#military paranormal encounters

[blogparanormalexpresso2stuff]

Russian Soldiers Mutilated by Unknown Entity

[goodjohnjr]

There Is Something In The Barracks | Paranormal Encounters In Military Quarters

There Is Something In The Barracks | Paranormal Encounters In Military Quarters What Is It? The YouTube video There Is Something In The Barracks | Paranormal Encounters In Military Quarters by the YouTube channel Wartime Stories: There Is Something In The Barracks | Paranormal Encounters In Military Quarters Here is the description for this video: As if living in the barracks wasn’t bad…

[paranormal-playground-podcast]

The Spirits of Fort Huachuca: Unveiling Arizona's Haunted Fort

Nestled amidst the breathtaking landscapes of southeastern Arizona, Fort Huachuca stands as a testament to the rich history of the American military. Established in 1877, this historic base has witnessed countless soldiers, their families, and civilians come and go, leaving behind a legacy that extends beyond the physical realm. The Spirits of Fort Huachuca are a significant part of its haunted…

[morbidology]

In 1959, a group of nine students from the Ural Polytechnical Institute set out on an expedition through the Ural Mountains in the Soviet Union. Led by Igor Dyatlov, the group aimed to reach the summit of Otorten, a remote and challenging peak. Unfortunately, their journey would end in one of the most perplexing and eerie mysteries of the 20th century.

The group left in January of that year, fully equipped and with considerable experience in handling cold-weather treks. However, not long after the journey began, one member, Yuri Yudin, became ill and had to return home, a decision that would ultimately spare his life. The remaining hikers continued their trek, moving across the slopes of Kholat Syakhl, a mountain ominously known as "Dead Mountain" among the local Mansi people.

Their last communication was on January 31, when Dyatlov sent a message stating that they were progressing, though delayed by harsh weather conditions. It wasn't until the group failed to return home as scheduled that a search and rescue operation began.

On February 26, searchers made a strange discovery: the group’s tent was found abandoned and slashed open from the inside. Oddly, most of their equipment and warm clothing were left behind, suggesting that they fled in a hurry despite the bitter cold.

Following a trail of footprints leading away from the tent, rescuers eventually found the bodies of five of the hikers. They were in various stages of undress, with two found near a makeshift fire beneath a large cedar tree. The others were scattered between the tree and the tent. It appeared as though they had succumbed to the freezing temperatures as they attempted to return to shelter.

It wasn't until May, two months later, that the remaining four bodies were discovered further into the woods, buried in snow within a ravine. These hikers had suffered far more serious injuries. Two had fatal chest trauma, and another had a severe skull fracture. Disturbingly, one of the women was missing her tongue, eyes, and part of her lips.

What else struck the searchers as peculiar was that some of the victims' clothing was found to be radioactive. Despite extensive investigations, no definitive cause of death was ever determined. The official Soviet report vaguely concluded that the hikers had died due to "an unknown compelling force."

Over the years, various theories have been proposed to explain what happened at Dyatlov Pass. Some suggest that an avalanche may have forced the group to flee the tent in panic, although there is little evidence to support the occurrence of an avalanche in the area.

Another theory suggested that wind-induced infrasound might have triggered extreme fear and irrational behavior among the hikers. However, this theory does not adequately account for the severe physical injuries observed in some of the victims.

More controversial speculations involve secret Soviet military tests or experiments, particularly given the radiation detected on the victims' clothing. Some theories even venture into the realm of the paranormal, suggesting that the hikers may have encountered a yeti or extraterrestrial beings, though these ideas are often dismissed as implausible.

[theimpossiblescheme]

Possibly controversial Doctor Who take: UNIT should never have been a military organization. I've always hated the idea of the Doctor becoming a stooge for human governments, and it's only gotten grosser as time's gone on... I think UNIT would be much more interesting as an independent research organization (hell, more of a glorified clubhouse full of nerds) rather than a defense taskforce.

Picture this: we start with Colonel Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart, shortly after his encounter with the Second Doctor and the robotic yeti. The whole affair's opened his eyes to a much wider world than he previously thought, and he's taken an interest extraterrestrial life and technology. At first, he thinks only of how this knowledge can be used to England's advantage, but soon it turns into curiosity for its own sake and a genuine urge to learn about other worlds. When another alien creature comes to Earth, Alistair just wants to talk to them if he can. So instead of shooting them on sight like the rest of his regiment, he goes out of his way to defend the alien. Alistair is dragged in front of a court martial for it, and even though he refuses to back down--the creature wasn't threatening anybody, and even if it was, it was still a cowardly move since they outnumbered it seven to one!--he's discharged from the army in disgrace. Severely disillusioned and having done some soul-searching for why he ever worked with those bastards to begin with, he starts to seek out like-minded people. People who are both disgusted with the military and curious about worlds beyond Earth. This leads him to Liz Shaw, John Benton, Jo Grant, and maybe a couple of honest-to-God aliens who've been going about their business unbothered. Maybe the alien whose life Alistair saved decides to join in as well. Together, they pool their knowledge, funds, and resources to found their own private research base to learn about all things paranormal and/or extraterrestrial. It's not a fancy or expensive affair--they're based out of Liz's house, and there's a big hand-painted KEEP OUT sign out front--but it serves their purpose. They don't bother gathering weapons or anything like that since they want to learn about visitors to Earth, not drive them away. The government and the greater Ivory Tower scientific community thinks they're naive at best and idiotic at worst, but they're long past giving a fuck. And when the Third Doctor is unceremoniously dumped on Earth by the Time Lords, the newly-formed UNIT shelters them and offers them a position as scientific advisor. Alistair might even be able to commiserate with them on "Oh, you were strung along by a bunch of close-minded shitstains who'd rather murder something new than try to understand it? Me, too, bud, let's go get drunk about it sometime."

And thus begins a grand, regeneration-spanning saga of protecting new aliens, sabotaging the military, recruiting old companions who want to carry on the Doctor's work, and giving both the Queen and the Time Lords an industrial-grade migraine. Because they're not soldiers--they're "idiots" with some books and a screwdriver, passing through, helping out, and learning as they go.

[niuniente]

Have you ever heard of a podcast called Monstrous Agonies? It's an advice segment for creatures of the night, and I think it's really good. (They're also here on tumblr @monstrousagonies.) Asking because I realized you've reblogged the same types of posts as they have, which tells me you have similar tastes in at least some things, and also because I always want to share things I think are awesome. (All their episodes have transcripts, so one can read the stuff if listening to it might be a problem; great for ADHD, also great for when there was noisy construction going on outside.)

I listen to non-fiction podcasts (and videos) a lot! Especially when drawing. I will give a try to this podcast series, even though it's fictional.

I typically listen to peoples' experiences, like near-death experiences, cryptid encounters, paranormal encounters etc. My newest favorite is The Why Files, which is an investigating journalism channel or various topics as different paranormal encounters, CIA, UFOs, conspiracy theories like is the Moon a man-made object, secret USA military projects, time traveling etc. Always with the question "Is this REALLY true and if not, here are the facts supporting it and if yes, here are the facts supporting that". Highly fascinating and well composed, unbiased series!

Other channels I listen to are

Mom on the spectrum Taylor, a mom of 2, tells about her journey to autism diagnosis at the age of 32, and about life as an autistic, adult woman. Very informative, not a v-blog.

Weird World Stories of peoples' paranormal encounters, glitches in the matrix, past lives etc. unexplainable.

Darkness Prevails The best channel for all kinds of paranormal encounters! Contains tons of cryptid encounters, too.

Dogman Encounters An online "radio" program which interviews face-to-face people who have encounteres dogmen cryptids.

Raven Reads Tons of paranormal encounters of myriad of kinds! Typically sent to Raven directly. Raven also makes 5-10h long video compilations.

Absolute History Super amazing British history channel with short episodes of varied historical topics! These are made to be watched but you can follow them by listening, too.

What Lurks Beneath I haven't been listening to this channel much after it changed its format but the older episodes, which are just read compilations of peoples' paranormal experiences are amazing, especially the military encounters. These helped me to stay sane when I was recovering from a surgery and was in agony.

Paranormal Rising Another excellent channel for all kinds of paranormal experiences people have reported to have!

Anita Moorjani Official I love Anita and listen to her videos whenever I can. Anita is a spiritual speaker and a teacher, helping people to discover their own joyous lives.

Irish in Finland As it says, an Irish man lives in Finland with his Finnish wife. He makes lots of videos about Finnish mythology, history and ancient culture. Probably the best source for Finnish folklore history!

NDE Diary People tell about their near-death experiences. This is one of the best NDE channels if you ask me, as some of the American run NDE channels concentrate on NDEs which align only with Christian values. I want to listen to all kinds of experiences, not just something which supports one religion's views.

Thanatos TV EN An English version (dubbed) of a German channel, which interviews face-to-face German people who have had near-death experiences. Updates rarely but the quality is good.

SPECIAL MENTION - TO WATCH うさぎ村Ch - UsagimuraCh Usagimura - literally Rabbit Forest - is a Japanese breeder who breeds small rabbits. She always introduces newborn bunnies and follows their growth for a month. Videos have English subtitles, if you click them open. This is my happy mood channel!

[tendaysoftenzo]

Prompt Discussion - Yamato's Ghost Stories | O Captain My Captain

Ten Days of Tenzo 2023: Day 1 (Nov 1)

Each year, the prompts for Ten Days of Tenzo are open to your interpretation! We enjoy all the TDOT participation, and we wanted to give some ideas for how you could interpret each prompt.

Yamato's Ghost Stories

We all know Tenzo likes to make scary faces at Naruto, so maybe he'll be telling his teammates a scary story too. Or maybe someone's turning the tables and trying to scare him!

Maybe he's living the story! Is Tenzo the one who is a ghost? Did he go to the other side, or is he simply under the effects of a jutsu? Can people see him, or is he an invisible observer?

Or, is Tenzo one who is meeting the ghost? Who is this apparition? Hashirama, whose mokuton he inherited? Is he meeting a family member, or a lost loved one? Is he encountering the spirit of one of the characters we see die in the series, like Zabuza, or Minato? Did Kakashi decide to say hello during his brief death? Are they reanimations, or are they spirits?

Maybe it's a Modern AU. On the literal side of things, he could end up ghost-hunting with fun paranormal tech, either of his own volition or roped in by a friend. Team 7 could have their ghost story podcast!

Or maybe we're playing with term "ghosting" and we're finding out why Tenzo and another character stopped texting/talking?

You could be incorporating the superstitions and legends that are familiar to you, or you could be creating your own new, silly or sombre lore.

O Captain My Captain

We know that the name that our favourite tree man is introduced under is Captain Yamato. Are we learning about his experience leading missions? Or a team captain he admires, like Kakashi or Asuma? Is Tenzo getting ready to move on from being a captain, and take on new title?

He's captain of his ninja youths, but he could also be captain of a ship, or a plane. Maybe he's the kind of captain you'd see in a sci-fi series. Perhaps he's a different kind of captain outside of the military. Is he captain of a sports team? A debate club? A mountain expedition?

This prompt is also a quote from the Dead Poets Society, so maybe we're leaning into Tenzo being a teacher. Is he teaching ninja skills, or life lessons? Is it a modern AU, where he's a botany professor, or is he teaching Naruto and co. at a high school?

Tenzo could be meeting or becoming a captain from another beloved media in an AU/crossover, like Captain America (Captain Konoha?) or Captain Hook? Maybe he's gone the way of Captain Planet, and become an eco-crimefighter!

We could also be thinking of real-life objects with "Captain" in their name, like Tenzo drinking some Captain Morgan rum, or eating Cap'n Crunch? (Not an ad, we promise!)

Maybe we're using "captain" as a verb, and Tenzo is championing an idea, or just being a natural leader among friends. Maybe he's being the Captain of the Sass Brigade. Possibilities are endless!

Thank you to everyone who suggested a prompt, and to everyone who enjoys TDOT. These are just a few ideas! Feel free to get creative.

MORE INFO | UPDATES | ALL PROMPT DISCUSSIONS

[esoterium]

by request only muses.

// these muses are muses i would love to write but are less popular on the blog! they are now by request only. feel free to send memes or approach for plots, etc! they are always open and ready to go but i will prefer some plotting beforehand and have a little bit of an idea where we are heading out the gate! current partners and threads are good to go as usual. much love!

–THE WALKING DEAD.

name: daryl dixon age: 30+ and timeline dependent sexual preference: straight(ish?) occupation: survivalist, jack of all trades, dog dad faceclaim: norman reedus notes: i’m willing to play all timelines up to the end of season 11. so far, i’ve not watched twd: daryl dixon. i don’t plan to til i find out what happens with carol in it. tbh i’m not interested if they hurt her. lol! so i’ll be divergent with my own canon til then.

name: rick grimes age: 23+ sexual preference: bisexual, mostly curious til plotted occupation: father, husband, former deputy, leader, survivalist faceclaim: andrew lincoln

name: beth greene age: 25+ (prefer to write beth post season 7 and plotted!) sexual preference: straight occupation: former farmer’s daughter, survivor, thief faceclaim: emily kinney notes: heavily divergent. was found by a surgeon of the hospital and taken in. they have remained together since then. she is a thief/nomad who lies on the outskirts of the commonwealth and has yet to be encountered.

–STEPHEN KING'S UNIVERSE.

name: pete moore age: 32+ sexual preference: bisexual occupation: wanted to be an astronaut but became a car salesman faceclaim: timothy olyphant fandom: stephen king's dreamcatcher, derry crossovers welcome!

name: joe 'beaver' clarendon age: 31+ sexual preference: bisexual occupation: the comic relief, the divorced drunk, the seer faceclaim: jason lee fandom: stephen king's dreamcatcher, derry crossovers welcome!

name: stanley "stan" uris age: 12+ sexual preference: bisexual occupation: the birdmad boy, accountant, the one who remembers faceclaim: wyatt oleff, andy bean fandom: stephen king's it, primary muse from it.

–ANNE RICE'S NOVELS.

name: nicolas de lenfent age: appears 21 sexual preference: bisexual occupation: violinist, playwright, mad vampire faceclaim: none

name: santino age: appears 32 sexual preference: bisexual occupation: former coven leader, wanderer faceclaim: none

– GENERAL HORROR.

name: lydia deetz age: 39+ (will only write her in the first era w/ est. partners!) sexual preference: bisexual occupation: photographer faceclaim: winona ryder fandom: beetlejuice (film! see above for musical!)

name: ellison oswalt age: 35+ sexual preference: straight occupation: famous true crime author, currently on a comeback? kinda hated by some. mostly cops. and district attorneys. and most law enforcement. faceclaim: ethan hawke fandom: sinister

name: grace le domas age: 26 sexual preference: straight, bi-curious occupation: former server at a high end restaurant, writer, survivor of a hell of a honeymoon night faceclaim: samara weaving fandom: ready or not

name: timothy price bryce age: 27+ sexual preference: homosexual straight occupation: another vice president of mergers and acquisitions at pierce & pierce faceclaim: justin theroux fandom: american psycho notes: heavily influenced by headcanons. please see rules @traintracked as they are unique to him for extremely important reasons!

name: laurie strode age: 18+ sexual preference: demisexual occupation: babysitter (younger), former headmistress && teacher, writer faceclaim: jamie lee curtis fandom: halloween

– && OTHERS

name: terry bellefleur age: 35+ sexual preference: open minded occupation: retired military, jack of all trades, construction worker faceclaim: todd lowe fandom: true blood

name: elon "eli" spengler (canon but HEAVILY developed damn near oc) age: 35+ / verse dependent sexual preference: demisexual occupation: professor of microbiology and abnormal psychology and brain studies at columbia university, extremely hesitant paranormal researcher, inventor, scientist, environmentalist, wastebuster, former researcher at the cdc. faceclaim: jeff goldblum fandom: ghostbusters notes: my favorite movie of all time. elon is a canon but never truly expanded on twin brother of egon spengler. i'm making them fraternal. elon or eli as he prefers to be called in honor of his grandfather is an absolute paranormal magnent and the reason why egon became so fascinated with the paranormal (and a means of researching it) to begin with. in spite of what was told to their parents and the outside world.

eli was plagued with visits, whispers, dreams and sights of the dead. something he feared, hated and was terrified of. not only because of the nature of what he was seeing and his age. but how their scientifically minded parents and family would view his claims. eli did not go egon's route of understanding. instead. he went the opposite trying to rationalize his fears, visions and hauntings in hopes of the problem 'ceasing to exist'. where one was an outcast (egon), eli was viewed as conforming to the spengler mindframe and fit in with his family.

a guilt he carries now as all his willful ignorance and blind eyes never truly worked (the ghosts? nightmares? everything is still there) and with egon dead? has only worsened. it's with the arrival of an anonymous letter warning him of what is about to pass in new york city than the reclusive spengler has made himself known and extremely reluctantly involved with his brother's former teammates. all of egon's inventions. those that exist and never were are inside of his mind. his brother's research, thoughts, ideas? it's all there. he's just never told anyone.. and who knows what he's willing to give up?

[witcherhomeinspector]

anatomy of a ""true"" scary story

1. the needlessly detailed intro. explains too much about the characters, their motivations, their beliefs/expectations, and why they end up in the setting they do. each character is perfect for the role they will play in the story, and they never do anything unexpected or out-of-character unless it furthers the evidence in an extremely obvious way.

(e.g., "mandy was always the most level-headed and skeptical of us, so why was she the most scared by the lights in the sky? it must be because she had finally seen something her logical mind couldn't explain away with facts and reason - like a real UFO.")

2. the blatant ethos-building. attempts to build up the narrator as knowledgeable, reliable, and objective. often cites hunting/camping/military experience, stresses how much of a skeptic they are/were, and usually finishes up with some sort of claim about how they know "everything there is to know" about a certain field or location. writer assumes that everyone who reads the story will have the same degree of knowledge that they have and so will trust their narrator's expertise, which becomes apparent when the evidence they describe and the conclusions they come to are inconsistent or just plain factually incorrect.

(e.g., "trust me, I've been hunting in these woods since I was seven, and I know all of the animals that live around here. none of them have orange eye-shine, let alone orange eye-shine nine feet off the ground." <- has apparently never heard of owls sitting in branches, despite having perfectly described the call of a screech owl earlier as part of the "evidence")

3. the purely emotional foreshadowing. insists that narrator or others around them "had a bad feeling" or "sensed a dark energy" in the place where the main action would later take place. rational reasons for unease either excluded or dismissed as unrelated.

(e.g., "we all had a weird feeling about being inside this old abandoned building. sure it was dark, moldy, rotting, and unsafe to be in, and sure we had spent years listening to stories about how often people got hurt or scared in here, and sure we heard noises that could easily be interpreted as signs of danger, but none of that explains why we all felt like something was watching us, or why we suddenly felt the icy grip of dread around our hearts.")

4. the stupid decisions that lead to the climax. often described ironically, as though the narrator is aware of their poor decision-making. the equivalent of comic book characters going "i know this isn't realistic, but just play along, okay?" may or may not be justified ("i know it was stupid, but i had to because ___"), but if so, justification usually over-reliant on ethos ("i'm a skeptic - I had to see for myself, because i wasn't going to believe it otherwise") or pathos ("my beloved dog who saved my life once ran towards the scary sound so i had to go after her").

5. the mimetic climax. the "encounter" with the allegedly paranormal thing is just a magazine-cuttings ransom note of things other people have said/written in other stories on similar topics. sometimes it's juiced up with wildly over-the-top detail such as gore, poetic imagery, or unlikely dialogue, but the bare bones default to the list of tried and true horror elements. talking about a voice-mimicking shape-shifter? describe the voice as "staticky" and "distorted." talking about aliens? check wikipedia for the most agreed-upon descriptions of "greys." talking about demons? put that shit on the ceiling and make sure it's scared away by christian imagery and prayer!

6. the convenient black-out. in attempting to build drama and suspense, the storyteller writes their narrator into an inescapable bind, or else runs out of steam and doesn't want to come up with a detailed detente. the narrator, often wracked with terror and sure of their impending demise, mercifully passes out from fear or exhaustion and wakes to find the danger is past. especially common in stories about demons, shadow-people, and aliens - this definitely doesn't coincide with how often elements of these stories mock or mimic real-life experiences with sleep paralysis, schizophrenia, hallucinations, and other neurological conditions.

(e.g., "the pure malevolence of the black shadow suffocated me, and i couldn't move, not even to close my eyes. my legs gave out beneath me, and i crumpled to the floor while the shadow moved towards me, bending over me and filling me with dread. then everything went black, and the next thing i knew, i was lying on the kitchen floor with sunlight streaming in through the windows, and the entity was gone. my whole body hurt, and i was exhausted, but i didn't feel afraid anymore, just confused and a bit fuzzy. i definitely did not just have a seizure, and was instead the victim of a psychic attack by some unknown entity. posting this here so that anyone else who definitely isn't having seizures can see that they are not alone and should take my experiences as a sign that the shadow realm is real and that anyone who wants you to see a doctor is gaslighting you and calling you crazy. i believe that you're having real visions of the shadow realm, even if no one else does <3")

7. the reifying lesson. the conclusion of the story affirms that all of the rumors, legends, tales, etc. that the narrator had originally disbelieved are, in fact, unassailably true. often involves the narrator sharing their experiences and having them confirmed by others, and stresses the long-term impact of the story's events. the narrator might be dogged by visions or memories of what they saw, or maybe they got a friend who conveniently specializes in the "occult" to give them an amulet or ritual to keep them safe. either way, the narrator now feels that it is their moral duty to share their story with as many people as possible in order to prevent others from making their same highly specific and easily avoidable mistakes.

bonus 1: stresses that the narrator and co. are the only people who could possibly be where they are. establishes isolation of location such that normal human activity could not possibly account for experiences, even though humans famously love to fuck with each other and are extremely good at it. "it made absolutely no sense that someone would be out in these woods at night, without a flashlight, so far from civilization, so who - or what - could be making that noise?" my brother in hypocrisy you are (purportedly) out in these woods at night, without a flashlight, so far from civilization, stomping through the undergrowth and making a ruckus.

bonus 2: inappropriately references or claims legitimacy through native american lore. a white lady successfully "smudges" a demon-infested house, or a conveniently appearing native character shares a sacred cultural artifact with a complete stranger who reports to have experienced something the native character solemnly identifies as a piece of their cultural heritage.

bonus 3: attempts to beef up an otherwise unremarkable story with the addition of Scary PeopleTM. Scary PeopleTM can include anyone who is walking, moving, acting, or talking in a way that the narrator does not consider "normal," and can also include people that the narrator doesn't think should be in this setting - such as people wearing certain clothing, people from a certain ethnic background, poor people, disabled people, and houseless/transient people. if these people are not outright described as "creepy," "inhuman," "possessed," or "unnatural," then they are posed as probable threats or perpetrators of violence, either against the narrator or against others, instead of just people who are living their lives and don't want to be harassed.

[a-mag-a-day]

MAG 76 - To be honest I have no idea was I was doing when I first listened to this episode. I'm sure I was baking last episode and next episode I was dying my hair again, but this one?

Urgh, Melanie is actually making an effort to be very polite (except for the "pompous ass", but Jon absolutely deserved that here from her) and Jon is still super dismissive. I thought he knew better by now. Maybe he's had a bad day…

Jon here in the beginning always needs someone else to get hurt before he finally overcomes his defensiveness. Switching from "Fuck off with your grey ladies, I don't have time for that" to "I think making a statement is for the best" in mere seconds as soon as he saw Melanie's wound. Is this some kind of reaction because of his trauma from Mr. Spider? Thinking of others like "You don't have seen bad spooky things unless someone got hurt in the process. I had to endure it, so I only believe others when they had to as well"?

"Recorded direct from subject, 13th February, 2017." - Aw man, we are sooo close to THAT date! I have it saved as a reminder on my phone :)

"That’s why so many of us tend to go over to America. It’s so much bigger that there’s a lot more supposedly haunted locations on the circuit." - Ok seriously, I know of sooo many supposedly haunted locations in the US and… only one in Austria. Why is that? Most ghost hunting stuff I see is in the US (well, there's actually also some in Asia and Africa, only ever saw that in compilations though). I know one Austrian show (Paranormal Signs Investigations, only watched one episode, a bit too tedious for me) and a German one (Die Geisterakten), but that's about it. I was told once it's because US history is so young and the Civil War got referenced. But that can't be it. There is plenty of mass violence history in Europe, even younger than the Civil War. Like the World Wars, Yugoslavia war, hell, there's a war raging in Europe right now!

"I don’t know what it was about Sarah Baldwin that mixed so badly with the presence in the CMH" - Even when Sarah Baldwin will later tell us about that encounter, I never got that it was about a Slaughter ghost getting pissy because a Stranger crossed into their territory XD

"So the more I looked, the more I realised that there was this huge list of places that my colleagues steered completely clear of without even realising it" - Do we know what's the lore reason for this? Wouldn't ghost hunters be excellent prey for the Fears? They seek this stuff out! Probably could recruit a few of those as avatars as well.

"After a while, you start to get a feel for the ones that are real or, at least, that the writer thinks are real. They tend to be the messy ones. The ones that don’t really have any sense or resolution, no narrative flow." - That the only reason for it? Can't get an audience with the real stuff? Well actually that works pretty well, a lot of crafter videos work a lot better when they only show a fraction of the work (5 minute crafts and stuff like that). The long videos that go into detail are too much for most people. It makes it look complicated, most people want easy.

MELANIE "I should have turned back, really, but by then I was kind of obsessed with finding anything to reassure me that I hadn’t been seeing things back in Aldershot." JON "I think I understand the feeling." - Aw, Melanie and Jon bonding there. They really are quite similar.

"The fabric that covered it was that same military green as outside, and the body that lay on it was covered in a white cotton bag, stained black near the bottom. It wasn’t lying still, either, but it twitched and writhed as though in pain." - Love the voice acting there! It sounds like she's about to cry every second now.

"They couldn’t decide whether to call the police or the ambulance, so split the difference and called both." - Don't know what's the protocol in other countries, but in Austria, if you call the ambulance for any kind of accident the police will be alerted as well and be coming with. A few years ago my horse tripped in the arena and fell, I badly hit my head on the ground and got a concussion. Shortly after the ambulance arrived the police was also pulling up xD I was like "What are gonna do, arrest my horse?" xD

MELANIE "I was actually a meme for a day or two. You do know what that is, don’t you?" JON "Yes, I know what a meme is." - the meta of this actually becoming a meme XD

MELANIE "It crashed in April 1945. Derailed, killed 5 crew and seriously injured 14 more. There weren’t any patients on board at the time. At least, not officially. There was only one steel train car that avoided derailment." JON "I see." MELANIE "Exactly." - Ok, but I don't see it, can someone enlighten me? What is so special about that piece of history there? I've always been super confused by their talk after the statement…

Aw, them suddenly becoming super excited about that William Hay bit (that one never got mentioned again, did they?).

MELANIE "Oh… No, is that another Sasha? Are you collecting them?" - Actually they kinda do? There's Sasha James, Not!Sasha, Sasha Racket (should be sounding familiar to Melanie xD), Sasha Sienna…

Jon doesn't sound solemnly patronizing here. You can hear the confusion and distress in his voice when he says that this IS the Sasha he's remembering. I think it already dawns on him there. I mean, it didn't take him long to get to Gertrude's notes on "imposters". Melanie's already getting angry there and I can very well understand her. AFAB, and I get this belittling and patronizing a lot and I am sick of it and also will get defensive immediately and in further consequence very angry. It's one of the rare circumstances I will swallow down my social anxiety and start a shouting match.

This is one of the few times Jon and Melanie are fairly civil with each other for most of the episode, and you can really see how similar they are.

[chevvy-yates]

🗣 🌀 📘  for ryder

🛋 🥣 for vijay pls 🖤

🗣: Is your muse/OC talkative or quiet? Or does it depend on who they are speaking with?

already answered, but I'll copy paste it: It really just depend on who he's speaking with in the first place. In general Ryder is pretty talkative, but he has times when he's also very quiet. If he doesn't want to talk, better leave him be or it gets worse. He's got a hot temper as well.

🌀: Does your muse/OC believe in the paranormal? Why or why not?

Not so much. Has more to do with that he never encountered something paranormal for real. He likes the stories about Japanese yokai, Hizumi is telling sometimes, but doesn't think they exist. Even those cryptits of Night City can in 90% be explained with cyberpsychos or gons that want to play a prank. If V asks him to go exploring he only goes with him in most cases because of the high danger of a cyberpsycho.

📘: What type of books does your muse/OC like?

First of all, he loves books about space/the universe. He owns plenty of them at home. He just loves to study everything that was found in the black nothingness and is totally bats about colonializing other planets in far away galaxies. Another topic you'll find in his bookshelves is books about war and military — mostly historic ones. He's got a lot of stuff about tanks and jets, uniforms of the world, lots of WWI and WWII related books. Few about other wars can be found as well. Is pretty much interested in how diffeent authors have different views onto wars. Of course you will also find romans about space. But he also enjoy reading thrillers and sometimes even gay love stories. He also got a few books about art and architecture — it's mostly Brutalism. Some coffee table books as well. Themes are cities, art, photography, male body, historic stuff etc.)

🛋: How does you muse/OC relax after a long day?

In 90% of the cases, his day ends around 3am. When he comes home he takes a warm long shower to relax his tired muscles and clear his busy mind. After that, and if he's not tired, he grabs a few snacks and a lemonade and zaps the tv channels for a while. He's got some documentary channels he likes to watch often. If not, he will likely just fall into his cozy bed and tries to get some sleep (if his busy minds lets him).

Bonus: If Arki is with him, he'll cuddle against him and enjoy their quality time. If both of them aren't tired and need to relax: sex – pretty much everywhere they like it. V knows Arki can relax best through that after a long and hard work day.

🥣: What is your muse’s/OC’s comfort meal?

Yaki Soba and Gyoza — all vegetarian, tho.

[blogparanormalexpresso2stuff]

UFO Sighting Over the Canary Islands is Next Level Strange

In June 1976, over a million people in the Canary Islands witnessed a massive explosion of light in the sky, sparking rumors of UFO activity. Eyewitnesses, including a Spanish Navy captain, described a strange luminous phenomenon that left the region in awe. Declassified military documents later hinted at a more earthly explanation, with theories ranging from a secret U.S. missile launch to a rare atmospheric event. Despite ongoing investigations, the mystery remains unsolved. Was it a UFO, a military test, or something else entirely? Dive into this fascinating case and explore the possibilities.

[moonieshinesims]

Generation 2 - Chapter 7

Six years after the death of Michiko's parents and friends, she is now a middle schooler and spends her days outside of class hosting a paranormal podcast with her best friend Phoenix. But creepy, weird things have been happening around the house, and Michiko wants to get to the bottom of them...!

Sidenotes: 1 - I didn't mean to make Michiko look like Ashley Spinelli from Recess, but it happened... So oh well! And 2 - I apparently can't spell "specters", so in all the images, it's spelled wrong...

After six years Ako has gotten used to domesticity. After Dustin graduated high school, he moved into the house and the three of them - he, Dustin, and Michiko have been living like a little family.

Unfortunately for them, lately the ghost situation has been getting worse.

Ako could see them, and he was aware that Michiko could as well, but Dustin was still oblivious to their presence.

As of late, Michiko was encountering more and more of a special type of ghost. One that looked different than the normal Sim ones.

Sometimes they were mean to her and played tricks on everyone in the household, but sometimes they seemed friendly, and would sprinkle some type of glitter on her that made her feel super happy and carefree.

Michiko was warned not to mess with them, however, because their presence spelled trouble!

Of course, that probably wasn't the right thing to tell an aspiring paranormal investigator...

Michiko and Phoenix, while not popular yet at all, were developing a video podcast series on the paranormal together. Phoenix had always been into aliens and conspiracy theories, while Michiko's life was literally embroiled in mystery - what with her parents mysterious death in the lab explosion (that the military still wouldn't release files on). She could also see ghosts, so it only made sense for them to turn their interests into something that could potentially earn them money!

She and Phoenix did hang out as often as they could, but since they didn't go to school together, it was no longer an everyday thing. Yelena's job as a high-priority politician always kept her family in slight danger, so Phoenix went to a private academy, while Michiko was still at the public school.

"Anyways," Phoenix coughed, "We're going to go in my room and do some research for our show! Call us out when dinner's ready!"

He grabbed Michiko's sleeve and dragged her into his bedroom.

"I better not hear anything weird happening in there!" Yelena called out. The two kids could hear her and Roh giggling from the other side of the door.

Phoenix blushed and Michiko rolled her eyes, "We're like... 12. That's gross."

"Whatever, just ignore them. You know how free-spirited they are." Phoenix sat at his desk, while Michiko took the bed.

Phoenix nearly jumped out of his seat, "Specters!? Hell yeah I know about specters!" He quickly pulled his phone out and motioned for Michiko to come closer, "Take a look at this."

It was some paranormal encyclopedia and forum. They saw a chat log of people detailing their experiences with specters.

Phoenix slowly stopped scrolling and looked up at Michiko, "Anyways, why?"

"Well... If you've ever wanted any first hand experience at dealing with them... They've kinda taken over my house."

Phoenix's mouth hung open, "When can I come over?!"

[pagebypagereviews]

In the 19th installment of the GhostWalkers series, "Ghostly Game," author Christine Feehan plunges readers into the labyrinth of adrenaline-pumping action and tangled emotions that define her world of psychic soldiers and covert operations. This series has long been a cornerstone for fans of paranormal romance and military thrill-suspense narratives, with Feehan proving time and again her ability to craft stories that weave together the intricate threads of love, loyalty, and lethal abilities. “Ghostly Game” is no exception, inviting long-term enthusiasts and new readers alike to dive headlong into the tumultuous lives of its characters, where the line between ally and adversary blurs with every stealthy maneuver. The significance of "Ghostly Game" within the GhostWalkers series cannot be overstated. Feehan pushes the boundaries of her own universe, tackling new challenges and unraveling further complexities amid the superhuman capabilities of her characters. Readers are presented with a narrative that not only delivers the expected high-octane thrills and passionate encounters but also confronts the moral quandaries intrinsic to a life shrouded in secrecy and danger. By focusing on emotional resilience and the power of unity, Feehan offers solutions to the personal battles faced by her characters, reflecting the broader human condition and the ever-present tension between personal desires and professional duty. With "Ghostly Game," one is not just reading another chapter in a long-running series — one is witnessing the evolution of a tightly-knit team ready to challenge the spectral threats that lie ahead. Plot The plot of "Ghostly Game: GhostWalkers, Book 19" by Christine Feehan continues to delve deep into the GhostWalkers' world, a top-secret military program involving enhanced soldiers with psychic abilities. This installment follows a specific character, whose highly specialized skills are integral to navigating the complex missions they undertake. The narrative usually involves a blend of intense action, strategic military operations, and a pivotal romantic relationship that evolves alongside the core storyline. The central plot focuses on a high-stakes mission – typically involving covert operations, political intrigue, or a threat that necessitates the specialized abilities of the GhostWalkers. Readers are plunged into a world where the characters must use their training and supernatural skills to survive, complete their objectives, and protect one another. The storylines are often characterized by a series of twists and turns, finely crafted tension, and strategically placed revelations that keep readers on their toes. Throughout the novel, the GhostWalkers deal with both external enemies and internal dynamics within their team. Enemy forces can range from rogue states to corrupt organizations that seek to exploit the GhostWalkers' abilities for nefarious purposes. Subplots often question the morality of the program and the toll it takes on its participants, setting the stage for emotional as well as physical confrontations. Characters The characters in "Ghostly Game: GhostWalkers, Book 19" are meticulously developed, each with a unique set of enhanced abilities that contribute to the group dynamic. The protagonist is typically a skilled GhostWalker soldier whose physical and psychic capabilities are matched by their depth of emotion and moral complexity. Their romantic interest is equally detailed, often a strong character with her own skills that complement the protagonist's, leading to a powerful partnership both personally and professionally. Supporting characters include fellow GhostWalkers, each with distinct personalities, strengths, and weaknesses. They form a tight-knit community wherein loyalty and camaraderie are pivotal. Antagonists in the series are often ruthless and possess a deep understanding of the GhostWalkers, presenting a formidable threat that requires more than mere brute force to overcome. These

characters may have conflicting goals, psychological depth, and personal vendettas that add richness to the narrative. Character development is a key aspect of the book, with backstories and interpersonal relationships that evolve throughout the novel. Through their interactions and dialogue, inner conflicts are explored, providing insights into their motivations and increasing the reader’s emotional investment in their fates. Writing Style Christine Feehan’s writing style in the GhostWalker series is known for its immersive descriptions, fast-paced action sequences, and intricate attention to detail regarding military and scientific elements. She often employs a third-person narrative that allows readers to experience the thoughts and emotions of multiple characters, providing a multi-faceted view of the storyline. The prose can be both straightforward during action scenes and richly descriptive when detailing the world or the psychic phenomena experienced by the characters. Feehan deftly balances exposition with dialogue, ensuring the pacing remains brisk while still fleshing out the complexities of the GhostWalker’s universe. Psychological depth is conveyed through internal monologue, which Feehan uses to give readers access to the characters' inner struggles, fears, and desires. This introspection adds layers to the narrative, making the action and romance more impactful. Additionally, her ability to write emotionally charged romantic scenes without sacrificing the overall tension of the thriller aspect of the story is notable. Setting The setting of "Ghostly Game: GhostWalkers, Book 19" is expected to be multifaceted, illustrating both the physical landscapes where the GhostWalkers' missions occur and the secretive environments where their abilities are honed. Locations could range from war-torn regions to dense jungles, or from high-tech facilities to remote safe houses, showcasing a variety of backdrops that reflect the global scope of the GhostWalkers' operations. Detailed descriptions of these settings are integral to the immersive experience, with Feehan often painting a vivid picture of the sights, sounds, and atmosphere to ground the reader in the story. The authenticity of the military and scientific aspects is achieved through careful research, resulting in realistic depictures of equipment and procedures. The settings do more than provide a backdrop; they interact with the plot, influencing the strategies and actions of the characters. Harsh environments may test the GhostWalkers' endurance or psychic gifts, while urban landscapes might require stealth and cunning. The contrast between the cold, sometimes sterile environments of scientific research and the warmth of personal hideaways where GhostWalkers find respite is also thematically relevant, highlighting the duality of their lives. Unique Aspects One of the unique aspects of "Ghostly Game: GhostWalkers, Book 19," and the series as a whole, is the intricate blend of military action, science fiction, and paranormal romance. Christine Feehan has carved a niche wherein each element complements the others, creating a cohesive and compelling narrative. The GhostWalkers series stands out for its detailed psychic abilities and the ethical implications of using such powers, contributing to thought-proselling plotlines that go beyond traditional genre conventions. Another distinct feature is the depth of scientific and military detail, which Feehan explores with an authoritative voice. From the genetic engineering and psychic enhancements of the GhostWalkers to the tactical maneuvers and weaponry they employ, the level of verisimilitude in these areas is high, appealing to readers who appreciate well-researched fiction. Furthermore, the ongoing character development throughout the series adds a richness to the character arcs, ensuring that long-time fans remain engaged, as they can witness the growth and changes in their favorite characters over time. New readers are

also drawn into this intricate world, with each book offering enough context to stand on its own while contributing to the overarching storyline. The integration of emotionally poignant romantic storylines with intense action also sets the series apart. Feehan skillfully manages to deliver heart-pounding romance that does not detract but rather enhances the urgency and stakes of the main plot. The character-driven romance is woven into the fabric of the larger conflict, showing the human side of these superhuman individuals. This multifaceted approach to storytelling is a defining trait that continues to captivate readers. Similar to Ghostly Game: GhostWalkers, Book 19 Book Review Sure, here is an example of how you might structure the pros and cons of the "Ghostly Game: GhostWalkers, Book 19" book review using HTML tables with a style attribute for solid 1px black borders: ```html table width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; th, td border: 1px solid black; padding: 10px; text-align: left; .pros background-color: #e0ffe0; .cons background-color: #ffe0e0; Pros of Ghostly Game Engaging Plot: The narrative maintains a gripping and suspenseful pace, keeping readers engaged throughout the story. Character Development: The characters, particularly the protagonists, are well-developed with depth and complexity, allowing readers to form a connection with them. Continuity: For long-term fans, the book offers a continuation of the character and plot arcs that they have grown to love over the series. World-Building: The author successfully expands the GhostWalkers universe, introducing new elements that enrich the setting. Cons of Ghostly Game Complexity for New Readers: Newcomers to the series might find it difficult to dive into the 19th book without prior knowledge, which can be a barrier to accessibility. Predictability: Some plot points may feel predictable for seasoned readers familiar with the author's formula. Similarity to Previous Books: Those looking for fresh concepts might find the book too similar to its predecessors, lacking significant innovations in terms of plot or character dynamics. Length: The book's length might be daunting for some, potentially impacting reader engagement, especially if the pacing fluctuates. ``` This HTML structure uses two separate tables styled with a solid 1px black border. The tables are separated into "pros" and "cons" with appropriate header rows. Each point is placed in its individual row for clarity. Background colors are used to visually differentiate the two categories (green for pros, red for cons). Evaluating Genre and Subgenre When selecting 'Ghostly Game: GhostWalkers, Book 19', it's crucial to assess its genre and subgenre for alignment with your reading preferences. The book fits within the paranormal romance and military thriller genres. Prospective buyers should have an affinity for narratives that intertwess supernatural elements with romantic storylines, while also enjoying strategic and tactical military action. Understanding that this series blends the intrigue of covert operations with the paranormal assures you get a reading experience that satisfies both speculative fiction and action-adventure cravings. Series Continuity Potential buyers should consider the book's place within the GhostWalkers series. As the 19th installment, it's beneficial to have knowledge of the prior books. Each novel typically follows different protagonists within the same world, allowing for standalone experiences. However, for enriched understanding of the overarching plot and character development, you might prefer to read the preceding novels. When purchasing 'Ghostly Game: GhostWalkers, Book 19', reflect on whether you are comfortable jumping into an ongoing series or if you wish to start from the beginning. Author's Style and Narrative Voice Christine Feehan, the author of the GhostWalkers series, is known for her distinctive writing style. Her narrative voice is descriptive with a focus on world-building and character depth.

Before committing to 'Ghostly Game', familiarize yourself with Feehan's narrative voice by reading excerpts or reviews. Consider if her style matches your reading tastes, which is vital for long-term engagement with a book of this length and complexity. Quality of Printing and Formatting The physical quality of the book is another factor to consider. Verify that you are purchasing a well-bound copy with high-quality paper to ensure durability, especially if you collect books or plan on re-reading. For digital formatting, ensure compatibility with your eBook reader and that the formatting is professional, with no glaring typographical errors that could detract from the reading experience. Reviews and Ratings Investigate what other readers have said about 'Ghostly Game: GhostWalkers, Book 19'. Reviews and ratings can offer insights into the book's strengths and potential weaknesses. Look for patterns in feedback — if many readers mention complex characters or thrilling plot twists; these are likely hallmarks of the book. Conversely, consistent critiques might highlight areas that could affect your enjoyment. Ensure to seek reviews from trusted sources or platforms where book discussions are prevalent. Value for Money Consider the value for money when deciding on this purchase. Evaluate the book's cost against the quality of the content, the author's reputation, and your anticipation of entertainment or enrichment from the reading experience. If the price aligns with the perceived value, 'Ghostly Game: GhostWalkers, Book 19' could be a worthwhile addition to your collection. Compatibility with Reading Goals Finally, align this purchase with your reading goals. If you’re looking to explore new genres, expand your collection of a favorite author, or simply seek an engaging and immersive narrative, verify that this book meets those objectives. The GhostWalkers series, particularly the latest release, is tailored for readers who enjoy complex, interconnected storylines with a blend of action, romance, and the supernatural. In essence, making an informed decision to purchase 'Ghostly Game: GhostWalkers, Book 19' is predicated on an analysis of genre preference, series continuity, the author’s style, book production quality, peer reviews, price evaluation, and your personal reading objectives. By considering each of these aspects, you can gauge whether this book will be a gratifying addition to your library and align with your passion for thrilling, paranormal reads. FAQ for Ghostly Game: GhostWalkers, Book 19 Book Review Do I need to have read the previous 18 books in the GhostWalkers series to understand Ghostly Game? While Ghostly Game can be enjoyed as a standalone novel, it is part of the GhostWalkers series by Christine Feehan, which has an overarching plot and recurring characters. Reading the previous books will provide a more in-depth understanding of the GhostWalker world and character backstories. However, the author often provides enough context for new readers to follow the main storylines without feeling lost. Is Ghostly Game suitable for all ages? Ghostly Game, like the rest of the GhostWalkers series, is aimed at adult readers. It typically contains mature content, including violence and romantic scenes, which may not be appropriate for younger audiences. Parental discretion is advised for readers under the age of 18. What genre does Ghostly Game: GhostWalkers, Book 19 belong to? Ghostly Game is categorized as a paranormal romance with military and science fiction elements. It features psychic powers, genetic engineering, and military action, combined with a central love story. How does this book compare to previous books in the series in terms of quality and content? Opinions on quality and content can be subjective and may vary among readers. Generally, fans of the series appreciate the consistent world-building and character development across the books. With each new installment, Christine Feehan is known to deepen the GhostWalkers lore and bring new perspectives to the ongoing story.

Reviews and comparisons from readers who have followed the series will provide the best insight into how Ghostly Game stacks up against its predecessors. Can I find a summary or a preview of Ghostly Game before I decide to purchase it? Yes, most online book retailers and the author's official website offer a synopsis of Ghostly Game. Some sites also provide a preview, which might include the first chapter or a selected excerpt from the book. This can give you a taste of the writing style and storyline before making a purchase. What format is Ghostly Game available in? Ghostly Game is typically available in various formats, including hardcover, paperback, eBook, and audiobook. Availability can vary based on your region, so check your preferred bookstore or online retailer for the specific formats offered. Are there any reader discussions or book clubs focusing on Ghostly Game I can join? Readers interested in discussing Ghostly Game can find book clubs and discussion forums dedicated to Christine Feehan's works online, including social media platforms and reader communities like Goodreads. These forums often host spirited discussions on the GhostWalkers series and can enhance the reading experience through shared insights and theories. Is there an official release date for the next book in the series, and will it continue the story from Ghostly Game? Publishing dates for future books in the GhostWalkers series are typically announced on Christine Feehan's official website and social media channels closer to the intended release. The next book may continue the overarching narrative of the series and introduce or revisit characters from Ghostly Game, but each novel tends to spotlight a different member of the GhostWalker team. In conclusion, "Ghostly Game: GhostWalkers, Book 19" is a thrilling new addition to the long-standing GhostWalkers series that will certainly captivate both longstanding fans and newcomers to Christine Feehan's work. With its blend of suspense, romance, and paranormal elements, this novel exemplifies the creative storytelling and intricate plot development that has become synonymous with Feehan's name. Throughout the book, readers are taken on a rollercoaster of emotions, balancing the edge-of-your-seat tension with heartfelt moments of human connection. The characters are exceptionally crafted, allowing us to invest deeply in their struggles and triumphs. Feehan's world-building continues to impress, expanding the GhostWalkers universe with new twists and challenges that feel both fresh and familiar. The insights and benefits of delving into "Ghostly Game" are manifold. It's not merely a tale of supernatural endeavors but also a deep exploration of themes such as loyalty, love, and the ethical boundaries of science. This novel will not only entertain but also provoke thought and discussion among its readers. Whether you're in search of a powerful narrative, intricate character dynamics, or a unique blend of genres, "Ghostly Game: GhostWalkers, Book 19" is a valuable choice. It stands as a testament to Christine Feehan's ability to keep her series engaging and dynamic over time. Adding this title to your reading list promises a gripping adventure that is as intellectually stimulating as it is emotionally satisfying. Other Ghostly Game: GhostWalkers, Book 19 Book Review buying options

[morbidology]

This is the last photograph that Daylenn Pua of Oahu, Hawaii, sent his parents. There is a blurry figure behind him, and some speculate, this is Daylenn's killer.

On February 27, 2015, Daylenn Pua set out on a solo hike up the Haiku Stairs despite warnings from his grandmother about the dangers of the trail. Daylenn, who had travelled from the Big Island of Hawaii to Oahu to visit family, was an experienced hiker but unfamiliar with the perils of the Haiku Stairs. He documented his ascent on social media, sharing photos from the trail with his family. These photos, later recovered from his phone, would become crucial pieces of evidence in the search for him.

As the day progressed, communication with Daylenn ceased, and he failed to return from his hike. Concerned, his family reported him missing, sparking a massive search operation involving the Honolulu Fire Department, police, and hundreds of volunteers. Despite extensive efforts, including aerial searches and ground teams combing the area, no trace of Daylenn was ever found.

The disappearance of Daylenn Pua has left investigators and the public with more questions than answers. The final photos Daylenn took before his phone died show him on the trail, but none indicate distress or danger. Some speculate that he may have ventured off the path and fallen, while others wonder if he encountered foul play. The dense vegetation and rugged terrain of the area have made it nearly impossible to recover any definitive evidence of what happened.

Over the years, various theories have emerged to explain his disappearance. One theory suggests that he may have fallen victim to the treacherous conditions of the trail, which is notorious for its steep drops and slippery steps. Others believe that he might have encountered someone else on the trail, possibly leading to a dangerous situation. There are even those who propose more outlandish explanations, such as paranormal activity or a hidden military presence in the area.

Despite these speculations, no concrete evidence has been found to support any particular theory. The case remains open, with Daylenn's family and friends continuing to search for answers.

[the-homunculus-project]

EXAMINING THE SLENDER MAN AS A FOREST PREDATOR

Well, no one asked and everyone shall receive. This is a post to examine just how closely intertwined He is with the very concept of forests, woods, trees in general. I reached out to my sister and thankfully she was kind enough to proofread and edit it so special thanks to Mickie (hi that's me) for looking this over and making sure it's not completely illegible. (tried my best, can't polish a turd.) and hitting that big blue "post now" button while I deal with Ichabod the Homunculus.

BEGINNING WITH BASIC BIOLOGY

To begin, we know The Cuckoo (Calling him by his name made me deeply uncomfortable. So I changed it to something I thought Nick might approve of) is tall, lean, and pretty plain looking. Yes he's humanoid in appearance and has a black suit, but his stature makes him inherently different from humans. It can be debated that his appearance is a form of disruptive camouflage (seen in animals like zebras and fish where stripes and patterns conceal size and break up outlines) which, when in the forest, typically only makes his head visible. This is dependent on how bright it is, how dense the forest is, etc. but what is important to notice is how he often he shows himself at night. Doing this does as is intended conceals the majority of his body in the surrounding darkness.

The forest is ideal for him as the trees conceal the general shape of his body. His long, slender (Nick put thin, that was a damn missed opportunity so I had to change it) limbs in low visibility settings look very similar to the surrounding trees. this is further aided when the trees in question are not upright conifers but instead consist of spindly or twisted branches either occurring naturally or through light-seeking behaviors common in the forest. (made some doodles to exemplify this, since Nick didn't provide any)

Second thing, lets talk about sounds and effects and stuff. Another thing that seems to change from one encounter to the next, but what I've noticed is that whenever he does make any sort of vocalizations, it's usually sounds that would be found in nature. Cicada hums, clicking, angels trumpets (not the instrument, the phenomenon. To me it just sounds like a lawnmower five blocks down) and in my personal experience, the sound of a common cuckoo. In any sort of urban setting these would be out of place, but they're right at home in the woods. Additionally there's the whole radioactive thing, which would be quite disruptive in an urban setting. Even if he was a master of disguising all eight feet of himself in an urban setting, that seems to be something he can't just turn off. Constant disruptions like that would cause mass panic and he'd be found out pretty quickly.

All this to be considered, he is already much more suited for the forest. But that isn't the argument. That's just the context.

(Nick didn't mention it anywhere, but I would like to. Disruptive camouflage is seen pretty often in both animals and military vehicles. When it comes to the military which i'm not sure should be counted because it's man made and not biological, they use gaudy prints and geometry that tricks the eye into ignoring it in favor of the surrounding environment. This isn't what our buddy the slender man does. In animals, however, it's almost exclusively seen in prey animals (especially insects). The way he looks breaks up his appearance into separate smaller parts to misdirect so a predator wouldn't know where or what to attack. I'll let you draw your own conclusions...)

PART TWO, THE LORE OF THE FOREST AND HOW HE FITS INTO IT

Now, I'm sure anyone who's interested in The Cuckoo is at least somewhat familiar with the strange nature of the Appalachians. The region of the earth older than trees and bones that seems to be a hot spot for all sorts of paranormal activity.

You hear a lot about things that exist within this stretch of mountains that runs across the northeast of the United States and Canada. Things like Not Deer, Bigfoot, and most famously, the Mothman (and stairs I'll die on this hill). It's reasonable to ask whether these creatures were created in this mountain range, or if they had been drawn to it due to its strange landscape.

Where does He come from? How was He even made? Was He born? Common belief is that He is an ancient being, maybe even a god, believed in and occasionally worshipped by individuals worldwide under different names. (then why did you put so much emphasis on the Appalachians, dumbass?) What remains the same no matter the location or when the belief was founded, was that He lives in the forest and only emerges to stalk or collect his prey. At this point, I don't know nearly enough to claim "this is where he originated, this is his purpose" because, as far as I know, this information simply doesn't exist. What I do know is that He can't exist only in the appalachians, considering there have been so many sightings outside of them.

Getting back on track (because you sure as hell lost the plot here), the forest. The Appalachians are the perfect example of this, but forests tend to seem surreal, creepy, even a little haunted because of how little they've been touched by humans. A sense of unease comes from existing in a space that could easily exist without you being there, and that unease would very easily harbor a creature like The Cuckoo. Another argument could be made that it's creatures like Him that make that uneasy feeling. The kind of nausea that comes with being watched by someone that means you harm. a perfect place for him to stalk his prey without rousing suspicion, and just teeming with people disappearing without a trace. Is that His doing? (stay tuned for my eventual podcast to find out)

All of this being said, The Cuckoo exists exactly where He should. The forest presents itself as the perfect place for him to hide given it's rich history of hiding supernatural horrors, creating the perfect camouflage for a creature of His anatomy, and, in this next little blurb, I'll talk about how The Cuckoo has become the apex predator. Not just in the forest, but the world.

(once again, there's just so much more that could have been said. This was supposed to be at least a high school grade mini essay and I truly feel like a teacher marking this stupid thing with red pen repeating 'hes just so fucking stupid' every other minute.

I did my own research for this. I did come across some stuff that might be useful to this little ongoing investigation of his, and nothing about his anatomy leads me to believe he even has bones. Instead just being a mass of muscle and tissue below a partial exoskeleton. HIs arms, legs and neck seem rigid, but the supposed tendrils on his back are fluid and flexible, but this is something that doesn't happen in nature, not in this world, at least. Call me a fool but I don't believe he's from this world.

When it comes to my little rambles, I'd like to say this one thing. If He truly did come from another place, what is he doing here?)

PART THREE, HOW THE CUCKOO HAS BECOME THE APEX PREDATOR

Okay, now we're getting into the meat and gravy of this whole ramble. The cuckoo has cemented its place in our environent for decades now. Sightings have gone back centuries from all over north america (and the rest of the world but to a lesser degree) with some details surrounding Him pointing to The Cuckoo being an all powerful, almost lovecraftian being. With extending tendrils, the lack of a (visible face) and his stature all pointing to inhuman anatomy that has already been spoken about in previous sections. I'd like to mention parts of Him that give him the ability to prey on hapless wanderers in the woods. His ability to teleport gives him the ability to effortlessly stalk and persue his prey, The ability to reshape reality around him traps them in a loop they may not be aware of until it was too late.

Should you find yourself in one of these loops, it would be much harder to figure out in the case of the forest. Trees and plants tend to all look the same so you wouldn't notice if you've passed the same stump five times, especially if you aren't paying attention. This allows Him to effortlessly capture His prey. Is there more than one of him? Some evidence suggests this, since accounts vary so greatly from one encounter to the next, but what remains is that no one has ever been able to defeat Him. No blade or bullets can pierce him.

What makes him an apex predator isn't that he has no predators of his own (which He very well might, see my editors note for section one) but he has yet to be taken down by any attempt. He's cunning, He's strong, and I know I'll be the one to take Him down with the help of Ichabod The Homunculus.

(No mention of reported mind control, often seen in parasitic worms, fungus and wasps. Parasites tend to be overlooked a little bit when it comes to the traditional setup of the food chain. they regularly prey upon supposed apex predators, and sometimes lead to their death. best example of this is mosquitoes and their relationship with the rest of the animal kingdom. they kill more people every year than any other animal. Besides the point. Mind control. He can dictate his prey's will which you don't need me to say is a massive advantage in any scenario.

Beyond this, the forest just makes for a good hideaway for the reasons listed. You gotta watch your back when you're in the forest, but what live noticed is how often he gets spotted outside of it whether just to stare menacingly or actually attack his targets. I don't think this is saying that he doesn't just exist in the forest, but instead its a violent form of survivor bias. instances in the forest aren't spotted nearly as often because, well, he's a tree falling in the forest and the only one there to hear it is his chosen victim.)

CONCLUSION

The Cuckoo seems to be perfectly equipped to be the top predator in the forest. He might be toppled some day, but approaching him in his turf has got to be the worst way to go about it. He's got his own camouflage working for him, the nature of the forest itself, and every single weapon in his arsenal to make the world kneel at his feet. Any attempt to fight him would be like fighting a god, but man has toppled gods before. (Source? trust me bro.)