Latch Knackers - Troika! Bestiary Jam 2024
A downloadable game
The Dwarves of the Latch abandoned their mines ages ago, and none now remembers when or why. The long shafts and delves pockmark the surrounding mountains and hillsides like old scars. Villagers began to reopen these old workings to see if any coal or ore remained in the deep dark, and they were not disappointed. The Dwarves left exposed veins of anthracite, and galena the fledgling miners could exploit. But they also left the Latch Knackers, souls of miners who perished in the deep dark and were never laid to rest. The presence of Latch Knackers in mines may be noted by mischief or mayhem in equal measure, a stolen tool or crumbling slate fall, but always with their rhythmic knocking. Tap, tap, tap…
In celebration of Troika! Day this is my submission to the Troika! Community
Jam: Bestiary 2024. #troikabestiary2024
Legal Notice
Cover Photo Shaft n tunnel.jpg by b3tarev3 in Public Domain, and modified by Jason Riffle. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Shaft_n_tunnel.jpg
In the Jaws of Death, Rolling Bars for Shells, 1916, Joseph Pennell (artist) Courtesy of the National Gallery of Art, Washington
https://www.nga.gov/notices/open-access-policy.html
Latch Knackers is an independent production by Jason Riffle and is not affiliated with the Melsonian Arts Council.
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This one gives impeccable folklore vibes. Reminds me especially of the knockers of Cornwall and Wales! I think running this at the table, and knocking to spook the players, would be great fun.
Thanks Mate, I am glad you enjoyed it! The Tommy Knockers made their way across the pond and are in the mines of Appalachia where I first heard about them from members of my family. That combined with some of the folklore of my homebrew setting results in the mischievous Latch Knackers. Hope they scare the heck out of your players sometime soon. Cheers!
Ah, lovely! Glad to hear they made it across the Atlantic okay!!
I forget the name of the mine, but there was a labor contract between the miner's Union and the owners that included a clause requiring that if the mine were ever closed the owners had to allow the Knockers to leave and move on to another mine. I believe this was in or around the 1930's but I could be mistaken.
Amazing! I like that a lot. I'm from northern England and just remembered the tradition of Bluecaps here; a type of coal mining kobold who would push the wagons about with great strength and get paid for it. I could swear there were legends of floating lights in the mines here too, but can't find anything on that beyond will o' wisps.
Yes! We have the lights here too, but it got conflated with Tommy Knockers when it came across. If you see the lights outside the mines you run away, because it's not the Knockers.