Monsters: Introduction

Here there be Monsters.

Scribed since ancient days on maps of parts unknown, and spoken of in myth and legend man has always known that there are monsters out there. What he rarely acknowledged is that the monsters lurk in him.

I myself am a Monster - a wolf wearing human skin. Mortal like man, though longer lived, I am not even the darkest beast that stalks the streets of the city. Witch and Wizard, Vampire and worse - they all exist in man, or just 'neath the surface.

We aren't exactly high in number - by best estimates there less than half a percent of the population isn't exactly human. While that number may seem small, that means over forty-thousand Monsters lurk in New York City alone.

So then what makes a man a Monster? An acquaintance of mine is a genetic researcher by trade, and a Monster himself, has found a few genetic markers that mark a predilection to being a Monster and even a few indicators as to what type of Monster you have the potential to be. But there are so many other variables that it is impossible to tell exactly how or why we become what we are.

For example - I was born to, as best I can tell, normal parents and to my knowledge was never exposed to another Werewolf until my first change. Others may have the same genetic markers I do but would not actually be a Werewolf until bitten and until I do so are normal humans - albeit a bit harrier than normal and with a shorter temper. If I bit a normal human without any prediliction to being a Monster they would maybe feel a bit angrier than normal until after a full moon, but that's it.

Vampires are another great example of the diversity of what makes us Monsters that you're familiar with. Vampires themselves are a broad category of Monster. There are various types and strains of vampires, mostly dependent upon genetic background and of the type of vampire that bit you to activate the latent genes. I've met mortal vampires, psychic vampires, vampires repelled by garlic and crosses, and vampires who are simply undead bloodsucking humans.

Then there are the Nasties. Nasties are Monsters that really cannot be allowed to live - the ones that are truly the stuff of Nightmare. A Werewolf in full Beast form is a terrible sight and will leave a normal human traumatized for ages. Nasties can give even the bravest Monster the shakes.

So kid... now that you know about Monsters, its time for me to let you know - you are one.