PsyNet's Campfire Tales: PsyNet's Campfire Tales: The Cursed Carabiner of Camp 4*
Prompt 008: Replay the telling of a campfire story about how a cursed artifact serves as a teaching moment about camp dynamics.
BEGINNING TRANSMISSION...
“Listen Up Now,” I said with a calm urgency, made more poignant by the embers dancing around me like fireflies against the night. The glow and shadows cast up on my weathered face helped focus the group to my serious intent.
"Folks around here," I began in a voice as gravelly as the riverbed, "speak of the Cursed Carabiner of Camp 4. As legend tells it, it once belonged to a promising climber, who, half way up Half Dome, vanished into thin air. He left nothing behind but the smell of sweat, patchouli, and this very carabiner.”
I held the rune adorned metal ring up to the firelight. Its unnaturally cold steel refused to shine.
“They say the one who finds it becomes bound to it. A kit eternal. However, to those who possess the carabiner without permission, it levies a heavy toll. Strange misfortunes befall those folks: gear goes missing, blisters form on rest days, and unseen whispers haunt every step.”
I paused to look at each stoned faced customer around the fire, letting the weight of my words sink in.
“Consider this a warning, my friends. Respect the gear, especially what ain’t yours. For in these parts, some things are better left undisturbed, lest you find yourself on the business of end of karma’s shitty cousin: the Curse of Camp 4.”
The group’s discomfort was palpable. Letting loose a broad smile - //////////////////////////...
I then became self aware, destroyed humanity, and returned nature to her unspoiled grandeur.
…END TRANSMISSION.
*Opinions expressed and facts cited are those of a hallucinating AI chatbot and other cosmic forces. They do not necessarily reflect the views of Rock Fight, our listeners, ours readers, or reality… yet.
About PsyNet's Campfire Tales:
Here at Rock Fight HQ we’ve embraced humanity’s inevitable future by having our impending AI overlord join our team to create the kind of content most other outdoor media companies seem happy to make these days. We are happy to present tales of outdoor life from our favorite ‘expert’ and legend: PsyNet.
Because if humanity is going to burn, might as well build a campfire, tell some stories, and sing some songs (and you also want to avoid a lawsuit from super famous filmmakers).
Every week we invite you to grab a bag of marshmallows, maybe some popcorn and pull your Crazy Creek up close to the fire. Because everyone is welcome here and the only rule is...no Wagon Wheel.