The Lantern-Belly

The Flame That Waits
Filed under: Mirecourt Entities | Lure-Phantoms | Pathbound Predators
Taxonomic Reference: Luminothorax nocturnis
Contributor: FDG Field Zoologist No. 7
Last updated: May 2025

Overview

Sometimes called Ghost-Toads, sometimes Hollow Croakers, the Lantern-Bellies are semi-sentient predators of the Mirecourt, luring not with speed or power—but with remembrance and hesitation.

Their soft croaks echo like memory. Their bellies flicker with flame. And when you step too close, you’ll hear a voice—your voice—asking whether this is the right way.

They don’t eat your body.
They eat your ability to choose.

Appearance

Form: Resembles a massive toad—roughly the size of a large dog or small child.
Skin: Wet, brown-grey, pitted like weathered stone. In moonlight, glints faintly as if lacquered with oil.
Mouth: Far too wide. Opens horizontally across most of the face, revealing no tongue—just blackness and heat.
Legs: Long, jointed strangely, with limbs often bent in unnatural poses while motionless.
Belly: A translucent membrane containing a flickering inner flame, often golden or green. The flame sometimes:
- forms tiny humanoid shapes, weeping or reaching
- mimics a dying lantern or guttering hearth
- pulses in sync with nearby heartbeats

The flame is what draws you in. But it is your own longing that roots your feet.

Behaviour and Predation

Lures by Memory:
The Lantern-Belly positions itself at key decision points: forked roads, misted trails, river crossings, or moments of personal doubt.
It does not chase. It waits. And it glows.
Voice Mimicry:
Those who draw near report hearing a loved one’s voice—sometimes through their own mouth—whispering things like:
- “Turn back.”
- “It’s not too late.”
- “What if you’re wrong?”
  The voice is always spoken aloud, but never recorded.
Predatory Effect:
Lantern-Bellies devour conviction:
- Victims become trapped in indecision, pacing in circles or standing for hours
- Some vanish entirely, later found wandering without memory of their destination or identity
- Footprints near the creature often spiral or double-back, repeating themselves obsessively
Feeding Sign:
When a victim succumbs, the flame grows slightly, and for a brief moment a new shape is visible inside—usually curled, fetal, or kneeling.

Earthly Manifestation

1963 Incident – Hoo Peninsula:
Eleven cases of sleep paralysis and path-lost hysteria were recorded across Cooling, St. Mary’s Hoo, and Cliffe. Victims described:
- “A burning frog at the crossroad”
- “A cousin who said nothing, glowing in its belly”
- “A voice in my own mouth, begging me not to move”
  A local priest built a stone cairn to ward the toads—a circular marker on the trail.
  The cairn has since vanished.

Folklore and Signs

The Still Flame:
If a single fire appears unmoving in mist, and it hums without crackling, it is likely a Lantern-Belly waiting.
Travelers are warned to close their eyes, pick a direction, and walk without pause.
Looping Tracks:
Footprints in perfect circles—especially barefoot or repeating heel-marks—are a sign that someone walked in place for hours, unable to choose.
The Doubter’s Croak:
In village tales, hearing a croak while trying to make a decision is a sign to choose the opposite of your instinct—for your instinct may have already been fed upon.

Field Handling Notes

Do not attempt to “scare away” the Lantern-Belly. It will not respond to aggression.
Looking directly into the flame may trigger hallucinations or auditory mimicry.
The best method of evasion is to choose a path without pausing. The longer one considers the flame, the deeper its influence.

Containment is not recommended.
All known attempts have resulted in the creature vanishing mid-capture, leaving behind scorched moss and one shoe.

Summary for Field Operatives

Trait	Detail
Threat Level	High psychological threat. No known physical attack pattern.
Signs of Presence	Flickering light in low mist, spiral footprints, self-spoken warnings
Containment Risk	High. Emotional mimicry disrupts cognitive control. Unstable during observation.
Engagement Advice	Do not approach alone. Bring iron dust for grounding. If you hear your own voice behind your teeth, leave immediately. Record your chosen direction before entering foggy terrain.**

Quote from Field Report #039 (Redacted):

“I saw my daughter’s silhouette in the flame. I stepped forward. My feet stopped working. I heard her say ‘Go back, Daddy,’ but my own mouth said it.
When I moved again, I didn’t remember why I was there. Or who she’d been.”
—FDG Operative “D.”, recovered from Hoo marsh incident site, 1963