Skogsrå

[Bruno]

They can clearly be active at the same time - if someone is before her and someone is behind her, one sees beauty and the other sees death. They're not an AA.

[Not another shrubbery]

Originally Posted by Bruno

She sounds like a few other similar "nymphs" or "forest spirits" or what-have you from the region (the words do not translate easily to English).

The one I'm familiar with says that she is a beautiful woman from the front, but when you go around her you see she is a one-sided, hollow, wooden shell, like an animated full-body mask. But that version doesn't give you the petrification effect that I know of, so the illusion of being a real (naked) woman only holds from the direct front and the hunter/traveler/whatever usually escapes.

This is the kind referenced in this Wiki article I found searching on the name.

Fairy-tales rarely come with chances for side views and detailed explanations of how a 360 rotation would work :)

I'm (ironically) split 50/50 on how I'd handle it:
* inflict half petrification/paralysis/insanity down one side of the victims body (depending on what you blast the poor victim with). Yes, half his body goes crazy if you go with a Terror instead of petrification, there'd probably be an Army of Darkness moment or two.
* like lenticular holograms, you see one, or the other, never both. Which means a survivor may not put 2 and 2 together and realize the beautiful nymph and the horror are the same creature.

That last seems like the kind of effect you would associate with such creatures.

[BrockNicholson]

I think the one or the other never both approach makes the most sense. If it were truly a 50/50 split approaching from any direction besides straight on would expose the viewer to at least part of the back of the creature. If it is a more magical ability, one could approach from any angle to the "front" and see a perfect woman.

[Anders]

It's not all tales that say you get turned to stone when you see her back. But the stories sound familiar (which is hardly surprising).

I think I'll go with "you see one or the other".

This thread has been very helpful. Thanks to everyone!

Now my next problem - how do you keep the cat from walking on the computer keyboard? Without hurting his feelings? :)

[vierasmarius]

Originally Posted by Asta Kask

Now my next problem - how do you keep the cat from walking on the computer keyboard? Without hurting his feelings? :)

Duct tape. If he gets upset, he shouldn't be such a *****. =P

[Bruno]

Originally Posted by Asta Kask

Now my next problem - how do you keep the cat from walking on the computer keyboard? Without hurting his feelings? :)

Give him something a little taller on your desk to walk on. Pay much attention to the other thing. He'll move his priorities :)

For me, my cat thinks my printer is a cat-bed. :P