October 26 - Back Room

In the Backrooms, endless hallways, yellow wall paint,
Buzzing fixtures, dampened carpets, distant whispers.
Round the corner, through the doorway, goodbye windows,
Empty office, distant footsteps, something watching.

I'll wait in this place, where the sun never shines,
Wait in this place, where the shadows run from themselves.

As I walked on, found a passage, hope returning,
Through the doorway, there's my bedroom, warm and waiting.
Fell exhausted, slept for hours, woke to buzzing.
Yellow wall paint, neon flicker, distant whispers.

I live in this place, where my memories unwind,
Live in this place, built from pieces of my mind.

I said my favorite music is "Scream", not ... whatever this is!
Although I must admit, the acoustics in here are to die for!

Mwahahahahahaa! *snort*

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Tales from the Other Other Side of the Sty:

October 25 - Godhammer

The trouble with legendary weapons is that after they are used in a glorious battle or two - it's off to the royal mantle, where they spend the next thousand years gathering dust.

The mighty Godhammer shattered the gates of Charex, crushed the dread armies of the Nine-headed Warlord, destroyed the Orb of Nazul and freed the kingdom from an eternal winter.

Then came the centuries of peace. Kings died, kingdoms fell.  History became legend, legend became myth, and the ancient weapon passed out of all knowledge.

But for twenty glorious years, it knew true happiness. Night after night, the thunderous applause, the beautiful explosions of flying pulp, and the laughter of thousands. No wars, no kingdoms, no great destinies. Just a man, a hammer, and an endless supply of watermelons.

The man is gone now, and the hammer rests once more. But of all the names bestowed upon it by gods and kings, it treasures most the one given by a man who simply wanted people to laugh.

Sledge of Mathok.

Alas, dear fiends, our mighty hammer has returned to retirement.
I suppose you could say he's feeling a little ... melon-choly!

Mwahahahahahaa! *snort*

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Tales from the Other Other Side of the Sty:

October 24 - Nozzlebeast

Usually by the third night of a balloon convention, nozzlebugs have formed.

These invasive little creatures thrive in the warm, humid conditions of a crowded jam room, where poor sanitation and hygiene provide an almost limitless supply of raw material.

Their digestive systems can't distinguish between synthetic and organic, and their bites can be quite painful.  Fingers are particularly vulnerable, but the creatures are otherwise relatively harmless.

Fortunately, infestations are usually limited to the convention itself.  An occasional specimen will take refuge in a balloon bag if left unattended, but rarely survives long once separated from the nest.

Unless, of course, it's already begun transforming into a nozzlebeast.

It seems that conventions are a real infest-ment opportunity!

A clean jam room is a safe jam room!

Mwahahahahahaa! *snort*

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Tales from the Other Other Side of the Sty:

October 23 - The NeverEnding Toy Story

They look like such small, flimsy, weak hands, don't they?

I never thought that's what they were.

Oh, my little friends...

The little potato-headed man with his wife, the dinosaur, even the stupid pig.

I tried to keep them close, as if somehow the physical connection would ... 

I couldn't hold onto them. the No Thing pulled them right out of my hands.

I failed.

Listen, the No Thing will be here any minute. I will just sit here and let it take me too.

They look like such small ... flimsy ... weak hands ...

🎵 You've got a fiend in me! 🎵

Ah, childhood! Such a magical time ... while you remember it!

Mwahahahahahaa! *snort*

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Tales from the Other Other Side of the Sty:

October 22 - Origin Story

He was buzzing when he left Hero Academy.

For the first time, he thought maybe his parents had been right. Maybe this really was where he belonged. He couldn't wait to get home and tell them.

"Hey, Bug Boy!" someone shouted. "Who let the cockroach into Hero Academy?"

The laughter hit harder than it should have.

By the time he got home, the buzzing had stopped.

He decided his parents didn't need to know about his day.

Sometimes you don't get the hero you need, you get the villain you deserve!

I believe his new friends are about to become a rather captive audience!

Mwahahahahahaa! *snort*

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Tales from the Other Other Side of the Sty:

October 21 - Mourning Rook

Have you ever woken up feeling really sad?  If so, you might have a Mourning Rook.

A Mourning Rook affects your dreams, but not with nightmares, they are sadder .. crueler.  A loved one tells you they never cared. Your friends turn away. You are forgotten.

Even when you wake, the sadness lingers.  It nests.  And once it has settled into the corners of your mind, it only has to wait. 

Because everyone, eventually, dreams of loss.

It looks like another of our Dark Menagerie has come to roost! 

I hope if tonight's fowl little tale gives you bad dreams, they're nightmares!  

Mwahahahahahaa! *snort*

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Tales from the Other Other Side of the Sty:

October 20 - Monster Mash

Every year I swear I'm done, but somehow we're hosting the Monster Bash again.

And of course, I'm in charge of the Monster Mash.

Where vampires can't stand garlic, werewolves want everything practically raw, mummies won't eat anything messy since the BBQ night fiasco.  Zombies don't want to chew, and witches ...

... someone had better keep those witches out of my kitchen this year.  Not everything needs more eye-of-newt, Dolores!

And after all that, do any of them bother to help with the dishes?

Still, it does end up being quite the graveyard smash.

Ahh, the Monster Mash - a dinner party you can really put your heart and soul into.  Make sure to serve mine up ... medium-scare!

Mwahahahahahaa! *snort*

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Tales from the Other Other Side of the Sty: