Questions Pertaining to Avatars #2: Werewolf Stories

 

“No man, for any considerable period, can wear one face to himself and another to the multitude, without finally getting bewildered as to which may be the true.” 

Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter, 1850.

Werewolf Story #1: 

Once upon a midnight dreary, in a village nestled deep within the woods, there lived a man named Edward. Edward was a peculiar man, for he possessed an affliction that would plague him every full moon. When the moon was at its fullest, Edward would transform into a beast, a werewolf.

The townspeople lived in fear of Edward, for they knew of his secret, and they knew of the devastation he could cause. And so, every full moon, they would lock themselves in their homes and pray that Edward would not come for them.

But one fateful night, something changed within Edward. As the moon rose high in the sky, Edward felt a burning rage that he had never felt before. His bones cracked, his muscles strained, and he let out a howl that echoed through the forest. The townspeople heard the howl and knew that this would be a night like no other. They barricaded themselves in their homes, but it was of no use. Edward, now in his werewolf form, was too powerful. He smashed through doors and windows with ease, his claws tearing through anything in his path.

As Edward prowled through the village, he felt a strange sense of satisfaction, as if he were enjoying the chaos he was causing. The villagers, huddled in fear, could hear his footsteps getting closer and closer. They prayed for a miracle, but it seemed that none would come.

Just when all hope was lost, a group of travelers arrived in the village. They were armed with silver weapons, the only thing that could kill a werewolf. They knew that they had to act fast, for Edward was getting closer with every passing moment.

The travelers fought bravely, their swords and daggers flashing in the moonlight. Edward, in his werewolf form, was fierce and relentless, but he was no match for the skill and determination of the travelers. With a final blow, Edward was defeated, and he fell to the ground, lifeless.

The villagers emerged from their homes, stunned and grateful that the nightmare was finally over. They thanked the travelers, who had saved them from certain doom. But as they looked upon the lifeless body of Edward, they couldn't help but feel a sense of sorrow. For they knew that he was not just a monster, but a man who had been cursed with a terrible affliction, one that had caused him to become a werewolf.

And so, the villagers buried Edward, hoping that he had finally found peace. But they would never forget the night when the werewolf had come to their village, and they would never forget the travelers who had saved them from the beast.

GPT3, 1st May, 2023. Berlin.

Werewolf Story #2: 

In the heart of a secluded woodland hamlet, a man named Edward resided, bearing a burden few could comprehend. This enigmatic figure, plagued by an unrelenting malady, found himself subject to a chilling transformation every night the moon bathed the earth in its luminous embrace. The affliction, none other than the curse of lycanthropy, rendered Edward a creature of the night—a werewolf.

The villagers, harboring a blend of fear and pity, cowered behind the safety of their homes as the full moon cast its ominous glow upon the land. They whispered tales of Edward's feral metamorphosis, a tale passed down through generations, entwining with the shadows that danced upon their quivering souls.

But on a night rife with foreboding, an unsettling metamorphosis occurred within Edward's tormented psyche. As the moon ascended, a consuming fury surged through his veins, shattering the fragile tranquility of his existence. His sinews contorted, bones splintered, and a plaintive howl reverberated through the desolate forest.

The villagers, paralyzed by apprehension, recognized this eve would yield a calamity of unprecedented magnitude. They barred their doors, yet knew it would be an ineffectual barrier against Edward's monstrous might. His bestial incarnation effortlessly rent doors asunder and shattered windows, his razor-sharp talons rending all in his path.

Through the village Edward prowled, consumed by an aberrant delight that seemed to revel in the mayhem he unleashed. The villagers, huddled in terror, discerned his approach by the rhythm of his predatory steps, growing ever nearer. They implored divine intervention, their prayers mingling with the scent of fear.

Werewolf Story 

Met(a)wurst, 2022

Blender 3.3, EVEE screen grabs

3D model by Artec Group inc, HDRI Poly Haven. 

 post: Affinity/Analog Efex Pro2

Just as despair threatened to engulf the village, a group of itinerant souls emerged, bearing arms adorned with gleaming silver—the sole bane of a werewolf's existence. Sensing the urgency, they knew swiftness was paramount, for Edward drew near with each passing heartbeat.

The travelers waged a valiant battle, their silver-edged weaponry glimmering beneath the moon's pale glow. Edward, resplendent in his lupine form, proved formidable and unyielding, yet the travelers' fortitude remained unbroken. In a final act of defiance, they delivered a decisive blow, felling Edward, his lifeless form collapsing upon the earth.

The villagers, emerging from their sanctuaries, stood stupefied, overwhelmed by gratitude for the salvation delivered by these unknown saviors. In solemn unison, they expressed their indebtedness, for the travelers had rescued them from the clutches of inevitable doom. However, as they gazed upon Edward's motionless body, a sense of mournful lamentation shrouded their hearts. For they recognized that beneath the fur and fangs, he had been a man—a wretched soul ensnared by a sinister curse, a prisoner of his own monstrous affliction.

And thus, the villagers laid Edward to rest, fervently hoping that in death, he would find respite from his perpetual torment. Forever etched in their collective memory was the night when the werewolf had descended upon their tranquil haven. And forever engraved were the travelers, whose intervention had bestowed them with deliverance from the monstrous apparition that had haunted their lives.

GPT3, 20th May, 2023. Berlin.