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Description
The geothermal activity and vast labyrinth of sunken valleys and caves running through the Fairy Mountains has created a variety of habitats in an otherwise frigid highland region. Large subterranean lakes isolated millions of years ago, and hot springs which provide water to groves located within the mountains, rivers of lava home to the most lethal of heat-resistant extremophiles. The high surrounding mountains and unusual climate bubble present a natural barrier that has created an isolated kaiju ecosystem in the centre of Asia. One other factor that seems to attract such a degree of diversity amongst hyper-organisms seems to be the rich deposits of radioactive minerals exposed by the geological activity, since one common trait of such life-forms appears to be anywhere from partial to obligate radiotrophism.

Where many of the region's life came from to begin with is still a mystery, but one hypothesis suggests that they may have originated by sub-crustal ecosystems which run miles beneath the surface globally; according to this hypothesis, the Cosmos Kingdom is located on top of a tear in the Earth's crust that has allowed organisms from such a hypothetical ecosystem to come to the surface, and have inversely allowed surface-dwelling organisms to become mutated by the radioactive elements exposed by the tear. However this idea is difficult to test, as the deeper tunnels are too inhospitable for man or machine to explore further down. Regardless, the region has proved a vital resource for Monarch in the ongoing research of this new unknown tangent of life on Earth.

———

Species of the Fairy Mountains (1/2)

Fae: A much smaller relative of the mega-arthropod species Gigamoth, growing only two-feet in body length and three metres in wingspan. Unlike Gigamoth, they have an incomplete metamorphosis, emerging as nymphs resembling wingless moths before gaining flight after several moults, and have no noticeable sexual dimorphism. They feed on the berries of a species of radiotrophic hyperflora known as Letchi Crawler and spread its spores gathered from crawling amongst the vines. The reflective scales on their bodies can be individually positioned to refract incoming light with such intricacy as to become virtually invisible or appear to emit a blinding full-body glow to temporarily stun predators, giving them an opportunity to flee if threatened. Although normally just freely roaming across the Fairy Mountains, they seem to have some connections to the Cosmos People in their times of need. In their legend it is said that the Fae were created when the first Mothra flew from the stars, shedding its scales, and from these scales were born the Fae (although this idea is not seriously considered, the origins of Gigamoth and Fae are still unclear).

Ghogo: Small mammaloid hyperfauna, a furred biped around forty to fifty centimetres in height covered in a thick layer of dense hairs, moving about by hopping. The Cosmos consider them sacred animals, and they secrete a medicinal substance known as ambrosia which seems to greatly accelerate healing and slows aging in humans; the production of ambrosia appears to be an adaptation for a symbiotic relationship with the mega-arthropod species Gigamoth, feeding off their excess scales, in exchange for accelerated recovery from injuries and illnesses. The antennae-like structure erupting from its head contains a well-developed ganglia which emits psionic waves that allows Ghogo to communicate with one another without emitting noises; certain humans are supposedly also capable of sensing these waves (they may or may not also be able to communicate with Mothra through this structure as well). This may also be how they defend themselves from predators, as the antennae’s emissions can be modified to pacify and disorient targets, making it much more difficult for any potential threats to target the Ghogo, even within close range.

Gagaru: A species of super-chimeric pseudo-saurian which grows between six and ten metres, these are only found much deeper beneath the mountains. They have broad membranous wings which allow them to glide between cliffs, but when walking and climbing are folded up against the body. Aggressive and territorial, they are extraordinarily tough despite their relatively small size, consuming raw ore to deposit iron into its dermal plates, effectively forming metal armouring through a poorly understood process common in hyper-organisms in which the organism's physiology contains a high quantity of inorganic minerals, becoming "bio-terrestrial". Cold-blooded animals, they survive by hibernating deep within the volcanic rock for periods, retaining heat in their metal bodies before coming up to hunt Fae, catching them on the wing. Gagaru are able to weaponize their superheated bodies, spewing molten gastric fluids as a defence. During their golden age, the Cosmos domesticated a lineage of the species to use as steeds and working animals, but these were lost during the Golden Demise, and since then, as the Cosmos have turned to a more simplistic lifestyle, they no longer seek to manipulate other animals for their own use in such a manner; a few bloodlines may descend from feral specimens of this domesticated lineage however.

Kumaso: One of the most feared monsters among the Cosmos people, in the time before the protection of the moth gods, they sacrificed young girls to try and sate the creatures’ wrath. An arthropod-like hyperfaunal species up to twenty metres in length, they are bio-terrestrial organisms that survive in the mantle of the Earth by an exoskeleton formed of hardened igneous rock and solidified quartz. They are able to violently spray blade-sharp crystal hairs from their skin as an attack and eject a molten webbing from glands near the face to capture and kill prey; as a last resort defence, they can regurgitate molten bolus which explode on impact thanks to their volatile digestive chemicals. Thankfully, they rarely venture far from the superheated geothermal vents in which they make their lairs. They can create a sort of semi-organic web from spinnerets on the end of the abdomen which is a mixture of a protein collagen and rope-like volcanic glass; although unable to trap prey like spider silk, Kumaso use them as tripwires to signal when prey has wandered within reach. They hunt primarily through ambush, being relatively slow-moving, attacking with deceptively long arm-like pedipalps or with their webbing, simultaneously entrapping and incinerating prey.

Muba: An aquatic hyperfaunal superorganism comprised of numerous zooid units and a dreaded water demigod of the Cosmos. They ambush prey by shooting pressurized water to disorient them before dragging them beneath the water to suffocate within their tentacles. Located within a landlocked region, it is theorized that tectonic shifting in ancient times opened up a passageway to a subterranean sea, allowing the Muba to inhabit the volcanic springs beneath the mountains. Due to its colonial structure, each hyperfauna appears radically different from one another, and its morphology is nebulous, although a more streamlined animal-like form is common due to being ubiquitously more efficient than a random hodgepodge of parts, and most often Muba seem to resemble some chimera of marine animals (if Muba have a "pure" form similar to their possible relative, [---], it has not been discovered yet) such as fish, crustaceans, and/or cephalopods. Their size also varies widely between individuals, and it is said very rarely, one would sometimes get to proportions that rivalled the sea god, and even more rarely, these might adapt to walk on land, and present a threat to the surrounding ecosystems.

Snow Men: Believed to be the Yeti of legendary fame, a type of alpine hominid reaching over ten feet in height when full grown. Peaceful omnivores, they are intelligent animals that dwell in family groups; their exact ancestry is unclear, but they may have evolved from a population of Homo erectus that became isolated within the Fairy Mountains, and exposure to geothermal radiation accelerated their natural evolution, turning them into a radically differing form within a relatively short evolutionary period of around a million years. It’s debatable their level of intellect, but most evidence seems to suggest cognitive functions on par with non-human great apes like chimpanzees and gorillas, if not slightly above, but not true sapience. Also similar to these apes, they are tremendously strong, so it is fortunate that they are not aggressive. Rare and elusive, Cosmos writings indicate they were more common in the past, before some type of parasitic illness decimated them (later studies speculate that this illness was similar to the one reported during Operation Voice in the Night); if sightings of yeti from the last century prove accurate, they once roamed far across the Himalayas, but are now effectively confined to the isolated Fairy Mountains (although it is difficult to know which sightings were genuine and which were mistaken sightings of bears). Otherwise they are little represented in their myths because of their uncannily close resemblance to human beings.

Gororin: Round, sea urchin-like organisms that graze on the fungus-like hyperflora known as Landes’ pods that grows around the geothermal vents (although not adverse to occasional flesh-eating, either through hunting or scavenging, as a supplement). Their skin is heat-resistant to withstand the high temperatures of its feeding grounds. They usually walk on spindly arthropod-like legs, but can fling themselves and rapidly roll around by flattening their spines to make themselves ball-like, utilizing the mountainous terrain to build-up and maintain momentum. As another defence, it can fire its metal-hard spikes with considerable force individually, and these regrow over time, although they are often reluctant to fire their spikes because it leaves bald patches where they are vulnerable until it regrows. The spines covering their body are sharpened to only a few molecules at the edge, allowing them to pierce almost any material, even slicing through solid rock, enabling them to keep much larger predators at bay. They have poor vision, as they only possess light-sensitive photoreceptors, but microscopic hairs covering their body make up for this, allowing for quick and accurate calculations of a target by scent, air vibrations, and temperature differences. The Cosmos people sometimes induce them to fire their spines from a safe distance and collect them to use as tools. Gororin are actually a specialized type of hyper-organism flora-fauna, beginning life as sessile, cactus-like growths that eventually bud off the mobile adult form, which continue to grow over centuries, sometimes reaching over three metres in diameter.

———

NEXT: Endemics of the Cosmos (Part II)
(the updates slow a bit now)

Description
The geothermal activity and vast labyrinth of sunken valleys and caves running through the Fairy Mountains has created a variety of habitats in an otherwise frigid highland region. Large subterranean lakes isolated millions of years ago, and hot springs which provide water to groves located within the mountains, rivers of lava home to the most lethal of heat-resistant extremophiles. The high surrounding mountains and unusual climate bubble present a natural barrier that has created an isolated kaiju ecosystem in the centre of Asia. One other factor that seems to attract such a degree of diversity amongst hyper-organisms seems to be the rich deposits of radioactive minerals exposed by the geological activity, since one common trait of such life-forms appears to be anywhere from partial to obligate radiotrophism.

Where many of the region's life came from to begin with is still a mystery, but one hypothesis suggests that they may have originated by sub-crustal ecosystems which run miles beneath the surface globally; according to this hypothesis, the Cosmos Kingdom is located on top of a tear in the Earth's crust that has allowed organisms from such a hypothetical ecosystem to come to the surface, and have inversely allowed surface-dwelling organisms to become mutated by the radioactive elements exposed by the tear. However this idea is difficult to test, as the deeper tunnels are too inhospitable for man or machine to explore further down. Regardless, the region has proved a vital resource for Monarch in the ongoing research of this new unknown tangent of life on Earth.

———

Species of the Fairy Mountains (1/2)

Fae: A much smaller relative of the mega-arthropod species Gigamoth, growing only two-feet in body length and three metres in wingspan. Unlike Gigamoth, they have an incomplete metamorphosis, emerging as nymphs resembling wingless moths before gaining flight after several moults, and have no noticeable sexual dimorphism. They feed on the berries of a species of radiotrophic hyperflora known as Letchi Crawler and spread its spores gathered from crawling amongst the vines. The reflective scales on their bodies can be individually positioned to refract incoming light with such intricacy as to become virtually invisible or appear to emit a blinding full-body glow to temporarily stun predators, giving them an opportunity to flee if threatened. Although normally just freely roaming across the Fairy Mountains, they seem to have some connections to the Cosmos People in their times of need. In their legend it is said that the Fae were created when the first Mothra flew from the stars, shedding its scales, and from these scales were born the Fae (although this idea is not seriously considered, the origins of Gigamoth and Fae are still unclear).

Ghogo: Small mammaloid hyperfauna, a furred biped around forty to fifty centimetres in height covered in a thick layer of dense hairs, moving about by hopping. The Cosmos consider them sacred animals, and they secrete a medicinal substance known as ambrosia which seems to greatly accelerate healing and slows aging in humans; the production of ambrosia appears to be an adaptation for a symbiotic relationship with the mega-arthropod species Gigamoth, feeding off their excess scales, in exchange for accelerated recovery from injuries and illnesses. The antennae-like structure erupting from its head contains a well-developed ganglia which emits psionic waves that allows Ghogo to communicate with one another without emitting noises; certain humans are supposedly also capable of sensing these waves (they may or may not also be able to communicate with Mothra through this structure as well). This may also be how they defend themselves from predators, as the antennae’s emissions can be modified to pacify and disorient targets, making it much more difficult for any potential threats to target the Ghogo, even within close range.

Gagaru: A species of super-chimeric pseudo-saurian which grows between six and ten metres, these are only found much deeper beneath the mountains. They have broad membranous wings which allow them to glide between cliffs, but when walking and climbing are folded up against the body. Aggressive and territorial, they are extraordinarily tough despite their relatively small size, consuming raw ore to deposit iron into its dermal plates, effectively forming metal armouring through a poorly understood process common in hyper-organisms in which the organism's physiology contains a high quantity of inorganic minerals, becoming "bio-terrestrial". Cold-blooded animals, they survive by hibernating deep within the volcanic rock for periods, retaining heat in their metal bodies before coming up to hunt Fae, catching them on the wing. Gagaru are able to weaponize their superheated bodies, spewing molten gastric fluids as a defence. During their golden age, the Cosmos domesticated a lineage of the species to use as steeds and working animals, but these were lost during the Golden Demise, and since then, as the Cosmos have turned to a more simplistic lifestyle, they no longer seek to manipulate other animals for their own use in such a manner; a few bloodlines may descend from feral specimens of this domesticated lineage however.

Kumaso: One of the most feared monsters among the Cosmos people, in the time before the protection of the moth gods, they sacrificed young girls to try and sate the creatures’ wrath. An arthropod-like hyperfaunal species up to twenty metres in length, they are bio-terrestrial organisms that survive in the mantle of the Earth by an exoskeleton formed of hardened igneous rock and solidified quartz. They are able to violently spray blade-sharp crystal hairs from their skin as an attack and eject a molten webbing from glands near the face to capture and kill prey; as a last resort defence, they can regurgitate molten bolus which explode on impact thanks to their volatile digestive chemicals. Thankfully, they rarely venture far from the superheated geothermal vents in which they make their lairs. They can create a sort of semi-organic web from spinnerets on the end of the abdomen which is a mixture of a protein collagen and rope-like volcanic glass; although unable to trap prey like spider silk, Kumaso use them as tripwires to signal when prey has wandered within reach. They hunt primarily through ambush, being relatively slow-moving, attacking with deceptively long arm-like pedipalps or with their webbing, simultaneously entrapping and incinerating prey.

Muba: An aquatic hyperfaunal superorganism comprised of numerous zooid units and a dreaded water demigod of the Cosmos. They ambush prey by shooting pressurized water to disorient them before dragging them beneath the water to suffocate within their tentacles. Located within a landlocked region, it is theorized that tectonic shifting in ancient times opened up a passageway to a subterranean sea, allowing the Muba to inhabit the volcanic springs beneath the mountains. Due to its colonial structure, each hyperfauna appears radically different from one another, and its morphology is nebulous, although a more streamlined animal-like form is common due to being ubiquitously more efficient than a random hodgepodge of parts, and most often Muba seem to resemble some chimera of marine animals (if Muba have a "pure" form similar to their possible relative, [---], it has not been discovered yet) such as fish, crustaceans, and/or cephalopods. Their size also varies widely between individuals, and it is said very rarely, one would sometimes get to proportions that rivalled the sea god, and even more rarely, these might adapt to walk on land, and present a threat to the surrounding ecosystems.

Snow Men: Believed to be the Yeti of legendary fame, a type of alpine hominid reaching over ten feet in height when full grown. Peaceful omnivores, they are intelligent animals that dwell in family groups; their exact ancestry is unclear, but they may have evolved from a population of Homo erectus that became isolated within the Fairy Mountains, and exposure to geothermal radiation accelerated their natural evolution, turning them into a radically differing form within a relatively short evolutionary period of around a million years. It’s debatable their level of intellect, but most evidence seems to suggest cognitive functions on par with non-human great apes like chimpanzees and gorillas, if not slightly above, but not true sapience. Also similar to these apes, they are tremendously strong, so it is fortunate that they are not aggressive. Rare and elusive, Cosmos writings indicate they were more common in the past, before some type of parasitic illness decimated them (later studies speculate that this illness was similar to the one reported during Operation Voice in the Night); if sightings of yeti from the last century prove accurate, they once roamed far across the Himalayas, but are now effectively confined to the isolated Fairy Mountains (although it is difficult to know which sightings were genuine and which were mistaken sightings of bears). Otherwise they are little represented in their myths because of their uncannily close resemblance to human beings.

Gororin: Round, sea urchin-like organisms that graze on the fungus-like hyperflora known as Landes’ pods that grows around the geothermal vents (although not adverse to occasional flesh-eating, either through hunting or scavenging, as a supplement). Their skin is heat-resistant to withstand the high temperatures of its feeding grounds. They usually walk on spindly arthropod-like legs, but can fling themselves and rapidly roll around by flattening their spines to make themselves ball-like, utilizing the mountainous terrain to build-up and maintain momentum. As another defence, it can fire its metal-hard spikes with considerable force individually, and these regrow over time, although they are often reluctant to fire their spikes because it leaves bald patches where they are vulnerable until it regrows. The spines covering their body are sharpened to only a few molecules at the edge, allowing them to pierce almost any material, even slicing through solid rock, enabling them to keep much larger predators at bay. They have poor vision, as they only possess light-sensitive photoreceptors, but microscopic hairs covering their body make up for this, allowing for quick and accurate calculations of a target by scent, air vibrations, and temperature differences. The Cosmos people sometimes induce them to fire their spines from a safe distance and collect them to use as tools. Gororin are actually a specialized type of hyper-organism flora-fauna, beginning life as sessile, cactus-like growths that eventually bud off the mobile adult form, which continue to grow over centuries, sometimes reaching over three metres in diameter.

———

NEXT: Endemics of the Cosmos (Part II)
(the updates slow a bit now)