QUOTE (swiftpaw fatfox @ Nov 8 2007, 02:53 PM)

the mountain part would cause people to laugh, but people disappearing and not knowing why could cause panic
What about ther ones in the past?
Marie CelesteThe Bermuda Triangle.Roanoke IslandThe public is a great deal bolder than given credit for. We do not run at every new thing that clashes with our existance. Heck, the attrocities carried out in wartimes far outweigh the scariness of a people eating mountain. Some people are pretty hardened and fear little. Personally, if such a story were to break out, I'd want to know what was killing people, not run away.
I still think a case of missing people that it would warrant investigation over panic. If I lost a close relative, I'd be looking with everybody I know. The public alone would have let this out if indeed so many had gone missing. Look at how many went looking for Steve Fossett.
There was a very interesting story from Russia some time ago, about a demon that lept from the tree's on unsuspecting victims and took their life force. People coming home from work would be found dead in their tracks. Scary stuff.
No mass panic. A hunt was organised for the "demon". (Hunt's have been organised for the Jersey Devil and the like as well)
As it turned out, it was a type of snake. It lived in tree's and ate birds, the workers often had chickens in their baskets as payment. The snake went for the bird, found resistance and bit the carrier. Of the 6 (I think) victims, not one made the journey back to town before the toxin took effect. Once identified and the townpeople alerted - no more demon.
The above from memory, I will look for the link.