The Owled Man (The Old Man)
"Taking a moons-lit stroll one night, I was humming a tune and smoking my pipe, when I came round a corner to find myself quite surprised. There were two blokes fighting, fisticuffs, and when a blade was produced a life was snuffed out of existence right there before mine eyes. The stabber stood, and stowed his steel, and turned his cowled face toward me...who stood there, still as stone, aghast at such a sight. A life snuffed out, "and for what?" thought I, desperate to make an escape. The silence loomed, and I daren't move, until the highwayman backed away. He leapt into his saddle, all of fifteen hands high, and his neighing warhorse pawed the air as it reared up toward the sky. Yet only sound of horse, and hoof, and jangling tackle spake of proof that either steed or rider stood there, nigh. The whistling wind then blew through the looming trees of Birkwüd, nearby, when the cowl of the rider fell back and a huge crack! of thunder pealed through the sky! Twas the beak of a raptor that first caught my eye, and the luminous yellow orbs of an owl sat gazing 'pon me, aghast there, 'mongst the fields so fallow..."An excerpt from "The Owled Man",by Gnobknocker Grimblhoof
A wives tale out of the west of Pax, the Owled Man is a highwayman, a murdering jack-a-nape preying upon unwary travellers and naughty children alike. He has the head of an owl, and dresses all in leather died black. He uses two swords at once, dual-wielding them with ease, and rides a massive charger called Deathnought.
Summary
An owl-headed highway robber roams the roadways under the boughs of The Impenetrable Forest of Birkwud when both moons are full. He stalks his prey silently, the only thing about him that makes any noise being his mount, a massive Cotnorian horse, a charcoal black beast with red rimmed eyes called Deathnought.
Historical Basis
There are many dangers of different sorts lurking in The Forests of Birkwud, and parents have, for generations, been telling entertaining stories with which to teach valuable, even vital, lessons to their children. This seems to be no different, at least according to the lauded experts and vioned luminaries at The Bardic College Campus in Greynor.
Spread
This particular tale is mainly held to the western areas of Pax, and some of the very rural areas of Eastern Craysilt.
Variations & Mutation
The type of owl's head that sits atop the bandit's shoulders can differ not only from region to region, but from persona to person, and even story to story.
Cultural Reception
It is considered an old wives tale, a children's story for the tall grass...right up until the moment anyone, no matter how many years they have amassed, sets foot in Birkwud at night. Then, every story seems real, and every whisper of the leaves seems malignant...
In Literature
The story is often written about within other stories, however the original tale is quite short. Old Grimblehoof the poet, however, took many a stab at chronicling the actual story, to varying degrees of critical success and almost universal ignorance.
In Art
One of the more prominently displayed pieces at The Bardic College Campus is titled The Owled Old Man, supposedly detailing the death by owl which resulted in a risen abomination. There is also a very famous song by a Clearwater band, that arose out of the Eostre revivals so prevalent in rural parts of the five countries that make up the Unified Kingdoms of Greysilt. It is called The Owled Man Down the Road.
Date of First Recording
Prill 24 5398NG
Date of Setting
5398NG
Related Ethnicities
Related Locations
The Owled Man is going to be a real challenge! Encourage the group to get some rest and gear themselves up!
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