In the last few days there have been multiple reports of Hernessa sightings in the woods to the south of the Gyddynap Hills. Several paths now have warning skulls placed clearly upon them. If you see a skull in your path it is strongly recommended that you turn around and go back to wherever you came from.

Hernessa has not been seen for some years, and like most of our active, dangerous folklore, is much debated as an issue. As a longstanding commentator on island issues I am confident that this entity truly exists, unlike The Tablecloth Man and Twitching Bob for whom no actual evidence has evern been found. Whether Hernessa is a non-human entity, or some role or curse passed down from one human generation to the next is unclear.

Hernessa protects the wild places, and is most particularly involved with small furry creatures that squeak. I’ve been trying to persuade people for some years now that it would be more accurate to describe them as murder shrews, but we still seem to be using the long name. Small furry creatures that squeak are fairly harmless on their own, but at certain times amass into large hunting packs. Hernessa’s role in this is unclear, but Hernessa sightings generally tally with evidence of murder shrew hunting packs.

For the time being, stay out of the woods. Stay out of the woods more than you were doing a few weeks ago when we had sightings of The Little Drummer Boy. Really, really stay out of the woods.

I know there are rumours that it is in in fact Steven C Davis who has summoned Hernessa, and it certainly wouldn’t be out of character for him to try. I remain unconvinced that summoning terrifying elder gods is a good answer to the problems caused by the presence of other terrifying elder gods, but no one ever listens to me when it comes to matters of religion, or science, or folklore. I do sometimes wonder why I keep trying to write informative pieces that may save lives. It is the triumph of hope over experience, certainly.

(Cosplay by Helen Cordingley, story by Nimue)