Specimen Archive
Specimen No. 48 — The Lantern-Leech
Primary Classification
Parasitic Curiosity — Dark Whimsical Subtype
Field Description
The Lantern-Leech is a palm-sized parasite found clinging to the undersides of abandoned lanterns, oil lamps, and any object that once held a flame. Its translucent body glows with a faint amber light, as though filled with liquid fire. Four delicate tendrils drift beneath it, swaying in a slow, searching motion. When undisturbed, it emits a soft chiming hum reminiscent of glass cooling after heat.
Unlike its name suggests, the Lantern-Leech feeds not on blood but on lingering warmth— the memory of a flame, the ghost of a hearth, the heat left in a recently held cup. Warm objects cool faster in its presence, and its glow brightens as it feeds.
Observed Behavior
Timid and dim-loving, the Lantern-Leech folds its tendrils inward when approached and dims its glow until nearly invisible. A fed specimen drifts lazily toward gentle warmth. A starved one flickers sharply, producing chimes that echo as if from within hollow glass.
Observed specimens show a fondness for pocket warmers, wool mittens, freshly boiled water, and archivist hands (unfortunately).
Notes From the Missing Ledger
Recovered scraps imply this species was once used as living lantern fuel. Their light does not burn or smoke, which made them valuable—until the accidents began. One note warns: “Do not let them gather. Light shared becomes hunger multiplied.” The ink cuts off abruptly afterward.
Containment Recommendations
- House individually in insulated glass jars.
- Provide a warm object twice daily to prevent agitation.
- Never keep more than three specimens in one chamber.
- Synchronized flickering has ignited nearby ink—use caution.
Specimen Card Summary
A glowing parasitic oddity that feeds on warmth instead of blood. Clings to lanterns and forgotten flames. Emits soft glasslike chimes when content; sharp, frantic flickers when starved.
Specimen No. 44 — The Velvet Maw
Primary Classification
Aberrant Beast — Winged Predatory Variant
Field Description
The Velvet Maw stands tall on thin, wrapped legs, its posture both unsettling and strangely polite. Its bat-like wings drape like a velvet cloak when resting. Instead of a face, it bears an exposed brain-like crown and a vast crescent mouth filled with evenly spaced, polished teeth.
A soft motelike glow hovers above its head, swirling in gentle curls. The creature’s body is covered in plush, velvety textures, deceptively inviting to the touch.
Observed Behavior
Despite its predatory appearance, the creature moves with slow, deliberate curiosity. It hums when content and flutters its wings when agitated. The Maw does not eat flesh—it feeds on forgotten memories, leaving a faint chill in the observer’s mind.
When startled, it spreads its wings wide, displaying faint runic markings along the inner seams.
Notes From the Missing Ledger
“Smile wider than comfort allows,” one entry reads. Another warns that the Maw should never be permitted near archival rooms containing personal journals.
Containment Recommendations
- House in tall enclosures with low lighting.
- Provide harmless memory scraps—old notes, discarded drafts, forgotten names.
- Do not allow reflective surfaces nearby; the Maw reacts unpredictably.
Specimen Card Summary
A velvet-winged creature with a mouth where its face should be. Feeds on forgotten memories, not flesh. Gentle unless startled.
Specimen No. 72 — Whispercap Cluster
Primary Classification
Fungal Oddity — Communal Symbiotic Variant
Field Description
The Whispercap Cluster is a group of pale, soft-capped fungi sharing a single tangled root mass. Each cap displays a small, sleepy face with downward-slanting eyes, giving the cluster a collectively somber expression.
When undisturbed, the caps lean gently toward one another, as though in silent discussion. A faint spore glow drifts upward, shimmering like dust in moonlight.
Observed Behavior
Whispercaps emit tiny sigh-like sounds when brushed or relocated. They respond to emotional tones; raised voices cause all caps to tilt away from the source, while calm speaking draws them closer.
When one cap is removed (not recommended), the others grow visibly distressed and their spores dim for several days.
Notes From the Missing Ledger
An archivist wrote: “They do not speak, but they listen. They remember atmospheres more than events.” Another note suggests the cluster absorbs sorrow to stay alive.
Containment Recommendations
- Keep in cool, dim terrariums.
- Avoid sudden noise or emotional outbursts nearby.
- Do not separate the caps unless necessary—communal stability is essential.
Specimen Card Summary
A soft, sleepy cluster of mushrooms that listens more than it acts. Emits gentle spore glows and reacts to emotional tone. Best kept calm and together.
Specimen No. 47 — The Lanternmoth Reliquary
Primary Classification
Eldritch Botanical / Parasitic Attachment Variant
Field Description
The Lanternmoth Reliquary consists of a hollow, hooded shell structure that naturally forms in abandoned forests and forgotten clearings. Within its quiet interior rests a single luminescent moth, suspended in a pocket of gentle darkness as though kept in perpetual dusk.
The outer shell is layered in smooth, ripple-like folds that direct sound inward, giving the interior an eerie stillness. The moth inside emits a faint glow—pale, steady, and pulsing as though remembering a heartbeat.
Observed Behavior
Though the reliquary is stationary, the moth within shifts position when approached, wings trembling softly. It does not attempt to leave. Researchers suggest the moth is not trapped, but bound by a quiet pact with the shell that shelters it.
When deprived of darkness, the glow intensifies until the interior becomes star-like. Prolonged brightness has caused disorientation in observers.
Notes From the Missing Ledger
“Do not open the shell, for the moth remembers more than it shows.” Another note—half erased—mentions a reliquary collapsing once its occupant chose to depart.
Containment Recommendations
- Keep in dim environments; avoid direct lantern light.
- Do not disturb the inner chamber unless necessary.
- If the glow begins to flicker, reduce noise in the room immediately.
Specimen Card Summary
A hooded shell housing a luminous moth suspended in a quiet, dusk-like chamber. The reliquary protects its inhabitant, and the inhabitant in turn fuels its glow.