Hodgepocalypse Ontario: A Thousand Fragments - Part 6 - Great Lakes - Part 2

Pelee Island 

 
• Description. Pelee Island, once known for its lush grape fields and vibrant wildlife, has become a sanctuary for the Wire-Dressed Mesquites—humans transformed by the magical residue of fallen stars. These eerie beings now roam the island, their bodies adorned with twisted metal wires, patrolling the desolate vineyards and dense forests. Fiercely territorial, they guard their hoarded supplies of enchanted grapes and other resources with intricate and deadly traps. The island’s deep channels and forest cover have allowed the Mesquites to remain isolated, but their presence is felt by anyone unfortunate enough to stray too close.
• Purpose. Pelee Island is not just a hub for illegal activity, but a forbidden stronghold where the Wire-Dressed Mesquites control everything that happens. Smugglers, treasure seekers, and others who seek to do business here must first navigate the Mesquites' lethal traps and prove their worth to these star-touched guardians. It is also rumored that the island’s forests conceal a group of ancient druids, who use the magical energy of the fallen stars to perform powerful and forgotten rituals, adding an air of mystery and danger to this already treacherous land. No one sets foot on Pelee Island without risking life, limb, or soul.
• Local Myths. The "Forest Guardian," a mythical creature resembling a giant stag with glowing antlers, is said to protect the island from those who would desecrate its sacred groves. It is also believed to guide lost souls to safety.

Rattlesnake Island

 
• Description. Rattlesnake Island is a forbidding place, overgrown with dense vegetation that twists and tangles unnaturally. The shores are jagged, and the waters surrounding it are eerily calm, yet no one dares to swim too far for fear of the serpents that allegedly dwell beneath the surface. Inland, the forests are teeming with wildlife, but the creatures here have been altered snakes that grow over a foot long, birds with eyes that glow in the dark, and plants that seem to move on their own. The air smells faintly of chemicals, a lingering reminder of the experiments once conducted on the island. Crumbling structures from a bygone era are scattered across the landscape, hinting at secret labs and abandoned facilities.
• Purpose.  In the Hodgepocalypse, Rattlesnake Island represents a no-man’s-land of bioengineered horrors and magical mutation. It draws explorers, scientists, and adventurers who are looking for the cause of the island’s mutations, hoping to harness its power or to find answers about the experiments conducted there. The island is also a resource for those seeking rare ingredients—many of the twisted plants and creatures are thought to have unique properties that could aid in crafting potions, spells, or weapons. However, the dangers of Rattlesnake Island are immense, and very few return from its depths, making it a place of both fascination and dread. Some snakes are believed to be the product of bio-engineered evolution, and some suggest that they have developed a hive mind, working together in swarms to hunt their prey. It is said that anyone bitten by these snakes’ experiences vivid hallucinations, suggesting that they may also carry some form of pharmaceutical venom.
• Local Myths. The most persistent myth surrounding Rattlesnake Island is the existence of sea serpents—giant, serpentine creatures that patrol the waters around the island. Local legends tell of fishermen who have glimpsed these creatures, massive enough to capsize small boats, and it’s believed that they were the result of long-forgotten military or magical experiments meant to weaponize wildlife. Some say these serpents possess unnatural intelligence, capable of stalking ships that come too close, and their scales are said to shimmer with arcane energy.
• Another widely believed myth is that of the Serpent King, a massive, mutated snake said to rule over the island’s twisted ecosystem. Locals claim that this monstrous snake is the result of a failed experiment, grown to impossible size, and it commands the other mutated creatures like a king over its domain. Sightings of the Serpent King are rare, but some believe it guards an underground laboratory where the island’s original experiments were carried out, a place that could still hold valuable secrets—or unimaginable horrors.

Sleeping Bear Dunes

 
• Description. An island named for its massive sand dunes resembling a sleeping bear. It has become a popular location for trials by combat among pirate captains and faction leaders, with disputes often settled in brutal duels on the sands.
• Purpose. A sacred dueling ground where disputes are resolved, truces are brokered, and alliances are forged. The island is also known for the mysterious, sentient sands that can shift and move to swallow up the defeated.
• Local Myths. The "Bear Spirit," a massive, ethereal creature that appears during battles to judge the worthiness of combatants. It's said that the sand dunes themselves can shift to protect or trap those who disturb the ancient rites of combat.

South Bass Island

 

• Description. While the island’s exterior appears lively and welcoming, with small towns catering to visitors and beaches lined with scenic views, the true heart of South Bass lies underground. The crystal caves beneath the island are a labyrinth of shimmering grottos, where enormous, sharp crystals jut from the walls and ceilings, glowing faintly with a variety of colors. Deep within these caves lie the fossilized remains of prehistoric creatures, many of which have become infused with arcane energies. The air within the caves is heavy, charged with both ancient magic and mystery. Many who enter speak of the caves altering their perception of time and space, as if the island itself is alive and watching.
• Purpose. South Bass Island serves as both a tourist destination and a hidden center of arcane power in the Great Lakes. On the surface, it draws adventurers and scavengers who hope to profit from the island's resources and those unaware of its deeper secrets. However, the true purpose of South Bass lies beneath—its caves are a source of fairy magic and strange, otherworldly energies. The enchanted crystals are sought after by mages, scholars, and mystics for their ability to amplify spells, store magical energy, and grant visions of possible futures. The caves themselves are rumored to be portals to other realms or times, making them a place of pilgrimage for those seeking knowledge or power.
• Local Myths. A popular myth is the story of the Crystal Guardians, ghostly figures said to be the spirits of prehistoric creatures, resurrected by the magic of the island. These spectral beasts are said to roam the deeper parts of the caves, protecting the crystals and the secrets of the grottos. Some believe that the bones of these creatures, combined with the fairy magic, create the unique properties of the crystals. Locals warn that anyone who seeks to steal the crystals or disturb the bones risks awakening the guardians, who will pursue intruders until they either leave the island or meet a grim fate deep in the caves.

South Manitou Island

 
• Description. South Manitou Island, part of the Manitou Islands in Lake Michigan, boasts rolling sand dunes, dense forests, and pristine beaches, all surrounded by crystal-clear waters. The island, rich in natural beauty, is also steeped in haunting tales that echo the experiences of its tumultuous past. Historically, it served as a way station for travelers, including fishermen and settlers, many of whom were immigrants seeking a new life in America. The landscape is dotted with remnants of old farms and lighthouses, their once-vibrant structures now sunken into decay, serving as solemn reminders of the lives that were once lived there.
• Purpose. South Manitou Island serves as both a refuge and a realm of longing. The island acts as a sanctuary for lost souls, drawn together by the shared experience of unfulfilled journeys marked by grief and nostalgia. Adventurers may come to the island seeking solace or supernatural insight, as the Choleroni, or restless spirits, draw them into their world of sorrow and yearning. The island hosts scavengers and treasure hunters, attracted by the rumored artifacts and remnants of lives once lived, which are said to allow communication with the Choleroni or provide glimpses into the past.
• Local Myths.  The Choleroni Spirits: The most prominent myth concerns the Choleroni, the restless spirits of immigrants who died at sea, often during the perilous journey across the Great Lakes. It is said that these spirits roam the sandy dunes, their forms shifting in the moonlight as they seek warmth and companionship with the living. Travelers tell tales of hearing soft whispers carried on the wind, inviting them to listen to the stories of those who came before

Wolf Island

 
• Description.  Wolf Island is covered in overgrown fields and crumbling infrastructure, with the remains of small, abandoned communities slowly succumbing to nature. At its center lies an old baseball diamond, weathered by time but eerily intact. During the day, the field seems ordinary, though it carries a palpable sense of nostalgia and sorrow. However, on nights of the full moon, the island transforms—spectral figures emerge, dressed in tattered uniforms from an earlier era, to play an endless, ethereal game. The air becomes thick with an otherworldly energy, and the distant sounds of cheering crowds, the crack of a bat, and the thud of a ball echo faintly across the island.
• Purpose. Wolf Island serves as both a mysterious landmark and a cautionary tale in the Great Lakes region. The haunted baseball diamond draws curiosity from adventurers, mystics, and occultists, who seek to understand the nature of the phantom game and perhaps harness the magical energies tied to it. It’s a place where the past intersects with the present, offering a rare glimpse into another time, albeit one tinged with melancholy. The island can also act as a temporal anomaly, where time may behave strangely for those who visit—some believe that watching the spectral game could trap viewers in the endless loop.
• Local Myths.  It is home to the Umpire of Eternity, a shadowy figure who appears during the ghostly game. He is said to have the power to decide the fate of those who wander onto the field during the match. If he deems them worthy, they are allowed to leave the island unharmed; if not, they become trapped, fading into the ranks of the spectral players over time, forever part of the phantom team. Some believe that breaking the cycle of the game could release the trapped spirits, but no one has ever succeeded.

Shipwrecks of the Great Lakes

The Great Lakes are home to thousands of shipwrecks, many with intriguing histories and legends surrounding them. In the world of the Hodgepocalypse, these wrecks have become mysterious, haunted, or magically altered locations, infused with the arcane forces unleashed during the apocalypse. Here are some famous shipwrecks that could serve as key points of interest:

The Daniel J. Morrell (Lake Huron)

 

• Description. A large freighter that broke apart during a storm in 1966, leaving only one survivor. The story of the sole survivor’s harrowing night in freezing waters adds a dramatic human element to the wreck's legend.
• Hodgepocalypse Enhancement. The Daniel J. Morrell has become a beacon of survival in the Hodgepocalypse, a place where adventurers must pass trials of endurance and bravery to receive the ship’s blessings. Perhaps the spirit of the lone survivor still haunts the wreck, guiding others through life-threatening scenarios to test their mettle. The ship’s wreck might have become a sanctuary for lost souls, or it could be a haunted place, constantly shifting between dimensions as it "breaks apart" repeatedly in a loop.

The Lady Elgin (Lake Michigan)

 
• Description. The Lady Elgin was a sidewheel steamboat that sank in 1860 after a collision, leading to the deaths of over 300 people. It remains one of the deadliest shipwrecks in Great Lakes history, and some say the souls of the drowned still haunt the lake.
• Hodgepocalypse Enhancement. The Lady Elgin has become a ghostly beacon in Lake Michigan, a place where lost souls are drawn. The spirits of the drowned are stuck in a time loop, reliving their final moments repeatedly. In the Hodgepocalypse, adventurers could be drawn into this haunted temporal distortion, where time behaves strangely. The wreck might house a portal to another dimension or a powerful necromantic artifact that controls the lingering spirits, coveted by unsavory spellcasters.

Rouse Simmons (Lake Michigan) – "The Christmas Tree Ship"

 
• Description. The Rouse Simmons, a schooner carrying Christmas trees to Chicago, sank in 1912 off the coast of Lake Michigan. The wreck became legendary as sightings of a ghost ship laden with trees were reported in the years after its sinking.
• Hodgepocalypse Enhancement. The ghostly trees aboard the Rouse Simmons have been transmuted to Skull Trees protecting the ship from trespassers. The ship’s captain, Herman Schuenemann, might have made a pact with a winter spirit or forest fey to keep the Christmas Tree Ship eternally afloat, its spectral glow visible from shore only on the coldest nights.

SS America (Lake Superior)

 

• Description: The SS America was a steamer that sank off Isle Royale in 1928. Known for the deep waters around the island and the wreck’s surprising preservation, it’s a popular diving site.
• Hodgepocalypse Enhancement: In the Hodgepocalypse, Isle Royale and the wreck of the SS America is a submerged kingdom, controlled by a powerful water witch or aquatic sorcerer. The wreck could serve as a stronghold for primal water spirits that protect the island’s ley lines. Magical currents might drag adventurers into the depths near the ship, where they must navigate an underwater labyrinth within the wreck to recover powerful arcane relics.

SS Carl D. Bradley (Lake Michigan)

 
• Description. The SS Carl D. Bradley was a freighter that broke in two and sank during a storm in 1958, with most of its crew perishing in the disaster. The ship's sinking contributed to further safety measures for Great Lakes shipping.
• Hodgepocalypse Enhancement. The broken hull of the Carl D. Bradley could has become a Dimensional Gauntlet, a place where the material plane intersects with another dimension. Strange creatures from beyond might be drawn to the split in the ship, while the two halves of the wreck could exist in two different planes of existence, connected by unstable magic. This location could serve as a nexus for powerful artifacts and planar beings looking to exploit the rift.

SS Eastland (Lake Michigan)

 
• Description. The SS Eastland was a passenger ship that capsized in the Chicago River in 1915, killing 844 people. It’s one of the worst maritime disasters in U.S. history, and the site of the sinking is said to be haunted.
• Hodgepocalypse Enhancement. In the Hodgepocalypse, the waters around Chicago could is  a dead zone, where magic and technology malfunction due to the lingering spiritual energy of the Eastland Disaster. The spirits of the dead might still haunt the waters, and the Eastland wreck could reemerge as a ghost ship, periodically rising from the depths and sailing the river, spreading an aura of death and decay wherever it goes. It could be an area filled with tragic, vengeful spirits, drawing necromancers and other dark magic practitioners looking to tap into the haunted energy.

SS Edmund Fitzgerald (Lake Superior)

 

• Description. Perhaps the most famous shipwreck in the Great Lakes, the Edmund Fitzgerald sank in 1975 during a violent storm on Lake Superior. The entire 29-man crew perished, and its exact cause of sinking remains a mystery.
• Hodgepocalypse Enhancement. The "Witch of November", the legendary storm that sank the Fitzgerald, is the embodiment of an ancient water spirit or elemental force. In the Hodgepocalypse, the wreck is be a haunted site where the restless spirits of the crew eternally sail a ghost ship across Lake Superior, cursed by the storm spirit. The area is dominated by raging, supernatural storms that adventurers must brave to find ancient artifacts or powerful weapons aboard the wreck.

SS Kamloops (Lake Superior)

 
• Description. The SS Kamloops was a freighter that sank in 1927 in Lake Superior during a fierce storm. Its wreck was discovered years later, with eerie stories of preserved bodies in cold water and the ghost of a sailor said to haunt the ship.
• Hodgepocalypse Enhancement. The cold waters of Lake Superior gave rise to the frozen undead in the Hodgepocalypse. The Kamloops could be an icebound wreck, with undead sailors preserved in a state of frozen animation. These frozen undead might guard a hidden treasure within the ship’s hold, cursed to forever serve in the cold depths of Superior. The region around the wreck could become a place of eternal winter, ruled by an ancient ice Primal awakened by the Hodgepocalypse.

Le Griffon (Lake Michigan)

 
• Description. One of the Great Lakes' oldest and most mysterious shipwrecks, Le Griffon was built by French explorer René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, and was lost on its maiden voyage in 1679. Its final resting place remains unknown, fueling legends and speculation.
• Hodgepocalypse Enhancement. In the Hodgepocalypse, Le Griffon is a phantom ship, appearing and disappearing across Lake Michigan, transporting otherworldly creatures or powerful magical relics from a bygone era. It also serves as a floating dungeon, with the wreck itself partially existing in both the material world and the Feywild or another arcane dimension. The ship’s crew are rumored to be ageless fey sailors or spirits bound to protect the cargo for eternity.

Other Phenomena

Bessie

Known to locals as both Bessie and the Eel King, this immense serpent-like creature rules the waters of Lake Erie. First sighted in 1817, Bessie’s copper-colored scales shimmer beneath the surface, and its venomous red tongue is said to summon lightning during violent storms. The Eel King, as it’s also called, commands magical energy, crackling with electricity that can fry machinery or paralyze prey. Surrounded by an entourage of smaller, enchanted creatures, the Eel King has transformed Lake Erie into a thriving, arcane ecosystem where mutated plants and animals flourish. Its glowing eyes and destructive powers are feared by sailors, as entire boats have been consumed by this legendary beast.

The Celestial Descent. 

 
In the world of the Hodgepocalypse, the tranquil waters of the Great Lakes are transformed forever by a catastrophic event—a meteor strike, shrouded in a brilliant, blinding light that pierces the overcast sky. Upon impact, the meteoric rock disintegrates into a shower of sparkling fragments, igniting a wave of harrowing energy that radiates outward, causing disturbed waters and rippling chaos. The meteor is of otherworldly origin, believed to be a long-lost remnant of a realm where magic thrived. Its arrival disturbs the fabric of reality, mingling the energies of the universe with the tumultuous remnants of the post-apocalyptic world. 

Mystical Artifacts: Fragments of the meteor contain the essence of the cosmos, attracting scavengers and treasure seekers. These shards can be infused with magic, creating mystical artifacts that grant powers to their wielders. However, their unstable nature means that using these artifacts can lead to unpredictable results, such as temporary enhancements, or even disastrous backfiring.
The Eyes of the Stars: Locals speak of visionaries who claim to have been touched by the meteor's energy. These "Star Seers" possess uncanny insight, able to glimpse potential futures or converse with spectral beings who emerged from the lake post-impact. Some see them as prophets; others deem them mad, warning that their knowledge may come with a heavy price.

The Cold Warden – Ishtakalka

 
In the frozen abyss of Lake Superior lurks Ishtakalka, the Cold Warden—a massive, serpent-like beast whose very presence chills the lake to its core. Its scales shimmer like ice, reflecting the frigid depths around it, allowing Ishtakalka to blend into the freezing waters, unseen by all but the sharpest eyes. Tales of this ancient creature speak of ships lost to sudden freezing storms, the lake itself turning against those who dare venture too far from shore. Ishtakalka’s body radiates an unnatural cold so intense that it can freeze anything it touches, leaving vast ice trails in its wake. The sailors who survive an encounter with the Cold Warden often return frostbitten, haunted by the sight of the creature’s glacial form coiling beneath the water's surface.

HMCS Haida

 
The HMCS Haida, once a proud naval ship, now serves as a floating fortress and headquarters for a band of mercenaries known as the Iron Tide. The Haida is a symbol of strength and resilience, its guns retrofitted with scavenged tech and magical enhancements. The mercenaries enforce their own brutal code of justice, offering protection to those who can pay and swift retaliation to those who cross them. The Haida is a dangerous place for outsiders but holds invaluable resources and knowledge for those bold enough to navigate its treacherous politics.
Plot Hook: A faction leader hires the party to recover a mysterious crate smuggled aboard the Haida. The mercenaries, however, are on high alert after recent betrayals, and sneaking aboard—or fighting through—will require clever planning and split-second decisions.

HMCS Ojibwa

 

The Phantom Submarine Ojibwa, once an Oberon-class vessel of the Royal Canadian Navy, now prowls the depths of the Great Lakes as a spectral guardian of maritime lore. Decommissioned and haunted by the restless spirits of its ghostly crew, the submarine glides through twilight waters, shrouded in mystery and echoes of forgotten naval battles. Its exterior glimmers with an otherworldly sheen, revealing glimpses of long-lost warships alongside the Ojibwa, while inside, cryptic logs and ghostly relics tell tales of treasure and conflict. The spectral corsairs, former sailors of abandoned vessels, protect the ancient knowledge hidden within, engaging bold adventurers in eerie confrontations. As players explore this haunting locale, they may uncover quests to retrieve lost relics, mediate spectral conflicts, and ultimately help the phantom crew find peace, making the Ojibwa a captivating nexus of history and supernatural adventure on the Great Lakes.

The Mist Leviathan – Mylontis

 

Deep within the enigmatic Michigan Triangle, shrouded by impenetrable mists, roams the colossal entity known as Mylontis, the Mist Leviathan. With shimmering silver-gray skin, its massive form is often concealed by the swirling fogs that cloak the lake. Sailors who venture too close to the mists speak of eerie, otherworldly phenomena: ships disappearing, only to reappear decades later—if they return at all. Mylontis is said to possess control over reality itself, warping the physical world and shifting dimensions within its domain. The Leviathan’s ability to phase between dimensions and manipulate the very fabric of space has left the Michigan Triangle a place of profound mystery and fear, where time and reality seem to unravel in its wake. Those unlucky enough to encounter Mylontis often vanish without a trace, forever lost in the veil of mists.

Nyxothar, The Hallowed Gatekeeper 

 

First sighted in 1817, Nyxothar, the colossal wyrm known as the Hallowed Gatekeeper, haunts the deepest waters of Lake Ontario, guarding the Hallowed Rift—a portal to a twisted mirror dimension of Earth. Stretching over 40 feet long with black, molten-like scales and burning crimson eyes, Nyxothar’s presence stirs violent storms across the lake. Sailors speak of its jagged horns and venomous tongue, glimpsed moments before being dragged into the depths. Flickering between the hallowed world and this world, the semi-transparent serpent is both an omen and a curse, its appearance foretelling disaster as it prevents mortals and otherworldly beings from crossing the Rift.

S.S. Ghost Ship Keewatin

 

Once a majestic Edwardian steamship liner, now drifts between the realms of the living and the spectral on the shores of Kingston, Ontario, transformed by the chaotic energies of the Hodgepocalypse. This haunted vessel serves as a floating museum and mystical portal, where adventurers can explore the haunted decks echoing with the whispers of long-gone passengers and encounter benevolent phantoms who share the ship's storied history. The galley hosts enchanted dishes guarded by the spirits of forgotten chefs, while the Cargo Hold of Forgotten Dreams is filled with lost treasures and artifacts connecting to alternate realities. Adventurers are drawn to the Keewatin to assist the phantoms in resolving their unfinished business, recover powerful artifacts from wraith-guarded depths, and navigate the duality of nostalgia and danger, all while uncovering the magic hidden within this ghostly maritime relic.

Umbraequa, The Drowned Guardian

 
Lurking beneath the haunted waters of Lake Huron's Thunder Bay, Umbraequa is a fearsome, ancient behemoth that commands the souls of the drowned and the shipwrecks of the "Graveyard of the Great Lakes." Resembling a grotesque fusion of an undead, barnacle-encrusted whale and a massive octopus, its body is adorned with the skeletal remains of ships and sailors it has claimed over the centuries. Umbraequa watches over the wreckage, summoning spectral sailors to do its bidding and wielding colossal tentacles capable of dragging even the largest ships into the dark abyss. It feeds on the souls of the drowned, growing stronger during fierce storms and in times of unrest, and sailors who wish to pass safely through these cursed waters must offer a pact to the Drowned Guardian, lest they join its spectral army.

Underwater Stonehenge of Lake Michigan

 

In the aftermath of the Hodgepocalypse, the Great Lakes became a nexus of strange magic and cryptic history, their waters now teeming with eldritch creatures and shrouded in supernatural fogs. At the heart of these mysteries lies the Underwater Stonehenge of Lake Michigan, a megalithic structure discovered by pre-cataclysmic archaeologists near Grand Traverse Bay. The ancient stones, etched with otherworldly glyphs, have been linked to both Native American legends of the Water Panther and whispers of a prehuman race that thrived before recorded history. With the Hodgepocalypse's reality-bending devastation, the site has become a focal point for temporal rifts, summoning monsters from ancient epochs and granting glimpses into a haunting, alternate future. The structure itself is rumored to be a portal, but whether it opens to the stars, the abyss, or some forgotten corner of the multiverse, no one knows—those who investigate too closely seldom return unchanged. Explorers speak of an echoing hum emanating from the stones, luring creatures from the deep and leaving divers plagued by surreal nightmares for weeks after their descent.