The Hollow Piper

Origins / Myth:

There are some towns in coastal New England who whisper of a colonial piper who led children into the salt marsh during a forgotten famine, promising food. None of them ever returned. Each autumn, when the fog rolls inland, villagers claim to hear the flute’s hollow notes drifting through the cattails.

Field Report:

These local legends haven’t been founded officially by the Organization, there are some things reported by vetted A.P.I.S Agents that have been in the area during the season of Autumn, which is when most of the reported findings and occurrences are reported for the unknown codenamed :“The Hollow Piper” for now. Below will act as the Official A.P.I.S Field Report approved for agent acknowledgement on this entity, though knowledge is limited.

REMINDER - IF this entity is encountered, due to such little actual encounter data is available, contact your local A.P.I.S constable asap to coordinate additional units to converge on your locale.

Entity / Creature Classification:

Classification: Folk Horror Entity - UNVERIFIED
Appearance: A gaunt figure draped in sodden, seaweed-streaked garments, wearing a mask carved from driftwood. Its limbs are jointed wrong, bending like broken reeds. A bone flute hangs from its neck, slick with brine.

Known Regions: Coastal New England marshlands

Signs of Presence / On-Site Indicators

Sudden fog banks inland.
Salt crust on windows far from shore.
Faint flute tones at dusk.

Preventative Measures:

Sound Barriers
- Iron Bells: Hanging iron bells around homes or camps disrupts the Piper’s flute magic. Iron is traditionally believed to repel malevolent spirits.
- Counter-Melody Ritual: A practiced tune played on a wooden whistle during foggy nights can break the Piper’s hypnotic call.

Salt
- Salt Lines: Sprinkle salt across thresholds and windows. The Piper’s essence is tied to brine, but paradoxically, pure salt repels it.

Community Practices
- Fog Watch: Never travel alone during autumn fogs. Form “fog patrols” with lanterns and bells.
- Storytelling Vigil: Reciting the Piper’s tale aloud during the Fall season is said to weaken its influence—acknowledging the myth keeps it from growing stronger in silence.

Objects
- Bone-Flute Bane: If the Piper’s flute is shattered, its power wanes. Some carry heavy stones or hammers for this purpose.
  - Breaking the flute may sever its hold, but the Piper guards it fiercely so this info is to be taken with a grain of salt. Some say the flute is carved from the bones of its first victims.
- Lanterns: Lanterns to cut through the fog, but even better if blessed at a local chapel.

Strategies and Weaknesses:

Control the Environment - Stay Out of Fog:
- The Piper thrives in low visibility. If you must go into the fog, use fans or high powered light to disperse it.

Disrupt Its Core Ability - Target the Flute:
- The Piper’s hypnotic lure depends on its bone flute.. Targeting and taking or destroying the flute will se ranged attacks or disarm maneuvers to break or steal the flute.

“Counter” the Charm - Ear Protection:
- Wax plugs or headphones negate the Piper’s charm effect.

Tactical Positioning - Avoid Marsh Terrain:
- Difficult terrain slows movement—Use your brain when you encounter him, be smart and use the environment to your advantage, or at the very least, avoid having it used against you as a disadvantage.

Known Behaviors / Abilities:

Hypnotic Melody:
- Emits flute tones that mimic voices of loved ones. Victims experience strong compulsion to approach the sound, often ignoring environmental hazards.

Localized Fog Banks:
- Dense fog appears suddenly, reducing visibility and muffling sound. Often precedes or accompanies sightings.

Marsh Adaptation:
- Moves effortlessly through wetlands and tidal zones. Tracks are inconsistent—often vanish near waterlogged areas.

Vitality Drain:
- Physical contact results in rapid fatigue, pallor, and brittle skin. Victims report feeling “hollow” or “drained.”

Auditory Mimicry:
- Can reproduce voices of deceased individuals to induce fear or lure targets deeper into marsh terrain.

Bound to tides:
- Appears strongest during the new moon and coastal storms.

Field Notes Vol. 4 - The Hollow Piper