first entry ⊗ mutton man (backdated)

[flamekthunder]

Sender: Eustace (and Nier)
To: Everyone
Subject: Regarding the Mutton Man from the Dream Board


Attention everyone,

If you've looked through the recent Dream Board, you may have seen a quest regarding an entity referring to itself as the "Mutton Man" and is involved with slaughtering sheep and harming others. Nier and I have encountered a similar figure in the recent dreamscape during Halloween, the one the tapirs are calling a "dreamshift." It appeared around the witch's hut and we weren't able to determine if it was related to what happened that night or not. It was a formidable adversary, capable of inhuman speed, strength, and defense. We were able to destroy it, but the similarities are concerning.

Regardless if it was brought in from the dreamscape or something separate, take extreme caution when engaging with it.

[The handwriting quickly shifts from the straightforward, neat handwriting to WHAT'S NIER'S HANDWRITING LIKE LMAO]

The "Mutton Man" wasn't messing around and he's dangerous! Please be careful if you see him. I don't want anyone to get hurt. Eustace is right when he says the Mutton Man's really strong. Somehow we managed to fend him off, but I don't think it's over. The Mutton Man said so himself!!

[It can't be seen, but Eustace is side-eying Nier who just rudely barged in.]

As Nier said, its final words along with its disturbing rhyme were "This isn't over" and "Everything has an ending." Whether it's the ravings of an insane creature or a warning has yet to be determined. Given what Soldier: 76 stated in his recent entry regarding the Erasers and the Story Eater, however, I am beginning to wonder if they might be related. When it was destroyed, it turned into paper and black ink. If you fight and manage to damage the one here, take note of what kind of injuries it sustains.

[Nier pauses for a moment because he's going to say something that sounds absolutely ridiculous.]

The Mutton Man left behind something after we destroyed it! You might not believe me, but it was a moon cake! Please don't ask me why it was a moon cake. I'm just saying what I saw. [Here have a brilliant illustration by Nier:]



[And then there's another beautiful illustration that appears soon after (also by Nier).]



...That was supposed to be Nier's attempt at the Mutton Man, but it looked more like this: [Have Eustace's attempt.]



[And that's how the message ends because at this point Eustace is probably criticizing Nier as they argue how the Mutton Man looked like.]

[ooc: Do you know the Mutton Man—anyway, joint post with Eustace and Nier! Nier's writing is in blue, and yes we doodled those crying. Eustace is default font and Nier is the blue. Both are available for responses! As indicated, this post is backdated a couple of days to be earlier in the week.]

Comments

[perfectenn]

[ At least he doesn’t have to ask if they tried to taste it. Ew. ]

Do you know what the crust was made of? They are usually made with flour, rice, or gelatin.

[flamekthunder]

[Only a crazy person would ugh...]

I didn't pay too much particular attention...if anything it was hard to tell given all the other "ingredients." However, it was thick and crumbled easily, so I would assume flour.

[perfectenn]

The mutton is presumably coming from the creature's kills. The ink may come from itself. But if the cakes are made with flour, where are they being baked?

[ Tenn here asking the disturbing questions. ]

[flamekthunder]

If it didn't create it on its own using magic... Then it might have had a base of sorts.

Granted it's difficult to pen down now since that was all in that dreamscape. However, if the creature that's now terrorizing the butchers in town is the same or related to it, then finding traces of it could help.

[perfectenn]

If it can create things with magic, that's also very concerning.

There's another reason I asked about the flour. There's a children's rhyme where I'm from called 'Do you know the Muffin Man.' There's nothing sinister about the song, but it was originally about a man who delivered baked goods.

[flamekthunder]

A rhyme?

Come to think of it, it was "singing" some kind of rhyme before it attacked us and then again before it was destroyed. What was the one from your world?

[perfectenn]

[ Interesting. Tenn sings the song to himself, carefully making note of the exact wording used in the English version. He writes it out: ]

‘Do you know the muffin man?
The muffin man, the muffin man.
Do you know the muffin man
who lives on Drury Lane?’

It's a game. You sing it back and forth until all players know the muffin man. I don't know the significance of Drury Lane, though.

[flamekthunder]

[....Hmmmm.]

If I remember correctly, this is what we heard:

Do you know the mutton man
The mutton man, the mutton man

Do you know the mutton man
Who lives on murder lane

[He emphasizes the part where it differs.]

On the second reprise upon its death, it repeated the rhyme and then said that it wasn't over and that everything has an ending. I thought of it as nonsense at the time, but now I wonder.

[perfectenn]

Murder Lane. How creative.

The game ends once everyone has sung the verses. I don't particularly want to put that to the test in this case. But the correct response would probably be:

‘Yes, I know the mutton man,
The mutton man, the mutton man,
Yes, I know the mutton man,
Who lives on Murder Lane.’

[flamekthunder]

I doubt saying the verse would change anything, either. But it is interesting to hear that this "mutton man" figure was likely based off the "muffin man" of this rhyme. It gives credence that this really is an Eraser given their storybook relationship.

[perfectenn]

[ There's a pause between messages while Tenn considers. He had suspected it, and now that someone who fought the monster is in agreement, he has another idea. ]

I am in the process of recreating a potion found in the witch's hut. It seems to be very effective against Erasers.

If we are able to brew it, I would like someone to try it against the mutton man.

[flamekthunder]

I remember seeing your entry about the potion... That would be an interesting test.

Have you had a chance to try making it yet?

[perfectenn]

They were still setting up when I arrived. I’ve passed on my notes, but we need to collect some herbs that grow in the forests outside of town.

Given what I’ve learned here, I’ll advise them to go out in groups. It doesn’t sound like anyone should be wandering the woods alone right now.

[flamekthunder]

It's wise advice given the current situation.

Since I'll be out, if you wish to share the list I can keep an eye out and gather what I can.

[perfectenn]

[ There’s a wait between messages as Tenn pulls out, organizes, and copies the list. Eustace receives the herbs by most commonly used names, some with instructions of what part of the plant they are interested in particularly. ]

Since they’ve only just opened and the weather is already cooling, this will be much appreciated, thank you.

[flamekthunder]

[There's a bit of pause on his end as he looks over the list, already mentally matching where he might have seen some and where he might look to find the others.]

Not a problem. I'm more relieved I recognize the name of these herbs. I presume they look the same as well?

[perfectenn]

Well, I hardly know what they looked like on your world. But I've found things mostly recognizable here. There are some I've had to ask the native residents about.

Even so, I have no way of knowing for certain that the varieties here are the exact same as they were in that dreamshift... plants do grow differently depending on their surroundings.

[flamekthunder]

As expected. But it's a starting point to work with.

I'll let you know once I've acquired a few.