Monster Guide

From Radiant Heart MUSH

The Monster of the Week Guide is here to help break down the differences between the types of monsters heroes and villains alike may encounter (or command) here on Radiant Heart Mush, with the hope of encouraging all players to feeling comfortable running combat and encounter scenes.

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The format for new entries is as follows. If adding a new entry, please do so in alphabetical order!

Monster name ==like this==
Series Origin:
General Details:
General Abilities:
How Are They Defeated:
Restrictive Factors:
Special Details:

Akuma

Series Origin: Miraculous Ladybug and Chat Noir
General Details: An akuma is a magical butterfly, released with the goal of possessing an important object belonging to a person who feels strong negative emotions. When the akuma does this, a telepathic connection is formed between the object's owner and Hawkmoth, current wielder of the Butterfly Miraculous and Big Bad of the Miraculous User Origin. The person empowered by the akuma is at this point "akumatized", taking on the persona and abilities of a supervillain influenced by the source of their strong negative emotions. Hawkmoth promises all those who have been possessed by the akuma the ability to maintain their power and achieve their goals if they will bring him the Miraculous that belong to Cat Noir and Ladybug.
General Abilities: Akumatized people possess a variety of abilities and appearances, based uniquely on the strong negative emotions that allowed Hawkmoth to akumatize them. The stronger the emotion, the more powerful the supervillain created by the akuma. The limit of the abilities of an akumatized victim lies within the power of their emotion; the abilities should match the goal of the akumatized victim.

  • Example: In 444/Gacha Goners RHA Teacher Shouta Okamoto is akumatized based on the strength of his frustration with a gacha game. This transforms him into the villain Highroller, who has the power to digitize people into game currency to fuel his gacha games.

How Are They Defeated: As the akuma is what empowers the akumatized victim, destroying the object possessed by the akuma will release the akuma and cause the transformation to end. However, if the akuma is not purified, it may be directed by Hawkmoth to either possess another person or return to it's host and possess another object, transforming them once more. To ensure the danger is ended, the possessed object must be destroyed and the akuma either captured or purified. Once purified, the akuma will transform from a purple-black butterfly to one that is pure white and fly away.
Restrictive Factors: All akuma are sent by Hawkmoth aka Gabriel Agreste. If Hawkmoth is being currently played, the player should be consulted prior to an akuma scene being run.
Special Details: If the akuma is purified by Ladybug, the damage caused by the akumatized victim and the damage to the possessed object will be undone.

Deadbeats

Series Origin: Historic Legacy
General Details: Desiring to eliminate humanity's motivation by tainting and destroying humanity's heroes, deadbeats take on the form of the Heroic Figure they seek to taint, and in doing so begin twisting the historical record. Their minions are called downbeats.

  • Example: In 52/Guan Yu, a Deadbeat takes the form of Guan Yu, a hero from Chinese history, manifesting as a cruel, vicious man who cared only for power and nothing for his brother - transforming a hero into a villain.

General Abilities: They possess all the historical and legendary abilities of the historical figure they seek to taint. This means they might possess incredible strength (Hercules) or a holy sword (King Arthur), but they probably aren't piloting a mech or blasting lasers from their eyes.
How Are They Defeated: The preferred method of Pretty Cures everywhere: a punch followed by purifying light! A justice speech about never giving in can't hurt, though.
Restrictive Factors: There needs to be a catalyst for the chosen hero, something bringing them to humanity's forefront. For example, a new series starring that hero as a primary character.
Special Details: Consult with Cho Konishi before creating a new Deadbeat!


Dusk Zone Creature

Series: Radiant Heart MUSH Original
General Details: Creatures from the Dusk Zone are twisted monsters not only powered by negative energy but embodied by it. These are creatures who cannot exist without negative energy - if purified, they would simply be destroyed. While some of these beings are native to the Dusk Zone, others are creatures which, generations ago, wandered in and adapted to the environment, becoming twisted versions of creatures from the Prime Universe that is RHM's Tokyo. They are largely animalistic beings rather than humanoids, with great strength and speed.

General Abilities: In addition to enhanced strength and speed, they may spread the miasma of the Dusk Zone, temporarily creating an atmosphere of intense negative energy that may taint the environment, NPCs, and creatures nearby. Many have the ability to drain vital energy from beings native to RHM's Universe.
How Are They Defeated: In general, these creatures can be defeated with your classic smash and bash; whale on them until they burst! When they are destroyed, they will generally break dissolve into clouds of dark energy. They are often especially weak to purifying powers.
Restrictive Factors: As creatures not-native to our universe, their use should include an explanation of how they came to be in our world - whether they entered through a weakened segment of the barrier between worlds, were summoned directly by an enemy, or what.
Special Details: None!

Ghost

Series Origin: Beliefs and superstitions
General Details: The spirit of someone deceased, generally repeating a certain set of actions or reliving a memory from when they were alive -- potentially including reenacting their own death. They usually do not know that they are dead, and forget anything outside of their repetitious loop if left to their own devices for a sufficient period of time.
General Abilities: Most ghosts do not even have the strength to show themselves to others, and are invisible, intangible, and inaudible. At most, they may leave behind cold spots in a room, or cause strange dreams. The older a ghost is, the more powerful, as a general rule. A strong ghosts can move around objects, shatter glass with the intensity of their emotions, and otherwise due "spooky stuff" to scare people, drive them away, or to attempt to get attention from the living. When it comes to ancient or primordial ghosts, the rules becoming increasingly unclear as to what they are capable of, and that makes them very dangerous.
How Are They Defeated: Ghosts generally must be exorcised, appeased, or sealed. While they can be defeated in combat, they will eventually re-emerge to continue their cyclical behavior. If the reason for them lingering in the world of the living can be determines and solved, the ghost will pass on of their own accord. As a result, dealing with ghosts is usually more of a mystery solving experience or a conversation. Thankfully, Magical Girls are already predisposed to positive emotions, and ghosts are drawn to them. That means they may ask for help in passing on, or be open to making a friend who can bring them peace. An exorcism of some kind (especially by a shrine maiden or other priestess) can forcibly cause a ghost to pass on, and sealing can trap them in an object or place where they cannot harm the living.
Restrictive Factors: Ghosts do not usually understand that they are dead, the rules of the era they are in now if they have been dead for a long time, or the limits of living beings they try to interact with. They have completely unfiltered emotions, can swing wildly between moods or even personalities, and cannot truly change their nature or the loop they are condemned to repeat without outside intervention. A ghost may be a Haunting Spirit (restricted to a specific locale, often the place they died), or a Wandering Spirit (able to roam more or less freely but with some additional limitations on their actions, called "Fetters". These are special rules they must follow in exchange for their limited freedom).
Special Details: Please see Ghosts for more information about them.

Kindabad/Terribad

Series Origin: Happiness Charge PreCure
General Details: Kindabad and Terribads are made from the dark reflections of people's souls, and are the minions of the Phantom Empire's Generals. They resemble cartoonish humans in black suits with silver boots, white gloves, and silver gauntlets, though they may have clothing or features resembling the person they were created from. They wear different colored scarves and sunglasses depending on which general summoned them. When they are created from a person's darkness, they are trapped in a mirror-shaped coffin.

General Abilities: Each Kindabad and Terribad has different abilities based on the habits or interests of the person who spawned them, but many have laser abilities (fired from the eyes or hands). They can all drain energy from humans. They also each have a different ability based on their general:

  • Namakelder's Kindabads spread mold everywhere.
  • Hosshiwa's Kindabads turn the environment into sweets and desserts.
  • Madam Momere's Kindabads turn the environment into a frozen land.
  • Mirage's Kindabads creates a fog and utter chaos.
  • Oresky's Kindabads create a barren wasteland with dark clouds.
  • Phantom's Kindabads turn the environment into amethyst mines or crystal and also appear to have protrusions on their heads and different-looking sunglasses compared to the other Saiarks.

How Are They Defeated: The can be defeated if they are overwhelmed by attacks, or purified.
Restrictive Factors: They have to be summoned from an NPC character, by an antagonist who knows what they're doing.
Special Details: If the Mahou fail to defeat the monster, the person can be stuck like this forever trapped in a dark mirror. If there are several Kindabads, they can combine to form one bigger Kindabad.

Witch

Series Origin: Puella Magi Madoka Magica
General Details: What is currently known about Witches is that they are magical beings born from negative desires. Witch’s reside within barrier’s known as Labyrinths, and spawn subsidiary creatures known as Familiars to carry out their bidding. The primary objective of a Witch is to lure humans to its barrier, so that they can kill them and grow stronger. A witch can lure a person by placing “Witch's kiss” on them, which has the effect of both luring the human towards the Witch's labyrinth, and worsening their mental health, making them prone to suicidal behavior and an increased likelihood of committing criminal acts. A Witch cannot be reasoned with, and must be destroyed to be defeated.

  • Unknown to all but Homura Akemi, Kyubey, and the X-Chara Gretchen (belonging to Madoka Kaname) Witch’s are actually born from Puella Magi who succumb to despair or fail to maintain the purity of their soul gem. Witches drop grief seeds when defeated.
  • A witch's familiar can become an identical copy of the witch in power and appearance by stronger through the killing of humans. Familiars do not drop grief seeds, but a familiar who has become a witch may drop a grief seed upon defeat.

What Are Their Abilities?: Once a Puella becomes a witch, their name and communication attempts transform, and are transmitted as Witch Script. These new names are typically Germanic in nature. The abilities of the Witch and the nature of its labyrinth are determined by the once Puella’s own personal torments and emotions at the time they became a Witch. Only the most powerful of Witches, such as Walpurgisnacht can exist outside of a barrier - otherwise, all Witches reside only within their barriers, and their labyrinth must be entered in order to defeat the witch. Logic and the rules of reality do not necessarily apply inside of a labyrinth, and can be contorted in whichever way would express the despair of the Witch. The Witch itself is typically an enormous creature - some can take the form of armored mermaids, others enormous worm-like creatures, and more.
How Are They Defeated?: Only by destroying the Witch can it be defeated. Combat is the only way to kill a Witch. Purification magic will not restore them to their former selves.
Restrictive Factors: Due to the fact that all Witches are the result of a former Puella, every Witch should be created with at least some idea of what that former Puella was like - their abilities, familiars, and labyrinth are based in that former Puella's fears and despair.

  • Example: In 269/Steel Horse, the Train Witch's labyrinth initially looks like an Alice in Wonderland-esque topsy-turvy hall, but opens into a wide plane featuring trains which tear and careen through the air on tracks, shattering vases which seep black ink-oil, and a storm of heart-sealed letters in various states of disarray. The Witch who spawned this labyrinth wished for Haruki Hara to love her and her familiars and labyrinth design are both influenced by the wish and resulting despair caused by it.
  • Example: In 223/Le Cirque qui Brule, the Circus Witch's familiars are life-sized paper tigers that hunt for victims and balls of flame with candle-wick legs, which run around setting the labyrinth ablaze.

Special Details: Every Witch doesn't have to drop a grief seed, but given that Puella need them to live (and the fight for a grief seed can create IC drama) it's a good idea to have your Witch drop a grief seed! Additionally, in universe, labyrinths are psychedelic places that twist and contort visual reality, making inhabitants feel like they've entered a bizarro dimension. Don't be afraid to get weird with your Witch, labyrinth, and familiars.

Youkai

Series Origin: Japanese Folklore and Mythology
General Details: Also referred to as ayakashi, mononoke, or mamono, youkai are not literally demons in the Western sense of the word, but are instead spirits and entities, and they can be viewed as kami, although this comparison is more often applied to actively "antagonistic" yōkai. Their behavior can range from malevolent or mischievous to benevolent to humans. While they often have animal-like features (such as tengu, depicted with ings or kappa, depicted as being similar to a turtle), they may also appears as humanoid beings or even inanimate objects. Folklorists and historians explain youkai as personifications of "supernatural or unaccountable phenomena to their informants". Few genuinely believe in their existence in the modern era, but many have heard of or seen them through folk tales, manga, anime, dramas, children's horror stories, and spiritual tales. Belief in youkai has increased recently, as they have been sighted frequently in the Juuban Ward after dark.

  • You can find more details about Youkai and their increasingly common presence in the Inner Conflict Tiny Plot.

General Abilities: Youkai have a variety of abilities, dependent on their legends and folklore. You can find details on specific youkai here: https://yokai.com/finder/
How Are They Defeated: Youkai have various methods of being banished or defeated based in folklore, but most mahou can rely on the tried and true methods of combat to at least chase away many youkai.
Restrictive Factors: None.
Special Details: If using a youkai as your antagonist for a MOTW scene, you'll likely want to do some research on tales or stories involving that youkai!


Youma (Creature)

Series Origin: Generic Enemy
General Details: Generic creature monsters created from either the magic of the antagonist - this can be dark energy, or another ability the antagonist has to animate component bits.

  • Example: In 653/Shameless Self Promotion, Mizudori Teion uses her musical powers to lure a monster spirit which creates the following creature: "It appears to be an amalgam of all the rejected paraphernalia of the music store, a real FYE horror show. It's head is made of a large speaker, its limbs shelves of discount CDs, and although vaguely humanoid, there's a lashing tail which seems to be composed of guitar strings, band posters, and other materials all woven together."

General Abilities: These creatures generally have brute strength, and may have special abilities based on their components - a monster made of speakers may be able to blast soundwaves, while one made of teeth could launch rows of teeth to bite from a distance.
How Are They Defeated: These youma can be defeated with your classic smash and bash; whale on them until they burst! When they are destroyed, they will generally break apart into their component pieces.
Restrictive Factors: None!
Special Details: You can also use the +ygen command to get ideas for these monsters.

Youma (Artificial Creation)

Series: Standard Monster Mob
General Details: Standard Enemy Youma are generally monsters created by dark energy, occasionally with component pieces. Antagonists working with Obsidian can request a youma from Inhuman Resources, if they are not able to create their own. Youma are often able to mimic being a human person for the sake of fooling people into a trap to have their energy stolen. These created youma are not sapient creatures, but beings of minimal intelligence created for a specific task or job.

  • Example: In 5/You Were Not Refreshing, Mamoru Chiba as Hematite sends out a youma disguised as a Dippin' Dots cart salesman, which drains energy from everyone who purchases its Dippin' Dots. After it's exposed, the youma abandons its disguise and transforms into a scaly orange monster with too many teeth, too many arms, and a penchant for spouting sales pitches about Dippin' Dots.

General Abilities: Generically created youma are stronger than humans, usually have the ability to disguise themselves as humans to collect energy, and have specific abilities based on the energy-stealing task they were assigned.
How Are They Defeated: Youma can be defeated with your classic smash and bash; whale on them until they burst! When they are destroyed, they will generally devolve into ash or dust.
Restrictive Factors: None!
Special Details: If you are struggling with an idea for a monster, but want to run a bog standard fight, you can use the command +ygen on the MUSH and a randomly generated monster will be produced. Not all of the ideas are necessarily feasible, but you can mix and match pieces too!

  • Example from +ygen: A grimdarque creature, formed from time travel applied to a broken Belkan Device, with the ability to use earth attacks: it is after treasured items, and it communicates through forming sentences with those candy hearts that have words on them.

Youma (Youmafied NPC)

Series Origin: Generic Enemy
General Details: Youmafied NPCs are youma created by flooding living creatures with Dark Energy, causing them to transform into a humanoid monster. If the process is not completed, the NPC could simply have powers created from the dark energy in their system and be ruled by their negative emotions, causing them to attack those near them.

  • Example: In 410/How It Ended, Naru Osaka partially transforms after being flooded with dark energy by Hinoiri Kirara as Sunbreaker. She develops the ability to manipulate icy winds and create mindless icy wind monsters which attack her would-be rescuers.

General Abilities: The abilities of a youmafied NPC are theoretically endless, with only one caveate: no purifying abilities. The powers they have should usually be based on either the personality of the person being corrupted, or the features of the monster they transform into.
How Are They Defeated: A youmafied NPC will need to be purified to be restored to their original form; destroying the youma outright would result in the death of the NPC otherwise. Any character with purifying abilities can purify the youma.
Restrictive Factors: If a character with purification abilities is not at your scene, you can plan for your youma to escape or be captured by the player characters, who can ICly reach out to a purifier in a follow up scene, cutscene, or end the scene with a mention that X or Y character came by later and purified the youma.

  • In the interest of not ending a scene instantly, it's usually recommended that you have the purification not work until the youma is ready to be defeated - either after a certain number of combat rounds, a certain strength or number of attacks, or until you are otherwise ready.

Special Details: Youmafied NPCs will often be weak and confused after their ordeal; mundanes will not correctly remember the experience, but may need to be hospitalized for energy drain. They should not have injuries from the fight.

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