Folklore and Stories of the Valgard Highlands

Found below are some of the superstitions and folk stories that some denizens of the Valgard Highlands believe in. Where many simply see these as Old Wives' Tales, there are still some that believe wholeheartedly in the tales.

Superstitions

• The left foot is considered unlucky, so when entering a building, always lead with your right!
• If you drop a table knife, it means a visitor is coming who is male. If you drop a fork, instead it will be a female visitor.
• When proposing a toast, it should always be done with an alcoholic beverage. If you toast with water or anything else, it is considered bad luck.
• If you have hiccups, it is a sign someone is talking about you.
  

Knockers

Knockers are spirits found within mines, that often steal or move tools, cause cave-ins and cause general misfortune to the miners. To identify if their is a Knocker within the mine, knock on the walls and listen. If you hear a faint knocking in reply, that is a sure sign of a Knocker.

The Lambton Worm

Legend tells of a great beast that terrorised the countryside around Lambton. Akin to a giant snake or worm, the beast consumed cattle and people alike. Many men and Knights tried to slay the beast, but were crushed as it wrapped around them. The youngest son of the Lambton nobility, the House of Harcourt, commisioned a special suit of spiked armour. Donning this custom-made plate, he set out to face the Worm. As the battle went on, the Worm wrapped itself around the young Noble, and getting stabbed a thousand times over by the spikes, was weakened. With one final strike, the young lad cut off the Worms head. Where the Worm fell, a great hill is said to have formed, and is still referred to as "Lambton Hill" to this day.

Wendingos

A legend from before the Kingdom of Arden, a Wendingo is a large, feral humanoid, covered in patches of thick fur. With gagnly yet powerful limbs, large claws and viscous teeth, a Wendingo will hunt people found within the forest mountains of the Valgard Highlands. It is said that Wendingos were once travellers who got lost in the mountains, and resorted to canabalism to survive. Going mad over weeks of wandering, they slowly transformed in to the bestial visage of a Wendingo and are cursed forever.

The Legend of Marhill Manor

This Manor House was once home to nobility, but is now abandoned. The tale says that long ago a tragedy befell the homestead. A new bride was playing a game of hide and seek with the child guests of her wedding, which was being held at the Manor. Seeking a place to hide, she found a chest in the attic. Unfortunately, after climbing inside, the chest locked and she could not escape. It was not until years later her corpse was discovered, still wearing her wedding dress. Through the years, ghostly sitings and goings-on have plagued the manor, until it was finally abandoned. It is still there today, and those that dare approach it often tell of the wailing screams for help and the haunting sites of a woman in a wedding dress.