Spirit Beasts

Spirit beasts are destructive creatures of magical origin which have appeared on Earth, seemingly to punish humanity.

Cycle: Spirit Beasts cannot be destroyed by any known means, even total destruction of their corporeal form only temporarily dismisses them.  The beasts have a cycle, which is the set timespan between their appearances.

Threat Level and Categories: Spirit beasts are classified by their threat level, which is determined based on a number of factors including physical size, damage potential, environmental adaptations, and appearance location.  A highly destructive spirit beast that appears in an unpopulated area merits a low threat level, while one with less destructive potential that appears outside a major metropolitan area would merit a higher threat level.  Threat level ranges from 0 (no/minimal danger) to 5 (major catastrophe if unstopped).
In addition, categorical flags can be added to spirit beasts based on their abilities.  For example, Níðhöggr – the first beast to appear – carries the following flags: Aerial, Burrower, Fire-Immune, and Magic-User, indicating that if flies, burrows, is immune to fire, and able to cast spells.

The larger a spirit beast is, the less it tends to look similar to creatures that appear naturally in nature.  Níðhöggr appears as a giant dragon-like serpent, close in size to a frigate, while Thunderbird (even though it is a higher threat level) is an electricity-spitting condor about the size of a corvette.

Driving off a Spirit Beast is no easy feat, and is best left to 7th Directorate SDA personnel.  Spirit beasts are immune to most forms of weaponry, but have been waylaid by heavy artillery fire – ATVU support can delay a spirit beast, but cannot defeat it.  There are 36 ‘Beastslayers’ in the 7th Directorate’s employ, which are scattered around Earth.  These talented mages come from all walks of life and magical capabilities, but just one of them has the potential to take down a Threat Level 3 spirit beast.  Of these, 10 of the 36 are known as the Number Agents, each of which have the ability to take down a Threat Level 5 spirit beast on their own.  The identities of the beast-slayers are closely guarded by the SDA, and are instead referred to by their designation.  The Number Agents are each assigned a number ranging from 0 through 9, while the other 26 agents are referred to each by a single letter of the Roman alphabet.

 

Repeat Spirit Beasts

  • Jörmungandr – Appeared in March 2019.  The first Spirit Beast to appear. Rose out of the Baltic Sea on March 12th and went on a multi-day assault against the cities of Rostock, Stralsund, Griefswald, and Copenhagen before it vanished. Subsequent appearances in 2022, 2025, and 2028 suggest it has a 3-year cycle.
    • Threat Level: 2
    • Flags: Amphibious, Fire-Immune, Swimmer
    • Large (30 meters) “sea serpent” closer in form to a snake than the sea serpents of legend.
    • Nobody is really sure what made Jörmungandr disappear during its first appearance in 2019. In subsequent appearances, it has always struck at the same four cities.
  • Níðhöggr (Nidhogg) – Appeared in December 2019.  Attacked the Faroe Islands, the Shetland Islands, and Bergen, Norway (where it was stopped and driven back).  Subsequent appearances in 2024 and 2029 suggest it has a five-year cycle.
    • Threat Level: 3
    • Flags: Aerial, Burrower, Fire-Immune, Magic-User
    • Giant dragon-like creature, roughly frigate-sized (150 meters)
    • During Nidogg’s initial 2019 appearance it was waylaid by the Norwegian military in Bergen.  The military was fighting a losing battle when someone appeared with a flaming sword and drove the creature back.  Rumor suggests that this person is the current head of the 7th Directorate, but Chief Hilmarsson declines to comment on this.
  • Thunderbird – Appeared in January 2020.  Attacked Las Vegas, then flew South into New Mexico.  Made a subsequent appearance in 2027, suggesting a 7-year cycle.
    • Threat Level: 4
    • Flags: Aerial, Electricity-Immune, Magic-User
    • Giant condor, roughly corvette-sized (50 meters).

 

One-Off Spirit Beasts (thus far)

  • Unnamed Serpent-Type – Appeared in 2030.  Attacked Australia.  Threat Level: 5
  • “Giant Enemy Crab” – Appeared in 2028.  Attacked Tokyo, until someone struck its weak point for massive damage and drove it off.  Threat Level 5.  Breathed fire, and had claws that were tipped with smaller claws.

 

SPIRIT BEAST TRAITS

Inherent Resilience – Spirit beasts are hardy creatures, almost absurdly so.  All damage dealt to spirit beasts from non-magic physical or environmental sources is treated as nonlethal damage.  Damage dealt to spirit beasts from spells, incantations, true incantations, contractor abilities, and device magic is treated as lethal.  Damage from devices is treated as lethal damage, even if the device is not using a magic ability.  Damage from Familiars and Shaman’s Bonded Beasts are also considered lethal damage.

Alien Mind – Spirit beasts take lethal damage from psionic powers, but the creature targeting them with the power takes an amount of nonlethal damage equal to one-quarter the amount of damage dealt.

Epic Space Adventures Abound!