A small village has recently been the target of a series of murders, all sharing the same modus operandi. The victims are found impaled by a large pitchfork against a convenient wall. The murders have occurred on a weekly basis, always on the same evening; the killer has already struck six times – once during each of the preceding six weeks.
Small patches of straw have been found littered around the dead individual’s room, while witnesses report seeing a scrawny, humanoid figure flee the scene. One witness, Mr Addey, claims that its eyes blazed with a hellish, unearthly light. A few residents believe that Mr Addey was drunk at the time, but the majority accept his tale as the truth. Superstitious residents now speak (in hushed tones) of the “Scarecrow”, a malign entity that, as legend has it, committed similar acts two hundred years ago.
Possibilities
1 The murders are actually being committed by Mr Addey. His victims were all farmers, each possessing a sizable tract of land. With the farmers dead he plans to buy the land from the grieving family (for a fraction of its actual value) and put it to profitable use.
Addey has heard of the “Scarecrow” legend and makes his murders look like the work of the foul creature, knowing that the locals will not pursue their enquires too enthusiastically. Once each week, Mr Addey dons the scarecrow disguise and follows his victim home.
2 Two hundred years ago a sorcerer called Krakenartos lived in a tower located a mile outside of the village. His sleeping chambers and living quarters were within the tower, while his laboratory, study and library were situated beneath it.
Krakenartos, although a kindly individual, became concerned when a mob of townsfolk attempted to enter his abode. From that fateful day, he began to appreciate his own mortality and created a guardian for his tower. Krakenartos animated a scarecrow, since its function was also to deter pests. The “scarecrow” was a powerful construct; its strength many times that of a man. The creature was capable of fending off the primitive attempts of the townsfolk to breach Krakenartos’ home. Any who crossed the threshold were ruthlessly hunted - even beyond the confines of the tower - and killed.
The townsfolk shunned the tower, and Krakenartos continued his studies undisturbed. Two hundred years passed and the tower fell into ruin, sealing the subterranean complex. Krakenartos is long dead, but his creature lives on.
Recently several townsfolk uncovered the entrance and explored Krakenartos’ sanctuary. They kept their discovery to themselves. After such a long period of inactivity the creature was slow to respond and by the time it had fully awakened its prey had left.
Since then it has eliminated six of the trespassers. After each attack it withdraws to regain sufficient energy for its next assault.
3 Two months ago one of the villagers, Paul Townsend, inherited a substantial sum of money and the diary of a distant relative – a seventeenth century sorcerer. The tome, as well as being an account of his life, details various blasphemous rituals.
Mr Townsend gathered together a group of his seven closest friends and randomly selected a ritual to try. It was the Call Azathoth spell. Fortunately (for them) they failed to summon the deity, but a link was established to the court of Azathoth. A single Lesser Other God was wrenched from its master’s side and deposited upon the Earth. Unable to return to Azathoth’s court; it possessed the nearest unresisting humanoid form – a scarecrow. It knows that it is bound to the planet for only as long as its summoners live. After the ceremony it killed the first of the group but had insufficient energy to attack another.
When the group heard of their comrade’s death, they assumed Azathoth (whom they believe to be a demon) was responsible. The following week they attempted to Dismiss Azathoth. This failed as Azathoth was not around to be dismissed, but the released energies were absorbed by the Lesser Other God who then killed another.
So the cycle continues: each week the group try to dismiss Azathoth but instead rejuvenate it.
© Hadley Connor
Small patches of straw have been found littered around the dead individual’s room, while witnesses report seeing a scrawny, humanoid figure flee the scene. One witness, Mr Addey, claims that its eyes blazed with a hellish, unearthly light. A few residents believe that Mr Addey was drunk at the time, but the majority accept his tale as the truth. Superstitious residents now speak (in hushed tones) of the “Scarecrow”, a malign entity that, as legend has it, committed similar acts two hundred years ago.
Possibilities
1 The murders are actually being committed by Mr Addey. His victims were all farmers, each possessing a sizable tract of land. With the farmers dead he plans to buy the land from the grieving family (for a fraction of its actual value) and put it to profitable use.
Addey has heard of the “Scarecrow” legend and makes his murders look like the work of the foul creature, knowing that the locals will not pursue their enquires too enthusiastically. Once each week, Mr Addey dons the scarecrow disguise and follows his victim home.
2 Two hundred years ago a sorcerer called Krakenartos lived in a tower located a mile outside of the village. His sleeping chambers and living quarters were within the tower, while his laboratory, study and library were situated beneath it.
Krakenartos, although a kindly individual, became concerned when a mob of townsfolk attempted to enter his abode. From that fateful day, he began to appreciate his own mortality and created a guardian for his tower. Krakenartos animated a scarecrow, since its function was also to deter pests. The “scarecrow” was a powerful construct; its strength many times that of a man. The creature was capable of fending off the primitive attempts of the townsfolk to breach Krakenartos’ home. Any who crossed the threshold were ruthlessly hunted - even beyond the confines of the tower - and killed.
The townsfolk shunned the tower, and Krakenartos continued his studies undisturbed. Two hundred years passed and the tower fell into ruin, sealing the subterranean complex. Krakenartos is long dead, but his creature lives on.
Recently several townsfolk uncovered the entrance and explored Krakenartos’ sanctuary. They kept their discovery to themselves. After such a long period of inactivity the creature was slow to respond and by the time it had fully awakened its prey had left.
Since then it has eliminated six of the trespassers. After each attack it withdraws to regain sufficient energy for its next assault.
3 Two months ago one of the villagers, Paul Townsend, inherited a substantial sum of money and the diary of a distant relative – a seventeenth century sorcerer. The tome, as well as being an account of his life, details various blasphemous rituals.
Mr Townsend gathered together a group of his seven closest friends and randomly selected a ritual to try. It was the Call Azathoth spell. Fortunately (for them) they failed to summon the deity, but a link was established to the court of Azathoth. A single Lesser Other God was wrenched from its master’s side and deposited upon the Earth. Unable to return to Azathoth’s court; it possessed the nearest unresisting humanoid form – a scarecrow. It knows that it is bound to the planet for only as long as its summoners live. After the ceremony it killed the first of the group but had insufficient energy to attack another.
When the group heard of their comrade’s death, they assumed Azathoth (whom they believe to be a demon) was responsible. The following week they attempted to Dismiss Azathoth. This failed as Azathoth was not around to be dismissed, but the released energies were absorbed by the Lesser Other God who then killed another.
So the cycle continues: each week the group try to dismiss Azathoth but instead rejuvenate it.
© Hadley Connor
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