《Halloween Vault 3D》#4 | AmbassadorsUK | The Harbinger
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is a profile dedicated to all things British, from stories set in our fair isles to the British authors who craft them. Join us this Halloween for our Urban Legend inspired prompt!
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Urban Legends have inspired horror writing for centuries. Nothing chills the blood in our veins more than a tale of the supposedly real. British folklore is no exception and is steeped in superstition; from beasts that stalk the moors at night, to apparitions that wander the halls of stately homes and castles. None, however, are entwined more in British myth than one specific tale - the Harbinger. Ethereal beings sent to warn and end is coming.
We've selected three harbingers synonymous with different parts of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. We challenge you to take inspiration from one of them and write a flash fiction story set on Halloween, creating a brand new urban legend of your own. The twist, your characters need to find a way to survive their harbinger visit!
What will your harbinger say, will it mean death, the end of a cycle, a stark warning, or just plain bad luck? Here are your choices of harbinger...
Similar to fireflies, Corpse Candles are flickering brightly lit orbs said to congregate like unwelcome visitors outside the houses of those who had been marked for death. What will yours do, and who might they follow, and why? If these don't give you the heebee-jeebees, we don't know what will!
It's not just Hitchcock that sensed something evil was afoot with birds. Whether it be crows, ravens or magpies, bad omens follow these winged devils.
Often an old hag or spirit whose screaming cries foretell the death of those that can hear her.
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(Eastern Time Zone)
Winners will be featured in our Anthology or added in our reading lists if it's a standalone book, receive shout-out and a winner's book sticker.
You MUST fill in this submission form to submit your entry.
Your story must be tagged #Ambassadorsuk and #HalloweenVault3D
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Sorcery in Boston
The timid daughter of some of the greatest spellcasters ever to have lived has found herself in another world, courtesy of magic gone awry. In Boston, Massachusetts, in the year 1935, she finds some kind souls in a hard era. In the heart of the Great Depression, as war looms around the corner, she seeks to find her place, and must come to terms with both who she is and what she truly desires. Author's Notes: Release Note: I recently realized what the hold up is. My current mental state is not compatible with the planned ending. If I wrote the ending according to what currently feels right, it will be a wretched, cruel ending that feels monstrously unfair and invalidates the work of the various characters... because that's how my life feels at the moment. The planned ending is coming out hollow and awkward, no matter how I write it, and so I've been bashing my head. I will finish it, once I manage to either brute force something decent out, or once my head gets screwed on straight. Audience: This story is not for young children - it contains some profanity, sexual content, violence, gore, and significant adult themes. Most of these are handled delicately enough not to upset teens or adults (hopefully), hence the lack of relevant tags, but it is nonetheless unsuitable for youth. It's fairly slow paced, and focused on the development of very human, very flawed individuals. Length / Completion Estimates: The outline currently involves two books. Book 1 is expected to be done with Chapter 43. It'll probably be completely finished by sometime in March of this year. I expect to move on to the far-more-lighthearted Of Gods and Dungeons (currently in progress / on hiatus). Afterwards, I may decide to redo Book 1, or write Book 2, or actually start sharing the story most dear to me, that I've been working on for several years now. Draft 1: Please be aware that this is first draft material. I do intend to come back to do a second draft after the story is complete. If anyone notices any issues whatsoever with the story, please let me know (pm, etc) so that I can improve the second draft. Writer's Pledge: I've taken the Writer's Pledge, meaning I'm commiting to completing this story. I'm a proud member of WriTE, a group dedicated to finishing stories. It will be done! Behind the Scenes notes: This picture was commissioned from an inked artist by the name of DanP. Up until the time of the protagonist's arrival, history has proceeded as before. Some places and characters have been borrowed from wikipedia entries of interesting figures from the time. I will make note in the chapter comments when such things come up. Naturally, I've taken a great deal of liberty with them. In interest of respecting individuals, I've either attempted to portray them as accurately as possible, or modified them sufficiently enough that they're simply an inspiration, instead of a real portrayal. I've attempted to be as accurate to the era as possible, but I'm not a historian. If you're aware of inaccuracies, please, bring them to my attention so that I can correct them.
8 115A World Reborn
Tell me do you live so that you can enjoy life or do you live so that you can escape into another world of books, movies and games? There is something fundamentally wrong with a world if its inhabitants have to escape it by means of fantasy. However, what if reality became fantasy and your actions have consequences, would you still like it? follow John as he adventures through perilous dangers, deceit and death in this reborn world. This is my first novel, so please be gentle with me. There might or might not be sexual content, depending if people want it, but I still put up the warning for now.
8 71Starship Nyx
I am Captain Mara Tan of UEDF Star Fleet. I am also a professor of virtual archaeology and military advanced technology. We've met the fiendish aliens twice, before I was born. Now we're leaving Earth to look for their hidden planets.
8 154The Emperor's Least Favorite Daughter is Kicking Ass
"So, The only person I could have reincarnated into is this loser princess?" "You are to be executed at the dawn of today." "Are you serious, you are going to behead me, your own daughter!" Anna a ball of mischief and grief was shoved into make belief world where everybody wants her dead.
8 97Straight out of Hell(A Villain!Deku Fanfic)
Deemed as inferior and weak for not having a quirk, Izuku Midoriya get obsessed with finding a way to gain more power and show the world who he truly is. In his desperate attempts he meddles with dark forces he should have never attempted to manipulate. How will our beloved green protagonist unfold in this scenario?
8 426My New Life on the Otherworld
It seems that I was born into another world without remembering who or what I am before. But other than, it seems that other than from "Who or what I was before?" memory is still intact. Because this is a new life in other world, I shall live this life to the fullest. Learn magic and start my own adventure like I remember from anime and manga from my past life memory!
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