Monster Hunters Incorporated: The Truth Behind the Myths

MHI-008: The Boggart

Sometimes just looking scary is enough for people to leave you alone. When a cobra is threatened, it's hood opens up to make it look larger than it actually is. We know the snake is still the same size, of course, but it's still a threatening display that says "don't come closer." Believe it or not, MHI has encountered a monster with a rather similar technique.

MHI-008, also known as "the Boggart", is a species of monster that has yet to be classified as related to any living thing we know of simply because it is so different from anything ever observed. The Boggart, at first glance, resembles a giant eukaryotic cell about a meter across. The only clues as to it's being alive is that it will move around its enclosure and engulf any food given to it. It lacks any distinguishing features visible to the naked eye on the outside save for the projections of its outer membrane, which help it to move.

The Boggart, however, does not get its name by how it looks but by its behavior. Those familiar with mythical creatures are obviously familiar with the boggarts of folklore. In these tales, boggarts are known for having many different appearances depending on those who behold them. Some appear as devilish satyrs, whilst others appear much more human like, while still others claim they look closer to beasts. This is all due to the Boggart's anomalous properties.

The Boggart possesses a unique property even amongst most monster species: it is a shapeshifter, able to tear apart the bonds connecting its molecules and rearrange them into other forms. Though it's not known how this is accomplished, a number of tests have determined that there is an outline as to how the Boggart's properties work. Depending on how big the final form is, it can change in a matter of just two seconds. In every form it takes, the Boggart will always utilize the same number of molecules and will therefore retain the same mass throughout all transformations. This leads to variations in density among its numerous forms and, as a result, much larger forms may appear slightly translucent as a result of the bonds between molecules being stretched far beyond the usual limit.

The ability to transform at will makes the Boggart highly adaptable as it has a form for every function. In various tests, when faced with a high obstacle that it cannot scale in its true form, it will take the form of an animal skilled in climbing or flying. In tests whereby the temperature of the room was raised or lowered to extremes, it has shown the ability to transform into creatures well adapted for their respective environmental extremes such as rattlesnakes in desert environments or polar bears in below zero conditions. In other tests, when placed in an environment whereby an entire cell was filled with water, the Boggart turned into a fish. The Boggart will usually only transform when it must accomplish a task. If there is nothing to do then the Boggart will simply stay in its true form.

However, something interesting happens when it encounters a human. Though humans can see its true form on video surveillance, they see something radically different in person. The process begins the moment the Boggart senses the closest human in its enclosure. For whatever reason, the Boggart changes into an embodiment of that particular human's worst fear. It will then continue to hold this form until that person leaves or someone else comes closer and it will take the form of that person's worst fear. It is not known how the Boggart is able to determine someone's worst fear just by sensing their presence but what is known is that its findings have been completely and totally accurate.

Several tests have been conducted to determine the extent to which the Boggart can suit human fears. In one of the first tests, a subject with severe arachnophobia was introduced into the Boggart's cell. As a result, it manifested itself into a giant black widow spider with a two meter legspan. Though the spider terrified the subject, it did not attack them. If anything, it simply stood by and watched, occasionally stepping closer if the subject showed hints of courage. The subject was removed after five minutes of exposure and has undergone six months of therapy.

Soon after this one, another test was ordered. This time the subject was afflicted with dentophobia, the fear of dentists. As expected, the Boggart took the form of a dentist while also manifesting parts of its anatomy to look identical to tools common in the dental practice, like metal picks. Again, despite the horror experienced by the test subject, the Boggart did not advance unless it was to dispel any courage that may have built up. Again, the subject was removed and underwent several months of therapy. The results of this experiment suggest that the Boggart does not want to intentionally hurt people and that its abilities are likely used for self-defense.

Another test was ordered later on to determine what would happen if a subject who wasn't scared of something animate was placed into the Boggart's enclosure. The subject selected had extreme hydrophobia, the fear of water. This time, the Boggart did not transform immediately but instead waited for the door of the standard five-meter-by-five-meter cell to close completely. The moment it was sealed, it instantly transformed into a huge wave of water that engulfed the subject. The water rose at least a meter and a half up the sides of the three-meter tall cell in the span of about ten seconds, during which the subject had understandably had a nervous breakdown. The test was called off only a minute in due to the extreme distress witnessed by the subject. The Boggart transformed back into its true form the moment the door was opened. The test subject has undergone about a year of therapy and according to their latest psychological report at the time this entry was written, will likely undergo another year.

It was shortly after this test that another test was determined. The subject that had been picked out for this test had myrmecophobia, the fear of ants. This subject had a twist: they were only afraid of ants in large amounts. Immediately after being introduced to the cell, the subject found themselves face to face with a mound of dirt about a meter across and a little over half a meter tall. Both researchers and the subject quickly identified it as an ant mound, but there were no ants. After exactly thirty seconds, however, the ants arrived. Out of the top and then the sides of the mound came forth hundreds of thousands of ants. It was when this happened that the subject panicked and began banging at the doors for help. Five minutes in, and the subject was removed. They underwent eight months of therapy already.

In one of the latest experiments, scientists wanted to test what the Boggart would do if presented with a human with no fears whatsoever. Such a subject, diagnosed with psychopathy and therefore unable to express real human emotion, was found and placed into the cell. As expected, the Boggart did nothing. It simply stayed there without moving. The subject, however, was very different. Despite openly admitting they did not fear the Boggart, their heart rate climbed and their breathing quickened before finally screaming and begging to be let out. The rest of the details from this experiment have been scrubbed to the public due to controversial nature of what occurred. The subject went to therapy regularly for a month before hanging themselves. Since this outcome, no further tests have been authorized.

The Boggart has been classified at Danger Level 3 given it's unique properties. Though not an immediate threat to human life, it is widely recognized by most in MHI that the psychological effects of viewing it are just too severe for it to be left to its own devices. The Boggart is contained in a standard five-meter-by-five-meter cell that connects to another identical to it via a small door. Whenever it is to be fed, caretakers must place food into the empty cell and exit before giving it access. The door is then to be sealed again while the Boggart is in the other cell so that the old cell can be cleaned. In the event of escape, it is only to be captured and handled by specialized armed drones piloted by security forces. The entire site is to go on lockdown and all staff are to remain in sealed, well-lit rooms until given the all-clear.

Fear is the most difficult emotion to overcome, which is why many animals make use of it to deter attackers. While we may not want to attack it, the Boggart certainly seems cautious enough to think so. At the very least, we can rest easy knowing that this nightmare is indeed contained.