Edmund Hopwood

Edmund Hopwood

They left you. They all left you. Even she left you. It was her fault of course, it's always a woman's fault. Maybe they'll come back. Then you can continue with what you came here for.

The year is eighteen seventy two, and you're on an archaeological expedition with some first timers from Oxford. One of them got sick, the land was no good for him, and they all went looking for help. Yeah, that's it. But they'll be back. Soon, so very soon. Why did they leave? They shouldn't have done that, the bastards. It's about bloody time they return.

You haven't been waiting that long. Really. Sometimes you wish death would take you away. But he never does. Nobody comes for you. Not death. Not the rest of the expedition. Nobody.

Except the boy.

He talked to you and didn't call you crazy.

So you accept the boy.

He calls himself Horacio. He says you should call him Horacio too. He calls you Edmund. Because that's your name. You don't know what the villagers call you, but you're sure it isn't as nice as being called Edmund. Horacio lives with the villagers. He himself is a villager. The son of a villager. Has been that way for years. Horacio looks familiar to you, but you aren't sure why.

The village is called Almeirim. Always Almeirim. Never Quebec.

You once lived at this village, with your friends, before they abaondoned you. The mother of your child lived there too. Her name was Maria. But it was her fault you had to leave the village. And her fault that they left you. They shouldn't have done that.

Sometimes people die here. Always in pairs. Always lovers. You watched them once. That was enough. The two of them showed up and carved shapes in the sand. And then they danced. You tried to join but were ignored. Like your friends. Then the cutting started and the bleeding ensued. The man died first and his female enjoyed every minute, every droplet of red crimson seeping into the sandy floor. Finally she ended the whole ordeal. After that you stopped watching the couples that come by here. They don't come by often. But once was enough. Never again.

Sometimes you want to stop them. To help them. To serve some purpose besides waiting. But that isn't why you're here. You're here because of her. Of course you are. She's probably dead now; she left without you, just like everyone else.

They'll come back, even if she won't. They knew this place was wrong. That's why they left you here. But they'll be back. They all come back. The archaeologists will return for you. Just don't let them see the suicides. Nobody should have to see that.

About Horacio

Horacio talks to you. He says the other children say the temple is haunted, but he knows its just you scaring them away. Horacio seems to want to leave the village. You don't know why - it's nice there. Maybe if Horacio finds true love he'd be forced to leave. Somehow this idea didn't really amuse him.

Horacio says people are coming. Not the usual villagers, but people he's never seen before. Maybe its the expedition.

Special Abilities

• Insubstantial - can't take damage in combat, initiate combat, or be attacked. Can't manipulate objects.