Great Enemy - Montug

Other names: Maneater, First of the Fallen, Witwenmacher

A towering monstrosity, a warped image of humanity.

General attributes: Surviving records from the Judgment War spoke of terrifying monstrosities determined to have once been humans, only utterly corrupted and twisted by the Great Enemy. For the first six hundred years after the Fall, no such creatures troubled us.

In the early seventh century, however, a large number of disappearances were reported in the areas surrounding the Dunkelwald in Korneth, with entire villages vanishing. Nearly eighty years later, the first montugs appeared, leading a vanguard of monsters out of the Dunkelwald and carving a path of destruction until the Korneth military was able to respond and put a stop to it.

In the centuries since, the montug has spread to all regions of Terranis. Averaging well over two meters in height, these creatures bear only superficial resemblance to the humans their ancestors were. Their skin is scaled and nearly as hard as metal, their faces are bestial masks, and their strength is prodigious, able to crush bones with their bare hands.
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Montugs will frequently lead small warbands of other monsters, or act as enforcers and lieutenants to larger demons. Though they make little use of technology, they still posses modest intelligence, and some have been observed to speak over the centuries, or utilize advanced tactics in battle. In larger scale conflicts, entire groups of montugs might be used as shock troops, smashing apart entire lines of enemy soldiers.

Perhaps owing to their origins in the depths of the Dunkelwald, montugs have been found to be creatures of Wood, and thus are most vulnerable to Metal. Their thick hides make them resilient against physical attacks, but they seem to possess no special defenses against magic. Their claws should also be avoided, for they carry a deadly toxin within them.

Symbolism: Although other species of Fallen, those monsters created by corrupted humans, have emerged since the montug’s appearance, their place as the First of the Fallen ensures they hold a special place of notoriety for most humans.

The people of Korneth especially revile them, knowing they were the origin of these creatures. While they should not be blamed for it, it remains a point of shame for their nation.
 
Sources:

1. The Royal Bestiary Project – (Royal Academy of Magic, 1008)
2. Field Report and Initial Findings on New Species “Montug” – (Dr. Frida Kohlberg, 679)

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