Monsters
This is the meat and potatoes for the Paladin Corps of the Protectorate of Mythidria. These are also what presents the greatest danger to the wrold at learge. Monsters can emerge at random from any point on the Earth, or can be created through arcane means.
In either respect, monsters are the worst thing a regular human can come across. In the event one makes it to a populated center, it's only a matter of time before it can completely erase the population of a small town, or worse, eventually evolve into something much worse after so much death and destruction and feeding.
This is the meat and potatoes for the Paladin Corps of the Protectorate of Mythidria. These are also what presents the greatest danger to the wrold at learge. Monsters can emerge at random from any point on the Earth, or can be created through arcane means.
In either respect, monsters are the worst thing a regular human can come across. In the event one makes it to a populated center, it's only a matter of time before it can completely erase the population of a small town, or worse, eventually evolve into something much worse after so much death and destruction and feeding.
First and foremost, one thing that makes these beasties stand out is that they are NOT of natural origin. Sure they have emerged throughout history and plagued mankind, caused mayhem, and done a lot of killing before they are finally stopped. This is the sole reason my paladins seem to be overpowered. If not, they wouldn't last but seconds before being ripped apart.
Also, and most importantly, is that directed energy or any kind cannot be used against the creature's heartstone. Giving these things energy is like putting a nuclear battery into your cell phone. It causes the netherfiend to become overcharged with random and often disastrous results. So, shooting energy weapons or using energy-based melee weapons or firing blasts of mystic energy once the heartstone is exposed is asking for a problem.
Categorization: there are a number of categories netherfiends fall under. Most of them are official categories used in a catalogue system for ease of searching for their basice stats, strengths, weaknesses, and location of heartstones. Categories involves an alpha-numerical system with Greek lettering for a height of danger each type of netherfiend represents. Below are the two most basic categories netherfiends fall under.
Random appearance netherfiends: These are the most plentiful type of monster that the Paladin Corps combat. How they appear is just as random as the locations these things can appear. Netherfiends do have some form of a method as there are a certain set of these creatures. Even though they appear at random, each type of monster has appeared more than once. For example - the Pilor. Pilor's are very stupid, but vicious creatures. There have been thousands of this type of monster over the millenia that have appeared. Same goes for every other monster that will appear in future novels. Unless they are...
Creations by design: Think Frankenstein's Monster, zombies, vampires, weres, and some of the more classic critters. While they can randomly appear (much like killdeer, khujos (with a tip of the hat to Stephen King) and the like, more often than not they are made by someone with an agenda. These, like their random brethren, can only be completely eliminated when their heartstone is destroyed.
*SIDENOTE* Undead creatures have a special sub categorization or level and is so noted here from weakest to most poewerful:
Physical undead -
Homonculi/golems: Creatures assembled from parts or materials of other beings or materials.
Zombies: Undead flesh eaters. Both the slow, shambling grotesqueries to the swift hunter-types exist, and can co-exist simultaneously.
Material ghouls: These are a step above zombies, with an intellect and are able to use some forms of magic.
Lesser vampires: Fast, vile, dirty, vicious, and single-minded.*
Lesser lich: Intelligent, limited in emotions, stronger than they appear, and able to use limited forms of magic.
Greater vampire: Think Dracula - these are the classic netherfiends.. Lesser vampires can easily become a greater vampire after as few as two feedings in a night. the more they feed the more intelligent they become. Their powers are exactly like that of the classic literary vampire, increasing in potency with time and each feeding.*
Greater lich: Much like their lesser "cousins" only more powerful, capable of a full range of emotions, higher degree of mystic capability, and clever. They even look the part being much larger than most undead.
Revenant: As far as an undead can grow extremely powerful. These never appear randomly, but can either be constructed and then grow, or can evolve from any of the lesser forms if left unchecked or undiscovered.
Immaterial undead: Spirits of varying degree exist and do not possess heartstones like their material cousins. There are particular methods to "exorcise" immaterial undead, which every paladin is trained to do.
They, too, can evolve into revenants, gaining a physical body with any victim they have encountered, in which case, they grow a heartstone and can be eliminated physically.
*It should be noted that these vampires do not sparkle, are not whiny little emo weenies, and will suck you dry like a Capri Sun pouch just as soon as look at you.
Also, and most importantly, is that directed energy or any kind cannot be used against the creature's heartstone. Giving these things energy is like putting a nuclear battery into your cell phone. It causes the netherfiend to become overcharged with random and often disastrous results. So, shooting energy weapons or using energy-based melee weapons or firing blasts of mystic energy once the heartstone is exposed is asking for a problem.
Categorization: there are a number of categories netherfiends fall under. Most of them are official categories used in a catalogue system for ease of searching for their basice stats, strengths, weaknesses, and location of heartstones. Categories involves an alpha-numerical system with Greek lettering for a height of danger each type of netherfiend represents. Below are the two most basic categories netherfiends fall under.
Random appearance netherfiends: These are the most plentiful type of monster that the Paladin Corps combat. How they appear is just as random as the locations these things can appear. Netherfiends do have some form of a method as there are a certain set of these creatures. Even though they appear at random, each type of monster has appeared more than once. For example - the Pilor. Pilor's are very stupid, but vicious creatures. There have been thousands of this type of monster over the millenia that have appeared. Same goes for every other monster that will appear in future novels. Unless they are...
Creations by design: Think Frankenstein's Monster, zombies, vampires, weres, and some of the more classic critters. While they can randomly appear (much like killdeer, khujos (with a tip of the hat to Stephen King) and the like, more often than not they are made by someone with an agenda. These, like their random brethren, can only be completely eliminated when their heartstone is destroyed.
*SIDENOTE* Undead creatures have a special sub categorization or level and is so noted here from weakest to most poewerful:
Physical undead -
Homonculi/golems: Creatures assembled from parts or materials of other beings or materials.
Zombies: Undead flesh eaters. Both the slow, shambling grotesqueries to the swift hunter-types exist, and can co-exist simultaneously.
Material ghouls: These are a step above zombies, with an intellect and are able to use some forms of magic.
Lesser vampires: Fast, vile, dirty, vicious, and single-minded.*
Lesser lich: Intelligent, limited in emotions, stronger than they appear, and able to use limited forms of magic.
Greater vampire: Think Dracula - these are the classic netherfiends.. Lesser vampires can easily become a greater vampire after as few as two feedings in a night. the more they feed the more intelligent they become. Their powers are exactly like that of the classic literary vampire, increasing in potency with time and each feeding.*
Greater lich: Much like their lesser "cousins" only more powerful, capable of a full range of emotions, higher degree of mystic capability, and clever. They even look the part being much larger than most undead.
Revenant: As far as an undead can grow extremely powerful. These never appear randomly, but can either be constructed and then grow, or can evolve from any of the lesser forms if left unchecked or undiscovered.
Immaterial undead: Spirits of varying degree exist and do not possess heartstones like their material cousins. There are particular methods to "exorcise" immaterial undead, which every paladin is trained to do.
They, too, can evolve into revenants, gaining a physical body with any victim they have encountered, in which case, they grow a heartstone and can be eliminated physically.
*It should be noted that these vampires do not sparkle, are not whiny little emo weenies, and will suck you dry like a Capri Sun pouch just as soon as look at you.