Information
the Grave Reminder
hastrman
The Custom Graveyard Xotl
Owner: atempause
Age: 2 years, 2 months, 4 days
Born: February 22nd, 2022
Adopted: 2 years, 2 months, 4 days ago
Adopted: February 22nd, 2022
Statistics
- Level: 1
- Strength: 10
- Defense: 10
- Speed: 10
- Health: 10
- HP: 10/10
- Intelligence: 0
- Books Read: 0
- Food Eaten: 0
- Job: Unemployed
Stay away from the old watermill
Mother has always told her to be careful around the river behind the village. But she didn't believe in the old tales made to scare children. It worked on her little brother, but she wasn't a child anymore. There were no evil creatures living in the river. Only fish and frogs.
Besides, the water was the cleanest it has ever been, where else to wash the laundry?
With a basket in hand, she strolled across the riverbank towards a pier that stood near an old watermill.
Her friends told her the abandoned mill has an owner again. She was curious who would be interested in such a derelict building, so far away from everyone else. She took the laundry just as an excuse, all she really wanted is to possibly meet the new owners, get something new to share with her gossiping friends. Nothing really happens in these parts, this is the most exciting thing she's got going for her right now.
Overgrown grass lined the with colorful wildflowers scattered through. She made a mental note to collect some on her way back to bring to her mother. A wildflower crown would make her so happy.
Reaching the pier, she eagerly awaited to see someone from the mill. Yet the place lay silent, just as it always has been. The giant wheel standing still in the water, shores overtaken by reeds and cattails. But someone clearly had to take care of the old house judging from the shiny new roof and windows. She remembers how boys proudly boasted how they used the mill for target practice. Every single window was broken by rocks from their sling. She was able to see mugs sitting inside on the windowsill. With a little lid on each and every one of them, tied together with a ribbon. Almost like a present, she thought. And there were so many. Has the place been taken by a potter? But why would they choose the mill of all places?
After her examination of the whole place, she turned back to her basket. Excuse for this trip or not, the laundry had to be done.
A shadow appeared briefly in the waters under. Is a curious fish interested in her white linen? She leaned over the pier to get a better look at her new visitor. Maybe she would get lucky and catch a glimpse of the fabled giant catfish that was rumored to swim in the river. That way she might have at least something to tell back home over a dinner table. She really hoped she would be one of the first to greet the new miller, oh well, a particularity large fish might be just interesting enough.
The shadow slowly crept towards her, growing in size. Curiosity got better of her as she reached out her hand to tease the fish and draw it up closer. Carefully hovering her hand just above the surface, ready to pull back and not lose a finger to a pair of strong jaws. If the rumors about the man-eating catfish were even true, that is.
What she did not expect is to get her arm snatched by something that looked almost human.
A clawed green hand shoot from the water and tightly grasped her wrist. The sudden unexpected pull quickly made her lose her balance. There was not enough time for her to react and fight back. Before she realized what is happening she was already falling off the pier, pulled down into the river's cold depths. Only a small scream escaped her lips, cut short before water filled her mouth and silenced her forever.
The area went silent just as fast as if nothing has happened. Only thing left hinting at the encounter was the basket of laundry, still sitting on the pier waiting for their wash that will never come.
It has been months since the hastrman has made his home in the old watermill. Everyone who dared to approach the river at this spot has been mercilessly dragged down into the water to meet their death at the bottom of the river. Drowned by his hands, their souls collected into mugs. The fish devour their bodies and witches collect the bones washed on the shores.
One would think locals would finally take a hint and stay away from the mill. But there is always someone curious enough to do the grave mistake and disturb his new home.
Not that he's complaining.
More careless visitors only mean more souls for his collection.
credits
profile by helix
art, story, overlay by atempause
background image taken from unsplash
character based on hastrman/vodnĂk from czech folklore
by User not found: trickster
Pet Treasure
Fisher Hook
Gnawed Thigh Bone
Rotten Stepped-In Pumpkin
Green Dragonfly
Bones
Leaf Wreath Bracelet
Rowboat Cloak
Lost Man
Water Spirit
Tempest in a Teacup
Gilded Kelpie Dripping Scrap
Strange Bog Tome
Small Bowl of Fishing River Water
Muck Spirit
River Mud
Jar of Tadpoles
Birch Cross Section
Riverside Beaver
Riverside Wren
Olive Striped Mushrooms
Chocolate Rocks
Gilt Woodpecker
Broken Coffee Cup
Little Green Man
Shadowglen Boat Sail
Peka Glade Willow Figurine
Sodden Driftwood
Swamp Mud
Riverside Eel
Puddle of Water
Gilded Kelpie Watery Scrap
Restless Malevolent Spirit
Restless Angry Spirit
Krampus Loam
Herbal Medicinal Wood
Bone Orchard Marker
Speed Leech
Grassland Warrior Bleak Bog Mud
Riverbank Statue
Haunted Forest Wisp
Disturbed Gravesite
Root Forest Sample
Forest Reindeer Antler Berry Wreath
Freshly Harvested Fruit Bones
Restless Sad Spirit
Cup of Snow
Old Heart Mug
Red Windblown Ribbon
Carved Antique Pipe
Garden Frog
Mind and Body Cocoa
Strange Watery Flute
Rickety Pier
Ominous Tombstone
Freshly Caught Grilled Fish
Natural Lily Pad
Flowing Hydrus Seaweed
Catfish
Edible Kelp
Mermaid Kelp-Wrapped Teacup
Ornate Teacup
Seaweed
Little Painted Boat
Dapper Shadowglen Frog Top Hat
Dapper Shadowglen Frog Slacks
Dapper Shadowglen Frog Jacket
Krampus Swampy Microcosm
Crankbait Fishing Lure
Reclaimed Stone Foundation
Wood Nymph Scattered Leaves
Green Freshwater Mussel
Waterlogged Daisy
Fairy Garden Pond
Fishtail Rum
Krampus Birch Branches
Deadly Nightshade
Paper Boat Memento
Haunted Forest Spirit
Fish Fillet
Greedy Green Hermit Crab
Manticore Fish Fin
Hen of the Woods Mushrooms
Willow Twig
Galerina
Petrified Wood
Chicory
Romero Shipwreck Tattered Net
Bog Bean Tangle