The Portentum Canyon Hermit

Who am I?

I’m what the folks around here like to call The Hermit. I live here, in the middle of the canyon, by myself. I get lonely sometimes, but I’m lucky to have weary travelers such as yourself every once in a while. I’ve been here for longer than you can even fathom- human minds, they’re so inhibited.

(The Hermit deals with all content tagged # hermit’s words)

Where are we?

Portentum Canyon, the most obscure and uncharted nature preserve in California. It’s big enough to be a state park but there were too many incidents to get it officially recognized, which is probably why you’ve never heard of it. Over 500 square miles of dense forest, steep cliffs, and dangerous rapids. Hiking here is definitely not for the faint of heart, but I’m sure you know that. It’s rarely traveled by humans, so it’s mostly populated by some of the most beautiful native wildlife in the country: the American black bear, common blue jay, Sierra Nevada red fox, hyampom hog bear, six-eyed deer, Central American whintosser, red-headed woodpecker, western double-headed coyote. It’s scorching hot in the day, but frigid at night. 

Nights here are treacherous and often lethal. Besides the fauna, the woods are plagued by restless spirits. They inhabit abandoned buildings and crashed vehicles, even the trees themselves. Some of them haven’t even died yet.

You were lucky to find my little shack before sunset. I know, it looks like a mess from the outside- some have said that it looks like it would tumble down the cliff and into the river if I so much as sneeze- but I promise it’s rather cozy inside. If you can get past the abandoned coffee cups and books on the floor, there’s a pair of mismatched armchairs (ignore the large purple stain on the back cushion of mine, it’s no concern of yours) and a fireplace. It’s always been lit, however, I don’t remember ever lighting it. There’s a window but it’s best you avoid it at all costs. There’s a wooden shelf full of books- yes, I know they look like they’re about to fall to the floor, but I assure you they want- and a small stove and sink. How do I have running water and heat all the way out there? None of your business, kid.

What can I do for you?

Unfortunately, there are no gifts without charge. You must be tired- I have food and drink, but you’ve got to offer me something in return. Requests can be anything, physical or otherwise, and offerings are in words (a story, a memory, a poem, anything non-physical) as long as you deem your payment of equal value your request! For instance, you could offer a story in return for a hot cup of coffee, or a book recommendation in return for some heartfelt advice. 

(Similar to the ask/offering system of @/normal-horoscopes, @/theambersalesman, and @/thetatteredveil. My responses are primarily cryptic horror-writing oriented as opposed to genuine, more benign responses from those blogs, and payment is in words instead of objects.)

The Author

Hello! My name is Lawrence, I’m the writer behind The Hermit and the concept of Portentum Canyon. I’m a writer specializing in horror, I am absolutely in love with every legendary American cryptid, I speak three languages, and I’m allergic to fiberglass. I dabble in spirituality, witchcraft, and the occult, and I’m a nerd for urban legends.

I’m a Califonia native and I can assure you that (as far as I know) Portentum Canyon does not exist. It won’t exist unless I manage to manifest it into materializing in our dimension, but that’s not extremely likely. However! It is heavily based on the urban legends (haunted and abandoned buildings, rampant cults, ghosts of perished hikers, the occasional UFO, etc) surrounding Turnbull Canyon in SoCal, with an environment comparable to Yosemite Valley and the surrounding national park. (The header photo is a picture I took of Yosemite Valley on a disposable camera that would later be dropped into a lake and barely salvaged.) The creatures inhabiting it are various North American cryptids and legends with the addition of a few that are simply products of my imagination. Feel free to ask about them, I’d be happy to infodump!

To ask for me, simply clarify “to the author” in your ask. No offering necessary because, unlike the hermit, I’m not a rapacious immortal bastard. I’m not a pro at anything, but I’m still open to answering questions about my research on California, cryptids, and urban legends, or simply about myself. Or anything, honestly, I get bored. Out-of-character content is tagged # author’s words.

This blog is inspired by @/normal-horoscopes, @/theambersalesman, and @/thetatteredveil but does not claim any canonicity within said blogs. This blog and all characters and writing are copyright to me, the author. I am not an expert on American cryptids and urban legends and the stories and descriptions expressed here should not be considered factual or accurate.

Taglist

#hermit’s words = Posts The Hermit has added to and asks answered by The Hermit

#author’s words = Out-of-character posts I (the author) has added to and asks I have answered

#foodstuff = Asks requesting food or drink, horror writing

#talk = Asks requesting words (advice, stories, etc), may or may not be horror

#canyon lore = Asks and posts referring to and/or explaining legends pertaining to Portentum Canyon

#canyon friends = Asks and posts referring to and/or explaining the creatures and spirits residing in Portentum Canyon

#cw ____ = Content (primarily in horror writing) that may be considered triggering or disturbing. If you’d like me to add a cw tag for your triggers, send an ask or message me and I’ll be happy to do so.

#[blog name] = Content interacting with a certain blog

I will add more as this blog grows and changes!

This blog is a safe space for everyone except for bigots. If I catch you disrespecting anyone, you’ll be thrown off the ravine or fed to the double headed coyotes without hesitation :)