Introduction

Welcome to the Saga of Blood! Have fun, but be careful what you touch.

What is the Saga of Blood, you ask?

Well, several years ago I found a series of transformation-based stories on the Internet; that is, fiction in which the main plot device or focus of the story was a physiological change of some sort. Many of these stories were written into existing universes, penned by various authors and involving several of the same characters. I was intrigued. I was also inspired. I decided to create my own transformation-based universe. After months of research and planning, and several years of fermentation and experimentation, this is the result: the Saga of Blood.

The exact specifics of the project are in the following guide. But for a brief overview... imagine a world where creatures of mythology live and thrive. Not only are such dangerous creatures a reality, but anyone who comes in contact with the blood of these monsters partially transforms into that monster. And they, in turn, can transform others with their own blood. Monsters and half-monsters fill the world, and there is nothing humanity can do about it. Sounds cool? Well, if you are interested, you need only read on...

This universe is open to anyone who wants to write in it or otherwise add his or her own artistic endeavors to the setting (details on permission and other legalities are found at the end of this guide).

Please note that this is the second edition to the Complete Guide, and several changes and corrections have been made. Formatting has been altered, sentences have been reworded, and whole concepts may have been added or removed. These changes have been made throughout the guide, and the differences between the first and second editions will not be specifically pointed out.

Enjoy!

- - StormDrake

First Edition written April 6, 1998
Revised August 06, 2001

Second Edition written Thursday, February 06, 2003
Revised Sunday, February 29, 2004

The World as it Appears
For all intents and purposes, this is how the world of the Saga of Blood is seen by those who live within it. And barring the occasional exception, or behind-the-scenes planning, this is all anyone really needs to know.

The Saga of Blood takes place in a world nearly identical to the Real Earth (where the author and reader most likely exist). Climate, topography, and geology are the same. Geography is possibly the same as well, but this cannot be proven true or false, due to a lack of necessary technology and motivation. Wildlife indigenous to the Real Earth is indigenous to the Saga of Blood world, which is also called Earth.

Humans exist, but at a pre-electricity level of technology. Communities are agricultural and self-sustaining, with the largest typically consisting of a few thousand people. Communities are few and far between, separated by wilderness and linked by a poorly maintained system of roads and paths. Communication and trade between towns is very rare. Life is usually agricultural in focus, with an emphasis on protecting and providing for the village. Most town property (including farms) is enclosed by walls, and villages strive to be as enclosed and self-sufficient as possible.

The wilderness is populated not only by wild animals but by mythological monsters as well. Dragons, griffons, and other legendary creatures of several Real Earth pantheons thrive in the Saga of Blood universe. But their threat is two-fold; besides the conventional danger posed by dangerous animals, the blood of these monsters causes a horrible transformation in whoever comes in contact with it. This hapless person changes partway into the creature whose blood changed him. And these part human, part monster blood mutants can it turn pass the curse on to others through their blood.

Mankind seeks to exterminate both monsters and blood mutants, threats to humanity itself. But such constant war has its toll; cultural and technological advancement is virtually zero, as the main goal of humanity is staying alive. Survival is all that matters in a world where humans are the endangered species.

The Science Behind the Fiction
This is information that has been lost to the sands of time. No one in the Saga of Blood universe knows all of this, and few know any of it. As far as people believe, things "just are," it is an act of "God" or "the gods," or they simply chalk it up to "magic."

Circa 2100 AD, there was a corporation by the name of Triad Bioengineering, which specialized in the still-experimental field of genetic engineering. Genetic engineering at that time consisted of pre-natal chromosomal manipulation, brought to term either by a human host or an artificial womb. However, while recombination and hybridization were possible, a number of difficulties could arise. The hybrid zygote could fail to develop, or be aborted by the body if a real womb were used. Unforeseen complications in pregnancy could surface. And the odds were against the fetus developing into what was intended. The overall odds of success, from creation to birth, were only 1:1,000.

Virus Recombination was first developed by Dr. Curtis Miendez at Triad. The technique was based on the nature of viruses to enter an organism's cells, infiltrate the nucleus, and change the genetic programming of the cell to produce more of the virus. With a little molecular retooling, Dr. Miendez was able to create a virus that tailored the DNA in the nucleus according to the scientists' wishes. Thus, with a little effort, and a lot of virus, any living organism could be reengineered into something else.

Virus Recombination was utilized in several projects at Triad, including the Artemis Project, which was seeking to stop aging at a cellular level, and the Atlas Project, which sought to augment human abilities such as strength, agility, and stamina. But Dr. Miendez's work found a special home in the Typhon Project. Headed by the renowned Dr. Sandra Xavier, the purpose of the Typhon Project was to engineer organisms that had never existed; specifically, mythological creatures. With the advent of Virus Recombination, the project's success blossomed. There was a one in 1,000 chance of error, resulting in mutation, but these were acceptable odds that were being dealt with. But because of the safety measures taken when working with the virus, more than a year passed before the greatest flaw in the technique was discovered.

A scientist was working with a sample of blood from a harpy, one of the engineered organisms, when she accidentally spilled the sample. In a hurry and not knowing better, she wiped up the spill with a paper towel and immediately washed her hands. But it was too late; the scientist had gotten some of the blood on her skin. Within minutes she was sprouting feathers on her arms and legs.

It turned out that measures taken to prevent the body from being able to create antibodies to thwart the virus resulted in the virus remaining active indefinitely in the organism's bloodstream. The virus could be transferred by skin contact with the blood, infecting and transforming whoever contracted it. The change was never total, however, and the virus became diluted over the course of successive generations. But being 60% mermaid was almost as bad as (if not worse than) being a full mermaid. The only good thing was that infection by one virus granted immunity to all other forms of the virus. Also, the virus, once introduced into the host organism, was only transmittable to humans. There was no explanation for this, and neither cure nor vaccine could be developed. More research was ordered before Virus Recombination would be applied on a broader scope.

Meanwhile, war was about to break out in the world. The European Union had withdrawn from the United Nations in protest over the United States' actions and policies regarding the Middle East and Asia. Tensions grew, and a Cold War seemed inevitable. There was a terrorist bombing of the White House, and Congress (what was left of it) declared war on the EU. Nuclear and radiation weapons were not used until the end of the war, and even then only sparingly. The use of biological weapons was mostly restrained as well. However, near the close of the war, hundreds of electromagnetic warheads were detonated worldwide and atmospherically by both sides. EM bombs, deemed civilized by an international council, did not affect biological organisms. Instead, they destroyed all electric and electronic equipment. The damage, underestimated on all counts, was permanent and irrevocable… and worldwide. In less than one year, the planet was brought down to a pre-electricity state of technology.

One effect of the global EM bombing was the collapse of the World Wide Web. Another was the death of anyone using a pacemaker or artificial heart, or flying by plane. But by far the worst effect was the collapse of the security system at Triad Bioengineering. Suddenly, the creatures of the Typhon Project were loose. The various projects mingled. Hundreds of bioengineered organisms were released into the world, and an accidental release of the virus in its raw form created hundreds more. Soon the creatures infested a world that could no longer cope with the threat.

Over the next few decades, as all high technology was abandoned as useless, the organisms spread one way or another to cover virtually the entire globe. The EM radiation remained airborne for several decades, but by the time electricity would work again, there was no hope to salvage things. Any attempt to stop the creatures resulted in bloodshed, and as the virus remained active, bloodshed only made the problem worse.

Time passed...

The Saga of Blood occurs circa 3200 AD, although the Gregorian Calendar has not been used in a thousand years. Human civilization has reverted to a level similar to that of the Middle Ages of Europe, with the addition of a few remnants of "modern" technology like blue jeans and gunpowder. No knowledge of a technological past remains; time and nature have swallowed up all signs of mankind's lost greatness. Books, mostly phased out by the 2100's in favor of computers, are rare... which is just as well, as less than half the world's population can read. The engineered organisms have spread, becoming indigenous to most of the planet's ecosystems. Human development remains checked by the ever-present threat of these "monsters." Soldiers and mercenaries have replaced scientists and artists. War on a small scale is ever-present, and trade on a large scale is nonexistent. Humanity remains threatened by its own creations, though the knowledge of such responsibility has vanished. No one knows what was. And no one knows what will be.

Methods of Transformation
This is everything you've ever wanted to know about blood mutation, but were afraid to ask… how does it happen? Read on.

Transformation results from physical contact with the blood* of one of the many monsters that inhabit the Earth in the Saga of Blood universe. Contact with the monster alone is not enough; the transformative curse is only present in the blood. Blood may be injected, ingested, or simply touched by bare skin; the result is the same. Once blooded, an individual is immune to any further blood mutation. Also, all animals and other monsters are immune to the transforming effects of blood.

Under most circumstances, heat destroys the virus present in the blood of a monster, so cooking meat will result in its safe consumption. However, very few people will willingly eat the meat of a monster of any sort, and typically look down upon those who do. Dried blood will retain its transformative nature for a long time, as the virus simply becomes dormant until it comes in contact with non-transformed cells. Even a dead monster can carry an active virus, depending on the degree of decomposition.

Contact with blood causes an individual to transform partially into the creature whose blood he or she came in contact with. The degree of mutation varies greatly. Once infected, an individual's blood has the same transforming effect, albeit to a slightly lesser degree. Some blood is gender-specific; an infected individual may not exhibit the outward signs of a blood mutation yet be immune to further blood mutation, and still be able to pass on the mutation to others.

* There are a rare few monsters that transfer blood mutation differently. Slimes and puddings, for example, do not have blood. But there still exists a means of transformation. By burning a slime or pudding, for example, and breathing the resulting smoke, mutation will occur. Why this variant of the virus can survive such heat is unknown, though outside or in a large-enough area the smoke will disperse to the point where the air is safe to breathe. But the point is that different means exist for different monsters. But all monsters can transform humans.

Details of Transformation
What happens when a person comes in contact with the blood of a monster? What can happen? This is a list of "rules," for lack of a better word, that govern blood mutation and the repercussions it has on the physiology of those infected.

• Blood mutations are permanent and irreversible, short of amputation or death.

• Mutation can occur in any human, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, or physical disabilities.

• Mutation can be nearly instantaneous, or occur gradually over the course of days, depending on the severity of mutation and other random factors. Mutation has never been known to take longer than a week; most mutations are between an hour and a day in duration. Mutation has also been known to remain dormant for up to several days, but in almost every case, transformation begins within seconds of coming in contact with blood.

• Blood mutation is often painful, and great physiological changes may be detrimental to one's health. Occasionally (though extremely rarely), blood mutation has been known to be fatal.

• The percentage of mutation varies according to a number of factors, including quantity of blood, level of exposure, duration of exposure, and purity of blood. Even taking all known factors into consideration, however, it is impossible to predict the exact percentage of mutation. Mutation is always at least 1%, never more than 99%, and these are the extremes.

• The exact specifics of a mutation are random; no two blood mutants are identical.

• Some changes are gradual, affecting the whole body equally and at the same time. In other cases, the mutation will only affect part of the body; one arm, or half of the face, for example. Furthermore, some transformations are symmetrical, while others are asymmetrical. Again, there is no known reason why this is so.

• Gender changes never occur.

• While no two blood mutations are alike, occasionally there will occur a deviant, one whose transformation goes beyond the simple metamorphosis of one form into another. These deviants maintain the nature of their blood, but may not match their blood source's form. Wings sprouting from the wrong places, extra limbs, or scales that cover more than they should are all examples of deviant mutation, and are referred to in the Saga of Blood universe as bizarre. Most bizarre are outcasts even among other "normal" blood mutations, the damned of the damned. The additionally twisted nature of their bodies usually makes transformation even more traumatic.

• Though extremely rare, there have been cases of two or more individuals being conjoined into one body through blood mutation. Merging is not person-specific. There is no known correlation between cases of merging. Males and females, lovers, bitter rivals, siblings, families, or perfect strangers... the only common bond between cases is that those fused together were in contact with each other at the moment of blood mutation, and were both blooded at approximately the same time, with the same blood. Even then, there is only a slim chance that merging occurs. Those merged have a strong likelihood of being merged in the same position as they were in at contact (lovers holding hands, for example).

• Some monsters have more than one head (chimaera, hydra, et cetera). These creatures are polycephalous. Usually, blood mutation of this kind results in the sprouting of additional heads. It is most likely that a blood mutant of this kind sprouts the heads of the monster, each with the mind of an animal. Occasionally, the mutation will occur without additional heads. And once in a while, each head develops into an intelligent replica of the original person. That is, the blood mutant's personality splinters, and each head becomes sentient, possessing the original person's memories and personality. This is vaguely similar to merging (see above), but rather than two or more becoming one, one (almost) becomes two or more. This is called sentient polycephalous. Regardless of the level of intelligence in additional heads, sometimes they will share joint control of the whole body and other times each head will only control part. And sometimes a head may be in control of nothing more that itself.

• Reproduction is theoretically possible for all blood mutants, assuming they are physically able to copulate and/or give birth, and were able to do so prior to being blooded. Mutation will not cause someone who was previously sterile to become fertile. A blooded can mate with either a human or one of the blood source species (assuming physical compatibility). A blooded can also mate with another similarly blooded individual, or sometimes even a blood mutant of a different species. Basically, the more each has in common with the other on a genetic level, the greater the chances of a reproductive match. But there is a great deal or randomness in this. Blood mutation cannot be transferred by sex. If a human and a blooded mate, the offspring will be blooded, though somewhat less than the blooded parent. If two blooded of the same type mate, the offspring will be of an average blood level of the two parents, give or take (but never more that the highest level parent or less that the lowest). If a blooded mates with a blood source monster, the child will be blooded, more than the blooded parent but less than the monster. If two blood mutants of different bloods reproduce, the child will resemble the mother in blood, and be of similar level. If a blooded is capable of reproduction with a monster of a different species (so long as there is something in common between the two, human or otherwise), the offspring will also resemble the mother, and will be of the same blood level as blooded parent if the mother is blooded, of greater level than the blooded parent if the mother is the monster. If a human and a compatible monster mate and bear a child, the child will lean 75% towards the level of the mother (either 25% monster of 75% monster). All blooded children are capable of passing on the mutation, as age does not affect transformation. Children born to at least blood mutant are never bizarre, even if one or both parents are bizarre. And finally, if a female is pregnant when blooded, assuming physiological changes do not result in the destruction of the fetus, the baby will be born completely human. The virus is present in the mother's blood, but cannot penetrate the amniotic fluid. However, any complications during birth that result in the baby coming in contact with the mother's blood will cause mutation.

Monster Classification
There are so many different types of monsters in the Saga of Blood universe, it may be difficult to keep track of them all. Here is a bit of organization to make the insanity a bit less maddening.

This chapter contains a complete list of all the monsters in the Saga of Blood. All monsters fit into one of six categories, and are organized below in alphabetical order within their numerical classification. This is not a categorization known to the characters of the Saga of Blood universe, but exists mostly for the author's reference, or for the reader's. These categories range from five to zero, with descending numbers for the most part representing less human/more powerful monsters. Note that lower level monsters are not necessarily rarer, though this tends to be the case. Note also that bizarre mutations may not follow the below guidelines.

5	These are monsters that are mostly or partly human, usually humanoid. Changes may be drastic, but are rarely extremely painful, and usually affect only part of the body. Some or most humanity is kept. No extra limbs are grown. Most level 5 monsters are gender specific.

4	These are monsters that are either part human or humanoid in shape. Changes are more drastic, often involving the sprouting of additional limbs.

3	These monsters do not resemble humans at all. Changes are drastic, sometimes with an increase in size (though limited at best).

2	These are the powerful monsters, often much larger than humans. Drastic and painful changes are numerous. Some special abilities may occur (breathing fire, for example).

1	These are the most powerful and dangerous of monsters (and thankfully the most rare… usually). All of these monsters are either polycephalous or have a powerful special ability.

0

There is no proof that these creatures even exist. Each of these monsters is a unique legend. They are immortal; never-aging, and impossible to hurt, let alone kill. There is only one of each, and its whereabouts are unknown. A person blooded by one of these creatures becomes immortal, cursed to his or her blood form for literally all eternity. (Immortality can only be transmitted by the immortal monster itself; immortal blood mutants can only pass on the physical curse.) However, as these mythological creatures are immortal and cannot so much as be scratched, exposure to their blood is thought to be impossible.

The monsters on the following pages are divided into their separate levels (click on the above numbers to go to the corresponding level below). The following information is given for each:

Name
Real Earth Mythology or Pantheon
Specific Gender Affected (if applicable)
Polycephalous (if applicable)
Special Ability (if applicable)
Description of Monster
Average Habitat of Monster

The Monsters of the Saga of Blood
There are a lot of monsters in the Saga of Blood universe. How many? I'm so glad you asked…

Level Five

Faerie
Italian / Celtic Mythology
Female only
Human, small (one foot in height or less), thin, pointed ears, large dragonfly or butterfly wings on back
Forests

Harpy
Greek Mythology
Female only
Human, bird wings in lieu of arms, bird legs and tail from waist down with feathers
High Altitudes

Lamia (Type One)
Greek Mythology
Female only
Serpent, head and breasts of a woman
Aquatic, Lakes, Ponds

Mermaid
Unknown Mythology
Female only
Human, fish tail in lieu of legs, webbed hands (sometimes), gills, amphibious
Ocean

Minotaur
Greek Mythology
Male only
Human, strongly muscled, bull head, bull legs from knee down, bull tail
Subterranean

Naga
Indian Mythology
Snake with human head
Subterranean

Pahari
Unknown Mythology
Female only
Human, tropical fish from waist down, webbed hands, gills, amphibious
Warm Ocean

Satyr
Greek Mythology
Male only
Human, goat legs, fur from waist down, goat horns, goat tail, bipedal
Forests

Triton
Greek Mythology
Male only
Human, fish tail in lieu of legs, webbed hands (sometimes), gills, amphibious
Ocean

Level Four

Black Widow
Unknown Mythology
Female only
Human, large black widow spider from waist down, octapedal
Subterranean

Centaur
Greek Mythology
Human, horse from waist down, quadrupedal
Forests, Plains

Dryad
Greek Mythology
Female only
Humanoid, tree-like, rooted to the ground or conjoined to a tree, bark
Forests

Gargoyle
Unknown Mythology
Humanoid, hairless, stone-like skin, large clawed hands and feet, semi-prehensile lizard's tail, bat wings on back, variable head with large mouth
Castle, Subterranean

Kappa
Japanese Mythology
Humanoid, thin, reptilian skin, turtle shell, large webbed clawed hands and feet, pointy nose and ears, toothy mouth, reptilian eyes
Swamps

Lamia (Type Two)
Greek Mythology
Female only
Human, lion from waist down, claws, quadruped
Forests, Plains, Subterranean

Pegataur
Unknown Mythology
Human, horse from waist down, large wings on back of horse, quadrupedal
High Altitudes

Siren
Greek Mythology
Female only
Human, bird with wings from waist down
High Altitudes, Ocean (Island or Shore)

Sphinx (Type One)
Greek Mythology
Female only
Lion, human head, wings on back, occasional serpent's tail
High Altitudes, Plains

Tartax
Original creation by StormDrake
Centaur, hexapedal, smooth green skin with brown splotches, snake's head, long large prehensile tail, two-toed hoof-like feet
Forests

Wemic
Unknown Mythology
Centaur, lion lower-body, lion-like upper body, paws with opposable thumb, lion head, fur, and mane on males, quadrupedal
Plains

Level Three

Alicorn
Unknown Mythology
Horse, large wings on back, spiral horn in center of forehead
High Altitudes, Plains

Amphisbaena
Unknown Mythology
Polycephalous
Large snake, head at each end of body
Forests, Plains, Swamps

Hippocampus
Greek Mythology
Horse, flippers for hooves, fin for mane, hindquarters of a fish or dolphin, with tail, gills, amphibious
Ocean

Hippogriff
Greek Mythology
Horse with head and forelegs of eagle, eagle's wings on back
High Altitudes, Plains

Kirin
Japanese Mythology
Horse, cloven hooves, golden scales, red mane and beard, thick spiral horn in center of forehead
High Altitudes

Kitsune
Japanese Mythology
Fox, fur ranging from brown to red to silver-gray to white, black fur on paws and lower legs, multiple fox tails (from two to seven)
Forests

Oitax
Original creation by StormDrake
Large hairless dog, six legs, no eyes, spines behind shoulders, long stiff tail with multiple eyes
Subterranean

Pegasus
Greek Mythology
Horse, white, with large wings on back
High Altitudes, Plains

Quedaan
Original creation by StormDrake
Lizard, large, long prehensile tail with scorpion stinger, webbed clawed feet, large fin on back, lizard head, smooth green skin, gills, amphibious
Swamps

Sirrush
Babylonian Mythology
Dragon, small, cat paws for front feet, bird-like claws for rear feet, spiral horn in center of forehead, semi-prehensile tail
Subterranean

Treant
Unknown Mythology
Tree with human features (face, arm-like branches, et cetera)
Forests

Unicorn
Greek Mythology
Horse, silver fur, cloven hooves, spiral horn in center of forehead
Forests, Plains

Level Two

Beholder
Unknown Mythology
Special Ability - paralyze with gaze (eye-contact), levitation (limited)
Three-foot sphere, thick/rough skin, large eye with lid in front, large toothy mouth, multiple eyes on stalks sprouting from top of creature
Subterranean

Cortana
Original creation by StormDrake
Polycephalous
Avian hexaped, long neck with bird head, long tail with second bird head, no wings, bird legs, feathers
Forests, High Altitudes

Displacer Beast
Unknown Mythology
Special Ability - appears to be five feet from actual location
Black panther, large, six legs, two tentacles sprouting from shoulders, each ending in squid-like paddle with thorny underside
Forests, Jungles, Subterranean

Dragon
Unknown Mythology
Special Ability - various breath weapons according to coloration
Lizard, huge, thin, long neck, legs, and tail, clawed feet with opposable thumb, large bat wings, lizard head, toothy mouth, prehensile neck and tail, various colors
High Altitudes, Subterranean

Griffon
Greek Mythology
Lion, eagle head, eagle forelegs, large wings on back, feathers on front half of body, leonine hindquarters
High Altitudes

Invisible Stalker
Unknown Mythology
Invisible, appearance unknown
Subterranean

Kraken
Norse Mythology
Squid, giant, huge eye
Ocean

Leviathan
Hebrew Mythology
Sea Serpent, huge, flippers, giant gaping mouth
Ocean

Manticore
Indian Mythology
Lion, scorpion tail, large bat wings, humanoid face with three rows of razor teeth
Forests, High Altitudes, Subterranean

Oriental Dragon
Chinese Mythology
Special Ability - flight (without wings)
Dragon, snake body, no wings
High Altitudes, Subterranean

Roc
Arabian Mythology
Eagle, gigantic
High Altitudes

Sandworm
Unknown Mythology
Huge worm, large mouth, long tentacles from mouth, each with smaller mouth, spines down body
Deserts

Sea Serpent
Unknown Mythology
Huge snake with dragon's head, fins
Ocean

Shachihoko
Chinese Mythology
Large fish, head of a tiger, poisonous spines on body, flipper-like feet
Aquatic, Swamps

Shadow
Unknown Mythology
Humanoid shadow, free-standing
Variable environment

Wyvern
Unknown Mythology
Dragon, tan to brown skin, bat wings in lieu of forelegs, scorpion stinger at end of long semi-prehensile tail
High Altitudes

Yaxaban
Original creation by StormDrake
Polycephalous
Lion, smooth green skin on rear half, long snake for tail, large webbed flippers for rear feet
Subterranean, Swamp

Level One

Basilisk
Unknown Mythology
Special Ability - touch turns living organisms into stone
Large lizard, eight legs, dragon head, long tail
Subterranean, Swamp

Black Pudding
Unknown Mythology
Special Ability - dissolves with touch / acid
Black, rubbery liquid, thick
Subterranean

Cerberus
Greek Mythology
Polycephalous
Large dog with three heads and a serpent's tail
Subterranean

Charybdis
Greek Mythology
Appearance unknown; "a huge mouth in the ocean"
Ocean

Chimaera (Type One)
Greek Mythology
Polycephalous
Lion, goat's head sprouting from back, snake for tail, goat's hindquarters
High Altitudes, Subterranean

Chimaera (Type Two)
Greek Mythology
Polycephalous
Special Ability - dragon head can breathe flame
Lion, goat's head, lion's head, and dragon's head with neck, dragon's wings, snake for tail
High Altitudes

Cockatrice
Unknown Mythology
Special Ability - breath turns living into stone
Rooster, snake's tail, bat wings
Subterranean

Fire Salamander
Unknown Mythology
Special Ability - can create fire
Large salamander, bright red skin
Subterranean, Volcanoes

Frost Salamander
Unknown Mythology
Special Ability - can create frost or ice, or freeze water
Large salamander, bright blue skin
Arctic, Subterranean

Gorgon Bull
Unknown Mythology
Special Ability - turns living to stone with breath
Bull, large, large black scales, stone-hard skin
Plains

Green Slime
Unknown Mythology
Special Ability - absorbs with touch
Liquid green, slightly viscous, extremely adhesive
Subterranean

Hydra
Greek Mythology
Polycephalous
Dragon, no wings, large body, seven heads, each on neck, cannot breathe fire
Swamp

Medusa
Greek Mythology
Female only
Special Ability - gaze can turn living to stone (eye contact)
Human, serpent from waist down, serpents in lieu of hair
Subterranean

Phoenix
Chinese Mythology
Special Ability - can create fire
Large bird with red feathers
High Altitudes, Volcanoes

Scylla
Greek Mythology
Female only
Polycephalous
Appearance unknown; "a young girl with wolves and serpents growing from her body"
Ocean, Subterranean

Thunder Salamander
Unknown Mythology
Special Ability - can generate electricity
Large salamander, medium-gray skin
High Altitudes, Subterranean

Level Zero

Ashura
Babylonian Mythology
"a god with three heads and six arms..."

Basilisk
Unknown mythology
"a huge lizard, with eight legs..." "its touch can turn to stone..."

Chimaera
Greek Mythology
"a fearsome lion, with the heads of a goat and a dragon, great wings, and a snake for a tail... fiery breath..."

Dragon
Unknown Mythology
"a huge winged lizard that breathes flame"

Fenris
Norse Mythology
"a giant wolf with a gaping mouth"

Medusa
Greek Mythology
"a woman with snakes for hair and legs..." "her gaze can turn even the bravest to stone..."

Phoenix
Chinese Mythology
"the flaming bird" "immortal"

Quetzalcóatl
Aztec Mythology
"the Feathered Serpent"

Simurgh
Persian Mythology
"the wisest living thing in all the world... " "a large bird with two pairs of wings..." "a peacock with the head of a dog and the claws of a lion..."

Sleipnir
Norse Mythology
"Odin's eight-legged steed"

Sphinx
Greek Mythology
"a woman with the body of a lion and the wings of an eagle" "death to whoever cannot answer her riddle…"

Tiamat
Babylonian Mythology
"the queen of the dragons"

A Note on New Monsters
Still don't think there are enough monsters in the Saga of Blood universe? Got an idea for a creature that you just have to use? Here are some guidelines for adding new types of monsters to the Saga of Blood setting.

I raided every available source of information on mythology that I could find for monsters to include in the Saga of Blood. If missed one, please let me know and I will add it to the Saga. So long as it is not "too" human (goblins, dwarves, and ogres, for example, are merely humans of a different size, stature, or build), I'm open to additions.

No werewolves or other lycanthropes.

There are some monsters listed as "Unknown Mythology." These are monsters I thought would fit into the Saga of Blood, but for which I could not find a home pantheon. If someone knows where they belong, I would greatly appreciate the knowledge (Sorry, I need more than "word of mouth" or "common knowledge." I hate being proven wrong. Just tell me where you found out, or better yet show me your source.)

Some "Unknown" monsters may not be from mythology, but from fantasy (literature, Dungeons & Dragons, et cetera). I tried not to ravage popular fiction too much, but some adopting or "borrowing" is inevitable. Please, I would rather not steal dozens of monsters from AD&D without reason. Remember, the monsters of the Saga of Blood were created by a scientist with a love for mythology, not necessarily fantasy.

As you may have noticed, many of the monsters in the Saga of Blood universe are of my own devising. (Yes, this "technically" breaks the above rule of mythology-based monsters only. But I made the rule.) These are creatures I had made up for one reason or another, and decided to slip into the Saga of Blood. Made-up monsters are fine, so long as they are feasible in the Saga of Blood universe (remember: all monsters were created by a scientist with a love for mythology). Nothing too bizarre (a loose term indeed), or too powerful.

Remember to check new monsters by me first:

1. Mythologicals - concept, pantheon, and source/proof
2. Non-mythologicals - concept and source/proof
3. Originals - concept and permission*

* For any monster copyrighted by its creator, I need permission to use it. So don't send me ideas thought up by a published writer unless they give me written permission to exploit their creations.

The World vs. the Blooded
Remember: the following is not true all the time; there are always exceptions.

The world hates and fears monsters. Any sighting close to civilization typically results in either measures on the offensive (i.e. a search party to kill the monster) or measures on the defensive (retreat into the city and hopes it goes away). The fear of monsters is ever-present in daily life, and most daily rituals emphasize this. Every village is eventually attacked by one of the more powerful, aggressive monsters, such as a dragon or griffon or even a chimaera. Most communities have some sort of contingency plan in case of such an attack.

Even more hated and feared are the blooded. There is little sympathy for the blooded, and that sympathy present usually focuses on putting a blood mutant out of his or her "misery." Like monsters, blood mutants are often hunted. Other times, in more lenient communities, a blooded is merely expelled from the village. Attitudes towards blood mutants range from distrustful acceptance to violent paranoia, usually leaning towards the latter. Too often are there cases of blooded children being abandoned by their parents, or blood mutants scorned by loved ones. To become a blood mutant is, under normal circumstances, to suffer a fate worse than death.

Hunters are a group of humans bound by a strict code, who dedicate their lives to hunting and killing monsters and blood mutants. Most Hunters begin training at an early age, and by the time they reach adulthood are masters at their weapons, and at tracking and hunting. All Hunters have a strict code of honor - they tell the truth at all times, and their word is a stronger bond than their life. All Hunters will go out of their way to kill a blood mutant and dispose of the body, and most will commit suicide if they are ever themselves blooded.

Interestingly, a cult has sprung up that worships the blooded. Called the Cult of Blood, this is more a group of fanatics than a religion. They believe that blood mutation is the next step in the evolution of the human race, something inevitable for all. They strive to spread the curse of the blood and "evolve" the entire populace, usually though terrorist acts. The Cult of Blood has been known to obtain a large quantity of blood and pour it into a town's water supply, or capture travelers and mutate them. Thankfully, the number of Cultists is low enough that they pose little threat to the whole of mankind, but the Cult of Blood is always recruiting. Most Cult members are themselves blooded, though there are also human "field agents" who recruit or transform others.

Vocabulary
These are words used throughout the Saga of Blood. Most are either new words, or old words with new meanings.

Bizarre

• term for any blood mutant outside of the "norm," including but not limited to merging and sentient polycephalous; any mutation differing in physical form from the blood source

Blood

• the blood of a monster, capable of inducing blood mutation

Blooded

• (adj.) mutated by exposure to blood

• (n.) slang term referring to a blood mutant

Blood Form

• the physical body of a blood mutant

Blood Mutant

• one who has come in contact with the blood of a monster and has transformed partially into that creature

Blood Mutation

• the transformation of a person into a blood mutant by exposure to blood

Blood Source

• the monster whose blood has caused a blood mutation

Cult of Blood

• a sect of people who believe blood mutation is the next step in evolution, and strive to speed up the process in whatever ways they can

Hunter

• human whose life is dedicated to the extermination of all monsters and blood mutants "for the sake of humanity." Hunters are intelligent, and have a strict code of honor; a Hunter's Word is absolute.

Infected

• one who has come in contact with the blood of a monster, regardless of outward signs of mutation; may spread Blood contamination to others

Merging

• the fusion of two or more individuals into one blood form through blood mutation; bizarre

Monster

• general term given to any organism capable of mutating with its blood, discounting blood mutants; may or may not be intelligent, and may or may not have human limbs

Polycephalous

• (adj.) having more than one head

• (n.) a creature, monster or blooded, with more than one head

Real Earth

• the non-fictional home planet of the author and reader(s)

The Saga of Blood

• a collection of stories in continuity with each other, all taking place in a universe where the blood of monsters transforms humans part-way into monsters themselves

Sentient Polycephalous

• case in which an individual is blooded by a polycephalous monster, and develops into a polycephalous blood mutant with more than one head being intelligent; each intelligent head has identical memories and personalities at the moment of mutation; akin to Merging; bizarre

Virus Recombination

• the scientific technique of engineering a virus to change the DNA in a living organism; the prime method of genetic engineering in the 22nd century

Continuity
Still want to write in the Saga of Blood setting? Well, there's just a little bit more you need to be aware of…

I feel that continuity is an integral part of any fantasy or science fiction universe (and the Saga of Blood could fit into either classification). After all, what's the use of creating a vividly detailed universe when things conflict or don't make sense? Continuity creates history, and it is a rich tradition of past characters and history that makes a universe so much fun to write in. Thus, I would prefer that all stories written in the Saga of Blood universe fit into continuity. That is, these stories should follow all rules set down, and should not contradict anything said or mentioned in previous stories. Theoretically, all Saga of Blood stories should fit together like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, and there should be no overlapping.

However, I understand that many writers dislike the constraints of such continuity. If this is the case, simply mention somewhere that the story is a one-shot, or exists Out of Continuity, and has no relation to any other stories (something akin to DC Comics' "Elseworlds" tales, or Marvel's "What If?" series).

Permission
Writing in a shared universe can be dangerous, since it's pretty much a community pot of characters and events. So here are a few words of advice:

Anyone who wishes to write in the Saga of Blood universe may do so, provided those rules that I have set down are respected, and that I am given credit for the Saga of Blood concept. In other words, don't blatantly plagiarize me. I ask only for recognition. Existing characters are copyright their creators, as are some concepts and monsters. My creations may be mentioned and/or used in other Saga of Blood stories, so long as their nature, personality, memories, and history remain unchanged. But I cannot vouch for other people. As a courtesy, I would like to be let known if my characters/concepts/monsters are being used. Please extend this courtesy towards other writers.

Please, no Earth-shaking events or great revelations or anything like that. A: I do not want the integrity of my universe compromised, and B: Saga of Blood works best (in my opinion) on a small or medium scale. This is a character-driven setting, not a cataclysm-driven setting.

As Creator of the Universe, I retain the right to break any of my rules as I see fit. ...but that doesn't mean you can ("do as I say, not as I do").