Many decades ago, there lived a man, cursed by his inheritance of immortality through a ritual artifact. Bound to suffer an agonizing and unending existence. For many years he traveled the world, blending into the societies of average mortals until his presence could no longer be ignored. When discovered, he was oft expelled as a demon, monster, heretic, abomination… a freak.
He had hardened his heart to the ways of humanity and sought comfort in the arcane secrets of this world. A harbinger of dark magics, he loved no mortal as no mortal had loved him.
Until he met her. In a hidden speakeasy during the roaring 20’s. A petite bounty of a woman. Known as “the most jigginest ragtime flapper around”, the woman, all smiles and hips and rhythm, took him by the hand one night and stirred longdead sensations in his heart.
They traveled the jazz circuits all throughout the United States, growing fonder, stronger, closer together.
Alas, in 1935 they settled in a lakefront cottage in a small township. Though the man was immortal and could weather any hardship, his then wife was not and fell ill in 1952. It was then that the denizens of the township took it upon themselves to get rid of the strange couple. And so they took to burning the cottage while the man was away procuring medicine. Upon his return the man was greeted by the mob holding torches and the corpse of his bride.
That day, the truest monster Lake Xenopus had ever seen was birthed. Not from the culling of the cruel and intolerant mob on sacred grounds, not from the death of an ill woman with so much to live for… but from the immortal’s desperate and unholy attempts to bring her back. Every year he’d use his family heirloom, that vile and wicked artifact to draw blood in the hopes of bringing flesh and form to his beloved once more. But every year, he failed. No vessel could bear the weight of her soul. And with each renewed attempt at another life, he was revisited and reminded of her… but in a twisted and impure false version.
And so…
Every year, he tries again…
Bringing new flesh, new mind, and new blood to the powerful ley lines of the lake…
Hoping one day, he will recover the perfect form of love, ever present, but seeming as Tantalus, always out of reach.