SCP Idea: The Legend of the Voice Taker

SCP Idea: The Legend of the Voice Taker

(account deleted) 13 Oct 2020 13:57

Hey guys! Looking for critique on an SCP idea. Basically it's an anomalous myth from the fictional Eastern European nation of Numaltia (loosely inspired by real life legends like the Sandman). The figure is a monster called the Voice-Taker, who is basically a ghost or revenant similar to the boogeyman. He is dressed in tattered, has a very large mouth, and wears a beard made from flies and maggots. The Voice-Taker itself does not physically exist, the anomaly is an infohazard affecting only children: kids under twelve who are aware of the story are susceptible to permanently losing their voice - this effect is triggered by constant yelling, swearing, and disrespectful behaviour towards their elders

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An excerpt from a 19th century book of legends elaborates on the Voice-Taker's supposed origin: he was born with a mouth two sizes too big (some versions claim this was maternal impression caused by his mother being a gossip), and because of this, as a baby his cries were so loud and frequent he would often keep the entire village up at night. His father visited a local alchemist for help, who provided him with a magical potion of silence which he swore would silence the boys screams till his first birthday - it turned out to be far more effective, rendering him permanently mute. In his eighteenth year, the boy tripped and fell down a well/became trapped in a ditch, and while his family searched and searched, as he could not scream for help, he was never found.

As he died without receiving a Christian burial, his spirit continues to stalk the material realm, and it is said that the Voice-Taker's experiences have given him a strong appreciation for the value of speech, and an even stronger disdain for children who are unwise with theirs. At night, naughty children are warned, the creature sneaks into homes, and lurches over them as they sleep. As they awaken to his pungent odor of decay, they will inevitably scream upon catching gory glimpse of his rotting face, which is where he strikes, extending his arm down the length of their throat, and stealing their voice away, which he stuffs into his sack.

Some versions of the story claim that the creature feeds the voices he steals to the baby birds (giving them their morning song), other variants say they are hidden in places their owners can never retrieve them, such as down wells and deep inside caves (it is said that the echo you hear when shouting into a cavern is in fact a child's disembodied voice, in its current state, only able to repeat that which is called out to it). Some stories say that the stolen voices are given as birthday gifts to mute children.

An addendum notes that a small number of older children affected by the anomaly have regained their voice after several years in containment, although in many instances, they spoke with a voice that was not their own. One version of the legend claims that the Voice-Taker may decide to return one of his victim's voices once nine years have passed, provided they have shown exemplary behaviour - that said, the Voice-Taker is described as somewhat careless, sometimes giving boys' voices to girls and vice versa by mistake.

Thanks for reading! Anyone got any thoughts?

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Last edited on 13 Oct 2020 14:22 by Riemann Show more

Forum Criticism Team - Junior Staff Post

OCuin 13 Oct 2020 14:01

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