Excerpts found from renowned paranormal researcher, Jacob Von Kessler...University of Marburg Library, Hessen Germany.


Kessler Von, Jacob (1844-1889)


Kessler was best known for his discovery and confirmation of the famed Nessiteras rhombopteryx, or 'Lochness Monster' back in early 1886 (unfortunately, most tangible evidence has since been destroyed by unconfirmed sources.) In mid-1888, Kessler was notified by collegue Karl Gorbenstein (who was an assisstant to him at the Marbug University starting back in 1873) that the Southern Tier of Bavaria, was experiencing strange occurences that revovled around missing persons near Munich (within the Black Forest regions) each tale was similar--the individual wandered into the timberline of the Alps, or, the Black Forest, never to be heard from again. Villagers were too afraid to investigate on their own, fearing that the disappearences were caused to displeased 'hexen' or, witches (as the foothills have been known to carry such legends) Kessler left Marburg by himself to investigate the potential 'paranormal' suspicions for these disappearences on May 26th 1889 (as logs tell) but, never returned from his trip. His last log entry was dated June 1st, 1889.


May 26th 1889 - Munich, South by southeast--weather, clear.


I had forgotten how beautiful this village was, until my carriage had rolled into it's cobblestoned streets roughly four days prior my departure from Marburg. Spring has definitely burst forth with all it's tremendous glory, and the mountains seem to have gathered a fresh layer of snow below the cloud line. Ahh, Munich is definitely the pinnacle of Bavarian beauty. It's almost three years to the day that my collegue enlightened me to the disappearences in the forest around here, but even had I not already known about the occurences I would have been able to sense something tragically off about the aura here. The only noise around me are the gentle 'clip-clops' of the two chestnut mares in front of me, mixed in with the meloncholy breeze that rustles the overhead leaves. Only a few kids run along the sidepaths, but, vanish upon turning their fearstruck eyes on me. Do they think I'm dangerous?

Once I reach the heart of the town, there appears to be more life and movement. More citizens are out galavanting amongst the open aire markets, but still, I'm given strange looks as if I'm here to kill them. My destination--the town's centre--atop a rather steep hill comes to view, and quietly I ride past the prying eyes and towards the towering house. Outside, Munich's mayor greets me, having recieved word of my visit, and in-invalid_word-s me more with the incidents back stories.

They're all the same--a hunter ventures into the Black Forest's timberline, specifically near the base of the Blauche Mountain (which is the highest peak in the area), in hopes of coming back with game by sundown...but never return. The first report happened back in Jaunary of 1886, then again in June, and then once more, in August. At first, no one thought too much of these tragedies other than 'simple accidents'...perhaps the hunters weren't as skilled as they had thought to take on the large game within the forest's hands...but...the strangest occurance was yet to come. Last year, four skilled hunters went in to find any clue as to where the previous men had gone (as the nearest town south of Munich is over 200 miles away through rough mountain terrain) the mayor said they left on October 7th, and expected to come home by the 12th (as they knew it took about five days to cross the mountains and reach the next town. Well, the 12th came and went, then the 13th, 14th, 15th, November, December, January...not a single sign of them. The villagers conspired a story that the witches, whom resided within the foothills I had passed earlier, were angered by something the town had done--and took away the hunter's lives as revege. No one has gone back into the woods since.

If it is witches, I am well prepared. I've experienced witch hunts before and I know all of their tell tale signs for attack/enchantment. After being wished the best of luck, the mayor gave me a long silent stare and muttered something along the lines of "you'll need it."

I don't need luck. I'm tremendously skilled with this sort of hubbub. I explained to him that the supernatural respects me, for I respect them. All I'm going to do is simply ask whatever spirit is angered to leave the villagers alone. That they've made their point.

By sundown, the mayor waved me off, and the town watched as I rode off towards the winding path that lead to the forest. I'll start my exploration tomorrow.


May 27th - weather, partial clouds. Start spot, South by Southwest of Munich. End, unknown pond. Time 9:00 AM


I woke up near sunrise this morning to the horses making a noise that sounded like something between startled chatter, and a worried snort. Now, I didn't think anything of this behavior, considering I hadn't made it very far into the mouth of the forest yet (in fact, if I had turned around I'm sure I'd have seen the town still.) but still, they sounded far away and I wanted to get a move on as soon as possible. I started wandering after their neighs and brays, which lead me off the horse path that I had planned on taking, and lead me i hill about an hour into the forest and away from my camp. Their noises became louder and more frantic the further I travelled, until I finally stopped at a strange little stream where suddenly it sounded like I was standing next to them...

However were nowhere to be seen, and their whinnying stopped dead. For the first time in years, I felt strangely unnerved. Clutching to the cross around my neck, I walked along the stream a little ways just to see if they found something to eat until I finally saw them---but something felt wrong. They stood side by side near a small pond that started an entirely new stream, facing towards the North in complete silence. When I went to call their names, I recieved no response...they were simply frozen. Feeling a bit more spooked, I went to pat one on the back...

But they appeared to vanish into thin air, leaving me almost face to face with a rather lanky black wolf standing about twenty feet away. He appeared to be nearly as startled as I was, stared me in the eyes for a few moments, then slunk down the hill he had been heading towards. Something about that wolf didn't seem right, but then again, the whole occurance didn't seem right...my horses literally were in front of my face, then disappeared! This is not one of the signs of witch activity, disapparation that is, perhaps I'm working with potergeists? Who knows...but...I guess I'm going by foot now. No idea where I am, but, I'll continue south.


May 27th - weather, cloudy. Start spot, pond. End spot, direct south I believe, time 11:00 PM.


All day I've had the feeling that something is following me, but I can't tell if it's just my nerves from this mornings little spook or legitimate. Every time I stopped for a rest, I swear I heard the leaves crunching behind me, but there was never anything there. For some reason, I simply cannot get that wolf out of my head, his eyes, his -disallowed_word-despite my lack of supplies) beneath a pine tree so thick, that I cannot look out beyond the boughs. Call me a hypocrit, but, I feel a bit too exposed here in The Black Forest to comfortably sleep without a close shelter.


May 28th - 3:00 A.M


There's something outside the tree...I woke up a few minutes ago to this terrible sense of something watching, and heard footsteps going all around me. Something knows I'm here, and I'm trying my hardest to not move or make a sound. I can see is four massive grey paws with hideously long talons, and what appears to be six..dare I say...blade tips? silcing the ground. The creature doesn't make much noise asides a few low rattling breaths, nor does it stop circling...I wish I could see what this is, but, I can't move.

Whatever this thing is, doesn't want me here. I swear I heard the wind say Get out.


May 28th - 6:00 AM weather - cloudy


The creature, like my horses, seemed to disappear the minute I saw the ground start to lighten up and emit mist. After a very shallow nap, I poked my head out from the boughs (half expecting something to maul me) and saw absolutely nothing sans six deep slices circling the tree, upturned leaves, and a few black feathers here and there. What disturbs me is, there are no slices leading up to the tree, or leading away...whatever came to me last night disapparated. This MUST be a poltergeist...all fingers are pointing in that direction. The only problem is, I can't tell if it's malicious or not. I fear I'm stilll lost, but, I'm continuing south.


May 28th - 8:30 AM weather - unknown...ceiling covered by tree tops


There's that wolf again. For the past few minutes, he's been stalking in the woods parallel to me--watching. When I pause, he pauses; when I run, he runs. I picked up a stick as a matter of fact and threw it to see if he'd run after it like a normal pet, but those eyes just won't break off from me. I'm not sure, but, are those the same paws I saw last night....?

(Remaining May 28th records that were retrieved were too damaged for any further translation)


May 29th - 10:00 PM weather - unknown. Location - lost


After wandering around aimlessly without any more supernatural experiences, I came across a strange clearing right in the deepest, thickest neck of the forest. Now, what makes it so strange, is that it's the only area I've been near all day where I could see light breaking through the leaves...and the reason being--all the trees are mysteriously bent away from the middle. It's honestly something I've never seen before in all my life...it's almost as if they're afraid of what's in the middle. As I tried to walk into the area, the branches seemed to pull me back--but I continued to try pushing through. The further I fought against them, the more they seemed to push me back, until I saw this strange flash of metallic silver and felt a burning sensation sting through my right forearm followed by a sharp...howl?