[Horror] [Low-Tech] Hearthfires going cold and other Low-Tech spookiness

[fredtheobviouspseudonym]

Originally Posted by Jasonft

Hearthfires going cold and other Low-Tech spookiness

Livestock giving birth to perfectly normal livestock -- of another species. A sheep will deliver a goat. A cow delivers a litter of piglets.

And people think that these odd-borne have special powers. Don't give them any -- it will drive the PCs nuts to think about what's hidden.

Squirrels in the high branches with what appear to be human faces. [From HP Lovecraft.] But when they're shot with bow or hit with stone when they hit the ground they seem perfectly normal.

Faint sounds, such as groans, coming from beneath the earth. [A materialist would simply attribute this to freezing/thawing or minor earth tremors. An early Low Tech person might consider demons.] [Also Lovecraft.]

A peddler comes through the ville. He seems perfectly normal as do his products -- but some, which he offers only when one and no more of the villagers are . . . special. Magic beans that produce no avenue to giants but lots of oddly colored fruit -- very tasty. Perhaps . . . too tasty. A folding knife that never gets dull -- as long as you feed it with blood once a week. Animal blood . . . at least to start with. A hair ribbon that makes the owner irresistible to the opposite sex. At least the wearer thinks so.

Just a few coppers a purchase, and an X-signature on a piece of paper with some writing on it. "Nothing important . . . a mere formality. You'll never miss it -- excuse me, I meant to say something else."

[Flyndaran]

Those interesting items do sound like Needful Things. ;)

[Bruno]

Originally Posted by fredtheobviouspseudonym

Squirrels in the high branches with what appear to be human faces. [From HP Lovecraft.] But when they're shot with bow or hit with stone when they hit the ground they seem perfectly normal.

Which reminds me of stories from various east-Asian countries about the local weird non-human-primate being the ghosts of the dead villagers.

[The Colonel]

Originally Posted by Daigoro

Well, except for the naming and founding legend of Rome itself, and all those statues of Romulus and Remus sitting around, or appearing on their coins and such...

I meant a taboo artefact, like the aforementioned undead children.

[Prince Charon]

Originally Posted by Bruno

Which reminds me of stories from various east-Asian countries about the local weird non-human-primate being the ghosts of the dead villagers.

I'm pretty sure I've heard/read something about cicadas or other noisy insects being ghosts or evil spirits, but I'm not sure where or when.

[Bruno]

Originally Posted by Prince Charon

I'm pretty sure I've heard/read something about cicadas or other noisy insects being ghosts or evil spirits, but I'm not sure where or when.

From someone being driven slowly mad by the thunderous sound of an entire cohort of cicadas, perhaps.

Whippoorwills sing for the dead; when they gather outside a home and sing in unison, someone is sure to die before dawn. Having an enormous, passenger-pigeon-style flock of them appear and coat the landscape would be... alarming.

[Flyndaran]

Being the only one whose estate isn't covered in seasonal loud creatures would probably be just as creepy and prone to angering neighbors.

[The Colonel]

Originally Posted by Prince Charon

I'm pretty sure I've heard/read something about cicadas or other noisy insects being ghosts or evil spirits, but I'm not sure where or when.

Isn't there a Japanese horror film called "cicadas when they cry" (or the equivalent in translation)?

[Prince Charon]

Originally Posted by The Colonel

Isn't there a Japanese horror film called "cicadas when they cry" (or the equivalent in translation)?

It's a horror game, Higurashi no Naku Koro ni (the red is apparently important), which was made into various other media, including a couple of live action films. Rather scary and creepy, too. The version I'm familiar with involves a time-loop in June, 1983, as the characters kill each other over and over again.