Just to prove that this isn't just going to be my obsession with the cosmic joker, but a few things, supernatural and otherwise that interest me, here is a topic in which I have been fascinated. So much so that I based a Dragonlance adventure on it (yes, I'm a gamer, point and laugh now...) La Bete Du Gevaudan, an unknown creature that preyed on the people in the Gevaudan district of France in the late 18th century. Some of this is from Wikipedia on the subject;
"The first attack that provided a description of one of the creatures took place on 1 June 1764. A woman from Langogne saw a large, lupine animal emerge from the trees and charge directly toward her, but it was driven away by the farm's bulls.
On 30 June, the first official victim of the beast was Jeanne Boulet, 14, killed near the village of Les Hubacs, not far from Langogne.
The beast also seemed to target people over farm animals; many times it would attack someone while cattle were in the same field" See this, to me, screams trained attack dog. It was driven away by animals, and never targeted animals in it's campaign of terror, always going for the shepherdess rather than the sheep. Why? Because it had probably been taught from an early age - attack the sheep and you will be beaten with this stick.
On 30 June, the first official victim of the beast was Jeanne Boulet, 14, killed near the village of Les Hubacs, not far from Langogne.
The beast also seemed to target people over farm animals; many times it would attack someone while cattle were in the same field" See this, to me, screams trained attack dog. It was driven away by animals, and never targeted animals in it's campaign of terror, always going for the shepherdess rather than the sheep. Why? Because it had probably been taught from an early age - attack the sheep and you will be beaten with this stick.
Also, it seems that people who stood up to attacks by the Beast, were not killed by it. In other words, it was easily cowed by a human, holding a big stick. There was also definitely more than one, as it appeared in different areas almost at the same time. But this part is my favourite
"The killing of the creature that eventually marked the end of the attacks is credited to a local hunter, Jean Chastel, at the Sogne d'Auvers on 19 June 1767. Later novelists (Chevalley, 1936) introduced the idea that Chastel shot it with a silver bullet of his own manufacture.[4] Upon being opened, the animal's stomach was shown to contain human remains.[2]
Controversy surrounds Chastel's account of his success. Family tradition claimed that, when part of a large hunting party, he sat down to read the Bible and pray. During one of the prayers the creature came into sight, staring at Chastel, who finished his prayer before shooting the beast. This would have been aberrant behavior for the beast, as it would usually attack on sight." Exaggeration encouraged by religious mania? Or proof that the creature was trained by Chastel to attack his neighbours? Also consider that Chastel had been imprisoned for two weeks by the local guard for threatening soldiers. During that two weeks, there were no attacks.
Controversy surrounds Chastel's account of his success. Family tradition claimed that, when part of a large hunting party, he sat down to read the Bible and pray. During one of the prayers the creature came into sight, staring at Chastel, who finished his prayer before shooting the beast. This would have been aberrant behavior for the beast, as it would usually attack on sight." Exaggeration encouraged by religious mania? Or proof that the creature was trained by Chastel to attack his neighbours? Also consider that Chastel had been imprisoned for two weeks by the local guard for threatening soldiers. During that two weeks, there were no attacks.
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