Apex Monsters

in First Age

Below is the section all adventurers should choose to memorize and avoid. As was best stated by the most successful adventurer James of the Iron Heart Merchant Company. “It is better to run and live, then die like an idiot.”. Those marked at the end are examples of known apex monsters that wander the world still to this day.
 

What makes an Apex Monster?

A monster who is said to be able to wipe out a nation without concern is typically the starting point. Some foreign adventurers have described this as “Demon Lord” in their favorite popular book series from strange multiplanes of existence. We recommend the one with the slime and the big forest as the perfect example. Do not fight slimes, or big dragons as a piece of overall advice.
 

Ranking system of monsters

Once upon a time, Svanearl was said to have gone ahead and sponsored a team of the collective to go around and learn. The information gathered about different beasts would allow for the ultimate bestiary to be created and lost to history. But out of it, the ranking system for both normal and apex beasts could finally be created.
 

S+ Ranking

Those creatures that have yet to be classified as either full Apex or Lesser Apex monsters. Once properly evaluated, each is said to be given to one of the two categories.
 

S Ranking

While not a Lesser Apex monster, these beasts are not far off. Guilds are said to challenge these beasts and those who stand at Mythril Talon are almost always called in.
 

A+ Ranking

Those beasts that have begun blur the lines between “Normal” and “Lesser Apex” monsters. Thus at this point, it is recommended that only the most experienced Iron Talon and above challenge these beasts.
 

A Ranking

Wild krackens are the perfect example of what makes an A rank monster. They are manipulative, they plan, they remember, and they are crafty. Not to account for their magical abilities and dominating precedence. All A ranks and above have hordes of monsters either following them, or avoiding their territory like it's an apex beast.
 

B Ranking

Towns will typically move or gather a holy order to deal with beasts of B rank. As most are intelligent, almost all have some sort of sentience. And few are known to have been slain before they chanced escaping to live another day. This makes B rank monsters also the first rank at which you can negotiate with the beasts to get them to leave.
 

C Ranking

Almost all of these monsters can cast spells and are quite decent in a fight. A town will usually struggle with these beasts, even when they have walls. Such that the town will usually hire a group of adventurers personally.
 

D ranking

Typically creatures with an ability to cast a single spell or use unique abilities. And in many cases, leaders of F rank monster groups will achieve this.
 

F Ranking

Those considered to be beasts of burden such as Landerkin for example. Where the worst problems they offer is when a herd of them stampedes through the local farming village crop fields.
 

Lesser Apex to Apex Monsters

These beasts are said to have managed to climb to the rank of Lesser Apex, though none have managed to tip the scales. This could mean that they possess no Mana or Martial techniques, or could mean the beasts have gained rare and unique powers. But have yet to learn how to use them well enough to devastate an area. Though don’t let this fool you, these beasts are equally terrifying and can still go one on one with many nation leaders and adamantine talon adventurers.
 

The Silent Shadow

Although never seen by anyone that has survived, a few crystal jotun hunters speak of an ancient beast that stalks the southern continent. A beast gifted with the ability to grow more powerful the darker it grows. For it is the night that creeps through the dense forests of the south. Currently the beast was last said to have been seen devouring The Red Lady Pirates.
 

The First Ant Queen

Though they have different names, it is said that Vikeret herself is one of the direct heirs to the legendary beast. Only marked as lesser apex due to her uninterest in the mortal plane of existence. This grand hive queen is said to control a hive of thrikreen like beasts that more imitate ants then grasshopper and beetle like visages as the thrikreen do. The hive itself numbering nearly double that of the current known thrikreen population, her army is a true threat. Though they seem to have little interest in anything but defeating and slaying the thrikreen hives. The beasts have been known to wipe out entire towns in the nomadic troll lands. Easily overwhelming them in a day before returning to attacking whatever hive they had gained an interest in. Though little is known of the queen herself, The First Ant Queen as she is lovingly classified as. Is said to be the closest beast to becoming a full A rank apex monster currently.
 

The Mor’s Gaunt Queen

A spiderlike creature with six legs that was said to have magic running through its veins. Able to drink the magic of creatures it attacked as well as shoot webbing that cancelled out all casting of those it hit. This giant spider queen was said to lead a horde of minions all who had mastered bufoni magic. Standing huge in comparison to her brood of normal height. This massive golden spider was last seen ascending to god hood before delving deep beneath the waves. Supposedly having managed to fight off the Cryptic Kabal who had managed to corner an enemy on the island.
 

The Wave’s Crack

A massive kraken said to be nearly as old as Alka-Rus "The Natural Disaster". The two were said to once compete for food when the world was still clouded. Though this large kraken would instead focus its attention on breeding a massive colony. It is well known for having father over ninety nine percent of the current kraken population.
 

Normal monsters of note

Chonkster Dynasty

A family of snakes found to live in the Sunny Wave Islands eastern jungles. Said to adapt to the environment they live in through eating creatures local to the area. The beasts are said to, within a generation, change their biology to become the most efficient predators for their chosen prey.
 

Ole Frosted Willy

A gargantuan frost worm who was said to guard the Fountain of Age. As well as the ancient crysmal spawning grounds. This frost worm was somewhat sentient though preferred to attack first, and question later.
 

Ole Beardy

An arcticmane gifted with high intelligence well beyond its species. The creature managed to figure out an ancient ritual from the Clouded Age. In which he planned to absorb all the death ore in the area. All in a hope of increasing his mana to a state well beyond any of his species before.
 

Bright Scales

A rare hydra that had managed to kill enough Lesser Demon-folk to adapt there magical powers of physical enhancement to itself. Granting it enhanced speed that allowed it to charge in a single direction. Increasing its speed by double its current rate every six seconds or so. The massive hydra was also known to have a few red colorium scales that seemed to allow its legs to adapt to the sudden increase in demand.
 

Sweet Ole Big Tooth

A sabertooth born to a litter of one of the slain Lesser Apex monsters lost to time. He, alongside four others, were each born with rare mutations. Big Tooth, as he was called in his younger years. Was said to be born with a massive fang made of pure oventium and jade. Both of which allowed him to cast magic and terrorize the local Frost Jotun population. Though he was more of a nuisance, as it was common knowledge that a single large sized boar carcass was enough to buy the beast's loyalty for the season.
 

The Great Bear

A female legendary grizzly who was said to have crawled her way from the depths of the deep dark's lower levels. Vanishing beneath the ground to nearly forty levels deep. Few had survived such a trip, and even fewer beasts had done so as well. Though she returned with two cubs who looked to be albino in fur color. None could question that she had survived. Now the size of a large stone jotun, few chose to challenge the she bear and her cubs as they took up home within one of the larger cave entrances to the deep dark. Devouring beasts and those covered in jotun blood alike, as they appeared at the entrance.
 

The Mother

Though it is not known where such a large wyvern skeleton came from. Few can refute that she is here and she is angry. A powerful necromancer and angry beast. The Mother is said to be a fully sentient undead skeleton wyvern that has the mind of a powerful ancient spell caster. Her voice is said to be similar to that of the Dark King’s first wife, “Grunalga The Menntr”. Though this claim has only been made by the druid grove in Hrimpursar’s Last Hold, none at the Collective of Pyrus have refuted the claim. The beast is said to be driven with madness, looking for her children. And constantly seeking out “The Unfortunate Sons” adventuring organization.
 

Apex Monster Rankings

Beasts recognized in a category of their own, most often capable of defeating nations if not entire cities by themselves. To be even considered an apex monster, outside of the typical magic or experience one would need. Is to be considered capable of fighting multiple nation leaders without concern for one's own health. Thus even the lowest of these are considered to be off limits unless the adventurer is capable of sparring with those who rule.
 

S+ Ranking

Those beasts are recognized as threats equal to the age of the Fae’s “The Last Thought” beast. One in which the entirety of developed society was forced out of the plane in exchange to seal away forever. A beast unkillable and dangerous enough that the gods own champions dare not challenge them without reason.
 

S Ranking

The gods themselves stand aside when these beasts move.
 

A+ Ranking

Power beyond fathom though not yet on the ranks of the gods. Only those of the highest divine orders are able to slay beasts of this rank. Said to be signs of the apocalypse if these beasts awaken or begin to attack. Nothing has been known to stop them beyond the Law Bearers own champions.
 

A Ranking

At this point of ranking, few nations will fight these beasts that rank A or above. With them ceding territory in mass to avoid anything to do with the beasts. Hoping that they will not wipe them out in a single night. Armies are said to stop in the wake of these beast's movements. Fearing for their lives, nation rulers will abandon entire cities in hopes of avoiding these beasts' wrath.
 

B Ranking

Those capable of either leading nations or destroying continents are typically ranked at B or above. These are only ever attacked once in a generation, and typically at the cost of thousands of elite and higher individuals. Few have managed to ever see a beast ranked this high, and even fewer can claim to have killed one.
 

C Ranking

These creatures and above are considered generally off limits for any adventurer guild to assign. Only given by nation leaders and rulers who have deemed the beasts end needed. These creatures are not fought otherwise, and typically considered a “Wait until they die of natural causes.”
 

D ranking

A creature known to have become not only intelligent but typically able to dominate parts of the world's lands. Most who stand at D ranking could be taken down by two to three groups of those equivalent to the lordships of most nations.
 

F Ranking

Typically beasts that are capable of hitting well beyond there weight class. With many adapting martial or mana techniques unique to themselves amongst there species. Thus many consider F ranking to be those newly discovered and untested. Or those who only manage to stand out through pure power of physical or mental will. Some manage to stay at F ranking through pacifism, though few of those beasts last long as many adventurers look to prove their names.