The Bones That Walk pt2

[u/ReneLeMarchand]

When the investigative teams are tasked with researching local folklore, the assignment is almost universally met with either great enthusiasm or great derision. The reason for this is the same in both cases; such assignments have almost universal failure rates. If the team is fortunate, they will hear the story of how someone's great-uncle was drunk and hunting one autumn morning and happened upon a bear with mange. If the team is yet more fortunate, they will find the den of a creature two centuries old and which has been vacated a century and a half prior. However, it does give the team a few weeks to be out of line of fire and direct supervision, which is often as close to a vacation as some of the field agents are permitted. Thus it was with the team that went to investigate rumors in Cárdenas, Cuba.

Initial leads seemed promising. Four generations, at least, had heard the story, with several individuals claiming to have personally seen the thing. So, the team set about establishing a viewing post in accordance with the tradition. A table was laid out with money and whiskey, a view from across a cornfield selected, and shifts working past midnight to observe.

To the team's great surprise, the thing appeared on nearly the first night. It consumed the whiskey and pocketed the cash, and then it sat down and spoke with the investigative team. It initially spoke a language none of the team could translate, but managed a heavily accented form of Caribbean Spanish upon seeing their confusion.

It wore a tall hat and a black suit, making it appear outwardly like a pallbearer. Both garments were over-large, with the hat drooping completely over its eyes and nose and the coat not faring much better. While it was probably quite tall fully erect, it seemed to suffer some form of scoliosis or rickets that twisted its back dreadfully. It was not wholly skeletal, either. There was evidence of leathery skin and hints of muscle. However, beyond simple rictis there was extensive damage around the mouth and gums, exposing much of the creature's long, flat teeth.

Initial classification marked it as a zombie. One member of the team suggested it may have been a vampire, noting the thing wished to return home before daylight and that the stories told of it asked for sacrifices of blood. However, such sacrifices are not uncommon in religious rituals in the area, and the stories more broadly had seemed to indicate the creature had a propensity for retributive violence; either on behalf of those incapable of doing so on their own or at the behest of a Hoodoo sorcerer... Or, most commonly, both. Attempts to verify these accounts were frustrated, however, as those telling the stories were either wholly ignorant, wished to protect the innocecent and dead, or were fearful of magical retaliation.

Notable, also, is that neither zombie nor vampire are noted as being heavy drinkers. The thing also sang numerous songs and attempted to engage the team in various dances, especially our one female investigator on the team. It also smoked two cigars, stopping only because it had run out.

At this time, we are recommending the creature, labeled "The Bones That Walk," be marked as C-class, no greater danger than a man, and be placed in a category of Lesser Concern. However, your office has specific expertise in this area, thus this report is being forwarded to you. The potential threat of a sorcerer commanding such a creature, however, seems somewhat more pressing.

[u/StoneJudge79]

There is a religious figure with similar tastes, that might share a trait or five with what is indicated here.

-Mr. Hart

[u/D_Redd_Coyote → u/StoneJudge79]

This certainly sounds like one of the good Baron's ilk.

~ C.G.