Spielzeug Schäfer: The Toyshop

The House of Whimsy

There are many anomalies that exist in The Web. Sometimes, it's difficult to classify any of them as bad or good. However, there came an anomaly that surprised even the most optimistic members of The Web. It sailed under the radar for nearly a hundred years before its discovery.

In what is now a ghost town, located somewhere in Northern Germany, rests an unassuming wooden structure surrounded by the abandoned and lifeless husks of houses and shops. It stands tall and firm, as if it were new. The stained-glass windows are bright and vibrant, lit by the glow of light within. The lights are on 24/7, having not once gone out since 1907, the year the building first appeared. The light is far too bright to be a candle or any source of flame, yet there are no signs of electrical power to be found in this unnamed ghost town.

The light paints the surrounding area in hues of red, yellow, and orange, illuminating the sign of the storefront: "Spielzeug Schäfer." According to various stories surrounding this enigmatic shop, the building appeared overnight in a vacant lot as the town was slowly growing. The town was experiencing growing pains, everything from insufficient resources to strange disappearances and horrific scenes of murder led to most giving the town a wide berth.

The Facts?

In truth, this town chose to settle in an area still wild and untamed by mankind. Dark roots run deep here. Stories from the town have been distilled, diluted into popular fairy tales. Monsters of all kinds made their homes here, threatened by the creeping influence of humanity. Every now and again, when night fell they would descend on the small town. Then one day this structure appeared.

A toy shop named Spielzeug Schäfer, toy shepherd. No one could view the shops wares due the fact that there was no door to enter. Parents began receiving packages in ornate, wooden crates. The crates were a little more than a foot wide, long, and high, and they each had a letter addressed to the parents and their child.

Most parents refused to even accept the package, kicking it off to the side or dumping it in the woods nearby. But a few families found their curiosity was far too strong. They pried the crates open with ease, the nails not set right. The nails held the crate tight enough to hold it together but a solid blow could cause the whole crate to fall apart. Inside the crate, on a bed of dry straw, laid a stuffed animal.

---

Plush

The stuffed animals came in many shapes and sizes. Some were small enough to be held in a toddler's arms whereas others were almost the size of a toddler. The animals that they depicted were found all over the animal kingdom, but the animal depicted was always The favorite of the child addressed in the letter.

The townsfolk were in an uproar. Many of them demanding to be let inside and given an explanation. Some parents were merely curious whereas others were enraged. Rumors began circulating, some good and some bad. Some believe there was a kind and gentle old man who makes toys inside the structure, but due to the fact that he prefers his solitude or perhaps because he is disfigured, he refuses to talk to anyone. Others believe the one inside had an unsavory fascination with children, observing them, and possibly talking to them. How else should they know their favorite animal?

The truth was never revealed, and remains a mystery to this day. What can be said is these rumors and more are wrong.The children of the town became obsessed with their new dolls, at least the ones who were allowed to keep them. Different animals came with different accessories from a wooden bow and arrow to a small wooden sword. Some were dressed like knights in armor While others wore modern vestments, dressed in casual attire, formal wear, or like a soldier armed with a toy musket.

Great quality

The quality that these toys possess have also raised some questions. Many of these stuffed animals were made from the finest materials that money can buy. A teddy bear had fur that was softer than anything the child he was given to ever felt before. The soldiers uniform the teddy bear wore matched the consistency of an actual soldiers uniform.

A lion was given to another child, just as soft as the bear. The full plate armor it wore was made from Damascus steel and accented with fine silk cloth. Whoever the toy-maker was, he must have been wealthy to afford such materials. This goes doubly so when one considers these toys were given away for free.

---

The boy And His Bear

Toys were made for every child, some given on the day of their birth. After about three years it became a sign for pregnant women. The child would come soon, and would live to be healthy and strong when you received a crate on your doorstep. One such child, Derrick Schroeder, was given a plush bear dressed in plate armor. It came with a wooden sword and both the child and parents fell in love with it.

As Derrick grew older, the parents became concerned. The child became fond of Art, and his parents did what they could to provide him supplies to pursue his passion. The drawings of his family and his home quickly evolved into strange and disturbing images of monstrous creatures in his bedroom. When asked about it, the boy had little to say. He only expressed he was in no danger and that he was just experimenting with creatures he sees in his dreams. A few months later, they heard a commotion from his bedroom. Fearing the worst, primed by the strange images have been drawing, they rushed to his room. They tried the door to find it wouldn't open.

His father pushed and kicked into the door, trying to break it from its frame. His father succeeded but the door was still an obstacle. After every kick, it would fly off the door frame only to be pushed back by some force on the other side. Screams came both the parents and Derrick inside the room. There was something curious, however. Derek screamed with joy, not fear like the screams of his parents. The force holding the door shut finally released. The door fell from its hinges, landing with a loud bang on the floor.

Toy shepherds

They rushed into the room and found derrick sitting on his bed unharmed. His mother rushed forward to hold him, asking what happened only to be stopped by a strange clicking sound in the far corner of the room. The couple turned to look and saw horrifying visage staring back.

The creature was tall and slender, with black carapace skin. It's teeth and claws with long and sharp. Had eight legs like a spider impressed itself into the corner of the room as if ready to bounce. Then they noticed something small, something no one would notice unless they tried hard enough.

At first, they heard the faintest sound of metal grinding on metal. They turned to the far end of the bed, and standing there was the stuffed bear, brandishing its sword with confidence. The stoic demeanor was intended as a threat. The sword was aimed at the creature in the corner and the bears embroidered eyes narrowed. This creature was not about to attack. It was trying to run away...

Fun fact: Where have all the children gone?

The people who lived in this town became its downfall. They were paranoid and overwhelmed by fear, even after the appearence of the toyshop. Children weren't allowed to leave their homes before the toy shepherds came. Newcomers were treated as one would expect in such isolated places. The actions of the people ended up sealing the fate of the town itself. After many years, the shops closed, and with little in the way of supplies, the residents left soon after. In the present day the structure still stands, and children all over the world find crates with their names on it, and their favorite stuff guardian within.

by begemott

What is a Toy Shepherd?

In the present day, the people of The Web refer to the structure as "The Toyshop." The stuffed animals that are somehow created inside are the toy shepherds. No one knows what led to the kindness that this anomaly has shown to children around the world. During the height of both world wars, the toy shepherds began to spread their influence.

They were given to those who lost loved ones during these bloody struggles. Crates were inconceivably smuggled into Nazi prison camps. Children during the Blitz clutched their protectors firmly, and many of the children almost believe they were held in return. Many attempts have been made to study the toy shepherds, but in truth, no results have been found.

There is no Arcane quality to them for the magic did not create them. The university has held interviews with many of them. They found they cannot speak read or write, and could only answer yes or no questions. Their entire existence is dedicated to the survival of the child they are given to, and will go to any lengths to ensure their child is kept safe.

Bright in Candlelight

Those who do not possess The Candlelight should be weary if they see the toy shepherds at work. They are overflowing with Candlelight, something that The School Of Carthage has yet to determine the cause of. The Magicians of Carthage are blinded, as are those who are particularly receptive to candlelight. Those who do not possess the candlelight have a different reaction. Witnessing the toy shepherds when active can cause unparalleled mental trauma, but only in adults.

Children are somehow immune, but parents who come into contact with an active toy shepherd usually come to develop some form of mental instability from depression to bipolar disorder. The most common is paranoid personality disorder. Mental trauma coupled with the fact that their child was in danger is enough to make the parent question and suspect everything in fear for their child's life. The shepherd is immune to this suspicion. On rare occasions, it gets so bad that both parents suspect each other of wishing to harm their child.

These events are heavily monitored, as The Alexandrian University has found ways of detecting when a crate is delivered, though they are still baffled as to how these crates are delivered in the first place. They usually resort to either Psychic Surgery or the administration of Bliss to both parents to avoid these issues and allow the shepherds to work.

Fun Fact: Love on the Battlefield

It makes sense those whose lives are filled with such horror will actively seek peace in the arms of another. Many romantic ties as strong as iron have been forged among members of The Web. The members of The Web do not settle down, even if they want to do it's too dangerous. Candlelight looms over all of them.

When the toy shop was discovered in 1999, it offered a potential solution. Couples in The Web always receive a crate from the Toyshop should they conceived a child. It's not uncommon for the delivery of a crate to be the only indication they had of pregnancy. This raises even more questions without answers. No matter what, the box always contains the favorite animals a child is gifted to and always contains the name of the child.

This will stand firm even if the child is yet unnamed and still in the womb. It's strange to see the name of your child before you have even giving birth to them. Members of The Web are usually creeped out, but consider the toyshop to be friendly.

by scathsiorai