- THE ASTER SIGHTINGS -

[TheIchorDruid 1986]

 

 

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THE ASTER SIGHTINGS

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As recorded by various witness testimonies, 6th of Horen’s Calling 1867.

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‘It was surreal, a name I recall buried - returned to the earth. They roamed the halls, jaw agape and
swayed in motion. The simple sight made my stomach churn, but… it was the early hours of the
morning, perhaps I was simply sleep walking..’ - The words of a disturbed maiden of the courts. 

 

Amongst the prospering eighteen years of our reigning monarchs and the development of numerous historical events taking place in our very halls of Aster - a rather unsettling air has settled. There has been no rest between the ghastly sightings both amongst the prime of the day and the silence of the night. 

 

At first, physicians decreed these expansive sightings as a bout of mental lapses amongst the courts though these diagnostics could only account for so many before the number of reports began to grow out of hand. Causing those of medicinal nature, left without an explanation and scratching their heads. 

 

In quick succession upon the dismissing of these cases by medical professionals, the reports were taken and composed into a collection of tellings. Delivered amongst the courts in that very same hurry.

 

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THE LIBRARIAN

 

 

Recorded as one of the more docile phantoms, the ‘Hushed Man’, or more commonly named amongst the palace as ‘The Librarian’ has been sighted rather frequently. Though the time of his appearance fluctuates amongst the tellings of each story, what is a common trend is his distaste for rambunctious presences and bouts of noise amidst the palace library. 

 

Various accounts record that once the noise rises above the usual hushed acceptance of the space, shelves begin to quake and books often collapse from their shelves - such being the beginning of this ghastly activity. If the noise from here does not lower, accounts speak of the air feeling much heavier, almost chilling and the brief whisper of a hush echoes amongst the room. This spirit is said to be the most introverted of the number of accounts and only stirs if provoked or the arrangement of that tidy library is tampered with. 

 

The appearance of The Librarian seems to be the same amongst the recordings, an elderly man roughly in his late seventies, donning an unkept beard that rests just above the belly button. His attire does not seem to host the disposition of wealth, but rather a coarse and worn robe held up by a twine belt. 

 

It has not been recorded that this spirit makes physical contact with the living and the sighting of the man is rather rare. 

 

- A documentation of The Librarian’s sighting -

 

Spoiler

‘12th of Tobias’ Bounty, 1865,

The evening was alike most, I had concluded my night of worship within the palace’s chapel and with the evening still rather light I had decided it was a fitting end to resume some academic studies amongst the library. It mustn't have been any later than eight o’clock when I arrived in the library and all was relatively normal. 

 

In total, I spent around two hours in study and I could slowly feel sleep creeping upon my senses and a lethargic ache filling my limbs. At this moment, I found myself clumsily knocking my ink pot from the desk and I let out a quite audible curse. Can you blame me! It was the most irate moment! 

 

After my shout, I could feel a chill in the air and upon closer inspection I noted there were no open windows yet it felt like a cold spring morning. I disregarded the cold and began to clean the mess I had made but still rather annoyed, I continued my angered bout. It was then I heard it! A murmured, no, a groaned hush! 

 

When I arrived, I was certain I was alone nor did I hear the entering of another during my reading. Rather alarmed I stood and searched those spaces, demanding the rude culprit to present themselves. But alas, I was met with nothingness. Not a soul around!

 

-An excerpt from the journal of Elizabeth Schatuffen’

 

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SIR OTIS

 

 

 

Sir Otis, or ‘The Watcher’, has been recorded as one of the most malicious spirits and only presenting himself as the apparition of a floating head. Sightings have reported this phantom appearing from a certain painting amongst the Aster court - no matter where a person stands amongst the room the eyes would follow. These same accounts tell that if a person looks upon Sir Otis’ painting for too long, the painted image begins to warp and contort until this decapitated head bursts from the art’s confines and shrills in an eerie, near ear bursting shrill. 

 

It is not known what causes the upset of the phantom, a man once devoted to the imperial crown, but what is known is that the activity of Sir Otis only sparks once the clocks have chimed upon three o’clock in the morning. 

 

The tales tell the appearance of this spirit as long since aged, sunken eyes and a hung jaw - often sparked into anger when one invades the personal space of his painting within the early hours. 

 

- A documentation of Sir Otis’ sighting -

 

Spoiler

‘4th of  Harren’s Folly, 1860,

 

It was a horrid encounter you see, I was riddled with insomnia.. It has been an occurring issue these late months and with little aiding my venture of sleep I decided to take an idle roam amongst the palace’s halls. For some reason or another I found myself browsing the paintings, attempting to find some comfort with their timeless frames and flourishing artistic breath. It was quaint, for a time. That was.. until I found a lonesome painting - depicted as Sir Otis de Rosius and from what I’ve heard was an admirable man in his life.

 

The painting was dusty, the palace staff must take more care to see the piece cared for. Though when I looked upon it, I felt an unnerving sense - like.. I was being watched. Moving from side to side, the eyes would wander the same direction as I and it was like the painting was alive. No matter how much I averted my gaze, I would always find myself drawn back upon it and.. a few minutes of staring passed before the straightened expression of Sir Otis seemed to warp in a menacing grin - his head beginning to snap in all sorts of directions. It was like I was going mad in those few short moments.

 

Before I knew it, the head of that Sir burst from the painting’s confines and lunged towards me in a harrowing shrill. He came right at my face before disappearing into nothingness. I swear this is the truth, good sir! I am not.. mentally lacking!’

 

-An excerpt from the journal of Pierre de Creux'

 

 

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THE WEEPING MOTHER

 

 

 

Another report retells of a phantom maiden, hosting a swollen belly and often sighted around the fountain of the Aster gardens. It is recorded that this unnamed maiden usually appears to lonesome men and during the gardens being empty. If a man was to linger around the vicinity of the fountain they would hear a faint whaling echo - a heart wrenching sound. Upon closer inspection, the fountain’s surface would begin to ripple as if tears met the water’s depths and some even record the fountain beginning to overflow. This spirit has been spoken to be another malicious entity, that targets male presences that linger near the fountain. 

 

There has been no specific telling of the time this phantom appears, only presenting herself to men. Some accounts even state that this maiden accuses them of fathering her unborn child, yet the woman’s grievances or how she came to pass remains ever unknown - most not lingering long enough to discover. 

 

Most stories regarding The Weeping Mother states the spirit being a dripping opaque figure - long tresses drenched and clung to her brow. Yet the most prominent detail amongst all recollections stands as her unidentifiable features - her face remaining a blurred and featureless surface. 

 

- A documentation of The Weeping Mother’s sighting -

 

Spoiler

‘1st of Horen’s Calling, 1857,

 

Does the drink truly inhibit one’s mind, doctor? I swear, in GOD’s own name - that what I saw was as real as the bottle in my hand. What.. was it? How did I come to see her? Ah, it was during one of the many balls that is hosted amongst the palace - tedious affairs they are. You see, amidst the bellowing of violins and muffled voices of courtly gossip I found myself mind numbingly bored. I drew a fine bottle of Sarkozic vintage and wandered off into the gardens. It was around six o’clock in the evening if.. I recall correctly. There was not a soul present in the gardens, or.. not that I was aware of. 

 

The idea was to bask in my own company, perched upon a bench beside that dreary fountain. I began to bask in the vintage, mulling over my own thoughts before I began to hear a faint weeping. Originally I assumed it was one of those sensitive ladies from the ball - you understand how the gossip can rile those sorts. Yet upon turning around there was no one. 

 

I dismissed the thought and resumed my idle thinking but once more I heard it again! This time it was much louder, no longer something I could ignore or blame my intoxicated state for hearing. It was real! This time it was easier to source, from the very fountain that sat before me. Upon calling out for the weeping maiden, I was met with silence. That was until.. It appeared. A ghastly woman, dripping wet and slowly rising from the fountain’s depths!

 

My heart almost gave in! Tears began to roll down this.. creature’s cheeks and that fountain, the water! It began to overflow, her hand's reached toward me and.. had I not bellowed for aid.. I swore it would have drowned me.

 

-An excerpt from the journal of Cristoph Dulinger’

 

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SISTER EVELYN

 

 

A rather terrifying sighting reports a decaying nun that frequents the walls of the Aster chapel, though amongst the stories there does not seem to be any ill-intent granted by the spirit - the rather unnerving appearance of this phantom remains ever horrific. Bestowed with the name of ‘Sister Evelyn’ by numerous reporting accounts, the spirit seems to be one of the rarest sightings of the mass collection.

 

It is said that this ‘Sister Evelyn’ appears in the early morning after the conclusion of morning prayers - when those of low mood or desperate aid of the Lord’s guidance spend a few extra moments praying. If this spirit decrees an individual in need of  faithful guidance then she will often appear in a flurry of distant, choral singing. Those will know of the quick approaching presence of ‘Sister Evelyn’ when candles begin to flicker and a vague mist begins to coat the ground. 

 

There has been no tellings of malicious intent from the creature, rather it is said that she offers religious advice in a non-verbal form. Instead she eerily stares upon the beckoner with empty, skull-like hues and resorts to both body language and the forming of images amidst the mist that composes her form. 

 

- A documentation of Sister Evelyn’s sighting -

 

Spoiler

‘7th of Tobias’s Bounty, 1857,

 

O’ Lord, our heavenly father who art in heaven, watch over my mortal soul and grant me a divine light against those foul creatures o’ nocturnal! Upon making for the Aster chapel to prostrate myself before GOD in my laudes matutinas, a certain harmonial sound blessed my ears as I finished utterance of the Lord’s prayer. It sounded, at the beginning, like a thousand aenguls singing to me at once as a dozen organs rang out in glorious crescendo. Such an occurrence made me believe it could only be your presence upon Earth, o’ Lord. As though you had chosen to come before me in your heavenly form - me, your humble and devout servant? How could I be so blessed to witness such a miracle, was the foremost thought that clouded my mind. And in these trying times, your presence and your warmth, the love by which you shine upon us all. To bask in that very embrace within these trying times, it filled me with such wonder and joy beyond compare.

 

But, hark! As I arose to face the sound of this beatificious and sacred music, the candle's lights flicked and waned all around me. A peculiar and eerie fog began to coat the ground all around me, like an early morning’s dew. A fear and trepidation gripped me then as I was shrouded in darkness, and I ran as fast as I could to make my retreat from the shadow. The doors handle, as rusted and in disrepair as it is, did not turn without much strenuous effort. I turned my head for a brief moment, and I could have sworn upon the names of the very Exalted themselves that I saw a terrifying face observing me from the vestige of shadow. A daunting figure in holy cloth, with greyed skin and hollowed holes for eyes. She wore a veil akin to a member of the Holy Sisterhood, yet I knew better. This was no Aengul or avatar of God - it was a trickery, a deceit! The work of the Devil himself! I managed to turn the door handle finally and bolted outside, and though I am shaken upon the ordeal, I have turned to deeper prayer and fasting in order to attempt to discern this unholy occurrence through your bountiful wisdom and providence, o’ God.

 

-An excerpt from the journal of Father Humbert van Mozgus’

 

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THE STALKING SOLDIER

 

 

Possibly one of the most approachable spirits that has been recorded, the nameless soldier is most often reported to be standing at attention before the base of the dias within the throne room and donning the plates of the Imperial State Army.  Through the recording, numerous accounts have stated that this ghastly presence would appear hours before scheduled court happenings and usually inquires if the individual requires any protective services or chaperoning. 

 

Individuals have also stated the attempt at further conversing with this protector though there seems to be a lack of want or willingness to convene further than the offering of his services. Those whom have come to interact with this odd fellow recall a gentle air of comfort and safety upon his appearance. The sign of his approaching appearance is known when the thunderous, metallic, sound of marching echoes through the throne room. 

 

Upon these tales, some have stated of their attempts to rouse the spirit’s presence day-to-day although all attempts falling upon deaf ears and leaving his appearance to the mentioned scheduling of court.

 

- A documentation of The Stalking Soldier’s sighting -

 

Spoiler

‘3rd of Godrey’s Triumph, 1866,

 

It was most frightful, yet exhilarating all the while. I was awaiting the court’s commencement and my dreadful carriage had delivered me to the palace hours before the court was due to begin. Though it was not much of a fuss to myself I decided to pay a visit to the grand throne room nonetheless - perhaps I might take note of recent development in the room’s construction or architecture. 

 

Yet I did not truly anticipate what it actually was that I might discover - I was alone, such is the detail that is important. There were sadly no witnesses’.. that can confirm my words but as I entered that room I could sight a lonesome soldier loyally guarding the vacant dias. I must admit, it was odd for a soldier to be guarding the emptiness but I simply thought it best to spend my vast amount of time to converse before court. 

 

It was the closing of distance between him and I that I noticed. I could see right through him! I blinked a few times, assuming it could be the misjudgement of my failing sight but no! Even during the correction of my peripheral, that man remained present and transparent. I broke that silence with an idle greeting, seeking his name but he did not respond. A few long moments passed with our awkward staring before a hoarse voice called to me. It was that fellow, asking if I required his service.. his protection!

 

Of course, I did not require such aid - I was simply in need of hastening time and upon my denial of his offer he vanished into thin air!

 

-A excerpt from the journal of Julia Vandimilion’

 

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Spoiler

A thanks to @NorthWindNomad , @Proddy & @Matheaww for editorial aid and detailing upon various aspects of the post.

 

This post simply stands as an aesthetic, players are free to have rumoured sightings of these sprits but they will not be interactable as a player-ran event.

 

[EmiliainWonderland 2309]

Chloe re-read the page a couple of times. "Sir Otis? Elara! Why is Grandpere haunting the palace?" She poked her sister with curiosity. "We should go say hi!"

[FlareGunCalamity 213]

The now retired Rosary Fairfax, having seen at least 3 separate ghosts during her tenure as the head maid, gives a little "Huh. Seems about right," to the writing, and continues on her personal business without a second thought.

[Proddy 2415]

Father Humbert von Mozgus continues to pray.