"Smiling Granny"

Original art by Sally Weald

If you are a child in the southern central part of the Grande Rocc, you have heard the tale of he Smiling Granny... Children from Twinrivers to Pondpost, Tallstones to Skuum or Ludova, the tale is eerily similar. For over 200 years people have been telling tales of a small, ominous, but cheerful woman who wanders the streets at night... looking for wayward children.

Summary

The stories tell of a sweet old lady, who finds and takes children late in the night if they are caught alone in the streets or fields.

Historical Basis

Due to the number of children missing in these areas, and the strange acts of aggression committed by children that return from being lost, it is highly likely that there is indeed some evil working in the area. Because these strange actions all occur within a week or so of the Hagstones... most officials and monster hunters feel it is the work of a coven of Hags... but no concrete evidence has ever been found, nor has a hag ever been caught or killed near the infamous landmark.

Variations & Mutation

In some versions of the Myth, The Smiling Granny takes children by luring them into alleys with sweets; While in other versions she snatches them off of the ground while soaring through the air in a giant skull.

Tales sometimes tell of her being accompanied by strange monsters... while yet another version of the tale states she gives children gifts, leading them to commit acts of great evil.

One common trait in these tales is that the vast majority of these stories, the children are returned, apparently unharmed within a week... but some great tragedy befalls the child or family in the following years.

Date of First Recording

50 CE

Date of Setting

35 CE through Present