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Long ago, the whole eastern part of Massachusetts was once home to
seven different Indian tribes; but for whatever reason, decades before the Europeans settled, every one of those tribes were displaced but the Micmac.
These Indians were once known as "The River People".
They believed that Miskatonic was the name
of the Great Spirit who created and kept watch over this entire valley. Local folklore tells of a powerful Creek Medicine Man from the south called Red Feather, who led a coalition of six tribes to challenge the River People's territory, which was the richest hunting grounds in Massachusetts. The Micmacs rebuffed him, citing their heritage as direct descendents of the Great Spirit Miskatonic. The sorcerer, foolhardy and covetous, returned to his camp. He danced for three days, and created a dry, scorching wind to dry out the river and chase away the buffalo. But the river spirit Miskatonic rose up and engaged the wind in battle, creating a devastating tornado that tore through Red Feather's camp. The next morning two of his allied tribes, the Abnaki and the Iroquoi, lost their nerve and fled into the north. Unbowed and angry, Red Feather conjured a massive swarm of insects to bring disease and madness to the River People. Miskatonic then reached into himself and drew forth a Great Fish, which swallowed the swarm of flies in a single tremendous gulp. With a mighty splash, the Fish fell back down into the river, and the torrential spray washed the Erie and the Ojibwa tribes far into the west. Finally, the furious Medicine Man sent the fiercest warriors of the Mohawk tribe to abduct the Micmac Chief's beautiful daughter, Etobicotha, and hold her for ransom. Under cover of night, the raiding party set forth in kayaks across the river. The next day, they returned jubilant, with a black-haired figure wrapped in a blanket. They carried the bundle to the camp of Red Feather, who crowed triumphantly. When he tore off the blanket, however, he realized that his warriors had been deceived. They had kidnapped not a beautiful maiden, but a ravening black bear! The animal slew the surprised Mohawk warriors where they stood, and Red Feather and his loyal Creek tribesman fled terrified into the woods. After a few days of meditation, he formulated a plan to poison the Spirit that barred his eastern advance. His remaining tribe was two hundred strong. To each warrior a sack was given, and they were ordered to scavenge the Black Forest, not to return until every bag was filled with a certain poisonous scarlet berry the Medicine Man identified as Aglaophotis. When the sacks had all been filled, the desperate army followed Red Feather to the shore of the Miskatonic. There, he cursed the River Spirit in seven tongues, and emptied the sacks into the current. The River began to foam and splash, as if wounded, but even as the shouts of triumph were leaving the invaders' throats, the Great Spirit Miskatonic gathered himself up high from the water, stained red and terrible to behold. With a thunderous cry that shook the whole valley, the Spirit siezed the Medicine Man by the legs and tore him in half. The tremendous spray of blood that issued forth painted the Spirit of the Sky deep crimson, and caused the Spirit of the Sun to hide her face behind the waters of the sea. Leaderless, the remaining Creek warriors hoped for mercy, but only the few lucky ones who fled south were spared. Those who lingered by the riverbank were driven mad by the poisoned waters. They drank one another's blood, and chewed off each other's flesh. The gore from the slaughter painted the leaves of the trees and the dirt of the river's edge vermillion.
After a ferocious thunderstorm that lasted three days, the waters finally cleared. The peaceful River People were once again free to hunt and fish the Valley unchallenged, thanks to the protection of the mighty and eternal Spirit of the River, Miskatonic. |
Unless you brought your bathing suit, I wouldn't recommend going any further.
Actually, even if you did feel like taking a dip, I would strongly advise against it.
You see, it was right around here that Zachariah Carter
was caught by the dangerous current and dragged under.
His body wasn't recovered for three days.
North will take you to the Mansion, east leads to
the Boathouse, and west will take you to the Garage.
