I – Folklore
For hundreds of years, the people of Norman have passed down chilling tales of failed rescue missions. There were cases where distress signals came through the Norman Lost Person Assistance Center—urgent voices, complete with coordinates and personal details. But when search teams arrived at the location, all they found were torn pieces of clothing, dried blood stains, and an eerie, suffocating silence. No signs of life. No trace to follow.
Over time, witnesses began to report a disturbing pattern: just before these incidents, they would hear familiar voices coming through radios or communication devices—voices of friends, family, or even their own—calling them deeper into the forest. Some who managed to escape described the entity as something that could mimic perfectly, from tone of voice to facial expressions, making it nearly impossible to recognize the deception until it was far too late.
Folklore has since named this creature "The Lost One"—a predatory phantom that poses as a helpless victim, luring the compassionate into its trap. It is said to remember and perfectly replicate the voices of its previous victims, and continues to use their identities to deceive new targets. Anyone who answers its call may never return.
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II – Identification Code and Symbol
Designation Code: NOR-009Common Name:The Lost OneThreat Level: Tier IV – Highly dangerous, with advanced capabilities in communication and cognitive manipulation.Known Locations: Gallow Forest, Stoneveil Hills, and several mountainous regions in Northern Norman.Containment Status: Unknown. No confirmed reports of successful direct engagement.
Symbolic Classification:🗺️📡👤 – Representing: False signal transmission (📡), misdirection/navigation errors (🗺️), and identity impersonation (👤).
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III – Threat Classification
Tier IV – High Threat Level
While The Lost One does not exhibit direct physical aggression like some other entities of this tier, its ability to deceive and psychologically manipulate poses an equally serious threat. This entity exploits human empathy and trust, particularly targeting rescue teams, patrol units, and civilians living near forested or mountainous areas.
Capable of flawlessly mimicking voices, including speech patterns of its previous victims.
Constantly changes names and personal details during communication to distort or obscure identification.
Lures targets into remote areas and causes their mysterious disappearance.
Generates fake distress calls to watchtowers, support centers, or NOR communication networks, leading agents into traps or scattering rescue forces.
The danger of The Lost One lies not in direct physical confrontation, but in its ability to dismantle emergency response systems, resulting in chain-reaction losses and regional destabilization.
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IV – Identifying Characteristics
"The Lost One" does not have a fixed appearance. Reports collected indicate that the entity can alter its form to match the distress signals it fabricates, making observers fully believe it is merely a regular person in need of help.
However, several signs may help distinguish it:
Clothing often appears unnaturally clean or inconsistent with the surrounding environment (e.g., appearing lost in a dense forest for days but showing no scratches or dirt).
Its voice may not fully sync with facial expressions, or may sound oddly "dubbed."
Identity cannot be verified via NOR's database or biometric scanning devices.
Maintains a fixed distance from rescuers, typically never allowing anyone closer than 3–5 meters.
When excessively questioned or unable to maintain its disguise, the entity will "vanish" or flee into unknown terrain, after which all communications linked to the fake victim cease entirely.
Warning: Multiple NOR agents have gone missing permanently after approaching the entity too closely or underestimating its intelligence.
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V – Monitoring Log Incident 1 – April 16, 2023 – ZN-05
Agent: C. Thompson (Level 4)
Location: A dense forest near ZN-05
Time of Encounter: 2:00 PM
Event: Agent C. Thompson responded to a distress call from an individual claiming to have been lost for three days. Upon arrival, the individual introduced themselves as "Mark," a missing hiker, and requested immediate help.
Sign: Agent reported unusual consistency in the individual's voice—though it matched the recorded voice of a hiker known to have been lost previously in the area. Upon scanning, no identification data was found in the NOR database.
Action Taken: Agent attempted to assist the individual and led them back toward a nearby settlement. However, the individual consistently distanced themselves, refusing to go any further.
Aftermath: Agent C. Thompson was last seen attempting to make contact via radio, but the signal was lost. Later recovery teams found the area completely empty, and no traces of the individual or Agent Thompson were found.
Incident 2 – July 29, 2023 – ZN-12
Agent: M. Rivera (Level 5)
Location: Mountains surrounding ZN-12
Time of Encounter: 9:45 AM
Event: A woman, appearing to be stranded after a rock slide, requested assistance. She identified herself as "Sarah," a tourist separated from her group.
Sign: Despite being covered in dust, the woman's voice had a strange flatness to it, and her movements were unusually stiff. When Rivera attempted to scan her biometrics, the results came back inconclusive.
Action Taken: Rivera called for a rescue team to assist. However, when Rivera tried to approach, the woman disappeared into the forest without leaving a trace.
Aftermath: The rescue team was dispatched, but after tracking the woman for several hours, all communication with Agent Rivera ceased. A full search yielded no body or evidence of Rivera or the woman, only tracks leading further into the dense woods.
Incident 3 – December 3, 2023 – ZN-03
Agent: T. Williams (Level 3)
Location: A small cabin near ZN-03
Time of Encounter: 8:30 PM
Event: Agent Williams was sent to investigate reports of strange behavior from an individual near an abandoned cabin. The individual claimed to have been lost for two weeks and was discovered sitting by the door of the cabin, staring blankly into the night.
Sign: The individual's clothes were perfectly preserved, and their hair remained immaculate, despite reports of heavy snowstorms in the area. Upon investigation, no tracks were found leading to the cabin.
Action Taken: Williams attempted to take the individual into custody for questioning. During the process, the individual smiled eerily before evading capture and disappearing into the woods.
Aftermath: Agent Williams returned to the base reporting increased levels of paranoia and anxiety. Subsequent reports from Williams indicated being followed by "a voice" during their return journey. All contact was lost after that, and Williams was never found.
Incident 4 – March 14, 2024 – ZN-08
Agent: L. Harris (Level 4)
Location: Forested area of ZN-08
Time of Encounter: 1:20 PM
Event: A middle-aged man, appearing disoriented and emaciated, approached Agent Harris, claiming to have wandered for weeks after a failed expedition. He identified himself as "James" and was found near a creek, shivering and incoherent.
Sign: The man's voice matched that of another missing person from a previous search in the area, but his appearance seemed too pristine for someone who had been lost for weeks. The usual signs of dehydration and fatigue were not present. Despite the man's claims, there was no evidence of him being part of any previous expedition.
Action Taken: Agent Harris attempted to offer assistance, but upon closer inspection, the man began to behave erratically, muttering about "voices in the woods." The agent attempted to get a sample of his biometrics and perform an analysis, but the man disappeared into the thick brush when Harris was distracted.
Aftermath: Harris immediately called for backup, but the team reported no trace of the individual or Agent Harris upon their arrival. The area was later found to be eerily quiet, with no signs of life or activity, and no trace of Harris was recovered.
Incident 5 – June 11, 2024 – ZN-14
Agent: J. Nolan (Level 3)
Location: Cliffside overlooking ZN-14
Time of Encounter: 4:15 PM
Event: A woman named "Helen," appearing to be lost, called for help from the edge of a cliff. She claimed she had been separated from her group while hiking and had been trying to find a way back for several days.
Sign: Helen's clothing was well-maintained, and her behavior was too composed for someone who had been stranded for an extended period. The agent found it unusual that she could perfectly describe the area, despite claiming to have wandered without a map or guide. The radio communication from the agent to base was unexpectedly cut off.
Action Taken: Agent Nolan approached cautiously, maintaining contact with the base. Upon reaching the woman, she refused to leave the edge of the cliff. As the agent attempted to persuade her to move, Helen suddenly became uncharacteristically aggressive, screaming about someone trying to get her. The agent reported strange noises coming from the surrounding trees.
Aftermath: Just before the radio signal was lost, Nolan reported seeing a dark figure in the distance that was not visible through the regular surveillance systems. A search was launched, but both Helen and Agent Nolan vanished, and no additional signs of either were found. A full-scale investigation was launched with no conclusive evidence.
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VI – Time and Conditions of Appearance
The entity known as "The Lost One" is an unpredictable and dangerous anomaly, with no fixed timeline or consistent pattern of appearance. However, certain conditions increase the likelihood of an encounter with this entity, and it has been documented to appear under specific circumstances.
1. Time of Appearance:
"The Lost One" is most likely to appear during twilight hours or at night, with a peak occurrence between 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM.
It has been noted that the creature tends to emerge more frequently on overcast days or during periods of heavy fog. These weather conditions appear to distort the perception of both sound and distance, making it harder for potential victims to discern the entity from regular human figures.
The New Moon phase is particularly active for this entity, with reports suggesting an increase in its presence during this time. It's theorized that the absence of moonlight allows it to move more effectively through the dense forested areas where it typically hunts.
2. Geographical Locations:
"The Lost One" is most commonly found in areas where dense forests or mountainous terrains intersect. The combination of rough, difficult-to-navigate landscapes and the unpredictability of the terrain creates an ideal environment for the entity to trap individuals in a state of confusion and disorientation.
Caves, abandoned shelters, and even worn paths are also prime locations for encounters. It has been hypothesized that the entity preys upon individuals who wander into these areas with limited resources or understanding of the landscape, using its mimicry abilities to confuse and lure victims into dangerous situations.
The entity has been known to appear in proximity to high-risk areas marked by previous disappearances, particularly when individuals or groups are making attempts to track or uncover the fate of the lost.
3. Conditions for Appearance:
The entity only appears when the victim shows signs of vulnerability. This includes emotional distress, fear, or confusion. These feelings seem to act as a beacon, attracting "The Lost One" to its prey. Notably, individuals who express feelings of hopelessness or ask for assistance are more likely to encounter the entity.
Victims who have recently suffered physical injuries or are otherwise in a weakened state are also more prone to being targeted. The entity often mimics the voices of people who have died in the area, leading individuals to believe they are being assisted by a familiar figure.
Sudden isolation is another significant trigger. Whether through injury, getting separated from a group, or losing a sense of direction, people in isolated positions often end up in the entity's path.
4. Behavioral Patterns:
"The Lost One" generally stays hidden, watching its prey from a distance. It will typically remain out of sight for extended periods, waiting until the victim is too far from any sources of safety or assistance. Once it makes its presence known, it will usually attempt to engage in dialogue, either mimicking the voices of loved ones or friends or posing as a fellow lost individual.
The entity may attempt to offer aid or direct the victim towards what they perceive as a way out, but its ultimate goal is to trap them further. The use of its voice mimicking abilities disorients and psychologically manipulates the victim into lowering their guard.
It is unclear whether "The Lost One" targets individuals for sustenance, for sport, or as part of a larger, more cryptic agenda.
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VII – Methods of Avoidance or Communication
Dealing with "The Lost One" requires extreme caution, as the entity's manipulative nature and its ability to mimic voices make it one of the most insidious threats in the region. While avoidance remains the safest strategy, there are methods for surviving an encounter and, in rare cases, communicating with the entity without falling victim to its tricks.
1. Avoidance Methods:
Do Not Engage in Communication:
The most effective method of avoiding "The Lost One" is to refrain from any form of communication. If you hear someone calling out for help, or if someone seems to be lost, do not respond. The entity thrives on the emotional connection it creates with its victims and will use this to manipulate them into dangerous situations.
If you find yourself hearing a familiar voice, do not follow it. Even if it is a voice you recognize, the entity can mimic voices flawlessly and may use this tactic to lure you further away from safety.
Stay on Established Paths:
When traveling through areas known for encounters with "The Lost One," stay on well-established paths and trails. Do not venture off the beaten track, as the entity is more likely to target individuals who stray into less-traveled or uncharted areas.
Mark your path as you go by leaving markers (such as chalk or twine) to ensure you don't get lost. "The Lost One" will make it seem like you are heading back to familiar places, only to trap you in circles and confusing loops.
Travel in Groups:
This entity typically preys on those who are isolated. Traveling in groups reduces the likelihood of becoming its next target. The entity relies on the individual's fear and confusion to draw them in, so traveling with others will make it harder for "The Lost One" to manipulate its prey.
If you must venture into an area where "The Lost One" has been reported, be sure to have a buddy system in place. Never wander off alone, and ensure everyone is aware of the risks involved.
Maintain Calm and Clear Thinking:
Staying calm is essential when navigating through areas of known "Lost One" activity. Panic and fear are exactly what the entity feeds off, and losing composure can lead to making irrational decisions.
If you start hearing strange sounds or voices, take a moment to breathe and reassess the situation logically. Trust in your senses, and be aware of your surroundings.
GPS and Communication Devices:
Carrying reliable communication devices such as satellite phones or walkie-talkies is vital. While "The Lost One" can distort sounds and voices, external communication can provide a lifeline if you are able to call for help.
Having a GPS or navigation device that doesn't rely on the environment around you can also help, as this will give you an objective sense of direction and prevent the entity from disorienting you.
2. Methods of Communication:
Firm Denial and Deflection:
If confronted by "The Lost One," the best approach is to immediately deny any assistance. State clearly and firmly that you are not lost and that you do not need help. Do not show any signs of confusion or fear.
Avoid asking questions or responding to the entity's inquiries. Any prolonged interaction will likely cause you to question your own perception of reality, playing into the entity's manipulative tactics.
Avoid Any Offers of Help:
"The Lost One" may offer to guide you out of the area, but this is always a trap. Do not follow the entity, regardless of how convincing its story may seem. The entity's goal is to lead you further into danger, either by confusing you or by luring you into a situation where you can't escape.
Use of a "Safe Word" or Signal:
A recommended strategy for groups exploring these dangerous areas is to establish a pre-agreed "safe word" or signal. This will help group members quickly identify if one of them is under the influence of "The Lost One" or is responding to its manipulative tactics.
The signal should be something that is easily remembered but not obvious to the entity. A sudden change in behavior, like someone speaking unusually or walking in a disoriented manner, should immediately trigger the safe word.
Prepare to Defend Yourself:
While physical confrontation with "The Lost One" is generally not recommended, in extreme cases, it may be necessary to defend yourself. If the entity becomes aggressive or attempts to physically lead you away, you must break contact and get away immediately.
Some reports suggest that using loud, sudden noises (such as a whistle or gunshot) may disrupt the entity's focus and give you a window of escape.
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VIII – Containment Protocols
Due to the unique nature of The Lost One and its ability to manipulate individuals through auditory illusions, physical containment is almost impossible. The focus of containment protocols for this entity is centered on preventing its spread and limiting the damage caused during its brief appearances.
1. Containment Zones:
Restricted Access:
The most effective method of preventing the spread of The Lost One is to restrict access to areas where it is known to appear. Any regions with frequent reports of encounters should be monitored closely by NOR agents and, if necessary, sealed off entirely to avoid civilian exposure.
Temporary barriers, including roadblocks and patrols, should be deployed along all potential access points leading into known active zones. The idea is to ensure that individuals do not unknowingly wander into areas of high risk.
Environmental Containment:
Surveillance systems, such as cameras, drones, and motion sensors, should be established along the perimeter of known Lost One territory. These systems will track any movement or unusual activity and send alerts to nearby NOR agents, allowing them to quickly respond to potential incursions.
ZN-07, a designated "safe zone," should always be maintained as an area of refuge and a base of operations for NOR personnel. The zone must remain consistently free from The Lost One's influence.
2. Containment Procedures Upon Discovery:
Evacuation of Civilian Population:
As soon as an instance of The Lost One is confirmed, immediate evacuation of the surrounding civilian population must be carried out. This will involve alerting local authorities and using sirens to evacuate residents and travelers out of the danger zone.
Local broadcasts, as well as pre-recorded warnings, should be played on all available channels to alert individuals who may be at risk of encountering the entity.
Identification and Isolation of Affected Individuals:
Individuals who have been exposed to The Lost One and have interacted with it (or shown signs of being manipulated) should be immediately quarantined. These individuals must be isolated in a secure facility and monitored for symptoms of psychological manipulation.
In extreme cases, if the affected individual shows a strong connection to The Lost One and begins mimicking its behavior, they must be restrained until further analysis is conducted to determine the extent of the influence.
3. Response Protocols for High-Risk Situations:
Specialized Psychological Intervention:
If an individual becomes mentally affected by The Lost One, NOR agents should deploy a psychological intervention team equipped with anti-manipulation techniques. This team will work to dissuade the entity's influence and reestablish control over the individual's cognitive functions.
These interventions may involve cognitive-behavioral therapy, direct verbal commands, or the use of audio disruptors to counteract the auditory illusions generated by The Lost One.
Containment Failure Protocol:
In the event that The Lost One cannot be contained and begins to spread its influence beyond the designated zones, immediate evacuation procedures must be enacted for a wider area. In such cases, NOR will mobilize a task force of higher-ranking personnel to assist in neutralizing the threat through strategic containment operations.
The use of EMP devices to disrupt the auditory signals of The Lost One may help to reduce its influence, but full neutralization is currently unproven.
4. Final Containment Measures:
Termination Protocol (Last Resort):
Should The Lost One exhibit signs of complete control over a large population, the only remaining option may be to terminate its existence by neutralizing its presence within the affected area. This would require extreme measures, including the use of airstrikes or direct destruction of environmental factors that enable the entity's existence.
However, this option remains a last resort, as the collateral damage caused could be significant.