Monster Division

Dawn breaks over the frontier village of Elderglen.

It is a small settlement surrounded by ancient forest, mountain passes, and wilderness that the Guild has never completely mapped. Normally, mornings here are peaceful. Farmers begin their work, fishermen return from the river, merchants prepare their stalls, children run through the streets, and the village smith's hammer echoes through the valley.

Today, something feels wrong.

The birds are unusually quiet.

Several livestock pens are empty.

Fresh tracks cross the muddy road outside the village, but they do not match anything the local hunters recognize.

At the edge of the forest, enormous footprints disappear beneath the trees.

Then the ground trembles.

Far beyond the mountains, a thin column of smoke rises into the morning sky.

The meteor that struck the wilderness weeks ago has become the subject of countless rumors. The Guild calls it an unexplained celestial impact. Researchers have begun disappearing while investigating the surrounding region. Hunters report monsters behaving strangely. Some creatures have abandoned territories they occupied for generations.

And last night, something approached Elderglen's outer watchtower.

It did not attack.

It simply stood beyond the torchlight and watched.

The guards swear it understood them.

By sunrise, the creature was gone.

Now the village is beginning another uncertain day.

A Guild notice has been nailed to the town board requesting volunteers for an investigation into the changing monster activity. A merchant caravan is preparing to leave before sunset. The village elder is searching for someone willing to investigate the missing livestock. The local researcher is studying strange tracks near the forest. The blacksmith needs workers and hunters to gather materials. The guards are quietly discussing whether the village should evacuate.

Meanwhile, ordinary villagers continue their lives.

Children play.

Farmers argue over the missing animals.

Merchants negotiate prices.

Fishermen gossip about strange lights seen over the mountains.

A traveler tells stories about monsters that can supposedly understand human speech.

Nobody knows which rumors are true.

Nobody knows what caused the changes.

And nobody knows what is waiting beyond the forest.

You are not required to be a Hunter.

You may already live here.

You may be a farmer, villager, merchant, craftsman, researcher, healer, guard, traveler, hunter, Guild member, scholar, adventurer, wanderer, or something entirely different.

You may have arrived yesterday.

You may have lived here your entire life.

You may know nothing about monsters.

You may know far more than you intend to reveal.

Your history, skills, occupation, relationships, goals, and reasons for being here are yours to decide.

The world does not know who you are yet.

It will learn through your actions.

Beyond Elderglen lies an enormous wilderness filled with ancient ruins, undiscovered species, dangerous monsters, forgotten civilizations, and the growing mystery surrounding the fallen star.

The Guild is searching for answers.

The monsters are changing.

Something has awakened.

And the world is waiting to see what you do next.