#like the horse thing. I'm sure he wasn't even 100% lying. it had to have some elements of the truth

[arttsuka]

jimmy would never use /lh or /pos (joke)

Jimmy would never even joke actually. He'd say something he truly means and when they started looking at him weird he'd try to pass it as a joke

[felixcloud6288]

Dungeon Meshi Chapter 49

Senshi sits in a ring of mushrooms that bathe him in light and obscure the truth. A griffin comes from the darkness of the unknown and is forcing him to face the truth of what happened in his past.

There are so many little things in this chapter that explain some of Senshi's habits. He was part of a mining expedition that went disastrously, and the first mistake was they didn't stop to prepare and supply themselves, hence why Senshi insists on making sure he's supplied.

I really want to know how old everyone is. Chilchuck is 29 and Laios is younger than that. Senshi was 36 in the flashback and he looked physically equivalent to a 15-year-old. Now he looks like he's somewhere between 40-50 in IRL years so I guess he's probably somewhere around 100-120 assuming dwarfs age proportionally to Tallmen.

I mean, he wasn't lying about how long he's lived in the dungeon. But saying you've lived in the dungeon for over ten years paints a very different picture than if he'd said he's lived there for over 70 years.

Everything Senshi keeps seems to be a keepsake from this expedition. My eyes widened when I saw the heirloom shields that would be made into his cooking pot.

Senshi said his pot was a family heirloom from generations back so this probably means his companions were all from the same clan.

A lot of Gillan's personality rubbed off on Senshi. In particular, Senshi's burning desire to feed Chilchuck and Marcille because he thinks they're growing children is the exact same attitude Gillan had for him.

I had to double-check who assigned Chilchuck as mapmaker on the fifth floor and was disappointed that it wasn't Senshi. Chilchuck offered to do it himself.

And while it might not be the same outfit, Senshi's normal attire is mostly the same as Gillan's. He's wearing the same type of arm bracers and skirt.

THE HORSE'S NAME WAS ANNE!?!

He named the kelpie after the horse he was forced to butcher and eat? So then, what was going through Senshi's mind during chapter 14? Did he want to prepare the kelpie alone so he could think about Anne and accept that she was dead and why they killed her?

Even if it might be taxonomically true, calling orcs demi-humans feels like an insult. They have intellectual capabilities on-par with the human races. I'm gonna stick to the whole "history written by the winners" idea until proven otherwise.

Senshi was terrified of what the meat might have been even from the moment Gillan presented it to him.

Senshi's lucky the orcs were so cordial to him. You'd think they would have just killed him on the spot since his party had been stealing from them. But no, they were willing to forgive his party's trespasses (Probably helped by how Senshi himself wasn't involved and everyone who was is dead) and they were willing to teach him how to live in the dungeon.

Senshi's information might have helped the orcs move further up the dungeon, and he's probably known that tribe for several orc generations at this point.

So Senshi's interest in dungeon cuisine is deeper than just wanting to eat monsters. Deep down, he wants to know whether or not Gillan served him dwarf meat that day. Each time he ate a monster, Senshi recalled the taste of that meat and maybe hoped it would taste the same. But facing a griffin would be the moment where he would know for sure.

I kind of feel like Laios DID pick up on the implications in Senshi's story, but he thinks Senshi should find out the truth if it's bothering him so much. Laios is bothered by Senshi being too scared to find out even though he wants to know. It's kind of an offshoot of his thought process in chapter 15. Why is Senshi letting his feelings get in the way of finding out what something tastes like?

Everyone is asking themselves if Senshi really ate griffin meat. But Laios is the only one who isn't thinking that if the answer is no, then it was dwarf meat. He's instead thinking that it means Senshi ate something else.

When Chilchuck tried explaining things to Laios, I think Laios's shock wasn't him realizing that Brigan dealt that blow to Gillan, but him finally having the information needed to reject that the monster was a griffin.

I think Laios believed that Gillan was telling the truth the whole time. He was still going through with feeding Senshi the griffin meat though mainly to confirm that the monster wasn't a griffin in the first place. And it's the moment where Laios looks at the mushrooms that the remaining dots connect in his brain.

He's reading the mushroom guidebook from MMT1 here.

This is one of these moments where I feel kind of cheated because we the audience don't have the same available information as the party does. I didn't know that hippogriffs are monsters you can find on the sixth floor and I didn't know what changeling mushrooms are. So I couldn't have realized the griffin was actually a transformed hippogriff until Laios revealed that.

Izutsumi didn't join the group hug, but look at her. She's happy for Senshi.

If the dungeon reacts to desires, then maybe the reason Laios has been so successful exploring the dungeon is because he doesn't have really desire wealth or fame. He just wants to encounter and learn about monsters, and that's not really asking much from the dungeon.

I remember how in chapter 39, Chilchuck mentioned how they spent a long time trying to find their way back up from the fifth floor, but they almost instantly found a way down to the sixth floor when they decided to keep going. Maybe that's part of the dungeon baring its fangs at them. They killed one of its strongest monsters. And the dungeon's response is to react negatively to their desire to leave but positively to their desire to keep going.

And maybe that's why the dungeon was so aggressive to Kabru. He desires to conquer it so the dungeon sees him as an ultimate threat that must be eliminated.

How did no one notice the changeling circle after they had a whole conversation about it? Are they all stupid? Whatever happens next, I'll have no sympathy cause they should have known better.

back

[twracehorse]

Hello hello! I'm trying to piece together all the lore for our favorite headless menace, and I thought I'd turn to someone who's been here since Galloper's early days.

I wasn't around when players searched for the ghosts of his victims - but he used to kill people just for standing in his path, and now he seemingly doesn't anymore? Do you know what caused him to change his mind like that (if I even got all of that correctly)?

Regards, wildwoods-sworn

(Forgive me, this'll be a long one. I tried to find all the info I could scrounge up, plus my memories of the mysterious menace that we love so much!)

Back in 2016 while the rest of the festivities played on there were rumors of a headless rider roaming the forests of Jorvik.

Written from Star Stable's news post-dated October 19th, 2016

“What's That in the Dark?

The legend of Galloper Thompson is well known all over Jorvik and has been terrifying kids and adults alike every Halloween for many, many years. Different versions of who - or what - Galloper Thompson is, are flying around all over the place at this time of year, and nobody really knows the truth.

Poems and stories about Thompson are everywhere, and these scary tales terrify the islanders and their horses. But hey, they're just silly ghost stories, right?

...

Right?”

Then in the news the next week

“Have you had the fortune (or misfortune) to meet Galloper Thompson yet?”

I'm not 100% sure about this, but he might've only been added to the second week of Halloween. I don't remember hearing or seeing anything about him in game before then. Because once it was found that if you ran into him, you'd get a t-shirt, a cursed amulet, and XP... the hunt was on! He would call out his arrival at the top of the hour and stay about 10 minutes till he'd bellow his departure. He would show up in Goldenleaf Forest, Mirror Marshes, Greendale, The Forgotten Fields, Hollow Woods, and Valley of the Frozen Mist.

Leading to many spooks when you'd look around and then suddenly see him from behind a tree. I've ran into him multiple times (on purpose and from not being graceful enough at steering my horse lol)

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2017 would have Galloper missing as he was "on vacation". Although if you were in Goldenleaf Forest at 9pm server time, you'd hear his call. A small remnant of him.

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October 24th, 2018 is when the keep was first introduced! Listing off the things we could do: Toss soul shards into the cauldron to get new Halloween tack/clothing sets, experience the twisted memories of Galloper via The Headless Horseman's Harrowing race, more Halloween shops, Galloper's look-a-like horse was for sale, and the scarecrow race was back after being banished from the main overworld. Plus, you could talk to three different daily ghosts that were in the keep, telling you a bit about themselves or how they died. Hinting where you could find their soul shard.

Now that was the fun part of this particular Halloween! A whole twenty-one souls to tell their stories!

This is where it gets long lol (I got the info from Jorvikipedia under "Ghosts of Galloper's Keep")

Ancient Ghost (their soul shard found among the thorny rocks)

"I was there in the first days. I yet recall my home in the mainland, all that we left behind to seek our promised land for the great Jon Jarl. At sea we fought. We starved. I never thought I would see dry land again. The sight of sand and thorn rocks around our landing site brought us relief. Seek my Soul Shard by the thorn rocks near the place where the great Jarl first set foot on Jorvik."

Drowned Ghost (close to the broken bridge near Jarlaheim - above a tree trunk lying beside one of the bridge's pillars)

"I sailed for weeks with Jon Jarl, only to meet my watery end so close to the shores of what would become my peoples' home... My body washed ashore close to the place that would become the walled city with the great stable. Seek my Soul Shard by the broken bridge."

Curious Ghost (on top of the arches around Butter Hill)

"As we explored our new home, we found out that we were not the first to set foot on this island. Great monuments with mystical descriptions and ruins left by settlers long gone.

These ruins were a source of fascination for me. Great columns and arcs in a style we had never seen, long since overgrown with vegetation. What happened to those previous settlers? Would it happen to us too?

If you seek out those ruins, you shall find my Soul Shard."

Mournful Ghost (in Forgotten Fields at the runestone close to Golden Hills)

"We assumed this island to be uninhabited. We believed we had finally found a paradise worthy of abandoning our homes for.

We were wrong. This is punishment for our arrogance.

On this island, rune stones were found, created by people with a special connection to the magic this island held. The Great Jarl ordered all of them destroyed to prove his claim to the island. My Soul Shard remains at that rune stone, at the Forgotten Fields, gazing out over the golden valley."

Angry Ghost (by the left side of the bridge at Nilmer's Highland there's a little dent with thorn bushes)

"Not allowed to rest, he shall never be given a moment's peace for what he did! Why should I suffer with him? You, who can leave this place, seek my Soul Shard and give me rest.

Seek the great divide to the southern counties, close to the bridge we built from the highlands."

Superstitious Ghost (in front of the gate leading to Devil's Gap)

"Devil's Gap? Why did the Jarl build so close to that accursed place?

I was on the crew that helped erect the northern walls of Jarlaheim. From day one, bad luck struck us like a blacksmith's hammer. Over, and over, and over again. Rocks would fall, ropes would snap, horses would go mad."

Stablemaster Ghost (in the corner of the arena that's attached to the building

"The Great Jarl made peace with the druids, and in return, he was rewarded with many strong horses for his great stable! I was in charge of making sure every horse was taken care of, a noble task! The horses of this island were strong and brave, but curiously there was one man they would avoid at all cost...

You can still find my Soul Shard at the entrance of the Jarl's stable."

Druid Ghost (next to a runestone at the portal to the Secret Stone Circle)

"The man you know as Galloper would never see Aideen's light shine upon him. Many horses, he tried to ride, but all would shun him completely.

Yet, one day he returned riding a black mare, a wild horse from the east. This horse could not be handled but by this one man, back when he still had a head. Worried what would it mean for a horse to not possess Aideen's Light, we tried to take her away to the Secret Stone Circle.

I can't remember anything else. Did he come after us? If so, could my Soul Shard be found by the entrance to the Circle?"

Miner Ghost (above a barrel behind the entrance of the right tunnel in the Demascus Mine)

"His real name... was never Galloper Thompson. "Old Galloper" was a name given to him many years later by peasants who feared his sightings as a bad omen and used his name to scare children. I never took those ghost stories seriously while I was alive. I should have.

Sighting Galloper Thompson was a sign of terrible things to come. My ill-fated encounter happened just before a cave in at the Damascus Mine. I never made it out. Even now I can still hear his cursed laughter. In that mine you will find my Soul Shard."

Traitor Ghost (in a tower of Jarlaheim's walls)

"The jarl had clearly grown weak to forsake our old ways for this "Aideen"! We chose our own Jarl to usurp this traitor and led a grim assault on Jarlaheim for control of this island. We failed, and you can still find my Soul Shard on the battlements.

In the end, the victory for Great Jarl was bought at a steep price, with only one of his men still standing when the battle was over. Why did that man survive when so many others did not? Cursed be his name forever!"

Whispering Ghost (near the Ancient Tree on South Hoof)

"I always knew that I had a special gift to understand horses. "Wild Whispering," they call it. There was only ever one horse that I could not understand. The dark mare was ever silent to me, no matter how I tried. Willing to explore my gift further, I sought out one of the great trees I had heard the druids speak about.

The tree on the peninsula promised me that it would help me develop my gift as long as I gave my flesh as a servant. As a young fool, I accepted. My body was twisted, my skin turned to bark and even my Soul Shard was left with the tree. But for a brief moment, I understood everything."

Farmer Ghost (near a building of the Abandoned Farm on Nilmer's Highland)

"Ghosts? Bah! I never believed in ghosts! My husband would tell me that Old Galloper would come to curse our chickens, but that's just talk! Certainly, our old farm at Nilmer's Highland blossoms to this day, go find my Soul Shard there and you will see!"

Confused Ghost (behind the Moorland forge)

"You look just like my apprentice! You must be here to help me with the smithy! What are you waiting for? The fires won't burn forever, hurry to get my Soul Shard from behind the old smithy before Old Galloper catches wind of what we are doing!"

Stonecutter Ghost (at the entrance of the Stonecutter's Vault in the Valley of Frozen Mist)

"Magnus Steinar? The finest stone cutter the land has seen! I watched as the Great Jarl ordered him to split the rune stone near his stable in two. This was meant to be some important ritual according to the Jarl, but it drove every horse in the stables mad!

Afraid of the Jarl's wrath, I fled to the stonecutter's vault in the north. I never quite made it back there. My Soul Shard must be frozen in ice by now..."

Greedy Ghost (on a small path on the coast of Forgotten Fields, very close to the ancient tree)

"That monster envy had sunk its teeth into the Great Jarl as he realized a mere subject of his had, by accident, achieved what he so long had dreamed of. Immortality!

I was at court that day when the Jarl ordered his subject to bring him the secret of immortality. I wanted this gift for myself and decided to find my way into the Devil's Gap from the Forgotten Fields. I fell victim to my own greed, as the stormy weather caused rockslides along the narrow pathways. This was not the immortality I wanted! I beg you, find my Soul Shard!"

Scared Ghost (near a fence in Doyle's Abbey)

"W-why do I find myself here? This is not where I should have ended up! I was a good, loyal person in life and laid to rest in Doyle's Abbey! Yet my Soul Shard shackles me to this place! Please find my grave and help me pass on peacefully!"

Soldier Ghost (by the ruins on the end of the Old King's Road in Goldenhills Valley (back when that was a short path up next to Pi's swamp)

"In his wrath, the Great Jarl ordered the execution of this man who had been nothing but loyal to him.

The axe came down, but the man stood up, headless! As the Jarl's men fled in panic, the dark mare carried her headless rider into the night.

That wasn't the last I would see of him. Patrolling the King's Road, the headless rider would show up and attack anyone he saw as loyal to the Jarl. Find my Soul Shard there!"

Trampled Ghost (on Paddock Island, down the path to the runestone by the sea)

"Growing up on Paddock Island, my mum always told me that if the bad ones come, find a runestone and Aideen's light would protect me. That night, I almost made it to the runestone, but Old Galloper, he was faster. I wonder if my Soul Shard is still there?"

Secretive Ghost (in front of Ashland's roadblock in Dino Valley)

"This place resembles a keep? Hehe, everything is not as it seems young one. If this is a keep, where did it come from? Why does it fly? Why does the cauldron in its center boil to the beat of a living heart?

I once tried to make my way to the one place I thought I would find absolute truth. The heart of the island itself, the Ashlands. I would have made it too, if it hadn't been for that infernal roadblock! I couldn't muster the energy to turn back, but the road wouldn't open.

You, seeker of truth, might reclaim my Soul Shard there."

Loyal Ghost (at the right side of the Jarl's Tomb entrance)

"The Great Jarl was laid to rest, not in the great city he had founded, but in the lonely hills he had first sighted when making landfall on Jorvik. The Great Jarl had sworn to atone for his mistakes and serve Aideen once more. For a man of his honor, such a promise would surely stretch from beyond the grave. As would the headless horseman's thirst for revenge.

He caught me as I was making sure the Great Jarl's resting place was undisturbed. Could you find my Soul Shard there?"

Haunted Ghost (entrance to the building of Old Church Ruin close to Scarecrow Hill)

"To this day he has never been able to get any rest... He still roams the lands searching for a way to rid himself of the curse and became nothing but a legend in the Jorvegian folklore. Even to this day, the smallest child knows not to travel the dark roads alone this time of year, lest Galloper Thompson will try to claim your soul for himself. He claimed mine on the slope of Scarecrow Hill. I thought the old ruins would keep me safe, hide me from him. My Soul Shard should still be there, even now."

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2019 was a repeat of the previous year

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Halloween 2020 was taken over by Ydris as he locked Galloper in a tower in the keep. As more and more ghosts filled the keep, they desperately begged us to help them as they were forced to dance against their will. Ydris too, decided that it was too much and that we should release Galloper from the tower to bring balance back to this unique space swirling in time. But when Ydris undid his magic, there was still a barrier keeping Galloper in, trapped and curled into a ball floating in the air. To undo the spells keeping him in that state we had to go through the regrets that he carried with him, collecting an item that represents that time.

“The Lost Loyalty”

Piece of a Banner “A soldier once lifted this with pride. Then carried it with less pride. Then shouldered it as a burden.” 

(Executioner’s Memory)

“We told ourselves that we were soldiers of the Jarl. That we were just following orders!  In truth, we always feared the grim man on the black mare. The way he was avoided by human and horse in equal measure.  When his head rolled, we all cheered. We truly thought it was over. Perhaps if we all had tried to understand back then, things would have turned out different.”

“The Witch’s Curse”

Defiled Soul Shard “Feeling its touch is like losing a part of yourself.”

(Old Witch’s Memory)

“The man you call Galloper served his lord loyally. What do you think that means?  Galloper, he crushed anyone standing in the way of his Jarl and committed many dark deeds. He himself knew them to be wrong, but his loyalty to Jon Jarl pushed him onwards. Loyalty is a measly excuse when you don’t dare to stand up against those that do wrong. Sooner or later there will be no one to speak for you, and just like that, Galloper Thompson got to reap loyalty’s final reward...” 

“The Horseman’s Respite”

 Galloper Thompson’s Amulet “According to the ghost stories, this amulet is cursed. Maybe you should get rid of it?”

(Equestrian’s Memory)

There’s no ghost to tell this tale. Galloper confronts “you”; he levitates off his horse to lunge forward, hand outstretched towards you. When you come to, the amulet is on the ground nearby.

“The Forgotten Friendship”

Burnt Charcoal Drawing “A sketch in charcoal, burnt by the ages. It depicts a lord and his retainer. They both look happy”

(The Jarl’s Memory)

“You...awaken me after all this time? Me, who was once known as Jon Jarl, ruler of all Jorvik!  You come here at the behest of Galloper Thompson? How dare you speak of that man in my presence?! I do not wish to remember that man! Take your memento and be gone!”

Once we’ve collected each item and brought them back to the Tower of Regrets, the passageway opens. Galloper is still huddled into a ball. That’s when his mare gallops forth, rejoined to her rider. He is able to break free of his shackles and return to continue his duties. 

Back at his post, he beckons us closer. He has a reward he wishes to offer us as thanks. Which is a fiery spider pet!

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Non-story related, but when SSO celebrated the game’s 10th birthday in 2021, Galloper was invited :)

He was in the celebration art (seen bellow), and he was also at the party in Moorland! A couple of riders complimented him on his “cosplay” lol

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(October 27th, 2021) Linda’s quest about Galloper. She had a vision of the Keep and the man it holds within. Wanting to understand him and what his backstory is, we go through the portal to his realm. 

But he is not there. Perhaps on a wild hunt on Jorvik? We set up camp near the tower of regrets. 

Linda then gets into the strange story of Galloper Thompson’s life and his even stranger “death”. 

“The history books say that a man, Gunnar Thrymson, was a valued and loyal soldier to Jon Jarl, nearly 900 years ago. An odd man with a fitting name. Gunnar was described as possessing a dark and brooding nature, but valiant and loyal in all things to Jon Jarl. 

Eventually Thrymson became pronounced, “Thompson” as new settlers and tongues landed upon Jorvik in the following centuries. No horse allowed Gunnar to approach it and the other soldiers and servants avoided Gunnar. They secretly made a mock of him. Perhaps out of jealousy or out of fear, they nicknamed him, Galloper. A cruel joke. 

One day a wild and fearsome mare appeared, a great, black, Shire. Rumored to be from the lands in the east, beyond the Jor mountains, this horse permitted no other but Galloper near and to ride. At last he had found a companion. She was an immense Shire, dark as a moonless night, whose fierce aspect and wild nature unnerved the Jarl’s men. 

The mere presence of the horse distressed and alarmed the other animals, setting them into a panicked and frightful state.  Galloper and the Shire became inseparable, their unique bond a source of wonder and gossip. 

Galloper Thompson earned a position beside Jon Jarl as his personal bodyguard and advisor. He performed great tasks for Jon Jarl, even defending him against a dangerous uprising of rebellious lords. 

Resentment and rumor ran rampant through the army. Superstition and fear fed tales of wizardry and dark magic. Hatred overcame dread, and hidden mockery became open derision. 

The Jarl ordered Galloper be held responsible for his alleged crimes.  Galloper was captured and bound. Shackled and shamed, he was brought before his king. Jon Jarl stood as lord and judge, passing sentence upon his faithful servant. 

When Galloper was brought before the executioner’s block, hundreds of the Jarl’s men arrived to celebrate the spectacle.

Their previous superstition was proven to righteous when Galloper rose from the executioner’s block and revealed his immortality.

Folklore and history is muddled here but the prevailing theory was that the source of Galloper’s strength, his bond with the Jarl, and his immortality stemmed from a powerful witch from the Devil’s Gap.

One full year after his execution, the headless Galloper Thompson was spotted riding a flaming mare across the night sky for the first time. There have been sightings every autumn since.

As we sit in the shadow of the tower, I can feel that there’s more to this story begging to be told. It feels like a word forgotten, but restlessly waiting on the tip of my tongue to be spoken out loud.”

Linda feels herself being pulled to Paddock Island. When we arrive, Galloper is already there, gazing at the lonesome island with the broken bridge. We pick up memory shards that were scattered on the ground for Linda to decipher. 

“I see... a building. A stable by its appearance. It’s this place! This was a stable... Galloper‘s stable! It has been rumored that Galloper‘s mount could not be stabled with other horses. Is that why it’s so far removed? 

It begins... there is a mob, frightened and superstitious. They surround the stable. They are full of fear and anger. Soldiers move through the milling throng. They are there to take Galloper! 

A young man stands in the stable with a great mare. It must be Galloper! His eyes are so green and bright! They are filled with grief. His arms are wrapped around the mare’s neck. 

He is whispering his goodbyes as the soldiers enter the stable. It is just Galloper and his horse facing Jarl’s men. Galloper surrenders. 

The horse snorts and screams her displeasure and fear as the soldiers take him away. She kicks the walls and stamps the floor. The soldiers recoil from her anger. 

There is confusion! The mob churns and surges. A fire has broken out! Was a lantern thrown into the stable? Was a torch dropped? I cannot see clearly. The smoke and flames blind my view. The stables are ablaze! The horse is trapped!

The soldiers struggle to smother the flames. The mob has fallen back, stunned at the spectacle. The mare’s screams of terror rise with the flames, matched by Galloper’s howls of horror. 

The flames are extinguished. A stunned silence has settled. Smoke and cinders still float in the air. Galloper has collapsed, overwhelmed by grief and shock. 

Jon Jarl has arrived, surveying the damage. He stares long at the ruin, anger behind his eyes. His fury rises as he turns to confront Galloper, now slumped on the ground. 

Galloper knows the true source of Jon Jarl’s anger. The jealousy and craving, driving suspicions of betrayal and treachery.  But... the mare died that night, how did she return? Was it the dark magic and witchcraft that was rumored? Did the mysterious witch of legend also endow the Shire with power?”

We are then pulled into Jarlaheim. Suspiciously everyone is hiding, believing that Galloper was just here. Collecting more memory shards as Linda ponders if Galloper knows that we’re following him. 

“Galloper is being taken to a place of execution. He is surrounded by the king’s men and townsfolk. They jeer and mock him, hurling insults and garbage at him. 

Now, standing before the executioner’s block, he seems unmoved to the words being spoken by Jon Jarl. Has he given up hope? No, there’s a quiet intensity about him. The shock of his king’s cruelty and the horrific death of his truest companion has marked him deeply.

Numbly, he kneels before the block. His lips are moving silently. What is he saying? The masked executioner raises his axe. Oh, I cannot look! The axe drops. His sad, green eyes have a slightly startled look, almost as if they see me. 

Wait... the once cheering crowd falls silent. Their faces stunned, filled with horror and alarm. Something is amiss. The body. Galloper’s body is moving! It pushed itself up from the block, a green glow slowly engulfing his headless frame. 

The crowd is in a panic! They struggle to run away... some of the soldiers stab at him, to no avail. Something else is happening! The crowd is being hurled aside. 

It is the Shire! Its coat is even darker, so much that it seems to devour the very light. Its mane is so fiery and bright! A blinding apparition of shadow and flame! It strikes terror into the guards and townsfolk.

The few who were able to face the headless revenant are now broken and fleeing. Even Jon Jarl is nowhere to be seen!

Calmly and purposely Galloper climbs astride the Shire’s sturdy back. Away they escape, galloping into the sky.”

Returning to the Keep to collect our thoughts and theories about Galloper and his mare, Linda feels another pull. Stronger than before, filling her mind with Devil’s Gap and the Forgotten Fields. Unlike the memories we just experienced, this event is happening now!

Rushing over to Forgotten Fields we see his horse, but no Galloper! Where could he be? 

Following the great mare to see where she’s heading. Linda comments on the mare, “She knows where she’s going. There’s intense purpose in each step, but her eyes... It’s almost as if she’s in a trance.”

“I feel that we are about to find out why all this is happening. The insistence is still there but hints of anticipation, as if a task is nearly complete and rest is near.” 

Galloper’s mare runs past the ancient tree onto a narrow path along the edge of the cliff. We cannot follow, our pursuit ends here. 

A voice speaks from Devil’s Gap (presumably) “Gunnar Thrymson! Your task is not yet complete! You cannot escape your gift that simply, or did another seek to thwart our pact? No matter. What we have done cannot so easily be undone.

Your memories are restored as is your destiny! Remember now, the name of your steed and be rejoined in its power...

MORRIGAN!”

Heading back to Galloper’s Keep, Linda comments that Morrigan has returned to Galloper, but something is off. There’s a change in them. She’s never thought about the name or origin of Galloper’s horse before. The name feels old. Old and powerful. The voice that spoke from the mountain must have returned the memory of this name to Galloper. Where once the feeling of Galloper was like a man blinded by rage, he now seems composed, focused... perhaps even more dangerous than before. 

Someone or something must have tried to undo Galloper’s memories. But why? To break his bond with Morrigan? Who would gain from that and how? Linda ponders. Planning to return to the textbooks and research deeper into Jorvik’s past. 

Not knowing who gave Galloper his “gift” nor their motives. Whoever or whatever it is, they must be quite powerful if they or a descendant survives today. 

“I sense they are rebonded... but it feels different somehow; more powerful, focused? Yes... I sense not only a renewal, but an additional purpose. Perhaps whoever tried to seal his memories away unwittingly awoke new ones?

I can sense that this is the beginning of something very big. The strong bond between them was but cinders compared to the raging inferno I feel burning within Morrigan’s heart.”

And with that, we are left to wonder what will happen next!

~*~*~ ~*~*~ ~*~*~ ~*~*~ ~*~*~ ~*~*~ ~*~*~ ~*~*~ ~*~*~ ~*~*~ ~*~*~ ~*~*~

The “story snack” of a page of Galloper’s diary found by Ms. Holdsworth in Fort Maria (September 21st, 2022)

“There I was, abandoned by all my men, left to do the work that I’m sure will rain misfortune down upon all of us, curse the Jarl!” “It was mighty hard labor to go at the stones; good thing I had my splitting maul from Magnus, infused as it is with his special power.“ “And when one finally cracked under a ferocious blow, a woman, for I think it was a woman, did appear unto me.” “Whether she was called hence from the crack of the stone or had been watching my work I cannot say, she floated towards me with her hand outstretched, the antlers of a stag adorned her head, curls tumbled out from the hood of her cloak.” “She was terrifying, but I was too curious to feel afraid, and then she spoke, and her words were...”

-And that’s where it ends. The rest of the page appears to be blackened by flame.

~*~*~ ~*~*~ ~*~*~ ~*~*~ ~*~*~ ~*~*~ ~*~*~ ~*~*~ ~*~*~ ~*~*~ ~*~*~ ~*~*~

(October 26th, 2022)

We meet up with Linda at the makeshift campsite in the Keep. A new year and new discoveries await!

“We know somebody stole Galloper‘s memories. But why would they do that? What is there to gain?

It got me thinking.... What if somebody actually did something to Galloper? Something bad. Something they didn’t want him to remember! 

Suddenly, it all made sense. And all the anguish, anger, and regret I was sensing around Galloper before... It wasn’t simple blind rage; it was the feeling of revenge!

Something must have happened in the past, 900 years ago, before he became Galloper Thompson. Back when he was just “Gunnar”.

At first, I started searching the archives for any descendants or relatives of Gunnar Thrymson. When that failed, I turned my efforts to the Jarl and his closest allies. Then... A familiar name popped up. 

Magnus Steinar! It’s been said that Gunnar Thrymson broke magical runestones with the help of a stonemason, a stonemason by the name of Magnus!

We know that the ghost of Magnus still wanders Jorvik to this day, and the last time he was seen was in the Stonecutter’s Vault in the Valley of the Hidden Dinosaur. Let’s go see if he’s still there!”

When we enter the main section of Stonecutter’s Vault, Magnus is nowhere to be seen. A puddle of ghost goo is left on the cobblestone. Searching for clues as to where he went, we find an old horse statue, a worn, green tinted roofing tile, and scraps of an ancient bridle adorned with bronze serpentine ornaments. Thinking he went to Jorvik Stables and suspecting it’s a place of importance to him, we head on over!

Magnus is in a panicked state when we arrive. Screaming “He found me!! Help! Somebody help me! The horseman...”

“Please don’t take me away”

Linda sees something from the corner of her eye. A strange floating mist is hanging in the air. Going closer to this mist, it runs. We chase it down until it drops an amulet. It’s ancient, made from a piece of string tied around a gemstone. Herbs are braided into the string. It smells of sulfur and is covered in a slimy substance. 

As we ride back to Linda and Magnus, the air shifts, we see a vision of an old blacksmith’s workshop. Magnus begins to speak, “This place... it meant something to me. I lived here once. Long ago. The headless horseman... no, Gunnar. He was there also. I... did something. Something terrible. 

I can’t... remember. It’s all so hazy. The forging... forging of a tool.. so long ago. How did I do it?”

Going through the motions of the past. The forging of the splitting maul, he remembers. “There it is, my crowning achievement: forging this tool, perfectly crafted to shatter the most sacred of stones and splitting through the most hallowed of trees. It was made to... to shatter magic!”

“Forgive me, I did not know what I was doing! How could I know what he was planning...”

“The legendary splitting maul... A powerful tool imbued with the magic of a thousand unharness horses. It never missed its target. Rúnhammar. That’s what I called it.”

Magnus calls for us to go to a runestone that used to stand behind Jorvik Stables. 

“Yes... this is where it happened... Do you hear it? The horses...” (sounds of horses neighing echo in the memory)

“What is he asking you to do?”, Linda asks us. We take the splitting maul up to the runestone. One... the ground starts shaking. Two... a feeling of uneasiness rushes to us in waves. Three.... the runestone crumbles under the battering of Rúnhammar. 

“I remember now. I remember everything. So much pain, so much guilt. I spent the rest of my life... and undeath, trying to repent for what I did. 

I can still feel it, the runestone crumbling underneath the heavy weight of Rúnhammar‘s blow. I wielded it once, but never again. 

I suppose I should thank you for helping me remember, although I admit I didn’t really want to. Alas, holding these memories is an apt punishment for my actions. I do not deserve to forget.”

Magnus answers our questions:

Why would Galloper... Gunnar Thrymson... be chasing after you now?

“Rúnhammar, created for the sole purpose of destroying magic-imbued objects, was given to Gunnar Thrymson. He used it to shatter many runestones across Jorvik.  With every runestone, he seemed to lose a little part of himself, until one day, there was nothing left of him! That’s when the horse arrived. Morrigan, he called it.  I believe Gunnar, or shall I call him Galloper, ended up the way he is today because of me. Without my splitting maul, he would not have been able to destroy all those runestones, many lifetimes ago...”

Why did you forge Rúnhammar, the splitting maul?

“I forged the great splitting maul Rúnhammar at the behest of Jon Jarl. He wanted a tool to destroy the mystical runestones which could be found all over Jorvik. For some reason, those runestones seemed to bother him... I happily accepted the mission. I wasn’t concerned with what the tool was used for, I was too preoccupied with the thought of working with such wonderous magical materials. I had never seen anything like it before... How could I resist? Alas, I could not see past the great honor of being given such a mighty task. Now, Rúnhammar is my greatest regret...”

Where is Rúnhammar now?

“Nobody knows where Rúnhammar is today. It was last seen with Gunnar, however, Galloper Thompson does not appear to wield it now. Perhaps it has been lost to the ages...  It is for the best. I hope nobody finds it.” 

Linda takes the amulet we found that was stalking Magnus earlier. It’s vaguely familiar... It didn’t come from Galloper Thompson. That’s for sure. But she has to do a little research before she can figure out who it came from. 

~*~*~ ~*~*~ ~*~*~ ~*~*~ ~*~*~ ~*~*~ ~*~*~ ~*~*~ ~*~*~ ~*~*~ ~*~*~ ~*~*~

(November 2nd, 2022)

We enter the portal to Galloper’s Keep, Kasper the ghost greets us. “Did you see that trailing blaze of green fire that just swooshed by? Phooey! I wouldn’t wanna be whomever he’s hunting! I’ve never seen Galloper in such an agitated state before... He was practically on fire! You know, more so than usual. 

If you’re fast enough out through the portal you might catch a glimpse of him in action!” 

As we exit the portal back to Jorvik, Galloper comes running past, blazing a trail into the forest of Hollow Woods. 

As we follow Morrigan’s trail, we run past Linda hiding in the bushes. That amulet from earlier was druidic in origin and happened to be very old, like a thousand years old! Coincidentally like the ethereal being with Linda hiding in the bushes, hiding from Galloper. 

Broderick is frantic to get to a safe place he knows. He gives us directions while on horseback to where this hideout is... the Spy Master’s Hideout! He apparently has a “semi-hostile co-living arrangement” going on here. Anyway, Linda fills us in about Broderick. 

“Broderick is a druid from ancient times who lived in the same time period as Gunnar and the great Jon Jarl himself, yet conveniently remembers nothing about them ever setting foot on Jorvik. He’s not quite like other druids I have met before though...”

Linda begs us to come closer, speaking lowly, “Something doesn’t feel right about him. I sense he’s hiding something, something of great significance. I think he might be the missing piece of this puzzle!

Why was he following Magnus? Why is Galloper hunting him? Why does he claim not to know of Gunnar or the Jarl? There are just so many questions he won’t answer, questions we need to find answers to!

I’ll keep him busy. You go look around the hideout for something... unusual. You’ll know it when you see it!” 

Poking around the hideout, peering our head over a box, in the corner we see a green memory fragment. As we grab it, we are given the vision of a young man, Gunnar, on a horse. The horse rears and throws Gunnar off, sending him flying and landing harshly on the ground. 

We find another memory fragment behind a crate. Showing Gunnar and Morrigan’s bonding moment. We go back to Broderick with our findings. “That’s... that’s not what you think it is! I mean, gee, how did they get there?”. He’ll tell us what we want to know, but we gotta help him in turn. 

Why is Galloper Thompson hunting you?

“Oh, he’s been looking for me for a long time... he just didn’t realize I was the one he was looking for until recently. My mistake; I got careless. He wants revenge of course.

You see... Galloper... he’s cursed... he cannot die, but he cannot quite live either. He is in a state of constant torment... heheheh. A fate most befitting his ill deeds. Someone had to punish that destroyer of runestones!

It was me; I cursed him! Split his soul into three, in the name of Aideen! One part of his soul he kept within himself, the other two parts... well who cares where they ended up!

However... Galloper becoming a ferryman of souls... most unexpected.”

How do you know Magnus Steinar?

“Magnus? That worm. I saw it with my own two eyes. Magnus forged the weapon which Gunnar used to desecrate our most precious runestones. 

Yes. Magnus is also to blame...”

Why do you have Galloper’s memory fragments?

“The fragments you found in my hideout? They’re only some of the many memory fragments I’ve stolen from poor old Galloper. Why did I steal them? Isn’t it obvious?

I knew he was looking for revenge, he was coming even closer to figuring out the truth... I had to make him forget, I had to cover my tracks. Then YOU came along! Now, you shall help me.”

What do you know of Morrigan?

“Galloper‘s abhorrent horse? A most unpleasant mare she is... Nobody knows where she came from, but she found Galloper and united with him shortly after I had cast my curse.

It was if they shared an unholy bond already then, lacking all light of Aideen. It is distasteful that a creature of such grace would choose to ally herself with somebody such as him.”

While answering our second chosen question, a chill blows in from the doorway, fog starts to roll in, Galloper is just outside!

We have the decision to help hide Broderick by shutting the door in hopes that Galloper will pass us by, we could do nothing and see what lays ahead, or we can make noise to ensure that Galloper finds us:

Broderick deserves a second chance, let’s hide him!

{You hurriedly shut the door to try and save Broderick from the wrath of Galloper Thompson... but it is futile. Morrigan bursts through and Galloper evaporates the ancient ethereal being from this plane of existence.}

I can’t make this decision! I’ll just see what happens...

{If you do nothing, Galloper runs in and collects Broderick’s soul.}

Galloper deserves his vengeance, give Broderick up. 

{We purposely knock over a nearby lantern, glass shattering across the ground, the sound alerting Galloper of our position. “What have you done?! You’ve doomed me!”, exclaims Broderick. 

Galloper rushes in to enact his vengeance. Broderick dissipates into thin air, gone from this existence.}

Linda is in shock over witnessing the outcome. Yet she feels sympathy for Galloper. “Poor Galloper Thompson... A state of constant torment!? Having his memories taken from him... Lacking a whole soul? I couldn’t imagine a worse fate; I know he has done unspeakable things but still... I can’t help but feel sorry for him. 

I wish we’d know more, where are the other pieces of his soul? How did he become the ferryman of souls and the master of the Keep?

And Broderick, what is to become of him? What will Galloper do to him? There’s more to be told in Galloper’s story... But for now, there’s nothing more we can do, for Galloper OR Broderick. The veil between our realms is closing.”

Heading back into Galloper’s Keep, we talk to Kasper. “Galloper seemed to be in a particularly good mood upon his return. Well, ‘good’ might be an overstatement. He seemed... resigned. Calm. Must have been a successful hunt for that lost soul. Tsk, poor fella!”

Our remaining time in the Keep simmers down after that enthralling experience. We will have to wait for the bridge between our worlds to strengthen so we can cross over to visit the land of wandering souls once again and continue our exploration of Galloper’s tale.

~*~*~ ~*~*~ ~*~*~ ~*~*~ ~*~*~ ~*~*~ ~*~*~ ~*~*~ ~*~*~ ~*~*~ ~*~*~ ~*~*~

Outside of the game there’s these two; a short audio book and some comics.

The comics Star Stable has released on their instagram. Drawn by @ellipuukangas. They delve into the past of Gunnar. Who he was, what came to be, how his mare came to find him. 

Comic from 2021

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

This whole comic has been uploaded to Star Stable’s blog website

Here for full page viewing!

Comic from 2022

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

And also, the spooky story of Linda encountering Galloper one evening. An audio book written by Helena Dahlgren. Narrated by Jennifer Jill Araya. Released October 29th, 2021

You can listen to it here!

That’s all there is about Galloper so far at this current time! (November 7th 2022). I hope there be many more in the future! 

[bookwyrminspiration]

Sophie’s father is a human. It is only logical explanation for many of the things that happen in the series.

We are told time and time again that elves cannot feel guilt or see violence. It causes their minds to shatter and break. This is not a problem in the Elven world because it is very sterilized and uneventful. In the human world though, elves would suffer immensely. The violence on television and the day to day lives that humans live would cause them to feel overwhelming amounts of guilt. This makes me wonder how Sophie, who lived in the human world for twelve plus years, never experienced any type of guilt. She would have seen violence on television and read about it in school (she had skipped grades and would have learned about mature topics that could potentially break the mind of an elf). These types of things can cause extreme emotional reactions in human adults, much less an elf.

For guilt, Sophie would have done plenty of things that made her feel guilty. Taking something she was not meant to take, lying by omission, or just being mean because she was in a bad mood. The books said she was consistently in conflict with Amy. As a human, Amt might have been the one who was always creating problems, but after reading the books and seeing how Sophie treats people at times, I think there were moments where Sophie could have created conflicts too. Amy could have certainly been the aggressor at times, but there were moments where Sophie would have been. Things get even more convoluted when the inflicting scenario is considered. That would most certainly cause her to feel guilt, so that is why Forkle wiped it from her mind. However, once she was reminded, she moved on from it suspiciously quickly.

The only logical explanation for this is that Sophie is not fully human. She can experience small amounts of guilt due to her human heritage but she cannot experience overwhelming amounts of it. That would explain how she was able to live in the human world for a long time then never experience guilt.

The only flaw in my argument is that Sophie has never actually done anything that would make her feel guilty if she was never aware that she was hurting other people. If she chooses to be willfully ignorant of it or does not know the full scope of it, then she would never experience a mind break. In that case, Sophie would be an elf.

The only male human character we are introduced to is Sophie’s human father and the man in London. If he is a human, it is likely the latter.

Interesting! I've talked about this idea slightly before, but never as in depth as you've presented it. I do find the idea compelling, though there are aspects that don't quite mesh for me and I'm on the edge.

One other flaw I find with your argument is that Mr. Forkle did tell Sophie that she was 100% elf in book 2, so if we take him at his word there then she can't be half-human. However, he was in the middle of reassuring her she wasn't half-horse and isn't above lying, so there is that. Figured it was worth measuring.

Aside from that, I do find this theory intriguing. Sophie has felt strangely in the middle of two different worlds, reminding herself she never really belonged in the human world and telling herself the elven one, even as confusing as it can be to her, is where she belongs. Being half-human, she'd have the connection to her childhood that really gives her a place there, and I think it would offer comfort to know she did belong, even if not entirely. And it could also free her from the stressors of trying to find her place, knowing that there's never been anyone like her before so she can make her place, not try and find it, if that makes sense.

I've often wondered about guilt in the elven world, though. Alden's shattering was from a significant situation, breaking a mind and ruining lives when he wasn't sure it was worth it. But even that took over a decade to truly break him. So while Sophie has undoubtedly felt guilt before, given her mental fortitude I doubt instances like lying or being in a bad mood are enough to break her.

I wonder if the attitude towards guilt--"don't think about that!" "don't feel guilty!" "guilt is dangerous!"--makes it seem like guilt is more risky than it is simply because they don't actually know the limits and can't fix it, so they're super cautious about it just in case. Because elves have felt guilt without breaking, that's just how emotions work. So there's some boundary, some amount and some length of time, but they don't know it. So they're careful.

In that case, Sophie wouldn't have to be human or anything non-elf, as she hasn't been exposed to significant, prolonged guilt or violence that would break her. She could be on her way towards a break, but she has a strong mind, so it could be another decade or so before it really sets in. It's only been about two years since things really started getting violent and graphic, so if we use Alden as a measure, there's still time.

I do agree that if it is a human, it's probably Ethan. That would be more impactful than some other random human introduced, even if we aren'y very familiar with him.

Anyway, my point is that this theory is interesting and I wouldn't be upset if this is what turned out to be canon! There's a lot of potential here, though I do think it would need some explanation to make it truly work. Either way, thanks for sharing!

[imagine-that-one-thing]

Rise Of Glory || 6

Again, it cries, and again, and again.

Harry and I wander to the cobble steps to his mother's house, Alex asleep in Harry's arms from the long drive. The drive was quiet, not because I am tired but because I don't know what to say at this point. Nothing I do or say is going to change things or make anything better. I am at a loss.

The door opens, and his mother stands in the doorway, bewildered by our sudden appearance. I don't blame her. It is unlike us to abruptly show up on her doorstep. Most of the time, Harry gives her a heads up.

She grants us her routine tender smile and ushers us inside.

"What brings you two here suddenly?" Harry's Mum questions.

I glance towards Harry, curious as to what he plans to tell her. Telling your mother you only came to visit to see a grave is not something you'd want to admit out loud or at all.

"Uh," Harry clears his throat, "The media have swarmed my building and are starting to come out at the house. We came here to get a break," Harry answers, opening his arms to half-hug his mother, who he has missed dearly, he won't admit it, but he has. He may hate having to come to Cheshire, I don't think that will ever change, but he loves having his mother back in his life at a more constant and healthier level. Their relationship has improved tremendously since I came here when we first started dating all those years ago. I still remember that weekend like yesterday.

It was the weekend I realised that the man I was falling in love with gives everything he has, mentally, emotionally and physically, to his mother and sisters wellbeing. He'd allow himself to drown a million times if it meant his family could stay afloat.

"I'm going to put him down," Harry informs his mother and me, giving me a tired smile before walking past me and down the hallway towards Harry's old bedroom.

Harry's Mum peers over towards me, her brows furrowing and her lips pursing; I can tell her thoughts are ticking away and that something is playing intensely on her mind. She has the same expression Harry has when he wants to say something but leaves the words on the tip of his tongue, unsure of whether to say them or not.

I cock my head to the side, debating myself whether to give her the go-ahead to tell me whatever is on her mind.

"He's lying to me," Anne bluntly states before I can figure out how to ask her what's on her mind, "You had to have left at around 3 in the morning to be here by now. He's tired, almost like he hasn't slept in days," she points out, "And you… you look exhausted too. I don't believe it's the media at your house that caused you both to drive up here… I'm not complaining. I'm just… I'm curious."

"It has been a long week for him. He wanted to get away." I don't know who I am trying to convince more, myself or her.

"He hates it here with a passion. I have seen the articles."

I nod, agreeing with her. She knows the truth. Harry doesn't bother trying to hide the fact that he still hates this place. Even when we first started dating, he made it known he wasn't happy to be back. His home town brings back memories he doesn't want to remember, especially when he and his relationship with his mother were strained to the point they weren't speaking at all. "This is where he wanted to come."

"But it isn't where he wants to be… he hates it up here… are things that bad in London?" She questions softly, and I can't help but nod. She looks me up and down and bites her lip for a moment, almost as if she's holding back whatever thoughts are racing through her thoughts, "Are you and Harry okay? You're not fighting or?"

"We're fine," I immediately cut her off, "It's the business and the media that's pushing him off the rails."

"Mhm," she hums, "And you, are you okay?"

I give her a small smile and nod, "I'm okay."

"You're lying."

"Anne—"

"Honey, don't take this the wrong way, but you look exhausted. Have you slept at all?"

"It's been a rough few months," I softly respond, "It has taken a lot out of me."

The last three months have been an absolute roller coaster, mentally, emotionally and physically. I'm not quite sure how I've managed to keep things together to the extent I have. There are still days I feel like the world's weight is so heavily on me that I can't breathe. There are days I feel like I'm drowning and can't pull myself away. There are the days I feel like I'm finally okay and can breathe, but the second I manage to come up for air, there's something to pull me down, whether it's work-related, family-related or past related.

"Why didn't you call? Harry kept saying you were fine."

"I have been fine," I respond softly.

In all honesty, I have been fine… kind of. I'm as fine as what can be expected, considering the events that have happened. I'm not going to lie, I may be fine, but I'm still very much up and down when it comes to things. There are good days, and there are bad days.

"If you ever need me, I'm just a call away. You know that, right?" She offers me her sweet, caring smile that has always assured me of tough times and situations.

"Yes, I know."

"Okay, go get yourself some sleep."

"I have work I need to do once I get my laptop out of the car. We might be up here, but the business doesn't stop just because we aren't there."

"Well, at the very least, take a seat on the couch, put your feet up and relax for a minute. Let me at least make you some tea."

"You're too kind to me," I smile towards her.

"You're kind to my son. It's the least I can do for my darling daughter-in-law," she beams.

Anne hands me a steaming cup of tea as I answer a few emails from my phone, too tired to go out and get my laptop. "I have one last question."

"Mhm," I hum, waiting for her to ask what is on her mind.

"What happened to his hand?"

"Oh, he was washing dishes and somehow cut his hand," I tell her the truth.

I don't think it is my place to tell her about Logan or that Harry might be losing his mind. Right now, it is up to Harry to speak to her and want to talk about things. I cannot force him. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink. Harry will speak when he feels like speaking, and he will tell his mother when he is ready and on his terms.

I don't think I should be the one to tell her that we made the long drive up here just because Harry can't wrap his head around the fact Logan has risen from the dead. No mother wants to hear that as a reason as to why their son has finally visited.

I wish I could say that we visit here often for good occasions, but it is far from the truth. We come up here for holidays, and that is as far as it goes. I have made the drive a few times with Alex to get away from the city, but that has been on rare occasions. Harry doesn't like the idea of me making the drive on my own, and he hates having to come up here. We have settled on staying away from Cheshire and having his mother visit us when she can. I do wish things were a bit different. I do wish we lived closer to his Mum or came up here often. I think it would benefit Harry to be around his mother more and have a family sense. He has my family, but it is different. His mother is irreplaceable, and I know that deep down, he misses his sister. They may not be on the best of terms right now, but I know he loves and misses her.

When Alex is a little older, I would often like to bring him up here to see the neighbours' baby animals. He would love playing with the goats and picking fresh farm eggs, which is not as usual in our life. He would be thrilled to run the fields without a care in the world, a completely different environment compared to home. We have a lot of space for him to run around at home but nothing like the countryside.

❈ ❈ ❈ ❈ ❈ ❈

With Harry's fingers laced with my own, I pass the identical headstones that I passed in November of 2021, on the same day we buried Logan.

Nothing has changed about the cemetery. It's still as uncanny and ill-fitting as it was that day. The headstones are still cracked and withered with the voyage of seasons. It is a shame how the graves fade away. It's almost as though since these souls have left earth, nobody cares enough to fix up the graves that have cracked and deteriorated. It bothers me now like it did the day I walked through here a few years ago.

This cemetery is old, at least over 100 years old. I remember noticing some of the inscriptions when I was here last dated back to the 1800s. These monument stones of cold, decaying cement have presumably observed more people and tears of melancholy and exuberance than one could probably picture. And yet, nobody can take the time to take care of the graves. There are scarcely any flowers on the graves.

It disheartens me that as I escort past all these graves, I still feel saddened even years later because we pass by people who have once lived and wandered this very earth.

"Harry, are you sure it's this way?" I challenge as we pass another row of headstones.

I can't tell if my anxiousness tells me we have gone too far or if we need just to leave and go back home. Part of me doesn't want to wander any further than what we have. After all, walking through grave yeards is always eerie.

"I'm sure I know where my dead brother is buried," Harry grimly mutters, "I was here for it." Harry reminds me of the day he endured.

"No need to be so… morbid," I inform him, doing my best to keep my voice low. We don't need an argument in the middle of a cemetery, even if he is a dickhead.

I stop in my tracks, and Harry turns to glance at me as his hand leaves mine, "Why are you stopping?" Harry questions, and I can't help but take a moment to take in his features as a distraction.

I don't know how to tell him that I don't feel comfortable walking in this cemetery, I don't want to go any further, and I don't think this is a beneficial approach. Nothing good ever comes from this place. I push away my thoughts and feelings, "I couldn't remember if I checked on Alex before we left," I lie. I know I checked on Alex before we left. He was still asleep and cuddled up to his teddy bear.

"We both did, love. Mum knows what she's doing, and you know that, relax," Harry responds, kissing my cheek before lacing his fingers back with mine and beginning to walk again.

Harry and I come to an abrupt standstill, and the two of us become withdrawn while we take in the view of what's in front of us. Harry squeezes my hand gently, and I can't help but squeeze back, a small amount of reassurance for him to know that I am right here and that I can see the same thing he can see.

The deafening silence is intruded abruptly and without signal by the ghastly screech of a blackened crow— the same intense screech that I swear I first heard once Logan was buried in this plot.

Again, it cries, and again, and again.

I shiver as a tingle operates through my body, the character of the crow sounding like nails on a chalkboard. This is the same place I stood in years ago when the crow first screeched—Harry was squatting by the grave, gazing at the soil, and I was standing right here.

I take a breath of the crisp air, and my eyes immediately cast themselves on the crow that is shrieking. Its relentless stare catches my own before I take note that it isn't alone. Harry and I are outnumbered and are intently observed by one… two... three… four… five crows, possibly six; I can't tell if the shadow in the distant tree is one of them or not. Either way, I wish we had never come here. They say if you see five crows, sickness will follow; see six crows, and death will follow.

A gust of wind whisks past us, settling brittle, dead leaves to dance around our shoes to take my gaze away from the crows. I watch the leaves swing around our feet, twirling around us like vines, almost as though they're tightening around our feet and ready to pull us down. I caress my hand to my stomach as I observe the leaves tumbling, leaving me with a heavy feeling in my stomach that twists, knots, and tightens like the motions of the leaflets. The breeze declines, and the leaves become motionless.

I gaze back towards where the first crow was, only to find it gone, leaving me with nothing but an unsettling uneasiness in the pit of my stomach and an abandoned grave of where Logan used to rest.