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Description

According to some folk traditions, nonliving objects that have served a family and been appreciated long enough attract spirits, develop unusual powers, or acquire their own souls. This has encouraged some people to take better care of their possessions, and others to break them or throw them away after a set period.

Such beliefs have declined in modern societies where local handmade artefacts have been largely replaced by mass produced items brought in from abroad, and any that are broken or fall out of fashion can be easily replaced. Few items now last long enough to confirm or disprove the old folk tales.

There are other kinds of objects, though. Some have stayed in families for several generations not through being loved so much as being seen as valuable. Others are simply forgotten or lost, often after being buried under later acquisitions. It is said that over time they attract dangerous entities, develop harmful powers or acquire malign souls. Some people claim the atmosphere of hopelessness and misery found in compulsive hoarders’ homes stems from their activity. Others experience similar feelings among the heavy furniture and fading grandeur of old wealth.

Some say the beings responsible draw strength from negative emotions. Where their hold is strong enough their victims violently object to anyone’s attempts to help. It is perhaps not surprising that the friendly household spirits that were loved and gave love in return are seen far less frequently than their polar opposites in societies steeped in overconsumption.

Sharpbiters are small constructs that ward off such harmful beings. They must be made by hand with purpose. One per household is enough, as they are fiercely territorial and owning any more would cause trouble. They can adapt to new locations and have no problem with new owners, but should only be given freely because they lose their powers if they are ever bought or sold.

Description

According to some folk traditions, nonliving objects that have served a family and been appreciated long enough attract spirits, develop unusual powers, or acquire their own souls. This has encouraged some people to take better care of their possessions, and others to break them or throw them away after a set period.

Such beliefs have declined in modern societies where local handmade artefacts have been largely replaced by mass produced items brought in from abroad, and any that are broken or fall out of fashion can be easily replaced. Few items now last long enough to confirm or disprove the old folk tales.

There are other kinds of objects, though. Some have stayed in families for several generations not through being loved so much as being seen as valuable. Others are simply forgotten or lost, often after being buried under later acquisitions. It is said that over time they attract dangerous entities, develop harmful powers or acquire malign souls. Some people claim the atmosphere of hopelessness and misery found in compulsive hoarders’ homes stems from their activity. Others experience similar feelings among the heavy furniture and fading grandeur of old wealth.

Some say the beings responsible draw strength from negative emotions. Where their hold is strong enough their victims violently object to anyone’s attempts to help. It is perhaps not surprising that the friendly household spirits that were loved and gave love in return are seen far less frequently than their polar opposites in societies steeped in overconsumption.

Sharpbiters are small constructs that ward off such harmful beings. They must be made by hand with purpose. One per household is enough, as they are fiercely territorial and owning any more would cause trouble. They can adapt to new locations and have no problem with new owners, but should only be given freely because they lose their powers if they are ever bought or sold.