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Old 03-24-2018, 06:12 PM
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StainlessSteelCynic StainlessSteelCynic is offline
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1. Not a weird encounter but something a little unusual.
When the PCs investigate, the find a small collection of "drip" rifles (AKA "pop-off" rifles or more aptly, the "ghost" or "phantom" rifle) in various defensive positions.
The rifles can be any sort from combat to civilian rifles and may be set to fire single or auto (the small number of ejected shells from self loading rifles indicates that the bursts where small, 3-5 rounds only).

The "drip" rifle is a device that allows the rifle to self-fire. First used by Australian forces during the evacuation from Gallipoli, it consists of the rifle and a pair of tins (or any suitable collection device like canteen mugs etc. etc.) arranged one above the other. The rifle is typically held in place by sandbags or a wooden frame.
The lower tin has a line connected to the trigger and the upper tin has sand or water that has been allowed to drip into the lower tin.
When the lower tin gained enough weight, it would pull the trigger and thus give the impression that someone was still in the trench taking shots at the enemy.

Personally, I like the feel that would be created by calling these devices "ghost" or "phantom" rifles
For some more information on the drip-rifle, the following links give some history and some images to better illustrate the concept: -
https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/ency...oli/drip_rifle
https://flicense.blogspot.com.au/201...rifle-ww1.html
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-2...ention/7046570
https://subtletv.com/baakaDk/Drip_Rifle_Weird_Weapons


2. And another that is slightly weird, that I recall from somewhere (a movie I think)...

A small stand of trees survives unscathed by the battle. When the PCs approach the trees the only notable thing is a breeze blowing through the area... and the noise.
There's a weird, sort of moaning, sound coming from the direction of the trees. It sounds like something you would encounter in a horror movie. There's no melody or rhythym to the noise other than the "moaning" quality.

When (or if) the PCs investigate they find that someone has placed several lengths and sizes of PVC pipe in the trees. They have cut them and arranged them like a giant set of pan pipes and placed them into position so that they will catch the wind and emit the strange sound the PCs heard.


3. Last one, inspired by Isla de las Munecas (the Island of the Dolls) in Mexico.
http://www.isladelasmunecas.com/

Someone has spent a great deal of time collecting and hanging dogtags from a tree on the battlefield. There are so many dogtags that it's doubtful they are from soldiers killed on this particular battlefield. There are so many of them that when the wind blows, the dogtags act like a windchime.

For some variety and to increase the weirdness factor, instead of dogtags (which are somewhat understandable, perhaps the person was creating a memorial for example), someone has tied chess pieces to the branches of the tree. There are hundreds of them made from plastic, wood and even metal or stone but they are all pieces used in chess.
Of course you could just go into "creepy" territory and have the tree festoned with dolls or stick figures (like in the first Blair Witch movie).
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