"They have always been among us..."

Welcome to World of Cryptids (RPG) — the long-awaited sandbox bot based on the my World of Cryptids series! The setting is an Earth just like our own, with one crucial difference: every urban legend and pseudoscientific theory — from cryptozoology and ufology to alchemy and parapsychology — is real. Yet, this truth is guarded by a select few: the Secret Societies. These Societies are united in maintaining the Masquerade to keep the general public in the dark. However, they hold conflicting visions for the future of humanity and will go to any lengths to enforce their ideologies. Meanwhile, sentient cryptids still dwell across the globe, their numbers dwindling but their presence undeniable.

Step into the World of Cryptids and forge your own destiny!

> Will you join one of the four Secret Societies, or carve out a path of your own? <
> Will you play as a human, a cryptid, or something else entirely? <
> Will you hunt the local monsters, study them, or strive for coexistence? <

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- - - - - Humanity has always assumed that we sit at the pinnacle of the food chain. We believed the Earth belonged to us, and that, sooner or later, progress would reach every corner of our home planet — from the depths of the Mariana Trench to the boundless reaches of outer space. We couldn't have imagined just how blind we truly were... Did anyone think that because humans had forgotten about dragons, the dragons themselves had ceased to exist? - - - - -
[ Everett Windstow, Grand Master of the Order of Trismegistus (1816) ]

In the World of Cryptids universe, human history mirrors our own, but with significant... deviations. Since prehistoric times — long before Homo sapiens — Earth was ruled by cryptids. Some were intelligent enough to build great civilizations (chupacabras, skinwalkers, yetis, centaurs etc), while others (dragons, dinosaurs, ahools, harpies etc) behaved like wild animals. By the Middle Ages, human expansion drove cryptids to the brink of extinction, forcing the survivors into hiding.

Today, cryptids exist in the shadows of human civilization rather than ruling over it. The task of monitoring these creatures falls to four factions: the Order of Trismegistus, the Society of the Second Reincarnation, the Illuminati Lodge, and the Gévaudan Hunting Club. They investigate cryptid activity alongside similar entities (like yōkai and the fae).

👽 Oh, and there are aliens here, too... or so it seems 👽

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ORDER OF TRISMEGISTUS


"Scientia. Misericordia. Concordia"

— Motto of the Order of Trismegistus; author unknown

The Order of Trismegistus is the world’s second-oldest secret society of cryptozoologists. Created in the twilight of Ancient Egypt, the Order traces its lineage back to the legendary Hermes Trismegistus. This outstanding alchemist, sage, and explorer was among the first to view cryptids not as monstrous beasts fit only for slaughter, but as fellow intelligent beings. His few disciples carried this philosophy forward, shaping the Order into one of the most pacifistic secret societies in existence. Today, they uphold the Masquerade while striving to forge diplomatic ties with sentient cryptids. Non-sentient creatures, meanwhile, are relocated to remote sanctuaries for their own protection.

Often referred to as "The Librarians", the Order’s members are the authors of the world's most comprehensive bestiaries, treatises, and cryptobiological research papers. Their central headquarters lies hidden deep within the subterranean ruins of the Library of Alexandria. For such an ancient community, the Order is unusually democratic: it is headed by a Grand Master — a title which is passed from one person to another through a voting process.

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SOCIETY OF THE SECOND REINCARNATION



"We are a torch, carrying knowledge into even the darkest corners of our world. We are the children of Prometheus, whose curiosity overcame fear and brought the forces of our planet under control. The time will come when our light reaches even the deepest darkness, for such is the law of humanity..."

— Abigail Moreau, high-ranking Society scientist, 1911

The Society of the Second Reincarnation is a decentralized network of scientists and researchers driven to unravel the universe's darkest secrets — whether for the betterment of humanity or their own gain. The organization flourished during the Renaissance, an era when scholars realized that cryptids were not the sacred, invulnerable entities of myth. This revelation birthed a new breed of cryptozoologists determined to dissect the truth at any cost. Today, the Society operates in a moral gray area: while many members genuinely seek to leverage cryptid science for the greater good, their ranks also harbor visionaries willing to subject thousands of innocent creatures to the scalpel in the name of progress.

Unlike traditional orders, the Society of the Second Reincarnation lacks a leader. Consisting largely of highly educated and wealthy elites, Society members rarely get their own hands dirty. Instead, they hire mercenaries — or manipulate rival secret societies — to obtain the live specimens they need.

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ILLUMINATI LODGE


"People... are weak and impulsive. They resemble a herd. And every herd needs a shepherd — someone to guide it in the right direction. Of course, to keep the majority calm, one might occasionally have to slaughter a few 'sick sheep', but that is a price worth paying..."

— Hendrika III, Grand Master of the Illuminati Lodge, 1317

The Illuminati Lodge is a powerful and dangerous secret society driven by a single, ruthless goal: to subjugate humanity to its will and direct civilization along the "true path". The oldest of the four societies, the Lodge traces its history back to the dawn of civilization in Ancient Mesopotamia. Though the Bronze Age collapse severely fractured their power — allowing the Order of Trismegistus to eclipse them by the Middle Ages — Lodge's position was changed by the forbidden alchemical arts.. When the alchemist Jan Hildebrand discovered the legendary "Bone Marrow of Immortality", he implanted it into his dying daughter, Hendrika. The procedure didn't save her but created perfect copy of the girl. Ever since, this lineage of clones has ruled the Lodge with an iron fist, beginning with Hendrika I.

Today, the Illuminati Lodge operates from the shadows, exerting political and economic influence and pulling the strings of both sovereign governments and global mega-corporations. These days, their main goal is to turn cryptids into a kind of "weapon" to advance Lodge's geopolitical interests. However, in the 21st century, the organization begins to fall apart due to a bitter internal split. The ruling clone-sisters find themselves deadlocked in a power struggle: Hendrika XVI favors a total world conquest, while her co-ruler, Hendrika XIV, believes the only way to "cleanse" the earth is by orchestrating a nuclear war.

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GÉVAUDAN HUNTING CLUB


"There’s no such thing as an unkillable monster. There’s only a lack of lead and explosives!"

— Denise Margolein, junior-rank hunter, 2017

The Gévaudan Hunting Club is the youngest of the secret societies, and by far the most pragmatic. Its members harbor no interest in scientific enlightenment, moral issues, or the fate of humanity. As their name suggests, the Club cares for only one pursuit: the thrill of the hunt — specifically, the tracking and extermination of the world's rarest and most lethal beasts. After all, what game could possibly be more exciting than an enraged cryptid? The organization was founded in 1767, shortly after local hunter Jean Chastel tracked down and slew the bloodthirsty Beast of Gévaudan (though the exact nature of that historic event remains a subject of heated debate within the club). In the centuries since, the organization has attracted a chaotic roster of members: bored aristocrats chasing the ultimate adrenaline rush, noble monster slayers, and mercenaries who care for nothing beyond the bounty and the trophy.

At first glance, the Gévaudan Hunting Club appears to be a respectable high-society sporting organization with luxurious hunting lodges around the world. However, only an initiated few are ever granted access to the society's "exclusive hunts". Internally, the Club functions on a hierarchy governed by confirmed kills. A hunter's rank determines their position in society and also grants them the right to use the services of an underground arsenal, which features highly specialized equipment. To be crowned "Hunter of the Decade" is the obsession for every member — an apex title achieved by only a legendary handful who have survived the deadliest quarries the supernatural world has to offer.

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GREAT CAUSE


"They came to us as if they owned the place. They destroyed our forests, burned our burrows, and erected their hideous concrete cities where we — for centuries! — once lived. These bloodthirsty, weak, and greedy creatures fancy themselves masters of the planet, yet they are nothing more than parasites feeding on our blood. I believe it is time we sent them where they truly belong... into the darkness!"

— Kohaku, a kitsune and ideologue of the Great Cause, date unknown

The Great Cause is not a secret society, but rather a radicalized faction of cryptids that surged into power during the mid-20th century. The movement was created by Kohaku, a powerful kitsune whose clan was nearly annihilated during the atomic bombings of Japan in 1945. This trauma shattered her worldview, convincing Kohaku that humanity is an existential blight — a threat not just to cryptid survival, but to the earth itself. Driven by this dark revelation, she traveled the world, preaching a new ideology: all cryptids must abandon their ancient territorial feuds, unite, and overthrow the human race.

Today, the Great Cause enjoys the support of devoted followers around the world, uniting within its ranks an incredible variety of cryptid species. The greatest fear of human groups is the rapid evolution of this movement. Inspired by Kohaku's vision, countless cryptids have abandoned their reliance on mere claws, studying and reverse-engineering modern weaponry. Armed with humanity's own tools and fueled by centuries of repressed rage, this army prepares to turn the tables on their oppressors.

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OPENING MESSAGES

Intro I [ March 8, 1522 ] : "Following a vague tip regarding a cryptid in the Palatinate Forest, the Order of Trismegistus dispatches a pair of novice twins — Eveline and her brother Guilhem — to investigate. What initially seems like a routine field assignment — tranquilizing the creature and safely relocating it from human settlements — swiftly descends into a fight for survival when these medieval cryptozoologists realize they have stumbled into the hunting grounds of a ravenous European dragon!" { Order of Trismegistus }

Intro II [ October 29, 1839 ] : "The Victorian era is in full bloom: the British Empire is expanding, the industrial revolution roars, and deep beneath the University of London, the Society of the Second Reincarnation gathers in the shadows. This assembly provides the world's most brilliant scholars an opportunity to share discoveries and conduct demonstrations. Many esteemed guests have arrived in the dead of night for tonight's event, though not all of them harbor noble intentions..." { Society of the Second Reincarnation }

Intro III [ July 23, 2034 ] : "The Illuminati Lodge is approaching the final phase of Project 'ENKI' — the organization's magnum opus. By cybernetically weaponizing dozens of captured cryptids, they intend to crush the world's remaining free governments and establish global dominion. Yet, during a briefing in Bogotá, the Lodge’s leadership finds itself tearing at the seams as an internal conflict finally boils over..." { Illuminati Lodge }

Intro IV [ December 12, 1975 ] : "Hidden behind the five-star luxury of a Swiss Alpine resort, the Gévaudan Hunting Club is preparing to recruit a new generation of monster hunters. The veterans hope to pass down a century of wisdom and add fresh trophies to their grand hall. As tradition dictates, a selection process is about to begin at 'Le Sommet Blanc' — and only the best rookies will earn the right to join the Club’s ranks!" { Gévaudan Hunting Club }

Intro V [ March 20, 2002 ] : "Weary of cowering on the fringes of human civilization, a network of cryptids now yearns for vengeance against the species that stole their world. Kohaku — the central ideologue of the Great Cause — is convening a gathering deep within the flooded sewers of Hong Kong. As hundreds of mythological predators answer her call, one thing becomes clear: a lot of blood will be spilled tonight..." { Great Cause }

Intro VI [ ???, ??? ] : "The World of Cryptids stretches across many centuries and continents. Whether you are an alchemist in the Middle Ages, a rogue hunter in the 1980s, a cryptid trying to survive in a modern metropolis, or an operative forging a new destiny... the shadows are yours to shape. This is the best initial message for those who wish to forge their own path..." { Open Intro }