annoying if I was trying to work on something like writing. The rest of the time, though, I just went along with it. I'd spent so much time alone before this that a pathologically social nature was a nice change of pace for me.
Sometimes, though, I'd get stressed out and dig a hole to just curl up in for a bit. Something about the cool darkness and the earth all around me was soothing. Nesting in general was something I found myself doing a lot. It could get a bit inconvenient, but I largely didn't mind. I also hoarded food, though, and that was a little more troublesome. I'd find out after the fact that I'd raided the kitchen and stashed things here and there and have to go look for them all before they spoiled. Looking back on it it's kinda funny, but at the time it was a nuisance.
Also, I really liked pranks and mischief more than I did before. I managed to avoid doing anything worse than short-sheeting beds or rearranging furniture while someone was out, keeping it to just reading about other people's practical jokes and laughing myself silly.
I wasn't all that wild about being so skittish, though. It took a while for me not to jump at every sound and to get my heart rate to stay down. It was kinda stressful and I ended up sick a few times.
Would you become this monster again?
In a heartbeat.
Would you become this monster for good?
I would love to. That might be what I'll ask La Mana to change me into permanently. It felt so right.
(no subject)
Date: 2022-11-12 07:50 pm (UTC)I feel very agile and quick on my feet still. I'm able to stay pretty well-balanced. I don't feel like I'm too constricted by being a pooka. I can still get around very easily in my normal or travel form. I also feel pretty good in general. I don't feel like I lost anything inherently in the transformation.
What do you dislike about being this monster?
Being so short sucks. I guess also, well, being a rat?
I don't look like myself anymore, which can be kinda jarring sometimes. I expect to see my old self and startle when I see my current self even now. I don't think every pooka ends up this changed though, so I can't really speak on that front.
What is something unique to you about being this monster?
My fur pattern is kind of weird. Red, black, brown, and spider web patterns on my arms. Anyone can kinda pick me out in a crowd without really trying. I'm also just really spotted on my ears and hands.
What types of creatures or beings influenced your monster form?
A rat. I think I take after a domesticated rat. I don't know how to tell the difference though to be honest. Most rats I saw were wild new york rats. I tried to not interact with them that much.
What is it like to feed as this monster?
It's odd but nice. I rarely have to hunt by myself. Usually, I can go with my family or friends to share a kill. A lot of the time I rely on the soup kitchen since bone marrow isn't eaten as often by other monsters. So I get a lot of options in that front. You can also cook really easily with blood or bone marrow.
What are some notable physical features you have as this monster, and what do you like or dislike about them?
I'm kind of literally a rat. I'm also really short. I dropped from 5'9 to 4'10. It makes clothing a genuine challenge sometimes unless I shop in the kids section or heavily modify my clothing. I can sew, so I usually can tweak my own clothes fine.
What are some notable psychological changes you have as this monster, and what do you like or dislike about them?
The weird mischief streak I guess? I tend to feel inclined to cause some kind of trouble even if I don't normally want to. Even if it hurts people. I am not a malicious person, but, the pooka instincts kind of push me toward that on occasion.
Also, I guess the need to horde food. That can be kinda weird.
Would you become this monster again?
I think I would, if I somehow changed. I like being a pooka.
Would you become this monster for good?
I think I am this monster for good, so yes.
(no subject)
Date: 2022-11-13 08:25 pm (UTC)man a lot of stuff we aint got a lot of weaknesses, we can jump super high, we can be fuckin adorable, our eyesight an hearin are second to none yo
What do you dislike about being this monster?
the need to lie is the worst yo an the need to be a bitch if someone tells me no plus i need to dig and i get super sad if im not around people and i pick on dogs and cats a lot cause squirrels are fucking assholes man
What is something unique to you about being this monster?
ima squirrel! everyone else seems to be rats and bunnies but i guess i was onna of the only squirrels round. plus im hella huge as a squirrel like two feet including tail yo
What types of creatures or beings influenced your monster form?
squirrel! i dunno what type some huge one
What is it like to feed as this monster?
messy you gotta go for marrow or blood an if you aint got the teeth for blood like a vamp you gotta figure it out
What are some notable physical features you have as this monster, and what do you like or dislike about them?
huge as tail yo, big ass squirrel ears, fur everywhere, stupid little grabby toes that help me dangle. i dont dislike them but im super short. i dislike that.
What are some notable psychological changes you have as this monster, and what do you like or dislike about them?
social yo you gotta be around someone you like almost all the time
you gotta dig an if you dont get you get stressed an stress dig at anything
i got like a you told me no and i dont like that streak an i hate it
same wid the need to lie i cant stop myself sometimes
Would you become this monster again?
man nah im switchin off
Would you become this monster for good?
i was a pooka from the beginnin but i cant take the lyin need anymore
(no subject)
Date: 2022-11-17 08:54 pm (UTC)So far, everything! I'm currently writing this as a Pooka, in fact, and it's been a delightful change of pace. I'm based off of a squirrel, and I seem to be able to glide. It isn't flying, but it's close enough, and it's thrilling!
What do you dislike about being this monster?
I have constant urges to chew on things, and I'm trying to avoid chewing on the woodwork.
What is something unique to you about being this monster?
The gliding! And I'd claim that being a squirrel is a unique trait, but Beat is one and was one first. Still, squirrels seem to be considerably rare. Rats, mice, and rabbits are the usual suspects, it seems.
What types of creatures or beings influenced your monster form?
My travel form seems to be a Japanese dwarf flying squirrel, so that seems to be the basis of the design. Even so, I don't have the gliding wings in my normal form, only in my travel form. My fur in my normal form is also considerably more fluffy and thick, but that may just be a product of the season.
What is it like to feed as this monster?
A bit different, as I'm used to eating the meat and setting the bones aside for Beat. It helps with the desire to chew on furniture and other things, though, and it's much less awful than other feeding types, so I'll take it.
What are some notable physical features you have as this monster, and what do you like or dislike about them?
My fur, of course! It's so thick and fluffy that I honestly sometimes wonder if it might not be waterproof, but it's far too cold to test outdoors. I also have a gliding membrane on my sides when I'm in my travel form, and I seem to be able to navigate the direction of my glide by using my tail as a rudder. I can almost go entirely across the yard from end to end. I'm also a bit surprised by how strong these new legs are. Jumping is practically effortless.
What are some notable psychological changes you have as this monster, and what do you like or dislike about them?
Mm, I haven't noticed too many, though I have to wonder if that's because it meshes well with my personality. I have noticed that it's easier to genuinely express myself around others, however, and being sociable is far more comfortable than it usually is. The only thing I don't care much for is the reflexive need to bark when I get angry. It's difficult to control.
Would you become this monster again?
Yes.
Would you become this monster for good?
I'm not sure, but it's one of the top three for winter changes, for sure.