The Lady of Blackwater Lake

"In the murky, dark waters of Blackwater Lake, an undead nightmare lurks, waiting to steal everything you hold dear. Do not swim in the Lake after dark, traveller, or you may just find yourself a victim of the murderous Grey Lady of Blackwater."

---

The Barony of Blackwater, to the east of the City of Malvarron, has been an area steeped in myth and superstition for centuries, maybe even millennia.
The most famous tale from this locality, though, is the story of the Grey Lady. A creature of undeath said to haunt the area surrounding the famous lake. Over the years there have been several 'sightings' from people from all walks of life.

"It was during the long drought. Earlier in the evening I'd been down to swim in the waters, to cool off after a long day before retiring to bed. I awoke in the middle of the night to a truly vile stench, like nothing I'd ever smelt before.
My eyes snapped open. Standing over me was this... creature, this thing!
It had yellow eyes that seemed to glow in the darkness and pale grey skin which looked to be melting in the moonlight. It was wearing a tattered grey dress which was dripping with lake water.
It stared at me for a moment, unmoving, before smiling at me with cracked, razor-sharp teeth. That's when I screamed aloud and whatever it was fled out of the open window. I have not seen it since, thank the gods."

Marella Blackwater, eldest daughter of the 18^th Baron of Blackwater, 1325 A.E.

---

The Tale

According to some versions of the legend, the Grey Lady, also known as the Lady of Blackwater Lake, was once a young servant girl who had an affair with the 1^st Baron of Blackwater.
The affair continued for several months until the Baron became engaged to a noble woman, and cast the girl out of Blackwater Manor as a result, forbidding her to return.
The girl, so in love, yet faced with rejection, lingered around the manor grounds for many years, hiding amongst the trees until it became clear the Baron was happily bonded.
This is where certain versions of the tale differ.
Some say she crept into Blackwater Manor, under the cover of darkness, murdering the Baroness before donning the Baroness' ceremonial Bonding Gown.
She then appeared before the Baron, in this blood-soaked gown, declaring that she had freed him from a loveless marriage and asking him to take back his one true love. The Baron was visibly distraught at the news the girl had murdered the Baroness, which the girl had not expected, as she thought he would welcome her back with open arms. With this not the case, she slew the Baron in a jealous rage leaving only the Baron's young son alive. She then dragged the Baron's corpse down to the water's edge and drowned herself whilst clutching the body of her former lover.
Other versions of the story say that she drowned herself in the lake because she was pregnant with the Baron's child, and having been cast out from her old life, she didn't know what to do.
In both versions, the girl's soul could not rest. Scorned, lovesick and stuck in an eternity of unhappiness, she will follow you home in an attempt to find love. If rejected, she will kill both you and your partner before stealing your cherished and most happy family memories for herself.

---

Alternative Explanations

"I saw 'er with me own eyes, I did. Here I was fishing for herring, when she emerged from the lake all wet like. Well she dragged 'erself up onto that island there, before disappearing into the trees.
It was definitely 'er cause she was wearing a tattered bonding dress. She looked right at me and beckoned to me. I was gobsmacked, but as soon as I blinked and she was gone."

Marlon Drak, a Malvarri fisherman

---

Socelia Blackwater

---

Many spirits and creatures of undeath have been reported around Blackwater Manor over the years. One of the accounts bears resemblance to the tale of the Grey lady, which has some servant staff at the manor believing that the sightings around the lake are actually the ghost of Socelia Blackwater.
Socelia Blackwater was bonded to Fredrik, the youngest son of the 5th Baron of Blackwater, in a lavish ceremony at the Duke's Palace in 398 A.E. However, Socelia's jubilation did not last long, as Fredrik tragically died that very same night after falling out of a window in a state of intoxication.
Socelia at the time was already pregnant with Fredrik's child but tragedy struck again 9 months later when their daughter, Orelia, was stillborn.
Riddled with grief, Socelia drowned herself in Blackwater Lake, wearing her ceremonial gown. Now she is said to wander aimlessly around the manor and its grounds, as her final request to be buried with her Orelia and Fredrik was not met.
Socelia continues to be tormented to this day and simply cannot rest.

---

The Balrak

---

Tales which have been passed down from the ancients, refer to a semi-aquatic creature known as the 'Balrak.' Known to live in freshwater, the spindly humanoid emerges after darkness falls in order to hunt it's prey.
The creature is said to be around 6 ft tall (when stood upright) and has pallid, grey flesh, sharp fangs and long yellowing fingernails. Though a capable bipod, it often crawls on all fours along shoreline before returning to the depths of the lake before sunrise.
Could this creature be the reason for the sightings of the Grey Lady?
The Balrak, if it does exist at all, is said to be an elusive creature, which could explain why the Bridgeport Guild of Scholars does not recognise or pay heed to the species.

---

Carlo and Farro Halder

---

In 1254 AE, two young pranksters were admonished by the local clergy for donning bed sheets and pretending to be the 'Grey Lady.'
The pair, who had been spooking locals for several weeks, were found after a local farmer attempted to attack young Farro with a pitchfork.
Neither of the twins were injured during this incident, but they wouldn't be the first people to impersonate the creature.

---

Whatever your beliefs, I think we can all agree that it's best to stay out of the waters of Blackwater Lake after nightfall...

---