Extra - Observers, Part I
“Monsters eat people.”
A simple statement that Monsters are overwhelmingly carnivorous, but that truth is far less simple than it appears. Among the low-mana areas where Animals are dominant, there are relatively few carnivores compared to herbivores. Frankly, the line between those two is not nearly so sharply delineated, but regardless the majority of animals in any area are herbivores.
This supports a relatively small number of carnivores. Too many herbivores and the plant life is consumed, and everything starves. Too many carnivores and they eat all of the herbivores, and then starve.
The details are unimportant here, but it is easily observable that there simply is not enough food to support the world’s population of Monsters.
Again, this is a truth that is far deeper than it seems on the surface. Carnivores can overpopulate and overeat local species into extinction among Animals. In fact, at a certain number of predators in an area, it is less a “can” and more of a “must.” So if almost all Monsters are predatory, why haven’t they driven species extinct and achieved some kind of balance? Especially when you add on the efforts of Adventurers and armies.
But I said, “Monsters eat people,” not, “Monsters eat meat.” This is a difference with an important distinction. Monsters are, almost universally, extremely aggressive - to a truly bewildering degree, as it happens. If possible, Monsters will choose to attack Demihumans and Sapients over Animals or Monsters, and will attack Animals over other Monsters.
Why? It is a mystery. Unfortunately for those who seek knowledge, Scalus and Alet are unwilling to explain. All we can do is muddle along and try to work out the answers ourselves.
- The introduction to “A Study of Monster Behavior,” a mildly heretical book. It is banned in most countries, not because of its heresy, but because its information is often misused and that misuse tends to result in large scale deaths to Monsters.
*[Professor] Connar Gess POV*