Showing posts with label Myths. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Myths. Show all posts
Monday, January 27, 2014
Chinese New Year
Long ago in China there was a sea dwelling monster called the Nian. During the year it would slumber beneath the waves.
On the 1st day of the New Year however it would rise from the waves and descend on villages eating livestock and even people.
Now the tales differ depending on location, as with most things that are lost in the mists of antiquity. Our scholars researching the event have found that each is true in its own way and that the tales result from the distance and insularity of the villages. This great creature would terrorize a village until they finally drove it away before moving on to another area, often hundreds of miles away.
A very common legend is for the villagers to figure out a technique for driving it away. Sometimes it is a single young girl, other times it is the entire village coming together. One of the most famous tales involves a traveling old man or monk who comes to the village and drives the creature away.
In some of the tales that monk is none other than the monk Hongjun Laozu. In yet more the person is shrouded in mystery however he leaves the tools needed by the people to drive the Nian back.
The methods used to drive it away however all confirm each other as reasonable methods:
The Colour Red: When Hongjun Laozu tricks the Nian into clearing the surrounding country of poisonous snakes and dangerous creatures it is all part of a cunning ruse to show off his underwear. Upon stripping out of his “bad tasting” clothes Laozu is wearing red undergarments. A colour the Nian fears and will flee from.
Editor’s Note: A good way to surprise the Nian is to wait for it to be eating a colleague or other victim. Given the colour of the majority of what is in our body the Nian can only consume its prey with eyes tightly shut. Before planning this method it should be noticed that if the Nian eats the bait whole this technique can backfire.
Bright Flashes: The bright flash of fireworks exploding also causes fear in the Nian, it will flee the sight exploding gunpowder.
Loud Noises: The loud noise generated by gunpowder and fire crackers is more than the sensitive hearing of the Nian can take and it will flee.
Editor’s Note: Such unusual weaknesses can be a boon and hindrance to hunters. If one is merely seeking to drive the beasts away then this presents no difficulty. However if attempting to capture one then only the most primitive weapons and technology can be employed in hunting it. Despite the DPRCD’s Yearly hunt for the beast it has never been captured since the ancient monk’s time.
It has been theorized that the Nian will never return to a village from which it has been successfully driven away. This has been shown to be technically true; however villages visited by the Nian generally continue the fireworks, red paper, and firecrackers each year. While this works as a preventative measure it does make researchers wonder on the accuracy of the claim. Efforts to get villages to cease their celebrations as a test group have been met with a mix of staunch refusal.
In this way not only is the Chinese New Year celebrated in a bright and colourful manner, but it also keeps people safe.
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
New Year's Challenge
Long ago the enchantress Morgana Le Fay penned a curse to humble Arthur. The full account of which is known as the tale of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.
She is dust and Arthur slumbers hidden by magic and the best defenses that the London Branch can devise. However this particularly wicked curse survives to this day.
While the original script has been lost to antiquity it has been penned many times by many authors. The curse is very appealing as it requires next to no actual magical ability to work.
Two victims will be affected by the curse, the intended and the unintended. The intended is the individual or group whom is focused in the caster's mind. Unlike the Weeping Winnow Curse or the curse of Gillette the victim needs not be anyone in particular or do anything in particular for this hex to affect them. Once cast the clock begins ticking down.
Editor's Note: According to the DPRCD's records the curse will only affect men. No records exist of a female ever being the intended target although women have been present during the challenge.
The unintended victim can be anyone, unless specified; a random passerby, someone seen at a distance, or any person which happens to have a moment's bad luck when the curse takes effect. Editor's Note: There are in fact a few factors which will effect the selection of the unintended victim. The first is that they will always be a man, the second is that they will be in the same area as the victim.
The New Year's Challenge curse will present no signs to anyone until New Years Eve. Upon this night the unintended victim, hereafter known as the "Green Knight" will feel compelled to separate himself from other people. Once alone they will undergo a metamorphosis; growing larger and otherworldly as they swell with magic.
Upon New Year's day, usually at lunch or dinner, the challenge will be issued. The Green Knight will challenge the individual or group to kill him. The exact method of challenge will differ, it used to be an elegant axe or sword; in modern times it will often take the form of a beautifully made firearm and a shot to the heart. Whatever the method, the challenge will be the same.
The target must kill the challenger with the weapon, in exchange they shall get the exquisite weapon. However in a year and a day whoever accepts the challenge must allow the issuer to do the same to them.
At this point the victim has two choices; to accept the challenge or to refuse.
Refusal is the smarter if less honourable option, their valour will have been called into question and all present will know them for a coward.
Editor's Note: The curse is a little dated and most people will not in fact hold an individual who refuses to help an eight foot tall madman commit suicide at the dinner table in too much scorn.
However this will end the curse, the Green Knight will leave and return to normal remembering the entire affair. This usually requires a good amount of professional counseling afterwards as they try to work out what they were doing asking a stranger to help them kill themselves.
If on the other hand the victim accepts and does attempt to execute the knight then the curse enters its second stage. The massive knight will pick up their head or pull the bullet from their heart and instruct the victim to meet at a certain location in one year and a day.
The location in question will normally be a nexus of belief. In most areas this takes the form of a church, mosque, or synagogue; in others it will be a grove or significant tree, a collection of mysterious stones. The exact location does not matter only that it will be some place known to the victim.
The victim now has two choices, to make the appointment or not. The vast majority of individuals fail this test and never show up. Once again this is probably the smarter choice to make, although less honourable, as this results in proof of cowardice and the weapon will disappear never to be found again.
If however the victim shows up, without setting up a police sting, they will be given the option of bowing their own head or baring their chest as the Green Knight takes up the weapon. Whereupon he will then proceed to faux strike/shoot the victim two times. Assuming the victim's courage holds the Green Knight will turn back into the normal person.
At this point the unintended victim will know the name of the individual who originally cast the curse and be compelled to explain to the intended victim what just happened.
For this reason the DPRCD classifies the New Year's Challenge curse as mostly harmless as at no point is anyone in danger of anything except a fright during through the duration.
Editor's Note: The curse is most dangerous to the individual who cast it originally as once their identity has been divulged the victims often seek revenge.
She is dust and Arthur slumbers hidden by magic and the best defenses that the London Branch can devise. However this particularly wicked curse survives to this day.
While the original script has been lost to antiquity it has been penned many times by many authors. The curse is very appealing as it requires next to no actual magical ability to work.
Two victims will be affected by the curse, the intended and the unintended. The intended is the individual or group whom is focused in the caster's mind. Unlike the Weeping Winnow Curse or the curse of Gillette the victim needs not be anyone in particular or do anything in particular for this hex to affect them. Once cast the clock begins ticking down.
Editor's Note: According to the DPRCD's records the curse will only affect men. No records exist of a female ever being the intended target although women have been present during the challenge.
The unintended victim can be anyone, unless specified; a random passerby, someone seen at a distance, or any person which happens to have a moment's bad luck when the curse takes effect. Editor's Note: There are in fact a few factors which will effect the selection of the unintended victim. The first is that they will always be a man, the second is that they will be in the same area as the victim.
The New Year's Challenge curse will present no signs to anyone until New Years Eve. Upon this night the unintended victim, hereafter known as the "Green Knight" will feel compelled to separate himself from other people. Once alone they will undergo a metamorphosis; growing larger and otherworldly as they swell with magic.
Upon New Year's day, usually at lunch or dinner, the challenge will be issued. The Green Knight will challenge the individual or group to kill him. The exact method of challenge will differ, it used to be an elegant axe or sword; in modern times it will often take the form of a beautifully made firearm and a shot to the heart. Whatever the method, the challenge will be the same.
The target must kill the challenger with the weapon, in exchange they shall get the exquisite weapon. However in a year and a day whoever accepts the challenge must allow the issuer to do the same to them.
At this point the victim has two choices; to accept the challenge or to refuse.
Refusal is the smarter if less honourable option, their valour will have been called into question and all present will know them for a coward.
Editor's Note: The curse is a little dated and most people will not in fact hold an individual who refuses to help an eight foot tall madman commit suicide at the dinner table in too much scorn.
However this will end the curse, the Green Knight will leave and return to normal remembering the entire affair. This usually requires a good amount of professional counseling afterwards as they try to work out what they were doing asking a stranger to help them kill themselves.
If on the other hand the victim accepts and does attempt to execute the knight then the curse enters its second stage. The massive knight will pick up their head or pull the bullet from their heart and instruct the victim to meet at a certain location in one year and a day.
The location in question will normally be a nexus of belief. In most areas this takes the form of a church, mosque, or synagogue; in others it will be a grove or significant tree, a collection of mysterious stones. The exact location does not matter only that it will be some place known to the victim.
The victim now has two choices, to make the appointment or not. The vast majority of individuals fail this test and never show up. Once again this is probably the smarter choice to make, although less honourable, as this results in proof of cowardice and the weapon will disappear never to be found again.
If however the victim shows up, without setting up a police sting, they will be given the option of bowing their own head or baring their chest as the Green Knight takes up the weapon. Whereupon he will then proceed to faux strike/shoot the victim two times. Assuming the victim's courage holds the Green Knight will turn back into the normal person.
At this point the unintended victim will know the name of the individual who originally cast the curse and be compelled to explain to the intended victim what just happened.
For this reason the DPRCD classifies the New Year's Challenge curse as mostly harmless as at no point is anyone in danger of anything except a fright during through the duration.
Editor's Note: The curse is most dangerous to the individual who cast it originally as once their identity has been divulged the victims often seek revenge.
Monday, September 24, 2012
The Myths of Holy Symbols
It is widely known by even the most uninformed that holy symbols have power to repel vampires. Unfortunately Hollywood and poorly researched sources have spread a few falsehoods that has lead more than one person to their doom while thinking they were properly prepared.
This is the first post in a series which will deal with myths and piecing out the truths contained within.
MYTH:
Crosses will repel vampires and certain undead.
FACT:
A cross itself has no special powers to repel the undead, this is one of the most dangerous myths spread by Hollywood. You can't just put two pieces of wood together perpendicularly and expect to ward off the fiercest predators of the night. A crucifix on the other hand is a very powerful tool that can be used by the faithful for protection.
The difference between the two is that a crucifix is the embodiment of Christ's sacrifice. It has a depiction of the martyred son of god while a cross is just two lines running across each other at a ninety degree angle.
Now with that said, a blessed cross, one made of pure wood and properly sanctified will work in the place of a crucifix, however it depends mostly on the faith of the wielder.
MYTH:
Anyone can use a cross/crucifix.
FACT:
This is true in theory, any person can use a holy symbol to repel a vampire. However the efficacy of the repelling relies on the faith of the person. A Muslim will have no more luck with a crucifix than they would with a a Star of David.
While the metaphysics are not fully understood, the truer an individual's faith the more effective the implements they wield. It must also be the right implement that is used. To this end a hunter must be at peace with themselves and have accepted a belief structure.
In the 1999 film The Mummy, Beni is threatened by the undead and attempts to use many of them to protect himself.
Beni has no real faith and is only saved by his usefulness of knowing a language allowing the Mummy to enslave him. Attempting to use holy symbols en-mass with no real belief in them will 99% of the time result in death and not a fist full of treasure.
MYTH:
A Crucifix will only work on a Christian vampire.
TRUTH:
This myth takes a truth and twists it slightly. Many vampires still hold true to their own religious beliefs even after death. However immortality disconnects the majority of Blood suckers from their spiritual connection over time. Interviews with the vampires and studies by psychologists have found that after a few decades of their own ageless splendor and hunting those the very people they were once a part of leads the vampires to change their own morality and belief system to preserve their psyche.
Therefore a younger vampire is more likely to retain their religious beliefs than an older one. As a vampire ages they increase in strength and holy symbols, while still being able to repel and protect, will not have nearly the spectacular effect that they will on a younger brood.
In the field it is the age of the vampire and the belief of the wielder that determines how well a symbol works. A Christian wielding a Crucifix will have as much effect on a Muslim Vampire as they would a Buddhist Vampire as they would a Christian Vampire. Once more we must stress that it is the person and their faith that repels and not just the holy symbol.
This is the first post in a series which will deal with myths and piecing out the truths contained within.
MYTH:
Crosses will repel vampires and certain undead.
FACT:
A cross itself has no special powers to repel the undead, this is one of the most dangerous myths spread by Hollywood. You can't just put two pieces of wood together perpendicularly and expect to ward off the fiercest predators of the night. A crucifix on the other hand is a very powerful tool that can be used by the faithful for protection.
The difference between the two is that a crucifix is the embodiment of Christ's sacrifice. It has a depiction of the martyred son of god while a cross is just two lines running across each other at a ninety degree angle.
Now with that said, a blessed cross, one made of pure wood and properly sanctified will work in the place of a crucifix, however it depends mostly on the faith of the wielder.
MYTH:
Anyone can use a cross/crucifix.
FACT:
This is true in theory, any person can use a holy symbol to repel a vampire. However the efficacy of the repelling relies on the faith of the person. A Muslim will have no more luck with a crucifix than they would with a a Star of David.
While the metaphysics are not fully understood, the truer an individual's faith the more effective the implements they wield. It must also be the right implement that is used. To this end a hunter must be at peace with themselves and have accepted a belief structure.
In the 1999 film The Mummy, Beni is threatened by the undead and attempts to use many of them to protect himself.
Beni has no real faith and is only saved by his usefulness of knowing a language allowing the Mummy to enslave him. Attempting to use holy symbols en-mass with no real belief in them will 99% of the time result in death and not a fist full of treasure.
MYTH:
A Crucifix will only work on a Christian vampire.
TRUTH:
This myth takes a truth and twists it slightly. Many vampires still hold true to their own religious beliefs even after death. However immortality disconnects the majority of Blood suckers from their spiritual connection over time. Interviews with the vampires and studies by psychologists have found that after a few decades of their own ageless splendor and hunting those the very people they were once a part of leads the vampires to change their own morality and belief system to preserve their psyche.
Therefore a younger vampire is more likely to retain their religious beliefs than an older one. As a vampire ages they increase in strength and holy symbols, while still being able to repel and protect, will not have nearly the spectacular effect that they will on a younger brood.
In the field it is the age of the vampire and the belief of the wielder that determines how well a symbol works. A Christian wielding a Crucifix will have as much effect on a Muslim Vampire as they would a Buddhist Vampire as they would a Christian Vampire. Once more we must stress that it is the person and their faith that repels and not just the holy symbol.
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