Helvetica's Indie Horror Stories: 10/17/12

An interesting post: author anonymous.

Der Großmann is German for “The tall man”. The tall man, or “slender” man is a legend which on the something awful forums a few years back as part of a photo-manipulation contest.
Now, the photos were faked. However, the supposed creator of “the slender man” reported later on that he could not remember ever posting information regarding the slenderman in any way. Some other people claim to have seen or heard about the slenderman long before in their lives or in legends dating back to the Medieval period in human history [such as Germanic folklore concerning "Der Großmann " roaming the black forest (Der Schwarzwald) and snatching away children who disobey their parents]. The myth goes on to state that the tall man was possibly a child molester who was strung about the trees as punishment for his crimes. His spirit is said to have survived and continues to prey upon the young.
The “tall man” is generally depicted as an unusually tall (he can grow to different heights; capable of blending in with the trees of a forest) and completely bald figure sporting a business suit with either a red or black tie. He has no eyes, nose, or ears, and has a very wide grin running from one side of his face to the other (or no mouth at all). In some cases he is reported as having a hat, tentacles, or multiple limbs sprouting from his back which he uses to ensnare his prey.
What makes Der Großmann so fearful is that his existence is questionable. He may be real…or he may not be. Perhaps the majority who have encountered the tall man have never lived to tell the tale. In fact, fear for slenderman may actually manifest him into your reality-creating a bridge between fact and myth.
The tall man is commonly spotted hiding and lurking about in the fog when stalking his victims. Der Großmann usually befriends his children victims (acting as an imaginary friend of sorts) and is capable of luring them into forests at night with psychokinetic powers. From then on the children walk mindlessly into the branching arms of Der Großmann as he grins at their young faces, never to be seen or heard of again-a fate unknown. Some say these children are eaten, taken to another dimension, or quite possibly worse. Again, the myth varies.
Der Großmann is said to be capable of slowly driving victims to madness, can induce paranoia, give coughing fits to them, and can induce disorientation and dizziness, amnesia, and insomnia. He is even said to be capable of visiting them in horrendous nightmares that vary from person from person.
Such victims are slowly driven to insanity by Der Großmann and are soon incapable of thought outside the realm of his fear. This induced insanity is said to weaken victims, making them more susceptible to his control. He loves to toy with his prey before finishing them off.
In some cases victims become mindless minions for Der Großmann, working to bring in more victims to him for his satisfaction. These minions may plant listening devices in your home, follow you around without you being aware of it, and watch over you-even as you sleep.
Some say he can teleport and appear at multiple locations at the same time. In some myths he is able to distort electronic equipment; quite possibly Der Großmann is some electromagnetic entity.
Think you can kill or ambush him? Think again. With his psychokinetic powers Der Großmann can deflect bullets and other objects away from his body before impact. Ambush would also be quite impossible; if you’ve seen Der Großmann it is most likely that he is closely watching you and all of your actions. Failed attempts to strike at Der Großmann with a weapon may be met with him obstructing your nervous system and disabling bodily functions-making it ever more easy for him to finish you off.
Again, it is not known exactly what happens once a victim has finally been taken by him. Some say they simply disappear. In more gruesome accounts the victims’ bodies are found impaled on tree limbs with their organs placed throughout their bodies in plastic bags.
The most frightening possible fate may be that Der Großmann extends his fingers to great lengths, punctures the bodies of victims, and destroys every major internal organ they have from within; tying them up from the inside into a great slendery (and bloody) knot.
Remember, the thought of Der Großmann may bring him ever more closer to you. Trying to forget about him will also lead him to you; once you see him there is no turning away from the possibilities of ends which await you.
Those slender shadows you see moving about in the dark of the night or that tall and misshaped tree in the distance may very well be Der Großmann. Waiting…watching…grinning all the while.

Slender Man has many connections in mythology, folklore, and legend in different civilizations throughout the world, usually with respect to a tall or slender creature that stalks its victims at night. Additional attributes that Slenderman shares with historical legendary creatures are its frightening appearance and lack of facial features. Below is a list of some similarities between Slenderman and other mythological creatures.

Der Ritter

Der Ritter, or “The Knight”, is the name of a 16^th century woodcut dating around 1540 by German Hans Freckenberg, who disappeared in 1543. It was discovered in Halstberg Castle in 1883, and is distinctly characteristic of Freckenberg’s work, excluding his usual realistic style. While historians believe the woodcut to be symbolic of cultural actions of the time, many also interpret the skeletal Ritter to be that of the Slenderman. A second woodcut by Freckenberg details seemingly the same skeletal monster with multiple arms stealing a child from a family.

Schlankwald

Schlankwald is the name of a German poem that translates roughly as “Slim Forest.” Translated by researcher James Rossi, it describes a guardian of the forest who takes children and hunts for those who enter the woodland. The period in which Schlandkwald was written is unknown.

Der Großmann

Der Großmann (der Grossmann), or “The Tall Man” is another 16^th century German myth with associated woodcuts. Der Grossmann was commonly described as a fairy of the Black Forest who stole away bad children who entered at night, and would stalk them until the child confessed their wrongdoings to a parent. A translated account from 1702 suggests that there was some truth in the tale.

Brandenburg Woodcut

A 1550s dated woodcut, found in Brandenburg, Germany, author unknown, depicts a man in a modern suit with arms like tentacles.

Baldung Painting

Hans Baldung’s Painting

Hans Baldung was a Renaissance artist who died in 1545. His most famous painting, Three Ages of Woman and Death, portrays a skeletal figure holding an hour glass. In 2003, when undergoing x-ray analysis for insurance reasons, it was discovered that the painting was altered early on to remove several extra limbs of the skeletal figure that were originally painted into the picture.

British Isles

Fear Dubh

Fear Dubh (the Black Man) is a Rare Scottish legend concerning a malevolent entity that haunts footpaths and forests at night. In ancient times, it used to be connected to the Christian devil, but most of its characteristics are closer to that of a primitive Slender Man. It was used to scare small children to stay indoors and keep pesky children from snooping in the woods without their family.

The Clutchbone

The Clutchbone was a seven-foot monster, stories of whom date back as early as the 1800's in Northern England. Described as being black in color with leathery skin, its head consisted of a lit torch within a large, raised collar of material resembling rawhide. The exceptionally violent nature of the Clutchbone included alleged disappearances, destruction by burning and dismemberment of alleged victims. Lastly, violent events featuring the Clutchbone often followed previous sightings of lightning balls created by severe weather conditions leading some to assume that such a creature might arrive into this dimension or world by way of these natural phenomena.

The Faceless One

The Faceless One is a lullaby that dates back to 18th century Wales. It was created by parents as a way of scaring their children into being obediant, and to warn them away them from the forests, as children often disappeared in the night and were found in the forest, mutilated almost beyond recognition.

'Hush, thy childe, do not stray far from the path,
or The Faceless One shall steal you away to Fairieland.
He preys on sinful and defiant souls,
and lurks within the woods.
He has hands of ebony branches,
and a touch as soft as silk.
Fear The Faceless One thy childe,
for he shall take you to a dark place.
And what shall become of thou?