The Autumn of Summers

MOON MOON MOON I fully intended to do at least one ...

The Autumn of Summers

Nothing dies like a Summer and the great beasts offorgotten summers, each different.

Seasons here come from the southwest and fade towards thenorth east, vanishing over those black hills, but there is something thereamong the pale lakes which curdles seasons, traps them so, in each season, agreat beast comes forth.

So tit is that this is the land of great beasts. Eachbeast is always different, as each season is different. And so this is a landof hunters and scholars of the hunt. Ao-one knows precisely what will comeforth - the where’s and the hows of it. All can be dangerous, but the parts anddanger of each beast can possess increasable properties, and the hunt is alwaysdifferent for each season.

The beasts of summer are usually the most violent and aggressive,if not the most deadly.

But now comes a great terror, for up int the black hills,a strange moon rose and the world shook, and this autumn has come forth not onebeast of summer but all. A torrent of forgotten summers - one each day or night- slinking sliding or blazing forth so that the cool night shimmers and simmerswith beasts.

It is very terrible, nothing is safe or regular. As badas the beasts are the hunters that flood up the river. Yet we need them; allthe old hunters of past summers. They gather round in creaking hustles, talkinghere with a farmer, there with a thane, the old men and housewives pulling onpipes and speaking what they know of this beast or that;

The hunters at rest Vasily Grigorievich Perov

1 - Its form; (d20)

1. Sinious and lizardine, it curleth and windeththat its end might be hither and yon, now near, now far.

2. a lion in aspect and aye ye might say that nonehere have seen a lion in this life or the next but the old books speakmuch of them and tales as well and at all or most points I do say it belionlike.

3. the beast be horned and prancing, like an oldforest god, a great deer or a circus man

4. the beast be a flock or swarm of some flying thing,it be a shimmer in the air, or perhaps like many birds

5. the beast be a river creature swimming in the airas if t’were water above and not below

6. the beast is chimeric, brutal and winged, abeast of many parts and not well arranged

7. the beast is insectile but vast in scael, likea small thing made larger than it might be, or a familiar thing made unfamiliar

8. the beast is a lizard beast of a lost age, orthe bones of one, or perhaps it be an alligator or a huge chicken yet it havesome part of all of those

9. the beast be a platypus

10. the beast be like a crawling baby or toddlingboy with a huge beasts head, or visa versa some say

11. the beast is a great stilted quadruped movingdreamlike yet its feet are cruel

12. the beast is a screeching feathered earthboundmess

13. this is a rapidly tunnelying beast with astrong dorsal fin or spike that preturdeth forth and it do churn its waythrough the earth very busyliy

14. the beast is a rolling pangolin, or armadillo,or a long beast yet that it form itself into an hoop and roll

15. the beast is akin to a rabbit or hare, smallor large

16. the beast is small bird but very big, not alarge bird, but a small one made big

17. the beast is most like an elephant or mammoth

18. I would say it is a wild cackling monkey

19. Of this beast a man might say; “this be alike unto a greatbeetle” but another say “It be not so and you are a foole to say so, lookthee upon a beetle for they be common enough and say again that the beast be soalike, go on with ye ye great foole ye”.

20. Some would call it like a Dragonfly, yet onenot seen hither, others may call it a bird of heaven.

Drunk Hunters Rest with Dog - Unknown

2 - Its coat similar to; (d12)

1-3; Skin; naked is the beast

4; It be a hairy beast, which is that its hairs belooser and longer than fur

5-6; The beast have scales like a snake

7-8; It hath fur, mayhap short but not too long

9-10; It is a feathered beast

11-12; It be two of the above each in separateparts.

3 - Its colour; (d20)

1. Like fire embers mixed with falling cherryblossom

2. gold tarnished with nitre but in places waxingseemingly molten yet without heat

3. heat-haze sunset red fading into bluecounter-shading

4. like a shiny copper penny

5. a shifting blue-green iridescence shining as ifalways under summer light even when not

6. from powder blue to ink-black mixingwith its own long ever-present shadow

7. crocus-yellow veined with pink

8. the red of sunbeaten bricks with parts likefine pink-traced marble

9. like deep red polished wood

10. tobacco-stained dove feathers

11. bee or tiger-striped, aggressive yellow anddepthless black

13. shimmering cut-grass green, along with thesmell

14. bright burning yellow-white of a noon sun (it be hardto gaze upon)

15. Eclipse-Coloured (that is pseudo twilight,black ringed with white and many-shadowed)

16. A smooth milky white with dream-coloured markings (acolour not of this sphere), either that or the colour of wounded ice.

17. Rose counterpointing the blood-green ofthorn

18. The soft tan of well cared-for teeth, ringedwith glistening red

19. Perfect lavender with the smell also and beesalways near whether day or night

20. beaten heated iron speckled with the colour of its sparksand with something of its heat

4 - Its size and bygness; (2d6)

2. Very little like a kitten yet faster than theeye and fierce as fire

3. Badger size, deft and ferocious withal

4. A wildcats size and suppleness, and as silentand careful

5. The size of a big dog yea also robust, fearlessand deep-chested that it tire not

6. As wide as a pygg, or boar very thick set andsmall legged and oncoming

7. Big as a foal or mule with long slender partsyet some thikke

8-9. It hath the mass of tiger or great catt, verylarge and at all points well-proportioned

10. More large and mighty than an Aurochs - itcould break down simple walls

11. Alike the tales of the Olyphant claim; that itmay batter houses

12. Like a Wyrm of tales, or mayhap a Whaleof the See. A mighty thing that may push down the tallest trees and fear none

The Hunting Meeting Adolphe Monticelli

5 - A Wonderous Aspect the beast hath; (d20)

1. Heat, that it gives out a great warmth that parchesthe green and bakes the earth and makes a shimmer in the air so that the birdsdrop dead and an egg may be cooked in its track, it may also breathe the fireof the sun some say.

2. Winds. It be cradled and woven with winds thatmay blast hunters hither and yon and may even carry it forth in the air.

3. Gold. All those wounded by it corrupt not intofoulness but transmute slowly into purest gold, spreading like infection fromits wound till they die thereof. It may be that its blood be hot gold, or itsbones, or that it breathe gold or its fewmets be so.

4. Sweetness. The beast hath about it an Amoroussweetness which do cause those nearby to look kindly and sweetly upon oneanother and the beast too so that a man may be being eaten by the beast and cryout; hurt it not, the poore thing.

5. Fecundity. A great growth of green thingswherever the beast passes, as much as if the land were left untilled andunmanaged for five or ten years or more.

6. Fertilisation. It be that where the beast is orhas been, if ye be tupped ye shall seed and if ye tupp another they shall bewith child, this being so for all animals even man, and the children be many.

7. Priapism and Satyrification. All males aroundthe beast find themselves in a great heat for what they desire and ever-readyto make their amore with whatever they may see be it alike unto their love ornot. This being so for all animals and they becoming most dangerous as aresult.

8. Mnemophagy. This beast do devour all memory ofit, though how it do this, by bite or sight, or be scent or touch, or byinfection or whatever, none can recall. Likewise whatever be said of this beastbe hearsay only, aye even this.

9. Loss, Listlessness and Dwelling upon Old Things.Those who hunt the beast are become a melancholic sort, as if the very thoughtof it do lead the mind down old and winding paths such that men take to drinkand poetry and hunt it not.

10. Phoenixaliac Rekindling After Death. If thebeast be killed it shall live again another way. How this be done and howstopped none have yet devised/

11. The Engendering of Mazes. Some by growth,others by a changing of the world.

12. It Doth Blind Those Who Look Upon It. As it beits form be but a rumour from seeing it in mirrors.

13. Shamed-to-Mar. All those who pierce, slice,put blows upon or otherwise marr the beast are consumed inwardly by great shameas if they had done a holy wrong and must be kept from blade, rope and poisonfor a good while.

14. That It May Dwell in Reflections. It do seemvery small in a mirror, glass or still water, yet may leap from one to anotherand come again in its true size and largeness.

15. That It May Change Its Size.

16. That Its Blood Become Clever Snakes. Red andpoisonous and at times capable of speech, these issue forth and run up trousersand into joints where they bite venomously and lethally. If a snake may betaken and kept it may give secrets.

17. That Its Roar Makes Panic, Causes Walls to Shatterand Streams to Surge and Doth Awaken Dark Spirits.

18. That It May Not Be Harmed By Weapon Made Of MortalHand. Yet how this be accounted, that it be a thing forged, or simplyassembled by hand, if a sword will strike, an arrow pierce or even a thrownrock hit home I cannot say.

19. That It Maketh a Music or Cry Which Do ExchangeThe Selves Of Those Thereabout As If T’were The Shuffling of Cards. If thebeast do make its sound aye one shall become another as if the spright werehoisted from one wight and placed in another as a card may change hands andthis hath done great confusion for many are not them-selves.

20. That It Be A Phylactery. It be said the beasthave within it the souls of any whom it has slain or who have fallen by itshand and should it die they shall be free’d. Yet whether they will attain theirold wights or where they shall go, who can say?

The meeting of Khusrau and Shirīn on the hunting field.
Gouache painting by a Persian artist, Qajar period

6 - the prey of the beast; (d20)

1. Man. The beast taketh any man or woman whereverand however it may and makes little division or distinction between them bethey man, woman, young, old, sic or hale or of this land or that.

2. The Beasts of the Field. It doth eat the cows,sheep, hoggs and Goats and any other beast that the hand of man places in somepasture or closed acre so that the country go bare and the fields overgrown,but of wild beasts it eats not.

3. Bridges. Not only these but perhaps doors,gates, crossing place poles that carry signs it doth gulp and swallow all as ift’were good cheese so that no river may be crossed, door barred and no man knowwhich way go which.

4. Those Sleeping. Both beast and man so that allliving fair and foul in the land fear greatly to sleep, or if they can sleep inshifts and all are tired most times and muchly. Sleep not lest the beast takethee!

5. Princes. Tis well these are few andwell-guarded and rich withal that they may pay hunters to protect them. Yet acrown to travel faster than a ray of light and should one prince fall the crowndo go rightways to another and the beast smells them out rightwise.

6. Children. Oh woe!

7. It Doth Eat of the Greene. As to a locust orplague of voals, the crops are devoured and even the leaves of the trees!

8. It Snuffleth in the Earth. What it seekes therewho doth know, yet it tear up the land in great trenches and pitts and leaves asoily ruine wherever it will.

9. Treasures of Silver and Gold. Such riches belike sweetmeats to the beast and it may smell them out readily enough. It hatheeaten half the gold hearabouts and we must go now on credit. No coin or ring issafe but it will not eat flesh.

10. Yron. And mayhap steel, so that horses go unshoed andnothing of great devise may be made or sustained in this land but that thebeast will smell it out and devour it.

11. Chickens.

12. Clothes and Eyes. Tis very sad to see theblind and naked people hearabouts. Some say it better that the beast do sukkthey yghen outte, others prefer that the orb be pierced and drawn like anolive.

13. Fingers. And it will not discern between buttake all and in great bites and then be gone and ye left with bloody mitts asye may see from some here.

14. Virgins. I be in no danger but in gods nameget ye tupped or get ye gonne.

15. Prey of the Hunt. The great of the land beoffended for not fox nor deer nor bear or even badger can be quested for butthat the beast interrupt and take the prey, even a small man may not take apigeon by arrow lest the beast be upon them.

16. Honey. Aye and good luck to it and it may keepthe hives. But there shall be no honey this year and none left in jars eitherand I take it sore.

17. Those Who Looke Not Behind Them. For this yousee all hereabouts are everglancing and head turning and leaping and twistinghither and yon for if the beast sees you looking towards your own hind to seeit then it shall fear to be seen but if not it shall come at thee.

18. It Drinketh the Streme. And gulpeth all downday upon day, now in one place, now another, as if it were the very see, andthe land by made parched therewith and there be nothing to drink at all.

19. It Taketh Voices and Wind. ……… tisstill ………

20. Wives. And not all are pleased by it (thoughsome are), and do dress their wives in great suits of yron and spikes that thebeast may not get upon them and this do please some men who say t’should’vebeen done afore times yet others divorce & live free & the men be woe.

The Old Hunter
by Ferdinand de Braekeleer

7 - manner and habit of the beast; (d20)

1. Fuming and Bellicose, it doth roar and go withgreat bobbaunce and make much of itself as if it’were to be a king of beastsaye and men too.

2. Like a Hott Ember that sits yet sparks fiercelyif poked. If ye see it show care for it may only growl and then leap forth inways unseen and with great pain.

3. It Runs like Water always to the Easiest &subtlest Path.

4. It stalks like a Tiger, leaps and carries awaywhat it desires to where it would and only then devours them.

5. Preening and Ladylike. It pleases to be admiredand preens and cleans often and is much horrored by being fouled. Likes to belooked upon but does revenge itself like a batty matron if assailed.

6. Afearing and Astounding. It pleasures in theterror it inflicts and enjoys to afear and horrible its prey, to hear themquerulous, then to scream and run and be pursued as if the fear itself weremeat to it.

7. Like Stagnant Water in a Well. It lies hiddenin some place where what is needed is kept, as with; water, firewood orsimilar, then takes what comes and lets none pass. A bridge may be its dwellingplace.

8. Its Manner be Circumspect and Little Known.

9. Subtle and Sidling, striking and assailing fromwhere it be not suspected to come. It doth take much pleasure in thisinvention.

10. Hawklike and Striking, it do seek to observewhat it desires from and great distance, giving little sense or sign of what itwould, and in a trice it advance and descend in great speed and silence, aimingat one and only one particular desire of its flesh and either it carry awaythat one or it retreat and sitt and seem to again give little auger that itever desired any such thing.

11. Wheeling and False-Craven. The creature makesa squirrel like hopping and friendliness and a craven wheedling like a beatendogg and a sopping of eyes like a sad child as if to say ay sir let me but beby thy side, but attend it not for it shall eat well.

12. Regular and Castellean. The beast doth patrolits own walls and ways like a well-fed cellarmaster, one may set ones clock byits goings.

13. Playful and Boisterous. Frustrating as asugared child the beast demands attention and runs circling round and round andround and upon tiring itself breaks down and wails, it assails in manic wise astroubled children will.

14. Slovenly and Villainous. A poor and nastycreature that slinks and covertly writhes in great suspicion and clearmalignancy yet it seems not to think it is seen, also the thing by dirty,wrenched and ill-kept.

15. Like a Snail that Knoweth Much. It make is wayslowly but beware for the beast is a player of games and wise withal and shallbe neither outwitted or surprised, instead ye shall have thy hand turned as ifby a sharper of cards for all its slowness.

16. It Goeth about as a Merchant upon highway and road.The jaunty creature travels as if expecting good welcome.

17. Like a Great Shippe, or Drifting Thyng. Ormayhap like a cloud which goeth against the wind, or an old drunk who finds hisway home though bleary, the beast doe drift and hang about and do little andthen drift away.

18. Curious and nose-arching. Like a pompousdrinker of fine wines the beast do sniff here and there and investigate muchand poke about where it will yet if seen it shall seem to give over that itseek not and that whatever it hath found be not what it sought or it do be sobut not of right quality.

19. It Quest Like a Dogge. Very much do it scentand follow seeking and biting at what it wants.

20. It Cometh and Goeth at Strange Hours Alike Unto aMan Confused. No sooner be it in one place but that it look about it andseem to go on as if it came wrongly, at other times it butts in where nothingit desires may be but yet it shall be present and full of wonders till thesense strike and it wander off or seem woeful and leave.

Paulus Potter. The Bull, 1647

8 - the lair of the beast if it have such; (d20)

1. It Lay Down Where it Will. Who can say wherethe beast be, not I.

2. It Hide in a Nest in a Tall Tree

3. It Seek out Tombs.

4. In the Roof of an House

5. Beneath Something Larger than Itself, often abridge, perhaps a hill

6. In a great Nutt

7. Behind a Clokk

8. It hideth in a myst which emits from a toadthat lives in a tree that grows upon a skul, tho the nature of the skul be of no consequencein this telling and only a matter of chance and I say to thee any skul will doand busy thyself not with this petty aspect but be about your work.

9. It liveth within a Goat and which Goat or wherebe not known except that it hunger for lime for the Beast within do afflict itshumours.

10. It liveth in a place that cannot be foundexcept that of those that pursue it each shall dream of the beast and dream onething true so that if several do seek and do remember and compare their dreamsthe parts of which that are true will be combined to indicate the place yet forthat day or night only.

11. It rest where waters fall.

12. It rest not and cease not but be ever-amovesuch that if it cease it may die.

13. It seeks old castles or ruins of likekind.

14. It be a shape-changing beast and sleeps as a manin a bed, and the man knoweth not that he be the beast.

15. It rest as a sweet Air that drift from asilver harp that be seen only in the reflection of a starlit pool and when day dobreak the harp fade and with it each note do pass away and as each sound dothfall to earth for each one the Beast be painted in the daylight air as with thestroke of a brush till it be real and fierce once more yet if a man do learnits tune and if it be moonlight and have they a silver harp they may cause thebeast to sleep invisible for as long as they do play and play well.

16. It sleep quiet in a cavern of soil beneath thehouse of an Old Maid and she will have none of thee or thy ways and shall allowthee not but turn the country against they for devilling with her floorboardsyet how else shall the Beast be attained I ask thee woman?

17. It rest beneath a great pyre of hott embersand ye may find these by their scent and smoke.

18. In the Cowshed.

19. In three separate parts, one beneath earth,one above and one in neither of those and they may be hunted separate orcombined but if ye strike one ye must strike all at the same moment or ye belost.

20. It build for itself a False House of twigs andthe woods leavings, and why it do this none know for the house be hollow withinand like a nest yet without it do look very like an house.