Anyone who has played Monster Hunter knows that the size ratio of human to monster is not always fair. Amidst all the swords and guns, including large ballistae and dragon slayers, there is a lack of development and progress of villages and civilization. But why?
Where have all the people gone? On Reddit, a user asked why he hunts giant monsters with guns and artillery, yet there are no large cities or civilizations with more than a handful of people.
He suspects a lack of oil for industrial machines or vehicles, but the community is well-informed.
The answer lies in the history of Monster Hunter. In fact, there was once a civilization of such scale, in the form of the Kingdom of Schrade, which existed millennia before the events of the games. But what became of it?
What was this realm like? The heart of this realm is Castle Schrade, surrounded by the two cities Verudo in the west and Riveru in the east. The cities were built with huge weapons, artillery, and lookout towers against monsters and especially the elder dragons.
An elder dragon is a rare monster that is usually very aggressive towards humans. They do not have a specific habitat, like a Barroth in the desert or mud. In Monster Hunter World, they are referred to as destructive, living, and breathing natural disasters.
The Fall of the Kingdom
What happened in Schrade? The official Monster Hunter wiki provides information about the fate of the civilization. According to it, chaos broke out without warning: the elder dragon Fatalis flew over the land and engulfed the cities and villages, as well as the settlement of Minegarde, in raging fire.
Minegarde was a hub for guilds and hunters and home to some of the most advanced technologies.
This monster is inspired by a wyvern from European mythology. With huge fireballs and spewing flames, Fatalis swept across all of Schrade, single-handedly destroying the once revolutionary and magnificent kingdom.
Only Castle Schrade remains, and since the great wyvern disaster, it is the last sign of a once-great civilization. The sky is drenched in bloody red, and Fatalis continues to reign in his castle to this day.
If you dare, you can hunt Fatalis yourself in Monster Hunter World: Iceborne.
How does this affect the games? Because of this event and the fact that much of the technology in Minegarde was destroyed, no large cities or kingdoms are built to this day, for fear of the powers of the elder dragons.
This is what it looks like for hunters today: In a relaxed moment, you play with the small monsters for some leather, when a full-grown giant Rathalos comes around the corner and sweeps you away several dozen meters with its spiked tail. Armed with a sword and shield, you stand your ground against it and think: Thank goodness that’s not a Fatalis!
Despite all the terror brought by the elder dragon, the hunter guilds come together to challenge the wilderness. Unfortunately, you will have to wait until February 28, 2025, but you can get a taste of what’s to come in just a few weeks at the second open beta of Monster Hunter Wilds.
