Pelor tou Anadephuros
A subject of speculation and mystery often told among friends at the tavern or written of in local tabloids, the Beast of Anadephuros is an Urban Legend detailing a monstrous humanoid that is said to stalk the streets of Anadephuros at night. The story has taken many forms since people first started telling it several months ago, though some aspects of the tale are consistent. Seen as another stain on the pride of Anadephuros, the proliferation of the story has happened at roughly the same time as several other issues in the city have taken place, such as the retirement of the former Promachos of the city's Hetairoi, the Twin-Banks Strike, and the rally at Victor's Park, adding to a greater sense of unease within an already unstable city. According to city officials, the police, and the Hetairoi, there is no conclusive evidence regarding the existence of the Beast, though the recent string of murders and disappearances under mysterious circumstances may tie the legend to a real serial killer on the loose. Regardless of its existence, many within Anadephuros fear leaving their homes at night for risk of coming face to face with the beast.
Summary
The stories of the Beast all tend to start the same, with a single person walking alone through the city at night. There are some variations where groups of people come across the beast, though the group is never larger than three people. Common victims tend to be women, children, and those who have recently been laid off from their jobs. All stories from survivors generally start with a feeling of being watched starting about ten minutes before the encounter. The encounter generally happens somewhere with little to no surrounding pedestrians, such as near an abandoned foundry or in a dark alley. The victim will almost always see the beast standing before anything happens, with the beast taking a lopsided bipedal form. Different accounts have different details, but the common thread is that the beast has bulging muscles, a thick mane around its head, an arm larger than any of its other limbs, and a strained voice speaking common Makadelian begging for help. After this, the victim either escapes, is grabbed by the beast and taken away, or killed with claws and fangs.
Spread
The legend is common knowledge within the city of Anadephuros, though takes some variation depending on where the storyteller lives or works. Those around the banks district claim the beast is a sea monster who corners people on the docks while those in the industrial districts claim the monster lurks around abandoned factories and alleyways. The story has spread to those outside the city, primarily through the help of penny dreadfuls being published telling horror stories and even romances regarding the beast.
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