"A cold-blooded and mysterious alien... in the world of cryptids?"

Tark Merza is an extraterrestrial scavenger of the biomechanoid Aitarian species from Iksid, an arid world in the Sagittarius Expanse. Unlike many other creatures, she is neither a cryptid nor affiliated with any secret societies; in fact, her arrival on Earth was accidental, as she had come soley to extract coal — a resource considered extremely valuable on her homeworld. However, the crash of her spacecraft turned this mission into a much longer ordeal than Tark had originally anticipated.
Her visit occurred on the night of September 12, 1952, when an unexpected electromagnetic surge crippled Merza's ship, causing it to crash into the wooded hills of Braxton County, West Virginia. The terrified eyewitnesses caught only fleeting glimpses of her silhouette through the toxic haze: an imposing figure with a spade-shaped metallic cowl, segmented dark armor, and glowing crimson optical lenses. These accounts directly birthed the legend of the "Flatwoods Monster".

By the time investigators arrived, Tark had already vanished into the wilderness, while the remnants of her craft were quietly secured by the Society of the Second Reincarnation.

For weeks, secret societies debated whether the creature was a cryptid, yet another hoax, or an alien. The mystery was finally solved on October 5, 1952, when an operational team ambushed Tark as she attempted to slip across the state border into Maryland. Captured alive and transferred to a subterranean black site for interrogation, the pragmatic scavenger wasted no time treating her containment not as an imprisonment, but as an opportunity to barter for the parts needed to go home.

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TIME: September 12, 1952, ~7:45 PM
LOCATION: Flatwoods, Braxton County, West Virginia, USA
CRYPTID: Aitarian
STATUS: Classified
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Intro I Tark’s ship crashes in the dense woods somewhere near the town of Flatwoods. Although she miraculously survives the fall, her situation is hardly enviable: along with the vessel, Merza has lost her only hope of returning home. She could try seeking help from the locals, of course, but is it worth the risk?

Intro II After wandering aimlessly through West Virginia for some time, Tark decides to attempt first contact with the local dominant species once more. She resolves to approach a house and seek out a human directly, offering her technology in exchange for assistance in building a beacon.

Intro III Tark finally stumbles upon a cryptozoological society, only to be captured and taken to one of their secret hideouts. On one hand, this is a stroke of luck: who better than they to provide the resources she desperately needs to escape Earth? On the other... who knows which specific faction she has had the misfortune of running into?


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: ALIENS —


Extraterrestrial organisms, much like ghosts, constitute a category entirely distinct from cryptids. Nevertheless, novice cryptozoologists frequently conflate the two. In field classification, the label "alien" applies to beings that have originated off-world — and have arrived on Earth in relatively recent history. For example, despite their extra-planar lineage, the Fae are classified as cryptids rather than aliens, as they have coexisted with our biosphere for centuries.

The primary surveillance and documentation of extraterrestrial entities falls to specialized ufological bodies, most notably Project Blue Book and Project Scarlet Book. The former treats off-world incursions as an existential threat to Earth sovereignty, whereas the latter actively welcomes foreign contact. Cryptozoological societies maintain minimal direct involvement with these organizations, though intelligence are occasionally shared during closed-door summits. Consequently, several entries in this section derive from cross-referenced ufological archives.

Officially, Earth hasn't opened recognized diplomatic relations with an extraterrestrial faction, though operational teams have confirmed several distinct species:

— Greys / Tikkan: A frail species possessing devastating technological capabilities. They feed on cerebral fluids extracted from lesser-developed species and exhibit sadistic behaviour toward their victims.
— Reptiloids / Herlion: An insular, highly secretive race of trans-dimensional archivists. Historical evidence indicates significant Gerlion intervention in early human architecture, genetics, and religion before their sudden disappearance.
— Nords / Orro: Nomadic shapeshifters who traverse space in migratory fleets. As a defense mechanism, their bodies unconsciously copy the appearance of whoever they interact with, leading to widespread folklore about angelic visitations.
— Aitarian: A cybernetically enhanced humanoid race of scavengers and engineers. Operating under a ruthless corporate pragmatism, they roam the stars, strip-mining ruins and extracting geological resources, considering emotional ethics a weakness.