I’d like to do some crowdsourcing for the Miscellany in Codex – Ectoplasm. The Miscellany is called “Three Dozen Signs of Ghostly Habitation.” Submissions need to be a single sentence, or 2-3 very short sentences. By submitting here, you’re agreeing to let us use it (you’ll get a credit in the issue). I’m looking for evocative stuff. The purpose of the Miscellany is to inspire the reader.
Here are some examples:
“House plants die within 63 minutes of being placed in a particular room.”
“No matter where you move things, the sitting room’s antique furniture always rearranges itself overnight.”
“Every morning, the toilet bowl is filled with flies and maggots.”
The mirror in the bedroom will always reflect a wavy distorted image of the person in front of it- this distorted reflection always appears to be trying to subtlety communicate.
The mirror in the bedroom will always reflect a wavy distorted image of the person in front of it- this distorted reflection always appears to be trying to subtlety communicate.
You catch yourself singing a sweet song in a language you don’t understand
You catch yourself singing a sweet song in a language you don’t understand
Small objects you lost as a child are found in the dusty jewelry box in the attic.
Small objects you lost as a child are found in the dusty jewelry box in the attic.
That old radio in the corner plays a haunting tune every evening, even though it isn’t plugged in.
That old radio in the corner plays a haunting tune every evening, even though it isn’t plugged in.
In the hall of portraits the eyes all notice you. But the opposite sex seems to wink when you stare (but just once) and the others won’t look you in the eye.
In the hall of portraits the eyes all notice you. But the opposite sex seems to wink when you stare (but just once) and the others won’t look you in the eye.
Every morning a number of small dead animals are found in the front yard arranged into neat rows facing the house.
Every morning a number of small dead animals are found in the front yard arranged into neat rows facing the house.
Anything you pick up and set down elsewhere in the house is moved to its “correct location” when you look away.
Anything you pick up and set down elsewhere in the house is moved to its “correct location” when you look away.
At night, the sound of creaking can be heard out the window of the guest bedroom. The light from the full moon streaking through the curtain shows the shadow of a moving rocking chair.
At night, the sound of creaking can be heard out the window of the guest bedroom. The light from the full moon streaking through the curtain shows the shadow of a moving rocking chair.
Out of the corner of your eye, the white chairs of the antique dinette set seem to float and dance around the room slowly, but when you look directly at them, they are just ordinary furniture.
Out of the corner of your eye, the white chairs of the antique dinette set seem to float and dance around the room slowly, but when you look directly at them, they are just ordinary furniture.
Every time you take the needle off the record and turn off the turntable, it comes back on as soon as you leave the room. The record plays backward until you turn it off again.
Every time you take the needle off the record and turn off the turntable, it comes back on as soon as you leave the room. The record plays backward until you turn it off again.
All black dogs, cats, and birds on the property have human eyes.
All black dogs, cats, and birds on the property have human eyes.
The armoire door never stays closed, and any solid white dress left in it over night will have mud and leaves on the hem.
The armoire door never stays closed, and any solid white dress left in it over night will have mud and leaves on the hem.
In the very late evening , a couple’s distant weeping is heard, and the bedroom pillows become moist with teardrops.
In the very late evening , a couple’s distant weeping is heard, and the bedroom pillows become moist with teardrops.
Any book or paper left unattended will be found to have been covered in colorful, childlike drawings. These drawings depict innocent and wonderful things, at first….
Any book or paper left unattended will be found to have been covered in colorful, childlike drawings. These drawings depict innocent and wonderful things, at first….
Whenever you’re downstairs at 10:42pm, you will hear something heavy being dragged around upstairs
Whenever you’re downstairs at 10:42pm, you will hear something heavy being dragged around upstairs
The earth of the basement floor always seems disturbed when viewed in the light of the gas lantern kept down there.
The earth of the basement floor always seems disturbed when viewed in the light of the gas lantern kept down there.
Any time you sleep in the old four post bed you found in the master bedroom, you dream of embracing the lovely woman in antiquated clothing who lies next to you. You wake when her dry tongue enters your mouth.
Any time you sleep in the old four post bed you found in the master bedroom, you dream of embracing the lovely woman in antiquated clothing who lies next to you. You wake when her dry tongue enters your mouth.
Every seventeen steps the floorboards creak loudly and the house shudders.
Every seventeen steps the floorboards creak loudly and the house shudders.
Nonsensical equations are scrawled on the edges of documents, in your handwriting.
Nonsensical equations are scrawled on the edges of documents, in your handwriting.
There is a door to a long-abandoned child’s bedroom, and it’s frame is marked with old, faded chalk lines of a growing child’s height. There is one fresh mark, which matches exactly the crown of YOUR head.
There is a door to a long-abandoned child’s bedroom, and it’s frame is marked with old, faded chalk lines of a growing child’s height. There is one fresh mark, which matches exactly the crown of YOUR head.
Mirrors reflect scenes of the past but only in small, anachronistic details. Feeding the mirror blood widens the window.
Mirrors reflect scenes of the past but only in small, anachronistic details. Feeding the mirror blood widens the window.
David LaFreniere Ewww, dry tongue, LMAO. Reaching the end of that paragraph was like waking up from a bad dream.
David LaFreniere Ewww, dry tongue, LMAO. Reaching the end of that paragraph was like waking up from a bad dream.
All the clocks in the house always stop at a specific time.
Sometimes you see things in your peripheral view and when you turn to look, there is something you thought you’d lost.
You always have vivid dreams; when you wake you know they are someone else’s but forget moments later.
When you step on the old floorboards you could swear the creaking sounds like a specific word floating up to your ears.
All the clocks in the house always stop at a specific time.
Sometimes you see things in your peripheral view and when you turn to look, there is something you thought you’d lost.
You always have vivid dreams; when you wake you know they are someone else’s but forget moments later.
When you step on the old floorboards you could swear the creaking sounds like a specific word floating up to your ears.
The house is filled with whispers, and when you listen closely you recognize conversations you had long ago as a child.
The house is filled with whispers, and when you listen closely you recognize conversations you had long ago as a child.
On the new moon, at midnight, the bed sheets on the master bed blossom with a fresh bloodstain. If observed it grows into the shape of a raven in flight before discohering.
On the new moon, at midnight, the bed sheets on the master bed blossom with a fresh bloodstain. If observed it grows into the shape of a raven in flight before discohering.
The back door opens to the entrance hall
The back door opens to the entrance hall
Your cellphone receives text messages from your significant other to an unknown lover. They get pretty graphic.
Your cellphone receives text messages from your significant other to an unknown lover. They get pretty graphic.
The bath tub is always wet, like its just been used. A journal sits nearby, a new entre dated tonight.
All the lanterns are found set with the wick on high, flames nearly busting out of their glass confinement.
All water drains back up the spout.
When you stand outside viewing the house from afar, in the East facing window stands an elderly woman smirking at you.
Its always abnormally warm and dry in the South bedroom. You wake desperately in need of water.
You are found sleepwalking, and speaking as though you were the occupant of the estate.
Hounds are heard outside but can not be seen, and you see shadowed figures about 3 feet tall dart out of your peripherals each time.
Voices are thrown from varying directions.
Floorboards bend and creak before your eyes as though they are being walking on.
Your blankets are pulled off of you every night, and folded on the bed chest.
The bath tub is always wet, like its just been used. A journal sits nearby, a new entre dated tonight.
All the lanterns are found set with the wick on high, flames nearly busting out of their glass confinement.
All water drains back up the spout.
When you stand outside viewing the house from afar, in the East facing window stands an elderly woman smirking at you.
Its always abnormally warm and dry in the South bedroom. You wake desperately in need of water.
You are found sleepwalking, and speaking as though you were the occupant of the estate.
Hounds are heard outside but can not be seen, and you see shadowed figures about 3 feet tall dart out of your peripherals each time.
Voices are thrown from varying directions.
Floorboards bend and creak before your eyes as though they are being walking on.
Your blankets are pulled off of you every night, and folded on the bed chest.
When talking to someone in the house you hear them say ‘get out’ in a normal conversational tone, they will deny ever having said that.
When talking to someone in the house you hear them say ‘get out’ in a normal conversational tone, they will deny ever having said that.
This dollhouse is a good replica of the home it is found in. There are two dolls in the room matching the one you are in – one is wearing your garments.
This dollhouse is a good replica of the home it is found in. There are two dolls in the room matching the one you are in – one is wearing your garments.
The place is uncannily tidy; any messes you leave are cleaned up in your absence.
In the fridge, seeded fruit sprout and grow at an unnatural pace. Meat grows skin and feathers; perhaps more if left alone long enough.
The place is uncannily tidy; any messes you leave are cleaned up in your absence.
In the fridge, seeded fruit sprout and grow at an unnatural pace. Meat grows skin and feathers; perhaps more if left alone long enough.
From the well or water faucet, the occasional human tooth.
From the well or water faucet, the occasional human tooth.
You keep putting that old, creepy doll away, but every morning you wake up to find it staring at you from the rocking chair in the corner.
Anytime you ask a question aloud, a distant, barely audible voice answers in a strange language.
You are startled awake each night at exactly midnight to a loud bang and a woman’s scream, after which the clever in the kitchen is always found slammed into the cutting board in the center of a pool of fresh blood.
You keep putting that old, creepy doll away, but every morning you wake up to find it staring at you from the rocking chair in the corner.
Anytime you ask a question aloud, a distant, barely audible voice answers in a strange language.
You are startled awake each night at exactly midnight to a loud bang and a woman’s scream, after which the clever in the kitchen is always found slammed into the cutting board in the center of a pool of fresh blood.
All the lights in the house flicker when ever someone mentions the attic.
All the lights in the house flicker when ever someone mentions the attic.
Every time your back itches, some unseen hand scratches it
Every time your back itches, some unseen hand scratches it
Daniel Fowler I would accept this haunting.
Daniel Fowler I would accept this haunting.
Someone or something puts the toilet seat up during the night.
Someone or something leaves the plunger in the toilet during the night, and unscrews the bathroom lightbulb. 😧
Someone or something puts the toilet seat up during the night.
Someone or something leaves the plunger in the toilet during the night, and unscrews the bathroom lightbulb. 😧
Whenever you are in the home you feel a hand on the small of your back, but there is nothing there.
Whenever you are in the home you feel a hand on the small of your back, but there is nothing there.
You approach the large doors, the sound and light of a party coming from beneath the door, but upon opening them you find the hall empty, dark and silent.
You approach the large doors, the sound and light of a party coming from beneath the door, but upon opening them you find the hall empty, dark and silent.
Your significant other calls upstairs to you to let you know they made it home, but you’re already in bed with them beside you.
The kids still leave their toys out on the floor, even though they’ve been dead for a little over a year.
Your significant other calls upstairs to you to let you know they made it home, but you’re already in bed with them beside you.
The kids still leave their toys out on the floor, even though they’ve been dead for a little over a year.
An unknown Wifi SSID “Still_Here_123” appears on wireless devices in the house.
An unknown Wifi SSID “Still_Here_123” appears on wireless devices in the house.
The sitting room is always cool, no matter how long or how big the fire in the fireplace.
The sitting room is always cool, no matter how long or how big the fire in the fireplace.
A dusty wine cellar, overstocked with bottles of famous vintage, all turned to blood.
A dusty wine cellar, overstocked with bottles of famous vintage, all turned to blood.
Something softly whispers from the drain in the bathroom sink. If you stoop to listen, you can hear a child’s voice urging you to ‘run run run run now…oh no…too late’
Something softly whispers from the drain in the bathroom sink. If you stoop to listen, you can hear a child’s voice urging you to ‘run run run run now…oh no…too late’
An old framed portrait of dogs playing cards. Initially silly, but whenever you glance at it, the dogs are different, and there is always one or two that look towards you, angry, and hungry.
An old framed portrait of dogs playing cards. Initially silly, but whenever you glance at it, the dogs are different, and there is always one or two that look towards you, angry, and hungry.
A small, wooden chest on the mantle. Each time you open it, you find an old penny from 1931. And no matter how carefully you try, you always seem to cut yourself on the lid.
A small, wooden chest on the mantle. Each time you open it, you find an old penny from 1931. And no matter how carefully you try, you always seem to cut yourself on the lid.
Were those kids’ giggles you heard from the nursery upstairs? But their daughter passed mysteriously years ago…
Were those kids’ giggles you heard from the nursery upstairs? But their daughter passed mysteriously years ago…
The sound of metal being dragged slowly behind you, when you turn a axe, brown with old blood, keels over. Your hands have fresh blood on them
The sound of metal being dragged slowly behind you, when you turn a axe, brown with old blood, keels over. Your hands have fresh blood on them
Water drains repeatedly clogged with long dark hair from an unknown source.
Water drains repeatedly clogged with long dark hair from an unknown source.
I am literally staying in an air bnb home right now that has a door in the basement with a “cutesy” sign on it that says “please stay out”. So that inspires this sentence:
The aged door in the basement that says “Please Stay Out” with the image of a child clown on it. Wait, is that scratching I hear? I’m sure it’s just rats…
I am literally staying in an air bnb home right now that has a door in the basement with a “cutesy” sign on it that says “please stay out”. So that inspires this sentence:
The aged door in the basement that says “Please Stay Out” with the image of a child clown on it. Wait, is that scratching I hear? I’m sure it’s just rats…
A simple wooden toy box sits in the corner. The word “Mine” is scratched into every inch of its interior surface.
A simple wooden toy box sits in the corner. The word “Mine” is scratched into every inch of its interior surface.
Awesome work, everyone! I got goosebumps reading some of these! I’m going to go ahead and close the thread. Thanks!
Awesome work, everyone! I got goosebumps reading some of these! I’m going to go ahead and close the thread. Thanks!
Thread necromancy! I wanted to let everyone know we are currently raising money on KS to print a big, beautiful hardcover book collecting the first 13 issues of Codex. We’re doing a single print run of this book, and when those are all gone, that’s it! Many of you in this thread have miscellany submissions that made it into one of those early issues, and so you might be interested in getting a copy of the book for yourself. Of particular note is a discounted $35 pledge tier, which is perfect if you don’t care about getting the PDFs.
Even if you’re not interested in getting a copy of the book for yourself, it would be super lovely (and helpful!) if you would share the campaign in your circles.
As it turns out, I can’t actually share a link to the project in this comment because G+ flags such KS links as spam, but if you just go to Kickstarter and search “Codex” it pops right up, or search “Codex RPG” in Google.
Thanks!
Thread necromancy! I wanted to let everyone know we are currently raising money on KS to print a big, beautiful hardcover book collecting the first 13 issues of Codex. We’re doing a single print run of this book, and when those are all gone, that’s it! Many of you in this thread have miscellany submissions that made it into one of those early issues, and so you might be interested in getting a copy of the book for yourself. Of particular note is a discounted $35 pledge tier, which is perfect if you don’t care about getting the PDFs.
Even if you’re not interested in getting a copy of the book for yourself, it would be super lovely (and helpful!) if you would share the campaign in your circles.
As it turns out, I can’t actually share a link to the project in this comment because G+ flags such KS links as spam, but if you just go to Kickstarter and search “Codex” it pops right up, or search “Codex RPG” in Google.
Thanks!