Get Familiar with the Familiars…
Oddities in October happens in the sleepy mountain commune of monsters living away from the mortals (humans; living folk) of Uncanny Valley Mountains. The commune is hidden under a weather phenomenon that drenches the surrounding forest in clouds, which make it appear as though it’s always autumn no matter what time of year it is -dubbed the “Haunted Hollow”. Though originally just the name of the tourist trap that hides them, the witches and monsters of the commune have dubbed their home “Haunted Hollow” as well. They use it as a coded message of safety to their own -a place where witches, vampires, zombies and werefolk can know where to go were they needn’t be hunted.
All the Hollow residents live alongside the nature that surrounds them, and so to do their animal companions, or “familiars”, with it.
One such familiar is Mouse the Witching Cat, star of her own book but Mouse is far from the only one…read up on Mouse and some of her dearest familiar friends.
The illustrious familiar-friend who’s also her own self-made Witch.
Mouse is a Witching Cat. That is, she’s a black cat familiar to a band of witches (Nina, Delilah and Bo) alongside her Aunt Bastet and Uncle Corey. Mouse usually walks on two legs. She wears an oversized witch-hat over her entire body wherein Mouse keeps and harvests her own magic. That’s right: she’s her OWN witch! Mouse is ambitious with a big need to prove herself to nobody but herself. Being a young cat (or witch, whichever the two it is…) she’s squirrely, impatient, and maybe a bit oblivious to the needs of others. Although, you shouldn’t mess with her friends if you don’t want to be on the business end of a magical witch’s hat.
Mouse
Some of Mouse’s favorite things include high-up places covered in dust, Halloween decorations that smell funny, sorcery, broomstick riding and cinnamon.
The sweet-toothed undead sweetie who never lets the rot get him down.
Cavity was your average everyday giant sewer rat. Then; he contracted a nasty T Virus which killed and resurrected him as the undead. Then, he was taken in by a human girl suffering the same fate, who gave him some serum to help him function. Zombification hasn’t slowed him down. In fact, Cavity has some of the best sensibilities and wit of any animal in the Hollow, ‘alive’ or otherwise. Street smarts keep the living alive and the dead...less dead...
Besides his owner (Nancy) and his girlfriend, (Calendula) Cavity’s absolute most favorite thing is candy!! All of his remaining teeth are sweet-tooths and he never has to worry about gum disease, because he’s already dead*.
Cavity is NOT a fan of vultures.
Cavity
Fluffy is an ex-genesplicing experiment (mostly rabbit). His human master, Harvey, and him lived solitary lives before coming to the Hollow, away from pesky scientists, researchers and cosmetic companies. The Hollow animals are the first real friends he’s ever made and he’s desperate to keep them even though he doesn’t have to try at all to do that. Weak-willed as he is, Fluffy is not to be underestimated.Have you ever been by a genetically altered lab-rabbit? It HURTS!!!
Fluffy
A biochemical friend with a taste for the simple things in life -like livewire!
Fluffy is happiest when he’s jamming to 60s novelty songs, assisting Mouse in her schemes, digging in his master’s garden, or chewing livewire.
VERY important Vampire’s Familiar -who’s also bat- of culture…DON’T YOU FORGET IT!
Vampire bat Count Monty Cristo is the familiar of an affluent Vampire Prince who haunts one of the manors in the Haunted Hollow. A bat of class and culture, he loves to mingle with the common folk and joins his friends every hour that he’s awake. Ever the artist and diva -as any good vampire should be- Monty delights in lending a wing to friends in need, even if his help is not always wanted.
Monty is a literature buff. He enjoys Arabian velvet, daytime (don’t tell anyone), and the company of his mutual ‘brides’, Lizz, El and Mary. He also has a thing for mirrors and his own reflection…which only he can see, apparently.
Count Monty Cristo
Crooner
An aloof owl with a deep voice and big heart…and a taste for oldies music.
Crooner is Haunted Hollow’s resident night-owl -known for singing up a storm from atop his many roosts. Sometimes he invites his band, the Corvid Congregationalists, to play back up while other times he prefers to wing it solo. Many of the younger Hollow animals look up to Crooner as an image of grace, mystery and bluntness. Crooner himself is impartial to this image. But any company is good company; as far as he’s concerned.
Some of Crooner’s favorite things include the sound of crickets, old film projectors, raindrops falling on a tin roof and all matter of Jazz music. His favorite snack is mothballs dipped in tea.
