#ghost fairy tale creature ... | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

smokesandsonatas · 10 months ago

Text

Twisted Wonderland but make it grounded in dark reality. I drafted this around late 2023 and I just finished this now, haha. As always read at your own discretion and enjoy!

Warnings: Implied cannibalism. Dread.

Characters: Floyd and Jade, Leona, Ruggie, Rook, Idia, Lillia, Malleus, Others.

Not beta read.

Food.

- Any substance consumed by an organism for nutritional support. A means for survival.

You’ve always known most of them are peculiar creatures. Sharp teeth, mismatched eyes, monstrous forms, fins that glint with predatory sharpness, and horns that pierce the sky with arrogant pride. They embody the villains from the old fairy tales back in your world, grotesque and terrifying in equal measure. You suppose they function like civilized beings—they’ve learned to blend into human society, after all—but you can’t help but notice just how different, how unnervingly similar, they are to one thing: food.

The dishes at this college are like nothing you've ever tasted. Perhaps it's because many of them are children of royalty, so even the cafeteria food tastes like something out of a king's banquet. The pickiness of their palates is evident in every bite, in every carefully crafted dish. But there are things you find more intriguing than their refined taste; something almost hypnotic about the way they eat, especially when they don't mind you watching.

The scent of something delicious invaded Ramshackle Dorm in the dead of night. You assumed Grim was cooking, as ridiculous as that sounded, but found the little gremlin snoozing soundly beside you. Maybe it was the ghosts? But as you descended the stairs, you found the kitchen empty, devoid of any culinary activity. One glance at the night sky over Sage’s Island told you it was around 3 AM—far too early for breakfast, and far too late for dinner.

You tried to go back to sleep, but the tantalizing scent of roasted meat kept you awake, gnawing at your resolve until you could no longer ignore the hunger pangs twisting your stomach. Leaving Grim behind, you draped the sheets over his body, muttering a promise to return soon. Your curiosity and hunger led you to the cafeteria, which should have been deserted at this hour, but to your surprise…

They were all there. The ones you’ve grown closest to.

They were gathered around a long, elegant table, the atmosphere eerily reminiscent of Mostro Lounge—dim lights casting soft, ominous shadows across their faces. The table was laden with exquisite, expensive cuts of meat, arranged in a feast fit for monsters. And in the center of it all, a massive stack of roasted meat commanded your attention.

It looked…perfect. The tenderloin, you assumed, was butter-soft, with a thick, moist cut that bled a light pink from the center. The outer layer was roasted to a flawless crisp. But something about the presentation unnerved you, a chill creeping up your spine.

The pile of meat looked too much like the carcass of a person. Or a beast, perhaps. It was hard to tell. But you could almost see the outline of a body, as though someone—someone about five or six feet tall—had been subjected to the furnace’s extreme heat, roasted beyond recognition. Was that hair you saw near what should have been the head? Before you could inspect further, a voice called out to you.

"Ah! You're here! Come and join us, Shrimpy!" Floyd’s voice rang out, cheerful and disturbingly eager. His sharp teeth gleamed in the dim light, rows of jagged edges that could tear through flesh with ease. Beside him, Jade chuckled, slicing into a slab of meat with surgical precision, the knife gliding through like it was cutting butter.

Your eyes scanned the gathering. At the head of the table sat Tsunotaro—Malleus, the prince of fae. You frowned, under the impression that he usually is not invited in gatherings like this. But he nodded at you, a small, regal acknowledgment. “I was invited by Lilia,” he explained, his voice low and melodic. You glanced at his plate—a half-eaten steak submerged in a thick, red sauce. The metallic, almost fishy scent wafted up, assaulting your senses.

Before you could react, Lilia appeared beside you, his small hand guiding you to a seat. His right hand held a wine glass filled with a creamy red liquid that clung to the inside of the chalice. You tried to dismiss the fact that it looked too much like blood—thick, viscous blood. Surely, wine wasn’t supposed to look like that, but who were you to judge?

“Bonjour, Trickster! ~” Rook’s voice whispered in your ear, and when you turned, you were met with a sight that made your stomach turn. The smell hit you first—foul, putrid, like a freshly killed animal left to rot. It was too strong, the copper and iron scent so overpowering you had to fight to keep your expression neutral.

You hope your face does not betray the constriction of your throat.

“Rook,” you managed to say, swallowing down the bile that threatened to rise. “What…uhm, what is that?”

Rook laughed, the sound as sharp as the glint in his eyes. “Liver pâté, my dear,” he said, twirling his fork. “If it’s a strong scent, I apologize. It’s from the raw liver I like to eat with the liver pâté.”

Raw…

You tried to ignore the word. Back in your world, people ate raw food—sushi, for instance. So whatever Rook had on his plate was none of your business. At least, that’s what you tried to tell yourself.

“Shishishi, the food is sure delicious, especially when I’m getting it for free!” A voice cackled, startling you. You almost jumped out of your seat at the sight of Ruggie, devouring his meal with a voracious appetite. His sharp teeth ripped through the flesh with ease, tearing the meat from the bone in one swift motion. Red droplets—blood?—splattered across his chin, and you watched in horror as his tongue darted out to lick it clean.

“Oi, Ruggie, have some manners,” Leona growled from beside him, his voice gruff and annoyed. He wasn’t eating, his plate already littered with bones, but he was sipping from a glass filled with a red liquid. You wanted to believe it was wine, but the scent…The scent was as repugnant as the raw liver on Rook’s plate. It was metallic, nauseating

—blood.

A shiver trickled down your spine.

That same scent wafted from Malleus and Lilia’s glasses, clinging to the air like a dark cloud.

“You’re one to talk!” Ruggie retorted, his mouth full of meat. “You’ve never eaten a rat before, Leona-san.”

You blinked. Did you hear him right?

Your train of thought was interrupted by Malleus’s voice from your left.

“Shroud,” the prince of fae said, his tone commanding yet gentle, “drink this and replenish your energy.” You watched as Malleus offered Idia the same drink he was consuming. And to your shock, Idia accepted, his expression one of reluctance.

“I don’t really mind drinking this stuff, but I just don’t like eating much…” The Ignihyde dorm leader mumbled, his voice trailing off. You glanced at his plate—a barely touched piece of ‘steak’ with a small cut in the corner, oozing something you didn’t want to identify.

You could barely breathe as you watched Idia reluctantly take a sip of the viscous liquid from Malleus's chalice. His face remained as pale as ever, though a faint hint of color touched his cheeks. The sight was unsettling, and you couldn't help but feel a creeping sense of dread tightening around your chest.

"Not a fan of solid food?" Jade's voice slithered into your thoughts, pulling you from the trance. His mismatched eyes glinted in the dim light as he calmly sliced through his portion of meat, each movement precise and almost too graceful. "It's an acquired taste," he continued, offering you a smile that somehow did nothing to ease your growing anxiety.

Your gaze shifted to the plate in front of you, untouched and ominously inviting. The stack of meat in the center of the table loomed like a dark specter, its presence a constant reminder of the unease gnawing at your mind. You felt a pressure to partake, to show your acceptance of their world, but every fiber of your being screamed against it.

"Come now," Lilia's playful voice broke through the tension, "you should try it at least once. After all, it's not every day you get to dine with such esteemed company." He winked, the gesture meant to be comforting, but it only made you more wary.

You glanced around the table, noting the expectant gazes directed your way. Floyd’s sharp grin was still fixed on you, his eyes gleaming with mischief, while Ruggie gnawed contentedly on his bone, seemingly oblivious to the tension. Rook, watched you with a keen interest, his fork poised elegantly in his hand.

Leona’s gaze was the most unsettling, though. His amber eyes were half-lidded, seemingly bored, yet there was an intensity in them that made you feel like prey. His fingers drummed lazily on the table, and you couldn’t help but notice the slight curl of his lips, as if he was waiting for you to make a move.

Your gaze drifted across the table, stomach churning with a mix of disgust and dread. The dim light flickered, casting eerie shadows that seemed to dance across their faces—no, across their true forms. You blinked, the image wavering as if your mind was trying to shield you from something it wasn’t ready to comprehend.

Floyd’s laughter echoed, a sound that grated against your nerves. For a split second, you saw something else—an elongated, sinuous form, slick with scales, teeth sharper than any blade, rows upon rows of them, stretching endlessly down a gaping maw that promised nothing but pain. You shuddered, the image vanishing as quickly as it appeared, leaving you staring at the harmless, smiling face of the boy who once called you Shrimpy. Jade is no better. You can see the muscles bulging as his back turns, with sharp rows of fins scattered along his spine. If you were behind him right now, you’re certain he would cut you in half.

Your eyes flicked to Ruggie, who was gnawing on the bone of his meal with unabashed relish. But in the periphery of your vision, his form distorted—muscles rippling beneath fur that was too thick, claws that scraped against the table, and a maw that was too wide, too hungry, filled with jagged fangs meant for tearing, ripping, devouring. He glanced up, catching your gaze, and you quickly looked away, the image of the beast-man fading back into the all-too-familiar figure of a mischievous boy. Leona on the other hand, sit still. The image of a lion assessing it's prey. You dare not look at his eyes burning holes through your skull—you feel it.

Idia, who sits apart from the others, his presence a dark shadow at the table. There’s something about him that feels different, even among these monsters. His connection to the underworld is undeniable, a guardian of the boundary between life and death. The flickering blue flames of his hair and the way his eyes pierce through the darkness suggest something far older and more terrifying than any of the others—a being who has seen what lies beyond the veil, and who has perhaps brought a piece of it back with him.

Rook, you cannot even begin to comprehend how a human—like yourself, is able to blend in with them.

But the worst was Malleus. The prince of the fae was calm, serene even, but there was something wrong—horribly wrong. His eyes glowed too brightly, their green hue pulsating with an otherworldly light. And then, for just a moment, you saw what lay beneath that regal facade—a towering figure, wings that stretched endlessly, blotting out the sky, horns that twisted and curled like a crown of dark thorns. His smile was too sharp, too knowing, as if he could see right through you, into the very depths of your soul.

You closed your eyes, refusing to look at anyone anymore.

You tried to swallow your saliva, but your throat was dry, your mouth parched. The air was thick with the scent of blood, the tang of iron clinging to your tongue. They were all looking at you now, waiting, expecting you to take a bite, to join them in this feast.

Lilia’s voice broke the silence, light and playful as ever. “Come now, dear. Don’t be shy. You wouldn’t want to insult your hosts, would you?”

The pressure was unbearable, the weight of their gazes pressing down on you, suffocating you. Your hand trembled as you reached for the fork, the silver glinting in the low light. You knew, deep down, that whatever you saw—whatever you thought you saw—a no mere trick of the light.

They were not like you. They were never like you.

"I," you hope your voice does not shake, "I am full." You nodded, convincing them. You let out a nervous laugh, quickly standing up as you find the place too suffocating. Chair scraping the floor. "I'm fine! Really, I—ah, I need to go back, I have to catch some sleep and Grim is alone."

Floyd is quick to be by your side. His smile, wide and filled with sharp teeth, is unsettling. "Eh, Shrimpy, do you not like the food?" He asks, worry in his voice. You know it's fake: he's mocking you.

"I am good," you say with a strained smile. Please let me go, please, please—

"I insist," Malleus interjects, his voice smooth but commanding. "This is a feast meant for sharing. It would be rude to leave before sampling a morsel."

As if on cue, the others start to close in. Rook leans in closer, his eyes glinting with an unsettling mix of curiosity and amusement. "The flavors are truly exquisite, you know. Not something one should miss out on."

Leona’s gaze is heavy and piercing, his voice low and rumbling. "I’ve seen your kind turn down more robust fare than this. Surely you can handle a small bite."

Your attempts to excuse yourself only seem to stoke their interest further. The way they move, their unnervingly smooth motions, reminds you of predators circling their prey.

You might just be one tonight.

Floyd’s grin widens as he leans in closer, his breath hot against your neck. "Come on, Shrimpy. Just a taste. I promise it won’t hurt."

The pressure is mounting. They are pushing you to stay, to partake in their feast, and the atmosphere thickens with their silent insistence. Malleus’s eyes bore into you with a knowing gaze, his hand extending with a glass of the viscous red liquid. "Just a sip, if you please."

Every attempt to excuse yourself only seems to make their eyes narrow further, their smiles widen just a little more. The eerie calm of the feast surrounds you.

It is when you see the meat properly that you made up your mind to escape. It is in someone's plate, you do not know who.

It's in the shape of a finger. A charred fingernail dipped in red.

Floyd let out a yelp as you finally push him off of you, your steps quickening as you trace back where you came from: The path to Ramshackle dorm.

You heard Jade reprimand Floyd, the latter angry when you pushed him: How dare you Shrimpy was all you heard before you were out of their sight and you're running back, panting, to your safe space, Ramshackle.

Only to pause as Crowley stands in the steps of your door. His mask drowning the glint of yellow from holes that was supposed to be his eyes.

What... what the fuck.

Crowley approached you slowly, as if he's reaching out to a wounded prey, this is the first time you've ever seen him serious. You take a step back, should you run in the other direction? Where will you escape, Heartslabyul? Will they take you in there?

The headmaster let out a sigh, "My students here at Night Raven should perhaps know kindness from their teacher," he declared dramatically. Then he gave you pouch, full of madol. Thaumarks.

This is a bribe. Crowley is bribing you.

"Our little secret, alright?"

You blinked. What...?

"A little compensation for your troubles, for I am truly kind."

He then disappear, leaving you stunned.

At exactly 3:33 AM, a realization hit you. You are in the company of creatures far more dangerous than you ever imagined, their monstrous forms hidden just beneath the surface. One wrong step, one mistake, it can all come down. Crumbling to pieces.

It is inside when your knees give out, you slide through the door of the Ramshackle, too weak to stand anymore.

This is the truth: you are in the company of creatures mimicking humans, their monstrous forms hidden just beneath the normal exterior. But what terrifies you most is not the thought of what they are—but the thought that, perhaps, they see you as something less than human too.

The truth of what they were—what they really were—lurked just out of reach, like a shadow at the corner of your vision, waiting to pounce the moment you let your guard down.

But you knew better. Something had changed.

And as you sit there, the only protection you have are rotting woods that make up your dorm. You are just within the circle of monstrous beings in their friendly human skins. You are a magic-less, pathetic alien.

For in a world filled with monsters hiding in plain sight, the only question that remained was this:

What would happen when they decided they were tired of pretending?

Perhaps you will find out soon.

#twisted wonderland #s h u #malleus draconia #idia shroud #floyd leech #disney twisted wonderland #jade leech #leona kingscholar #lillia vanrouge #crowley #creepy twisted wonderland #eerie #twisted wonderland x reader #twst yuu #ruggie bucchi #rook hunt #yandere twisted wonderland #yandere twst

835 notes · View notes

yandere-sins · 9 months ago

Text

Monstober 2024

Monster-Enthusiasts, Monster-Lovers, and Monster-Fucker, I call upon thee! This upcoming October is going to be spooky!

It's time for a whole month of delicious monster content! Whether you want them to stalk, to hunt, or to devour your little protagonists (mind you, the monsters are the real protagonists of the story, hehe), I want to see a month dedicated to the beauty of the Ugly and Horrible! All things monster are welcome—art, writing, any kind of showcasing a monster! No matter how cruel or how obscene you like it—now's the time to show it off! ♥

I have prepared a list of monsters & prompts for your guidance, however, if you'd rather do a different monster or a different prompt, that is totally fine! If you prefer to stay private and not have your post reblogged to this blog, that is totally alright, too! This is merely for fun and giggles, and I welcome everyone who wants to challenge themselves this upcoming October to use this list if they want!

How to participate in my Monstober:

- Starting October 1st create something with the monster or prompt of the day! That is all you have to do.

You don't have to do all days or even in chronological order. Feel free to alter the prompts as needed. Your monsters do not have to match the usual descriptions of their kind! Post whenever and whatever you like as long as it is still connected to monsters!

- If you want your entry to be reblogged: @ me yandere-sins in your post, don't forget to put content warnings if any apply (especially Violence & Sexual Content—however, those are very welcome!), and put long texts (once they reach 3k words) under a read more! I'll reblog the posts as soon as I see and have the time to get to them!

Prompts

Day 1: Chimera | Mixed // Misunderstood // Insanity

Day 2: Werewolf/Werecat | Full Moon // Claws // Beastly

Day 3: Alien | Otherworldly // Uncanny Valley // Space

Day 4: Harpy | Cliff // Flying // Illusion

Day 5: Nymph/Dryad/Leshy | Plants // Playful // Nature's Bounty

Day 6: Naga/Lamia | Scales // Wrapping around // Poisonous

Day 7: Sphinx | Riddles // Sand // Giant

Day 8: Merfolk | Water // Singing // Alluring

Day 9: Folklore Creatures | Cautionary Tales // Truth // Naivity

Day 10: Mimic | Treasures // Hungry // Wrong

Day 11: Yuki-onna/Snow Spirit | Snowstorm // Promise // Guiding

Day 12: Witch/Wizard/Magician | Magic // Spells // Towers

Day 13: Shifter | True Form // Unbelievable // Transformation

Day 14: Minotaur | Labyrinth // Bannished // Following

Day 15: Eldritch Horror | Eldritch // Imprisoned // Tentacles

Day 16: "Church" Grim | Graveyard // Protecting // Spirit

Day 17: Dragon | Fire // Hoarding // Fairytale

Day 18: Kitsune | Tricked // Tails // Mystical

Day 19: Elf | Warrior // Swift // Merciless

Day 20: Goblin/Orc/Troll/Oni | Hordes // Village // Brutish

Day 21: Kelpie | Deception // Following // Stuck

Day 22: Skeleton/Zombie | Undead // Loved // Grave

Day 23: Angel | Feathers // Guardian // Watching

Day 24: Ghost | Shadows // Invisible // Coldness

Day 25: Vampire | Blood // Biting // Night

Day 26: Fae Folk | Lost // Fairy Circles // Names

Day 27: Drider | Silk // Cave // Ensnared

Day 28: Demon | Summoning // Contract // Otherworldly

Day 29: Gods | Reign // Glow // Worshipping

Day 30: Human | Real Monsters // Dangerous // Smile

Day 31: Free Choice of your favorite monster or a completely new one!

I look forward to all the monstrous ideas you'll come up with! ♥

#Monstober 2024 #prompt lists #monster prompts #october challenge #yandere prompts #writing prompts #art prompts #october prompts

405 notes · View notes

seraphinitegames · 3 months ago

Note

First of all, I'm a huge fan of your work. Your writing is just *superb*. (Btw, I don't even know of this is the right place to make an ask, I'm still new to actually interacting with these things lmao.)

Since I started reading it, I've been fascinated with your idea of various supernaturals, especially their abilities and their behavior. Now, the supernaturals I know of are vampires, demons, werewolves, fairies, annunaki, maa-alused, I believe imps have been mentioned, gargoyles and gorgons, and that's all I can remember.

Now, my actual question is what other supernatural races are there? Specifically, really rare ones. I was also hoping you could tell me if specter-like supernaturals exist (like ones that aren't ghosts but have ghost-like abilities). If so, what are they called and what can they do?

(Btw sorry if this is too long an ask, I tend to get off track a lot 😁)

Oh my word! You don't want to get me started on this topic as I have A LOT of lore that I can't get into the books that I adore and could chat about for hours, hehe! :D

Ghosts and spirits definitely exist, but the two are very different. One is a remnant of memory created by magic on one's passing, the other is an actual type of supernatural.

Li-Sar being a Y'uli'sed is one of the Echo World original supernaturals that I've been so excited to bring in.

I have always loved the old myths and legends of creatures, and it's been exciting bringing them in and adding a twist to the old tales for Wayhaven. But I'm finally getting to bring in some of the supernaturals I've been working on for, well, decades, even if in small cameos, hehe!

So yeah, it would be difficult to answer your questions as there are soooo many! :D

Thank you so much for the ask though! Sorry for the essay of an excited non-answer, lol! :)

#the wayhaven chronicles #asks #interactive fiction #personal #lore #twc lore #twc echo world #choice of games #hosted games #twc li sar #choicescript #if wip #creative writing

170 notes · View notes

literaryvein-reblogs · 6 months ago

Note

I don’t know if you’ve answered something similar before, but I’m writing for a story including mermaids and sirens and was wondering if you had any information or advice?

Writing Notes: Mermaids & Sirens

Mermaid - a fabled marine creature with the head and upper body of a human being and the tail of a fish.

Siren - (in Greek mythology) a creature half bird and half woman who lured sailors to destruction by the sweetness of her song.

MERMAIDS

Similar divine or semidivine beings appear in ancient mythologies (e.g., the Chaldean sea god Ea, or Oannes).

In European folklore, mermaids (sometimes called sirens) and mermen were natural beings who, like fairies, had magical and prophetic powers. They loved music and often sang. Though very long-lived, they were mortal and had no souls.

Many folktales record marriages between mermaids (who might assume human form) and men. In most, the man steals the mermaid’s cap or belt, her comb or mirror. While the objects are hidden she lives with him; if she finds them she returns at once to the sea.

In some variants the marriage lasts while certain agreed-upon conditions are fulfilled, and it ends when the conditions are broken.

Though sometimes kindly, mermaids and mermen were usually dangerous to man.

Their gifts brought misfortune, and, if offended, the beings caused floods or other disasters.

To see one on a voyage was an omen of shipwreck.

They sometimes lured mortals to death by drowning, as did the Lorelei of the Rhine, or enticed young people to live with them underwater, as did the mermaid whose image is carved on a bench in the church of Zennor, Cornwall, England.

Aquatic mammals, such as the dugong and manatee, that suckle their young in human fashion above water are considered by some to underlie these legends.

SIRENS

According to Homer, there were two Sirens on an island in the western sea between Aeaea and the rocks of Scylla.

Later the number was usually increased to three, and they were located on the west coast of Italy, near Naples.

They were variously said to be the daughters of the sea god Phorcys or of the river god Achelous by one of the Muses.

In Homer’s Odyssey, Book XII, the Greek hero Odysseus, advised by the sorceress Circe, escaped the danger of their song by stopping the ears of his crew with wax so that they were deaf to the Sirens.

Odysseus himself wanted to hear their song but had himself tied to the mast so that he would not be able to steer the ship off its course.

Apollonius of Rhodes, in Argonautica, Book IV, relates that when the Argonauts sailed that way, Orpheus sang so divinely that only one of the Argonauts heard the Sirens’ song.

According to Argonautica, Butes alone was compelled by the Sirens’ voices to jump into the water, but his life was saved by the goddess Cypris, a cult name for Aphrodite.

In Hyginus’s Fabulae, no. 141, a mortal’s ability to resist them causes the Sirens to commit suicide.

Ovid (Metamorphoses, Book V) wrote that the Sirens were human companions of Persephone.

After she was carried off by Hades, they sought her everywhere and finally prayed for wings to fly across the sea. The gods granted their prayer.

In some versions Demeter turned them into birds to punish them for not guarding Persephone.

In art, the Sirens appeared first as birds with the heads of women and later as women, sometimes winged, with bird legs.

The Sirens seem to have evolved from an ancient tale of the perils of early exploration combined with an Asian image of a bird-woman. Anthropologists explain the Asian image as a soul-bird—i.e., a winged ghost that stole the living to share its fate. In that respect the Sirens had affinities with the Harpies.

Some Character Tropes

Alchemic Elementals. Merfolk and similar beings are sometimes portrayed as water elementals.

Bathtub Mermaid. Merfolk and other aquatic creatures kept in stationary tanks and other containers.

Inhumanly Beautiful Race. Merfolk, mermaids in particular, are often very beautiful beyond human standards.

Mermaid Arc Emergence. When mermaids surface, it is often with splendor.

Mermaid in a Wheelchair. Mermaids on land often use wheelchairs to get around.

Mobile Fishbowl. Merfolk who can't breathe air bring water with them to interact with land-dwellers.

Mute Mermaid. A mermaid who is unable to speak.

Selkies and Wereseals. Human-seal shapeshifters.

Sirens Are Mermaids. The Sirens of mythology portrayed as mermaids.

Unscaled Merfolk. Merfolk that are aren't scaled fish below the waist.

Sources: 1 2 3 ⚜ More: Notes ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs

Choose which of these notes you'd like to incorporate in your story, and do more research if you need to add more detail. Hope these help inspire your writing!

#anonymous #mermaid #siren #writing notes #writeblr #literature #writers on tumblr #writing reference #dark academia #spilled ink #writing prompt #creative writing #character development #character inspiration #writing ideas #writing inspiration #writing resources

152 notes · View notes

vintagegeekculture · 1 year ago

Text

The Evil Little Hairy Cave People of Europe in Pulp Fiction

From the 1900s to the 1940s, there was a trendy theme in occult and horror stories that the explanation for widespread European legends of fairies, brownies, pixies, leprechauns and other malicious little people, was that they were a hereditary racial memory of the extremely small non-human, hairy stone age original inhabitants of Europe, who still survive well into modern times in caves and barrows below the earth. Envious of being displaced on the surface, these weird creatures, adapted to the darkness of living underground and unable to withstand the sun, still mean mischief and occasionally go out at night to capture someone.... usually an attractive woman....to take to their dark caves for human sacrifice.

Displaced by the arrival of Indo-European language speakers at the dawn of the Bronze Age, these original, not quite human stone age people of Europe were driven deep underground into caves and barrows below the earth, where they went mad, adapted to the darkness and acquired a fear of daylight, became extremely inbred, in some cases acquired widespread albinism. It is these strange little people who gave the descendants of Europeans a haunting racial dread of places below the earth like mines and caves, and it also is these strange, hairy troglodytes who originally built the uncanny and mysterious menhir, fairy rings, and stone age structures of England, Scotland, and Ireland that predate the coming of the Celts and Romans.

In some cases, these evil troglodytes are usually identified with the mysterious Picts, the pre-Celtic stone age inhabitants of the British Isles. In some cases, they are identified with the Basque people of Spain, best known as the inventors of Jai Alai, and the oldest people in Europe who speak a unique language unrelated to any in the world.

The original codifier of this trend was Arthur Machen, a horror writer who is less remembered than his contemporary, Henry James, but who may be the best horror writer in the generations between Poe on the one end and Lovecraft/CL Moore/Clark Ashton Smith on the other. His story, "the White People" from 1904 (a reference to their strange cave albinism) was a twisted Alice in Wonderland with a girl who is irresistibly attracted to dark pre-Roman stone age ruins and who is eventually pulled underground.

In addition to being a great horror writer, Arthur Machen was a member of the Hermetic Society of the Golden Dawn, an occult organization, and was often seen at the Isis-Urania Temple in London. Many of his works have secretive occult knowledge.

H.P. Lovecraft in particular always pointed out Arthur Machen as his single biggest inspiration, though he combined Machen's dread and occultism with Abraham Merritt's sense of fear of the cosmic unknown, seen in "Dwellers in the Mirage" and "People of the Pit."

Another and scarier example of this trend would be "No Man's Land," a story by John Buchan, a Scotsman fascinated by paganism and horror, who often wrote stories of horrific discoveries and evil rites on the Scottish moors. He is often reduced to being described as a "Scottish Ghost Story" writer, a painfully reductivist description as in his career, Buchan wrote a lot of thrillers, detective, and adventure stories as well. In later life, he was appointed Governor General of Canada, meaning he may be the first head of state to be a horror writer.

It was Buchan who first identified the cave creatures with the Picts, something that another Weird Tales writer decades later, Robert E. Howard, would roll with in the 1920s.

Howard is a very identifiable kind of modern person you often see on the internet: a guy who talks tough, but who was terrified to leave his small town. He created manly man, tough guy heroes like Conan the Barbarian, Kull, and El Borak, but he himself never left his mother's house. It's no wonder he got along well with his fellow Weird Tales writer and weird shut in, HP Lovecraft. With 1920s Weird Tales writers, despite your admiration for their incredible talent, you also can't help but laugh at them a little, a feeling you also apply to a lot of Victorians, who achieved incredible things, but who are often closet cases and cranks who died virgins ("Chinese" Gordon comes to mind, as does Immelmann).

With Howard, his obsession with the Picts and the stone age cave dwelling people of Europe started with an unpublished manuscript where at a dinner party, a man gets knocked out and regresses to his past life in the Bronze Age, where he remembers the earliest contact between modern humans and the original inhabitants of the British Isles, the evil darkskinned Picts. This is a mix of both the "little cave people" story and another cliche at the time, "the stone age past life regression novel," another turn of the century cliche.

Still with the Picts on his mind, Howard would later create Bran Mak Morn, a Pict chieftain, who predated Kull and Conan as his Celtic caveman muscle hero. Howard was of Irish descent and proudly anti-Colonial and anti-British, with his Roman Empire and Civilized Kingdoms as a stand in for the British and other Empires, which he viewed as rapacious and humbug, a view shared by his greatest inspiration, Talbot Mundy. His "Worms of the Earth" gets to the heart of why these little cave people scare us so much: they remind us that we live on land that is impossibly ancient and we don't fully understand at all.

It was another Weird Tales Writer a decade later who wrote one of the last stories about the little hairy cave people of Europe, though, Manly Wade Wellman in 1942. Wellman was mainly known for creating the blond beefcake caveman hero Hok the Mighty set in stone age times, and for his supernatural ghost stories of Silver John the Balladeer set in modern, ghostly Appalachia (like many ex-Weird Tales writers, he made a turn to being a regional author in his later career, in the same way Hugh B. Cave became a Caribbean writer), but Wellman also had a regular character known as John Thunstone, a muscular and wealthy playboy known for his moustache who used his great wealth to investigate the supernatural and the occult. Thunstone had a silver sword made by St. Dunstan, patron of Silversmiths, well known for his confrontations with the Devil.

Most John Thunstone stories featured familiar stories, like a demon possessed seance and so on, but one in particular featured a unique enemy, the Shonokins.

The Shonokins were the original rulers of North America, descendants of Neanderthal man displaced by American Indians. This fear that the land we live is ancient and unknowable and we just arrived on it and don't know any of its secrets is common to settler societies, who often hold the landscape with dread, as in Patricia Wrightson's fantasies of the Australian Outback. It was easy enough to transport the hairy cave people from the Scottish Moors to North America. I suspect that's what they are, a personification of a fear shared in the middle class, that in the back of their minds, that everything they have supposedly earned is merely an accident of history, built by rapacity and the crimes of history, and that someday a bill will come due.

A text page in the May 1942 issue of Weird Tales gives strange additional information on the Shonokins not found elsewhere:

Since then, there have been too many examples of evil cave people who predate Europeans. Philip Jose Farmer's "The All White Elf" features the last survivor of a pre-European people who live in caves. A lot of other fiction of course has featured the Picts, but according to our modern scientific understanding, which describes them as much, much less exotically, as a blue tattooed people not too different and practically indistinguishable from the Celtic tribes that surrounded them, and which they eventually blended into.

#pulp fiction #horror #pulp novels #stone age #picts

458 notes · View notes

darthstitch · 3 months ago

Text

I've always wondered how the story would work out if a young Christine Daae meets Erik as the Opera Ghost, NOT as the Angel of Music.

This is a kid who's grown up on fairy tales. She should know that the first rule is always to be kind. Kindness and courtesy and respect can be a surprisingly effective defense against the scariest creatures. Christine is all of these things by nature, except when curiousity gets the better of her.

But that's for a different story and in a different universe. Over here, Christine gets to meet the infamous Phantom of the Opera as a young girl, just beginning to leave her childhood behind, just still enough of a child to believe.

So maybe when she accidentally runs into a tall, dark, forbidding figure with his elegant gentleman's clothes and opera cloak and white mask, she doesn't scream or run or faint.

Maybe she drops him a cute little curtsy, wobbling a little because unlike her best friend Meg, she's not a born ballerina. Maybe she warbles a little greeting, "Good day to you, Monsieur Opera Ghost."

And maybe that's how it starts.

Erik makes friends with this adorable little girl who doesn't scream at the sight of him. He's utterly charmed by her and she's the first person, in a good long while, who gets to learrn that the Opera Ghost isn't really a ghost.

He gives her his name.

(Ironically, Le Fantôme forgets what the old tales speak of when it comes to the giving of names.)

Maybe the two of them end up making mischief together, the Phantom and his petite fantôme, pulling off ingenious pranks and silly, harmless tricks. Maybe Christine starts adding to the ever growing store of Opera Ghost tales, with all these gloriously lurid details that she manages to relay with an absolutely straight face.

Erik, in his usual hiding places in the Opera House, is hard set not to give the game away by helplessly chortling at his petite fantôme's imagination. At one point, one storytelling session is broken up by the little ballet and chorus girls screaming in delighted terror because Erik couldn't stop himself from laughing.

(He had to throw his voice for that, so he wouldn't give away where he was hiding.)

Christine grows up, of course, and Erik doesn't develop the weird crazed obssessiveness that grew out of a desperate love - this is not that universe. For him, she's his dear petite fantôme - a friend, who, against all odds, isn't going to be ripped away from him through some tragic twist of fate.

(He has so very few of them, you see. Sometimes, he's not even sure if THEY think of him as a friend. Opera ghosts can't be choosers, though.)

Things start changing, maybe, when Christine is nineteen and she's starting to dream about being more than just singing in the chorus. Erik is only too delighted to have nurtured the development of her original sweet childish treble to the glorious instrument that it was now. They've often sung together, the two of them - her high sweet ethereal voice chasing after his own resonant tones, blending in harmony.

(One of their favorite pranks was to sing haunting melodies in a near-empty theater, simultaneously scaring the life out of the skeleton crew working at night.)

Some things are meant to happen, no matter what the universe, and Christine Daae steps in as an unlikely substitute for the temperamental La Carlotta. She brings Paris to its feet with her rendition of Elissa in Hannibal.

Christine gets asked, of course, how on earth did she suddenly bring out That Voice,

She only smiles. "I was taught, of course, by my Angel of Music. Who else?" Mischief and mystery are dancing in those blue eyes.

There's a funny little lurch in Erik's heart at the way she says "my Angel of Music."

He hasn't a clue why.

#the phantom of the opera #erik/christine #i crack what i want #plot bunny #plot bunnies afoot #christine and her melodramatic sewer goblin #with an emphasis on him being HERS #ngl nadir saw this coming a mile away and laughed himself sick #erik will need to be hit by a massive clue by four #no creepy squicky shit in my blanket fort #the erik in this story is a mix of leroux and kay and pls blame ramin too omg

79 notes · View notes

tolkienfolkloreweek · 10 days ago

Text

✨Tolkien Fairytale & Folklore Week | Prompts 2025✨

Day 1 | December 1st | Magical Creatures

From dragons and werewolves to ents, eagles, and wargs — Middle-earth is filled with creatures drawn from deep myth. You can explore the beasts of Tolkien's world or borrow from outside lore: unicorns, selkies, kelpies, or kitsune. Are they protectors or predators, cursed or divine?

Day 2 | December 2nd | Gods and Mythologies

Tolkien’s Valar echo ancient pantheons. This is your day for gods, creators, prophets, angels, and archetypes — inspired by Norse, Greek, Hindu, Abrahamic, or other mythologies. Explore the Ainur, the Music of the Spheres, the afterlife, fate, and the mythic grandeur of Aman.

Day 3 | December 3rd | Fairytales

Tolkien called The Hobbit “a fairy story.” Retell classic fairytales in Middle-earth, or create your own: riddles in the dark, changelings, talking animals, curses, and transformations. Incorporate tales from around the world and reflect the many cultures of Arda.

Day 4 | December 4th | Arthuriana

Knights, castles, noble quests, betrayal, fate. Think of Aragorn’s return as king, the fall of Númenor as Camelot undone, or Galadriel as the Lady of the Lake. Explore themes of loyalty, exile, prophecy, and the weight of lineage. Wizards, swords, and star-crossed lovers welcome.

Day 5 | December 5th | Local Legends

From the Shire to Harad, every land in Arda has stories passed down in shadows. Write ghost tales told in Bree, riddles of the Rohirrim, or urban legends of Gondor. You can also bring in folklore from your own culture, region, or family — the tales your grandmother told, reimagined in Tolkien’s world.

Day 6 | December 6th | Epic Quests and Ancient Sagas

Inspired by Beowulf, the Odyssey, Mahabharata, and other foundational epics. Tell of great journeys, slaying of monsters, trials of strength and mind, exile, homecoming, or the cost of glory. How does the tale change depending on who tells it? What is forgotten, and what becomes legend?

Day 7 | December 7th | Objects and Relics

Heirlooms, magical tools, cursed treasures — Tolkien loved objects that carried meaning across generations. Explore named swords, Silmarils, palantíri, or lost rings. Or invent your own: charms, talismans, relics, and ancestral artifacts that tie memory and myth together.

#tolkien event #fan event #TolkienFolkloreWeek2025 #TolkienFolkloreWeek #folklore #tolkien #fairytales #myths and legends #silmarillion #lord of the rings #lotr #the hobbit #prompts

79 notes · View notes

novlr · 2 months ago

Text

Writing playlists for scenes, genres, and moods

Whether you’re working on a mystery novel, building a world full of magical creatures, have a time-travelling protagonist, need some meditative peace, want to immerse yourself in the Victorian Gothic world, or are exploring the eerie atmosphere of an abandoned city, we’ve got a playlist that will help spark your creativity and get you writing!

Writing a Mystery To Solve

With a mix of quirky, suspenseful, and atmospheric tracks, this playlist will set the tone for writing a mystery.

It’s the perfect accompaniment to help you brainstorm clues, twisty plot points, and red herrings. For a classic whodunnit or a cosy mystery, this playlist will help you get in the right frame of mind to craft a mystery that will keep your readers guessing until the very end.

Writing Mediaeval Time Travel

This playlist features modern songs recreated with a mediaeval twist, perfect for inspiring your writing about knights, dragons, and feudal societies.

Whether you’re working on a time travel adventure or a fantasy tale set in the Middle Ages, this playlist will provide the perfect musical backdrop to help get those ideas flowing.

Meditation for Writers

Are you looking for a way to clear your mind and tap into your creativity? This playlist is designed to help you relax and focus, making it the perfect companion for a writing meditation session.

Featuring soothing tracks with peaceful melodies, this playlist will help you find your inner calm and get in the zone for writing. Whether you’re looking to improve your concentration, reduce stress, or simply find some inspiration, this playlist is a great resource to have at your fingertips.

Writing Magical Creatures

Get ready to enter a world of fantasy and imagination! This playlist is perfect for writers who love to craft stories about mythical beasts, enchanted forests, and other magical creatures.

Featuring a mix of ethereal, otherworldly tracks with a touch of whimsy, this playlist will help transport you to a place of wonder and inspiration. Whether you’re working on a fairy tale, a fantasy novel, or a short story about unicorns, this playlist will provide the perfect musical backdrop to help you get in the mood to write.

Writing an Abandoned City

Welcome to the eerie world of abandoned cities, where the only sound is the wind rustling through empty streets and the creaking of old buildings. This playlist will help you tap into the atmosphere of these desolate places and inspire your writing.

Whether you’re crafting a post-apocalyptic tale or a ghost story set in an abandoned metropolis, this playlist will provide the perfect musical backdrop to help build your world.

Writing Victorian Gothic

Step into the shadowy world of Victorian gothic. This playlist is perfect for writers who love to craft stories set in the Victorian era, with a mix of classical music that will transport you back in time.

Featuring a selection of ominous, atmospheric tracks with a touch of romance, this playlist will help set the mood for writing about the dark, mysterious world of the shadowy side of the Victorian era. Whether you’re working on a horror story set in a creepy old mansion or a romance novel with a gothic twist, this playlist will provide the perfect musical accompaniment.

Writing a Night in the Forest

Escape into the dark world of the forest. Whether your characters are escaping evil in the darkness, or simply spending a night under the canopy, this playlist is perfect for writers who love to craft stories set in the woods.

Featuring a selection of atmospheric tracks with a touch of mystery, and a few soundscapes, this playlist will help set the mood for writing about the beauty and magic of the forest at night. Whether you’re working on a fairy tale set in an enchanted wood, a nature-themed story, or need to write a horror scene, this playlist is perfect for exploring the serenity and mystery of the forest at night.

#writing inspiration #writing playlists #writeblr #writing community #writers of tumblr #creative writing #writers #writing #creative writers #writerblr #writerscommunity #writblr #writer #writing resources #writers on tumblr #writers and poets #Spotify

69 notes · View notes

thenightling · 2 months ago

Text

Clearing up some misconceptions about the Frankenstein Experiment: Monsters unchained ride

The other day I was told a headcanon that the Frankenstein monster in Epic Universe's Dark Universe ride, Frankenstein Experiment: Monsters unchained, is actually "the 10th attempt" and "The one playing the piano is a previous version."

If you are a Gothic horror lover you already know why this "headcanon" hurts my brain.

Okay, first... There are fourteen animatronics in the ride, not fourteen Frankenstein monsters.

Second, despite the ride's name, there's only one Frankenstein-created monster walking around.

Yes, he is not the first Frankenstein monster. The first one is in the cue of the ride, apparently dead (but not necessarily unrevivable). This is the "second version" made by Victoria Frankenstein. The original was by Henry Frankenstein. (Victor's name was changed to Henry in the 1931 movie).

The premise of the ride is that Victoria has captured all the classic monsters and is trying to enslave them to her will. Only one of them was actually made by her. They aren't all her creations.

The ride is set in Frankenstein manor in the village of Darkmoor in an unspecified central to Eastern European Country. Think of it as a Gothic fairy tale setting. It's present day but there are aesthetics of the Victorian era and even some medieval, a bit like a Castlevania game or Hammer Horror movie or more recently Asylum's Monster Mash movie from last year.

The "Experiment" in the ride's title isn't the creation of monsters despite that being what we associate with "Frankenstein Experiment." It's Victoria's attempt to capture and control the monsters, making herself Queen of the Monsters.

In reality Dracula is the deFacto King of the Monsters. Though he was never actually the first vampire in Universal's lore (or the novel), he did self-title himself King of the vampires by the time you got to the Frank Langella Dracula movie of 1979. And by other depictions he became king of the monsters. Now before you say "I thought King Kong was king of the Monsters." or "I thought Godzilla was king of the Monsters." That's Kaiju (Really big monsters). Dracula is king of the humanoid monsters. This is why Victoria is obsessed with enslaving him because once she has him, the other monsters are completely ensnared and she can claim her crown as Queen of the Monsters (despite being human).

The characters that appear in the Frankenstein Experiment: Monsters unchained ride are as follows:

Igor / Ygor (Henchman to Victoria Frankenstein)

Frankenstein Monster version 2

Victoria Frankenstein (descendant of Henry Frankenstein) Quasimodo AKA The Hunchback of NotreDame. (Classified as monster even though he was just physically deformed in his story. There is still the question of how is he alive in present day when his story is set in the fifteenth century. Is he a ghost?)

Erik AKA Phantom of the Opera. (Classified as monster despite just being physically disfigured Frenchman. There's no explanation as to how he's alive in present day. Possibly an immortal sorcerer. He practiced magick in the original silent film and was a gifted hypnotist. Also that wasn't a piano, it was an organ.

Dracula - Vlad Dracula, historic figure turned vampire. Victoria Frankenstein is obsessed with breaking his will and he ends up escaping and leading a monster rebellion, proclaiming that she's the real monster.

Dracula's brides - Women he turned into his vampire minion over the centuries. (Note: When Dracula das musical is performed in Germany they add grooms to the brides. I kind of wish they did that here. Most depictions of Dracula are bisexual now, playing on some hints from the novel).

Gillman AKA The Creature from the Black Lagoon - Ancient, re-generative aquatic merman creature from South America.

The Wolfman - An immortal werewolf, Lawrence (Larry) Talbot. (He was confirmed as being immortal in the original black and white movies. The only thing that can really kill him is silver and even that is negotiable). Larry attended school in America (to account for his American accent) but his father was a country Lord, probably in England.

The Mummy - It's unclear which version of The Mummy this is but it is likely a Royal woman from Egypt (North Africa). Around the time you see The Mummy on the ride, Dracula gives his speech about who the real monsters are. Weirdly, many people have mistaken the speech as coming from The Mummy. No, it's Dracula talking in the scene. These are captured monsters. None of them were "Made" by Victoria Frankenstein except the Frankenstein monster version 2. Version 1 is dormant in the cue and if you know the movies, you know the original brain isn't even in the body anyway. The brain that was in that monster by the end of the franchise was Ygor (played by Bela Lugosi).

59 notes · View notes

ducksido · 3 months ago

Note

how about irish yuu

(Righty-o)

General Reactions

Grim:

“Wait… you have your own weird little magic creatures?!”

“Leprechauns? Banshees? THE HELL IS A PUCA?!”

Refuses to go near Irish!Yuu’s stories after hearing about the Dullahan.

The NRC Student Body:

“Your country is mostly rain and grass? You and Silver must get along.”

Learns about Irish superstitions and immediately freaks out about everything.

“YOU GUYS PUNCHED ENGLISH KINGS?! THAT’S SO METAL.”

Crowley:

"Oh, Prefect, do tell me more about your charming homeland!"

Forgets Ireland exists as a separate country. "Ah yes, a lovely British—"

Yuu glares. "Finish that sentence and you’ll wake up cursed."

Heartslabyul

Riddle Rosehearts:

"So your people ignored British rule for centuries? Admirable."

Twitches at Yuu’s tea preferences. “NO, YOU CAN’T PUT WHISKEY IN TEA.”

Ace Trappola:

“So you guys just fight each other for fun?!”

“Wait, you tell people to ‘catch themselves on’ instead of apologizing? That’s amazing.”

Deuce Spade:

Loves hearing about Irish rebels and warriors. “YOU GUYS WERE SO COOL.”

Somehow starts saying ‘feck’ without realizing it.

Trey Clover:

Learns about Irish soda bread. Immediately starts baking.

“Colcannon? What’s that?” (Tries it and loves it.)

Cater Diamond:

Uses Irish slang incorrectly. "Aye lads, we’re having good craic, right?"

Spams Yuu with St. Patrick’s Day filters on Magicam.

Savanaclaw

Leona Kingscholar:

“Hmph. Your people are stubborn, huh?”

Finds it amusing that Irish mythology is basically “gods fighting each other constantly.”

Ruggie Bucchi:

"Wait, wait—you put potatoes in EVERYTHING? You’re my kind of person."

Teaches Yuu NRC street tricks, but Yuu already knows a few.

Jack Howl:

Horrified by Irish fae stories. “WHAT DO YOU MEAN THEY STEAL CHILDREN?!”

Secretly loves Irish folklore but won’t admit it.

Octavinelle

Azul Ashengrotto:

Impressed by Irish folktales about clever tricksters. “I see we’re kindred spirits.”

Cannot believe Yuu’s people had entire rebellions just because they were annoyed.

Jade Leech:

"Ah, your culture respects mushrooms. Fascinating."

Oddly excited about changelings. "Tell me, do you believe they are real?"

Floyd Leech:

“FAIRY RINGS?! Sounds like a fun place to fight!”

Has no fear of Irish fae. He absolutely should.

Scarabia

Kalim Al-Asim:

“So you guys just tell stories all the time? That’s so cool!”

Immediately asks Yuu to teach him Irish dancing.

Jamil Viper:

"You celebrate by just drinking and fighting? …Respect."

Interested in Irish myths about snakes, then finds out they’re mostly about St. Patrick.

Ignihyde

Idia Shroud:

Shook that Irish myths inspired so many fantasy games.

“Wait, wait, your ancestors believed in ghost horses?!” (Nods in approval.)

Ortho Shroud:

"Your people feared the color green?"

Confused but supportive.

Diasomnia

Malleus Draconia:

"Your land respects the fae? And fears them? How wise."

Wants to visit Ireland just to see the castles.

Lilia Vanrouge:

Knows Irish history. “Ah, I fought a few of your warriors once. Good times.”

Thinks Yuu’s accent is ‘delightful’ but mimicking it horribly.

Silver:

“Your stories are… unnerving.”

Keeps mistaking banshee stories for bedtime tales. Bad idea.

Sebek Zigvolt:

"YOU RESPECT THE FAE?! EXCELLENT!"

Has an identity crisis when Yuu says Irish people don’t like loud talkers.

Pomefiore

Vil Schoenheit:

Raised eyebrow. “Your people use beer as a skincare ingredient?!”

“Your legends about beauty interest me.”

Epel Felmier:

"Your warriors fought shirtless? That’s hardcore."

Tries to use Irish slang.* It’s a disaster.

Rook Hunt:

“AH, THE IRISH! The poets and fighters! What a passionate people!”

RSA & Noble Bell

Neige:

“Your country looks so green and magical!”

Wants to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with Yuu.

Chenya:

Steals Yuu’s lucky charms. Literally.

Rollo Flamme:

Disapproves of Irish drinking culture.

Horrified by Irish fire festivals. “You set WHEAT on FIRE?!”

Meleanor & Young Lilia:

Meleanor respects Irish battle queens.

Young Lilia wants to fight an Irish warrior.

More Irish!Yuu Chaos

Casually mentions cursed fairy forts like it’s normal. Has the thickest accent. No one understands them. Refuses to let Crowley call Ireland "British." Gives everyone random Irish nicknames. Says "feck" instead of swearing.

#twst x reader #twst #twst wonderland #twst yuu #twst incorrect quotes #twst headcanons #culture!yuu #ireland #ireland!yuu

121 notes · View notes

pendramaenia · 10 months ago

Text

Denizens of The Sunken: Type Wheel, KEMC Diamond, and Habitats

Some researchers have asked what all the graphic icons in our encyclopedia entries mean. The following document should explain them all.

PART 1: THE TYPE WHEEL

The creatures populating the Sunken Island can be classified under ten (eleven) different Types, and five (six) different Cores. This diagram illustrates the relationships between Types and Cores.

The inner wheel contains Cores, the intrinsic origins of a creature. The outer wheel contains Types, the modes of a creature’s existence. Cores have certain Types associated with them, though a creature may deviate from these common links entirely.

Cores:

MUTANT: Life as we know it, twisting and accelerating beyond explanation.

UNDEAD: That which is no longer alive, echoes clinging to this world.

EGREGORE: Collective concepts brought to life, human ideas.

CRAFTED: That which was deliberately built, taking on life of its own.

HAZARD: Life inimical to other life, parasites, forces of nature.

Types:

VERMIN: Beasts. That which scurries, scratches, consumes. The rage of a thousand cornered rats.

WEED: That for which growth and movement are one and the same. Plants. Fungi. Sessile animals.

SHELL: Corporeal undead. Cadavers. Dust. Fossils. Rot. Food.

SOUL: Incorporeal undead. Ghosts, grudges, hauntings. Aftershocks of history.

RUMOR: Beings born from whispers. Legends. Cryptids. Bogeymen. Fear. Uncertainty given flesh.

DOGMA: Beings born from rules. Philosophy. Religion. Information. Code. Conviction given flesh.

MECH: Automata. Mechanical monsters free to self-replicate, free from their origins in human factories.

CHEM: Homunculi. Chemical processes running rampant. Water, salts, fuel, coarse stone, refined crystals.

PHYSIC: Forces of nature. Extreme heat and cold. Storms. Blunt impact. Distant stars. Disasters passively harmful to life.

PLAGUE: Invaders. Parasites. Infections. Consumers from within. Pestilence actively harmful to life.

Blank:

A Type and a Core at the same time, Blank is defined by absence. Some would call this a 'normal' or 'neutral' attribute, but there is nothing normal about a creature devoid of an identity. What little unites these Denizens involves empty vacuums, blistering cold, and unfilled vessels. Blank creatures are rare, and they tend to behave oddly when exposed to other life forms.

-----

PART 2: THE KEMC DIAMOND

Damage varieties:

All Denizens have the ability to inflict harm on others. That includes you, reader. Please familiarize yourself with the risks inherent to field research before going outside to catalogue the wildlife.

KINETIC: Harm inflicted with physical means, such as claws, fists, fangs, or infection. By far the simplest form of danger to understand, but no less deadly.

ENERGY: Harm inflicted by emitting high levels of energy through comparatively small amounts of mass. This may take the form of fire, electricity, radiation, among others.

COGNITIVE: Harm inflicted by assaulting the mind and senses. Creating illusions, manipulating emotions, and altering memories all fall under this category.

METAPHYSICAL: Harm inflicted by locally rewriting the rules of reality. What was fiction a moment ago is now a fact of life, and yesterday's laws of physics are today's fairy tales.

-----

PART 3: HABITATS

The icons above represent the various environments a Denizen may call home. The Sunken Island is very humid and situated well within the tropics, so many habitats such as deserts and glaciers have never been present here. Other icons may be added to the Denizen Encyclopedia if those presented are insufficient.

-----

That should cover everything, for now. If you have any other questions, please direct them my way!

-Dr. Calypso Ceiba, Postdoctoral ecologist for the Denizen Project

#denizens of the sunken #fakemon #pokemon #type wheel #pokedex

154 notes · View notes