Ryslig's Expanded Monster Guide

[waitingforplayer2]

The 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

<b>What do you like about being this monster?</b> <b>What do you dislike about being this monster?</b> <b>What is something unique to you about being this monster?</b> <b>What types of creatures or beings influenced your monster form?</b> <b>What is it like to feed as this monster?</b> <b>What are some notable physical features you have as this monster, and what do you like or dislike about them?</b> <b>What are some notable mental changes you have as this monster, and what do you like or dislike about them?</b> <b>Would you become this monster again?</b> <b>Would you become this monster for good?</b>

Comments

[unholey]

What do you like about being this monster transformation?
The arachne transformation has very specific, niche abilities; it’s easy to avoid using them, which in turn means you have to feed less often. I very rarely used them when hunting.

The arachne transformation also grants a very wide range of awareness. The positive side of this is that you always know who and what is happening around you, so long as they’re making contact with the ground.

What do you dislike about being this monster transformation?
Chitin is weird. In my experience, it did not have the same range of sensory input as skin; it was both extremely sensitive to certain things (vibrations) while being largely numb to others. I also found the additional sensory input of having eight eyes and the ability to sense vibrations through my legs was often overwhelming. As an example, it was difficult for me to sleep in a traditional bed while living with others (especially nocturnal roommates). Even with all my legs tucked up onto the mattress, I was still able to sense when someone passed in front of the door.

Vibration sense, for me, was something between touch and sound. It’s very difficult to describe what it was like. Something between sonar, picked up through my arachnid limbs; inputs had a textural quality, as they moved through solid surfaces. In some ways it was similar to listening to loud music with a prominent bass track, where you can feel the sound as it vibrates in your body. It was sensitive enough that I was very quickly able to learn things like the different steps and gaits of my associates, or the general quality of things like feet vs. hooves vs. paws vs. talons. I had no way to truly turn it off, beyond removing myself from as much input as possible.

I also struggled with the changes to my eyesight. While my frontal vision was fine, my peripheral vision was poor; my tertiary eyes were colorblind and had low vision. They were best suited to identifying movement, especially in combination with the vibration sense.

What is something unique to you about being this monster transformation?
I have never been close with those who have gone through the same transformation, so I’m not sure what about my experience was unique.

What types of creatures or beings influenced your monster form transformation?
Spiders. It took some time to research specifically what kinds, but in the end I believe the transformation took traits from brown recluse (namely its venom, but also the shape of my legs) and orbweaver (general eye placement, web weaving patterns) spiders.

What is it like to feed as this monster?
Unpleasant [1]. However, I found I did not have any particular instincts re: feeding (beyond the occasional compulsion to wrap corpses in silk, which was easy to ignore) which gave me more options in terms of preparation.

[1] I find all of the various feeding methods to be deeply unpleasant.

What are some notable physical features you have as this monster, and what do you like or dislike about them?
I grew an additional six eyes on my face. Two below my original eyes, which were more human, and two on each temple, which were arachnid. My legs were arachnid from the mid-thigh down. I also grew four long arachnid legs on my back.

The legs on my back were very cumbersome and inconvenient. Although I could pull them closer to be somewhat smaller, their sheer size meant that I was too large for most doors. I couldn’t sit in most furniture and all of my clothes had to be tailored to fit my specific transformation, along with closures to help them fit better during the cold months.

What are some notable psychological changes you have as this monster, and what do you like or dislike about them?
I have always been a particular person. I prefer things to be organized and I have always disliked errors. The arachne transformation took these preferences and made them feel more like compulsions. If things weren’t “correct,” it was impossible for me to just let them be. I would do certain tasks over and over again.

I suppose one positive for me is that I found myself interested in a broader range of skills related to textiles because of my compulsion to weave webs. I was gifted some supplies for knitting and crocheting, which is a hobby I’ve kept up with even outside of the arachne transformation.

Would you become this monster try this transformation again?
No.

Would you become this monster remain this transformation for good?
No.