Elspeth Runes

Elspeth Runes was a figure of dark whispers and shrouded mystery in the village of Wookey Hole during the early 17th century. Her life and untimely end are etched into the fabric of the village’s macabre folklore.

Early Life

Born in the late 1500s, Elspeth Runes was a quiet, enigmatic presence within Wookey Hole. The very air around her seemed heavy with secrets. She was known for carving cryptic symbols into stones and placing them in villagers' doorways—a gesture that blurred the line between blessing and curse.

Accusations of Witchcraft

Elspeth’s ominous reputation reached a fever pitch in 1610. As disease swept through the village and crops withered, fear morphed into wild accusations. Her silent demeanor and strange carvings made her the perfect scapegoat. Bartholomew Butterfingers, the hapless witch finder, seized upon these fears to accuse her of sorcery.

The Trial and Sentence

Elspeth’s trial was a grotesque spectacle. Brought before the villagers, her fate was sealed not by evidence, but by their terror and superstition. Bartholomew, eager to prove his worth, subjected Elspeth to the dreaded dunking test. Bound and thrown into the icy river, she floated like some eldritch revenant, her fate thus sealed in the villagers' minds.

Declared guilty of witchcraft, she was driven from the village, her eerie symbols continuing to appear long after her banishment. Some claimed her visage lingered on the river’s surface, watching with eyes that spoke of ancient knowledge and endless suffering.

Legacy

The legend of Elspeth Runes is one of unrelenting horror. On foggy nights, villagers report seeing ghostly symbols appearing on rocks and hearing her voice in the wind, a mournful whisper of curses left unspoken. Her story, remains a chilling testament to the fear and hysteria that once gripped Wookey Hole.