Cryptid #12: Ominy Woods

 

Class: Gorgon

 

Destruction Procedures: Due to the nature of the woods, destruction would be far too difficult based on our current resources, along with the fact a few missing hikers is better than glassing an entire county.

 

Description: The Ominy Woods is a phenomenon/location in [REMOVED] County, South Dakota. The woods stays in generally the same location, however because of its extremely fast regrowth rate, its location can shift from 1-3 miles.

 

Ominy Woods has a ritual like effect. Upon approaching the woods, something will give the individual vague rules, however this doesn’t apply to groups of 3 or more. The method these rules are conveyed can vary from graffiti to passing flyers, however the most common method is signs with the appearance of hiking trail signs.

 

The rules can vary wildly, and will often apply personally to the individual. The rules can apply to objects the person is holding, their habits, beliefs they hold, or if nothing of significance is apparent, completely random and absurd rules. The woods often ends of partially or completely destroyed, however, when unobserved the forest undergoes a rapid regrowth period, similar to that of recovery from a forest fire.

 

Recorded Accounts

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11/12/1978: Witness (23 F) reports going into the woods in hopes of finding a good camping spot for next summer after driving by the woods. Witness claims to have read a sign instructing campers to not make eye contact with wildlife. Witness then gives an account of continuing through the woods until they began to get the feeling of being watched. After not being able to find the source of the feeling, she continued on her way. Further down, while staring at the ground, the witness stopped after sensing something in front of her. She heard breathing, and continued slowly and quietly while looking down, believing the creature to be a bear. Witness was reaffirmed on the bear story, treated for shock, and sent to her home.

 

Notes: No bears had been spotted in the area before this incident.

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1/7/1984: Body of identified Male 17 year old found on the edge of the woods near a road. The person appears to have died of hypothermia. A flyer resembling a no hunting notice found on the person reads “Please Stay On The Paths”

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6/24/2000: Archivist Collyer found herself lost in the woods following a routine search for bodies/witnesses. After roughly 10 minutes she found a message scratched into a boulder read “An anonymous blade is the worst thing there is. A named blade you can trust with your life”. Taking this as the rules, Collyer removed a scalpel she had on her persons and wrote the name Morgan on the blade. Collyer kept walking for an estimated 30 minutes before being caught in a trap that lifted her by the leg into the air. She quickly cut herself down with the scalpel, and then took note of several bodies that had knives that had seemingly fallen and stabbed them in the head, along with several traps with severed ropes. Collyer picked up her pace and was discovered by staff 20 minutes later.

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7/31/2009: Body of 34 year old male found on entry path to the woods. Body was fresh however had obvious signs of being moved. A camera and pack of Marlboro cigarettes were found on the body. The photos show the persons journey through the woods. The beginning shows the drive, and of note, a no smoking sign at the entrance to the woods. Further photos show various scenery and wildlife. Later photos show smoke, and eventually flames. The final photo appears to be taken by accident as it is blurry and appear to be taken from underneath some sort of shelter. Autopsy shows the identity of the body and that they were a heavy smoker.