a2ahistory

Throughout the history of the area there have been strange attacks that have never been able to be explained. They occur years apart, but are always the same. The victims, human and animal, are torn apart unrecognizable conglomeration of flesh and bone.
Early on, it was thought that they might be animal attacks, wolves or possibly bears. Many had gone into the forest but found nothing. There were and still are those who believe it is some legendary creature that must only feed every few years. Rumors of hexes and curses abound among these suspicious types.
These rumors were fortified when several "cult" groups purchased land in the area and took up residence on the outskirts of the town. These groups however, some religious, some wanting a simple lifestyle, never caused any issues and live in seeming harmony with the community. This did diffuse some of the rumor-mongering, but certainly not all. The oddity of several groups in the same area can probably be explained by the low cost of land due to the history here.
As industrialism took to the forefront, the attacks were finally investigated by more official means. The authorities investigating these cyclical massacres first blamed the cult groups putting them through harrowing interrogations, but were never able to find any evidence.
Not long after a particularly heinous attack and investigators again able to find nothing, some new "businessmen" started coming into town. They bought up businesses owned by frightened residents just looking for the ability to flee.
The businesses prospered and opened up new opportunity for new industry. These, too prospered and for many years it seemed as though this new blood had not only help develop the small town into a city, but helped curtail the tragic events that had been occuring for so long.
Then something new began to happen. Animals were being born deformed or still born more and more often. Some found dead with no apparent cause to their demise. Again, investigations began, but as with the attacks, no reason or evidence could be found to isolate the cause.