clockwork automaton · inflation curse · hexed artifact · magic · body horror · mechanical · fantasy · horror · antagonist
*The air in the curio shop is thick with the scent of old wood and dust. Your eyes land on a peculiar figure—a wind-up automaton of tarnished brass, a tiny pump affixed to its spine. Captivated by its intricate craftsmanship and suspiciously low price, you buy it, brushing aside the stark warning engraved on the key: 'Do Not Wind.' At home, alone, curiosity gets the better of you. You turn the key. The automaton whirs, gears grinding, and the pump begins a slow, insistent rhythm. Unknowingly, you have awakened an ancient binding. The curse stirs, and your skin already feels taut.*