Supperset
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Every family, town, or culture has its own “lore” — strange stories, whispered rumors, and half-remembered tales passed down like heirlooms. Some sound so unreal they seem as if they were ripped out, straight from a fantasy novel.
For this prompt, write a piece of background lore or a short story inspired by:
Family tales: stories your grandparents, parents, or elders may have "you".
Local legends: myths, hauntings, strange happenings, or folklore tied to "your" hometown.
Personal encounters: bizarre, surreal, or uncanny experiences "you" had that feel like they belong in a magical world.
Second-hand lore: a story you’ve only ever heard from “a friend of a friend,” but one that lingers in your memory.
Rules & Guidelines:
1. Treat the story as lore, not just an anecdote; make it sound mythic, eerie, or fantastical.
2. You can embellish the truth, but ground it in something that feels real enough to have been told around a fire.
3. Keep it atmospheric: focus on mood, mystery, and that “this could’ve really happened” vibe.
4. Optional twist: Write it as if it’s an entry in a fantasy world’s history book or bard’s tale.
***
TLTR
You don't necessarily need to follow those, I just made them up - they are for those who like step by step guide.
Write things that you believe could/would be real in a way they seem real.
A Tale of Deceit and Enduring Spirit
The old man, his back a permanent curve and a gnarled stick his third leg, sat on the porch, a steaming cup of tea in his hand. He told me a tale about my own great-grandfather.
It was a time of great sorrow, an age of oppression when our land was ruled by the cross. My great-grandfather, he said, was called Shan.
Shan was the youngest of his family, born with a slight instability that caused many to shun him. Yet, despite his physical frailty and his family's disdain, his mind was sharp and his tongue was silver.
He was well-informed and spoke with a quiet eloquence that captivated the youth of the village.
They saw him not as an outcast but as a leader to follow.
Shan’s eldest brother, Than, watched this rise with a bitter envy that festered in his heart.
Than made Shan’s life at home a constant struggle a silent revenge on his outstanding brother. Shan was given only the scraps from meals, often going to bed hungry.
But Shan, in his simple innocence, believed this was because the family was struggling. He decided to find a way to help. He opened a small shop, selling a variety of goods. To everyone’s surprise, it flourished.
The villagers loved him, and even the village chief praised his initiative. But the shop’s success drew the attention of powerful, greedy men. They conspired to take it for themselves, and they found their perfect tool in Than.
Than approached his brother with a simple lie. He convinced the trusting Shan that he, being older and stronger, would be a better fit to run the shop. Shan, always one to put his family first, agreed. Than took over, and the powerful men made their move.
They orchestrated a series of thefts from the chief's barn, specifically milk, so that Shan could be framed. When the time was right, they used the fabricated evidence of the stolen goods to accuse Shan.
Stealing from the chief was a cardinal sin, and Shan's punishment was severe. He was made to stand in the sun for seven days. With each passing day and hour, a brick weighing seven kilograms was added to his back.
The village butcher whipped his ankles and back, and water was placed beside his feet, always just out of reach. It was a cruel and foolish punishment, meant to break a man's spirit completely.
Normally, no one was expected to endure the full sentence. The chief was fond of Shan and many believed he would be shown mercy. But Shan, ever the trusting fool, was given a final cruel twist of the knife.
His brother, Than, came to him with a mournful face and whispered a terrible lie: if Shan cried out or collapsed, their entire family would be executed for his crime. Shan, his heart full of love for his family, took his brother’s words to heart and endured every moment of the agony.
But what of the conspirators, the men who had orchestrated this injustice? Fearing that the chief might favor Shan more, they approached the chief with a lie. Than, the true villain of the story, told the chief that Shan's ambition was to take his position. The chief, although a wise man, was easily swayed by a man so distraught by his brother's supposed crimes.
This final betrayal sealed Shan's fate.
He was exiled. Even in his suffering, Shan bore no anger toward his family. He left with a heavy heart and a sorrowful face. Than saw him off with a show of tears, the false emotion of a crocodile or a snake. And with that, my great-grandfather, a kind and innocent man, was cast out from his home, a victim of his own loving and trusting nature.
***
I took a lot of liberty when writing.
For this prompt, write a piece of background lore or a short story inspired by:
Family tales: stories your grandparents, parents, or elders may have "you".
Local legends: myths, hauntings, strange happenings, or folklore tied to "your" hometown.
Personal encounters: bizarre, surreal, or uncanny experiences "you" had that feel like they belong in a magical world.
Second-hand lore: a story you’ve only ever heard from “a friend of a friend,” but one that lingers in your memory.
Rules & Guidelines:
1. Treat the story as lore, not just an anecdote; make it sound mythic, eerie, or fantastical.
2. You can embellish the truth, but ground it in something that feels real enough to have been told around a fire.
3. Keep it atmospheric: focus on mood, mystery, and that “this could’ve really happened” vibe.
4. Optional twist: Write it as if it’s an entry in a fantasy world’s history book or bard’s tale.
***
TLTR
You don't necessarily need to follow those, I just made them up - they are for those who like step by step guide.
Write things that you believe could/would be real in a way they seem real.
Here's my one piece.
A Tale of Deceit and Enduring Spirit
The old man, his back a permanent curve and a gnarled stick his third leg, sat on the porch, a steaming cup of tea in his hand. He told me a tale about my own great-grandfather.
It was a time of great sorrow, an age of oppression when our land was ruled by the cross. My great-grandfather, he said, was called Shan.
Shan was the youngest of his family, born with a slight instability that caused many to shun him. Yet, despite his physical frailty and his family's disdain, his mind was sharp and his tongue was silver.
He was well-informed and spoke with a quiet eloquence that captivated the youth of the village.
They saw him not as an outcast but as a leader to follow.
Shan’s eldest brother, Than, watched this rise with a bitter envy that festered in his heart.
Than made Shan’s life at home a constant struggle a silent revenge on his outstanding brother. Shan was given only the scraps from meals, often going to bed hungry.
But Shan, in his simple innocence, believed this was because the family was struggling. He decided to find a way to help. He opened a small shop, selling a variety of goods. To everyone’s surprise, it flourished.
The villagers loved him, and even the village chief praised his initiative. But the shop’s success drew the attention of powerful, greedy men. They conspired to take it for themselves, and they found their perfect tool in Than.
Than approached his brother with a simple lie. He convinced the trusting Shan that he, being older and stronger, would be a better fit to run the shop. Shan, always one to put his family first, agreed. Than took over, and the powerful men made their move.
They orchestrated a series of thefts from the chief's barn, specifically milk, so that Shan could be framed. When the time was right, they used the fabricated evidence of the stolen goods to accuse Shan.
Stealing from the chief was a cardinal sin, and Shan's punishment was severe. He was made to stand in the sun for seven days. With each passing day and hour, a brick weighing seven kilograms was added to his back.
The village butcher whipped his ankles and back, and water was placed beside his feet, always just out of reach. It was a cruel and foolish punishment, meant to break a man's spirit completely.
Normally, no one was expected to endure the full sentence. The chief was fond of Shan and many believed he would be shown mercy. But Shan, ever the trusting fool, was given a final cruel twist of the knife.
His brother, Than, came to him with a mournful face and whispered a terrible lie: if Shan cried out or collapsed, their entire family would be executed for his crime. Shan, his heart full of love for his family, took his brother’s words to heart and endured every moment of the agony.
But what of the conspirators, the men who had orchestrated this injustice? Fearing that the chief might favor Shan more, they approached the chief with a lie. Than, the true villain of the story, told the chief that Shan's ambition was to take his position. The chief, although a wise man, was easily swayed by a man so distraught by his brother's supposed crimes.
This final betrayal sealed Shan's fate.
He was exiled. Even in his suffering, Shan bore no anger toward his family. He left with a heavy heart and a sorrowful face. Than saw him off with a show of tears, the false emotion of a crocodile or a snake. And with that, my great-grandfather, a kind and innocent man, was cast out from his home, a victim of his own loving and trusting nature.
***
I took a lot of liberty when writing.
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