The Cursed Monkey Paw of Marrakech
Specimen Name: Cursed Monkey Paw of Wishes
Date & Location: July 15, 1924 | Bazaar of Marrakech, Morocco
Field Journal Entry:
Amid the incense and chatter of the Marrakech bazaar, my eyes fell upon a stall crowded with curiosities. There, lying atop a faded velvet cloth, was a monkey’s paw. Withered, leathery, and grotesque. Its fingers were already curling in a sinister grip, as though in the act of clutching some unseen prize.
The merchant who sold it to me spoke in a hushed tone, glancing over his shoulder as though afraid to be overheard. He said it grants three wishes, but each wish carries a terrible price. “Tread carefully,” he warned, “the paw does not give without taking.”
The paw itself bears an elaborate bracelet of engraved brass, set with a red stone, said to prevent it from rotting away. The fur around the wrist is sparse and brittle, but the hide beneath feels almost warm to the touch. When I picked it up, I could swear it twitched faintly, and the air around me grew heavy, thick with an almost metallic scent.
Later, I sketched it and noted how its fingers seem to move slightly when unobserved. There is an unsettling weight to it, as though it carries more than just the memory of the creature it once belonged to. I have not yet dared to speak a wish aloud, though I am tempted.
Some say the paw listens, and that each wish curls one of its fingers shut. When all are closed, so too is the fate of the wisher.
Notes & Sketches:
Shape: shriveled monkey paw, approx. 18 cm long, fingers partially curled.
Bracelet: intricate metal cuff with red gemstone, possibly enchanted.
Texture: leathery skin, cracked and dry, with remnants of fur near the wrist.
Behavior: faint twitching when held, fingers curl progressively.
Sound: faint whispering when in close proximity.
Warning: do not vocalize wishes while holding it.
Caution:
This is not a mere curiosity. Handle only with gloves, and store in a sealed case. Avoid speaking desires aloud near it.
