FDG CASE FILE: 1940/KNT-BFE/017
Filed By: Reverend Arthur Penhaligon (Posthumous)
Date: October 1940
Location: High Halstow, Kent
Classification: Fae Ritual Disruption / Child Abduction / Sacrificial Bargain
Site Status: Closed – Ritual Completed; Subject Missing; Community Memory Altered
SUMMARY
In October 1940, the coastal village of High Halstow faced an unprecedented fae siege following the interruption of a quinquennial bonfire ritual intended to safeguard village children by symbolic sacrifice. The traditional burning of the scarecrow effigy—dressed in the clothes of the chosen elder, Old Tom—was halted by wartime blackout and air raid restrictions enforced by local authorities.
The scarecrow effigy mysteriously vanished overnight, coinciding with the natural death of Old Tom, the designated sacrifice. The following three evenings saw escalating attacks by large flocks of crows, resulting in the abduction of three village children under harrowing circumstances.
Reverend Arthur Penhaligon, the village vicar and covert FDG operative, orchestrated a secretive plan to restore the ritual’s balance by constructing a new scarecrow effigy in his own likeness and dressing it in his cassock. Utilizing a diversionary arson in a neighboring village to distract law enforcement, the pyre was successfully burned at night.
Following the ritual completion, the fae siege ceased. However, Reverend Penhaligon was found missing; the community’s collective memory of his existence was inexplicably erased, likely a consequence of the fae bargain to preserve village safety.
INVESTIGATION DETAILS
Initial interference by wartime officials prevented the burning of the pyre, disrupting the ritual’s protective function.
Scarecrow effigy vanished overnight under unknown means; coincided with Old Tom’s natural death.
Systematic abductions of three children by crow swarms occurred each evening post-disruption.
Observations of straw trails preceding each abduction, indicating fae predatory behavior and psychological terror tactics.
Covert actions led by Reverend Penhaligon restored the ritual balance via a personal sacrificial effigy and strategic diversion.
Post-ritual, abductions ceased; however, notable alteration in village collective memory regarding Penhaligon.
ANALYSIS
The ritual functioned as a delicate fae bargain exchanging a “sacrifice” for community protection, tied to symbolic effigy burning.
Interruption of ritual balance triggers immediate fae retribution, with a shift from symbolic to direct victimization of vulnerable populations (children).
Memory alteration by fae entities is a documented tactic to obscure bargains and enforce silence, often erasing key human intermediaries.
The presence of straw trails suggests an ethereal guidance system or warning mechanism for impending abductions, increasing psychological trauma within the community.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Vigilant monitoring of villages with known fae bargain histories, especially during traditional ritual periods.
Liaison with local authorities to ensure understanding of the critical nature of such rituals, balancing wartime needs with supernatural risk.
Establishment of covert support networks for communities affected by fae memory alteration phenomena.
Continued research into fae manipulation of collective memory and methods to counteract these effects.
VAULT NOTES (Reverend Arthur Penhaligon)
“Sacrifice is the thread that binds us to safety,
yet the price is often paid in silence.
To stand between worlds is to risk being forgotten,
but to falter is to invite darkness unending.”
Faylinn Defence Group 