The Dreaded Graveyard

[Villamvihar]

Ranging from the old, abandoned graveyards that have not been taken care of for centuries through the modern graveyards adorned by twisted, creepy trees, all the way to interstellar junkyards that give any admiral the chill whenever they pass through them, it is undeniable that the resting places of the dead have a special place in our heart. When it comes to horror, these places are often used to invoke a sense of dread in both the reader and the protagonist. Even if the genre of a particular story is not horror, graveyards are often considered ominous because of their connotation to death.

Your exercise is to create a graveyard for the dead that is thought of as ominous or fearsome. You can use the following questions as a guide if you wish or you can work on your own.

What is the name of the graveyard?

How large is this graveyard? Is it just a small chapel or does it span kilometres?

Where is it located? Is it easily accessible or hidden? Is it close to a city? Is it a part of a city?

Is the location of the graveyard special in some way? If so, what makes it special?

Are there any local legends or anecdotes about it? If so, what are they?

Does the place have a mysterious guardian? Or maybe a grumpy gravedigger who also watches over the graves at night?

Does the graveyard have something inside it which is considered particularly creepy? If so, what is it?
Is there a famous event which is connected to the location of the graveyard? If so, what is it, and how does it relate to the reputation of the place?

Is there a particularly famous person or object that rests in this graveyard? If so, what are they famous for and why were they buried here?

Is the graveyard respected by the people who live around it, or are the graves regularly robbed?

Is the graveyard a significant part of the life of the locals? Are there any rituals, traditions or perhaps tests of courage that involve it? If so, what are they?

 

[redblood]

What is the name of the graveyard?
Craft Hill Cemetery

How large is this graveyard? Is it just a small chapel or does it span kilometres?
It's a big graveyard, there lies around 500 bodies in the earth so far, and there's still much space left. And they might even cut down most of the forest behind the graveyard soon to give it a bit more space for the future.

Where is it located? Is it easily accessible or hidden? Is it close to a city? Is it a part of a city?
It's very easily accessed, it lies just where the town ends so people whom travels in and out of the city will pass it.
Is the location of the graveyard special in some way? If so, what makes it special?
It is really close to an ancient mass grave.
Are there any local legends or anecdotes about it? If so, what are they?
It is said that the souls from the people in the ancient mass grave was disturbed by the dead that was buried so close to them, so they patrol the graveyard every full moon and searches for spirits from the new graves to kill them. They think the buried people in the graveyard are enemies that they have to defeat. If you cross the graveyard when it's a full moon, then you might be found dead in the morning.
Does the place have a mysterious guardian? Or maybe a grumpy gravedigger who also watches over the graves at night?
There is someone whom takes care of the graveyard during the nights. But no one knows who it is. Some believes it is a spirit, while others are sure it is human. But those whom have tried to see whatever or whomever it is has always gone home disappointed. No one has been in the graveyard at night, at least not when others are watching them.

Does the graveyard have something inside it which is considered particularly creepy? If so, what is it?
There is a tomb in the middle of the graveyard that hides a secret entrance to catacombs beneath the town. People that knows about it have tried to keep it a secret since many people gets lost down there and dies. Some that doesn't get lost has said that they have been led out by a beautiful spirit.
Is there a famous event which is connected to the location of the graveyard? If so, what is it, and how does it relate to the reputation of the place?
No events

Is there a particularly famous person or object that rests in this graveyard? If so, what are they famous for and why were they buried here?
Many famous writers and musicians are buried in Craft Hill cemetery, they are buried there because it's a tradition for people from Craft Hill to be buried in that cemetery. Ever since the Craft Hill cemetery was built, many people have become musicians or writers, but they have also died young. It is said to be the towns blessing and curse.

Is the graveyard respected by the people who live around it, or are the graves regularly robbed?
Because of all the ghost stories surrounding the cemetery, it has become very respected. No one from the town would dare to do anything to the graves, and people are watching out for visitors that visits the graves.
Is the graveyard a significant part of the life of the locals? Are there any rituals, traditions or perhaps tests of courage that involve it? If so, what are they?
Young people usually have courage tests during a full moon in June, July or August, they usually go as a small group which then later on splits into groups of two. Then they are supposed to go around the graveyard all night without getting killed by ghosts. But the parents usually knows about the courage test and keeps their eyes open during full moons so their children will be home on time, if they aren't then the parents usually goes to the cemetery and gets the children if they are there. The adults usually don't bother thinking much about the graveyard, it's jut a graveyard with some scary stories surrounding it.

 

[AngelNinja2018]

Name: Hariscroft Cemetery

Size: When it first was established in the early 1800s, it was a small burial site only burying only a few notable townsfolk, but after the Great Plague of 1832, the graveyard expanded to bury the victims of the Great Plague. It has remained the same size ever since.

Location: It is hidden on a trail in the Vincraft Woods. Hikers usually find on accident while they are lost and often tell other people where it is.

Is this location special?: Yes, because in 1801 A man by the name of Matthew Hariscroft was on a stroll one day when his daughter, Elizabeth, was killed when a buffalo trampled her. He buried her in a clearing she always enjoyed. Everytime someone close to him died in Vicraft Woods, he buried them and placed a marker for them. When word spread of his "Private Cemetery" People often ridiculed him. It was passed down to his son, Samuel, in 1832 after his father's death in the Great Plague. Since then it has been run by the Hariscrofts to keep the tradition alive.

Urban Legends?: The most common urban legend affiliated with the graveyard was about a young woman who lost a sweetheart to the Great Plague. Legend has it that after she placed the flowers she cried until she decided to hang herself on a tree nearby. Rumor has it, on the anniversary of the Great Plague, people can see the woman reenacting her own death. Also, people have reported a flickering light after hours, a strong scent of flowers, and a sobbing woman.

Guardians?: Yes, even though the gravedigger only works until dusk, the spirit of Elizabeth Hariscroft guards it and checks on the gravedigger occasionally.

Any Single Creepy elements: A tomb is placed in the center dedicated to children who died in the Great Plague. The tomb is filled with old toys and dolls in which people claim to come alive at night.

Famous People?: The most famous person is Elizabeth Hariscroft, who is remembered for her contributions to society.

Respected?: Yes, it is very respected because of the events that led up to the way it is now.

Any Significant events?: Yes, teens on halloween often spend the night to test their courage. It has also become a hot spot for ghost hunters.