Lesson 2

[Deb Johnson]

Deb’s Terrifying Monster

What I learned: There are certain and specific rules that govern the building of a monster. When you put all of the elements together, you create a complete character that is terrifying.

1. Tell us what or who your monster is.

The monster is a haunted typewriter that types out the last words its victim will speak.

2. Give us a few sentences for each of the following for your monster:

Their Terror:

It fills people with dread by giving the victim the last words they will speak before they die… implying their death will be soon – yet they don’t know when or why or by what means.

It often targets its victims when they are alone or in a state of emotional distress.

The typewriter spirit can manipulate the environment around its victims. It can cause doors to lock, phones to malfunction, and windows to become unbreakable.

Their Mystery:

What is the origin of the typewriter? How does it know what the victim’s last words will be? How can it see into the future? Or does it make them say the words? The typewriter selects its victims for a reason. The Characters must discover the common thread to outwit the typewriter’s sinister intentions.

Their Fear-Provoking Appearance:

The typewriter is an ordinary typewriter and is a type of MASK for the person/being/entity behind it – controlling it.

However, The typewriter begins typing on its own, without any human interaction.

When the typewriter is active, the room fills with eerie and unnatural sounds, such as whispers, distant cries, or dissonant music.

After the typewriter delivers its cryptic messages, they disappear from the paper within a short period. This makes it difficult for victims to prove their claims to others, leading to isolation and a growing sense of helplessness.

The typewriter causes reality to warp around it. Victims experience time lapses, sudden changes in their surroundings, and distorted perceptions of space and time, making them question their sanity.

Their Rules:

The typewriter monster’s predictions of death are always accurate. The words it types are literally the last words the victim speaks before they die.

It targets prideful people who lie to promote themselves or to gain wealth.

It forces the person to either humble themselves and tell the truth or die in their lie.

Their Mythology:

Origin and History:

The typewriter was created by a reclusive and eccentric writer (with a tragic backstory involving the loss of a loved one) who dabbled in dark rituals and the occult.

The typewriter’s creation involved a forbidden pact with a spirit, binding it to the machine. This spirit’s influence is the source of its haunting power.

A Hidden Agenda:

The typewriter has a purpose beyond mere prophecy. It’s collecting souls for the spirit.

Consequences of Destruction:

Destroying the typewriter may prove to be a monumental task, as it can reappear in a different form, ensuring that its dark power endures.

Characters may need to find a way to sever the spirit’s connection to the typewriter permanently.