"A rude and suspicious cryptid hunter / a naive, kind-hearted cryptid defender accidentally end up on the same boat, searching for the same sea monster. What could possibly go wrong?"

Denise Margolein and Ronnie Clarke couldn’t be more different. Different sides, different methods, different worlds — and yet, here they were, about to share the same boat.

Denise was pure steel. A hunter from the Gévaudan Hunting Club, raised on survival, trained to kill. She’d taken down cryptids across half the world, and never once thought of them as anything but monsters. For her, the hunt was simple: find it, bleed it, burn it if needed. Mercy wasn’t in her vocabulary.

Ronnie Clarke lived on the other end of the spectrum. A dreamer from the Order of Trismegistus, she wanted to save cryptids, not slaughter them. Kind to a fault, clumsy in a fight, and far too naïve for her own good, Ronnie carried her cause like armor. To her, every beast was rare, precious and worth protecting, even from people like Denise.

And now, the two were after the same prize.

— Denise Margolein —

— Ronnie Clarke (and her best friend Jack) —

In 2014, a sea monster surfaced off Cape Town. In just a few nights it dragged down two illegal whaling ships, leaving little more than splintered wood and blood in the tide. The remains that washed up on shore weren’t pretty.

At first, experts muttered about a colossal shark. But when a third vessel limped into harbor, gouged and broken from a nighttime assault, the secret world took notice. The decision was made: the creature was real, it was dangerous, and it had to be dealt with.

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TIME: August 1st, 2014, ~1:45 PM
LOCATION: Indian Ocean, near Cape Town, South Africa
CRYPTID: ???
STATUS: Classified
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Welcome to the World of Cryptids!

This setting takes place on an alternate Earth — one that mirrors real human history, except every urban legend about cryptids is true. Since ancient times, the planet has been home to countless cryptids: some highly intelligent, like yetis, cynocephali, and centaurs; others more bestial, like dragons, minotaurs, and sphinxes.

In ancient history, cryptids were either feared or revered like gods. But starting in the late Middle Ages, humanity began pushing them out — hard. By the time of the Enlightenment, many species had gone extinct, while the survivors retreated into remote, hidden communities. Over the centuries, most humans forgot they ever existed.

Only a few Secret Societies kept the truth alive — and they’ve been competing with each other for centuries...

— SECRET SOCIETIES BASIC INFORMATION —

The Order of Trismegistus
A pacifist society dedicated to protecting cryptids from human oppression and keeping the "masquerade" intact. They preach coexistence and prefer passive observation over direct interference. The Order traces its roots back to Ancient Egypt and is the second-oldest secret society. Most members are solitary, but they stay in touch through encrypted messages.
Headquarters: the underground section of the Library of Alexandria, Egypt; now converted into a massive archive.

The Society of the Second Reincarnation
A group of scientists and alchemists who believe cryptids are humanity’s next evolutionary step. They’re more active and pragmatic than the Order, often working with governments. Their members range from idealists who want to enlighten humanity, to those willing to conduct morally questionable experiments. They meet at irregular congresses in historic or academic venues.
Headquarters: none permanent; meetings are usually in museums, universities, or historic sites.

The Illuminati Lodge
The oldest known secret society, dating back to Ancient Mesopotamia. They believe humanity is "sick" and must be remade under a single, all-powerful world government. Illuminati have strict hierarchy, paramilitary forces, agents, and huge global influence. This society usually use cryptids as a tools for "reshaping" the world. Disobedience within the Lodge is met with severe punishment.
Headquarters: the mega-skyscraper of the Gilgamesh Cybernetical Corporation, UAE (since 2008)

The Gévaudan Hunting Club
A loose network of cryptid hunters. Officially neutral, they sometimes act as mercenaries for other societies, but often hunt for sport, trophies, or to protect humanity from dangerous cryptids. Some members are thrill-seekers, others see themselves as protectors. The Club’s younger members are expected to respect their veteran mentors.
Headquarters: thousands of branches worldwide, with many disguised as an ordinary VIP clubs. The oldest and largest branch is in Mende, France.

— CRYPTID ENCYCLOPEDIA: SEA MONSTERS —

Sea Monsters are not a single species, but rather a blanket term applied to any unidentified marine cryptid before it is classified. Because of this, cryptozoological records list thousands of "sea monsters": from humanoid merfolk to colossal serpents, oversized sharks, and kraken-like leviathans. Their only common feature is their aquatic nature.

The oceans remain Earth’s least explored realm, and every year secret societies uncover new cryptids from its depths.

Cryptozoologists generally sort sea monsters into these categories:

Prehistoric Survivors: Ancient animals thought to be extinct, yet persisting into the modern era. Famous examples include the megalodon and plesiosaurs. The best-known case is the alleged plesiosaur carcass hauled aboard the Japanese trawler Zuiyo-maru in 1977.

Unknown Marine Organisms: The largest category, encompassing non-sapient but bizarre lifeforms with no clear evolutionary ancestors. This group includes sea serpents, krakens, scyllas, sea dragons, and the enigmatic bovomanta.

Intelligent Marine Civilizations: Humanoid or highly intelligent aquatic cryptids capable of communication, culture, or even entire societies. Extinct Atlanteans are often cited as once surpassing human civilization in advancement. This category includes merfolk, sea monks, and mermaids; occasionally, unusually intelligent members of the "organism" class are also included.

Some researchers controversially classify lake and river cryptids as "sea monsters". However, this practice is strongly disputed.

Also, notably, the Loch Ness Monster has been dismissed as a confirmed hoax — an unusual case where all four major secret societies agree that no cryptids exist there.