The Gurning Man of Glasgow

[grinch]

www.spookyisles.com/gurning-man-glasgow/

A strange who was prone to prowling the streets of Glasgow at night in the ‘70s.

In all probability, he was probably just some poor soul who was suffering from some debilitating physical tic/sickness but still, there’s room to give him a preternatural/science fiction explanation.

Perhaps a case for an earlier incarnation of the Misfit Mob?

[Catsmate]

Apr 8, 2022 16:25:51 GMT grinch said:

www.spookyisles.com/gurning-man-glasgow/

A strange who was prone to prowling the streets of Glasgow at night in the ‘70s.

In all probability, he was probably just some poor soul who was suffering from some debilitating physical tic/sickness but still, there’s room to give him a preternatural/science fiction explanation.

Perhaps a case for an earlier incarnation of the Misfit Mob?

Yes I can see this case being passed on by the police to UNIT ("You do weird, right?") and then descend down the ranks until someone gets the job of investigating....
As you say it's probably just someone with a physical oddity, coupled to hysteria, but it does have potential. Especially for a team who doesn't speak the local dialect.

Perhaps it's a person caught in some sort of dimensional rip, only occasionally coming into phase with the normal universe? Oddly I've added an idea to my one Who mythos recently, the Barrlyght Oscillator, that has connections to Glasgow.


Actually the story reminds me a bit of one of my favourite bits of Scottish weirdness, the Gorbals Vampire Scare of 1954.

In September 1954 in Gorbals, Glasgow, rumours had spread among the school children of a terrible, 7 foot tall vampire with iron teeth. Rumour had it that this vampire had kidnapped and murdered two young boys and feasted on their corpses. Despite the adults and the police trying to calm the hysteria, the children decided that action had to be taken to bring this terrible ‘Gorbals Vampire’ to justice.

What happened next was truly remarkable. After school, hundreds of children of all ages armed themselves with blades and crosses, stakes and dogs and descended upon the city’s Southern Necropolis to hunt the Gorbals Vampire. The children prowled the graveyard as night fell, checking behind trees and headstones for the awful creature that might be lurking. A thick fog rolled in, and in it many shadowy figures were caught by firelit. The children would rush to this silhouette, and then another, as they thought they saw the vampire lurking in the mist.

[grinch]

Apr 11, 2022 10:12:07 GMT Catsmate said:

Apr 8, 2022 16:25:51 GMT grinch said:

www.spookyisles.com/gurning-man-glasgow/

A strange who was prone to prowling the streets of Glasgow at night in the ‘70s.

In all probability, he was probably just some poor soul who was suffering from some debilitating physical tic/sickness but still, there’s room to give him a preternatural/science fiction explanation.

Perhaps a case for an earlier incarnation of the Misfit Mob?

Yes I can see this case being passed on by the police to UNIT ("You do weird, right?") and then descend down the ranks until someone gets the job of investigating....
As you say it's probably just someone with a physical oddity, coupled to hysteria, but it does have potential. Especially for a team who doesn't speak the local dialect.

Perhaps it's a person caught in some sort of dimensional rip, only occasionally coming into phase with the normal universe? Oddly I've added an idea to my one Who mythos recently, the Barrlyght Oscillator, that has connections to Glasgow.


Actually the story reminds me a bit of one of my favourite bits of Scottish weirdness, the Gorbals Vampire Scare of 1954.

In September 1954 in Gorbals, Glasgow, rumours had spread among the school children of a terrible, 7 foot tall vampire with iron teeth. Rumour had it that this vampire had kidnapped and murdered two young boys and feasted on their corpses. Despite the adults and the police trying to calm the hysteria, the children decided that action had to be taken to bring this terrible ‘Gorbals Vampire’ to justice.

What happened next was truly remarkable. After school, hundreds of children of all ages armed themselves with blades and crosses, stakes and dogs and descended upon the city’s Southern Necropolis to hunt the Gorbals Vampire. The children prowled the graveyard as night fell, checking behind trees and headstones for the awful creature that might be lurking. A thick fog rolled in, and in it many shadowy figures were caught by firelit. The children would rush to this silhouette, and then another, as they thought they saw the vampire lurking in the mist.

I rather like the dimensional rip idea. With the experience of being trapped in said rift having unsettled the poor fellow’s mind. Even if the Misfit Mob could find a means of retrieving or closing said rift, The Gurning Man would probably have to spend the rest of his life in some mental health facility or UNIT. There would definitely be a duty of care there I think on the part of some of the more empathetic members of the Mob.

Of course, then you have to wonder what caused the rip in the first place which would make for a good means for the Mob or any other group to explore further of the city’s strange history...

[soultaker666212]

I thought id share this video about the gurning man of Glasgow, does go into detail about it as well as having visuals in a rather creepy black and white style, plus superb narration in my opinion. I do certainly enjoy their channel.
If you do not mind, i would love to introduce two other figures here which have something strange about them, specifically The Grinning Man (aka Inndrid Cold) and the Mad Gasser of Mattoon
I will leave these videos here for those who want to listen about them
Mad Gasser of Mattoon:
The Grinning Man:

[Catsmate]

Excellent stuff!

The Mad Gssser of Mattoon is a particular favourite bit of weirdness of mine.
It’s absolutely fascinating and really suited to a ‘weird stuff’ campaign, either set in 1944 or moved to the present day. To me it’s rather reminiscent of Spring Heel Jack.
Who was she? What was she up to? Why did the incidents end? What was the chemical agent used?

• I’m particularly interested by the latter having a background in chemistry and toxicology and some knowledge of CBW agents.

What the local police chief right that it was down to mass hysteria? Despite my innate skepticism I'm dubious, given the actual physical evidence. Alien? Axis agents? Chemical leaks? US government experiment?

[Catsmate]

One other thought that's struck me, what about Magnus Green and the Zygma experiments? Perhaps one of Findecker's experimental subjects? Or one of his students/followers/assistants continuing his work?
Partially materialised and horribly mutated by the effects of Zygma radiation, dropping in and out of reality...

[soultaker666212]

Apr 16, 2022 16:52:00 GMT Catsmate said:

One other thought that's struck me, what about Magnus Green and the Zygma experiments? Perhaps one of Findecker's experimental subjects? Or one of his students/followers/assistants continuing his work?
Partially materialised and horribly mutated by the effects of Zygma radiation, dropping in and out of reality...

Could be one explanation for ghosts within the doctor who universe, naturally occurring Zygma radiation sources have infected those who are exposed to it having them be dispersed throughout time and space and their connection to reality low allowing folks to pass through walls and perform common tricks ghosts are said to do. Poltergeists could be those who still have a grip on reality allowing them to manipulate things such as moving/throwing objects? Could see the Gurning man be someone exposed to Zygma radiation though totally is a neat idea!

[grinch]

Apr 16, 2022 16:52:00 GMT Catsmate said:

One other thought that's struck me, what about Magnus Green and the Zygma experiments? Perhaps one of Findecker's experimental subjects? Or one of his students/followers/assistants continuing his work?
Partially materialised and horribly mutated by the effects of Zygma radiation, dropping in and out of reality...

God, that’s horrifying. Some poor test subject left deeply disfigured by the experiments he was forced to undergo.

The Gurning it is known for is in actuality him trying to cry out for assistance. But he is so mutated and driven practically insane that he can’t even manage that.

[grinch]

Apr 16, 2022 13:51:37 GMT soultaker666212 said:

I thought id share this video about the gurning man of Glasgow, does go into detail about it as well as having visuals in a rather creepy black and white style, plus superb narration in my opinion. I do certainly enjoy their channel.
If you do not mind, i would love to introduce two other figures here which have something strange about them, specifically The Grinning Man (aka Inndrid Cold) and the Mad Gasser of Mattoon
I will leave these videos here for those who want to listen about them
Mad Gasser of Mattoon:
The Grinning Man:

No worries. I must admit I discovered the tale of the Gurning Man through these excellent videos.

Indrid Cold is a character I’ve thought about often. Considering his affable demeanour I often wonder if perhaps he is from the far future. Maybe rather than being from outer space he instead comes from Earth and works for the future equivalent of the American Government as a G-Man? He has merely been sent back in time to ensure that certain things go to plan.
His uncanny smile could either be a mutation or a form of body modification.

Either way, I’d probably present him as enigmatic as possible. That way he can simultaneously work as both hero/villain. Hell, he’d probably work well as character who could span multiple campaigns.


As for the Mad Gasser of Mattoon? Maybe there was a singular poisoner roaming the neighbourhood and maybe mass hysteria (possibly due to some alien artefact?) led to the creation of a spectral Mad Gasser? Or possibly several? 

[soultaker666212]

Apr 16, 2022 17:36:52 GMT grinch said:

Apr 16, 2022 13:51:37 GMT soultaker666212 said:

I thought id share this video about the gurning man of Glasgow, does go into detail about it as well as having visuals in a rather creepy black and white style, plus superb narration in my opinion. I do certainly enjoy their channel.
If you do not mind, i would love to introduce two other figures here which have something strange about them, specifically The Grinning Man (aka Inndrid Cold) and the Mad Gasser of Mattoon
I will leave these videos here for those who want to listen about them
Mad Gasser of Mattoon:
The Grinning Man:

No worries. I must admit I discovered the tale of the Gurning Man through these excellent videos.

Indrid Cold is a character I’ve thought about often. Considering his affable demeanour I often wonder if perhaps he is from the far future. Maybe rather than being from outer space he instead comes from Earth and works for the future equivalent of the American Government as a G-Man? He has merely been sent back in time to ensure that certain things go to plan.
His uncanny smile could either be a mutation or a form of body modification.

Either way, I’d probably present him as enigmatic as possible. That way he can simultaneously work as both hero/villain. Hell, he’d probably work well as character who could span multiple campaigns.


As for the Mad Gasser of Mattoon? Maybe there was a singular poisoner roaming the neighbourhood and maybe mass hysteria (possibly due to some alien artefact?) led to the creation of a spectral Mad Gasser? Or possibly several? 

I like your idea of far future agents ensuring certain plans in time go into effect appearing across America in multiple different eras. doing its best to well make sure certain events in time correspond correctly. There is a chance of their being others, i saw on a wiki that it mentioned two others, Demo Hassan and Karl Ardo, where in connection to Indrid Cold, maybe other agents of this far future American government

I would like to present another alternative, what if Indrid Cold is an alias for The Trickster, the one from Sarah Jane Adventures, big grinning face appearing in multiple different locations, I can visualise him looking for events to alter and such scouting them out or scouting out folks who he may need for his goals, standing in their rooms and watching them, I can see Indrid Cold being the Trickster though would be an ideal plot within plot campaigns preventing Indrid Cold/The Trickster from carrying out time altering plans.

[grinch]

Apr 16, 2022 17:53:50 GMT soultaker666212 said:

Apr 16, 2022 17:36:52 GMT grinch said:

No worries. I must admit I discovered the tale of the Gurning Man through these excellent videos.

Indrid Cold is a character I’ve thought about often. Considering his affable demeanour I often wonder if perhaps he is from the far future. Maybe rather than being from outer space he instead comes from Earth and works for the future equivalent of the American Government as a G-Man? He has merely been sent back in time to ensure that certain things go to plan.
His uncanny smile could either be a mutation or a form of body modification.

Either way, I’d probably present him as enigmatic as possible. That way he can simultaneously work as both hero/villain. Hell, he’d probably work well as character who could span multiple campaigns.


As for the Mad Gasser of Mattoon? Maybe there was a singular poisoner roaming the neighbourhood and maybe mass hysteria (possibly due to some alien artefact?) led to the creation of a spectral Mad Gasser? Or possibly several? 

I like your idea of far future agents ensuring certain plans in time go into effect appearing across America in multiple different eras. doing its best to well make sure certain events in time correspond correctly. There is a chance of their being others, i saw on a wiki that it mentioned two others, Demo Hassan and Karl Ardo, where in connection to Indrid Cold, maybe other agents of this far future American government

I would like to present another alternative, what if Indrid Cold is an alias for The Trickster, the one from Sarah Jane Adventures, big grinning face appearing in multiple different locations, I can visualise him looking for events to alter and such scouting them out or scouting out folks who he may need for his goals, standing in their rooms and watching them, I can see Indrid Cold being the Trickster though would be an ideal plot within plot campaigns preventing Indrid Cold/The Trickster from carrying out time altering plans.

Maybe Indrid Cold is actually the Trickster in his weakened state? Not possessing his usual reality altering powers, he is forced to take on a humanoid form (or at least close to humanoid as he can muster) and his attempts to alter time are merely so he can gain enough power to return to his former godhood?

This sudden vulnerability may make him more dangerous as a result.

[soultaker666212]

Apr 16, 2022 18:56:33 GMT grinch said:

Apr 16, 2022 17:53:50 GMT soultaker666212 said:

I like your idea of far future agents ensuring certain plans in time go into effect appearing across America in multiple different eras. doing its best to well make sure certain events in time correspond correctly. There is a chance of their being others, i saw on a wiki that it mentioned two others, Demo Hassan and Karl Ardo, where in connection to Indrid Cold, maybe other agents of this far future American government

I would like to present another alternative, what if Indrid Cold is an alias for The Trickster, the one from Sarah Jane Adventures, big grinning face appearing in multiple different locations, I can visualise him looking for events to alter and such scouting them out or scouting out folks who he may need for his goals, standing in their rooms and watching them, I can see Indrid Cold being the Trickster though would be an ideal plot within plot campaigns preventing Indrid Cold/The Trickster from carrying out time altering plans.

Maybe Indrid Cold is actually the Trickster in his weakened state? Not possessing his usual reality altering powers, he is forced to take on a humanoid form (or at least close to humanoid as he can muster) and his attempts to alter time are merely so he can gain enough power to return to his former godhood?

This sudden vulnerability may make him more dangerous as a result.

I can see that working as well, hell could tie in the Gurning Man as another version of this weakened Trickster who knows, but it is a neat idea a weakened Trickster doing his best to regain back his power and manifest himself fully

[grinch]

Apr 16, 2022 18:58:49 GMT soultaker666212 said:

Apr 16, 2022 18:56:33 GMT grinch said:

Maybe Indrid Cold is actually the Trickster in his weakened state? Not possessing his usual reality altering powers, he is forced to take on a humanoid form (or at least close to humanoid as he can muster) and his attempts to alter time are merely so he can gain enough power to return to his former godhood?

This sudden vulnerability may make him more dangerous as a result.

I can see that working as well, hell could tie in the Gurning Man as another version of this weakened Trickster who knows, but it is a neat idea a weakened Trickster doing his best to regain back his power and manifest himself fully

Would make for a great chance for some RP I think. With your Time Lord PC sitting down to converse with him goading him about how limited he is in this new form.

”That’s the problem with you god types. Three dimensions are just never enough for you, are they? Too fragile, too weak, too... small for your liking. Oh, how the other half lives, eh?”

[Catsmate]

Apr 16, 2022 17:24:33 GMT grinch said:

Apr 16, 2022 16:52:00 GMT Catsmate said:

One other thought that's struck me, what about Magnus Green and the Zygma experiments? Perhaps one of Findecker's experimental subjects? Or one of his students/followers/assistants continuing his work?
Partially materialised and horribly mutated by the effects of Zygma radiation, dropping in and out of reality...

God, that’s horrifying. Some poor test subject left deeply disfigured by the experiments he was forced to undergo.

The Gurning it is known for is in actuality him trying to cry out for assistance. But he is so mutated and driven practically insane that he can’t even manage that.

Exactly, a pretty little problems to fix. Can the Zygma induced cellular damage be cured? Probably not by current technology anyway.
A bit like Ragan Crezzen in The Butcher of Brisbane if be suffered more exposure to the Zygma beam perhaps..

[Catsmate]

Apr 16, 2022 17:22:07 GMT soultaker666212 said:

Apr 16, 2022 16:52:00 GMT Catsmate said:

One other thought that's struck me, what about Magnus Green and the Zygma experiments? Perhaps one of Findecker's experimental subjects? Or one of his students/followers/assistants continuing his work?
Partially materialised and horribly mutated by the effects of Zygma radiation, dropping in and out of reality...

Could be one explanation for ghosts within the doctor who universe, naturally occurring Zygma radiation sources have infected those who are exposed to it having them be dispersed throughout time and space and their connection to reality low allowing folks to pass through walls and perform common tricks ghosts are said to do. Poltergeists could be those who still have a grip on reality allowing them to manipulate things such as moving/throwing objects? Could see the Gurning man be someone exposed to Zygma radiation though totally is a neat idea!

Thanks!
Weird temporal phenomena are a useful justification for all sorts of ghostly effects; temperature differentials, loss of time, radio/television signals from elsewhen, images from the past or future et cetera.

[grinch]

Apr 16, 2022 20:26:19 GMT Catsmate said:

Apr 16, 2022 17:24:33 GMT grinch said:

God, that’s horrifying. Some poor test subject left deeply disfigured by the experiments he was forced to undergo.

The Gurning it is known for is in actuality him trying to cry out for assistance. But he is so mutated and driven practically insane that he can’t even manage that.

Exactly, a pretty little problems to fix. Can the Zygma induced cellular damage be cured? Probably not by current technology anyway.
A bit like Ragan Crezzen in The Butcher of Brisbane if be suffered more exposure to the Zygma beam perhaps..

It definitely doesn’t strike me as something the UNIT or Misfit Mob or the modern day would be able to cure.

They might be able to dull the pain and calm him down using some strong medicine or healing salve of alien origin but it would still probably mean he’d have to spend the rest of his life stuck in some UNIT Black Archive.

In this drugged up and docile state, I could see him being more communicative. Even if by communicative it means just muttering the odd barely discernible word here and there. Mind you, if they paid close attention to what he’s saying it might just help them when it comes to future cases by referencing future (or past by the Gurning Man’s standards) events.

[Catsmate]

Apr 16, 2022 21:36:54 GMT grinch said:

Apr 16, 2022 20:26:19 GMT Catsmate said:

Exactly, a pretty little problems to fix. Can the Zygma induced cellular damage be cured? Probably not by current technology anyway.
A bit like Ragan Crezzen in The Butcher of Brisbane if be suffered more exposure to the Zygma beam perhaps..

It definitely doesn’t strike me as something the UNIT or Misfit Mob or the modern day would be able to cure.

They might be able to dull the pain and calm him down using some strong medicine or healing salve of alien origin but it would still probably mean he’d have to spend the rest of his life stuck in some UNIT Black Archive.

In this drugged up and docile state, I could see him being more communicative. Even if by communicative it means just muttering the odd barely discernible word here and there. Mind you, if they paid close attention to what he’s saying it might just help them when it comes to future cases by referencing future (or past by the Gurning Man’s standards) events.

Yeah, it'd make a good 'downbeat' scenario. While the problem of the Gurning Man can be solved, and the appearances ended, he's probably incurable and ends up, as you say, drugged up.

Unless of course someone digs out the old Torchwood files on Weng Chiang and the artefacts found back then. What happens if someone (Torchwood remnant?) is desperate enough to use the organic distillation setup?

[grinch]

Apr 17, 2022 17:10:20 GMT Catsmate said:

Apr 16, 2022 21:36:54 GMT grinch said:

It definitely doesn’t strike me as something the UNIT or Misfit Mob or the modern day would be able to cure.

They might be able to dull the pain and calm him down using some strong medicine or healing salve of alien origin but it would still probably mean he’d have to spend the rest of his life stuck in some UNIT Black Archive.

In this drugged up and docile state, I could see him being more communicative. Even if by communicative it means just muttering the odd barely discernible word here and there. Mind you, if they paid close attention to what he’s saying it might just help them when it comes to future cases by referencing future (or past by the Gurning Man’s standards) events.

Yeah, it'd make a good 'downbeat' scenario. While the problem of the Gurning Man can be solved, and the appearances ended, he's probably incurable and ends up, as you say, drugged up.

Unless of course someone digs out the old Torchwood files on Weng Chiang and the artefacts found back then. What happens if someone (Torchwood remnant?) is desperate enough to use the organic distillation setup?

And maybe the records of those same experiments with the organic distillation in the modern day ends up in the hands of Magnus Greel come the 51st century as some historical document?

Blimey. The mind boggles.

In any case, should the PCs ever find themselves in the 51st century (time storm or time travel gone awry?) it would easy enough to infer that friendly NPC would end up becoming the Gurning Man of Glasgow. Personally, I imagine he’s some political prisoner who Greel and do decided to test the effects of Zygma Radiation on. One of the early experiments at least.