Guman Thong

In an antique store, or perhaps on an online auction site, the investigators discover an attractive, if eerie, statue. The seller explains that this item is a Guman Thong. MAGIC SPIRIT BOY! Your Ghost Son will help you to be lucky in life and business.

Careful instructions come with the statue: The new owner should treat it as his or her own son both verbally, and by giving it treats and toys. The new owner must be careful that no live children stay with him or her, for the spirit may react with jealousy.

Possibilities

1 The statue is the genuine article. The spirit of a small child is bound to the statue and the human remains concealed inside of it. As long as the investigator follows the rituals the owner explained, the ghost inside will protect and aid the investigator. However, improper handling of the statue or the presence of a real child can create peril. A ritual for freeing the spirit is relatively easy to find, although perhaps more difficult before the advent of the Internet. The investigator may gain peace of mind for freeing the spirit.

2 The statue is a fake, and similar fake Guman Thongs are being used by a race of alien monsters to infiltrate the local Southeast Asian community. Rather than human remains, each statue contains a small, slimy creature. Each night, the creature sneaks out to feed, leaving the statue’s owner in peace unless it can find no other sustenance. A mysterious and fatal disease grips the community.

3 The master who created the statue made a mistake during the ritual and bound a dangerous and homicidal supernatural force to the statue. This force cannot manifest itself at will, but only when conditions are right. (For example, certain times of the year or when the statue is placed in the wrong position in a Feng Shui sense.) The statue may sit peacefully for years with the new owner blissfully unaware of the danger.

© Paul Shuster