#world's most chill former cannibal

[journeythroughjourneytothewest]

[darknesseddiem]

𝐀𝐥𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐳: 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝟔𝟔

𝐒𝐲𝐧����𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬: In the shadowy annals of crime, a figure emerges, casting a chilling pall over the world. Eddie Munson, infamous for his macabre deeds as a serial killer, now stirs fear with an unprecedented proposal. Like a sinister weaver, Eddie prepares to embroider a fabric saturated with long-held vengeance. Whispers of his scheme cloak his intentions in darkness, leaving observers to ponder the depths of his depravity.

Each stitch in his plan weaves a sinister narrative, drawing the curious into the abyss of his psyche. As intrigue mounts, the world braces for Eddie Munson's cryptic request, poised to unravel reality itself, ushering forth chaos and terror.

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: +18 MDNI, gore, mentions of blood; violence, descriptions of torture and death, Eddie is a serial killer, cannibalism, cruelty, mistery, Eddie is on the death row, mentions Chrissy's mother and allusion to her death.

𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫'𝐬 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞: Please be advised that this series of stories delves into darker and more disturbing themes than my previous works. The content will include highly sensitive and grotesque subject matter. If you find yourself uncomfortable with such material, it's perfectly understandable. Your well-being is paramount, and your decision to refrain from reading is respected.

𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 2,4K

𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫.

Fell free to support my works with some 𝐊𝐨-𝐅𝐢!

In the somber depths of the penitentiary's labyrinthine corridors, where the very air seemed to congeal with foreboding, the flickering glow of pale moonlight dared not venture. Within these subterranean confines, an imposing edifice of concrete and steel stood sentinel, its walls steeped in the crimson stains of untold atrocities perpetrated by the merciless hands of those who had transgressed against the sanctity of innocent lives. This fortress, a bastion of unforgiving incarceration, cast its shadow over all who dared to tread its bleak corridors, an inescapable abyss of despair and anguish.

Descending further still, into the bowels of this infernal domain, lay the deepest recesses of confinement - a purgatory reserved for the most depraved and desolate souls. Here, shrouded in perpetual darkness and devoid of even the faintest glimmer of sunlight or human contact, languished men and women so irredeemably profane that they had become naught but spectral echoes of their former selves. Condemned to an eternity of solitude and torment, they withered away in the suffocating embrace of isolation, their existence a cruel mockery of the vibrant world they once knew.

Amidst this realm of despair and desolation, a singular figure loomed in the shadows - the enigmatic inmate of Cell 66, a nameless specter whose very presence invoked dread and apprehension. Eddie Munson, a man cloaked in the chilling aura of mystery, stood as an epitome of cold-blooded savagery, his nefarious deeds shrouded in the veils of silence and secrecy. For a decade, he had steadfastly refused to divulge the twisted tapestry of his dark past, his lips sealed with an iron resolve that defied the relentless interrogation of law enforcement.

Eddie Munson, age of 28, stood accused of crimes so heinous and grotesque that they defied comprehension - murder, slaughter, torture, and the ultimate depravity of cannibalism. The latter having as victim his father, William Munson, the man had his heart ripped out of his body while he was still breathing, and eaten by his own son.

His victims, numbering unknown, bore the indelible mark of his sadistic cruelty, their anguished cries silenced forever in the abyss of oblivion. Yet, despite the relentless onslaught of interrogation and torture, Eddie remained an impenetrable enigma, his psyche a labyrinthine maze of madness and malevolence that confounded even the most seasoned investigators.

In a desperate bid to extract the truth from him, they exhausted every tool in the arsenal of human torment. Shock therapy surged through his veins like bolts of lightning, while hypnosis sought to unravel the tangled web of his mind. Sleep deprivation gnawed at his sanity, each minute stretching into an eternity of agony. Temperature manipulation plunged him into the icy depths of despair, while purposeful drowning submerged him in a watery abyss of terror.

Yet, despite their relentless efforts, the truth remained elusive, shrouded in the darkness of his twisted psyche. As the investigators and police faced the grim reality of their failure, they reluctantly conceded defeat. With heavy hearts and haunted souls, they consigned him to the unforgiving confines of death row, where the specter of execution loomed ominously over him like a shadowy executioner awaiting his final reckoning.

Perched upon a cold, unforgiving chair, Eddie Munson found himself shackled before a cadre of stern-faced law enforcement officials. The putrid hue of his garb, a garish orange jumpsuit, seemed to mock the gravity of the situation, its color reminiscent of flames licking at the edges of his very existence.

As he awaited his fate, the weight of his crimes hung heavy in the air, a palpable presence that suffocated the room with an oppressive sense of dread. The gaze of the officers bore into him with a mix of contempt and morbid fascination, as if they were peering into the depths of a bottomless abyss, searching for a glimmer of humanity amidst the darkness.

The clang of metal against metal echoed through the chamber as the handcuffs tightened around his wrists, a stark reminder of his loss of freedom and impending doom. And yet, despite the grim tableau unfolding before him, Munson remained eerily composed, his eyes betraying no hint of remorse or regret, but instead, harboring a chilling calmness that sent shivers down the spines of those who dared to meet his gaze.

"I, Judge William Bennet Carver," the judge's voice reverberated through the solemn courtroom, each syllable weighted with the gravity of the impending verdict, "sentence Edward James Munson for the heinous crimes of murder, slaughter, cannibalism, torture, concealment of a corpse, violence, and femicide, to face the ultimate justice: the electric chair."

The resounding thud of the judge's gavel against the polished wood punctuated his decree, sending a chilling ripple through the hushed chamber. Yet, amid the somber atmosphere, a twisted smirk danced upon Eddie's pallid visage, his lips curling into a sinister grin that betrayed a morbid amusement at his own demise.

The dim light of the courtroom cast eerie shadows across his features, accentuating the gleam in his eyes that flickered with an unsettling blend of defiance and derangement. To Eddie, the solemn pronouncement of his fate seemed to serve only as fuel for the perverse amusement that bubbled within him, a dark amusement born of a mind steeped in darkness and depravity.

As the weight of his sentence settled upon him like a suffocating shroud, Eddie's gaze remained locked upon the judge, his expression an unsettling mixture of defiance and amusement. For in the face of impending doom, he found only a perverse delight in the twisted game of fate that had brought him to this chilling juncture.

Before the attendees could muster the resolve to depart the trial chamber, a chilling silence settled over the room like a suffocating fog. Yet, amidst the palpable tension, a voice shattered the eerie stillness, cutting through the air with an unsettling cadence that sent shivers down the spines of those present.

It was Eddie, his voice devoid of the usual satisfaction that accompanied his macabre deeds, each word dripping with a cold detachment that belied the horrors lurking within his psyche. As if emerging from the depths of a nightmare, his utterance hung heavy in the air, a spectral presence that seemed to linger long after the sound had faded.

The unexpectedness of his speech sent shockwaves through the gathered throng, their eyes widening in disbelief at the audacity of this monstrous figure to break the oppressive silence that had enveloped the chamber. And yet, despite the chill that coursed through their veins, there was an undeniable allure to Eddie's words, a morbid curiosity that compelled them to hang upon his every syllable, like moths drawn to the flame of his dark presence.

For in that moment, Eddie Munson stood as a harbinger of terror, his voice a haunting echo of the abyss from which he had emerged, leaving all who bore witness to wonder what other horrors lay concealed within the depths of his twisted mind.

"Before you lend me to my inevitable fate," Eddie's voice sliced through the heavy air, his tone carrying an unsettling calmness that seemed incongruent with his looming demise, "there is a final thing I must ask."

The twisted curvature of his lips formed a grotesque grin, a stark contrast against the grim backdrop of the courtroom. His smile, more akin to a rictus of madness, sent shivers coursing down the spines of those assembled, each icy caress leaving behind a trail of apprehension and dread.

The macabre spectacle of Eddie's grin seemed to warp the very fabric of reality, casting a pall of unease over the room as if the darkness within him threatened to consume all who dared to behold it. And yet, despite the visceral discomfort it elicited, there was an undeniable magnetism to his presence, drawing the gaze of onlookers like moths to the flame of his twisted charisma.

For in that moment, Eddie Munson stood as a specter of malevolence, his smile a haunting reminder of the horrors that lurked within the depths of his depraved soul. And as the weight of his words hung heavy in the air, the gathered throng braced themselves for the chilling revelation that awaited, knowing all too well that whatever he had to say would only serve to deepen the darkness that enveloped them all.

“Nothing you say will save you, Mr. Munson.” Judge Carver said seriously.

"Indeed, Judge Carver," Eddie's voice echoed through the chamber, carrying an eerie calmness that seemed to mock the severity of his situation. His gaze, like obsidian pools devoid of remorse, bore into the judge with an unsettling intensity, as if daring him to peer into the abyss of his twisted psyche.

A grim chuckle escaped Eddie's lips, its echo reverberating off the walls like a sinister melody. "Save me?" he mused, the words dripping with a venomous disdain that sent a shiver down the spine of all who heard. "Oh, dear judge, salvation is but a distant memory in the shadowed recesses of my existence."

The air seemed to thicken with tension as the weight of Eddie's words hung heavy in the room, casting a pall of unease over the gathered throng. And yet, despite the palpable discomfort that permeated the chamber, there was an undeniable allure to his defiance, a morbid fascination with the darkness that lurked within him.

For in that moment, Eddie Munson stood as a testament to the depths of human depravity, his words a chilling reminder of the horrors that lay concealed within the darkest corners of the human soul. And as the judge's stern gaze bore down upon him, Eddie met it with a steely resolve, knowing full well that no words could save him from the abyss into which he had willingly descended.

"I want my story to be told to the world," Eddie's voice sliced through the tense atmosphere of the courtroom, each syllable laden with a sinister promise that sent a shiver down the spine of every witness. Gasps of shock rippled through the room, eyes widening in disbelief as if Eddie had uttered a profanity that defied comprehension.

"But... on one condition," he continued, his words hanging in the air like a heavy fog, suffocating all who dared to breathe in their ominous implications. The palpable anxiety in the room intensified, a suffocating weight pressing down upon the gathered throng, rendering them paralyzed in a state of morbid anticipation.

The silence that followed was deafening, a tangible presence that seemed to fill the room with a foreboding sense of dread. Each heartbeat thundered in their ears like a drumbeat of impending doom, the rhythm echoing the pulse of their mounting fear.

And then, with a voice that cut through the silence like a blade, Eddie delivered his chilling demand: "Bring her to me." The words hung in the air like a curse, casting a shadow over the room as the gravity of his request sank in. In that moment, the darkness that lurked within Eddie Munson's twisted soul spilled forth, enveloping all who bore witness in its malevolent embrace.

As Eddie's demand reverberated through the room, a hushed murmuring rose among the spectators, whispers of unease intertwining with the palpable tension that gripped them all. Judge Carver, his brow furrowed with concern, exchanged a glance with the bailiffs, uncertainty etched in their solemn expressions.

Suddenly, from the back of the courtroom, a figure emerged, cloaked in shadows and bearing an aura of ominous dread. It was a woman, her features obscured by darkness, yet her presence radiated an eerie calmness that seemed to quell the rising panic.

With measured steps, she approached the bench, her gaze fixed upon Eddie with an intensity that bordered on obsession. And as she drew closer, the dim light revealed the haunting familiarity of her visage—a haunting resemblance to one of Eddie's victims, long thought to be lost to the annals of his depravity.

A collective gasp swept through the room as the truth dawned upon them all, a revelation so horrifying that it threatened to shatter the fragile facade of their reality. For in that moment, it became clear that Eddie's request was not merely a macabre whim, but a sinister plot to unleash a new chapter of terror upon the world—one that would plunge them all into the depths of darkness from which there could be no escape.

"It's about time I found you, Munson," the words cut through the air like a frigid wind, each syllable dripping with a chilling resolve that sent shivers down everyone's spine. The voice, belonging to a middle-aged woman, resonated with an underlying tremor, hinting at the depths of her pent-up anguish and fury.

Eddie's gaze locked onto the woman, his expression unreadable yet tinged with a flicker of recognition that danced behind his steely facade. The name she uttered—Selenne Cunningham—stirred a distant memory within him, a memory veiled in the shadowy recesses of his consciousness.

A sinister smile curled at the corners of Eddie's lips, a perverse amusement twinkling in his eyes like the glint of a predator stalking its prey. "Ah, Selenne Cunningham," he purred, his voice laced with a venomous edge that mirrored her own icy tone. "Your daughter... such a delicate flower, crushed beneath the weight of my artistry."

The room fell silent, the tension thickening with each passing moment as the gravity of their confrontation hung heavy in the air.

With the first thread of Munson's sinister plot meticulously woven, the tendrils of his malevolence unfurled like a dark shadow, poised to ensnare those who unwittingly danced within its grasp. The nefarious machinations of Eddie Munson, honed to a razor's edge, stood poised to carve a path of unfathomable destruction through the lives of all who had dared to cross his path.

As the tendrils of his wickedness coiled with calculated precision, a palpable sense of foreboding descended upon those ensnared within the web of his deceit. Edward Munson, a specter of malevolence risen from the depths of darkness, loomed large on the horizon, his presence casting a long shadow that threatened to engulf all who stood in his wake.

With a chilling resolve that echoed through the corridors of fate, he returned from the abyss, his resolve steeled by the bitter taste of past failures. This time, there would be no room for error, no margin for mercy.

Eddie Munson had returned, and with him came a reckoning so dark and terrible that none would emerge unscathed.

[iwasntstable]

𝗡.𝗦. | 𝗡𝗢𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘 𝗧𝗢 𝗚𝗢 | 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗟𝗢𝗚𝗨𝗘_𝗧𝗪𝗢

🗀 C:/PROJECTS/MYWORK/SERIES/NOWHERETOGO [projects] ﹂ [my-work] | in-progress | favourites 　﹂ all | [series] | one-shot | blurb | head-cannons 　　﹂ [nowhere-to-go]

Series Summary: You knew the decision to follow your father into the so-called 'most dangerous Ward' was a dangerous one, but you had to do anything and everything possible to keep him alive. He's the only family you have left. Growing evermore reckless after the death of your mother and blinded by his lust for retribution, this decision is one that will alter the course of your life forever. And the life of a half-ghoul half-human who never thought he'd find himself entangled with the daughter of a former CCG Investigator.

NOWHERE TO GO is a multi-chapter story set in the Tokyo Ghoul universe, centring around Half-Ghoul!Noah and Human!Reader.

Chapter Content Tags: descriptions of violence and gore, brief mentions of death.

Word Count: 1.8k.

Note: Please be aware this story is set in the universe of Tokyo Ghoul, before the events of the manga and anime. It will, however, contain references to content found in the source material. specific content warnings will always be applied at the beginning of each chapter.

✶ [join the NOWHERE TO GO taglist.] ⓘ [GLOSSARY]

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CREDIT › image — 'Tokyo Ghoul:re - Chapter 54' - 石田 スイ (Sui Ishida). › number divider — @saradika-graphics. › image edit — @iwasntstable (me). › star divider — @saradika-graphics. › short grey divider — @saradika-graphics. › Tokyo Ghoul — created by 石田 スイ (Sui Ishida).

“It has been reported that more violent outbreaks are occurring in the 13th Ward, following on from last week's turf war between two opposing gangs of ghouls. Witnesses describe violent altercations in the streets, resulting in massive damage to property and local businesses. The 13th Ward is no stranger to savage acts of violence, and while ghoul attacks on humans are common, acts of cannibalism between ghouls are also a recurrent sight. We have First Class Investigator Soto here to provide more information. Thank you for joining us.”

“The pleasure is mine.”

“Now, the 13th Ward is widely referred to as ‘the most dangerous Ward’. Could you elaborate for us on why exactly that is?”

“Of course. Now the ghoul population of the 13th Ward greatly outnumbers the human population, not something seen here in the 1st Ward or the 2nd, for example. Due to this fact, there is, quite simply, not enough food for them to go around. And ghouls have been shown to be incredibly territorial creatures…”

“Ugh, it’s just awful, isn’t it?” 

“I seriously can’t believe you’re moving there. Your dad is going to get you fucking killed.”

“It can’t be that bad, surely? It’s probably all just overexaggerated for the news.”

“Yeah, I was thinking that,” you sigh over your cup of coffee. “You two need to chill out. It's not gonna be that bad.”

Kira says your name in that tone of voice that you know means business—the one she uses to scold her daughter—"There are more ghouls than humans over there! To the point they’re fucking eating each other to survive! I meant what I said before, you can live with me until you find your own place.”

“You know I can’t leave my dad,” placing your cup down on the coffee-stained table and rubbing the tense point in your forehead.

“I mean this in the most respectful way possible. You don’t have to be responsible for your dad. If he wants to chase ghouls in the 13th Ward, let him. You can’t put your life on hold or put it in danger just because he thinks he has some righteous quest to single-handedly rid the world of ghouls,” she reaches across the table to take your hands in hers, her blonde hair falling over her shoulders brilliantly illuminated by the setting sun through the window, giving her an almost angelic glow.

“You’re always the voice of reason,” you smile, squeezing her hands back. “But you know it’s not that easy. I can’t lose him too.”

“We know,” Mari adds her hand to yours and Kira’s, her tanned skin a sharp contrast to Kira’s almost translucent hands. “We just want you to be safe. If you ever want to leave, if you change your mind, you know our doors are always open for you.”

“Except mine,” Haru smiles, keeping her well-manicured hands to herself.

“Yeah, your behemoth dogs take up all the fucking space,” you can’t hold back your laugh at Kira’s remark.

“Say another word against them. See what happens,” she smirks back.

“I’m gonna miss you guys so fucking much.”

“We’re going to miss you more,” Haru’s voice wavering like she’s on the brink of tears.

“Don’t you dare disappear on us. We all expect regular check-ins, so we know you’re alive.”

“Or what you’ll set your dogs after her?” Mari laughs.

“Yeah, joke all you want! They could find her! All the way from the 2nd Ward to the 13th and beyond.”

“You don’t need to do that," you laugh. "I’ll stay in contact. I promise.”

The conversation between the four of you is interrupted by Kira’s obnoxious ringtone, earning glares from the elderly patrons lingering in the corners of the cafe. “Crap. Gotta go pick up my girl,” she stands, throwing back the last of her tea, chair screeching as it slides across the floor, your own following suit when you rise to meet her. She pulls you into a bone-crushing hug, pressing all of the love from her body into yours, just in case this is her final goodbye.

“I’ll call you,” you swear. “As often as I can.”

“I love you,” she muffles into your shoulder. “God, okay. I really have to go. I’ll see you guys later, and you! Do not forget to call,” she laughs as you draw a cross over your heart, scooping up her bag and coat in her arms before heading for the door. She gives one last wave, and then she’s gone.

“I hate to do this, but I have to go too. I have work in an hour.” Mari stands as well, rounding the table to bring you into your second bone-breaking hug of the day. 

“Thank you for coming. I love you, and we’ll speak soon, yeah?”

“Definitely. Bye Haru!” 

“Bye! See you later.”

You sit back down, relaxing into the chair. The weight of the goodbyes sitting heavy on your chest.

“I am really worried about you,” Haru says quietly. “That place is so dangerous, and I’m scared your dad is only gonna make things worse.”

“He can handle himself. He served for a decade in the CCG, remember?” You try your best to convince her, but judging by the expression on her face, it isn’t working very well.

“Yeah, he’s the best of the best,” she rolls her eyes. “Or he was until- Look, you and I both know he hasn’t been the same since what happened, and I don’t want his reckless behaviour to endanger you.”

“I know how to handle him,” you affirm. “He’s still grieving. This is the only way he knows how to cope.”

“What about your grief? When do you get the chance to break down?” Her usually warm brown eyes are full of a profound sadness.

“Stop looking at me like you’re never gonna see me again. And don’t worry about me. I can handle my dad, and I can handle myself,” though you speak with confidence, you can feel yourself wavering. Doubting for a moment if the strength you hold is as robust as you claim it is.

“If you get to a point where you need to put yourself first, please know that nobody would ever blame you. None of us,” she says, taking your hand in hers much like Kira and Mari did earlier, squeezing it tightly.

“I know,” you nod.

The two of you sit in comfortable silence, breaking it occasionally with casual conversation and reminiscing on older days. Until Haru too has to gather her things and leave.

“Do you want me to walk you to the station?” She asks as she slides her arms into her coat.

“No, no. It’s fine. I think I’m just gonna sit for a while. Finish my drink.”

She nods, pulls you into your third and final crushing hug of the day, and heads off home through the door. The sound of the little bell dinging follows her as she goes.

You pass the time people-watching through the window. Familiar faces you’d seen around you all your life—faces that you’d likely never see again. Savouring the last of your drink, the scent of the cafe, and the view from your favourite spot by the window until the time comes for you too to leave.

As you fix your hair from under the collar of your coat, you don’t see the customer entering into the cafe as you pass through the door. Bumping face first into a warm, solid chest. The man holds you by the shoulders as you start to topple backwards, holding you steadily in place.

“Oh my god, I’m so sorry! I didn’t see-”

“Don’t worry about it,” the smooth voice chuckles lightly. “No harm done.”

He releases your shoulders and sidesteps you to enter the cafe so quickly you don’t even catch a glimpse of his face. Leaving you standing on the step as the last light of your last day in the 2nd Ward warms your skin.

The 13th Ward isn’t too far away from where you grew up in the 2nd Ward, separated only by the 3rd. So it didn’t make sense for the weather to be so drastically different. The sky was entirely overcast, forbidding even a single ray of sunlight to pierce through and touch the ground. And it was cold. That was to be expected so late in the year, but you found yourself shivering, the chill creeping into your skin even through your layers. Looking over your shoulder from where your dad was unloading boxes from the car, you just couldn’t shake the feeling of eyes on you. 

“There are more ghouls than humans over there! To the point they’re fucking eating each other to survive!” Kira’s voice rings in your head, and you realise you’ve never felt like prey before. Until now.

“Are you just gonna stand there or are you gonna help?” Your dad huffs as he drops a box at your feet. Standing up straight and stretching out his back nonchalantly. 

How he could be so calm was beyond you, but then, that might be the peace of mind serving a decade in the CCG brings you. Killing ghouls was second nature to him. “Sorry, I’m on it,” you say, picking up the box and hoisting it high to get a secure grip.

“Take these too, will you?” He drops two metal cases from the rental car on top of the box in your arms, the weight of them instantly making your arms ache. You’re momentarily transfixed, having not seen them in months; an ache settles in your chest too. Pushing the thought out of your head, you focus on the task at hand—getting your possessions into your new apartment before the sky gets the chance to grow darker.

The place wasn’t too small. The CCG retirement package was generous and allowed your dad to find somewhere to live that was suitable for you both, but more importantly, suitable for his needs. The larger pieces of furniture were already delivered by some of your dad's work buddies, traditional movers, all refusing to set foot this side of the 3rd Ward; beds, couches, appliances. All that remained was to make the house a home as best you could.

You managed to get everything inside before sunset, and with the door secured with five deadbolts, you felt you could somewhat relax into your bed after the strenuous move. Most of your belongings are unpacked and organised. The only tasks left were to unpack your clothes and look for a job, though you were unsure what kind of establishments would even be hiring in the so-called most dangerous Ward. Your dad insisted you didn’t need to work, but you knew you both couldn’t survive long solely off his retirement fund.

But as you lie there and the heavy hand of sleep begins to drag you under, you find yourself thinking of your friends, missing them already even though only a day has passed. You drift off to sleep, missing the life you had to leave behind and, weirdly enough, thinking of the stranger whose warm hold you fell into.

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[ofcowardiceandkings]

I think you mentioned listening to podcasts? Do you have any favorites to reccommend? I've run out of content :(

that i do !

im not entirely sure what kind of podcast you'd be interested in but i'll throw out a few of the goodies in my huge library of stuff , i'll miss out a few of the HUGE podcasts that have been all over tumblr though

a LOT of it is true crime or human interest stuff , or history because im nerd ,, and a few of these dont have nearly enough attention so [shrug] i'll try to keep this short i guess lol this isnt EVERYTHING ive got in my library or listened series' by any measure

i AM gonna pop a shout to both Stuff You Missed in History Class and Stuff You Should Know from iHeartRadio because their HUGE archives have kept me from losing my mind many times over , and they cover a wide range of both important and wacky topics

BomBARDed (ongoing) this is the only fiction podcast i have happening right now really but its DAMN GOOD ONE .... it's an actual-play D&D 5E podcast in the DMs own musically-inspired world, focussed on a group of multiclass bards going to music school !! and all players (+DM) are members of the Texas band Lindby !! and they actually use and play music in the show with one original song an episode !! Kyle's worldbuilding and storycraft are truly incredible, and (Nick) Goodrich, (also Nick) Spurrier, and Ali's characters are in depth and interesting as well as an absolute powerhouse :') i actually made a piece for its first fanzine, Bardic Dreaming, which published earlier this year and is free to view now, all the players and the community are super wholesome its just very good overall 💙

History & Humans;

Fall of Civilisations (ongoing) legit one of my favourite podcast finds, im so glad my youtube autoplayed one of these ... it took me like 2 hours to realise it was 1) not the same as what was playing before and 2) had been on for 2 hours and wasnt near finished lmao. anyway, this is a series by historical fiction writer Paul Cooper, and is honest to all thats good one of the best documentary series ive encountered in years - and ive consumed a LOT of documentaries. it covered the downfall of various civilisations through history, and the episodes run from an hour to FOUR hours depending on the topic. its so chill to listen to and just get done, but over the pandemic all of the episodes have been given full movie-quality video versions too on youtube if youre more of a visual person.

Casting Lots: A Survival Cannibalism Podcast (on series break) yeah that says that lol ... its a SUPER niche topic but its very interesting and treated very well despite being kind of comical at times, the hosts are just naturally funny lol ... it delves around from the history of cannibalism in whole regions to specific incidents as recently as the 1970s, and of course the first episode is about the Donner Party, and it covers things ive never heard of despite being kind of important ?? anyway Alix and Carmella are good eggs

Sawbones (ongoing) i probably dont need to mention much here other than say that Justin and Sydnee saved me from being SO BORED sooo often, the history of medicine is wacky as hell and its what most of my history GCSE was on so [shrugs]

Cautionary Tales (on series break) this was a wild-card find lol ... it's by Tim Harford "the undercover economist" who writes for the Financial Times, and its topics kind of weave modern topics and science with how to learn from historical errors ... its a bit weird but well worth a go, also each series has a few celebrity guest voice actors which is pretty awesome

Ephemeral (ongoing) this is a very strange but thought provoking series about sounds and other things just barely saved. topics include the last castrato, the hello girls, hand-stamped records, the spread of kīkā kila music, and acoustic fossils of wild places.

Neat! The Boozecast (ongoing) history and bartending whats not to like lol ... hosted by Teylor Smirl and now their dad Tommy, they're just digging around in how important booze is to human culture

True Crime (white collar and weirdness);

Swindled (ongoing) this is an amazing show full stop. A Concerned Citizen details some of the most impactful and unruly things to happen in white collar and corporate crime. very factually accurate but given the sheer bullshit of the topics the deadpan snarking is [chefs kiss] absolutely warranted ..

American Scandal (on series break) this one is a series within a series type, and spends a few episodes at a time poking holes in some of America's biggest scandals, from a dramatised but fact-based point of view. such as what the hell was going on with Enron, how big tobacco was forced to own up to covering its own ass, how Iran-Contra happened, etc. it also now has a sister show called British Scandal, which does the same thing for British cases but with a slightly different format.

Missing in Alaska (finished) this was a fascinating series, a deep dive into what happened to two US government officials who disappeared on a small chartered flight in Alaska in 1972. it goes some really strange places, but it actually turned up a lot of previously unknown information through the audience. John Walczak's new series in a new feed is Missing on 9/11 which looks into what happened to Dr Sneha Philip.

Pretend (ongoing) Host Javier Leiva holds interviews with anyone living a lie, or who have been touched by them. con artists, snake oil salesmen, former cult members, catfishing victims, anyone and everyone.

Power: The Maxwells (finished) hosted by journalist Tara Palmeri, the story of media tycoon Robert Maxwell from nothing to empire to mysterious death and the scandals uncovered after he was gone.

Lets Talk About Sects (ongoing) Sarah Steele covering cults from around the world, in particular those in Australia - where she is from. She often has former members on the show to share their stories, and share knowledge of how they left. each story has the relevant content warnings at the start of each episode.

Brainwashed (finished) investigation of the CIA's covert mind control experiments, centred on the experiments performed at a hospital in Montreal, and its cultural impact.

Dr Death (2 series finished) two series investigating huge cases of fraud and medical malpractice, and how they were brought to a stop. series 1 covers Dr Duntsch and his horribly butchered neurosurgery, series 2 covers Dr Fata and his fraudulent cancer clinic

The Immaculate Deception (finished) untangling the weird and disturbing fertility fraud of Dr Jan Karbaat, who fathered children himself through his fertility clinic, and the impact of his deception. later episodes also touch on other similar cases.

True Crime (Violent/General);

The Casual Criminalist (ongoing) Simon Whistler of-the-many-youtube-channels cold reads a script about the case of the day, with some of his daft commentary thrown in.

Southern Fried True Crime (ongoing) Crimes from the American South hosted by Erica Kelley, she puts all the facts out there but refreshingly for true crime she doesnt hesitate to tell you if she thinks someone is human garbage lol

They Walk Among Us (ongoing) probably one of the most popular UK crime podcasts, very measured and well put together, not weird or annoying about it either.

All Crime No Cattle (ongoing, feed slowed down for now) specifically about crimes from Texas, hosted by Erin and Shay, they're very sensitive hosts and a lot of the cases they cover shed light on why the Texas criminal system is how it is or show an impact at a national level

Canadian True Crime (ongoing) Canadian crime from an Aussie who's lived there for a decade, Kristi is again a sensitive and measured host covering some important topics

True Crime (Violent/Deep Dive);

Hitman (finished) journalist Jasmyn Morris digs around in the sticky tangle around a book published by fringe publisher Paladin Press, and its apparent use as a blueprint in the killing of a mother, her friend and her 8 year old boy for financial gain.

Camp Hell: Anneewakee (ongoing) this series is exploring how a wilderness camp "correctional facility" was endorsed by the Georgia care and juvenile reform system, despite widespread abuses and shady practices the whole time. warning for csa and child cruelty throughout.

True Crime Bullshit (on series break) this one is a huge huge rabbithole but a very interesting one where the host Josh Hallmark has spent years digging into the life and potential crimes of Israel Keyes. Keyes is often mentioned as a serial killer with no pattern, but in picking it apart thats not quite true, and has sparked some re-evaluations of missing persons cases and stumbling upon information the FBI has redacted organically. there's also a series in the middle looking into the crimes of Kelly Cochran

Forgotten: Women of Juárez (finished) this series looks into the huge numbers of missing women of Ciudad Juárez, the strange circumstances surrounding them, and the potential cover-ups and corruptions on both sides of the border, trying to give a voice to all of the forgotten women and girls and their families without answers. the series itself is finished, but a spanish language edition is being released every week now.

aaaaaand i'll call it there before i list everything lol, i hope you find something to plug your boredom hole with !!

[walkerwords]

“Hear No Evil” Negan X Deaf!F!Reader

Word Count: 1768

Negan x Deaf!Reader

Summary: You are deaf in the apocalypse and you are working on your tech when Negan and Carl pay you a visit. Negan takes a bit of interest in you, but you could care less and just gives him what he need and ignores everything else. However, it seems he kind of likes it. 

Warning: nothing

Song I Wrote To: “Marie Laveau” by Merci Raines

Note: I am not deaf myself, but i have a good friend who is and helped me out with this one. This is just something I wrote while I was waiting for my dinner to cook. not my favourite, but here we are. There probably won’t be a second part.

------

You were bent over an old sprinkler timer in your makeshift workshop in your garage.

You were trying to figure out a way to re-purpose the device to be a light timer so those on guard wouldn’t need to manually turn on the spotlights while on late-night watches. Michonne had mentioned the Governor having something similar at Woodbury and so when you brought the idea to Rick, he trusted you to be the one to figure it all out. 

Lately, Rick had been giving you more and more tasks that appealed to the skills you had acquired before the Apocalypse. Having a Masters in Engineering was something that you took a lot of pride in and you were definitely a coveted member of Alexandria because of it. Sure, there were people like Daryl and Rosita who knew their way around mechanics and weaponry, but you were well-skilled in all aspects of your field. You could fix an engine, rewire a house, and even tune-up the solar panels all before a lunch break. It was something that had made you quite essential in the new world.

However, while you were an asset, you still had to be careful around new people Alexandria would bring in out work with. Being born deaf was not something you expected to ever be a challenge until the Dead began walking. You had gone through extensive speech therapy as a child and well into your late teens. You were fluent in sign language and could read lips. Your cochlear implant worked very well, that is until your battery was damaged in a walker attack four months prior and your world was completely silent since. It wasn’t the end of the world, but it was frustrating and you just had to be even more vigilant on runs. 

When you had met Rick shortly after his group had been run off the Greene family farm, the former sheriff was surprised that you were even alive. He doubted you for a long time when you joined their group. Rick was always worried that you wouldn’t hear when Walkers were around or that you would be too much of a risk on runs, but every time they had run into trouble, you had proved him wrong. 

You were an excellent shot, not to mention you were a wizard when it came to improvised technology. You had managed to set up a night vision camera when they waited out the cannibals from Terminus. That alone had saved Michonne’s life when one had tried to sneak up on her. After that, Rick didn’t question you again.

Then, when you returned home after a run with Sasha and your hearing was once again gone completely, Rick had slipped back into old habits. You were essentially on desk duty now. The only action you had seen since being at the Alexandria Safe Zone was when you had helped dispatch the Wolves and protected Tara and Denise as they worked to save Carl the night the herd invaded the town. Since then, it had been all wires and buttons for you.

You hadn’t held any of that against Rick, but when Maggie was sick and they were ambushed by the Saviors, you were furious. Your father had been a sniper. You knew how to move silently and how to handle yourself. You knew that they had been outnumbered the night the man known as Negan had smashed in Glenn and Abraham’s heads. There was no way any of them could have fought off all the Saviors, but you couldn’t help but think if you had been nearby with your rifle, you could have at least killed a few. Maybe even Negan himself. 

However, you didn’t really know what to think about the man with the baseball bat. You hadn’t seen him and you didn’t know him. What you did know was that he was a murderer who killed two people you cared about and the others were terrified of him. The only thought that kept you going through this new reality of being under the Sanctuary's thumb was that before they met Negan, Rick Grimes was the one everyone was scared of. 

You still believed that was true. 

You blinked a few times, trying to refocus on your work when a vibration rattled your desk, gaining your attention. You turned towards the open garage door to see Carl Grimes set down a wrench he had used to knock against the pipes. He waved at you with a warning look in his eye. You nodded to him and then noticed the large man looming behind the teenager. He was tall with broad shoulders and a scruffy beard. His height alone was intimidating, but the way he carried himself reminded you of horrid men you had met on the road and it sent a chill down your spine. 

Though, it was what was in his hand that made you freeze. A baseball bat wrapped in barbed wire hung loosely in his grip. Your jaw tightened as you slowly stood from your stool, dropping your work completely and raising your hands in front of you. Looking back to Carl, you placed your fingertips to your temple and then pulled it away, folding down your three center fingers. The sign for “why?” 

“(Y/N),” Carl began, signing as he spoke. “The Saviors are here for a pick up,” he explained. Negan was watching Carl’s hands in confusion before it clicked and you nearly gagged at the smile of pleasure that appeared on the killer’s face. 

“What do you want?” you said, hoping your voice wasn’t too scratchy today. You hadn’t spoken in a few days. Most of your original group knew enough ASL to talk to you. Daryl, Carl, and Rick were near fluent and Michonne and Maggie were the next best. The only other person who had been nearly as perfect as you were was Beth who had a deaf best friend growing up. Days like these were when you missed the younger Greene sister the most. 

“Do you have those extra walkie batteries?” Carl asked. you looked between Carl and Negan, your hands clenching. you wanted to yell at Carl, send your hands flying faster than he would probably understand, but you knew it was unwise to show too much emotion in front of Negan. Last thing you wanted to do was fuel his rage or whatever he was exuding at the moment. So you sighed and walked to the other side of your workshop. Carl waited by the door, but Negan made his way around the garage, picking up odds and ends. You kept him in your view from the corner of your eye, making sure he didn’t break anything too valuable.

Hauling a box from behind a half-finished motorcycle you were working on for Jesus, you dug around for what Carl had asked for. You drew four spare batteries and kicked the box back into it’s crevice. You marched over to the kid and nearly slammed the batteries into his chest. “Anything else?” you asked. 

Negan then appeared once again. His back was turned to you, so you missed what he said, but Carl sighed and slipped the batteries into his bag so he could get his hands free. He then gestured to you. “(Y/N), this is N-E-G-A-N,” he fingered spelled, “Negan this is (Y/N),” he introduced gesturing to Negan once again. “She’s our engineer.” Negan then fully turned to you and appraised her. 

“A deaf engineer? There’s a joke in there somewhere,” he said with a twisted smile. You gritted your teeth.

“Funny,” you quipped, “is that why you interrupted my work, to make stupid jokes that I’ve heard my whole life?” Negan seemed surprised at your answer. He narrowed his eyes at you and then looked back to Carl. 

“She can read lips,” Carl explained and Negan almost looked impressed. 

“So, you can spy on conversations from a long ways away?” Negan asked, nearly vibrating with excitement. you crossed your arms, sitting into one hip. 

“I’m deaf, not superhuman,” you said, “now if that’s all, I need to finish my work.” Carl went to leave when Negan rested a hand on the kid’s shoulder, halting him. 

“Well, it looks like someone has already made their mind up about me, hey, kid?” Negan said, still grinning at you. 

“That tends to happen when you murder my friends,” you said, not backing down. Negan laughed and ran a hand over his face. 

“You know what? I like you,” Negan said. 

“Oh great, lucky me,” you said as you turned your back on both of them. Negan went to say something else until he realized it would be futile. You picked up your jacket and slung it around your shoulders. When you turned back to Carl he was looking at you with worry as he usually did when he could tell you were getting pissed. You then hooked your finger toward him in a question mark and then tapped your thumb to your forehead, your palm splayed wide. Dad? 

“He’s with Judith, Olivia had to go help pack up the pantry,” Carl said.

“Thanks,” you said as you moved past the two men who had invaded your space. However, Negan wasn’t done and grabbed your arm. Carl went to stop him when you nearly jumped back three feet, snatching back your arm, your eyes wide and alarmed. Carl was infront of you in a second, explaining that you were okay, not bothering to speak, only moving his hands. You tracked the signs and calmed down slightly. Carl then turned to look at a surprised Negan, keeping his hands visible to you. 

“Grabbing deaf people when they’re not expecting it while living in a world where the Dead walk around trying to eat people isn’t the most comfortable thing,” Carl explained, but it didn’t matter because you were already heading away from them, your hand on your knife. Carl watched as you sped towards his house, looking for Rick. 

“So she actually can’t hear,” Negan said, surprised. Carl looked at him, his one eyes narrowed. 

“You thought she was faking it?”

“She has the implant,” Negan said, gesturing to his own head. 

“Her battery got damaged a few months back. She could hear pretty well from the day I met her until it got broken. We haven’t been able to find a replacement for it yet. That also means she’s not the friendliest of people right now, especially to strangers.”

“I don’t blame her,” Negan grinned, “but you know what? I like her!”

[myhauntedsalem]

Colorado Prison Museum

Canon City, Colorado

The only thing more terrifying than doing time in prison is being surrounded by 140 years of frustrated spirits that are still waiting to be released.  The Museum of Colorado Prisons is not only haunted by the inmates whose artifacts have been placed on display but also by the women who had the unfortunate opportunity to reside within the cells of its building.  Each and everyone one of the spirits is waiting patiently for guests to hear the painstaking stories of an imprisoned life.  Known as one of the most haunted locations in Colorado, paranormal investigators from all around the country and world have flocked to Canon City to seek out evidence and experiences of inmates who have crossed beyond the veil.

The Museum of Colorado Prisons opened in June of 1988 after devoted and concerned Fremont County residents realized their vision of documenting over 140 years of prison life in the state of Colorado.  Among the haunted exhibits and displays are that such as the old office furniture used by former Warden Roy Best, documentation the Prison Riots of 1929 and 1947 and items belonging to both Alfred Packer who was convicted of cannibalism and Antone Woode who was convicted of murder as a 12-year-old boy.

With over a century of trapped souls and haunted objects on display throughout the building, it’s understandable that the paranormal community is fascinated with the Museum of Colorado Prisons.  Orbs floating, screams that shatter the silence, soft and loud sobs that tear at your heart, the smell of tobacco wafting through the corridors, inexplicable cold spots, shadow figures lurking within the cells, disembodied female voices harassing male guests, bone-chilling EVPs, full-bodied apparitions, the appearance of a trickster spirit, objects moving of their own volition, lights flashing on and off and cell doors slamming shut. The imprint made by the artifacts and former inmates leaves mounds of evidence and experiences for the living to relate to and be terrified of the formerly imprisoned!

[recentanimenews]

INTERVIEW: The Creators of The Ancient Magus' Bride and The Girl From the Other Side

  In coordination with the recent anime announcements of The Girl from the Other Side and The Ancient Magus' Bride, Comic Natalie recently held an interview with the manga authors of both series: Nagabe and Kore Yamazaki. Crunchyroll News was given the opportunity to officially translate the interview in English between the two, posted below. You can read the original Japanese interview here. 

  Tetsuko Kumase held and composed the interview.

    The Girl from the Other Side by Nagabe and The Ancient Magus’ Bride by Kore Yamazaki are the two stories that develop around the theme of "Beast x Girl," and probably have many fans in common. To celebrate the release of The Girl from the Other Side as a full-length anime OAD (news article embedded) and the development of a new OAD series for The Ancient Magus’ Bride (news article embedded), Comic Natalie has set up an interview with Nagabe and Yamazaki. In addition to discussing their commitment to their work and the concept of "Beast x Girl", they also shared their thoughts about the new anime productions. At the end of the interview, they asked questions to each other to learn more about one’s perspectives towards creating stories.

    Respect for each other and the appeal of "Beast x Girl"

── There have been several projects you collaborated on, such as a joint event for the two works (see: The Ancient Magus’ Bride and The Girl from the Other Side fair where visitors could get the “Beast x Girl” playing cards) and the book of The Ancient Magus’ Bride including a trivia manga booklet, The Ancient Magus’ Bride: Quiet Talk, written by Nagabe-san (see: The Ancient Magus’ Bride volume 10 includes an acrylic stand and a booklet written by Nagabe). I know that many readers are fans of both of your works, but could you tell us about your impressions of each other's creations and what you like about them?

     Nagabe: The Ancient Magus’ Bride initially grabbed my attention because of the obi (belt) on the book that said "Beast x Girl." But when I started reading it, I found it to be a fantasy manga that’s really well thought out. Dragons, mythical creatures, folklore, and mythology are well integrated into the modern world, and each magical being is given its own meaning. The non-human characters also have their own meanings, backgrounds, and cultures, and interact with the protagonists. It's not just a fantasy, but the way the characters are connected to the world and make it feel so real is exquisite! Of course, the non-humans in the story are also wonderful. I love Elias.

Kore Yamazaki: Thank you very much. I'm often amazed at the range of stories and pictures you create. I sometimes even question if there are any non-human characters you can’t draw. I don't know if it's appropriate to say, but there's a hint of darkness or something in your work. I think it's a little sexy or maybe there’s secret eros? I love that I can feel a little bit of naughtiness in your work.

Nagabe: Thank you!

Yamazaki: The other thing is that I feel like I can almost smell the lines and shadows you draw if I trace them. Also, your story can be either very sweet or disturbing. I know you've been working very hard to achieve this, but honestly, I envy you. I wish I could create pictures and stories like you.

── I can really tell that you respect each other deeply. Now, please tell us what you like about particular scenes, episodes, or expressions in each of your works.

Nagabe: Personally, I think that The Ancient Magus’ Bride is a human drama in which you see Chise’s growth and changes as she confronts the environment around her. So, of course, there are impressive episodes that correspond to that. However, if I get to choose one based on my own preferences, I like the story of magic in Episode 2 and the Christmas story of Elias and Chise. The former shows magical instruments in a fantasy world, and the latter shows the integration of the real world customs in manga. I love portraits that showcase slice-of-life stories, so I thought those were great!

Yamazaki: I really like the gradual development of the relationship between Shiva and Sensei in The Girl from the Other Side. I love the scenes where they are about to touch but hesitate and also the scene that portraits the cute fight that heats up through the door. There’s also a scene where they touch each other by accident, but that triggers them to touch each other intentionally after, and that made me go "Wow!” The distance between them is so... delicate and exquisite. The softness of the flesh and the temperature of Shiva and the lack of physical temperature of Sensei next to her, all give me the feeling of winter, which is amazing. I think it just fits my sense of winter perfectly. The coldness that mercilessly takes away life, the feel of the felt, floor, and walls chilled by snow and water, and the warmth of having someone by your side in front of the stove… they all exist together in the story.

Nagabe: I'm very happy to hear that.

Yamazaki: My favorite episode is episode 29 in volume 6. I really want them both to be happy! It made me feel the warm temperature of Shiva’s tears. The scene where they go see Mother gave me chills. The design of the children of darkness is also epic!

  ── Now, can you talk about what you both find to be attractive about the “Beast x Girl," which is a common concept in both of your works?

Nagabe: It’s not just about girls but more so about humans, but I think I’m into cross-culturalism. Different races have different cultures, languages, and maybe even different body structures. The two characters have great differences and that brings out interesting gaps and interactions which creates a good drama. It’s also nice when they see each other’s similarities and go “oh, that’s the part we have in common”.  I especially like it when there are differences that are incompatible. For example, whether cannibalism is acceptable or not. The fact that taboos in the human world are practiced without hesitation in the non-human world creates clear divisions. Seeing how they deal with these negative differences is the best part and what makes this theme attractive to me.

  Yamazaki: The concept of non-human exists because there are humans. I am personally attracted to things that are distant from humans in appearance and sensibility. I love non-humans who don’t speak human languages, but I also have to balance my work for consumer products. In The Ancient Magus’ Bride, I used fairytales from Britain and Ireland as references, so they all speak human languages fluently. Their sensibilities and appearance are quite human-like except for their rules. It’s probably because humans wouldn’t be able to understand them otherwise, and they can be very different from your ideas of non-humans. However, they are very rigid about certain rules they have, so I have to be careful drawing those concepts clearly. It’s quite difficult to decide how much of the original folktales and fairytales I include in my creation. If I put too much just because it’s interesting, the originality in my work will disappear. This is something I have to be careful not to overlook.

  ── You've taken special care to balance these concepts.

Yamazaki: The other topic to consider is the reason why a girl is matched with a beast. Personally, I think it’s because girls have the most flexibility and softness. For better or worse, children are soft, malleable, and flexible to their environment. But they also have their own answers to questions, toughness, weakness, rigidness, and acceptance to their worlds, questions, hesitation, tolerance, anger, joy… all sorts of ideas and emotions, which makes them very attractive and easy to draw. I understand that adult characters are interesting as well. Also, it’s just exciting to see humans and non-humans together like with animals, monsters, and so on. In reality, people often don’t understand each other, but in creation, we can hope differently. I guess I like seeing everyone getting along as a bystander. But from a business point of view, I can’t just leave it like that, so I give them lots of challenges!

Nagabe: In The Ancient Magus’ Bride, I think that emotions are portrayed as something specific to humans. The contrast between Chise, who is always changing based on her experiences, and Elias, who is certainly changing but lacking in some crucial way, is brilliant. It seems that this kind of dissonance is there because we see Elias’ emotions in the same way we see that of Chise’s or humans. In the story, Chise said to Elias “I can’t understand you”, and I think it’s great that you are taking this difference between the characters seriously and depicting it in your work.

Yamazaki: Thank you. I think The Girl from the Other Side provides the perfect sense in terms of closeness among characters. Other works of yours also showcase this as well. Sometimes characters are all over each other, and other times they are trying to figure out the right distance. There’s rejection, and there’s also adorable connection. I love it. I think the struggle between a being and another being is wonderful. Also, it’s simply cool to have two different concepts exist together like big and small.  

── What kind of works have influenced the two of you in terms of drawing fantasy and the theme of "Beast x Girl"?

Yamazaki: It’s not that I’m only looking for the “Beast x Girl” theme, but it just triggers my sensors! Some of the books that caught my attention are the Darren Shan series, Rachel series, Koteki no Kanata, Dendera Ryu ga Detekitayo, Sukkuto Kitsune, and Hellsing. In terms of animation, I’d say the Monster Farm, PoPoLoCrois series, Brigadoon: Marin & Melan, and Blood: The Last Vampire series. Rather than finding the exact theme of “Beast x Girl," I find the subtle essence of that in these works. Also, I often use myths and folktales as references. I’d say the ones that influenced me the most are Ashiarai Yashiki no Juunintachi, J&J series, and Blood+.

Nagabe: I think Beauty and the Beast was influential for me! These are not about a beast and a girl, but Alice in Wonderland and Moomin also had a strong influence on my current manga creation. They are certainly fantasy, but not shiny and glamorous, and gives you a sense of antiquity, 

── Are there any works that you would like to recommend to each other?

Nagabe: In my case, I am more interested in art books and picture books than novels, so my tastes are a little different. But I would like to recommend Arthur Rackham and Saint-Exupery! Arthur Rackham is famous for Alice in Wonderland, and Saint-Exupery for The Little Prince. I also recommend Jon Klassen's picture book series. I like the airy atmosphere and you can see his energetic watercolor touch. I hope you will read them if you have a chance.

Yamazaki: I'd like to check them out. It's hard to make recommendations to Nagabe-san, but I'd like you to read Ashiarai Yashiki no Juunintachi. The characters are more human-like in appearance, but there is also great diversity. There are lots of characters so I'm sure you'll be able to find one, three, or even ten that you like.

Nagabe: I see. I’ll check it out.

  What they want to portray through their work

── Could you tell us about your own work? In a previous interview with Comic Natalie, Yamazaki-san, you said you wanted to create a story in The Ancient Magus’ Bride where "everyone is bad and everyone is good."

  Yamazaki: Now that I think about it, “everyone is bad and everyone is good” is not exactly correct. If I could answer it again, I would say it’s about differences. It's like a sample of where various emotions and thoughts are. I hope that reading my manga will give the audience a chance to think about the differences in their lives. But they are free to dismiss it if they think it’s boring. I have my ideas of what I want to convey as a message in my work, but I try not to give clear answers so that people can think and feel what they want.

── Now, Nagabe-san, in a previous interview, you said that the most important theme for you was "gentleness."

  Nagabe: After finishing The Girl from the Other Side, I felt once again that ‘gentleness’ is a difficult thing to express. I wondered to whom that ‘gentleness’ was meant for, what it meant, and what would happen if that feeling resulted in a bad situation. Is ‘gentleness’ shown in words, actions, or something else in the first place? Any of these can express ‘gentleness’ depending on the perspectives of each protagonist, so I was reminded of the ambiguity of emotions, the frustration that comes with interaction, and how difficult it is to depict those things. I’m glad I got to learn the difficulty of this theme, and I felt that I need to look at it from different aspects.

── I see. It's been a few years since any of the interviews I mentioned before, but has there been anything new you would like to emphasize in your works?

Nagabe: Since I’ve been thinking about the theme of emotions through "gentleness," I want to focus more on personality. In other words, I want to focus more on human dramas. In addition to that, I would like to depict a strange everyday life in a mysterious world. Of course, I want to include non-humans.

Yamazaki: I haven't really changed my main ideas. But if I had to say, I’d like to go back to the basics and draw non-humans again as I’ve been drawing only humans in stories lately. 

  The world of The Girl from the Other Side and

The Ancient Magus’ Bride in animation

── Both The Girl from the Other Side and The Ancient Magus’ Bride have been developed into anime projects in the past. How do you feel about your works being made into animation again?

Nagabe: My honest impression (after watching the animation) was "It's moving!” The artwork, visuals, and atmosphere of the manga are very important to me, so I was very impressed that the production team was able to recreate those of my manga with such care. In the previous short animation, the audience was able to enjoy the blank space created by the lack of words. It left room for interpretation. I was simply thrilled that they created such mature animation.

Yamazaki: In my case, I was looking at a hypothetical future where the project was in progress, but in the middle of the project, people would say, "It's not going to sell," and it would discontinue. I was thinking that I should at least be able to do enough work to feed myself, but it actually came true. Can you believe it? Now I can't quit so easily. Oops...

── Oh, no (laughs).

Yamazaki: I was just kidding and was actually very happy, and even though it was a lot of hard work, I had great fun working with many creators!

── What kind of messages and reactions did you receive from the readers of your manga who watched the anime?

Nagabe: The readers were also excited that The Girl from the Other Side was moving! That's how much they have enjoyed the world of The Girl from the Other Side in manga, and we’ve succeeded to meet their expectation in the anime.

Yamazaki: I've received a lot of feedback as well, but it's generally been positive and I’m relieved. I want to thank everyone for that!

  ── I believe that there are qualities that people are drawn to and ways of expression that are each unique to manga and anime, but when you saw your own work turned into animation, was there anything that you felt was unique to animation?

Nagabe: I think that the subtle movements of people and objects are best expressed through animation. For example, in the scene at the dinner table with Sensei and Shiva, you can see both a movement of Shiva where she tries to climb up on a chair and a smooth movement of Sensei at the same time. This contrast allowed the audience to feel a sense of life in our daily routines, and I thought that was great. One more thing is that the scenes like Shiva’s dreams and the star scene, in the end, achieved a better sense of realism because of the colors, and I think the black-and-white representation of manga won’t be able to quite do the same.

Yamazaki: I may have the same opinion. The manga is quite plain as I prefer low saturation, but I also knew that could be a hindrance for a consumer product. So I was impressed with the bright colors in the anime. Also, the animation complimented the lack of explanation in the manga and it made it more theatrical. I hope people will see both works!

Nagabe: That's right! I want people to see both, too.

── Both manga and anime have their own strong points, and I hope people will enjoy them both. And now, the development of a full-length anime of The Girl from the Other Side and a new OAD series for The Ancient Magus’ Bride has been announced. Please tell us your honest opinions about these developments.

Nagabe: YEEEESSS! I'm so happy. I personally gave the last short-length anime a perfect score, so I have…really...high expectations!

── I can feel your joy. (laugh)

Nagabe: This is all happening thanks to the hard work put in by WIT STUDIO, Yutaro Kubo (director), and Satomi Yoneya (director), and my expectations are very high and I have no worries at all! How about you, Yamazaki-san?

Yamazaki: I'm glad to be working with various creators again! I'm also going to be doing more work that I don't normally do, so in a way I'll be able to change up my routine. It's a lot of work, but also a lot of fun.

── What are you looking forward to and what are your expectations for the new animation?

Nagabe: I’m wondering how they will tell the story now that it’s longer. Of course, I’m interested in the visual expressions and the production of animation as I was for the previous short-length anime, but more than that, I’m looking forward to seeing how they will incorporate the world of The Girl from the Other Side into animation and how they will depict it. Also, Sensei and Shiva are going to talk… with voices. I’m pretty pumped about it and can't contain my excitement!

  ── As a fan, I'm really looking forward to it. What about you, Yamazaki-san?

Yamazaki: It's fun to have more opportunities to see the work of the animation staff. To tell the truth, I don't really have much expectation for my work. “New anime! Work is coming! I'll do my best!”, I don’t normally feel that way.  It almost feels like a collaboration between the supervising team and the animation team, so I have to do my best for our audience to enjoy it.

── How do you feel about the fact that both of your works are loved overseas as well?

Nagabe: Is that so? I'm glad to hear that! Since The Girl from the Other Side is more like a poem or a picture book than a manga, I’ve been wondering how it would be perceived even in Japan. But I'm frankly happy that it's been accepted so favorably. I'm also happy that TThe Girl from the Other Side has “flown” to a foreign country (the Other Side). That gave me a smile. Thank you very much.

Yamazaki: I'm really grateful that there are people overseas who are interested in my work since I basically published it for Japanese people. As the story is set in England, I tried to avoid using gestures and phrases that are unique to Japanese culture, but I guess you could say that worked in my favor. I've been getting a lot of positive feedback and art from fans!

  The influence of the pandemic

── I'd like to change the subject. In the past year, as I’ve had interactions with various manga artists, I've witnessed the impact of the pandemic in the writing process and the mental health of manga artists in general. Have there been any changes for you?

Nagabe: Due to the pandemic, of course, I thought about things like my daily life, how to go out, and how to enforce hygiene. But if I speak of The Girl from the Other Side, I feel that its world has gotten closer to our reality. In the story, there’s a curse, and one character would say “it’s safe to stay close to non-humans from the Outside as long as you take proper precautions” while another would say “we should eliminate the cause if nobody can take responsibility”, and they keep arguing. They are both right, and that is why there is friction. I think our feelings and societal reactions toward COVID-19 is very similar to that of The Girl from the Other Side.

Yamazaki: My assistant has been working from far away since before the pandemic, so our work itself hasn’t really been affected at all. But the fact that I can’t go out to gather information and materials for my work has put a damper on my mood. I can feel the significant influence on my work speed, physical condition, and mental health. I’ve always thought I was an indoor person, but in the situation where I am restricted to go out, it’s making me want to do so even more.

── I really understand. There are many people around me saying that they had thought they were indoor people but they got depressed when they couldn’t go outside for a long period of time. Along this topic, I have an impression that manga artists are more used to being at home than people with regular jobs, so you must have some useful tips on how to make it more enjoyable. Do you?

Nagabe: Leave it to me. After all, I am a professional at that.

── I’m counting on you (laughs).

Nagabe: In my case, I have three rooms: one is my workroom, one is my bedroom, and one is my living space, so I feel like I can make my home more comfortable just by not mixing up my personal and professional life. Also, it's exhausting to keep up 100% of my attention, so I think it's okay to cut corners where I can. I also wear pajamas except in my workspace. For me, it's important to keep my workspace clean and crisp and separate from my personal life. Otherwise, I think people should invest in hobbies. Yeah, I think so. Let's paint, everyone. Drawing is good. [To the reader] Why don't you draw pictures, too?

Yamazaki: Haha. I am an indoor person only when I have a lot of materials to read and work, so not being able to go out gives me a fair amount of stress. If I had to pick, I’d say looking at photo books, cooking, trying out musical instruments, or woodworking or something. Woodworking in particular is great because you can develop your concentration and you end up with a finished product in your hands. Just shaving the bark of a tree branch with a knife is fun, so I think it’s good to have a knife. It’s convenient.

  Questions to each other from their commitments to creation to the favorite features of non-humans

─ Since we are here to talk altogether, I would like to ask you to interview each other. First, Nagabe-san, could you please ask questions to Yamazaki-san?

Nagabe: I’d like to know your process of thinking out and what you are particular about in creating your stories. When I read The Ancient Magus’ Bride, the first thing that struck me was that Yamazaki-sensei uses motifs from Western mythology, fairies, and folklore, and then creates a human drama about how those characters confront each other and express their feelings. So I am wondering how you incorporate the elements that exist in fantasy into your own stories and characters.

Yamazaki: A human drama…… Can I call it a human drama? I'd be happy if I can!

Nagabe: I'm sure you can!

Yamazaki: To be honest, there are many parts where I’m not really sure how I’ve applied the concept of fantasy to the characters. When I'm thinking about a story, my brain starts going "This is it," "This person is that," or "That can be incorporated into this development,” and it often puts different pieces together like a puzzle.  On the other hand, when those things don't come out naturally, it's hard as hell to write a story (laughs). I usually read books on mythology and folklore, and I often have a stock of ideas that I can use in development. Perhaps it's because I don't think of fantasy as something that can't happen in reality, so I create a story where humans meet fantasy in an ordinary way. That's probably why I create the way I do. I feel that these things can happen right next to us, like the change of seasons.

Nagabe: Are there any techniques or theories that you consider in manga? For example, I'd like to know if there are any techniques that you use when drawing manga, such as creating a development every four pages or adjusting the number of frames.

Yamazaki: People have different opinions on this, but I try to include some funny parts here and there. I’ve had some people say they prefer for me to write seriously throughout weighty stories so that they won’t be distracted. But some say they enjoy those funny parts. Either way, I am enjoying drawing those scenes, so that’s the direction I’m going. Other than that, I only pay attention to the basics. Not too many frames, not too few, no more than three lines of dialogues because it’s hard to read, and wide horizontal lines for speech bubbles. When the bubbles are long in length, it's a problem when it’s translated into other languages.  

Nagabe: Oh, I see. I'm just curious, but you create manga, illustrations, and novels, and is there any new field you would like to work on?

Yamazaki: I'm mostly satisfied because I was able to get my hands on all three of those (laughs). I originally wanted to be a writer, but I found it overwhelmingly unsuitable, so I got serious about manga. If I don't have to think about what I’m suited for, writing picture books or game and anime scripts sound interesting.

Nagabe: Now, I'm going to assume that you like non-humans, but what are your favorite things about them? I want you to talk about it as much as you can.

Yamazaki: I don’t know if I’m qualified to talk about non-humans just because I like non-human characters, but personally, I think it’s their differences that attract me. Compared to humans, they look different, think differently, speak different languages, live in different ways, and have different cultures. But when you think about it, this all applies to humans, doesn’t it? If you are from different countries or even areas, all of the things I mentioned can be the differences among humans. I think I enjoy non-human characters because those differences are easier to see. The further away they are from humans and the more difficult it is to communicate with them, the more excited I get. But that also doesn’t mean that I like all non-humans just because. They need to have attractive inner qualities as well. I do love non-human characters, but the basic premise is that characters have to be attractive and stories have to be interesting!

  Nagabe: Yeah, I agree.

Yamazaki: Going back to the question, if I had to pick the best feature of non-humans, I would say that it's the fact that they seem to be able to understand humans, but can’t. Even when they are next to us and looking at the same things, what we see are different and we never understand each other’s point of view. I love the fact that we continue to be individuals who don’t intersect, don’t mix, and can’t be fixed into something. But even then, the human character and the non-human character stick around together! I love that concept!I love the fact that they seem to be attracted to each other but are not, and that they will forever remain different creatures. After all, the existence of humans is essential for non-humans because the premise of non-humans is that there are humans. Therefore, I don't get too excited when I don't know much about the non-human characters. If possible, I want to know their thoughts, tastes, words, and deeds of the being before liking them. Although, in some cases, I get really excited about characters based on their appearance only…. So, I guess it’s like an accident to find non-human characters I like.

Nagabe: Is that right? By the way, what do you think of cat ears? Do you like them or not? Is it a beast, a demi-human, or a non-human? Please tell me your opinion.

Yamazaki: There are many factors that I would personally consider, such as how the cat ears are attached, the facial structure, whether it has human ears in addition to cat ears, its lifestyle, and whether it seems to think like a beast rather than a human. Whether there are any features other than the cat ears that differ from humans is probably the main question. Personally, I don't think that a human with only cat ears can be considered a non-human, but in some cases, it can be, so it really depends on the character.

Nagabe: I see.

Yamazaki: For example, if the lifestyle is that of a feral cat or feline, it is a beast, if the lifestyle is culturally different from that of humans, it is a demi-human, and if the lifestyle is clearly different from that of humans, it is non-human. I think it’s important to keep in mind that people will judge cat ears, or rather animal ears, differently depending on who they are. I believe in freedom of what people think, each individual is wonderful, and you can step away from things you disagree with.

Nagabe: Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Lastly, I like non-humans so much that I draw them all the time, but I can’t find the appeal of human features. I don’t find it interesting to draw humans, so please help me.

Yamazaki: What? I'm not very good at drawing humans either! (laughs)

Nagabe: (laughs).

Yamazaki: To be honest, I feel that I’m not very good at drawing in general, but appeal… appeal…. I personally get motivated when I feel I’ve drawn something well, so I draw the features I like with my own fetishism in full swing. Eyes, hair, waistline, and facial expressions. That’s about it, I guess. So when I get into a slump, I am stuck there for a long time.  

── Now it’s time for Yamazaki-san to ask Nagabe-san questions.

Yamazaki: I've heard that you draw very quickly, but do you have any weaknesses or strengths in terms of creating a storyboard, plotting, drafting, or line drawing?

Nagabe: I don’t like creating a storyboard and plotting. I get bored easily so I don’t like to spend too much time creating one thing. If I think too much, I don’t make any progress, and as a result, my focus shifts to other things. Creating a storyboard requires an awareness of the direction and progression of the story as well as its intentions. I’m not accustomed to these very well and I can’t supplement these with just my drawing ability. 

Yamazaki: I also have a hard time with storyboards, so I understand. Are there any particular things that you can’t compromise in your work?

Nagabe: It's the composition of the picture. I like to deliberately draw blank spaces, and I think adding meaning to the empty spaces and adding emotion to the positions of the characters is an expression that is possible only in the framed world of manga, so I'm very particular about that.  

Yamazaki: Thank you very much. Now, do you have any activities or something that you do when you just can't bring yourself to work?

Nagabe: At first, I would draw the easy parts. For example, I start with tasks that I think will be easy, such as drawing only one frame, drawing only persons, or drawing only speech bubbles. I don't know if it makes sense, but I think motivation comes after I begin the work, so I try to start with easy tasks to get the engine going.

Yamazaki: I see. This is the same question you asked me earlier, but I would also like to know what Nagabe-san’s favorite features about non-humans are.

Nagabe:  Okay, you sure you have enough time to talk about it?

Yamazaki: (laughs).

Nagabe: First of all, I like the way they look. Sometimes they are human skeletons, sometimes they are four-legged, and they are just distorted and diverse. The visuals are beyond imagination, like a living creature or a sculpture, and I like the eeriness of it. Next is regarding common sense. For example, they may eat pet animals as food, and the pets just accept that they will be eaten. Is this similar to the Cambyses Lottery (Fujiko F. Fujio)? What is considered common sense in one country is considered heretical in another. I love the interaction created by these cultural differences.

Yamazaki: Yeah.

Nagabe: The other thing is their life expectancy. It doesn't matter if it's a long life or a short life. At the moment you are born, it’s decided that you will not live the same amount of time as others and I like the impermanence of it. I want to create a new feeling of discomfort that has never existed before through this concept. There's no end to what I want to say, but I think I put a lot of emphasis on appearance and external characteristics. It's like the characteristics of animal features, and I hope those shapes have meanings.

Yamazaki: I've always thought that you are so good at depicting the interaction between humans and non-humans who don't have control over human language.

Nagabe: Thank you!

Yamazaki: Regardless of whether you draw them or not, which do you prefer, the ones who can control human language or the ones who can't?

Nagabe: I think both are good. If they use words, they can at least communicate instantly, and if they don't, I can create drama through their trial and error process of interacting. But for a story, I think I like the ones that don't use words because it gives them a stronger sense of foreignness and makes it easier to depict the difference between humans and non-humans.

Yamazaki: So, do you have a favorite genre for a non-human with animal features?

Nagabe: All... of them?

Yamazaki: (laughs). Dogs, cats, birds, reptiles and amphibians, marine mammals, insects, etc. These are not animals, but robots and androids would be fine as well.

Nagabe: Anything is fine as long as it's not a human.

Yamazaki: (laughs).

── I can feel Nagabe-san’s love for non-humans (laughs). Lastly, please share a message to the readers who are supporting your work.

Nagabe: Thank you for reading. In my works, I try to eliminate or omit explanations and dialogues as much as possible, so there may be many places where you may wonder what's going on. I've tried to leave room for your imagination, so I hope you'll enjoy the intentional blanks!

Yamazaki: Thank you so much for your support. It's a story that has lots of twists, but there's always something beyond that. I hope you will enjoy it. Thank you for your continued support!

      By: Guest Author

[self-loving-vampire]

List of Undead: Part 1

To start the list, I will write about and score templates. For those who don’t know, templates are something you apply to an existing creature, modifying it. They are versatile in that they can be applied to a variety of monsters and NPCs.

For example, you can apply the skeleton template to humans, ogres, and more to create a variety of skeletons of different sizes.

Some templates also have variants, which I will also attempt to cover. Variant templates have “CR Adj +” rather than just “CR +”, meaning they increase the CR of the existing template. Template variants are not scored separately, a single score at the bottom marks the template plus its variants.

Warning: Extremely long.

Misc Templates with 0 CR Adjustment

*Necropolitan (Libris Mortis, CR +0): Beings who have undertaken the painful Ritual of Crucimigration to become undead.

Mechanics: 1/5. Aesthetics: 2/5. Ease of Introduction: 3/5. Grade: 6/15.

Misc Templates with +1 CR Adjustment

*Spellstitched (Monster Manual 2, CR +1): Undead that have been fortified through arcane means. Their bodies are rune-covered and they can use Conjuration, Evocation, and Necromancy spells.

Mechanics: 3/5. Aesthetics: 2/5. Ease of Introduction: 2/5. Grade: 7/15.

*Orcus-Blooded (MM5, CR +1): This template requires the sacrifice of good-aligned creatures. An avatar of Orcus then appears and bathes the petitioner with black, tarry blood poured from a golden chalice. The creature grows goat-like horns and unholy powers.

Mechanics: 1/5. Aesthetics: 4/5. Ease of Introduction: 2/5. Grade: 7/15.

*Phantom (MM5, CR +1 or +2): Phantom creatures can become incorporeal.

Mechanics: 2/5. Aesthetics: 4/5. Ease of Introduction: 3/5. Grade: 9/15.

Ectoplasmic Creature (Bestiary 4, CR +1): Suffering and hateful undead formed from ectoplasm. Formed from spirits that are not strong enough to become ghosts or spectres. They are not incorporeal, but can temporarily phase through solid matter.

Mechanics: 2/5. Aesthetics: 3/5. Ease of Introduction: 5/5. Grade: 10/15.

*Husk Vermin (Drow of the Underdark, CR +1 or +2): The carapaces of vermin, now animated by evil spirits. Drow make use of them.

Mechanics: 1/5. Aesthetics: 4/5. Ease of Introduction: 3/5. Grade: 8/15.

*Tainted Minion (Heroes of Horror, CR +1): A mortal transformed into a horrific undead servant of evil. They are humanoids or monstrous humanoids who died while seriously tainted, most often people who died as a result of said taint.

Mechanics: 3/5. Aesthetics: 2/5. Ease of Introduction: 3/5. Grade: 8/15.

*Evolved Undead (Libris Mortis, CR +1): Intelligent undead that survive for 100 years or more have a small chance of evolving and gaining new powers.

Mechanics: 2/5. Aesthetics: 4/5. Ease of Introduction: 1/5. Grade: 7/15.

*Gravetouched Ghoul (Libris Mortis, CR +1): These ghouls are believed to be the remains of particularly debauched cannibals who have been touched by the God of Ghouls. They are similar to normal ghouls, but more powerful.

Mechanics: 3/5. Aesthetics: 3/5. Ease of Introduction: 2/5. Grade: 8/15.

*Hooded Pupil (Libris Mortis, CR +1): A giant drawn to necromancy, often found serving an “apprenticeship” under more powerful undead. They can drink blood.

Mechanics: 2/5. Aesthetics: 3/5. Ease of Introduction: 1/5. Grade: 6/15.

*Necromental (Libris Mortis, CR +1): The undead remains of an elemental, now twisted an evil.

Mechanics: 3/5. Aesthetics: 4/5. Ease of Introduction: 3/5. Grade: 10/15.

*Swarmshifter (Libris Mortis, CR +1): Undead granted the unholy power to become swarms of various types.

Mechanics: 3/5. Aesthetics: 3/5. Ease of Introduction: 3/5. Grade: 9/15.

*Curst (Monsters of Ferun, CR +1): The remains of a creature doomed to live in torment by a powerful curse.

Mechanics: 2/5. Aesthetics: 3/5. Ease of Introduction: 2/5. Grade: 7/15.

Plagued Beast (Bestiary 5, CR +1): Born from animals infected by the demon plague, which they now spread.

Mechanics: 1/5. Aesthetics: 4/5. Ease of Introduction: 2/5. Grade: 7/15.

Spore Zombie (Bestiary 6, CR +1): Vermin infested by sinister fungal spores, often those of a Fungus Queen. This fungus animates the vermin as an undead creature that spews damaging spore clouds.

Mechanics: 1/5. Aesthetics: 2/5. Ease of Introduction: 3/5. Grade: 6/15.

Undead Lord (Tome of Horrors Complete, CR +1 or +2): A particularly powerful undead that commands others of its kind.

Mechanics: 3/5. Aesthetics: 2/5. Ease of Introduction: 4/5. Grade: 9/15.

Frostfallen Creature (Jade Regent: The Hungry Storm, CR +1): Frozen undead that generate intense cold but are vulnerable to fire.

Mechanics: 2/5. Aesthetics: 3/5. Ease of Introduction: 2/5. Grade: 7/15.

Corpsespun Creature (Tome of Horrors Complete, CR +1): Undead created from the victims of Corpsespinners. They appear as webbed zombies full of spiders and capable to spray them from their mouths.

Mechanics: 3/5. Aesthetics: 4/5. Ease of Introduction: 2/5. Grade: 9/15.

Dread Ghoul (Advanced Bestiary, CR +1): Strong ghouls that can command others of their kind.

Mechanics: 2/5. Aesthetics: 2/5. Ease of Introduction: 2/5. Grade: 6/15.

Soulless (Rappan Athuk, CR +1): Living creatures whose souls have been separated from their bodies by a demon lord.  They are amoral and immune to fear, critical hits, and effects that target souls. They also gain a weakening abyssal stare.

Mechanics: 2/5. Aesthetics: 4/5. Ease of Introduction: 2/5. Grade: 8/15.

*Ghoulish Creature (Dragon Magazine 307, CR +1): A ghoul template.

Mechanics: 2/5. Aesthetic: 2/5. Ease of Introduction: 4/5. Grade: 8/15.

Mummified Creature (Bestiary 4, CR +1): Mummified creatures are like mummies, but retain their intelligence, memories, and other abilities. They are slower than before, but gain a frightening aura and the ability to reduce their victims to dust.

Mechanics: 3/5. Aesthetics: 2/5. Ease of Introduction: 2/5. Grade: 7/15.

Floodslain (Belkzen, Hold of the Orc Hordes, CR +1): Creatures drowned in flash floods. They can summon spectral waves to strike at their enemies and have a touch that drowns creatures by forming water in their lungs.

Mechanics: 5/5. Aesthetic: 3/5. Ease of Introduction: 3/5. Grade: 11/15.

Misc Templates with +2 CR Adjustment

*Huecuva (Fiend Folio, CR +2): Undead creatures raised from paladins, clerics, monks, and druids who have failed their vows and died without receiving atonement. They retain dim memories of their former lives and dwell in desecrated shrines and temples mocking their former beliefs.

Mechanics: 2/5. Aesthetics: 3/5. Ease of Introduction: 2/5. Grade: 7/15.

*Swordwraith (Fiend Folio, CR +2): The animated body of a mercenary so dedicated to a life of war that the battlefield calls for them even in death.

Mechanics: 1/5. Aesthetics: 3/5. Ease of Introduction: 4/5. Grade: 8/15.

*Sepulchral Thief (Cityscape, CR +2): An evil thief who died in the middle of planning or executing their greatest theft (or similar criminal activity).

Mechanics: 4/5. Aesthetics: 3/5. Ease of Introduction: 1/5. Grade: 8/15.

*Umbral Creature (Libris Mortis, CR +2 or +3): Shadowy creatures who bestow the chill of non-existence. They look like creatures from the Plane of Shadow, but are not actually native to it.

Mechanics: 2/5. Aesthetics: 4/5. Ease of Introduction: 3/5. Grade: 9/15.

*Ghastly Creature (Dragon Magazine 307, CR +2): A ghast template.

Mechanics: 2/5. Aesthetic: 2/5. Ease of Introduction: 4/5. Grade: 8/15.

Ravener (Bestiary 2, CR +2): Ancient dragons who made themselves undead to reject death. They now hunger for and consume souls, using them to power both their supernatural defenses and their spellcasting.

Mechanics: 5/5. Aesthetics: 5/5. Ease of Introduction: 2/5. Grade: 12/15.

Graveknight (Bestiary 3, CR +2): Undying tyrants that rise from the most nefarious warlords and disgraced heroes. They use the same equipment as they did in life, but warped by their resurrection. A graveknight’s essence is tied to their armor, which reforms them if they are destroyed. They can summon phantom mounts and command lesser undead, among other powers.

Mechanics: 5/5. Aesthetics: 4/5. Ease of Introduction: 3/5. Grade: 12/15.

Mummy Lord (Bestiary 5, CR +2): Mummy Lords typically have cleric levels and are intelligent. In addition to stronger mummy powers and cleric spells, Mummy Lords also rejuvenate and have access to blasts of burning sand, mastery over undead,

Mechanics: 4/5. Aesthetics: 2/5. Ease of Introduction: 1/5. Grade: 7/15.

Animus Shade (Bestiary 6, CR +2): Formed when a creature dies from psychic injury and the unconscious parts of their mind live on. They appear as distorted and wretched versions of their former selves and have access to various psychic powers.

Mechanics: 3/5. Aesthetics: 3/5. Ease of Introduction: 2/5. Grade: 8/15.

Siabrae (Bestiary 6, CR +2): Desperate druids sometimes turn to blasphemous rituals to become the corrupt Siabrae in hopes of defending the natural world.

Mechanics: 1/5. Aesthetics: 3/5. Ease of Introduction: 4/5. Grade: 8/15.

Gallowdead (Dungeons of Golarion, CR +2): A criminal or traitor executed by being hanged on the end of a hooked chain. They rise as undead who serve those who condemned them.

Mechanics: 3/5. Aesthetic: 4/5. Ease of Introduction: 3/5. Grade: 10/15.

Haunted Construct (Shattered Star: The Dead Heart of Xin, CR +2): A haunted construct with spell-like abilities, some bonuses, and vulnerability to positive energy.

Mechanics: 3/5. Aesthetics: 3/5. Ease of Introduction: 3/5. Grade: 9/15.

Dread Mohrg (Advanced Bestiary, CR +2): Mostly just a stronger mohrg.

Mechanics: 3/5. Aesthetic: 4/5. Ease of Introduction: 3/5. Grade: 10/15.

Dread Shadow (Advanced Bestiary, CR +2): A pool of darkness and negative energy that commands lesser shadows and can now teleport.

Mechanics: 2/5. Aesthetic: 3/5. Ease of Introduction: 5/5. Grade: 10/15.

Dread Wight (Advanced Bestiary, CR +2): Mostly just a stronger wight.

Mechanics: 2/5. Aesthetic: 2/5. Ease of Introduction: 4/5. Grade: 8/15.

Blood Knight (Advanced Bestiary, CR +2): Blood knights are the damned souls of fierce warriors who died in a particularly bloody manner. Cursed to walk the earth until their warlike ways lead to their destruction, blood knights seek always to fight and conquer. A blood knight wears the armor it died in, but its body is gone, wholly replaced by blood. The blood knight’s blows leave wounds that do not close, and its own blood is poisonous.

Mechanics: 3/5. Aesthetics: 4/5. Ease of Introduction: 3/5. Grade: 10/15.

Misc Templates with +3 or more CR Adjustment

*Death Knight (Monster Manual 2, CR +3): Gods of death are the typical creators of death knights, martial champions of undead. They ride nightmares, control undead minions, and have various powers.

Mechanics: 5/5. Aesthetics: 4/5. Ease of Introduction: 2/5. Grade: 7/15.

*Wight (Savage Species, CR +3): Wight template.

Mechanics: 2/5. Aesthetics: 2/5. Ease of Introduction: 4/5. Grade: 8/15.

*Dread Bodak (Advanced Bestiary, CR +3): Stronger bodaks with a death wail and a more immediately lethal gaze.

Mechanics: 3/5. Aesthetic: 4/5. Ease of Introduction: 2/5. Grade: 9/15.

Dune Mummy (Entombed with the Pharaohs, CR +3): A mummy without a frightening appearance or mummy rot. They can turn those they kill into dust and ash.

Mechanics: 1/5. Aesthetics: 2/5. Ease of Introduction: 1/5. Grade: 4/15.

Bleeding Horror (Tome of Horrors Complete, CR +3): A horrific undead created by an evil, blood-seeking weapon. They search for blood to feed the weapon that created them.

Mechanics: 3/5. Aesthetics: 4/5. Ease of Introduction: 1/5. Grade: 8/15.

Deathleech (Tome of Horrors Complete, CR +3): Spawned by an unhealthy interest in the necromantic arts or perhaps a lifetime of proximity to significant necromantic energies, the deathleech is the bane of living creatures. Driven by an insatiable hunger for death, these malign horrors stalk the living, preying on the weak to boost their own power through foul and twisted means. Deathleeches are most often powerful necromancers, liches, or other intelligent and powerful undead. However, other creatures have become tainted with these evil powers from time to time.

Mechanics: 3/5. Aesthetics: 4/5. Ease of Introduction: 3/5. Grade: 10/15.

Dread Allip (Advanced Bestiary, CR +3): A stronger allip now with a dominating trample that can be used to order suicides.

Mechanics: 3/5. Aesthetic: 5/5. Ease of Introduction: 2/5. Grade: 10/15.

Dread Blood Knight (Advanced Bestiary, CR +3): Stronger blood knights that can leave their bonded armor as a pool of slithering blood.

Mechanics: 4/5. Aesthetics: 4/5. Ease of Introduction: 2/5. Grade: 10/15.

Dread Devourer (Advanced Bestiary, CR +3): Stronger devourers with greater powers.

Mechanics: 5/5. Aesthetics: 4/5. Ease of Introduction: 1/5. Grade: 10/15.

Dread Mummy (Advanced Bestiary, CR +3): A mighty mummy with a lethal tomb breath that creates juju zombies and inflict greater despair.

Mechanics: 4/5. Aesthetics: 3/5. Ease of Introduction: 1/5. Grade: 8/15.

Dread Poltergeist (Advanced Bestiary, CR +3): A poltergeist able to kill through its frightening image and illusions.

Mechanics: 4/5. Aesthetics: 3/5. Ease of Introduction: 3/5. Grade: 10/15.

Dread Spectre (Advanced Bestiary, CR +3): Mostly just a stronger spectre.

Mechanics: 2/5. Aesthetic: 2/5. Ease of Introduction: 2/5. Grade: 6/15.

*Bodak Creature (Dragon Magazine 307, CR +4): A creature turned into a Bodak by absolute evil.

Mechanics: 4/5. Aesthetic: 4/5. Ease of Introduction: 2/5. Grade: 10/15.

Dread Wraith Sovereign (Advanced Bestiary, CR +4): A greater wraith with a cold aura.

Mechanics: 2/5. Aesthetic: 4/5. Ease of Introduction: 1/5. Grade: 7/15.

*Wraith (Savage Species, CR +5): Wraith template.

Mechanics: 2/5. Aesthetics: 5/5. Ease of Introduction: 5/5. Grade: 12/15.

Misc Templates with Variable CR Adjustment

*Hivenest (Dungeonscape, CR as group consisting of base creature and as many of the base swarms that are released during hivedeath): This template combines a Large or larger undead, plant, or construct and a Diminutive or Fine vermin. When the monster is destroyed, swarms are released based on the monster’s size.

Mechanics: 3/5. Aesthetics: 3/5. Ease of Introduction: 3/5. Grade: 9/15.

Meat Puppet (Rathan Attuk, CR Varies): Boneless, skinless corpses with simple abilities.

Mechanics: 1/5. Aesthetic: 3/5. Ease of Introduction: 3/5. Grade: 7/15.

Skeleton Templates

Skeleton (Bestiary 1, CR varies): Animated bones of the dead. They are mindless automatons but have the instinctual cunning to use weapons and armor.

*Fiery/Lightning/Frost Skeleton (Libris Mortis, CR adj. +1/2): Skeletons with minor elemental powers.

*Nimble Skeleton (Libris Mortis, CR adj. +1/2): Simply a more agile skeleton.

*Soldier Skeleton (Libris Mortis, CR adj. +1): Typically raised from mass battlefield graves. They have some fighting skill as well as the ability to cooperate with each other.

*Vicious Skeleton (Libris Mortis, CR adj. +1): Skeletons that have claw attacks and a mindless need to disembowel the living. Clawed creatures can be raised as vicious skeletons if covered in beast blood at the time of creation.

Bloody Skeleton (Bestiary 1, CR Adj +1): A gore-covered skeleton that is significantly harder to destroy. It even reforms after destruction under most circumstances.

Burning Skeleton (Bestiary 1, CR Adj +1): Skeletons surrounded by an aura of flames that harms adjacent creatures.

Acid Skeleton (Classic Horrors Revisited, CR varies): Variant skeleton that oozes acid. Dread Shadow (Advanced Bestiary, CR +2): A pool of darkness and negative energy that commands lesser shadows and can now teleport. Mechanics: 2/5. Aesthetic: 3/5. Ease of Introduction: 5/5. Grade: 10/15. Dread Wight (Advanced Bestiary, CR +2): Mostly just a stronger wight. Mechanics: 2/5. Aesthetic: 2/5. Ease of Introduction: 4/5. Grade: 8/15.

Exploding Skeleton (Classic Horrors Revisited, CR varies): Skeletons that deal minor damage from sharp bone fragments upon death.

Four Armed Mudra Skeleton (Carrion Crown: Trial of the Beast, CR varies): Also called whirlwind skeletons, they have four arms and the ability to fight with many weapons at once.

Host Corpse Skeleton (Classic Horrors Revisited, CR +0 with the swarm counting as a separate creature): Skeletons used to host a swarm of vermin or tiny undead creatures that they release from their bodies.

Multiplying Skeleton (Classic Horrors Revisited, CR +1): A multiplying skeleton reassembles itself into smaller skeletons when it is destroyed. As these smaller skeletons are themselves destroyed, they continue to multiply into even more skeletons.

Skeletal Champion (Bestiary 1, CR Adj +1): Skeletons that retain their intelligence and may gain class levels.

Skeletal Champion Magus (Classic Horrors Revisited CR Adj +1): Variant skeletal champions that use spells.

Dread Skeleton (Advanced Bestiary, CR +1): Stronger skeleton.

Skeletal Archer (Classic Horrors Revisited, CR +0): Skeletons who retain some skill in archery.

Mechanics: 2/5. Aesthetics: 2/5. Ease of Introduction: 5/5. Grade: 9/15.

*Skeletal Dragon (Draconomicon, CR halved with a minimum of 1): Created via Animate Dead and similar to a normal skeleton. They are mindless and lose many of their powers.

Mechanics: 1/5. Aesthetics: 5/5. Ease of Introduction: 3/5. Grade: 9/15.

*Revived Fossil (Libris Mortis, CR depends on HD): The reanimated remains of ancient animals or monsters that were fossilized.

Mechanics: 1/5. Aesthetics: 4/5. Ease of Introduction: 1/5. Grade: 6/15.

Exoskeleton (Bestiary 6, CR varies): Animated vermin carapaces that can be created by necromancers or spontaneously by negative energy. They are as mindless as in life, but significantly more hostile as undead. Some exoskeletons become haunted and gain intelligence.

Mechanics: 1/5. Aesthetics: 3/5. Ease of Introduction: 4/5. Grade: 8/15.

*Bone Creature (Book of Vile Darkness, CR +0): Like a skeleton, but intelligent. They can’t arise from Animate Dead, but can come from the Create Undead spells, or from awakening a skeletal creature. 

Mechanics: 2/5. Aesthetics: 2/5. Ease of Introduction: 3/5. Grade: 7/15.

Paleoskeleton Creature (Tome of Horrors Complete, CR varies): An animated fossil skeleton capable of permanently turning its victims into stone.

Mechanics: 2/5. Aesthetic: 4/5. Ease of Introduction: 1/5. Grade: 7/15.

Zombie Templates

Zombie (Bestiary 1, CR varies): Mindless animated corpse. Zombies are slow but tough and easy to create.

Fast Zombie (Bestiary 1, CR Adj. +0): Exactly what it sounds like.

Plague Zombie (Bestiary 1, CR Adj. +0): Zombies that spread Zombie Rot, a disease that turns victims into zombies if they die while infected. They also explode into an infectious burst on death.

Void Zombie (Bestiary 2, CR Adj +1): Zombies created by Akatas. They are Fast Zombies with a secondary tongue attack that drains blood.

*Bloodthirsty Zombie (Libris Mortis, CR Adj +1): Savage zombies that can drain blood. Rise from applying a drop of vampire blood to a corpse before raising.

*Diseased Zombies (Libris Mortis, CR Adj +1/2): Used by necromancers as disease carriers, exposing victims to filth fever.

*Unkillable Zombie (Libris Mortis, CR Adj +1): A tougher zombie that regenerates.

Dread Zombie (Advanced Bestiary, CR +1): Stronger zombie.

Spellgorged Zombie (Tome of Horrors Complete, CR varies): Spellcasters humiliated by being turned into undead that store spells for their rivals.

Alchemical Zombie (Classic Horrors Revisited, CR Adj +1): Zombies created through alchemy rather than necromancy, slightly more resistant to positive energy.

Brain Eating Zombie (Classic Horrors Revisited, CR Adj +0): Zombies that spawn and eat brains to prevent resurrection.

Cursed Zombie (Classic Horrors Revisited, CR Adj +1): Zombies created by a curse, which they can now spread.

Gasburst Zombie (Classic Horrors Revisited, CR Adj +1): Zombies filled with poisonous gas.

Relentless Zombie (Classic Horrors Revisited, CR Adj +1): Stronger fast zombies that can climb and track by scent.

Mechanics: 2/5. Aesthetics: 3/5. Ease of Introduction: 5/5. Grade: 10/15.

Juju Zombie (Bestiary 2, CR +1): An emaciated, leathery zombie. They are faster than normal zombies and retain some intelligence.

Mechanics: 2/5. Aesthetics: 1/5. Ease of Introduction: 3/5. Grade: 6/15.

*Zombie Dragon (Draconomicon, CR halved but with +1): A dragon animated by Animate Dead or by a Vampiric Dragon. They are much like other zombies.

Mechanics: 1/5. Aesthetics: 4/5. Ease of Introduction: 3/5.

Grade: 8/15.

*Corpse Creature (Book of Vile Darkness, CR +1): Like a zombie, but intelligent. They can’t arise from Animate Dead, but can come from the Create Undead spells, or from awakening a zombie creature.

Mechanics: 2/5. Aesthetics: 3/5. Ease of Introduction: 3/5. Grade: 8/15.

Zombie Lord (Bestiary 4, CR +1 over a zombie of the same level plus class levels): A zombie that retains intelligence and skills. Unlike normal zombies, they are not constantly staggered either.

Mechanics: 3/5. Aesthetics: 3/5. Ease of Introduction: 5/5. Grade: 11/15.

Slime Zombie (Tome of Horrors Complete, CR varies): A zombie created to hunt for the olive slime that created it. It spreads the infestation.

Mechanics: 1/5. Aesthetic: 2/5. Ease of Introduction: 1/5. Grade: 4/15.

Ghost Templates

Ghost (Bestiary 1, CR +2): When a soul is not allowed to rest due to some great injustice, real or perceived, it may come back as a ghost. They can be of any alignment and rejuvenate when slain.

*Haunting Ghost (Libris Mortis, CR adj. +0): Ghosts tied to a domain that they haunt, using terrifying illusions and suggestion magic to keep others away.

*Sagacious Ghost (Libris Mortis, CR adj. +0): Ghosts with vast stores of knowledge, akin to an undead library. Depending on alignment, they may offer their knowledge freely or at a dire cost. They essentially have a Lore ability like a bard’s Bardic Knowledge ability.

*Frostfell Ghost (Frostburn, CR adj. +0): A ghost a variety of new cold-themed abilities, including some involving Coldfire.

Mechanics: 5/5. Aesthetics: 4/5. Ease of Introduction: 3/5. Grade: 12/15.

Dread Ghost (Advanced Bestiary, CR +3): A stronger ghost that may have a wide variety of new abilities depending on its life and the circumstances of its death.

Mechanics: 5/5. Aesthetics: 5/5. Ease of Introduction: 2/5. Grade: 12/15.

*Ghostly Dragon (Draconomicon, CR +2): A draconic ghost that will never rest until it can regain its looted hoard. They function much like normal ghosts, but retain access to some draconic abilities.

Mechanics: 5/5. Aesthetics: 4/5. Ease of Introduction: 2/5. Grade: 11/15.

*Ghost Brute (Libris Mortis, CR +2): When an animal, plant, or other such creature lacking the necessary charisma to become a full ghost dies, it becomes a ghost brute, lamenting its misery for eternity. Their souls are often linked to a companion they had. They can be a betrayed paladin’s mount, the lonely pet of a murdered child, or a slain druid’s animal companion. These creatures now haunt the world until their masters can properly join them in the afterlife.

Mechanics: 4/5. Aesthetics: 5/5. Ease of Introduction: 3/5. Grade: 12/15.

Vampire Templates

Repeatedly-Drained Vampire Spawn (Monster Codex, CR -1): Creatures overfed on by vampires. They are generally weakened and in bad health, but are a bit more resistant to energy drain.

Mechanics: 2/5. Aesthetics: 4/5. Ease of Introduction: 4/5. Grade: 10/15.

Addle-Minded Vampire Spawn (Monster Codex, CR +0): Creatures who have been dominated by vampires for so long that they begin to lose their sense of identity. They have weaker wills but react unpredictably to mind-affecting effects.

Mechanics: 2/5. Aesthetics: 4/5. Ease of Introduction: 4/5. Grade: 10/15.

Vampire (Bestiary 1, CR +2): Powerful and sexy undead that feed on blood but are weak to sunlight, among other things. They have a variety of supernatural abilities, including mental domination and the ability to turn mortals into their spawn.

*Moonbane Vampire (Libris Mortis, CR Adj +0): A vampire slowed by moonlight.

*Persuasive Vampire (Libris Mortis, CR Adj +0): A vampire who can use Suggestion instead of its dominating gaze.

*Psychic Vampire (Libris Mortis, CR Adj +0): A vampire that feeds on mental strength, even just by being near its victims.

*Savage Vampire (Libris Mortis, CR Adj +0): A feral vampire with more of a focus on physical strength rather than sexiness.

*Swarmform Vampire (Libris Mortis, CR Adj +0): A vampire that transforms into a swarm of bats or rats instead of a single specimen.

*Savage Vampire (Dragon Magazine 348, CR +2): A different kind of savage vampire with the same idea.

*Shadow Vampire (Dragon Magazine 348, CR +2): A stealthy vampire capable of summoning shadows and assuming shadow form, among other things.

*Terror Vampire (Dragon Magazine 348, CR +2): Vampires that love horror and feed on fear, gaining various frightening powers.

Dread Vampire (Advanced Bestiary, CR +3): Basically a different flavor of Vampire Lord.

*Vampire Lord (Online, CR Adj +3): An even stronger and more ancient vampire that is practically unkillable.

Mechanics: 5/5. Aesthetics: 5/5. Ease of Introduction: 5/5. Grade: 15/15.

Penanggalen (Bestiary 3, CR +1): A vampiric monstrosity that appears normal during the day but its head flies off at night to seek blood. They are created when a spellcaster (usually female) abandons their mortality and cast away all feelings other than cruelty. They create Manananggals when they slay female humanoids with their blood drain.

Mechanics: 3/5. Aesthetics: 2/5. Ease of Introduction: 3/5. Grade: 8/15.

*Half-Vampire (LM, CR +1): The spawn of a vampire and a mortal, having a few vampire powers but none of the weaknesses. If you are playing Pathfinder you can just use the Dhampir playable race.

Mechanics: 4/5. Aesthetics: 4/5. Ease of Introduction: 2/5. Grade: 10/15.

Jiang-shi (Bestiary 3, CR +2): A “hopping vampire” with a prayer scroll affixed to their brow that grants them various powers.

Mechanics: 4/5. Aesthetics: 3/5. Ease of Introduction: 2/5. Grade: 9/15.

*Vampiric Dragon (Draconomicon, CR +2): A dragon anchored to a hoard like a vampire is to a coffin. They share many traits with normal vampires, with some differences.

Mechanics: 5/5. Aesthetics: 4/5. Ease of Introduction: 1/5. Grade: 10/15.

Nosferatu (Bestiary 4, CR +2): A more savage, less romantic vampire that cannot create spawn and can turn into a swarm. They are far more ancient and rare.

Mechanics: 4/5. Aesthetics: 1/5. Ease of Introduction: 1/5. Grade: 6/15.

Vetala Vampire (Inner Sea Bestiary, CR +2): “Psychic vampires” who possess both corpses and living bodies, paralyze with their claws, and drain prana.

Mechanics: 4/5. Aesthetics: 3/5. Ease of Introduction: 2/5. Grade: 9/15.

Lich Templates

Lich (Bestiary 1, CR +2): Powerful undead necromancers who cheat death by creating a phylactery to guard their soul. Liches are gradually reborn after death so long as their phylactery remains intact.

*Lichfiend (LM, CR adj. +0): A rare variant, an Outsider (usually a devil or demon) that achieves lichdom.

Mechanics: 5/5. Aesthetics: 4/5. Ease of Introduction: 2/5. Grade: 11/15.

*Dracolich (Draconomicon, CR +3): A vile draconic lich that rules over lesser undead.

Mechanics: 4/5. Aesthetics: 4/5. Ease of Introduction: 2/5. Grade: 10/15.

Dread Lich (Advanced Bestiary, CR +1 if applied to lich, otherwise CR +3): Stronger liches whose necromancy and evil spells are automatically Empowered and whose touch slowly turn creatures into dust in addition to paralyzing them. They are aspiring liches who discovered an even greater path to lichdom.

Mechanics: 5/5. Aesthetics: 4/5. Ease of Introduction: 1/5. Grade: 10/15.

Forsaken Lich (Carrion Crown: Shadows of Gallowspire, CR +2): A failed lich whose soul is trapped both outside its phylactery and outside its own body. They are surrounded by uncontrolled magic and an aura that creates frightening illusions of their environment.

Mechanics: 4/5. Aesthetics: 4/5. Ease of Introduction: 2/5. Grade: 10/15.

Moss Lich (Advanced Bestiary, CR +2): A traumatized, feral undead that has devolved emotionally following its death surrounded by vegetation. They are locked in a cycle of death and regrowth. They rejuvenate from seeds, regenerate when in contact with fertile soil, infect targets with magical spores that grow into vines, and have stronger plant-based spells.

Mechanics: 4/5. Aesthetic: 2/5. Ease of Introduction: 3/5. Grade: 9/15.

[srunge]

The Forest

short story beneath the cut, tw cannibalism kinda

                                                       The forest

An old man sat in his apartment penning a letter to, in the time, himself. But for all intents and purposes his landlord John. He was fit for 80 but that doesn’t mean much because he was 71. His home was full of paper. Years worth of ‘The Enterprise’ in arduous stacks framed the wall nearest his desk and threatened to topple, or worse. He stood, left his letter, and began to leave. Along with his jacket he wore a scarf to cover the well healed burn that ringed his neck. His letter, left open, read as follows.

“I’m not afraid of anyone, just my past. I have forgotten so much of it but I can’t  seem to forget how the fear in my life started. The fear that has seemed to        shape my life and never let me rest. I am going away, not to face my fears  bravely but to give in to them. This is what I fear.” (cont)

His flight left somewhere between too early to wake up and too late to stay up. It was a long flight into daytime, and into night, and into a place he had stayed far from out of fear and hatred and tiredness. He had stayed as far from nature as he possibly could. Far from the growing, decaying, and growing again, wetlands and woodlands and windswept treetops of forests were a sharp burning in the neck for him. He had ran across the world from this forest.

“I was ten when I went to the forest. It was one of those happy family vacations where you all camp together in a tent and cook s’mores and sing songs around the fire. It was the third morning when I woke up and my dad was gone, his car was gone too, I remember my mom not worrying in the morning, he had just gone to get some more marshmallows from the convenience store in the town near the forest. We spent the day fishing I think. When it became evening and my dad still wasn’t back my mom had began to worry, I had never seen her that scared and mad. I was sent to bed early but the sounds of her yelling to my grandmother over the phone kept me up for over an hour.” (cont)

When he landed he checked in at a motel near the forest. It charged by the hour but what money he had would last him a night and leave enough for a cab in the morning.

The morning air drained him of his warmth but the sun slowly heated him again. He didn’t have the cab wait for him at the entrance to the forest.

Time hadn’t reached between the tight packed trees, the ground there was starved for light. But when he reached the clearing he had camped in so long ago, the brambles and thorns and grasses grew into a wall in the forest, reaching over one another, their branches fighting for light and roots fighting for water. He passed the former clearing, ignoring memories that burned at his neck. As he walked further in the afternoon light he began to squelch in the ground with each step. When he looked he saw fibrous tendrils of flesh, it could have been vegetable or animal but it was neither. It warped and wrapped and weaved through the trees above and under his feet, coating the forest floor with a light pink carpet, like a violent moss.

“When I woke up I was in the car, I guess my mom had carried me in there. But she wasn’t there with me. I looked out of the window and the car was moving backwards. I looked down and saw some sort of tentacle, it was pulling the car from underneath. When I jumped out and ran I guess it stopped pulling the car because it caught me by the neck and it was hot enough to burn me. I managed to rip it free and was able to run back to the clearing.” (cont)

The flesh underfoot was growing thicker and the evening light was being blocked out above him. He began seeing creatures, far away behind the pillars of meat which had once been trees.

The creatures could be mistaken for humans from far away, but the old man didn’t mistake them. Their bodies were segmented and ranged in color from salmon to burnt red. Their heads were rounded with large eyes wrapping around the sides and dull pincers taking up the entire front. The old man didn’t count their limbs, but the top-most ones ended in large tearing claws. They tore at chunks of something in baskets around their waists and threw them into red pits in the flesh. There were other pits in the flesh too. Pools of clear liquid ringed with clumps of an algae-like white substance. They radiated heat but you wouldn’t have felt it from the chill they would give you. If the old man had dared to look he would have seen things deep in those pools. Figures that, unlike the creatures above, were most definitely human. They ranged from infants to young adults but no older. When the old man passed the creatures, they went back to work.

“When I reached the clearing our campsite was still there but it was scattered about. I knew enough to run past it and down the road we had driven in on. I found another camp and told the people what had happened. Now I realize they couldn’t have believed me but they fed me anyways. The next day they took me to the police. They never found what was left of my parents, I lived the rest of my childhood with my grandma, but she was never the same as she was before that.

I am going back to that forest now, I can’t handle the burning in my neck anymore.”

The old man could still see, as deep as he was. The meat above him had tiny skylights letting sheets of light catch the steam of the meat’s internal ecosystem. The creatures never tried to stop him.

The flesh over the trees was becoming so thick that five men, hand in hand, could not reach around them. The skylights were smaller but he could still see. More creatures were around him now but they paid him no mind, their baskets were full of meat. Ahead of the man was a light. Not the light of the sky or some unearthly glowing fungus but the light of fire. The ground raised into a plateau. A bulk of flesh piling up like a blooming mold. There were no trees anymore, no pillars holding up the high ceiling, none visible in the fog. The man reached the top of the plateau. Pools of fat scattered around the area burned, and growing from the meat of the ground were three forms.

First, the tendrils of the flesh twisted up, wrapping over themselves and formed a throne, ornate and baroque though deeply unreal. On this throne sat a creature like the others though it could never be mistaken for human. It was taller than two people on top of one another and four times as wide. Its body was only similar to a person’s in that its central trunk ended in a head and had limbs branching out from it. Its salmon-toned shell was edged with sallow yellow spots of age and it rotted and molded while it still breathed.

Second, next to the throne, the flesh formed a smaller chair, less ornate but still royal, with small tendrils spiraling along the sides and weaving together in the back. On it sat a man. He was young and tall and large, his skin was pale and looked green and sickly in the light, he was not heavily built but his stomach bulged with food.

Third, in front of the man, the flesh formed a table of purely utilitarian design. On it was a pile of flesh, not like the flesh of the table or chairs or ground, and not like the flesh of the creatures in the forest. On the table laid chunks of red meat, with pink skin along its edges and thick layers of yellow-white fat. The man on the second chair had not stopped eating this meat by the fistfull since the old man had been watching.

The old man looked on and stood still for what felt like hours. The breathing of the large beast was slowing, imperceptibly, until it stopped. It did not fall but it clearly would not move again. The man in the chair kept eating. The creatures in the forest did not come to the beast. they kept at their work. The man in the chair kept eating, and then stopped.

He fell.

He fell onto the table and did not move. For minutes more the only movement in the clearing was the breath of the old man. Until the younger man, now on the table, began to move again. His now chalky white skin began to crack at the back and as it split something unfolded from him like a cicada. The beast that grew from the man and folded out from itself in the next hour was undoubtedly the same as the creature laying dead adjacent. It was smaller though and a deep burnt red with no traces of age and it radiated a fog of malice and power, and a fierce light. It was brilliant in the dull fog and could be felt for miles. It stood and pushed the husk of its predecessor which tumbled away into the mist. It took its seat in the gigantic throne and the interior of the flesh did not change in form but it exuded an air renewed life.

Only now did the old man move. He walked forward and sat in the chair next to the beast, pushed away the husk of his former, and began to eat.

[seekfirstme]

"As a result of this, [Bread of life talk] many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him. Jesus then said to the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?” Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6: 60 - 69).

Sunday 22nd August 2021, in the 21th Week in Ordinary Time.

Jesus had probably said some provocative things in His ministry but for many of His disciples, the Bread of life Discourse was the limit of their tolerance. "I am the bread of life. I am the living bread. You must eat My flesh and drink My blood." What does Jesus mean? Are we cannibals? Many of His disciples decided to leave Him and regretted the time they invested in the enterprise.

Jesus then said to the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?”

Think about this: How many people left the true Church because of the Child Abuse crisis? How many people left because they disagreed with their Bishop's teaching or regulations and decided to leave the Church to spurn the Bishop? Or left for some other petty reasons?

What will happen in the Church today to make you decide: "I have had enough. I am quitting."

Sacred Scripture says that those who leave the true Church never really belonged to the Church.

"They went out from us, but they were not really of our number; if they had been, they would have remained with us. Their desertion shows that none of them was of our number." (1 John 2: 19).

The truth of the Gospel is the fire that purifies and tests the caliber of the metal. The "me too's" were found wanting.

At the challenge of Jesus to the Twelve, Peter replied: “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”

If today you have not come to believe and are convinced that Jesus is true God and true Man and that He is what He claims to be: the Bread of life, the Light of the world, the Way, the Truth and the Life, why are you still in the Church?

"My Eucharistic presence meets with coldness, with indifference, and with a chilling ingratitude, even on the part of My priests and of consecrated souls. They fail to recognize in the mystery of the Most Holy Eucharist the pearl of great price, the treasure once hidden in the field but now offered freely to all who would partake of its inexhaustible riches." (IN SINU JESU page 215).

Daily Bible Verse @ Seekfirstcommunity.com

[thirstyforred]

a lot of bold the statement things with Nam that i found in my drafts

elemental tag

RULES: Bold the statements that apply to you, italicize your aspirations [or modern au here]

AIR: I have small hands • I love the night sky • I watch small animals and birds when I pass them by • I drink herbal tea • I wake to see dawn • The smell of dust is comforting • I’m valued for being wise • I prefer books to music • I meditate • I find joy in learning new truths from the world around me

FIRE: I don’t have straight hair • I like to wear ripped jeans and overalls • I play an organized sport • I love dogs • I am not afraid of adventure • I love to talk to strangers• I always try new foods • I enjoy road trips • Summer is my favorite season • My radio is always playing

WATER: I wear bracelets on my wrists • I love the bustle of the city • I have more than one set of piercings • I read poetry • I love the sound of a thunderstorm • I want to travel the world • I sleep past midnight most days • I love dimly lit diners and fluorescent signs • I rewatch kids’ shows out of nostalgia • I see emotions in colors not words

EARTH: I wear glasses • I enjoy doing the laundry • I am a vegetarian or vegan • I have an excellent sense of time • My humor is very cheerful • I am a valued advisor to my friends • I believe in true love • I love the chill of mountain air • I’m always listening to music • I am highly trusted by the people in my life

AETHER: I go without makeup in my daily life • I make my own artwork • I keep on track of my tasks and time • I always know true north • I see beauty in everything • I can always smell flowers • I smile at everyone I pass by • I always fear history repeating itself • I have recovered from a mental disorder • I can love unconditionally

BOLD WHAT APPLIES TO YOUR MUSE. (ITALIC IS FOR MODERN AU SETTING!)

Body

Long legs. Short legs. Average legs. Slender thighs. Thick thighs. Muscular thighs. Skinny arms. Soft arms. Muscular arms. Toned stomach. Flat stomach. Flabby Stomach. Soft stomach. Six-pack. Beer belly. Lean frame. Beefy/muscular frame. Voluptuous frame. Petite frame. Lanky frame. Short nails. Long nails. Manicured nails. Dirty nails. Flat ass. Toned ass. Bubble butt. Small waist. Thick waist. Narrow hips. Average hips. Wide hips. Big feet. Average feet. Small feet. Soft feet. Slender feet. Calloused hands. Soft hands. Big hands. Average hands. Small hands. Long fingers. Short fingers. Average fingers. Narrow shoulders. Broad shoulders. Average shoulders. Underweight. Average weight.Overweight.

Height

Shorter than 140 cm. 141 cm-150 cm. 151 cm to 160 cm. 161 cm to 170 cm.171 cm to 180 cm. 181 cm to 190 cm. 191 cm to 2m. Taller than 2 m.

Skin

Pale. Rosy. Olive. Dark. Tanned. Blotchy. Smooth. Moles. Acne. Dry. Greasy. Freckled. Scars. Birthmarks.

Eyes

Small. Large. Average. Grey. Brown. Blue. Violet. Pink. Green. Gold.Hazel. Doe-eyed. Almond. Close-set. Wide-set. Deep-set. Squinty. Monolid. Heavy eyelids. Upturned. Downturned.

Hair

Thin. Thick. Fine. Normal. Greasy. Dry. Soft. Shiny. Curly. Frizzy. Wild. Unruly. Straight. Smooth. Wavy. Floppy. Cropped. Pixie-cut. Afro. Shoulder length. Back length. Waist length. Past hip-length. Buzz cut. Bald. Weave. Hair extensions. Jaw length. Mohawk. Dreadlocks. Box braids. Faux locks. White. Platinum blonde. Golden blonde. Dirty blonde. Blonde. Ombre. Light brown. Mouse brown. Chestnut brown. Golden brown. Chocolate brown. Dark brown. Jet black. Ginger. Red. Auburn. Dyed. Thin eyebrows. Average eyebrows.Thick eyebrows. Plucked eyebrows.

Tattoos / Piercings

Full sleeve. Thigh tattoo. Neck tattoo. Chest tattoo. Back tattoo. Shoulder blade tattoo. One tattoo. Face tattoo. Hand tattoo. A few here and there.Multiple. No tattoo. Monroe piercing. Nose piercing. Septum. Nipple piercing(s). Genital piercing(s). Industrial piercings. Earlobe piercings.Prince Albert piercing. Eyebrow piercing(s). Tongue piercing(s). Lip piercing(s). Top of the ear. Tragus piercing. Angel bites. Labret. Stretched out ears. Navel piercing. Inverse navel piercing. Cheek piercing(s). Smiley. Nape piercing(s). No piercings.

Cosmetics

Eyeliner. Light eyeliner. Heavy eyeliner. Cat eyes. Mascara. Fake eyelashes. Matte lipstick. Regular lipstick. Lipgloss. Red lips. Pink lips. Nude lips. Dark lips. Bronzer. Highlighter. Eyeshadow. Neutral eyeshadow. Smoky eyes. Colorful eyeshadow. Blush. Lipliner. Light contouring. Heavy contouring. Powder. Matte foundation. Shiny foundation. Concealer. Wears war paint from time to time. Wears make up regularly. Wears it from time to time. Rarely wears make-up.

Scent

Floral. Herbal. Earthy. Fruity. Perfumes. Aftershave. Cocoa. Moisturizer. Shampoo. Cigarettes. Leather. Fur. Sweat. Food. Incense. Marijuana. Cologne. Whiskey. Wine. Fried food. Blood. Fire. Metal. Rain.

Clothes

Jeans. Tight pants. Overknee socks. Tights. Leggings. Yoga pants. Pencil skirt. Tight skirt. Loose skirt. Tight/Form-fitting dress. Cardigans. Tunic.Blouse. Button up shirt. Band-T-shirt. Sports-T-shirt. Sweatpants. Tanktop.Cut off t-shirt. Designer. High street. Leather jacket. Thrift. Lingerie. Long skirt. Miniskirt. Maxidress. Sun dress. Tie.Tuxedo. Cocktail dress. Highslit dress/skirt. T-shirt. Loose clothing. Tight clothing. Jean shorts. Sweater. Sweater vest. Waistcoat. Khaki pants. Suit. Hoodie. Harem pants. Basketball shorts. Boxers/Boxer-Briefs. Thong. Hotpants. Hipster panties. Bra. Sportsbra. Crop top. Corset. Ballerina skirt. Leotard. Polka dot. Stripes. Glitter. Cotton. Linen. Silk. Lace. Leather. Velvet. Patterns. Florals. Neon colors. Pastels. Light colors. White. Black. Dark colors. Fur/Fauxfur. Revealing clothing. Heavy armor. Medium armor. Light Armor.

Shoes

Sneakers. Slip-ons. Flats. Slippers. Sandals. High heels. Kitten heels. Ankle boots. Combat boots. Knee-high. Platforms. Stripper heels. Bare feet. Loafers. Oxfords. Gladiator shoes.

CHARACTER STATS

(bold all that applies. italicize leaning. strike former.)

WEALTH  —  [fck, i now have to write full post about my Aen Elle hc’s?? because this section was werdly hard]

$  financial.  // wealthy /  moderate  /  poor  /  in poverty ✚  medical.  // fit / moderate  /  sickly  /  disadvantaged /  disabled  /  not applicable ✪  class.  //   upper / middle-working /  poor  /  slave  /  unsure ✔  education.  //  qualified  /  unqualified /  studying  /  other ✖  criminal record.  //  yes, for major crimes  / yes, for minor crimes  /  no  / has committed crimes, but has not been caught yet

FAMILY  —

◒  children.  //  has one or more children /  has no children /  wants children  /  verse dependent ◑  relationship with family.  // close with sibling(s)  /  not close with sibling(s) /  has no sibling(s)  /  siblings are deceased ◔  affiliation.  //   orphaned  /  adopted  /  disowned  / raised by birth parent(s) /  not applicable [i mean... elves]

TRAITS  +  TENDENCIES  —

♦  extrovert // introvert // in between ♦  disorganized  // organized // in between ♦  close-minded  //  open-minded //   in between [Tir na Lia is so much diffrent place] ♦  calm  // anxious // in between ♦  disagreeable  // agreeable //  in between ♦  cautious  // reckless  //  in between ♦  patient //  impatient // in between ♦  outspoken  //  reserved  // in between ♦  leader  // follower // in between ♦  empathetic //  indifferent  // in between [she got a bit more empathetic in Witcherlands] ♦  optimistic //  pessimistic // in between [more like realistic] ♦  traditional  // modern // in between [what does it even mean here?] ♦  hardworking  // lazy  // in between   ♦  cultured  //  uncultured  //  in between   ♦  loyal  //  disloyal  //  in between ♦  faithful // unfaithful  // in between [there’s no faith - only Spiral]

BELIEFS  —

★  faith.  //  monotheist  / polytheist  /  atheist  / agnostic  / it’s complicated ☆  belief in ghosts or spirits.  //  yes /  no /  don’t know  /  don’t care [would be hard to fight with them if she didn’t believed in ghosts] ✮  belief in an afterlife.  // yes  / no /  don’t know /  don’t care ✯  belief in reincarnation.  // yes /  no / don’t know / don’t care ❃  belief in aliens.  //  yes /  no  /  don’t know  /  don’t care [more like invanders from other worlds] ❀  philosophical.  //  yes  /  no  /  sometimes

SEXUALITY & ROMANTIC INCLINATION  —

❤  sexuality.   /  heterosexual /  homosexual  / bisexual /  asexual  /  pansexual /  demisexual /  questioning ❥  sex.  //  sex repulsed  / sex neutral  / sex favorable ♥  romance.  //  romance repulsed  /  romance neutral / romance favorable [there were two (2) guys in her long, long sluty live] ❣  sexually.  // adventurous / experienced / naive / inexperienced  /  curious  /  inhibited ⚧  potential sexual partners.  //  male  /  female  /  other  /  none  / all ⚧  potential romantic partners.  // male / female /  other  /  none  / all

ABILITIES  —

☠  combat skills.  //  excellent  /  good  / moderate /  poor  / none ≡  literacy skills.  //  excellent /  good  /  moderate  /  poor  /  none [Nilfgaardian and Elder Speech are rubbish, and how even come up with Common?..] ✍  artistic skills.  //  excellent /  good  /  moderate  / poor /  none ✂  technical skills.  //  excellent  / good /  moderate /  poor  /  none

HABITS  —

☕  drinking alcohol.  //  never  / sometimes /  frequently /  to excess ☁  smoking.  //  never /  sometimes  /  frequently  /  to excess ✿  other narcotics.  //  never /  sometimes /  frequently  /  to excess [fistech is a thing for a reason...] ✌  medicinal drugs.  //  never  / sometimes  /  frequently  /  to excess ☻  indulgent in food.  //  never  /  sometimes /  frequently  /  to excess $  splurge spending.  //  never  /  sometimes / frequently /  to excess ♣  gambling.  //  never /  sometimes /  frequently  /  to excess

Negative OC Traits

Bold always or almost always applies. Italic occasional or situational.

aggressive | arrogant | authoritarian | bitter | brutal | callous | cannibal | careless | cold/cold-hearted | compulsive | controlling | corrects others constantly | cowardly | critical | cruel | delusional | demanding | disillusioned | domineering | envious | emotionally stunted | greedy | grim | guarded | hard | harsh | hypocritical | impatient | impolite | intimidating | irritable | kidnapper | lazy | liar | lustful | materialistic | mean | merciless | messianic | mistrusting | murderer | narrow-minded | obsessive | opinionated | over-bearing | over-critical | over-emotional | over-thinking | patronizing | proud | remote | repressed | rigid | rules with an iron fist | ruthless | sarcastic | self-righteous | self-indulgent | serial killer | taciturn | torturer | touchy | traitorous | unsympathetic | unpredictable | uptight | vain | vengeful

[fyeahvanhelsing-blog]

Thoughts on Big Mama.

My thoughts on tonight’s episode of Van Helsing, I will place them under a read more to avoid spoiling those of you who have yet to see it! 

Scarlett:

We’re already off to a rocky start for the group now that Vanessa has been taken; but I’m glad to see already that Scarlett’s strong personality is making itself known amongst the group. She’s every bit the survivor and every part the loner that season one Vanessa was and season two Vanessa still tries to be at times (thank you Julius for being a much needed anchor during Axels absence, may you continue to be the anchor of the group). I’m really looking forwards to seeing how her character will develop in time and just what does Dmitri want with her? It was commented in the previous episode that one of the Van Helsing sisters was more vampire than the other, is Scarlett the “weaker” of the two? If so, will Dmitri try to exploit that? Watch out Scarlett!

Dmitri/Scab:

Speaking of Dmitri, Van Helsing does a wonderful job at exploring the 'politics' of the vampire world. With Julius’ reversion leaving a massive vacuum that needs to be filled by another strong and ruthless vampire, we see Scab possibly rising to the challenge. Dmitri certainly knows that Julius’ brood are not completely loyal to him -- why would they be? Vampirism isn’t some happy camp where everyone sits and roasts marshmallows over a open fire and tells spooky stories. The world of Van Helsing is harsh, it’s eat or be eaten and even then we have to deal with the semantics of politics and morals. Just like humans, vampires aren’t obligated to like one another.

Dmitri may have backed the brood in to a corner by using brute force, but fear can only control a group of people for so long, all it takes is for one of them to stop being scared for the rest to follow suit and it seems that Scab is doing just that. I’ve loved watching this vampire’s journey, from meek underling to leader of the sisterhood. Rowland Pidlubny does an excellent job at portraying the animalistic hunger of vampirism in Van Helsing, the way he prowls across the screen is chilling to watch and when he reached for Callie we were all screaming “no!”

Sisterhood/Scab:

As for the Sisterhood, I’m already in love with this dark coven of warrior women, from their costumes (shout out to @FKSdesigns) to their statuesque on screen presence, this group of vampires is adding an extra topping of bad ass on to an already brimming with bad ass show. It seems that Sister Ivory of the sisterhood is the designated second in command and is already showing devout loyalty to their new master (Scab) as she looks at Dmitri with contempt after seeing him punish Scab for daring to question his human-sympathising.

Flesh/Lucky:

I find myself completely endeared towards these two, Flesh is another character whose growth is important to watch, his decision to help out the humans from the triage over finding Mohamad shows that he’s willing to sacrifice one person to save multiple people. And whilst that doesn’t sit well with most of us who love Mohamad, it again shows that sometimes we as people are forced to make decisions that we may not like. Lucky herself has proven to be an excellent addition to the group as she continues to support Flesh and already has formed a bond with both he and Mohamad (see: her previously warning Mohamad about his drug addiction, freeing Flesh from pseudo barn prison) and whilst they work to free as many humans as possible, I can’t help but wonder if Flesh telling Lucky that Mohamad is dead was more of an attempt to convince himself that his friend was gone.. well, we’ll have to wait until next week to see what really happened to Mohamad!

Cannibals oh my!

The twist with the police officers was something that I did not see coming, we all assumed initially that rednecks plus apocalyptic barbecue equalled Texas chainsaw massacre shenanigans, but we were only half right! A million questions filled my head as we watched a feral struggle against the lawmen who were already ringing the dinner bell. In some sense, I kind of sympathised with the vampire, but then I could also see why the police officers almost saw this as a form of vengeance as well as an act of survival. Almost as if they’re still trying to convince themselves that eating vampires is a totally sane thing to do.

The revelation that vampires could possibly be saved was also interesting to watch as the Sheriff had a glint of remorse and possible horror in his eyes upon hearing the news. Again, another fine moment of toeing the line between humanity and survival a la Van Helsing style! Of course, those of us watching wish to think that we’d be the moral brigade in the apocalypse and do everything ‘right’. But lets be honest. Nature isn’t perfect -- it’s just we humans that try to be.

Once again Van Helsing leaves me wondering just how different from ‘them’ are we?

Julius:

I was rather shocked when Julius actually killed Big Mama, since his reversion the character has transformed from brutal vampire warlord to a rather large cuddly bear that just wants to skip in the sunshine and eat 'beef' jerky. We all saw him comically punch a rather weak vampire Axel in response to the other threatening him, but I don’t think any of us expected to see the lovable oaf stab a fellow human. It was dark -- almost too dark in comparison to the sunshine that Julius has been exuding since his reversion. But I do think it was a good call and a much needed reminder that the character has a lot more going on beneath the surface than his soft spoken words like to let on. 

Doc:

Doc.. oh Doc, where do I start? Doc was the character I least expected to end up loving when I first picked up Van Helsing. Meek, cowardly, anti-social -- wait, that sounds familiar.. To me, Doc has been and has become probably one of the most important characters in the series. I’ve said it before and I will say it again; Doc is the most human character on the show. She’s conflicted, she’s scared, she has no idea what she’s doing most of the time and that alone terrifies her. She’s perfectly flawed with how fear drives her decisions in such an unpredictable world and I love it. Her character growth has been wonderful to witness and with each episode we’re beginning to see a Doc who is learning to trust not only herself, but those around her. 

The moment she closed the door on Axel was the moment we saw Doc begin to change, if she was a true coward she would have kept on running when a vampiric Axel found her. But she didn’t. He gave her a choice (along with a good amount of saliva, someone get that man a tissue) and from there on out, she continues to prove to her fellow survivors and herself, that she is not the weakling that she had painted herself out to be. To me, her story is one of a person overcoming her own demons and learning to live with them.

Axel:

Since his revival he’s been an almost constant source of humour for the group as well as a secondary backbone to help support his fellow survivors. Every bit the team player as Julius, though a little less gullible (just a little. He still gave in to being flattered.) Axel’s return to the group was a needed respite from all of the doom and gloom that has lingered over us since the beginning of the season. And whilst many of us feasted on the visual of a post shower Axel (Scarlett included), I couldn’t help but think about how Doc’s own shower after reversion in the first season was vastly different. In regards to the marine, Axel seems to deflect any emotion that can’t be laced with sarcasm, he’s quick to joke and very slow to open up. And whilst some of us may think that’s just him attempting to be “macho”, I think it’s how the character chooses to deal with things. He’s a soldier who has seen a lot of things, coming from a military family myself and being a R.E.M.E cadet when I was younger I can certainly see many of my former senior officers in Axel at times and how he will sometimes hold himself and switch between authority and civilian. You can take off the uniform, but Axel is still our soldier through and through.

[surejaya]

The Jeffrey Dahmer Story: An American Nightmare

Download : The Jeffrey Dahmer Story: An American Nightmare More Book at: Zaqist Book

The Jeffrey Dahmer Story: An American Nightmare by Don Davis

They smelled the foul odors. They heard the power saw buzzing in the dead of night but neighbors never imagined the horrors happening right next door. The hot sultry night of July 22, 1991 was one the tenants of the Oxford Apartments would never forget. A panic stcricken young man--a pair of handcuffs still dangling from his wrists--ran out of Apartment 213 and told police an incredible tale of terror. Shaking with fear, he led officers back to his captor's lair, where they made the gruesome discovery. Inside were the body parts of at least fifteen men--including torsos stuffed into a barrel, severed heads in a refrigerator, and skulls boiled clean and stashed in a filing cabinet. Tacked to the freezer were Poloroid photographs of mutilated corpses. When investigators arrested 31-year-old Jeffrey Dahmer, they realized they had stumbled onto a "real-life Hannibal Lecter"--a sadistic murderer who told them he had saved a human heart "to eat later". What could turn a handsome, former tennis player, the son of middle-class parents, into a perverse serial killer whose unthinkable acts shocked the nation? The Jeffrey Dahmer Story takes you into Jeffrey Dahmer's twisted world of bizarre sexual encounters, mutilation and cannibalism--in one of history's most appalling true crime cases. With 8 pages of chilling photographs.

Download : The Jeffrey Dahmer Story: An American Nightmare More Book at: Zaqist Book

[mossheartss-blog]

5 Of Quite possibly the most Violent Movie Games

5. Mortal Kombat

The one which began all of it. Though it may seem to be pixelated and dated now, it had been without doubt the most violent video clip sport of its time. Spawning a massive fanbase, a movie, and also a myriad of sequels, The majority of us have almost certainly performed Mortal Kombat in at least 1 sort of One more.

Who will forget pulling inside a sufferer with Scorpions snapping beak; "Get over here!" although pursuing it up having a gruesome uppercut. The game utilised real lifetime actors and mapped their faces on to sprites, developing a rather Peculiar nonetheless realistic impact which created it all the greater awesome when Sub Zero ripped someones head off, leaving their spine dangling down below. Fatality!

4. Carmageddon

At first unveiled in 1997, This really is an oldie but goldie. It truly is continue to a extensively enjoyable match and was a breakthrough in its time with video clip scenes from Within the car and actual globe physics.

Think Mad Max on steroids and you will start to get a experience for Carmageddon which happens to be established inside a post apocalyptic environment where the car guidelines. The concept is to race in opposition to A few other modified death automobiles by means of several stages, including deserts, industrial spots and populated metropolitan areas, all on the tune of Dread Factories Demanufacture album (hell Certainly!). However, if you don't experience like racing you'll be able to seek out and demolish your enemies one by one right until you are the only survivor. Amongst all this, not just could you run about pedestrians, however, you're actively encouraged to do so, attaining extra time and credits for combo bonuses and "artist impressions" (which you can get by utterly mangling a pedestrian).

Carmageddon brought about media scandal when it very first introduced and in most nations a "Risk-free" Model was launched with zombies, robots or aliens in place of individuals. In a few countries the game was banned absolutely. None of the stops it from staying an complete vintage and the very first go-anywhere 3D driving match which spawned 2 successful sequels.

3. Thrill Eliminate

Initially identified as S & M for Slaughter and Mutilation, Thrill Destroy for PlayStation was under no circumstances released, it absolutely was axed two months right before it had been on account of head out. EA explained they did not need to "publish this type of senselessly violent video game" and stated it absolutely was so offensive that they would not sell the sport to a different publisher both. The good thing is for us former staff members of EA produced it onto the world wide web which can be nevertheless obtainable.

Unbelievably uncomplicated, Thrill Destroy consisted of only an individual place exactly where as many as 4 opponents fight to the Loss of life. The same old everyday living bar is replaced that has a get rid of meter, which grows as you do a lot more damage to your opponent, eventually you are able to activate Thrill Kills which ended up generally awesomely brutal, often sexual, moves like dismemberment, mutilation, cattle prods down the throat or crushing skulls with stilts. Oh Indeed. One of Cleetus' lethal ending moves was to tear The pinnacle off his opponent and drink the blood that leaked away from his sufferer's severed neck. The story goes that the 8 figures all led devious life and died in various means, have gone to hell. A modern-day hell which reflects present day serious everyday living. Marukka, the God of Secrets and techniques has pitted them towards one another, promising to provide rebirth into the one survivor. Every character is battling for self-preservation and also the hope for being born once more.

Cleetus, by way of example, is a redneck cannibal. The only real sufferer that he didn't try to eat escaped minus a leg, which Cleetus carries all over forever luck (and occasionally employs as being a weapon).

Dr. Faustus, a grasp surgeon, died from an an infection just after putting in his stainless steel jaws, made out of a bear trap.

Oddball was a best FBI agent who hunted down serial killers. He began to admire them and slowly but surely slipped into insanity. Oddball is incredibly clever, crafty, and with out remorse. Pity, sympathy, and compassion have no meaning to him. Whilst his arms are sure in his cozy small straight jacket, he has figured out to adapt, as any fantastic predator should really.

two. Postal 2

Just one characteristic in Postal two is the chance to get cats as a listing item. When utilized, the participant shoves the barrel of your at the moment equipped firearm in the cat's anus, for a 'silencer'. Each and every time a shot is fired, the cat meows in apparent agony, plus the gunshot is muffled. After numerous shots the cat will likely be killed and will fly through the end in the weapon.

Any match where by You should use a cat as being a silencer must be value mentioning. Remarkably violent, each Postal and Postal 2 satisfied with A lot protest from numerous activist groups. Nonetheless, the Managing With Scissors computer software organization who produced the series responded by stating that the amount of violence in the game is entirely dependent on the player. In fact, It can be in fact attainable (though very hard) to accomplish all the activity with out harming any person.

The sport is break up from Monday to Friday and also the duties are very simple points over a to-do checklist like 'Cash Paycheck', 'Confess sins', 'Get milk', etcetera. To perform these seemingly basic responsibilities, the participant can selected being peaceful or completely, all out violent with special gameplay modifications for every alternative.Some violent attributes contain a chance to decapitate people with shovels, and afterwards kick their heads around or Enjoy fetch using a Pet, cops who beat innocent NPCs to death with batons, whether or not the NPC surrenders and begs for mercy and placing fireplace to those with gasoline, matches, napalm and moltov cocktails.Not articles with just becoming violent, Postal two is likewise quite disgusting. You've the chance to urinate on individuals, resulting in them to vomit in disgust. You may as well urinate on food merchandise that happen to be then eaten and regurgitated by cops. Using an Antrhax-stuffed cow's head as a weapon brings about victims to vomit blood. Oh and you can also stun gun persons til they cower in panic and urinate on their own..That includes ATF, SWAT, the National Guard, psycho butchers, spiritual cults, the Taliban and Gary Coleman, Postal two has acquired by itself a violent and revolting status and is illegitimate in no less than three nations.

one. Manhunt

Fairly probably the most violent recreation in the checklist, Manhunt revolves around James Earl Hard cash who has actually been sentenced to Demise by lethal injection. His injection is changed which has a sedative and Hard cash is abducted by a rich Hollywood director. The director includes a issue for Snuff flicks and sets up Money as his most current star, butchering regional gangs on movie in the most violent and horrific techniques probable.

The director communicates with Money via an earpiece and security cameras report his murders. For more details the participant must carry out additional gruesome kills. These range from suffocation by plastic bag, decapitation, jamming a crowbar within the enemys cranium, and so on.

Manhunt was banned outright in many international locations when it absolutely was released and afterwards in britain the game was connected to an genuine murder scenario of the fourteen calendar year old, Stefan Pakeerah by a 17 yr outdated, Warren Leblanc. Stefans mom claimed that Leblanc were obsessed with https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Nwdy0Iyh3c Manhunt just after he pleaded guilty in court docket and as a result most distributors in the UK eradicated Manhunt from their shares. This brought about a significant amplified desire from other suppliers and Web auction internet sites. Police denied any connection, but it still strikes a chilling twine. Specially when you concentrate on that Leblanc murdered his Pal by stabbing him by using a claw hammer, just like an execution revealed in Manhunt.

[avramisms-blog]

IN RESPONSE  || self-para / speech 

Ethan wrung his hands, shoulders stiff as he looked out at the faces of the people he both knew and didn’t know at all. After everything, he felt this was more than necessary. Spent the whole night preparing some sort of speech, some sort of talk-- standing up in a crowded hospital cafeteria now, though, he could only remember his heart beat. His rapid, rabbit heart beat which begged him to find somewhere quiet to sit. Somewhere to gather himself and breathe, where the air wasn’t thick with the whispers of worried survivors. 

With a nod to Sam, he moved to the center of the cafeteria and waited for a hush to fall over the crowd. After a stretch of time, it did. It was somehow more suffocating than the buzz of voices, but he stared out at the crowd anyway and sighed. Inhaled. And sighed again. 

When he spoke, he did his best to make his voice steady and clear. “I figured this was long overdue. Honestly, addressing all of what’s been going on has been... Ah, something I haven’t wanted to do. Because I didn’t want to see what was happening. I didn’t want to believe it. But, I can’t afford to do that anymore. And given our former alliance with the Roamers, this isn’t an issue that I just can leave unspoken about.” He held his breath for a second, let his gaze drift to familiar faces in the crowd. Some security when he really just wanted to give up on this whole thing right now.  “To be honest with you guys, I don’t know how much sense I’m making. Or will make. Which is really because this... This is a senseless situation. Or it would be. If the world were the way it was, this would be madness. It would be a horrific, chilling story told about a town no one has ever been to. Something that couldn’t happen in Scottsdale. But, a lot of things that couldn’t have happened in Scottsdale have happened in Scottsdale.” 

“I have a lot of questions and concerns. Mostly because I... Athena was a friend. She was a good friend and this-- This was something I never even considered to be a possibility. Because, in a world that’s now FULL of things that want to kill us, why are we killing each other?” Ethan’s fingers were twisted in his belt loops, and he swallowed down the scratch in his throat. Couldn’t do anything about the pressure building in his head, but he still looked out at the eyes on him. Some, he remembers from the very beginning. People who helped push the dead back, who held the hands of their loved ones as they bled out in hospital beds. He’s consoled some, been threatened by others. The new faces, the ones who’ve come across them or been carefully guided by recruiters are mixed in with the familiar ones. Some, he knows, still don’t trust me. Maybe never will, actually. And he can’t make them. 

“You’ll hear excuses for it. You may even see the rationale behind it-- I know that I have. That I’ve thought so hard about what I would do, if I were in the shoes of the people who made the choice to kill and eat other humans. It couldn’t have been an easy choice. I can’t fathom that being an easy choice. Regardless, it was a choice.”

“The Roamers were in a tough situation and they made what they thought was the necessary call. Don’t fault them for that. Fault them for lying to the people who trusted them. For making a choice to take choice away. But, most importantly, fault them for forgetting that they aren’t the only desperate people out there.”

“There is a difference between the living and the dead. The dead are... They’re shells. Corpses. They’re unfeeling, monstrosities created by a virus that tore through everything we built in the span of a few weeks. They kill without discretion, they don’t think twice about the lives they’re ending. They know only hunger. And that’s it.” Inhaling, he tried to remember the reason he chose to do this. Remember the feel of a gun laying in his palm. The tears in Atty’s eyes. The forgiveness on the tip of his tongue but choked down. Not anymore. “The living, on the other hand... We’re capable of so much more than that. The dead? They’ll decay. They’ll, eventually, rot to nothing. We, people, are what’s going to remain. And what we do now is going to either help or hinder us in the future.” Clearing his throat, Ethan felt the fabric of one of his belt loops give into the twisting of his fingers, snapping. He pinched the frayed threads between his thumb and index finger. 

“Whether or not we were put on this earth with a purpose-- we’ve given ourselves one. We’re all scared. We’re all desperate. And the odds of finding some who HASN’T lost someone close to them these days is about seven billion to one. But, we keep going because we have purpose. Sure, it’s hard to know what that purpose is-- but that fight to survive means we’re striving towards something, right? You can argue that it’s primal and buried deep in our conscious, but we’re not primal creatures anymore. Our world has reverted back into it’s primal, deadly origins, but we’re still the same people that existed when it was sophisticated.” 

“I’m not... I don’t think I, or we, exist on a higher moral ground. I’ve made...” He paused, not for the first or last time, and again sought out familiarity. “I know I’ve made mistakes. Things that I will never, ever be able to live down or forget. Or forgive myself for. Everyone in this room has done the same. Everyone still alive has done the same. But, I think that we’re trying to survive. And that they were trying to survive, in their own fucked way.” Shit. There were children in the crowd. Probably not the best terminology. “I never expected to get where I am now. I never thought of myself as a leader or as someone who would have to give a talk like this. But. Here I am.” He let his hands rise and fall in gesture. Eyes burning, Ethan kept his gaze out on the crowd. “I wouldn’t have kept going if I didn’t think there was something more for us out there. I think the Roamers, and maybe a lot of other people, have forgotten that. Or that they’ve given up on a future where surviving isn’t our main priority.”

“We do what we have to do to survive, and we all have our reasons for it. But, we have to remember that we’re surviving for a reason. What we do now will change the future. There’s no doubt about it. The Roamers did what they thought they had to do-- but it wasn’t their only option. They’re going to have to tell their kids and their kid’s kids what they did. That’s the foundation they’ve laid out. They can change it, but ‘cannibal’ is a hard stain to wipe off.”

Ethan tugged on his broken belt loop, denim fibers falling to the floor. He didn’t think they were going to come out clean. Was it so much to ask for a future where everything wasn’t caked in blood, though? Was it so much to ask? 

After everything that’s happened, everyone that’s been lost. Maybe it was too much to ask..  McMillan’s greater good. The Roamer’s only choice. Desperate times, desperate measures. 

If Ethan really believed that, though, he would have put a bullet in his head by now. He had a sliver of a hope left, and that hope resided solely in this Community. In the faces he saw now. 

“There’s a future for us. I don’t want it to be one where we’re sectioned off, afraid of anyone we don’t know. Where distrust is the default. And maybe I’m naive for wanting this. An idealist. But... It’s out there. It’s not going to be easy, because we’re going to have to make it ourselves, but it’s there. We can rebuild. We can remake the world. We just need to remember two things that the Roamers forgot or gave up on: One, we aren’t the only survivors left in the world. And, two... There’s more to life than surviving.” 

Exhaling and letting the weight of this conversation weigh on his shoulders, Ethan pushed his hands into his pockets and took a step back. He didn’t try to gauge reactions, just pressed his lips together and focused on the beat of his heart. The thump, thump, thump in his head. The clamminess of his palms. “I don’t know if I made anything clearer or got lost in my own ideologies, but thank you. Thank you for trusting me. For listening.” 

Eyes flickering to the door, his shoulders slumped. Finally. Finally.He directed his attention back to the now whispering crowd once more. “Just to keep up transparency-- our alliance with the Roamers is done. But, I’m going to maintain that we should accept any of their members who are in need of a new group. If you want to talk about this or-- I don’t know, just talk, I’ll be in the Care Wing. Thank you.” 

[myhauntedsalem]

Colorado Prison Museum Canon City, Colorado

The only thing more terrifying than doing time in prison is being surrounded by 140 years of frustrated spirits that are still waiting to be released. The Museum of Colorado Prisons is not only haunted by the inmates whose artifacts have been placed on display but also by the women who had the unfortunate opportunity to reside within the cells of its building. Each and everyone one of the spirits is waiting patiently for guests to hear the painstaking stories of an imprisoned life. Known as one of the most haunted locations in Colorado, paranormal investigators from all around the country and world have flocked to Canon City to seek out evidence and experiences of inmates who have crossed beyond the veil.

The Museum of Colorado Prisons opened in June of 1988 after devoted and concerned Fremont County residents realized their vision of documenting over 140 years of prison life in the state of Colorado. Among the haunted exhibits and displays are that such as the old office furniture used by former Warden Roy Best, documentation the Prison Riots of 1929 and 1947 and items belonging to both Alfred Packer who was convicted of cannibalism and Antone Woode who was convicted of murder as a 12-year-old boy.

With over a century of trapped souls and haunted objects on display throughout the building, it’s understandable that the paranormal community is fascinated with the Museum of Colorado Prisons. Orbs floating, screams that shatter the silence, soft and loud sobs that tear at your heart, the smell of tobacco wafting through the corridors, inexplicable cold spots, shadow figures lurking within the cells, disembodied female voices harassing male guests, bone-chilling EVPs, full-bodied apparitions, the appearance of a trickster spirit, objects moving of their own volition, lights flashing on and off and cell doors slamming shut. The imprint made by the artifacts and former inmates leaves mounds of evidence and experiences for the living to relate to and be terrified of the formerly imprisoned!